Jasmine Pond returns in A Christmas Carol, the Doctor Who Christmas special preluding the sixth season. For all of you fans of my fifth season rewrite, I am working on the sixth season now.
A Christmas Carol Part 1
What does one do when their pseudo sister and brother-in-law are sent on honeymoon by the Doctor? When it's this close to Christmas, then you would find that person in the library reading A Christmas Carol sipping on hot chocolate and sitting in her favorite comfy chair.
"Jaz!" the Doctor's voice echoes through the empty halls of the TARDIS. Sighing, I close the book, set the cup of hot chocolate on the table, and head toward the control center. "Jaz, quickly!"
"Coming!" I yell back. "What is it? You interrupted the best part." I criticize him entering the room and holding up the book.
"A Christmas Carol," he reads the title. "Dickens, I met him once." An alarm sounds and interrupts his soon to be rambling. He flips a switch and the alarm stops. A light starts blinking on the console.
"What is that?" I question pointing to the blinking light on the console.
"That," he says pointing at the light, "is the reason I was calling for you. That is a distress signal."
"A distress signal from where?" I ask already knowing it involves Amy and Rory.
"From your sister," he states. "Seems like her and Rory have gotten themselves in to a bit of trouble."
"We have to stop leaving the two of them alone without adult supervision," I state with a small smile.
"It seems the ship they are on is caught in some sort of storm," the Doctor explains. "We've got to shut down the machine that is causing it or that ship is going to crash."
"And here was me hoping nothing crazy was going to happen on Christmas." The Doctor gives me an ironic smile.
"Come along, Pond." He offers me his hand and then he leads me to the door.
DWDWDWDWDWDW
We exit the TARDIS on the roof of the tallest building in the city.
"Oh look, a chimney," the Doctor comments as he points to a large chimney.
"You're not going down the chimney like Santa." He just smiles at me mischievously. "I'll meet you in the house," I state as I shake my head at his antics. I make my way through the house and pause outside large double doors.
"All right, you lot. Poor, begging people. Off home and pray for a miracle." I can hear a voice talking from within. There are footsteps approaching the door and then a whooshing sound. I hear the Doctor coughing and make my way in to the room.
"Ah!" The Doctor stands up and dusts himself off while everyone in the room stares in shock. "Yes! Blimey, sorry! Christmas Eve on a rooftop, saw a chimney, my whole brain just went, 'What the hell?' Don't worry, fat fella will be doing the rounds later." The Doctor moves towards the children close to me. "I'm just scoping out the general…chimneyness! Yes!" He walks back over to the fireplace. "Nice size. Good traction. Big take."
"Fat fella?" the father questions.
"Father Christmas," I say making my presence known and moving over to the Doctor. They stare blankly at us.
"Santa Claus, or, as I've always known him, Jeff," the Doctor states before looking at me.
"Jeff?" I mouth and he just shrugs his shoulders before approaching the family again.
"There's no such person as Father Christmas," the little boy states adamantly.
"Oh, yeah?" The Doctor reaches into his pocket and pulls out a photograph and shows it to the little boy. "Me and Father Christmas, Frank Sinatra's hunting lodge, 1952. See him at the back with the blonde? Albert Einstein, the three of us together. Vroom! Watch out! Okay?" The boy gives the Doctor a small smile. "Keep the faith. Stay off the naughtiness."
He turns and drags me over to a rather large control panel.
"Ooh, now what's this, then? I love this. A big, flashy lighty thing, that's what brought us here. Big, flashy lighty things have got us written all over them. Not actually, but give me time and a crayon." The Doctor starts fiddling with dials and knobs as I give a once over of the older gentleman watching us critically. "Now, this big, flashy lighty thing is connected to the spire in your dome, yeah? And it controls the sky. Well, technically, it controls the clouds, which technically aren't clouds at all."
"Doctor," I say interrupting him. He turns to look at me. "You're rambling."
"Right," he turns back to the others, "sorry. Who's she?" he questions as he points at the woman in the capsule.
"Nobody important," the older gentleman informs.
"Nobody important!" the Doctor states as he walks over to the capsule. "Blimey, that's amazing. Do you know, in 900 years of time and space, I've never met anyone who wasn't important before?" The old man sneers at the Doctor. "Now this console is the key to saving that ship," the Doctor states running back over to me and the console. "Or I'll eat my hat, if I had a hat. I'll get someone's hat, not someone who's using their hat, I don't want to sock a man or something."
