Short Fic (WIP)- Studies In Steel and Silver, 2/5
Title: Studies In Steel and Silver
Author: jackdavfan692
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Summary: The Doctor and Clara take a trip to 1890 London after receiving a message from Madame Vastra asking for assistance in solving a rash of disappearances.
Characters/Pairings: Twelve, Clara, and the Paternoster Gang (Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax)
Spoilers: S7 and “The Time Of The Doctor”, specifically, Eleven’s regeneration into Twelve, and the circumstances surrounding it.
Disclaimer: Doctor Who is currently in the care of Steven Moffat
Part I: http://jackdavfan692.livejournal.com/22046.html
Jenny and Clara reach the kitchen after a five-minute walk.
As they go in, Clara asks, “What would you like me to do?”
“Since Madame likes her tea a certain way, I’ll see to that. You can take the biscuits out of the cupboard and arrange them on platters.” Jenny replies amiably, as she gathers everything necessary to make tea.
“Okay, sounds like a plan.” Clara replies, smiling briefly. “Oh, Jenny?”
“Yes, Miss Clara?” She answers, turning back around.
“Where would I find all of that?”
“Oh, silly me! I forgot to tell you.” Jenny replies apologetically. Indicating a lone wooden cupboard against the far left back wall with a nod, she says, “The biscuits are in there.”
She then directs Clara’s attention to the modest amount of shelving above the sideboard set up against the middle portion of the back wall, directly across from them, and tells her, “And the platters are over there.”
“Thanks.” Clara replies with another brief smile.
“You’re welcome.” Following that, each woman starts on her respective task.
The pair works silently for the first few minutes, then Jenny breaks it by turning to Clara and asking her gently, “How are you coping?”
“With the Doctor’s new face and personality, you mean?”
Jenny nods.
“Better than I was during the first few weeks after he changed.” Clara answers, turning around on the wooden stool upon which she is sitting. “I still haven’t completely adjusted to him, though.”
“Because his appearance is so different?” Jenny inquires.
“No, it isn’t that.” Clara answers, shaking her head. “I don’t even mind that he looks older. Four previous forms of him did, and I even met one of them. I saw my Doctor as an elderly old man, too, and that didn’t bother me either.” Clara pauses for a moment, then explains, “It’s the man he seems to have become that I’m having trouble accepting completely.”
“What do you mean?” Jenny asks with confusion.
“Most of the time, he seems like the same person, just with a few minor differences. But other times, like when we’re facing a powerful enemy, he doesn’t at all. Sometimes the methods he uses to defeat them frighten me, and that’s never happened before.”
“I see.” Jenny says, nodding understandingly. “When Madame explained the process to me once, I remember she said changes in personality, sometimes very dramatic, occur.”
“So that’s why you weren’t more shocked when you saw him. I was wondering about that.” Clara remarks.
“Yes, I was as surprised as Madame to see that he had changed, but it wasn’t shocking in any way. Madame told me about the process precisely so it wouldn’t be a shock for me when the Doctor turned up here with a different face. But never mind all that. We were discussing how you feel. All I can think of to say, and I hope I don’t seem insensitive or condescending, is give it time. Only a few months have passed since he changed, and that isn’t quite enough time to fully adjust to a friend becoming an entirely new person.”
“You’re probably right.” Clara agrees, nodding. “Thanks for putting my mind at ease a little.”
“You’re welcome, Miss Clara.” Jenny replies, smiling. “Lovely job arranging the biscuits- very artistic.” she adds.
“Thanks.” Clara says with a slightly amused smile.
At that moment, the subject of their recently concluded conversation opens the door a small amount and looks in.
“How are the preparations for tea going?” The Doctor asks politely.
“Everything’s ready, sir.” Jenny answers. “Why do you ask, if I may be so bold?” She pauses for a moment in thought, then remarks with slight annoyance, “Is Mister Strax becoming impatient? He often does, in spite of knowing Madame’s preferred way to have her tea means the preparation of it takes a longer amount of time.”
