where's that "I just met [character name] but I would protect them with my life" meme cause I finally met Liv Chenka and Helen Sinclair and I would protect them with my life
Rating: T
Prompt: "Possession"
Summary: Liv Chenka wakes up disoriented, finding herself back at 107 Bakerstreet. The last thing she remembers is being back in the TARDIS with the Doctor and Helen, travelling, being happy… it had never occurred to her to return to 2020 London, so how did this happen? The reason becomes apparent when she realises her mind and body are no longer just her own.
Inner Workings
Liv stirred, dragging herself out of the depth of sleep that seemed somehow deeper, darker, than she’d ever experienced. There was a discomfort to it. Something that made her long for the light of day, a suffocating darkness that lingered at the edges of her vision that she desperately tried to chase it away. Slowly, her eyes regained focus, adjusted to the dark and she blinked, again and again, confused, as what she saw didn’t match what she had expected to find. She wasn’t in her bedroom in the TARDIS, that she was sure of. The room looked oddly familiar and yet, she couldn’t place it.
And then, she noticed a presence next to her, making her bolt upright.
As she looked around, she found Tania in bed next to her and for a moment, confusion gave way to a bout of sadness. Somehow, for a moment, she had thought that by some miracle, it was Helen that had snuck into her bed. But it wasn’t her bed. It was Tania’s bed. It was her bedroom at 107 Bakerstreet. How was she back here? And more importantly: Why?
When they had left Twenty-first Century London behind, she hadn’t looked back. Things had been fun while they lasted, but her life was out there in the universe, in the TARDIS and with-
Was Helen here too? Had they all returned? Had they maybe been transported back in time? The med-tech’s mind was reeling, but she didn’t dare wake Tania in search of explanations, she feared if she did, she might expect a kiss good morning or the like…
Liv had moved on. After the vampires and Albie… she’d dared to hope. She felt closer to Helen than ever and maybe, if they could stay true on their course they would finally cross the line she had longed to for so long. Finally, it seemed achievable. This sudden turn of events was definitely a spanner in the works.
She had to find the Doctor and Helen, see where they had got off to. See if they were experiencing the same throwback. See what they could do to find the TARDIS and be on their way again.
Careful not to wake Tania, she wiggled out of the duvet and swung her legs out of bed. She made it halfway across the bedroom when a voice spoke her name but it wasn’t Tania’s.
“Liv Chenka…” It was like a whisper on the wind, like a gust of cold air and the med-tech shivered suddenly, the fine hairs on the back of her neck standing to attention. Slowly, she looked around but found the room empty, safe for Tania’s sleeping shape.
Liv shook her head to herself, she was hearing things.
“Don’t go, Liv…” the voice sounded once more and this time, the med-tech spun around at some speed, sure of what she had heard. Her eyes darted around the room but again, there was nothing. Not a trace of movement.
“What the hell is going on here…” Liv muttered under her breath and tried to carry on to the door but suddenly, her legs wouldn’t move. It was as though she was clued to the floor and she gasped and groaned, trying to pull herself free but to no avail.
“Whoever you are, you better leave and-” the med-tech started, casting a glance around to Tania to make sure she was okay and she noticed something odd and terrifying. It looked as though she wasn’t breathing. But as Liv looked around, she realised nothing else was moving either, not even the curtain across the open window and the noise of the city of London, that was ever present, even at this hour, had completely died away. It was as if time stood still. The world was frozen.
“I hope you don’t expect to leave here, not when I’ve gone through such pains to bring you back,” the voice was close now, as if it was whispering in her very ears.
“What?” Liv tried to sound defiant but in her heart, she was terrified. She couldn’t get a handle on what was going on, she felt trapped. She looked around, trying to find a trace, something, anything belonging to the voice that was oddly familiar as well. She caught sight of herself in the mirror on the wardrobe and her blood ran cold. There was a red hue about her: wrapping around her legs and creeping up her back, swivelling and swerving around her. And the voice spoke again.
“Oh you probably don’t remember what happened, your fragile human minds… you just shrink into the background… let me enlighten you.”
And it was like a flash of light, burning, searing its way through her consciousness. Suddenly, Liv had clarity on what had brought her here and it was horrific.
Her mind was not her own anymore. She couldn’t pinpoint when it had happened, maybe she had been there since their first encounter at the National Museum, but something had started stirring at the back of her mind and how had she been to know when the process had been so gradual? And when the result was losing control and memory of what had happened. The Red Lady had come to share her mind and she had been busy: wrestling control from her little by little until she had felt strong enough to enact her desires: make Liv leave the TARDIS and break up the people that had been her downfall.
