Sarah Jane Adventures: Old Rival
Time Frame: Fifth Season
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended and I make no profit from the following story. The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood and Doctor Who are owned by the BBC.
Rani shut her locker door and had been about to walk to her next class when she thought she had seen someone familiar. She groaned as she realized that the person was very familiar. What is she doing here? Rani thought about the person who had tried to make her life a living hell in Danemouth. True she had failed at every turn, but that didn't matter. The last thing Rani wanted or needed was childish drama in her life. She had grown up a lot since she had last seen the girl and truth be told she didn't need her BS. Rani decided to avoid her and turned as she headed off in the other direction.
"Rani Chandra!" the girl called out and approached Rani.
Rani silently groaned and turned around to face her. "Lisa Alston, it's been a long time." And not nearly long enough. Rani forced a smile.
"It sure has," Lisa forced a smile as well. She bloody well better stay out of my way at this school. Lisa silently thought.
"What are you doing here?" Rani inquired.
"My mum got a promotion at work so she's working at her company's head office in London now," Lisa replied and after a long pause she spoke again. "Look, I'm not looking for trouble. If you stay out of my way I'll stay out of yours."
"Agreed," Rani replied but still felt like the other girl couldn't be trusted. She headed for her next class while Lisa headed for her first class.
Meanwhile Haresh was in his office conversing with Lisa's mother.
"I haven't forgotten what happened in Danemouth," Haresh said. "However, I am fair, so if anything happens between my daughter and yours the incident will be fully investigated."
"That's good to know given that it was never proven that Lisa was to blame for everything," Mrs. Alston replied. "Just because your daughter acts all innocent it doesn't mean that she is."
"I know how teens can be I have one, but Rani would never hit anyone unless she had to defend herself." Haresh defended his daughter.
"Neither would Lisa, and Lisa would never spread vicious and untrue rumors about someone," Mrs. Alston stood up for her daughter.
Haresh sighed. "I can see not much has changed since we first discussed this four years ago. I don't want any trouble at this school, and I don't want my daughter or any of my pupils harassed, bullied, or teased in any way."
"Lisa would never…" A look from him stopped her and then she sighed. "There won't be any trouble. Lisa and I already discussed the situation."
"Good, now if we're done here I have paperwork to catch up on," Haresh stated.
"We're done," Mrs. Alston answered and then walked out of his office.
Three hours later lunch time arrived and found Clyde Langer and Sky Smith eating lunch with Rani Chandra.
"Is she the one that told people that you were easy and that you were willing to try anything with anybody?" Sky questioned.
"Yeah that would be her," Rani confirmed. "And she almost ruined a good teacher's career when she started to tell people that he and I had slept together."
Clyde shook his head. "She's a real piece of work that one."
Rani nodded in agreement.
"So why did you punch her lights out years ago?" Sky asked. "Was it for her lies?"
"No, Sky, that's no reason to hit someone. What happened is that I called her on it and dad and I showed her and the Head Master at the school evidence of her lies. She knocked me to the ground with the first punch and I returned the favor," Rani reminded her. "I just hope she doesn't try to start any trouble here. I'm really not in the mood for it. I mean we have enough to deal with right? We have important stuff to deal with," she said about aliens.
"Don't worry, Rani," Clyde said. "She's older now too, and I'm sure she's grown up since then."
"Yeah hopefully," Rani replied. "But I don't trust her."
"Do you want me to befriend her and gather information?" Sky offered.
"No I don't want you too; you don't need that drama either life is much too short." Rani ate some of her lunch.
"But wouldn't it be better to know beforehand if she's planning trouble?" Sky pointed out.
"Yes, but I don't want you anywhere around her," Rani said. "If she were able to find out your intentions she would beat you into a bloody pulp if Clyde and I weren't there to stop her."
"Let it go, Sparky, we'll keep our eyes open for impending trouble from Lisa," Clyde assured her.
Moments later Lisa stepped outside and phoned her mum using her mobile. Her mum answered after a few rings.
"Hello, dear, is it done?" Mrs. Alston asked.
"Not yet, mum, I haven't been able to get her alone. There's always other kids in the hall or in the loo," Lisa answered.
"Be patient we've been planning this for four years now. We might have failed in Danemouth but we won't fail here," her mum assured her.
"Unless Sarah Jane Smith gets in the way," Lisa pointed out.
"She won't detect us don't worry. No one has ever been able to detect us not even the Doctor," Mrs. Alston said. "And don't you worry we will be able to capture her this time and bring her to him. Jaxton will pay top dollar for her and we'll never have to worry about money again and we'll have enough to return to our home planet."
"Mum, what does Jaxton want with Rani?" Lisa was curious.
"That's not our concern our only concern is getting her to him. Now stay focused and soon that will happen and we'll be on our way."
"I'm sorry, Sky," Sarah Jane said. "I agree with Clyde and Rani on this one, stay out of it." She put the finishing touches on an article that she had been working on.
"But, mum," Sky opened up her mouth to protest.
"But nothing," Sarah Jane argued. "There are more important things in life than taking part in hurtful mind games. Besides Haresh is keeping an eye on things and I'm very sure that Rani can deal with Lisa on her own."