The Doctor chuckles briefly, then answers, “No, he isn’t, not yet at least. Madame Vastra just wanted me to let the two of you know we’re about to start discussing the situation you, she and Strax have been investigating.”
“Then we had better get out there.” Clara remarks, getting off the stool and grabbing one platter of cookies with each hand.
Seeing that Jenny has her hands full with the tea tray and the teapot, the Doctor, coming all the way into the kitchen, asks her, “How can I help?”
“We’ll be needing plates for the biscuits.” she answers. “Perhaps you could bring those?”
“Certainly.” The Doctor replies, nodding. “Give me a moment while I get them.”
He then walks over to the sideboard, and takes five small plates down from its middle shelf. With the pieces of flatware in hand, the Doctor makes his way back to the door, where Jenny and Clara are waiting for him. After reaching it, he obligingly holds it open for them, then closes it behind him as he follows them out.
....................................
They return to the sitting room five minutes later, and set their respective burdens down on the table one by one. The Doctor returns to his chair and sits down first, taking off his coat as he does so.
“Let me take that for you, sir.” Strax offers politely.
“Thank you, Strax.” The Doctor replies graciously, turning around in his chair and handing his coat to the Sontaran.
“Certainly, sir.” Strax says, taking it. “Would you like to hold on to this?” He asks, carefully taking the sonic screwdriver part of the way out of the pocket of the coat.
“No. I don’t have any other suitable pockets, so I have nowhere to put it. It will be secure enough in there.”
“Very well, sir.” Strax replies, slipping the device back into the pocket completely. He then looks at Madame Vastra and tells her, “I shall return in a moment.”
The Silurian nods. Having been dismissed, Strax departs to put the Doctor’s coat away.
When he returns a few minutes later, Jenny has already begun serving the tea.
“Have a seat, Strax.” Madame Vastra invites.
“Thank you, Madame.” The Sontaran replies. Once Strax is seated, Jenny promptly hands him a cup of tea, then pours one for herself and sits down in a chair next to Madame Vastra.
“Now that all of us are here, we should get started.” The Silurian declares. She then looks across the table at Clara and inquires, “I trust the Doctor shared the information I gave to him with you?”
Clara nods.
“Good, then we can immediately begin discussing the case in more substantive detail.” Madame Vastra takes a sip of her tea, then resumes. “All of the missing people are young men and women of learning and knowledge. Whoever is behind all these kidnappings chose an advantageous time in which to carry them out- A new trade school is opening in the next few days.”
“Which makes them easy targets.” The Doctor observes, nodding sagely.
“Precisely.” Madame Vastra states, nodding assuredly.
The Doctor takes a sip of his tea, then asks, “Do you have any theories on who, or as the case may be, what is responsible for the kidnappings?”
“I believe it is one of two possibilities- the person is in a position that allows him to have extensive information about the schedule of events, or, like you, has the capability to travel in time.”
“I believe the same.” The Doctor replies, taking a couple of biscuits off one of the platters. “What other information have you learned?” he adds, settling back in his chair.
“That’s all we know at present, but Strax did come across a strange object that might prove to be helpful.” Madame Vastra answers.
“He did?” The Doctor inquires with interest.
The Silurian nods.
“Might I see it?” The Time Lord requests.
“Of course.” Madame Vastra replies. She then looks over at Strax and asks, “Strax, would you be so kind as to retrieve the object and bring it out here?”
“Certainly, Madame.” The Sontaran answers, getting out of his chair. “I will return momentarily.” Following that, Strax departs to get the item.
He returns a few minutes later with a medium sized, sealed jar. Handing it to the Doctor, the Sontaran says, “Here you are, Sir.”
“Thank you.” The Doctor replies, taking it from him. As Strax returns to his chair, the Doctor takes a look at the contents of the jar. Upon seeing what is inside it, his eyes grow wide with alarm. Looking over at Strax, the Doctor asks, “Strax, where did you find this?”
“At the scene of one of the kidnappings.” He answers.
“Did you see or find any other objects like this there?”
“No Sir, only that one.”
