Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter Three
' Oh my God,' Lily whispered as they stood surrounded by the gas-mask people,' Dad, do something. There must be something you can do - you always fix it. '
The Doctor knew everyone was relying on him, and stared sternly at all of the people surrounding them.
' Go to your room,' he said sternly, as though adressing a disobedient child.
The gas mask people hesitated and Lily, Rose and Jack all stared at the Doctor in suprise, wondering if his crazy plan could really work.
' Go to your room! ' The Doctor repeated.
The gas mask people all cocked their head to one side in unison.
' It can't be working? ' Jack whispered, looking at Lily with raised eyebrows.
Lily allowed herself a small smile,' Didn't we say he was pretty remarkable? '
' I mean it! ' the Doctor shouted, adressing them louder and more angrily,' I am very, very angry with you. I am very very cross! Go - to - your - room! '
He pointed violently in no particular direction, and then miraculously, the gas mask people all turned away and went back to their beds.
When it was clear that they were definitley retreating, the Doctor sighed with relief,' I'm really glad that worked,' he said,' those would have been terrible last words. '
Lily stared,' That was genius! What made you decide to do that? '
' I don't know,' was the reply,' I just thought that since they were asking for their mummy, they needed a bit of good old fashioned parenting. '
' Nice thinking,' Lily nodded,' I don't remember you ever shouting at me like that. Not as a child anyway ... maybe when I got older and started wandering off all over the place. '
Her Dad shrugged,' You were always a good kid. '
Rose sighed, sitting down on a chair beside on of the beds. Jack stared at the gas mask people sadly and settled into a chair too. Lily ran a hand through her hair, and leaned against the wall of the hospital, tyring to think about what on earth was going on here.
' I don't get it,' Rose said,' why are they all wearing gas masks? '
' They're not,' Jack replied,' Those masks are flesh and bone. '
Lily wanted to find out more, but her Dad adressed Jack,' How was your con meant to work? ' he asked.
Jack shrugged,' Simple enough really. Find some harmless bit of space junk, let the nearest Time Agent track it back to Earth. Convince him it's valuable, name a price. When he's put 50 percent up front - oops. A German bomb falls on it, destroys it forever. He never gets to see what he's paid for. Never knows he's been tricked. I buy him a drink with his own money and we discuss dumb luck. The perfect self-cleaning con. '
' Yeah, perfect,' the Doctor scoffed.
' The London blitz is great for self cleaners,' Jack told them,' Pompeii's nice if you want to make a vacation of it though, but you've got to set your alarm for volcano day. '
Jack laughed at his own joke, but the Doctor simply gave him a looks, and Jack's laughter died away.
' Sensing a bit of disapproval here,' frowned Jack.
The Doctor continued to look at him darkly, and Lily sighed,' Can't you leave him be, Dad? He's not done any harm - it was a con, yeah, but he failed. '
' Take a look around the room, Lils,' the Doctor said, gesturing around,' this is what his bit of harmless space junk did. Come on - you too Rose. '
' We're getting out of here? ' Rose asked.
' We're going upstairs,' the Doctor replied.
Lily knew better than to argue, so she followed him out of the room, Rose following too.
' Doctor! ' Jack called,' It wasn't me! I even programmed the flight computer so it wouldn't land on anything living - I harmed no-one! I don't know what's happening here, but believe me, I had nothing to do with it. '
' I tell you what's happening here,' the Doctor corrected, coming back into the room,' you forgot to set your alarm clock and it's volcano day. '
A siren went off in the distance, interrupting the tension between the two men.
' The all-clear? ' Lily asked.
' I wish,' the Doctor replied, leaving the ward, the others three trailing after him.
The Doctor rushed ahead of them, and Lily sighed as they lost track of him - he was always doing his.
' Dad! ' she hissed, as she led Rose and Jack down the corridor.
They dashed past a flight of stairs, and the Doctor poked his head around the bannister.
' You go a blaster, Captain? ' he asked.
Jack grinned, coming to a halt in front of the Doctor,' Sure have! '
The Doctor jogged away up the stairs, and Lily grinned, following him, Jack and Rose following too.
