Until We Burn | Dr Who

Chapter Fifty-Four: Change

"That can't be the same guy. It's impossible. It must be a trick," Martha muses, the three of us watching in dismay as the new, younger Lazarus mingles with his guests, posing for photographs. It's as if everything else has been forgotten in favour of his new face.

"Oh, it's not a trick. I wish it were."

She looks at the Doctor with a flicker of panic. "Then what's happened?"

"He's just changed what it means to be human."

We watch for a little longer. The woman from earlier approaches him but their conversation is cut short as he swipes a tray of canapes from a passing waiter, polishing off half of them before we have even reached the pair. "Richard!" she protests.

"I'm famished."

"Energy deficit," the Doctor explains, taking them by surprise. "Always happens with this kind of process."

He scoffs and continues with his snack. "You talk as if you see this every day, Mr..."

"Doctor. And, well, no, not every day, but I have some experience of this kind of transformation."

"That's not possible," Lazarus coldly replies.

His eyes glitter at the challenge. "Using hypersonic sound waves to create a state of resonance? That's inspired."

If it comes as an insult or threat, Lazarus doesn't show it. Instead, he turns to properly face the Doctor and enquires, "You understand the theory, then?"

"Enough to know that you couldn't possibly have allowed for all the variables."

It is not guilt that passes across his face, but amusement. "No experiment is entirely without risk."

My eyes narrow, my dislike for the man growing. "So you thought you'd invite a hundred people to come see? Clearly you're not stupid but that's rather spectacular!"

The Doctor is quick to join in, albeit far less harshly, "The thing nearly exploded. You might as well have stepped into a blender."

"Neither of you are qualified to comment," the woman snaps.

"If I hadn't stopped it, it would've exploded."

Sending her a warning look, Lazarus puts on a simpering smile to placate us. "Then I thank you, Doctor. But that's a simple engineering issue. What happened inside the capsule was exactly what was supposed to happen. No more, no less."

Martha scoffs, "You've no way of knowing that. Not until you've run proper tests."

He laughs, determined to discourage further doubt. "Look at me! See what happened. I'm all the proof you need."

"The device will be properly certified before we start to operate commercially."

We turn on the woman in horror. "'Commercially'? You are joking! That'll cause chaos."

"Not chaos — change. A chance for humanity to evolve, to improve."

"This isn't about improving, this is about you and your customers living a little longer."

Lazarus' smile, like everything about him, is cold, almost appearing empty. The sight of it unnerves me. "Not a little longer, Doctor, a lot longer. Perhaps indefinitely."

This little exchange has proven to be enough for them. She sends us one last glare and smooths down the black sequins of her dress. "Richard, we have things to discuss. Upstairs."

"Goodbye, Doctor," he says with a taunting wave. "In a few years, you'll look back and laugh at how wrong you were." He takes Martha's hand as if to shake it, kissing her knuckles. It lasts a little more than a second — uncomfortably long. With a wink my way, he leaves.