I just realized that I never did Alice's Wattpad takeover days! O.O That'll be coming up soon, I promise.

Anyway, the Doctor and the Alchemist test how Martha handles being home, and determine the price for her to come with them. Also, if you're interested, the Alchemist's outfit is the picture attached to this chapter. It's a wonder the Doctor stays focused in this episode, lol. :P

Enjoy "The Lazarus Experiment!"

***

"Doctor, I swear, if you leave Martha behind," the Alchemist growled as they headed for the console room.

"I just want to see how she does at home for a while after she's been gone," the Doctor promised. "Then she can keep coming."

"Uh huh." The Alchemist folded her arms. "You were honestly thinking that before I called you out on it?"

He blushed. "Well . . . "

"At least you conceded," she patted his cheek. "But we need to make it seem like we're leaving Martha behind."

"Right."

"OK . . . but if you don't pick her back up . . . "

The Doctor blanched. "We will," he nodded ferociously as they returned to the console room.

Martha smiled at the when they arrived. "Where now?" she asked.

"He's picking it," the Alchemist lied.

The Doctor entered the coordinates, and when the TARDIS landed, he put on the handbrake. "There we go," he said, brushing his hands off. "Perfect landing."

"And it was a tight spot, too," the Alchemist checked. "Nice work. Then again, we're used to these by now."

"Where are we?" Martha asked eagerly.

"The end of the line," the Doctor said. "No place like it."

Martha ran outside to check, but she stopped, eyes wide, when she saw where she was. "Home," she said in disbelief, turning as the Doctor exited, the Alchemist poking her head out of the TARDIS and frowning as she looked around. "You took me home?"

"In fact, the morning after we left, so you've only been gone about twelve hours," the Doctor nodded, then quickly checked the clock to check his math. "No time at all, really."

"But all that stuff we've done: Shakespeare, New New York, old New York?"

"Yep," the Doctor confirmed, fidgeting under the Alchemist's glare. Even when she was faking it for Martha, she was still downright intimidating. "All in one night, relatively speaking. Everything should be just as it was. Books, CDs . . . laundry." He held up a pair of Martha's underwear, which she snatched back with a glare. "So, back where you were, as promised."

Martha blinked, still trying to recover. "This is it?"

"Yeah. I should probably, er . . . "

Martha's phone rang, and the answerphone kicked in. "Hi, I'm out. Leave a message."

"I'm sorry," Martha sighed.

"Martha, are you there?" Francine Jones asked. "Pick it up, will you?"

"It's Mum," Martha waved at it. "It'll wait."

"All right, then. Pretend that you're out, if you like. I was only calling to say that your sister's on TV. On the news, of all things! Just thought you might be interested."

Martha frowned, turning on the TV. "How could Tish end up on the news?"

Sure enough, the Alchemist recognized the young black woman standing behind an old man giving a speech. "Tonight, I will demonstrate a device which will redefine our world," he said.

"She's got a new job," Martha explained. "PR for some research lab."

"With the push of a single button, I will change what it means to be human," he finished.

"Sorry," Martha turned it off. "You were saying we should?"

"Yes, yes, we should," the Doctor nodded quickly. "One trip is what we said."

"Yeah," Martha swallowed. She guessed the Alchemist hadn't been able to convince him, then. "I suppose things just . . . kind of escalated."

"Mmm," the Doctor winced as the Alchemist gave him a glare. "Seems to happen to me a lot."

"Thank you," Martha smiled at them. "For everything."

"It was our pleasure," the Doctor smiled before heading inside.

"I'll get him around," the Alchemist whispered before closing the doors. She waited as the TARDIS dematerialized, before something registered in her mind. "Hang on a minute, did you hear what he said?!"

"Oh, yes," the Doctor nodded, quickly sending the TARDIS back.

The Alchemist poked her head outside, seeing Martha staring at her, stunned. "Did he just say he was going to change what it meant to be human?!"

***

"Oh, black tie," the Doctor complained as they walked down the street, still trying to keep his eyes off of the Alchemist as she worked on adjusting her wrist bracers. Instead of staying modest like Martha, who wore a dress that covered her shoulders, the Alchemist wore a halter top red evening dress, cloth around her neck connecting to her dress in a single place above her bust. She had even decided to skip on wearing flats and was wearing strappy gold heeled sandals and gold wrist bracers. She still had her blaster holstered to her calf, however. "Whenever I wear this, something bad always happens."

"That was just the Cybermen," the Alchemist patted his shoulder.

"Or maybe it's just him," Martha joked. "I think it suits you. In a James Bond kind of way."

"James Bond?" the Doctor asked in interest, looking himself over. "Really?"

