The Beginning of the End (Doctor Who)

Chap. 61

The Doctor steps onto the center stage, activating the proximity lock. She cautiously looks around, and you can see her calculating everything. Danger, a way out, Yaz...

Jade and the man stand behind her, both looking equally amased and confused as one the other.

"Who are they?" The older man questions. His accent reveals a human, possibly Liverpool.

"These are the Mouri, Doctor." Swarm answers.

"The remnants of them, at least." You correct, "In the Temple of Atropos on the planet Time. Recall anything?"

"There is no planet called Time." She denies, still looking closely in every corner as if Yaz will jump out and say this is all a joke.

"Yet here we are. The Temple of Atropos is broken, and the Mouri are failing. Creatures who hold Time in this Universe together, broken." Swarm laughs.

"It could really harm a TARDIS, don't you think?" Missy suggests, stepping out from behind a Mouri.

The Doctor appears a little surprised to see her, but not at all shocked.

"Where is my friend?" She demands.

Missy pulls a sad face, playing remorseful. "We had to make a short-term repair." She sighs, raising her umbrella to show Yaz & Vinder standing beside them.

"Yaz!" The blonde shouts, running to her.

"Doctor, don't come near. I've seen what he can do." She warns.

"She's got a point there, Doctor. Try to rescue them and we'll reduce them to bare particles floating through the air, if you're lucky." Missy agrees.

"Will you count?" Swarm asks her.

"Five," the Time Lady begins.

"What have you done to them?" The blonde coldly demands. In that statement, you see more than just concern for the human girl...

"Always the wrong question. It's what I'm about to do, Doctor." The Ravager smiles, slowly walking, taking his time. Watch the victims burn.

"Four."

"Poor placeholders, hardly equipped to be Mouri, are they?"

Ah, now you see where this is going. They take the Mouri's place, they take the Mouri's position. It's only fair.

"Three."

"When I click my fingers, the full force of Time will blast through them. How many seconds will their bodies be able to take before they die, Doctor?" Swarm questions, dancing in a close circle with her.

"Two."

"Stop. You don't have to do this. Tell me what you want." She pleads.

"One."

One.

"All in good time." Swarm says.

In the instant he snaps his fingers, the Doctor pushes her pets and herself onto the stages, activating her sonic screwdriver. In that instant as well, they become engrossed into Time.

"No, no, no." You shout, growing louder, "Where have they gone?"

"It appears hiding in their own time stream, visiting the past and future." Swarm answers, though he seems quite calm.

"You knew she was going to do this." You blankly state, eyes burning.

"As you'll soon learn, Darkness, you're not the only one with a plan." He smiles.

"You knew she was going to jump in there." You insist, taking steps towards him. He doesn't back down, only smiling.

"You made a promise, and I'm going to hold you to it." He authoritatively states.