Vastra tore another piece off the corpse, chewed it, and swallowed. She was hungry and the apes tasted good. She remembered vaguely the scientists who talked about modifying the apes so that their taste was better. As her grip tightened around a bone, she snorted. Their taste was the only good thing about them. She quickly finished her meal, relishing the sound of every bone crack and muscle torn. Revenge was dirty, cold, and tasty.
The Silurian stiffened. Something didn't smell right. She flicked her tongue out tasting the air. Blood, dirt, rats, sewage, mold, ah there it was. Flicking her tongue again, she turned. Her head tilted as she watched her observer. He looked like an ape, dressed liked one, but he didn't smell like one. She flicked her tongue out again to be sure and tilted her head to the other side. No, this 'ape' didn't smell or taste like one.
She got up slightly but stayed close to the ground. It made her a smaller target and if need be, she could leap away. Vastra was unsure if she should attack since this being was not ape and did not attack her, but perhaps he was an ally of those filthy vermin.
The non-ape realized he was being watched and smiled as he said in Silurian, "Hello."
Vastra's eyes widened with shock and she stood up though her body was still ready for battle. It had been a long time since she heard her language. She had been unable to contact any of the others in the City and with the death of her Sisters she thought she would never hear it again. She was about to answer when she heard barking and growling.
She hissed and ran despite the strange non-ape's cries to stop. Apes were easy to hunt. Their vulnerable flesh gave away easily to her claws. The four legged growling furry things with teeth and on the other hand weren't so nice.
Vastra cursed and hissed as she paced slowly in her cell. How humiliating, the last Silurian caged like an ape. To make matters worst, they somehow harnessed the Cold. She shivered in memory of the cold invading passed her armor and scales before infecting her flesh. Her body was still so very sluggish due to that contraption. She could hear the apes arguing with the non-ape in their guttural language but it sounded like the non-ape won. She tilted her head when he approached, flicking her tongue out.
He genuinely looked sad which made her scales itch. "Sorry about this but we really can't have you terrorizing London. It wouldn't be proper and you are so much better than this."
Vastra hissed, stalking to the bars. "They are all vermin who should die like the animals they are, ape lover."
The non-ape grinned. "Ape lover? Well not Ape-ape because they are terrible conversationalists but they do like bananas which are cool. But humans really are nice and I like humans so I guess that makes me an ape-human lover-ish thingy. But really," He tilted his head. "Don't you think you've killed enough? All the humans who were at fault are already in your belly and now you've been killing people who had nothing to do with it."
Vastra slammed her fists into the bars. "They've killed my Sisters! They should all die for their crime! Why should I listen to you? You know nothing of us."
"Now, that's where you're wrong. You are a Silurian or Homo Reptilia if you prefer. I know from your armor that you are from the warrior class. Second, you already killed all the ones who killed your sisters so they've been avenged. Third, would your sisters really be honored by the death of humans who are not only innocent but are quite weaker than yourself? Didn't your code or oath had something about death and suffering? Come on, now. If what I've read on your species is correct, you had that drilled into your head from the moment you started your training."
Vastra paused at that.
The non-ape breathed a sigh of relief as the wheels turned in Vastra's head. There was still hope for a peaceful outcome unlike the other time. "Those people probably never handled a gun in their lifetime or had any type of formal combat training. They were people who's only crime they were in the wrong place in the wrong time and going by their wounds, they died quite painfully."
The Silurian did not respond.
The non-ape nodded. "If you continue further down this path, it'll only end with more bloodshed and pain and lead you further astray. These humans control the world now and they will be vengeful. Is that really how you want to leave your mark? Hunted prey instead of a proud Silurian who would fight for the best of causes?"
He waited a beat but when Vastra didn't respond, he nodded to himself. "Anger is always the shortest distance to a mistake. I'll come back with some food since you must be hungry."
The Silurian barely noticed him leaving as she sat down against a wall. Her Oath. Did she betray it? Had she fallen so far from the path that she dishonored her Sisters rather than honor them? Perhaps the non-ape was right and she should stop. After all, she did kill all the murderers operating the machinery. But her Sisters deserved better than being crushed by a wall of dirt because of those filthy mammals. Hissing, she smacked her head against the wall behind her. She was the last of her species. One last blaze of vengeful battle where she took down as many of those crawling insects with her or a longer life where she had to live among the insects? Vastra was so tired of the isolation, grief, and anger. Perhaps she should choose the violent but short end. Then this nightmare would finally conclude and she could join her Sisters. It was so tempting.
She closed her eyes and took a breath.
No, she was stronger than this. They wouldn't appreciate this needless sacrifice anyway. They would probably yell at her and kill her again for even considering the easy way out. Taking another breath she opened her eyes, a small flicker of flame reigniting.
She would live. She hissed in satisfaction. She won't let some lowly ape kill her because she became too emotionally compromised. No, she will die a true Warriors' death, as an apex predator rather than hunted prey. If she wasn't doing it for herself, than she would do it for those that weren't with her any longer. They died and now she would live for them.
When the non-ape appeared again with food, Vastra eye him curiously. "Who are you and how do you know so much of my species?"
He placed the meal in front of Vastra. "Oh! I forgot to introduce myself in all this excitement. I am the Doctor. And you?"
The Silurian hesitated before answering, "Vastra."
She tentatively grabbed the meat on the plate. It was warm but didn't smell like anything she recognized and it was softer.
The Doctor, noticing her hesitation, explained "It's cow. Four legged herbivore. Humans farm them for food."
Vastra took a small bite. She stopped and looked at it.
"Good?"
The Silurian ignored the question and took a larger bite. It was acceptable. "You didn't answer my question: How do you know so much of my species?"
The Doctor shrugged. "I've encountered them before and decided to read up on them."
Vastra froze. "Explain." Her eyes narrowed.
"Your pods weren't the only ones uncovered by humans."
Vastra stood up. "There are more of my kind alive?"
"There are. But the last returned to hibernation for another 1000 years after initiating a purge."
The Silurian sighed and returned to her seat. "Automatic protocol would lock down the area until such a time has pass."
After a moment of silence wrestling with unrealistic schemes to shut down the protocols, Vastra looked back up at the non-ape. "What do you plan to do with me?"
The Doctor pulled up a chair and sat in front of her. "Well that depends on you. What will you do if released?"
Vastra swallowed and took a moment. "I won't kill any more of these apes, not unless they give me reason to. Beyond that."
She shrugged.
The Doctor clapped his hands. "I have the perfect place for you! There's a nice old lady in London who will love to have you around, teach you English, and everything. She's quite lonely so she'll be thrilled at the company."
Vastra tilted her head to the side. "Why are you helping me when you are an ally of these apes?"
The Doctor just smiled.
