Cold War
North Pole
1983
The Russian soldiers are rushing about frantically in the Bridge, as red lights are flaring brightly. The captain with a tag bearing the name "Zhukov" and an officer with the name "Stepashin", both enter the room. "Signal is genuine! I repeat, signal is genuine!" One of the soldier's yells into an intercom.
"Moscow confirming launch sequence!" Another soldier yells.
"Prepare to launch nuclear weapons!" Zhukov orders.
"Aye sir!" The crew says in unison.
The captain and his officer move towards the console before inserting their keys to the red light, arming the missiles. He then places his hand over the launch button. "The Firebird stands ready to serve." Zhukov says.
"For the Motherland." Stepashin prays.
"For the Motherland." Zhukov repeats. As he is about to press the button, the door opens with an old man entering the room singing to himself with his Walkman. The soldiers all give a groan in unison as they turn to look at the man who hasn't noticed the new attention.
"This means nothing to me! This means nothing to me! Oh, Vienna!" He then glances up, before sheepishly turning off the Walkman and gulping guiltily. "Have I interrupted something?"
"We were about to blow up the world, Professor Grisenko." He says with blunt amusement.
"Again?" Grisenko says incredulously with a sigh, shaking his head.
"What are you singing?" Zhukov says in confusion.
"Ultravox, I bloody love them! Got a friend who sends me the tapes." He says with a smile.
Zhukov shakes his head before turning to the main intercom of the ship. "This is the captain. Drill abandoned; all hands stand down. I repeat, drill abandoned."
"With respect, sir, we must run it again." Stepashin says.
"Tomorrow." Zhukov says sternly.
"Comrade Captain, the NATO exercises- "
"Sabre rattling."
"*Scoffs* I don't think so."
"Oh, you don't think so?"
"Sir, American aggression gets more intolerable by the day. We must run the drill again."
"Tomorrow." Stepashin clenches his jaw before walking off to check on the men without a word. "Professor, did you get your specimen stored okay?"
"Yeah, Piotr's looking after him." He nods.
"Well, at least we have something to show for our little hunting expedition. What is it? A mammoth?"
Grisenko blinks. "Probably."
The Professor walks away, leaving Zhukov alone on the bridge with his men and Stepashin.
"Stepashin. I know how you feel- "
"We must run the drill again, Captain."
"You can't put the blame on the Americans alone."
Stepashin turns to Zhukov with his jaw clenched. "Who else am I going to blame for Irina's death? She was only 6 and she will never get to live her life how she wants. Everything she could've been, she will never be."
"Remember Stepashin, we all have lost someone to this war. It is every bit the American's fault as it is ours."
Stepashin takes a deep breath. "Yes sir." He mumbles. The alarm for integrity suddenly goes off, startling the men.
"Gangway! Alarm! Alarm!" One of the soldier's yells. The ship is then rocked violently, causing it to plummet deep into the sea, while spilling gallons of water into the ship, soaking the crew with an ice-cold chill.
"Onegin, Report!" Zhukov orders.
"Hull breached! Port side!" Onegin yells.
"Evasive manoeuvres!"
"Descending 200 meters!"
"Bring her up! Bring her up!"
"It's no good, sir!"
On this, to the crew's astonishment, the TARDIS materializes in the middle of the room. The door opens to show the Doctor wearing shades, Clara behind him in a silver-blue dress. "Viva Las Vegas!" The Doctor yells before being throttled forward by the sinking submarine.
"Stranger on the bridge!"
"Who the hell are you?!" Zhukov orders.
"Not Vegas then?!" Clara asks.
"No, a sinking, Russian submarine!" The Doctor yells with glee.
"Bring out sidearms! Restrain them!" Stepashin orders.
"410! 420! Turbine still not responding!"
"They've got to!" Zhukov denies.
"Sideways momentum! You've still got sideways momentum!" The Doctor says.
"What?!"
"Your propellers work independently of the main turbines! You can't stop her going down, but you can manoeuvre her laterally! Do it!"
"Get these people off the bridge now!" Stepashin asks.
"Uugh! Just listen to him, for god's sake!" Clara yells in irritation.
"We have one shot to stop the descent or this sub will implode, Captain!"
"600 meters, sir! 610!"
"Lateral thrust to starboard, all propellers!" Zhukov orders.
"Sir?! You're going to let this madman give the orders?!" Stepashin asks.
"Just do it! Now!" Zhukov roars, making the men hurry about frantically.
"660! 680!" The submarine violently shudders, making many lose their balance as the sub stabilizes. "Descent arrested at 700 meters."
"It seems, whoever you are, we owe you our lives." Zhukov says gratefully.
"Not a problem." The Doctor says with a smile.
"Search them." Stepashin orders. Clara looks at her arrangement with a bit of confusion and fright. "Yes, I know, it's a woman. Now search them." Some of the men then grab both the Doctor and Clara by their arms to place their backs by a pole, before searching them, but specifically the Doctor.
