It was a cosy place, Arthur admits. The boy smiles happily when walking inside an old train compartment that fits perfectly in the 1920s, holding his backpack and sitting on a seat alone. It's very distracting that no children's inside, but then again, perhaps no children would ever like to spend some time in a 1920s space train. It feels too adult and... old, to say the least.
He had already changed his clothes as soon as he landed from his backpack, to fit in. He's not 100% sure what kind of suit children uses in the 1920s, so he just wears a long-sleeved white shirt with collar, navy bowtie, black braces, black pants, long white socks, and brown oxford shoes, while adding a brown beret hat. His backpack has the same principle as the Tardis, that it's bigger on the inside than the outside. This is why filling clothes inside the bag won't matter at all.
"Hello," a maid woman smiles. "Are you alone?"
"My guardians will come," he replied, which is true. They will come. Like always.
Then suddenly, there's a commotion happens behind him. Seems likely to come from the restaurant compartment. Arthur takes his backpack, and runs to the source, only to find crowds and some security guards already filling, unable the blonde boy to seek inside.
He huffed. He can't investigate this situation. Nobody will ever let a child just roam inside a scene (he knows that from Detective Conan, a show that he watched when he was bored, which means, he must wait until the Doctor arrives.
"But for how long?" He muttered, looking at the dark space from the window.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
Claudia looks at a mirror in her room. Right now, she's wearing a red flapper dress, silver cloche hat, and white stiletto. According to the Doctor, their destination is a space orient express train in 1920s style, so she'd need to be blended, as usual. Her mother was always good at blending, knowing very good fashion styles and stuff, and Clara knows one-two tip on keeping your beauty intact.
The bluenette quickly shook her head. She can't think of Clara. Not now. She's heading down, bringing her sonic pen in her small purse, finding the Doctor and Clara already waiting on the console.
"Your train awaits, ladies," the Doctor gestures outside as they both step out of the box.
"You don't need to be that formal," Claudia remarked with a smile. "But thanks for trying. Also, this is the baggage car."
"Yes. But the real wonderful is through here," he replied, opening the door. "There were many trains to take the name Orient Express, but only one in space."
Claudia and Clara watch in surprise to see so many people around in 1920s styles alongside a woman, singing Don't Stop Me Now by Queen.
"Of course it is," Clara shook her head.
"Completely faithful recreation of the original Orient Express," he continued. "Except slightly bigger. And in space. Oh, and the rails are actually hyperspace ribbons. But in every other respect, identical. Painstaking attention to detail."
A man with a bald head, a big red beard, and a steampunk eyepatch suddenly barges between him and Claudia, bothering to bother to apologize. "Prick," Claudia mumbled at that man, annoyed. "This is amazing, Doctor," she confessed. "Thanks for taking me here."
Clara sighs, looking around. She knows why the Doctor takes her and Claudia here. It's not just because of travelling like usual. No, this is far from that.
This is their last time travelling together. After this, Clara won't see Claudia again and she might or might not stop travelling with the Doctor. To be fair, she's not sure about her decision on leaving the Doctor alone without Claudia. But after the whole mess with Danny and the Moon, she feels like she can't spend more in the Tardis.
Especially at Claudia.
Clara already hurt her with her relationship with Danny. A relationship she never told them before their undercover at her school for a secret task. It's not like she wants to keep this forever, she will tell them. It's just... she can't be sure when will she tell them. She's afraid that neither the Doctor, Claudia, and Danny like each other due to their difference.
A fear that turns to be a reality when they accidentally met each other and have misunderstandings.
"You're doing it again," the Doctor pointed out.
Clara frowns. "Doing what?"
"The smile."
"Yeah, I'm smiling."
"It's the sad smile. It's a smile but you're sad. It's confusing. It's like two emotions at once. It's like you're malfunctioning."
To this day, Clara still doesn't know how Arthur can get along with him. "Sorry."
"Travelling at the speed of light. Wanna make a supersonic woman of you," the singer sang feeling too much like her situation.
"Emotions can be quite confusing," Claudia told him as a maid offers drinks to them. They take their drink. Clara looks at Claudia, wondering what she's thinking. The bluenette still hasn't talked to her and avoids eye contact, which makes Clara's heartache of her distance and unfriendly she is.
An indicator changes from a monocle to a thumbs up with noise. The onboard computer speaks. "Ladies and gentlemen. If you would be good enough to look from the windows on the right of the train, you'll be able to see the soaring majesty of the Magellan black hole."
"Oh, I remember when this was all planets as far as the eye could see," the Doctor recalled. "All gone now. Gobbled up by that beast."
"Which beast?" Claudia asked.
"Long story. Your mother was there with me and Rose."
"I see," Claudia nods, looking below.
"I really thought I hated you two, you know?" Clara mentioned, trying to start a conversation. She still can't believe she genuinely said that to him and Claudia. It was a very hard moment. She was angry about how the Doctor just abandoned her without help or how Claudia just not told her anything at all and acted like a stranger when faced with the problem if she should kill those spider aliens or let them hatch the moon that might cause problems on Earth.
