This is novel 3 out of 5 in the order of: Unusual Circumstances, Nasty Surprises, Interrogating Answers, Time Heals and The Day of Destruction. This follows directing from the ending of Nasty Surprises.
I
Two months later
21st Century
Parallel World
Parallel England
Post-war London
The wind howls across the empty streets of the city of London, pushing stray pieces of rubbish along the snow covered ground. Boats remain sitting in the river Thames, slowly bobbing up and down over the calm waves. Yet the water seems slow and very still as it has been since the temperature started to decrease. As summer eventually rolled into autumn the temperature suddenly dropped dramatically. It is as if winter is making an early appearance.
The citizens of London have done their best to clean up the city streets and remove any excess damage left over from the last battle. Once the city is fairly clean, everyone returned back to their homes to shut themselves inside.
The last battle between the Daleks and the Cybermen left London and the rest of the country in a state of shock and fear. People remain shut in their houses at a certain time in the evening, right before sundown, and do not step outside until early the following morning. Even during the day the streets seem eerily quiet, except for the constant patrols by the police and the army.
The whole world is constantly offering help and support for the recovery of the country, but England has turned bitter from what little help they received during the battle, so they have declined any help. They only accept money to pay for any damages.
Everyone knows that the city of London will never be the same again.
April Hollerford walks around the solemn looking city one early morning in late October. Two months have past since the last battle and the city is still slowly recovering. Yet it is only October, nearing into November and April wraps herself up in thick layers of coats and jumpers to keep warm. The cold, bitter air makes her feel like it is the middle of winter rather than mid-autumn The Doctor offered her his favourite long colourful scarf which he admitted to wearing all the time in his younger days. The scarf is thick and warm and April buries her chin into the scarf while she trudges through the snow.
Keeping her head down, April passes a few people walking around the streets in groups. It is a little busier during the day then it is in the evening and cars still drive on the roads, but they are mainly red buses and black taxis. Still there is not as many as there usually would be. Everyone is in fear when walking around on their own and April tries to ignore the stares from the people she passes. She also passes a few police officers and army soldiers. It is now a ritual for the police force to knock on everyone's house door on a weekly basis, just to make sure that they are well and safe.
April catches the glare from one of the army soldiers as she passes. It is clear from the soldier's facial expression as they pass, that they recognise her from working alongside UNIT during the last battle. But they only pass in silence, and April is able to breathe out deeply once she is away from them.
The Doctor parked the Tardis back in the cul-de-sac where April used to live back in her own world. And after spending two months doing nothing at all but wait to hear from her friends from UNIT again, April finally decides to take a walk around the city.
The Doctor is desperate to fly his ship back across the universe and leave this parallel world, but the Tardis does not have sufficient power, let alone enough energy, to travel through parallel doorway 0055, which will take them back to their own world. So instead, they sit and wait for the Tardis to recover, just like the whole city is doing.
Walking through the streets only brings back memories of the last battle. April passes through pathways she remembers running down, shooting at the enemy. She remembers the path her parallel father, Declan Hollerford, and herself took when they lined up among the other citizens, marching towards Battersea Power Station, ready to be upgraded into Cybermen. Screams, gunfire, explosions and shouts ring in her ears that haunts her. It is hard to ignore.
The hardest memories that April cannot get out of her mind, was watching her parallel mother die and the way the Doctor betrayed his friends to team up with the Daleks. The Doctor's actions then quickly led to the battle when the Daleks had discovered that the Doctor only tricked them.
The Doctor has to remind April and Rose Tyler that the Daleks, as well as the Dalek King, are destroyed for good. There is nothing left of them. Terry backs up his point, just to reassure them, but seeing as they are so afraid of the Daleks, it takes them a while to actually understand that the Daleks are well and truly gone. Rose is used to stumbling across the Daleks and the Cybermen many times on her travels with the Doctor, and she is sure that one day they will come back. But there is no way that that is possible. They are destroyed forever.
April slows her walking pace as she reaches Piccadilly Circus, or what is left of Piccadilly Circus. It is now a large pile of rubble from when the Dalek King dropped a bomb in an attempt to kill the Doctor. However the action was unsuccessful as it resulted in killing many of his own kind.