“No!” Liv gasped and hurtful, cruel memories flooded her mind of her telling the Doctor she wanted to leave and return to Twenty-first century Earth. Surely her friends should have realised she never would ask for that, shouldn’t they? The Doctor had been confused, clueless and Helen? Helen had been devastated and instantly, the med-tech choked up, tears pooling in her eyes and a sudden wave of nausea came over her. She heaved and bent over onto her legs, fighting to hold herself together. What had she done? What had she been made to do? Her words to Helen had been cruel too. That her company couldn’t make up for how much she was missing Tania, when the very opposite was true. As lovely as Tania was, she never would be able to replace Helen in her life. And her best friend had cried bitter tears, she had begged and pleaded for her not to go, Liv’s shirt had been wet through with tears as the linguist had held on to her, trying to hold her back. But the med-tech had walked away, with barely a goodbye.
Tania had been delighted and it seemed, the Red Lady had made her play the part in return. Liv felt sick to her stomach and she collapsed forward, the hold on her legs easing away. There was hardly need to hold her back now that she knew there was no TARDIS, no Doctor and no Helen to run to. What was she going to do?
“Why are you doing this, Caleera?” Liv couldn’t suppress a sob. She felt as though her heart was being ripped out of her chest. She couldn’t breathe.
“I’m not Caleera,” she voice snapped back, evidently offended and she snarled: “Caleera was weak. I’m the Red Lady.”
“But aren’t you one and the same?” The med-tech’s head was spinning.
“Caleera is dead and we are the echoes.” Even in her grief stricken mind, Liv understood that this entity was nothing like the woman that had chosen to give up her life in the end to stop Padrac. This was a splinter, and a malevolent yet powerful one at that, like the Red Lady in the paintings had been.
“Why are you doing this?” She didn’t expect much of an answer, villains rarely had a sound reason, but why her?
“Because I can,” she answered and there was a mocking quality to her done, terrifying and cold.
“But-” What was she to respond to that?
“I know you don’t really want to be here, but it was the perfect excuse was it not?” The Red Lady hummed, evidently delighted as Liv squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the beginnings of a panic attack. She couldn’t let herself fall apart but she didn’t have the first idea of what to do. “And the things we can do, Liv,” she was whispering to her now in a seductive voice that made the med-tech want to gag. “The havoc we can wreck. Just you see.”
“No, no no no, stay out of my head,” she whimpered as a flash of pain ran through her skull. She pressed her hands to the sides of her head.
“It’s far too late for that,” the Red Lady laughed. “How else do you think I made you leave her?”
“Helen-” The memory of her best friend’s heartbroken expression flashed up in her mind and she sobbed.
“She is out of your reach now.”
“No, please, I-”
“You have chosen this life, Liv,” the Red Lady giggled cruelly.
“I didn’t, I don’t want to be here, I want to be with Helen, I-” Liv tried to be strong, argue back, but the pain was becoming unbearable. Through it all, the voice carried on, turning soft, melodic.
“Shhh, it’s alright,” she hummed and the med-tech felt the control over herself slipping. Her body moved without her say-so as she slowly got to her feet. “Everything will be fine,” the Red Lady carried on and walked her back to the bed. There was nothing Liv could do to stop herself. She was completely out of control and yet aware. It was terrifying. “You just sleep now. Your girlfriend is so happy to have you back.” And she lay down as her mind sunk deeper, going to sleep felt like drowning and all the while the voice was with her, whispering to her. “And we will have so much fun, Liv. I promise you.”
--
When Helen woke, she was almost more tired than she had been when she had gone to sleep. Her night had been fitful and restless, tossing and turning and she found herself tangled in her sheets thoroughly uncomfortable. She gave a heavy sigh but made no attempt at getting up. This was just what her nights were like now. She would keep feeling worse until she eventually passed out from exhaustion in the library, finding a brief period of rest, only to be reminded of the emptiness of her life when she woke again.
Because that’s what her life was now: Empty. Lonely. The Doctor tried but he wasn’t very good at it. He said he understood, he did all the right things, but in the end, what did he know about human connection? About heartbreak? About love? How was she supposed to make him understand that feeling of absence of everything she had built her life around. She knew he missed Liv too, she had been his companion through so many adventures, but Helen knew she missed her in a far more profound and ruinous way. When Liv Chenka had left the TARDIS, she had taken her light with her. The guiding light that Helen had been following for so long. As darkness had fallen over her life, her will to live it was slowly slipping away.
