The Popstar from Hell

by skywardlink0897

For a while, Verosika had been on cruise control, her day to day had become stale and uninteresting. But her life would take a turn for the better with the aid of a mad man with a blue box.

6. Third time's the charm

Verosika stood before one of the many sinks lined beside each other in the women's restroom washing away the streaks left by her tears. Her only company was the sound of the running water. She leans forward, her hands gripping the sides of the sink, her reflection staring back at her. The water continues running, the sound echoing off the white marble walls.

She closes her eyes, her thoughts a mix of swirling emotions. She takes a moment, trying to steady her breathing, but the turmoil inside her is too much to contain. She wanted to tell the Doctor about her past, but not like how it happened.

"Pull it together Verosika" she mutters to herself, her voice shaky but determined. She turns the water off and looks back at her reflection, taking a moment to examine herself. Her eyes linger on the faded tear streaks down her face.

She reaches for a piece of tissue and dabs her eyes with it. She tries to compose herself. She didn't want to look like she was on the verge of a breakdown. However, the emotions inside her refuse to be contained. The pressure builds up again and she feels her eyes well up with tears again. She tries to push the tears back, tries to maintain her composure, but her emotions get the better of her. The tears start to fall again, and her shoulders shake with stifled sobs. "Dammit," she mutters between sobs, her voice hoarse with frustration.

For a moment, she just stands there, her hands gripping the sink, giving into the flood of emotions. The quiet of the bathroom is interrupted by the sound of sniffles and the soft hiccups of suppressed crying.

After a few more moments, she takes a shuddering breath and straightens up. Her eyes are red and puffy, her makeup smudged slightly from the earlier tears. She looks at herself in the mirror again, her reflection looking more vulnerable than the confident pop star everyone usually sees.

Verosika takes a deep breath, trying to collect herself. She quickly splashes some water on her face, trying to erase any evidence of her breakdown. She checks her reflection again, making sure she looks somewhat composed.

She adjusts her hair, trying to regain her usual air of nonchalance and taking a few more deep breaths, telling herself to get it together. There was no point in dwelling on the past now. She smooths out her dress and takes one final look at herself, satisfied that she now at least looks presentable again, even if the redness in her eyes is still visible.

With a final shaky sigh, she turns away from the mirror and moves to the door. As her hand touches the handle, she pauses, taking a final moment to prepare herself before she opens it to return back to the Doctor. She opens the door and steps out into the hallway, her head up and a poker face on her expression. She begins the walk back to the ballroom, her footsteps clinking against the tiled floor.

She mentally braces herself as she approaches the double doors that lead to the ballroom. Only, the large set of double doors had not only been closed, but were sealed shut by a large metal bulkhead.

Verosika stops in her tracks, her eyes wide with surprise at the sight of the closed doors and the metal bulkhead blocking them. She moves closer, peering up at the bulkhead, a knot of confusion and alarm forming in her stomach. "What the...?" She mutters, her voice low as she runs her hand over the cold metal.

She places her ear up against the bulkhead, listening for any sounds or voices on the other side. But, all she can hear is a soft hum of the mechanism keeping it in place, and absolute dead silence from the other room.

"Okay, that can't be good" She whispered to herself, her mind starting to race. She moves back a little and looks at the bulkhead again. There was no way she'd be able to get through this herself. She needed to get outside, to figure out what was happening. She hoped that the Doctor was safe or he had made it out before whatever this was started to happen.

She looks down the hallway, searching for a way out. She starts to jog as best she could in high heals, her eyes darting around for an emergency exit or another means of escape as she takes out her phone attempts to call the Doctor.

But her hopes of escape are dashed as she reaches the other end of the hallway. A similar metal bulkhead blocks this side of the building as well, trapping her inside.

"Damnit!" Verosika exclaims, pounding a fist against the metal in frustration.

She looks around again, searching for any weak spot. But there was nothing. The bulkheads were tightly sealed, leaving no openings for her to work with. Cursing again as her frustration mounted at the realization she was trapped.

Verosika paces the hallway, her mind racing as she tries to make sense of the situation. How? How was she supposed to get out? And where was the Doctor and why was he not answering his phone? Was he trapped as well? Was he still in the ballroom, caught in some unknown chaos along with all the other guests?

She suddenly stops pacing, a thought striking her. The Doctor. He could be in danger, and she needed to find him. He could be trapped in the ballroom or in trouble. She turns to head back down the hallway when a sudden noise catches her attention. A low, mechanical hum that's emanating from the bulkhead she was just beating on.

She stops immediately, her eyes fixed on the bulkhead as the hum continues. The mechanisms on the door begin to move, indicating the door was opening. She takes a step back, not knowing whether to feel a sense of hope or dread. As the bulkhead slowly opens, the space between the doors growing wider, Verosika's heart is in her throat, her body tense. She watches with bated breath, her eyes wide as she waits to see what's on the other side.

The hum ceases, the doors now fully open. As the last of the metal retracts, she's assaulted by the sight of a large metal humanoid standing motionless in front of her. It's tall and imposing, its metallic body reflecting the light in a cold, harsh glimmer. Its black eyes stare at her, lifeless and unblinking. She swallows hard, her heart picking up its pace.

Having identified a new unprocessed individual. The Faith-Breaker, its gaze unwavering, its body radiating an eerily calm power moves to add Verosika to the rest of the non upgraded. In response she backs up to keep a distance between her and the robotic giant approaching, eyes still fixed on it, trying to figure out what it was exactly.

It continues its approach, its footsteps echoing in the hallway, creating a rhythmic mechanical march. With each step, Verosika backs away, her heart beating faster. Her worry grew as the idea of what could have happened to the Doctor begins to set in. Verosika pivots on her heel and starts to run down the hallway she came from.

Upon losing sight of its target, it quickly gives chase, the metal menace strides eating up the distance at an unnaturally fast pace for a robot its size. The sound of heavy, mechanical footsteps fill the corridor, a harsh sound of the tiles cracking under the weight and force of the mechanical pursuer. Verosika, her breaths coming in fast pants, her heels clacking against the floor, pushes herself to keep a distance between her and the robotic stalker.

It doesn't waver in its pursuit, showing no signs of slowing down or tiring. With each stride it gains a bit of ground, its metal body moving with robotic efficiency. Verosika spares a quick glance backwards, her heart racing even further at the sight of the metallic hulk gaining on her.

The surroundings become a blur as she runs, desperately looking for a place to hide, a way to escape. She turns a corner, revealing her to be right back at the women restroom. Seeing no other option, she runs inside hoping it would run right past assuming her to have weaved down a different corridor.

She moves to hide in the fourth stall from the door, her plan being that if it did think to check, she could slip out while it was busy searching the other stalls.

The footsteps of the cyberman echoed as it chased down Verosika, each step ringing out like a gunshot in the silence.

With a heavy, purposeful gait, it entered the restroom having noticed the slight movement of the door closing. Its mechanical eyes scanned the room carefully, observing every detail, analyzing its surroundings meticulously. It's advanced sensors searching for any signs of the succubus location.

Checking the first stall only revealed it to be void of life. However the lack of its target's immediate presence doesn't shake the robotic pursuer's determined pace.

After checking two other stalls, it approaches the fourth one - Verosika's hiding place. Its steps become more measured, more deliberate. It stops right in front of the locked door, its sensors silently taking in the fact that someone is hiding inside. With a single, smooth motion it reaches out with one of its hands and grabs the handle.

It attempts to open the stall. Once it realizes the door is locked, it gives nothing in reaction aside from a short pause before it gives the door a harder pull, the frame giving a creak, straining under the strength of the robotic arm. The artificial fingers of the Faith-Breaker grips the handle harder and gives the door a vicious yank, the it groans before giving way, torn off the hinges, and getting swung onto the floor just outside the stall. The robotic figure stands motionless at the threshold, its form towering over Verosika.

Despite the fear gripping her heart, Verosika tries to hold her ground, back facing the wall, breath barely under control. Her heart is thumping against her chest like a drum, her eyes wide with terror as she looks up at the towering metal figure before her. The room is eerily silent, the only sound being the low, mechanical hum of the Faith-Breakers body. It stands there, unmoving, studying her with an unsettling gaze.

"There is no need to be afraid. You will be processed, ungraded. Your emotions are a weakness, we'll remove them from the equation" It tells Verosika.

Verosika's eyes widen at the cold, detached tone of the cyberman. The way it spoke, its voice void of any empathy or humanity, sent a shiver down her spine, fearing the true meaning behind the words. "Processed?" She manages to stammer out, her voice wavering slightly. "What, what do you mean by processed?"

The Faith-Breakers's response is almost immediate, its voice still eerily calm and emotionless. "Your emotions, your feelings, your fears, are a flaw every living creature is plagued by. We will remove them, replace them with logic and reason. You will become one of us."

Verosika feels a wave of terror wash over her. The thought of having her emotions, her very essence, removed and replaced with cold, mechanical logic is beyond frightening. She takes a step back, her body instinctively trying to put distance between herself and this robotic nightmare.

"You... You can't do that," she whispers, her voice trembling more than ever. "I don't want to become like you. I'm not..." She struggles to find the words, her mind and body both rebelling against the idea, but her voice trails off as her back hits the wall.

The Faith-Breaker takes a step closer to her, its metallic form casting a menacing shadow. Its hand reaches out, its fingers closing around her wrist, the cold metal of its grip digging into her skin. "You have no choice. We are the future, the cybermen will survive" it iterates, its voice never losing that cold, detached tone.

Verosika tries to pull her wrist free, but the Faith-Breaker's grip is like an unbreakable vise, its mechanical strength far surpassing hers. Her heart is racing in her chest, her mind filled with terror and the beginnings of panic. Maintaining its hold on her, slowly but surely, it pulls her away from the wall, slowly starting to lead her out of the restroom, its stride mechanical and controlled, her resistance to its pull met with almost no reaction other than a firmer grip.

As they move, Verosika's mind is in overdrive, racing through possible scenarios, a plan, anything to escape this metallic nightmare. But the grip on her wrist, the calm, collected demeanor of the Faith-Breaker, they all make the situation feel hopeless, like she's a lamb being led to the slaughter.

But, almost as if it was a miracle, she notices in between the joints of what would be the calf and the thighs, is an exposed rubber tube, an idea formed within Verosika's mind. Raising her leg, she strikes the tube with the heel of her shoe. Her kidnapper is unperturbed by the attack, not realizing the flaw in its design. The first two attempts miss, but with a quick breath, the third hits its mark.

To Verosika's surprise, her attack on the rubber tube is successful. The tube ruptures, the high-pressure fluid within it gushing out with force, causing the Faith-Breaker to let go of her arm, stutter in it's step before eventually falling and hitting its head on the countertop surrounding the rows of sinks, smashing the marble in the process.

Verosika is stunned for a moment, the sudden and unexpected effectiveness of her attack taking her by surprise. She watches as the Faith-Breaker, which just moments ago was holding her with unflinching strength, now lies motionless on the ground, the hydraulic fluid leaking out onto the broken marble floor.

As she stands over the downed enemy, her heart still racing, her mind tries to process what just happened. She glances at the ruined bathroom, the broken mirror, the shattered countertop. Everything is silent, the only sounds being the dripping of water and the steady hiss of the leaking hydraulic fluid.

She turns to make for the exit, choosing to not trust that it was dead before she was stopped at the door by what sounded like a stifled cry. Pausing her turn of the doorknob she looks behind herself to see the once cold and emotionless metallic giant looking at itself in the mirror holding a hand up to its face like it was the first time it was seeing it.

Verosika is caught off guard, her hand still on the doorknob, as she watches the cyberman's actions. It's no longer the stoic machine it was before, there's an almost life-like expression to its body as it stares at its reflection, its movements seeming more... vulnerable. In a twist she never saw coming, It then began to cry.

Not robotic like beeps and chirrups, but genuine sobs, a clear sign that something was fundamentally different in the way this thing was behaving. It's like a switch has been flipped, turning it from a cold, calculated machine to what looks like someone in a metal suit.

Verosika stands shocked. She slowly lets go of the door knob staring at the sight in front of her. The robot was now in the fetal position as it leaks its own glowing neon yellow blood from its damaged head, creating a surreal image to behold.

She takes a hesitant step forward. Part of her is screaming at her to run, that this could be some sort of trick to lure her closer. But the part of her that cannot help but feel a bit of sympathy for its emotional display refuses, encouraging her to take another step. "Shit, I'm starting to think like the Doctor" She thought to herself.

"H-Hey," Verosika finally finds the strength to say, her voice quiet and careful. "Are...are you alright?" She feels almost stupid for asking, it's a robot, why does it have feelings in the first place.

The cyberman's head slowly turns to face her. Even with the expressionless faceplate, there's something almost pleading in its gaze. It's still crying, the sobs quieter now, but still there. It seems to struggle to speak, the usual mechanical voice now interrupted with glitches and garbled sounds.

"I-I-" It tries to speak but stops itself, the words caught in its throat. It's almost like it's trying to say something, to explain what's going on, but it can't get the words out.

Verosika, her confusion and fear slowly shifting to something almost like concern, takes another careful step closer. "Hey, take it easy." She tries to sound as reassuring as possible, holding up her hands in a placating gesture. "Just... just breathe, okay?"

The cyberman nods, its sobs coming slower now. It seems to be trying to follow her advice, taking long, shuddering breaths. Verosika paused for a second in confusion, she wasn't actually expecting it to take a breath, she meant it metaphorically.

