A/N: Quick note that probably should have been in the first chapter, I never saw Twice Upon a Time due to a slight but severe DVR mishap… in that, it wasn't set to record, and I was devastated. Therefore, this entire ficlet was written without the knowledge that the Doctor does, in fact, know who Clara is…. Oops. For the purposes of this story, please read as if Twice Upon a Time never happened (other than the regeneration, of course) please. Thanks!
Chapter 2:
The King turned to the Doctor his twinkle shining like a bloody sun. She debated breaking her no guns rule. The nearest guard had a blaster, crude and archaic, but it would work. One shot to his gut and she could watch him bleed out, because Clara, her Clara, was in chains in his throne room.
Wait… her Clara?
"So you know her," the King clapped his hands together. He paced toward his trophy. The guards shifted with unease as he moved closer to the woman. "One of the Doctor's more prolific companions. Rumor has it they would have ended the galaxy if they'd stayed together. I must say, I believe it. She's quite the firecracker. Aren't you girl?"
The Doctor felt an odd sense of pleasure when Clara ignored him, eyeing their group instead. Wait… companion? She remembered all of her companions. She did, of course, she did, she knew her life, all of her life, every piece… except for the time she blocked out one of her lives… except the time her memory was sealed… except…
At some point, Yaz put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder. Without her noticing, Graham and Ryan had stepped closer. Her fam surrounded her, their support a welcome comfort.
Clara must have read the horror on their faces because something in her relaxed. Pride hurt, the King stepped forward lifting her chin to look at him.
"I asked you a question," he said as the guards tightened their grips on the chains. Clara spared him a glare before kneeing him in the groin.
"And I asked to leave," she said, sighing as he sank to his knees. The Doctor caught one of the guards smirking before wiping his face blank. "I thought ignoring questions was a custom in this region." She tilted her head in a maddeningly familiar expression. "You can understand my confusion."
The King's face twisted in rage as he staggered to his feet, dangerous intent replacing the twinkle in his eye. "Why you-,"
"We'll be taking her, now," the Doctor said, stepping forward to head off whatever he was planning. She flipped open her psychic paper, flashing it in his face. "Last I checked, owning people violated section 014 of the inter-galactitory alliance, of which you're a part, if I'm not mistaken."
"Alliance patrol?" The King asked, eyes widening. He threw a glare at his Lieutenant. "You said they were a part of Emperor Malagof's inner circle."
"Who says we aren't?" The Doctor's eyes narrowed. "Release her to our custody… now."
The King blustered, squeezing his hands into fists. She half expected him to throw a tantrum. After the air grew heavy, her shoulders tensed ready for action, he deflated. A quick nod to the guards, and they were unchaining her Clara.
No, not her Clara. Honestly, she didn't even know her. Maybe a past self… emphasis on maybe. The King got it wrong with the sonic screwdriver, this Clara character could be someone else's companion.
Yes, the Doctor told herself. She knew her companions, and she didn't know Clara. The girl stepped away from the guards, each one keeping a respectful distance, a wary eye tracking her movements. With every second it became increasingly clear, forgetting a girl like Clara, impossible.
/—/—/
The palace loomed behind them as they wound their way through the village streets. Their exit lacked the pomp from their entrance, their circumstance direly different.
"You know they'll follow," Clara said from the front of the pack.
"Almost certainly," the Doctor replied.
"Escape plan?"
"Run?" The Doctor shrugged. "Plans usually come with a spot of running."
Clara's lip quirked. "Funny, I used to have a friend that said that. Had an odd fascination with bow ties, that one." She looked off into the distance a sad crinkle to her eye.
"Bow ties are cool," the Doctor replied off-hand, missing Clara's quick glance in her direction. Her fam watched the two go back and forth, eyes flicking from one to the other. She wondered why she said that. It didn't seem like her.
The Doctor gravitated closer to their new companion, a magnet to iron. No, not iron, too malleable for Clara. She wasn't sure how she knew, must be her superior ability to read people. Steel, Clara was more like steel, strong, dependable, a bit of a mix. Steel like her swiss army sonic. Oooh, there's an idea. She pulled it out.
Dancing around behind the girl, tracked with an amused look from everyone in the group, she waved the sonic over their newest member. Glancing at the readings, her eyes widened. She shook the sonic, not expecting the results to change, more out of reflex. When one saw something unbelievable on a bit of technology, one shook it.
She glanced at the results again, unchanged, typical.
"You're impossible," the Doctor said, staring with not a little bit of wonder at Clara.
"My old friend used to say that, too," Clara said, her cheeks dimpling.
"Uh, Doc," Graham cut in. "What do you mean, impossible?"
"Here look," she said flashing the sonic's display at him faster than he could read, "No heartbeat… how?" She asked turning back to the source of the mystery.
"I've heard memories, once forgotten become stories," Clara answered cryptically, piquing the Doctor's interest further, "and this, I'm afraid, is a bit of a story."
The Doctor spun around in front of their small group, walking backward to keep them all in sight. "Well, what's stopping you? We have time, and I do love a good tale." She felt the smile stretch her face. Anticipation dancing through her.
"I don't doubt it," Clara said giving her an unreadable look, a mix of amusement, longing, and… something. "I think it may have to wait though." The Doctor's brow furrowed in disappointed confusion.
"Doctor," Yaz said pulling her attention. She stared at something over the Doctor's shoulder. Graham and Ryan stood with their mouths gaping. Even Clara's steps had faltered. Spinning, the Doctor faced an unwelcome sight.
"Uuuhg," she groaned, "Really, the Judoon? Why would you call the Judoon?"
A/N: Your reviews keep my keyboard powered. Who needs electricity? Stay wonderful!