“I’m not sure whether to be relieved or concerned by that.” The Doctor remarks. “But no matter. I need to examine the object more thoroughly.” As he stands up and sets the jar on the table, he says sternly, “Absolutely do not open this jar, any of you. Understand?”
The others, with the exception of Clara, are taken aback by the Doctor’s suddenly commanding manner, but they nod in agreement nonetheless.
“Alright, good. I’ll be back in a moment.” Following that, the Doctor turns away and walks off in the direction of the coatroom.
When he returns a few minutes later, he has his sonic screwdriver in hand. As he sits back down, the Doctor says, “The three of you are very lucky nothing has happened to you yet.”
“Why do you say that?” Madame Vastra asks with concern.
While the Doctor conscientiously unscrews the lid of the jar, he replies, “All three of you know about Cybermen at least a bit, yes?”
The trio nods.
As the Doctor takes the small, metallic, insect-shaped object out of the jar, he explains, “This is a Cybermite. It’s what they now use to convert their victims.” He then proceeds to scan it with his sonic screwdriver, during which time, he murmurs, mostly to himself, “It isn’t active or transmitting. Interesting.”
“When you said we were fortunate the Cybermen haven’t yet attacked us, what did you mean, in regard to Strax and I? Dying while protecting Jenny from them?” Madame Vastra inquires.
“That’s only one of many possibilities, none of them good.” The Doctor answers, looking up and across the table at her.
“Many? What others are there? Surely Jenny is the only one of the three of us who is vulnerable to conversion.”
“Not anymore, she isn’t.” The Doctor replies darkly.
“What do you mean, ‘not anymore’?” Madame Vastra asks, the concerned tone of her voice now worried.
“Clara and I encountered them not long ago, and just barely escaped with our lives and minds intact.” The Doctor pauses to put the Cybermite back into the jar and re-secure the lid, then resumes speaking. “The Cybermen are now so advanced that they can convert literally anything.”
“Anything?”
The Doctor nods in response.
“That’s very worrisome.” Madame Vastra adds. “Is there anything else about them we need to know?”
“They repair themselves almost instantaneously, and store information about the incidents, so they can go back and fix whatever vulnerability was exposed.”
“So they are, in effect, completely invulnerable?”
“Very nearly, yes.” The Doctor answers, nodding and picking up his teacup.
“This situation is beginning to sound utterly impossible to resolve.” Madame Vastra says with dismay.
The Doctor sets his teacup back down and pushes it to the side, then leans forward, reaches across the table to take the Silurian’s hand, and tells her reassuringly, “I said nearly, Vastra, not completely.” As the Doctor lays his hand over Madame Vastra’s comfortingly, he adds with a small smile, “Besides, when has there ever been a situation that couldn’t be resolved by all of us working together?”
A faint smile slowly appears on Madame Vastra’s face, and she replies, “You’re right, of course. I don’t know what came over me.”
“I imagine it was due to me explaining what we’re facing in such a dismal manner. I seem to have a habit of doing that now.” The Doctor says as he gradually withdraws his hand and sits back up.
“Perhaps it was.” Madame Vastra replies, nodding. “Nonetheless, the information you have just given us is very important to know. Is there anything more?”
“No, that’s all.” The Doctor answers, once more picking up his teacup. “But I do have a question.”
“Yes?”
The Doctor takes another sip of his tea, then asks, “What part of the city have most of the kidnappings occurred in, and how far away from it was the location where Strax found the Cybermite? Those answers would make it easier to pinpoint the best area to investigate what is going on further.”
“Most of them seem to be concentrated in and around the location where the ceremony celebrating the opening of the trade school is to be held.” Madame Vastra answers. “I’m not sure where Strax found the Cybermite, did you call it?”
The Doctor nods.
“Those details are unknown to me. Both Jenny and I were elsewhere at the time.”
The Doctor then looks over at Strax and asks, “Do you recall where you found the Cybermite, or at least what distance from the site of the ceremony it was?”
“Yes Sir.” Strax answers. “It was a few blocks from that location.”
“So not very far from it, then.” The Doctor muses, nodding.