"You're rambling again," I tell him, "and nothing you are doing is working."
"Right," he turns back to the old man. "This isn't working!"
"Controls are isomorphic, one-to-one. They respond only to me," the old man informs us smugly.
"Oh, you fibber! Isomorphic! There's no such thing." The Doctor tries a few more switches before the old man walks over and turns the machine off and then back on. The Doctor then tries to switch the same button but nothing happens. "You try," he says pointing at me.
"This isn't going to work," I comment before flicking the switch a couple times. He shoves me out of the way and pulls out his sonic. He scans the switch and then the old man and reads the results.
"These controls are isomorphic."
"The skies of the entire world are mine," the old man states. "My family tamed them and now I own them."
"Tamed the sky? What does that mean?" the Doctor questions.
"It means I'm Kazran Sardick," he turns to look at the others in the room. "How can they possibly not know who I am?"
"Well, just easily bored, I suppose. So, we need your help, then," the Doctor says as he makes his way over to Kazran.
"Make an appointment," he states waving us off.
"There are 4,003 people in a spaceship trapped in your cloud belt. Without your help, they're going to die."
"Yes," Kazran states.
"You don't have to let that happen," I say coming to join the Doctor.
"I know, but I'm going to. Bye-bye. Bored now. Chuck!" Kazran's servants start herding us to the door.
"My sister is on that ship," I state as the Doctor and I break free of the men.
"Oh, look at you, looking all though now," Kazran comments as he sits in his chair.
"There are 4,003 people I won't allow to die tonight. Do you know where that puts you?" the Doctor questions seriously.
"Where?" Kazran questions uninterested.
"4,004."
"Was that a sort of threaty thing?" Kazran questions nonchalantly.
"Whatever happens tonight, remember, you brought it on yourself."
"Yeah, yeah, right. Get them out of here! And next time, try and find me some funny poor people." We let the men lead us toward the door. The little boy slips away and grabs a chunk of burnt wood. He hurls it at Kazran, hitting him in the head. Kazran rushes at the boy and raises his arm to strike him.
"No! Stop!" I say.
"Don't you dare! You leave him!" the boy's father demands trying to break free. The boy cringes and Kazran falters before finally lowering his arm.
"Get them out of here!" Kazran yells. "Get that foul smelling family out of here! Out!" We scuffle with the men before once again getting loose. We follow Kazran back in to the room. "What? What do you want?"
"A simple life. But you didn't hit the boy."
"Well, I will next time," Kazran states adamantly.
"You see, you won't. Now, why? What are we missing?"
"Get out! Get out of this house!" Kazran demands.
"The chairs," the Doctor states. "Of course, the chairs. Stupid me. The chairs."
"Chairs?" Kazran questions as he looks between me and the Doctor.
"There's a portrait on the wall behind us, looks like you, but it's too old, so it's your father. All the chairs are angled away from it. Daddy's been dead for 20 years but you still can't get comfortable where he can see you."
"There's a Christmas tree in the painting, but none in this house on Christmas Eve," I point out.
"You're scared of him, and you're scared of being like him, and good for you, you're not like him, not really. Do you know why?"
"Why?" Kazran questions desperately.
"Because you didn't hit the boy," I inform him. Kazran bows his head.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Sardick," the Doctor states.
"I despise Christmas," Kazran declares adamantly.
"Shouldn't," the Doctor says as he motions me toward the door. "It's very you."
"It's what? What do you mean?"
"Halfway out of the dark." The Doctor turns and we calmly walk past Kazran's servants.
"Get her downstairs with the others! And clean up this mess!" We hear Kazran demand as we head down the hall.
DWDWDWDWDWDW
"Have you got a plan yet?" I hear Amy question over the Doctor's communication device as we make our way outside.
"Yes I do!" he affirms.
"Are you lying?" she questions and I can't help but laugh.
"Yes, he is," I say leaning over and speaking in to the device.
"Don't treat me like an idiot."
"Okay. The good news, we've tracked the machine that unlocks the cloud belt, we could use it to clear your flight corridor and you could land, easily."
"Well, hey, hey, that's great news."
