Vastra's earliest memory was of waking up somewhere dark, wet, small, and had flexible walls. She remembered kicking her tiny legs and arms to break out of it. She didn't like how the walls were pressing down on her from all sides. She was also very very hungry and there was no food in this tiny space. The walls collapsed under her persistence and she breathed her first breath of outside air. Vastra than caught the scent of something that smelled delicious and she quickly crawled her way over to the carcass. Tearing off a piece with her tiny claws, she happily began eating her first meal ignoring the rest of her brethren still trying to get out of their eggs. More for her if they didn't get out soon. Vastra remembered a deep belly laugh above her making her pause in eating as she looked up. The older Silurian shook her head and gestured for Vastra to continue eating. Shrugging, the young hatchling went back to her first meal. It was far too good to ignore after all.


Vastra hissed in frustration when she landed on her backside again. She excelled in fighting with guns and bladed weapons. She had the fastest time completing the dreaded Cold exercises. Unarmed combat though always gave her problems. Her reflexes were slow and she still could not read her opponent properly. Picking herself up, she glared at her Sister who smirked at her arrogantly. Oh she'll take her down one of these days if it's the last thing she does. Cracking her neck, she yelled as she launched herself. She wouldn't win that day or the next.

Vastra finally won a match two decades later and had the date marked into her scales on her left shoulder.


Vastra quietly broke the lock to the compound while her Sisters waited beside the wall. They were to infiltrate and rescue the kidnapped Senator in the building by any means necessary. It would be their 13th mission together. Tasting the air, Vastra signaled for them to go in and the mission commenced. She sent a small prayer to the Goddess that all would go well. It was a complete success.

Later while celebrating, Vastra smiled as her Sisters bickered with each other. She resisted getting into the debate of which Silurian had the sexiest scales but she couldn't resist the age old debate of guns versus swords.


Vastra rubbed her forehead in embarrassment as her Sisters laughed. They all had a week of leave and decided to travel to the hottest place on Earth. It was great to have moments like this where they could all relax, basking under the sun, and not have to think about any missions. They didn't have to be calm efficient machines who did whatever it took to protect the Empire, their tribe, and each other. She pushed one of her sisters making her topple off the rock and into the water. Vastra giggled, relishing the look of outrage shot at her. Life was good and she wouldn't change a thing.


Vastra frowned at the announcements that they were all going to go under hibernation. Here was an enemy to the Empire she could not fight against. No one could tell them when they would be awakened and in what state the planet would in. This was not comforting at all and she had a bad feeling about this. She pushed these thoughts away as she helped panicked civilians into their pods. Her and her Sisters would be the last to go under stasis. They had one more meal together outside, trying to memorizing the sky and the lands. Despite having long memorized what each other's scent were, they kept flicking their tongues out to taste the air. When it was all over, they planned to break open a bottle of their best wine and toast the Goddess for surviving an apocalypse.

Vastra went under with a smile.


They started with twenty.

Vastra fell to her knees.

After the fifth mission, they lost one.

She raised a trembling bloody hand to the wall of hard dirt and rock in front of her. Her sisters were crushed under that.

Three were struck down in mission eighteen that went horribly wrong.

Torn human corpses were sprawled all around her, their glassy eyes staring into nowhere.

Five more would die before they all went to sleep.

Vastra screamed.

And now there was only one.