Note: I will be utilizing the canon gallifreyan names for the Doctor (Theta) and the Master (Koschei) also canonically the Master's reign of chaos didn't really start up till the Doctor's second incarnation so One doesn't quite know the LENGTHS of Missy's murderous tendencies.
"We offer you a deal return to us the human in your TARDIS and in return you may speak with her again." The strange voice in the chamber said.
"Speak with whom?" asked the first Doctor. A light appeared in one of the archways and then dimmed to show a female figure. She was dressed in purple Victorian garb with her hair in a slightly messy updo. She had sharp cheekbones and eyes like shards of blue ice.
"Well, well, well Doctor," said the woman with a smirk.
"Missy!" exclaimed the twelfth Doctor stepping out of the TARDIS.
"I suppose I should say Doctors," the woman corrected her smirk softening into a smile. She made to reach out to the Doctor but he stepped back. Pulling out the sonic screwdriver.
"Yes, yes scan away never could accept a good thing for what it was."
"Probably down too many disguised murder attempts," quipped the Doctor.
"It's me Missy. The one and only," the woman did a little twirl.
"The Missy I knew walked off planning to stop her other self and come back but never did meaning something happened to her. Something happened to my oldest friend. So let's get something straight, you want to think long and hard before trying to imitate her because the consequences if you do will not be pretty."
"Then it's a good thing I'm not an imitation. Can't have those attack eyebrows getting angrier," snarked Missy.
"In that case how are you here?" asked Twelve. Missy's face turned sad and serious.
"Well, you aren't entirely wrong. I tried to come back. I stabbed my old self in the back with the knife. The one I showed you I had in my palm. I only went with him to trick him. But the round-faced fool managed to shoot me in the back with his laser screwdriver. He refused to let me stand with you. Even when that was all I wanted to do."
"If he shot you then I repeat how are you here?"
"You know me, Doctor. Death is for other people." Twelve looked both skeptical and hopeful and he checked his sonic.
"That device. What is it?" asked the First Doctor.
"A sonic screwdrive," answered Twelve.
"An audio screwdriver?"
"Oh, it is early days for you, isn't it?" chuckled Missy, stepping around Twelve.
"I'm sorry Madame I don't believe we've met," said the First Doctor.
"Oh, come now," said Missy disapprovingly her hands on her hips. "All that time in detention together at the Academy and you can't even remember me?" the First Doctor blinked.
"Koschei?" Missy smiled.
"Hello Theta." Then she turned back to Twelve.
"If I were fake, how would I know that hmmm?"
"I don't know but there are three low key markers indicatingthat you are a duplicate."
"I'm NOT a duplicate eyebrows!" snapped Missy appearing frustrated. Twelve ignored her bounding up the stairs followed by One. Missy trotted up after.
"So, the question is who is stealing the faces of the dead." At the top of the stairs was a series of gold circuit boards which the three timelords began to examine.
"Time travel technology..." began the First Doctor.
"Clearly from the far future," added Twelve.
"I know that," said One with a roll of his eyes turning to look at his counterpart only to have his monocle fall as he saw Twelve was wearing a pair of black sunglasses.
"Sunglasses?"
"They're sonic!" said Twelve defensively.
"They're stupid," said Missy in a sing song tone plucking them off his face, "Honestly not even stylish. Then again you did think celery was an acceptable accessory at one point. And don't get me started on the technicolor eyesore…Oh!" Missy seemed to have activated something because the glass figure of a woman suddenly materialized in front of them.
"What are you?" asked the First Doctor.
"We are what awaits at the end of every life. As every living soul dies, so we will appear. We take from you what we need and return you to the moment of your death. We are... Testimony."
"I do so love it when they're vague," said Missy dryly. "So, we were right the oversized Christmas tree ornament is from the near future. Can't get that kind of tech right now."
"You travel back in time to their exact point of death and then what? You harvest something from them?" asked One.
"Yes," replied the glass avatar.
"On behalf of the dying what do we have that the future needs so badly?" asked Twelve.
"And what does this all have to do with a World War One captain landing in the South Pole in the wrong decade?" asked the First Doctor.
"I'd suggest you answer concisely the monosyllables and riddles are getting irritating. And glass is so...breakable," said Missy.
"Not helping Missy," hissed Twelve.
"An error in the timeline ejected him into the wrong time zone. Now his death must proceed as history demands."
"Well not everyone succeeds in their planning on the first go around. We can't all be geniuses," said Missy.