Workmen and builders have finally started to clean up the rubble before they are due to start rebuilding the area. Piccadilly Circus and the area around it has been evacuated completely for the two past months, and it is only now that they have started to work, knowing they are sure that the remaining fumes from the bomb are gone.
More memories flash through April's mind as she stands and watches the workmen. She remembers Colonel Meath from the British army wanting UNIT dead because the battle was supposedly down to the work and the research UNIT have done. She remembers joining them as they were lined up with guns pointed at their heads. She remembers how the Doctor was worried over the fact that it was a repeat of the Battle of the Cytracik. She also clearly remembers that it was the first time she kissed Lieutenant Will Sullivan.
As soon as that particular memory comes back to her mind, April is distracted by one of the workmen who is now staring at her. He grips tightly onto his shovel as a deep frown forms on his brow. April glares back at the workman and as soon as he makes a move to grab someone else's attention, April flips the hood to her coat over her head and scuttles away from the scene. Once the workman comes back with some of his co-workers, April is no longer there.
April hurries through back alleyways, hoping that no one follows her. It is known that April, Terry, Rose and the Doctor have worked with UNIT and because everyone is against the company to the point where they had to shut it down, April fears that she will be caught and maybe punished out of revenge. That is the main reason why they have spent the past two months hiding in the Tardis. Hiding from the world that is now bitter and against them.
And maybe that is why they haven't heard from UNIT since the last battle. They must be in hiding too.
April, the Doctor, Terry and Rose have done nothing other than stay in the Tardis, keeping each other company and reflecting upon everything that went wrong, while they are stuck in the parallel world. The Doctor is still guilty over messing up and Terry has just about forgiven him. Rose struggles to believe that the Daleks are gone forever and April keeps on thinking about the real truth about her parent's death, and that it is in fact the Daleks that murdered them.
They all also wonder why nothing has been heard from UNIT and this subject is brought up occasionally, but neither of them have the answer.
April takes herself back to the embankment which is quiet. An area which is usually flooded with tourists is now completely silent of people. No one ever walks beside the river any more, nor is the London Eye in service. It now just looks like an abandoned Ferris wheel creaking in the wind. With a loud sigh, April walks along the embankment until she reaches the exact spot where she last saw her closest friends from UNIT only two months ago. It was the last time anyone had seen or heard from them.
A lot can happen in a short amount of time, but the past two months seems to have been the longest anyone has ever experienced. And as soon as the temperatures started to drop only a month ago, everyone's mood also seem to have done the same.
It is like London is currently going through a great depression and the cold weather is making it worse.
April looks out at the river Thames and wonders to herself why UNIT have been so distant. She knew at the time it was odd that their last meeting seemed like a farewell, but they all promised that they will get in contact within the next couple of days. Two months later and nothing is said. Not an email, not a phone call and not even a letter. Even the Doctor hasn't heard or received anything from Colonel Brimikawood, which is strange altogether. The Doctor is evidently concerned about this but pretends he isn't.
It is almost a year since UNIT transported April to this world from the Dalek spaceship while trying to get to the Doctor. Her friendship with the company, especially with Major Rodger Barratt and Lieutenant Will Sullivan, did not kick off to a good start as she was scared and annoyed with them for they had managed to lose an alien spaceship. Yet she grew more comfortable with them, even more so after the training period, and out of the blue, April found herself growing feelings, which she has never felt before, for Will Sullivan. It was something she had never intended to happen. And for the first time, she felt at home at the UNIT base.
Then two months later, there is nothing.
April misses UNIT dearly. She misses listening to Captain Jason Hoffman's jokes and the way he laughs. She misses been given a cup of herbal tea made by Captain Ireen Summerland. She misses hearing Colonel Brimikawood's gruff voice, especially when he was in a bad mood, which was most days. She misses the hum of machinery in the base. She even misses seeing the Wingerdette's, the half dragon half red kite creatures which they first saw on planet Zorlon. And above all, April misses spending time with Will Sullivan. Although she only really realised her strong emotional feelings towards him not long before the battle, she misses his presence.