They found themselves standing outside a door.
The Doctor turned to Jack and told him,' The night your space junk landed, someone was hurt, and this is where they were taken. Let's find out what happened. Come on, Captain, get the door open. '
Jack blasted at the door and left a large hole in it.
' What's wrong with your screwdriver? ' Rose asked the Doctor quietly,' or Lily's spanner? '
' Nothing,' the Doctor said,' just wanted a bit of 51st century magic. ' He glanced at Jack,' 51st Century, weapon factories of Villengard? '
' You've been to the factories? ' asked Jack.
Lily shrugged,' Once or twice, right Dad? '
' They're gone now anyway,' Jack replied,' all vaporized when the major reactor went into overdrive. '
The Doctor shrugged,' Like she said, once or twice. There's a bannana grove there now, and I like bannanas. Bannanas are good. '
Grinning at Jack, as if he was warming to him, he passed him and entered the room. Rose followed as usual, and Lily admired the door.
' Nice blaster there,' she said with a nod.
' It's digital,' he told her.
' Squareness gun, right? ' she asked,' I've seen these before, a while ago. Much more stylish than my little laser spanner. '
Jack grinned,' Oh lasers are good,' he said, entering the room, leaving Lily behind. She laughed at this strange new comer and then followed along.
In the room they'd all just entered, the Doctor switched a light on. The room looked like it had been vandalised - a window broken, and things all over the floor.
' What do you think? ' asked the Doctor.
' Something got out of here,' Jack answered.
' Yeah. And? ' the Doctor prompted.
' Something powerful and angry,' Jack decided.
' Powerful and angry,' repeated the Doctor with a nod.
Lily looked around and saw a room off to the side. The walls and floor were covered with child's drawings, and there were a few toys in the corner as well as a bed.
' A child? ' Lily asked, as the other three came into the room. ' This ... I suppose this explains the "Are you my mummy" thing. But how could a child do this? Possessed or something? '
' Listen to this tape,' the Doctor replied,' this is Doctor Constantine - the surgeon here - talking to the child. '
' Do you know where you are? ' Constantine asked.
' Are you my mummy? ' the child asked hopefully.
' Are you aware of what's around you ... can you see? '
' Are you my mummy? '
' What do you want? ' Constantine asked,' Do you know -? '
The child interrupted,' I want my mummy. Are you mu mummy? I want my mummy! Are you my mummy? Are you my mummy? Mummy? Mummy? '
' Dad, I've heard this voice before,' Lily said.
' Me too,' Rose added.
' I know. Me too,' the Doctor agreed.
' Mummy? '
' Always "are you my mummy?" - like he doesn't know. Why doesn't he know? '
The Doctor paced around the room, a few times, before stopping and looking at Lily,' Can you sense it? ' he asked,' coming through the walls? '
' I can sense ... something,' Lily said, thinking carefully,' but my intuitions not as strong as yours ... I don't know. '
' Sense what? ' Rose asked.
The Doctor rolled his eyes, looking at Rose,' Funny little things, humans brains. How do you get around in those things? '
Rose looked at Jack briefly,' He likes to insult the species when he's stressed. They both do, actually. '
The Doctor cleared his throat, rubbing his temples as he thought,' There are all these children living rough on bomb sites. They come out during air-raids to look for food. '
' Mummy, please,' the child said in the background.
The Doctor continued,' Suppose they were there when this thing - whatever it was - landed. '
' It was a medi-ship,' Jack insisted,' it was harmless. '
' Yeah, you keep saying harmless,' the Doctor frowned, ' but suppose one of them was affected - altered? '
' I'm here! ' the chid called in the background, seemingly still from the tape.
' It's afraid,' the Doctor said,' terribly afraid, and powerful. It doesn't know it yet, but it will do. It's got the power of a god, and I just sent it to its room. '
A crackling noise filled the room and Lily looked around quickly.
' I'm here, can't you see me? ' the child continued.
' Doctor, whats that noise? ' asked Rose, sounding scared.