"Didn't Professor Borusa tell you flaunting your intelligence was an unpleasant quality?" the First Doctor asked Missy.
"Didn't he tell you not to be a troublemaker? I think we're both hypocrites when it comes to listening to that lot at the Academy," answered Missy which got a small smile out of One before he turned back to the glass figure.
"If I may. Who were you?"
"She wasn't anyone. She's a computer-generated interface, connected to a multiform, inter-phasing data-bank... " began Twelve only for One to cut him off.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, will you put that ridiculous buzzing toy away, and look at the woman! You see? Her face, it's very slightly asymmetrical. If it were computer-generated, it wouldn't produce that effect."
"Yes. You're absolutely right. I should have noticed that."
"Can you let me get a recording device and repeat that?" asked Missy gleefully. Twelve rolled his eyes at her antics. Suddenly the doors to the TARDIS opened and the Captain stepped out.
"Er... excuse me... Doctor!"
"Get back inside!" hissed Twelve.
"Humans," scoffed Missy. "Never listen to a word you say."
"I'm not quite sure, but it seemed to me that this lady's life was being offered in exchange for my own. As it happens, I think my number is pretty much up anyway. So, might as well make it count for something, eh?" He then called up to Missy.
"I should be happy to take your place, if that would resolve this situation."
"Accepted" said the glass figure.
"Oh shut it you." Missy told the figure. "Is this why you like the nano-brains Doctor? The whole self-sacrificing thing?" she shook her head.
"Nice offer dear but I'm afraid my recently reformed self can't let that happen. And these two wouldn't be too keen on it anyway. Right?" she turned back to the Doctor's more specifically Twelve.
"Tell me what to do then? Missy was always telling me what to do." Missy smirked.
"What you're best at. Make a nuisance of yourself and be the Doctor." Twelve grinned.
"Here's what's going to happen. First, I'm going to escape!" he grabbed Missy's hand pulling her with him as he ran back down the stairs and calling back to the First Doctor. "You, with me!"
"Where are we going?" asked One.
"Escape is not possible," stated the glass figure.
"The fact you think that is your first mistake," said Missy grinning. "I should know."
"It is possible, and it is happening, and I'm taking Missy and the Captain with me."
"Why are you advertising your intentions? Can't you stop boasting for a moment?" asked the First Doctor.
"It's rather shocking how well it actually works," said Missy.
"Mr. Pastry, too, I could do with a laugh."
"Escape is not possible," repeated the figure.
"Yes we heard ya the first time glassy," snarked Missy as they reached the bottom of the stairs and turned back.
"Oh, I'm going to do way more than escape. I'm going to find out who you are and what you're doing, and if I don't like it, I will come back and I will stop you. I will stop all of you!"
"I do love it when you go all heroy," said Missy.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" asked One.
"The Doctor." said Twelve.
"I am The Doctor. Who you are, I cannot begin to imagine," scoffed the First Doctor.
"Then let us show you, Doctor. See who you will become." Lights began to pop up in all of the alcoves.
"Oh that's not a good idea," said Twelve but it was too late. Bubbles of various sizes began to float around each showed a different scene from the Doctor's life and a different incarnation the voices overlapping.
"The Doctor has walked in blood through all of time and space. The Doctor has many names. The destroyer of the world... The Imp of the Pandorica, the Shadow of the Valeyard, the Beast of Trenzalore, the Butcher of Skull Moon, the Last Tree of Garsennon, the Destroyer of Skaro. He is The Doctor of War." Narrated the glass woman. The bubbles all came together in a final burst of light.
"What was that?!" exclaimed the First Doctor in shock.
"To be fair they cut out all the jokes," said Twelve.
"Doctor can we deal with your first life crisis later and focus on the escape plan NOW?" asked Missy.
"Oh right!" said Twelve. "Do what I do when I do it." He pointed his sonic at the chains that had brought the TARDIS up into the ship they began to reverse lowering it. Twelve jumped and grabbed one of the chains. Missy, One, and the Captain, swiftly followed suit. The box lowered itself before suddenly coming to a halt just above the ground. They each slid down the chains. Missy with a,
"Whheeee" and landed with their feet on the roof of the box.
"Jump!" called Twelve and all four leapt off the box as it began to be reeled up.
"Well, that was fun," said Missy cheerfully brushing snow off her purple coat. "Now what?"
"Run!" said Twelve.
