"Wait, what?" she squawked, taking a startled step back. "Memory wipe? What? Doctor?"
He shook his head. "I can't tell you yet, I'm sorry. It's too soon. Do you trust me?" His tone was light, but his eyes searched hers earnestly.
She flushed under his steady gaze, remembering how she had imagined him telling her she was loved back in wherever she was, but returned it honestly. "Yes. With my life." She paused before amending, "Maybe not your driving, but I trust you."
He scoffed, tapping her on the forehead. "And they call me rude."
"That's because you are, old man," a British voice called out jovially. A head popped up from behind the Doctor's shoulder, revealing a familiar face with a brown pork pie hat atop his head. "Now that you actually remember me, hullo, Lyssa!"
She squinted at him, trying to place him. Her head started to spin and she blinked rapidly, rubbing her temple. "Sorry. I can't quite... I know I know you," she apologized, "But I can't quite remember you right now."
The Doctor gently pushed her hands away, stepping in front of her and studying her face, his hands on her temples and rubbing gently. "Looks like it's just a side effect from the memory wipe. Things got a bit stirred up in there, blurring a few of the memories. Should be gone soon. Your memories'll settle. Oh!"
He patted his pockets and and pulled out a folded slip of paper, handing it to her. "Take this. Don't look at it!" he added hastily when she started to open it. "You can't look at it! You'll have to show me when this is all over."
"When what's all over?" she objected unhappily. "Doctor, what's going on?"
He slid his hands down to her shoulders, resting them there, and waited until she met his eyes to continue. "Lyssa, this is important. In a few moments, I and everyone else at that table over there are going to lose our memories of the last hour. We're going to be as confused as you, all right? But we're all doing this willingly, for a very good reason. This paper is the key to unlocking your memories when it's all over. Show it to me, and I'll be able to bring them back. You'll understand the need for secrecy shortly. And for your own sake, don't try and look ahead. It will only bring you harm."
She nodded reluctantly, following him and the man behind him to the table where three other people sat, although she was happy to recognize Clara, in a tailored suit, among them. One of the others was a young man with part of his head shaved, and cybernetic implants placed above his right ear. The other was a young, dark-skinned woman, only the skin of her face showing beneath her headscarf. They both nodded at her in acknowledgement as she sat down next to them.
"Are we all ready?" the Doctor asked the group, taking his own seat. There was mumbled reluctant agreement, then they all placed their hands on a lump on the table she now saw to be vaguely worm-shaped next to a metal briefcase. The next instant, they all cried out in shock and flung them away from themselves, although the dark-skinned woman's cheeks briefly puffed out in imitation of the worms. Lyssa couldn't stop a startled cry along with the woman as she released it.
"Doctor?" Clara asked, sounding as confused as she felt.
"Don't touch it," the Doctor ordered, scanning the room.
"Where are we? How did we get here, though?" Clara insisted, inching back from the still moving worm.
"Who are you? Sorry, what's going on? I don't understand," the young man with the implants complained, taking his hand off the worm with disgust.
"Ugh! What is that thing?" the dark-skinned woman cried, her face going back to normal as soon as she stopped touching it.
"It's a memory worm," the Doctor answered absent-mindedly. "Deletes your memories. Ranger?" He frowned at the sight of the man she vaguely recognized, then caught sight of her. "Lyssa? When did you get here?"
"More to the point, how did I get here?" the woman complained, wiping her hands off on her clothes. "Last I remember I was answering the phone."
"The same way we all did, but we've forgotten," the Doctor explained.
"Oh, is this like an Escape Room, only with chances of death?" the young man - Ranger - asked excitedly. "Because I've never gotten to do one of those before."
"I have," Lyssa said. Her voice was quiet, but it was enough to make the Doctor and Ranger turn to her in concern.
"What happened?" Clara asked.
She snorted bitterly, memories of that awful night all too easily coming to mind. "People died."
"Sorry, but - who are you again?" the young woman across from her asked. "And how did we get here? And what's that?" She pointed to the case on the table in front of her.
There was a click, and then the Doctor's voice was speaking. "I am the Doctor, a Time Lord from Gallifrey. I have agreed to this memory wipe of my own free will."
A click, then her own voice again. "My name is Lyssa Devons, human-ish. And I have agreed to this memory wipe of my own free will."
A click. "I am Clara Oswald. Er... human. I have agreed to this memory wipe of my own free will. Do I really have to touch that worm thing?"
"Yes, you do. And change your shoes. They're useless for running in," the Doctor's voice scolded her mildly. "Jamie, you're next."
