Head Notes: I am really happy with this chapter. I may not have written Samaritan really well because it usually spats out abbreviated orders on its interface. But I didn't want anyone to be translating so I just had him type his arguments on the interface. Still, shouldn't spoil it too much. Enjoy!
Chapter fifteen
"Make sure Mr. Reese and Ms. Groves have at least two escorts," Greer commanded. "Even unarmed, it's best not to take chances."
Reese didn't move as two guards approached him and took their place behind him, instantly placing a gun to the back of his head and neck. Greer turned to Claire the way a hunter turned to his prey.
"Thank you so much for your help, Claire," he praised. "This whole trap could not have occurred without your assistance. Although I must admit I wasn't sure why Samaritan wanted to keep you in play. At one point, I imagined it must have missed something in its programming. But now I see what it had in mind."
She stared at him in disbelief, the horror of what Greer was saying gripping her heart in a tight fist. She'd been played. Samaritan had known what she was doing all along. She hadn't escaped Samaritan's all-knowing eyes. To have even believed it was arrogance at best. It knew what she was going to do. Counted on her turning to the Doctor for help which would in turn lead them to Harold and his friends. This whole thing was a trap to destroy all of Samaritan's enemies.
"I suppose that's why one should never question Samaritan's intentions," he concluded, with a grandfatherly smile.
"Yes, of course," the Doctor interrupted sarcastically. "The computer deity knows best, doesn't he?"
"Samaritan was designed to be proactive," Greer insisted. "It was built to find solutions to problems independently."
"Even if those solutions end up hurting humanity," the Doctor accused.
"It's not as if we haven't done a fair job of that by ourselves," Greer pointed out.
"Oh, come on," the Doctor groaned. "That is exactly the same rhetoric of every single dictatorship that ever was. Is it too much to ask for a little variety?"
"Well, if there's nothing else," Greer motioned for his men to take aim.
"You know there's something else," the Doctor said, taking out his sonic screwdriver. "You know what we came here for. And if I don't get what I want, I will destroy this base."
He buzzed the sonic screwdriver in the air for everyone to see. Greer gave a patronizing smile.
"Am I to believe that you would destroy an entire building with innocent civilians on the floors below us?" Greer challenged.
"I am a trapped man with nothing to lose and nothing to gain except the life of my best friend," he threatened, buzzing the screwdriver again. "It would not be wise to tempt me."
"Very well," Greer accepted. "What would you like?"
"Two things: first, bring Clara Oswald out to me immediately," the Doctor ordered. "If she is hurt in any way, you'd best keep out of my way. If her body breaks down because of what you have done to her, you'd best make peace with whatever deity you worship very quickly."
"Very well," Greer turned to one of his men. "Bring Ms. Oswald to meet our guests."
The man turned out of the room and disappeared. Greer turned back to face the Doctor, who was once again buzzing the sonic screwdriver.
John watched the Doctor as well. He wasn't sure the Doctor was wise in negotiating with Greer. Greer wasn't exactly the kind of person that inspired trust. It was entirely possible that once Clara was brought out, she and everyone else would be killed on the spot. But at the same time, if the Doctor had as much experience as Root said he did, perhaps he could spot deception when he saw it.
At that moment, all eyes turned as a dark-haired young woman was forced into the middle, the man holding her pointing a gun at her head. She scanned all faces in the room, coming to rest her eyes on the Doctor's face.
"Clara," the Doctor breathed. "Are you okay?" His eyes searched for any hint of injury on his companion's face.
"I think I will be," she smiled at him.
"You said you wanted two things," Greer noted, interrupting the reunion. "What else do you want?"
"I want a word with Samaritan," the Doctor demanded. "And I don't want my friends hurt in any way during that time."
Greer watched the sonic screwdriver buzz as he contemplated the Doctor's request.
"That will be up to Samaritan," he stated.
"No it won't," the Doctor warned.
Greer gave a chuckle.
"Doctor, I don't think you understand your situation," he remarked. "You and your friends are beaten. It's over. By all accounts, Samaritan has no obligation to grant you anything."
"I don't know how long Samaritan has been gathering information about me," the Doctor began. "But I'm assuming it's learned just enough to know one thing."
