Machinery was the first thing he heard; grinding metal all around him; the wheeze of air being shot out of a pipe. Yelling. He heard someone screaming-no not screaming. Commanding. But commanding what? Everything was mixed, the words, the machinery-blurred together to make vague incomprehensible sounds. It hurts his head, no it was already hurting; burning even. It felt ripped open. He was sure he could feel dried blood clinging to his neck. He was injured, in some place with thousands of machines, and a person commanding. Great.

He was getting movement back in his fingers. Soon enough his mind would clear. He kept his eyes closed; not knowing what would happen if he opened them-what he would see. He slowly tried to lift his body off of whatever it laid upon. Tightening around his chest and abdomen told him that he was strapped down. That allowed him the courage to open his eyes. A bright light shown directly into his pupils which caused him to groan and shut them tight. He slowly opened them again.

"What-what happened?" He stuttered. He bit his lip and tried not to move his throbbing head.

"Well, that would have been Jason. It seems you startled him." That voice-the sleeping man, the man in white, being paralyzed, being unconscious. It was all coming back.

"Who are you?" he tried to sound demanding, but dehydration caused his voice to be harsh and quiet.

"Life. I want life." What does he mean life? What does this have to do with me?

"I don't understand." He said bluntly. It was probably the smartest way of saying, 'I might be extremely clever but in a spur of a moment I can be as clueless as a guinea pig.'

"I know you don't."

"Then explain," He was getting tired of this game.

The footsteps sounded as the man moved closer. The doctor could almost hear that dreadfully deceiving smile peaking through the snowy beard. He felt long fingers in his hair. He looked up to see the old man grinning above him. A harsh feeling of danger ripped open the doctor's chest. He was not used to being unable to save himself-so weak. For a good amount of time the silence was held; heavy with distaste for the other being. He felt a sharp tug on his hair, letting out a small whine. The man released, proudly showing a single strand of the doctor's hair trapped between his fingertips.

"You see doctor," he began walking a way behind the doctor; escaping his vision, "You never die."

Machinery sounded halting the explanation to the inconvenience of the doctor. When it ended the bonds of the doctor were released. The doctor stood, turning to the man to find he was looking into the scared eyes of himself. The other him was contained in a heavy glass tank. He was extremely confused and even more so afraid. He panicky banged against the glass.

"What have you done?" The doctor yelled looking at the man.

"One of you is not enough," he said simply. The air became cold and harsh once again. The man, although the temperature, seemed to be getting warmer as his cheeks burned a brilliant red. He dropped his cane and stood straight; fire surrounding his feet in a perfect circle. His clothes and body remained unaffected though clearly the fire burnt the ground.

"What are you?"

"I am the phoenix, and I will no longer die. I will have the life of a timelord. I will be forever."

"Run!" cried the other doctor, "Escape!"

You can't just leave him. The conscience of the doctor was loud and demanding. Any attempt at fighting his own mindful decision would prove itself to be as deadly a foe as any other. How could you resist the scared eyes of yourself, how could u resist saving yourself-the one being you know you can trust.

All thoughts raced through his mind. His toes curled in his shoes eager to escape. Then it hit him, there were now two timelords. A clone maybe, but a timelord nonetheless. He sprinted forward, reacing for the control panel to save himself. He stopped for a moment to realize the phoenix was gone. Sharp, black ground where he had been that was stained by the fire that had surrounded him. He released the other self, who walked out slowly. They stared at each other, as if neither believed what they saw.

"This is impossible," they both said. The original doctor could not resist the growing temptation, a similar feeling seemed to dawn upon the clone.

"Doctor," he said.

"Doctor," the second repeated. They shook hands and eagerly gave one another a hug. Neither were alone, there were two timelords in exsisitence now. Two timelords that were in a hell of a lot of trouble.