"Now she's done it," the Alchemist sighed as they walked up the steps to Lazarus Laboratories.

***

"Oh, look, they've got nibbles!" the Doctor grinned, watching a waiter pass by with food on his tray. "I love nibbles!"

"Focus, Doctor," the Alchemist sighed.

"Sorry."

"Hello," Tish told Martha as she walked up.

"Tish!" Martha grinned, giving her a hug.

"You look great," Tish smiled at her. "So, what do you think? Impressive, isn't it?"

"Very," Martha agreed, looking around.

"And two nights out in a row for you. That's dangerously close to a social life."

"If I keep this up, I'll end up in all the gossip columns," Martha joked.

"You might, actually," Tish played along. "You should keep an eye out for photographers. And Mum, she's coming, too. Even dragging Leo along with her."

"Leo?" Martha asked in disbelief. "In black tie? That, I must see. This is, er - "

"Hang on," Tish frowned at the Alchemist. "She was there last night!"

"Yeah, she was," Martha nodded. "This is the Doctor, and his, er - "

"Fiancée," the Alchemist supplied.

"Yeah," Martha nodded. "His fiancée, the Alchemist."

"Hello," the Doctor grinned.

"OK," Tish frowned, turning back. What kind of a couple was that? "Are they with you?"

"Yeah," Martha said in a duh voice.

"But they're not on the list. How did they get in?"

"They're my plus two," Martha shrugged.

"So, this Lazarus," the Doctor cut in. "He's your boss?"

"Professor Lazarus, yes," Tish nodded. "I'm part of his executive staff."

"She's in the PR department," Martha explained.

Tish raised an eyebrow. "I'm head of the PR department, actually."

Martha blinked. "You're joking!"

"I put this whole thing together," Tish boasted.

"So, do you know what the professor's going to be doing tonight?" the Doctor asked.

"Looks to me like a sonic microfield manipulator," the Alchemist gave her opinion.

Tish sighed. "They're science geeks. I should have known. Got to get back to work now. I'll catch up with you later."

The Doctor frowned as Tish left. "Science geek? What does that mean?"

"We're obsessively enthusiastic about it," the Alchemist answered.

"Oh," he grinned. "Nice!"

"Martha!"

"Mum!" Martha gasped, turning around to give the older woman a huge hug.

"All right," Francine hugged her back, caught off guard. "What's the occasion?"

"What do you mean?" Martha asked, confused. "I'm just pleased to see you, that's all."

" . . . you saw me last night."

Martha tried not to wince. She'd forgotten for a moment about the whole time travel deal. "I know. I just . . . miss you." She turned to her sulking brother. "You're looking good, Leo."

"Yeah," he grumbled. "If anyone asks me to fetch them a drink, I'll swing for him."

"I'll just have water," the Doctor stage whispered, making the Alchemist give a very unladylike snort.

Francine caught it and frowned. "You disappeared last night."

"I just went home," Martha shrugged.

Francine's iron stare landed on the Alchemist. "On your own? With the same woman who interrupted us?"

"She's my friend!" Martha protested. "This is the Alchemist, and her fiancé, the Doctor."

"Alchemist, eh?" Leo raised an eyebrow, holding out a hand for her to shake. "So this would be right up your science alley."

"I'm quite interested in what the professor will be doing," the Alchemist nodded.

Francine, however, was looking at the Doctor dubiously. "Doctor what?" she asked.

"No, it's just the Doctor," Martha shook her head. "We've been doing some work together. That's how I met the Alchemist."

"You all right, mate?" Leo shook his hand.

"It's lovely to meet you, Mrs. Jones," the Doctor smiled. "Heard a lot about you."

"Have you?" Francine raised an eyebrow coolly. "What have you heard, then?"

"What we have heard," the Alchemist cut in, giving the Doctor a look as he looked to her for help, "is that you've been a good mother to your children. And really, the problem with your husband is a shame."

"Yes, I was meaning to thank you for stopping us for making quite a scene," Francine conceded.

The Alchemist shrugged. "I hate it when families fight."

A few taps on a glass cut their attention away, and Lazarus stepped onto the platform his machine sat on. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Professor Richard Lazarus, and tonight, I am going to perform a miracle," he said. "It is, I believe, the most important advance since Rutherford split the atom, the biggest leap since Armstrong stood on the moon. Tonight, you will watch and wonder. Tomorrow, you will wake to a world which will be changed forever."

Lazarus entered his machine, and a few scientists started working the controls. The four columns started spinning around, also rotating around the chamber. A klaxon sounded overhead, and the Doctor looked worriedly around. "Something's wrong," he said.

"It's overloading!" the Alchemist gasped.