"A direction would be nice," quipped Missy then her eyes landed on the First Doctor.
"OHHH! That is clever. Which coming from me is saying something."
"Over to you Mary Bary," said Twelve to the First Doctor.
"Come on," the white haired man said and they followed him a short distance to a much thinner and slightly darker blue police box.
"I forgot how retro you were back then."
"You can't blame me for having a spruce up," said Twelve as they entered the plain white console room with the circles on the walls. Missy held up her hands in surrender.
"Now since when have I ever been critical?" This caused both Doctor's to scoff.
"Take off now, deep space, anywhere," said Twelve and the First Doctor did so.
"I must say these police boxes. They're ever so good aren't they?" said the Captain.
"The navigation systems don't function properly. I'm unable to program our flight with any accuracy." said the First Doctor and Missy snorted.
"They'd work if you'd bothered to steal a functioning TARDIS. Or EVER do basic maintenance."
"I LIKE it the way it is. And you do the maintenance now," argued twelve.
"Oh we travel together now?" asked the First Doctor.
A look of nostalgia came over Missy's face.
"We did. For a time. It's...complicated."
"Always is with you Koschei," snorted One.
"True. I kind of miss it."
"Well, he clearly misses you going off the state of the ship. Certainly, as far as maintenance goes. The place is in desperate need of a good clean."
"I'm a time lady NOT a maid. Your lack of cleanliness is no more my problem than it was when we shared a room at the Academy," scoffed Missy.
"I find myself lagging behind a bit here," said the Captain and Missy rolled her eyes.
"I'll use small words. The three of us," she gestured to herself and the doctors, "Aliens from space. Those two the same person from different times. And now we want to go stop those other glass looking aliens from taking you to the land of the dearly departed and possibly doing whatever nasty things they have in mind."
The Captain looked stunned.
"I don't think you helped Missy," sighed Twelve and Missy shrugged.
"Ah well I tried. You were always better with this lot."
"Soldiers?" asked One.
"HUMANS Theta."
"Right back to Missy's point," said Twelve taking out sunglasses and putting them on causing the face of the glass lady to appear on the monitor.
"Not those again, I forbid it!" exclaimed the first Doctor.
"There you go, I was right. Asymmetrical."
"I said that," huffed One. Twelve smirked
"Same difference. If her face was based on a human original, perhaps identifying who that was will tell us what we need to know about Testimony." He plopped the sunglasses on the First Doctor and Missy cackled.
"Why am I wearing these?" asked One in confusion.
"Because I love it. Never take those off," said Twelve sharing a grin with Missy. A grin that reminded him of the old days in their youth of causing mischief together.
"What's "browser history"?" asked One and Twelve's face dropped as he quickly plucked the glasses off.
"Oooh Doctor what secrets are you hiding?" asked Missy with a wolfish grin.
"Nothing you need to know. Now hush. I'm trying to match her face in the TARDIS data bank, but there's hardly anything in it yet. We need a bigger database. Possibly the Matrix on Gallifrey."
"Speaking from experience of hacking it, not big enough."
"So basically, we're trying to track the glass lady, yes?" asked the Captain tentatively.
"Ah finally caught up. Well done nano brain," quipped Missy. The Captain looked a little confused though he seemed to comprehend that it was a backhanded compliment.
"Missy be nice," scolded Twelve.
"I promised to be GOOD not nice," she replied.
"I see well, a striking creature," said the Captain.
"Depends on what you like," replied Missy. The ship landed and the First Doctor walked over to the console in surprise.
"Where are we? But you steered the ship, you piloted her perfectly."
"We are at the very centre of the universe. Out there is the most comprehensive database of all life anywhere. There is just one little problem."
"Only ONE?" asked Missy sarcastically. "What is it?"
"It wants to kill me."
They stepped outside into what appeared to be a bunch of ruins. In the shadows creatures skittered around.
"The Weapon Forges of Villengard. Once the nightmare of the seven galaxies. Now home to the dispossessed."
"Lovely spot for a holiday," snorted Missy.
"I say, I think there's something moving over here," said the Captain, stepping towards the movement in the shadows.
"Step away, please," said Twelve swiftly.
"Probably just rats, I'm used to rats," before any of them could do anything a creature leapt from the shadows and onto the Captain's face. Twelve hurried to his side and used the sonic to get the creature off.
"Deep breaths, deep breaths. Just breathe, Captain, you'll be fine," said Twelve.
