CHAPTER 29

I do not own Doctor Who or Big Finish and I am not making any profit off of this.

Thank you for your favorites, follows, and reviews!

THE TRUTH IS REVEALED AT LAST

As soon as the soldiers fired their guns, Clara immediately stretched out her hand and stopped each and every one of the bullets in mid-air.

"What?" Pete's World Klein and the original Klein both said at once in a shocked tone.

"Interesting," Pete's World Klein said with an intrigued smile as she suddenly began to study Clara intently.

The Doctor instantly groaned now as he said, "Clara, why did you do that? Now the other Klein knows about you and what you can do."

"What did you want me to do, Chinny? Let us all be ripped to pieces?" Clara said in agitation.

"Don't you understand? Now that she's seen what you can do, she'll want the secret of your abilities for herself. She'll never leave you alone now until she gets them," The Doctor warned.

"Let her try," Clara said as she gave the constantly staring and still smiling alternate Klein a defiant glare.

"Mum?" Merry asked in a frightened voice as she saw her mother suddenly turning pale and beginning to sweat profusely.

"I'm fine, sweetie. It's just taking a lot out of me to keep these bullets in place. You see they're still trying to move forward. It's . . . It's like trying to hold back the ocean," Clara said in a strained voice.

"Let me help. Is that any better?" Merry said as energy flowed forth from her mind in an ever expanding wave as she now started to use her own telekinesis on the bullets.

Clara smiled as she said, "That's a little better, yeah. Thanks. Now I've gone from feeling like my brain's about to explode to only having the world's worst headache instead."

"I wish I could do more but I'm starting to not feel so hot either," Merry said as she too began sweating now while her entire body started violently shaking.

"Merry, stop! Right now!" Clara shouted in a terrified voice.

"No, I have to help. I won't let anything happen to you," Merry protested even as she looked like she was going to pass out.

"And I won't let anything happen to either of you," The Master said as he began rapidly firing on each bullet with his laser screwdriver and exploding one after another with it.

As the bullets began going off, the soldiers who had fired them immediately rushed back inside the stolen TARDIS for their own safety. None of them managed to get inside however because Ace quickly threw some canisters of Nitro-9 at its entrance that thanks to her careful and precise aim had instantly flung several of them to the floor in an unconscious state instead of outright killing them. The remaining soldiers now scattered in all directions in a mad panic to get away from the many explosions now going on simultaneously in all directions around them.

"Beat that," Ace said to the Master with a smug smile on her face as she watched Pete's World Klein's army race off down the corridors of the building in absolute terror.

"Show offs," The Doctor said with a frown even as he looked at both Clara and Merry with worried eyes after all of the physical trauma that they had just gone through.

Within moments, they all heard the sounds of several gunshots going off nearby. This instantly told everyone listening that the panicking soldiers had only succeeded in going from one dangerous situation straight into another one.

Pete's World Klein however had not left. She had stayed exactly where she was throughout the entire conflagration and now she actually laughed as she looked at Clara with covetous eyes.

"The Doctor was right, you know? I won't ever stop trying to capture you after watching that little display. If I could unlock the secret of your abilities, I could potentially help so many people back in my own world. Just think of it. Whenever a disaster threatened, people's lives could be saved with such power," Pete's World Klein said to Clara with that unnerving smile never leaving her face for a single moment.

"Somehow I don't think that you're only thinking about using it for that though, are you?" Clara said with a pointed look.

"I won't lie. They would also help us take over other worlds much easier but that's hardly the only reason. I'm not the complete monster that you obviously think I am. I worry about the general overall well-being of my own world just as much if not more than I do about conquering others," Pete's World Klein said as she somehow pulled off an earnest expression right alongside that seemingly eternal smug grin of hers.

"Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that. You might actually get someone to believe it one day but somehow I doubt it," Clara said with a furious look on her face.

Then she gave Merry a concerned look which the little girl immediately responded to with a reassuring smile as she tried to show her mother that she was okay. That didn't stop Clara from studying her closely for any signs of damage from the incredible strain that she had just gone through however.

"She's actually convinced herself of this, Clara. It's how she sleeps at night. She's so completely and utterly convinced of the rightness of her government and its ideology that she could never conceive of it being wrong in any way," The original Klein said with a frown.