April shivers as the wind blows. She pulls at the Doctor's scarf around her neck as she watches the unmoving London Eye opposite. Her breath fogs up in the cold air. It is only the last week of October. Why is it so cold?
There is a rustling from behind, almost as if someone is stepping through a pile of fallen leaves. April jumps in fright at the sound and she spins around in defence. She reaches inside her coat but is only to find that she has no gun, and that it is only Terry approaching her.
For an instant, Terry takes a couple of steps backwards with her hands in the air in surrender.
"Hey it's okay, it's only me," She says, reassuring the frightened looking April. "Just take it easy, April, there's no Cyberman going to jump out from behind."
Terry then drops her arms as she sees April relax a little, yet her scowl is still harsh. April looks at Terry who is only wearing her denim skirt and her blue and green t-shirt/vest combo she always wears. Being a cyborg, Terry isn't prone to feeling the cold or hot temperatures.
"You're still in fright?" Terry asks.
April nods before burying her chin into the scarf.
"Yeah we're all are, I'm sure. Have you heard anything from UNIT?"
April does not reply but just stares at Terry for a while. Terry nods, understanding that April has heard nothing. April looks at the snow beneath her feet.
"Yeah, I can tell that some of the police officers around the city know who I am," Terry continues, as if completely blase. "I get a lot of stares from people wherever I go. Do you get that too?"
April looks back up at Terry, momentarily forgetting that since Terry and Rose discovered that human control room on the Dalek spaceship, Terry has lost a bit of the genius knowledge she used to have and is now dealing with human emotions she has never felt before. Terry never had to ask questions as she always knew the answer. But still, April wonders if Terry is only asking this question to get April talking and to have a conversation.
"It's been two months, Terry," April begins. "What have they been doing?"
Terry shrugs. "No one really knows. Perhaps they're building a new life without the hassle of the company."
April's natural scowl deepens. "We would've heard from them if that was the case."
Terry looks at April, studying her face before nodding. "My sentiments exactly."
Terry sighs as the wind blows and they both look out at the quiet river. April then looks down at her fingerless gloves. Her fingers are almost blue from the cold.
"Funny how quickly winter has come. I dread to think what it would be like come December." Terry says.
"You don't feel the cold though, Terry."
"Well, I dread for you humans."
April manages to smile weakly at Terry's remark but it vanishes quickly.
"Anyway," Terry shuffles on the spot. "The reason why I came down to get you was to say that the Doctor and Rose are planning on going to visit the parallel Brazil and if you want to come with."
April shakes her head no.
"No, me neither." Terry takes out her psychic paper and sends a message to the Doctor. She then looks back up at April. "Have you been back to the UNIT base since?"
"No," April replies softly. "It hasn't really crossed my mind and I don't want to risk getting caught. No one seems to have any more trust around here."
Terry smirks. "Do you want to go and see it?"
April looks at Terry before following her.
They pass through a doorway of one of the buildings along the embankment. In a mater of seconds they find themselves in the lift which starts to ascend. The lift creaks almost as if it is a struggle for it to rise. April listens to it and knows that the lift has not been used for a long time.
April dreads to find out what she'll see behind the gate once they reach the base. If everyone from UNIT are still there, April knows that she will at least lose her temper and demand to know why they have been so secretive. Yet she also dreads to think that the base is a mess or that it will be empty.
The lift eventually stops and April and Terry remain on the spot, looking out at the darkness through the iron gates. It takes April a few moments to gather herself before she steps forward to open up the gates one at a time. It only reveals total darkness in the large space in front of them.
There is nothing. No hum of machinery and no light in the distance. Just darkness and silence. April can just about make out one green light coming from the fire exit sign at the far end on the base.
"There's no one here." Terry says softly.
April turns to look at the DNA scanner on the wall in the lift. She swipes her thumb over it and a green light flashes. Soon enough the lights flash on one by one, lighting up the empty and dusty base. It even smells a different than usual; there are no smells of the ones who used to work there.
The base is completely deserted.
"No one."