“Good morning, Miss Sinclair!” The Doctor greeted her cheerfully as she finally made for the console room, hoping for some sort of distraction rather than allowing herself to suffocate in her dark thoughts. She knew it wasn’t healthy and yet, every day getting out of bed became harder.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” she mumbled, fully aware that she was being flippant but that wasn’t something she could help.
“Sleep well?” The Time Lord enquired, trying to retain his positivity but his companion made it hard for him.
“What do you think?” She gave back with a sigh. He gave her a compassionate once-over, looking as though he was about to launch into another rendition of ‘I know you miss Liv, I do too, but she made her decision when she left’.
Today, however, things took a surprising turn:
"I think I might have something to cheer you up,” he told her, almost too earnestly and started working the controls, setting a course.
"Where are we going?" The linguist frowned, watching his actions for clues. She was no stranger to flying the TARDIS, she could have worked out the coordinates for herself, but the Doctor volunteered them before she could.
"London 2021,” he said and Helen’s face fell.
"Doctor, no! I don't want to go, I-" A hot flush of panic shot through her body, for a second, she couldn’t breathe.
"There are strange things happening there, they need to be investigated,” the Doctor told her calmly. “And if I know Liv, if she's noticed, she will be right in the thick of it." He looked to his friend expectantly. "We can check up on her?” He suggested with a compassionate smile.
"No. I don't want to! I don't want to see her!” She argued immediately, flushing with anger as she fought tears. Immediately, her mind shot back to the moment when Liv had walked away and left her life, but not without doing as much damage as she possibly could. It had been one of the worst moments of her life, if not the worst. The revelation that she wanted to leave had been like a slap in the face, seemingly coming out of nowhere. There had been no noticeable precursor to it, everything had been perfectly fine, more than fine actually. They had been having a lot of fun, happy to be back to travelling and exploring the universe. Helen had been SO happy. And suddenly, in the most unexpected turn of events, her life derailed. The next slap followed, when Liv had stated she wanted to return to Tania. In the months since they had left Bakerstreet behind, the med-tech had barely mentioned her former girlfriend. There had been no indication that she had missed her or regretted her choice of leaving her. Helen’s head had been reeling, she hadn’t understood what was going on around her, and when she realised that her friend had been serious, she had been prompted into desperate action.
Helen had told Liv everything. All the things she had kept inside that she had never dared to utter for fear of rejection and ruining their friendship. She told her that she didn’t want her to leave, that she couldn’t imagine her life without her… and that she had fallen in love with her.
And Liv had given her a pitying look and a cruel laugh.
“I don’t have any feelings for you, Helen. None whatsoever. Least of all love. What possibly gave you the idea that I might?” She had turned away to leave and Helen had broken down as her life shattered around her, alongside her heart.
"Helen,” the Doctor grabbed her arms, pulling her out of her terrible thoughts, returning her to the here and now and demanding her attention.
"No, I don't think I can do that, not after everything she said and-" Helen whispered, as she didn’t trust herself to speak up. Tears pooled in her eyes.
"And don't you think that was out of character?" The Time Lord asked gently.
"What?" She didn’t understand what he meant, her mind was preoccupied.
"We have both known her for years, do you not think what happened and the things she said, to you particularly… do you think that was like her?" He repeated and the linguist hung her head.
"No…" She mumbled, biting her bottom lip anxiously. "It was cruel and-"
"Liv Chenka is many things but cruel isn't one of them,” the Doctor reminded her softly and she took a shaky breath.
"I suppose not…" She mumbled and he gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
"Obviously, I don't know if what's going on in London has anything to do with her, but now that we've given her some space, I would like to check up on her. You don't have to say or do anything if you don't want to. You can leave it to me, but I'm worried about her," he explained gently. "And I want to make sure she's okay. Even if she doesn't want to come back."
"Okay…" Helen whispered, she could hardly refuse when her heart ached for Liv.
—
Liv watches the flames lick up the side of the National Museum. She was lingering in the shadows of the fountain in the square, watching, torn between horror and delight as the two entities in her mind did battle. She stood impassively, as the Red Lady laughed and Liv cried in the prison of her mind. She had tried to fight her; she had really tried, but there was nothing she had to hold against the raw power of the Red Lady. She had made herself at home in her body and used it as though it was her own. The med-tech herself had become nothing but a mute bystander, looking on in terror as she watched herself set fire to the place she had first met the woman she loved - and she wasn’t talking about Tania, who the Red Lady used as well. As happy as she seemed to have Liv back, the med-tech couldn’t imagine she would feel the same way if she knew she was there against her will. Tania had a strong moral compass, was compassionate and kind, she was the last person who would want to take advantage of her in this way.