“No Sir, quite close.” Strax remarks.
“I’m beginning to think whoever or whatever the Cybermen are after is connected in some way to the trade school, or one or more of the individuals involved in the celebratory events for its opening.” The Doctor says, taking a biscuit off his plate, then dipping it into his tea. After finishing the bite he has taken, he resumes. “Madame Vastra, has the schedule of events been finalized?”
“I believe so, yes.” The Silurian answers. “Why?”
“I believe it might prove informative in determining what events the Cybermen are planning to target next, and which individuals involved in those events they are intending to abduct.” The Doctor answers. He pauses for a moment and takes another bite out of the biscuit, then asks, “Do you know if the events schedule has been printed and made available to the public already?”
“It has not, as far as I am aware, but I’m not certain.” Madame Vastra answers.
“If that is the case, I’ll have to borrow it.” The Doctor says.
“What do you mean, ‘borrow’?” Clara asks.
“Take and keep for a short time without asking.” The Doctor answers.
“So you mean steal.”
“If you must call it that, yes. I do intend to return it once we have all the information we need, however.”
“And just how do you plan to do that?” Clara inquires with a wry smile.
“Oh, I have ways, Clara, I have ways.” The Doctor answers, smiling mischievously.
“Will you require our assistance in the endeavor?” Madame Vastra asks.
“No, I don’t believe so.” The Doctor answers. “I think I can manage it on my own.”
Madame Vastra gives a brief, reluctantly accepting sigh, then replies, “Very well. But will you at least allow us to follow at a distance, in case something does go wrong?”
“Yes, of course.” The Doctor replies, nodding.
“And what about me? Is there something you’re going to need me to do?” Clara asks.
“Yes, there is, which I’ll explain presently.” The Doctor takes a few moments to finish his biscuit and take a sip of his tea, then he proceeds to explain his plan to everyone.
By the time the Doctor is done speaking, everyone has finished their tea and biscuits. All five individuals take part in clearing away the dishes and remaining food. Once they are finished, they make preparations to leave and investigate the area in which the kidnappings have been concentrated.
While the Doctor is in the midst of putting his coat back on, Madame Vastra approaches him and asks, “What are we going to do with the Cybermite? Take it with us?”
“No, that would be very unwise. It appeared to be completely inactive when I examined it, but doing that may have reactivated> it. If we were to bring it with us, it would become a literal beacon for any Cybermen that are patrolling the city, and lead them right to us. The most prudent thing to do is leave the Cybermite here, in a secure place.”
“I think the storeroom in which we have been keeping it is secure enough. I’ll return it there at once.”
“I’ll come with you. There may be a need to secure it further.” The Doctor says.
“If you wish.” Madame Vastra, nodding, tells him. She and the Doctor return to the sitting room and retrieve the jar containing the Cybermite, then continue on to the storeroom.
...............................
Five minutes later, they have reached it. Looking around for any potential weaknesses in the construction of the storeroom, the Doctor follows Madame Vastra inside.
After placing the jar on a shelf, the Silurian asks, “Is this suitable enough to keep the Cybermite contained?”
“Yes, it is.” The Doctor answers, nodding slightly.
“And what of the additional precaution you spoke of? Will that be necessary?”
Before answering, the Doctor walks from one end of the storeroom to the other, inspecting it more thoroughly. When he is finished, he tells Madame Vastra, “No, it won’t. As you said, this is a sufficiently secure place to keep the Cybermite.”
“Then we can depart to conduct our investigation in the relevant parts of the city?”
“Yes.” The Doctor answers, nodding briefly.
Just as he and Madame Vastra are walking out of the storeroom, Strax approaches them. Looking at the latter of the two, the Sontaran asks, “Has the object been secured, Madame?”
“Yes, it has. Have all the necessary preparations for our outing been made?” Madame Vastra says, closing the door behind her.
“They have, Madame.” Strax answers.
“Then we had best get on our way.” The Silurian remarks. Following that, the trio starts walking to the main part of the house. Once they meet up with Jenny and Clara, they waste no time in going out the door, Jenny only taking a moment to lock it after everyone is outside.
