Summary: Returning home to Cardiff after a book signing in London, Tegan meets a strange man in a leather jacket. Getting a call about Cybermen being discovered, Tegan attempts to leave only to asked if help is needed, when the man doesn't take no for an answer Tegan reluctantly decides to work alongside the man, and will soon discover that the man is the one person that Tegan has sworn to kill and completely remove from any form of history.
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Episode 1 – Cardiff Cyber Invasion
Character Description:
Name: Tegan Harkness
Birth Date: February 29th, 1984
Hair: Black, very short, and spiky
Eye Color: Green (left eye) and Blue (right eye)
Skin: Light tan
Height: 5'4" (5'6" with boots)
Weight: 117 lbs.
Family: Jack Harkness - adopted father
Friend: Ianto Jones
Employment: Torchwood freelancer, self-employed grey hat hacker named Archangel, and writer.
Normal Attire: black denim skinny jeans, black leather zip-up ankle boots, black silk tank top, black cashmere double-breasted greatcoat that goes down to just below the knee, a customized Time Agent wrist strap on the right wrist, and a black cashmere fedora.
Normal Pocket Contents: a gold pocket watch chained to a belt loop, a black leather wallet, and a motorcycle key.
Normal Vehicle: 100th Anniversary Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider (FXDL) 2003
Favorite Foods: panini and hummus
Favorite Drink: sweet tea
Favorite Books: the Ring series by Koji Suzuki, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo, The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en, and Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.
Favorite Movies: the Godzilla series
Favorite Games: Pac-Man, Tetris, and the Mario series'.
Favorite Singer: Frank Sinatra
Books Tegan Has Written: the Horrors of Gallifrey series (Volume 1: The Man with 13 Faces, Volume 2: The Silver Trees of Gallifrey, Volume 3: The Red Grass of Gallifrey, Volume 4: The Grey Rocks of Gallifrey, Volume 5: The Burnt Orange Skies of Gallifrey, Volume 6: The Twin Suns of Gallifrey, Volume 7: The Twin Moons of Gallifrey, Volume 8: The Birds of Gallifrey, Volume 9: The Capitol, Volume 10: Arcadia, Volume 11: The Academy, Volume 12: Death Zone, and Volume 13: The Last Great Time War)
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Stepping out of the airport, carrying a backpack, Tegan wonders why people find airports to be a necessity. Boats might be slower but at least you don't have to worry about showing your Torchwood id so that security won't try to confiscate the wrist strap that used to belong to your father from his time as a Time Agent. Not to mention a few straggler fans who recognize you for your work on the Horrors of Gallifrey series.
Looking around the parking lot, Tegan is glad that Jack took the recommendation to heart about having the motorcycle there so Tegan wouldn't have to call him. Knowing that some people find Tegan rude because after stepping away from a signing, the last thing they want is for someone to come up and ask for one of the books to be signed. If Tegan were perfectly honest, London isn't a place they like, but its better then the signings in the United States.
After hopping on the motorcycle and riding out of the parking lot, Tegan debates on ignoring the speed limit and just riding as fast as possible, but the thought is quickly dismissed upon seeing a blue police phone box sitting on one of the sidewalks on the opposite side of the road.
Pulling off to the side of the road and stopping abruptly, to avoid getting run over for stopping in the middle of the road, Tegan quickly turns the engine off, before hopping off the motorcycle, and hurrying to the other side of the road. Not really paying attention to any of the on-coming traffic which results in several bits of yelling from a few people.
Tegan looks at the police box before circling it and besides the fascination of actually seeing a police box firsthand considering they'd all been removed before Tegan was even born, Tegan knew that this police box could only mean one thing, 'He's here'!
Using the call feature of the wrist strap, Tegan decided to call Jack. Waiting for Jack to pick up, Tegan is startled by someone from behind asking, 'Can I help you'? Tegan spun around, quickly disconnected the call, and said, 'No. I'm just looking for someone'.
Tegan couldn't help but wonder why the man didn't have his leather jacket zipped up due to the temperature. Cold never bothered Tegan due to their unique body chemistry as Jack would say, but this man wasn't Tegan. The man asked, 'Who are you looking for that you almost caused three accidents running across the road to get to an old police telephone box'? Choosing the next words carefully, Tegan said, 'You could say he's a doctor'. The man asked, 'You're looking for a doctor in a police box'? Tegan opened their mouth before quickly deciding to close it.
Tegan was trying to pinpoint where this man was from, he wasn't Welsh, living in Wales gave enough indication of that. Tegan was also trying to pinpoint why this man felt safe but also dangerous, only ever getting that feeling from Jack before, it brought the question of whether this man was a Time Agent. He wasn't immortal though, Tegan knew that. But, there was also something that Tegan recognized about this man. Tapping into the telepathic ability that Jack had strictly said wasn't to be used on just random strangers, Tegan was surprised to be met by nothing but walls.
Tegan stepped back instinctively, backing against the police box in doing so, and asked in a concerned voice, 'You're a telepath'? The man said, 'Only through touch'. There were a lot of question Tegan wanted to ask but before they could decide on which one to ask first, the man asked, 'Why were you looking for a doctor around a police box'? Tegan wasn't sure why but decided to answer the question truthfully, 'People who know him think he's a good man but he's not. Yes, he has helped people. But, that doesn't make him a good person. He's not human and ever since he arrived numerous other alien races have come, most of which aren't even remotely friendly. How many people have died because of him'?
The man no longer meeting Tegan's eyes, looked toward the traffic.
