INT. TARDIS
Doctor Two is seen sitting at a workstation utilizing tiny instruments on a torpedo-shaped device mounted in front of him. He consults a virtual schematic on a nearby display while manipulating the device's internal workings via an open panel on the side. The device itself is only eighteen inches long, with a metallic reflective surface. Amber domes glow at each end and are connected by a raised incandescent bar that runs from one end of the device to the other.
DOCTOR TWO
De-coupler.
Doctor Two holds out his hand. Next to him, Rose nervously looks over a set of tools laid out in front of her. She reaches for one, reconsiders her choice, then hands him a different one.
DOCTOR TWO
This is a phase sequencer.
ROSE
Sorry.
She takes it back and looks over the tools again.
ROSE
Maybe if you labeled them...
DOCTOR TWO
I don't need to label them. I know what they are. If you need them labeled, you label them.
He reaches past her and grabs the de-coupler himself.
ROSE
How can I label them if I don't know which is which?
DOCTOR TWO
I showed you before.
ROSE
Yeah, once.
DOCTOR TWO
You're going to have to pick things up faster if you're going to be useful to me. I need to know you're able to follow instructions or you're just going to be a liability.
ROSE
I'm trying.
DOCTOR TWO
Try harder. This needs to pass for genuine or we're both dead.
ROSE
All right. I get it. Relax your face. I don't want to die any more than you do.
She sticks her tongue out at him behind his back.
EXT. SPACE
We hear the ethereal gears turning. Against the backdrop of the Orion Nebula, the Tardis materializes in the form of a Tonades patrol cruiser, similar in design to an arc wing, but larger.
SUPER: EARTH YEAR: 12,005 A.D.
INT. CHANGING CLOSET VORTEX – TARDIS
Doctor Two and Rose enter. He walks over to the rack and removes some old clothes. He also grabs the Viking helm from when the Doctor and Rose heckled Christopher Columbus. She stops him from feeding the helm into the funnel-shaped material receptacle.
ROSE
Wait.
He looks at her, confused.
DOCTOR TWO
What? We need the material.
Visibly hurt by his sudden cavalier attitude towards sentimentality, she backs off.
ROSE
Nevermind.
He feeds the helm into the funnel. She watches it get destroyed.
EXT. SPACE
The Tardis slows as it approaches a Cybermen ship. Like a train connected at both ends, the Cybermen ship is made up of rectangular links that wrap around to form a ring. In the center, suspended inside of an energy shield, sits a giant robot head with cold black eyes. It's like a flying mechanical Saturn.
Two yellow spotlights reach out from the Tardis and illuminate the closest section of the Cybermen ship. In response, the Cybermen vessel slows and comes to a complete stop.
INT. TARDIS
Rose and Doctor Two, disguised as Tonades police officers, watch an overhead monitor that displays the imposing Cybermen ship.
ROSE
How can we be sure it's the same ship?
DOCTOR TWO
Right year. Right course heading. Don't suppose there are too many Cybermen battleheads on their way to Earth around now.
ROSE
Should we sound red alert or something?
DOCTOR TWO
Supposing that was even a thing, what would that accomplish? We're the only two on board.
A light blinks on the control panel in front of Rose.
ROSE
They're sending a signal.
DOCTOR TWO
Answer them.
The visual of the Cybermen battlehead changes to a view of the ship's command center. In the middle stands four Cybermen we recognize from Episode 2, led by Cybermen Leader.
CYBERMEN LEADER
You are identified as Tonades patrol.
DOCTOR TWO
I am Lieutenant Valor of Victory Unit Four Three Nine. This is Sergeant Kale.
Rose nods.
CYBERMEN LEADER
I am leader of battlehead 2119. These are my sub-units. Please state your purpose.
DOCTOR TWO
Intelligence reports indicate the likelihood of a threat against the Declaration of Earth. The origin of the threat is unknown. Command has ordered all ships be searched prior to their arrival at Space Station New Rome.
CYBERMEN LEADER
Negative. We are delegates. We are not a threat.
DOCTOR TWO
Compliance is mandatory.
CYBERMEN LEADER
Negative. We have not received-
A green light flashes on the side of Cybermen Leader's head. He goes silent for several seconds.
CYBERMEN LEADER
How long will your search of our vessel take?
DOCTOR TWO
It will not delay you from arriving on time. The other delegates will also have to pass inspection.
The green light on Cybermen Leader's head flashes again. After several seconds...
