The Doctor, Chris, Grisenko, and Zhukov were in the captain's room, watching through a CCTV as Clara approached the torpedo room. The Doctor was fidgeting nervously, glancing at Chris every few seconds.

"I told you, she'll be fine," Chris assured, trying to hide how nervous she was feeling.

"How do you know this," Zhukov demanded, glancing at Chris from the other side of The Doctor.

Chris hummed, "not really the best time, Captain."

"Later?" he asked.

"Yes, once we've taken care of Skaldak," Chris told him before adding quietly, "supposing that I've not left before that."

"How long have you been here?" The Doctor asked, looking at Chris.

"Doctor," Chris snapped, "not the time to be asking personal questions."

"Right," The Doctor said, focusing back on Clara, he glanced at Zhukov, "With your permission?"

"Be my guest."

"Ready, Clara?" The Doctor asked his companion.

Chris watched The Doctor talk to Clara quietly as she stood next to Grisenko.

"Grisenko, can I see your Walkman?" Chris asked quietly, holding her hand out.

Grisenko handed it to her and watched curiously as she pulled out her own sonic. She wanted to make sure the device wasn't damaged by the water, as it was their only connection to the signal Skaldak had sent out.

"Tell me when the beeping stops," Chris said, turning forward as Grisenko put the headphones around his neck.

They were silent for a few moment more when the lights suddenly went out, jogging something in her memory.

"Wait," She said quickly getting everyone's attention. She went over to The Doctor and turned the mic off so that she didn't scare Clara, "he's not in the suit anymore."

"What do you mean?" The Doctor demanded, "you said she was safe."

"She is," Chris assured, "the others aren't."

"Wouldn't it be more vulnerable?" Grisenko asked.

"No," The Doctor said, running to the door, "It would be more dangerous."

Is this the best choice? Rain asked suddenly as Chris started to follow The Doctor.

What do you mean? Chris asked, stopping suddenly and making Grisenko run into her, Zhukov was already out of the room.

Trying to save people's lives like you're planning to do.

Would you rather I just sat here?

Honestly? Yeah. That way you wouldn't accidentally mess up a timeline.

You're the time lady, you tell me if this is a fixed point.

It's not but-

Then I'm going to try my damned hardest to save a life. Chris snapped, And you're gonna let me.

So be it, Rain said, But you're on your own.

Fine.

Chris and Grisenko were a few steps behind The Doctor and Zhukov when the released Skaldak rushed past them, forcing them against the wall. The Doctor and Chris ran forward they pulled Clara out of the torpedo room and Chris pulled her into a hug, which she returned gratefully.

"Brilliant," Chris whispered to the woman, "absolutely brilliant."

"Really?" Clara asked, pulling back to look at The Doctor, obviously needing his approval.

"Yes," The Doctor agreed, "brilliant."

He turned to face the rest of the group, "now, where did he go?"

"Chris," Grisenko said, lifting the headphones that were attached to his walkman, "the beeping stopped."

The Doctor went over and took the walkman from Grisenko.

"Skaldak got no answer from his Martian brothers," The Doctor said, examining the Walkman and noticing the waterproofing with a surge of pride for Chris, "Now he's given up hope."

"Hope of what?" Zhukov asked

"Being rescued," The Doctor said, "He thinks he's been abandoned. He's got nothing left to lose."

"But what can he do, stuck down here like the rest of us?" Zhukov asked, "How bad can it be?"

"This sub's stuffed with nuclear missiles, Zhukov," The Doctor reminded the Russian captain, "It's fat with them. What do you think Skaldak's going to do when he finds that out? How bad can it be? How bad can it be? It couldn't be any worse."

The Doctor grimaced as the submarine shifted and they all held onto piping to keep from falling. A hatch opened letting in water but luckily it quickly stopped. The Doctor winced when Chris smacked him on the arm.

"Okay," He conceded at her glare, "Spoke too soon."

