While sitting through the CW's attempt to come up with a 21st century version of The Tomorrow People, I was suddenly reminded of my own attempt back in the mid-noughties and decided to share it with people. The stories are set between 2004 and 2008, which explains some of the politics. Especially in the first story. Yeah, I really was a left wing firebrand in those days. It took a lot longer to copy out from my ancient printouts than I thought, so updates might be a bit more sporadic than I first planned, but don't worry, I won't abandon it, no matter how many people ask me to.

SEASON ONE, SERIAL ONE: Breakout

CHAPTER ONE

"Michael. Michael. Michael." The word, his own name, sounded in his head again and again. He tossed and turned as he slept, unable to stay relaxed as something invaded his mind. With a start, he awoke. He placed a hand to his head. It still throbbed but it was getting better, as though whatever had occurred was over. He got out of his bed – and noticed something lying on his desk which hadn't been there the previous night. A belt, with a curious pattern of black and white dots at the centre.

Memories and knowledge that hadn't been there the previous night came rushing into his head. He knew what the belt was. A jaunting belt. And he knew what he had to do.

Michael dressed rapidly and put the belt on. As soon as it was in place, he disappeared.

Michael stepped calmly off the jaunting pad and looked about him. Somehow he knew where he was: the lab. He knew too that it had been restored to its original décor. And he recognised the man standing there waiting to greet him. "John."

"Michael,"the other replied. "Welcome to the lab."

"Thank you."

"You don't seem very surprised. Which I guess means it worked."

"I know who you are. The Tomorrow People."

"That's who you are too. We've been away from Earth for a while but when we sensed you breaking out I had to come back and check."

"You could sense that even though you weren't on Earth?"

"Well, not us exactly. We had a bit of help."

"Indeed, John,"came a voice from above them. "The telepathic signals being emitted by our new addition were strong enough for me to detect."

Michael smiled and addressed the cluster of lights above him. "Hello, TIM. Pleased to meet you."

"And you, Michael. It is a pleasure to have company again."

Michael turned his attention back to John. "There were others with you once: Liz, Mike. Where are they?"

"They're at Galactic Trig. I'll be going back there too soon."

"And the new Tomorrow People? Adam? Megabyte?"

"We got in touch with their branch of Tomorrow People some time ago. We're not in regular contact with them, though. They generally just do their own thing. But it seems it's time for a new generation of Tomorrow People to break out. And you're the first."

Michael smiled to himself. "The first of the new new Tomorrow People."

"If you like. We managed to use your break out to download knowledge about us, our history, into your head, it's why you know so much about us. It means you can act as a guide, a leader, for those that follow. You and TIM will be able to locate them."

"So that's all I have to do? Just hang about the lab, chat with TIM and wait for someone else to pop up?"

"Well, it wouldn't hurt for you to refine your powers. But there is something else I need you to look at." John activated a monitor and an image of a man appeared. "Colonel Donald Woods. Commanding officer of the North Ridings Regiment. We've been monitoring his activities from Galactic Trig for some time. Evidence indicates he's up to something. He's tired of inactivity so he's decided to create a little crisis."

"You would have thought he'd have had enough activity over the last few years."

"Bombing a couple of Middle Eastern countries into submission? Hardly sporting, is it?"

"I see your point."

"He's after a far greater challenge." John headed towards the jaunting pad.

"Wait a minute,"Michael cut in. "Are you saying it's up to me to stop him? Just me?"

"You and any other Tomorrow People you happen to come across. Good luck." Without another word, John jaunted away.

"Oh marvellous." Michael turned back to the computer above him. "TIM, you'd better give me all you know about Colonel Woods."

At that moment, Colonel Woods was in his office at the army camp. With him were two of his colleagues, Captain Chambers and Captain Dixon. "We've found the location where the codes are hidden,"he told them. "It won't take too much trouble to get in there."

"What if we encounter resistance?"Chambers asked.

"Kill them."

Dixon seemed shocked by this stipulation. "Sir, those men, well, they're on our side."

"They're weak, Captain. Corrupt. They have no fortitude. Such men do not deserve to wear the uniform of this country. When we succeed, it is men like us that will hold sway in this army. Men who have the fortitude for true warfare. We leave in an hour."

Michael sat in the lab, reviewing information on the screen. "TIM, do we have any details of Colonel Woods' base camp?"