"But he can't control the machine," I inform her.
"Less great."
"But we met a man who can," the Doctor states as he shoves me away.
"Ah, well, there you go."
"And he hates me."
"Were you extra charming and clever?" Amy questions sarcastically.
"Yeah, how did you know?" I chuckle to myself. The Doctor gives me a sideways glance.
"Lucky guess."
"Sir? Sir?" the poor man from earlier calls for our attention.
"Hang on," Doctor tells Amy. We head toward him.
"I've never seen anybody stand up to Mr. Sardick like that. Bless you both. And Merry Christmas," he says shaking our hands.
"Merry Christmas," we reply at the same time.
"Lovely, sorry, a bit busy," the Doctor comments pointing at the device.
"You'd better get inside, sir," the man tells us. "The fog's thick tonight and there's a fish warning."
"All right, yeah," the Doctor comments. We share a look and then turn back to the man, "Sorry, fish?"
"Yeah, you know what they're like when they get a bit hungry."
"Yeah, fish, we know, fish. Fish?"
"It's all Mr. Sardick's fault, I reckon. He always lets a few fish through the cloud layer when he's in a bad mood," the man states pointing up at the spire. The man pulls his goggles down before shaking the Doctor's hand again. "Thank you, and bless you once again."
"Fish?" the Doctor and I question each other in confusion.
"Doctor," Amy's voice comes over the device. "The captain says we've got less than an hour. What should we be doing?" We turn to look at a lamp post. Swimming through the air around the lights we see tiny fish.
"Fish," I say pointing at the lamp.
"Sorry, what?" We hear Amy question.
"Fish that can swim in fog," the Doctor comments as he turns to look at me. "I love new planets."
"Doctor…Jaz, please, don't get distracted."
"Now, why would people be frightened of you tiny, little fellas? Look at you, sweet, little fishy-wishies. Mind you, fish in the fog, so the cloud cover…ooh." The Doctor looks up and speaks in to Amy, "Careful up there."
"Oh. Oh, great, thanks, Doctor, because there was a real danger we were all going to nod off. We've got less than an hour!" We both turn to look at the clock.
"I know," the Doctor comments as the clock strikes 11:00 at night. Christmas music starts playing over the speakers in the city.
"Doctor, how are you getting us off here?"
"Oh, just give me a minute!" the Doctor demands in a huff. "Can't use the TARDIS, 'cause it can't lock on. So that ship needs to land, but it can't land unless a very bad man suddenly decides to turn nice just in time for Christmas Day."
"Doctor, I can't hear you. What is that? Is that singing?"
"A Christmas carol," he informs her.
"A what?"
"A Christmas carol," he tells her again.
"A what?"
"A Christmas carol!" the Doctor yells. I reach in to my jacket pocket and pull out my book.
"Doctor?" I look up to the Doctor and see the gears working in his brain.
"Exactly," I state holding up the book and he gives me a smile.
"Kazran Sardick," the Doctor says as he looks up at the spire again.
"Doctor?!" Amy's frantic voice comes through again.
"Merry Christmas, Kazran Sardick."
DWDWDWDWDWDW
We sneak back in to Kazran's house and set up a video projector while Kazran snores softly in his chair.
"Hello. My name is Kazran Sardick. I'm twelve and a half." Young Kazran appears on the wall. "And this is my bedroom."
"Top-secret special project," older Kazran states in his sleep as he stirs.
"This is my top-secret special project, for my eyes only. Merry Christmas."
"Kazran! Kazran!" Older Kazran jumps awake and looks at the projection as his father makes his way in to the picture. "Kazran, what are you doing? What are you doing?" Older Kazran backs away from the wall in fear. "I've warned you before about this. Stupid, ignorant, ridiculous child!"
"I was just going to make a film of the fish," young Kazran states in fear.
"Fish are dangerous!"
"I just want to see them."
"Don't be stupid. You're far too young."
"Everyone at school's seen the fish."
"That's enough. You'll be singing to them next, like gypsies."
"Singing works. I've seen it. The fish like the singing."
"What does it matter what fish like?"
"People say we don't have to be afraid of the fish. They're not really interested in us."
"You don't listen to people! You listen to me!" I flinch as Kazran's father slaps his younger self in the recording. Older Kazran touches his face in remembrance.
