"What sort of place is this? The Underground? That sounds a little...generic to me." Elisabeth jested, peering through the glass window.

"I don't like your attitude, girl. If I were you I'd get rid of the snark," The woman sighed. "It's a pity you're perfect for our little experiment."

"Why would I want to take part in your experiment?"

The woman sniffed. "First, you don't have a choice. You're going to take part in our little Project Memory. Secondly, aren't you just a little curious, Elisabeth? Aren't you a little curious to know what it would be like to remember anything? You can't even remember who you are right now. A little memory boost might help."

"It may be a blessing, but it may also be a curse."

"You are right," The woman shrugged. "But for now let's focus on the blessings. We'll all benefit from this experiment. You and I, and the research centre. It's just that...you're going to have to bear the 'curse' on your own."

"Why should I be the experiment?" Elisabeth emphasised. "There are thousands of your people out there. Why me?"

"You're expendable. And so is your Doctor." The woman laughed, before turning to her guards. "Alright. Let's ge Whot down to business. Guards!" She ordered, slamming her hand on the table. "Lock her up. Get her used to our way of life here."

Elisabeth struggled as the guards restrained her. The cold metal of their robotic hands against her skin made her shiver. "No! Please don't," She pleaded, kicking and struggling.

"Oh, my dear, I'd like to say I'm sorry but...I'm really not." The woman stepped forward, putting a syringe to Elisabeth's neck.

"Any last words?"

Elisabeth fell to the floor as the contents of the syringe entered her system.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Elisabeth slowly opened her eyes to the sound. Knocked out twice in one day. She cursed her luck as she sat upright in her cell. It seemed like any other prison cell, to be honest. Nothing much, just a simple board for a bed. She leaned against the wall. How boring it was. Enclosed by metal walls on three sides, with the remaining side barred.

She sighed.

Her heart raced with thoughts on the experiment. She was to be their first subject. She couldn't fathom the consequences of the experiment. If it succeeded, she would have perfect memory. But that meant that all memories, both good and bad, would be stored in her mind, and she'd be able to recall it in a flash. That would make good memories all the more sweet, but the bad memories would be even more painful. But what if the experiment failed? She knew that there was a chance of risk, that she could end up dead or possible mentally traumatized after the experiment. She didn't know what was after death, and she probably didn't want to know yet.

Shaking her head, she tried to focus on brighter things.

Who on earth was she?

She still wasn't fully sure. Elisabeth. Elisabeth Choo. It didn't seem real to her. It seemed to her just a name picked out of the fresh air. She wondered how much she knew was real. She didn't quite feel comfortable being called 'Elisabeth'. She felt that the name didn't belong to her. But what else did she recall?

South East Asia. But where exactly? Elisabeth tried to picture her living out her childhood in such a place. It seemed probable, but she couldn't be a hundred percent sure. But how about her parents? Were they now out looking for her, who had just disappeared in a flash, leaving no traces behind?

Art. I used to work with art. She recalled this thought from earlier. As she concentrated her fingers tapped out a rhythm on the metal wall, striking with her fingernails, trying to amplify the sound, as it seemed to help her think. First her pinky, and then her ring finger, then back to her pinky, then back to her ring finger. She stopped herself. This wasn't any random string of rhythm mic pattern. She closed her eyes. If she thought hard enough the melody of Beethoven's Bagatelle in A minor came back to her, the one known more famously as 'Fur Elise'. Perhaps this was something from her childhood. She tried to visulalise herself playing the piano, creating beautiful melodies as her fingers fluttered around the keys. A teacher sitting next to her, instructing her on the expression of the piece, and correcting any mistakes in her fingering. Well, that seemed just about right to her. Now she understood. She used to work with the art of sound, not the visual arts as she had thought.

"I take it that you're awake now?"

Elisabeth's heart skipped a beat. "Doctor, you're making me jump!"

"I'm terribly sorry," The Doctor apologised, but Elisabeth couldn't see where he was. In another cell, separated by a wall. "Must be the acoustics of this place."

"I'm alright." She assured herself. It certainly wasn't his voice that made her jump. He usually spoke in smooth, quiet tones. She'd already gotten used to it in the short time since she met him. He was right about the acoustics – the walls seemed to amplify sound. Every sound, even the slightest whisper, was made much louder as it echoed throughout the prison.

Elisabeth pulled her knees to her chest. "Doctor, I'm scared," She admitted, shivering a little in the cold prison.

He kept silent for a while, perhaps thinking what to say next. "I'd be appalled if you weren't. I'm so sorry you had to go through this on our first trip – I'm perfectly fine with dropping you back on earth right after, if you'd want." He sighed.

"Doctor, I don't even remember where I came from. I...don't want to go back."

"We'll work something out, Elise."

"Do you think I'll ever get my memories back after the experiment, Doctor?" Elisabeth asked for his opinion, and held her breath at his answer.

