The Eighth Piece (audio story)

 was the second story in the audio anthology Doom Coalition 3, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Matt Fitton and featured Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, Nicola Walker as Liv Chenka, Hattie Morahan as Helen Sinclair and Alex Kingston as River Song.

Publisher's summary
15th century Prague: in the castle dungeons, a prisoner raves about the end of the world. Outside, Liv Chenka seeks out the workshop of a strange Clockmaker to see what he is creating.

England, 1538: Lord Thomas Cromwell finds his duties interrupted by otherworldly forces – clockwork soldiers, an unusual nun, and a mysterious scholar calling himself "the Doctor". Perhaps the truth can be extracted in the torture chamber of London's Bloody Tower?

Rome, 2016: Helen Sinclair has an appointment with an enigmatic Professor, whose greatest work is almost complete. Only the Eighth Piece is missing...

Plot
Osm hears the ticking of a Solver from his cell and begs for peace, saying that he is a good man. When the Clocksmith, Osm insists that he is not "one of [him]", but he ignores him and hurts him, not allowed to kill him. Osm says that everyone must know that the end is coming and the Clocksmith has him gagged, saying that it is time to complete his masterpiece and begin the countdown to doomsday.

After leaving Helen in Rome 2016, the Eighth Doctor takes Liv to Prague in the early 15th century, having run his sonic screwdriver's remains through the TARDIS and located temporal anomalies. The Doctor gives Liv a rundown of their separate missions and tells her that any further clock mechanisms that they find should only be moved by him, an explanation that is watched from below by a gagged Osm. Osm is visited by Apolena, who ungags him and gives him broth to eat before asking him to tell one of her stories to help him.

In England 1538, Abbot Malvern is forced to give riches over to Thomas Cromwell for King Henry VIII and is found withholding a ticking cog that recently came into the hands of the order. Cromwell finds Brother Octavian, whom Abbot Malvern says came to them disturbed, eavesdropping on them and says that he, a poor penitent, is how the religious should be. He threatens Abbot Malvern with early retirement and leaves.

Abbot Malvern attempts to comfort Brother Octavian, who hears what he calls devils and says to himself that he is a good man. The Doctor arrives, startling Brother Octavian and making him run away, and asks Abbot Malvern if he has any mysterious relics lying around. On the road, Cromwell is stopped by Solvers and his companion, Fothergill, is killed after being told to give them "the piece". River appears and saves Cromwell by shooting the Solvers.

In Rome 2016, Helen is saved from walking into the road by a Mr Whitman, who tells her that it will soon be the end of all worlds before they are separated by a group of nuns. She finds Rosalia, who works at the museum and is expecting her.

River, dressed as a nun and going by "Sister Cantica", defends Cromwell from the Solvers. The Solvers search through the party's chests and find the cog before folding in on themselves and teleporting away, leaving only one, which River had defeated, behind. Using her sonic screwdriver, she identifies the teleport as a short-range transmat and heads to the monastery.

Liv is approached by Apolena, who asks if she is lost and invites her into the castle kitchens to get warm. Apolena tells her about Osm, a harmless prisoner locked up the duke by request of a merchant called the Clocksmith, and his stories about the forest which she agrees to show to Liv.

At the monastery, Brother Octavian sees the Doctor visit the monastery and learn from Abbot Malvern about the cog taken by Cromwell. The Doctor buys a horse and heads off in pursuit. Brother Octavian tells Abbot Malvern that the voices know the Doctor and that he must not be allowed to interfere, saying that it is heresy. Abbot Malvern goes to warn the Doctor, who ignores him and rushes away, and speaks briefly with River before she uses her vortex manipulator to disappear. Brother Octavian wonders if the Doctor should build the Doomsday Chronometer or not.

Rosalia shows Helen around the museum, which she tells her is the first time that the professor has allowed somebody to see the special exhibit.

The Doctor reaches Cromwell and witnesses the Solver reawaken and transmat away after telling him that the answers to his questions are not for him. He says that he is surprised that the Solvers really exist, having believed them to exist solely in fairy tales, and hears of Sister Cantica from Thomas. The Doctor gives him his horse in return for being dropped back off at the monastery.

To be completed.

Cast

 * The Doctor - Paul McGann
 * Liv Chenka - Nicola Walker
 * Helen Sinclair - Hattie Morahan
 * River Song - Alex Kingston
 * Thomas Cromwell - John Shrapnel
 * Apolena - Kasia Koleczek
 * Solvers / Abbot - Glen McCready
 * Rosalia - Emma D'Inverno
 * Octavian - Tim McMullan
 * The Clocksmith - Nicholas Woodeson

Continuity

 * The Doctor mentions that there are fixed points in history. (TV: The Fires of Pompeii, etc.)
 * The Doctor has coins from the planet Voga. (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen)
 * Helen and Rosalia talk about the National Museum and her art theft there. (AUDIO: The Red Lady)
 * The Doctor tells Cromwell that he met Henry VIII while wearing a colourful coat. (AUDIO: Recorded Time)