"Good to know," the bluenette remarked, looking at Clara with a sad smile.
"There was this planet, Obsidian," the Doctor continued. "The planet of perpetual darkness."
"Did you hate me?" Clara asked, wanting to know. She knows it's not a great question, to begin with, but she can't help herself. She needs to know if Claudia hated her for several weeks at Messaline before the Doctor sorted things out with them. She needs to know if she truly became a horrible person to her back then. "I... I hated you for weeks. Did you also hate me for weeks?"
"Will that make you better?" Claudia asked back, taking another champagne. "To know that?"
"Yes."
"Then the answer is yes. I did hate you."
Clara knows that it will brokes her if she says yes. She's promised herself not to cry. But now, she really must stop the urge to cry.
"Good, fine. Well, I'm glad that we cleared that up," the Doctor commented, really don't want these two to talk about their last adventure with the Moon, the adventure that shatters both girls. "There was also a planet that was made completely of shrubs."
"I went to a concert once," Clara shared. "Can't remember who it was. But do you know what the singer said?"
Claudia looks at her. "What?"
"She said, 'hatred is too strong an emotion to waste on someone that you don't like,'" the brunette girl addressed. The bluenette grips her champagne and her expression seems slightly changes into something else. Clara quickly spoke, realizing she might bring a misunderstanding again. "What I'm trying to say is, I hated you for weeks, but I'm never going to hate you forever. I could never hate you for long enough. I just," she sighs, "I just want you to know that."
The Doctor glances back and forth between both girls. "Can I talk about the planets now?" He asked, trying to lighten up the mood.
Claudia chuckles and Clara giggles at his tone. "Of course," Claudia replied.
"Thedion Four. Constant acid rain. Had a lovely picnic there once, wearing a gas mask."
"That's a lie," a woman suddenly said.
"I'm sorry?" Clara reacted.
"That's a lie, what you said. Thedion Four was destroyed thousands of years ago, so you couldn't have been there."
A man who appears to be a chief train guard comes over. "Miss Pitt, are you sure you wouldn't rather rest in your room?"
"That man's a liar."
"Perhaps you'd allow Mister Carlyle here to escort you back."
Another guard appears. "It'll be all right, miss. Just come with me," he said, leading the woman away.
"Sorry about that. I suppose it's understandable in the circumstances. I don't believe we've been introduced. Captain Quell," he introduced.
"I'm Clara, she's Claudia. And this is the Doctor."
"Ah, another one."
"Another one?" Claudia asked this time.
"Well, we've got doctors and professors coming out of our ears on this trip. So, what are you a doctor of?"
"Now, there's a question that's never asked often enough," the Doctor admitted. "Let's say internal parasites. Or as Sunny often said, 'a doctor of many things.'"
"I'm beginning to think Miss Pitt was right about you," Quell addressed, intending to leave, before remembering something. "Oh! Does either of you take a child here?"
The trio glance at each other. "A child?"
"Blonde hair, a bit curly. Blue eyes," Queill narrows his eyes at the Doctor. "Quite resembles yours. Wearing backpack around. We've been trying to find his parents, but no passengers ever claim about bringing a child."
"He's here?" The Doctor gaped. "Sunny? Where is he?"
"In my office," Quell answered. "So you three are his guardians?"
"Yes, we are," Claudia revealed. "And can you tell us what's wrong with that woman before? Did something happen?"
▪︎▪︎▪︎
"There's a body and there's a mummy," Clara mumbled, still having her champagne as the Doctor carried Arthur on the back. He has already fallen asleep the moment they arrived at Quell's office. "I mean, can you not just get on a train? Did a wizard put a curse on you about mini-breaks?"
"It's nothing. She's 100 years old. Illness is the logical reasoning," Claudia shrugged.
"Yeah, right. And the monster?"
"Well, seen by no one except her, which suggests that it wasn't there," the Doctor theorized as he enter his sleeping compartment, putting Arthur on the bed, and close the door. "A dying brain, lack of oxygen, hallucinations."
"Which is normal and not strange at all," Claudia assured her as the Doctor gestured for them to move away from the door so they won't wake Arthur up. "So don't worry about it." She lifts her champagne. "To our last trip?"
She raises her champagne flute. "To our last trip," Clara agreed and both drink it.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
Arthur slowly wakes up from his sleep, finding himself not in Quell's office where he got forced to wait, but inside someone's sleeping compartment. He puts on his shoes and peeks around, finding nobody in the corridor spotted.
A door opens and Claudia can be spotted.
"Claudia!" He called.
"Hey, Arthur!" She replied with a smile and hugs him. "Someone's been a sleepyhead."
He pouted and releases the hug. "Well, I'm tired, okay? And Captain Quell won't let me out until you guys pick me."
"Can't blame him. You're just a child."
Arthur looks around. "Where's Clara?"
"Still sleepy inside her compartment."
"Should we wake her up?"
"Better not," Claudia replied and walks away, seems not in a mood to talk about Clara. For some reason, Arthur can't understand. "Anyway, do you know anything about what happened at Mrs Pitt?"
