The TARDIS materialized under a bridge in the snow. The Doctor stepped out, looking about with a smile when Zara stepped out behind him. He looked behind to find her wearing a red skater skirt, black tights, black ankle boots, a knitted white jumper and a black blazer, her hair thickly curled, hanging over her shoulders. He beamed at her, taking her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it.
"So beautiful." He mumbled as she let go of his hand, running her hand through his hair with one fluid movement. She laughed, pushing his head away and heading off, The Doctor following after her.
He caught up with her, taking her hand as they headed into a busy street market. The stalls were decked with green garlands and ribbons, hawkers of mistletoe and chestnuts along with carolers.
The Doctor looked over at a young boy by a stall, "You there, boy." He called. "What day is this?"
"Christmas Eve, sir, madam." The boy replied to the both of them.
"What year?"
"You thick or something?"
"Oi!" The Doctor exclaimed as Zara laughed. "Just answer the question."
"Year of our Lord 1851, sir, madam."
"Right. Nice year. Bit dull."
Zara shook her head, eyeing the snow, "Nothing like a bit of Victorian Christmas."
"Doctor!" A voice yelled in the distance. The Doctor and Zara looked up, looking around for the voice. "Doctor!"
"Who, me?" The Doctor blinked as Zara bolted past him, running after her.
...
The Doctor and Zara bolted into an alleyway to find a black woman nervously backing away from bolted doors.
"Doctor!" She yelled.
"Don't worry, don't worry." The Doctor reassured her, looking at the doors intently with Zara, the both of them standing either side of the woman. "Stand back, what have we got here? Ooh." They frowned as a growling echoed from behind the doors as they rattled furiously. "OK, we've got it. Whatever's behind that door, I think you should get out of here."
The woman ignored him, "Doctor!"
"No, I'm standing right here. Hello."
"Don't be so stupid, who are you?"
"I'm The Doctor." The Doctor frowned, sharing a look with Zara.
"Doctor who?"
"Just the Doctor."
"Well, there can't be two of ya." A man suddenly came running up, dressed in period clothing. "Where the hell have you been?" She snapped at him.
"Don't worry." The man said. "Stand back. What have we got here, then?"
"Hold on, hold on." Zara stammered, eyeing the man. "Who are you?"
"I'm the Doctor. Simply the Doctor. The one, the only and the best." He turned to the woman. "Rosita, give me the sonic screwdriver."
Rosita quickly handed the second Doctor something, too quickly for either The Doctor or Zara to see.
"What?" The Doctor's eyes widened.
"Now quickly, get back to the TARDIS." The second Doctor ordered Rosita.
"Back to the what?"
"Stand back, sir. This is a job for a Time Lord."
Zara stared, stunned, "Job for a what lord?" She asked.
The doors burst open to reveal a creature with a shaggy, furry body and a metal mask where its face should be, a Cybershade.
"Oh, that's different." The Doctor remarked, reaching into his pocket.
"Oh, that's new." The second Doctor added, the two of them aiming their sonics at the creature.
"Allons-y." The two said in unison.
The Cybershade stared at them.
"I've been hunting this beast for a good fortnight." The second Doctor remarked. "Now step back, sir."
The Cybershade lept over them and clung to the wall of a building behind them.
"Some sort of primitive conversion, like they took the brain of a cat or a dog." Zara commented, watching it curiously.
"Well, talking's all very well. Rosita."
Rosita nodded, "I'm ready." She handed him a rope which he swung over his head like a lasso.
"Now, watch and learn." He released the rope and circled it around the Cybershade. "Excellent. Now then, let's pull this timorous beastie down to earth."
The Cybershade began to scale the wall, pulling the second Doctor with him.
"Or not." The Doctor muttered.
"I might be in a little bit of trouble."
"Nothing changes." Zara laughed.
"I've got you." The Doctor called, grabbing hold of the rope. He groaned a little, trying to pull him down, only to be pulled up the wall as well.
"You idiots!" Rosita shouted after them as Zara just rolled her eyes.
"Perhaps if you could pull?" The Second Doctor asked.
"I am pulling." The Doctor called. "In this position, I couldn't not pull, could I?"
The Cybershade jumped into a window and stopped.
"Then I'd suggest you let go, sir."
"I'm not letting you out of my sight, Doctor. Don't you recognise me?"
The Second Doctor glanced down at him, "No, should I? Have we met? This is hardly the right time for me to go through my social calendar."
Suddenly the two of them were pulled inside the window.
"Oh great." Rosita snapped, rushing off.
Zara looked round, confused, before following after the woman.
...
The Cybershade ran across the floor, pulling both Doctors across the dark, empty room and towards the far window.
"It's gonna jump!" The Doctor shouted.
"We're gonna fall!" The Second Doctor called.
Suddenly, Rosita appeared, chopping the rope with an axe. Both Doctors tumbled from the quick stop and slowly stood, groaning. Rosita dropped the axe and looked at Zara, who stood next to her as the two Doctor burst into laughter, hugging each other.
...
The four of them walked down the stairs from the warehouse as The Doctors continued laughing.
"Well, I'm glad you think it's so funny." Rosita snapped. "You're mad. Both of you. You could've got killed."
"But, evidently, we did not." The Second Doctor said. "Oh, I should introduce Rosita. My faithful companion, always telling me off."
"Well, they do, don't they?" The Doctor grinned, elbowing Zara in the side, making her roll her eyes him. "Rosita? Good name. Hello, Rosita."
"Huh. Now I'll have to go and dismantle the traps." Rosita grumbled. "All that for nothing. And we've only got 20 minutes till the funeral, don't forget." She turned and walked away. "Then back to the TARDIS, right?"
"Funeral?" Zara asked.
"Oh, long story." The Second Doctor waved a hand at her. "Not my own, not yet." He bent over with a groan. "Oooh, I'm not as young as I was."
"Well, not as young as you were when you were me." The Doctor remarked.
"When I was who?"
The Doctor frowned, "You really don't recognise me?" He looked at Zara. "Or her?"
