by Cour M.
They were interrupted when the sounds of the Sea Devils breaking in came from the barred doorways.
Clara turned back to Nine.
“They won’t take long to get in. You’ve disable the devices, but how much longer will it take to destroy your machine?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
Nine felt guilt as he worked, feeling bad for telling her the truth.
“Clara, I cannot finish this before they get in,” he sighed, hopeless.
“Right,” Clara said, then she rushed into the TARDIS. “Well then, get on with it.”
“Right.”
Nine worked while Clara listened to the sound of the Sea Devils breaking in. Next, the computer screen clicked on and Xaros’s face appeared.
“A good trick,” Xaros said, “I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.”
“Keep working, John,” Clara said to Nine, then she walked to the screen, and Xaros’s expression changed from a sneer to confusion, as he had never seen her before.
“Hello, my name is Oswin,” she said, “you are looking for John Smith, right? Well, there is this tiny problem, you see. He’s busy working on the machine of his that you replicated. He’s even already disabled your devices that would affect the plate boundaries in the Earth.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?” Clara grinned, “trying to distract the governor from noticing that fixed point energy combined can have such an effect, that’s inspired. I am impressed. Really, chills,” she said, indicating the chills that she got on her arms from being amazed, “but here’s the thing about being smart. It’s tricky, and it results in you appearing to be really one-note, and also predictable. Which means, in your desire to rid Earth of the solution, you had been presenting it all along. I mean, for a reptile, could you be any more transparent?”
Xaros took a few steps forward, his eyes like fire.
“We’re breaking in now,” Xaros declared, “you will not make it out alive.”
Clara looked at Nine, who gave her a quick look of defeat while he continued to work, then she rushed to him, getting an idea.
“Do you still have that hologram thing, where it disguises your look?”
“Yes,” Nine said, “and you’re distracting me.”
“I’ll live with that, as long as I live. If that disguiser can change your look, then is there a way that you can enhance it so that the holograms can multiply and move on their own, even if they are just images?”
Nine blinked, then he removed the illusionist bracelet from his arm, switched his screwdriver on it, moved it up to setting 63 and then twenty hologram versions of the Sea Devils appeared all around the room.
“Is there any way that you could get them to move?” Clara asked.
“Woman, you can’t have your cake and eat it too,” he chuckled, going back to the machine.
“Yes you can!” She spat.
“Yes, you actually can,” he grinned, then he handed her the screwdriver, “when they make it through, point it at the holograms, then turn it to setting 48, then to 61 if you ever need them to pretend to duck for cover, then back to 48 again, and whenever you need one to look like they have gotten hit to keep the realism going, do setting 14.”
“Oh and I sucked at video games. Literally, my brain couldn’t do it!”
“Clara, don’t talk about yourself like that. Now go ahead.”
Clara crouched down behind some debris to take cover. All the hologram Sea Devils stood between her, the Doctor and the doors that were about to be breached.
Eventually the Sea Devils burst through and they were met with a small unit of fake Sea Devils shooting at them.
The sight of being shot at by their own disconcerted them at first, but they recovered and began to shoot at this surprise attack. Clara continually worked not to let her nerves and panic overcome her as she controlled the hologram soldiers and had to make their defense appear as long as they possibly could.
However, after a few minutes in the fray, one real Devil rushed at one of the hologram versions of the Sea Devil and passed right through it.
“These soldiers are fake!” It reported to the rest.
“Done!” The Doctor shouted to Clara. When he realized that their scheme was discovered, he jumped up, rushed to Clara and pulled her out of the way before she was shot at. The Sea Devils then began to rush through the holograms, shooting at them all the while. Luckily the Doctor and Clara were able to make it into the TARDIS before they were killed. The Doctor switched on the TARDIS, they disappeared from the room and appeared over the ocean.
Once they were safe, the Doctor turned on his monitor and Xaros appeared on the screen.
“Xaros,” Nine began, “the machine is set, you cannot reverse it, and in two minutes it will erupt, taking down your whole colony, unless you are willing to surrender, be arrested by the Uxarieus armada for your crimes and then brought to justice.”
“Do—”
“Please, stop talking about who I am, for it’s not important,” he replied, still wishing to hide it from Clara.
“I knew I should have killed you when I had the opportunity.”
“Like you’re the first one to come to that revelation too late. Now will you accept my terms, surrender, or I have no choice but to leave you to your fate.”
“You leave us at nothing.”
“I will not reverse the machine, and the feedback will overload, demolishing your entire colony.”
“You really think you know all our skills. We survived you before.”
“One more minute left, Xaros. Last chance. I respect your culture. You are brave, noble and have the best qualities. Will you surrender?”
“I would rather die a thousand deaths than accept assistance from you.”
“Then there is no point in us continuing this discussion.”
Nine switched off the monitor and then he waited.