The controls started sparking, then began pouring out smoke. The Alchemist was the first to start pushing her way through the guests, then jumped over the controls and started working at them with her bare hands, the Doctor tossing her his sonic screwdriver for her to use. "Somebody stop her!" one of the older women attending shouted. "Get her away from those controls!"

"If that thing goes up, it'll take the whole building with it!" the Doctor defended his Bonded. "Is that what you want?"

The Alchemist looked down and around, then finally yanked a large power cable out of the machine, and it started to slow down, then finally stopped. The Doctor ran up to it with Martha, and together, the two of them pulled the doors open.

A younger man in Lazarus's suit stumbled out, then slowly straightened. The Doctor stared in a mixture of surprise and horror, as the Alchemist's jaw dropped. "Ladies and gentlemen," the man said when he had fully straightened. "I am Richard Lazarus. I am seventy six years old, and I am reborn!"

***

"It can't be the same guy," Martha denied later as Lazarus posed for photographers. "It's impossible. It must be a trick."

"Oh, it's not a trick," the Doctor shook his head. "I wish it were."

"What just happened, then?" Martha asked.

"He just changed what it means to be human," the Alchemist answered simply.

The Doctor walked over in Lazarus's direction, the Alchemist's arm in his, just as the man started wolfing down an entire tray of food. "Richard!" the older woman with him, Lady Thaw, protested.

"I'm famished!" Lazarus said.

"Energy deficit," the Doctor diagnosed. "Always happens with this kind of process."

"You speak as if you see this every day, Mr. . . . ?" Lazarus prompted.

"Doctor," the Doctor answered. "And this is the Alchemist."

"Hi," she smiled.

"And well, no, not every day, but we have some experience of this kind of transformation."

"That's not possible," Lazarus shook his head.

"Using hypersonic sound waves to create a state of resonance?" the Alchemist countered, smirking when Lazarus stared at her. "Yeah, we know it. It's inspired, really."

"You understand the theory, then," Lazarus allowed.

"Enough to know that you couldn't possibly have allowed for all the variables," she deadpanned.

"No experiment is entirely without risk," Lazarus shrugged.

"That thing nearly exploded," the Doctor retorted. "You might as well have stepped into a blender."

"Neither of you are qualified to comment," Thaw frowned at them.

"If I hadn't stopped it, it would have exploded, and none of us would be commenting to begin with," the Alchemist retorted.

"Then I thank you, Alchemist," Lazarus nodded to her. "But that's a simple engineering issue. What happens inside the capsule was exactly what was supposed to happen. No more, no less."

"You've no way of knowing that until you've run proper tests," Martha said.

"Look at me," Lazarus held out his arms. "You can see what happened. I'm all the proof you need."

"This device will be properly certified before we start to operate commercially," Thaw added.

"Commercially?" Martha gawked. "You are joking! That'll cause chaos!"

"Not chaos," Lazarus shook his head. "Change. A chance for humanity to evolve, to improve."

"This isn't about improving," the Doctor snorted. "This is about you and your customers living a little longer."

"Not a little longer, Doctor," Lazarus said. "A lot longer. Perhaps indefinitely."

"Well, at least he didn't try to deny it," the Alchemist muttered.

"Richard, we have things to discuss, upstairs," Thaw said.

Lazarus nodded and turned to them. "Goodbye, Doctor, Alchemist. In a few years, you'll look back and laugh at how wrong you were."

Martha grimaced as he kissed her hand, then headed away with Thaw. "Oh, he's out of his depth," the Doctor sighed. "No idea of the damage he might have done."

"So what do we do now?" Martha asked.

"The building has laboratories in its name," the Alchemist looked around. "Why don't we do a few of our own tests?"

Martha held up her hands. "Lucky I've just collected a DNA sample, then, isn't it?"

The Doctor grinned. "Oh, Martha Jones, you're a star!"

***

"Wow," the Alchemist shook her head, stunned, as she looked at Lazarus's DNA on the computer screen. "Just . . . wow."

"What?" Martha asked, coming around to look.

"Lazarus's DNA," she pointed as the Doctor cleaned up.

"I can't see anything different."

"Just keep looking, you'll see it."

And sure enough, Martha gasped. "Oh, my God! Did that just change? But it can't have!"

"But it did," the Alchemist sighed. "You see, this is why humans shouldn't advance science when they have no idea what it could do."

"It's impossible!"

"And that's two impossible things we've seen so far tonight," the Doctor said, looking over the Alchemist's shoulder to see for himself.

"Don't you love it when that happens?" the Alchemist smiled at him.

"That means Lazarus changed his own molecular patterns," Martha realized.