"Not at all."
The Doctor stiffened slightly, horrified. It was bad enough that he couldn't remember him, but Zara?! Never. He could never forget her.
"But you're The Doctor." Zara frowned. "The next Doctor. Or the next-but-one. A future Doctor anyway."
"Oh!"
"No, no, don't tell him how it happened." Zara laughed. "Although... I hope he didn't just trip over a brick, that'd be embarrassing. Or maybe I hit him over the head with the brick cause he annoyed me. Then again, painless. Worse ways to go, depends on the brick."
"You're gabbling, madam. Now, might I ask, who are you two, exactly?"
"No, I'm, uh..." The Doctor babbled. "We're just Smith. John Smith." He gestured to Zara. "And my fiance, Zara. But we've heard all about you, Doctor. Bit of a legend, if I say so myself."
"Modesty forbids me to agree with you, sir." The Second Doctor smile. "But yes. Yes, I am."
Zara eyed him, "A legend with certain memories missing. Am I right?" She asked.
"How do you know that?"
"You've forgotten me." She breathed. "I always hoped you wouldn't... Clearly not." The Doctor stared at her guiltily.
"Great swathes of my life have been stolen away. When I turn my mind to the past, there's nothing."
"Going how far back?"
"Since the Cybermen." The Doctor and Zara shared a look. "Masters of that hellish wall-scuttler and old enemies of mine, now at work in London town. You won't believe this, Mr and Mrs Smith, but they are creatures from another world."
"Really?" The Doctor asked sarcastically. "Wow."
"It's said they fell onto London, out of the sky in a blaze of light. And they found me." He blinked, distracted. "Something was taken. And something was lost." He looked to The Doctor and Zara. "What was I like? In the past?"
"I don't think I should say." The Doctor sighed. "Sorry. Got to be careful with memory loss. One wrong word..."
"It's strange, though. I talk of Cybermen from the stars and you don't blink, Mr and Mrs Smith."
"Ah, don't blink, remember that?" Zara asked excitedly. "Whatever you do, don't blink? The blinking and the statues? Sally and the angels? No?"
The Second Doctor frowned, "You're a very odd man and woman."
"Hmm, I still am." The Doctor muttered. "Something's wrong here."
"Oh, the funeral." The Second Doctor suddenly exclaimed, backing away. "The funeral's at two o'clock. It's been a pleasure, Mr and Mrs Smith. Don't breathe a word of it."
"Can't we come with you?" Zara asked, The Doctor eyeing her.
"It's far dangerous. Rest assured, I shall keep this city safe. Oh, and, er... merry Christmas, Mr and Mrs Smith." He turned and left.
"Merry Christmas, Theta." Zara grinned before following after him.
The Doctor rolled his eyes, following after her.
...
The Doctor and Zara hid round a corner, watching The Second Doctor and Rosita standing at the side of the road, watching as a funeral procession made its way slowly down the road.
"I'm sure you're around somewhere." The Doctor reassured Zara. "Probably just watching from afar to keep me out of trouble." He placed a kiss on her head.
"Ssh!" Zara hissed, batting a hand at him to try and hear.
"The late Reverend Fairchild, leaving his place of residence for the last time." The Second Doctor sighed to Rosita. "God rest his soul. Now, with the house empty, I shall effect an entrance at the rear while you go back to the TARDIS. This is hardly work for a woman."
Rosita scoffed, "Oh, don't mind me saving your life. That's work for a woman, isn't it?"
"The Doctor's companion does what the Doctor says. Off you go."
She rolled her eyes and the two parted ways. The Doctor and Zara watched Rosita stride off before turning back.
...
The Doctor and Zara stood in the library, in the house that belonged to the Reverend, cleverly located by The TARDIS.
"Theta." Zara muttered, peering through the curtains and out onto the snowy street.
"Yes?" The Doctor replied, standing by the back door.
"Don't you think we should track them down?" The Doctor frowned, looking round at her. "The human versions of us? They could be anywhere."
"Ah they'll turn up." He muttered, walking over with a smile and spinning her into a hug so he was leaning against the cold window. "Much more important things on my mind." He leant forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
Zara let out a squeal, pulling away, "Theta!" She laughed as he tried to kiss her again, "No, Theta, he's here!" She nodded behind her at The Second Doctor as he approached the door, trying to pick the lock.
The Doctor rushed back open to the front door, pulling Zara with him, and yanking it open, "Hello."
The Second Doctor stared at them, stunned, "How did you get in?"
"Oh, front door." Zara smiled. "We're good at doors." She glanced at his hand. "Um, do you mind my asking, is that your sonic screwdriver?"
"Yeah." He held up a regular, wooden handled screwdriver. "I'd be lost without it."
"But, that's a screwdriver." She frowned. "How's it sonic?"
"Well, er, it makes a noise." He tapped it against the doorframe. "That's sonic, isn't it? Now, since we're acting like common burglars, I suggest we get out of plain view." He stepped into the house, The Doctor closing the door behind him.
The Second Doctor stormed through the Christmas decorated room, straight towards the desk, searching the drawers.
"This investigation of yours, what's it about?" The Doctor asked.
"It started with a murder." The Second Doctor called over his shoulder.
"Oh, good. I mean bad, but whose?"
"Mr Jackson Lake, a teacher of mathematics from Sussex. He came to London three weeks ago and died a terrible death."
"Cybermen?" Zara asked.
"It's hard to say, his body was never found. But then it started. More secret murders. Then abductions. Children…stolen away in silence."
The Doctor eyed round the room, "So whose house is this?"
The Second Doctor moved over to the bookcase, "The latest murder. The Reverend Aubrey Fairchild. Found with burns to his forehead, like some advanced form of electrocution."
"But who was he, was he important?"
"You ask a lot of questions."
Zara grinned, "We're your companions." She beamed.
"The Reverend was the pillar of the community, a member of many parish boards. A keen advocate of children's charities."
