- 1918 -
- Siberia -
"Alright," the Doctor said as he peered out the small windows looking onto the platform from the last car of the train. "Looks like we're in the clear. For now."
Calypso saw there was a gradual change in scenery outside as the world, or the train itself, begin to move. No one had managed to find them buried back in the luggage cart as they were. There had been a few close calls when the doors had opened to allow last minute bags to be loaded up, but they hadn't gone much further than the first few racks. The reason they had been forced to hide, was because it had become clear that someone or something had discovered the bodies in the basement, and knew something had gone wrong. When the Doctor brought them to the station, there was an abundance of extra guards, ready to check all tickets as the passengers loaded onto the train. It was impossible to know who among them were the strange creatures who had attacked them in the basement, and who were humans, but no less dangerous to the family.
Simply purchasing tickets would be foolish, since they would likely be recognized, but the Doctor hadn't seen this as much of a hurdle. With a surprising amount of ease, he'd managed to sneak each of them into the station without raising any alarm, and subsequently, onto the train itself. He'd done it all so casually that Calypso suspected that this was something the Doctor had made into a regular activity, which would not astonish her in the least.
"What is our next course of action then?" Alexandra, however, was continuing to surprise Calypso. For a woman who spent much of her time ill, she had never seen someone pull themselves together after disaster quite like the former empress. Tatiana and Maria both had dissolved into tears on the way to the train station, and Alexandra had been there to offer soft but firm words to quiet their sobs. Calypso couldn't blame the girls, they had just watched their father gunned down, and had nearly joined him. And now they were on the run. There had been no time for mourning, or even a moment to breathe. The most calm they'd experienced in the past four hours was now, as they were crowded together in the dusty and poorly lit corner of the baggage car.
"Blending in," the Doctor said quickly. "Odds are they've passed word along for anyone who might spot us. But it's also likely their reach doesn't extend much beyond the city. If we find a place to sit for the trip, we should be able to walk off with the rest of the passengers without raising much of a fuss. Though…" He looked carefully between the girls, a frown etching his features. "We may need to erm…wear some scarves to cover up." He suggested tactfully. Calypso realized that it wasn't so much the disguise he was concerned with, but the fact that both Anastasia and Tatiana, along with their mother, were streaked with dried blood. Not exactly something that would help with their plan to go unnoticed.
"I'll find something to clean them up." Olga understood immediately and stood to go search through the bags while Alexandra tried comforting Maria who had started to sniffle again.
"Thank you, that would be lovely." The Doctor stepped back, giving Alexandra and her family some space to recuperate. "So," he turned to Calypso, speaking quietly. "How many is it then?" He asked with a smile on his face. "Visits, that is."
"Twelve," she couldn't help but return the smile. It was one of the only constants in her travels. The Doctor himself, and knowing exactly how many beads she had on her necklace.
"Ah," he pulled his own cord from a pocket. "Eight here. I'll catch up to you yet." He said with a wink. "It's nice to see you keeping busy," he nodded toward the family as Olga returned with a canteen and spare cloth to scrub at her younger sisters faces while Alexandra tended to herself. He raised his eyebrow. "If not altogether safe."
"Yes, well. It's a bad habit I picked up from an old friend."
His scolding look faded under a grin. "Calypso, you're quite-"
"I think we're ready." Olga drew his attention away and Calypso couldn't help but feel a little crushed at her timing. But now clearly wasn't the moment to languish over what the Doctor might have said and she dismissed the feeling.
"Brilliant," he nodded in approval. "Let's move through the cars then. Remember, keep your heads down and don't," he pointed at them warningly. "Talk to anyone." He backed up to give them room to file past and they marched to the only door leading toward the rest of the train. He stepped forward to open the door and the thunderous roar of the wheels beating against the tracks nearly drowned out Calypso's ability to think. The connection between the two cars was a narrow iron bar and Alexandra looked at the Doctor questioningly.
"It's this or the luggage," the Doctor shouted to be heard over the noise. "And it'll go a lot smoother on the other end if we blend." He shrugged. She took a deep breath and pulled the shawl from around her shoulders, wrapping it up over her head. Then without hesitating again, took a step across. Her knuckles were white as she reached for the railing on the next car, but she did manage to grasp it and climb onto the small metal platform. When she reached for the door though, it remained shut. She looked back over her shoulder, concern on her face.