Author: jackdavfan692
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Summary: The Doctor and Clara take a trip to 1890 London after receiving a message from Madame Vastra asking for assistance in solving a rash of disappearances.
Characters/Pairings: Twelve, Clara, and the Paternoster Gang (Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax)
Spoilers: S7 and “The Time Of The Doctor”, specifically, Eleven’s regeneration into Twelve, and the circumstances surrounding it.
Disclaimer: Doctor Who is currently in the care of Steven Moffat
Part I: http://jackdavfan692.livejournal.com/22046.html
Jenny and Clara reach the kitchen after a five-minute walk.
As they go in, Clara asks, “What would you like me to do?”
“Since Madame likes her tea a certain way, I’ll see to that. You can take the biscuits out of the cupboard and arrange them on platters.” Jenny replies amiably, as she gathers everything necessary to make tea.
“Okay, sounds like a plan.” Clara replies, smiling briefly. “Oh, Jenny?”
“Yes, Miss Clara?” She answers, turning back around.
“Where would I find all of that?”
“Oh, silly me! I forgot to tell you.” Jenny replies apologetically. Indicating a lone wooden cupboard against the far left back wall with a nod, she says, “The biscuits are in there.”
She then directs Clara’s attention to the modest amount of shelving above the sideboard set up against the middle portion of the back wall, directly across from them, and tells her, “And the platters are over there.”
“Thanks.” Clara replies with another brief smile.
“You’re welcome.” Following that, each woman starts on her respective task.
The pair works silently for the first few minutes, then Jenny breaks it by turning to Clara and asking her gently, “How are you coping?”
“With the Doctor’s new face and personality, you mean?”
Jenny nods.
“Better than I was during the first few weeks after he changed.” Clara answers, turning around on the wooden stool upon which she is sitting. “I still haven’t completely adjusted to him, though.”
“Because his appearance is so different?” Jenny inquires.
“No, it isn’t that.” Clara answers, shaking her head. “I don’t even mind that he looks older. Four previous forms of him did, and I even met one of them. I saw my Doctor as an elderly old man, too, and that didn’t bother me either.” Clara pauses for a moment, then explains, “It’s the man he seems to have become that I’m having trouble accepting completely.”
“What do you mean?” Jenny asks with confusion.
“Most of the time, he seems like the same person, just with a few minor differences. But other times, like when we’re facing a powerful enemy, he doesn’t at all. Sometimes the methods he uses to defeat them frighten me, and that’s never happened before.”
“I see.” Jenny says, nodding understandingly. “When Madame explained the process to me once, I remember she said changes in personality, sometimes very dramatic, occur.”
“So that’s why you weren’t more shocked when you saw him. I was wondering about that.” Clara remarks.
“Yes, I was as surprised as Madame to see that he had changed, but it wasn’t shocking in any way. Madame told me about the process precisely so it wouldn’t be a shock for me when the Doctor turned up here with a different face. But never mind all that. We were discussing how you feel. All I can think of to say, and I hope I don’t seem insensitive or condescending, is give it time. Only a few months have passed since he changed, and that isn’t quite enough time to fully adjust to a friend becoming an entirely new person.”
“You’re probably right.” Clara agrees, nodding. “Thanks for putting my mind at ease a little.”
“You’re welcome, Miss Clara.” Jenny replies, smiling. “Lovely job arranging the biscuits- very artistic.” she adds.
“Thanks.” Clara says with a slightly amused smile.
At that moment, the subject of their recently concluded conversation opens the door a small amount and looks in.
“How are the preparations for tea going?” The Doctor asks politely.
“Everything’s ready, sir.” Jenny answers. “Why do you ask, if I may be so bold?” She pauses for a moment in thought, then remarks with slight annoyance, “Is Mister Strax becoming impatient? He often does, in spite of knowing Madame’s preferred way to have her tea means the preparation of it takes a longer amount of time.”
The Doctor chuckles briefly, then answers, “No, he isn’t, not yet at least. Madame Vastra just wanted me to let the two of you know we’re about to start discussing the situation you, she and Strax have been investigating.”