' End of the tape,' the Doctor said,' the tape ended 30 seconds ago. '
' No,' Lily muttered,' but that means ... it's here. You ... you sent it to it's room. And this is it's room, isn't it? '
There was a bang coming from near the tape machine and as one, the time lord, time lady, human and time agent turned towards the tape machine and all jumped back with shock when they saw the child standing there.
' Mummy? ' the child asked, cocking its head on one side and considering Rose.
' Dad ... ' Lily said, taking a step towards the child.
Jack grabbed her arm and pulled her back again,' Don't go near it he said. Everyone on my signal ... make for the door ... now! '
The violently pulled a banana from his pocket and pointed it at the child, looking at it in confusion when realising it wasn't what he thought it was.
' Looking for this? ' the Doctor asked, holding up Jack's sonic blaster and blasting a square hole in the wall,' Go! Now! ' he shouted, looking at them,' and don't drop that banana! '
They hopped through the hole in the wall and Jack regarded the banana,' Why not? ' he asked.
' Good source of potassium,' grinned the Doctor.
Jack took the lead and they found themselves back in the corridor, where the child started to approach them from inside the room.
' Gimme that,' Jack said, taking his sonic blaster from the Doctor and pointing at the wall, where the wall rebuilt itself, blocking the child out,' digital rewind. Nice switch by the way,' he grinned, throwing the banana back to the Doctor.
' From the groves of Villengard. I thought it was appropriate,' the Doctor grinned.
The child thumped on the wall from the other side, and Rose looked at the Doctor,' Not the time to be talking! ' she hissed.
' Fair enough,' agreed the Doctor,' come on. '
They rushed down a flight of stairs and down another corridor. Lily felt her hearts pounding impossibly fast as they moved - she'd seen some scary stuff, but when it involved children, it was always darker and more horrific.
They were running down the corridor when a door burst open and all the patients from one of the wards came at them. They hastily backtracked, but more gask mask people came along from that direction too.
' We're just where we started,' Lily gasped.
' It's keeping us here so it can get at us,' the Doctor told them.
Jack looked around, pointing the blaster in each direction in turn,' The child is controlling them all? '
' It is them all,' nodded the Doctor,' It's every living thing in this hospital. '
' Okay,' Jack nodded,' now this sonic blaster can function as a sonic cannon and a triple enfolded sonic distrupter. Doc, Lily, I don't know who you are, but you're sure as hell not from around here - you must have something? '
' Not much,' Lily shrugged.
The Doctor pulled his sonic screwdriver from his pocket and looked down at it,' A sonic ... oh, never mind. '
' What? ' Jack asked.
' It's sonic, okay? Let's leave it at that,' the Doctor decided, feeling stupid that he had a screwdriver, and Jack had all these other things.
' Disrputer? Cannon? What? ' Jack urged as they stood back to back, surrounded again, whilst Lily and Rose stood back to back, the four of them forming a square.
' It's totally sonic,' the Doctor replied,' it's just sonic. '
' Sonic what? ' Jack demanded, spinning around.
' Screwdriver! ' the Doctor snapped, holding it up at the same time that the child managed ot punch a hole through the wall, and the gas-mask people started to move forwards again.
Rose grabbed Jack's arm and pointed the sonic blaster at the floor,' Now! ' she shreiked.
Jack pressed the button and the ground beneath them gave way, leaving them all to fall in a messy heap on the floor of the ward below.
Lily coughed as they lay on the ground and she rubbed her head where she'd landed.
' Everyone okay? ' Jack asked, after quickly sealing the floor above them with the blaster and standing up to brush himself off. He reached down and grasped Lily's hand, pulling her to her feet in one fluid motion.
' Thanks,' she said, brushing down her jacket,' just wasn't quite prepared for the fall, you know. '
He grinned,' Lucky you've got a dashing hero like me to save the day then, isn't it? By the way, Doctor, who has a sonic screwdriver? '
' I do! ' the Doctor replied defensively.
Jack shook his head,' Who looks at a screwdriver and thinks "ooohoo, this could be a little bit more sonic."? '
' What, you've never been bored? ' the Doctor asked indignantly.