"There you go," Verosika says, her voice steady. "Just...just keep breathing." She takes another half step closer, now standing close enough that she can almost reach out and touch its shoulder.

The cyberman flinches slightly as she moves closer, its hands tensing for a moment as if it was preparing to fight or flee. But it doesn't move away, instead it continues its shaky breaths, its sobs slowly subsiding to the occasional whimper.

Verosika silently scolds herself for not thinking through on how it would react to her moving closer. "Sorry." she apologizes quietly, taking a small step back to give it some space.

The Faith-Breaker seems relieved, its body relaxing a bit. It looks up, its empty black eyes meeting hers. There's something almost like a plea in its gaze, as if silently asking for understanding. Verosika holds its gaze, her heart aching slightly at its plea. "Can...can you talk?" she gently ventures, hoping it could answer.

After a few seconds, the cyberman gives a small nod. Its shaky breaths have now subsided into quiet, almost silent breathing. Still, it keeps its gaze locked on Verosika, almost like it can't look away.

"Okay... okay." She says, swallowing down the feeling of tension that was building in her chest. Taking another cautious step closer, she lowers herself to one knee, bringing herself down to its eye level. "Do you have a name?"

The cyberman hesitates for a moment, its eyes flickering downwards as it seems to be thinking how to answer. It tries to speak for the third time, and once again it seems to struggle to get the words out. After several seconds of trying, it finally manages something, a single word in a dry, harsh voice.

"M-" It falters halfway through, as if the word was painful to say. But it forces the rest out, the name coming as a whisper. "My name is... was Lyra"

Verosika is taken aback. 'Lyra'. It's a pretty name for what she thought was an unfeeling and emotionless robot. "Lyra?" She repeats slowly. "That's a pretty name." She gives a small, almost sad smile. "But why do you say 'was'?"

The halls were eerily quiet, the only noise being the soft hum of the overhead lights and the distant footsteps of the cybermen patrolling. The Doctor stuck to the shadows as he made his way through the maze of corridors, his steps careful and silent. He could hear low, metallic voices every so often, echoing from other parts of the building.

The further he got into the labs, the more the surroundings felt empty, sterile. It's like all the life in the building had been sucked out, replaced by an eerie absence. Occasionally he would see the forms of security cameras, their mechanical gazes unblinking as they recorded every move. Each time he passed one, he would quicken his pace, ducking into cover to avoid being seen or using his sonic screwdriver on ones that couldn't be avoided.

As he crept down one of the halls, he noticed a dim light coming from an archway not far ahead. The Doctor moved quietly towards the source, the light illuminating a large door with a series of seemingly complex electronic-locks. He recognized it as nothing more than a logical gate.

As the Doctor approached the door, he noticed movement from the corner of his eye. A patrolling cyberman was coming down the hall from the other side, its march slow and deliberate. The Doctor quickly ducked behind the door controls, pressing himself into the wall. He waited, his breath held as the cyberman passed by, oblivious to his presence.

What disturbed the Doctor was that the patrolling cyberman was not one of the Faith-Breakers, rather it looked to be a cheaper more mass produced model, probably made recently using some of the event's guests. He had to find Verosika and ensure she was alright and stop the Faith-Breakers before they convert more people.

The Doctor waited a few seconds to ensure the cybermen were gone before emerging from his hiding spot. He glanced at the locking mechanism on the door, silently calculating how to get through it without drawing any more attention to himself.

After giving it a quick once over, he understood the sequence the door needed to open. Down he pulled the right, left, and middle switches in that order. With a beep of confirmation, the door opened. "You would think after all these years they would have thought to change their password" He whispered to himself.

The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a large, dimly lit room filled with rows of metal tables. As the Doctor stepped inside, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as he realized what the room was used for - a makeshift processing center.

The tables were each surrounded by a half-circle of various tools and equipment. Some looked more like medical tools, while others seemed more like computer parts. The sight sent a chill through the Doctor's spine as he imagined the horrifying operations that might have been performed here. He forced himself to keep moving, walking silently between the rows of tables.

The room was completely abandoned, so the mass processing must be happening elsewhere. Which meant this is probably where the Faith-Breakers were initially produced, painfully cyber converted over the course of days or even weeks rather than the usual hour or two it takes to produce a cyberman. The large amount of dried yellow blood that encrusted what seemed to be every surface in sight only added to his theory.

After a brief look around, he continued towards a door on the other side of the room. The further he got into the room, the more the Doctor's unease grew. The sight of dried yellow blood covering the room's surfaces, combined with the ominous tools laid out on the tables, painted a grim picture of what had been happening here.

As he reached the other side of the room, he could faintly hear the distant, metallic voices of cybermen from the next room over and the screams of those being painfully processed.

The Doctor paused at the door, his hand hovering near the control panel to the side. Every fiber of his being wanted to burst in and stop the conversion process, to save all those that had been unwillingly converted. But he knew it wouldn't be that simple. He needed to keep low and quiet.

Looking around for an alternative entrance his eyes landed on a nearby floor vent, it would be a tight squeeze, but he could manage it.

He silently padded over to it. Kneeling down, he loosened the screws with his sonic while looking around for somewhere to hide if something should enter the room before he finished. Once the last screw was out, he pried the grate off, wincing as it let out a loud creak. Luckily, the noise from the next room seemed to cover it up.

The Doctor put the screwdriver back into his inside pocket before turning back to the vent. Taking a breath, he contorted his body to fit through the narrow vent. It was a tight squeeze, the cool, metal sides pressing against him as he wriggled through, trying not to make any unnecessary noise.

Once he had silently and awkwardly made his way into the vent, he began crawling forward on all fours. The metal under his hands was cold and smooth. The sounds of conversion from the last room faded as he moved onwards through the vent, replaced by the faint sounds of cybermen marching in the distance.

As the Doctor crawled, he began to formulate a plan. He didn't know how many cybermen were active, and he didn't know where Verosika was. He needed to find her and stop whoever was behind this, but he was on a time limit and without a clear understanding of the surroundings it was nearly impossible to make a detailed plan.

After what felt like an eternity, he reached a spot in the vent where he could see through the slits in the vent. He looked out, his eyes adjusting to the lighting of the room.

It looked to be a large ballistics testing chamber repurposed into a holding cell for the guests of the event and a few of the staff while they awaited processing. Inside he could make out the forms of Vox Valentino and Velvette the three of them stood near each other either for their own comfort or by order of the Faith-Breakers. The Doctor's hearts sank when he couldn't see Verosika anywhere in the crowd. Panic started to set in as he feared the worst. The Doctor took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Verosika was smart, she could be anywhere. He needed to focus on the people he could see, they needed help too. Taking a moment to assess the situation and the room beyond the vent, he started to formulate a quick plan.

Crawling his way over to a grated vent cover that was only a few feet from the Vees. The cover is too small to climb out of but more than enough to talk through.

The Doctor wanted to get Vox's attention, but didn't want to rile up the crowd and blow his cover, so he used the one thing he knows Vox will notice that would slip past the average person's ears. Pulling out his sonic screwdriver with great effort because of the tight space he turns it on with no goal in mind other than the unmistakable noise it makes.

The sonic screwdriver let out its distinctive buzz, echoing through the room. It was barely audible over the panicked chatter of the guests, but to Vox, it was like a blaring alarm.

The sound of the sonic screwdriver pierced the air, immediately grabbing Vox's attention. His screen flashed with surprise, and he turned in the direction of the sound. The other two members of the Vees glance at him in confusion, but Vox pays them no mind. He had thought the Doctor must have been captured and processed already, but he was the only other person he knew with a sonic, and he was using it to try and get his attention.

The realization hits him, and he looks around for the source of the noise. It takes a moment for him to spot the vent that the Doctor is concealed in.

"Excuse me for just a moment," Vox says to Valentino and Velvette without looking at them, his eyes fixated on the vent. He starts making his way towards the vent, walking between the panicked crowd of sinners and staff.

He keeps his eyes on the vent, his expression a mix of curiosity and hope. As he approaches he can see the Doctor peering back at him through the slender gaps in the vent that is placed eye level for Vox.

"Doctor," Vox murmurs, stopping in front of the Doctor, but not looking directly at him. His voice is quiet enough that only the Doctor can hear him.

The other sinners in the room are too preoccupied with their own fears and anxieties to notice that Vox and the Doctor are having a quiet conversation. Vox keeps his gaze fixed slightly to the left of the vent, feigning disinterest so as not to draw the attention of the patrolling cybermen.

"What the hell are you doing?" Vox asks, a hint of awe in his voice. He has many other questions: How did the Doctor get away? How did he escape theFaith-Breakers?

The Doctor, maintaining his composure, responds in a low, but urgent tone, his eyes not leaving Vox's. "Working on a plan to stop the Cybermen. Have you seen Verosika at all?"

Vox's screen flickers with unease when the Doctor mentions Verosika. He lowers his voice even further, leaning closer to the vent. "No, I haven't seen her sinc- Wait, Cyber-what?" He exclaims in confusion over the Doctor calling his Faith-Breakers cybermen. The term 'cybermen' doesn't mean anything to Vox. However, the Doctor doesn't have time to explain the situation to him right now. He needs to focus on the situation at hand and find Verosika. "Never mind that right now, we need to focus on finding you and everyone in this room a way out of here"

Vox looks somewhat irked, not liking not knowing what was going on, but he puts his irritation aside for now, nodding his head in agreement. "Alright," he says, keeping his voice low. "But first, we need to deal with the Faith-I mean Cybermen... things patrolling around. They're everywhere, making it almost impossible to get out. You got a plan for that, Doc?"

The Doctor thinks for a moment, running scenarios through his head before landing on one he liked the odds of. "I can't help everyone right now, I'll only be able to save you, Velvette and maybe Valentino as much as I would like to leave him" He reluctantly said. "Do you still have your sonic screwdriver?" The Doctor asked Vox.

"Those Cyber Sons of bitches took it when I thrown in here" Vox responds irritably, remembering how they had snatched his prized tool away from him. "Probably got tossed in the trash or something."

Vox's explanation doesn't come as a surprise. The Cyberman are extremely efficient in processing. The first thing they do is remove any potential weapons or tools. The Doctor nods, he had assumed something like would have happened, but a small part of him had held onto hope that Vox had found a way to hold onto his tool.

"Alright" He says as he puts his sonic up against the grate of the vent and wiggles it through. "Take mine for now and keep it hidden. Now, I need you to move closer to the doors. I'm going to distract the cybermen guarding the door, when you see the four of them clear, use my sonic to unlock the door and run, I'll catch up to you"

Vox takes the offered sonic screwdriver, holding it carefully. He looks at it for a moment, both intrigued and impressed that the Doctor would trust him his. "Got it," he says, nodding his head. "Wait for you to distract the cybermen, unlock the door and escape."

"Piece of cake" Vox grins, feigning nonchalance with a confident smile, as if it were the easiest task he had ever heard of. But on the inside, he's anything but confident. It's a dangerous plan, risky even, but it's the only one in the cards right now. He slips the screwdriver into the pocket of his jacket, keeping it out of sight.

"Good" The Doctor starts to crawl away before stopping himself. "One more thing. I expect to see my sonic intact and working, in the condition I gave it to you" He says with a serious edge to his voice.

Vox can't help but scoff slightly at the Doctor's stern tone. He's not used to taking orders, especially from someone he barely knows, but he can appreciate the sentiment. "Relax, Doc," he says, grinning slightly. "I'll take good care of your little toy, I promise." Satisfied with the answer, the Doctor continues his trek through the vets.

Turning around, Vox is faced with Velvette and Valentino both looking at him with confused and worried expressions over his apparent episode of schizophrenia.

Vox clears his throat, realizing that he hasn't provided them with any explanation as to what just happened. He glances around quickly, making sure no one else in the room had noticed his strange interaction. Then, with an air of nonchalance, he turns back to Velvette and Valentino to inform them on the plan.

"Listen up," he says, lowering his voice so only the other Overlords can hear him. He looks from Velvette to Valentino, ensuring they're both listening. "I've got a plan, a way to get us out of here."

The two other Overlords exchange a glance, both of them leaning in closer to hear him better. "What is it?" Valentino asks, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

Vox grins, a gleam in his eyes at the prospect of escaping. "I can't give you the details just yet, but trust me, it's a good one." He holds up the Doctor's sonic screwdriver, flicking it between his fingers. "And I've got the tool we need for it. Just follow my lead."

Velvette and Valentino exchange another dubious look before nodding reluctantly. They trust Vox's judgment, but they're still unsure about the plan he's just outlined. Velvette raises an eyebrow, looking at the screwdriver she recognized as the Doctor's in Vox's hands. "Where did you get that?" She questions, her interest piqued.

Vox hesitates for a moment, not wanting to reveal where he got the tool from just yet knowing Valentino would object to receiving help from someone he seemed intent on hurting earlier. "Never mind that," he says dismissively, waving off the question. "What matters is that we can use it to get out of here." Velvette looks annoyed for a second before realization sets in, so she leaves it at that.

However, Valentino seems less interested in the origin of the tool. He's more focused on whether the plan will work or not. "And how exactly are we supposed to get past all those Things?" He questions, crossing his arms.

