Chapter One

January 21,2012

London

Martha

The night had long fallen by the time she got the call.

Although Martha didn't technically work for UNIT anymore, she was still on their list, especially when it came to alien tech. Every now and then, she would get a call on her cell, unmarked as was the standard, and usually badly timed. This one's bad timing had to do with Mickey- he was home for more than 24 hours for the first time in weeks. She had thought she'd be used to the erratic calls by now.

She wasn't even close.

Martha flipped open her cellphone. "Yes?" she sighed.

"345 Eastwood. Large crash site. Unknown ship."

"I'll be there."

Martha leaped out of the van, surveying the crash site. It was an ovoid ship, splintered down the center, not a single window or door showing. Fires raged on its left side, and fragments larger than she was were everywhere.

"So much for a cover-up." she commented.

"You're telling me."

" So what is it?"

"No idea. The readings off it are unlike anything we've ever seen. No sign of the occupants, but it looks like there were three, most likely humanoid."

Martha spotted a all-too-familiar black sedan pulling up. "You called Torchwood?" she asked.

"How could we not? It's their job."

The car stopped, and a large man who looked like he'd stepped out of the forties leaped out. "Martha! Good to see you again."

"Captain." she replied briskly.

"No need to be so stiff, sweetheart. And who are you?" asked Jack, turning his attention to the woman by Martha's side.

"Stop it." Martha warned.

Jack just smirked. "What do you think?" he asked, gesturing towards the bronze ship.

"I've never seen anything like this, not even with the Doctor."

"Well, standing here isn't going to do anything. Let's go take a look." He clapped a hand on her shoulder, and Martha allowed herself a small smile. She pulled her cold hands out of her pockets, and they started examine the wreckage.

"Alright, Jack, what is it?" she asked as soon as they were out of earshot of the UNIT officers.

"I don't know."

"Liar. They can't hear you, you know."

Jack sighed and rubbed his hands together, breath fogging on the wind. "It's a Void ship."

"A what?"

"A ship designed for navigating the space between parallel universes. Torchwood had one, back in the day. We never did open it until the Doctor showed his face."

"So who do you think was inside?"

"Not the Daleks again. We would know, unless-"

"- they're being uncharacteristically not evil? Yeah, that's not even a possibility. Maybe it was just some harmless alien."

"Oh, right. Like harmless aliens ever show up in our lives." He paused. "The Doctor would know."

"Have you seen him since that day?"

"No. Have you?"

"I've seen where he's been, if that counts."

"We've all seen the planet in the sky, Martha. We've all seen the cracks in the walls. I've seen other things, too, bits of history where he had to be involved. But he's never come back, and I don't think he ever will."

Martha sighed. "I think he's regenerated, since we last saw him. I know what you mean, about the history. I've seen that stuff too, but I've noticed his descriptions have changed. Maybe that's why he never came back."

"I doubt he'd ever let regeneration get in the way of his friends. Face it, Martha, we've been discarded."

Martha chose to ignore him. "Jack, look at this." She pointed to a pale footprint on the distorted ground. "That you?"

"No, it's too small. So was someone here before us?"

"Maybe it was the inhabitant."

Martha and Jack jumped at the new voice. "Sarah Jane!" exclaimed the Captain. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, it's practically my backyard, how could I not be here?"

"Good point. So is it you?"

"No, but I've already seen it. Have you seen where it came from?"

"What do you mean?" asked Martha.

"Over here." The older woman gestured to a piece of the ship, that, upon closer inspection, had obviously been moved. "I think whoever it was was trapped and move that to get out."

"But how could they, it's beyond anything a human could lift! And that is definitely a human footprint, before you try to contradict me."

"You tell me."

Martha got down on her hands and knees, examine the dark shelf under the moved metal. Something glinted in the darkness, just out of her line of sight.

"So, once we're done here, do you two want to head over to Torchwood for a drink? Everyone but Gwen and Lantos have gone home by now, and I can tell you guys need it."

Jack's voice floated down to where Martha was digging around. "Sure." she called back up, speaking almost simultaneously with Sarah Jane.

"What exactly are you doing down there, anyways?" called Jack.

"Just...one...moment." Her hand closed around the object, and she pulled out of the crack. "Got it."

Martha stepped back and lifted her hands into the pale firelight.

"That's a-" hissed Jack.

"I know."

"How did a sonic end up down there? Has he been here?"

Sarah Jane shook her head. "Look at it. The design is alien, but it's all human tech. Almost like something Torchwood might cook up."

Martha stated at the screwdriver, playing with it in her hands. Sarah Jane was right, it was impossibly human. Who could have made it? Who had been in the ship? She had come here for answers, not for questions.

What are you?