April takes her first step back into the base. Her footsteps echo across the base which is not usual. She slowly walks across the office, looking at each and every long desk with all the computers switched off. The black office chairs are covered in dust and everyone's possessions have been taken away. All that is left are the desks, the filing cabinets, chairs and the switched off computers.
April then draws her attention to the holographic screen under the UNIT logo carved into the wall. The screen now looks more like a large piece of grey cloth draped onto the wall.
April stops at the end desk running along the wall where all the officers worked. She looks down at the dusty ashtrays sat on the desk. She does not know how she feels about seeing the office the way it is now. She feels hollow and empty and wants nothing more than to see her friends again. And it is clear that the Doctor is worried too and also wants to see them. The base that once used to buzz with life daily is now ghostly and April hates it.
Terry's handheld device bleeps as she scans the room. "No life form has stepped into this base since the Colonel obeyed the government and closed the company," She announces. "Well not until now anyway." Terry looks at April's back and decides to keep a little distance from her, knowing that the base and UNIT mean a lot to her. Terry turns away and searches the kitchen and the spare bedroom where April stayed in.
April runs her fingers across the dust-ridden tables before looking through the drawers. All of them are empty. She has an urge to clean the office, rid it from its dust and turn on all the computers in hope to at least get through to UNIT, but her attention is quickly drawn to a note that sits in front of the Colonel's desk. Her name is written on the top of the card, calling out to her. April stares at the card for a long while before picking it up to read the note.
Dearest April,
I thought I'd leave you this note to confess that although we promised to contact you in a few days after we separated, we in fact lied. Knowing that from our sudden silence, the stubborn person you are, you will go looking for us and of course the one place to find us would be our base. But it no longer is.
Where are we, you may ask? Somewhere you shouldn't follow us, especially not the Doctor. Trust me when I say this but the Doctor is in danger again, surprisingly in more danger than he was with the Daleks and the Cybermen. But that's in the past now and we can only sort out what needs to be done to save the future, and above all, to save the Doctor.
Between you and me, April, we set out to Antarctica the following day after we said our goodbyes. Now I know you're probably moaning and complaining about us travelling halfway across this world away from you, but that's tough, April. UNIT have nothing to do in England any more, we're not wanted and the government have shut us down. But there was nothing to say that the company couldn't migrate to another country to continue our work. And our work so far involves trying to figure out how to rid these shape shifters and what it is under the ice in Antarctica that wants to rid the Doctor. I cannot explain anything else about our mission; I just thought you should know that the Doctor is in danger and needs our protection.
It's funny because you can't go anywhere without someone or something wanting to kill the Doctor. I guess it's a real perk of being friends with a Time Lord.
Apart from that, I guess you want to know more about how everyone is over here in Antarctica. Well to be fair there's not a huge amount of difference apart from that Jason and Martha are now "official" as he states. He's been telling me that he wants to propose to her but thinks it's better to save it once we've finished our job here. And Harry has jumped onto the bandwagon and has been of great use. There's a lot work that needs to be done so I'm leaving you this note as our final farewell.
I would like to ask how you are, April, but I think I already know. You're probably angry, frustrated, hurt, and maybe crying (which would surprise me if you are. You never cry and even if you do, no one sees you). But above all I know that you probably want to hit me in the face right now. But until we save the Doctor, there is no chance we will be able to see you again, April. It's too much of a risk. Will is working hard and he has a job to do. But hopefully soon enough, the Tardis will have regained its energy to take you back to your own world and you can continue to save the universe there. But until then, I'm afraid to have to leave you in limbo.
And before I do say our final farewell, there are a few things I ask of you.
1) Burn this note as soon as you've read it. We can't risk anyone finding out where we are.
2) Lock the UNIT base and never come back. There's a key in the cabinet to your left. Once you lock it, it would mean that no one can ever get to the base and the trick to get into the lift will be ruled out. Even for you.
And 3) look after the Doctor please. Make sure he doesn't go looking for us. Keep him safe and as soon as the Tardis regains its energy, leave this world. If you go anywhere near Antarctica, it will be easier for these things to get him. They want to kill him, and to be able to get to him, they might have to kill us and then you.
Goodbye, April.