"Ah, yes. Sorry, here," he reached into his jacket and pulled out the sonic screwdriver, aiming it at the latch which clicked open and turned under Alexandra's grip easily. She was still bothered by the device, but thought better of saying anything and pushed the door wide. There were a few passengers on the other side, bewildered by their sudden appearance. But the car was largely empty, and after a moment they became disinterested once again. She gestured for Alexei next, who needed to be handed between them even for the single step that he needed to take. The rest of the girls followed and then it was Calypso's turn. Her stomach clenched tight as she stood on the shaking connection, certain that any moment the train would bounce in an unexpected direction and throw her down to the tracks below. Even with her heart racing, and her fear pushing her forward, something caught her attention from the corner of her eye.
"Doctor?" She said, being sure to keep her grip tight on the railing, she turned to look. It was a vehicle, much like the one that had been at the house. And it was driving toward the train quite rapidly. It wouldn't have been so alarming if it hadn't been clear that they were following no coursed road. It could just be a strange coincidence, but she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that it wasn't.
"Yes, I see it." The Doctor's voice sounded grim, even as he had to shout. "Best keep moving." He gave her an encouraging nod and she crossed the gap completely. Their best disguise would be people, and lots of them. He followed closely behind, shutting and locking the door after them, and greeting a few of the passengers with a friendly smile before they continued on.
When Calypso next looked for the truck, she found it had disappeared and for a moment, felt relief flood through her. She hoped that it meant that the fretting she had done was all in her head. As they crossed to the next car, the Doctor paused to stick his head out of one of the windows, much to the consternation of the passenger who happened to be seated directly in front of it.
"Sod it." He scowled as he moved back away.
"What's wrong?" Calypso asked, when he didn't immediately answer, she too leaned over the same disgruntled man to see outside. It became clear what the problem was, the truck was now running parallel to the train, and as she watched, there appeared to be a man gradually climbing out of the back and onto the train itself. That couldn't be a good sign.
"We're taking on more passengers." The Doctor said darkly, running his hand through his hair in what Calypso had come to recognize as a nervous gesture. "It's alright, we're with the post commission," he flipped out his psychic paper as the man they had upset started to rise from his chair to formally complain. The Doctor put a heavy arm on his shoulder and looked at him very seriously. "Trying to make sure the Loyalists aren't stealing important government papers. Best not to interfere with that sort of thing." The man paled and shook his head quickly. "Course not. Thank you for your time. As you were." He took Calypso by the arm and led her to the end of the car where the Romanov's were waiting, wondering what had held them up.
"Alright, I want you all to keep going," the Doctor spoke quickly, another sign that he was worried. "And quickly." Alexandra didn't need to be told twice as she opened the door and continued to cross. It was made somewhat easier now that there was a small platform between passenger cars, and the doors were unlocked so they wouldn't need the sonic screwdriver. But when the Doctor turned to leave, Calypso felt her chest seize.
"Wait," she said, grabbing for his arm. "Where are you going?"
"I'm…" he seemed to think about it before answering. "Going to go buy us some time. Might be able to convince them they're just chasing smoke and shadows. Not exactly a plan, but I'll play it by ear." He shrugged and turned to go again, but Calypso's grip tightened.
"You can't think to go back there alone." She said with a frown, her chest constricting even tighter at the thought.
His face softened. "I'm sorry, I've-"
"Doctor. I'm not leaving you." She said to make her meaning more clear. She, and the family as well, were only still alive because of him. More important than all that though, was the fact that it was him.
"Calypso," he placed his hand over hers with a small smile. "I've got to try. They don't know who I am, so I've got a chance. If they find you, any of you, people are going to get hurt. Not just them," he nodded to the family as they continued to trickle through the door, the wind whistling through the opening. "But a lot of innocent people as well."
She wanted to argue with him, but she knew she had no excuse that he couldn't easily brush aside. "Alright," she finally said, her jaw tight. He relaxed into a smile and let go of her, but she didn't. "But promise me. Promise you won't get yourself hurt."
The Doctor's face fell as understanding dawned on him. He opened his mouth to give some smart response, something that would make her smile and forget the very real danger he was putting himself in.
"Promise me." There was no way she was going to let him take another step away from her unless he knew exactly how much she meant it.
"Alright," he finally said. "Cross my hearts." He gave half a smile as he crossed his free hand over his chest. Of course, it was an impossible thing to promise. She knew that as well as he did, but it still gave her some relief. She had needed to hear him say the words. Because hopefully, before he tried to do anything foolish, as he had a habit of doing, he would remember what he had said. If she were very lucky, that might keep him safe.