Tegan couldn't keep from shivering upon feeling an intense sadness and inner-hatred coming from the man. Upon regaining control, Tegan continued, 'If I ever do manage to find him, I plan to kill him'. The man looked at Tegan without their eyes meeting and asked, 'What purpose would it serve? Killing this doctor would just eliminate the best defense this planet has. If you could go back to the very first time that he came to Earth and kill him there, then it might work. But, what if it was just a coincidence that this doctor came and then these other aliens started showing up'?
Tegan's head lowered and the man continued, 'Do you have anybody that ever met this doctor'? Tegan didn't like the personal question but decided to answer it anyways, 'My father, well - my adopted father traveled with him for awhile before getting left at some point in the future. He used a vortex manipulator to get back to this century to confront the Doctor but ended up overshooting and ending up in the 1800s and sometime between then and the time he found and adopted me, he forgave him even though he still wants answers'.
Tegan knew what was said probably sounded insane to someone who doesn't understand time travel.
The man asked, 'If you succeeded -' The rest of the question was interrupted as Tegan's wrist strap began making a beeping second and Tegan hit a button before saying, 'Tegan Harkness speaking'. A female voice said, 'This is Torchwood One, there have been reports about Cybermen being in Cardiff'. Tegan asked, 'And, you want me to find them and the conversion units and destroy them'? The female voice said, 'Yes. We have already contacted Jack but he's currently on a different case. And, he said you were better equipped to deal with Cybermen in most circumstances anyways'. Tegan said, 'Alright'. Tegan hit another button to disconnect the call.
Tegan turned as if to cross traffic again when the man asked, 'Do you need help'? Tegan said, 'No'. The man asked, 'Do you want help'? Tegan said, 'No. I work alone unless I'm working with papa or get to borrow Ianto'.
Tegan crossed traffic more carefully this time, after hopping on the motorcycle, realized that the man had followed, and Tegan asked, 'You're not going to take no for an answer, are you'? The man said, 'No'. Tegan asked, 'Do you have any idea just how dangerous Cybermen can be? Do you even know what a Cyberman is'? The man said, 'Yes to both'. Tegan said, 'Well, then go grab your car or whatever and follow me'. The man said, 'I don't have a car'. Tegan said, 'Well, then hop on'. The man's face went totally blank and Tegan asked, 'Let me guess, you want to drive'? The man's face remained blank and Tegan asked, 'Do you even know how to ride a motorcycle'? The man said, 'No'. Tegan said, 'Well, then get on the back and I'll drive. There are pegs for your feet that you'll need to turn out first. To avoid wrecking, you'll need to lean with me, if you don't, we'll wreck'.
Tegan knew tradition about men driving and women riding behind, but there were two problems with that in this case. The most prominent problem being that whoever this guy was didn't know how to ride a motorcycle.
Tegan set the wrist strap to scan for Cybermen but none were found, it was possible that Torchwood One was wrong, but it was just as likely that it just wasn't picking up the signal. Cybermen was one of the only three species that were set in the wrist strap that wasn't always easy to detect. Scanning for a Dalek was just as hard. And, Weeping Angel's were next to impossible to scan for.
Tegan said, 'We're going to have to do this the hard way then'.
A couple hours and several warehouses later, Tegan knew as soon as the motorcycle stopped that they were at the right place, and said, 'Bingo'! Tegan quickly shut off the motorcycle and both Tegan and the man got off the motorcycle.
Tegan and the man made their way into the warehouse and immediately Tegan said, 'Oh shit'! Tegan quickly glanced around trying to figure out just how many Cybermen had surrounded them. Their only means of escape back out the door wasn't an option with how many Cybermen there were. Tegan quickly began pushing buttons on the wrist strap without even looking at it, knowing that using the vortex manipulator part to teleport to safety was only a last resort. Tegan had an alternative use for it and just hoped it worked.
One of the Cybermen spoke, 'Scanning'.
The same Cyberman spoke, 'Scan complete. Name, Tegan Harkness'. Tegan looked annoyed as the Cyberman continued, 'Father, Jack Harkness. Employed by Torchwood'. Tegan annoyance only grew as the Cyberman continued, 'Planet of origin -' The rest of the statement was cut off as Tegan extended their right arm straight out in front of them, while their left hand kept a button pressed down on the wrist strap.
The man had his right hand in his jacket when the Cybermen began to appear to short-circuit. The man realized whatever Tegan had done had released a signal causing the Cybermen to short-circuit.
Tegan kept glancing around until there were no Cybermen left standing. Returning their arms to their sides, Tegan barely had time to register anything before the man shouted, 'Watch out'! And, Tegan was knocked to the ground by the man. Tegan's eyes went wide as a Cyberman had its left hand on the mans left shoulder and its right hand on the mans right hip. Hearing the man scream as the Cyberman shocked him, Tegan eyes filled with tears, and Tegan thought, 'This is why I work alone'.
The man crumpled to the floor and Tegan watched in horror as the other Cybermen began to return to their feet and Tegan whispered, 'The signal didn't work? But, it's always worked before'! Tegan thought, 'Albeit, on a lesser scale'.
Tegan began to quickly push buttons on the wrist strap, before taking the mans right hand, placing it on the main part of the strap, and activated the vortex manipulator. Tegan and the man disappeared before the Cyberman had a chance to grab Tegan.
Tegan looked around at the grass and trees and had no idea where they were beyond the fact that it was still Earth.