' Isn't there a light in here? ' Rose muttered, groping around for a light switch.
Rose made a triumphant little noise as her hand found a light switch and she flicked the lights on. The gas mask people were also in this room, all laying in their beds: they all sat up and Lily groaned, wondering why they always had to be chased by something or other.
' Door. Now,' Jack said, his voice commanding and authorative.
As the patients started getting out of bed, they all rushed towards the door, only to find it locked. Not even Jack's sonic blaster would work on it. He smashed the blaster against the door.
' It's the damned battery,' he said,' all the special features really drain it out. '
The Doctor pushed Jack aside and opened the door with his sonic screwdriver.
The door swun open and the Doctor hurtled into the corridor, grabbing Lily's arm and dragging her after him, allowing Jack and Rose to follow them before he slammed the door and pointed the sonic screwdriver with it.
' Okay - the door should hold for a while,' the Doctor said, satisfied.
' The door? ' Lily demanded,' the door? The wall didn't stop it - why should a door? '
The Doctor shrugged,' It's got to find us first, hasn't it? We;re not done yet ... assets, assets. '
Jack grinned,' Well I've got a banana. '
' The window,' the Doctor said, throwing open the window.
Jack shook his head,' No. Barred. Sheer drop outside. Seven stories and no other exits. That's our assets done pretty quick. '
The Doctor threw Jack a glare before turning to Lily,' Where did you pick him up from anyway? I think I preferred that annoying Adam. Hey, I'd almost prefer Mickey the idiot. '
' He's not an idiot! ' Rose protested.
' Seriously though,' the Doctor insisted,' where did this guy come from? '
' Don't,' Rose said warningly.
' They were hanging from a barrage balloon,' Jack explained,' in mid air, and I had an invisible spaceship. I never stood a chance. '
The Doctor ignored him and turned back to the window. Rose and Lily each turned their backs for a split second and when they looked back, Jack was gone.
' Dad,' Lily said,' Jack's just disappeared. '
The Doctor turned around and leant against the wall,' Well it was nice of him to stick around for a while. Nice of him to leave us here too. '
' Maybe he's got a plan,' Lily grinned.
Rose tutted,' Just disappeared. Why is it always the great looking ones that do that? ' she sighed and Lily nodded, knowing what she meant.
The Doctor glared at Rose,' I'm making an effort not to be offended,' he said.
Rose blushed,' I'm sorry ... I meant ... good looking, men. You know, not time lords. '
The Doctor rolled his eyes,' Thanks for that, Rose. '
An old radio in the corner buzzed and sprang to life. ' Lily? Doctor? Rose? Can you hear me? I'm back on my ship. I used my emergency teleport - I'm sorry I couldn't take you with me. Hang on in there. '
' How are you talking to us? ' asked the Doctor.
' Om-com. I can talk to anything with a grill,' Jack replied.
' Now there's a coincidence,' the Doctor frowned. The Child can om-com too.'
' It can? ' Rose asked.
' Anything with a speaker grill. Even the TARDIS phone,' the Doctor nodded.
Rose stared,' It can phone us?!
The radio crackled and the child spoke again,' And I can hear you,' it said with the eerie voice,' and I'm coming to find you. Coming to find you Mummy. '
' Dad! What do we do? ' whispered Lily, looking around.
' I'll try and block the signal out,' came Jack's voice through the radio,' and remember thos one, ladies? '
There was a pause, and then the Moonlight Serenade filled the room.
The Doctor looked between the two women carefully,' Well? ' he asked, looking at his daughter first.
Lily grinned,' Our song. '
' What? ' her Dad demanded,' yours and his? Rose and his? '
' Yeah, both,' Lily nodded.
Rose looked uncomfortable - Lily suspected due to her love for the Doctor - but Lily just grinned. The Doctor rolled his eyes at his daughter,' The minute a good looking man comes along,' he moaned,' you're straight there. This is how that Shakespeare business started, then you ended up making sure that neither of us can go back to Shakespeare's time, or else he'll recognise us. Or at least, we won't be going back in these incarnations. '
' Oh shut up,' Lily said with a grin.