Zara gulped, "Children again." She frowned, Jenny's face flashing through her mind. She shook her head, continuing, "But why would the Cybermen want him dead? And what's his connection to the first death, this Jackson Lake?"
"It's funny, I seem to be telling you two everything. As though you guys engendered some sort of... trust. You seem familiar, Mr and Mrs Smith. I know your faces. But how?"
Zara eyed his pocket, noticing a pocket watch, "I wonder. I can't help noticing you're wearing a fob watch."
"Is that important?"
"Legend has it that the memories of a Time Lord can be contained within a watch." The Doctor said, glancing at Zara before turning back to The Second Doctor, "Do you mind?" The Second Doctor handed The Doctor his watch. "It's said that if it's opened..." He opened the watch and the cogs and springs fell onto the floor. "Oh. Maybe not."
"It's more for decoration."
"Yeah. Anyway, alien infiltration."
The three broke apart and began to search the room.
"Look for anything different, possibly metal." The Second Doctor called over his shoulder. "Anything that doesn't seem to belong, perhaps a mechanical device that could fit no earthly engine." The Doctor took out the sonic and used it on a locked desk. "It could even seem to be organic, but unlike any organism of the natural world." He looked up at the sound of the sonic. "Shh! What's that noise?"
The Doctor pocketed the sonic, "Oh, it's just me... whistling." He did an whistling impression of the sonic. "I wonder what's in here, though." He pulled up the scroll-top desk. "Ah." He pulled out a metal cylinder, eyeing it. "Different and metal, you were right. They are infostamps." Zara shot him a look. "I mean, at a guess. Um, if I were you, I'd say they worked something like this." He pressed one end of the cylinder and images projected onto the wall from the other.
"See?" Zara asked, looking at the flashing images. "Compressed information. Tons of it." The Doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out his glasses, putting them on as she spoke. "That is the history of London, 1066 to the present day. This is like a disk, a Cyberdisk. But why would the Cybermen need something so simple?"
Neither of them noticed as The Second Doctor collapsed into a chair, reacting badly to the sight of the infostamps.
"They've gotta be wireless." The Doctor frowned. "Unless... they're in the wrong century, they haven't got much power. They need plain old basic infostamps to update themselves."
Zara looked over to see The Second Doctor, "Are you all right?" She asked, dropping to his side in concern.
"I'm fine." The Second Doctor gulped, trying to pull away as she took his hand. She gently whacked his hand, taking it.
"No, what is it?" The Doctor asked, sitting opposite him. "What's wrong?"
"I've seen one of these before." He shook his head, troubled. "I was holding... this device, the night I lost my mind. The night I regenerated." Zara squeezed his hand tightly. "The Cybermen, they made me change. My mind, my face, my whole self." He looked up at The Doctor suddenly. "And you were there. Who are you?"
"A friend. I swear."
"Then I beg you, John. Help me."
The Doctor gave a small smile, "Ah. Two words I never refuse." He and Zara stood up. "But it's not a conversation for a dead man's house. It'll make more sense if we go back to the TARDIS... Your TARDIS." He headed of across the room. "Hold on, I just need to do a final check. Won't take a tick." He began to open doors as Zara rubbed a hand up and down the Second Doctor's arm, smiling at him in comfort. "There's one more thing I cannot figure. If this room's got infostamps, then maybe, just maybe, it's got something that needs infostamping." He opened a door to see a Cyberman staring back at him. "OK." He shut the door again. "I think we should run."
He bolted over to Zara and the Second Doctor as the Cyberman shoved the door open, stepping out.
"Run, Doctor!" Zara shouted, pushing the Second Doctor out of the library. "Now, Doctor!" The Doctor pushed her along too.
"Delete!" The Cyberman cried.
...
The three ran into the front hall to be blocked by a second Cyberman.
"The Doctor will be deleted." The Second Cyberman announced.
They turned and ran back, only for the first Cyberman to break through the door.
"Delete!" The Cyberman cried.
"Stairs!" Zara shouted. "Can't lead them outside!" She grabbed The Second Doctor's arm and pulled him up the stairs as The Doctor looked around frantically for something, grabbing an umbrella. "John!" Zara shouted, pointing to a sword on the wall. He grinned at her, grabbing it as the Second Cyberman appeared.
"Delete!" It cried.
He began to flourish the sword, "I'm a dab hand with a cutlass. You don't want to come near me when I've got one of these." The Cybermen advanced towards him. "This is your last warning. No?" They kept heading towards him. "OK, this is really your last warning!" He rolled his eyes. "OK, I give up." He began to make his way up the stairs.
"Delete!"
"Listen to us properly!" Zara shouted as The Doctor backed up the stairs, using the sword to block the Cybermen hitting out at him. "Whatever you're doing stuck in 1851, we can help! We're the only people in the world who can help you! Listen to us!"
"Delete!"
She pointed at The Doctor, "He's The Doctor and I'm Zara Saxon, his future wife. You need us. Check your memory banks, my name's Zara Saxon and his is The Doctor." She nodded back at the Second Doctor. "Leave this man alone!"
"The Doctor is me and she is Zara Saxon!" The Doctor shouted, kicking the Cybermen back and running up the stairs.
"Delete!" The Cyberman cried.
"The Doctor, Zara Saxon, remember? I'm The Doctor, she's my future wife Zara! You need us alive! You need The Doctor and his future wife, and that's us!"
The Second Doctor looked at the infostamp as the Cyberman pushed The Doctor to the floor, advancing, as Zara rushed forward, trying to fight back against them.
"Delete!"
The Second Doctor suddenly opened up the end of the infostamp, aiming the energy beam at the Cybermen. The two fell to their knees and their heads exploded as Zara pulled The Doctor to his feet.
"Infostamp with a cyclo-Steinham core." Zara breathed. "You ripped open the core and broke the safety, zap!" She chuckled. "Only The Doctor would think of that."
"I did that..." The Second Doctor gulped. "Last time."
"Come here, you'll be OK." The Doctor reassured him. "Let me just check." He pulled out his stethoscope.