“Then we had better get out there.” Clara remarks, getting off the stool and grabbing one platter of cookies with each hand.
Seeing that Jenny has her hands full with the tea tray and the teapot, the Doctor, coming all the way into the kitchen, asks her, “How can I help?”
“We’ll be needing plates for the biscuits.” she answers. “Perhaps you could bring those?”
“Certainly.” The Doctor replies, nodding. “Give me a moment while I get them.”
He then walks over to the sideboard, and takes five small plates down from its middle shelf. With the pieces of flatware in hand, the Doctor makes his way back to the door, where Jenny and Clara are waiting for him. After reaching it, he obligingly holds it open for them, then closes it behind him as he follows them out.
....................................
They return to the sitting room five minutes later, and set their respective burdens down on the table one by one. The Doctor returns to his chair and sits down first, taking off his coat as he does so.
“Let me take that for you, sir.” Strax offers politely.
“Thank you, Strax.” The Doctor replies graciously, turning around in his chair and handing his coat to the Sontaran.
“Certainly, sir.” Strax says, taking it. “Would you like to hold on to this?” He asks, carefully taking the sonic screwdriver part of the way out of the pocket of the coat.
“No. I don’t have any other suitable pockets, so I have nowhere to put it. It will be secure enough in there.”
“Very well, sir.” Strax replies, slipping the device back into the pocket completely. He then looks at Madame Vastra and tells her, “I shall return in a moment.”
The Silurian nods. Having been dismissed, Strax departs to put the Doctor’s coat away.
When he returns a few minutes later, Jenny has already begun serving the tea.
“Have a seat, Strax.” Madame Vastra invites.
“Thank you, Madame.” The Sontaran replies. Once Strax is seated, Jenny promptly hands him a cup of tea, then pours one for herself and sits down in a chair next to Madame Vastra.
“Now that all of us are here, we should get started.” The Silurian declares. She then looks across the table at Clara and inquires, “I trust the Doctor shared the information I gave to him with you?”
Clara nods.
“Good, then we can immediately begin discussing the case in more substantive detail.” Madame Vastra takes a sip of her tea, then resumes. “All of the missing people are young men and women of learning and knowledge. Whoever is behind all these kidnappings chose an advantageous time in which to carry them out- A new trade school is opening in the next few days.”
“Which makes them easy targets.” The Doctor observes, nodding sagely.
“Precisely.” Madame Vastra states, nodding assuredly.
The Doctor takes a sip of his tea, then asks, “Do you have any theories on who, or as the case may be, what is responsible for the kidnappings?”
“I believe it is one of two possibilities- the person is in a position that allows him to have extensive information about the schedule of events, or, like you, has the capability to travel in time.”
“I believe the same.” The Doctor replies, taking a couple of biscuits off one of the platters. “What other information have you learned?” he adds, settling back in his chair.
“That’s all we know at present, but Strax did come across a strange object that might prove to be helpful.” Madame Vastra answers.
“He did?” The Doctor inquires with interest.
The Silurian nods.
“Might I see it?” The Time Lord requests.
“Of course.” Madame Vastra replies. She then looks over at Strax and asks, “Strax, would you be so kind as to retrieve the object and bring it out here?”
“Certainly, Madame.” The Sontaran answers, getting out of his chair. “I will return momentarily.” Following that, Strax departs to get the item.
He returns a few minutes later with a medium sized, sealed jar. Handing it to the Doctor, the Sontaran says, “Here you are, Sir.”
“Thank you.” The Doctor replies, taking it from him. As Strax returns to his chair, the Doctor takes a look at the contents of the jar. Upon seeing what is inside it, his eyes grow wide with alarm. Looking over at Strax, the Doctor asks, “Strax, where did you find this?”
“At the scene of one of the kidnappings.” He answers.
“Did you see or find any other objects like this there?”
“No Sir, only that one.”