The Doctor turned away and started trying to loosen the bars with his sonic screwdriver.
Rose cleared her throat,' Doctor? You don't think Jack's coming back, do you? '
' I wouldn't bet my life. '
' Why don't you trust him? ' asked Rose.
Lily was about to claim that the Doctor was jealous, but instead said nothing.
' Why do you? ' the man returned.
' I trust him cos he's like you,' Rose said simply,' except with dancing and dating and stuff. '
The Doctor frowned,' Who says I don't dance? '
' Prove it,' Rose grinned, turning the music up and walking towards him flirtatiously.
Lily averted her eyes and sank into a chair - she didn't need to see the pair of them dancing and stuff. She purposely stared at the floor while the Doctor took Rose's hands, and she sighed.
' Where's Captain Jack when you need him? ' she muttered,' wouldn't mind getting out of here right now. '
' We're calling him Captain Jack now, are we? ' the Dotor called at her, looking over Rose's shoulder.
Lily shrugged,' His name's Jack and he's a Captain. '
' He's not a real Captain,' her Dad replied, smiling in a sort of satisfied way before turning back to Rose. Lily sighed again and looked at the floor.
Before she could realise what was happening, she felt a familiar sensation shroud her and the next moment, she was back in Jack's ship.
' Well hello,' Jack grinned as Lily materialised right next to him.
' Good to see you,' she nodded.
Rose and the Doctor were still stood very close until Jack cleared his throat,' Hey guys - you'd think you'd notice when you're being teleported. You guys are so sweet together. Sorry about the delay, by the way - had to override the controls and all that jazz. '
The Doctor took a step away from Rose and looked around,' This is a Chula ship.'
' Yeah,' Jack nodded,' just like the medical ship, except this is dangerous.
' Take us to the crash site,' the Doctor demanded.
' As soon as I get the nav-com back online,' agreed Jack,' in the meantime, make yourselves feel comfortable. Lily, there's a seat right here,' he said, patting his knee.
The Doctor glared,' I'd appreciate it if you didn't flirt outrageously with my daughter while I'm standing three feet away. '
Jack had the grace to look slightly embarrassed,' Right, yeah, sorry. You two can carry on whatever you were doing. '
The Doctor blushed and looked at Rose,' We were just talking about dancing,' he said innocently.
' Didn't look like talking,' Jack shrugged.
' Didn't feel like dancing,' Rose muttered.
Lily had had enough of standing around - she looked around for a seat and suddenly Jack pulled a chair out of seemingly no-where. Lily shrugged and sat in the chair, which was next to his pilot's seat.
Rose and the Doctor stood at the other end of the ship, not relly taking part in any active conversation.
Lily watched as Jack fiddled with the controls,' So, Captain, you're quite a mystery - I must figure out what's going on with you. '
' Quite a mystery yourself,' Jack returned,' I don't even know what species you are. '
Lily shrugged,' Maybe I'll tell you later - but you: you used to be a Time Agent, and now you're trying to con them all? '
Jack winced,' You make it sound so bad. If it makes it sound any better, it's not for the money. '
' Then what? '
Jack turned to look at her,' Woke up one day when I was working for them and found out they'd stolen two years of my memories. I'd quite like them back. '
Lily's eyebrows shot up,' Memories? They stole your memories? '
' Two years of my life. No idea what I did.' Here, he glancaed at the Doctor,' You dad doesn't trust me,' he said,' for all I know he's right not to. '
Jack fiddled with another of the controls and grinned when the computer started beeping.
' Crash site anyone? '
***
One they were at the bomb site, pitch black night, trying not to draw attention to themselves. Below them, was a line of barbed wire and a guard pacing.
Jack's eyes sparked with recognition as he saw the guard,' There it is. Algy's on duty - must be something important then. '
' We got to get past,' the Doctor said.
Lily grinned,' Distract the guard - my speciality. Give me a minute,' she said, unbuttoning her coat and running a hand through her hair to tousle it up a bit.