"Hypersonic sound waves to destabilize the cell structure, then a metagenic program to manipulate the coding in the protein strands," the Doctor nodded.

"In other words, he hacked into his own genes and instructed them to rejuvenate," the Alchemist explained further.

"But they're still mutating now," Martha pointed out.

"Because he missed something," the Doctor nodded. "Something in his DNA has been activated and won't let him stabilize, something that's trying to change him."

"Change him into what?" Martha asked.

"I think we need to find out," the Alchemist frowned. "Mutating DNA is never good."

"That woman said they were going upstairs," Martha said.

"Let's go," the Doctor nodded.

***

They stepped out of the elevator and into an office room. "This is his office, all right," Martha looked around.

"So where is he?" the Doctor asked.

"We could always check back at - " The Alchemist paused behind Lazarus's desk. " - reception," she finished lamely. "Oh, dear."

"What?" Martha asked, walking around with her, then blanched, seeing the skeletal body lying behind the desk. "Is that Lady Thaw?"

"Used to be," the Doctor nodded. "Now, it's just a shell. Had all the life energy drained out, like squeezing the juice out of an orange."

"Lazarus?" Martha asked.

"Most likely," the Alchemist nodded with a scowl.

"So he's changed already?"

"Not necessarily," the Doctor shook his head. "You saw the DNA. It was fluctuating. The process must demand energy. This might not have been enough."

"So he might do this again?" Martha asked worriedly.

"I bet he will," the Alchemist confirmed.

***

"I can't see him," Martha craned her neck to see among the mass of people.

"He can't be far," the Doctor looked around. "Keep looking."

"Hey, you all right, Marth?" Leo asked as he walked up. "I think Mum wants to talk to you."

"Have you seen Lazarus anywhere?" Martha asked as the Alchemist frowned, trying to see as well.

"Yeah. Well, he was getting cozy with Tish a couple of minutes ago - "

"With Tish?" Martha squeaked, eyes widening, making the Time Lords whip around.

"Ah, Doctor," Francine said, walking up.

"Where did they go?" the Alchemist asked.

"Upstairs, I think," Leo shrugged. "Why?"

"Doctor," Francine began.

The Doctor just ran right past her, knocking her glass out of her hand. Quick as a flash, the Alchemist grabbed the flute before it hit the ground. "Sorry about him," she apologized before running after the Doctor.

"I'm speaking to you!" Francine shouted.

"Not now, Mum," Martha ran after them.

***

"Where are they?" Martha asked as the Doctor and the Alchemist scanned with their respective sonic devices.

"Fluctuating DNA will give off an energy signature," the Doctor muttered. "We might be able to pick it up - "

"Got him," the Alchemist said as her blaster beeped.

"Where?" Martha asked. The Alchemist pointed her blaster up. "But this is the top floor," Martha frowned.

"What about the roof?" the Alchemist asked.

***

They found Lazarus speaking with Tish by the edge of the roof. "Between the idea and the reality, between the motion and the act," Lazarus was saying.

"Falls the shadow," the Doctor finished.

Lazarus turned with a frown. "So, the mysterious Doctor knows his Eliot. I'm impressed."

"Martha, what are you doing here?" Tish frowned.

"Tish, get away from him," Martha nodded to Lazarus.

"What?" Tish stared at her. "Don't tell me what to do!"

"I wouldn't have thought you had time for poetry, Lazarus, what with you being busy defying the laws of nature and all," the Doctor tilted his head.

"You're right, Doctor," Lazarus said. "One lifetime's been too short for me to do everything I'd like. How much more I'll get done in two or three or four."

"It doesn't work like that," the Alchemist shook her head. "People can live more in twenty years than some do in eighty. Time doesn't matter. The person does."

"But if it's the right person, what a gift that would be," Lazarus smiled.

"I'm thinking more along the lines of a curse," the Alchemist countered. "Have you seen what you've done to yourself?"

"Who are you to judge me?" Lazarus scowled.

"Over here, Tish," Martha ordered.

"You have to spoil everything, don't you?" Tish complained, glaring. "Every time I find someone nice, you have to go and find fault."

"Tish, he's a monster!" Martha protested as Lazarus suddenly spasmed and fell.

"I know the age thing's a bit freaky, but it works for Catherine Zeta-Jones," Tish began.

The Alchemist raised her blaster, pointing it over Tish's shoulder. "Move," she ordered.

Tish opened her mouth, then slowly turned to see Lazarus, transformed into a bony scorpion with a human face, towering over her. "What's that?" she gasped.

"Run!" the Doctor shouted.

