R

A single blinding light shone down on the Samaritan as she lay strapped on a cold metal table. Masked men and women dressed in surgical gowns moved around her, few of them choosing to make eye contact if they looked at her at all. To her left was a large window. There, other people were monitoring her physical condition. A door slid open and Barnes entered. His beret was tucked into an epaulet revealing his tight silver hair. He marched to her side leaning over slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.

"You are an attractive imitation of a human being," he mused. "I suppose it's meant to get us to underestimate you. That weapon you had when I last saw you, the transforming staff. You don't have it now, do you?"

The Samaritan said nothing.

"What are you? Where are you from? Who commands you?"

She looked away.

"The other one who was with you before, the dark one, where is he?" His stare was intrusive. "You may as well tell us. He cannot hide. We will find him."

The Samaritan swallowed, her eyes beginning to well with tears.

The corner of his mouth twitching, Barnes fought off a smug smirk, keeping his bearing. "Tell me what I want to know. Explain yourself to me and no harm will come to him."

Tears falling, the Samaritan managed a sad smile and remained silent.

Barnes looked up at the others. "These people are scientists; as cold-blooded as our reptiles. They will uncover the answers I need and it will not be pleasant. Cooperate and concessions can be made."

The Samaritan locked gazes with her captor, her defiance unmistakable.

Barnes stood erect and looked down at her, "I admire your stoicism." He took a breath. "As you wish then; we will uncover the answers we seek with or without your cooperation. If the hard way is what you prefer. Then I shall leave you to it." He looked to one of the scientists nodding before turning abruptly and leaving the room.

The Time Lord Merciless

Inside the Smith house, Rose sat on her sofa with Adric and Sarah Jane in her arms while UNIT soldiers ransacked her home and stood watch outside. The soldier Liam, a friend of the family stood guard in the corner of the room. He had not replaced his mask but could not seem to bring himself to look at the woman with her huddling children.

"Following orders?" Rose said, not looking. "Is that all it takes for you to turn on a friend?"

Liam flicked his eyes over to her and away again. "It's not that simple, Rose."

"He saved your life, John did," Rose said. "She saved your life too, the Samaritan. You'd have died that night in the factory. Those Cyber Drones would've killed you and your mates. "

"She's alien Rose," Liam said. "For all we know she caused the problems in the first place."

"Oh don't be stupid," Rose scoffed.

"And she was here," Liam continued. "Here with you and John and the kids like it's all normal. What is that, Rose? Is John alien? He always seemed weird. Are you alien? Sarah Jane? Adric? What kind of name is Adric anyway? Is it alien?"

Rose stared at him and shook her head. "Look at you, terrified of a child. He's barely ten years old and you're there clutching that gun like he's the bloody devil. No, it wasn't orders. It's fear that made you do it; blind, stinking cowardice."

Liam looked away, ashamed. "It'll be okay Rose," he said, his voice lacking conviction. "Barnes and John will get everything sorted and it'll be okay."

The Time Lord Merciless

A cell door opened revealing a haggard John Smith. Dressed in filthy hospital attire he was chained to the wall in the corner of the tiny room. He had been there for hours awaiting the next examination or interrogation or both. Barnes entered alone. The door closed with metallic finality.

"I'm afraid I'm all out of orifices for you to probe," John said, staring at the floor.

"That's not why I'm here," said Barnes. "Your friend was not too forthcoming. I attempted to persuade her but she was tough, disciplined and uncompromising."

"What have you done?" John asked, horror blossoming on his face.

"We analyzed every sample we took from you," Barnes said. "You're human, tried and true. And yet there's something about you that doesn't quite fit. Command was satisfied but not me so I kept digging. John Smith. Who is John Smith?"

"Where is she? What's happened?"

"Your records indicate that you came to UNIT twelve years ago after graduating from Oxford," Barnes said. "I called down to there and they don't remember you."

"Barnes whatever you're doing, whatever you've done you have to stop!" John pleaded.

Barnes narrowed his eyes. "The paper trail was impeccable, absolutely beyond contestation but none of your professors or classmates could seem to remember you. Then it hit me. We've had several breaches where the lines between our universe and the other have blurred or been erased."

"Barnes."

Barnes nodded. "I had your samples run again using equipment from your lab and found foreign particles. They were at near negligible levels, you understand, because you've been here so long but they were there. The reason why no one at Oxford nor anywhere for that matter cannot remember John Smith is because he does not exist."

Barnes towered over John. "You are human, sure but not our human. John Smith doesn't exist because John Smith is not from here. You are an alien, John Smith."

"Just stop," John said, rising to his knees. "Just stop and think. Let me talk to her, Barnes. Everything will be explained, all of it. Just let me see her."

"I'm afraid that is no longer possible," Barnes said plainly.

John's lip twitched, the fear becoming reality. He fell back to his rear, his chains rattling. His shoulders drooping, he sobbed. "You have no idea… no idea what you've done."

Barnes sneered down on John in contempt. "Come man, have some dignity. She wasn't even human."

John looked up, his face contorting with righteous anger. "These tears are not for her, though they will come. I weep for the one that will follow her. I weep for what he will do. You are going to learn a hard lesson Montague Barnes."

Barnes arched and eyebrow and smirked. "I highly doubt that."

The door to the cell opened and a frantic officer stepped inside, offering a sharp salute. "Sir, Defense Command needs you immediately."

"What is it?"

"Sir, you need to come to the command center," the officer said.

"I will see you once this is done," Barnes said to John.

"No…you won't," John replied.