Jack laughed and laid a hand on her arm,' That's not a good idea. '
' I've done this plenty of times,' Lily shrugged.
' I'm sure you have, but I've gotten to know Algy since I've been in town. He doesn't exactly swing that way, you know? '
Jack winked and them set off towards the guard, leaving the other three to stare after him.
Lily watched carefully, ignoring Rose and the Doctor's mutterings beside her - they were talking about dancing or something, again.
They watched Jack approaching the guard he said he knew. Jack and the guard exchanged a few words that they wouldn't hear, before the guard's face transformed right before them - a gas mask becoming attatched to his face ... he was one of them now.
Jack was horror-struck, and other soldiers began approaching to see what was going on.
The Doctor got up and started running towards Jack and the others, so Rose and Lily followed in a split second.
' Stay back! ' the Doctor shouted at the men.
Jack looked around at everyone,' You men! Stay away! ' he shouted.
Lily stepped forward and stood beside Jack, and the others moved forwards, coming to stare at the body, which was now lifeless.
' Its becoming air-bourne, isn't it? ' Lily asked, looking at her Dad, who nodded.
' So what's keeping us safe? ' asked Rose.
The Doctor shook his head,' Nothing.'
An air raid siren sounded out and Lily groaned - this night just got worse and worse.
' All we need,' she muttered, before her eyes widened and she looked at Jack,' didn't you say a bomb was going to fall right here? '
Jack nodded.
' Never mind that,' the Doctor sighed,' if the contaminents are air-bourne now, there's just a few hours left. '
' Til what? ' Rose asked innocently.
' Til nothing,' the Doctor replied,' til forever. Whatever. For the entire human race - and can anyone else hear singing? '
It was coming from a shed, and Lily looked at her Dad, who nodded and moved towards the shed.
There was someone inside singing a lullaby - a female voice, singing sweetly.
The Doctor pushed the door open and Lily peered over his shoulder, Rose and Jack just behind her. The woman singing was handcuffed to a guard. The guard was one of the gas mask people, but he was slumped over the table and the singing was sending him to sleep.
The woman noticed the Doctor and seemed to recognise him, leading Lily to wonder what her Dad had got up to while she and Rose had been hanging from barrage balloons in the air-raid.
The Doctor motion for the woman to keep singing, and when he appeared to be properly asleep, he used the screwdriver to undo the handcuff.
The woman rushed out of the shed with them all.
Lily followed her Dad, as she usually always trusted his judgement and they were close despite the arguments they sometimes had.
The Doctor looked at the people with him,' Jack, we need to uncover this thing - Rose, you stay just over there with Nancy, make sure she's ok, you know, whatever. '
' I'll go with them, shall I? ' Lily asked.
' No,' the Doctor replied quickly,' you've done enough wandering off. You're sticking with me. '
She nodded with acceptance, and along with her Dad and Jack, they walked over to the Chula ship, which was covered by a big sheet sort of thing, hiding it from view.
' You see? ' Jack asked as they pulled away the covering,' it's just an ambuance. '
Jack bent down to look at the controls, and Lily knelt in the dust, running a hand over it carefully.
' They've been trying to get it,' Jack announced.
The Doctor nodded,' Of course they have. They think they've got their hands on Hitler's secret weapon. '
Jack tapped in a code,' I'm going to show you that this thing's empty,' he said,' the sooner you see it's empty, the sooner you see I had nothing to do with it. '
The controls exploded and the Doctor reached down and laid a hand on Lily's shoulder. Lily took the hint and got to her feet, stepping away from the control panned, which buzzed and fizzed.
' It didn't do that before,' Jack said, as an alarm went off on it
' It hasn't crashed before,' the Doctor pointed out,' they're emergency protocols.'
They were all just watching it when Rose called out,' Doctor! ' and pointed towards the other end of the building site - she and the Nancy girl approached them, looking around fearfully.
The gates on the other side of the bomb site were shaking.
' Captain! Secure the gates! ' the Doctor shouted.
Lily grinned,' See? You called him Captain too,' he said as Jack obeyed.