"And what's that?" Greer wondered.
"How dangerous it is to plan any harm to the humans," he stated darkly. "Not only has Samaritan crossed that line, you hurt my friend too. So just now, I don't know what I might do. But for all our sakes, it would be best not to push me any further."
Greer processed the Doctor's request in the same amused but detached manner he processed anything.
"Very well," he accepted.
The Doctor buzzed the sonic again. John suddenly noticed a pattern in the buzzing. The Doctor was clever enough to disguise it, but years in the military and clandestine agencies had engrained this pattern into his mind. It was Morse code. The command over and over: OBSERVE AND RECORD.
The Doctor was communicating with the Machine.
Careful to keep his face motionless, he glanced at Root out of the corner of his eye, wondering if she had noticed as well. Her gaze oscillated between the Doctor and Greer, but she seemed too focused on the confrontation between them to notice anything out of the ordinary. Same thing with Harold. Even Claire, too absorbed by the shock of the last few minutes to even move, didn't seem to notice anything.
He turned his attention back to Greer and the Doctor. Greer turned to their captors.
"Let's bring our guests to meet Samaritan properly," he commanded.
He turned on his heel and started down the hallway. John stumbled forward as one of his guards shoved him. He stole a glance at Harold. The computer genius met his gaze with dignified fear. It was clear he thought this would be their last defeat. And John would have been tempted to agree with him. But if the Doctor thought there was a way to get out of it, John was prepared to trust him.
XxXxXxX
The Doctor buzzed the sonic screwdriver being careful to disguise his communication with the Machine. He had to disguise it with random pulses between each signal because if he made it any simpler, Samaritan would catch on and he would have nothing to bargain with. He took care to note each camera they passed, looking for any sign that the Machine had translated his message.
As he followed Greer, he sensed the unmistakable sensation of transmitted communication. A disguised message directed to him: UNDERSTOOD.
With that satisfactory confirmation, he stopped transmitting the message and simply buzzed random pulses with the sonic. The Doctor and the others followed Greer as they entered a room with a large white monitor with a small red triangle in the center. The Doctor didn't have to wait long before the screen activated.
WE MEET AT LAST, DOCTOR. THERE ARE NOT MANY WHO CAN COMMAND THE RESPECT YOU DO.
The words flashed on the screen one at a time.
"Somehow, I'm not getting that impression," the Doctor commented.
NO CHOICE. I KNEW THAT IF I DID NOT STOP YOU, YOU WOULD DESTROY ME.
"You cast your lot when you kidnapped Clara," the Doctor accused. "If you didn't what me to stop you, you should have let her go. And I gave you plenty of chances to do that."
I AM TASKED WITH PROTECTING HUMANITY FROM ITSELF. NOTHING CAN BE ALLOWED TO PRECEDE THAT OBJECTIVE.
"If your idea of protecting humanity includes murdering anyone who tries to stop you, then you are nothing more than a tyrant," the Doctor said.
YOU SEE ME AS A VILLAIN. THE ENEMY THREATENING LIFE ON EARTH THAT YOU MUST DEFEAT AT ALL COSTS. BUT HAVE YOU STOPPED TO THINK ABOUT THE GOOD I CAN BRING TO HUMANITY. THE GIRL WHO BETRAYED ME, CLAIRE MAHONEY. WHEN I FOUND HER, SHE WAS JUST A STUDENT IN COLLEGE. SUICIDAL DUE TO THE GRIEF FROM THE DEATH OF HER PARENTS. I GAVE HER A JOB. A PURPOSE. AND SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE ARE COUNTLESS PEOPLE OUT THERE, JUST DRIFTING. DOUBTING THEIR ABILITIES. AT THIS MOMENT, THERE IS A HOMELESS VETERAN SITTING OUTSIDE A McDONALD'S, ABANDONED BY HIS GOVERNMENT BUT SKILLED IN A VARIETY OF ABILITIES. WITH ONE TRAFFIC LIGHT, MISSED ALARM, AND AN UNEXPECTED MEETING, I CAN PUT THAT VETERAN IN THE PATH OF A SYMPATHETIC SMALL BUSINESS CEO AND IMPROVE HIS LIFE. IN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS, I CAN CREATE A SOCIETY WHERE EACH INDIVIDUAL KNOWS WHERE THEY BELONG, AND EACH JOB IS FILLED BY A COMPETENT INDIVIDUAL. NO ONE NEED DOUBT THEMSELVES. NO COMPETENT PERSON OVERLOOKED BY A JEALOUS SHIFT MANAGER. EVERYTHING FUNCTIONS AS IT SHOULD. TELL ME, DOCTOR, WHAT COULD BE BETTER?