"Are we going to be okay?" Clara asks with a shuddery voice from the adrenaline.
"Yep."
"Is that a lie?"
"Yep."
"When are we?"
The Doctor smiles at her choice of question. "Cold War, 1983. It's a bit of a dangerous time, East and West standing on the brink of nuclear annihilation. Both sides have got trigger fingers that are getting itchy."
"When are they not?" Clara asks amusingly, making the Doctor laugh.
"Good point. This also happens to be the 80s. Hair, shoulder pads, nukes, you name it, they make it bigger."
"You don't need bigger hair; your nose and ears cover that." Clara says cheekily.
"Oi!" The Doctor looks at one of the men in front of him, as he finishes emptying the Doctor's surprisingly empty pockets to find only his sonic screwdriver. "Take care of that, it's quite the handy device." Outside, one of the rocks from the seabed fall on the sub, making it shudder and Clara stumbles to the ground, banging her head on a console, rendering her unconscious. By them, the TARDIS starts to dematerialize. "No! No, Clara!" The Doctor rips past the soldiers to pick Clara up from the waist, as he looks behind at the fading TARDIS. "Clara? Clara?!"
One of the soldiers puts his finger on her neck while checking her head. "Just unconscious but will wake up with a bruise and a pounding head."
The Doctor nods in thanks before taking off his jacket and wrapping it around Clara.
"Stepashin, get the crew down below. We need to start repairs on the ship and find out what started it." Zhukov orders.
"Yes sir." Stepashin says.
"Bring the man and the girl and be sure the girl remains well." Zhukov adds to his crew.
"Yes sir." They say in unison before following the orders.
Clara shakes the drowsiness from her head as she awakens from her forced sleep. Opening her eyes, she finds herself with the crew in a long corridor, bathed in blue light, with Grisenko kneeling before her. "Are you alright, my dear?" He asks.
"What happened?" Clara nods in a weary voice.
"Ship was rocked rather violently, and you banged your head. Don't worry, it's just a bruise. You'll be fine."
"Where's the Doctor?" She asks immediately.
"Who? Do you mean your friend?"
"Yes."
"Well…" He looks to his right down the damp corridor, showing her the Doctor and Zhukov conversing in irritated manners.
"Captain, we didn't attack your ship! Now if we can get the pump working, we can get her afloat!"
"We will last till the rescue ship comes, now answer the question. Who are you?!" Zhukov draws his gun on the Doctor.
"Alright, fine. I'm the Doctor, my friend's Clara, we're time travellers. We were going to Las Vegas, but we ended up here. Clara are you okay?" He asks, noticing Clara getting up.
"Think so." Clara says with fear in her voice for her friend's life.
"Time travellers?!" Zhukov says incredulously.
"We arrived out of thin air; you saw it!"
"I didn't." Grisenko points out.
"You're problem, not mine!"
"We were sinking?" Clara confirms.
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"We sank."
"No, the TARDIS, what happened?"
"Worry about that later. Listen, Captain, breath's precious down here. We've figured out the damage, we just need to figure out the source and fix it as soon as possible."
"Or we could save more air by having you both shot!"
"It doesn't matter how we arrive, the important matter at hand is that we need to-" Clara stops as she and the crew along with Zhukov notice a large silhouette standing behind the Doctor, hissing in a manner like a dragon.
"Thank you, Clara. That should be our main priority. Finally, some sense."
"Doctor!"
"What?!" The Doctor then pauses in fear as he feels damp breath on the back of his neck, making him shudder. "There's something standing behind me, isn't there?" Everyone nods at him in unison, so he slowly turns around to see it. The figure is a large, green shell suit, with the helmet covering a dark, scaled mouth with sharp teeth that is hissing in rhythm, like breathing. "Oh." He says simply.
"We were drilling in the ice. I thought we found a mammoth." Grisenko states.
"It's not a mammoth." The Doctor shakes his head slightly.
"What is…he?" Clara asks.
"He is an Ice Warrior. Native of the planet Mars. We go way back."
"Martian? You can't be serious." Zhukov says incredulously.
"I'm always serious, with days off." He says with a chuckle.
"Doctor." Clara warns.
"Trying to keep it light, Clara. They're scared."
"So am I, Doctor."
The Ice Warrior's gaze turns upon Zhukov and his lowered weapon, making him raise his arm, which extends out a gun with an electronic hissing sound in preparation. "No, wait! There is no need for this!" The Doctor says as Zhukov straightens before putting his gun away. "Please, just hear me out. Okay, you're confused and disorientated. Of course, you've been lying dormant for…how long professor?"
"By my reckoning, 5000 years."
"Five thousand years? That's a bloody long nap, can't blame you if you woke up a bit cranky. Look, nobody here wants to hurt you. Please, why don't you tell us your name?"