"I can never be sure, I'm sorry to say."

Elisabeth's heart raced as she buried her head in her hands. She was deathly scared of what was to come next. She had a risk of dying in the experiment, she knew. She didn't want to face death. Not so soon. She didn't know what was beyond. What if the afterlife was just a great nothing, for all eternity? She didn't want to think of that. She didn't honestly knew what she believed in anymore.

She took a few deep breaths. Stay strong, Elise. She encouraged herself.

She licked her lips while thinking of what to say. To keep her mind off things, she would make light conversation.

"Doctor, where exactly are you?" She asked.

"I think I'm in the cell to your left. The one closer to the corridor where we came in."

She peered out from the bars of her cell. How strange. There wasn't a single person in sight. Not even a guard.

"Why aren't there any guards?" Elisabeth wondered.

The Doctor pondered for a while. "This prison was built to be impenetrable. Also, I think Madam Arwen doesn't have enough of her men to spare."

"Madam Arwen?"

"The woman. The governor of the Underground." He explained. "I overheard from the workers on the way here."

"What exactly is this place, the Underground?"

"A set of underground networks built into a planet which never receives sunlight. I'd say it's about... A billion billion light years from Earth." He hesitated. "That's an estimation."

"Woah." Elisabeth gasped. "Then why are there humans here?"

"They're not quite humans anymore. Just descendants of what used to be the inhabitants of your planet. These people are a race of mixed blood. A fraction human, a fraction well...alien. They took ages and ages to get here. Some of their ancestors settled on other life-supporting planets and their offspring with the locals continued their journey across the galaxy." He suggested.

Elisabeth laughed. "I don't understand any of this."

"I don't blame you. It's complicated." The Doctor yawned. "It must be getting late."

Elisabeth couldn't see a clock anywhere, nor could she see any source of sunlight. Her eyelids were drooping too – after the exertion of this tiring day coupled with the serum she had been injected with. She crawled over to the mattress and closed her eyes.

The Doctor didn't expect to encounter such a rude awakening.

"No! Unhand me at once!" Elisabeth's screams echoed throughout the prison, and the Doctor couldn't help himself. He moved to the bars of his cell, watching as Elisabeth was dragged out by the guards. He knew he had to do something. Elisabeth was in his care. He was responsible for her safety.

"Let her go!" He yelled, but the guards ignored him. He could only stand in horror as Elisabeth's screams got further and further away, until they disappeared altogether.

He pressed his forehead to the cold, metal bar.

She had to make it out alive. Or he would never forgive himself.

Adric. The one he couldn't save. The one that was left behind on the craft as it plummeted towards Earth. He didn't want the same to come to any of his companions. He knew the guilt of Adric's death would forever hang over him. So he had to try his best.

A duty of care. He felt like a father to his companions. Throughout the years there had been many of them, and most of them departed safely (but not necessarily, happy) to continue with their lives. He remembered Tegan, who had just left him just a while ago. She had been him for quite some time, and he'd grown used to her. That was a mistake. He knew that his companions would always leave, just like they always did. She'd left him after all the death, all the blood spilt. He was reluctant to see her go, but he understood. It seemed uncanny, this regeneration. Death just seemed to follow him around. More than usual, that is.

He knew that he was definitely going to send Elisabeth back to Earth after this. For her health.

Elisabeth kicked and protested as she was strapped down to the operating table. She had been forced out of her clothes, into a hospital gown that was probably made of cheap polyester. She held on to her belongings for dear life. Caroline's wallet, and the brooch pin. She couldn't bear losing those. They were wrenched out of her cold, stiff hands, and the hospital staff promised to return them to her after the operation, after some negotiation with Madam Arwen.

A cold sweat broke out on her forehead as they started to prepare, hooking her up to machines. She felt pain, a sharp pain when the needles were inserted. She didn't dare move in fear of busting a blood vessel. Madam Arwen loomed over her, scrutinizing her.

"Are you ready, my pet?" She crooned, moving in closer to touch a strand of Elisabeth's hair. Elisabeth wanted to raise an arm to hit her, but her arm was firmly fastened to the table. She bared her teeth in defiance instead.

"Oh, my dear, you're going to be fantastic!" Madam Arwen rejoyced.

"What are you going to do with me after you've run your little experiments?" Elisabeth growled, as she started to lose consciousness. She now knew that at least one of the needles inserted into her was now draining anesthetic into her, and the operation would begin shortly. It took all her willpower to stay awake, just enough to her Madam Arwen's answer.

"Oh, we'll lock you up and wait till you have further use."

Elisabeth nearly snapped.

"You...you can't just dispose of me like this!" Elisabeth got out, but her eyelids were already starting to droop. She tried again to stay focused, but it was too late. Her mind protested as she slipped away, into the darkness, not knowing what would happen, or whether she would make it out alive.