Now, Liv watched the National Theatre stand in flames, the fire brigade rushing closer and straight past her as if she wasn’t even there. And in many ways she felt like she wasn’t. At this point, all the med-tech hoped for was that someone would stop her. If they sent her to prison for arson, she would be no less trapped than she was now, but at least she wouldn’t be able to hurt people anymore. Her life - the one she wanted to lead and ached for - was over anyway.
And then, suddenly, a familiar wheezing and groaning filled the air. Only a few meters from her, the TARDIS materialised. Joy flooded her body, though the laugh of relief never reached her expression. Liv’s body remained impassive, as she watched, hopeful for the first time in weeks and she could feel the Red Lady, thrumming with anger and perhaps even concern? She couldn’t be sure but she was unsettled as they watched the TARDIS door open and Liv released a sob of both joy and sorrow as she spotted Helen.
---
"Oh my God-" Helen gasped and clasped her hands to her mouth. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Her former place of work was engulfed by flames, dark smoke filling the square in front of the museum. She took a few unsteady steps forward, she wanted to help in some way but was at a complete loss of what to do.
"Step back Helen, there is nothing we can do here… let the fire department do their job,” the Doctor took her burden of decision from her shoulders as he pulled her back. The London fire service was already at work, though their attempts at putting out the flames seemed pitiful in relation to the inferno.
"Why are we here? What are we investigating?" She asked weakly, still in shock.
"Random acts of vandalism, arson, destruction of property, terrorism…" The Doctor hummed thoughtfully and Helen frowned, confused.
"But-"
"Someone is wreaking havoc in London,” he explained and she nodded her understanding, turning her attention back to the museum.
"I didn't like working here. I was shouting against walls…” She mumbled sorrowfully. “But I wouldn't have wanted it destroyed, all that culture, all that knowledge…" It was a terrible thought.
And then, suddenly, a familiar voice spoke.
"Lovely, isn't it? The flames."
Helen and the Doctor whipped around.
"Liv!" The Time Lord exclaimed while his companion was utterly stunned. She simply looked at the person she had considered her best friend for the longest time, and she couldn’t get any words out as the med-tech slowly made her way towards them.
"Hello,” she hummed and there was a terrifying calmness about her that the linguist found unsettling and completely unnatural. The Doctor had been right, there was something going on with her.
"What are you doing here?" The Doctor asked, calmer now, as he observed the situation and his friend curiously.
"Watching,” Liv answered simply, and the Time Lord nodded.
"Do you know who did this?" He questioned and a small smile seemed to draw to her features.
"Maybe."
"Do you have anything to do with it?" He continued and Helen’s head whipped around. Despite everything, despite her odd behaviour and the coincidence of finding her here, that was not something that had even crossed the linguist’s mind.
And yet, Liv’s smile turned to a smirk, all too telling despite her lack of response.
"Doctor!" The linguist was gripped by a wave of panic sweeping up her body. She grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him back.
"Liv, what is going on here?" The Doctor asked sternly now, and the med-tech turned her attention back to the National Museum, just in time to see part of the roof collapsing and throwing up a flash of flames.
"I do love a good fire…" She hummed, the orange hue reflecting in her eyes that were somehow so much duller than usual. Helen found it incredibly unsettling, but not as unsettling as her words that seemed plain wrong.
"No you don't,” the linguist exclaimed, utterly bewildered. "Fire is the one thing you don't like, that you're fearful of! Ever since Nixyce VII and the firestorm of the Dalek's initial attack!" The words burst out of her.
"Liv, did you do this?” The Doctor implored her, stepping closer. “Did someone make you?"
---
"Doctor, please, help me-" Liv desperately clawed at her mental prison, trying her best to reach her friends but they couldn’t be further away.
"Shhh,” the Red Lady shushed her sharply, growing increasingly more annoyed with her calls for help. Liv kept struggling, she had to do something. This could turn out to be her one and only chance to be reunited with her friends and she would not pass it up. Helen was there. She had to tell her that none of what she had been made to say to her was true. That it hadn’t been her choice to leave. That she felt about her exactly the same way. She had to make things right.
“Let me GO!” She sobbed, and felt a little give as a genuine sob broke from her throat.
“Quiet!” The Red Lady snarled, and a flash of pain ran through Liv’s skull, nearly enough to make her black out but not quite. No, the cruel entity was clearly eager for her to witness things in full.
"Doctor, did you see that?" Helen’s eyes widened. "That flash of red in her eyes and-"
"I did," the Doctor confirmed and even though Liv wasn’t sure what exactly she meant, she felt as though they were getting somewhere, particularly when his next question was much more direct: "So who do we have the pleasure of dealing with?"
