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bit_impossible[Well, this is a little different than he expects. There's the Doctor waking up in a very normal cubicle, in a very normal office building, and next to a stack of very boring and normal papers--order forms, VATs, etcetera--what's that? Oh yes, those are bills. Plain, old, ordinary bills. He's even wearing a grey suit that's cut a little looser than his normal ones.
He picks some of them up, flipping through and seeing names of companies he doesn't recognise, but they're all for ordinary utilities and the like--things he doesn't have to pay for in the TARDIS. Swivelling in his black office chair now, he looks around his very plain, grey cubicle. There's nothing on the walls, not even a photograph or calendar, only a placard with the name "John Smith" pressed into the plastic in white lettering.]
How disappointing. I thought I was far more creative than that! Not even a single--
[Suddenly, the phone rings, interrupting that train of thought. Eyeing it, he picks it up cautiously and presses the receiver to his ear, but before he can even open his mouth, the person on the other line begins to speak, making his eyes widen in shock.]
"Hello there, Doctor. Long time no see. Ohhhh, I know what you're going to say and I don't doubt that you're gawking at me right now. You are, aren't you? Oh, how terribly predictable! And here I thought you'd break out of that pattern, especially after that lovely move of yours in the Time War. Ohhh yes, that pleased me greatly. Gave me strength, you know! Made it so I could manifest sooner!"
No, you're--!
"Going for dramatics, are you? [The voice laughs; it's so similar to his own.] That only works with an ominous musical cue, you know. Like this one!" [A dramatic musical cue plays, breaking the din of the office.] "Yes, Doctor! A blast from your past, I'm--! Oh forget it, you're not taking me seriously, I just know it. You never could be serious in situations like this, no matter what incarnation you were in..."
[The line goes dead and for a moment, he's left alone. He didn't notice it before, but there's no other sounds now but the rapid beatings of his hearts in his ears. No computer keys clacking away at different speeds, no phones ringing, not even a copier doing its job or coffee pot brewing, and he's sure those sounds were present when this all began.]
He can't be here. He just can't! I was so careful to not become... [He looks around now, trying to see who's in the cubicles next to his, but he can't see much beyond the tops of their heads. Though, there is something familiar about them all...]
[Suddenly, a scream pierces the air and he's running, trying to go as fast as he can in the dreadful shoes he's been forced to wear. He doesn't get more than a few cubicles away before he trips over a length of wires and cables strewn across the rough, industrial carpet. Rubbing his knees, he gets up, hearing another scream--louder this time, ear-splitting and inhuman--and he follows the wires, the mess littering the floor growing greater and soon he recognises bits of it. His eyes widen in horror as he hurries forward, rounding a corner and facing another corridor of cubicles. It doesn't occur to him once during all of this to see who might be within each one--he already has an idea who he'll see.]
[He's not surprised to see the sight before him, but it still hurts him to the core, making his hearts ache worse than they do when he says good-bye to a companion, worse than what he had to do in the Time War... Slowly, he makes his way forward, stepping around pieces of the shattered blue police box doors. Hot tears spill down his cheeks. His voice shakes with complete and utter anguish as he forces himself to speak, his eyes burning holes into the man standing in the centre of it all.] No... I had to save her! She was hurt and so afraid... How could I...?
"You can't save everybody. Haven't you learnt that by now?"
Shut it! Damn you, you--! [He tries to run forward, snarling, spittle flying out of his mouth as he yells at the figure still shrouded in shadows, but the man snaps his fingers and phone cords and wires spring up and wrap themselves around the Doctor's limbs, dragging him to the ground. He gives a little cry, clenching his fists and his voice is weak when he speaks again.] How could you?
"Oh, it was quite simple. I have no need for a useless old machine like this, so I dismantled it, piece by piece." [The man grins, stepping out from the shell of the dead TARDIS, its walls collapsing as his face finally comes in to view. For anyone watching, it should look very similar. In fact, it'd be a perfect match to the Doctor's if it weren't for the maniacal, crazed smirk distorting the features.] "Oh Doctor, you should've heard the screams! So delightfully delicious. Just like when--"
Stop this! She was my--! She was our friend!
"Oh, hardly. Nagging, wheezing old machine--and you called that thing your oldest and greatest friend! The one who would never ever leave you. Well, you've always had a rather skewed perception of friendship. After all, you never could kill the Master. And never mind all those hundreds of primitives, even a Eutermesan! Ugh, what were you thinking bringing that thing over into this universe?