"The older woman who died? Not much. But..."
"But?"
Arthur frowns as they enter the lounge. "A man mentioned about how her death is quite close to a legend called Foretold. That man," he pointed out at a man with a thin moustache.
"Hello," Claudia greeted him.
"Hello?" He responded, not understanding what was happening.
"My brother hear you mentioning a legend called the Foretold before, at the restaurant. Can you explain that? We want to know.
"Well," he gestures to them to sit down as he clears his throat. "It will be my pleasure. My name is Emil Moorhouse, professor of alien mythology."
"Claudia Redwood, and this is Arthur."
"Hi!" The boy waves his hand and smiles.
"So what do you two know about the Foretold?" He asked first.
"Nothing, sadly," Claudia admitted while Arthur shook his head.
"Well, legend has it that if you see it, you're a dead man. Some accounts mention that it looks like a mummy, ready to touch you before you died. What I find it interesting is that it would have to be the time limit given before it kills you. I can't think of another myth where it's so specific."
"How long?" Arthur asked.
"66 seconds."
Arthur nods, seems enthusiastic. "Anything else?"
"The legend started over 5.000 years ago. In some stories, there's a riddle or secret word that might able to make it stop. Some try to bargain with it, offer riches, confess sins. All to no avail."
"But why would the Foretold do that?"
"I... I don't understand."
"Every legend should have some backstory behind their action. Why the Foretold killed these people?" Arthur denoted, tilting his head as he eats some cookies that Claudia gives to him.
"No one exactly sure why," Moorhouse admitted. "There's barely any records of the Foretold's origin."
"That might be problematic," Claudia muttered. "What's the most interesting thing about the Foretold, Professor Moorhouse?"
"Well, you can't run from it, that's for sure. There are accounts of people trying, but it never works. No matter how far you run, it's always right there behind you."
Claudia twirls her blue hair. "Do you believe that the legend is true?"
"I hope it's true," he confessed. "Earth legends are such dry, dusty affairs, and always fiction. But up here, in the stars, anything's possible. That's why I chose this field, to be honest. Hoping one day I might meet a real monster."
"But when you do, will you survive?" Arthur inquired, looking nervous. He had met so many monsters and enemies lately. He's not too eager to meet them.
"I already encountered so many monsters in my life, Professor Moorhouse," Claudia spoke. "And I can speak with absolute certainty, if you were me, you will take those words back."
Then, from behind, they hear a commotion.
"Excuse us," she said, dragging Arthur to those noises. They hear Quell speaking to the staff, something about keeping a secret or something. And apparently, they're not the only one who hears that as the Doctor also arrives with them.
As Quell leaves, the Doctor approaches him. "I think we need to talk."
"This matter does not concern the passengers."
"I'm not a passenger. I'm your worst nightmare," the Doctor revealed, showing him his psychic paper. "And so are they."
Quell read. "A mystery shopper. Oh, great."
"That's your worst nightmare?" Arthur frowns, doesn't understand the logic of fearing a mystery shopper as they all follow him.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
Quell gets two glasses and pours drinks. "This is not exactly within your job description."
"Come on, Captain. Where would we all be if we followed our job descriptions, hmm?" The Doctor asked back. "Good question. Glad you asked. In your case, you'd be doing something instead of climbing inside a bottle."
"I have followed the procedure for accidental death to the letter."
"Yes, I'm sure you have. And I'm sure you do just enough of your job to avoid complaints."
"You don't know any me."
"Wounded in battle with honourable discharge," Claudia guessed, looking at his certificate of his honorary status. There's something in her eyes that Arthur notices. A gaze of... reminiscent?
"You expected this to be a cushy desk job where you could put your head down until retirement," the Doctor mentioned. "Well, I'm sorry. As of today, that dream is over."
"There is no evidence of any attack or other parties," Quell argued.
"But at least we should investigate," Arthur reckoned. "Two people already dead, in same circumstances. Isn't that already weird enough to let it be?"
"If I were you, I would listen to him," the Doctor simply denoted, secretly smiling that Arthur makes a great argument in front of an adult.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
An engineer name Perkins shows them a video recording from CCTV of Mrs Pitt's death in his room. While Moorhouse and Perkins watch the video, the Doctor and Claudia are checking the time.
"66 seconds. It fits the myth," Claudia checked. "And her reaction clearly fits as well."
"Did you see the lights flicker?" The Doctor asked.
"Yeah, the lights went in the kitchen as well just before the chef saw it," Perkins recalled.
"In all of the accounts, conventional weapons have no effect on the Foretold," Moorhouse realized. "It's immortal, unstoppable... unkillable."
Arthur gulps. He knows he should expect this, but considers the danger they're in. This is even more terrifying than dealing with Hydroflax and his bomb.
"We'll find a way," Claudia asserted, looking at Arthur. "We will."
▪︎▪︎▪︎
Arthur, Claudia, and the Doctor check all papers that Perkins gave to them all night. The boy trying not to fall asleep, despite the Doctor and Claudia's insistence for him to get some sleep. He doesn't want to stop finding a clue.