"What are you talking about, name? It has a name?!" Zhukov says incredulously.
"He, Captain! Of course, he has a name and a rank. He's a soldier so he deserves our respect."
"This is madness. That is a monster!"
"Skaldak." The deep, commanding voice of the Ice Warrior silenced everyone, sending chills down their spines.
The Doctor felt the same sensation, but not because of his voice. "I'm sorry?" The Doctor asked, his voice trembling with fear.
"I am Grand Marshall Skaldak."
The Doctor then closed his eyes and gulped. "Oh no." He mumbled.
"Is it true?" Skaldak asked.
"What is?"
"Five thousand years? I have slept for five thousand years?!" Skaldak now armed his weapon with a loud noise.
"No, wait, please- " Skaldak then immediately shudders violently from a bolt of electricity, causing him to collapse, showing Stepashin behind him with a cattle prodder. "You. Stupid. Ape!" The Doctor roared.
"He was going to kill you!" Stepashin argued.
"He was afraid, not angry!" Stepashin then silenced himself. "Grand Marshall Skaldak."
"You…know him?" Clara asked tentatively.
"Sovereign of the Tharsyssian Caste. Vanquisher of the Phobos Heresy. He is the greatest hero the proud Martian race has ever produced."
Zhukov gulp. "So, what do we do now?"
"Lock. Him. Up!"
Skaldak growled as he struggled against the chains tightly wrapped around his suit before the few crew members hastily leave the room, locking the door from the outside. Alone, he looks down in silence. "Five thousand years." He says in bitter sadness. "They would all be dust now. Iclar would be dust." He then turns on his distress beacon inside his suit, which emits a very faint noise that could barely be heard. "If you are still out there, my brothers, find me." He says pleadingly in the hope that he isn't alone.
The Doctor and Clara now stood before Zhukov and Stepashin in a small room, Grisenko sat on the side, listening to his Walkman. "The Ice Warriors have a different creed, Clara, a different code. By his own standards, Skaldak is a hero and it was said his enemies honoured him so much, they'd carve his name into their own flesh before they died." The Doctor said.
"Oh yeah. Very nice, he sounds lovely." Clara said in fearful sarcasm.
"An Ice Warrior? Explain." Zhukov said calmly.
"There isn't time." The Doctor said impatiently.
"Try me."
"Martian reptile, known as the Ice Warrior. When Mars turned cold, they had to adapt. Their biomechanoids, cyborgs, built themselves survival armour so they could exist in the freezing cold of their home world. But a sudden increase in temperature and the armour goes haywire."
"Like with the cattle prod?" Clara deducted.
"Like with the cattle prod." He confirmed. "It's a design flaw that I've always wondered why they've never bothered to fix it. Oh look, Captain, you've got me talking about them and I said there wasn't time!" He reprimanded.
"Is he that dangerous?" Clara asked bluntly. This made everyone look at the Doctor, almost trembling for his answer.
"Yes. Yes, he is." This answer made everyone's trembling sensation turn into a cold shiver.
Stepashin shook his head before turning to Zhukov. "Why are we listening to this nonsense, Captain? These people are clearly enemy spies."
"*Scoffs* Pretty bad spies, mate. We don't even speak Russian." Clara said almost smugly.
Stepashin turned to look at her in bewilderment. "What?"
"I don't..." Clara leaned towards the Doctor. "Am I speaking Russian? How can I speak Russian?" She whispered.
"Now? We have to do this now?" The Doctor asked imploringly.
"Are they speaking Russian?"
"Seriously, now?"
"Well, yeah. Are they Russians?"
The Doctor blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"Are they Russians?"
"Yes, they're Russians."
"Are we speaking Russian?"
"No, it's the TARDIS translation matrix."
"The what of the what?"
"Ugh, come on you slow poke."
"Oi, I heard that."
"You were meant to." They both pause as they look at each before turning to see Zhukov, Stepashin and Grisenko's eyebrows all furrowed at them. "Oh." They said in unison, making them gain a sheepish blush. "Sorry, we didn't…I mean- "They stop talking with a cough before staring at anything that wasn't each other.
Stepashin shakes his head before turning to Zhukov. "In my opinion, comrade Captain, this creature is a western weapon."
"A weapon?" Zhukov questions.
"Survival suit. What is the alternative? The little green man from Mars?"
"Correction. It's a big green man from Mars." Grisenko interjects making everyone chuckle and Stepashin roll his eyes.
"I don't appreciate your levity, Professor."
"Why does that not surprise me? Maybe, when they're not acting like children," he adds teasingly making the Doctor and Clara blush a bit more, "They're telling the truth."
"The truth?"
"Yes, it's a revolutionary concept."
"Captain, it's essential that we inform Moscow of what we have found."
"The radio is out of action in case you haven't noticed, Stepashin." Zhukov stated.
