The Stolen Earth
The Doctor had jumped into action, immediately setting the TARDIS to present-day London. When he, Donna, and Clara ran out of the TARDIS, everything was fine, even though the three of them were in a panic.
"It's fine...everything's fine," the Doctor said. "Nothing's wrong, it's all fine!"
There was a milkman in the road that the Doctor called to.
"Excuse me?" he said. "What day is it?"
"Saturday," the milkman said, looking at the Doctor like he was odd.
"Saturday! Good!" the Doctor said. "Good, I like Saturdays."
"So...I just met Rose Tyler?" Donna asked.
"Yeah," the Doctor said, still looking around.
"But she's locked away in a parallel world," Donna said.
"Exactly," the Doctor said. "If she can cross from her parallel world to your parallel world, then that means the walls of the universe are breaking down, which puts everything in danger. Everything. But how?"
The Doctor and Donna hurried back into the TARDIS, but Clara took another look around. The moment the TARDIS doors closed, there was a tremor.
"What-?" Clara said, then started shouting. "Doctor! Doctor!"
The next minute, Clara was nearly thrown to the ground. The TARDIS had disappeared, but she knew it hadn't dematerialized. It was suddenly dark outside, but it had been morning when they had landed.
Looking up at the sky, Clara gasped to see planets everywhere. They were definitely not in the Solar System anymore.
The TARDIS gone and no Doctor, Clara did what she could. She started running. She knew that Sarah Jane didn't live too far away, so she ran there. Running non-stop, she found Sarah Jane and a young boy standing outside of the house, looking at the sky.
"Sarah Jane!" Clara called, running up.
"Clara!" Sarah called. "Where's the Doctor?"
"I don't know," Clara said. "The TARDIS just disappeared when the trembling started. One minute it was there, the next, it was gone! But we've got to try and find him."
"Let's go inside," Sarah Jane said. "I'll introduce you to Mr. Smith."
Mr. Smith displayed a lay-out of the planets, along with something that was flashing red.
"The reading seems to be artificial in construction," Mr. Smith said.
"Some sort of space-station, sitting in the heart of the web," Sarah Jane said.
"Probably responsible for all of this," Clara said. "But what can do this?"
"They're fine—Maria and her Dad, they're still in Cornwall," the boy, whom Sarah Jane had introduced as her son, Luke, said. "I told them to stay indoors. And Clyde's all right, he's with his Mum."
"Sarah Jane, I have detected movement," Mr. Smith said. "Observe."
The red light on screen expanded and now looked like objects heading towards Earth.
"Spaceships!" Luke said, grinning at both Clara and Sarah Jane, who gave nervous smiles back.
"Doctor, where are you?" Clara whispered to herself. She had tried to use her mobile, which called anywhere in the universe, but she couldn't get hold of the Doctor.
"I'm receiving communication from the Earthbound ships," Mr. Smith said. "A message for the human race."
"Put it through," Sarah Jane said. "Let's hear it."
"Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminate!" came through the communication.
"Oh, my gosh," Clara whispered in fear. Sarah Jane was shaking with terror, tears falling down her cheeks.
"Exterminate! Exterminate!" the Daleks cried.
"No," Sarah Jane whispered.
"Without the Doctor, we're dead," Clara said, also crying.
"Oh, you're—you're so young," Sarah Jane said, clutching at Luke.
News feeds were down, as Dalek ships circled the Earth, taking some people with them, and killing others. The Earth was in chaos. With nothing they could do, Clara, Sarah Jane, and Luke were sitting down.
"The Daleks reign supreme," a Dalek said, through the transmission. "All hair the Daleks!"
"There's nothing that can be done," Clara said. "I'm sorry."
"Can anyone hear me?" came a voice from Mr. Smith. "The subwave network is open, you should be able to hear my voice...Is there anyone there?"
"Who's that?" Luke asked.
"Some poor soul calling for help," Sarah Jane said. "There's nothing we can do."
"Nothing at all," Clara said sadly.
"But look at Mr. Smith!" Luke said.
"Processing incoming subwave," Mr. Smith said.
Mr. Smith displayed the blurry outline of a person, white static still all over the screen.
"This message is of the utmost importance," the woman's voice said. "We haven't much time. Can anyone hear me? Captain Jack Harkness, shame on you!"
"What?" Clara asked, looking at the screen.
"Now, stand to attention, sir!" the woman's voice said.
Mr. Smith got the image working, and there was Harriet Jones, sitting in front of a computer.
"Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister," she said, holding up an ID card. "Sarah Jane Smith, 13 Bannerman Road. Are you there?"
Sarah Jane jumped to her feet and said, "Yeah! Yeah, I'm here! It's me!"
"Good!" Harriet said. "Now, let's see if we can talk to each other."
Mr. Smith divided the screen into four squares. One was Harriet, one was Sarah Jane and Clara, and the third was Jack. The fourth was still white with static.
"The fourth contact seems to be having some trouble getting through," Harriet said. "I'll just boost the signal."
"Martha!" Clara exclaimed, as she appeared in the fourth square.
