Mystery
Clara ran around the console, her eyes scanning the place. No Doctor in sight. But his voice was faint and echoing around the room. She couldn't make out what he was saying. ''Doctor!'' Clara called out. No answer.
Clara took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. This was a sign. A clue perhaps. ''Are you doing this?'' Clara asked the console.
''No'' The Tardis responded
Clara paced the Tardis ''But you can hear it? It isn't just in my head, is it?''
''No, I hear it too.''
So, it wasn't just her. His voice was somehow being projected into the Tardis. Not clear enough to hear properly, but clear enough for Clara to know that it was him.
Clara jogged up the stairs and glanced at the screen. ''The Doctor said that I am telepathically linked to you, but that you had chosen to retain that. He suspected it was because you saw my future…'' She paused. ''Did you see the Doctor's future? Is that why you're trying to help. Do you know the Doctor's fate?''
''I am a time machine. I am able to see into every future'' The Tardis replied, Clara thought… sarcastically.
''There is no point in me asking what happens is there? Fabric of time and all that?''
''Correct'' The Tardis responded.
''The Doctor is talking… from wherever he is… and it's being projected in here. How? Is it possible to do a physic link with the Tardis if not directly connected to you? Or is it a time loop thingy?''
The Tardis did not respond. Clara knew she was on her own from a speculation point of view. ''Bring up a list of all of the possible time loops or traps known to time lords… or you.''
Clara heard the machine generating her request. ''What if it's both?!'' She exclaimed
''Explain'' The Tardis responded
''Like a mind palace…'' Clara ran up the steps… ''What if the Doctor is imagining that he is back in his Tardis, and it is linking to you because of a time trap… or something similar?'' Clara slowed down, she was being erratic, erratic didn't solve puzzles, it created them. ''He is using the Tardis as a place to think, to talk, and to be himself, perhaps without letting anyone know exactly what he is planning. But, what if the link to you is so strong, that it is passing through the trap… we will call it trap for now… and is being broadcasted through you, here, the real you?''
Clara desperately wanted the Tardis to respond in an equally detailed way. But the silence once again reminded her that she was effectively alone. ''If there is a physic link somewhere, then we should be able to trace it. His version of the Tardis is an echo. What if we could extract him? Bring him back into reality? Can you monitor this? Showing it on the monitors if his presence is detected again?''
''It is possible, with signal control'' The Tardis answered.
''I need to go and see Me again'' Clara demanded. ''Safe or not, I need to go back to where The Doctor was teleported. I have a plan.'' Clara leant over the console. ''Don't ask me how, as I don't know. But I fear if we don't save him soon, it will be too late.'' She waited for a minute, before pulling the lever. The Tardis took off.
XXX
How long can I keep doing this Clara? Burning the old me, to make a new one. Why is it always me? Why can't it be somebody else's turn? The portrait of you, the creature… I am trapped in my own hell, and I have been here a very very long time. And I remember Clara…. Whatever I do, wherever I go… you'll still be gone.
Clara awoke abruptly. She sat up in his bed, her stomach churned with nausea as she battled off the urge to be sick. Her breathing was labored and out of control, her forehead damp with sweat and her cheeks damp with tears. His voice, so lifeless, so… defeated… echoing still inside her head. He was talking to her, and at her most vulnerable, whilst her mind was the most open. She could hear him.
''Doctor'' Clara whispered ''If you can hear me, please know that I am coming, and remember it. I will find a way to save you. Be strong, hang on. Whatever it is that they want, don't give it to them. It isn't your time, Doctor. It's mine. I promise. Please, be strong.''
Clara stared into the dimly lit room as she started to calm down. The darker colors and textures of the room became clearer as she faced the real world once more. The dream and his voice still clear within her mind, it was not fading this time. This dream was the one that stuck.
The smell of coffee wafted into her nose encouraging her to turn and see a cup of steaming hot coffee on the cabinet beside her. ''Did you hear what I heard?'' Clara spoke into the emptiness of the room.
''Negative. But your distress was detected.'' The Tardis's voice echoed around the bedroom.
''It's probably good that you didn't'' Clara replied plainly. ''Did you manage to find Me?'' As she remembered their struggle to locate the immortal yesterday. The coffee burnt her throat as she swallowed, reminding her of just how alive she was.
''Yes'' Came the machine's reply.
Clara hopped out of bed, quickly dressing herself as she continued to drink the hot coffee. The taste reminded her of home, or her old home, at least.