"Sorry, father." The Doctor and I slowly approach Kazran.
"It's okay," the Doctor says as he lays a hand on Kazran's shoulder startling him. "It's okay."
"What have you done? What is this?" he demands angrily.
"Found it on an old drive. Sorry about the picture quality. Had to recover the data using quantum enfolding and a paper clip." The Doctor takes a seat in Kazran's chair and pulls out the paper. I plop down on the arm of the chair. Kazran goes to ring his bell. "Oh, I wouldn't bother calling your servants. They quit. Apparently, they won the lottery at exactly the same time, which is a bit lucky, when you think about it."
"There isn't a lottery," Kazran comments.
"Yeah, as he said, lucky," I comment from my position on the arm of the chair.
"There's a fog warning tonight," Kazran's father states on the recording. "You keep these windows closed, understand? Closed!"
"Who are you?" Kazran questions.
"Tonight, we're the Ghost of Christmas Past."
"Mrs. Mantovani will be looking after you tonight. You stay here 'til she comes. Do you understand? Do you understand?" Kazran's father leaves the screen and young Kazran starts to cry.
"Did you ever get to see a fish back then when you were a kid?" the Doctor questions.
"What does that matter to you?" Kazran questions.
"Look how it mattered to you," I tell him gently as I point to young Kazran on the screen.
"I cried all night and I learnt life's most invaluable lesson," Kazran states.
"Which is?" the Doctor questions.
"Nobody comes," Kazran informs. "Get out! Get out of my house!" Kazran demands once again.
"Okay! We'll go, but we'll be back," the Doctor informs. "Way back." We head for the door, but the doctor pauses, "Way, way back." With that said we exit the room and enter the TARDIS.
"Doctor, are you sure about this?" I question once we are inside.
"About what?" he questions distractedly.
"We're going to change his whole history," I inform him. "You are always trying to make sure we don't do things like that." He stops what he is doing and looks at me.
"Do you want to save your sister?" he asks quirking his eyebrow at me.
"Ugh!" I relent throwing my hands up in frustration. "I kind of hate you sometimes."
"No you don't," he states giving me a cheeky grin and a wink before flipping the switch.
DWDWDWDWDWDW
We land outside young Kazran's window. He turns around.
"See? Back," the Doctor says speaking to old Kazran in the future. If I wasn't so use to this, I would find this all a little strange.
"Who are you?" young Kazran questions.
"Hi, I'm the Doctor and this is my friend Jaz," the Doctor points out. "We're your new babysitters."
"Where's Mrs. Mantovani?" he questions us.
"Ah, you'll never guess," the Doctor states moving into his room. "Clever old Mrs. Manto, she only went and won the lottery."
"There isn't any lottery," young Kazran states.
"We know! What a woman!" the Doctor states as he jumps on Kazran's bed.
"If you're my babysitters, why are you climbing in the window?" he asks inquisitively.
"If we were climbing out the window, we'd be going in the wrong direction. Pay attention."
"But Mrs. Mantovani's always my babysitter."
"Times change," the Doctor says moving up to look directly in the camera. "Wouldn't you say? See? Christmas past."
"Who are you talking to?" Kazran questions.
"You," the Doctor replies as he continues to look in the camera. "Now, your past is going to change. That means your memories will change, too. Bit scary, but you'll get the hang of it."
"I don't understand," young Kazran says.
"Believe me kid," I tell him, "I still don't understand a lot of things."
"I wish I could see your face," the Doctor comments. The Doctor jumps back on Kazran's bed. "Right then, your bedroom! Great, let's see, you're 12 years old, so we'll stay away from under the bed." The Doctor points to the cupboard. "Cupboard! Big cupboard! I love a cupboard." The Doctor rushes toward it and flings the doors open. "Do you know, there's a thing called a face spider? It's just like a tiny baby's head with spider legs. And it specifically evolved to scuttle up the backs of bedroom cupboards."
"Really, Doctor," I state crossing my arms. He closes the doors and looks at me.
"Which, yeah," he turns to look at Kazran, "I probably shouldn't have mentioned. Right, so what are we going to do? Eat crisps and talk about girls? I've never actually done that, but I bet it's easy." He turns to look at me. "Girls!" He looks back at Kazran, "Yeah?"