But ohhhh, Doctor, that expression of yours the moment you saw all this! I wish I had a camera. That's the kind of picture you frame and hang on the wall. Though I am disappointed you didn't fall to your knees and scream, "Nooooo!" at the top of your lungs. Too Darth Vader, perhaps?"
[He struggles against his bonds, but he can't even look his other self in the eye.] What do you want from me this time? The rest of my regenerations? You can't kill the High Council again.
"No, no, you did that job for me. And ohhh, how it pleased me--pleased us!" [The other man pats his head playfully as he talks, squatting down near him.] "We're no longer the lapdogs of the High Council! This is freedom at its best--and you're actually saddened by their loss?
"Hmmm, you know, I'm getting sick of this domestic scene. Really, an office? Surely, you really wanted something more like...this!"
[And before he can do anything else, the imposter before him snaps his fingers and the scene suddenly changes from the office space to a derelict, desolate expanse of land. Rusted metal supports from broken buildings claw the air while bent and broken lampposts sag, shying away from the black sun hanging in the sky. All the cubicle walls drop away, exposing all the people contained within: every single passenger aboard the ship, everyone bound, gagged, and completely immobile, but their eyes open and watching him. But keep looking and the faces of his past companions come in to view, as do those of people he knew from home, and really the list could go on. Casually, his duplicate picks him up off the ground, the bonds still holding him so he can't fight back, and wind themselves tightly around a convenient pole.]
You leave them out! They've got nothing to do with any of this! And--and you're wearing my suit! That's my favourite suit!
[The duplicate laughs, leaning against the Doctor's shoulder, and patting him on the head again like he's some kind of cute kid.] "If you're so insulted about it, here, have yours back. Personally, I think I make it look better." [He snaps his fingers again, and now both of them are wearing matching brown pinstripe suits.] "But you know...there hasn't been any killing yet. I've only had a few screams, and if there's anything I know that can churn your stomach, it's hearing the screams of those you care for. And look over there! Those faces should be familiar. I brought them back just for you. Have one last look!"
[He looks where his other self is pointing and sees those faces from home--even the ones he never really cared for personally, but they're his people.] That's impossible. Romana, Braxiatel, Leela...even those prats Straxus and Vansell...all of--no! They're not here! They're dead! [He shuts his eyes, refusing to look, a pit of dread growing ever present in his gut.]
"Doctor? Oh, come on, Doctor, quit acting like such a child. You really want to see this part." [The loose ends from the cords jump to his face, little finger-like appendages forming from the split ends and grab each eyelid, holding them open. And just as that happens, explosions and fires rip through the crowd of screaming Time Lords and other Gallifreyans in their formal robes, their blood covering everything in sight. Quickly, their blood pools up around his ankles.] "Ahh, there we go! Shouldn't hide those lovely eyes of ours, you know. I really don't want to have to cut your eyelids off. Now! Isn't that much better? I thought it a fitting end for them, myself. What shall we do with your companions? Or those new friends of yours?"
Let them go! I don't care if this is an illusion, don't you lay a hand on them! [His dry, bloodshot eyes dart about wildly as he struggles, straining every muscle to break free, but his other self just laughs in his face.]
"Do you want to know a secret, Doctor? Just a little, itsy bitsy one?" [The duplicate leans in anyway despite his weak verbal protests of "No, I don't want to know", whispering loud enough for the Doctor--and of course the Sphere network--to hear what he says.]
"They're already dead."
[At those words, every single figure slumps to the bloodied ground, their glassy eyes staring at nothing. The duplicate runs forward, hopping and skipping in the blood, leaving the Doctor to just stare in shock. No matter how he tries, he can't find the words to speak.]
"Wasn't that fun?! I could do that again and again! In fact, I think I will. You've already killed this lot twice and are about to do so for a third time, so I've got some catching up to do!"
[And with a snap of his fingers, all the passengers spring back to life--Oliver, Donna, Lyle, Riku, Sasuke, Kaylee, Haruhi, every single one of them--and this time, the duplicate begins to kill them off one by one, laughing gleefully to himself while screams fill the air once more.]
[As for the Doctor? Well...he's a little traumatised at the moment as the pool of blood starts to rise up his legs...]