CYBERMEN LEADER
We will comply.
DOCTOR TWO
I'm sending you docking procedures, now. Valor, out.
The image of the Cybermen ship is replaced by an external view of the battlehead.
ROSE
Did you really need to use 'Valor' and 'Kale' as our aliases?
DOCTOR TWO
I had to use names I knew you wouldn't forget.
Rose bites her lip.
Doctor Two walks over to his workstation, where the device he was working on is seen sitting inside an open case. He closes the case.
EXT. SPACE
The Tardis docks with one of the links of the battlehead.
INT. DOCKING BAY – CYBERMEN BATTLEHEAD
A reinforced hatch slides open to reveal Rose and Doctor Two. Rose immediately yelps, caught off guard by Cybermen Leader and his sub-units, who are standing just on the other side.
Doctor Two puts his hand on her arm as a silent warning to compose herself. She does. He carries the case from his workstation in his other hand.
CYBERMEN LEADER
You will accompany us.
DOCTOR TWO
We don't need an escort. Our authority grants us free reign to-
The sub-units point weapons at Doctor Two and Rose.
CYBERMEN LEADER
Compliance is mandatory.
DOCTOR TWO
You have drawn your weapon on officers of the Tonades Police Force and are in violation of at least three interstellar statutes. I could arrest you for that and impound your ship.
CYBERMEN LEADER
You will accompany us. Compliance is mandatory.
ROSE
I don't think he's impressed by your threat.
The sub-units grab Rose and Doctor Two and forcibly lead them deeper into the ship at gunpoint.
INT. SENTIENCE CHAMBER – CYBERMEN BATTLEHEAD
Cybermen Leader and the sub-units lead Doctor Two and Rose through a narrow passageway through which they can only pass one at a time. At the end of the passageway is a green energy field. Doctor Two stops before crossing it and looks back.
CYBERMEN LEADER
Proceed.
He and Rose share a concerned glance. One at a time, they cross through the field without incident, and step into a much larger chamber. Behind them, Cybermen Leader and the sub-units don't cross the energy field, but remain in the passageway, blocking the only obvious means of egress.
Around them, the freezing cold chamber is blue and dimly lit. Giant fans pepper the cathedral ceiling and hum like bees. Icicles hang from them like stalactites. The far wall of the chamber is a wall of ice. Behind it, we can make out what appears to be a giant server powered by slow-moving bolts of lightning.
Rose holds her arms close to her chest. Wisps of vapor freeze in the air as they escape her lips on each exhale.
ROSE
It's freezing in here.
As if in response to her comment, two red spotlights shine down on her and Doctor Two from above, heating the air around where they are standing.
SENTIENCE (V.O.)
The cold is necessary to support optimal core functions. Few biological life forms are able to tolerate it. Even my leader and sub-units would have trouble if exposed to it over an extended period of time.
CRAAAAAACK!
A section of ice breaks away from in front of the main server as a seven foot tall by twelve foot wide shelf breaks through. It extends forward, straight towards Rose and Doctor Two. Rose takes a step back, but it stops several feet in front of them. The front section detaches and is left free-standing as the back section recedes from whence it came.
Bit by bit, the slab left standing begins to dissolve, slowly at first, then much faster. In a rather literal manifestation of the idea behind Michelangelo's assertion that every block has a statue inside it, a form begins to take shape.
When the process completes, standing in place of the slab is a female Cyberwoman; SENTIENCE. She's an all silver android, like the others, but with a more streamlined and sexy appearance. She has curves, even silver hair, though there's something quite artificial about her; like she's a wax sculpture come to life.
SENTIENCE
I am Sentience, a physical manifestation of this battlehead's computer core.
DOCTOR TWO
I am honored.
SENTIENCE
Your courtesy is accepted, but trivial, and a tiresome exercise. You are the leader of your unit?
DOCTOR TWO
I am the ranking officer.
SENTIENCE
(to Rose)
Then, your presence is redundant at this time. You will wait outside.
A little insulted, Rose look to Doctor Two, not knowing what to do. He nods and motions for her to head back towards the passageway.
ROSE
All right, then.
She turns and walks back through the green energy field to stand with Cybermen Leader. Once she's all the way through, the energy field solidifies into a solid door, sealing the room.
SENTIENCE
State the nature of the threat to the Declaration process.
DOCTOR TWO
Physical violence.
SENTIENCE
A strong Tonades presence on the station itself would greatly reduce the chances of success and be a more efficient strategy.