A click. "I am the Ranger, and I don't know what I am." A grin entered his voice. "My mummy tells me I'm special." There was a smacking sound and some muffled laughter before he continued. "Fine! I'm... I still don't know what I am, actually. Moving on, I have agreed to this memory wipe of my own free will."
"Good. Psi?" the Doctor's voice continued, while they all listened with varying degrees of confusion.
Another click. "I am Psi- augmented human. I have agreed to this memory wipe of my own free will." The young man - Psi - pulled a chip out from a slot on his head and stared at it. Sitting next to him, Lyssa couldn't miss the big 'Memory Corrupted' displayed on the screen at the top.
There was one last click, and then a woman's voice. "I am Saibra, mutant human. I have agreed to this memory wipe of my own free will."
Silence descended as everyone tried to take in what that meant, then was broken by a hiss as the metal briefcase on the table in between them slowly opened to reveal two screens, back -to-back so everyone could see. A golden K in a circle was displayed on the screen, then a hooded figure, hidden in the shadows. An electronically manipulated voice with a slight American accent began to speak.
"This is a recorded message. I am the Architect. Your last memory is of receiving a contact from an unknown agency. Me. Everything since has been erased from your minds. Now, pay close attention to this briefing."
Lyssa frowned, having no memories of that whatsoever, but then again the Doctor had mentioned that her memories would be mixed up for a bit due to the memory wipe -whenever that had happened.
The screen zoomed in on a large, luxurious building sitting alone on a planet, looking like almost like an advertisement for the place. "This is the Bank of Karabraxos, the most secure bank in the galaxy. A fortress for the super-rich. If you can afford your own star system, this is where you keep it. No one sets foot on the planet without protocols. All movement is monitored, all air consumption regulated. DNA is authenticated at every stage. Intruders will be incinerated."
A woman appeared on screen, breathing into a tube. The mist turned red, and nozzles came out of the wall and incinerated her and her companion in a burst of flame. Then the image switched to show a couple placing a painting in a drawer.
"Each vault, buried deep in the earth, is accessed by a drop-slot at the planet's surface. It's atomically sealed, an unbreakable lock. The atoms have all been scrambled. Your presence on this planet is unauthorized. A team will have been dispatched to terminate you."
Someone started pounding on the door, and they all jumped. "This is bank security! Open up!" a voice demanded through a grill.
"Your survival depends on following my instructions," the Architect continued.
"Open this door, and you will be humanely disposed of," the guard shouted. They all got up from their chairs, placing the table between themselves and the door.
"There's another exit!" Saibra announced excitedly, pointing at the back wall, where the faint outline of a door could be seen.
"All the information you need is in this case," the Architect informed them.
Psi took a chip from his head and plugged it in.
"What are you doing?" the Doctor frowned, ushering Lyssa and Clara behind him as the pounding on the door began to get louder.
"Downloading."
"Ah. Augmented human. Nice," the Doctor complimented.
"The Bank of Karabraxos is impregnable."
The Doctor took something shaped like a cell phone from the case.
"Please stand away from the door. We do not wish to hurt you before incineration!" the guard called again. The door began to creak.
"Yeah, somehow, I feel like the incineration might just hurt worse," the Ranger cracked. "Let's move, people!" He shoved his hat back, dark brown hair flying up as he did so.
The Doctor pulled out his sonic and began scanning the door, concentrating his efforts on a small area. Behind them, the door continued to creak, and the Architect continued with a last, chilling sentence as they managed to pry open the door. The Doctor ushered them all inside the narrow white hallway, then pulled the door almost shut, listening carefully.
"The Bank of Karabraxos has never been breached. You will rob the Bank of Karabraxos."
Glass shattered, and he pulled the door shut quietly. "Let's go. They're in the room, but they might not notice we're here. And, with a bit of luck, maybe they'll notice the worms and get curious." He turned around and saw Lyssa standing there, raising an eyebrow at him. Everyone else was already running down the corridor. He huffed. "Rude."
Lyssa just shook her head and took off after them, quickly followed by the Doctor. They rounded a corner and caught up to the others, stopped in a small alcove by a door that led to the lobby of the bank, where hundreds of people were walking about.
"Okay, okay, okay. Far enough,," the Doctor announced, turning to Psi. "Augmented human. Computer augmented, yes? Mainframe in your head?"
"I'm a gamer," the man said, eyeing him. "Sorry, who put you in charge?"
"He's a natural at it," Clara snarked, rubbing at a stitch in her side.
"You're a liar. That's a prison code on your neck," the Doctor challenged, ignoring her.