Two people already died. He can't let another people die again.
Suddenly, he hears a beeping sound and the blinds are raised.
"It's already morning," Claudia murmured. She takes something from her dress. It's a flip phone. "Clara?"
"Clau?" Clara responded.
"Hi, Clara!" Arthur greeted.
"Hey, Arthur! Get some good sleep?"
"Clara, get up. We need your help," Claudia told her.
"Claudia, please, I'm in trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"I'm trapped!"
"Which room?" She demanded and dashed out of the room, not bothering to tell others.
Arthur shakes Perkins and Moorhouse so they'll wake up before following the Doctor, leading them into the baggage car, where Claudia scans the lock.
"I can't open it!" She grumbled. "Gus, open the bloody door!"
"Call me Gus. I'm afraid this door can only be opened by executive order."
"Wonderful. Just wonderful."
"What?" Clara asked.
"My sonic pen doesn't work and this computer won't let me in," Claudia explained.
"Suppression field?" Arthur guessed.
"Probably," the Doctor shrugged. "And it has to be a guess because her sonic pen's not working so using me won't work at all. What are you even doing in there?"
"Well, I was looking for you and Claudia."
"Why? Because I'm gonna leave?" Claudia dared.
Arthur gaped. Claudia's leaving?
"Look, look, please, can we just not do this now?" Clara begged. "I think we might not be alone in here. There's a sarcophagus."
"Is it inside?"
"I think we might just be about to find out. Turns out the sonic is working. Just not on the door we need."
The lights flicker.
"Nonono," Claudia muttered as she and the Doctor are working on the lock.
"Doctor? Claudia? Arthur? It's okay. It's er, it's full of bubble wrap," Clara assured them.
Clara frowns. "But the lights just now?"
"Doctor, move away from the door," Quell ordered as two guards stood behind him. One pointing at the Doctor, another pointing at Claudia. Arthur hides behind the Doctor, afraid of those guns.
"My best friend's inside," Claudia insisted. "And stop pointing your gun at him."
"Then they're in trouble, too. I spoke to Head Office. There is no mystery shopper. You're not even on the passenger list."
"We're going to have to call you back," the Doctor told her as Quell handcuffed them. One of them tried to grab Arthur, but the boy keep clinging to his legs, and the guard just gives up. "You know, I'm going to have to mark you down for pointing a gun around a child."
"You are not a mystery shopper. For all I know, you're the one behind the killings. Or your associates are doing your work."
"Don't you dare accuse them of this," he suddenly glares. He hates how people just stupidly accuse Claudia and Arthur just because they're simply being around him. "How many people have to die before you stop looking the other way?"
Like a prediction, just as they all arrive at the lounge, a guard's shooting around while yelling. "Get back! Stay back!"
"What do you think you're doing, man?" Quell demanded.
"Please, please! Stop!" He begged. "No..."
"Get up, man. That's an order!" Quell insisted. But the guard just falls back. Claudia checks his pulse but soon shakes it. Moorhouse gives Quell the guard's gun and he hands it off to another guard. "It turns out it's three. The amount of people that had to die before I stopped looking the other way."
The Doctor gets released. "Thank you."
"Same as the others?" Perkins asked from behind.
"Same as the others," Arthur replied sadly as other guards carry their late colleague away.
"Ladies and gentlemen, could I have a moment of your time, please?" The Doctor inquired. "There's a monster on this train that can only be seen by those about to die. If you do see it, you will have exactly 66 seconds left in which to live. But that isn't even the strangest thing. Do you know what is? You. The passengers. Experts in alien biology, mythology, physics. If I was putting together a team to analyse this thing, I'd pick you. And I think somebody has."
"Who?" The boy asked.
"Someone with immense power and big influence, for sure," Claudia replied. "Someone who probably listening to us right now."
"So, are you going to step out from behind the curtain and give us our orders?" The Doctor asked.
"The engines. They've stopped," Perkins realized as the lounge car was suddenly replaced with a high-tech laboratory.
"And the facade drops away because what use are a bunch of scientists without a lab?"
On cue, a large number of people disappear.
"Teleporter?" Perkins guessed.
"Hard light holograms," Arthur responded, remembering those lessons the Doctor taught him.
"They were never real," Claudia muttered.
"That was my best guard," Quell lamented.
"Good morning, everyone," Gus said. "Around the room, you will find a variety of scientific equipment. Your goal is to ascertain the Foretold's true nature, probe for weaknesses with a view to capture, after which we will reverse engineer its abilities. Isn't this exciting?"
"You said 'capture', like you can't control this thing," Claudia mentioned. "And you just let it roam around. How exactly does it work?"
"There is an artefact, an ancient scroll. I have highlighted it for your convenience. For reasons currently unknown, the Foretold appears in the vicinity of this artefact."
Suddenly, a small spotlight turns to illuminate the scroll on the door at the end of the car. It has cuneiform writing on it, which is interesting as that is marks made in moist clay, not painted on papyrus or fabric. Arthur can't read the description of it.