"You told them he was The Doctor and you were his future wife." The Second Doctor frowned at Zara. "Why did you do that?"
"Oh, I was just protecting you." Zara smiled as The Doctor listened to his chest.
"You're trying to take away the only thing I've got, like they did." He gulped. "They stole something, something so precious. But I can't remember. What happened to me? What did they do?"
The Doctor reached back to Zara, squeezing her hand nervously. He assumed that The Second Doctor was talking about her, where was she?! He'd never leave Zara unless he had to... so why did he?!
"We'll find out." The Doctor reassured him. "You and me and Zara, together."
...
In the darkness of the night, Rosita paced nervously when both Doctors and Zara walked up to her.
"Doctor!" She gasped, running over and hugging the Second Doctor. "I thought you were dead!"
"Now then, Rosita." The Second Doctor replied. "A little decorum."
She pulled back, "You've been gone for so long." She turned to Zara, "He's always doing this, leaving me behind. Going frantic."
"What about the TARDIS?"
"Oh, she's ready. Come on." She grabbed him by the arm and lead him off.
The Doctor took Zara's hand, "I'm looking forward to this." He said quietly to her, placing a kiss on the side of her head as they followed after them.
...
The Doctor and Zara stood in the doorway of a stable, eyeing the clothes and cases scattered everywhere.
"You were right though, Rosita." The Second Doctor said. "The Reverend Fairchild's death was the work of the Cybermen."
"So, you live here?" Zara asked.
The Second Doctor nodded, "A temporary base, until we rout the enemy. The TARDIS is magnificent, but it's hardly a home." He stepped into one of the stalls and put a cloth into a basin of water before washing his face.
"And where's the TARDIS now?" The Doctor asked.
"In the yard."
He eyed all the cases, "Er... What's all this luggage?"
"Evidence. The property of Jackson Lake, the first man to be murdered." He looked at the two of thems. "Oh, but my new friends are fighters, Rosita, much like myself. They faced the Cybermen with a cutlass. I'm not ashamed to say, they were braver than I." The Doctor took out the sonic and began to use it on some of the luggage, Rosita watching wide eyed. "He was quite brilliant. Are you whistling again?"
"Yes. Yes, I am, yeah. Yeah." The Doctor nodded.
Zara put a finger to her lips, winking at Rosita as The Doctor put the sonic away and made his way to open one of the trunks.
"That's another man's property." Rosita hissed.
"Well, a dead man's." The Doctor shrugged. "How did you two meet, then?"
"He saved my life. Late one night, by the Osterman's Wharf, this...creature came out of the shadows." She gulped. "A man made of metal. I thought I was gonna die. And then, there he was. The Doctor." She looked between The Doctor and Zara. "Can you help him, sir, madam? He has such terrible dreams. Wakes at night in such a state of terror."
"Come now, Rosita." The Second Doctor called. "With all the things a Time Lord has seen, everything he's lost, he may surely have bad dreams."
"Yeah." The Doctor nodded, pulling out an infostamp. "Oh, now, look. Jackson Lake had an infostamp." He held it up, showing it to Zara.
"But how? Is that significant?"
Zara turned to the Second Doctor, "Doctor, the answer to all this is in your TARDIS. Could I see it?"
The Second Doctor looked between The Doctor and Zara, "Mr and soon-to-be Mrs Smith, it would be my honour."
...
The Second Doctor and Rosita lead the two of them out into the stable yard where sat a large hot air balloon, a young man standing beside it.
"There she is!" The Second Doctor said proudly as The Doctor and Zara eyed the balloon. "My transport through time and space. The TARDIS."
"You've got a balloon." The Doctor stated.
"TARDIS. T-A-R-D-I-S. It stands for Tethered Aerial Release Developed In Style. D'you see?"
"Well, I do now." Zara nodded. "I like it. Good TARDIS. Brilliant. Nice one." She inspected the balloon carefully. "And it's inflated by gas, yeah?"
"We're adjacent to the Mutton Street Gasworks, I pay them a modest fee." He turned to the young man. "Good work, Jed." He clapped the man on the shoulder.
"Glad to be of service, sir." Jed smiled as The Second Doctor took out a number of bills, slapping them into Jed's hand.
The Doctor eyed the money, "You've got quite a bit of money."
"Oh, you get nothing for nothing." The Second Doctor shrugged. "How's that ripped panel, Jed?"
Jed nodded, "All repaired, should work a treat. You never know, maybe tonight's the night, Doctor. Imagine it, seeing Christmas from above."
"Well, not just yet, I think." He looked up at the sky. "One day, I will ascend. One day soon."
"You've never actually been up?" Zara asked.
"He dreams of leaving, but never does." Rosita sighed.
"I can depart, in the TARDIS, once London is safe." The Second Doctor said. "And finally, when I'm up there... Think of it, John, Zara. The time and the space."
Zara smiled sadly, "The perfect escape. Do you ever wonder what you're escaping from?"
"With every moment."
She gently took his arm, "Then do you want me to tell you? 'Cos I think I've worked it out now. How you became The Doctor. What do you think? Do you want to know?"
...
The Doctor and Zara sat by a candle in the stables, opposite The Second Doctor and Rosita.
"The story begins with the Cybermen." Zara sighed, sharing a look with The Doctor before turning back to the Second Doctor. "A long time away, and not so far from here, the Cybermen were fought and they were beaten, and they were sent into a howling wilderness called The Void, locked inside forevermore. But then a greater battle rose up, so great that everything inside The Void perished. But, as the walls of the world weakened, the last of the Cybermen must have fallen through the dimensions, back in time, to land here. And they found you."
The Second Doctor frowned, "I fought them, I know that. But what happened?"
"At the same time, another man came to London." The Doctor explained. "Mr Jackson Lake. Plenty of luggage, money in his pocket. Maybe coming to town for the winter season, I don't know. But he found the Cybermen too. And just like you, exactly like you, he took hold of an infostamp."