Vox rolls his eyes, he forgets Valentino's lack of imagination sometimes. He sighs and runs a hand over his screen. "I told you," he says, speaking slowly as if explaining it to a child, "I've got a plan. It's a good one. Trust me on this one, Val. That's all you need to do for now."

Valentino scowls, not appreciating being spoken to like he's an idiot. He takes a menacing step towards Vox, his eyes narrowing in irritation. "Look, I'm not gonna follow a plan if I don't even know what it is. Tell me the details or you can count me out."

Vox leans back slightly, not intimidated by Valentino's attempt to intimidate him. He takes a deep breath, calming himself. "If you don't pipe up soon, and just follow my lead, we'll miss our opening. So if you want to get out of here, I suggest you sit back and trust that I know what I'm doing"

Valentino opens his mouth, intending to argue further, but stops at Vox's words. He grumbles to himself, unhappy with the situation, but reluctantly agrees to go along with Vox's plan without knowing the details.

Vox grins, satisfied that he got his way. He pats Valentino on the shoulder, an amused look in his eyes. "There, see? That wasn't so hard, now was it?"

"Yeah, whatever" Valentino mutters in response, still sulking. He looks away, not appreciating being talked down to.

Velvette chuckles softly at Valentino's reaction, her amusement is clear on her face.

Vox grins, savoring his small victory over Valentino. He looks between the two Overlords, making sure they're both still on board. "Alright then. Let's do this"

Both Velvette and Valentino nod in agreement, their expressions a mix of determination and uneasiness, fully aware of the risks of the situation. Vox can see the hint of doubt in their eyes, but he chooses to ignore it. The Doctor has a plan, and it's their only hope right now.

Vox grins, his confidence and arrogance returning in full force. "Follow me."

He strides confidently through the room, making his way towards the doors where the Cybermen are stationed.

The two other Overlords follow behind him, their steps slightly hesitant. They look at each other, trying to decipher what exactly Vox is planning to do. They can see the confidence in his stride and they trust him, but they can't shake the feeling that things could go wrong at any moment.

With a casual, but quick pace, Vox approaches the bullet proof glass double doors, trying to act normal so as to not attract any attention to himself. He glances from side to side, his eyes darting around as he scans his surroundings looking for any sign of the Doctor's distraction.

He keeps his expression neutral as he reaches the doors, pretending to look relaxed despite the tense situation. He glances at Velvette and Valentino, giving them a quick nod, silently communicating that they should prepare for whatever is about to happen.

Vox stops in front of the doors, his heart racing a little but keeping a calm and composed face on. He looks around, hoping to see some sign of the Doctor. But nothing is happening, no signs of the Doctor's distraction yet. Vox starts to sweat a little and looks back at Val and Velvette. They are both tense, looking at him with expecting eyes.

Then like clockwork, the four Cybermen respond to something internally, like they were reacting to a signal or massage. In synchronized movement they moved off to a side room down the hall disappearing as they passed the threshold.

Vox's screen lights up in excitement as he sees the Cybermen move away from the doors. He glances over his shoulder at Velvette and Valentino, a sly grin on his face. "Now's our chance" He whispers.

He looks at the sonic device in his hand, a surge of excitement coursing through him. He looks at Val and Velvette again, a silent confirmation passing between them.

They nod in response, both of them are still a bit nervous but determination shines in their eyes. They trust Vox's plan, whatever it may be. Vox looks back at the doors, and taking a deep breath, he holds the sonic up and points it at the electronic lock.

The sonic buzzes in his hand for a moment as it scans the lock, taking a second to break the security code and unlock the door. There's a click as the lock disengages and he pushes lightly on the door, checking to see if the coast is clear.

The hallway is empty with no sign of the guards returning soon. The Doctor's distraction seeming to have worked flawlessly. Vox's screen lights up with excitement, but he still checks the hall one more time to be sure before motioning for Velvette and Valentino to follow.

"Come on," he whispers, jerking his head to indicate the clear hall. "Before they come back."

Valentino and Velvette both follow behind Vox as they quickly slip out the doors, their hearts racing with the adrenaline of the situation. They keep their footsteps as light as possible, not making a sound as they sneak down the hallway before the thunder of an explosion from behind causes the three of them to jump. Looking back revealed the room the guards were been lured had went up in flames, with the door to the room having flown clean off the frame.

Vox curses under his breath in reaction, looking a bit rattled. "What the hell-" He starts before Velvette interrupts him, her voice filled with shock. "Did the Doctor do that?"

Vox gives a shaky nod, a little taken aback by the sudden violence. "I think so," he mutters. But part of him is also impressed by the Doctor's ability to cause that much damage without even his screwdriver.

"Well what are you three standing around for? What's the point of an escape if you're not going to escape!" The Doctor yells out from behind them.

The three Overlords turn around, their eyes widening at the sight of the Doctor standing behind them. Valentino immediately scowls, his anger flaring at the sight of the Doctor. "You! What the hell did you do back there?!"

The Doctor grins, undeterred by Valentino's anger. "Just a little distraction" he responds casually. "Now are you going to stand around complaining and get caught again or are you going to follow me out of here"

Valentino's scowl deepens, but before he can say anything more, Vox steps in. "Yes yes, we appreciate the distraction. Can we kindly get the hell out of here?" He says pointedly, jerking his head down the hallway, a gesture to hurry them along.

"Right then. Let's get moving." He starts running down the hall, leading the way to the exit. Valentino is reluctant to follow the Doctor's lead, however it's his best chance of survival right now, so he runs down the hall behind Vox and Velvette. The sound of the fire and the Cybermen's approach spurs them to keep going, the imminent danger behind them fueling their steps.

They run down the hallway, their footsteps echoing loudly as they dash past various rooms and corridors. They can hear the Cybermen searching the building for them, the sound of their heavy footsteps drawing nearer. Vox looks back over his shoulder, his heart pounding in his chest as he pushes himself to run faster.

Verosika felt a pang of sadness for Lyra. To have been forced to lose everything about herself, her emotions, personality, her identity, reduced to a mindless, unfeeling drone. A part of her couldn't help but wonder if it was possible to undo what was done to her, to give her back her life.

"How did... this, happen to you?" Verosika asked softly, still looking at Lyra, trying to see any sign of her past self in the mechanical eyes that stared back at her.

Lyra is silent for a moment, the only sound coming from the mechanical hum of her cybernetic body. She looks straight at Verosika, her gaze still and emotionless, before speaking in the same dry monotone voice as before. "I was Injured, on the brink of death, blinking in and out of consciousness when I woke up here on a medical table... Alive, but wishing I wasn't as my bones and organs were replaced with mechanical 'upgrades'. I was the first to be processed, but that made it all the worse as I had to watch my sisters be ripped apart and sewn back together as I could only sit there and watch while they installed the emotional inhibitor that you broke when you busted my leg"

Verosika listens intently, her expression hardening as the story continues. It's horrifying to imagine, being unable to move or speak, but being fully alert and conscious as she watched her own body be torn apart and rebuilt. "Sisters?" She asks, curious.

Lyra nods. "Not by blood, but we were close, like family in a way. We were close, and we trusted each other"

Verosika listens intently, feeling a pang of sympathy. The sadness in Lyra's voice is clear, even with her limited emotional range. "What happened to you that almost killed you in the first place?" she asks gently.

Lyra hesitates again, she looks down at the floor for a moment, from what little emotion can be shown from the cold cyber-body, she looks reluctant to answer. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Verosika told her.

"No," Lyra said after a moment, her voice still just above a whisper. "I... I want to tell you." She paused for a moment, as if trying to figure out what the right words were.

"I was... An Exorcist before becoming this" She confesses while gesturing to her new body. "Me and my sisters were among those there with Adam when he attacked the princess of hell and her friends... Most of us either died or fled back to Heaven, but the six of us got the worst of both worlds. Left behind on death's door"

Verosika's heart sank as she listened to the former Exorcist's words. They were supposed to be cold, ruthless killing machines, dedicated to hunting down and exterminating sinners. But the one in front of her now, her name Lyra, seemed to be a stark contrast to that definition.

"An... Exorcist?" she repeats, her voice carrying skepticism and disbelief. She looks Lyra up and down, trying to connect the image of an exorcist to the cold, metallic figure that stands before her.

Lyra nods, a strange sense of resignation in the gesture. "Yes, I was... am... an Exorcist... I don't know anymore" She confirms, voice lacking any sense of emotion.

Verosika looks at Lyra, taking in her cold, mechanical appearance. Despite her demonic nature, she finds herself feeling a strange sense of sympathy for the former exorcist, the situation beginning to click in her mind. She could sense a hint of emotion in Lyra's robotic voice, a hint that there was more to her than just the killing machine the Exorcists were made out to be.

"So... you were an Exorcist?" Verosika asks, her voice softer now. "And now you're..." She lets the sentence trail off, not needing to finish.

Her heart feels heavy in her chest, Verosika was starting to sympathize with a creature she would never have dreamed of a few moments ago. She shakes her head softly, trying to process everything she's hearing. "I'm sorry," she says finally, her voice barely a whisper. "That you had to go through that. It must have been... horrible"

Lyra's black eyes seem to flicker, her gaze seeming to soften under Verosika's empathetic gesture. "Never didI think, Iwouldsee theday ademon showed me sympathy " she says with a hint of surprise. "You are a Hellspawn. I should despise you."

Verosika gives a small, knowing smile. There's a sense of irony in Lyra's statement, and they both know it. "And I should hate you," Verosika replies. "But hey, here we are."

Lyra looks at her carefully as if studying her. "You're a succubus?" she says, her voice devoid of any emotional tone, and yet there is something in the statement that hints of something more.

"Probably among the best there is down here! What about it?" Verosika replies with a slightly defensive, self confident tone, proudly acknowledging her identity.

Lyra, despite her artificial exterior, gives a nod of affirmation. It's a strange sight, a machine expressing understanding and acknowledgment, even if it lacks the emotional range to show it. Her artificial form remains still and her expression is unchanging as she regards the succubus, but there's a flicker of recognition in her eyes. Maybe even a hint of respect, although hard to tell given her robotic state.

"I have something I want to ask of you" Lyra says

Verosika is snapped out of her thoughts, her attention now fully focused on Lyra. "What is it?" she asks, her curiosity piqued.

Taking the gun that was slung across her shoulder, she holds it out to Verosika. "I want you to kill me... I don't want to keep living on like this"

Verosika's eyes widen in shock as Lyra offers the gun to her. "You...you want me to kill you?" She takes a step back instinctively, her usual bravado momentarily replaced with a tinge of fear and confusion.

Lyra remains motionless, holding the gun outstretched towards Verosika. Her eyes, even behind the cold exterior, seem to implore Verosika to take the gun, to grant her the release she craves.

Verosika hesitates. She reaches out her hand, but instead of taking the gun, she gently pushes it downwards. "I understand why you want this," Verosika begins. Her voice is soft, but firm. "But I can't do that." She sighs, her eyes looking into Lyra's. "There has to be another way, there has to be some way I can help you"

Looking into Lyra's eyes, Verosika can almost see the anguish and despair behind the metallic mask. It's clear that the former exorcist is in a lot of pain, but the thought of taking her life... it sat wrong with her.

"Please," Verosika implores, her voice soft. "Don't give up. There's got to be a way to reverse... this." She gestures to the cybernetics that now make up Lyra's body. "I think my boyfriend might know what to do, I'm not entirely sure, but he might be able to help you. And I know he'll be more than happy to try and help you... Please, just give him a chance"

Verosika reaches out, gently placing her hand on Lyra's metal arm. The contact feels almost jarring, the cold, hard surface of the cybernetics in stark contrast to Verosika's warm skin. "Please," she repeats, looking into Lyra's eyes, still seeking some sign of hope in the former exorcist's gaze.

Lyra stands there, stoic and unmoving, and for a moment Verosika fears that she's going to refuse. But slowly, very slowly, it's almost unnoticeable, Lyra nods. It's a slight movement, the mechanical joints of her body creaking softly with the motion.

Verosika releases a breath she didn't realize she had been holding, relief washing over her. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice almost inaudible. She takes a step closer to Lyra, the gun still clutched in her hand. "He hasn't been answering his phone so we'll have to go looking for him" Verosika says, her voice firmer now with resolution. "He can help you, I know he can. Do you think you can move?"

Lyra nods, the electronic sound of her movements slightly muffled. "I can move. But I'll be slower than before after you busted the hydraulics in my right leg." She says in a non threatening jab.

Verosika glances down to Lyra's leg, the hydraulics busted after her attempted attack. Feeling slightly guilty, she offers her hand. "Let me help you." She says as she approaches. "Lean on me. I'll help you walk"

Lyra looks at Verosika for a second before nodding slightly. She takes a deep breath, or as close to it as her mechanical form allows and slowly starts to lean on Verosika, testing the support.

Verosika immediately supports Lyra's weight, helping her to stand upright as best she can. Even though the metallic body gives the once-exorcist a heavy frame, she's noticeably lighter than she looks.

Supporting Lyra, Verosika slowly shuffles them over to the edge of the restroom, where they pause for a moment so she can catch her breath from the exertion. With the adrenaline leaving her body, the gravity of the situation sinks in. Being stuck in a bathroom with a literal reformed killing machine... she hadn't thought her night would take this kind of turn.

Looking over, she sees Lyra in a similar state. Despite the lack of any recognizable facial features, the cybernetic being's body language speaks volumes. The once rigid steel exterior seems to droop slightly, the weight of her transformed existence hanging heavy on her, metaphorically speaking.

