"Devotedly…"
Summary: The Mistress' real intentions are revealed…Far worse than anything the Doctor could have imagined.
Disclaimer: Who me? No commercial interest or infringement intended whatsoever…
London…
St. Paul's Cathedral…
Yesterday…
"So, off they go to do mayhem and all that…" Missy beamed at the Doctor as her Cyberallies marched off, she arm-in-reluctant-arm with him, strolling.
"Cybermen? Seriously?" the Doctor sighed at the horde.
"Well, the Daleks wouldn't hear of another try after Trenzalore. Even those I contacted in an earlier time line. And frankly, they were very rude to me in our last encounter." Missy frowned.
"Hope you're not planning to conquer the Universe with this lot…" the Doctor eyed the horde of Cybermen. "The Daleks and several other races eat them for breakfast."
"You mean even if you don't stop them, yet again?" arch look.
"I do have a rather good track record there…Say, now…" Concerned look. "You are aware the last batch evolved to the point of being able to assimilate Time Lords, after a fashion. You haven't gone and done something blitheringly stupid like put yourself into their matrix?"
"Oh…" Missy sighed, batting eyes…Handkerchief dabbing. "You do care, I knew you did."
"Oh don't go and do that…Koschei…We were friends once…And for a moment, here on Earth…"
"And I cherish the memories, Doctor." She nodded eagerly. "So? How are you going to foil my evil plan this time?"
"Give me a minute. I'm still getting used to being Scottish." Frown.
"It suits you. I always thought the younger versions a bit lightweight for you." Warm beam. "Well, I'd suggest…If I may…" demure look. "You appeal to the buried consciousness and isolate the Cyber programming via…"
"What? Now you're telling me how to do my job?"
"No…Oh, not at all." Pause. Grin… "Oh, you…" shake of head, eager stare. "You've guessed..If you didn't know all along…"
"That this is nonsense, this 'Cyberarmy conquers all' bit? Of course." He frowned. "Now how's about telling me the real plan."
Shy smile… "I'd say the word…But that would hurt you…River and all." she sighed.
"What word? Oh… 'Spoilers'?" sigh.
"I didn't want to hurt you, dearest." Anxious look. "You know I never went near the Galactic Library and I took pains not to take River's form when I was regenerated."
"Thanks. I suppose."
"Entirely welcome. Oh! I'd best get this taken care of…" she indicated the Cyber army rapidly dispersing… "Then we can…" she pulled out the same device that had killed Dr. Chang, her chief assistant, shortly before and the entire Cyberarmy stopped in its tracks, then dissolved. "…Move along…"
"I was rather hoping you'd pull off something spectacular …" she smiled. "But I know I'll see my ole Doctor do his stuff soon enough…" she hugged his arm as he stared.
"Come, lets back to my complex. Poor Clara's all alone with the last of my Cyberpeople." She touched the unit in her hand and they dematerialized and rematerialized back in the room where Clara sat stunned, facing her Cyber guards.
"Are you all right, Miss Clara?" Missy asked. "They were warned not to harm you."
"Actually, they brought me a drink…" Clara noted, a bit subdued. Holding drink to the Doctor's view…
"Tell me you didn't…" he eyed her.
"Oh, good." Missy beamed. "I wasn't sure how hospitable my programming in the matrix would make them. And really, Doctor? If they or l intended harm…?"
"Would anyone else like something from the bar?" a Cyberman politely asked.
"I'll take a white wine, thank you, dear." Missy replied. "Doctor?"
"Nothing right now, thanks."
"Right, then…" Missy nodded. "So now…The diabolical plot…Yes? What could I be up to this time?"
"I'd more like to know…Why? Koschei. You're free of Rasillon's drums…You have a chance now to set your own destiny." The Doctor noted calmly.
"Yes, I do…" Missy nodded. "All thanks to you, darling." Warm smile. "But wouldn't it be just a teensy-weensy bit dull if I go all good and savey. I mean where'd the challenge be for you in that?"
"So that's it then…Back to square one…" the Doctor sighed.
"You sound like you're tired." Missy eyed him, anxious look. "Are you ill? Clara?" she turned to the blinking, stunned Clara… "Has he been taking care of himself since the regeneration. It was terribly draining this one…I should know. I couldn't get around for a week. You should sit down. You know, I'm hungry…Are you hungry, Clara? Why don't the three of us all sit down and have a decent, home-cooked meal? Yes?" urgent look to Clara…Shading into pleading…
"Please?" she turned back to the Doctor. "Earth's safe for the moment and we haven't spent any time together in so long…And my kitchen here is really wonderful…The finest cooking implements in this galaxy. Did you know I can cook?" she smiled. "Come…" warm beam, gentle tug. "I know it's been eons literally since you had a decent Galifrean pot of geralil. Clara? Come on, we'll all feel better after a nice dinner."
"Just a mo…" the Doctor put hands up, waving…Then… "Geralil? You can make Geralil?"
"Like my mother…And you loved my mother's Geralil." She beamed. "With just that touch of Elonian quivel root."
"No one ever could make it like your mum." The Doctor nodded.
"Except, now…Her daughter." Missy, archly.
"Doctor?" Clara, anxiously.
"I think we need to research this, Clara. See what Missy here is really up to…" the Doctor noted to her, following Missy. "Really, with Elonian quivel root?"
"Doctor?!" Clara hurried after them…
"You'll never guess where I managed to find some…You know that little colony Lord President Kolchat established, the one where we met during the Time War?" Missy, eagerly.
"I thought the Daleks vaporized it…About 2000 times." The Doctor, startled.
"Fragmented…But on one of the fragments, now an asteroid…"
….