"But he's dead. Jackson Lake is dead. The Cybermen murdered him."
"You said no body was ever found." Zara sighed. "And you kept all his suitcases, but you could never bring yourself to open them. I told you the answer was in the fob watch. Can I see?" The Second Doctor took out his pocket watch and handed it to The Doctor, who flipped it over to reveal the letters J.L. "J.L. The watch is Jackson Lake's."
The Second Doctor, Jackson, stared in horror, "But I'm The Doctor."
Zara shook her head sadly, "You became The Doctor because the infostamp you picked up was a book about one particular man." The Doctor picked up the infostamp and projected it onto the wall, showing all of his incarnations as Zara continued. "The Cybermen's database. Stolen from the Daleks inside The Void, I'd say, but it's everything you could want to know about The Doctor."
Jackson gulped, looking at the last projection of The Doctor, this time with Zara, "That's you." He said, looking at them.
"Time Lord, TARDIS, enemy of the Cybermen." The Doctor shrugged, clicking his tongue. "The one and the only. You see? The infostamp must have backfired, streamed all that information about me right inside your head."
He shook his head, "I am nothing but a lie."
"No, no, no, no, no. Infostamps are just facts and figures. All that bravery. Saving Rosita. Defending London town. Hmm? And the invention, building a TARDIS. That's all you."
"And what else? Tell me what else?"
Zara gulped, tears in her eyes, "There's still something missing, isn't there?"
"I demand you tell me, madam." Jackson snapped. "Tell me what they took."
"Sorry. Really, I am so sorry." The Doctor sighed, putting his arm around Zara, looking over at the suitcases. "But that's an awful lot of luggage for one man. 'Cos an infostamp is plain technology." She looked at him guiltily. "It's not enough to make a man lose his mind. What you suffered is called a fugue. A fugue state. Where the mind just runs away, because it can't bear to look back. You wanted to become someone else, because Jackson Lake had lost so much."
A bell went off in the distance.
"Midnight." Rosita sighed. "Christmas Day."
"I remember..." Jackson gulped. "Oh, my God..." He looked up, horrified. "Caroline. They killed my wife." He gasped and burst into tears. "They killed her." He looked up at Zara. "She found your infostamp, I remember." He shook in horror. "She became Zara Saxon in her head, and they killed her."
The Doctor looked away in shock, trying to keep it together. Jackson Lake's wife wasn't Zara, but in her head, she thought she was. And that meant a version of Zara had died. And that crushed him.
Rosita turned and comforted him as The Doctor and Zara shared a look when suddenly the heard a loud beeping. The Doctor frowned, following the sound to another trunk.
"Oh..." He frowned, pulling out a belt holding several infostamps, turning back and showing Zara. "You found a whole cache of infostamps."
"But what is it?" Rosita asked. "What's that noise?"
"Activation." Zara said. "A call to arms. The Cybermen are moving!" She turned and ran outside, The Doctor chasing after her.
...
The two of them ran out into the street, spotting the shadows of Cybermen heading towards them when Rosita appeared after them, the three of them watching a parade of orphans walking by.
"What is it? What's happening?" She asked before noticing an older man, Mr Cole, walking behind them stiffly. "That's Mr Cole. He's Master of the Hazel Street Workhouse. Maybe he's taking them to prayers."
"Oh, nothing as holy as that." The Doctor muttered as he and Zara walked along side him. "Can you hear me? Hello? No?" Zara pointed up at his ear, showing The Doctor the ear pod he was wearing. "Mr Cole, you seem to have something in your ear. Now, this might hurt a bit, but if I can just..." He reached for the sonic before noticing a Cybershade lurking in the distance. "They're on guard. Can't risk a fight. Not with the children."
"But where are they going?" Rosita asked.
Jed appeared next to them, no idea to what was going on, "All need a good whipping, if you ask me." He remarked. "There's tons of 'em. I've just seen another lot coming from the Ingleby Workhouse down Broadback Lane."
Zara turned to Rosita, "Where's that?"
"This way!" She said, leading them off through the side streets.
...
They made their way through the side streets before coming across another group of children, being led by another older man, also with an ear piece.
"There's dozens of 'em!" Rosita gasped.
"But what for?" The Doctor muttered.
Zara headed off after the children, determined. The Doctor rolled his eyes, following after her.
...
The Doctor, Rosita and Zara watched carefully as a group of children entered through a set of large door.
"That's the door to the sluice." Rosita said. "All the sewage runs through there, straight into the Thames."
"Yeah, that's too well guarded." The Doctor muttered. "We'll have to find another way in." The three of them turned back to find their way blocked by two Cybermen. "Whoa! That's cheating, sneaking up! Did you have your legs on silent?"
Suddenly, a woman in a red dress, Miss Hartigan, strolled up and stood in front of the Cybermen.
"So..." She remarked. "What do we have here?"
"Just walk towards me, slowly." The Doctor begged her. "Don't let them touch you."
Zara rolled her eyes, realising she was with them.
"Oh, but they wouldn't hurt me, my fine boys. They are my knights in shining armour. Quite literally."
"Even if they've converted you, that's not a Cyber speech pattern." Zara frowned. "You've still got free will. Step away..."
"There's been no conversion, madam. No-one's ever been able to change my mind. The Cybermen offered me the one thing I wanted - liberation."
"Who are you?" Rosita asked.
"You can be quiet." Hartigan spat. "I doubt he paid you to talk. More importantly," She turned to Zara and The Doctor. "Who are you, sir and madam, with such intimate knowledge of my companions?"
"I'm The Doctor and she's Zara Saxon." The Doctor said.
"Incorrect." A Cyberman replied. "You do not correspond to our image of The Doctor and our data on Zara Saxon is lost."
"Yeah, that's cos your database got corrupted." Zara explained.
"Oh, look, look, look!" The Doctor exclaimed. "Check this! The Doctor's infostamp." He took out the infostamp and threw it to the Cyberman. "Plug it in. Go on, download."