Colonel Brimikawood
It feels like April has been stabbed in the heart and the more she rereads the card, the more the pain increases. Tears fill her eyes and she is lost for words.
It then suddenly comes to her the moment when she was invited to her parallel parent's house for tea. She suddenly remembers her parallel mother, Suzette, telling her that she was to help UNIT during the battle but once her job was done, UNIT would move on. She has reached the moment she dreaded. UNIT no longer need April and she knows that she will mess everything up completely if she gets in the way of their current work.
But then again, she does not care if that is the case. Since she transported into this parallel world all those months ago, UNIT have become a huge part of her life. She can't just let the Colonel push her away like this.
She rereads the letter once again, trying to make sense of it. The Doctor is in trouble. Again. Something out in Antarctica, apparently under the ice wants to kill him and it is UNIT's job to get rid of whatever it is. Something is not quite right and April wishes she can help them out.
April is then suddenly aware of Terry's presence behind her. She quickly folds the note and stuffs it in her coat pocket. From Terry's silence, April has an idea that Terry probably knows what the letter says.
"We should be getting back." April mutters. Terry nods before heading towards the lift. April takes the key from the filing cabinet and follows Terry. However she chooses not to lock up the base. A part of her stubbornly believes that UNIT will come back. Nor does she plan on burning the note. She wants to keep it safe with her at all times.
The lift takes Terry and April down and once it stops, they both step out onto the cul-de-sac. The Tardis is out not far in front of them and the strange alleyway is behind them. The wind starts to blow heavily again and April wonders if any time has passed at all since Rose and the Doctor travelled to Brazil.
"This road was never like this back in your world." Terry says as she looks around the eerily quiet cul-de-sac. The houses are still dark and empty inside and there is no glass in the windows.
April remembers how it was back in her world. Although her depression had hit its peak at the time and she wished to kill herself, the cul-de-sac was always bright and friendly as the children played around on the green grass in the bend in the road. Everyone looked happier and even the brick walls to the houses seemed brighter. Now in this parallel world, the cul-de-sac just seems grey and lifeless.
"Would you ever go back to your old house again?"
April stares at the parallel version of her old home for a long time before shaking her head. Shivers running down her spine. Terry sighs before walking forward and opening the Tardis door. Music and laughter is heard from inside and April follows pursuit.
The Doctor and Rose are laughing about their trip to Brazil. The Tardis smells heavily of coconut as the Doctor switches through different tracks of musical scores.
"Ah, there you two are!" The Doctor says as he notices April and Terry. "Take a listen to this; it's a brand new track that's only been released in Brazil." He flicks a switch on the console and another tune plays. It is a slow tune and Rose starts to sway to the rhythm. Terry stands beside the Doctor and flicks another switch which changes to a more upbeat one.
"Ah this one is an old classic!" The Doctor announces as he starts dancing along. Rose laughs as he takes her into his arms and clumsily spins her around. April watches them and cannot suppress a smile. She then jumps up to stand with them.
"What else have you got, Doctor?" She asks.
"Oh a huge variety," He replies. "I'm sure this one you'll recognise." The Doctor smiles as he switches another button and Chumbawamba's ' Get Knocked Down starts to play around the Tardis. April giggles.
They continue to spend their time flicking through songs and dancing around, and the Doctor shows off his apparent musical knowledge. Although at most times, April and Rose have to correct him when he is wrong. At one point, Rose and April speak at the same time when they correct him and Rose only returns April with a smile and a wink.
"What have you both been up to this morning?" The Doctor asks Terry and April as he turns the volume down low on Wolfgang Mozart's 'A Little Night Music', just so it is quiet background noise.
"We visited the UNIT base but there was no one there." Terry replies casually.
The Doctor hesitates as he looks from Terry to April then to Rose who shrugs. He then turns off the music.
"Well the Tardis is still regaining her energy," Rose says slowly. "I'm sure we can pass through doorway 0055 soon enough."
The Doctor sighs heavily and then gestures to Terry as he, Terry and Rose gather around the console screen. The Doctor babbles on about the difference in the parallel world and especially the culture in Brazil. It is his way of diverting their minds away from UNIT.