"No shit," Chris grumbled under her breath as she found her footing again. She turned to Zhukov then, "Captain, I suggest we get to the control room and warn the crew."

"Comrades, you know our situation," Zhukov said when they had made it to the control room, "The reactor is drowned. We are totally reliant on battery power and our air is running out. Rescue is unlikely, but we still have a mission to fulfill. 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. We are expendable, comrades. Our world is not. I know I can rely on every one of you to do his duty without fail. That is all."

"Even if a missile did get launched, that wouldn't be it, would it?" Clara asked.

"It?" The Doctor questioned.

"End of the world," Clara elaborated, "Game over. I mean, what if they fired one by accident. What would happen then?"

"I told you, Clara," The Doctor explained, "Earth is like a storm waiting to break, right now. Both sides baring their teeth, talking up war. It would only take one tiny spark."

"Yeah, but the world didn't end in 1983, did it, or I wouldn't be here."

"New," The Doctor reminded himself quietly before looking at Clara, "History's in flux. It can be changed. Re-written." He turned back around to find the crew all armed with rifles. "How many of us are left?"

"Thirteen," Zhukov told him, "And we can't find Stepashin."

"Cause he's an idiot," Chris said before shrugging at the glare she received, "what, he's aggressive and a bully, I don't like his type."

"We split up and comb this sub," The Doctor said, ignoring Chris with a shake of his head, "One team stays here to guard the bridge."

"That's it?" Zhukov asked incredulously, "That's the plan?"

"Well, it's either that or we stay here and wait for him to kill us."

"Okay," Zhukov conceded.

"Is it true you've never seen one outside of its shell suit?" Clara asked.

"Shell suit?" The Doctor questioned before understanding, "Clara! For an Ice Warrior to leave its armor is the gravest dishonor. Skaldak is desperate. He is deadly and we have got to find him."

"Will this help?" Grisenko asked, handing The Doctor his sonic which he'd found on the ground.

"Ah!" The Doctor cheered, "You saved it."

"No, no, it was on the floor with this," Grisenko says, handing The Doctor a Barbie doll with a smirk.

"Ah, Professor, I could kiss you," The Doctor said after kissing the Barbie.

"If you insist," Grisenko agreed reluctantly.

"Later," The Doctor said after a glance at Chris.

"I'm going with Onegin," Chris said after a moment of consideration.

"What, why?" The Doctor asked, turning to face her completely.

Because I'm an idiot, Rain said to The Doctor who looked at Chris in shock

Hey. Chris admonished furrowing her brows in hurt, That is uncalled for.

Just kidding, because I might be able to help him.

He dies. The Doctor replied sadly in understanding, Are you sure?

Yes.

"Alright," The Doctor said after a moment and nodded, "be careful."

He kissed her on the forehead and then turned his attention to Zhukov who was telling his men where to go. Chris watched him for a moment with wide eyes before turning to Onegin who was watching her curiously.

"What?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Nothing," Onegin said, shaking his head before leading Chris to Belevich who led the two of them out of the control room.

"Do you think it's true, sir?" Onegin asked Belevich as the three of them made their way through the corridors, "A Martian?"

"I don't know what to think," Belevich told the younger crew member.

Chris rolled her eyes, "what is it with men and not listening to people? Yes, it's a Martian."

"And how would you know you're just a wo-" Belevich sneered only for Chris to pull him towards her by the back of his collar.

"If you finish that sentence I will leave you for Skaldak to kill," Chris murmured softly in his ear, "I may be a woman but I am capable of more than you could imagine."

She was bluffing but the man didn't know her well enough to know that.

"Ahem," Belevich said after he'd been released. He didn't finish the sentence.

The trio continued down the corridor and climbed through to one of the storage room. Chris was in between Onegin and Belevich and was looking up at the ceiling, her sonic pointing where she knew Skaldak would appear.

"If we get out of here, we'll be bloody heroes," Onegin said proudly.

"If we get out of here," Belevich repeated bitterly.