The Cyberman opened the end of the infostamp and looked at it, "The core has been damaged. This infostamp would damage Cyberunits."
Zara sighed, "Oh, well. Nice try."
The infostamp beeped, "Core repaired. Download." Its chest unit opened up and it took the infostamp and inserted it into it, images of The Doctor flashing in its eye. "You are The Doctor and his companion, Zara Saxon." It removed the infostamp.
The Doctor grinned, "Hello!" He waved.
"You will be deleted."
"Oh, but let me die happy!" He stuttered suddenly as Zara stepped in front of him. "Tell me - what d'you need those children for?"
"What are children ever needed for?" Hartigan scoffed. "They're a workforce."
"But for what?"
"Very soon now, the whole Empire will see. And they will bow down, in worship."
"And it's all been timed for Christmas Day. Was that your idea, Miss...?"
"Hartigan. And, yes, it's the perfect day for a birth, with a new message for the people. Only this time, it won't be the words of a man."
Zara eyed her suspiciously, "The birth of what?"
"A birth, and a death. Namely, yours." She smiled. "Thank you, Doctor, Miss Saxon. I'm glad to have been part of your very last conversation. Now, delete them."
"Delete!" One of the Cybermen cried.
The Doctor moved in front of Zara and Rosita as the Cybermen advanced towards them. Suddenly, a bolt of energy flew out of nowhere and hit the Cybermen, sending them flying to the floor. The three of them looked over to see Jackson with the belt of infostamps around him, holding one.
"At your service, Doctor, Zara." He said.
"Shades!" Hartigan shouted. "Shades!"
The Doctor grabbed Zara and Rosita, "Run! Come on!"
"Shades!"
"One last thing." Rosita said, moving over to Hartigan, punching her in the face and sending her flying to the ground, making Zara splutter out laughing.
"Can I say, I completely disapprove!" The Doctor said, pulling her back. "Come on!" The four of them turned and ran off.
...
The four of them stopped in the middle of a street for a breather.
"That stronghold down by the river." The Doctor said breathlessly. "Zara and I need to find a way in."
"I'm ahead of you!" Jackson said. "My wife and I were moving to London so I could take up a post at the university. And while my memory is still not intact, this was in the luggage." He reached into his inside pocket and pulled out some legal documents. "The deeds - 15 Latimer Street. And if I discovered the Cybermen there, in the cellar, then..."
"That might be a way in!" Zara cheered. "Brilliant!"
"But there's still more. I remember the cellar...and my wife." The Doctor took Zara's hand and squeezed it. "But I swear there was something else in that room. If we can find that, perhaps that's the key to defeating these invaders. So...onwards!" They all headed off.
"Maybe you should go back..." The Doctor said to Rosita.
"Don't even try!" Rosita snapped.
"No."
...
Jackson stepped into the cellar of 15 Latimer street to find a Cyberman.
"Delete!" It cried.
Jackson grabbed an infostamp and fired it at the Cyberman, killing it, when The Doctor, Rosita and Zara appeared behind him. The Doctor and Zara pushed past, running towards a device set up in the middle of the room.
"Must've been guarding this." Zara commented. "A Dimension Vault! Stolen from the Daleks again, that's how the Cybermen travelled through time." She looked over at Jackson. "Jackson, is this the thing you couldn't remember?"
Jackson shook his head, "I don't think so. I'm... I just can't see. It's like it's hidden."
"Yeah, not enough power." The Doctor remarked. "Come on! Avanti!" He grabbed Zara's hand and ran off.
...
The Doctor and Zara cautiously made their way down an underground tunnel, followed by Rosita and Jackson.
"What do the Cybermen want?" Rosita asked.
"They want us." Zara called over her shoulder. "That's what Cybermen are - human beings with their brains put into metal shells. They want every living thing to be like them."
The four of them emerged into a workroom which worked a giant machine, filled with levers, fire and cogs, all powered by the orphan children.
"Upon my soul." Jackson breathed.
"What is it?" Rosita asked.
"It's an engine." Zara explained. "They're generating electricity. But what for?"
Jackson made his way forward, "We can set them free!"
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no..." Zara pulled him back and ran back the way they came.
...
The four of them stood in a power room, looking at power readings off a machine.
"Power at 90%!" The Doctor read. "But if we stop the engine, the power dies down, the Cybermen will come running. Ooh." The screen began to flicker and he tapped it. "Hold on. Power fluctuation. That's not meant to happen."
"It's going wrong?" Jackson asked.
Zara frowned, "No, it's weird. The software's rewriting itself. It's changing." Suddenly, it began to surge, making The Doctor pull Zara back. "What the hell's happening? It's out of control!"
"It's accelerating. 96%, 97..."
"When it reaches 100, what about the children?" Rosita asked.
"They're disposable." The Doctor said, grabbing Zara's hand. "Come on!" He ran back.
...
The four of them ran back into the engine room as it reached 100%, alarms blaring, the Cybermen crying 'delete' repeatedly. Jackson threw an infostamp to Rosita and they used them on the Cybermen, killing them flat.
"Right. Now!" The Doctor shouted to the children as they stared, stunned. "All of you, out! D'you hear me? That's an order! Every single one of you, run!"
The children turned and ran for the exit.
"All of you, come on!" Jackson called, pushing them as they ran past. "As fast as you can, come on!"
"There's a hot pie for everyone, if you leg it!"
"Go!"
Zara turned to Rosita, "Rosita, get them out of the sluice gate! And once you're out, keep running! Far as you can!" Rosita nodded, running after the children. "Come on, come on, come on." She called to the children as she and The Doctor pushed the last few kids out. "Go! Quick, quick."
The Doctor turned and checked the gauge by the door, "It's some sort of starter motor, but starting what?"
Zara looked over at Jackson to find staring up at one of the higher levels in horror. She followed his gaze to see a little boy, staring at him, frozen with fear, and behind him a woman in a similar dress to Rosita's, with long, flowing aubern hair, staring calmly at him.
"That's my son and my wife..." Jackson breathed. "My son, Caroline!" He shouted. "Zara, Doctor, my son and Caroline!"