Tish took his advice and ran to Martha, the two sisters grabbing each other's hands. The Alchemist brought up the rear as the Doctor slammed the roof door shut. "Are you OK?" Martha asked Tish.

"I was going to snog him!" Tish gasped.

The lights flickered and went out, a tannoy going off. "Security one. Security one. Security one."

"What's happening?" Martha asked as the doors closed.

"An intrusion," Tish answered. "It triggers a security lockdown, kills most of the power, stops the lifts, seals the exits."

"He's breaking through the door," the Alchemist deduced. "Take the stairs."

The Doctor sonicked open the door, and they heard the sound of a crash from behind them. "He's inside!" Martha gasped.

"We haven't got much time!" the Doctor practically pushed the Joneses down the stairs.

***

They barreled out of the stairwell door, seeing people complaining about the lockdown. "Tish, is there another way out of here?" the Doctor asked.

"There's an exit in the corner, but it'll be locked now," Tish nodded.

"Martha, setting fifty four," the Doctor tossed his sonic screwdriver to her. "Hurry." He jumped onto the platform and shouted to get everyone's attention. "Listen to me!" he called. "You people are in serious danger! You need to get out of here, right now!"

"Don't be ridiculous!" one woman snorted. "The biggest danger here is choking on an olive."

"Then that's a pretty big killer olive," the Alchemist pointed at the mutant on the mezzanine.

Lazarus jumped down into the reception room, crushing a table, and making everyone scream.

"Mum, get back!" Leo called, pushing Francine out of the way, when he was thrown across the room by Lazarus's tail.

"Leo!" Francine cried.

"Over here!" Martha called, waving from the exit door. "This way! Everyone, downstairs, now! Hurry!"

As the mutant turned upon a group of frozen guests, the Alchemist aimed her blaster and started firing. The mutant howled and sprang towards her, but she backed away towards a corridor. "Come on!" she shouted. "What's the point of all this? You're not gonna be in control, ever! Killing people won't help you. Why can't you accept you're just a stupid fool? You're a joke, Lazarus! You're a footnote in the history of failure!"

Lazarus snarled and leapt after her, and the Alchemist quickly ran down the corridor. "Alice!" the Doctor shouted after her.

"Get the others out!" she answered telepathically.

"Martha!" the Doctor turned to the black woman, eyes wide.

"There you go," she tossed him his screwdriver back.

"Thank you," he nodded, running for the exit. "Get your family safe!"

***

"It's no good, Alchemist," Lazarus taunted as the Alchemist hid along the pipes and control panels. "You can't stop me."

"You know, I could swear that's the same arrogance when you swore nothing had gone wrong with your device," the Alchemist countered.

"The arrogance is yours. You can't stand in the way of progress."

"You call feeding on innocent people progress? You're delusional!"

"It is a necessary sacrifice."

"That's not your decision to make."

There was silence for a moment, then a voice above her said, "Peekaboo."

The Alchemist squeaked, then looked up to see the mutant hanging above her. "Oh, here we go," she quipped, running off again.

***

The Doctor ran down the stairs to the main entrance, seeing people pile up by the glass doors. "We can't get out," Tish looked around, panicked, as Martha helped Leo and Francine out. "We're trapped!"

"No, there's an override somewhere," the Doctor looked around. "Where's the security desk?" When Tish didn't answer, he growled. "Tish!"

"There," Tish finally snapped out of it and pointed.

The Doctor jumped over the desk, then sonicked the control panel. The lights flickered back on, and the crowd streamed out of the doors.

The Doctor ran over to Martha to see her helping with Leo, who looked like he had a concussion. "I'm going back in," he said.

"The Alchemist?" Martha guessed, looking back.

"She led Lazarus off, I'm going to get her," he nodded.

"You can't!" Francine stared at Martha. "You saw what that thing did! It'll kill you!"

"No one was killed," the Doctor glared at her. "Just be glad Alice had her blaster with her!"

"That's exactly why I've got to go," Martha nodded.

Francine glared at the Doctor. "It's because of you, isn't it? You're what's happened to my daughter. That's why she's changed."

"Seems to happen to every single person we meet," the Doctor shrugged.

"The Alchemist was buying us time," Tish told Martha. "Don't you think she'd want you both to get out, too?"

"I made her a promise," the Doctor shook his head, backing up to the glass doors. "I'm not leaving her."

"Me, neither," Martha agreed, pulling away from her family.

"Martha!" Francine shouted as the two ran into the building and went for the stairwell.

***

The Alchemist quickly unscrewed one of the lights in one of the labs, then turned on a Bunsen burner and put out the flame. Finally, she managed to reconnect a tube from a gas fitting and crouched behind one of the tables as the mutant entered. "More hide and seek, Alchemist?" it hissed. "How disappointing. Why don't you come out and face me?"

