"You won't lay a hand on her!"
Yaz shoved past the Doctor to stand in between her and Kang, imbued with the sort of bravery that probably wasn't rational in their present situation. For what it was worth, the man didn't react angrily, instead allowing a smirk to wash over his face. It was an indifference that infuriated Yaz, as if he didn't care about the ramifications of what he was suggesting. She could feel the Doctor tugging her on the arm, trying to pull her back to safety, but she fought with all of her might to stay strong. She wouldn't allow anything to take the Doctor away from her again. Yaz had thrown herself at a witch just to stay with her; any man paled in significance.
"Yaz," the Doctor said in warning. "Don't do anything stupid."
She turned her head slightly to glare at the Time Lord. "Protecting you isn't stupid. It's my job. My life."
"I can protect myself without you getting hurt in the process."
Yaz laughed, a soft, disbelieving chuckle. "Have you taken a look at your track record?"
"Whatever he wants to do to me…it's not worth you sacrificing yourself. We can't have a universe without Yasmin Khan. There's no Doctor without Yasmin Khan. So…step…away." Her voice was growing louder and more authoritative, as if she believed she could intimidate her friend into submission.
"That sort of anger might work on Dan, but I've been around you long enough not to be scared of you."
"Then you haven't been paying much attention."
"Can I just say that I'm really enjoying this spectacle?" Kang interjected, raising a hand and waving to have the focus return to him.
"What are you going to do to her?" Yaz asked angrily, still ignoring the Doctor.
"I've already outlined that. Have you not been listening? I've been waiting for her arrival for quite some time…there's a chamber just through there…" He paused to point at an innocuous door that now terrified Yaz. "...made from my brilliance and the technology this realm has to offer. It'll take her regenerative energy…every last ounce of it…and place it into me. You have to marvel at my genius."
"I won't let you."
"You really don't get a say in this, Yasmin Khan."
"You'll kill her."
"Not necessarily," the Doctor murmured. "Yes, he'd take my ability to regenerate, but I wouldn't die from that. It'd just make me more…fragile. More…"
"...human," Yaz finished quietly.
"I'd have one life. I'd grow old."
And there was the temptation, clear to see. The one thing that had been standing in the way of Yaz's hopes of being with the Doctor had always been the irrefutable fact that the alien had an infinitely longer lifespan than her. She could travel in the Tardis for the rest of her days, but that would only represent a small chapter in the story of the Doctor's life. If she were to lose that spark of what made her so different, then the barrier would fall between them. They'd grow old together . In the multiverse of possibilities, Yaz had never once considered that that could ever happen. It was now just one choice away from becoming reality.
"You can't seriously be considering this," she said to her friend. "We've heard of the damage he's done…how he's manipulated people…turning them into his own weapons. If he could regenerate, then he'd be able to do that over and over again. You wouldn't normally stand for that. You wouldn't be so accepting of this. So what's changed, Doctor? What have I not realised yet?"
The Doctor bowed her head, her shoulders slumping. "He's got one bargaining chip that I can't overlook."
"Which is?"
The Time Lord's gaze, once it returned, was filled with such sincerity and meaning that it almost made Yaz step back. "You."
"I…I don't understand."
"Kang said that he saw us coming. He always knew that you'd put yourself in harm's way to join me here, even if that supposedly wasn't a part of his plan. But what if he allowed that to happen? What if he wanted that to happen?"
"Because I've been studying the Doctor," Kang said, taking over the explanation. "And she's got one weakness. The Doctor wouldn't stand for injustice or insult. The Doctor wouldn't stand by as someone threatened the world." He reached out a hand, grasping Yaz's chin with a warning show of strength. "Unless her pretty friend was in danger."
"He didn't prevent you from coming, Yaz, because you're useful to him. You're the one person in one universe or the next with enough power to manipulate me."
Kang seemed particularly pleased with the direction the conversation had turned, enjoying the look of bemusement on Yaz's face. "If she doesn't do what I say…if she doesn't step inside that box…you'll be killed, slowly and painfully."
"And I could never watch that happen, knowing there was something I could do to stop it."
"No!" Yaz protested. "I'm not worth it! I'm not worth sacrificing yourself for, Doctor!"
She smiled sadly at her companion. "Yasmin Khan…you're the only thing worth that."
"I won't allow you to do it then."
"This is my choice. My burden to carry."
"He'll go to that universe and tear it down, piece by piece, and all those friends we've made won't have a chance of stopping him. You have to make the hard decision here, Doctor. You have to put the universe before me. Let me die so that they have a chance of living. It's not even a close debate."
"You shouldn't be so willing to die! Is this what I've done to you? Have I taught you that you're nothing more than a sacrifice? That's never been the lesson I wanted to show you. You should be scared right now, just as much as I am."
"Maybe someone has to be brave enough for the two of us. I'm alright in doing that, as long as you figure out a way of getting out of here afterwards."
