The Beginning of the End (Doctor Who)

Chap. 16

Before the Doctor can protest, you're out the doors, met with a very dark, very large circular room, walls intersected with archways, a long staircase in front of you, a bright light shining down them. Doctor 2 follows momentarily as the archways begin to randomly light up.

"Look around you." The female voice returns, "You stand in the Chamber of the Dead."

"As you've said. So, what do you want?" You ask, slowly walking around.

"You are known to all here, for you are the Doctor of War." You burst out into laughter again, an actual tear falling.

"Seriously?" You exclaim at the box, "You?"

Doctor 2 seems conflicted between your laughter and the accusation.

"The Doctor, yes." He nods, "But the Doctor of War? Never, ma'am, never." He confidently says.

"We offer you a gift." She continues, "Return to us the human on your TARDIS and in exchange, you may speak with her again." You assume she's referring to the WWI officer.

Her. Oh, no. Bill.

"Speak with whom?" He inquires as a figure walks out of a doorway, a bright light behind her. "Young lady, who are you?" You're standing a short distance in front of the archway as it lights up, Bill walking out.

You give her a curt wave, but she keeps looking straight ahead, smiling.

"Is he here? Is the Doctor here?" She hopefully asks.

The Doctor runs out of the TARDIS, a look of surprise on his face, and confusion.

"Doctor." She gasps, running up and taking him in for a hug. "I knew it! I did, I knew it. I knew you couldn't be dead, you don't have the concentration." She laughs, but his face falls.

He pulls away, taking his sonic screwdriver out. "Doctor? What are you doing?" He scans her, face stone hard.

"Just keep still, please." He whispers as you walk closer. "Bill Potts."

"Yeah." She nods.

"My friend Bill Potts was turned into a Cyberman. She-she was gone when I woke..." He turns to you.

"Oh, did I forget to mention?" You smile, "Puddle girl Heather came, took us back, they flew off together into happily ever after."

"Yeah, I totally pulled." Bill nods.

"How romantic." He sarcastically says, "Where is she?"

"Well, she's... She's..." Bill looks around.

"And how did you get here?" The Doctor continues to question.

"I don't... I, I can't."

"Can't remember?" You finish.

"I bet you can't." The Doctor circles her, scanning again with his sonic screwdriver.

"That device. What is it?" Doctor 2 inquires.

"It's a sonic screwdriver." He answers.

"A, a what screwdriver?"

"It's really a very good job." The Doctor nods, still eyeing her.

"An audio screwdriver?"

"No." You frustratingly sigh, "Alien version of a screwdriver, but with sonic in the name."

"There are only three low-key markers indicating that she's a duplicate." The Doctor informs.

"I'm not a duplicate!" Bill exclaims.