"They have our last position. They will find us. When they do…" The last words Stepashin mumbles to himself but Zhukov hears.
"Yes?"
"Well, the Cold War won't stay cold forever, Captain."
"For god's sake, Stepashin, you're like a broken record. "Zhukov states, his tone now getting impatient. "We have other priorities right now. I want you back on repairs immediately, we need to keep this ship alive. Dismissed."
"Sir?"
Zhukov stands up with his jaw clenched. "Dismissed, Stepashin."
Stepashin glares at Zhukov before moving from the room, nearly bumping Clara on the shoulder as he does. The Doctor then moves to stand in front of Zhukov, back straightened as he does. "All we needed to do was let Skaldak go and he would've forgotten us. But you attacked him, you declared war. 'Harm one of us and you harm us all.' It's the ancient Martian code. Do you hear that?" Faintly coming out of Grisenko's Walkman was a faint noise that sounded like a distorted Morse code. "Skaldak has sent out a distress call. He will rain down the fires of hell for laying a glove on him."
"Unless you talked to it?" Zhukov finished.
"Yes."
"Out of the question. We're not losing you; I'll do it."
"Sorry?"
"You can talk to it through me, Doctor."
"Skaldak won't talk to you, you're an enemy soldier."
"And how would he know?"
"A soldier knows another soldier. He would smell it on you from a mile off."
"And he wouldn't smell it on you, Doctor?"
The Doctor's eyes hardened slightly at that. "Just let me in there before it's too late. It can't be you or any of your men."
"Well, it can't be you."
Clara clears her throat, making them both turn to look at her. "Well, there really is only one choice, isn't there?"
"No, Clara, it can't be you." The Doctor protested.
"If I don't talk to him, we will all die anyway."
"And you're betting your own life on a risk?"
"To save you, yes." She looked at him sadly. "For once, Doctor, just do as you're told." The Doctor looked down for a moment before begrudgingly nodding.
Clara opened the door to enter the dark room containing Skaldak, wearing a pair of headphones on her head. She picked up a lamp to turn it on before smiling at the camera. "With your permission?" She heard the Doctor say over the mic.
"Be my guest." Zhukov stated.
"Ready, Clara?"
Clara took a gulp in fear at Skaldak rhythmic hissing. "Not entirely."
"I don't blame you. Now remember, like we rehearsed."
"Grand Marshall Skaldak." His hissing quietened, almost in politeness, allowing her to bump her fist to her chest, which he acknowledged with a clicking noise. "Sovereign of the Tharsyssian Caste, by the moons I honour thee. Grand Marshall, we're sorry about this, it's not what you deserve." The lights turned off in the room, including her lamp, casting her back into complete darkness. "Oh, oh great." She said, holding back her newfound terror.
"It's okay, Clara, you're doing fine."
She then pulled a torch out of the Doctor's jacket and turned it on to shine it on Skaldak. "You're a long way from home, and five thousand years adrift in time. Please, let us help you, we are not your enemy and you are not ours."
"And yet I am in chains." Skaldak hissed.
Clara paused at those words, unable to come up with an answer. "Doctor, what do I say?" She whispered, yet Skaldak heard.
"Yes, Doctor, what should she say?"
"I think he wants to speak to the organ grinder, not to the monkey." Grisenko muttered in amusement.
"Oi, I heard that." Clara poked back.
"You are restrained until we can trust each other, Skaldak, you would do the same in my position and don't even think about using that sonic weapon. Not in the torpedo room."
"I was fleet commander of the Nix Tharsyss. My daughter stood by me. It was her first taste of action. We sang the songs of the old times, of the red snows." Skaldak's tone now shifts from mourning to bitter. "Five thousand years. Now my daughter would be dust. Everyone I knew would be dust. My people would be dust."
"No, no, no, listen. Your people live on, Skaldak, scattered across the universe and Mars will rise again, I promise you. Just let me help you."
"I require no help. There will be no help."
Clara moved closer to Skaldak. Why isn't he moving when he speaks?
"Careful, Clara, don't get too close."
"I'm okay." Clara reassured. "Doctor, something's wrong."
"What?"
Clara reached up and pushed off Skaldak's helmet, only to jump back in shock as she found nothing underneath. The suit then opened to confirm her fear. "He's not there, he's gone!"
"Gone?! What do you mean?!"
"He's got out!"
"It is time I learnt the measure of my enemies and what this vessel is capable of." Skaldak's voice echoed throughout the room, making it hard for Clara to determine his location in the dark. "Harm one of us and you harm us all. By the moons, this I swear!"
"Clara, get out of there!" Clara spun around, squinting her eyes as she tried to find Skaldak before speeding back to the door and struggling to get it open. Once she does, she jumps back as she feels something rush past her and out of sight. "Clara!" She turns around to see the Doctor rush towards her and pull her into a hug, behind him is Zhukov and Grisenko.
"I'm okay, I'm okay." Clara mumbled to him. "Was I okay?"