Tegan sat cross-legged before using their left hand to touch the back of the mans head. Tegan was startled upon hearing a whimper. Tegan asked, 'You're alive'? The man couldn't keep the pain of his voice as he said, 'Yes'. Tegan said, 'Strange, that shock is normally enough to kill a human'. The man smiled weakly before saying with pain still in his voice, 'Then, it's good I'm not'. Tegan couldn't keep the confusion out of their voice as they asked, 'What'? The man said weakly, 'You wanted to find the Doctor, you have'. Tegan asked, 'You'? The Doctor said weakly, 'Yes'.
Tegan stood up quickly and shook their head. Right then, Tegan was wishing for Jack's gun. Tegan turned their back to the Doctor and took a few steps forward before bending over with their hands on their knees and thinking, 'I could let him die but he was right, it wouldn't solve anything for him to die now. And, if I did use the vortex manipulator to go back to the first time he came to Earth and kill him, what would it do? Papa would have no reason to come back to find him which means he wouldn't have adopted me. What would have happened to me if it wasn't for papa? I probably would have ended up imprisoned by Torchwood because of what I am'.
Tegan turned back to the Doctor, returned to his side, and crouched down next to him. Tegan asked, 'Is there anything I can do to help'? The Doctor asked weakly, 'Do you know how to restart a Time Lord's heart'? Tegan said, 'Yes. Which one'? The Doctor said weakly, 'Right'. Tegan hit the Doctor a couple times on the back.
The Doctor lay on his back and asked, 'Why did you decide to help me? I thought you wanted me dead'. Tegan growled before saying, 'I did. But, whether I like it or not, it is in a large part due to you that papa ever came back to this time period. And, if it wasn't for that then he would have never been able to adopt me'. The Doctor said, 'There are things you shouldn't say to keep from creating a potential paradox'. Tegan said, 'I know'.
The Doctor slowly sat up and said, 'I need to get back to my T.A.R.D.I.S.' Tegan said, 'And, I need to figure out how to deal with those Cybermen before it gets completely out of hand'! The Doctor asked, 'Maybe we could try working together again'? Tegan laughed and then said, 'Sorry, but I work alone unless papa or Ianto are with me. What happened today is exactly the reason why'.
Tegan used the vortex manipulator to go home in order to orchestrate a better plan.
The Doctor began walking, he knew he was still in Wales but he knew it wasn't Cardiff. He had a long way to go to get back to his T.A.R.D.I.S. on foot.
Tegan took the wrist strap off and thought, 'One Cybermen isn't a problem, neither is a handful, but a whole army, the signal just isn't strong enough. How do I make it stronger without causing problems with the other systems'?
Tegan decided to call Jack who answered after five rings, 'Tegan'? Tegan said, 'Papa, I have a couple problems'. Jack asked, 'What is it'? Tegan asked, 'Do you remember how I messed around with your wrist strap after I fixed the vortex manipulator'? Jack said, 'Yes, it's most of the reason why I started letting you wear it. You changed it to much for me to still know how to use it'. Tegan asked, 'And, you know that I use it to release a signal to disable both Cybermen and Dalek's'? Jack said, 'Yes'. Tegan said, 'It didn't work this time. I think it was because there were just to many Cybermen and I don't know how to make the signal stronger without causing issues with the other systems of the wrist strap'. Jack asked, 'Why are you asking me'? Tegan said, 'I was hoping you would know'. Jack said, 'No'. Tegan said, 'Oh, and I do have some good news for you'. Jack asked, 'What'? Tegan said, 'I found your Doctor, he's in Wales'. Jack asked, 'Did he have Rose with him'? Tegan said, 'No'. Jack said, 'Then I can't meet him yet'. Tegan shook their head and Jack continued, 'You could ask him, though. I'm sure he'd know how to send out a stronger signal to deal with the Cybermen'. Tegan disconnected the call, not wanting to hear how great the Doctor is.
Tegan set the wrist strap to scan for Time Lord's, knowing that sooner or later, the Doctor would make it back to Cardiff. Immediately, it started beeping loudly, Tegan turned the scan off, and said, 'I should have known better then do that'.
Tegan laid back on the bed with the wrist strap in their left hand and thought, 'So, I can either wait until the Doctor makes it back to Cardiff and potentially miss him if he gets to the T.A.R.D.I.S. or I can go back where I left him and see if papa is right'.
Tegan waited about ten seconds before putting the wrist strap back on, pushing a few buttons, and thought, 'I'm not a patient individual'. Activating the vortex manipulator, Tegan disappeared.
Tegan looked around and thought, 'Well, this is the right place, but where's the Doctor'?
Tegan looked around again and thought, 'Which way'?
Tegan decided after running a geographical scan to head west which would lead to the nearest road, hoping that it was also the way the Doctor went.
It took almost ten minutes for Tegan to catch up with the Doctor and the Doctor asked, 'Why did you come back'? Tegan said, 'Because, if you can, I need your help'. Doctor asked, 'For what'? Tegan said, 'The problem with the signal was that there were just to many Cybermen, with each Cyberman the signal gets weaker, and with an army it just wasn't strong enough to do what it was designed to. And, to be perfectly honest, as much as I know about technology, I just don't know how to boost the signal without potentially damaging the other systems'. Doctor said, 'I would need to take a look at it'.
Tegan debated on the potential dangers of letting a Time Lord get their hands on a piece of Time Agent technology but then Tegan couldn't keep from slightly laughing realizing how stupid it sounded even to themselves.
