Chapter Text
The cell was blaringly loud, though empty.
Everywhere he looked he could see himself. Straggled, stabbed, gutted. He was the sole survivor of Dottore's cloning experiment with no way to know if he was the original.
The memories of each of the clones were merged—stuffed unevenly into his vessel. The violence, the insanity. Like a glass shattered when forced back together. Sharp uneven pieces scrapped together, fighting for dominance in his head.
Dottore left his experiment like that for a few hours, days? The 12th segment could no longer keep track.
The others took pity on him but Dottore, he was filled with utter joy. In his eyes the experiment was a success. Ten different minds merged into one. Ten times the training. Ten times the knowledge. It was beautiful to him.
Segment 12 was already clawing deep into his face when Dottore entered his cell. He didn't flinch at the violence splattered up to the ceiling nor at the corpses.
A gloved hand pried Segment 12's nails out of his flesh. The skin was now raw, its color matching the walls of his cell.
“Oh none of that my child.”
Kill him. Hide. Gut him slowly. Red. Everything is so red.
10 voices streamed at one.
He was scared and vengeful all at once. No, they were scared and vengeful.
Dottore's smile flattened when he saw his experiment's mental state.
“After a few days that white noise should settle down”
The experiment was restrained. Wrists, ankles, and forehead strapped down to an examination table.
Occasionally Dottore would enter to force feed him. Over his dead body would he let his lab rat die of starvation.
He would pry the boy's mouth open, shove food in and close it until the experiment gave up and swallowed, all while he was restrained ang helpless. It was a messy process.
Dottore soon found out—after much testing—his experiment enjoyed spicy food. After that he soon began to eat on his own along with becoming more behaved.
On the ninth day, while Dottore fed the child he finally spoke.
“Why? Why are you doing this to me?”
His voice was no longer split while not entirely whole.
“Why?” The Doctor repeated while bringing the spoon closer to the number 12's mouth. “To answer questions? To gain knowledge? That's what you want to hear, right? But honestly, I do it because it's fun. Everything less is just a pleasant side effect.”
Tears filled the experiment's eyes.
“Don't cry. Out of all my segments you're the only one to withstand this without snapping. That's why I prefer more hands-on tests with you.
Once you're better we can start training your brain and body. Hopefully you'll be happier then.”
He sat the empty plate down.
“In the meantime I think you're stable enough without the restraints.”
Soon Dottore untied him from the examination table. The experiment's movements were less jerky, less mad. The line where the clones end and where he began was getting clearer.
“Looks like your mind has somewhat calmed”
That night the experiment was left in his cell without restraints. Dottore had left for some Harbinger meeting, leaving the lab guarded.
The experiment clawed like a mad man at an air vent in the cover of his cell. His finger tips bled as they sank into the sharp metal corner.