[ooc: Um, I'm so, so sorry for the tl;dr. I don't blame you if you don't read it all... Just skip to the end for the fun bits? >.>;]
He picks some of them up, flipping through and seeing names of companies he doesn't recognise, but they're all for ordinary utilities and the like--things he doesn't have to pay for in the TARDIS. Swivelling in his black office chair now, he looks around his very plain, grey cubicle. There's nothing on the walls, not even a photograph or calendar, only a placard with the name "John Smith" pressed into the plastic in white lettering.]
How disappointing. I thought I was far more creative than that! Not even a single--
[Suddenly, the phone rings, interrupting that train of thought. Eyeing it, he picks it up cautiously and presses the receiver to his ear, but before he can even open his mouth, the person on the other line begins to speak, making his eyes widen in shock.]
"Hello there, Doctor. Long time no see. Ohhhh, I know what you're going to say and I don't doubt that you're gawking at me right now. You are, aren't you? Oh, how terribly predictable! And here I thought you'd break out of that pattern, especially after that lovely move of yours in the Time War. Ohhh yes, that pleased me greatly. Gave me strength, you know! Made it so I could manifest sooner!"
No, you're--!
"Going for dramatics, are you? [The voice laughs; it's so similar to his own.] That only works with an ominous musical cue, you know. Like this one!" [A dramatic musical cue plays, breaking the din of the office.] "Yes, Doctor! A blast from your past, I'm--! Oh forget it, you're not taking me seriously, I just know it. You never could be serious in situations like this, no matter what incarnation you were in..."
[The line goes dead and for a moment, he's left alone. He didn't notice it before, but there's no other sounds now but the rapid beatings of his hearts in his ears. No computer keys clacking away at different speeds, no phones ringing, not even a copier doing its job or coffee pot brewing, and he's sure those sounds were present when this all began.]
He can't be here. He just can't! I was so careful to not become... [He looks around now, trying to see who's in the cubicles next to his, but he can't see much beyond the tops of their heads. Though, there is something familiar about them all...]
[Suddenly, a scream pierces the air and he's running, trying to go as fast as he can in the dreadful shoes he's been forced to wear. He doesn't get more than a few cubicles away before he trips over a length of wires and cables strewn across the rough, industrial carpet. Rubbing his knees, he gets up, hearing another scream--louder this time, ear-splitting and inhuman--and he follows the wires, the mess littering the floor growing greater and soon he recognises bits of it. His eyes widen in horror as he hurries forward, rounding a corner and facing another corridor of cubicles. It doesn't occur to him once during all of this to see who might be within each one--he already has an idea who he'll see.]
[He's not surprised to see the sight before him, but it still hurts him to the core, making his hearts ache worse than they do when he says good-bye to a companion, worse than what he had to do in the Time War... Slowly, he makes his way forward, stepping around pieces of the shattered blue police box doors. Hot tears spill down his cheeks. His voice shakes with complete and utter anguish as he forces himself to speak, his eyes burning holes into the man standing in the centre of it all.] No... I had to save her! She was hurt and so afraid... How could I...?
"You can't save everybody. Haven't you learnt that by now?"
Shut it! Damn you, you--! [He tries to run forward, snarling, spittle flying out of his mouth as he yells at the figure still shrouded in shadows, but the man snaps his fingers and phone cords and wires spring up and wrap themselves around the Doctor's limbs, dragging him to the ground. He gives a little cry, clenching his fists and his voice is weak when he speaks again.] How could you?
"Oh, it was quite simple. I have no need for a useless old machine like this, so I dismantled it, piece by piece." [The man grins, stepping out from the shell of the dead TARDIS, its walls collapsing as his face finally comes in to view. For anyone watching, it should look very similar. In fact, it'd be a perfect match to the Doctor's if it weren't for the maniacal, crazed smirk distorting the features.] "Oh Doctor, you should've heard the screams! So delightfully delicious. Just like when--"
Stop this! She was my--! She was our friend!
"Oh, hardly. Nagging, wheezing old machine--and you called that thing your oldest and greatest friend! The one who would never ever leave you. Well, you've always had a rather skewed perception of friendship. After all, you never could kill the Master. And never mind all those hundreds of primitives, even a Eutermesan! Ugh, what were you thinking bringing that thing over into this universe?