Tegan said, 'Well, let's get back to Cardiff and then we can deconstruct it'. Tegan pushed a few buttons before saying, 'Put your hand on the main part and we'll be back there in no time'. The Doctor placed his right hand on the main part while Tegan placed their left and then activated the vortex manipulator causing them both to vanish.
The Doctor looked around and asked, 'Where are we'? Tegan said, 'Where I live with papa. This is the living room'.
The Doctor sat on the right side of the couch while Tegan sat on the left. Tegan took the wrist strap off before beginning to take it apart and having it in pieces on the middle cushion. Tegan sat sideways and cross-legged, watching the Doctor using his sonic screwdriver to figure out the pieces.
Tegan thought, 'I wonder if this is such a good idea. If papa was being honest the Doctor threw the instruction manual for the T.A.R.D.I.S. into a supernova or something because he disagreed with it. I'm a hacker so I'm used to making things do things that they weren't originally designed for but instructions still serve a purpose. And, if he damages the technology in the wrist strap, there's nothing I'm going to be able to do to fix it. Most of the technology in it doesn't even exist in this time period'.
Tegan watched for a few minutes before asking, 'You do actually know what you're doing, don't you'? The Doctor said, 'Yes. I'm just surprised that people in the twenty-first century have access to fifty-first century technology'. Tegan said, 'We don't typically but papa used to be a Time Agent, he's from the fifty-first century originally'.
As the Doctor continued working on the wrist strap, Tegan said, 'I don't get along with his daughter. She might be biologically his but that woman has issues with him that I just don't understand. I don't know if it's his fault or the mothers or what but I've only seen her once since her son was born. I made the mistake of asking why her son referred to Jack as uncle. He won't say anything to her and she said its better that way. So, it's better to call your grandfather your uncle? It's better to only see your grandson every six months, give or take a month? Is she ever going to tell Steven the truth? Yeah, Jack's immortal, he can't die or to be more precise, can't stay dead, and he'll probably end up living a longer life then a Time Lord, but -' Tegan cut themselves off and shook their head.
The Doctor glanced up at Tegan and asked, 'Immortal'? Tegan said, 'Artron energy. It takes quite awhile for a Time Lord to really be able to look at papa without feeling an overwhelming sense of wrongness and I think it may just be that they get used to it and not that they don't feel that wrongness. Papa's a fixed point that shouldn't exist'. The Doctor said, 'A person can't be a fixed point'. Tegan said, 'Well, he is'.
Tegan continued watching the Doctor and said, 'I wonder how hard it is to make one of those'. The Doctor asked, 'What'? Tegan said, 'A sonic screwdriver'. The Doctor said, 'I can do it but with the T.A.R.D.I.S. always supplying me with one, I have no need to. It's not actually that hard though'.
Tegan continued watching the Doctor and asked, 'What regeneration are you on'? The Doctor said, 'Nine'. Tegan asked, 'So, you've regenerated nine times'? The Doctor said, 'No. I have regenerated eight times, this is my ninth face'. Tegan asked, 'When a Time Lord regenerates, can they change sexes'? The Doctor said, 'I never have but yes. And, actually, Time Lord's or Time Ladies can control what they regenerate into to a point, but I'm an exception. I have very little control over what I regenerate into'. Tegan asked, 'And, Time Lord's can only regenerate twelve times'? The Doctor said, 'Unless they are given a new regeneration cycle but that's no longer possible'. Tegan asked, 'How come'? The Doctor stopped working on the wrist strap and said, 'Gallifrey burned'.
Tegan waited until the Doctor returned to working on the wrist strap before asking, 'During the Time War'? The Doctor asked, 'How do you know about that'? Tegan said, 'There are a lot of things I know about Gallifrey but that I don't actually know how or why'. The Doctor said, 'I shouldn't be alive. I watched it burn. Being destroyed the way it was, Time Lord's should no longer exist. There should be no record of them ever having existed'. Tegan asked, 'You burned it'? The Doctor glanced at Tegan before saying, 'I had no choice'.
Tegan felt intense sadness and an inner-hatred coming from the Doctor and realized their mistake. They had felt it once before coming from the Doctor when Tegan had asked, 'How many people have died because of him'?
Tegan asked, 'Why would you destroy Gallifrey at such lengths'? The Doctor looked at Tegan and asked, 'What would you have done if you had known that the people in control wanted to be god's and control the universe'? Tegan laughed and said, 'Welcome to Earth! It's what politicians do'! The Doctor said, 'Yes, but Gallifrey actually had the power to take control, the apes on this backwards planet don't'. Tegan asked, 'Apes'? The Doctor said, 'The human race'. Tegan said, 'Strange, if it wasn't for the two hearts, hypothermic temperature, and telepathic ability, there wouldn't be a difference between Time Lord's and humans'.
Tegan watched as the Doctor continued working on the wrist strap and Tegan said, 'On the outside though, you do look human'. The Doctor said without even glancing up, 'And, you look Time Lord'.
Tegan asked, 'Are all Time Lord's allergic to aspirin'? The Doctor said, 'Yes. It's a painful way to die when you start being unable to breath, your organs begin shutting down, and your regeneration won't begin'. Tegan asked, 'So, aspirin would literally kill a Time Lord'? The Doctor said, 'Yes'. Tegan asked, 'Is there anything to be done'? The Doctor said, 'No'.