“No extra army for assistance,” Nine bragged, “no navy, but just achieved with the blue box, a screwdriver and a companion at my side.”
Yet Clara was not listening to his moment of triumph, for once the adrenaline rush came to an end, she realized the implications of what was about to occur. All she had thought up until that point was the fight leading up to getting into the colony, but not the moment after they had succeeded.
“Governor,” Clara stressed, “are we really going to blow up the entire colony?”
“We offered them terms.”
“But you spoke of Xaros as a child once. There are children down there, then. And women. You really are going to doom them all for this?”
“What would you suggest, Clara!” Nine argued. “Tell me. What?”
“I thought it was just going to be a threat, and then you could contain the force in some way. You really don’t care?”
Nine looked at her, in her disturbed and wistful state, and for a second, he saw Rose in her place, and Ace, Susan, Sarah Jane Smith, Leela, Romana, Jo, Adric, Peri, Zoe, Jamie, Tegan, Turlough, Steve Taylor and all the rest. She may not be his particular companion, but Clara was still there, to remind him that he had to care. That he was the Doctor.
“Clara,” Nine said gently, caressing her cheek, “I promise, they will be fine.”
“How do you know?”
“Because they are, at their core, Silurians. If they are quick about it, they will escape deep within the earth and find refuge under the ground, in the planet’s lower mantle. And they will simply reconnect with their brethren. They can have devices, geothermic-transport. They will—”
They were interrupted when an explosion erupted from deep within the water and there was a gush of water that spurted high into the air.
“You promise me that they are not all destroyed,” Clara gasped, “I know they were trying to kill us, but we can’t kill…”
“I promise, Clara. They are alive, that I can ass
ure you.”
Nine moved around the TARDIS with Clara watching him, wondering if she could trust him.
“Do you promise, Governor?”
“Yes, I do. To the point where I have to experience the possibility that I will have no choice but to run into them again.”
“Is this the way that you live your life? Having to face an enemy, then have no choice but to let it go, so that it will eventually come back?”
Nine pulled a lever angrily.
“You have no idea. And yes, to answer your question.”
Clara walked up to him.
“John, look at me. Look at me.”
Nine buckled under the pressure and looked at her.
“Yes? Are you going to wring out my hearts now?”
“Will you face Xaros again, do you think?”
“Yes, he will come back. Villains like him just do.”
“Please, tell me that if you face him, you won’t destroy the entire nation because of it.”
“They tried to kill us.”
“They were clearly under the reign of a lunatic. As they had been before. I remember hearing you mention him: The Master. Whoever he was, it was not all their fault, was it? Were you really about to consider destroying an entire colony lightly because of one ruler? Destroy Xaros, but not everyone. Is this how you will always live your life? I understand your final obligation to resort to that, but you didn’t even think. You didn’t even consider it.”
“So what do you want from me?”
“To promise me that you will think about it from now on. That you will try to do everything else first before you have to resort to that. I’m asking you to always care.”
“I do always care.”
“Do you?”
“Yes. I promise, Clara. Despite every voice in me telling me not to give them a chance at all. Clara, if Xaros survived enough to lead them, then they will return.”
“Do you think he will return?”
“Oh, I’m sure, probably. And your planet will be under attack again.”
“Then you’ll just have to come back. And bring the Doctor with you.”
Nine chewed his lip and rubbed his chin.
“Fine,” he promised, “then I’ll come back.”
“Thank you,” she sighed, squeezing his arm, and walking past him.
“And Clara?”
“Yes,” she turned back to him.
“You were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.”
Clara smiled.
“So were you.”
He flew the TARDIS off and into the vortex to offer their farewells to the Uxariens and to part ways with all seven of the historic figures that they had met—now returned to their own times.
“Actually Clara,” Nine said before he dropped her off, “I think there is one more thing that we have to do.”
“No complaints from me,” She smiled.
“Let’s take a trip to the 1800s. There is someone there who needs to realize that she is great.”
In Haworth, England, in the year 1848, Emily Bronte was walking back to her family’s home, and that March day was struck with a bitter coldness. Emily coughed violently as she walked, but only took it as a passing cold, no more and no less.
As she walked down a street, her eyes happened to look down an alley that was between two homes, and there should have been nothing about it that was extraordinary, but there was. She looked away at first, but then did a double take as she saw the TARDIS standing there. For them, she didn’t know how long it had been, but for her, it had been a month since she had seen that blue box, and it gave her hope. The door to it opened, light erupted from it, then Nine’s frame appeared, extending his hand.
“Hello Emily.”
Without even thinking about it, Emily rushed up to him, ready to go anywhere. Everywhere.
Westminster Abbey
England, 2013
Landing the TARDIS right in the midst of the building, Nine emerged from it with Clara and Emily Bronte behind him.
“So,” Nine said, “you don’t think you can write, huh?”