With one more breath of air. Verosika readjusts herself, looking to Lyra to check that she was ready to continue, she opens the restroom door and slowly the two make their way out of the restroom.

The hallway is eerily quiet. The sound of their footsteps and soft mechanical noises of Lyra's body are the only accompaniment. The once-bustling event venue now sits in darkness and silence, and it makes Verosika shiver despite her resolve.

"Do you know what's happening?" Verosika asksher unlikelycompanion.

Lyra's eyes shift, attempting to scan the area. After a few moments, she responds. Her voice is slightly more stable, but still sounding harsh. "Cyber-conversion protocol. All organic life in this building is set to be processed and converted. This wasn't supposed to happen tonight, but we were given the order to take everything alive in the building and lock them up until they can be processed"

The explanation from Lyra makes Verosika's blood run cold. They were all trapped in this building until they could be turned into more cyber-creatures like Lyra. That's why the entire event had been blocked and all the doors and windows sealed. Nobody could escape. The thought alone makes her feel nauseous.

But, a question suddenly comes to Verosika. "Wait, if it wasn't supposed to happen tonight... What happened to change the plan, and who's behind all of this anyway?"

Lyra responds after a few moments. "Vox was just a puppet being used for his resources, me and my sisters were under the control of someone or something called the Cyber-Controller. There was someone spotted in the crowd who the Controller identified as a threat, so we were ordered to lock everything down and kill him on sight, but when we went to make our move, he had disappeared, like he new what was coming"

Verosika stops, processing the new information. "A threat?" She repeated. "Someone there was dangerous enough to cause all this to happen?"

"Apparently so" Lyra responds. "The Cyber-Controller has access to more data than we do, and can monitor everything. They must have a reason for believing whoever it was is a threat to their survival"

Verosika takes a long moment to consider Lyra's words. It was a lot to process, the thought that someone in the crowd was powerful enough to cause all of this. "Do you know anything else about this... threat? Anything at all? What did the controller say about them?"

"The Controller didn't tell us much of anything about the target other than he has a binary vascular system" Lyra confessed. "We were given the order to kill on sight and capture everything else alive to increase the number of converts. It seems the target knows about us, but we have no idea why they're here or who they are"

Lyra's words rang in Verosika's mind as she processed the information. The binary vascular system, killing on sight... And then the realization hit her hard. "Binary vascular system... The Doctor" She said quietly horrified.

Lyra seems confused at Verosika's words, tilting her head as if to silently ask for a further explanation. "Who is the Doctor?" Lyra asks. The name doesn't mean anything to her.

Verosika takes a deep breath, mentally preparing herself to explain. "The Doctor... he's my boyfriend. He's has two hearts, and he's the person who I think can help you"

Lyra paused while she took in the new information. "We need to find him quickly then" Lyra responds with an unheard urgency.

"Yes, yes we do," Verosika agrees, her own sense of urgency rising. The longer they spend searching, the more likely it is that the Cybermen find the Doctor before they do.

As the two start to make their way deeper into the building, Lyra stops suddenly, tilting her head as if trying to listen to something.

Verosika pauses at the unplanned halt, noticing her change in behavior. "What's wrong?" she asks, looking at Lyra with a hint of worry.

The cyber-exorcist remains silent for a moment, her head still tilted as if listening to something. Verosika can almost see the gears in Lyra's synthetic mind turning, processing something she can't hear or sense yet.

After a tense moment, she speaks, her voice low. "There is a group of Cybermen up ahead coming this way"

Verosika's heart sinks as she hears Lyra's warning. A group of Cybermen against the two of them doesn't bode well. "Do you know how many?" she asks, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

"I count three sets of footsteps." The former exorcist replies, her voice robotically steady despite the situation. Verosika silently curses. Thinking quickly, she looks around, searching for somewhere to hide or a different route they can take.

Raising the rifle in her left hand she motions for Verosika to move behind her.She nods, understanding the signal. She moves quickly, positioning herself behind Lyra, the former exorcists' body serving as a makeshift shield.

As they wait in tense silence, Verosika can feel her heart pounding in her chest. Every second feels like an eternity as they listen to the sound of the approaching Cybermen.

Lyra stays completely still, unnaturally so. Her body is tense, ready to react at a moment's notice. Her grip on her rifle tight, her eyes staring down the hallway, waiting and ready as a door at the far end swings open.

The three overlords and timelord slip into a side room, taking a moment to catch their breath. The adrenaline is slowly starting to wear off and they're all a little out of it. Valentino drops down to the ground, leaning against the wall as he tries to steady his breathing.

"That was... closer than I'd like" Vox gasps out, sweat dripping from his brow. He's leaning against the wall as well, a hand on his screen as he tries to slow his racing heart.

Velvette was sat on the floor, winded and out of breath as she struggles to recover. "You think they're gone?" she asks, glancing around the room cautiously.

The Doctor, the only one who seems unphased by the running, begins to look around. He scans the room, taking note of their surroundings. "Well, we've lost them for now," The Doctor says, a hint of triumph in his voice. "But it won't stay away for long. We need to form a plan as soon as possible. Any ideas?"

Vox and Velvette exchange glances, both of them looking a little lost. They look at The Doctor hoping he has an idea. Valentino, who is still catching his breath, doesn't respond. He simply sits on the ground, his breathing still laboured.

Vox takes a deep breath, looking at the Doctor. "I'm at a loss, I don't know what to do without my powers"

"It's always up to me to think of the plans" The Doctor thinks to himself as he paces around the room for a moment, his eyes darting around as his mind works. He then stops, turning to the three overlords. "Well first I need some answers... Where did the Cybermen come from? They were supposed to be your creation right! But if you made them, how and why did they turn on you?" He says to Vox.

Vox looks at The Doctor, a hint of annoyance in his eyes. "They are my creation, but they were never supposed to turn on us. They were supposed to attack our enemies, the exorcists, on extermination day" He explains, his voice sharp.

"They should be on our side, not trying to kill us" Vox continues, his mind racing with anger and shock. He can't believe that his own creations have turned against him like this. "As for how, I don't know. The only thing I can think of is that someone has reprogrammed them..."

"Cybermen are not programmed, they are commanded" The Doctor corrected. "When someone is processed, they are stripped of their emotions and free will, the brain of the individual acts as the computer for the body, so they couldn't have reprogrammed a brain that's impossible. What is more likely is that a Cyber-Controller gave the order to turn on you and everyone at the party"

Vox's eyes widened at the Doctor's explanation, realization dawned on him. "A Cyber-Controller? You think the Cybermen have their own leader?" He asks, his screen flickering and crackling with surprise.

"I don't think so, I know so. I've run into a few different variants of Cybermen in my years. But one thing always remains the same, where there are Cybermen, there is a Cyber-Controller leading them from the shadows. There is one specific Controller that has been a consistent problem throughout my travels" The Doctor pauses for a second mauling over the possibility of this being the controller from telos. "I can't confirm anything yet. But we could be in greater danger than I initially thought"

"Great" Vox mutters, his frustration evident. "So not only are we being hunted by my own perfect creation, but now there's also a secret leader controlling them all?" He shakes his head in disbelief. "Just great."

The Doctor distracts himself from his overthinking by asking another question. "When and how did you 'invent' the Faith-Breakers?"

Vox takes a moment to collect his thoughts. "When I told reporters that I had been developing 'angelic security' I just threw that out there to calm the press down and look like I was two steps ahead. But one night I found myself alone in the middle of our living room with no idea how I got there, only that I now had a tangible idea and design for my angelic security"

The Doctor doesn't respond, signaling for Vox to continue. "The Faith-Breakers were my answer to the exorcists power. They were created to level the playing field on Extermination Day. The perfect soldiers, immune to the angels weapons and built to eliminate them. But they weren't supposed to turn against their creator."

The Doctor looks thoughtful, processing the story that Vox has just laid out. "That's quite the tale," he says, his voice contemplative. "So you found yourself in the middle of your living room, without any memory of the events leading up to that point, and suddenly you had the idea and design for these Faith-Breakers?" He clarifies, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Exactly" Vox responds, his tone defensive. "I know it sounds strange, but that's how it happened. I'm sure there have been plenty of times where you've hit your head and had sudden flashes of inspiration or brilliant ideas born out of it." He points out.

"Sure, those things happen on occasion Doctor Brown" The Doctor concedes with a nod. "But to invent something as complex and technologically advanced as these Faith-Breakers, all with no memory of how? That's not something one just forgets." He says as he continues to pace round the room. "I think you were visited by something that implanted the concept into your mind"

"Visited by something?" Vox repeats, his screen flickering with disbelief. "You think some sort of mysterious being just came into my penthouse and planted the idea in my head?" He asks incredulously.

The Doctor ignored Vox's skeptical tone and continued to verbalize his train of thought. "It could have been anything from a modified Cybermat to the Controller himself. But how did they get here to begin with?"

"The penthouse is protected by the best security technology this realm has to offer" Vox retorts, a hint of defensiveness in his voice. The idea that someone or something could have broken into his home without his knowledge is clearly not sitting well with him.

The Doctor responds with a small mocking chuckle. "Oh your security would be far from the hardest thing the Controller would need to do to implant the idea into your mind" Vox chooses to ignore the comment despite how much he wanted to refute the claim. "So these questions are supposed to help us how?" Vox asks.

The Doctor turns to face Vox directly, his eyes locking onto the Overlord's screen. "Because," he says slowly and clearly, "those questions help me piece together the bigger picture, to figure out what's going on. The Faith-Breakers didn't just attack you and your guests for no reason. And they most certainly didn't do so on their own volition. Someone is pulling the strings, and I am going to find out who, and why."

Vox rolls his eyes at the Doctor's little dramatic speech, but concedes. "Fine" Vox relents, his tone still somewhat resentful. "Say you're right. Say that there's someone or something pulling the strings and that's why the Faith-Breakers turned on us. How are we supposed to find this Cyber-Controller person?"

The Doctor grins, his eyes glittering with a hint of excitement from the idea forming in his head. "Well, finding the Cyber-Controller won't be easy, but we have a few advantages." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "For starters, I doubt he has the technology on hand to remotely command the Faith-Breakers from large distances, so he has to be in the building somewhere. Second, we won't have to worry about being outnumbered by the Cybermen. The explosion from earlier not only took out four of the limited numbers of Cybermen, but it disabled the processing rooms for now. So for the time being, everyone that hasn't been converted yet is safe for now. Third and final card up my sleeve is the Cyber-Controllers need for a command room, you three know this building better than anyone else, do you have any ideas as to where he would pick for a control room?"

Vox and Velvette both chuckle in response knowing exactly he would set up shop."My surveillance room!" Vox exclaims, his screen flashing with pride. "If I was him, that's where I'd set up. The room's got everything: state-of-the-art technology, high-security access, it's also isolated and hard to get to."

Meanwhile, Velvette lets out an amused scoff. "Of course you'd take the time to bragabout your little toy room." She teases, her eyes rolling.

"Hey!" Vox shoots back, his tone defensive. "It's not a 'toy room'. It's a high-tech surveillance and security hub. It's an essential component for my business."

"Oh right, the room where you monitor everyone and everything at all times, it's 'essential' for your business," Velvette replies, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now let's focus on the real issue at hand, shall we? How do we get to your precious room and take out the Cyber-Controller?"

Vox opens his mouth to fire back a witty retort, but quickly swallows it back. "You're right" He concedes, his screen flickering with irritation. "It won't be easy, there is only one entrance and you have to take an elevator to get to it which will certainly be guarded. But thankfully for us, they may have nullified our powers, but they haven't taken away my ability to access the security systems" He says proudly as he walks over to a camera the Doctor disabled with his sonic screwdriver when they entered the room. Producing a cable from his back, he jacks it into a port in the rear of camera, giving him sight over all the security cameras in the building.

The Doctor watches as Vox effortlessly plugs into the camera network, his eyes wide with amazement as he watches the feed of the various cameras across the tower on Vox's screen. Even he had to admit Vox had impressive capabilities.

"I can see the cybermen and the entrance to the surveillance room" he begins, his screen flickering with static as he scrolls through the feeds. "Looks like at least fourteen in total, six at the entrance of the penthouse, two at the top of the elevator, and six inside the surveillance room"

As the Doctor and Velvette watch the feed on Vox's screen, taking in the details of the Cyber-Controller's security setup, the Doctor's eyes narrow with thought. He's used to facing dangerous opponents, but the sheer number of Cybermen they're dealing with without any weapons capable of taking one out makes the situation all the more hazardous.

"Twelve cyborg soldier guards against a sonic screwdriver and a few pairs of fists," Velvette says dryly, eyeing the cameras as well. "Great odds there."

The Doctor rubs the back of his head, his mind racing to figure out a way to take out the Cybermen without any sort of actual weapon. "I've taken on much worse odds before" He retorts, trying to sound nonchalant, "But we need to find a way to even the playing field if we're going to make it all the way to the surveillance room."

"Well we're not exactly spoiled for choice, are we?" Velvette replies, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Unless you can pull a anti-Cyberman gun out of your ass like Vox did that noisy dodad, I'd say we're kind of fucked." Valentino added from the other side of the room.