"Yes, Michael. Full plans are available."

"So we know the exact location of his office?"

"That is true."

"Okay." Michael mounted the jaunting pad. "Jaunt me there."

"Michael, this course of action is extremely dangerous. Are you certain?"

"Well, we're not going to find out anything more just by sitting here. If anyone sees me, I'll jaunt back here."

"Very well. I'm jaunting you now."

Michael materialised in Woods' office. It was now deserted. The camp was shrouded in darkness. He went over to the desk and noticed some papers laid out. He scanned them rapidly. "The Coldstream Guards."

Before he could investigate any further, he heard TIM's voice. "Michael, please return to the lab immediately. We have another matter requiring our attention."

Michael straightened up and jaunted…

…rematerialising on the jaunting pad in the lab. "What is it, TIM?"

"I have detected faint telepathic emissions. It appears another Tomorrow Person is breaking out. I will need your assistance to focus."

Michael sat at the communicator table in the centre of the lab and placed his hands on it. "What do you need me to do?"

"Simply reach out with your mind. Search for any messages."

Michael did as he was instructed and heard…something. A faint voice, crying out. "I heard something. A voice. Sounded female."

"Correct. It would appear the new Tomorrow Person is female. I have been monitoring emergency calls. She has been taken to a hospital here in London."

"So what do we do now?"

"I suggest you attempt to make contact."

Michael jaunted into a hospital corridor. He instinctively knew where he needed to go and headed into a private room nearby. A young woman was sitting up in bed. To his surprise, he realised he knew her – and not because of any psychic connection. "You're that actress, aren't you? Michelle. I've seen you on television."

She looked at him with the air of someone who was used to such a reaction and struggling to respond in a friendly manner. "Yes, that's right. Look, I don't mean to be rude but I've got a really bad headache, hence my being in here. And my boyfriend'll be back any moment."

Michael suddenly realised how it looked. "Oh, I'm not a deluded fan or anything. I'm Michael."

"Pleased to meet you, Michael, but all the same…"

Instead of talking out loud, Michael formed his response in his mind. "I'm here to help you."

Michelle looked at him curiously. "Are you a ventriloquist or something?"

"Or something." Michael crouched down next to her and took her hand. She didn't pull away. It seemed he had made a connection somehow. He recalled the directions from his acquired memories. "Close your eyes. Imagine your mind is a fist. A great big fist. Opening slowly. Like a flower." He felt the images forming in her head and sensed her mind clearing as she broke out fully.

Michelle opened her eyes and looked at him, surprised. "My headache's gone."

"That's right. Have you got any clothes here?"

Michelle seemed to remember she was still wearing a hospital gown. She looked slightly embarrassed. "Yes."

"Get dressed. I'll keep watch outside." Michael headed back into the corridor.

Michelle dressed hurriedly. "I'm ready!"she called when she was done.

Michael headed back into the room. He held out a jaunting belt. "Put this on." When she was finished, he gave the order. "Jaunt us in, TIM."

Michelle appeared on the jaunting pad and looked about in astonishment. Michael stepped off the pad and smiled at her. "Welcome to the lab."

"What…what is this place?"

"I've told you. We call it the lab." He gestured at the panel of lights on the ceiling. "And that's TIM. TIM, this is Michelle."

"Hello, Michelle,"TIM responded.

Michelle looked confused. "Some sort of computer?"

"Not exactly. I am composed of biomechanical technology. It means that in essence I have what you might call a living brain."

Michelle turned back to Michael. "Look, why have you brought me here?"

"Because you're like me. One of the Tomorrow People."

"I think there's been a mistake."

"You could hear my thoughts, couldn't you? And the jaunting belt worked on you. It wouldn't have if you were a sap."

"Sap?"

"Homo Sapiens,"TIM explained. "It means ordinary man."

"Actually,"Michael corrected,"it means wise man."

"I appear to have been misinformed,"TIM observed.

"Anyway, it's a remarkably silly term. Best if you just think of them as non-telepaths."

Michelle was trying to get her head round things. "So, we're, what, some sort of superhero? Telepathic, capable of teleportation?"

"And with mild telekinetic abilities. It's not very impressive, I admit. We represent the Galactic Federation's interests on Earth. Protecting the planet from alien threats. Or even human ones. Actually, we've just started looking into a gentleman called Colonel Woods…"

"Protecting the planet from alien threats? Just the two of us? And your biomechanical brain up there?"