"So we're dealing with a fanatic. Wonderful," Clara said with a sigh.

"Just because you don't understand me doesn't mean I'm a fanatic," Pete's World Klein protested.

"From where I'm sitting, I'd say that they've got it absolutely right, yeah? You're just as bad as the Nazis on my world as far as I'm concerned," Rose said as she openly displayed the chains on her arms to underscore her words.

"It really doesn't matter now, does it? Her bunch of goose stepping stooges are all gone now and she's all alone. Now's the time to finally take your TARDIS back from her and start undoing this whole mess," Ace said to Rose as she started to go inside of the Metacrisis' TARDIS.

"Ace, no! She may have it booby-trapped," The Doctor warned.

"That's certainly what I would do. I'd have knock-out gas ready to spray out as soon as you touched the console if not something far worse," The Master admitted with more than a bit of a smile on his face.

"Really?" Tish asked with a deep frown.

As Tish gave him an angry look, the Master quickly added, "That is that's what I would have done . . . in the past."

"Nice save, Dark Boy," Jenny said with a grin.

"Shut up," The Master said with an annoyed look as Jenny laughed at him.

The Doctor couldn't help but look at the two of them with envious eyes. He used to be that close to the Master himself once. They were slowly getting back to that point, but Jenny had already developed a sibling like relationship with him some time ago it seemed.

Ace instantly stopped at the ship's entrance now as she muttered a few choice curse words to herself in a low voice. She knew very well that the others could be absolutely right especially knowing Klein as well as she did. If this Klein was anything like the old one, then she could easily have something like that waiting for her if she went inside.

The fact that that same malicious smile she had had the entire time never left Klein's face once seemed to all but confirm that for her.

"I can't believe it. One of you actually listened to me for once. In the old days, you would have just gone charging on in anyway no matter what I said," The Doctor said in a shocked voice.

"Yeah, well I must have actually developed some sense in my old age or something. Does this mean I have to turn in my TARDIS key now?" Ace said with a sarcastic smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

The Doctor could tell that she was just dying to go inside the TARDIS and make sure that Pete's World Klein couldn't escape in it. She needed to end this so badly because she still felt extremely guilty for her role in the creation of the Klein of their own reality.

"Everything that happened was much more my fault than yours, Ace. I started remembering everything about my past life again not long ago after I found out the truth, and I know that it was my blind fanaticism that led to so much pain and suffering. It's the exact same thing that this version of me is doing right now," The original Klein said as she realized this for herself.

"Apparently your mind was altered by some outside force I'm guessing from what you've said previously so why should I listen to anything that you have to say? After all how do you know that what you believe now is what you truly believe or what you were made to believe instead?" Pete's World Klein said in a disbelieving tone.

"I know because having my life completely changed and my memories temporarily removed finally allowed me to see exactly how wrong that I was about so many things. I never would have realized that otherwise. That's how misguided that I was and that's exactly how much that you are too," The original Klein said.

"Listen to her. She knows exactly what she's saying because she is you. She's trying to keep you from making the same mistakes that she did," The Doctor pleaded to Pete's World's Klein.

"Or another way of looking at it is that maybe I'm keeping myself from making the same mistakes that she did," Pete's World's Klein said stubbornly.

That was when Clara let out a scream of pure frustration as she said, "We're not getting anywhere with this. She's never going to give up and we need to be sure that the TARDIS is really free from her. I guess it's best if Koschei and I go in there ourselves since he's so familiar with TARDIS deathtraps and all."

"Oh, no you don't. If you're going, then I'm going in there too," The Doctor said with a worried look.

"Well, here's a switch. Even you're not listening to your own advice now, Professor," Ace said with a smirk.

"Where have you been, Leather Girl? He's never listened to it," Clara pointed out with a small smile.

"Yeah, but it's the first time that I've ever seen him be so obvious about it. If he's going in, then I am too. Why should I miss out on all of the fun?" Ace said with a warm smile.

"Oi! What about us? Is everyone going to just leave us here all chained up while they go exploring?" The Metacrisis Doctor complained.

"What's the matter? Worried that you'll miss out on all of the action?" Clara teased him.

"Well, I certainly have so far," The Metacrisis said with a pouting look.