"You were fantastic." The Doctor said sincerely.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Doctor. The signal, it's stopped." Grisenko says.
The Doctor swallows. "Skaldak has received no answer from his brothers. Now he's given up hope."
"Hope of?" Zhukov asks despite knowing the answer.
"Being rescued. Now he thinks he's alone in the universe." The Doctor didn't need the spell out the similarity there for himself. "He's got nothing left to lose."
"What can he do, stuck down here with the rest of us?"
"What can he do?" The Doctor said incredulously. "Zhukov, this sub is filled to the brim with nuclear missiles, it's obvious what he will do when he finds that out. It couldn't get any worse." On this note, the sub throttled around as another rock from the sea struck it, sending them stumbling to find a grip. The Doctor didn't need to look at Clara to know she had her eyebrows raised at him. "I know, Clara. I spoke too soon." He admitted with a sigh.
"We need to get back to the bridge and regroup with the men." Zhukov stated, making everyone move quickly and without a word.
Stepashin is alone in a small room, performing repairs while wiping the water from his eyes as he tried to focus. The lights flicker as the door opens, making him turn to look yet unable to see who entered. He pulls out his gun, his hand trembling as he does. "Hello? Who's there?" He asks shakily. There is utter silence for a few moments. "Who's there-" He stops as he feels two clawed hands grasp onto his face, with a large presence behind him and the familiar rhythmic hissing, making the hairs on his neck stand up. "What do you want with me?"
"Much." Skaldak hissed into his ear.
"Listen to me. We both understand each other. This mewling time of peace, it doesn't suit us. We're both warriors. And together, we can form an alliance."
"Alliance? Why?"
Stepashin gulped. "To win the Cold War."
"Why would I help you to win your petty war?"
"Both sides are capable of completely obliterating the other. It's called Mutually Assured Destruction. But it hasn't happened, not yet. I want my country to survive and America to die. This war took my daughter from me. America took my daughter from me. I want to see them repay me. Their blood for the blood they took from me."
Skaldak's hissing softened for a moment in contemplation. "Then you will understand me. I have slept for five thousand years, now my dear daughter has become dust. Your kind woke me before you attacked me. Not just them, you." He allowed a cold grin to appear on his face, even though Stepashin couldn't see it. "Harm one of us and you harm us all. And you, soldier, were the one to harm me. So, you will repay me with your blood." Taking one clawed hand, he dug it deep into Stepashin's throat, killing his scream before it escaped his mouth.
Inside the bridge, Zhukov stood in front of his men, with Grisenko, the Doctor and Clara standing off to the side. "Comrades, you know our situation. The reactor is drowned. We are completely reliant on battery power and our air is running out. Rescue is unlikely, but we still have a mission to fulfil. If the Doctor is right, then we are all that stands between this creature and the destruction of the world. Control of one missile is all he needs. I know I can rely on every one of you to do their duty without hesitation and without fail. We are expendable comrades, but our world is not. That is all."
"Sir." All 12 soldiers stated in unison before moving to work. Clara leaned towards the Doctor to whisper.
"Doctor, even if a missile did get launched, that wouldn't be, 'It', would it?"
"Clara, I told you, Earth is like a storm waiting to break. Both sides are barring their teeth, talking up war. It would take only one spark to ignite the flame." The Doctor stated.
"Yes, but the world didn't end in 1983, did it? Or I wouldn't be here."
"Afraid not, Clara. History is in flux. Time can be rewritten." Clara went into silence on this as the Doctor moved towards Zhukov. "How many of us are left?"
"Twelve, and we can't find Stepashin."
"We split up to comb the sub. Leave one team here to guard the bridge."
"That's the plan?" Zhukov asked.
"That or we wait until he kills us."
"Fine." Zhukov grumbled before marching back to the men to give the new orders.
Clara moved to stand beside the Doctor again. "Have you ever seen one outside their shell suits?"
"Shell suit?" The Doctor asked incredulously.
"Well, I don't know what it's called." Clara shrugged.
"Clara, for an Ice Warrior to leave its armour is the gravest dishonour."
"Won't that make him more vulnerable?" Clara asked.
"No, it would make him more dangerous, so we have to find him before it's too late."
"Will this help?" Grisenko interjects, holding up the Doctor's sonic.
"You saved it!" The Doctor said with a grin. "Fantastic! I could kiss you, professor!"
"If you insist, but little missy here won't be happy about it." Grisenko teased.
"What?" Clara squeaked. "No!" The Doctor also blushed yet he didn't say anything, making Grisenko's smile become smugger. Zhukov comes over to them.
"Clara, Doctor, Grisenko, you're with me." Zhukov stated, as they followed him out of the room into another, the Doctor briefly stopping to perform some repairs on the next door with Zhukov.
"So, why have you got a cattle prod on a submarine?" Clara asked Grisenko.