The Doctor lets out a sigh, even if he didn't want to acknowledge him, Valentino had a point, but he's not ready to give up yet. He looks around the room, as if the solution will suddenly appear. "Well, we need to think of something... I'm open for any ideas" He says, turning to face Vox and Velvette.

Vox almost chokes in surprise horror at what he sees on the cameras. "Shit, we've got company. Squad of Cybermen heading this way checking all the side rooms as they go along. We need to get going!"

Velvette and Valentino, who had been standing off to the side, immediately straighten up at Vox's warning.

Valentino, his arms folded, glances over a screen showing the security feed. "How long until they get here?"

Vox's screen flickers anxiously as he studies the cameras. "I would say a minute at most" He replies "They're heading down the corridor now"

The Doctor glances around the room, eyeing the only entrance. "Alright, looks like we're out of time, we need to get moving. We'll figure the rest out as we head to the penthouse"

Vox and the others nod in agreement, the urgency of the situation pressing on them. They quickly move to the door, with the Doctor taking the lead, sonic screwdriver in hand.

The door slides open, and the group run into the corridor, looking down to the right reveals the Cybermen closing in, now having found their targets. Without a second thought, the four of them make a break for it down the other way as energy bolts fly in their direction. The Cybermen's footsteps echoes behind them. "I'm so tired of running!" Velvette yells, her voice wavering ever so slightly as she keeps pace with the group.

"Yeah, tell me about it" Valentino mutters back as they continue down the hall. "Next time we're in a life-threatening situation, I'm standing my ground."

The Doctor, his eyes locked firmly ahead, doesn't respond to their comments, too focused on getting to the penthouse to provide any words of either reassurance or sarcasm. The rhythmic marching of their metallic pursuers an unpleasant soundtrack to their sprint as they pass a doorway leading taking them out of the cold and harsh environment of the labs into the publicly accessible halls and corridors of V Tower. The expensive tiles flooring and shades of purples and yellows a welcomed contrast to the deep blues and reds of the labyrinth behind them.

The change in the environment is stark. The halls are adorned with expensive material, each one designed to impress the guests that would normally occupy the space. The Doctor and the others run further and further into the main hallway, the sounds of the Cybermen getting closer and closer behind them.

Their hearts sink however when they almost physically run into a bulkhead sealing the door shut. "Son of a bitch!" Velvette groans in frustration as she skids to a halt just before running into the closed door. "Why is everything in this damn place so secure?!"

"I don't suppose you can sonic that one open too?" Valentino quips, eyeing the Doctor.

"There's not enough time to manipulate the lock!" The Doctor yells back frustrated at the obstacle, his mind working overtime on trying to develop a way out of this as he tries to work the secured door with his sonic.

"Well we sure as hell can't go back!" Valentino replies, his eyes flicking back to the corridor they had just emerged from, where the approaching footsteps of the Cybermen continue to get louder.

"We don't have much time" Vox says looking back, the footsteps of the Cybermen getting closer and closer. "If we don't figure something out fast, they're going to be on top of us."

The Doctor keeps trying to work his sonic, but the door is proving stubborn against his efforts. "I'm trying!" He snaps back, his frustration growing with each failed attempt.

"Well try harder!" Velvette shoots back. Before the Doctor can snap back a biting retort, the marching stops. The group looked behind them to reveal the five pursuing Cybermen, stood in line with weapons drawn and aimed at the lords.

The Doctor's grip on his sonic tightens, his eyes darting between the five Cybermen and the locked door. Seeing no other option the Doctor raises his hands in surrender hoping to at least buy time to formulate a new escape.

Vox and the others follow suit, raising their hands in surrender, their faces betraying a mix of fear and defiance. The Doctor turns to the Cybermen with a strained smile. "Seems you've bested us, well done, you can haul us off to be converted now"

The Cybermen had different plans however. "Logic dictates keeping you alive would only increase the likelihood of your continued interference with our goals. The odds of our survival improve with you and your companions death. The Cyber-Controller has deemed it necessary to delete you from the equation" The words of the Cybermen are cold and emotionless, their voices as mechanical as the bodies they inhabit.

"Surrender is such a gamble with you lot" The Doctor says with the most humor he can muster in the face of death. Vox's screen flickers and crackles as he tries to come up with a plan. He can't help but let out a dry chuckle at the Doctor's attempted joke, but it was more as a comfort mechanism, realizing their situation is truly dire.

Valentino, however, scowls at the Doctor's attempt at humor, his gaze fixated on the Cybermen. "You think this is funny? We're about to be turned into minced meat and you're cracking jokes?!" Velvette looks at Valentino, a irritation in her eyes. "What do you want him to do? Panic and scream, I don't want to die'?"

With one final sigh, the Doctor concedes. "Come on, get it over with" The Cybermen remain stoic in the face of the Doctor's acceptance, but the nearest one's finger tightens on the trigger of his weapon. An ominous whine fills the hall as the cyber weapon powers up for a killing blow.

The Doctor closes his eyes, bracing himself. Velvette clenches her eyes shut, Valentino glares definitely at the Cybermen while Vox is still looking for an opening.

There's a moment of tense silence before a shot is fired. But to the surprise of the four lords, they were completely unharmed. Opening his eyes, the Doctor looked to see a hole burned clean through one of the five Cybermen before it collapsed onto the floor, the remaining four turned to confront the assailant. Their reactions were too delayed however as three more were taken out in the blink of an eye. Green fluid, sparks and bits of metal and flesh fly across the room from the sheer force of the blasts. By the time the last one had turned around, its head was already blown clean off.

The group stared dumbfounded at the sight in front of them, the Cybermen, now nothing but scrap metal, strewn across the floor in pieces. They all turn to look in the same direction to see who their unexpected savior was, only to be dumbfounded again by the sight of a Faith-Breaker. Rifle in its left hand while the right holds onto Verosika for support. "What in the..." Vox began, but couldn't quite find the words for what he was seeing."Is that..." Valentino starts, staring at the Faith-Breaker in disbelief.

The Verosika gently helps Faith-Breaker to a standing position, holding her arm as it steadies itself. The trio of Lords look at her with a mix of surprise and confusion. They didn't know what to expect, but this certainly wasn't one of them. Verosika greets them with a snarky, teasing tone.

"Looks like the mighty and ever-so-powerful overlords needed little ol' me to save their asses." She smirked, her eyes flickering between each of them, but she gave Valentino a look that told him she was reluctantly saving him as well.

Her gaze falls upon the Doctor, and a wave of relief washes over her when she sees he's okay. The tension eases from her shoulders as she steps closer to him.

The Doctor can't help but smirk to himself, feeling a sort of unfamiliar satisfaction in being saved by her. Although he knew she wasn't a damsel in distress, he can't help but appreciate the reversal of roles. "So this is what it feels like"

The Doctor can't restrain himself from pulling Verosika to him in a tight embrace, burying his face in her shoulder. He holds her as if she might disappear if he let her go. He was ecstatic that she was safe. Verosika feels the Doctor's embrace and reciprocates it, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She melts into his embrace, feeling a sense of safety and comfort in his presence. Despite the chaos of the night, Verosika relishes the moment of being held in his arms, her cheek resting against his shoulder. "Did you miss me that much?" she teases gently, a soft smirk on her lips.

Pulling out of the hug he feigns nonchalance over his reaction to seeing her again. "Noooo, I was merely concerned for your safety"

Velvette gives an amused smile at seeing how Verosika melted into the hug. "Since when were you so cuddly Verosika?"

Verosika gives Velvette a smirk. "I'm not cuddly, I'm just appreciating a moment of not having to watch my boyfriend die before my eyes," she replies, only half-joking.

Valentino rolls his eyes at the display of affection. "Oh, knock it off. You two are giving me a cavity." His voice dripped with genuine hatred from their show of appreciation for the others safety.

Vox, however, is more focused on the Faith-Breaker that stands nearby. He steps forward, observing the machine with a mix of curiosity over his creation having broken free of the inhibitor, and fear as to what it thinks of him after everything he put the Exorcists through to make them into what they are now.

Verosika, catching the hateful look from Valentino, rolls her eyes in response. "You can get a cavity for all I care" she throws back. The Faith-Breaker, sensing Vox's presence, turns its gaze to him. Its optic sensors radiate the air of hatred for what Vox did to her.

Vox takes a step back as the Faith-Breaker focuses on him, feeling an unfamiliar wave of unease wash over him as he stares back at the consequences of his actions. The culmination of months of experiments and modification, now with the power and ability to repay him for the pain he caused.

The Doctor turned his attention to the Faith-Breaker, he moved to stand between it and Vox unknowingly putting a stop to a building confrontation. "I'm so sorry for what's happened to you... What is your name... your real name?" He addresses it with a sympathetic tone.

The Faith-Breaker's optics switch their attention from Vox to the man now standing before it, seemingly attempting to assess if the Doctor's show of sympathy is genuine or a ploy to gain its trust. After a few tense heartbeats it responds, voice still cold and emotionless. "My name is Lyra... I was an Exorcist"

Hearing Lyra's name, Vox feelt discomfort wash over him. Theforced realization that the Exorcist he tortured and experimented on is not just a mindless killer, but a being with thoughts and its own identity, hits him like a wave.

"An Exorcist?" The Doctor echoed, surprise evident in his tone. Lyra nods her head in acknowledgment, the weight of her transformation still evident in her stoic expression. "Yes. Me and my sisters were... taken... experimented on... turned into the machines you see before you." There's a hint of grief in her words, suppressed by the emotionless tone her new state has instilled upon her.

The Doctor's expression darkens as he takes in the weight of Lyra's words. He looks her up and down, seeing past the metal and circuitry to the person she was before. His jaw clenched as he thinks about the injustice done to them, the anger bubbling deep within his chest. However, he pushes it aside, choosing compassion over his own emotions. "I am so sorry," he says, his voice quiet and sincere.

Lyra says nothing, the emotionless aspect of her new form preventing her from emoting even if she wanted to, she wouldn't allow herself to show weakness in front of Vox, the man who was responsible for their transformation. But even though her expression is cold, her heart, what's left of it, warms just a bit.

The Doctor steps closer to her, throwing on his glasses. He scans her up and down again, trying to come up with some way to reverse this horrible transformation the sinners here have inflicted upon the Exorcist's body.

"Can you help me Doctor?" Lyra asks, clinging onto the shred of hope that she could be normal again.

The Doctor's expression turned even more sympathetic upon hearing her plea. He took a step closer to her, his eyes running over her form trying to understand the changes the scientists here had made. His hand reached out to touch her face, but he stops himself, his hand hanging in the air before falling back to his side.

"I don't know," he confessed, his voice quiet. His fingers drum against his leg, the desire to help and fix the situation warring with his own uncertainty. He glances briefly at Verosika who has a pleading look in her eyes, silently asking for the Doctor to at least try. Turning back to Lyra he nods with a resolute determination. "But I will do everything in my power to help you Lyra, I promise you that"

Lyra's faceplate remains unchanged at the Doctor's display of sympathy. But in her heart, or wherever her emotions lay, she feels an earnest gratitude at his words. She wanted nothing more than to be free again, to escape the cold confines of her metal prison. "Thank you, Doctor" she says, her voice still monotone, but if her eyes could be seen they would shine with the glimmer of hope she was given.

The Doctor gives her a reassuring smile, though his mind is racing, already formulating a plan to help her. He opens his mouth to respond, but before he can, they are interrupted by the sound of someone clapping.

They turn to see Valentino clapping slowly, a smirk on his face. "How touching," he sneers, his sarcasm dripping in every word.

The Doctor's expression hardens at Valentino's mocking display. Verosika's eyes narrow in anger as she glares at the pimp. Even Velvette is taken aback, thrown off by Valentino's audacity to interrupt such a moment.

"Well, isn't this just the heart-warming scene?" Valentino says, walking towards the group, his smile widening. "The Doctor, the big hero, is here to save the poor little Exorcists. It's just... so sad" he feigns sadness in his voice, making a pouty face.

Verosika steps in between them, her body tense as she faces down Valentino, she may have been caught off guard earlier, but she was ready this time. "Back off, Val," she warns, her voice low and dangerous. "We don't have the time for your bullshit."

Valentino just laughs, amused by her attempt to protect the Doctor. "Oh, look at the princess trying to play along with her hero boy toy," he coos, reaching out to pat her head. "You're cute when you think you're intimidating"

Verosika swats his hand away as if it was a pest. "Don't touch me," she snaps, her eyes narrowing.

"Ooh, feisty," Valentino chuckles, clearly enjoying riling her up. He turns his attention to the Doctor. "What's your deal anyway, Doctor?" he asks, his tone mocking. "Savin the day, playing hero? Isn't that a bit cliché?"

"I don't do it because it's cliché or because I think I'm a hero, and it's certainly not because it's easy" The Doctor responds, his tone demonstrating how done he was with Valentino. "I do it because I care, and it's the right thing to do. A concept you don't seem to understand"

Valentino laughs, a hollow and cold sound that lacks any humor. "Because you care?'" he mocks, his smile never leaving his face. "You're really something else, aren't you? Down here, there is no 'right thing.' This is Hell, baby"

The Doctor simply regards Valentino with a steady look, not rising to his bait. "There is always a 'right thing'," he says firmly. "It doesn't matter where you are. If you're in heaven or the darkest depths of the universe, there is always a choice." He takes a step towards Valentino, his eyes locked onto the Overlord's. "And I will always choose to do the kind thing, no matter the cost,"

The Doctor's words hang in the air, his determination clear. Verosika, Velvette, Vox and Lyra watch the exchange with a mixture of awe and anticipation, waiting to see how Valentino will respond.

