"You can't kill them!" said Anastasia in horror. "They're people! They're breathing, living people who deserve life!"
"I know that!" snapped Nikolai. "But look at them. They're in for a fate worse than death as a Cyberman. I am giving them mercy."

"Death is not mercy!" she said angrily. "We can help them, there must be something we can do."

"Like what?" he seethed. "How do you plan to get them out of a functioning machine like that. Got a defence by-pass?"

"I won't let you kill them," she said, her confidence increasing despite Nikolai's protests. "You hear me, soldier boy, I won't! I don't care that you think you're doing some wonderful mercy, I won't let you do it!"
"And how," he said angrily. "Are you going to stop me?"
Anastasia knew what she had to do. "Go on then," she dared. "Shoot me first."

The pair stood in silence, Nikolai's weapon remaining in his hand while Anastasia stood with increasing confidence between him and the first person being converted.

In the end he couldn't even point his weapon at her before dropping it. "You are a fool of a woman," he seethed. "Whatever we do here, it increases the likelihood we'll be found the Cybermen."

"It's a risk we'll take," she said. It was only then she was suddenly struck – where did that come from? She found herself in front of a man who could have shot her there and then and she was confident and not intimidated. She had, of course, lived a life where she needed to get by on her own and she had always cherished life, all of which pointed towards a passionate defence like she had just pulled off. But it was also confidence that had come in the last few hours – confidence from the Doctor? She'd have to think it over. Now, she had other things to worry about.

"We need to find a way to shut these tanks down," she said to Nikolai. "We won't get anywhere until we do that."

"I'm sure there's a convenient off-switch somewhere," he said sarcastically.

The pair had made it only a few feet inside the room before the lights went out – the lights in the room and from the tanks themselves. It did not take them long to work it out.

"The Doctor's EMP charge..." said Nikolai. "That was quick."

Anastasia's eyes had not yet adjusted to the darkness but immediately she could hear movement within the tanks. "The power is off now. We can get them out!"

"And how do we do that?" he said.

Anastasia's eyes had adjusted now, enough that she could see Nikolai's clueless expression. She sighed and grabbed his pistol out of its holder and smashed its butt against the glass. She then tossed it back to him. "Keep smashing!"

She then went up to the person and began to carefully help them out.

"Don't worry," she said. "We're getting you out."

"It's... it's... you..." the person said weakly.

"I don't think we've met," she said softly, helping them out.

"I've seen you before," he said looking at her. All of his limbs were metallic and there were patches all over his bald head, but his mind clearly remained human. "In the Cyber-network" he continued weakly. "You... you are the key."

She was the key. The Doctor was right. How she hated to hear such words.

(-)

Nikolai didn't get far before he realised the people were smashing their own way out. He quickly went and helped those who looked like they needed it – some were much stronger than others. He was helping one woman out when he heard a familiar voice.

"Makarovich!"

Nikolai was shocked. It couldn't be...

It was. " Kazokonov?..." he said, in disbelief.

Kazokonov had a metallic arm and cybernetics all over his body, but it was very much him. "I'm glad you're finally here, my friend," he laughed. "I owe you quite a lot."

Nikolai could only stare in shock. He had found what he was looking for.

(-)

If the Tsar had been furious before, this was something else. He was cursing himself for being so stupid as to take his eye off the Doctor. Not that he could do much else of course, as a major drawback of having a cybernetic body is that EMPs are generally not friendly to your ability to move.

"I must say," said the Doctor smugly. "That had much more oomph than I was expecting."

"You'll pay for this Doctor!" the Tsar screamed. "When I get my power back, I'll-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've heard that all before," he said, putting the smoking charge to one side. "Don't think I'll be able to use that again." He then put his sonic screwdriver back in his pocket before collecting everything that had been left on the table.

"Look on the bright side," he continued. "At least you fell right side up. It would be even more humiliating if you were yelling at me face down. Now, answer me one last question, and I'll disarm the EMP charge before I leave. That thing took quite a punch, it looks very unstable to me. Would be quite nasty if it goes bang nearby"

"Go to hell, Time Lord!" was the response.

"Alright, fine, get blown up, see if I care."

"WAIT?" he screamed just as the Doctor was about to leave. "What do you want?"