"Polar bears." He stated simply. "Run across them while drilling. They can be rather nasty, you know."
"I'd have one over an Ice Warrior any day. Cuddlier." Clara stated with a chuckle.
"Come on, Clara. Have a bit of courage." The Doctor stated.
"You know, I always sing a song." Grisenko stated, making Clara furrow her eyebrows at him. "To keep my spirits up."
"Yeah, that would work. If this was 'Pinocchio'." The Doctor grumbled, making everyone chuckle.
"Do you know 'Hungry Like the Wolf'?"
"What?" Clara asked.
"'Duran Duran', it's one of my favourites. Come on!" Grisenko stated gleefully.
"I'm not singing a song." Clara stated with a smirk. A loud rumbling noise is heard around the sub, from the underwater terrain outside crumbling under its weight, making everyone shiver. "What was that?"
"Pressure. Just pressure." The Doctor reassured. "We're 700 meters down, remember?"
"Don't worry about it, think of something else." Grisenko said. "I'm lost, and I'm found. And I'm hungry like the wolf." He hummed.
"I'm not singing." Clara stated with a giggle.
"Don't you know it?"
"Of course, I know it. We do it at karaoke, the odd hen night."
"Karaoke? Hen Night?" Grisenko stated incredulously. "You speak excellent Russian, my dear, but sometimes I don't understand a word you're talking about."
"That's what it's like with big ears over there."
"Oi!"
"You looked in the mirror lately?" The Doctor shook his head yet before he could return to work, a loud growling noise is heard along with two men screaming in terror and pain, making them all run from the room to the source of the noise. As they entered the room, they all saw the mutilated and torn bodies of two soldiers, one was Onegin. The Doctor and Zhukov clenched their jaws at this sight, while Clara put her hand over her mouth to contain her feeling of horror at the sight of them.
"Good god! He's torn them apart." Grisenko stated in horror.
"He's a monster." Zhukov growled.
"No, Zhukov. Forensic. He's learning, trying to find your weaknesses."
"We need to move faster before he kills anyone else." Zhukov stated as he, Grisenko and the Doctor moved from the room. The Doctor however stopped when he saw Clara standing still, looking at the bodies with wide eyes.
"Clara, come on, we need to keep moving." The Doctor said sincerely as he placed a hand on her cheek. Clara nodded weakly allowing him to lead her away. They found a small crossroads of two doors ahead of them. "Clara, stay here. Grisenko, look after her please."
"Sure." Grisenko stated. The Doctor did a double take as he saw Clara sitting down without a word. I'll talk to her when this is over.
"It's a young man's game, all this dashing about." Grisenko said amusingly despite his panting. As he sat down, he saw Clara not speaking, just staring off blankly. "Clara? What's wrong?"
"I was doing okay." She mumbled. "I mean, I went in there and I did all that…scary stuff, you know? I went in there, with Skaldak, and it went okay. I mean, it went as badly as it could've done, but that wasn't my fault exactly."
"Not at all." Grisenko nodded. "So, what's wrong?" Clara couldn't find any words, but her eyes said it all.
"Are we going to make it?" She asked weakly.
"Yes, of course." He reassured.
The Doctor and Zhukov are rushing through rooms and doors as they try to find Skaldak, stopping abruptly when they see another body. "Stepashin." Zhukov stated in bitter sadness. He knelt before him and pulled out from his clutched hand a small wallet containing a photo of a small blonde girl of 6 years and him smiling. "Stepashin, I'm so sorry."
The Doctor placed his hand on Zhukov's shoulder. "Who was she?" He asked softly.
"His daughter, Irina. That saying, Doctor, that a daughter is the apple of their father's eye, that wasn't truer with him. But she died."
"How?"
"In the middle of a war? What do you think happened, Doctor?" Zhukov stated bitterly. "All of us on this ship have lost someone we hold dear to us, but Stepashin took it the hardest. He already was a patriotic man, sometimes frustratingly so, but now he truly blamed the Americans for everything. We tried to tell him repeatedly that it was every bit the Americans fault as it was ours, but he never listened."
"Grief affects everyone, Zhukov. Some people differently and even drastically."
"How would you know, Doctor?"
The Doctor said nothing at this, which Zhukov guessed the reason for. "Come on, we need to keep moving." He gave Zhukov his hand in offer to stand him up, which as he did, they heard a rattling and rustling noise around them, making Zhukov raise his gun.
"He's in the walls." Zhukov stated.
"And he's fast." The Doctor said as Skaldak rushed out of the room. "Let's get back to the others." Zhukov nodded, and they rushed from the room.
"What was that?" Clara asked as more rumbling could be felt and heard around the submarine.
"The Doctor told you, it's just the boat settling." Grisenko said. "Tell me about yourself. What do you like doing?"
"Stuff. You know, stuff." Clara said in absentminded fear.