"I'm not leaving without you," the Doctor replied firmly, putting her foot down.
Yaz could feel tears burning in her eyes. "Why not?!"
"Don't you understand yet? If I give him my regenerations, there's still a chance that we'll find a way to stop him. Plenty of Time Lords have died in the past despite that genetic advantage. All of them, in fact. But if I lose you…that's permanent. And everyone in that universe…everyone in all the universes…would kiss their chances of survival goodbye because I wouldn't be able to carry on. Not without you. I'd watch the universe burn if you were no longer in it, Yaz."
"You can't…mean that."
The Doctor took Yaz's hands in her own. "Let me save you. Let me do this."
Yaz glared at Kang. "What happened to you being so benevolent? You said you want to improve the world. Does that start with threatening to kill people?"
He shrugged nonchalantly. "Certain sacrifices have to be made for the betterment of reality. I'm sure you'll understand. No one has to die, as long as no one stands in my way." His warm expression cooled considerably. "Now Yaz…are you going to stand in my way?"
She hesitated, feeling the Doctor by her side. "You better know what you're doing."
"Let's get this over with," the other woman commanded.
"What?" Kang asked. "No ceremony?"
"Do you want me to change my mind?"
"Ah, ah…I don't think you can, Doctor. The universe or your love…you were always going to come to one decision. This is how it's supposed to be. This is how I foresaw it."
The Doctor stiffened at his choice of words, now unable to look at Yaz out of fear of what she might see in return. She sensed her companion's grip slacken and was left to wonder what she must have been thinking, whether all the pieces had been put into place for her to realise why she was doing this. If things went wrong, if the process didn't allow her to survive, then at least she could be comforted by the fact that she'd basically admitted her feelings. Without saying the words themselves. It'd hurt too much to say them for it to end immediately afterwards.
The Time Lord sensed the presence of Kang's automated guards before they showed themselves, but she moved on her own free will, stepping into the chamber that was waiting for them on the other side of the door. They found two glass boxes situated in the centre of the room, tall and wide enough for a person to stand in. The Doctor scowled at the sight, whereas Kang clapped his hands together in delight. Yaz felt like she was walking on autopilot, still trying to figure out if there was a way she could stop this from happening.
Towards the back of the space, a larger machine stood. It was sleek and circular, giving off the impression that it housed a lot of power. It dwarfed the two boxes and, under normal circumstances, the Doctor would have been rushing over to investigate the display of advanced technology. Instead she focused on taking each step at a time, the surety in which she'd made her decision ebbing away the closer she got to it happening. Because, if it did go wrong, she'd be leaving Yaz in this place with no obvious means of escape. Could she take that risk? But she also couldn't risk refusing their captor's wishes. She was damned if she did and damned if she didn't.
Kang nudged the Doctor playfully. "What do you think? Perhaps a bit minimalist for my liking, but this is for function over looks."
"What happens now?" she asked.
"You're the one who wanted to get this over with. I was going to do a big speech to commemorate the occasion." He sighed dramatically, always the showman. "You're ruining my fun, Doctor, but who am I to complain when you're about to give me the greatest gift imaginable? Life . Just step inside and let the magic happen."
"And if I do this, you won't hurt Yaz in any way?"
"I only harm people who dare defy me. You've proven to be so helpful. That'll only get rewarded, not punished."
The Doctor's expression turned resolute as she approached the box, her hand resting on the handle. Kang busied himself with pressing an array of buttons outside its partner, before stepping inside and closing the door firmly. If she locked him in, then they'd have a chance of running away. Where they'd go, she didn't fully know. But he'd eventually find them, she was sure of that. And that was when the punishment would be handed out. Yaz wouldn't survive his fury, which forced the Doctor's hand.
She forced herself to go inside, hearing the door shut with a heavy suction. Yaz cried out in one last, desperate attempt to make her change her mind. She put her hand against the glass, watching as the Doctor copied her action. They stayed that way for a few moments, neither of them knowing what to say. What words could possibly do them justice? How could they say goodbye in a suitably meaningful manner when it wasn't even known whether they'd be leaving each other?
"Don't do this," Yaz whispered. "There has to be another way."
"Oh, Yaz…I'm going to give you a big hug once I'm out of here. That's what humans do, right? I'll basically be like you after this, if Kang hasn't lied and betrayed us. Let's not focus on that, hey? Focus on hope. I'll see you on the other side."
"You won't be you anymore if you do this."
"I'll still be by your side. That defines who I am more than any innate power. You know…when I was first taken to Gallifrey, they harvested my powers. Tecteun used me for exactly the same reason as Kang. I shouldn't be surprised that it's come full circle. A life this long, you tend to repeat a few storylines."
"But you kept your abilities then…maybe this will be the same…" As instructed, Yaz was trying to cling onto the hope that things wouldn't be as bad as they thought.
"I want every last drop," Kang told them. "I'm not taking any chances."