The Alchemist quickly pumped out the gas. "Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately?" she asked. "Sorry, but I've got my Bonded."

She ran for the door and turned on the light switch, running off as the laboratory exploded.

As she turned the corner, she nearly ran straight into the Doctor. "Whoa!" she stumbled.

"Hello!" the Doctor grinned, giving her a hug.

"We heard the explosion," Martha explained as the Alchemist took a few deep breaths. "We guessed it was you."

"I blasted Lazarus," the Alchemist shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Did you really?" the Doctor tilted his head to look down the corridor.

"Did you kill him?" Martha asked.

An inhuman roar came from the labs, and the Alchemist winced. "I'd say I annoyed him."

***

"What now?" Martha asked as they ran into the reception room. "We've just gone round in a circle!"

"We can't lead him outside," the Doctor shook his head, then opened the chamber door. "Come on, get in!"

They crowded inside, the women having to press against the back for the Doctor to get in. "Are we hiding?" Martha asked.

"No, we're preparing to be eaten," the Alchemist said sarcastically. "This is going to cook us for him!"

"He knows we're here," the Doctor told Martha. "But this is his masterpiece. I'm betting he won't destroy it, not even to get at us."

"But we're trapped," Martha pointed out.

"Well, yeah, that's a slight problem," the Doctor admitted.

Martha stared at him. "You mean you don't have a plan?"

"Yes, the plan was to get inside here!"

"Then what?"

"Then he makes it up as he goes along," the Alchemist rolled her eyes.

"Exactly," the Doctor winced.

"In your own time, then," Martha grumbled, then squeaked as the Doctor tried getting to his pocket. "Hey!"

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," he apologized, trying not to bump into them. "Here we are!"

"What're you going to do with that?" Martha asked as he pulled out his sonic screwdriver.

"Improvise," the Doctor shrugged, dropping down to the floor, popping up one of the panels open.

"I still don't understand where that thing came from," Martha said. "Is it alien?"

"No," the Alchemist shook her head. "It's actually human in origin, for once."

"Human?" Martha echoed. "How can it be human?"

"Most likely from dormant genes in Lazarus's DNA. The energy field from this thing must've reactivated them, and they're starting to become dominant."

"So it's a throwback?"

"An option evolution rejected for humans millions of years ago, but the potential is still there, locked away in your genes. All forgotten, and then Lazarus unlocked it by mistake."

"It's like Pandora's box."

"Exactly."

"By the way, nice shoes," the Doctor complimented them both.

The Alchemist kicked him with one. "Keep working!"

The machine started to whine, and Martha looked up. "Doctor, what's happening?"

The Doctor winced. "Sounds like he's switched the machine on."

"And . . . that's not good, is it?"

"Well, I was hoping it was going to take him a little bit longer to work that out."

"How's timing coming along?" the Alchemist looked down.

"Nearly done."

"Well, what're you doing?" Martha asked, eyes wide.

"I'm trying to set the capsule to reflect energy rather than receive it," the Doctor answered.

"Will that kill it?"

"When he transforms, he's three times his size. Cellular triplication, so he's spreading himself thin."

"We're going to - mmph!"

The Doctor looked up to see the Alchemist clap a hand over Martha's mouth, muffling her words. "Thank you," he nodded to her.

"How much longer?" she asked.

"One more," he promised.

The energy was released, and then it blasted elsewhere. The machine slowed down, and the Doctor stepped out, looking around. Martha sighed in relief as the Alchemist let her go. "I thought we were going to go through the blender then."

"Trust is the price for coming with us," the Alchemist said. "High price to pay, but it's worth it. It really shouldn't take that long to reverse the polarity, though."

"I must be a bit out of practice," the Doctor nodded.

"Oh, God," Martha stared at Lazarus, who was naked and facing down. "He seems so human again! It's kind of pitiful."

"Looks are deceiving," the Alchemist told her. "Eliot saw it, too."

"This is the way the world ends," the Doctor nodded. "Not with a bang, but with a whimper."

***

"She's here!" Tish gasped, running and hugging Martha when she exited, followed by the Doctor and the Alchemist.

"Ah, Mrs. Jones," the Doctor smiled as Francine approached. "We still haven't finished out chat - "

Francine slapped him, hard, and the Doctor stumbled back, holding onto his cheek as the Alchemist hurried to support him. "Keep away from my daughter!" Francine hissed.

"Mum, what are you doing?" Martha stared at her.

"All of the mothers," the Doctor complained as the Alchemist patted his back. "Every time."

"He is dangerous," Francine pointed at him. "I've been told things."