"Don't have a coronary, Sand Shoes. I've got your back," Clara said as she gestured at the chains and they immediately started to break and crack under the influence of her incredible power.

"Clara, are you sure you should be doing that so soon after that little stunt that you just did with the bullets?" The Doctor asked as he watched her with concern.

"Stunt? I wasn't showing off, Doctor. I was trying to save us all. I certainly wasn't enjoying it. I'd really rather not have almost blown out my own brain thank you very much," Clara said in anger.

"I know you had no choice that time but that still doesn't stop me from worrying about you. You really don't have to do this now though, you know? I could have broken them myself with the sonic. It would have taken longer but it wouldn't have endangered your brain even more," The Doctor said as he used the sonic screwdriver to scan her.

"I'm tougher than you think, Chin Boy. I always have been. It's well past time that you finally realized that," Clara said in an irritated tone just as the chains finally shattered into a thousand pieces finally freeing Rose and the Metacrisis at last.

"You'll get no argument out of me especially since I still have no powers," Rose said with an enormous smile of gratitude.

"Clara, I didn't mean . . ." The Doctor started to apologize.

Clara's face softened as she interrupted him by saying, "I know. I always know, remember? Just forget about it, Doctor. From now on though, think twice before you treat me like a child."

Pete's World's Klein laughed as she said, "That's the first time I've ever seen anyone shut the Doctor up like that. Bravo."

Clara immediately shot her a dirty look as she said, "Watch it or I'll shut you up too. I won't do it as gently either."

"Oh, I believe you, Alura Heartshaven. I definitely do," Pete's World Klein said with a smirk.

"How do you know my real name?" Clara said in an alarmed voice.

"Yes and how did she know how to negate Rose's powers or how to find her and Handy? I've been asking myself that one since she first arrived. The answer is that obviously she had some inside help. So now you're finally tipping your hand, aren't you? Who told you so much about us?" The Doctor asked Pete's World Klein.

"Why don't you find out for yourself at the same time as you see what or rather who I used to protect my TARDIS, Doctor? Go on inside and see. I have to warn you though. You may not like who you find there," She replied in a confident tone.

"So it's a person instead of a trap. No wonder you've stood there completely unafraid this entire time. You had a secret ally. The same ally who told you all about us if I'm not completely mistaken," The Doctor said with a knowing smile.

"You knew all about it the whole time, didn't you, Professor? That's why you didn't want me to go in there. You knew I'd get cut down as soon as I went inside," Ace realized.

"Let's just say that I suspected it, and I didn't want to take a chance," The Doctor admitted.

"You really haven't changed a bit. You still know exactly what's going on but can't be bothered to tell the rest of us anything," Ace said with a smile as she shook her head at him.

"He has to wait until just the right moment to unveil it all, Dorothy. It makes him look even cleverer that way," Clara said.

"Yes, he always loves to put on a good performance. He could never resist a grand theatrical gesture," The Master added.

"Yeah, like you can with your over the top ways to kill me and your constant gloating and laughing all the time," The Doctor couldn't resist saying.

"It's called style, Doctor. You might try getting one of your own sometime," The Master shot back.

"Doctor, who is this ally of hers? Who would know Clara's real name except for someone extremely close to her? That makes me more than a bit nervous because it makes it look like it's one of us. More specifically it's someone who had to know her from the old days on Gallifrey," Tish admitted.

"I would never put Alura in harm's way," The Master said with a look of pain on his face that instantly broke Tish's hearts.

She immediately kissed him as she said in an apologetic tone, "No, not you. I never meant you. I meant . . . someone else."

She looked straight at the Doctor as she said this and the Master suddenly nodded as he said, "Of course. That makes perfect sense. Who else would know so much about Alura and Rose not to mention who else could know of Klein's existence in the first place?"

"Now wait just a minute, Koschei. Dad would never do anything that would hurt or endanger Clara and Rose. Never," Jenny said in an extremely angry voice.

"Oh, I know that, Jenny. He's far too disgustingly noble for such a thing. I once met another side of him that wasn't quite as pure though," The Master said.

"Huh? What's he talking about, Dad?" Jenny asked in a confused tone.

"I believe that he's talking about me, my dear child," A sinister voice said from the now suddenly open doorway of the Metacrisis' TARDIS.

