Time and Twinford (the unlimited rice pudding remix)

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

They go to talk to LB. All of them.

"I told you to sort out the local alien incursion," she says, staring the Doctor dead in the eyes. She looks very, very tired. "Not assemble a small army."

"This hardly counts as an army," says the Doctor dismissively. "Although, considering who we're likely to be going up against, I feel like a small army might be necessary."

"I can probably break a grown man's arm in less than thirty seconds," Ruby volunteers.

"I definitely don't have a bag full of high explosives," says Ace, "because the Doctor told me not to bring them. But if I did happen to have them, which I totally don't, stop looking at me like that, Professor; I'd be just as dangerous as Carrots over there is."

Hitch just shrugs. "I have a gun. But you knew that already."

LB glances over at Clancy, who looks rather uncomfortable with the attention she's giving him. "I... keep Ruby from doing stupid things occasionally? And I can juggle," he adds, almost as an afterthought. "I don't know if that helps, though."

"Good enough," she sighs. Her sharp gaze returns to the Doctor. "What are we doing here, Doctor? You said that all you'd need was a week or less, and you'd sort out whatever alien device it was that brought Valerie Capaldi back to life. You said you and your assistant would keep out of our way."

"Things have gotten markedly more complicated since then," says the Doctor. He's leaning on his umbrella like it's a cane. He frowns. "And I rather thought we were keeping out of your way."

"Miss McShane blew up Lab 21 yesterday evening," LB says dryly. "It was a very impressive explosion, or so I'm told."

Ace winces at this, looking more than a little guilty. The Doctor makes a disapproving noise, and frowns at her, but doesn't say anything.

"So Nine-Lives is back," Ruby says, almost wonderingly. "I wasn't just imagining her..."

"We were told you had an issue with a shapeshifter," says the Doctor.

"Except we aren't so sure that's the case anymore!" Ace says, taking over the explanation with vivid enthusiasm. "Just because she was dead and now she's not doesn't mean anything – there's a whole load of aliens and non-aliens that could have done something to her body!"

"And now we know the Daleks are involved," says the Doctor, and trails off ominously.

Clancy raises a hand into the air tentatively. "Sorry, I might be missing something here, but. What exactly are the Daleks?"

"Nasty, warmongering genocidal excuses for pepperpots," the Doctor says disdainfully, and draws in a deep, shuddering breath. "Imagine a race of beings that were created on the principle of a vast mistake, and in their creation, became so committed to the mistake that they decided to destroy worlds and planets and galaxies because of it! Those are the Daleks – repugnant no matter how matter you look at them."

"Not good, then," Clancy says after a beat.

"Yeah, that's putting it lightly," says Ace.

"So they're evil," LB says. "That's all well and good, but how does this relate to our recently resurrected friend?"

"Duplicates," the Doctor and Ace say together, and then exchange a glance.

"Last time we met them, the Daleks had found a way to copy people," Ace explains. "Perfectly. Bodies, memories, everything – but, you know, evil. And likely to snap somebody's neck, just for fun," she adds, looking disgusted. The Doctor pats her arm distractedly.