Wanderer of Time: Silence Begins (doctor who)

Chapter 46: Corrupted DNA

The trio sat around a computer within one of the laboratories of the building. The Doctor had analyzed the DNA from Wanda's hand through the system. It took a moment for the genetic code to process, but eventually the results came through on the screen. The Doctor whipped on his glasses, to which Wanda glanced at him and smiled. She really did love the 'I'm being clever' glasses. She wondered for a second what the Doctor would look like with both glasses and Stetson on, but hurriedly shook herself out of that mindset. Bad Wanda. She needed to stop thinking things like that.

"Amazing," the Doctor mumbled after the results came through, his eyes shifting rapidly over the flowing information on the computer screen and analyzing every detail.

"What?" Martha asked, trying to understand why the Doctor said this.

"Lazarus' DNA," the Doctor stated.

"I can't see anything different," replied Martha, gazing intently to the information too. Though, not quite understanding it like the Doctor was.

Even Wanda could not really comprehend what happening to Lazarus' genetic codes on screen. She did have some basic understandings, but nothing compared to what the Doctor could calculate and work out. Mostly, she only knew what was happening because of her insight. Sometimes it did pay to know the future. Then again, it also made things boring sometimes in always having the answers. It must be how the Doctor feels sometimes.

"Look at it," the Doctor said, pointing at the screen where the helix structure could be seen. They saw how the genetic code fluctuated and shifted.

"Oh, my god! Did that just change?" Martha questioned, finding the sight before them astounding. The Doctor nodded in reply. Martha frowned while staring back at the screen. "But it can't have."

"But it did," the Doctor and Wanda spoke together.

"It's impossible," Martha said firmly.

"Martha, my dear, nothing is impossible," Wanda said quietly.

"And that's two impossible things we've seen so far tonight," the Doctor added in. He smiled to them both. "Don't you love it when that happens?"

"Always," Wanda grinned at him.

"That means Lazarus has changed his own molecular patterns," Martha breathed in amazement.

"Hypersonic sound waves to destabilize the cell structure, then a metagenetic program to manipulate the coding in the protein strands," the Doctor rambled. Martha stared at him with great confusion.

"Basically, he hacked into his genes and ordered the rejuvenation to occur," Wanda explained to the confused girl. Martha nodded, finding that explanation much easier to understand.

"But they're still mutating now," noted Martha, nodding to the screen that showed the ever changing and corrupt DNA.

"Because he missed something," the Doctor stated. His gazed darkened, finding a feeling of dread go through him. "Something in his DNA has been activated and won't let him stabilize, something that's trying to change him."

"Change him into what?" asked Martha.

"I don't know, but I think we need to find out," the Doctor replied.

"Yep. We need to go upstairs and quickly," Wanda said, moving away from the computer and towards the lift. The other two followed after at a quick pace as the lift doors dinged, opening wide to let them inside.

Wanda pinched her thumb the entire way up, knowing it was too late for poor Lady Thaw. There had been nothing she could have done for the woman. Lady Thaw was meant to die. Wanda let out a small sigh under her breath, shaking her head in regret. She wished she could have changed the woman's death, but it did not matter now. What was done is done, and there was nothing anyone can do about it now. Decades of travelling with the Doctor have taught her this lesson. She would just have to press onward to save others of this night. Steeling herself for what they were about to find in Lazarus's office, Wanda straightened her posture as the lift drew closer to the office above.