"That creature, it looked familiar," said One.
"Mutated Daleks by my guess. Learned to live outside their shell. I suppose anything can learn to survive if they have the will," said Missy sounding mildly interested. Horror showed on the First Doctor's face and Missy patted his arm and redirected his focus. "This isn't in your time. YOU don't need to worry about it. Worry about him." She nodded to the Captain. One cleared his throat and took the Captain's arm.
"Come along, my dear chap, you'll be fine."
"Get him into the TARDIS," said Twelve then paused to speak with Missy.
"So what do we do next?" asked Missy.
"We" don't do anything. I do." Missy glared in a way that was so familiar it almost pushed away all the Doctor's doubts.
"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no! You seriously think you're just going to leave me behind. AGAIN. Like you always do. Not this time."
"You're going to wait in the TARDIS," said the Doctor firmly.
"Why?"
"Because you need to look after the captain." Missy snorted.
"You're lying. You think I'm a duplicate, a trick. You've never been good at lying to me Doctor. So don't do me the disservice of trying. I'm not your companion. I'm your equal." The Doctor sighed.
"Fine then. I don't know what I think. But if there is the slightest chance that my best friend is alive and standing in front of me, then I will not, under any circumstances, put her life in danger again."
"Really? I've lived for danger all my life. I've come back more times than any other time lord! You think a little thing like what's in that tower scares me?" said Missy hands on her hips.
"It scares me to put you in danger hours after losing you." Missy shook her head.
"That's not it. Not all of it. You're looking right at me and you don't even know I'm here." The Doctor nodded resigned that Missy was correct he couldn't lie to her regardless of if it truly was her. This version was too convincing even if it was fake.
"Correct. I ask you to respect that, and respect me..."
"Honestly Doctor this is just ridiculous you are being such a," she broke off into a rather insulting string of Gallifreying names.
"As I've always respected you," he said loudly speaking over her. The TARDIS door opened and his first version poked his head out.
"For Rassilon's sake Koschei mind your language."
"Yes mum," chirped Missy sarcastically as the First Doctor returned inside. The Doctor froze.
"Can we not talk about that?"
"What you acting like a prude old biddy? We both know you've said worse." The Doctor's lips twitched. He really had. Missy sighed then her mouth lifted up in a half smile.
"Come back alive you stubborn fool."
"Be here when I do." he replied
DW
"Come on, up and at 'em, Corporal Jones." Missy said handing over a glass of brandy.
"Funny thing. I wasn't afraid in the crater. One doesn't want to die, of course, but one gets in a certain frame of mind, one pulls oneself together, and gets on with the matter in hand. Big shock for everyone back in Cromer, of course." Looking awkward Missy asked.
"You have family?"
"My wife will miss me, that's perfectly natural... but she's a solid woman. Remarkably solid. And my boys... Well, sons are supposed to move on from their fathers, it's the proper way. Of course. Trouble is, I thought I'd been rescued. Felt rather like a miracle, in fact... but I do have this feeling they're going to put me back. Back in that crater in time to die... and, you see, I'm not ready any more. I've lost the idea of it. That's the trouble with hope. Makes one awfully frightened. I must sound like the most dreadful coward."
"Hardly," said Missy with a shrug. "I ran and hid from a war once." The Captain looked surprised.
"You were in a war?" Missy nodded face serious.
"The biggest war there ever was. Of course I was different back then. Just like the Doctor's are different. Anyway. I fought and fought. I was good at it. I've always been good at destruction. Salvations a rather new thing. Regardless. It eventually became too much even for me. I didn't want to risk my life for my people anymore. It wasn't like they gave a whit. And there wasn't anyone that cared about me."
"Not even your Doctor friend?" asked the Captain who seemed to have at least put together that Missy and the Doctor's were the same species.
"We were separated at that point," shrugged Missy. "Anyway. I was scared so I ran. All the way to the end of the universe. Personally, I don't consider myself a coward for it. And if I wasn't you aren't either."
The Captain nodded.
"Well, thank you then. One soldier to another." Missy inclined her head.
"I'm going to check on the Doctor."
"Didn't he say it wasn't safe?" Missy snorted.
"If he expects me to listen after all this time then he's really learnt nothing in the past couple thousand years." Then she left the gob smacked Captain.
DW
The First Doctor was outside examining the pieces of the Daleks that were scattered around when Koschei came out. He wasn't sure why his counterpart was calling her Missy. But he presumed it must refer to her having finally picked a title.