Tegan watched as the Doctor put all the pieces back together and said, 'It should work now. It will drain power from the vortex manipulator but it won't damage anything'. Tegan smirked and said, 'I never thought of doing that'. The Doctor asked, 'What'? Tegan said, 'Connecting the EMP transmitter to the vortex manipulator to make a stronger pulse. And, since today is one of the few days where I've even bothered using the manipulator and actually doing so multiple times, I don't think there's going to be much harm, if any'. The Doctor asked, 'Have you ever used the vortex manipulator to travel through time'? Tegan said, 'Just once, well - twice if you count the return trip, but that was just to make sure it still worked. I went back to sometime in the 1950s and bought a bunch of fedoras. Getting them back with me was the hard part'. The Doctor laughed and Tegan started to laugh and said, 'I'm not kidding'!
The Doctor said, 'Since the transmitter will be stronger I did put stronger safeguards on the wrist strap. I don't think you would want your own transmitter shorting out the wrist strap'. Tegan said, 'No. But, with it being stronger, I'll need to be even more careful with it to keep from knocking out power wherever I am'.
Tegan put the wrist strap back on and asked, 'What do we do until this thing is fully charged'? The Doctor said, 'I need to get my T.A.R.D.I.S. With Cybermen running around, I don't want them to get their hands on it'. Tegan said, 'If you need to keep it out of sight, you could bring it into the garage. With my motorcycle still at the warehouse and papas vehicle gone, there's plenty of room'.
After the Doctor left, Tegan couldn't help but wonder how come they'd accepted the fact that the Doctor was going to be helping again.
The Doctor had made it back to his T.A.R.D.I.S. and was about to go inside when he saw a Cyberman in the air and he thought, 'They got out'! Quickly he went inside, set the coordinates to Tegan's garage, and pulled the handbrake.
Tegan heard a wheezing sound coming from the garage and they ran in there.
The Doctor stepped out of the T.A.R.D.I.S. a minute later and Tegan asked, 'Is it supposed to sound like it's dying'? The Doctor said, 'It's the brakes'. Tegan laughed and then said, 'Then, I think you need to get some new ones'. Choosing to ignore the comment, the Doctor said, 'The Cybermen got out'. Tegan asked, 'Well, what the hell can we do until this thing is charged'? The Doctor said, 'I need to find the Cyber King'. Tegan said, 'Good luck. I've tried finding the Cyber King here in Cardiff on several occasions and never have been able to find it'. The Doctor said, 'If I can find the Cyber King, I can disconnect it'. Tegan crossed their arms and the Doctor said, 'I don't need to find the Cyber King'! Tegan was confused and the Doctor said, 'I just need to find a Cyberman and have it take me to the Cyber King'. Tegan was concerned and asked, 'Do you have a death wish? That's suicide'! The Doctor decided to ignore the question and asked, 'You said that you're a hacker'? Tegan said, 'Yes'. The Doctor said, 'Hook into the T.A.R.D.I.S., use her technology, and hack into the Cybermen. Make them feel'! Tegan couldn't keep the confusion out of their voice as they asked, 'Make them feel'? The Doctor said, 'A Cyberman is just a human brain inside a robot body with the emotions cut out, if you can make them feel again, then they'll self-destruct. Cybermen cannot handle emotion'. Tegan said, 'I know but I've never been able to get past the security'. The Doctor said, 'That's why you're going to use the T.A.R.D.I.S. She has technology that not even a fifty-first century Time Agent would'.
As Tegan stepped into the T.A.R.D.I.S. with their laptop and a USB cord, they could hear the Doctor say, 'My name's the Doctor and I demand to be taken to see the Cyber King'! A Cyberman said, 'You will be upgraded'. Tegan heard the sound of the Doctor's sonic screwdriver before hearing what they assumed was the same Cyberman say, 'You will be taken to the Cyber King'. Tegan shut the door before feeling something brushing up against their mind and Tegan said, 'This wasn't my idea, the Doctor is going to be meet the Cyber King and I'm supposed to be hacking into the Cybermen to make them feel again. He said that you could help'. Tegan could feel the displeasure of the T.A.R.D.I.S. but could also tell that it wasn't aimed at them.
Stepping up to the console, Tegan opened their laptop, turned it on, and asked, 'So, how do I hook into your mainframe'? Tegan saw the screen pop-up to connect wirelessly and they said, 'Okay, I guess you'll hook yourself in'.
Tegan watched as screens popped up and just as quickly disappeared and Tegan began to think, 'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I don't need her getting into some of this and letting him know about it. By what I know about the Doctor, he would not like the way Torchwood operates. And, I have information on the Doctor that not even Torchwood has access to. Then again, I just don't want him finding out we're more alike then I'd ever want to admit'.
Tegan watched as one of their hacking programs was opened and then a writing program in a small box popped up with the words, 'Jack is around so little due to his work with Torchwood and his sexual exploits. Ianto betrayed you whether he was involved with you or Lisa first and even though you still consider him a friend, he can't be around you outside of work for Torchwood. You don't hate the Doctor because of what happened since he first came to Earth. You hate him because you're lonely and you think he's not'. Tegan laughed and then said with a voice full of contempt, 'He won't stay lonely long, just wait until he meets Rose'!
The T.A.R.D.I.S. couldn't get past the walls that shielded Tegan's mind but she could still feel Tegan's anger coming from their sadness. It was a feeling she'd become all too familiar with after Gallifrey burned and she could feel how the Doctor felt.
The T.A.R.D.I.S. tried to send Tegan a feeling a love, something she'd only ever done for the Doctor, and Tegan dropped to their knees, gripping their sides, and crying over and over again, 'Leave me alone'!