Psi hesitated, then gave in. "I'm a hacker slash bank robber."
The Doctor nodded, pleased. "Good. This is a good day to be a bank robber." He turned to Saibra. "Mutant human. What kind of mutant?"
She frowned at him skeptically, shifting from one foot to the other. "Like he said, why are you in charge now?"
He flapped a hand at her, sighing as if she were boring him. "It's my super power. What's yours?"
Saibra frowned, but reached out and took Clara's hand. A second later, there were two Claras standing in front of them, looking indistinguishable from the other. Then, she let go, and returned to her original form. "I touch living cells, I can replicate the owner."
"Your face, when we first saw you..." Clara mentioned carefully.
Saibra wrinkled her nose. "I touched the worm. Not really an experience I care to repeat."
"You can replicate their clothes, too?" Clara asked.
Saibra nodded. "I wear a hologram shell."
The Ranger whistled, looking suitably impressed. "Very nice. Why do I have the feeling that we've all been chosen for our specific skills, and they will all be used at one point or another?"
"Because you're the type of person who suspects everything?" Clara asked rhetorically, poking him in the side. "And what would I be chosen for, then, huh?"
He batted at her hand, looking wounded. "Your ability to handle me and the Doctor without going insane. I'd say that's pretty impressive. Not many people can do that."
The Doctor pulled the phone-shaped object from his pocket and studied it, raising his eyebrows when he realized the contents. "Human cells. DNA from a customer, perhaps? A disguise to get us in?"
"We're actually going to do it? We're going to rob the bank?" Clara asked in disbelief, rubbing her forehead, making the colorful charms on her bracelet jingle.
"I don't think we have a choice. We've already agreed to," the Doctor said gravely, handing the DNA sample to Saibra. She touched it, slipping the sample into her pocket and and transforming into a tall, gray-haired gentleman dressed in a suit.
"Well, on the bright side, I can now cross one more item off my bucket list!" the Ranger said cheerfully as he pulled open the door and they all stepped out, careful to assume an air of belonging as they joined the crowds and strode towards the banking hall.
Lyssa stared at him, memories of another trip with the hatted stranger finally starting to trickle in. "Why do you have robbing a bank on your bucket list?"
He frowned back at her over his shoulder. "Doesn't everyone?" Smirking at the look on her face, he fiddled with his hat, adjusting it until he was happy.
Edging closer to Saibra, the Doctor managed to whisper, "How long can you keep that up?"
"Long as I like," a deep voice informed him.
The Doctor nodded, then fell back to walk with Lyssa, Clara, and the Ranger. "Question one. Robbing banks is easy if you've got a TARDIS. So why am I not using it?"
"Question two, where is the TARDIS?" Clara pointed out, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Okay, yeah, that probably should have been question one," the Doctor admitted.
A shrill alarm started beeping, and security bars slid down over all the doors and windows. "Banking floor, locking down. Banking floor, locking down," a cheerful man's voice announced over the intercom as everyone froze nervously in their spot.
The Ranger wrinkled his nose. "Oh, I like his voice. Why couldn't he've been the nutter to send us on this trip? The other bloke just sounded all strange."
"Not now, Hatter," Clara hissed. "They've just locked down the bank!"
A woman with a cold smile and large red curls piled atop her head strode into the room, heels clicking against the floor. Two fully armed guards and a creature with thick gray skin and two eyes on flexible stalks walked slowly into the room, clad in an orange jumpsuit and its' wrists bound together by chains.
"What is that?" Saibra whispered in shock, staring at the creature. Lyssa narrowed her eyes, feeling something prod at her memory.
"I don't know. And I hate not knowing," the Doctor grumbled, watching the woman carefully.
The woman strode up to a dark-skinned man in a suit, who was holding a briefcase and starting to look more and more nervous. "Excuse me, sir. I regret to say that your guilt has been detected." Her voice was coldly professional, and wholly detached.
"What? That's totally ridiculous!" the man blustered, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Is it, sir? Well then, we will certainly double-check. The Teller will now scan your thoughts for any criminal intent. Good luck, sir." She stepped back with a small smile. The customer put down his briefcase, rubbing his palms nervously.
"Interesting," the Doctor whispered, narrowing his eyes as the creature stepped forward.
"What is?" Psi asked quietly, unable to take his eyes off the creature.
"The latest thing in sniffer dogs. Telepathic. It hunts guilt," he said briefly.
Lyssa's mind immediately went to the time she'd snitched cookies from the supplies for her third grade class party after being told she couldn't go. She still felt a bit guilty about it.
