It'd appear that during the night, after the dinner and dancing, that a group of Cybermen, roughly five if Al's correct, that zeroed in on the train, but he doesn't think it's because they know that Theodore's there.
This isn't the standard operation for Cybermen, the moment they know the Doctor's afoot, there'd be more than five Cybermen after him.
An entire armada, at most.
Parameters set up to prevent the Doctor from escaping.
They'd never skimp on an opportunity to trounce the Doctor, even if they failed every attempt since the beginning of time, still, this wasn't the case, and Al can't find any beacons or any indications that there's reinforcements on the way.
Didn't make sense for them to board a train to covert people, either. Five Cybermen, total, with about thirty patrons, including the people working in the train, well, that's a tall order, even for Cybermen, the ruthless efficient converters they are, and from the way it's looking, converting wasn't on the itinerary for the Cybermen.
Rufus was just a causality, probably tried to stop the Cybermen the moment he saw them board, got killed by the one they saw, they're not even attempting to covert the sealed patrons in their cabins.
Either they're oblivious that the Doctor's aboard the train, that there's plenty of people to choose for their conversions, or there's something they wanted, something to warrant such a response like this.
Whatever the case might've been, they'll have to find answers another time, for now, they're running for their lives while Al guided them to safety, amid the chaos as patrons clamoured to seal the doors of their cabins, to ward off the encroaching five Cybermen.
"We have to do something, Doctor, if they panic more, they're going to get themselves killed!" Lizzy implored Theodore into finding a way to stop this before the patrons end up hurting or killing themselves in haphazard attempts to save themselves from the Cybermen.
Aware of the situation, Theodore's pondering their options, however, all of them wouldn't work while they're aboard the train and the train in motion.
They can't even stop the train and evacuate the patrons, the planet's a quagmire of dangerous gases and environments, it's too dangerous, especially at night, the only safe points along the tracks were the stations.
That alone presented another set of concerns on top of everything else, as the five Cybermen went through the different train cars.
Chewing on his inner lip as he's deep in thought, Theodore concluded that the only way they know what's going on, is for him to do the upmost stupidest thing that he can do in this situation.
"And that is?" Lizzy inquired what Theodore planned to do before she's horrified at the response.
For them to find their answers quickly before someone gets themselves killed, Theodore had to alert the Cybermen that he's present, and have them bring him to whichever one's in charge of the mission.
"Are you out of your mind?" Bumble blinked as she found it difficult that he's going to risk his life just for the chance to directly figure out why the Cybermen were here of all places and Theodore affirmed that he's crazy, but he's got no other options.
Five Cybermen shouldn't be too much of a problem, Theodore dealt with more, but again, they're on a moving train, tight corners, not a lot of room, other people to account for, too many variables for something going wrong.
The Cybermen wouldn't risk blowing things sky high in tight corners like on the train, if they're looking for something, they'll want to keep the train intact, at least until they find what they're looking for, and then they'll blow it up like they normally do when they get what they want until the Doctor comes and ruins their day.
It's a matter of what the Cybermen wanted, that's the most concerning part.
"Nothing suggesting they want your head, but I can't find anything that they wanted, nothing's picking up on the o' radar," Al tells them that he can't figure that part out and he's working his radars on overdrive.
Whatever they want, they know it's on the train, that's all Al knows, and they don't have enough time to guess, once the Cybermen get what they want, it's likely they'll cover their tracks.
"What if you're wrong?" Bumble brought up that Theodore risks being wrong in his deduction and he informed her that it's a gamble he had to take, if he's wrong, it wouldn't be the first time, and he's dealt with Cybermen enough times, it's second nature.
On the off-chance, he instructed Lila and Al to find what the Cybermen were after while he's doing what he does best and they nodded.
Tugging on his stitched long coat, Theodore readied to find a Cyberman and have it brought him to whichever one's in charge, Lila reminding him not to do anything stupid, Hammond wants him in one piece tomorrow for the book fair.
"No promises," Theodore tells her before he stopped himself, "and remember what I've told you, Lee."
Nodding, Lila assured him that if things get too dangerous, she's to flee with Al and the others.