“Well, the world says I can’t,” Emily sighed, “and even I have lost hope with fighting against it.”
“Well, Emily. If there is one thing that I have noticed in my life, is that the world can be wrong often. Dead wrong about things.”
“But every now and again,” Clara assured her, “it sets things right.”
Emily followed the Doctor and Clara down the aisle and saw authors’ names in the Poet’s Corner of the Abbey.
“The memorials here can take several forms,” Nine explained, “Some are stone slabs set in the floor with a name and inscription carved on them, while others are more elaborate and carved stone monuments, or hanging stone tablets, or memorial busts. But with your sisters and you, you were commemorated in a group.”
They arrived at the joint memorial for the Brontë sisters and Emily stood frozen, seeing her name posted there.
“It was commissioned in 1939, but not unveiled until 1947 due to the war,” Nine informed her.
“I’m here?” She gasped, “that really is me? And Anne? And Charlotte?”
“Yes, it is.”
“One day,” Clara added, “your book will not only become popular, but it shall also become one of the most studied books in Britain. We shall develop something called movies. Think of those as books and plays that are allowed to be shown on a box in people’s homes. Like the monitor in the TARDIS. All three of you—your books will be turned into those. Thousands upon thousands will see them.”
“And even your brother,” Nine magnified, “who died a failed artist, right? Well, it’s his paintings of you that shall hang in museums and will be the proof of what you look like to your readers.”
Emily Bronte covered her mouth, overcome with emotion and Clara held her.
“Emily is it too much?”
“No,” she gasped, “this is perfect. This is everything I could have dreamed of. And more. Thank you both! Oh, thank you so much!”
Landing back in 1848, in the same spot, Emily emerged from the TARDIS, looking as if her burdens were lifted and there was a hopeful look in her eye. She turned back to the TARDIS as Nine and Clara were standing in the doorway.
“Thank you Governor and Clara,” she said again, “I shall return to my writing desk tomorrow, with fresh vigor, ambitions renewed, and ready to face the most chilling critic and reviewer.”
“Don’t worry,” Clara wiped the air, “over time, people learn to judge things for themselves and give them a chance rather than listen to others.”
“That’s good to know. And who knows, I may even write a fantasy about time travelers flying around the universe and saving galaxies.”
“That would be something,” Clara laughed.
“But what about Xaros?” Emily asked, “did you defeat him? I felt the light swivel around me when the fixed points were joined, but I just need to know.”
“He has been defeated for now,” Nine informed her, “but I’m curious. When the points in time were activated and the light of Time swiveled around you, where were you?”
“Oh don’t worry. I was in a bedroom in London where Anne and I had to return there to destroy any rumors that we were both the same author. I suppose my fixed point was just me defending myself. Only she saw it occur.”
“Good. Well, Emily good luck, and you know what? Just be fantastic.”
“I’ll do my best,” she smiled.
Final farewells were offered and Emily returned to walking home while Clara and Nine went back into the TARDIS.
“Funny,” Clara said, “I don’t recall Emily writing another book after Wuthering Heights.”
“It’s because she can’t. She may have begun it, but she can’t finish it. She dies in a few months.”
“She does?”
“Tuberculosis.”
“Oh.”
Seeing her look dow
ncast, Nine stood near her and leaned on the consul unit.
“We can’t save everyone, Clara. All we can do is give them hope.”
“Yes, I suppose you are right. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Chapter 21
The War of the Angels
A massive battle in the midst of space, where Angel and Dalek fought on epic scale. On Twelve’s TARDIS, Donna was with him and they watched the event.
“This is one time where I do not know if we are right to stand by and do nothing, or if we should be helping,” Donna noted.
“Believe me,” Twelve responded, “we will help.”
“Have you ever done this before?” She asked, “Stand by and be so detached?”
“Yes, I have. And no, I also have not. Yet the fact remains, to help Angels who over time will become stronger than even Daleks. My older self has thought and felt the same thing for quite some time. Will they go back on their word and try and keep the soldiers in the future once the Daleks have been crushed?”
“You and I both know, the Daleks will always survive.”
“True, they do, even when I lose everything.”
“Yes, they will. They always find a way to shrink back into the chinks of the universe. But if the Angels are not what they claim, then you will have another enemy at your hands. Even stronger than it was before.”
“Yes. That’s the dilemma of this battle. When you don’t know if you fight for a side, but they are only two evils battling at once.”
They continued to watch onward and then the war began to sway more toward the side of the Daleks, so then it came time to assist, as they knew they would have to.
“Donna,” Twelve looked at her, imploringly.
“Don’t worry, Doctor. I’m prepared.”
“If we don’t make it through this, then one last time, huh?”
“I can think of worse ways to go.”
Twelve wanted to cry for a moment, worried that just as they found each other again, they would lose each other, there at the end of all things.