"And kills with a pattern," Claudia mumbled.
"Then just maybe we should throw this thing out in the airlock," Quell suggested.
"No! It has a stun tool!" Arthur warned before Quell touches it
"Looks like they've thought of that," Perkins commented.
"What if we say no?" Moorhouse asked. "Down tools. Refuse to work."
"That is your choice, of course. But it would be very upsetting were you all to die at the hands of the Foretold."
"But even if we agree to do this, how we're supposed to learn a creature that we can't see in the first place?" Arthur asked, confused, trying to be cooperative in this situation as well. "We barely know anything about this mummy."
The light flickers.
"Perkins, start the clock," the Doctor instructed.
"Approximately 1.8 metres tall," Moorhouse suddenly spoke. "Actually, seeing it in the flesh isn't nearly as rewarding as I thought it might be."
"What can you see?" Claudia asked. "Give us any details."
"Yes. Yes, of course, of course. Uh well, it just looks like er... a man in bandages."
"What kind of bandages? Old or new?"
"Old."
"Whole? Ragged?" The Doctor pressed.
"Ragged. Falling off in places. I don't know what you want me to tell you."
"Listen to me! You can see this thing. We can't. Tell us what you can see. Even the smallest detail might help save the next one."
"The next one? You mean you can't save me?" Moorhouse asked.
"Well, that is implied, isn't it? Yes, this is probably the end for you. But make it count. Details, please."
"Er... flesh... Some of it is visible..."
"30 seconds," Perkins noted.
"Er, leathery. Ancient looking. Peat bog preserved," Moorhouse described.
"What else?" Claudia asked.
"I want to bargain for my life."
"Huh?"
"Well, it says, some of the myths say if you, if you find the right word, if you make the right offer, then it lets you go."
"But you said it doesn't work! How can you be sure this will work!?"
"This is my life, my death, Miss Redwood. I'm going to fight for it how I want. Er, I give you..."
"10 seconds."
"My soul. I confess all sins. I give you all my worldly goods. Only, please, please, please. No!" Moorhouse begged before he slumps back, not moving.
"0."
"We apologise for any distress you may have just experienced," Gus stated. "Grief counselling is available on request. On the bright side, I'm sure you've all collected a lot of data. Well done, everyone!"
"This isn't funny!" Arthur yelled, startled some people around, probably because they forget a child is there as well. The Doctor gestures to Claudia to calm him down. He can't help Arthur right now. He needs to focus on saving people here.
"It's recording every death," Perkins realized.
"Of course it is. That's why we're here. To study our own demise. So let's get to work. Come on. Chop, chop," the Doctor said to all of them as they start their work.
While trying to ease Arthur, Claudia suddenly hears a ringing. It's from Clara. "Any info?" She asked.
"Okay. So, first things first. The sarcophagus is actually a secure stasis unit."
"Okay. What else?"
"We have some paperwork. Passenger manifests from other ships. Maisie recognised a couple of the names. These are missing ships."
"We're not the first," Claudia realized in horror.
"No."
"Please terminate your call and return to work."
"I've got some progress reports," Clara added. "The Gloriana spent 3 days getting picked off by the Foretold. All died. Performance marked as poor. The Valiant Heart. 42 crew, 4 died."
"Please terminate the call and return to work."
"Claudia," the Doctor called, looking at the window. Both Arthur and Claudia look in his direction... only to witness all kitchen staff floating outside, into the space.
"Clara, I have to go. I need an appointment. With death," she informed and ended the call.
"I'm sorry. I know that must have been distressing for you. But if you are disobedient again, I will decompress another area containing less valuable passengers," Gus spoke.
"Gus, shut the hell up with your annoying noise of yours or I'll destroy your machine with my sonic pen and my dagger," Claudia growled, patting Arthur's head, making sure he's at ease. This is too much for a child to handle.
"Less valuable passengers? How does it choose?" The Doctor wondered.
"Well," Perkins said, "I'm assuming qualifications..."
"He means the Foretold," Arthur clarified with a quiet tone.
"How does it choose who to kill?" The Doctor inquired. "We've assumed it's random. What if it's not? I want full histories of all the victims. Medical, social, personal."
"Well done."
"Don't mention it," the Doctor replied as Claudia let him take care of Arthur. The boy barely speaks now, keeps clinging to his hand, but he can sense how shaken he is. The Doctor cursed himself for being unable to keep others safe around. And right now, Claudia and Arthur are also stuck in this dangerous situation. He needs to be calm and collected. Losing himself with his emotions just going to worsen the situation.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
Later, Perkins gives them the list. "Doesn't seem to be any pattern. Their travel history, interests, health. It's all over the shop."
"Their health, maybe?" Claudia guessed as Arthur played with the ukelele he had from his backpack so he won't be upset.
"Health? Are you sure?" The Doctor asked.
"I mean, Mrs Pitt, the first victim. She was over 100 years old. Easy to get ill."
"But the next to go, the chef, was young and fit. It's random," Perkins argued.
"The chef was ill," Quell informed.
"What?" The Doctor frowns.