“I’m not sure whether to be relieved or concerned by that.” The Doctor remarks. “But no matter. I need to examine the object more thoroughly.” As he stands up and sets the jar on the table, he says sternly, “Absolutely do not open this jar, any of you. Understand?”
The others, with the exception of Clara, are taken aback by the Doctor’s suddenly commanding manner, but they nod in agreement nonetheless.
“Alright, good. I’ll be back in a moment.” Following that, the Doctor turns away and walks off in the direction of the coatroom.
When he returns a few minutes later, he has his sonic screwdriver in hand. As he sits back down, the Doctor says, “The three of you are very lucky nothing has happened to you yet.”
“Why do you say that?” Madame Vastra asks with concern.
While the Doctor conscientiously unscrews the lid of the jar, he replies, “All three of you know about Cybermen at least a bit, yes?”
The trio nods.
As the Doctor takes the small, metallic, insect-shaped object out of the jar, he explains, “This is a Cybermite. It’s what they now use to convert their victims.” He then proceeds to scan it with his sonic screwdriver, during which time, he murmurs, mostly to himself, “It isn’t active or transmitting. Interesting.”
“When you said we were fortunate the Cybermen haven’t yet attacked us, what did you mean, in regard to Strax and I? Dying while protecting Jenny from them?” Madame Vastra inquires.
“That’s only one of many possibilities, none of them good.” The Doctor answers, looking up and across the table at her.
“Many? What others are there? Surely Jenny is the only one of the three of us who is vulnerable to conversion.”
“Not anymore, she isn’t.” The Doctor replies darkly.
“What do you mean, ‘not anymore’?” Madame Vastra asks, the concerned tone of her voice now worried.
“Clara and I encountered them not long ago, and just barely escaped with our lives and minds intact.” The Doctor pauses to put the Cybermite back into the jar and re-secure the lid, then resumes speaking. “The Cybermen are now so advanced that they can convert literally anything.”
“Anything?”
The Doctor nods in response.
“That’s very worrisome.” Madame Vastra adds. “Is there anything else about them we need to know?”
“They repair themselves almost instantaneously, and store information about the incidents, so they can go back and fix whatever vulnerability was exposed.”
“So they are, in effect, completely invulnerable?”
“Very nearly, yes.” The Doctor answers, nodding and picking up his teacup.
“This situation is beginning to sound utterly impossible to resolve.” Madame Vastra says with dismay.
The Doctor sets his teacup back down and pushes it to the side, then leans forward, reaches across the table to take the Silurian’s hand, and tells her reassuringly, “I said nearly, Vastra, not completely.” As the Doctor lays his hand over Madame Vastra’s comfortingly, he adds with a small smile, “Besides, when has there ever been a situation that couldn’t be resolved by all of us working together?”
A faint smile slowly appears on Madame Vastra’s face, and she replies, “You’re right, of course. I don’t know what came over me.”
“I imagine it was due to me explaining what we’re facing in such a dismal manner. I seem to have a habit of doing that now.” The Doctor says as he gradually withdraws his hand and sits back up.
“Perhaps it was.” Madame Vastra replies, nodding. “Nonetheless, the information you have just given us is very important to know. Is there anything more?”
“No, that’s all.” The Doctor answers, once more picking up his teacup. “But I do have a question.”
“Yes?”
The Doctor takes another sip of his tea, then asks, “What part of the city have most of the kidnappings occurred in, and how far away from it was the location where Strax found the Cybermite? Those answers would make it easier to pinpoint the best area to investigate what is going on further.”
“Most of them seem to be concentrated in and around the location where the ceremony celebrating the opening of the trade school is to be held.” Madame Vastra answers. “I’m not sure where Strax found the Cybermite, did you call it?”
The Doctor nods.
“Those details are unknown to me. Both Jenny and I were elsewhere at the time.”
The Doctor then looks over at Strax and asks, “Do you recall where you found the Cybermite, or at least what distance from the site of the ceremony it was?”
“Yes Sir.” Strax answers. “It was a few blocks from that location.”
“So not very far from it, then.” The Doctor muses, nodding.
“No Sir, quite close.” Strax remarks.