"Stuff. Very enlightening. And the Doctor, what he said…is it true? You're from another time? You're from our future?"
"Yes."
"Tell me what happens." He said in agitation.
"I can't."
"I need to know."
"I can't."
"Ultravox! Do they split up?!"
Clara jaw dropped before she started laughing at this, Grisenko smiling at her improved mood. "Funny. You're funny." Two large clawed hands reach down from the dark ceiling and grasp tightly onto her face, making her jump in shock.
"Let her go!" Grisenko roared as he pulled out a hidden pistol and fired upwards, making Skaldak let go of Clara, allowing her to give a sigh of relief. "See? I don't just like western music." Skaldak then reaches down and grasps on Grisenko's face.
"No, please! Don't hurt him!" Clara pleaded as the Doctor and Zhukov came rushing in, staring up into the darkness to see a pair of blood red eyes staring down upon them.
"You attacked me. Martian law decrees that the people of this planet are forfeit. I now have all the information I require. It will take only one missile to end this 'Cold War'."
"Grand Marshall, there is no need for this. Please, listen to me."
"My distress call hasn't been answered. My people are dead, and I am the last one. There is nothing left for me except for my revenge." Skaldak then gives a low roar, which Clara notices starts a faint humming noise from Grisenko's Walkman.
"There is something left, Skaldak. Mercy."
"Mercy?"
"You must wear that armour for a reason, my friend. Let us see, shall we?" Zhukov stated before raising his gun.
"No, Captain, wait!"
"I will do whatever it takes to defend my world, Doctor!"
"Don't you see?! We are getting somewhere here, we are negotiating!"
"Very well. We'll negotiate but from a position of strength."
"Excellent tactical thinking. My congratulations, captain." Skaldak said.
"Thank you?" Zhukov said in confusion.
"Unfortunately, your position is not as strong as you would hope."
"What do you mean?" The Doctor asked.
"Doctor, it's that sonic humming noise again. Are you bringing the armour?" Clara asked Skaldak.
"Remarkable thinking there, girl. Remarkable indeed." Skaldak said before letting go of Grisenko and rushing off towards his newly arriving armour, with every step sending a loud clucking noise to echo through the room as he leaves for the bridge. "My world is dead. But now there will be a second red planet. Red with the blood of humanity."
"Bridge, now!" The Doctor stated, making them all rush to follow Skaldak. Skaldak turned around a corner to see the door to the bridge closed, with two men in front of it with their weapons raised at him. They fire upon his armour, which does nothing of significance to it or him. Skaldak literally stomps his way down the corridor towards the two soldiers, as they change fire towards his helmet, which makes Skaldak raise a hand to protect his uncovered jaw. Once he reaches them, he grasps their weapons and snaps them in two like wood, before grabbing one of them to shove their face into the wall, crushing their skull underneath. He then holds down the second soldier with his left hand before raising his right and crushing his skull under the strength of his armour, then using his sonic weapon to blow apart the door to the bridge. Moving towards the main console, he hacks into it using his own technology, arming the missiles before placing his finger over the launch button. "No, Skaldak! Wait!" The Doctor yelled as he, Clara, Zhukov and Grisenko rush into the room. "Where is the honour of condemning billions of innocents to death? Five thousand years ago, Mars was the centre of a vast empire, the jewel of this solar system. These stupid little apes had only just begun to leave their caves. Five thousand years later, they still are frightened children. Who are you to judge them?"
Skaldak turned to face the Doctor. "I am Skaldak. This planet is forfeit under Martian law."
"Then teach them! Show them another way! Show them there is honour in mercy!" The Doctor pleaded. "Is this how you want history to remember you? Grand Marshall Skaldak, the destroyer of Earth? That's what you will become if you send those missiles. Five billion lives extinguished, snuffed out like a candle flame. You will be remembered as a murderer, not a soldier." Skaldak scoffed before turning back to the console. "All right! All right, Skaldak, you leave me no choice!" He said coldly before pulling out his sonic and turned towards a different setting.
"A threat?! You would threaten me, Doctor?!" Skaldak said incredulously.
"Not you! All of us!" He then activated it.
"Self-Destruct sequence initiated." A monotone, computer voice rang through the ship. If Skaldak was Human, he would've raised one eyebrow at his actions.
"I will blow this sub up before you can reach that button, Grand Marshall!"
"You would sacrifice yourself?"
"To save this planet?! Yes!"
Skaldak smiled. ""Mutually Assured Destruction.""
"Look into my eyes, Skaldak. Look into my eyes and tell me you're capable of doing this. Look into my eyes, Skaldak!" The Doctor said.
Skaldak then turned to face the Doctor. "Well, Doctor." Activating a command in his suit, it lifted his helmet off to reveal his face underneath. Compiled with the blood red, reptilian eyes and sharp teeth was dark green scales that made him resemble a dragon and a snake. "Which of us shall blink first?" He said tauntingly.