"But what if she tries to start rumors again?" Sky refused to back down.
"That's not your problem," Rani said as she started working on some of her homework.
"But I thought we were a team," Sky tried. "Or is that only when it comes to fighting or helping aliens?"
Clyde sighed and sat down beside her. "Okay, Sparky, what's up? Why are you so determined to bust Lisa?"
"I just have a bad feeling about her intentions. I mean why show up in Ealing? She and her mum could've just as easily chosen another suburb. I just think it's rather odd that they moved into the same area as Rani and her parents," Sky voiced her worries.
Sarah Jane mulled over Sky's words and started to worry as well. "Rani, do you remember anything strange about Lisa and her mum when all of you lived in Danemouth?"
Rani shook her head. "Not a thing, they've always seemed normal to me."
"Did Lisa seem normal today?" Sarah Jane pressed.
Rani nodded and returned to concentrating on her homework.
"Sarah Jane, what are you getting at?" Clyde questioned.
"Do either of you know where Lisa and her mum live because I want to pay them a little visit." Sarah Jane readied her scanner watch.
Rani smiled. "Sarah Jane, I'm pretty sure that Lisa and her mum are not aliens."
"Well I'm not so sure," Sarah Jane replied. "Now do either of you know their new address?"
The children didn't know so Sarah Jane retrieved the address from Mr. Smith and then took some store bought pastries over to their home. Once she was there she made small talk with Lisa and her mum and also performed a scan when she could do so without Lisa or her mum knowing. Unless they're using some kind of bio-damper they're not aliens. She made small talk with them a bit longer and then she headed back home to Bannerman Road.
Sky, Rani, and Clyde were still in the attic when she returned.
"Are they aliens, mum?" Sky asked.
"Not according to my scanner," Sarah Jane answered.
"See there's nothing to worry about," Rani said as she packed up her things to go home.
"Clyde, walk home with her please," Sarah Jane requested.
Clyde grinned. "Of course."
"You suspect that they're using a Bio-damper." Rani rose to her feet and approached.
"I do," Sarah Jane answered. "Although I hope I'm wrong and that I'm worrying over nothing."
"I hope you are too, but if you're not we'll get to the bottom of it and defeat them we always win right?" Rani pointed out.
"Right," Sarah Jane replied. "But until we get to the bottom of this don't go anywhere alone not even your own house. You come over to my house when your parents aren't home."
"I'll be careful," Rani promised before she left with Clyde.
"Yeah and she's got me to protect her," Clyde bragged before they walked out of the attic.
Is that girl never alone? Lisa groused as she spied on Rani and Clyde while they walked to Rani's house. We can't risk leaving any leads behind. She started plotting and continued to keep watch on the Chandra home.
"Do you still have that device Sarah Jane gave you to protect you from Odd Bob the Clown?" Clyde asked Rani.
"I do," Rani assured him.
"Make sure you turn it on tonight before you go to sleep," Clyde urged.
"I will, and you do realize that we're most likely worrying over nothing right?" Rani asked.
"I'd rather worry over nothing and keep you safe," Clyde answered. "Because if we reasoned it away and something happened to you I'd never forgive myself."
She smiled and then moved in to kiss him.
He moved in to kiss her as well and also smiled.
They had managed to get one good kiss in before the porch light went on.
Clyde groaned. "Do you think your dad will ever get used to me being your bloke?"
"Probably not, but don't worry I love you," she said as she broke away from the kiss and headed for the door.
Clyde reached out for her and kissed her again. "I love you too."
They smiled at each other again before she went inside and he left for home.
"Are you going to behave, darling?" Gita inquired. "You'll walk away if Lisa tries to start trouble. You won't hit her?"
"Mum," Rani sighed. "She hit me first that day remember?"
"That doesn't mean that you had to stoop to her level, and I don't want you doing that again if trouble ensues," Gita lectured.
"Mum, I'm sorry but I'm never going to just stand there and let someone hit me or anyone that I love and care about. I know you mean well but I can't promise you that I'll never hit anyone." Rani hugged her. "I love you," she said before she retreated upstairs.
"I love you too and we'll finish this discussion tomorrow!" Gita shouted.
The next morning Sarah Jane had been awoken by her ringing mobile. She checked the caller ID and frowned. "Why in the world is Gita calling me so early in the morning the sun is barely up?" she said to herself before she answered the call. "Hello, Gita, how can I help you?"
"Hello, Sarah, is Rani there by any chance? She wasn't in her bed this morning, and she's not in the house we checked all of the rooms," Gita sounded worried.
"I'll check, Gita, hold on." Sarah Jane got out of bed and put her robe on, and then she checked the whole house for Rani. Her worry began to set in when she didn't find her there. "She's not here, but try not to worry maybe she went to the store. I bet she'll be back any minute." Oh, Rani, what part of don't go anywhere alone do you not understand? Sarah Jane hoped and prayed that she had gone to the store and would be back soon. "I'll call Luke and Clyde and see if they've heard from her."
"Thank you and you're right I'm sure she'll be home any minute," Gita concluded before the two women hung up with each other.
-to be continued