Chapter 14: The Return
Almost as soon as the Daleks were gone, the humans had reclaimed whatever hospital buildings had stayed standing, along with their medical supplies. Clara had spent a couple of days in one, before discharging herself when they determined there was nothing physically wrong with her. Her body had just forgotten how to use some of its systems while they'd been idle.
By this time, she'd located Journey, who'd located her ship and given Clara a bunk in it while she tried to source some key components the Daleks had stripped.
Outside, the people of the planet were in the process of rebuilding, moving back into the ruins of their cities, salvaging what they could and locating the more intact structures to patch up and turn into proper homes again.
Both Clara and the planet had a lot of recovering to do, but both were in high spirits. They were free in a way that had seemed impossible only a few days ago.
Today marked one week since the liberation. Already, Clara's voice and vision had returned and her legs had progressed to the point where she could walk on crutches. Sleep was another thing her body was learning to do again. It had come fitfully at first and she'd barely managed two hours for a couple of nights. In her sleep deprived state, she'd found herself instinctively trying to zoom in on things she saw, or climb a staircase by shouting elevate. But it was fading. Every night the sleep was getting more even. And every day she was putting less and less weight on the crutches.
"OK. Try it now." Said Journey.
Clara was leaning against a counter, propping herself up with her hands. She let go and waved her arms to stay balanced upright. Now came the tricky part. She placed all her weight on one foot and moved the other forward, looking very much like a child taking its first steps. She laughed in delight when she managed to set it down without falling.
Next, she placed all her weight on the other foot, but found the muscles there lacked the same coordination and immediately gave way, sending her to the floor. "Well, getting there. Maybe I'll manage two steps once I've had something to eat."
The food was very basic. Partially because it was in short supply, mostly because her shrunken stomach couldn't take anything richer right now. Basic stock, with some nutri blocks ground into it. But sweet nectar to a woman who'd eaten nothing for seven weeks. In Clara's mind, she wondered whether she'd ever feel unhappy with anything ever again.
"So how're repairs going?" She asked Journey.
"Well, they're nearly done. Plus, I got a new message today. Says to return to the Federation fleet. They'll be moving back in soon, to make sure the Daleks don't try again. I'll probably be deployed with them."
"Congratulations." Said Clara. "I suppose you'll be leaving me behind?"
"Well, you'd be welcome to join us. I'd've thought you'd want to stay away from the Daleks now?"
"No. Staying in the action is the best way to find the TARDIS. Would be fine if I could just get this vortex manipulator working." She tapped some buttons. She'd tried the same in the Dalek suit but hadn't known the first thing about fixing it. "Anyway. I want to keep making a difference, even if it's dangerous. The moment I stop, I may as well be back in that Dalek ship, sitting and watching them destroy…" She winced at the memories, before shaking them off and cheerily helping herself to more soup.
Journey recognised what Clara was going through. She'd seen hardened veterans reduced to jibering wrecks with just a few days contact with the Daleks. Clara had been through a lot more. Of course, she'd convinced some councillors she knew to talk to her, but she wasn't sure what the long term effects would be. "Do you have any sort of therapist you can talk to in your time? People go insane with just a few days around those things."
"Oh, UNIT have some who specialise in this sort of thing. But I'm fine. A million more rels and everything'll be back to normal."
"What did you say?"
"A million rels… ten days. Maybe I should talk to someone after all…
"Excuse me." A tech knocked on the door. "There's a reporter, wants to talk to you."
Clara had been getting visitors like this all week. Even the President had come to convey her thanks, while hiding behind a wall of bodyguards. The people were not happy that she'd promised to use her position to protect them, but done nothing to actually stop the Daleks until held at gunpoint. She was unlikely to be re elected.
"Look." She said. "I've been through the story with a lot of people already. You can look it all up." They were all treating her like she'd brought down the Daleks single handed. Not only did she want to just move on, she hated hero worship just as much as the Doctor. But she didn't have a TARDIS to escape into.
"Oh no, I'm not here for that. I just wanted to get to know Clara the person. About where you're from. What sort of things you like." She said.