April, however, sits down on the floor with her back up against one of the treelike pillars as she tosses her elastic band ball from one hand to the other. She listens to the Doctor's, Rose's and Terry's voices as they talk and laugh, but she does not pay attention to the words that is actually being said. She just feels lost as if someone has taken a whole chunk of her heart away.
April then hears her name being called and she is only met by Rose when she turns. The Doctor peers his head from around the console.
"Your mind has wondered." He says before pressing some buttons on the console.
April turns her attention back to the ball, and Rose moves back to join the Doctor. They start muttering among each other and April can hear them discussing her. But just like the Doctor does, she still questions to herself why she finds it so difficult to get along with Rose. There have been moments when their tension is forgotten about, but there is nothing April finds easy to tell Rose, and she is sure that Rose feels the same.
Thinking back at what the Colonel said: it is a perk about with friends with a Time Lord. Everything messes up along with your mind.
"The Colonel left a message." April says aloud which draws the attention back to her. She looks over at the Doctor as she holds the ball tightly in her hands. She thinks about her words carefully, thinking of how to tell him not to follow UNIT but also to avoid the topic of him being in danger. For some reason, she thinks it is best to keep that secret. "The reason why we haven't heard from UNIT is because they've gone under cover. They've left England to work down in Antarctica. He said they're on some secret mission but it's our job to make sure they're not found out." She then stands up and approaches the console.
"Antarctica? What are they doing there?" Rose asks.
The Doctor narrows his eyes. "Let me see the letter."
For a moment April wonders how the Doctor knows that it is a letter the Colonel had left her when she only said that it was a message. She shakes her head no all the same. "I burnt it after I read it seeing as it was one of the Colonel's orders." April tries to ignore Terry's stare. However Terry remains to say nothing about it, although she knows that April is lying.
The Doctor sighs as he rests against the console. "April, you've only met this Will Sullivan once and now you want me to take you halfway around this parallel world to visit him."
April is suddenly surprised. It is as if the Doctor has just completely read her mind. She frowns at him. Since she met him there has often been times where is seems as if he can read her thoughts. This thought suddenly makes her feel very defensive. "I'm going to see what UNIT are studying while in Antarctica, and visiting Will while I'm there. It's just a coincidence that's all," April sighs as she thinks about what the Colonel wrote in his letter. "And I wasn't asking you to take me there, Doctor. I can find a way there myself. You did teach me how to fly the Tardis in any case."
"And I reject that out of hand, April," The Doctor warns angrily. "There must be a reason why UNIT have chosen specifically to study in Antarctica and I can only guess it means trouble. If you go then we all can go."
"What exactly did the letter say?" Rose asks.
"Nothing more than what I have already said." April mutters but is fully aware that no one believes her. How can she admit to the Doctor that something out there wants to kill him?
The Doctor sighs and clicks his fingers, shutting the Tardis doors. "Well," He says. "First things first, I think that there's three people you ought to meet before we even get back to UNIT."
"And who may they be?" April's voice sounds deflated.
"The first is to see Mr Jack Gruntler up in Scotland," The Doctor registers the look of recognition across April's face for he has mentioned him many time before. "I believe you have never met him before, but it is high time you do. He knows who you are and will be expecting you. Well he knows everything about everyone and everything. The wise one, we all call him because he really knows all. You'll be surprised at how much he knows and understands about the universe."
"The man who knows all," April says. "The one who told you that the timeline of the Cytracik is a fixed point."
Terry clicks her tongue impatiently. "Jack is going to kill you for turning up on his doorstep."
The Doctor, ignoring Terry, pulls down a leaver, making the Tardis shudder. "The second is Monroe Setzik. He used to work with UNIT and was a close friend and an old partner to Will."
April raises an eyebrow. "Okay then, and who's the third?"
"Morgarn. She's a funny one but she has a lot to say. Very wordy and a little bit," The Doctor twiddles his finger by his head to gesture that the woman is crazy, and then he sighs again. "There's so much you don't know about UNIT and I think that these people will open up your mind, April."
The Doctor then pulls down another leaver and the Tardis starts to move.