''Me has answers.'' Clara started, smoothing down her deep blue dress which was pinned close to her waist by a bright golden belt. ''Of course, she is going to be guarded, but there is something that I am missing. Something big.'' Clara had since started to walk through the Tardis. ''Something happened, that you saw, causing you to lock the Doctor and I together. What for?''
''Protection'' The Tardis responded.
''Protection for who?''
''Everyone.''
Clara paused, thinking. She didn't know enough about the rules of time and space, or as a time lord, to have the answer she needed. ''Where are we anyway?''
''The planet Ombus.'' The Tardis started ''A planet made entirely of water.''
Clara grinned, she hadn't seen a new or exciting planet for ages, she had been too distracted. ''Right. And there's me trying to make an effort in how I look today!''
XXX
Clara stepped out of the Tardis doors. The sight before her was incredible. Everything was a variation of the color blue, from a crystal clear glass looking blue, to the deepest, blackest blue you could imagine. Everything moved, just as if she was on the sea floor, an underwater world. Reading the information provided in the Tardis, Clara had been informed that any visitors were engulfed in an air bubble. Their own oxygen mask and umbrella combined. Clara could feel the water moving around her along with the soft sandy ground beneath her feet. But nothing was wet, or slippery. She was walking normally, and breathing normally.
Me was nearby, according to the sensors. Clara headed towards an old looking church. Passing various creatures and animals along the way. The place was bustling with life, and when all this was over. She intended to return.
''Clara'' Me's voice caught her by surprise as Clara had just entered the church. ''I didn't think I was ever going to see you again.''
Her voice was suddenly infuriating. The calmness of it. Despite knowing the damage and suffering she had caused. Me clearly held no worry for her part in somebody's living nightmare. ''I am not one for giving up. You on the other hand, well, it's clear that you enjoy running away.''
Me looked over to Clara ''You're upset'' She responded quietly.
''Slightly, but not enough for it to hinder my judgement. Now, I have changed my timeline, I have broken rules. You need to tell me the Doctor's fate.''
''How did you survive the Raven?''
''Mire medical technology. Like you… I am not immortal'' Clara almost sounded proud of her actions, despite the stab of nausea she felt at the idea of never dying.
''No'' Me responded coyly. ''You're not one of us.''
''Oh really, why's that?''
''Because you never needed saving Clara. This is not your first death, and it will not be your last.''
''I don't understand.'' Clara replied.
''Oh, but I do. The Doctor is trapped inside his confession dial. The time lords require information from him regarding the Hybrid. Who, if the stories are true, is set to go back to Gallifrey and destroy the planet. Properly this time. His time line suggests that he enters the dial willingly, because you died in front of his own eyes. But even I can see that this is already wrong.''
''Correct'' Clara spat. ''What happens to him.''
''It is considered that he remains within the dial for billions of years, repeating the same pattern again and again and again, refusing to give up information and be released, because it would result in his capture and certain death. Once out, he rampages through Gallifrey and shows us just how evil he can be.''
''Pretty evil of your own kind to shove you in a dial and torture you for information.'' Clara argued
''Indeed'' The immortal sat back down. ''I made a deal with Rassilon to send The Doctor there. Not because I wanted too, but because I wanted safety for my street. You saw him threaten me, Clara. I knew if anything happened to you, I was a dead woman walking. Sadly, the Doctor didn't oversee you living. Or at least, your timeline doesn't imply that you do.''
''So, you trap him in a dial for years. On behalf of some senior time lord, who is only worried about his world?''
''The Doctor is a kind man Clara. But he is not a good one. He is known as the Doctor of war. The man that carries more blood, screams and pain than any other person to walk this universe. He is ruthless, and will go to hell to save the people he cares about. His previous incarnations have been more forgiving. But under the surface… he is dangerous. Information like that could destroy an entire planet. People need to know. Lives are at steak!''
''Yes'' Clara shouted. ''His. You do not know him Ashildr. And don't for one second pretend to me that you do. You're right. He carries blood, screams and pain more than anyone. But not by choice'' She spat. ''He carries them to save those he cares about from carrying it too. He suffers the brunt of it because he feels as though he HAS too. That information could destroy people, planets, heck, an entire universe maybe. But given all the lives he has saved, all the planets that remain out there, living peacefully… Is his track record really so bad that you believe he is capable of using the information to destroy a planet? Or is he holding that information to save it?''
''Clara, you died'' Me replied firmly. ''He watched the person he cares about most in this world die and then was teleported to hell. The minute he regains control, he will destroy anyone who even thought of your name in a negative context. He is grieving, and is in pain. Nobody does the right thing when like that. I bet you don't know the destruction he caused after finding out you were in love with that solider that died. He tore worlds apart and allowed destruction because he was upset.''