"Why do you want to attack the Time Lords in my universe? Why do you want to do that?"

"Because we want their power, idiot," the Tsar seethed at him.

"Nice try. There's more to it than that."

"No there is not!"

"Well," said the Doctor. "Have fun lying there then. I'm sure a Cyberman will be along to help you before it goes off. After all, it will only take, oh, twenty minutes or so for the backup recovery systems to kick on. The charge might last that long"

"We can only get the power of time from your universe!"

The Doctor stopped and turned back. "That doesn't make sense. Can't you just use a black hole? Like the Eye of Harmony?"

The Tsar seethed. He had no choice now. "This universe is only a copy of yours. Someone created it."

The Doctor's eyes widened. Now he was interested. "What do you mean?"

"This is only a copy of your universe. Someone created it using a trans-dimensional rift. But because its only a copy, much of the phenomena that exists in your universe doesn't in this one. This universe's Time Lords were able to use their cross-dimensional powers to use the Eye of Harmony, but we can't do that. We need that power in order to be able to use our temporal army."

"I see," said the Doctor. "And who is this someone."

"We don't know!" said the Tsar. "Nobody knows! Now turn it off!"

The Doctor believed him. "If you insist," said the Doctor. "One more thing though, Anastasia's biodat-"

The EMP charge suddenly spluttered and fell apart, smoking billowing out of its inside.

"Oh," said the Doctor disappointedly. "That happened sooner than I'd hoped."

"You were bluffing?!" screamed the Tsar in disbelief. "It was never going to explode?!"

"Of course I was bluffing," snapped the Doctor. With no leverage over the Tsar now, he decided it was time to leave. "We'll meet again, Nicky."

"I'm sure of it," he spat back at the Doctor. And with that, the Time Lord left the study. He had a TARDIS and a girl to find.

(-)

The key. What did that mean.

Most of the people were now out of the tanks, most coughing and spluttering but seemingly recovering. Those that were left were too far in the process to help and even Anastasia could recognise that.

All these people were saying to her that they recognised her. From what they had seen from the shared-Cyber memory, her face had been prominent. She was the key – the one who was vitally important. But infuriatingly, none of them knew why.

Kazokonov had explained it – during their conversion they had seen the edges of the Cyber-network, the parts that were the least protected and the least obvious, and the importance of Anastasia was seemingly knowledge that all needed to know. But any details? They were buried deeper in the network, much deeper than any of them could reach. She was left, therefore, with a burning sense that she was more than she knew. But not why. And it was infuriating for her.

But what was less infuriating was how these people were looking at her. She had saved them and they knew that – and they had no intention of every forgetting it. One woman came up to her and practically cried thanking her. For all the confusion and unanswered questions, she had done a good thing – she hoped – and it felt good – she hoped not deceptively. Looking around though, it was difficult to see how it could be deceptive – but there were also doubts. Funny how she could stand up to Nikolai like she did but doubt herself here.

She had been contemplating for only a few moments when Nikolai called out from the door. "Cybermen!" he shouted. Clearly the effect of the EMP had worn off.

Anastasia began to panic. They had no defence – was this about to be the shortest rescue of all time? But then something suddenly caught her – all these people, all the people she had freed – they all had different modifications that had been completed but with one common one – their right arms were cybernetic.

Kazokonov was the first to act, the weapon in his wrist popping out of its hatch. "No matter. I think we have a debt to repay, everyone."

All the people nodded and drew their weapons. Nikolai grabbed Anastasia and pulled her behind one of the ruined tanks. "I don't think we want to be in the middle of that." Anastasia couldn't disagree.

Kazokonov and the others had taken up some of the other ruined tanks as cover as the Cybermen. There suddenly was a blaze of energy weapon fire streaking across the air. Nikolai covered Anastasia with his arm – she found herself not nearly as scornful of such an action as she thought she would be.

After what seemed like an eternity, the firing stopped. A few moments later the voice came.

"It's alright, Makarovich. You and the girl can come out now."

"Thank you sir," he said, standing up, with Anastasia quickly following.

"Don't call me sir," said Kazokonov sharply. "You know I hate it."

"Sorry, sir," said Nikolai.

"Was anyone hurt?" asked Anastasia.