Clara thought for a moment. Actually, talking about home seemed appealing. And it might dull some of the awe people had attached to her. "Alright. 5 minutes." She chatted to her for a while, as much as she could tell.
"This'll be quite useful." The reporter said when they were done. "I'm planning to write a definitive account of the war you see. You'll be remembered in history."
"Oh don't thank me." She sighed. "It took a lot of people to bring down the Daleks." But then she had a thought. "Actually, when you get round to writing the history books, could you make sure they mention that I'm a companion of the Doctor. And also give the exact time and location of where I'm sitting right now?"
She looked confused. "Is there some reason?"
"You'll see in a second." Said Clara.
But instead of the roar of the TARDIS engines she'd hoped for, a sudden burst of sparks filled the air, and a strange looking woman appeared in the room.
One look at her and Clara immediately lunged forward and snatched Journey's side arm off her.
"Oh let's not start that again." Said Missy. "We both know you've not got it in you."
"Perhaps. But I don't have to kill you. I'd just like to see what your next regeneration looks like."
"What? Don't you think I'm pretty now? I might expect more gratitude for saving the Doctor's life. And his soul. I read ahead in the history books. You had to come here. I knew it'd destroy him if he had to put you through this. So you see, I did it for him."
"I don't believe you. You're just making this up as you go along. You tried to make a deal with the Daleks, twice. Not to mention, you kept using me as bait."
"Well, I reasoned you'd be willing to lay down your life for the Doctor. So it makes sense that I should lay down your life for the Doctor. Now do you want a lift or not? Can't be worse than a lift from the Daleks."
"I don't know." Said Clara. "At least I know where they're coming from. You… You change depending on which way the wind's blowing."
Missy licked her finger and pointed up. "Well, it's blowing east now so I guess that means I'm on the right side. Come on." Before Clara had time to react, Missy pressed a button and the world lit up blue.
When the light faded, Clara found herself back in the main chamber on Scaro, but the Time Lady was nowhere to be seen. She must have remotely operated the manipulator on her wrist. She pulled the thing off to stop any further trickery.
But she was surrounded by Daleks. They turned their guns on her, but didn't fire.
"Clara!" The Doctor was calling, from just round the corner.
"Look Doctor, just accept she's gone." Said Missy's voice.
"No. I'm not going 'till I find her."
"Alight. If I can bring her, or her body, to you ten seconds ago. Then will you just save your stupid neck?" Said Missy and promptly zapped from the place.
"Doctor!" She called.
He hurried in and cried in delight as he saw her sprawled there.
"SAVE THE DALEKS OR YOUR ASSOSCIATE DIES." Shouted the Dalek Supreme.
"Yeah, that's not gonna work." He said, pulling on his shades.
The Daleks fired, but the shots dissipated short of her. The Doctor pressed a button on the shades and the TARDIS control room rapidly formed around her. A second later, he raced through the doors. "Sonic shades." He explained. "See, the TARDIS was never destroyed, just rearranged. I've now put it back together. And why are you still on the floor?"
Clara thought for a moment. She really didn't want to talk about everything right now. Not to mention, the Doctor might take it as sign to never bring her on dangerous adventures again, which was not something she wanted. No matter what she went through, seeing the wonders of the universe and doing some good for them more than made up for the dangers.
"Missy tried to use me as a shield." She said. "A Dalek immobilised me, but I fell on that spot on the floor, so they couldn't get me.
The Doctor peered at her. Clara could only hope he wouldn't recognise her noticeably longer hair or her dishevelled clothes. He shrugged them off. Whether he'd genuinely missed them or just taken a hint that she didn't want to talk about it, she wasn't sure. But she didn't question it.
"Let's go then." He went to press some buttons on the console while Clara climbed into the seat. She thought about her past self out there, desperately searching for help. But she couldn't do anything. Not only might it end the universe but it would leave Weatley under Dalek occupation. Like it or not, she'd have to stay.
When the Doctor had his back turned she leaned into the console and whispered. "Just one thing. If it's possible, just keep away from the Daleks for a while."