"Shouldn't you be back inside?" he asked.
"You REALLY think I'm going to hide out in the TARDIS with the primitive?" his old friend asked and he gave her a resigned look knowing his old friend never listened to instructions.
"The Captain might be needing you." He argued and Koschei snorted.
"The Captain's fine. The humans aren't THAT delicate or they wouldn't go around trying to kill each other all the time." The Doctor sighed he supposed there was a bit of truth in that though he disagreed somewhat with his old friend's distain.
"Why did you do it run away I mean?" asked the brunette taking a seat on some rubble.
"Did I never explain?" he said brow furrowed.
"Not really. You just left me. Even though we said we'd see every star in the universe together." Koschei sounded slightly hurt and he walked over to join her.
"I suppose I'm sorry doesn't count for much at this stage?" he offered wryly.
"Not much no," she replied. "So how about an answer? I know what you were running from. But what were you running too?" The Doctor tilted his head.
"That's rather a good question." Koschei smirked.
"They were always my speciality."
"There is good and there is evil. I left Gallifrey to answer a question of my own. By any analysis, evil should always win. Good is not a practical survival strategy, it requires loyalty, self-sacrifice and love."
"Well at least you understand that much," muttered Koschei and the Doctor wondered exactly what she meant still he continued.
"So, why does good prevail? What keeps the balance between good and evil in this appalling universe? Is there some kind of logic? Some mysterious force?" Koschei gave a small smile.
"Perhaps there's just a bloke."
"A "bloke"?" he asked disbelievingly. How could the answer be so simple? Especially if it was what she was implying.
"Yeah. Perhaps there's just some bloke, wandering around, putting everything right when it goes wrong? Infuriating at times mind you but just what the universe needs. At least, that's been my experience."
"Well, that would be a nice story, wouldn't it?"
"That would be the best. And it's not as unrealistic as you might think."
"But the real world is not a fairy tale." he pointed out as he stood up. Koschei shook her head.
"You dash around the universe trying to figure out what's holding it all together, and you really, really don't know?"
"You know me in the future, do I ever understand?" Koschei looked thoughtful.
"No... I really don't think you do. Though perhaps it isn't entirely surprising. You do seem to have always been a mite oblivious. The thing is, everyone who's ever met you does." Then she stepped forward and hugged him.
"You're brilliant Theta. Never forget that. Ever." He patted her back awkwardly and cleared his throat. As he'd aged he'd gotten a bit less comfortable with touch.
"Well... that's very kind of you."
"We just needed to understand you, Doctor." Then to his horror the face of his friend transformed to glass.
He jumped back as she retransformed into the face of the time lady
"A spy a spy in camp!" he cried.
"No not a spy. I'm still Koschei, or Missy. But I'm part of Testimony now."
DW
"Oh, it's not an evil plan. I don't really know what to do when it isn't an evil plan." said Twelve in confusion. Suddenly the film stopped.
"Why did you stop it? Rusty?" the voice of his counterpart spoke up. He turned to see one in the doorway.
"He didn't stop it. They've frozen time again."
"Who has?" he asked then it clicked. He looked back just as Missy, no not Missy the Missy duplicate appeared.
"Not everything's evil, Doctor. You're not the only kind one in the universe," he sighed grief and disappointment filling him.
"I knew you weren't real!" Missy scowled.
"Oh, shut up and stop being so stupid you old sod! Of course I'm real. What is anyone supposed to be, except a bunch of memories? These are my memories, so this is me. I'm Missy, The Master, Koschei, whichever name you call me by, and I'm back." Then her eyes narrowed and she strode closer.
"And so long as I'm here... what in Rassilon's name do you mean, you're not going to regenerate? Did you lose your marbles back on that Space Homestead?" He shook his head.
"There has to be an end, Missy, for everyone, everywhere." Missy arched an eyebrow.
"What about the Captain? You know he has to die at his allotted point in time and space to correct the error." He sighed.
"I'm so tired of losing people. If the Captain has to die, a request. This was our fault. Let us take him back."
DW
And so they did they returned Captain Archibald Hamish Lethbridge-Stewart, Rassilon was that a surprise, back to the day of his death but with a slight tweak in the hours. Just enough to drop him off at the start of the Christmas Armistice. At least he saved one life.