Clara filed that away for later. Deciding to continue. ''I am still alive. And the minute he knows that, hope will be a far more powerful motive than grief. The time lords better watch out, and if I were you, I would too. What wars has he started? Give me a number… because I have the exact number for wars he has ended, peacefully. Ashildr you are believing a tale that somebody has told you. Not the evidence sitting in front of you.''
''How can I believe that. Who put you and the Doctor together?''
''A woman''
''Not just a woman. The woman. Missy.''
Clara looked at Me, surprised.
''Missy put you two together, and she kept you together. She was quite the match maker. But if Missy found you… What does that tell you about yourself Clara? A time lord chose you.''
''It means nothing. Missy was always the first to describe herself as unhinged.''
''I saw you die, on trap street. Jenny insisted that you were not touched and buried. I figured you had something up your sleeve. But I watched, from the window, and I saw the glow from your skin. You didn't need that Mire chip. Not like I did. You're not all human.'' Me continued.
''I don't understand''
''You died billions of years ago Clara. This will be your third death on record I believe. You come back in different time zones and always within the Doctor's path. You have been connected to him for a long while now. Much longer than you think.''
''I suppose you know what I am then, do you?''
''No. I am not that good. But I would be inclined to believe, given Missy knowing about you, that you have a small fragment of time lord within you. Perhaps enough to revive you, but not regenerate you completely.''
Clara wanted to panic and run. But held her nerve. ''That's good news then, isn't it? I am more powerful than I once thought.''
''Take the Tardis and fly away.'' Me advised. ''The Doctor needs this process to complete in his own way, for his own fate to decide. You have a way out, you are safe.''
''Oh'' Clara replied confidently ''I know I am safe! It's you lot that did this to him. You're the ones that should watch out.''
And with that, Clara walked back towards the Tardis.
XXX
Her heart was pounding by the time she stepped back inside the blue box. Not a hair ruffled on the outside. But her whole life was now in question within her mind. Scrambled, disjointed and confused.
''Did you know? That I was not a full human?''
''Yes'' The Tardis responded
''And you didn't think to tell me?'' Clara yelled
''It is not permitted''
Clara stomped over towards the console, trying to calm her anger. Finding out about a secret millions of years later than everyone else was strangely very annoying. ''Did the Doctor know? … Does he know?''
''No'' The Tardis responded.
''Right.'' Clara decided to put it out of her head for now. There was no time to think about that. ''Me mentioned that the Doctor is grieving and is in pain. I was still alive when the Doctor was sent to his confession dial. So, he couldn't have been grieving until he found out I was dead. Meaning that someone is communicating with him, and probably, watching him. Watching him requires camera's, which requires a connection. Connections can be hacked. The telepathic connection is likely to be a bonus rather than any plan from him. I need to learn how to fly this Tardis. Properly, and then link into wherever the projection is coming from. Fly there, grab him and return. Is it that straight forward? Or will something bad happen?''
Silence… something bad then. ''Well, I won't know the details of it all until I know in detail how a Tardis works. The infinate and most sophisticated ship within the universe… where do I start?''
''Please place yourself back into the telepathic circuit. I will transfer all of the relevant information to you.''
Clara hesitated. ''I am guessing there will be a lot of information to transfer… does that not have risks?''
''Many.'' Came the reply.
Why did she even ask? Of course, there were risks, and for some reason, that enticed her further. ''Okay, so you will show me how to fly the Tardis, understand closed energy loops and ways to save the Doctor?''
''Correct'' The machine replied.
Clara took a deep breath. She may not be human, but her knowledge of the Tardis, time and space was still as limited as to what the Doctor had taught her. She had connected herself to the Tardis before, and had felt the power and knowledge behind the connection. Just out of reach. She didn't need to be a genius to know that if she was a normal human being, she would not cope well with such a strong informational feed.
Walking over to the Tardis interface, Clara placed her fingers into the jelly feeling sockets. She felt the bite immediately. She had flown the Tardis this way, with the safeguards off anyway. ''Wait'' Clara shouted. ''What if I can fly the Tardis like this, to the Doctor?''
''The Doctor has many faces and locations.'' The Tardis answered quickly, biting onto Clara's finger tips.
It was time to find out if she was normal or not.
XXX
Clara's eyes fluttered open. The first thing to greet her was a fuzzy pain deep within her head, making her entire head and neck ache. Next was a tingling on her fingers. Like pins and needles, but worse. Her limbs were numb, unable to move in any way. Her face felt warm, despite laying on a cold, hard surface. The steam rising gently from around her catching her eye-line occasionally as everything came into focus.