"Well, until any more Tomorrow People break out." Michael saw Michelle was confused by the term. "That's the process by which you become a telepath."

"Look, I'm sorry but you were right, this is all a bit silly and I really don't think it's for me." Michelle took off her jaunting belt. "You'd better have this back."

"Keep it. You won't be able to jaunt very far without it."

Michelle stepped onto the pad. "All right but just…send me back, okay?"

Michael glanced upwards. "TIM, jaunt Michelle back to the hospital, will you?"

"Very well, Michael." Michelle vanished from the pad. TIM spoke again. "I do not believe this is the last we've heard of her, Michael. Elizabeth had similar difficulties accepting her status at the beginning."

"Yes, well, we'll worry about Michelle later. There was something I saw in Woods' office that I need to check out. Something about the Coldstream Guards."

Michelle reappeared in her hospital room. She hurriedly took her jaunting belt off and stuffed it into a locker. Moments later, her boyfriend Tommy appeared, carrying a cup of coffee. "Michelle? You got dressed."

Michelle struggled to think of what to say. "Yeah, I'm feeling much better suddenly. Don't know what came over me."

"It might be best if you stay in overnight though. Just to make sure."

"No, really, I'm feeling better now. I just want to get home. Can you get the doctor for me?"

Michael materialised at an army camp for the second time in a matter of hours. He found two unconscious soldiers lying on the floor of an office. Glancing around, he noticed a safe that had been broken into, its contents removed. He nodded grimly before jaunting out.

Woods laid out a series of pieces of paper on his desk as Chambers and Dixon crowded around him. He gestured to a line of the text. "Whitehall."

"Could be tricky getting in there,"Chambers observed. "Place is pretty heavily guarded."

"Yes,"Woods replied. "By us. Who's going to raise an eyebrow if a few more soldiers turn up?"

"When do you want to put the plan into action?"Dixon asked.

"As soon as possible, Captain. Assemble the troops. It's time for our final briefing."

Michael sat in front of a monitor in the lab, reviewing data. "Have you found out anything special about that army camp?"

"I have been searching my database,"TIM replied. "I have discovered one curious detail. It was one of three sites in the country which contains details of Britain's activation codes."

"Activation codes? Codes for activating what?"

"Nuclear missiles."

Michael looked round in horror. "If the activation codes were in that safe and Woods took them, then that means he can set off every nuclear missile in the country."

"Not exactly. The activation codes have to be broadcast from a specific location."

"And that location is?"

"That information is unavailable."

"Well, find out, TIM, and quickly. Woods has been one step ahead of us the whole time. I'm going to give someone an update." Michael went over to the booster table.

Michelle followed Tommy into their house. "You'd better have a sit down,"Tommy told her. "I'll get you a drink."

"I'm all right,"Michelle insisted.

"Just let me look after you."

Michelle smiled. "Okay. You win."

As she went through into the sitting room, Michelle heard Michael's voice. "Michelle. Can you hear me?"

Michelle looked around in astonishment. "Michael, where are you?"

"I'm still in the lab. I'm communicating with you telepathically."

"Well, don't, all right? It's creepy."

"It's not like I'm poking around in the contents of your head or something. I can only read your thoughts if you direct them at me."

"Look, is there something you want?"

"The guy I told you about. Colonel Woods. TIM thinks he's stolen the activation codes for the country's nuclear missiles. We're trying to find out where he's planning to transmit them from."

"Is this for real?"

"Absolutely. I'll keep you posted."

"Michael?" Michelle heard no response. "Michael!"

Tommy poked his head round the door. "What did you say?"

"Er…my call. Whether or not I need a sit down. I think I'd better go to bed. Early start tomorrow."

Tommy looked bemused. "Okay."

Woods walked alongside Chambers and Dixon towards the troops massed for inspection. "Has Stage Two been prepared?"

"Yes, sir,"Chambers answered. "The plane is ready for immediate take-off."

"Take half the troops and head for the airfield. If you haven't heard from me by 1600 hours tomorrow, take off without me. Then it'll be up to you to ensure the plan is completed."

"And me?"asked Dixon.

"You'll be accompanying me, Captain. See if we can't teach you a few lessons about who the real enemy are."