DOCTOR TWO
It is not our intention to defeat any such attack, though we are prepared to do so. It is our intention to prevent one from ever happening. Your resistance to our search suggests complicity.
SENTIENCE
Incorrect reasoning. It suggests privilege.
DOCTOR TWO
Invoking the right to privacy? Not very Cybermen-y of you. Every one of your people is plugged into the same superior consciousness. You have no personal identities, no secrets.
SENTIENCE
You are not a sub-unit or my leader.
DOCTOR TWO
That's right. I am Tonades and we have jurisdiction over this sector. That gives me all the authority I need to initiate this search. Noncompliance on your part is subject to sanctions, criminal trial, and disqualification from the declaration process.
SENTIENCE
A threat has been made against the Declaration. My leader is part of the Declaration. Conclusion, a threat has been made against my leader, and we are now being treated like criminals by the organization tasked with our protection.
DOCTOR TWO
Will you comply?
SENTIENCE
We received no forewarning of your search. We have been presented with no formal documentation. We cannot contact Tonades command to confirm your orders.
DOCTOR TWO
Will you comply?
Sentience watches him coldly, thinking, or perhaps processing her next move. She walks around him. In the distance, we see the door to the chamber disappear, replaced by the green energy field. Rose waits just on the other side.
SENTIENCE
Sergeant Kale, you may re-enter.
Rose walks back inside. A red spotlight follows her until she reaches halfway between the door and Doctor Two. Then, the spotlight turns deeper red, brighter, more intense. It acts as a forcefield. She screams, falls to her knees. Sweat drips from her face.
DOCTOR TWO
What's wrong?
ROSE
It's... hot.
DOCTOR TWO
What are you doing? Let her go!
He tries to leap to Rose's aid, but the spotlight around him acts as a forcefield. It holds him in place. He watches helplessly as she struggles.
SENTIENCE
Sergeant Kale, state the nature of the threat to the Declaration process.
ROSE
Go to hell!
DOCTOR TWO
You have assaulted a Tonades Police Officer, in direct violation of the law. If you don't let her go immediately, you will be arrested and destroyed!
The red around Rose glows even more intense. Steam rises up from her Tonades armor uniform.
SENTIENCE
A threat has been made against my leader. I protect my leader. As a sub-unit, and female, it is determined that physical coercion will be more effective against Sergeant Kale.
DOCTOR TWO
You've been told everything you need to know. Now, I demand that you release her. Release her, damn you!
SENTIENCE
Sergeant Kale, if you do not provide me with the requested information, your life will be extinguished.
Rose screams... fights it...
ROSE
No... stop! Please! It's a bomb! A bomb! Someone's going to blow up the station!
The spotlight decreases in intensity and returns to normal. Sentience processes this new information.
SENTIENCE
What is the source of your information?
Rose stands back up, sweat absolutely pouring off of her.
DOCTOR TWO
Don't reveal that information, Sergeant. That's an order.
ROSE
One of the other delegates reported receiving an anonymous threat. If they won the auction, the station would be destroyed.
DOCTOR TWO
You'll be court-martialed, Sergeant. That is classified information. You are weak!
ROSE
(to Doctor Two)
What difference does it make, Lieutenant Valor? The Cybermen aren't stupid. They have us. If they're going to attack, they're just going to kill us anyway. But I don't believe it is them. She's just trying to protect her leader. She's a machine. She does everything she can to do what she's programmed to do. It's almost... noble.
SENTIENCE
You understand my purpose.
ROSE
Now, why don't you try to understand mine?
Sentience processes. The forcefield around Doctor Two returns to being just a spotlight. Cybermen Leader and his sub-units enter.
SENTIENCE
(to Doctor Two)
The sub-units will supervise your search of our vessel.
DOCTOR TWO
We work faster on our own.
SENTIENCE
Efficiency is preferable, but not always optional.
The sub-units escort Rose and Doctor Two out. Sentience waits with Cybermen Leader until they've gone.
CYBERMEN LEADER
Report.
SENTIENCE
The Sergeant's response to thermal stimulation was inconsistent with the biology of the Tonades race. Conclusion, she is not Tonades.
CYBERMEN LEADER
Their attempts to deceive us will fail. We must know why they are here. Observe. Extract information and protect the world ender. Once we know their true nature, they are to be exterminated.
SENTIENCE
Yes, leader.
They go their separate ways.
-To be Continued...-