The T.A.R.D.I.S. decided to run the program herself to try to help the Doctor since she couldn't help but wonder if she'd only made things worse. Tegan was much more delicate then her war torn Doctor.
Elsewhere, the Doctor stood within a few feet of the Cyber King. The Doctor had ran through many possibilities of what he would see, someone who still had their flesh and bones body, someone fully converted, but what he hadn't considered was that in this case the Cyber King would end being super computer, and that his sonic screwdriver would be confiscated as soon as he stepped into the room.
On the screen of the computer was a picture of the first Doctor and his granddaughter Susan. A message underneath the picture read, 'Did she die on Earth or did she go home to Gallifrey with you and was just another causality of your genocide'? The Doctor almost smirked at the memory of his earlier time on Earth after his granddaughter had taken the name of Susan Foreman and he would get called Doctor Foreman. But, it didn't take an army of Cybermen to figure out why there was never a body to bury on Earth. Susan hadn't been a causality of his genocide though, she'd been a causality of the Time War, killed by his son, her own father for siding with the renegade Doctor.
When it was apparent that the Doctor wasn't going to answer the question on the screen, the screen changed to a picture of the second Doctor and his companion Zoe Heriot. There was no message this time but he couldn't help but wonder if Zoe was better off having her memory erased then remembering her travels with him. Regret is a word he felt after most of his companions would leave but to have their memory erased and not even remember their travels?
The picture again changed, this time to one of the third Doctor and his companion Sarah Jane Smith. He didn't think that she regretted her travels but he knew she probably didn't understand why he never bothered saying goodbye. And, what human would understand that he just didn't do goodbyes?
The picture again changed, this time to one of the fourth Doctor and K9. He couldn't help but wonder why the Cyber King had picked that companion from the time he spent in his fourth incarnation. K9 was certainly unique though, he didn't have to worry about hurting its feelings. Did Sarah Jane still have the K9 he left her?
The picture again changed, this time to one of the fifth Doctor and his companion Tegan Jovanka. That was one of his few companions that he'd considered whipping their memory, being his companion was sometimes difficult, and not everyone could deal with it. He had never bothered checking on her because if he were honest with himself, he was afraid of what he would see. He didn't regret taking her as a companion but he did regret the damage that was done to her psychologically and sometimes wondered if she would've been better off not remembering him.
The picture again changed, this time to one of the sixth Doctor and his companion Peri Brown. He was glad for her, even though he'd felt horrible thinking she'd died, he was glad to find out she'd survived and married King Yrcanos. At least, he hoped they were still happy in their timeline and maybe a child or two.
The picture again changed, this time to one of the eighth Doctor and his companion Grace Holloway. He remembered what he'd thought of her, 'tired of life but afraid of dying'. He remembered her change and eventually feeling hope again. Grace was a good companion but was another shining example of falling in love with someone who might care about you but will never love you.
He did wonder why they'd skipped his seventh incarnation. He got his answer almost immediately upon thinking that. The picture again changed, this time to one of the seventh Doctor and his companion Ace. He closed his eyes and couldn't keep the strain and sadness out of his voice as he asked, 'Why her'? Did the Cybermen know that he'd held himself to his promise to take her to Gallifrey so she could train to be a Time Lady? Did they know that after watching his son kill Susan that he'd tried desperately to get to her at The Academy? Did they know that Rassilon had went so far to stop him as to take control of Ace and in a moment of clarity, she had killed herself so that The Doctor could stop the Time Lord's? Susan had died because she would not side against her grandfather. Ace had died so that The Doctor could do what had to be done. He wondered just how fractured he was because as Gallifrey burned, he saw both Susan and Ace smiling at him, but by then they were both dead. And, why would they be smiling? Yes, he'd done what needed to be done, but why would they be smiling?
He could feel his rage building. Whether he left them or they left him, his record with companions was horrible and for the Cybermen to try to get a reaction out of him by using them - his children were dead because of him, his granddaughter was dead because she knew what he knew that the other Time Lord's were wrong and refused to stand by and watch as they tried to take control of the universe and those who would not bow would be killed, and Ace was dead because she managed to fight off the control Rassilon had if only for a moment. If Ace hadn't broken the control, he knows he would have been killed, because he wouldn't have killed her, even knowing what would happen if he didn't succeed. Gallifrey burned because of him, Time Lord and Dalek alike burned, and he'd be damned if he let the Cybermen drag up things that no machine would have a hope of understanding.
He didn't know how he'd ended up on his knees, but the Cybermen had released their grip on his arms, and that was a mistake. He stood up slowly. Sonic screwdriver or no sonic screwdriver, he would stop the Cyber King. The Master was dangerous because the drums had made him crazy. The Doctor didn't hear the drums but he knew some of his companions considered him a mad man with a police box, they had no idea how right they were. At that moment, he didn't care if he ever regenerated again, he was done playing nice. To a Time Lord, regeneration energy allows for you to regenerate due to certain mortal wounds. A Time Lord does have to be careful when another Time Lord begins to regenerate though because if they're to close, it can actually trigger their own regeneration, even if nothing was wrong. To a non-Time Lord, regeneration energy could be deadly. An angry Time Lord is a reckless Time Lord and the Doctor was furious. The Doctor's hands began to glow with regeneration energy and the Cyber King was attempting to scan the Doctor to figure out what was happening.
The T.A.R.D.I.S. could feel through her connection with the Doctor that he was about to do something very stupid but she couldn't stop what she was doing.