That was when the Red Lady seemed content to drop the pretence.
"You're too late Doctor, always just that little bit too late,” she smirked and Liv felt the pain easing off a little, as though the Red Lady’s attention had left her and turned to the conversation. It was a small reprieve. “You got lucky the last time with the paintings and writings. I didn't have the same freedom as I do now."
"The Red Lady," Helen realised and Liv smiled to herself. She knew. She understood. Even if she was trapped like this forever, at least her friend now knew, and she drew comfort from it.
"When Caleera was torn to the time streams, fragments of her spread far and wide, some more powerful than others,” there was smugness to the Red Lady as she spoke with Liv’s voice. "Made sense that some might strike quite close to the event."
"Liv, can you hear me?" The Doctor looked straight into her eyes, searching them, almost as if he hoped to see her far beyond them.
"She can hear you just fine, Doctor,” she hummed in response. “But there is nothing she can do. I am in control and I will have my revenge on you," she flicked her eyes - Liv’s eyes - to Helen. "And I've already started."
"You let her go, you-" the linguist started but she interrupted her:
"There is nothing you can do. You're weak. I don't know what she ever saw in you. What I ever saw in you,” she corrected with a cruel smirk.
"Shut up!" Helen snapped with righteous anger and the Doctor reached for her shoulder in a reassuring squeeze.
"I told you, Helen, it wasn't Liv-"
---
"How would you know? How would any of you know where one ends and the other begins?” Liv laughed, only, it wasn’t Liv, that Helen now knew for a fact. Her heart was racing, raising for hope and determination, even as the Red Lady continued to abuse her best friend’s body and voice as she taunted them: “Liv Chenka is mine now and I won't let her go. I am her."
"No you're not!" Helen exclaimed, anger curling in her gut. They had to do something. Now that she knew that Liv hadn’t been herself when she had made the decision to walk away, everything started to make sense again. The universe was a dangerous place but there was hope too, hope that things would work out alright if they fought for them. And that she would.
"You believed me well enough before," Liv hummed, taking a step closer. "Did it hurt? I was only telling you what she was thinking, deep down, but never had the guts to-" She gave a cruel smile.
"You're lying! Liv would never-" Helen snapped passionately.
"You wouldn't know, would you,” she interrupted with a low laugh. “Has she ever given you indication she might return any of the feelings you so clumsily confessed to when you tried to stop her leaving?"
---
"I-" Colour flushed to the linguist’s face, her voice suddenly faltering. She was getting to her.
"Don't listen to her Helen,” Liv tried to call to her but the only words that crossed her lips belonged to the Red Lady.
"And why would she? There is nothing special about you. You're always the odd one out, the one with nothing to contribute, who's weak and-"
"Stop this now!" The Doctor roared as the linguist visibly shrunk into herself and Liv’s heart ached for her. She knew how hard her best friend always tried, how little faith she used to have in herself, how lonely she had been for the longest time. And Liv had tried to fill that gap, to build up her confidence, to make her feel the unconditional love she was more than worthy of but had never experienced.
"Helen knows it's true,” the Red Lady hummed. “And Liv knows it too. That's why she went back to Tania. She is the one she loves."
Helen was stunned into silence, a shadow drawing to her face that was suffocating.
"NO THAT'S NOT TRUE!” Liv bellowed. “I LOVE HELEN!"
"She will never love you,” the Red Lady continued cruelly, piling on the pressure on the linguist.
"YES I DO!” The med-tech shouted and that time, her voice reached her lips.
---
"What-” Helen was taken aback and the Doctor’s expression brightened.
"She's fighting her!" He realised and the linguist’s tried to reach for her.
"Liv-"
"You can do this, Liv," the Time Lord insisted.
"You are wrong. She's mine,” the Red Lady snarled, in possession of the med-tech’s body once more, and that was when Helen reached the end of her tether. Liv didn’t belong to anyone. She was her own person, fiercely independent and free:
"YOU LET HER GO,” she bellowed, grabbing the med-tech’s arm and suddenly, there was a discharge of energy, like an electric shock. Helen snatched her hand back.
"Helen what-" Liv’s voice came through, compassionate and clear, only to be overwhelmed by the Red Lady who snapped: "No!"
“Helen, are you okay?” The Doctor asked and she didn’t know how to answer. It felt as though the energy was still with her, perhaps having jumped over in some way or…
“It tingles, Doctor, energy like…” She didn’t know how to describe it but oddly, she wasn’t scared of it. It didn’t feel dangerous… It felt liberating. And it seemed in that moment, the Doctor had the understanding that she lacked as an epiphany flashed in his eyes.