But ohhhh, Doctor, that expression of yours the moment you saw all this! I wish I had a camera. That's the kind of picture you frame and hang on the wall. Though I am disappointed you didn't fall to your knees and scream, "Nooooo!" at the top of your lungs. Too Darth Vader, perhaps?"
[He struggles against his bonds, but he can't even look his other self in the eye.] What do you want from me this time? The rest of my regenerations? You can't kill the High Council again.
"No, no, you did that job for me. And ohhh, how it pleased me--pleased us!" [The other man pats his head playfully as he talks, squatting down near him.] "We're no longer the lapdogs of the High Council! This is freedom at its best--and you're actually saddened by their loss?
"Hmmm, you know, I'm getting sick of this domestic scene. Really, an office? Surely, you really wanted something more like...this!"
[And before he can do anything else, the imposter before him snaps his fingers and the scene suddenly changes from the office space to a derelict, desolate expanse of land. Rusted metal supports from broken buildings claw the air while bent and broken lampposts sag, shying away from the black sun hanging in the sky. All the cubicle walls drop away, exposing all the people contained within: every single passenger aboard the ship, everyone bound, gagged, and completely immobile, but their eyes open and watching him. But keep looking and the faces of his past companions come in to view, as do those of people he knew from home, and really the list could go on. Casually, his duplicate picks him up off the ground, the bonds still holding him so he can't fight back, and wind themselves tightly around a convenient pole.]
You leave them out! They've got nothing to do with any of this! And--and you're wearing my suit! That's my favourite suit!
[The duplicate laughs, leaning against the Doctor's shoulder, and patting him on the head again like he's some kind of cute kid.] "If you're so insulted about it, here, have yours back. Personally, I think I make it look better." [He snaps his fingers again, and now both of them are wearing matching brown pinstripe suits.] "But you know...there hasn't been any killing yet. I've only had a few screams, and if there's anything I know that can churn your stomach, it's hearing the screams of those you care for. And look over there! Those faces should be familiar. I brought them back just for you. Have one last look!"
[He looks where his other self is pointing and sees those faces from home--even the ones he never really cared for personally, but they're his people.] That's impossible. Romana, Braxiatel, Leela...even those prats Straxus and Vansell...all of--no! They're not here! They're dead! [He shuts his eyes, refusing to look, a pit of dread growing ever present in his gut.]
"Doctor? Oh, come on, Doctor, quit acting like such a child. You really want to see this part." [The loose ends from the cords jump to his face, little finger-like appendages forming from the split ends and grab each eyelid, holding them open. And just as that happens, explosions and fires rip through the crowd of screaming Time Lords and other Gallifreyans in their formal robes, their blood covering everything in sight. Quickly, their blood pools up around his ankles.] "Ahh, there we go! Shouldn't hide those lovely eyes of ours, you know. I really don't want to have to cut your eyelids off. Now! Isn't that much better? I thought it a fitting end for them, myself. What shall we do with your companions? Or those new friends of yours?"
Let them go! I don't care if this is an illusion, don't you lay a hand on them! [His dry, bloodshot eyes dart about wildly as he struggles, straining every muscle to break free, but his other self just laughs in his face.]
"Do you want to know a secret, Doctor? Just a little, itsy bitsy one?" [The duplicate leans in anyway despite his weak verbal protests of "No, I don't want to know", whispering loud enough for the Doctor--and of course the Sphere network--to hear what he says.]
"They're already dead."
[At those words, every single figure slumps to the bloodied ground, their glassy eyes staring at nothing. The duplicate runs forward, hopping and skipping in the blood, leaving the Doctor to just stare in shock. No matter how he tries, he can't find the words to speak.]
"Wasn't that fun?! I could do that again and again! In fact, I think I will. You've already killed this lot twice and are about to do so for a third time, so I've got some catching up to do!"
[And with a snap of his fingers, all the passengers spring back to life--Oliver, Donna, Lyle, Riku, Sasuke, Kaylee, Haruhi, every single one of them--and this time, the duplicate begins to kill them off one by one, laughing gleefully to himself while screams fill the air once more.]
[As for the Doctor? Well...he's a little traumatised at the moment as the pool of blood starts to rise up his legs...]
[ooc: Um, I'm so, so sorry for the tl;dr. I don't blame you if you don't read it all... Just skip to the end for the fun bits? >.>;]