"Hello?" Martha said.
"Martha Jones!" Jack said.
"Hi, Jack!" Clara said, smiling.
"Why aren't you with the Doctor?" Jack asked.
"Sorta got left behind when the planet shifted," Clara said. "Made it to Sarah Jane's."
"Right," Jack said. "Martha, where are you?"
"I guess Project Indigo was more clever than we thought," Martha said.
"Project Indigo?" Clara asked.
"One second I was in Manhattan, next second, maybe Indigo tapped into my mind, because I ended up in the one place that I wanted to be," Martha said.
"You came home," Francine said, standing by Martha in the screen. "At the end of the world, you came back to me."
"But all of a sudden, it's like..the laptop turned itself on?" Martha asked.
"It did," Harriet said. "That was me. Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister."
"Yes, I—know who you are," Martha said, smiling.
"I thought it was about time we all met, given the current crisis," Harriet said. "Torchwood—this is Sarah Jane Smith."
"I've been following your work," Jack said to Sarah Jane. "Nice job with the Slitheen..."
"Yeah, well, I've been staying away from you lot," Sarah Jane said. "Too many guns."
She nodded in Luke's direction and Clara grinned.
"All the same...might I say, looking good, ma'am," Jack said.
"Really? Ooh!" Sarah Jane said, pleased.
"Oh, Jack," Clara groaned.
"Not now, Captain," Harriet said. "Now, I believe you all know Clara Tyler, companion to the Doctor?"
"Hey, everyone," Clara said.
"And Martha Jones, former companion to the Doctor," Harriet said.
"But how did you find me?" Martha asked.
"This, ladies and gentlemen, this is a subwave network," Harriet said. "A sentient piece of software programmed to seek out anyone and everyone who can help to contact the Doctor."
"What if the Daleks can hear us?" Martha asked.
"No!" Harriet said. "That's the beauty of the subwave. It's undetectable."
"That's brilliant!" Clara said, highly impressed.
"And...you invented it?" Sarah Jane asked, just as impressed as Clara.
"I developed it," Harriet said. "It was created by the Mr. Copper Foundation."
"Yeah, but what we need right now is a weapon," Jack said. "Martha, back there at UNIT, what did they give you? What was that key thing?"
"The Osterhagen Key," Martha said, showing it to them.
"That key is not to be used, Doctor Jones," Harriet said. "Not under any circumstance."
"But what is an Osterhagen Key?" Jack asked.
"Forget about the key!" Harriet commanded. "And that's an order. All we need now is the Doctor."
"Oh, excuse me, Harriet, but, well, the thing is...if you're looking for the Doctor, didn't he depose you?" Sarah Jane asked apologetically.
"He did," Harriet said. "And I've wondered about that for a long time, whether I was wrong. But I stand by my actions to this day, because I knew—I knew that one day, the Earth would be in danger and the Doctor would fail to appear. I told him so myself, and he didn't listen."
"He was here," Clara said. "On Earth. The TARDIS just vanished when the planet did. It's like he was moved in time and space or else he'd be here."
"But I've been trying to find him," Martha said. "The Doctor's got my phone on the TARDIS, but I can't get through."
"Neither could I," Clara said. "I tried several times."
"That's why we need the subwave—to bring us all together," Harriet said. "Combined forces. The Doctor's secret army."
"Wait a minute," Jack said. "We boost the signal—that's it! We transmit that telephone number through Torchwood itself, using all the power of the rift..."
"And we've got Mr. Smith!" Luke said. "We can link up with every telephone exchange on the Earth. He can get the whole world to call the same number, all at the same time. Billions of phones calling out, all at once!"
"Haha, brilliant!" Jack said, then pointed at Luke. "Who's the kid?"
"That's my son!" Sarah Jane said in a proud voice.
"Excuse me, sorry," a man said, moving in front of Jack on the screen. "Sorry. Hello. Ianto Jones. Um, if we start transmitting, then the subwave network is going to become...visible. I mean, to the...Daleks."
"Yes, and they'll trace it back to me, but my life doesn't matter," Harriet said. "Not if it saves the Earth."
"Ma'am," Jack, standing to attention and saluting.
"Thank you, Captain," Harriet said. "But there are people out there, dying. On the streets. Now, enough of words. Let's begin."
She started typing like crazy.
"Rift power activated," Jack said.
"All terminals coordinated," a woman said.
"National Grid online—giving you everything we've got!" Ianto said.
"Connecting you to Mr. Smith!" Sarah Jane said, as she and Luke were typing away.
"All telephone networks combined!" Luke said.
"Here's the number," Clara said, taking out her mobile, showing it to Sarah Jane.
"Sending you the number...now!" Martha said.
"Opening subwave network to maximum," Harriet said.
"Mr. Smith...make that call," Sarah Jane said, as she and Luke stepped back by Clara.
"Calling...the Doctor," Mr. Smith said, displaying the number on screen.
"And...sending!" Jack said. "I think we've got a fix!"
"Mr. Smith now at two hundred percent!" Sarah Jane said. The three of them jumped back as sparks flew out of Mr. Smith. It wasn't unlike the console exploding in the TARDIS.