The Doctor and Zara ran over, "What?!" The Doctor asked, looking up.
"They took my son." Jackson gasped. "No wonder my mind escaped, I thought Caroline was dead too! Those damned Cybermen, they took my child and wife. But they're alive, Doctor! Frederic, Caroline!"
The Doctor beckoned to Frederick, "Come on!"
Caroline quickly picked up her son, balancing him on her hip, "Stay there!" She shouted down at them. "Don't move! I'm coming." She ran towards the stairs, only for a large explosion and fire blocked the route. She scrambled to her feet, pulling Frederic with him back to where she was before. "I can't get down! Jackson!"
Zara looked over at the gauge, "They've finished with the motor. It's going to blow up." She gulped.
"What are we going to do, Doctor, Zara?!" Jackson gasped. "What are we going to do?!"
"Come on, Jackson." The Doctor pulled out the cutlass from Fairchild's from inside his inside pocket and wrapped his arm around a rope as Zara grinned at him. "You know me." He cut the rope and it lifted him into the air, landing next to Caroline and Frederic. "Oh, that's it."
"You always have to show off, don't you Doctor?" Caroline laughed, The Doctor winking back at her. "It's ok, I remember who I am. I know I'm not Zara Saxon."
The Doctor nodded and looked down at Frederic, "Hello! Now, hold on tight. Don't let go." Caroline picked him up and put him onto The Doctor's back before wrapping her arms around his middle. The Doctor grinned at her before swinging off the platform. He landed again at the bottom and stepped out of the fire and smoke, handing Frederic to Jackson.
"Merry Christmas!" The Doctor breathed, pulling Zara into a tight hug as Caroline appeared behind him.
"Jackson!" She gasped, running over and hugging him.
"Oh." Jackson sobbed, hugging both Caroline and Frederic tightly.
Zara pulled out of the hug, The Doctor still keeping a grip on her, "We need to get out of here!" She shouted over the sounds of the explosions going off around them.
...
The four of them, Frederic being carried by Jackson, ran into the cellar of 15 Latimer street.
"Head for the street." The Doctor told Jackson and Caroline as Zara ran over to the device, pulling out a scepter whilst Jackson and Caroline ran off.
"Come on, Zara, Doctor!" Jackson called over his shoulder. "Hurry up!"
"Gotcha!" Zara grinned, throwing The Doctor the scepter.
...
The four of them reached the river, looking up in horror at the factory above them, converted into a massive Cyberman body.
"It's a CyberKing." The Doctor breathed.
"And a CyberKing is what?" Jackson asked, handing Frederic to Caroline.
"It's a ship! Dreadnought class! Front line of an invasion. And inside the chest, a Cyberfactory, ready to convert millions!"
Zara turned and ran off, the others following.
...
The Doctor and Zara suddenly stopped in the middle of a street.
The Doctor turned to Caroline and Jackson, "Take him south, go to the parkland."
"But where are you two going?!" Caroline asked.
"To stop that thing."
"We should be with you!"
"Jackson, Caroline, you've got each other and your son." Zara said, looking between the two of them. "You've got a reason to live."
Jackson scoffed, "And you haven't?" He asked, looking between The Doctor and Zara. The Doctor simply looked back, taking Zara's hand. "God save you, Doctor, Zara."
The Doctor and Zara turned and ran off as Jackson, Caroline and Frederic headed south.
...
The Doctor and Zara bolted into the stables to find Jed, The Doctor handing Zara the sceptor and searching through the trunks.
"What the hell is that thing, sir, madam?" Jed asked.
"Oh, good man." Zara looked at him. "Jed, wasn't it? Jed, we need your help!" The Doctor pulled out another strap of infostamps.
"I'm not going out there!"
"We'll give you five pound notes!"
He nodded nervously, "Um... All right. What d'you want me to do?"
She grinned, "The TARDIS is gonna fly!"
She and The Doctor ran out into the stable yard, followed by Jed and up to the hot air balloon. The Doctor threw the infostamps into the basket and jumped in.
"You're flamin' bonkers, sir!" Jed cried.
"It's been said before!" Zara laughed, looking at the scepter. "Not enough power, come on!" The Doctor grabbed her hands and pulled her into the basket. "Jed! Let her loose!"
He began to run round, untying the ropes, !Ever flown one of these before?!
"Nope! Never!" The Doctor replied, pulling the ropes inside the basket.
"Can I have my money now?"
"Oh, get on with it!"
He untied the last rope and the balloon went flying up.
"God's luck to you, sir, madam!" Jed laughed, looking up at them.
...
As the balloon flew his above the city, Zara looked around quickly, before spotting the CyberKing as it turned to face them where inside the mouth, sat Hartigan, wired up to the machine with a device on her head, sat on a wooden chair with two Cybermen next to her.
"Excellent." She said smugly. "Zara Saxon and The Doctor! Yet another man and come to assert himself against me in the night."
"Miss Hartigan, we're offering you a choice." The Doctor called. "You might have the most remarkable mind this world has ever seen." He glanced at Zara out of the corner of his eye. "One of two maybe, but still! Strong enough to control the Cybermen themselves!"
"I don't need you to sanction me."
"No, but such a mind deserves to live!"
"The Cybermen came to this world using a Dimension Vault." Zara explained. "We can use that device to find you a home. With no people to convert. But a new world where you can live out your mechanical life in peace."
"I have the world below, and it is abundant with so many minds, ready to become extensions of me. Why would I leave this place?"
"Because if you don't, we'll have to stop you." The Doctor said regretfully.
"What do you make of me, sir? An idiot?"
"No. The question is, what do you make of me?" He took the infostamps and aimed them at the CyberKing.
"Destroy him!"
"You make me into this." He sighed, firing at the CyberKing as Zara watched him, an odd look sketched on her face, when suddenly a beam hit the device attached to Hartigan's head, leaving her unharmed.
"Then I have made you a failure." She said smugly. "Your weapons are useless, sir."