"I'll be okay," the Doctor said quietly. "I'm not going to leave you again."
"You've made that promise too many times, Doctor," Yaz argued in an equally soft voice. "One day, I might stop believing you."
"Is today that day?"
"...no."
"Then I can do this. I can do this with your belief in me, Yasmin Khan."
The Doctor sent her friend - a term that didn't carry the weight of feeling required - one last wink as Yaz took a few shaky steps backwards. Kang didn't wait for her to be fully clear before activating the machine, a low rumble immediately starting around them. The tops of the boxes glowed ominously and, for a couple of seconds, nothing happened. Yaz started to believe that he hadn't built it right, that he'd been too cocky to believe that he could extract such an enigmatic power source.
But then the Doctor was sent spiralling towards her knees, her hands beginning to glow with golden wisps of energy. She yelled out in pain, making Yaz run towards her but, before she could even contemplate opening the door, one of the robot guards stood in her way, holding her back. As much as she tried to fight its staunch grip, there was no use in battling against such elevated strength. She struggled against its metal arms, watching as the Doctor looked towards her, her entire body beginning to be consumed by the force. A dreaded feeling took over Yaz's mind as she considered whether she was about to watch her Doctor not just lose her powers but also change in the process. That would be too much to bear.
Kang began to shout as the energy was extracted through a connecting tube in the roofs of the boxes, the shards of power striking the glass like lightning bolts. Although it must have been a painful process, his yells weren't as anguished as the Doctor's, almost sounding like he was somehow enjoying the sensation. Yaz tried to tune him out, focusing solely on the state of her friend, whose form was now slumped on the floor, the last vestiges of her energy draining out of her. Her fingers fell from her constraints, not enough strength in her body to support the weight any longer.
It was a startling fast thing to watch and, before long, Yaz was let go, allowed to charge towards the chamber. She swung open with the door with little regard of damaging it, desperately needing to know whether the other woman was alright. The Doctor shifted ever so slightly and Yaz exhaled a breath she hadn't even realised she'd been breathing. She hugged her close, not considering whether it might have hurt the alien, just needing to feel her body, to feel her hearts still beating.
"Yaz," the Doctor murmured. "Yaz…"
"I'm here. Don't worry."
"Is it done?"
"I think so."
"I feel…weird."
"I don't think that should come as a surprise." The attempt at levity fell flat. "You're okay though, right?"
"My body doesn't seem to be shutting down, which is a pleasant development."
"Did you expect it to?"
"There's always a possibility of things going wrong."
"And you didn't think to tell me?"
"You barely let me step inside this thing as it was…I wasn't going to take any chances."
"You're insufferable, I hope you know that."
"Love you too, Yaz."
Her eyes ballooned comically. "Pardon?"
"Did I say something?" the Doctor asked quizzically, just about finding enough energy to lift her head up, her hair falling messily over her eyes.
Yaz's smile was pained, though she tried to hide that feeling as she wiped the strands from the Doctor's face. "Your brain must be going all haywire. Don't worry about it. You're alive. That's all that matters."
"Whereas I'm more than alive!" Kang was up on his feet, staggering out from his confines, using the structure to support himself. "I can feel it coursing through my body! So much power! I've evolved. I've become more than human, the next step on the timeline, the next page of the story." His blue suit flashed with gold and his body adjusted to the changes.
He turned to one of his robots. "I want to take this for a test drive. Shoot me." His happy demeanour vanished when his servant hesitated. "SHOOT ME!"
The figure obeyed, aiming its right arm at its leader before firing two red bolts into his chest. Kang stumbled backwards, laughing as he did so. Yaz thought he was insane, praying that he'd miscalculated something and that he'd just taken a fatal hit. But then his fingers started to dance with the now familiar hue of regeneration energy, making his smile grow larger. He unleashed a full blast as his body contorted, Yaz shielding her eyes from the spectacle. His screams were louder than before, but they turned into a gleeful cackle once it stopped.
A new man was standing in his place. His skin was still dark but he was taller now, his nose more pointed. "Get me a mirror!" A virtual one flickered in front of him and he took in his transformed appearance, fiddling with his smaller ears and his flatter chin. "Ha ha ha ha! Oh, Doctor…you never told me how brilliant this feels! I'm going to have to get the statues changed, though the next universe won't have that problem. They'll only know this face from now on! Until it changes again, if I get bored and fancy something different. Who knows how long it'll take to reach that point? And it doesn't matter, because I can do what I want!"
He rushed towards them, trying to pick the Doctor up. "Come on, no time to lose!"
"Get off her!" Yaz shouted but it didn't stop him. "What are you doing?"
"We can open the gate again." He gestured wildly to the circular structure behind them. "A portal to the next dimension. Your young friend glimpsed it, I believe, when she made the mistake of coming here. I allowed her to leave, of course, to set the trap, to layer the temptation. But I don't have to wait anymore! I have everything I need! What do you say? Is it time that I paid your pals a visit?"