He watched the day play out a perfect expression of why he loved humans. True they were capable of great destruction. But there was also the potential for great beauty and love. As the day came to a close he heard footsteps and looked up to see Missy approach a small smile on her face.
Oh, how he missed his friend. The one who'd died trying to do the right thing. Did that make it partially his fault? He'd chosen the place to land and lost Missy, Bill, and Nardole.
"Don't you go blaming yourself Doctor," Missy said in a scolding tone.
"I didn't say anything."
"True. But my memories are enough to tell me what you're thinking. My death wasn't your doing. If I weren't such a selfish, stubborn, prat I might have made it. As it stands, well..." she shrugged. "At least things came full circle."
"One last walk Mistress?" he asked.
"I do love it when you say my name," she said looping an arm through his as they moved towards his TARDIS.
"I told you before it's a ruddy psychologists field day."
"Pot meet kettle Doctor," trilled Missy. He couldn't help but chuckle.
"Do you know what the hardest thing about our friendship was?"
"My superior intelligence?"
"I scored higher than you at the Academy."
"My dazzling charisma!"
"I've charmed planets into submission with only the charisma in my little finger."
"My superior dress sense!"
"CELERY DOCTOR." He laughed.
"What then oh wise one?"
"Parting from you. In the end we were always parting."
"It wasn't always my fault," he protested his heart sinking." Missy gave a sad little smile.
"No. But it hurt all the same."
"See that's not the sort of thing the real Missy would say."
"I am the real Missy!" protested the duplicate.
"If you say so." he replied too tired to argue. Missy stepped away.
"OK. I'm going to prove to you how important memories are. I've got a little goodbye present for you. Oh, that's nice. Will I have to pretend I like it? Because honestly, that rug... Oh, come here, you." She pulled him into a hug and when she stepped back she was replaced by Clara. Clara who he'd been forced to forget. All of it! He remembered again!
"Merry Christmas, Doctor," she said with a smile.
"Clara! My Clara."
"My Doctor," she replied.
"You're back! You're in my head. All my memories... are back." she nodded.
"And don't go forgetting me again, because... quite frankly, that was offensive." Then she was replaced again by Missy.
"Memories, important, right?" Then a familiar voice spoke up from behind him and he turned to see Nardole approaching.
"I know what you're thinking, where is he? Hello, sir!" The Doctor made a show of huffing sarcastically.
"When you're already dying, you're entitled to think that your day couldn't get any worse, but here you are. And both of you are here. How does that work?" Missy shrugged.
"We can be everyone. We are everyone."
"Yeah, it's good this, innit? Now I'm all made of glass, not just my nipples. Yeah, but they got my hair a bit wrong, though, didn't they?" Missy whacked Nardole upside the head.
"You don't have any hair Egg!"
"I have invisible hair."
"Whatever you say humpty dumpty," snorted the imitation of the time lady. Nardole ignored her.
"Got a suggestion for you, then." The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"Oh, there's a novelty."
"Don't die. Because if you do, I think everybody in the universe might just go cold."
"The world must be ending. I'm agreeing with robot Jeeves," said Missy. He sighed heavily.
"Can't I ever have peace? Can't I rest?" Missy's face softened.
"Well I suppose killing you is off the table after this whole redemption thing. Which does rather leave it up to you."
"You got to rest," he pointed out.
"And I'll probably be rubbish at it," she replied. "But yes you could rest. There's no doubt you deserve it."
"It's your choice. Only yours. We understand," said Nardole.
"No. No, you don't. You're not even really here. You're just memories held in glass. Do you know how many of you I could fill? I would shatter you. My testimony would shatter all of you. A life this long, do you understand what it is? It's a battlefield, like this one... and it's empty. Because everyone else has fallen." He closed his eyes. "You're gone Missy. The only potential constant."
"Then I suppose you could stick around to see if I have another spectacular resurrection," shrugged Missy. "But even if I don't in the end you've always been able to make the hard choices yourself."
"You've heard our advice. Now it's up to you," said Nardole. The Doctor felt tears coming into his eyes.
"Thank you. Thank you, both, for everything that you were to me. What happens now... where I go now... it has be alone." Missy stepped forward and hugged him. They were then quickly joined by Nardole who said.
"Cuddle." And then they were both gone leaving his arms empty. The Doctor lowered his arms and turned towards his TARDIS.
"Time to leave the battlefield."
Author's Note: Well I hope you all enjoyed my alternate take if you like the story PLEASE take a moment and leave a comment below it really means a lot!