"The first people in the world to discover a genuine, living," He didn't get to finish when Chris pushed him out of the way, pointing her sonic at the ceiling. She grunted as she knocked over a stack of crates, one of them falling onto her foot.

"Alien?" Belevich asked only for said alien to reach down and grab his head, pulling him up before Chris could react.

"Damnit," She snapped, kicking at a box. She quickly turned to Onegin who was staring at her in awe.

"How did-" Onegin started before Chris shook her head.

"Just shut up and run," She demanded before hauling Onegin to his feet and tugging him out of the room, "Skaldek isn't going to wait for me to explain how I know things, Onegin, we've got to find The Doctor now."

Right as Chris said that she ran smack into the Time Lord who'd been running towards them. She grabbed him arms to keep herself from falling and used her momentum to turn him around and pull him out of the way of Onegin, who wasn't slowing down. The crew member came to a halt right before crashing into Clara.

"Ah, fancy meeting you here," Chris said with a small smile before her face went serious, "Belevich is gone."

"Gone? You mean?" Clara asked before trailing off.

"Let's keep moving," The Doctor said, grabbing Chris' hand and pulling her down a different corridor, moving cautiously as he listened for the Ice Warrior.

"Stay here," The Doctor ordered as he found a ladder leading up to a different corridor.

"Okay," Clara and Chris agreed at the same time.

"Stay here," The Doctor said again, "Don't argue."

"I'm not," Clara assured.

"Right," The Doctor said, almost confused, "Good."

"Oh, it's a young man's game, all this dashing about," Grisenko said before noticing that Clara was distracted, "Clara, what is it?"

"I was doing okay," Clara said, looking between Chris and Grisenko, "I mean, I went in there and I did the scary stuff, didn't I? I went in there with the Ice Warrior and it went okay. Actually, it went just about as badly as it could have done but that wasn't my fault."

"Not at all," Grisenko agreed.

"So I'm happy about that," Clara continued.

"Yes."

"Chuffed."

"And so you should be," Grisenko assured, "So what's the matter?"

"Someone's dead. It's all got very real," Clara said before turning to Chris, "Are we going to make it?"

"Yes, of course," Chris assures the younger woman with a grin.

The boat shifted and they could hear a growling, Clara whirled around in a panic.

"What was that?"

"The Doctor told you, it's just the boat settling," Grisenko said calmly but quickly, "Tell me about yourself. What do you like doing? Clara? Clara?"

"Stuff," Clara said distractedly, "You know, stuff."

"Stuff," Grisenko nodded, "Very enlightening. And the Doctor, what he said. Is it true you're from another time? From our future? Clara?"

"Yes."

"Chris too?" Grisenko said, grinning when Chris nodded, "Tell me what happens."

"We can't," Clara protested.

"Well, I need to know," Grisenko insisted.

"We're not allowed."

"No, please," he pleaded.

"I can't!" Clara protested.

"Ultravox, do they split up?"
Clara laughed in shock and Chris shot Grisenko a grateful look before turning to Onegin only to see that he was gone.

"Onegin?" Chris called, taking a step forward only to stop as he head was grabbed from Skaldak from above.

"Let her go!" Grisenko demanded, pulling out a gun and shooting at Skaldak who released Chris.

"Let him go," Chris said, turning around to see Grisenko in the same position she'd been in a moment ago.

"No, please don't hurt him," Clara protested as well, "Please!"

"You attacked me," Skaldak hissed, "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 begin the process. To end this Cold War."

Chris felt a twinge of relief as The Doctor joined them. She quickly grabbed his hand and squeezed it before letting go and turning her attention to Grisenko and Skaldak.

"Grand Marshal, let him go, please," Chris pleaded, "There's no need for this."

"My distress call has not been answered," Skaldak said, "It will never be answered. My people are dead. They are dust. There is nothing left for me except my revenge."