' Not the time, Lily, not the time,' the Doctor said, before turning frantically to Nancy,' Nancy, how did you get in this site? '
' I cut some of the barbed wire,' Nancy replied simply.
He handed Rose his sonic screwdriver,' Setting 2428 D. It reattached barbed wire. Nancy, show Rose where you cut it. '
When Rose and Nancy left, Lily looked at her Dad,' Dad, who's Nancy? '
The Doctor looked at her,' Some girl I met in the streets earlier. She goes around scavenging for food in the middle of air-raids with the street kids of London. '
' This is all so sad,' Lily sighed.
The Doctor took her hand and squeezed comfortingly,' I know,' he said,' but this'll be over soon, I promise. We'll go somewhere more fun next time. '
' Barcelona,' Lily said,' I like Barcelona.'
Jack joined them again and was insistent on opening the medi-ship. He opened the hatch of it and looked at the Doctor.
' See? Empty? '
Lily smiled as Rose and Nancy rejoined them and all turned their attention to the Doctor.
The Doctor frowned at Jack,' What do you expect in a Chula Medi-ship? Coughdrops? Banadages? '
' Nanogenes,' Lily said quietly.
The Doctor grinned, dropping Lily's hand and reaching out to summon some nanogenes from the ship, which were small golden balls.
' What's a nano-thing? ' Rose asked.
' Nanogene,' the Doctor grinned, looking around at everyone,' little energy balls of life which heal up injuries. This ship wasn't empty, Captain. There were enough nanogenes in there to rebuild a species. '
Jack's eyes widened and he seemed to understand it,' Oh God.'
Lily's hearts pounded faster and she realised what he meant.
The Doctor nodded, continuing,' Getting it now, are we? When the ship crashes, the nanogenes escape. Billions upon billions of them, ready to fix all the cuts and bruises in the whole world. But what they find first is a dead child, probably killed earlier that night, wearing a gas mask.'
' They brought him back to life? ' asked Rose innocently.
' What's life? ' the Doctor asked,' life's easy. A quirk of matter. Nature's way of keeping meat fresh. Nothing to a nanogene. One problem though, these nanogenes, they're not like other nanogenes. They've never seen a human before - they don't know what a human's supposed to look like. '
Lily bit her lip, shaking her head.
The Doctor nodded,' All they've got to go on is one little body, and there's not a lot of it left. But they do what they're programmed to do and patch it up. Can't tell what's gas mask and what's skull. Then they fly off and go do their work. You see, now they think they know what people should look like. And they won't ever stop. The entire Human Race is going to be rebuilt in the form of one terrified child looking for its mother and nothing in the world can stop it.'
' I didn't know,' Jack whispered.
The Doctor gave him a cold stare before going back to examining the ship. Lily gave Jack a sympathetic smile and Nancy stared off into the distance.
' Rose? ' Nancy said, sounding scared as she pointing off into the distance.
They all looked in that direction, and there was a cry of "Are you my Mummy?". The Child was leading other gas-mask people towards them. '
' Why is it bringing them all here? ' demanded Rose.
The Doctor stared at them all,' The ship thinks it's under attack. It's calling up the troops. This is a battlefield ambulance. Nanogenes don't just fix you up - they get you ready for battle. '
' That's why the child's so strong? ' asked Rose.
Lily understood it now. She nodded,' It's a fully equipped Chula warrior. All this weapon tech in the hands of a hysterical four year old. And now there's any army of them. '
' Why don't they attack? ' asked Jack.
' Waiting for their commander,' the Doctor said,' the Child.'
' Jamie,' Nancy cut in.
' What? ' Jack asked.
Nancy glared at him,' His name is Jamie, not "the child." '
Lily regarded Nancy.
' He's just a little boy,' Nancy muttered.
' I know,' the Doctor nodded.
' Just a little boy who wants his Mummy,' Nancy sniffed, tear welling up in her eyes.
' Not a little boy born who wouldn't tear the world apart to find his Mummy. But now this one can,' the Doctor nodded.
' What do we do? ' Rose asked
' I don't know,' replied the Doctor.