"Oh, come on, Doctor!" Sarah Jane said impatiently.
"I hope this works," Clara said.
"Harriet, a source has locked onto our location," Gwen said. "They've found you."
"I know," Harriet said. "I'm using the network to mask your transmission. Keep going!"
"Exterminate!" a Dalek said from Harriet's square.
"Captain, I'm transferring the subwave network to Torchwood," Harriet said. "You're in charge, now. And tell the Doctor from me: he chose his companions well."
"I'll make sure he knows, Harriet," Clara said, crying.
"It's been an honour," Harriet said.
In the background of Harriet's screen, they could see three Daleks smash through the window of her house. Harriet stood to meet them and held up her ID card.
"Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister," Harriet said to the Daleks.
"Yes, we know who you are," one Dalek said.
Clara gave a sad smile, still crying.
"Oh, you know nothing of any human," Harriet said. "And that will be your downfall."
"Exterminate!" one of the Daleks said, after a pause.
The screen that Harriet had been in went to static, the picture gone.
"Some sort of...subwave network," the Doctor's voice came through a moment later. The Doctor and Donna appeared in the square that Harriet had been in.
"Doctor!" Clara cried, relieved. "You left me!"
Jack laughed then said, "Where the hell have you been!? Doctor, it's the Daleks!"
"It's the Daleks!" Sarah Jane asked. "They're taking people to their spaceships!"
"But it's not just Dalek Caan!" Martha said.
"Sarah Jane! Clara!" the Doctor said, beaming. "Who's that boy? That must be Torchwood. Aren't they brilliant? Look at you all, you clever people!"
"That's Martha!" Donna said. "And there's Clara! So that's what happened to her! And who's...he?"
"Captain Jack," the Doctor said and Clara grinned. "Don't. Just...don't."
"It's like...an outer-space Facebook!" Donna said.
"Everyone except Rose," the Doctor said quietly.
The screen suddenly turned to white static, all the pictures disappeared.
"Your voice is different, and yet, its arrogance is unchanged," a new voice said.
"No," Sarah Jane whispered, horrified. "But he's dead."
"Who is he, Sarah Jane?" Clara asked, but Sarah Jane just shook her head.
The picture showed a man, well not really man, in what looked like the bottom of a Dalek with controls all over it. He didn't have any eyes, but one large blue one in the middle of his forehead.
"Welcome...to my new Empire, Doctor," the creature said. "It's only fitting that you should bear witness to the resurrection and the triumph of Davros, Lord and Creator of the Dalek Race. Have you nothing to say?"
"But you were destroyed," the Doctor's voice came through. "In the very first year of the Time War, at the Gates of Elysiem. I saw your command ship flying into the jaws of the Nightmare Child. I tried to save you..."
"But it took one stronger than you," Davros said. "Dalek Caan himself. Emergency temporal shift took him back into the Time War itself."
"But that's impossible, the entire War is time-locked," the Doctor said in disbelief.
"And yet, he succeeded," Davros said. "Oh, it cost him his mind, but imaging—a single, simple Dalek succeeded where Emperors and Time Lords have failed. A testament, don't you think, to my remarkable creations?"
"And you made a new race of Daleks," the Doctor said.
"I gave myself to them," Davros said. "Quite literally. Each one grown from a cell of my own body."
Clara shuddered. Davros had opened his suit to reveal a rotten-looking chest with his ribs showing.
"New Daleks," Davros said. "True Daleks. I have my children, Doctor. What do you have, now?"
"After all this time...everything we saw, everything we lost...I have only one thing to say to you," the Doctor said to Davros, then loudly said, "BYE!"
"Right," Clara said. "I'm going to find the Doctor."
"I'll go with you," Sarah Jane said.
"But your son needs you, Sarah Jane," Clara said.
"Mr. Smith, locate TARDIS, please," Sarah Jane said.
"TARDIS heading for vector seven," Mr. Smith said. "Grid reference: 665..."
"There are Daleks out there!" Luke exclaimed.
"I know," Sarah Jane said, pulling on her coat. "I'm sorry, but I have GOT to go with Clara and find the Doctor! Don't move. Don't leave the house. Don't do anything."
"I will protect the boy, Sarah Jane," Mr. Smith said.
"I love you," Sarah Jane said to Luke. "Remember that."
Sarah Jane had her keys as they left and got into her car. Clara got into the passenger seat and then they were off, skidding down the road.
"Wow!" Clara exclaimed, bracing herself with the window.
"Brake!" Clara screamed, as they rounded a corner and there were two Daleks in the road. Sarah Jane gasped in terror as they stopped suddenly.
"All human transport is forbidden," one Dalek said.
"No! We surrender, I'm sorry!" Sarah Jane said, hands in the air.
"Daleks do not accept apologies," the Dalek said. "You will be exterminated."
"Daleks, stop!" Clara cried out.
"Exterminate!" the Dalek said, as Sarah Jane threw her arms over her face.
"I'm sorry," Clara said, crying.
"Exterminate!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