She was laying on the console floor, just below the interface system. Clara remembered placing her fingers in there, and asking for knowledge on energy loops and flying the Tardis. But nothing else from that point on. Her brain felt scrambled, so much so that she couldn't speak yet.
''The transfer was successful.'' A voice echoed around her, but Clara's eyes remained closed, her body giving in to the quiet lull of sleep. ''You will suffer some side effects for the next few-.''
Clara could stay awake no longer.
Who are you?
I am The Impossible Girl. I was born to save the Doctor.
Yes, but why?
I… I don't know.
You cannot save me this time, Clara.
A life this long, do you know what it is? It's a battlefield, like this one. And it's empty. Because everyone else, has fallen. Even you.
I am not all human, Doctor. I have seen, and been taught, that I carry a tiny piece of Time Lord dna inside of me. I am no less breakable than you, Doctor. I will save you.
You're dead.
No. Not yet, not quite. It is not my time yet. I know that now, and it is not yours either.
Time Lords can't travel here, nobody can travel here.
Oh Doctor. How long have you known me? I was the mystery worth solving once. Tell me, when was the last time you sat back and watched me abide by the rules?
Clara, I sit here, in this chair, every day and stare at the portrait of you. Fading, peeling paintwork. Reminding me that you died billions of years ago and I sit here suffering it alone. You are my biggest regret. You are the breaking point to my hell.
Never stop staring at that portrait Doctor.
Clara, some rooms, should never be entered. This is one of them.
Clara's eyes fluttered open. She was in bed, or at least, a bed, beside the console. Clara sat up, eyes wide and confused. ''Did I put this bed here?'' She asked cautiously. Was her memory that bad?
''I relocated the bed to ensure comfort whilst you slept.'' Came the robotic reply.
She had done more sleeping recently than anything else. Clara felt different though. Her mind had been opened; things seemed… clearer.
''I am basically a time lord…''
''No'' The Tardis replied quickly. ''You have a small part of Time Lord DNA within you. This allows you to regenerate, but not take a different form. You are now able to fly the Tardis and understand the controls. I have placed the manual on the side in case you encounter difficulty.''
''How did I get Time Lord DNA in my system? I know my life; it was plain and simple. HUMAN.''
''Your memory was wiped. Nobody knows why or when you acquired it.''
''The Doctor told me that I died, twice, and came back in different time zones. But I don't remember him, or it, at all.''
''Regeneration can scramble your memory.''
''And the Doctor. He wiped my memory once, I remember.''
Clara took all of the information in. People knew. Missy must have known, Me knew, The Tardis knew. Did the Doctor know? It was unlikely, Clara concluded. He was always too confused about her.
''Why didn't you tell me?''
''I was not permitted to tell you about your changes within your DNA.''
''No, why didn't you tell me about my future? You have seen it, and are trying to avoid it. Now as a time machine, you will know that I survived the Raven. Which means the Doctor saw a different future, regardless of the mire medical technology. I would have regenerated.''
''No. Regeneration is based on damage. The Raven took your soul. It would have caused too much damage for regeneration.''
''Why are you avoiding my future? Why are you keeping me close to you?... No… Wait… You're not, are you? You're keeping The Doctor and I together. Why?''
''Because his death triggers war and burning. Planets fall, children cry.''
Clara spun around and gripped the hand rails. Sickness waving through her like a rough, high tide crashing against its defense. Her eyes closed. ''So, he dies then?'' Clara murmurs.
''Yes'' The Tardis replied, casually.
''So why am I here? Why am I having these dreams, dreams where I hear his voice, see into the future… why am I doing all of this if he is going to die anyway. I made a promise to him.'' Tears slipped from her eyes; he might not be dead yet. But he will be. Grief knocked her over as she collapsed on the floor.
''Your timeline suggests that you can save the Doctor. The Doctor's timeline is also subject to change, but it won't be seen until he is saved from his confession dial.''
She breathed, realizing that she was still effectively talking to a machine. 'Don't get emotional' Clara told herself.
''I heard that.'' Came an almost snobby sounding reply. ''I am now linked to you; this includes your memory.''
Clara blushed... the things she used to think about in here. No, fantasize about. Her skin tingled and her stomach turned in a much more pleasurable way but she stopped herself before the Tardis heard her thoughts.
''Right. We need to find a way to save the Doctor. Because we don't know where he is, flying and landing is obviously impossible. So, we need a connection. Something strong enough so that we can hack it. I hear him when I sleep. Of course, it could be a dream and totally meaningless. But all of my dreams since being on the Tardis, have been a form of projection into the future. The Doctor, is also connected to the Tardis, for obvious reasons. It's a case of who is more connected, me to the Doctor, or the Doctor to the Tardis.''