"What about our guilt?" Clara asked nervously.
"Currently being drowned out."
A high-pitched sound rang out, and the customer clutched his head in pain, closing his eyes in concentration.
"What's he doing?" Clara whispered, stepping closer to the Ranger.
"If he has a plan, he's trying not to think about it," the Doctor said quietly.
"Ever tried not thinking about something?" Psi asked her. She shook her head.
"You may have to," Saibra said grimly.
The creature roared, and the woman stepped forward again. "Ah, criminal intent detected. How naughty. What was your plan? Counterfeit currency in your briefcase, perhaps?"
The man shook his head, face still screwed up in pain. "No, not at all, I swear it!"
She shrugged nonchalantly. "It doesn't really matter, we'll establish the details later. The Teller is never wrong when it comes to guilt. Your account will now be deleted, and obviously your mind. Suppertime."
She snapped her fingers, and the armed guards holding the creature tugged its chains toward the man. It put its eyestalks together, and aimed a pulsating ray from them towards the man. He groaned, clutching his head.
Beside Lyssa, Psi stumbled a little. She grabbed his arm to steady him, and he shot her a grateful look, regaining his balance. She didn't let go yet, though, needing a little steadying of her own.
"It's wiping his mind, turning his brain into soup," the Doctor stated in horrified realization.
"Your next of kin will be informed, and incarcerated, as further inducement to honest financial transactions," the woman informed the customer as he doubled over, raising her voice to talk over him as he began to scream.
Lyssa clamped a hand over her mouth, feeling bile rise up in her throat.
"We have to help him," Clara whispered.
"He's gone already. It's over," the Doctor informed her heavily, casting a concerned glance back at Lyssa.
"But he's in agony! Look at him!" Clara protested angrily under her breath. The man continued to scream, liquid trailing down his cheeks.
"He's crying," Lyssa whispered, trying to swallow over the lump in her throat.
The Doctor shook his head, looking at her sympathetically. "Those aren't tears, Lyssa... That's soup."
The man stopped screaming and slumped forward, the creature separating its eyestalks as he did so. Two security guards caught the man and raised him upright, now with the upper front portion of his skull visibly caved in.
"Account closed," the woman said with all the satisfaction of completing a dreary task. "Take him away. He's ready for his close-up."
The group watched in varying degrees of horror as the woman and her entourage, dragging the now visibly brain-dead man through a hidden door. A moment later, the alarms stopped and the security bars lifted.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Lyssa moaned, swallowing thickly.
"They just killed a man, and nobody cared," Clara stated, staring at a small puddle of liquid on the floor where the customer had been standing. A staff member with a mob and bucket came out of another door and quickly started mopping it up. The crowd of people just went around him unfazed. "They all just went straight back to business like that's the usual here."
The Ranger wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her into him, and she went willingly, curling into his side. "I think it is, Clar. Why bother caring about one man who broke the rules and died, when they have more important things to worry about than the loss of innocent life, like money?" he asked sarcastically.
There was a slight feedback whine as the intercom turned on once more, then the woman's voice, still coldly pleasant, announced, "Apologies for the disturbance. Everyone have a lovely day."
A/N: I know that we're still too early in this for much to have been revealed about the last chapter, but I hope it's enough to give you guys a good hint, at least.
And Jamie/The Ranger's back, almost forty chapters later! Whoo! :D
Special thanks to everyone who's favorited and followed, and shout-out to Fakira, K, and afionna262 for reviewing!
Fakira: No worries! I know all too well how insane life can get. :P As for this chapter... hopefully it leaves you less confused, and maybe even helps you figure out the last chapter? ;) I know it was a bit confusing, but it should all be explained in the coming chapters. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you liked it! :)
K9: Your guess about who the mystery man and woman are is really close. I can't tell you how close here, because I don't think I can PM youm but if you still want to choose a brief sneak peek from the list of options last chapter, I could probably write one in at the end of one of the upcoming chapters. :) And I probably will do a chapter with The Veil at some point, but it'll probably be a while down the line. And I'm trying to help Lyssa grow as the story evolves. Obviously, it's a hit and miss thing, but I'm glad that there's been some progress, so thanks for the compliment and encouragement. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you liked it! :)
afionna262: Don't worry - they're not going to be awful panic attacks, like with the Cybermen. More along the lines of "There are feelings involved and I don't know what to do!" You know, denial, that sort of thing? ;) Thank you for reviewing (They will always be helpful because feedback from my readers is always needed and wanted) and I hope you liked it! :)
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed! :)
General Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who, just Lyssa.