“That’s what it is, energy of the Sonomancer, you still have it too, you can use it to fight her!" He exclaimed, almost giddy and he turned back to Liv who had taken a step back, watching with apprehension.
“Let her go, Caleera!” Helen focused her attention on her. She didn’t have the first idea what the Doctor meant by her being able to fight her but that didn’t mean that she wouldn’t try. She was willing to try and do anything to bring her friend back.
“I am not Caleera, she was so weak in the end. I am the Red Lady,” Liv snarled in response.
“Liv, it’s going to be okay, we will figure this out,” the Doctor offered his reassurance to Helen who took another step forward.
“You won’t. She’s mine,” the possessed med-tech snapped angrily. “And she doesn’t want you. She’s never wanted you.” She glared at the linguist.
“Don’t listen, Helen. You know she’s wrong,” the Doctor warned her but the Red Lady continued:
“How would she? It’s not like they ever shared anything of consequence. Not even one kiss,” she mocked, the effect all the more cruel in Liv’s own voice.
“Shut up!” Helen snapped angrily.
“Liv never loved you, that’s why she went back to Tania,” she continued to taunt her but the linguist was stronger now, not a shred of doubt remaining. She would get her best friend back. She wouldn’t stop until she had.
“She went back because you made her,” the Time Lord jumped in. “Because you knew how much it would hurt her to-”
“She doesn’t care about either of you,” the Red Lady snarled.
---
“Liv, you have to fight her,” the Doctor insisted and Liv felt as though he could truly see her as he looked into her eyes. “I know you have been trying but you have to fight harder.”
“I can’t, Doctor, I can’t, don’t you think I’ve tried,” she sobbed, her reserves depleting. She was growing so tired and the Red Lady was relentless.
“She’s weak,” the terrifying entity snarled.
“Liv, you’ve been here before,” the Doctor continued without letting up. “The Orpheus. Randell Varand, remember? You showed him part of yourself, your fears, he wasn’t strong enough to handle that and you fought him off. She won’t be scared so easily but think Liv, think! What is the one thing she fears because she’s never had it, before-”
And in a flash, Liv understood. That was why the Red Lady had made her leave the TARDIS when really, she could have caused so much more havoc while travelling with the Doctor. Instead she had contented herself with 2021 Earth, a boring, uninspired choice in comparison to the rest of time and space. She wouldn’t have been able to keep this up with Helen there because the one thing the Red Lady - the one thing that Caleera - had always wanted and never had was true love. Padrac had cheated her of that, and seeing it realised in Liv’s feelings for Helen would have kept her at bay.
“Liv we’re not leaving you, we will fight her,” Helen insisted sharply, drawing her focus and as she looked at her, her heart and mind flooded with years worth of memory, of undeclared feelings and heartfelt hopes; of Liv’s wants, wishes and dreams that all involved the beautiful blonde in front of her. She was her anchor to the real world and she reached for her, her body following her instructions with ease.
“Helen-” She whispered and grasped her arm. There was another flash of energy, much brighter and more violent too, when the Red Lady broke free from Liv’s body.
---
Helen gasped in surprise, knocked over by the powerful discharge, and as she pushed herself up on her elbows she saw Liv, looking utterly stunned but immediately more alert. Her expression brightened with the realisation that she was free, but that didn’t mean the danger was over. In mid-air, made up of coiling, flickering energy, hung the shape of a woman in a flowing, red dress with fiery hair whipping around her head.
She gave an earth-shattering screech of anger, her attention and fury turning towards the linguist who tried to scramble to her feet, even as the energy advanced on her.
And suddenly, Liv was with her. Helen looked up to find her best friend stepping protectively in front of her.
“Liv…” she whispered but the med-tech just shook her head, they didn’t have time for this.
“Don’t you touch her!” She spat at the Red Lady. “You have no more power over any of us!”
“I can still kill you,” the shape snarled, her voice an unearthly grating sound and she advanced further.
And then, Liv said something that made the linguist’s heart soar, even as she was terrified for both their well-being.
"I love you, Helen,” she told her, as calmly as she could manage and it seemed as though she had to get her words out before it was too late. “I have always always loved you,” she insisted firmly. “And I would never leave you willingly. I couldn't. Unless it was the only way to protect you." At this, she squared her jaw, taking a step towards the terrifying shape.
"No, Liv!" Helen lunged for her arm, pulling her back from the confrontation she couldn’t win.
"You'll have to go through me if you want to get to her,” Liv snapped at the Red Lady.
"Suit yourself. You will both die!” She shouted and suddenly charged forward.