''Do both'' Came the Tardis's reply.
''How?''
''Fly with the two connections combined''
''Oh! Yes! That could work… All I need now is an idea on how to stabilize the connection. If I am asleep when the connection happens… well, I can't monitor it or do anything about it.''
Clara stopped to think. The Doctor always came up with something simple and straight forward to solve a complex problem. Look for the weakest point in a mystery and drive towards that… What was the weakest point?
Clara thought the words 'something clever' over and over again. Clever but simple…
You were an excellent Doctor Clara. Goodness had nothing to do with it. ''How did you sense my dreams and tell the Doctor?''
''Your distress was detected. The Doctor was notified via the monitors.''
''So, my feelings are linked into your system? Which means anything I dream is technically traceable.''
''Yes''
''Dreams are mini projections, usually of something that is, or may happen. But when the Doctor is talking to me, in my dreams, he is speaking from wherever he is now. Like a telepathic connection. But what if that connection came through you… if he is imagining that he is back in his Tardis, and you are sensing that, surely whatever he said would bleed into my mind… too?''
''Your name is frequently mentioned. I believe the messages are for you.''
''Yes, but what man doesn't talk to himself?'' Clara reasoned. ''The Doctor is so bad at being alone. Being able to talk to someone, there or not, must be a relief for him. No, I think he is imagining you. If you detect my distress, then fly towards the connection he is providing. Hopefully we can get there before the connection is lost, otherwise we would end up lost.'' Clara paced around the console. A plan coming clearer into her head. ''I will set you up to fly once the Doctor reconnects with you. Fly to wherever he is. I will turn your shields and safe guarding off; I will also make it so that you land quietly. We don't want to attract attention or change too much of the present/future until we know we are in the right place. Now, this is important. You NEED to wake me up when this starts. There is a possibility that you won't want to land, or travel to wherever he is. He may be in a paradox loop, or crossing his own timeline, or ours. This has to work; we may only get one chance. If the time-lords are guarding him… There is nothing on this Tardis that they won't know about or know how to use against us.''
''Why would they do that to him?'' Clara continued ''Why would his own kind put him in a torture chamber?''
''Rassilon'' The Tardis replied
''Rassilon… who is that?'' Clara asked. But the Tardis did not respond. ''Right, I think that's all we can plan for now. Not as easy is it… Planning the unknown. The Doctor deserves more credit for the universes he has saved.''
XXXX
She was lost in the smell of him. Drifting away in the silent darkness, with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company.
She had remembered whilst thinking earlier as she caught sight of a marking book that must have been left behind at some point, how little she had considered her old life. Maybe that's because she wasn't all human. Perhaps this lifestyle, the isolation, the beauty and danger, is what she had needed all along. Maybe this was her home.
Any dream she was falling into was abruptly stopped as Clara hit the surprisingly hard floor in the Doctor's bedroom. She looked up, ready to rein hell on whoever pulled her out of bed before the evenings plan had come flooding back to her. The Tardis remembered and had woken her up. She turned around, only to find that the bed, along with the mattress, pillows, frame and sheets, had vanished.
Clara filed her complaint away for another time as she could hear the Tardis wheezing around her. They were already travelling. Grabbing her clothes, she quickly dressed herself before dashing back towards the console.
It was uncomfortable. Not the smooth ride that she had come to know and understand. Sparks were flying from the console; the noises were erratic and coming from all over the room. The warning alarms were going off left right and center and the monitors, despite supposedly turned off, were flashing various numbers and words too fast for Clara to read.
''I didn't even dream!'' Clara yelled, but to no surprise did not receive a response. ''Wait, I should know how to fly this thing now...''
Clara clung to the railings for dear life as she wound her way up the stairs towards the main console. Books were flying off of the Doctor's bookcases, papers and wires everywhere as the mayhem continued. Grabbing a lever, she pulled herself up onto the console and frantically began pushing buttons and trying to steady the Tardis. It seemed to be doing something. There were random jolts, which caused further warning bells. ''We might be crossing over time lines or paradoxes.''
The force became stronger as Clara felt the Tardis slow up and try to stop herself. ''NO!'' She shouted, pulling against its weight as she tried to drive the machine forwards. '' This has to work!''
The driving force was caught up all at once, Clara was flung from her spot and into the hard railing behind her, knocking her to the floor into the steam and sparks billowing from below.
''Doctor'' Clara spoke breathlessly against the cold metal floor of the Tardis. The chaos still going on above her. ''Where on earth have you gone.''