"I wasn't trying to kill you. All I did was break the Cyber-connection, leaving your mind open. Open, I think, for the first time in far too many years, so you can see. Just look at yourself. Look at what you've done."
Zara stared at her sadly, "I'm sorry, Miss Hartigan. But look at what you've become." Hartigan looked around in horror, looking at the two Cybermen she no longer controlled, and began to scream. "I'm so sorry." She breathed.
She continued to scream as the energy from her brain channelled through the machine, blowing up the Cybermen before she suddenly blew into nothing. Suddenly, the Cyberking began to stagger as explosions went off through out its body.
Suddenly, a beeping filled the balloon and The Doctor picked up the sceptor.
"Oh. Now you're ready!" He cheered as Zara continued to look at him. He aimed the sceptor at the CyberKing and fired as it began to fall, engulfing it in the vortex and making it dissappear.
The two of them stared out at the emptiness in front of them before Zara gently took The Doctor's hand when suddenly, their thoughts were shaken by cheering down below. Zara laughed gently, leaning over and waving at the people down below as The Doctor rung the bell above them.
...
The Doctor, Zara, Jackson and Caroline made their way through the marketplace, avoiding destroyed stalls as they went.
"I defended myself against the Cybermen with Zara Saxon's infostamp, much like Jackson did with The Doctor's-" Caroline explained. "Just as they tried to kill me. Jackson was knocked out and the Zara inside my head was so confused and had no idea what was going on, she just chased after the Cybermen kidnapping a young boy, it was instinct." She shrugged. "So the Cybermen kidnapped me too, left me to look after the children they had I guess, keep the workforce alive. It wasn't long before it clicked in my head and my real memories returned, luckily I hadn't revealed to the Cybermen that I was, well I thought, I was Zara Saxon."
Zara smiled at her, "Are you guys going to be ok here?"
Jackson nodded, "The city will recover, as London always does. Though the events of today will be history, spoken of for centuries to come!"
"Yeah." The Doctor mused. "Funny that."
"And a new history begins for us." He smiled at Caroline. "We can start our lives we moved here for, but with not just my son and wife, with a good friend."
Him and Caroline looked back to see Rosita with Frederic and Jed.
"Now, take care of that one." The Doctor said, nodding at Rosita. "She's marvellous."
Caroline smiled, "I like her. Frederic will need a nursemaid and I can think of none better."
"But you're welcome to join us." Jackson offered. "We thought we might all dine together, at the Traveller's Halt, a Christmas feast, in celebration, and in memory of those we have lost. You won't stay?"
The Doctor sighed as they approached The TARDIS, "Like I said, you know me."
"No, I don't think anyone does." He spotted The TARDIS. "Oh! And this is it! Oh, if I might, Doctor? One last adventure?"
"Oh, be my guest." He unlocked the door and Jackson and Caroline peered in.
"Oh..."
The two walked in and paused by the ramp, Jackson looking around in awe, Caroline just smiling.
"Oh, my word. Oh." Jackson gasped, walking up to the console as Caroline just glanced round happily. "Oh, goodness me. But this is... But this is nonsense!"
Zara laughed, "Well, that's one word for it!"
"Complete and utter, wonderful nonsense! How very, very silly! Oh, no. I can't bear it! Oh, it's causing my head to ache. No, no, no, no, no, no, no..." He turned and ran on, Caroline laughing and following after him. "Oh! Oh, gracious. That's quite enough." He put and arm around Caroline as The Doctor shut the door behind him. "I take it this is goodbye."
The Doctor nodded, "Onwards and upwards."
"Tell me one thing. All those facts and figures I saw of The Doctor's life, you were never alone. All those bright and shining companions! But not any more?"
"No."
"Might I ask, why not?"
He took a deep breath, "They leave. Because they should," Zara gulped slightly, thinking of Martha. "Or they find someone else." The Human Zara. "And some of them… Some of them forget us." Donna. "I suppose, in the end…they break our hearts."
Caroline looked at Zara, "And you?"
Zara laughed, trying to lighten the mood, "I don't have companions." She shrugged.
"Well find one." Caroline chuckled. "Go get a companion."
"I will." Zara smiled. "I think I will."
"That offer of Christmas dinner, it's no longer a request, it's a demand." Jackson said.
Zara looked at The Doctor, "In memory of those we've lost." The Doctor breathed in sharply before nodding, "Oh, go on then!"
"Really?"
"Just this once." Zara beamed. "You've actually gone and changed his mind." She elbowed The Doctor in the side. "Not many people can do that!"
The Doctor smiled, "Jackson, if anyone had to be The Doctor, I'm glad it was you."
"The feast awaits. Come with me! Walk this way." He and Caroline turned and walked off.
The Doctor pulled on the TARDIS door, making sure it was locked, "I certainly will!" He took Zara's hand and they followed after them. "Merry Christmas to you, Jackson, Caroline."
"Merry Christmas, indeed, Doctor, Zara!"
...
Later that evening, Zara made her way around the console, carrying an oily rag, wearing a t shirt and sweat pants. She wiped around the console, stepping over an open grating as she went, The TARDIS giving her a hum.
"Oh I don't know!" She said to The TARDIS, pressing a button. "I just wish someone could of stopped him."
The TARDIS gave a loud, annoyed hum.
"Someone apart from me!" She argued. "I don't know, I just don't think I'm enough to stop him anymore."
The TARDIS leant out a groan, shaking the room slightly and making her stumble.
"Oi!" She snapped, continuing to wipe away oil. "It was different before, but now I'm marrying him. If he's doing wrong and someone tells him to stop, or change something, or help, I want him to do it not because he loves me and wants to do what I ask, but because it's the right thing to do." She sighed, throwing the rag into the open grating and shutting it with her foot. "I don't know, maybe we need another arguing ginger around the place." She smiled to herself. "Hm." She turned and made her way towards a staircase. "Goodnight." She ran up the stairs and disappeared into a corridor as the lights of the console room turned off.