A quick flash of his pearly whites, Theodore gently touched her nose, before embarking on his quest for answers as the others slipped away.
A deep breath, Theodore went through the long stretches of hallway, looking for one of the Cybermen.
Something a sane person wouldn't dare consider, even in dire situations, but here he was, intentionally looking for one, and he didn't have to go far, he found one stirring in the dining room.
It didn't immediately notice him, it took him calling out before it turned its whole body to look at him, and instead of the usual spiels that the Cybermen use when they see him, this one wasn't doing it.
"Scanning…" the hollow robotic voice let out as the Cyberman focused on Theodore, "…identified… incorrect…"
It disregarded him and simply continued moving around the dining room, looking for something, and it's enough to give Theodore pause as he's shocked that the Cyberman wasn't concerned that he's there, it knows who he is, but it wasn't concerned.
Something fierce for Cybermen to disregard their oldest and hated foe.
Baffled, Theodore slowly followed the Cyberman around as he paid attention to what it's doing, seeing it mingling near the tables, it's scanning them, why?
"You know who I am, correct?" Theodore braved the reaction as he called out to the Cyberman, wanting to know what's going on, and the Cyberman ignored him, continuing to scan the tables.
For the first time since he's started his adventuring, Theodore's insulted that the Cyberman ignored him, the only other entity in the known universe that's capable of putting a dent in their armies.
"What are you looking for?" Theodore continued to pester the hulking Cyberman, as it continued scanning everything in the dining room.
Once more, the Cyberman ignored him and continued scanning until it stopped at a table, standing silently before letting out a resonating, "Identified!"
At least Theodore indirectly learnt what the Cybermen wanted, it was someone aboard the train, and it'd explain why they boarded the train like they did, they're trying to prevent whoever they're looking for from escaping.
Whoever they're after, wasn't him, apparently.
"Who're you looking for?" Theodore wanted to know, but the Cyberman continued to ignore his presence, and simply move on to the next section of the train, leaving him alone.
Crossing his arms, insulted, Theodore shook his head at this, before he reached out to Lila and Al, informing them what he learnt, that they're looking for someone.
"Why did it ignore you, of all people?" Lila questioned the reasoning behind the Cyberman ignoring Theodore.
He could put on a show and it'd still ignore him, it's disheartening, almost, before Theodore responded that he doesn't know, but whoever they're looking for's more important than him.
He wanted Al to bring up the list of known passengers, go through the motions, see who sticks out, go from there.
"What're you going to do?" Al asks him and Theodore tells him that if one Cyberman wouldn't answer him, try and find another one, see where it goes.
There's only five, it wouldn't take long, he already spoke to one.
"What do you want us to do?" Lila asked Theodore what he wanted from her and the women, which Theodore said that once Al figures out who they're looking for, he wanted them to find this person before the Cybermen do.
Why do this, because once the Cybermen get their hands on their target, bye-bye train.
As for whether their target's a threat, Theodore had confidence that the four's fine on their own.
With Al's escape plans, they'll be fine.
"Ay-ay, captain!" Al cried out as he and Lila disappeared from Theodore's mind, leaving him to continue his search for answers, trying to find another Cyberman, hoping the next one's more talkative.
Should just dance in front of one exclaiming that he's the Doctor!
Going through the train, Theodore found a pair of Cybermen talking.
One of them's the one he met in the dining room.
"It is here," said the one he met.
The other one replied with a monotonous, "It will not escape, again."
Whoever they're looking for's escaped them before, this time, they want to rectify this mistake.
Clicking his tongue against his teeth, Theodore put on his usual face, as he called out to the pair, informing them that he is the Doctor and that he will not tolerate them not having their tickets.
"It is the Doctor," the Cyberman monotonously called out and the one that Theodore met replied, "It is not our concern."
They don't care!
"I'm sorry, have you lost your memories?" Theodore questioned why they're not at all concerned how or why he's here, if he's going to stop them, something?
The pair talked to one another.
"What are the Prime's orders?" one of the Cybermen asked the other and the Cyberman responded with a monotone, "He is not our concern."
If only his father were here to hear this!