"Thank you." She tried to return the smile, but it was hard to manage. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it once before releasing her again.
"Off you go." He said, turning and heading for the back of the car at a jog.
"Calypso?" Olga was still waiting patiently, despite how nervous she looked.
"Yes, I'm sorry. Let's go." Calypso said as she followed, Olga looked once back where the Doctor had disappeared but decided against asking. She kept the family moving, gradually growing closer to the front of the train where more and more people were bustling around. Trying not to think about the Doctor wasn't working, and she grew more nervous as they went. When they had gone another two car lengths, she stopped to look back as she waited for the girls to move on to the next door. Letting her anxiety get the best of her, she stuck her head out the window again.
The truck was closer now, which she hadn't expected, and a second man was leaping from the cab to the moving train. They were trying to surround them, clearly the Doctor had done something to get their attention.
She had to go back, had to at least warn him, if not do something about it. What that might be, she wasn't sure yet. But that's when she saw the driver start to gesture forward wildly, it only took her another half second to realize he was pointing at her. The driver was directing the man who had just leapt onto the train to where his quarry was, and she had made it easy.
Calypso muttered a sharp oath as she ducked back inside the train, but she knew it was too late. She'd been seen, and it was only a matter of time before they came this way. At least that solved the problem of the Doctor being surrounded for now, but she had a hard time being particularly pleased about that.
"Callie?" Olga was still waiting for her at the door. "What is it? Do we need to go back for your friend?" It warmed her heart to know that Olga would be willing to do so, even if they both knew it was a poor choice.
"No." Calypso shook her head quickly, her mind raced to think of what to do. "He's okay. It's our trouble now, there is another man on the train. They've spotted me." Could they properly protect themselves if caught? Calypso was certain she could try, but it was not such a far stretch to imagine that the man would be armed, something they'd be unable to defend against. Hiding seemed to be their only option, but she couldn't see how. The luggage cart was far behind, and now, two guards were between them and the back of the train, and there were only more passenger cars moving forward.
"Take…take Alexei and the girls to the next car." Calypso found herself formulating a plan as she went, hoping it would be enough. "You and your mother stay here." She looked at Olga very seriously. "None of you sit together though, sit with strangers. Hide your faces as best you can, with a paper, or your shawl." Whoever was after them was likely to recognize the family, hopefully, they would also recognize Calypso herself. If she could lead the man back through the train, perhaps that would buy the Doctor enough time to destroy them, just like he had back at the house.
She gripped Olga's shoulders tight, trying not to tremble as she did so. If they failed to chase after her, their only hope was that the guards would not look too closely at individuals, only for a frightened family clustered together. But if they did recognize one of them…well, she would just have to come up with another plan if that came to pass.
"Do you understand?" Olga looked so much younger for a moment, frightened. Then she looked back over her shoulder where her family was waiting patiently for them to rejoin. Her resolve steeled and she gave a sharp nod. "Good. I will be back." She promised.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"To lead them on a merry chase." Calypso said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Are you sure?" Olga's fears began to creep back again. "We can find some other way-"
"No. Trust me, my friend. This will work." She hugged Olga tightly, as much to reassure herself as the girl. "It will be okay."
Olga gripped her hard before she could let go. "Stay safe, sestra." She whispered in her ear. Calypso's eyes prickled sharply as she pulled away, but she blinked the tears back and smiled before heading the way they had come. She stepped out onto the small platform and shut the door behind her, the wind whipping her skirts around her ankles and the roar of the train competing with her pounding heartbeat. Instead of crossing the gap, she waited. Her eyes on the slender ladder that would lead up to the roof of the train.
Even the idea of it was terrifying, but she had come up with no other plan, and she had all the motive in the world to try just then. She only waited a minute before she saw irregular movement in the train car she was facing, and recognized him from the beard. It was Rolf. He was pushing his way through the cart, giving anyone suspicious a thorough looking at, and that's when she caught his eye. Recognition flickered over his face, followed by fury.
Calypso took a deep breath, made harder by the wind trying to steal it back from her, and hooked her foot securely over the first rung of the ladder. When she was certain it would not crumble beneath her, she released the railing, and brought her other foot over. Now there was nothing beneath her and the underside of the train but a thin, and badly peeling metal rod. But she couldn't wait any longer, less he catch her and pull her tumbling down. She bit the inside of her lip and began to climb as fast as she dared.