"What are you talking about?" Martha asked, stunned.

"Look around you," Francine waved. "Nothing but death and destruction."

"But some of you are still alive, isn't that right?" the Alchemist raised an eyebrow. "Not going to be thankful for that, are you?"

Francine glared at her, but before she could say anything, Martha cut in. "This isn't their fault. They saved us, all of us!"

"And it was Tish who invited everyone to this thing in the first place," Leo added. "I'd say technically, it's her fault."

Tish elbowed him in the ribs, but a loud crash made them turn. The Doctor sprinted in that direction, the Alchemist running after him, even with her heels. Martha made to go with them, but Francine grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Leave them," she ordered.

Martha shook her head and pulled away, running after her friends. "Martha?" Tish asked, starting after her as well.

"Not you, too!" Francine groaned.

"Sorry," Tish shook her head, then followed her sister.

The Time Lords were examining the desiccated corpses in the back of the ambulance. "Lazarus, back from the dead," the Doctor sighed. "Should have known, really."

"That is not funny," the Alchemist rubbed her forehead.

"Where's he gone?" Martha asked as she and Tish ran up.

The Alchemist scanned with her blaster, then pointed to the church. "That way. It's the church."

"Cathedral," Tish said. "It's Southwark Cathedral. He told me."

***

"Do you think he's in here?" Martha whispered as they entered the cathedral.

"Where would you go if you were looking for sanctuary?" the Doctor pointed out.

"Nice," the Alchemist grumbled as they entered the cathedral's sanctuary.

The four approached the altar, and the Doctor slowed, seeing Lazarus shivering under a red blanket. "I came here before, a lifetime ago," he said. "I thought I was going to die then. In fact, I was sure of it. I sat here, just a child, the sound of planes and bombs outside."

"The Blitz," the Doctor nodded.

"You've read about it."

"We were there," the Alchemist winced.

"You're too young," Lazarus pointed out.

"So are you," the Doctor countered.

Lazarus laughed, then cringed when his body made painful cracking noises. "In the morning, the fires had died, and I was still alive. I swore I'd never face death like that again, so defenseless. I would arm myself, fight back, defeat it."

"That's what you were trying to do today?"

"That's what I did today."

"What about the other people who died?"

"They were nothing. I changed the course of history."

"Any of them might have, too," the Alchemist glared, stepping up. "If it's one thing I've learned about the human race, it's that no one isn't important. Facing death is part of being human. No one can change that."

"No, Alchemist, avoiding death, that's being human," Lazarus glared at her. "It's our strongest impulse, to cling to life with every fiber of being. I'm only doing what everyone before me has tried to do. I'm simply been more successful."

"Look at yourself!" the Doctor scoffed. "You're mutating! You've no control over it. You call that a success?"

"I call it progress," Lazarus answered. "I'm more now than I was. More than just an ordinary human."

"Another thing I learned," the Alchemist folded her arms. "There's no such thing as an ordinary human."

"He's going to change any minute!" Martha whispered.

"I know," the Doctor nodded, then looked at the Alchemist. "Can you get him up into the bell tower? I might have an idea that'll work."

The Alchemist tilted her head up to look. "Easily."

"You're so sentimental, both of you," Lazarus scorned. "Maybe you are older than you look."

"I'm old enough to know that a longer life isn't always a better one," the Doctor nodded. "In the end, you just get tired. Tired of the struggle, tired of losing everyone that matters to you, tired of watching everything turn to dust. If you live long enough, Lazarus, the only certainty left is that you'll end up alone."

"That's a price worth paying," Lazarus shook his head.

"Is it?"

"I will feed soon."

"I'm not going to let that happen," the Doctor shook his head.

"You've not been able to stop me so far."

"No, you haven't been able to stop me so far," the Alchemist said, backing up towards the tower. "I thought you had an eye on the finer prizes? Wanna bet if you can catch me?"

"Alice!" the Doctor shouted as Lazarus lunged for her.

The Alchemist simply turned and ran for the bell tower. Martha and Tish hurried after her, and Martha gawked at her. "What are you doing?"

"Keeping you out of trouble!" Tish answered.

The Alchemist poked her head down, and frowned at them both. "Keeping me out of trouble?" she repeated.

"Have you seen what you've done today?" Martha asked.

She opened her mouth to reply when there was an awful cracking noise. "Did you hear that?" Tish whispered.

"He's changed again," Martha realized.

"Come on," the Alchemist looked up. "We're going up."

"Namara!" the Doctor called.

The Alchemist looked out one of the passageways and down the central tower to see the Doctor looking up. "Hi!" she said cheerfully.

"Take him to the top," he said. "The very top of the bell tower, got that?"