"NO!" Helen shouted and pulled Liv around, making her stumble enough to lose her balance and make her crash onto the floor with her, into the safety of her arms. And they really were safe as suddenly, they were engulfed by fiery energy as well.
"It's Caleera,” the Doctor exclaimed, thoroughly delighted, giving context to the two red shapes that stared each other down.
"I always longed for this kind of unconditional love…” Caleera hummed, her voice far more melodic than that of her cruel counterpart. “But it wasn't to be… now at least you can have it…" Helen felt a tingle on her skin, soft, lovely reassurance as she wrapped her arms tightly around Liv while the scarlet shape continued: "And I will make sure you are protected."
"No!" The other splinter of her screeched but it didn’t matter. Caleera surged forward, slamming into the other shape and there was a flash that blinded them all, knocking them once again as if it had been the force of an explosion.
"What just happened?" Liv whispered, stunned, once they all looked up.
"I think they destroyed each other…" The Doctor observed, looking around. "She wasn't all bad, Caleera… she protected you."
"Liv-" Helen didn’t have the capacity to dwell on what had just happened. There were more important things to do, more important questions to be answered. Liv seemed to feel exactly the same way as she met her eyes, grabbing tight hold of her hands as they knelt on the floor.
"Helen… I'm so so sorry, I didn't want to leave and the things she made me say,” she rushed to assure her. “None of them were true. You are the most wonderful person I know, you're so clever and strong and brave. You're my very best friend and-" and carried on but Helen interrupted her, there were things she had to say too.
"I meant it when I said I loved you. And that I should have told you sooner. Even if you don’t want to-" she stuttered but the med-tech’s expression became soft and vulnerable, interjecting gently.
"I want whatever you're willing to give,” she mumbled. “I love you."
"Really?" Helen breathed, not sure if she could believe her ears and Liv burst into a smile.
"Yes."
"I think it's time we left because the police have caught on that you set the fire,” the Doctor interrupted the lovely moment by rushing over to pull them to their feet. “Two of the most significant crimes against the National Museum and both my companions are responsible…" He dragged them with him to the TARDIS. "Off we go."
"And Tania? I'm sorry she got dragged into this…" Liv asked, concerned and looking a little guilty too.
"I'll explain to her later but for now-" The Doctor waved them inside, into safety.
"For now, let's carry on where we left off?" Helen asked as they remained by the door, watching as the Doctor bounded ahead to the console.
"Yes, let's…" Liv agreed and turned to her. “And I know exactly where we were going to go next…” She took her face in her hands and kissed her. Helen smiled against her lips, her heart doing somersaults in her chest. What else was there to say? This was the next, wonderful step, on the road they travelled together. The bump of 2021 London had only brought them closer.
I think I’ve surpassed the threshold of knowing how many times I’ve listened to #DoomCoalition box sets. Likely same for #Ravenous. @bigfinishconfessions
Sonomancer power-drunk Helen Sinclair concept that I did for @riversofmars but never properly worked on. I've already posted it to Twitter but I don't recall having it here so, here it is.
The Eleven - 4.5/5 : so having Seven at the beginning of this episode was a nice little treat. I really, really like the Eleven as a villain and as a character, Mark Bonnar is doing an amazing work. Also Liv totally unimpressed with the Time Lords, I stan. Excellent start for this range.
The Red Lady - 5/5 : Helen Sinclair is done with patriarchy baby! I was litteraly creeped out when I first listened to this episode (I think it was at night in my bed, in the dark. Not the best setting) but it's so good. The atmosphere is perfect, Helen Sinclair couldn't have dreamt of a better introduction, the Red Lady is SCARY. I love it.
The Galileo Trap - 3.5/5 : Galileo is an astronomer and he's a cute little old man, how can I not love him. I love his relationship with the Doctor (the man might be blind but he's not a fool) and with Virginia and the fact that he KNOWS that she's not his daughter but still needs the company (MY HEART!). I found Fortuna yelling "CLEEEEAVER" every two minutes really annoying though and yeah, I couldn't really be bothered with this plot
The Satanic Mill - 2.5/5 : So the Eleven wants to destroy the Earth (and the solar system) to get back at the Doctor. What else is new? The lack of originality really doesn't work for me so yeah... easily forgotten (although Helen and Liv kick asses so that's something I suppose)
Beachhead - 3/5: We're taking a break from the main plot for five minutes and that's quite welcome (for me and the Doctor). I liked the atmosphere, which reminded me of the third Doctor's era (Three who already came to Stegmoore, shame that I don't remember this episode). Eight has no problem causing the death of someone, not sure how I feel about that
Scenes from her Life - 4.5/5 : It's weird because every time I listen to this episode I keep getting interrupted. Anyhoo, I really like it and that twist! And of course Helen will relate to Caleera, of course she'll want to help. The parallel, the connexion, between them is interesting and I love Helen's characterisation.