Valentino, caught off guard by the Doctor's steady gaze, laughs again. "You really believe that, don't you?" he sneers. "That there's always a right thing to do, no matter the cost" He takes a step forward, closing the gap between him and the Doctor. "And I can only guess that this all stems from the weight of your own sins, huh?" He stares at the Doctor, searching his face for a reaction.

The Doctor's expression remains steadfast, to Valentino's words. But the mention of his sins hits a nerve, a pang of guilt and pain flashing in his eyes before being replaced with something resolute. He doesn't respond, doesn't give Valentino the satisfaction of a proper reaction, instead staring back at him with a challenge in his eyes.

"Oh, I hit a nerve, didn't I? I can see it in your eyes," Valentino jeers, his smile turning into a feral grin. "You've done something that haunts you, something you can't undo. And now you think you can make up for it by playing the hero" He leans in closer, trying to get a reaction out of the Doctor.

The Doctor's jaw clenches, his hands clenched into fists. But he doesn't take the bait, maintaining his composure despite the turmoil of emotions brewing beneath. "I have done things I regret. But that doesn't mean my actions now are any less genuine."he says, hisvoice a calmin the storm.

"Or maybe," Valentino counters, his smile now a predatory smirk, "You're just trying to make yourself feel better, trying to wash the blood off of your hands by playing the righteous hero. But deep down, you know the truth. You're just as much of a sinner as the rest of us."

The Doctor lets out a small huff, barely visible but a reaction nonetheless. His jaw is almost painfully clenched, the muscles tense from the effort to keep his emotions in check. But instead of giving in to his anger, he responds with a calm, almost icy tone. "Maybe I am a sinner. But that doesn't make me any less capable of doing good. And if the price I pay for those sins is trying to make a difference now, then so be it."

"What is your sin anyway?" Valentino continues, his eyes narrowing as he circles the Doctor slowly. "I've got a hunch it's a doozy. Murder? Rape? Genocide perhaps?"

The Doctor's spine straightens, his eyes tracking Valentino's movement. The mention of genocide hits a little too close to home, but he doesn't allow it to show in his expression. Before either could continue, they were interrupted by the barrel of Lyra's rifle being pressed into Valentino's face.

"I wouldn't continue that if I were you" She warned. Valentino's smile vanishes, the rifle touching the edge of his upper lip. He looks from the gun to the unmoving faceplate of the exorcist, a look of surprise on his face. He lets out a low, forced chuckle as his grin returns. "Now, now, sweetheart," he says, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "There's no need for violence-"

"I said, 'Don't push it'," Lyra's metallic, emotionless voice comes out more like a hiss. From this close, he can see the deep scratches and scorch marks on her casing from fighting the Cybermen her and Verosika ran into before finding the four of them. Her gun remains steadfastly pointed at Valentino, unflinching and unwavering. "You know, I would be considered a hero back in Heaven for killing the likes of you"

Valentino's expression turns sour at the comment, his eyes hardening. He doesn't like being threatened, especially by an exorcist. But he also has enough common sense to not push things further with the gun pointed at his face. "Alright, alright, point taken" he says, his tone more resigned now. He takes a step back, raising his hands higher in the air.

"My body may be butchered. But one thing is for sure. I am still every bit the Exorcist I was before" She says with a finality in her voice, as much as could be heard through the emotionless voice box.

Valentino holds his hands up higher in surrender, a look of caution in his eyes, seeing that Lyra was not joking. The Doctor, finally taking a moment to collect himself, looks at the exorcist with a mixture of surprise and a small sense of pride. He didn't expect Lyra to defend him like that, but he was thankful nonetheless.

Readjusting his tuxedo, the Doctor diverts the conversation back to the issue at hand. "Okay so, our chances of making it through this have gone up now that we have Verosika and Lyra with us, So! We continue with the original plan of storming the surveillance room, but with a slight tweak to it" As he talks he moves back to the bulkhead sealing the door preventing him and his companions continued movement and begins working on it with his sonic screwdriver once again. "I am going to confront the Cyber-Controller head on by myself, I have questions and I want them answered. While I'm asking questions and keeping his distracted, the rest of you stay hidden but nearby and ready for once I finish interrogating him or things go south"

The Doctor's determination and confidence are infectious it seems, as everyone looks to be the slightest bit more motivated then before. They all watch as he works on the bulkhead with his sonic screwdriver, the sound of gears whirring filling the air.

The Doctor works as quickly as he can, trying to find the right frequency to manipulate the locking mechanisms. After a moment, he finally finds the right setting, the screwdriver emitting a high-pitched hum as it releases the locks on the bulkhead. The slab of metal slides away to reveal a set of wooden doors behind it.

With the path now cleared, the Doctor nods to his companions. "Alright, ready?" he asks, looking at each of them in turn. Verosika, Lyra, and Vox nod their heads, Velvette gives a thumbs up and Valentino refuses to acknowledge him.

The Doctor takes a deep breath, trying to psych himself up and shake off the last of his earlier anger. With one last glance to the others, he pushes open the doors, stepping into the hallway before them.

As the group makes their way down the hallway, they reach the corner that leads to the penthouse doors. The Doctor holds up a hand, signaling for the others to stop and stay out of sight. He crouches down, peeking around the corner to see the two Cybermen standing guard outside the entrance to the penthouse.

He observes them for a moment before pulling back and turning to others behind him, keeping his voice low to avoid alerting the guards.

"All right, the plan is we take these two out as quietly as possible" The Doctor whispers, just loud enough for the others to hear. He glances at Lyra, her rifle in her hands. "Lyra, you're up. Can you do it without alerting the others?"

Lyra nods as she stands up straight with her broken leg having been repaired ny the Doctor. Changing her posture to mimic the Cybermen as much as possible, she rounds the corner to confront the guards.

She moves swiftly and with purpose towards the two Cybermen, mimicking their stiff, robotic movements expertly. The two guards turn as Lyra approaches, regarding her with their blank faces. "You two have been reassigned to the lower levels to assist in the repair of the processing facilities, I will take up guard in your place" However, the Cybermen question the order given that they had heard nothing about a transfer from the Cyber-Controller.

The two Cybermen look at each other for a moment before turning their blank stares back to Lyra. One of them speaks up, its voice emotionless and monotone. "We received no order for reassignment from the Cyber-Controller. State your designation."

Lyra responds without missing a beat. "Designation: Faith-Breaker 01. I have been reassigned from patrol on the lower levels to take over guard duties here."

The two Cybermen look at each other again, their blank expressions not giving away any hint of what's going on in their minds. After a moment of silence, one of them responds. "We'll verify your claim, wait here." The second Cyberman's head slumps as he connects to the network to verify the truth of Lyra's words.

She nods silently, standing at attention as she waits for the Cyberman to finish connecting to the network, praying silently that they believed the story.

The first Cyberman turns back to Lyra, its voice flat and emotionless. "Your statement is incorrect. 01 went offline and has been presumed destroyed" It takes a step forward in a threatening manner.

"It was worth a shot" Was all she had to say before raising her rifle and quickly dispatching the two guards. Their bodies collapse on the floor as she kicks down the large purple and gold doors leading into the penthouse firing off more shots as she takes out more Cybermen inside who instantly draw their weapons and start firing back. The room erupts into chaos with lasers bolts flying, furniture and decor being destroyed in the crossfire to Valentinos dismay as several of his posters are vaporized.

Lyra stands her ground, the rifle in her hand seemed like it was a part of her as she returns fire with deadly accuracy.

Verosika and the others stay hidden in the hallway, watching in awe and mild terror as Lyra takes down the Cybermen. She moves with incredible efficiency and precision. "Fuck, she's good," Verosika murmurs.

Vox, on the other hand, is watching Lyra's display of skill and power with a look of envy at what could have been had things gone his way, silently cursing the opportunity to have that level of power on his side. "Damn it..." He mutters under his breath.

The room goes silent as the last Cyberman falls and the only sound left is the hum of the ventilation system. Lyra stands in the center of the now-ruined penthouse, now with new scratches on her body, but unharmed. The others slowly emerge from the hallway, taking in the carnage and destruction that Lyra has wrought. The Doctor steps forward, a look of respect in his gaze as he looks at the former Exorcist.

"Well, I'd say that's taken care of" the Doctor says, "Nicely done, all things considered." He glances around the ruined penthouse, the remains of both the Cyberman and the decor litter the floor. Valentino groans in disappointment, his couch now nothing more than a shredded and scorched pile of stuffing.

"Hey, maybe we'll just chalk it up as modern art" The Doctor quips, trying to lighten the mood. Verosika snorts in response, the corner of her mouth twitching up in a small smile.

Meanwhile, Lyra surveys the damage, a small pang of guilt at the ruined decor before shaking it off after remembering who owns the penthouse, her focus shifting back to the task at hand. She walks over to the Doctor, the rifle still in her hands. "Now what?" she says, trying to get the rest back on track.

The Doctor adjusts his tie, his thoughts turning back to the mission at hand. "Now, we deal with the Cyber-Controller" He says, his expression becoming serious. "Remember, stay at the ready while I go in and have a chat with him."

He checks his jacket, making sure to have everything he needs. His sonic screwdriver in one pocket and a couple of odds and ends in the other. With a glance at the others, he turns and makes his way towards the elevator.

He's stopped by his hand being grabbed. Looking behind, he's greeted by a kiss from Verosika. He's caught a bit off guard, but after a moment he relaxes into it. His mouth moves against hers for just a moment before he pulls back. There's a hint of a smile on his face as he gives her hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll be fine, I've survived worse" he says softly.

Verosika returns his smile, giving his hand a squeeze in return. "I don't doubt it," she says quietly "Just... come back in one piece, alright?"

The Doctor nods, his gaze softening. "I will," he assures her. "I always do." He says as he pulls his hand away and continues towards the elevator. The doors open automatically as he approaches and he steps inside. The elevator doors close behind him with a soft chime, leaving him alone as the elevator begins its descent.

As the night rises into the crescendo, his hearts quicken, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety filling him. He takes a deep breath, steeling himself for the upcoming confrontation.

The seconds tick by as the elevator continues downward. The Doctor takes a moment to study himself in the reflective surface of the elevator doors. His face is calm, his eyes focused. He takes a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the encounter with the Cyber-Controller.

The elevator reaches its destination with a gentle bump and the doors slide open, revealing a large circular room. The walls are a deep almost black blue, with a lighter lapis blue pattern across the walls that resembled traces on a circuit board. However, they were largely covered up by red and blue boxes that resembled computer screens and popups. The floor was largely void of actual walking space in favor of a deep empty pit, acting as a moat for an island platform in the center.

There in the center of it all sat the Cyber-Controller, with a new upgraded body from the last time he saw him on Telos. His form now more resembled that of the Faith-Breakers, only he retained the silver color scheme and large head to identify him as the controller.

"Long time no see! I'm loving the new look, quite the improvement from when I last saw you." The Doctor starts off the conversation, hoping to keep the Controller busy while the elevator doors close behind him by his companions calling it for their trip down.

The Cyber-Controller regards the Doctor with a cold, calculating stare. His body is now even more advanced, a clear upgrade from their previous encounter. Despite the obvious superiority of the new body, he still manages to maintain a veneer of false politeness. "If it isn't the good Doctor. I see you've undergone a change yourself from our last encounter" He replies, his voice cold and emotionless.

The Doctor glances down at his tuxedo even though he fully understood what the Cyber-Controller was referring to. "Yes, well, I try to stay up to date." He steps closer towards the edge of the platform, keeping an eye on the Cybermen that were scattered around the Cyber-Controller, each of them watching him closely with their emotionless black optics. "So, I see you've been upgrading. Looks expensive."

"We have been improving, you are correct there" the Cyber-Controller replies, his tone neutral. "Thanks to the technology I've acquired, we have become stronger, more efficient and far more durable. Our systems are now able to process data faster than ever." He pauses, his gaze sweeping over the Doctor, before continuing. "All in the name of survival."

The Doctor nods, his eyes sweeping over the Cybermen. "Yes, yes, always about surviving with you lot. Can never just sit and enjoy the simple things in life, hmmm?" He replies, maintaining a casual tone. "Tell me, these upgrades... did they also upgrade your memory? Because I have some questions for you." The Doctor can hear the shuffle of his companions from behind him.

The Cyber-Controller tilts his head slightly, "Our memory banks are enhanced, yes. Ask your question, Doctor. We will answer." He responds, his eyes fixated on the Time Lord as he stands to confront the time traveler. "Consider it a token of respect for your ability to survive before we end your existence"

The Doctor chuckled slightly, "How generous of you." He steps further out onto the platform. "Then perhaps you can answer a little question of mine, it's been plaguing my mind since your little gang took over the event tonight." He pauses, his gaze flicking over the Cybermen. "How the hell did you get here?

The Cyber-Controller remains stoic as he answers the question. "Are you really surprised that we've managed to find our way into Hell, Doctor?" He replies, his voice cold and void of feeling. "We've spread across worlds, conquered galaxies. Did you think the barriers of the afterlife could stop us?"

The Doctor looks unfazed by the reply. "No, I suppose not. You're like the cockroach of the universe, spreading, infecting every world you encounter and refusing to stay dead in the process" He says, his expression hardening. "But that doesn't answer my question. Only the Time Lords had the ability to travel to the afterlife. So how did you bunch get here?"

