𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 ☆ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑀𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒 𝑆𝑎𝑔𝑎 ( 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟷 )

𝟶𝟾. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙬 - 𝙄𝙄

Continued from The Beast Below ― I
__________

Amy stirred awake in a small cubicle, and she frowned, seeing four screens in front of her, and three big buttons that were labeled PROTEST, RECORD and FORGET. She glanced back to see one of those Smilers in a booth, then turned back as a message began playing.

"Welcome to voting Cubicle 330C. Please leave this installation as you would wish to find it. The United Kingdom recognizes the right to know of all its citizens. A presentation concerning the history of Starship UK will begin shortly. Your identity is being verified on our electoral roll. Name: Amelia Jessica Pond. Age: 1,306."

"Shut up!" Amy gasped, giggling slightly.

"Marital status. . ." Amy straightened. "Unknown."

She frowned as the true message began to play. "You are here because you want to know the truth about this starship, and I am talking to you because you're entitled to know." The older-looking man on the screen stated. "When this presentation has finished, you will have a choice. You may either protest, or forget. If you choose to protest, understand this: if just one percent of the population of this ship do likewise, the programme will be discontinued, with consequences for you all. If you choose to accept the situation — and we hope that you will — then press the 'Forget' button." Amy pursed her lips, looking down at the various buttons that were being explained to her. "All the information I'm about to give you will be erased from your memory. You will continue to enjoy the safety and amenities of Starship UK, unburdened by the knowledge of what has been done to save you. Here, then, is the truth about Starship UK, and the price that has been paid for the safety of the British people. May God have mercy on our souls."

Amy gasped, looking from screen to screen as the presentation played. She quickly slammed her hand down on the FORGET button, and panted a bit. She frowned, wiping the tears from her face as she saw "Message Waiting" on the screen. Curious, she hit play.

Her eyes widened when she herself came on the small telly, tears in her eyes. "This isn't a trick." She said. "This is real. You've got to find the Doctor and Freja and get them back to the TARDIS. Don't let them investigate any more. Stop everything. Do whatever you have to. Just please, please get off this ship!"

The door behind her opened, and the Doctor and Freja both walked right in, with Mandy standing just a couple feet outside the threshold. The message began to repeat. "Amy?" The Doctor asked, looking at the screen.

Amy quickly turned the message off, and Freja tilted her head. "What did you do, Ames?"

The Doctor scanned the ceiling with the sonic screwdriver. "Basic memory wipe." He responded. "Must've erased about twenty minutes."

"But why would I choose to forget?" Amy asked in confusion.

"Because everyone does." Mandy spoke up from just outside the cubicle. "Everyone chooses the 'Forget' button."

"Did you?" Freja glanced her way.

"I'm not eligible to vote yet." She shook her head. "I'm twelve. Any time after you're sixteen, you're allowed to see the film and make your choice. And then once every five years."

"And once every five years, everyone chooses to forget what they've learned." The Doctor crossed his arms. "Democracy in action."