The Gift - 4/5 : Eight is obsessed with getting a haircut qiqfhbfhw I love this idiot so much. I liked the idea of the gift and how it's linked to "real events" (the San Fransisco earthquake). I'm not really convinced with the Sonomancer's power though. And that ending!
The Sonomancer - 3.5/5 : Helen is a lesbian and she has a huge crush on River. So I liked River's interactions with Liv and Helen (especially kicking the Eleven's butt) but yeah, still I'm no sure about how I feel about the Sonomancer
Absent Friends - 6/5 : I could write an essay about how much I love this episode. It's very simple : weird calls from the dead, and it's not even a big threat keen on destroying the universe or something (well kinda but whatever) but the FEELS! There is a moment that will always make me cry, even more now - it's the call Liv gets from her dad and how she does what the Doctor tells her, how she is a good girl and doesn't disrupt the web of time and how she snaps at Eight after that because God does he deserve it! He had no right to to ask her to do that, to pick up that phone, knowing there might have been even a slight chance that it could be her dead dad and he does it anyway because he doesn't want to expose himself. And he also had no right to tell Helen off for going to see her brother because of course she does! Who wouldn't? And of course she makes a mess of it because he didn't take the time to explain to her what would happen. And it just gets me every time. How Liv and Helen take on in this episode, how travelling with the Doctor can be painful and hard, and how the Doctor is so different because he's been on his own for so long. It just breaks my heart for the three of them. And that call at the end???? I am very frustrated but also happy that the identity of the caller is left for the viewer to decide (LISTEN TO ME IT'S LUCIE BLEEDIN' MILLER)
The Eighth Piece - 4.5/5 : I love this treasure hunt thing, with Doctor and companions scattered across time. I'm having huge feelings for Brother Octavian
The Doomsday Chronometer - 4.5/5 : Yeah that was cool : Eight finally meets River (well Sister Cantica), the Doomsday Chronometre is done, THE EIGHT, Helen is more in love with River than ever. Also the Solvers are quite cool. And that ending : Eight ditches Helen and Liv to go fight the Coalition with River aka Melody Malone aka Sister Cantica; the Eight regenerates and Liv and Helen are stuck with the Nine, thinking he's the Doctor
The Crucible of Souls - 3/5 : To prevent Gallifrey from being destroyed, let's destroy the rest of the universe. I know Time Lords are huge drama queens but that's really over the top, Padrac.
Ship in a Bottle - 5/5 : I love the introspection into the team TARDIS's relationship and especially how Eight can be a bastard with his companions, which had already been addressed in Absent Friends. I love that Liv stands to him and takes him down a peg or two, how she stands up for Helen, because Liv has seen enough crap from the Time Lords, the Daleks and the humans to not be impressed. I love that Helen remains optimistic while Eight quickly loses his marbles and gives in to desperation like the big drama queen he is. Eight/Liv/Helen is one of my favourite team TARDIS, I love their relationship, the respect and the love they have for one another while they still remain honest to each other, and the found family vibe that breathes through all their interactions.
Songs of Love - 2/5 : This might be an unpopular opinion but I don't like this episode. I find it difficult to follow, too many Time Lords and I really don't like the Sonomancer and Padrac's "relationship"
The Side of the Angels - 3/5 : The Weeping Angels don't have the same impact on audio format, that's a bit of a shame. The Time Lords are being bastards again, nothing is new and the Monk is back.
Stop the Clock - 4/5 : This episode ties things up and concludes this range rather nicely. The Eleven regains a bit of his threatening aura, the parallel between Helen and Caleera ends : Helen deserves redemption after what happened to her family, Caleera doesn't. Padrac got what he deserved (and I liked the explanation for the Red Lady).
Overall opinion : A much better range than Dark Eyes with more consistency. I'm a bit tired with the Time Lord "let's destroy the universe" gig (they might as well be Daleks at this point), but they did give us interesting villains with the Eleven and the Sonomancer. I absolutely ADORE the new team TARDIS, as much as I loved Molly, Eight, her and Liv never really felt right, never really clicked. Family is very important for Liv and Helen which gives very interesting interactions between the three of them. Liv and Helen are also fascinating, clever, well-written women who both have very unique interactions with the Doctor. I also loved River, especially her relationship with Helen, and yeah, it was nice to link Eight a bit more to the new series
