Eyes of Time: The Final Line ✓

Chapter 12: Age of Steel

[Outside the Tyler house]

The Alchemist flicks her fingers toward their attackers, and the Cybermen collapse like lifeless statues. Her hair falls back in a cascade of fiery ginger waves, revealing her glowing, furious eyes.

"What the hell was that? What's with your eyes!?" Ricky shouts, his voice laced with alarm.

"We'll have that instead. Run!" the Doctor answers for her, cutting off further questions.

The Time Lady grabs Ricky and Mickey by their arms, pulling them out of their shock and into a sprint toward the driveway.

Mrs. Moore presses on the van's horn, yelling, "Everybody in!"

Pete turns back, his voice desperate, "I've got to go back. My wife's in there."

The Doctor stops him with a hard glare, "Anyone inside that house is dead. If you want to help, then don't let her die for nothing. You've got to come with us right now."

"They're all already dead! All of them!" the Alchemist shouts as she dives into the van.

Mrs. Moore leans out, urgency in her tone, "Come on! Get a move on!"

"Rose, she's not your mother," the Doctor tells her, dragging her forward as she hesitates.

"I know," Rose snaps back, glaring at him with red-rimmed eyes.

"Come on!" he orders, and finally, they all break into a run.

"Finished chatting? Never seen a slower getaway in my life! At least ginger has legs!" Mrs. Moore grumbles as the van's door slams shut, and everyone piles inside.

The van roars to life, speeding away past the advancing troops of Cybermen, their metallic figures shrinking into the distance.

[Van]

"What was that?" Ricky demands, his voice sharp with suspicion, "What did you do!?"

The Alchemist rolls her natural eyes and replies flatly, "Specialty lenses. They let out a charge through my body when needed."

"Are you with Cybus!?" Jake snaps, eyes narrowing.

"No. Just a bit of technology from home," the Doctor interjects, his tone dismissive but curious.

He glances at her, silently wondering about the full extent of what she'd done. They'd faced Cybermen before, but her abilities had never been this strong.

"You can do it again, then?" Mickey asks.

The Alchemist shakes her head, "No. I don't have enough left for that."

Ricky scoffs, "Right. So, we don't have a weapon anymore."

"Yeah, we've got weapons," Jake says, his gaze locking onto Pete with a menacing glare, "Might not work on those metal things, but they're good enough for men like him."

"Leave him alone. What's he done wrong?" Rose defends, crossing her arms.

"Oh, you know, just laid a trap that wiped out the government and left Lumic in charge," Jake snaps back.

Pete glares at him, his voice rising, "If I was part of all that, do you think I'd leave my wife inside!?"

"Maybe your plan went wrong," Ricky grumbles, "Still gives us the right to execute you, though."

"Talk about executions, and you'll make me your enemy," the Doctor says, his voice now cold and dangerous, "And take some really good advice. You don't want to do that."