“I’m beginning to think whoever or whatever the Cybermen are after is connected in some way to the trade school, or one or more of the individuals involved in the celebratory events for its opening.” The Doctor says, taking a biscuit off his plate, then dipping it into his tea. After finishing the bite he has taken, he resumes. “Madame Vastra, has the schedule of events been finalized?”
“I believe so, yes.” The Silurian answers. “Why?”
“I believe it might prove informative in determining what events the Cybermen are planning to target next, and which individuals involved in those events they are intending to abduct.” The Doctor answers. He pauses for a moment and takes another bite out of the biscuit, then asks, “Do you know if the events schedule has been printed and made available to the public already?”
“It has not, as far as I am aware, but I’m not certain.” Madame Vastra answers.
“If that is the case, I’ll have to borrow it.” The Doctor says.
“What do you mean, ‘borrow’?” Clara asks.
“Take and keep for a short time without asking.” The Doctor answers.
“So you mean steal.”
“If you must call it that, yes. I do intend to return it once we have all the information we need, however.”
“And just how do you plan to do that?” Clara inquires with a wry smile.
“Oh, I have ways, Clara, I have ways.” The Doctor answers, smiling mischievously.
“Will you require our assistance in the endeavor?” Madame Vastra asks.
“No, I don’t believe so.” The Doctor answers. “I think I can manage it on my own.”
Madame Vastra gives a brief, reluctantly accepting sigh, then replies, “Very well. But will you at least allow us to follow at a distance, in case something does go wrong?”
“Yes, of course.” The Doctor replies, nodding.
“And what about me? Is there something you’re going to need me to do?” Clara asks.
“Yes, there is, which I’ll explain presently.” The Doctor takes a few moments to finish his biscuit and take a sip of his tea, then he proceeds to explain his plan to everyone.
By the time the Doctor is done speaking, everyone has finished their tea and biscuits. All five individuals take part in clearing away the dishes and remaining food. Once they are finished, they make preparations to leave and investigate the area in which the kidnappings have been concentrated.
While the Doctor is in the midst of putting his coat back on, Madame Vastra approaches him and asks, “What are we going to do with the Cybermite? Take it with us?”
“No, that would be very unwise. It appeared to be completely inactive when I examined it, but doing that may have reactivated> it. If we were to bring it with us, it would become a literal beacon for any Cybermen that are patrolling the city, and lead them right to us. The most prudent thing to do is leave the Cybermite here, in a secure place.”
“I think the storeroom in which we have been keeping it is secure enough. I’ll return it there at once.”
“I’ll come with you. There may be a need to secure it further.” The Doctor says.
“If you wish.” Madame Vastra, nodding, tells him. She and the Doctor return to the sitting room and retrieve the jar containing the Cybermite, then continue on to the storeroom.
...............................
Five minutes later, they have reached it. Looking around for any potential weaknesses in the construction of the storeroom, the Doctor follows Madame Vastra inside.
After placing the jar on a shelf, the Silurian asks, “Is this suitable enough to keep the Cybermite contained?”
“Yes, it is.” The Doctor answers, nodding slightly.
“And what of the additional precaution you spoke of? Will that be necessary?”
Before answering, the Doctor walks from one end of the storeroom to the other, inspecting it more thoroughly. When he is finished, he tells Madame Vastra, “No, it won’t. As you said, this is a sufficiently secure place to keep the Cybermite.”
“Then we can depart to conduct our investigation in the relevant parts of the city?”
“Yes.” The Doctor answers, nodding briefly.
Just as he and Madame Vastra are walking out of the storeroom, Strax approaches them. Looking at the latter of the two, the Sontaran asks, “Has the object been secured, Madame?”
“Yes, it has. Have all the necessary preparations for our outing been made?” Madame Vastra says, closing the door behind her.
“They have, Madame.” Strax answers.
“Then we had best get on our way.” The Silurian remarks. Following that, the trio starts walking to the main part of the house. Once they meet up with Jenny and Clara, they waste no time in going out the door, Jenny only taking a moment to lock it after everyone is outside.