"You're wrong," Chris said, "Grand Marshall Skaldak, I've traveled across the stars, I've met many people, people who know your name. Do you want them to remember you as Grand Marshall Skaldak the murderer? Because if you do what you're planning that's what people will remember you as. A dishonorable murderer of billions."

Skaldak released Grisenko and Chris let out a breath of relief before she felt Skaldak grab her again. She closed her eyes briefly, waiting for the pain, but none came.

"Who are you that knows so much?" Skaldak hissed.

"My name is Chris," She replied, eyes wide as she looked up towards the Ice Warrior.

"Skaldak," The Doctor pleaded, "please let her go."

"Chris?" Skaldak questioned, "You're not Chris Wesley, are you?"

"Yes?" Chris said, her brows furrowing in confusion, "sorry, have we met before?"

"You saved my daughter," Skaldak said, releasing Chris suddenly, who would have fallen to the floor if The Doctor hadn't caught her.

"Well, that's another thing to add to my list of 'I do this at some point in my life'." Chris grinned in relief. "Skaldak, please don't endanger the lives of this planet."

"I have spared you once, child of the rain, I am no longer indebted to you." Skaldak hissed as his armor suddenly walked into the room. He dropped down into it.

"He summoned the armor," The Doctor said, wrapping an arm around Chris' waist. She didn't bother questioning it and just leaned into the time lord.

"How did it do that?" Clara asked.

"Sonic tech, Clara," The Doctor explained, "The song of the Ice Warrior."

"No!" The Doctor called as a drew member emptied a load of bullets into the armor and was promptly shot dead.

"My world is dead but now there will be a second red planet. Red with the blood of humanity!" Skaldak promised before he practically disappeared.

"Skaldak!" The Doctor called, releasing Chris only to grab her hand as he ran after the Martian, "Skaldak, wait!"

They arrived at the control room tower just as Skaldak plugged himself into the system and turned on the missile system.

"No! Skaldak, wait!" The Doctor called, "Wait, wait."

"He's arming the warheads," Zhukov said in horror.

"Where is the honor in condemning billions of innocents to death?" The Doctor asked, gaining Skaldak's attention, "Five thousand years ago Mars was the center of a vast empire. The jewel of this solar system. The people of Earth had only just begun to leave their caves. Five thousand years isn't such a long time. They're still just frightened children, still primitive. Who are you to judge them?"

"I am Skaldak!" The Ice Warrior called proudly as he unplugged himself from the system, "This planet is forfeit under Martian law."

"Then teach them," The Doctor urged, "Teach them, Grand Marshal. Show them another way. Show them there is honor in mercy. Is this how you want history to remember you? Grand Marshal Skaldak, Destroyer of Earth. Because that's what you'll be if you send those missiles. Not a soldier, a murderer. Five billion lives extinguished. No chance for goodbyes. A world snuffed out like a candle flame! All right. All right, Skaldak, you leave me no choice. I'm a Time Lord, Skaldak. I know a thing or two about sonic technology myself."

"A threat?" Skaldak asked, "You threaten me, Doctor?"

"No. No, not you, all of us," The Doctor said, "I will blow this sub up before you can even reach that button, Grand Marshal. Blow us all to oblivion."

"You would sacrifice yourself?" Skaldak asked disbelievingly.

"In a heartbeat," The Doctor assured.

"Mutually assured destruction," Skaldak said with a hint of respect.

"Look into my eyes, Skaldak," The Doctor urged as he stepped closer to the Ice Warrior, "Look into my eyes and tell me you're capable of doing this. Huh? Can you do that? Dare you do that? Look into my eyes, Skaldak. Come on. Face to face."

"Well, Doctor," Skaldak said tilting his helmet back to reveal that he had no eyelids, "Which of us shall blink first?"

"Why did you hesitate?" Clara called suddenly, "Back there, in the dark. You were going to kill Chris, yeah? But then you didn't. Why show compassion then, Skaldak, and not now? The Doctor's right. Billions will die. Mothers, sons, fathers, daughters. Remember that last battle, Skaldak? Your daughter. You sang the songs-"

"Of the Red Snows," Skaldak concluded, as the submarine started to shift.