"One of us was hit, but it wasn't major. We won't be so lucky next time though, we need to leave."
Nikolai nodded. "Before they attacked, I spoke to them all. They've agreed to come back to the Resistance. Most of them were taken from the factories and the slave mines – to taste freedom is something they are all happy to sacrifice much for. Their help would be invaluable. I'm sure you agree Makarovich."

"I do," said Nikolai. "We must leave at once. What about you Anastasia? Are you coming with us?"

Anastasia knew the question was coming but she had known the answer almost immediately.

"No. I must go with the Doctor."

"I understand," he replied.

"As do I," said a voice behind them at the doorway. They all spun round in shock – to see a familiar face standing there.

"Doctor!" said Anastasia, running up to him. "You're alive!"

"Indeed I am," said the Doctor. "What's going on here?" A quick look around told him all he needed to know. "Oh, yes, Cyber-conversion interrupted. Very nasty but could have been much worse so you all must be thankful. You must be Kazokonov. Your reputation precedes you"

"I am," he replied. "You are the Doctor Anastasia spoke so briefly and so fondly of?"

"I believe so, yes," said the Doctor.

"She freed us," said Kazokonov.

"I wanted to mercy-kill them," said Nikolai. "She convinced me otherwise and I am glad she did now." He turned to Kazokonov. "I am sorry, sir."

"For what? Making a decision that I would almost certainly have made in your place?" He patted Nikolai on the back. "You are a good man."

"Thank you sir," he said.

"Impressive stuff Anastasia," said the Doctor. "A commendable respect for life and bravery to stand up to an idiot with a gun. No offence Makarovich."

"Thanks," she muttered. "But I think we need to be going. The effect of the EMP has clearly worn off."

"I have to agree," he said. "But there's one more thing I need. Do any of you know where the TARDIS is? From the shared Cyber-memory."

There was no answer. The Doctor knew what that meant.

"Damn. Well, that would have been a nice and easy way out."

"I'm sorry, Doctor," said Kazokonov. "But we can waste no more time." He beckoned to the others to follow and they began to leave. "Goodbye, and thank you both for everything."

"Goodbye. Give Kilensky my love!" said the Doctor with a smirk.

Nikolai held back to the end. "I must go with them, lead them to the Resistance. We now have more powerful weapons, information we could barely have dreamed of as well. This is a win for us. Thank you Doctor for everything. And goodbye, Anastasia. Thank you."

"Goodbye and thank you Makarovich. We'll meet again," said the Doctor.

And Nikolai followed them back into the cellars towards the exit and towards freedom. He knew the Doctor was right. He would see them again.

(-)

"Now what?" asked Anastasia. Just the two of them were left, in the middle of the Winter Palace and with only one escape – that they had no idea how to find.

"Oh, I'll think of something." He walked over to one of the metal crates and opened it with his sonic screwdriver. He took out a small metal tube with an implement on the end.

"A Cyber-master key, I suspected as much. That should come in handy I think. Are you ready?"

She nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."

"Anastasia, I just want you to know that, well, I'm taking you with me because I have no choice. The Time Lords tasked me with protecting you and I certainly don't disagree with them – you need to be kept safe. But, even if I had no choice, well, I'd certainly be considering it."

"If that's your way of saying you're impressed," she said. "Then I accept the compliment. Let's go."

The pair headed off down the corridor.

(-)

Was this where it began then, asked the being. The friendship that you held so dear?

"Well, yes and no. In some ways it had already begun. In others it would be a while before it would. Not every event can be pinpointed with accruacy," said the Doctor.

I would say that I do understand, said the being. But you must be tired of my communicating that by now.

"In many ways. But not in others. There is also nuance, my friend," the Doctor replied.

Nuance? What is this?

"Well, not all things are obvious and clear. In your universe, everything is as it seems – nothing holds any greater mystery. But in my universe, things are rarely as they seem. And sometimes, events and ideas are very difficult to pin down to one time or one event or whatever."

I'm afraid I do not see, said the being. This is very much not clear to me.

"Then I think you do see," said the Doctor.

The being was silent for a moment contemplating. Yes, it said. I think I do. How fascinating.

"Fascinating indeed," smiled the Doctor.