"A rare blood disorder. Not contagious, but we kept it quiet."
"Because he worked with food. The next one, the guard?"
"He wasn't ill as such, but he did have synthetic lungs implanted last year."
"Professor Moorhouse," Claudia discovered. "It seems he was physically fine but suffering from regular panic attacks after a car crash last year."
"It's picking off the weakest first. Sensing the illness somehow," Arthur mumbled near the Doctor, thinking.
"The fake organs, even psychological issues," the Doctor agreed. "But this is good news, because it means we can work out who is next. I want the medical records of everybody alive who is still on board. If anyone's had as much as a cold, I want to know about it."
"You really think it can sense psychological issues?" Quell suddenly asked.
Claudia stares at him. "Trauma? PTSD?"
He quietly nods. "My unit was bombed. I was the sole survivor. Not a scratch on me. But post-traumatic stress. Nightmares. Still can't sleep without pills."
"Which means that you are probably next. Which is good to know," the Doctor stated.
"Well, not for me."
"Well, of course not for you, because you're going to die. But I mean for us, from a research point of view."
"You know, for a doctor, your bedside manner leaves..."
Arthur gulps as the lights flicker again.
"Well, there's goes our head start," the Doctor muttered. "Perkins, start the clock. What can you see?"
"Almost feels out of focus. Gives me a headache just looking at it," Quell said before drawing his gun.
"Don't do it!" Arthur warned, recalling what happened to one of the guards before.
"What kind of soldier would I be, child, dying with bullets in my gun?" He retorted and uses it.
"50 seconds," Perkins informed.
"Someone shut that man up!" He snapped. "For the record, it didn't even flinch."
"Where is it now?" The Doctor asked.
"Approximately 20 feet in front of me and closing."
"40 seconds," Perkins reminded.
"Am I close?" Claudia asked, standing in front of Quell.
"It's passing right through you, like a ghost," Quell shared.
"It's not a hologram," Perkins added.
"If you move, will it follow?" Arthur inquired, wanting to help while holding his ukelele.
"You want me to move?" Quell frowns.
"Keep looking at it, but back off quick as you like," the Doctor suggested.
The man did so. "It's teleported away. It's behind me."
"20 seconds."
"I think this is it. Still, suppose it's not a bad way to go. Blood pumping, enemy at the gates and all that. And thank you, Doctor, Miss Redwood, Mister Jonas, for waking me up. It's reaching for me. Hands on my head."
"0," Perkins said as Quell yelps, stopping moving.
"Teleporter?" Arthur guessed grimly. "So technology, then."
"So why 66 seconds? 66 seconds to do what?" Claudia wondered. "Doesn't that feels... very specific?"
"Too specific for organic," the Doctor agreed. "So, what, more tech? What? More? A countdown clock? Something charging?"
"A man just died in front of us. Can we not just have a moment?" Perkins reminded them.
"We know," Arthur responded, holding his ukelele. Lately, he's been practising playing his ukelele whenever he gets upset, angry, or hurt. And right now, with this whole fiasco of murdering people, he needs it more. "We don't need a reminder we can't do anything to prevent them from dying."
The Doctor sighs. Oh, he really, really wishes Arthur isn't here at all. This is not a trip a child should ever witness. "We can't mourn. People with guns to their heads, they cannot mourn. We do not have time to mourn. Everybody, what takes 66 seconds to charge up or to change state? Anyone?" He huffed. "Am I surrounded by idiots? If only I could see this thing."
"Doctor," Claudia warned while shaking her head, gesturing to Arthur. "Don't joke. It's just making things worse."
"I'm not joking about it, Claudia. One minute with me and this thing, it would be over!"
"You know, Doctor, I can't tell if you're a genius or just incredibly arrogant," Perkins commented.
"Well, ah, on a good day, I'm both," the Doctor shrugged. "Ancient tech. This thing has been around for centuries. How? Tech that keeps it alive. Tech that drains energy from the living. Scanner."
Claudia takes her sonic pen, and scans Quell's corpse, before transferring it back to Perkins' tablet. "Deep tissue scan. He's been leached of almost all energy on a cellular level. The heart attack... is just a side effect."
"Oh, it's not just a mummy, it's a vampire," Perkins concluded. "Metaphorically speaking."
"But why take 66 seconds to drain us? Why not just pounce?" The Doctor wondered.
"Phase. Moving energy out of phase. That takes about a minute, doesn't it?"
"That's why only the victims can see it. It takes them out of phase so it can drain their energy," Claudia denoted, understanding. "This explains everything!"
"Apart from what it is and how it's doing it," the Doctor added.
"Doctor, Miss Redwood, I think we know the next victim," Perkins said, showing them the next victim.
"Maisie Pitt," Claudia murmured, sighed, and then uses her phone.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
After a while, Claudia manages to convince Clara to take Maisie into the laboratory. The Doctor runs to shake Maisie's hand as she greets him. "Hello, again. I'm Maisie."