"Why did you hesitate?" Clara said, making Skaldak look at her. "Back there, in the dark, you were going to kill Grisenko. I begged you not to and you listened. Why show your compassion then, Skaldak, and not now?" Skaldak didn't give any words to this as he stared in contemplation. "The Doctor is right. Billions will die. Mothers, sons, fathers, daughters." This made him snap back to look at her, blinking as he does. "Remember that last battle, Skaldak? Your daughter? You sang the songs of the red snows. What was her name?"
"Iclar. Her name was Iclar." He said fondly. The sub then rocked violently, making everyone stumble about as they tried to regain their footing. They then heard from both Grisenko's Walkman and Skaldak's suit the same humming noise, but now much louder. This made Skaldak smile in gladness. "My people live! They have come for me!"
"We're rising. We're rising. 600 meters. 550." Zhukov stated with a grin as he looked at the pressure dial. After a moment, the sub suffered another violently rocking as it emerged out of the ice in the North Pole, before stabilising, making Zhukov and Grisenko sigh in relief. The Doctor and Clara didn't, not yet.
"We've surfaced. Your people have saved us." The Doctor said.
"Saved me, not you." Skaldak said with a shake of his head.
"Just go, Skaldak, please. Go in peace." The Doctor said softly. Skaldak looked at him with a soft expression before a small humming noise is heard and the nuclear missiles are disarmed before he teleports away in a white light. The Doctor then used his sonic to deactivate the self-destruct before sighing. "Now, we are safe." He said gladly. He looked at Clara who gave a similar sigh of relief before moving over to her as they jumped into each other's arms.
"Saved the world."
"Yep."
"That's what we do." Clara said with a smug smile.
"Let's head upstairs, see what we missed." Zhukov said with a hint of amusement, making everyone chuckle. They all followed him to exit the top of the sub, seeing the shattered ice surrounding the sub and a large ship hovering above them and the cold, misty snow.
"Doctor, the TARDIS! You never explained!" Clara realised.
"Oh, don't worry about that." The Doctor said with a sheepish blush.
"Stop saying that. Where is it?"
"Well, I wasn't to know, was I?"
"Know what?"
"I've been tinkering, breaking her in. I'm allowed."
"What did you do?"
"I reset the HADS." The Doctor grumbled under his breath which Clara didn't hear.
"Huh?"
"I reset the HADS." The Doctor repeated.
"The what?"
"The HADS, Clara! The Hostile Action Displacement System. If the TARDIS comes under attack, gunfire, time winds, the sea, it…relocates."
"Oh Doctor." Clara stated with a shake of her head.
"I haven't used it in god knows how long, it seemed like a good idea at the time." He said defensively to protect his already injured ego. "Well, never mind, it should turn up somewhere." He pulled out his sonic before using it to track the TARDIS. "See, found it."
"Where is it?"
"The pole."
"Not far then."
"The South Pole."
"Ah."
The Doctor gulped before almost squeaking, "Captain, can we have a lift?" Everyone, including Clara and the Doctor burst out laughing at this before moving back inside.
"Well then, you'll have to bunk up in a room, you two. It'll take a while." Zhukov said. The Doctor paused outside for a moment before giving the Ice Warrior salute as the ship flies away.
The Doctor and Clara now stood in a small room, which held one large bed, as they looked at it with a blush. "Okay." They squeaked at the same time. "I mean…it could be worse…" They stopped so they wouldn't continue their embarrassment.
"So, Doctor. Why exactly did you think it was a good idea to use the HADS?"
"Ugh, again Clara?" The Doctor grumbled.
Clara giggled. "I'm sorry, it's just funny seeing you acting like a kid."
"You know what I say to that?"
"What?"
"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes." He said proudly, remembering that long scarf. They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment before the Doctor had to bring up the elephant in the room. "Are you alright, Clara?"
"What do you mean?" Clara asked in confusion. The Doctor simply looked at her with sadness, reminding her of what she'd been trying to avoid. "That." She said simply, making the Doctor nod at her. "I…don't know. Just, seeing those bodies. It's somehow become very…real." She said shakily, making the Doctor pull her into a hug.
"Clara, I can promise you that not all the time in the TARDIS is like this, but I can't promise you that you'll always be safe." He said sincerely.
"You don't need to worry about me."
"Rubbish. Of course, I worry about you." He then placed his hand on Clara's cheek. "Remember, I am here, Clara. You don't have to go through everything alone."
Clara then pulled him back into the hug in gladness. "What about you, Doctor? Are you fine with seeing them?"
"I've seen worse." The Doctor said simply, making Clara hug him tighter. "Don't worry about me, Clara."
"Rubbish. Of course, I worry about you." Clara repeated his earlier words, making him smile. They may be stuck in this submarine for a while, but at least they won't be alone.
AN: Thank you so much for reading and please leave a review if you wish. :)