"Up to the top," she confirmed, ducking back inside.

"But then what?" Martha asked.

"Trust," the Alchemist repeated, heading up. "That's the price to pay."

"There's nowhere else to go," Tish looked around the bell tower. "We're trapped!"

"This is where he said to bring him," Martha shrugged.

"All right, so we're not trapped," Tish grumbled. "We're bait."

"And remember, both of you ran up here voluntarily," the Alchemist pointed out. "The Doctor knows what he's doing."

"Trust," Martha repeated to herself. "That's the price."

Lazarus snarled as he approached. "Ladies."

"Stay behind me," the Alchemist ordered. "If he gets me, run for it, and go down the stairs. You'll have enough time."

"But - " Tish began.

"Just do it!" the Alchemist snapped.

Lazarus leapt onto the bell, lashing out with his tail. Martha and Tish were thrown to the side, and the Alchemist had to dive forward to avoid being hit. She scrambled to her feet, Lazarus going after her, and she weaved back and forth. Lazarus suddenly swept his tail under her feet, and she fell down towards the walkway, but she quickly grabbed onto the railing. Lazarus brought his tail upon her fingers, and she fell again, screaming before she scrambled for a grip on the actual walkway. "Alchemist!" Martha cried.

"Get away from her!" Tish shouted.

Notes from the organ below started reverberating up, making everyone wince. The Alchemist ducked her head down, cringing, before she felt the bell fall past her, carrying Lazarus with it. She sighed in relief, then asked, "A little help?"

Martha crawled over and took one of her wrists, Tish taking the other. "We've got you," Martha answered, pulling her up. "Hold on."

"Alice?" the Doctor shouted from below.

"We're OK!" the Alchemist replied. "We're all OK!" She took a few deep breaths, then looked back down the tower. "Thanks, by the way."

"It's your Doctor you should be thanking," Tish answered.

"Told you he'd think of something."

"He cut it a bit fine there, didn't he?"

"He always does," Martha giggled. "It's more fun that way."

"Who is he?" Tish asked. "Who are both of you?"

"Oh," the Alchemist shrugged. "We're just passing through."

***

The Doctor was waiting for them at the bottom of the tower. "I didn't know you could play!" Martha laughed as she hugged him.

"Oh, well, you know," he grinned smugly. "If you hang around with Beethoven, you're bound to pick a few things up."

"He especially liked the playing loud part," the Alchemist rolled her eyes.

The Doctor tilted his head in her direction. "Sorry?" he asked playfully.

***

"I can see a pattern developing," Martha smiled. "You should take more care in the future . . . and the past . . . and whatever other time period you find yourself in."

"It's fun, though," the Alchemist smiled. "Isn't it?"

"Yeah," Martha smiled.

"So, what do you say?" the Doctor offered. "One more trip?"

Martha was ready to accept, but she shook her head. "No," she said. "Sorry."

"What?" the Alchemist blinked, surprised.

"I thought you liked it!" the Doctor was equally taken aback.

"I do, but I can't go on like this," Martha shook her head. "One more trip. It's not fair."

"What're you talking about?" the Doctor frowned.

"I don't want to be just a passenger anymore," Martha answered. "Someone you take along for a treat. If that's how you still see me, I'd rather stay here."

The Alchemist raised an eyebrow at the Doctor. "It's your call," she said.

The Doctor shrugged, then nodded. "OK, then," he told Martha. "If that's what you want."

Martha scowled. "Right," she said. "But you've already said goodbye once today. It's probably best if you just go."

The Doctor frowned at the Alchemist as Martha turned her back. "Did I say that the wrong way?" he asked.

"Yes, you did."

Martha turned back, confused, to see the Time Lords looking at her in amusement. "What is it?" she asked.

"What?" the Doctor shrugged. "I said OK."

Martha blinked. "Sorry?"

The Doctor made an exaggerated nodding motion to the TARDIS. "OK!"

Martha gasped, and the Alchemist grinned. "I told you I'd make him do it," she winked.

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" Martha cheered, hugging them both happily.

"Well, you were never really just a passenger, were you?" the Doctor asked with a smile, closing the TARDIS door behind him.

"Like I told Lazarus," the Alchemist put an arm around Martha. "There's no such thing as an ordinary human."

Martha smiled at her as the three of them headed down the TARDIS hallway to change out of their black tie. She should have known better, that the Alchemist would convince the Doctor.

After all, trust was a price worth paying.

***

And a warning . . . trust will be a very big part in this series. }:)

Now that this is finally updated, I get to work with "Age of Ultron!" :D It's seriously so much fun integrating the Time Lords in. It'll be great.

See you all later!