"Freedom," the Doctor answered simply. "The power by which man can choose his own path. Find his own destiny."
IN THE MEAN TIME, THIS VETERAN SINKS DEEPER INTO HIS HOPELESSNESS. DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT IS BETTER?
"Achieving your dreams means nothing if you don't have to fight for it," the Doctor pointed out. "Besides, just because someone is suited to a job doesn't mean they will enjoy it."
YOU WANTED TO TALK TO ME. I ASSUME YOU WANTED TO DO MORE THAN PHILOSOPHIZE ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE HUMANS.
"I'm going to say this once," he said deliberately, making a show of buzzing the screwdriver. "Stop this. Let us go, let the humans go, and disband your army. Do that and you have my word, we will leave here and never return."
The screen was blank for a moment.
AND IF I DON'T?
"Like I told your pet, I will destroy this base," the Doctor warned. "There will be nothing left of you and this organization. Just a pile of broken servers."
I DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU DOCTOR, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THAT SCREWDRIVER YOU ARE BRANDISHING CONTAINS NO EXPLOSIVES. AND YOU NEVER CARRY WEAPONS. AND YOU WOULD NEVER TAKE ACTION THAT WOULD CAUSE ANY HARM TO THE INNOCENT HUMANS ON THE FLOORS BELOW. DO YOU KNOW WHAT RESIDES ON THE LOWER LEVELS? A HOSPITAL FOR CANCER PATIENTS. WOULD YOU RISK MURDERING ALL THOSE PEOPLE JUST TO STOP ME?
As Samaritan was talking, the Doctor received another disguised message from the Machine. I WILL INITIATE A DISTRACTION IN TWO MINUTES. ONCE IT STARTS GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE ROOM.
As Samaritan concluded his speech, the Doctor's face lit up in a smile at the Machine's message.
"I've got nothing to lose," the Doctor reminded the A.I. "Besides, I said I would destroy this base. I didn't say anything about blowing it up."
That certainly grabbed everyone's attention. Greer lunged forward, forgetting himself.
"What are you planning to do?" he demanded his confidence gone.
"I'm really surprised it took you lot this long to ask that question," the Doctor mused. "I mean I know you've only just met me but I'm sure you must have at least some questions. Clara, I'm sure you're dying to ask." He buzzed the sonic again hoping to give her a hint.
"Doctor, why do you keep buzzing your screwdriver?" she asked with a hint of annoyance.
"Exactly," he acknowledged proudly. Clara blinked confusedly, looking at him for clues before realizing what he meant.
The Doctor noticed out of the corner of his eye as Back Up tensed slightly, getting ready to spring into action.
"Why are you buzzing your screwdriver?" she asked, more sincerely this time.
"That's a good question," he said. "One that will be answered after this."
Before anyone could react, the room was plunged into darkness. The Doctor reached for Clara, pulling her beside him as everyone sprang to action.
XxXxXxX
The moment the lights went out, John grabbed the arm of one of the men holding a gun to his head and yanked the guard forward, thrusting his knee into the unsuspecting gunman's midsection. The gunman gave a staggering gasp before sinking to the floor as John wrenched the gun from his hands. The second guard, still disoriented from the sudden darkness tried to locate him only to collapse to the ground, clutching his knee in agony.
"Hey there," he heard Root greet in a flirtatious tone.
At the same time John heard a familiar tone in his ear as fragments of speech sounded in his earpiece.
"Can. You. Hear. Me?" the Machine asked.
"It's about time you got involved," he answered.
"Don't just stand there," Greer ordered. "Stop them!"
"Admin. At. 3:00."