"What's happening?" Clara asked, grabbing onto piping so that she wouldn't fall.

"My people live," Skaldak said before looking at Chris, "You were right, they have come for me!"

"We're rising," Zhukov called in surprise, "We're rising!"

"Six hundred meters," Grisenko read from the controls, "Five fifty."

"We've surfaced," The Doctor said as the conning tower broke through the ice, "Your people have saved us."

"Saved me, not you," Skaldak corrected.

"Just go, Skaldak, please," The Doctor pleaded, "Please, go in peace."

Skaldak nodded as he was teleported away.

"We did it," Clara said gleefully but stopped when she saw Chris shaking her head, face serious as she looked up.

"No. No, no, no, no, no," The Doctor said raising his sonic, "It's still armed. A single pulse from that ship. I'll destroy us if I have to. I will destroy us if I have to. Show mercy, Skaldak. Come on. Show mercy."

"I'm lost and I'm found, and I'm hungry like the wolf," Clara sang under her breath

Everyone relaxed simultaneously as the trigger was disarmed and the warheads closed. The Doctor turned off his screwdriver.

"Now we're safe," The Doctor said before being pulled into a hug by Clara.

"Ahem," Clara said with a grin, "Saved the world, then?"

"Yeah," The Doctor agreed with an answering grin.

"That's what we do," Clara said proudly.

"Yeah," The Doctor said before looking over at Chris, "yeah it is."

Chris walked over to Zhukov and clapped the man on the shoulder, leaning into whisper in his ear, "I'm sorry about your men."

"You've lost friends today too," Zhukov said before pulling Chris into a hug, surprising the young woman.

"Thank you," Chris blinked before returning the hug tightly, "you wanna see something cool?"

"What?" Zhukov asked but Chris was already dragging him to the stairs leading to the top of the conning tower where the Martian ship was still hovering.

"That's impossible," He said as they were joined by Professor Grisenko, Clara, and The Doctor.

"Hardly," Chris grinned before turning to The Doctor, "So you've learned your lesson, right?"

"What lesson?" The Doctor said, looking around as if he'd find the answer.

"Don't mess with the HADS?" Chris teased with a grin.

"The what?" Clara asked from beside The Doctor.

"The HADS," The Doctor started to explain only for Chris to take over.

"The Hostile Action Displacement System," Chris said, "If the Tardis comes under attack, gunfire, time winds, the sea, it relocates."

The Doctor stared at her in astonishment.

"What?" She asked, tilting her head forward to cover a blush, "not all of us throw the Tardis manual into supernovas."

"Oh, Doctor," Clara said, shaking her head.

"Haven't used it in donkey's years. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Well, never mind, it's bound to turn up somewhere," The Doctor said pulling out his sonic and activating it, "Ooo. Ha, see? Right on cue. Brilliant."

"Brilliant," Clara echoed.

"The Tardis is at the pole," The Doctor said.

"Not far, then," Clara noted, looking around pointedly.

"The south pole," Chris corrected with a grin, "which means we get to spend some more time with our new friends. Well, your new friends. They've been my friends for a month."

"Could we have a lift?" The Doctor asked, turning to Zhukov before suddenly spinning to stare wide eyed at Chris, "you've been here a month?!"

"Yup," Chris said with a grin as she started to make her way back inside, winking at Clara who let out a startled laugh, "I've gotten pretty good at Russian Roulette, I've only been shot, what twice?"

"Wha- but- when-" The Doctor sputtered as he followed Chris, "twice?!"

"I'm only kidding, Doctor," Chris said, much to the time lord's relief.

A/N: Y'all have gotten lucky this week. I'm still on summer break and I have nothing else to do. The smoke over here is terrible because half my state is on fire and I don't want to be outside in it too much. I hope you enjoy (and we're finally starting to get some new information and Chris, which is exciting.)