Tegan could feel the concern of the T.A.R.D.I.S. and looked at the center of the console and asked, 'What's going on'? Whether Tegan wanted to come apart at the seams or not, they knew that the T.A.R.D.I.S. was a sentient ship that had a telepathic connection with her driver, in this case, the Doctor, and feeling that kind of concern due to their own telepathy made Tegan realize that something wasn't right. Tegan stood up, stepped up to the console, and said, 'Track down where the Doctor is, I'll finish what you started'.
The T.A.R.D.I.S. was glad that Tegan had snapped out of their mood. Glad for Tegan's newfound determination, the T.A.R.D.I.S. decided to focus on finding the Doctor's location.
The Doctor stood among the wreckage of a destroyed super computer and numerous destroyed Cybermen. Knowing that the T.A.R.D.I.S. would be able to find him and that the last thing the Cyber King did was seal the room, and without his sonic screwdriver that he couldn't get out, he sat down with his back against the door to wait.
It wasn't hard for the T.A.R.D.I.S. to find the Doctor's location but she knew that she needed to wait until Tegan had finished.
It took several minutes before Tegan said, 'I think it worked'.
The T.A.R.D.I.S. began to dematerialize and Tegan asked, 'What the hell are you doing'?
The Doctor heard the T.A.R.D.I.S. before he saw it and he stood up.
Tegan remembered what Jack had said about the T.A.R.D.I.S. that most of the time that a driver is required but he never did figure out if the Doctor just didn't know how to hit the right date or if the T.A.R.D.I.S. just put them wherever she pleased. It was annoying sometimes but it made travel more fun. It was bizarre on a couple occasions when the T.A.R.D.I.S. decided to operate herself.
The door of the T.A.R.D.I.S. opened, the Doctor stepped inside, closed the door, and Tegan asked, 'So, did you disconnect the Cyber King'? Deciding to skip the details, the Doctor decided on a simple answer, 'Permanently'. Tegan said, 'Good. Now, if you don't mind getting me home, I have a call to put through to Torchwood One, I need to get back to studying my newest hacking project, and I have a new series of books to start. The last of which, I still need to figure out a subject for'.
The Doctor was having an internal debate with himself as he went through the motions of operating the T.A.R.D.I.S. to get Tegan home.
The T.A.R.D.I.S. knew something was bothering the Doctor but she couldn't tell what.
Tegan shut the laptop down, closed the lid, and slipped the laptop under their right arm. Tegan couldn't help but wonder though how long it would be until the Doctor met Rose Tyler.
It was only a couple minutes before the Doctor said, 'Just step out the door and you're home'. Tegan walked over to the door before turning back toward the console where the Doctor still stood and said, 'Thank you. And, thank you for the help with the Cybermen'. The Doctor didn't respond.
Tegan opened the door of the T.A.R.D.I.S., stepped out of the T.A.R.D.I.S., and was about to shut the door when the Doctor asked, 'If I asked, would you want to come with me'? Tegan stepped back into the T.A.R.D.I.S. and asked, 'Huh'? The Doctor said, 'I don't ask twice'. Tegan knew what their answer had to be because the Doctor had not yet met Jack, Tegan said, 'I can't'. The Doctor asked, 'Why not'? Tegan decided to choose their words carefully and said, 'I know how you and papa meet and I can't interfere in that'. The Doctor asked, 'Jack is a fixed point, isn't he'? Tegan said, 'Yes'. The Doctor said, 'An event that is a fixed point can't be changed. Even if you try to change it, the only thing you might be able to change is how it happens, but you can't stop it from happening. I have never met someone who is a fixed point but I would assume that the same principal applies'.
Tegan debated for a couple minutes before saying, 'I guess it wouldn't hurt anything. I still need to call Torchwood One though and let them know the Cybermen problem has been resolved. I also need to let papa know I'm leaving. I still need to study my next hacking project though. And, I need to figure out a subject for my next series. And, I'd need to pack up a few things'. The Doctor said, 'I'll give you time for the calls and to pack a few things, but you can study on the T.A.R.D.I.S. and maybe traveling would help you come up with a subject'. Tegan said, 'Thanks, I think'.
Tegan could feel the T.A.R.D.I.S. consciousness brushing at their own and deciding to open their mind heard a question, 'How about Owner's Manuel: Your Time Lord and You'? Tegan laughed and the Doctor asked, 'What's so funny'? Tegan shook their head and then said, 'Oh nothing, your T.A.R.D.I.S. just has a sense of humor'.
Tegan stepped back out of the T.A.R.D.I.S., closed the door, pressed a few buttons on the wrist strap, and waited. It was a few moments before Tegan heard, 'Torchwood One'. Tegan said, 'This is Tegan Harkness, the Cybermen issue has been resolved. I couldn't find the conversion units but the Cybermen and Cyber King have been dealt with'. The woman who had originally answered asked, 'All of them'? Tegan said, 'As far as I am aware, all the ones here in Cardiff'. The woman said, 'You need to double-check, even one Cyberman is dangerous enough to -' Tegan cut her off by asking, 'So, you're wanting me to look all over Cardiff for something that might not even be here'? The woman said, 'Yes. And, we have also heard a report about the Doctor being in Cardiff, if you find him, detain him'. Tegan leaned the back of their head against the blue police box and said, 'Understood, I'll keep an eye out for a blue police box and a Time Lord who's the number one enemy of Torchwood'.