"Good for you," he said before ushering her to come closer, scanning her using the scanner
"We passed the Tardis on the way here," Clara mentioned. "Thought about getting inside, hiding, pulling the levers and hoping for the best. But we couldn't even get in. There was a forcefield around it."
"It's probably Gus trying to block our escape route."
"But how does he even know what it is? Cos if he knows what it is, then he knows what you are."
"Well, he has tried to entice me here before," the Doctor admitted. "Free tickets, mysterious summons, he even phoned the Tardis number. Do you know how difficult a number..."
"You knew. You knew this was no relaxing break. You knew this was dangerous," Clara accused him.
"I didn't know," he corrected. "I certainly hoped."
"Okay, this. You see, this. This is why I can't standing with your attitude. This. Because you two lied. You two lied to me, again. And now you've made me lie. You've made me... your accomplice."
Then, out of shock, Claudia laughs and laughs, not even bothered by everyone's shock and confused face upon a reaction coming from the bluenette's mouth. "Oooh, of course, of course, you're going to argue with that. It all comes back to sweet, innocent Danny Pink."
"Who's Danny?" Arthur asked, but get ignored.
"This isn't about Danny," Clara argued, frowning.
"Really? Because I think he should he. Ever since that charming boyfriend of yours came into your life, everything we've been building just fall apart. You just spend your time with that human of yours. You let that human lover cloud your judgement," Claudia sneered, crossing both arms. "You let him say horrible things about me, Arthur, and the Doctor. You even dare have the audacity to say that we were being cruel to him, while he was the one being cruel to us."
"But..."
"YOU don't EVEN apologise to us," Claudia snapped like doesn't want to stop, pointing her finger at the brunette. "For never mentioned him, for never explained us to him, and worse of all, for lying to ME. Even told us to apologise to that stupid man."
"Don't you dare said Danny like that!" Clara warned, starting to shake, like stopping herself from crying, eyeing Claudia. "You know I never meant to. I explained what happened to you."
"Girls," the Doctor called, trying to stop them from arguing, but clearly, it doesn't work, as the conversation gets heated.
Claudia simply stares at her. "I know. And I'm grateful for that." She suddenly narrows her eyes and glares. "What I DON'T grateful, for is how you have some nerve telling us after what we did back at the Moon."
"What's happening?" Arthur asked the Doctor, tagging his jacket.
"YOU left me on my own!" Clara suddenly barked. Tears shimmer in her eyes. "You didn't give me some clue or-or-or an instruction on what should I do! You just... tossed me away on choosing the aliens or Earth! You don't know how panicked I was! You made me choose both species on my own! HOW can I choose what's right and wrong?! What if I'm wrong? I don't want to suffer that consequence!"
"And how can you be so sure my choice, or the Doctor's choice, is better?" Claudia countered, her eyes flickering with fire. "We're not God, Clara. We made mistake. We want you to make your own choice."
"But I don't know if my choice is right! Unlike me, you always do! BOTH of you! I know you two can make a great choice! Even while it's crazy and dangerous, when it comes to saving the day, you know what's right to do!"
Claudia shook her head, chuckling bitterly, like finding Clara's words as a mere joke. Like she's sick of these. "If that's the case, then why, when you doubt our ways with Blitzer, when Danny mocked me, the Doctor, and Arthur, you didn't defend or explained to him?!" Her lower lips trembles. "You never mentioned that you already have a date. You just said he's just your friend. Yet suddenly, I got the news you have a boyfriend." And then, suddenly... she starts to cry as well. "Does our relationship, our friendship... meant nothing to you? Am I... just your hidden mistress... in case you're bored with your boyfriend?"
No words coming from Clara, only an open mouth without a voice. Having anyone witnessing this whole thing isn't helping at all. Besides... what can she say after all of that confession Claudia just said? Does she even have the right to say something, after knowing how much mess she has created? For murking up Claudia's feelings by her selfish, stupid action?
She remembered being snapped, properly snapped after leaving her by herself, and how Claudia just replied those with resentful words that she can't believe a woman like her said without a problem. To her, of all people. She remembered Claudia just getting heated up and ordered her to leave the Tardis, never step in again.
After that... she cried. For hours and hours. Not leaving her house, not answering Danny's call, not doing anything, honestly... until the Doctor had to take some action after their argument, arrange to meet one last time, and informed her that Claudia won't travel with them anymore.
"What's going on?" Arthur asked again, not understanding any of this. "Why are you two fighting?"
Before Clara can say any excuse, Maisie points something in front as the lights flicker.
"Do we start the clock?" Perkins asked.
"Gimme!" Claudia suddenly snatches the scanner from the Doctor's hand and uses it on Maisie. "Maisie, focus on the scanner!" She told her before putting the scanner to her head, zaps himself. "And done."
"What did you do?!" Clara demanded, panicking.
"It's gone," Maisie realized.
"No, I just transfer your psychology problem into mine, so it thinks I'm you," Claudia explained, throwing the scanner onto a table. "Perkins, start the clock."
"Why did you do that!?" Clara cried.
"What's your problem? Maisie's safe and sound. Problem solved."
"And getting yourself killed is going to make me happy?"