"Are you really a babysitter?" Kazran questions.
"I think you'll find I'm universally recognized as a mature and responsible adult," the Doctor states as he shows Kazran his psychic paper. I struggle to stifle a laugh. The Doctor turns to give me a look.
"It's just a lot of wavy lines," Kazran informs him. The Doctor looks at it.
"Yeah, shorted out," he laments. "Finally, a lie too big." This time, I laugh out loud and approach Kazran.
"He might not be a mature and responsible adult, but he is loads of fun." Kazran still looks uncertain.
"Look, it's Christmas Eve," the Doctor tells him as he kneels in front of him. "You don't want a real babysitter. You want us."
"Why?" Kazran questions. "What's so special about you?"
"Have you ever seen Mary Poppins?" the Doctor asks.
"No."
"Good, because that comparison would have been rubbish. Fish in the fog. Fish in the clouds. How do people ever get bored?" The Doctor steps out the open window. "How did boredom even get invented?
"My dad's invented a machine to control the cloud belt. Tame the sky, he says." Kazran informs us as he walks toward us. "The fish will be able to come down, but only when we let them. We can charge whatever we like."
"Yeah, we've seen your dad's machine," I tell him.
"What? You can't have," Kazran tells us.
"Tame the sky," the Doctor repeats. "Human beings, you always manage to find the boring alternative, don't you? Do you want to see what, fish? We can do that. We can see a fish."
"But aren't you going to tell me it's dangerous?" Kazran questions.
"Dangerous? Come on, we're boys!" the Doctor states.
"Uh," I say raising my hand, "not all of us are boys."
"Of course not," the Doctor says looking at me. "But you are a Pond."
"Unofficially," I comment.
"Semantics," he states before turning back to Kazran. "And you know what boys say in the face of danger."
"What?" he asks.
"Mummy."
DWDWDWDWDWDW
As with all of the Doctor's plans, this one involves very little planning and thinking. We are currently hunkered down in Kazran's cupboard. The Doctor has tied a string to his sonic, which is pulsating, and the other end is tied to his finger like a fishing line.
"Are there really face spiders in here?" Kazran questions.
"No," the Doctor states, "not at this time of night. They'll all be sleeping in your mattress."
"Still not helping, Doctor," I tell him.
"Right," he says. "So, why are you so interested in fish?" Kazran shrugs his shoulders.
"'Cause they're scary," he finally answers.
"Good answer."
"What kind of tie is that?" Kazran asks noticing the Doctor's bowtie.
"A cool one," he states. I just shake my head.
"Why is it cool?"
"Yes, Doctor," I taunt, "why?" He sticks his tongue out at me before looking at Kazran.
"Why are you really interested in fish?" Kazran sighs.
"My school. During the last fog belt, the nets broke and there was an attack. Loads of them. A whole shoal. No one was hurt, but it was the most fish ever seen below the mountains."
"Were you scared?" I ask him.
"I wasn't there. I was off sick."
"Ooh, lucky you," the Doctor comments. Kazran bows his head. "Not lucky."
"It's all anyone ever talks about now. The day the fish came. Everyone's got a story."
"But not you," I comment.
"Why are you recording this?" Kazran questions looking at the computer and camera. The Doctor's finger starts moving.
"Do you pay attention at school, Kazran?"
"Sorry, what?" The Doctor's finger moves again.
"'Cause you're not paying attention now." Kazran finally notices. The Doctor puts his finger to his lips.
"Doctor, are you sure?" Kazran questions as the Doctor moves to open the cupboard door.
"Trust me."
"Okay," Kazran replies with a shaky voice.
"Oi! Eyes on the tie. Look at me. I wear it and I don't care. Trust me," the Doctor requests before giving me a wink.
"Yes," Kazran states confidently.
"That's why it's cool." The Doctor slips out the cupboard door. I join Kazran at the cupboard doors and we put an ear to the door to listen.
"Hello, fishy. Let's see. Interesting. Crystalline fog, eh? Maybe carrying a tiny electrical charge. Is that how you fly, little fishy?"
"What is? What kind? Can I see?" Kazran questions quickly with excitement.
"Just stay there a moment."
"Is it big?" Kazran inquires.
"No. Just a little one. So, little fella, what do you eat?" There is a loud whooshing noise and then a growl.