Tegan disconnected the call and thought, 'Fuck! Papa went through hell when he first started working for Torchwood because of his prior association with the Doctor and even when I wanted the Doctor dead, I would never have turned him over to them, I've seen what they plan to do, and I didn't even want a part of it, then'.
Tegan pressed a few buttons on the wrist strap, and again waited. It was a few moments before Tegan heard, 'Hello Tegan'. Tegan said, 'Hello papa. I just figured I'd let you know that I might be gone for a while but to not worry if I'm not home when you get home because I'll be fine. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. You trained me since I was little to be able to defend myself and I'm a decent telepath so I'll be fine'. Jack asked, 'You're going with the Doctor, aren't you'? Tegan couldn't resist smiling before saying, 'Yeah'. Jack said, 'Tegan, be careful. I know you're not a big fan of time travel even being what you are but you also need to be very careful'. Tegan was annoyed as they said, 'Papa, I'm not going to interfere in your meeting with the Doctor'. Jack said, 'That's not all I mean'. Tegan was concerned as they asked, 'What do you mean then'? Jack said, 'If by some sick twist of fate, you meet me, you need to be careful'. Tegan laughed and then asked, 'Of you'? Jack said, 'Yes, because I wouldn't know you'. Tegan laughed again and then said, 'Oh! I get it! You think that since you wouldn't know me that you would try hitting on me'? Jack pinched the bridge of his nose and said, 'Unfortunately'. Tegan asked, 'Would you hold it against me if I broke your jaw'? Jack hesitated before asking, 'Now? No. Then? I don't know'. Tegan asked, 'Laser gun'? Jack said, 'If necessary'. Tegan laughed and then said, 'Bye bye, papa'. Jack said, 'Be careful, Tegan'.
Jack heard the call disconnect and couldn't help but wonder if Tegan was ever supposed to meet the Doctor. His Doctor didn't talk about his past companions, not really. The thought of Tegan traveling with the Doctor didn't bother him but the thought of what he, Jack Harkness would try with Tegan if by some sick twist of fate they met did. Whether Tegan wanted to parade around time and space as a man or go back to wearing leggings and go back to parading around as a woman was up to Tegan, but he couldn't help but laugh at what the Doctor might think of Tegan's choice of clothing. And, the way that Tegan developed throughout puberty didn't help anybody solve the question of whether Tegan's male or female. The easiest way to find out without asking himself or Ianto would be to check Tegan's neck but nobody ever seems to think of that. Would Tegan tell the Doctor? Would the Doctor figure it out on his own?
Tegan couldn't help but wonder what Jack would think if they decided to quit Torchwood, it wasn't the first time they'd been sent on some outrageous mission, and it probably wouldn't be the last.
Tegan walked upstairs to their bedroom and sat on the bed and thought, 'Dammit'!
The Doctor waited over an hour for Tegan to come back to the T.A.R.D.I.S. before deciding to leave the T.A.R.D.I.S. himself and see what was taking so long.
Upon figuring out which room was Tegan's, the Doctor knocked on the door, and heard Tegan said, 'Go away'! The Doctor said, 'I thought you were coming with me'. Tegan said, 'I can't! Fucking Torchwood decided I needed to go looking for any Cybermen that might have escaped and they know you're in Cardiff'. The Doctor asked, 'Why does that matter'? Tegan said, 'The Torchwood Institute was founded because of you! To them, you're their number one, top priority enemy'! The Doctor mumbled, 'Stupid apes'! The Doctor crossed his arms and asked, 'So, you can't leave until you're positive that Cardiff is Cyberman free'? Tegan said, 'Pretty much'. The Doctor asked, 'Do you want help'?
Tegan stood up off the bed, walked over to the door, opened the door, and asked, 'Are you insane'? The Doctor asked, 'Who's to say what's sane and what's insane? Who gets to decide'? Tegan said, 'Doctor, I may have wanted to kill you, but if Torchwood One captures you, they won't kill you, they will torture you'! The Doctor asked, 'Then, I'll just have to make sure they don't capture me, won't I'? Tegan said, 'Fine, we'll start tomorrow'.
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Author's Note 1: The reason for Tegan being referred to as 'they' instead of 'he' or 'she' is because of Tegan's refusal to identify as male or female.
Author's Note 2: I do plan on this Doctor being darker but I haven't quite decided how much darker.
Author's Note 3: I'll go ahead and mention that 'Season One' will have 13 'Episodes' and that I am planning on at least, a 'Season Two' and 'Season Three'.
Author's Note 4: Truth be told, I've seen every televised episode that's been aired on BBC America that has the 10th (David Tennant), 11th (Matt Smith), and 12th (Peter Capaldi) Doctor multiple times, and currently all the ones with the 13th Doctor (Jodi Whitaker), but I've only seen about half of the ones with the 9th Doctor (Christopher Eccelston), and none prior to the 9th Doctor. So, I haven't actually seen the episode where the 9th Doctor and Rose even meet Captain Jack Harkness.
Author's Note 5: The only episodes of Torchwood that I haven't seen are the ones related to Miracle Day, all the others including Children of Earth I've seen multiple times.
Author's Note 6: While at some point in this series, I do plan on having the 9th Doctor regenerate into the 10th, I actually have zero interest in having the 10th regenerate into the 11th, why? Simply because I don't like the 11th Doctor, if there was a way to skip him and just move onto the 12th, I'd work on it eventually, but I can't do that. And, if anybody expects an appearance by River Song at any point in this series, you're reading the wrong author. The only person I like less then the 11th Doctor is River Song.
Reviews/Comments/Critiques welcome!