"Well, isn't that what you want?"
"You think I want you to die?" Clara gaped. "I would never, ever, want you to die, okay!?"
"Clara, not now," the Doctor hushed her. Questioning just getting more problematic. "Claudia?"
"I need to check something," Claudia asserted. "Found it. There's something visible under the bandages. The markings like the ones the scroll... oh."
"Oh?" All of them reacted.
"It's not a scroll. It's a flag! Which means... the mummy is..."
"40 seconds," Perkins reminded.
"A soldier, wounded in a forgotten war years ago," the Doctor realized soon.
She stares in front and nods. "Funny, doesn't it? After all these time, after everything, my instinct as a soldier won't ever go. It sticks with me, becomes part of who I am," she smiles at him and Arthur. "Still, it has some good advantages when it comes to travel. Can be very useful."
"Clau," Clara called. "I..."
"Not now, Clara," she interjected without a bitter tone, looking at her. "Later, okay? After this is over."
Clara nods. She's so panicked right now. But she must be strong. "Okay... okay..."
"20 seconds," Perkins warned.
"Claudia, just say it," Arthur urged, getting frantic by seconds, fearing he will lose her.
"Soldier... we surrender," she said with conviction.
"I can see it again!" Maisie pointed out at the mummy that was standing not far from Claudia. It steps back from Claudia and lowers its arms.
"It's okay. I think we all can," Clara reassured her.
"Do I start the clock?" Perkins asked.
"No," Arthur disagreed as the mummy salutes the Doctor and Claudia. "It finally stops."
"You're relieved, soldier," the Doctor announced as it disintegrates into a pile of dust and old bandages.
"Phew. He's not the only one," Perkins commented as the Doctor picks up a piece of blue tech with wires from the remains.
"We were fighting that?" Clara asked.
"So was he."
"Listen, Claudia, what I said..."
"Maybe a bit later, Clara. We're still not finished yet," the bluenette cut in softly. "Okay, Gus. We solved your little puzzle. Not let us go."
"Thank you so much for your efforts. They are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, survivors of this exercise are not required."
Claudia sighs and uses her sonic pen to destroy Gus from the computer's monitor before helping the Doctor. "Damn I hate that AI," she murmured.
"Ah, well, there's a shocker," the Doctor admitted. "Good job, Claudia."
"So... what now?" Arthur asked.
"My enemy's enemy is my friend. Especially when he has a built-in teleporter."
"So use it, then," Clara suggested.
"A little more work. Be patient!"
A couple of minutes later, the Doctor and Claudia finish it and send everyone off the train with a bright light.
▪︎▪︎▪︎
Clara wakes up wrapped in a blanket and lying on another plaid one. She finds Claudia sitting beside her, looking at the horizon without any expression while the Doctor's scratching at the little visible sand with a stick as Arthur watches, excited and curious as always.
"Good sleep?" Claudia asked, still not looking at Clara.
"Weren't we just on a train?" Clara recalled.
"We got off the train. The teleporter worked. Beamed everyone into the Tardis. While you and others just slept, the Doctor and I tried hacking Gus, well the remaining of that AI, from the console. Nothing work, so we won't find out who truly made this whole fiasco. After that, the Doctor and I dropped everyone off at the nearest civilised planet, which happened to be here," she gestures at a city nearby.
"So you and the Doctor saved everyone."
"Yeah."
Clara looks down. "I'm sorry. For being a jerk."
"I was being a jerk too."
"No, you weren't."
"Yes, I was," Claudia insisted, her mouth twitching. "I was so angry... and upset... and mad... and hurt. For kept me about Danny, about your relationship, for let him bad-mouthing me and the Doctor, for you got snapped for Moon incident. I shouldn't be that angry and... said those cruel things about you... and my feelings." She finally looks at Clara. "I don't have any right to be that way."
Clara shook her head. "No, it's okay. I was wrong too. I... I should never keep Danny from your or the Doctor. I should defend you when he said those awful things. I should... but I didn't... I guess... I was too afraid and too overwhelmed back then," she rubbed her forehead. If only she can be more honest and not too fearful, then this whole problem won't happen in the first place. "I would never think of you as some secret lover or something. I truly care for you, Claudia. It's just..."
"Not the way I thought," the bluenette finished, her eyes close. She expects this scenario to happen, yet... still damn hurt. "That's okay. I won't mind your relationship with Danny."
Clara can't give any response to that, only glances at the Doctor and Arthur, both suddenly playing with sands. "Kids," she muttered, shaking her head, amused. "I think I need some words with the Doctor as well."
"Maybe later," Claudia suggested, smiling as the Doctor and Arthur grab some equipment to build a sand castle. After all, they don't have precious moments together.
Especially after the latter case.
"Does that mean you'll stay?" Clara asked.
Claudia looks at the sky. She wonders if her mother would love this view. "I suppose that's the case," she simply informed, when suddenly, the brunette hugs her.
"I'm glad to hear that," she whispered. Because Clara can't bear her to leave for good.
She's just... can't. Not after what they've been through.