The Monster in the Cold (Clara, PM to join)

From his spot, just above her, Zalatar looked down at Clara as she spoke about how there was honor to be found among humans. He questioned this before she explained her side of the story with Skaldak and how he nearly destroyed Earth. He knew of this but didn't know why he'd spared them, only that the Doctor had convinced him not to.

"Do you really think there could be a chance for me to regain honor?" he asked with a hiss. "Can you or your Doctor help me?"

Before she gave her response he made his way down behind her with his hands resting on the top of her head and the side of her neck. Clara would feel the cold scaly feeling of his slender fingers on her but he was careful as he held her. They were lose but tight enough that she couldn't turn, he didn't want her seeing him yet.

"A warning, girl." he hissed in her ear. "If you lie to me, then I will dishonor myself again by taking your life. Would you risk that after knowing what I have endured?"

He still kept his grip on her even after she finished talking. More words of uncertainty. He didn't know if that was a bad thing or actually a good thing. In reality he was as uncertain as her. Perhaps this was what it was like when you had nothing left to lose. Maybe not. He'd been born and raised to be a soldier and failed when the time truly came. Any chance for redemption would be something at least.

His hands left her neck and let her turn, only for Clara to see he'd already scuttled off somewhere else. The next sound she would hear would be the armor opening before something entering and closing it. After that came the footsteps of a fully armored Ice Warrior that now stood in front of Clara. Zalatar towered above her and looked down through the red visors of his helmet.

"I will speak with the Doctor." he hissed. "If he can bring me honor, then I will find my home again. Until then I am sworn to your honor, Clara Oswald of Earth. You are my commander and grand marshal form this day until my honor reborn or death claim me back to the red skies of Mars."

Zalatar didn't fully understand her reaction, mainly on the grounds that he'd never done this before and with a human. He only knew that when an oath like this was given the person in question either accepted or declined. One was some form of honor while the other only proved he was unworthy or the chance. The fact she didn't answer right away made him both annoyed and anxious for her answer.

"Do you accept? Confirm or deny?" he hissed as he leaned closed to her. "Make a choice."

When she accepted he sighed with relief a her answer. He took a step back to not seem as intimidating to her before she asked about what a Grand Marshal's duty was.

"To keep as simple as can be," he began "you must be the one to command me. I am but a soldier. Though be it an exiled one. You're word is now my command, Clara Oswald."

After his explanation he waited to hear what she would say or ask next. It felt odd to him to now be under the command of a human, but at the same time he was hopeful that she would provide him with the proper commands and missions needed for regaining his honor. He stood there and hissed as he breathed while await Clara's word.

She probably couldn't tell but underneath Zalatar smirked when her first question came to weapons. Already she was asking war-based questions that would surely mean battle for him. At least that's what he assumed.

He held up his arm and explained "My armor is equipped with offensive blasters on the gauntlet section. It is a requirement. I also have an interface system which can hack into any Earthling software system, no matter how primitive. When all else fails my final weapons are my own hands to crush an enemy to death. All of these are at your disposal, commander."

After finishing this he hissed with pride. It was more because he still remembered every means of attacking and defending himself despite not fully using the armor in battle. He at least still had the smarts above all else.

Zalatar could tell his new commander was considering all of his abilities. Humans had that look to them, they way they moved as well, always something that showed they were thinking and plotting. Martians did not have much of the same, always having their faces hidden and often having one sound strategy and nothing more.

When she asked about his hacking skills in finding information he answered with "If my commander asks it, it will be done. Any information you require I can attain, provided the proper means."

Zalatar stood and waited until Clara gave her suggestion of where he could hide. He knew that hiding among humans was the best course of action, mainly why he was doing it for so long himself while hiding in Loch Ness. Though to be among the human's garbage would surely be less than inviting. And at the prospect of food being brought was a reassurance.

With all this in mind the Ice Warrior hissed "If that is what you order, Commander, it shall be so."

When they would eventually leave, Clara needing to make up whatever story she could for needing a truck big enough to transport Zalatar, the exiled Martian only waited with great patience for the day when his honor would be reclaimed. To be back in uniform and under command brought nostalgia to him, and all the more want for battle and honor restored. Oh yes, here on Earth all his enemie would feel the cold sting of death.