New story. Doctor Who and Sarah Jane Adventures crossover. Based on a dream I had.
Disclaimer: Doctor Who and SJ Adventures characters and things do not belong to me. Tegan and Bry do, though.
Dalek Invasion of Earth: 2007
"So, what's the conspiracy theory of the day?" Bry asked me as he pulled me close to him to avoid a running little boy.
We were in a London mall on a busy Saturday in June.
I sighed. "Bry, they're not 'conspiracy theories.' They're research fact."
"Ohhh, and you're so sure of that?" Bry teased.
"Yes, I am."
"So, back to my question. What's the 'research fact' of the day?"
"I did tell you about UNIT, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, it's about the scientific advisor they had years ago. His name was-is Doctor John Smith. But-"
"No way. John Smith? Who actually names their kid that?"
"But everyone called him the Doctor."
"And what's so special about him?"
"First of all, he wasn't ever paid for his services. And, supposedly, he can change his face at will."
"And you believe that?"
"There are off-the-record reports by a Brigadier Alastair Lethbridge-Stewart, who worked very closely with the Doctor."
"Uh-huh."
I beamed a smile at Bry before kissing his cheek. "Guess what else. Sarah Jane Smith also worked for UNIT, with the Doctor."
"Your journalist hero?"
"Yeah."
Being an aspiring writer myself, I often read the works of other authors. My favorite articles were written by Sarah Jane Smith. Her perspectives were different from anyone else's. It was as though only she knew a secret about the universe itself, and couldn't tell anyone. But her apparently unique experiences showed in her work.
"You hungry?" Bry asked with a smile.
"Not really."
"I think you'll be hungry in a minute."
"Oh, really, and why is that?"
Bry just grinned and pointed to a table. Sitting alone, sipping a cup of tea, was a woman who looked to be in her late-40's with mid-length brown hair. I knew her face.
Bry and I walked over to the woman. "Sarah Jane Smith?" I asked.
Her head came up to look at Bry and me. "Yes? What can I do for you?"
"Do you mind if we…?" I asked.
She nodded her head and Bry and I sat down at the table.
"You have me at a disadvantage," Sarah Jane Smith said.
"I'm Tegan Landson, and this is Brian Shrieber," I introduced.
"You read my work." Sarah stated.
"How can I not?" I rhectorically asked. "I mean, you have had different experiences than almost anyone else, and it really shows in your writing."
"Tegan's your number one fan," Bry stated.
I elbowed my friend in his ribs and smiled at Sarah.
"Well, I know the start to an intellectual conversation when I see one," Sarah remarked.
Then two kids in their early teens came to the table. One was a girl with tan skin and wavy dark brown hair. The other was a boy with short dark hair and fair skin.
"Luke, Maria, this is Tegan Landson and Brian Shrieber. Tegan, Brian, this is my son Luke and our friend Maria," introduced Sarah.
Hellos and nice-to-meet-you's were exchanged. Then Luke turned to his mother and said, "Maria said she saw something earlier that she thinks would look nice on me."
"Uh-huh. Well, I'll be at the fountain. Meet me there in thirty minutes," Sarah told them.
"Okay, Sarah," replied Maria before grabbing Luke's hand. "Come on."
Sarah looked at them as they disappeared into the crowd. "So, what did you want to talk with about?"
Brian and I followed Sarah to the fountain in the mall's center. Sarah and I had been talking for a good twenty-five minutes when we heard an explosion.
"What the…?" asked Bry as everyone looked in the direction of the sound and radiating heat.
We ducked as a shop near us blew up. Everyone around us ran in the opposite direction as the first explosion.
"That's where Luke and Maria went," Sarah urgently said, pointing to the ruins of the first explosion. She started pushing her way through the fleeing crowd as another shop exploded. Bry and I followed.
"Help!" two muffled voices cried from underneath the remains of the shop.
"Luke! Maria!" Sarah yelled as soon as we reached them.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"For the moment," answered Maria.
"We'll get you out as soon as we can, do you understand?" said Sarah.
"Mom, hurry," urged Luke.
Sarah turned to Bry and me. It was something she saw behind us that made her eyes widen in fear.