Nancy sniffed,' It's all my fault. '
' No,' Lily said, reaching towards her.
' It is,' Nancy nodded,' all my fault. '
The Doctor looked at her - she was now sobbing too much to control. Too much for someone whose fault it wasn't. ' Nancy, how old are you? ' asked the Doctor,' older than you look, right? '
' The bomb's going to fall, Dad,' Lily said,' we've got to do something. '
The Doctor ignored them, eyes fixed on Nancy.
' Jack, you can teleport us out,' Lily told him,' can't you? '
Jack shook his head,' Not you guys. The nav-com's back online. It'll take too long to override the protocols.'
The Doctor's eyes remained on Nancy but he replied to Jack,' It's volcano day, Captain. Do what you have to do. '
Lily stared at Jack,' You're going to leave us here? ' she demanded.
Jack gave her an apologetic look before leaving.
Lily stared at the stop where he'd left from and took a moment before turning around and looking at the Doctor.
' How old were you five years ago, Nancy? Old enough to give birth, right? Jamie's not your brother is he? '
Nancy wiped her eyes and shook her head.
' You lied,' the Doctor mumbled,' even lied to him.'
The gates swung open and the Child stood at the front of the army of gas-mask people. It kept repeating the whole are you my mummy thing.
' He gonna keep asking Nancy,' the Doctor told her,' He's never gonna stop. Just tell him.'
The Child approached them slowly,' Are you my Mummy? Are you my Mummy? '
Nancy walked forwards and stoppped right in front of the child. Lily watched in hope as Nancy nodded,' Yes. Yes, I am your Mummy.'
' Mummy? ' the child asked.
' I'm here,' Nancy said, tearfully,' I'm here. I'm your Mummy and I will always be your Mummy. '
They watched as Nancy reached out and took the Child into her arms, whispering to him, and nanogenes surrounded them.
' Will it change her? ' Rose whispered.
The Doctor watched carefully,' C'mon nanogenes,' he breathed,' clever little nanogenes. Figure it out - she's the mother. C'mon. '
' What's going on? ' Rose asked.
Lily laughed,' It's going to recognise her. Same DNA. '
They watched as Nancy fell away from the child in a swirl of nanogenes. Lily rushed over first and the other two followed carefully.
The Doctor took a deep breath and reached out to the gasmask and pulled it up.
Underneath was a perfectly normal little boy.
Lily laughed and the Doctor grinned, picking Jamie up and spinning him around happily. Nancy burst into tears and Rose wrapped an arm around her.
' Welcome back Jamie,' the Doctor grinned,' 20 years until pop music - you're going to love it.'
Lily smiled as the Doctor explained the whole nanogenes thing for nancy. Her attention was grabbed when a bumb plummeted towards them.
It didn't get chance to hit though, because a blue tunnel of light took it straight away. Seconds later, Jack appeared suspended in the blue light field.
' Good lad,' the Doctor grinned,' well done.'
' The bomb's already commenced detonation. '
' Change of plan,' the Doctor shrugged,' I don't need it. Can you get rid of it as safely as possible? '
' Will do. Nice to meet you Doctor. Rose, Lily, goodbye. '
With that he was gone. Lily frowned,' Where did he go, Dad? '
' Never mind that,' the Doctor shrugged,' let's go home.'
***
In the TARDIS, the Doctor chatted happily away, while his two companions watched him with amusement.
' Look at you,' Rose grinned,' beaming away like you're Father Christmas. '
The Doctor turned around, leaning against the control panel,' Who says I'm not? Red bicycle when you were 12. '
' What? ' demanded Rose.
The Doctor laughed and threw his arms out,' And everyon lives, Rose! We need more days like this. Everyone lives! '
' Doctor,' Rose frowned,' what about Jack? '
The Doctor cleared his throat, turning to the control panel,'where shall we go then? '
Rose looked at Lily in confusion. Lily had thought about it and she realised what it meant - the bomb. Jack was going to get rid of the bomb. It was going to blow up. He was going to blow up too.
' Dad? ' Lily asked.
The Doctor turned around.
' Jack's going to die, isn't he? '
