-REMEMBER ME-
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sontaran
I stand in shock for a few moments, eyes wide, staring at the pile of clothes, before I stumble back.
Who was that man? What did he mean, the Great Intelligence? My enemy? What does that even mean?
This is twice now I've encountered him, twice now I've defeated him. Twice that he has died, because of me.
How is it possible for someone to die twice?
It appears I have a little more than a mystery on my hands, and a dangerous one at that. One I'm not so sure I'm keen to figure out.
Whoever the Great Intelligence is, they're not friendly towards me. And if someone can die and come back, twice, then they can come back a third time.
I have the feeling I will encounter the Great Intelligence, whoever they are, again.
And when I do, it will be the death of me.
The girl who dies.
What did he mean? How can I have died?
I hear footsteps approaching me, and I look up in fear. Before someone spots me, I run for it.
I run all the way home, to my father's estate.
I've decided that you wanted me safe, the Doctor wanted me to go home, so I must go home. Given my scare with the Great Intelligence, I'm not keen to argue anymore. If it's dangerous in the Citadel, then I must get out. I trust you. I have to trust you.
But it's no sooner that I arrive home that I realize the one place I need to be was the place I just left.
"Did you hear?" my dad says, his eyes wide with fear after he hugs me. "Sontarans have invaded Gallifrey! They're at the Citadel, right now! I was so worried about you!"
"I'm fine, I'm safe, dad," I say reassuringly. "But the Doctor isn't."
You're in danger, and now that I know what that danger is, I regret that I ever left your side. I abruptly turn around, and my dad shouts at me.
"Where are you going?"
"Back to the Citadel! I have to save the Doctor!"
"Clara, no!"
But I don't listen, because the sole thought on my mind is to save you.
By the time I get back, it's almost over, and I see you. You're in the Panopticon, casually sitting on a wall, a forbidden Time-Lord weapon in your hands.
The De-Mat gun.
A gun with the power to erase anyone from all of Time.
And you've got it pointed directly at the Sontaran commander.
"Hold it, Stor," you say, and I poke my head out from my hiding place, watching the scene with wide eyes and knowing if I interfered I'd end up getting killed.
"Doctor," says the Sontaran, Commander Stor. His eyes are alight with glee as he spots you, positive he will finish you off. He holds out a device. "The grenade will give me a lot of pleasure."
"You'll destroy us all," you say casually. And you're right. The Panopticon is the heart of the Matrix, and if there's a big boom there…well, Gallifrey and the galaxy it sits in is done for.
"Yessss," says Commander Stor, with complete disregard for the lives he's about to waste. My mouth falls open in horror. "It is a glory to die! For the glorious Sontaran Empire!"
"But you'll destroy this entire galaxy," you say, still completely calm.
"Yes! And all of the Time Lords with it!"
"And your battlefleet?"
"Yes, Doctor. But it is a small price to pay! If we cannot control the power of the Time Lords, then we shall destroy it! Goodbye, Doctor!"
And he makes ready to set off the grenade. I gasp, terrified, preparing for my imminent death, but then, something stops him.
You fire the de-mat gun.
There's a bright flash of light, and I cover my eyes, diving into a cupboard. But you are not so lucky. You're right at the heart of it, and there's no way you could have escaped. As soon as the light has receded, I dive out of the cupboard and run to you.
"Doctor!"
You've fallen to the floor, knocked out by the trans-mat gun. I run to you, and kneel down, place a hand on you. You're still alive, and breathing. A wave of relief so powerful hits me that I start to shake.
"Doctor, wake up," I say, shaking you. You do not stir. "Doctor!"
With a great heave, I turn you over. You moan.
"Doctor, wake up!" I say, placing a hand on your cheek. Your face twitches, and your eyes flutter open. I smile in relief. "Doctor!"
"Clara?" you moan. "What happened?"
"You did it!" I grin. "You saved Gallifrey!"
"Did I?" you mutter. You groan, and I help you sit up. "Well, that's nonsense. I don't—" then you look at me, and your eyes twinkle. "I saved Gallifrey, you say?"
I nod, smiling.
"Well, how about that," you smile, and straighten your hat. Then you laugh. "Saved Gallifrey. What nonsense."
"Well you did!" I say, surprised. "You don't remember?"
"Remember what, Clara? There's nothing to remember. Don't be so nonsensical."
"You really don't remember a thing?" I ask, unable to stop smiling because you did it, you saved the day. "Becoming President? The Varden? The Sontarans?"
"Sontarans? On Gallifrey?!" you say, surprised, looking around. "Where—! Oh," You look at me with a twinkle in your eye. "I saved Gallifrey, you say?"
"Yes, you did, you ridiculous man."
You smile then, all bright teeth and happiness. You saved the day, and you still get that feeling even if you don't remember. And all of a sudden I just can't help myself. I grab you by that scarf of yours and pull your lips onto mine and kiss you.
Your hand flies to you hat and your eyes fly up in surprise, but you don't pull away.
It takes you a couple of seconds to overcome your surprise, but eventually you kiss me back, your arms coming around me, and you pull me closer, wrapping around me perfectly like a warm blanket, covering our kiss with your hat. We're like two pieces coming together, and everything is suddenly completely right with the world.
And when we pull away, we share a smile that lights up the whole room.
"Well, that's something worth celebrating, I suppose," you say with a toothy grin.
I let out a giggle and you smile, pulling me in for another kiss.
Because everything is suddenly right with the world again.