The Cyber-Controller's expression remains unchanged, a mask of cool indifference, "You underestimate us, Doctor. We have resources, alliances, that even you are not aware of." He replies, his tone suggesting there's more to the answer than he's letting on.

The Doctor raises an eyebrow skeptically. "Allies? Who in the universe would willingly ally themselves with you?" He says, the disdain in his tone clear. "Not even the Sontarans would stoop that low if it benefited them." Stepping within arms reach of the Cyber-Controller, he presses the issue. "So tell me, who have you been in bed with lately that can supply you with the technology?"

As the Doctor stepped closer to the Cyber-Controller, a tense silence fills the room. The surrounding Cybermen remain still, their weapons trained on him. The Controller's gaze remains fixed on the Time Lord, unblinking and void of emotion.

After a moment, the Cyber-Controller speaks, his voice cold and toneless. "We have no need to disclose the identities of our allies Doctor. They choose to remain anonymous so we shall respect that."

The Doctor glares at the Cyber-Controller, his jaw clenched tight. "Is that so?" He says, his voice strained with control. "Anonymous allies, eh? Sounds like they're ashamed to be associated with you. Not that I blame them." He takes another step closer, his eyes narrowing. "But let me guess, they're the reason you're here tonight, isn't it? They want something, something in Hell?"

The Cyber-Controller doesn't say anything, his metallic faceplate betrays nothing of his thoughts. The Cybermen around the platform remain motionless, their optics fixed on the Doctor, their weapons still trained on him. One thing is clear to the Time Lord though, he struck a circuit with his guess.

"Bingo" he says, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "There is something they want from here and they sent you and your little tin men as a trial run for what they have planned." He takes a step closer, his eyes lock with the emotionless optics of the Cyber-Controller.

There was no reaction from the Cyber-Controller other than a subtle twitch of his fingers. The Doctor's close proximity to him didn't seem to bother him, but the way his fingers twitched told the Time Lord that he was getting somewhere with his theory. "You are more perceptive than we give you credit for, Doctor" The Cyber-Controller states. "But you are still off by quite a margin."

The Doctor's smirk widens, his expression betraying his curiosity at the developing story. "Is that so?" He says, sarcasm clear in his voice. "Then why don't you enlighten me? What do your secret partners in crime want?"

The Controller remains silent for a moment, his gaze never leaving the Doctor, while his body remained still. "What our associates wish to accomplish is none of your concern, Doctor" He replies, his voice still completely devoid of emotion. "I have said far too much already, we will now do the logical thing we should have done from the very beginning" After he says that, the Cybermen to his sides train their weapons on him with intent to kill.

The Doctor holds his ground, his mind racing. He had pushed the Cyber-Controller far enough and now the situation has escalated towards violence. He doesn't react to the change in the Cyberman's demeanor, he simply keeps eye contact with the leader. "Logical, eh?" The Doctor says, his voice calm as ever. "Well, I guess curiosity will finally kill this cat"

As soon as the words leave his lips, the Cybermen take the initiative. At once, the rifles trained on the Doctor discharge a barrage of laser fire.

The Doctor's reflexes take over, years of experience and natural talent allowing him to react instantly. Before the first shot has left the barrel, he is already in motion, his body moving to avoid the incoming shots. He ends up rolling behind the Cyber-Controller, using him as a shield. A handful of shots do hit their mark on the Cyber-Controller, but a personal force field protects him, deflecting the damage.

The rest of the shots end up hitting the ceiling or a wall by ricocheting off the metallic floor. No matter how advanced they have become, the Cybermen still have trouble dealing with the Time Lord's agility.

The Doctor spins around behind the Cyber-Controller, keeping him between himself and the rest of the Cybermen. He has a second to catch his breath and analyze the situation while the Cybermen prepare another volley of weapon fire.Lyra, now having a clear shot at the Cybermen, she unloads her rifle into the group. Despite the limited time and chaos of the room, she still manages to hit her targets with pinpoint accuracy. The first shot goes through one Cyberman's head, sending it to the floor in a shower of sparks.

Another shot hits a Cyberman in its shoulder, causing the arm holding the rifle to fall off in a shower of sparks. The Cyberman stares at its severed weapon arm with emotionless expression.

Lyra's final shot goes into the chest of the third Cyberman, the shot cracking armor plating and sending it to the ground with a metallic clang. The three downed Cybermen twitch once as they hit the ground, but don't try to get up as they power down.

The three remaining Cybermen react to Lyra's attack with a sudden spray of fire from their rifles. Bolts spark against Lyra's Cybernetic body, ricocheting every which way with loud clangs. However, a lucky shot manages to hit her rifle, rendering useless.

Some of the ricochetted lasers make their way to the Cyber-Controller and the Doctor. The Controller simply remains still, allowing the bolts to slam into his force field while Doctor ducks behind the Cyber-Controller, continuing to use him as a shield.

Without her main weapon, Lyra's moves to close the gap, her mobility proving to be too much for the average Cybermen to handle as she enters into close quarters combat. She lunges forwards, slamming one of her cybernetic fists into a Cyberman, knocking it to the ground.

A angelic knife deploys from the side of her left thigh, with a swift motion she grabs it before plunging it into the head of the fifth Cyberman, causing it to spew green liquid, drenching her in fluid. The sixth and final Cyber-Sentinel unloads into her at point blank, but the weak laser fire of a non angelic weapon bounces harmlessly off her chassis. She calmly draws a pistol from her side and puts one right in the empty left socket of the Sentinel.

All six of the Cybermen lie motionless on the ground, disabled by Lyra's combination of superior technology and skill. The Doctor steps from behind the Cyber-Controller, a satisfied smile on his face.

Glancing around the room. There is a thick silence in the air, the only sounds are a few sparks flying off of the disabled Cybermen.

Now that the immediate threat of being shot was over, the Doctor turns his full attention towards the Cyber-Controller. "Now then." He says, taking a few slow steps forward, closing the distance between him and the Cyber-Controller. "Let's continue our discussion, shall we?"

The Cyber-Controller's position hasn't changed. He seems unfazed by the battle that just took place, as well as the demise of his robotic soldiers."Unfortunately for you and your little rebel friend, you seem to have forgotten about a crucial asset I possess" The Cyber-Controller speaks, his cold unfeeling voice filling the room. The emotionless tone he takes, combined with the subtle threat gives the Doctor a pause as five concealed forms elegantly descend from the ceiling.

The Doctor's expression falters for a moment. When he thought he had the upper-hand, the Cyber-Controller had planned several steps ahead of him."So this was a trap" The Doctor says, his expression shifting to a frown as he looks at the five Faith-Breakers before him.

The quintet of seven foot tall, angelic weapon wielding processed Exorcists stepped towards The Doctor and Lyra with their weapons trained on them. The Doctor looked worried, the expression on Lyra's face is unreadable due to her body. But the slump in her shoulders gives off the idea she was in the same boat as the Doctor. He had been arrogant and underestimated his opponent, and the proof of that was now standing before them, ready to finish what their fallen comrades started.

From the doorway connecting the elevator to the surveillance room. Verosika moves to make an attempt to intervene and save the Doctor but she is quickly pulled back into cover by Velvette. "You'll just be getting yourself killed as well. What do you think he would want you to do?"

"Damn it!" Verosika mutters, watching the situation unfold.

Time seems to slow to a stop as the Doctor's mind races for a way out. He finds his mind taking him back to the only safe space he knows, the Tardis. Rose Tyler leaned against the console, looking at him with an attentive gaze.

"I have nothing, no back up plan, no secret weapon up my sleeve" He tells the recreationof her in his head. She cocks an eyebrow at him in response, the faintest smirk on her lips. "You? Without a plan. Sounds like it's gonna be a first then" she teases, her voice soft.

The Doctor allows himself a brief smile at her comment, before his face grows grim again. "I don't have anything, no plan B, no last minute save. The only thing that comes to mind is restoring the Overlords powers, but I would need access to the terminal behind the Controller and there is five emotionless killing machines standing between me and it.

The image of her expression softens at his words. "You're The Doctor. You've always found a way out, every single time. You'll find a way out of this too" She tells him with conviction.

"The main problem comes with my limited options. I can't talk my way over to the terminal, I already closed that door when I pushed my luck with the interrogation. And I sure as hell can't run, I wouldn't make it two feet before being gunned down" He says leaning against the Tardis controls.

Rose's image lets out a sigh, her face falling as she too realized the situation the Doctor was facing. "There must be something..." she says softly, desperation in her voice as she racks her brain desperately for a solution.

A set of footsteps interrupts the conversation as from the other side of the console an image of Verosika slowly walks over to the Doctor. "So. You'll have to fight." The replica says to him, her expression shifting to a more serious tone. "You've done it before, haven't you?"

The Doctor's gaze moves to look at the replica of Verosika, his mind flashing back to memories of the battles he had won against the Daleks, and the ones he barely made it out of. The scars of the Time War never fully healing.

"I have, yes," The Doctor says, his voice quieter than usual. The image of Verosika moves to lean against the console next to the Doctor, watching him intently. His hands gripping the edge of the console causing his knuckles to turn white.

Rose watched him as well from her end, both womens expressions showing genuine concern. The Doctor's head is spinning, the memories of past battles, the guilt of all the destruction he's been responsible for swirling around in his mind like a dark storm.

"You have the ability to pull through this" Verosika says, her voice cutting into the Doctor's thoughts. She turns to look at the Doctor fully now, her eyes meeting his. "You've done it before, against much worse enemies. You can do it again"

The Doctor remains silent, his grip on the console tightens even more, his knuckles almost turning bone white. A part of him desperately wants to give in to her words. Another part of him, the part that is still haunted by the war, is adamantly telling him no.

Seeing the internal battle he's fighting, the Verosika replicant reaches out and gently places a hand over his on the console. Her touch is soft and gentle, like she is trying to pull him back to the present.

The simple presence of her hand on his seems to ground him slightly, he lifts his head to look at her. His eyes show a mixture of the exhaustion, fear, and guilt that is threatening to consume him whole.

Rose's voice cuts through the tension that has settled among the three of them. Her eyes meet the Doctor's, her expression filled with a mix of determination and compassion. "There's always another way, Doctor. You don't have to fight. You always find a different answer"

The Doctor's gaze drifts between the two Replicas. He wants to listen to Rose, to believe that there is another route he could take that doesn't involve violence. But deep down, he can't shake the feeling that this situation could have no other solution other than force.

"I want to believe there is another way" The Doctor finally speaks, the words coming out in a shaky voice. "But I can't see one. And I've looked" He shakes his head almost in disbelief. "I'm out of time and out of options"

Rose gives Verosika a look before shifting her attention back at the Doctor. She moves closer, gently laying her hand on his arm. Her expression is one of understanding yet sadness at the same time. "You truly think this is the only way?" She says in a quiet voice.

The Doctor's eyes open, and the internal battle he was facing comes to an end. His expression now clear with resolve as he faces the five Faith-Breakers.

Standing beside Lyra, his shoulders are squared and his chin is up in a defiant manner. "So this is how it's got to be. I think it would only be fair if I evened the playing field a bit" He says before pulling out his sonic screwdriver and disabling the rifles of the Faith-Breakers, reducing them to using their backup weapons.

Lyra watches as the Doctor makes his first move, her heart metaphorically thudding in her chest while still trying to process everything that is happening. "So. You and me, against five of my sisters. Not exactly ideal odds"

"I like to see it as me keeping things interesting" the Doctor replies, his voice carrying a tone of determination. "Besides, I can never resist an opportunity to show off a bit".

Lyra glances at the Doctor. He was trying to make a joke while they were about to fight several cyborgs designed to kill angels. It was stupid and reckless, but it did help to calm her nerves slightly as the first of the Faith-Breakers charged at them.

The Doctor lunges to intercept the nearest one, grabbing it by the arm and flipping it over his shoulder, sending it crashing to the ground. Even though the Faith-Breaker weighs far more than him, he uses his understanding of physics and the above natural strength Time Lords possess to his advantage.

Lyra quickly joins the fight, drawing her knife and slashing at a Faith-Breaker's legs, causing it to stumble. With the advantage of non calculated free will, she glides around her sisters like it was a rehearsed dance, dodging their attacks and striking at weak points, trying her hardest to not kill them in the chance they could be saved too.

The Faith-Breakers were highly advanced robotic cyborgs. But even so, they were not created to deal with the likes of the Doctor. He moves with an uncanny speed, dodging every swing and strike thrown in his direction with ease.

He kicks at the knee of one of the Faith-Breakers, causing a loud crack to echo through the space as the joint bends, preventing them from taking another step.

However, the fight doesn't go without its slip-ups. The Faith-Breaker lands a slash across the Doctor's brow before going down, sending him staggering backwards. He raises a hand to his face, feeling warm liquid spreading over his skin.

The Doctor pulls his hand away from his face, and sure enough there's a cut above his eye now, blood smeared over his skin. The wound doesn't phase him. In fact, the pain almost seems to add fuel to his fire, pushing him to continue.