"How little?" Kazran questions.
"Um…"
"Can we come out?"
"No, no." I can hear the fear in the Doctor's voice. "Maybe just wait there for a moment."
"Well, what color is it?" Kazran questions.
"Big. Big color." The doors to the cupboard fly forward knocking us backward as the Doctor jumps in.
"What's happening?" Kazran and I ask at the same time as the Doctor places himself as a barricade against the doors.
"Well, concentrating on the plusses, you've definitely got a story of your own now." There is a loud bang on the door. "Also, I got a good look at the fish and I think I understand how the fog works, which is going to help us land a spaceship in the future and save a lot of lives. And I bet I'll get some very interesting readings off my sonic screwdriver when I get it back from the shark in your bedroom."
"There's a shark in my bedroom?" Kazran questions in shock.
"Oh, fine! Focus on that!" The shark crashes in to the doors again. Then suddenly the noise stops.
"Has it gone?" Kazran questions. "What's it doing?"
"What do you call it if you don't have any feet and you're taking a run-up?" The Doctor looks at the door and then lunges at us. We all crash to the ground as the shark breaks through the doors.
"It's going to eat us," Kazran states in fear as we jam ourselves in to the back of the cupboard. "It's going to eat us."
"Well, maybe we're going to eat it," the Doctor declares.
"You can't be serious," I comment.
"Yeah, I don't like the odds."
"It's stuck," I exclaim noticing how the shark isn't getting closer and isn't retreating.
"Let's see. Tiny shark brain. If I had my screwdriver I could send a pulse and stun it."
"Well, where's your screwdriver?" Kazran questions.
"Well, concentrating on the plusses…Within reach." We shrink back as the shark lunges closer. "You know, there's a real chance, the way it's wedged in the doorway is keeping its mouth open."
"There is?" I question skeptically.
"Just agree with me, 'cause I've only got two goes and then it's your turn."
"Two goes!" Kazran exclaims looking at me.
"Two arms!" I tell him.
"Right then, okay…" the Doctor gives us a look. "Geronimo." He lunges forward, "Open wide!" and sticks his arm in the shark.
DWDWDWDWDWDW
We're sitting out on the roof with the shark, which isn't looking too well. The Doctor is messing with his sonic.
"What's the big fishy done to you?" The sonic warbles pitifully. "Swallowed half of you, that's what. Half a screwdriver? What use is that? Bad, big fishy." The Doctor whacks the sonic on his hand.
"Doctor?" Kazran calls getting his attention. "I think she's dying." The Doctor walks over.
"Half my screwdriver's still inside," the Doctor laments not being able to sonic the shark. "But, yeah, I think so, I doubt they can survive long outside the cloud belt. Just quick raiding trips on a…foggy night." The Doctor and I notice the tears streaming down Kazran's face.
"Can't we get it back up there? We were just going to stun it. I didn't what to kill it," Kazran states defensively.
"She was trying to eat you," the Doctor points out.
"She was hungry."
"I'm sorry, Kazran. I can't save her." I put a hand on Kazran's shoulder as the Doctor talks. "I could take her back up there, but she'd never survive the trip. We'd need a fully functioning life-support."
"You mean, like an ice box?" The Doctor nods. "Okay." Kazran jumps up and runs in to his room. The Doctor and I look at each other and then follow him.
DWDWDWDWDWDW
He leads us downstairs and in to the basement. At the bottom of the stairs is a large door with a porthole window. Looking inside, we find a large and cold room filled with the same capsules the young lady was being stored in.
"What is this?" the Doctor questions.
"The surplus population, that's what my dad calls it." We try to turn the lock on the door.
"Remind you of anyone?" I question the Doctor. We continue to try and twist the lock.
"Oh, it's not turning," Kazran laments. "We're running out of time." The Doctor notices a keypad. He takes out the sonic before remembering it's broken.
"Ah, what's the number?"
"I don't know."
"The place is full of alarms. It's not just the door. I need the number." The Doctor returns and continues to help us try to open the door. "I need the number!"
"I'm not allowed to know until I'm older." The Doctor freezes and then turns to look at me.
"I am stupid."
"Your words, not mine," I joke. "Go on." I give him a shove toward the stairs.
"Back in a tic," the Doctor yells as he runs up the stairs.