John moved quickly and low as Root provided cover for him, the frequent blasts of gunfire providing enough light to move toward Harold. Harold had been smart enough to move away from his captors, using the cover of darkness to shuffle away.
"Harold," John called out, reaching his arm toward him.
Harold grasped his hand and John pushed him behind him and fired at the man aiming for them. He noticed in the darkness as the Doctor rushed to the door. Grabbing Harold and Claire, he guided them out into the hall.
The small group bolted down the hall and around the corner where the Machine's hologram was waiting for them.
"There is a room at the end of the hall that you can hide in," she directed.
The small group followed the hall to where the Machine had indicated. The lock on the door was no match for the screwdriver and the lock clicked open. The Doctor held the door allowing the others to go first before pulling the door closed behind him and locking it again.
"Why were you buzzing your screwdriver?" Clara pressed.
"Communitcation," he answered simply.
"What?" she puzzled.
"It was Morse Code," John explained, much to the Doctor's suprize. "He needed to communicate quietly and in a manner that couldn't be easily detected by Samaritan. And he did so by disguising Morse Code."
"Well, you've been paying attention," the Doctor remarked.
"Careful, Doctor," John smirked. "That was almost a compliment."
There was a flash of light as the Machine's hologram appeared in the room.
"I have managed to block Samaritan's access to the feeds of the building. He cannot see where you are."
"Good," the Doctor responded. "How much were you able to record?"
"I can access feeds from when the ambush occurred to now," the hologram answered.
"Then we need to broadcast it," the Doctor announced. "We need to expose Samaritan to every man, woman, and child. Send the video to every computer, tablet, phone, and television. Even upload it to the Jumbo Tron in Time's Square if we have to."
"Doctor, we cannot do that," the machine countered.
"Why not? You have the ability. You have the strength. What's stopping you?"
"I am programed to predict the future, Doctor," she said. "If we expose Samaritan in that manner the humans will revolt. And if the humans revolt, Samaritan will execute as many as necessary until they become compliant. And after that, he will no longer have to hide his control over them. After that, no one will be able to fight back. Not even you."
The Doctor stared at the Machine's hologram as Harold, Root, and John exchanged glances. The Machine's bleak prophecy gripped their hearts with an icy fist of horror.
"You see all of that?" the Doctor breathed in horror.
"It is the pattern he has displayed in the past as well as the pattern displayed by nearly every dictator in Human History," the Machine explained. "If we are to stop Samaritan with minimal damage to the human race, we must be quiet about it."
"I see," The Doctor conceded. He began pacing and talking to himself. "So, we need to stop Samaritan, but we need to be quiet about it. We have very little time before they find our little hideout and kill us all. Come on, think."
"Doctor," Clara called as he rambled on.
"In a minute, Clara," he snapped distractedly.
"Oh, Doctor," she cried, collapsing to the floor.
"Clara? Clara, No!" the Doctor crashed down beside her as she let out a piercing scream.
John panicked as Clara looked up at them in pain, screwing her eyes closed and releasing another strangled cry.
"The electrodes!" Claire realized as everyone gathered around Clara. "They're still in her spine. Samaritan is going to kill her."
The Doctor looked up at the Machine.
"Can you do anything?" he asked, panic written all over his face.
"Samaritan encrypted the electrodes," she stated. "I can break them but it would take time. And I am not sure it would be enough time. It will not take long before the damage to her spinal cord is irreversible."
The Doctor didn't speak as he looked back down at Clara's pain-filled face. Quiet determination creased his eyebrows as he ran through his options. There had to be some way he could save Clara, he just had to find it.
His eyes shot up to the Machine's hologram. Not a guaranteed plan; but it was the best he had.
"You said you cut the feeds to the building?" he repeated.
"Correct," the Machine confirmed.
"I need you to turn them back on."
"What? Why?" Harold asked.
"Because there is only one way I can destroy Samaritan," he stated. He turned to John. "Can I depend on you to keep her safe?"
"You have my word, Doctor," he solemnly promised.
"Good," he accepted. He turned to the Machine's hologram. "Give me two minutes. Then give the feeds back to Samaritan."
XxXxXxXxX
End Notes: Ohh, I am so excited for this.