He smirks at the Faith-Breaker that landed the hit. "Cheeky" he says before ducking under a swing from a different Faith-Breaker, punching it hard in the center of its chest in return, the impact causing it to stumble backwards, but the cold hard metal against his knuckles leaves him regretting the choise. He winces as he flexes his hand, the pain now a sharp throb in his knuckles but he pushes past it, focusing on the fight. One of the Faith-Breakers moves to thrustits knife into his chest, side stepping it, he deftly grabs its arm, using the momentum to yank it off it's feet and send it slamming onto its back, the metal body letting out a sharp crack.

In a quick motion he takes the angelic knife from its busted hand, increasing his odds ever so slightly.

He looks down at the blade in his hand, the celestial metal glistening in the low light. As much as he hated it, he was all too familiar with the way the weapon rested in his hands. Before he can use it, he's grabbed from behind and thrown into the control panels of the surveillanceroom, causingit to burst into an explosionof sparks.

The force of the impact knocks the air from his lungs, leaving him gasping for breath as his vision darkens for a brief moment. He tries to push himself up off the floor, but the pain shooting through his body causes him to slump back down with a stifled groan of pain.

His head pounds, his vision fuzzy and his body felt like lead. A dull aching pain shoots up his spine, coming from somewhere between his shoulder blades but he can't tell for sure. He pushes himself up into a sitting position, leaning his back against the control panels, looking around with blurry vision.

He spots one of the Faith-Breakers slowly making its way towards him, its heavy footsteps echoing in his head, but it was something behind the converted Exorcist he was truly focused on. The Cyber-Controller, the leader of these walking piles of scrap. He just stood there, staring at him with those emotionless cybernetic eyes.

The Doctor tries to rise, his legs feeling like jelly underneath him but with a surge of determination he forces himself to his feet, his back now fully against the control panels, his chest heaving, his arms trembling slightly.

The Doctor stares at the Cyber-Controller, their gazes locked together, the tension between them palpable. The Cyber-Controller takes in the Doctor's battered and bruised state, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps, the cut over his eye still bleeding sluggishly, causing the Doctor to barely be able to see out of his left eye now filled with his blood.

"I didn't expect you to hold your own against my Faith-Breakers for as long as you did." The Cyber-Controller says through his lifeless voice box.

The Doctor tries to stand a little straighter, to not show how much the fight had taken out of him. He's not going to let Verosika who he knew was watching, see him weak or vulnerable. "Well, I'm quite the performer, or so I've been told" he replies, his voice slightly raspy as he takes a glance at Verosika hidden in the background, their eyes meeting for only a moment.

"But your performance is coming to an end" The Cyber-Controller replies, its voice flat and emotionless. "You also have quite the habit of interfering with our progress. That ends today, Doctor" The Cyber-Controller signals to one of the Faith-Breakers, the thing taking a heavy step towards the Doctor.

"If your memory is as good as you say it is, you should remember one thing about me" The Doctor pauses for dramatic effect. "It'll be a cold day in hell before I stop trying" With what is left of his strength, he pulls out his sonic screwdriver and presses it against the surface of the control desk before turning it on.

Nothing happens for a good few moments, but in a flash, the control desk sparks suddenly, causing the lights toflash before going out, plunging the room into almost complete darkness momentarily. When the lights flicker back on, the scene in the room has completely changed.

The Faith-Breakers are motionless with cables binding them to where theystood, unable to move or attack,same going for theCyber-Controller."What did you do?" The Cyber-Controller demands, looking at the Doctor with his metallic gaze.

The Doctor smirks, holding up his sonic screwdriver, the device letting out a soft humming sound. "I gave the Overlords their powers back, if I'm right I believe those cables belong to Vox"

Vox steps forward, a satisfied smile on his screen. He stops in front of the Cyber-Controller, looking down at him."Looks like you've lost the one advantage you had," he says, his voice full of smug satisfaction. He bends down, getting even closer to the Cyber-Controller's face. "How does it feel to be the powerless one now?" He asks, his voice laced mockery and an undertone of hatred.

The Cyber-Controller looks up at him, if he had the capability to feel emotions, he would be fuming. "You're a fool if you think you've won" he replies, his voice low and even. "You've simply delayed the inevitable. The Cybermen will adapt. We will evolve."

Rolling his eyes, the Doctor replies. "I've heard that one before, it loses it's bite after a while" He glances over at his companions from Vox's chair he's commandeered for the moment.

Verosika leans against a wall, her arms crossed over her chest, her expression a mix of relief and concern as she watches the Doctor confront the Cyber-Controller. The events of the night have shaken her up, but she's trying to keep a brave face. Seeing the Doctor alive and well, and back in control, has helped put her heart at ease.

She remains in the background, watching and listening, not wanting to interfere in the moment. She trusted the Doctor to handle the situation, and he had come through in the end. But she can't shake how close they had come to ending his life.

"You have won this battle, Doctor. But the war is far from over" The Cyber-Controller says as he's engulfed in a blue and white light, a moment later he disappears, leaving the cable to collapse around the space he used to occupy. "No no no no no!" The Doctor yells with shock and frustration.

"What the fuck just happened?" Vox says, his screen flickering in surprise as the Cyber-Controller vanished. He looks over at the Doctor, confusion and concern etched on his face. "Where did that thing go?"

The Doctor lets out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "He's escaped" he says, his voice filled with irritation. "Medium range teleporter if I had to guess" He's trying to keep his emotions in check, but the frustration of not having answers shows in his agitation.

"Great, just great" Vox says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So we go through all of this trouble, and the bastard just disappears."

"Where could he have gone?" Lyra asks, her voice filled with worry.

The Doctor takes a deep breath, trying to think things through. "Anywhere, honestly," he says, his mind going through a list of possibilities. "Could be somewhere else in hell, or a different time period at the other end of the universe. It would be like trying to find a needle in a cosmic haystack"

The room falls silent for a moment as they all contemplate the situation. The Doctor's eyes drift to Verosika. She's watching him closely, her expression a mixture of concern and confusion. He can tell she has questions but she's holding her tongue, waiting for a more private moment to confront him.

"So what now?" Vox asks, breaking the silence.

"Well now we shut down the remaining Cybermen and free the people still locked up" The Doctor says as he stands and rolls his arms, the quick sit-down doing wonders for his body.

"That sounds like a start," Lyra says, giving a look to her sisters silently praying that they would be free of the metal prisons of their bodies. Verosika pushes herself off the wall, taking a moment to smooth out her dress. Her eyes linger on the Doctor.

The Doctor picks up on Verosika's attention. He turns to her, his expression softening slightly. "You alright?" He asks, his voice quieter than before, the question meant just for her.

Verosika takes a step closer to the Doctor, her eyes meeting his. Her expression is a mixture of relief and lingering worry. "Am I alright?" She repeats, her voice filled with disbelief. "You just went head-to-head with a metallic monstrosity and nearly got yourself killed and you are asking me if I'm alright?"

The Doctor lets out a soft chuckle, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I had it covered" he says, his voice nonchalant. "I've been in plenty of scrapes before, I know what I'm doing" He's trying his best to downplay the situation.

Verosika's expression hardens, she's not buying his nonchalant attitude. "Don't lie to me, Doctor" she says, her voice firm. She reaches up and pokes him in the chest. "I saw the look you gave me when that thing had you cornered. You were saying goodbye in case you didn't make it."

The Doctor's smile falters for a brief moment at the revelation. He hadn't been expecting her to see his silent farewell. He opens his mouth to protest, to say it was nothing, but the look in her eyes tells him she's not accepting any bullshit this time.

He sighs, his shoulders drooping slightly. "Alright, you got me" he admits, his voice losing its earlier bravado. "I'll admit I wasn't sure if I was going to make it out of there for a minute."

Verosika's expression softens slightly at his confession. She moves closer, reaching up to place a hand on his cheek. "I know you had questions but... Please don't do something so reckless again"

The Doctor looks at her, his eyes meeting hers. He can see the honest worry and concern in her expression and it makes his hearts ache. He reaches up and covers her hand, squeezing it gently. "I can't promise that" he says softly. "But I'll try my best"

Verosika sighs, knowing that's probably the best promise she's going to get. "Stubborn ass alien" She mumbles, a hint of affectionate frustration in her voice.

The Doctor grins, the hint of banter taking the edge off the earlier tension. "But you love it" he teases, his tone light and playful.

"You're lucky I do" Verosika replies, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Vox, who had been silently watching their exchange, clears his throat loudly to get their attention. "Alright, as touching as this is, we still have the remaining Cybermen to deal with"

The Doctor and Verosika break eye contact, turning their attention back to the rest of the group. "Right" The Doctor starts, his tone serious once more, he turns to the control panels. "Without the Cyber-Controller nearby to command his soldiers, all we have to do is turn them off"

Vox raises an eyebrow, not as confident about the plan. "Just turning them off? You make it sound so simple" The Doctor doesn't look away from the control panel, his hands dancing across the various buttons and switches. "Well, it is that simple. If you're as brilliant as me" he responds, the cocky grin back on his face.

"Oh, of course," Vox says, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "How could I possibly doubt that?" The Doctor just laughs and continues working, the familiar process of fiddling with unknown tech almost second nature to him.

"Okay, the sequence should be" He doesn't finish his, instead distracting himself with flipping switches and pushing buttons. "And finally" With a push of a comically large red button to the right of the central keyboard, the message was out. Whilst invisible, a signal had been sent, telling all remaining active Cyber units to shut down until further instruction, causing a noticeable slump in the posture of the Faith-Breakers, telling the group that it was finally over.

The room falls silent as the Doctor steps back from the control panels. The Cyberman, now without the commands of the Cyber-Controller to follow, stood frozen in place like statues.

Lyra's expression softens at the sight, seeing her sisters stand down brings her relief.

The Doctor and Verosika step out of V Tower, Lyra following behind. The lights of Pentagram City shine overhead, casting an eerie glow against the night sky.

The Doctor takes a deep breath, a weight lifted off his shoulders now that the immediate danger has passed. He turns to look at Lyra, who's standing quietly, taking in the sights and sounds of the city from a perspective she's never seen before. The city is alive with activity. Neon lights flash all around them, advertising everything from liquor to sex. Despite the hour, sinners stumbled out of bars, clubs, and various other nighttime establishments, all blissfully unaware of what had occurred within the walls of V Tower.

Verosika watches Lyra, her expression a mix of fascination and sympathy. "How ya holding up, sweetie?" she asks, her voice gentle and kind.

Lyra's head turns to face Verosika and she responds in the monotone voice forced apon her, "I'm okay. I'm still trying to process... everything." The Doctor glances between the two, a small smile on his face as he sees Verosika showing concern and kindness to someone she barely knows, especially when that someone is an Exorcist.

Verosika reaches out and pats Lyra on the shoulder, her touch soft even if she couldn't feel it. "Don't worry, hon. You've been through a lot. It'll take some time to adjust. But you're safe now."

Lyra nods, appreciating the reassurance. "I know," she says quietly. "But it's not just that. I've been an Exorcist for so long. The only life I've known is killing sinners and serving Heaven. But I'm not sure if they would take me back, I feel... aimless."

"Aimless, huh?" Verosika says, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Well, that's nothing to be scared of. Just means you can start over, make a new path for yourself. You're free now. You can do whatever the fuck you want!"

The Doctor chimes in, a small smile on his face as he goes to unlock the Tardis. "Just because you might no longer be an Exorcist doesn't mean your life is over. You have the rest of eternity to figure out what you want to do. Take your time, there's no rush."

Lyra listens to their words, realizing the truth in their statements. But despite this, a pang of sadness comes over her. She's been an Exorcist for so long that the thought of being anything else is scary. Her identity has always been tied to her duty to Heaven, and now that all could change, she doesn't know who she is anymore. "But what if I don't know how to be anything but an Exorcist?" She finally says, her voice as small and vulnerable as she could manage through the 'upgrades'.

"Do you have any hobbies? Cooking, drawing, writing?" The Doctor asks her while holding the now unlocked Tardis door handle.

Lyra has to think hard, having never really had time for hobbies. Her whole life was devoted to Heaven and her duties as an Exorcist. But, there was something she used to do when she had the free time.

"Well... I used to play the piano,"

"There you go" He replies with a gesture in her direction "Once I help you and your sisters, you can reconnect with your muscle memory and start refining your abilities. If you need a piano I have a few spare ones inside my ship"

A small flicker of excitement begins to creep through into her heart. She had always loved playing the piano, spending hours practicing and losing herself in the music. But it had been so long since she'd touched the keys, she wondered if she even remembered how to play.

But one thought persisted above the others. "You really have a piano in there?" She asks, looking at the Tardis with a mixture of awe and incredulity. "It's a box. How can it fit one piano let alone a few?"

A smile quickly found its way onto the Doctor's face. "This part will never get old" He says with a push of the Tardis doors.

(This one was a tough one, I was trying my hardest to make a decent Cybermen story that I spent so much time just going back and re-writing large chunks of the chapter that by the time a week rolled around, I was nowhere near done. So I hope it came out at least half-way decent.

Replying to looniest of toonies comment: That was something that was scratching at the back of my mind for a while now, so thank you for reaffirming it. When I first started writing this, I was really focused on trying to get the Doctor Who part right that I kind of ignored HB/HH for the most part, moving on I plan to have more Helluva Boss type chapters.

I also am going to rewrite the first chapter (Probably from the ground up) so work on chapter seven will be delayed by at least a week assuming this next hurricane coming my way doesn't disrupt my schedule too much.

Thank you again for the comments, and I hope you have a great rest of your day)