They all turned to see a man dressed all in black with a malevolent smile on his face standing there holding a staser on them.

"Who on Earth is that?" The original Klein asked.

"He's the only man who could have possibly set this whole situation up and given the other you all of the brilliant little toys that she's been using that are obviously based on Gallifreyan technology: Me. Only this version of me doesn't have the right to call himself The Doctor so he calls himself The Valeyard instead," The Doctor said as he stared at his other self with open disdain.

"The Valeyard. The Great Intelligence once mentioned that name. Who is he and how is he connected to you, Doctor?" Clara asked curiously.

"He's the Doctor's dark side who was given his own life distinct from his somewhere in-between his twelfth and final incarnation," The Master explained.

"Which makes no sense to me since this is my last life and that definitely hasn't happened yet. I still have no more idea where you came from now though than I did back when I first met you when I wore that horrible coat," The Doctor said.

The Valeyard smiled evilly as he said, "Whoever said that this would be your final incarnation, Doctor."

"What?" The Doctor asked with a questioning look.

"As River would say, spoilers, Doctor," The Valeyard said with a chuckle.

"Why do you care if Klein's Nazis take over either this world or Pete's World? Why would you even want them to anyway?" The Doctor asked.

"Unlike you, I could care less about any version of Earth, Doctor. It doesn't matter to me one way or another who controls this pitiful mudball and its stupid apes. I made a deal with Pete's World's Klein in order to lure you straight into my trap, Doctor. I knew that you would be coming here to see Romana today after all since I have all of your memories so this was the perfect time and place to spring it. Now thanks to Klein's help, I can finally be rid of you forever. Then in addition to all of your lives, Alura will finally be mine just as she should be," The Valeyard said.

"You're making even less sense than usual this time, Uncool Me. I don't have any other lives and there's no way that Clara would ever be yours," The Doctor said.

"You can say that again," Clara said with a look of disgust.

"You will like me though once I unleash your dark side, Clara. Don't try to deny that it's there because I know better. I saw what you did to the Kandyman and his robots. I know the real you and it's not this smiling chipper shell that you show to the rest of the world. I can help you free your true self and then you will be a fitting wife for me at last. Then we can be together forever just as it should be," The Valeyard said with a surprising look of love in his eyes.

The Doctor became furious now as he realized, "It's Clara. You did all of this just to take Clara from me before we get married. It's all been about stealing Clara."

Pete's World Klein smiled now as she said, "And that's the real reason why I never would have stopped coming after Clara. Her powers actually would be useful to my people though."

The Valeyard laughed as he said, "Yes, of course I wanted Clara. I wanted both her and that brand new life cycle that Marion gave you recently."

"What?" The Doctor said as his jaw dropped in surprise.

"Do you really think that Marion would make Sand Shoes and Handy immortal but not bother to do anything to help you? Her whole life was about getting you and Alura together. She didn't just mean for what was left of your last life either, Doctor. She gave you a whole new life cycle just before she left you, an infinite one, and I want it. You will give both it and Clara to me and then I will allow you to watch as I give the Earth that you love so much over to Pete's World Klein. Then when I have stolen everything that matters from you and finally and completely broken you at last that is when I will kill you," The Valeyard said with a triumphant smile.

"Oh, I don't think so, Even Darker Professor. Last time I checked there were only two of you and ten of us. Even with that gun, you still can't kill all of us if we suddenly decide to rush you. So what's to stop us from doing exactly that?" Ace asked defiantly.

The Valeyard smiled as he said, "The fact that this was always a trap for the Doctor, Dorothy. With that aim in mind, I kept a few of Klein's soldiers with me in the TARDIS specifically in order to kill him."

He then briefly gestured to someone behind him to come forward. A moment later, more than a dozen soldiers carrying stasers joined him at the TARDIS' entrance as they all pointed their guns directly at the Doctor and his allies.

"Now I'd say that we're more than even, Ace. Far more," The Valeyard said with an evil laugh as he pointed his staser straight at her heart.

Next: Will the Valeyard win the day or will a completely unexpected development bring his carefully crafted plan crashing down around his ears? Let's just say that someone is definitely not amused by all of this and leave it at that until next time, yeah?