Thanks to CoraPearson, funkyferret for following/faving my story.
NicoleR85: thanks!
The Time Lord Oracle: yep, some very timey wimey stuff. They do go well together, don't they?
The moment Alyssa got back to her house, she dumped her bag in her room and grabbed some clean clothes so she could freshen up. However, when she got another dizzy spell which made her stomach lurch this time, she ran into the bathroom and threw up her lunch. "Honey? Are you alright?" Sarah asked, hurrying upstairs after hearing her daughter be sick.
"I dunno", Alyssa mumbled sitting on the floor down by the toilet, not risking moving in case she threw up again "I've been having dizzy spells lately", she admitted as her mother checked her forehead for a temperature.
"I realise that this might be an uncomfortable question but I have to ask, have you and the Doctor have had sex?" Sarah asked and Alyssa's face turned red.
"Yes", she confessed, looking embarrassed to admit it to her mother.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of", Sarah assured her "I know that you're not a child anymore. Are you being safe at least?"
"Um…not really", Alyssa admitted. She was ashamed to say that it wasn't ever really on their minds whenever they slept together. "Wait…do you think that I'm…?" she touched her stomach "oh my…."
"I can get you some tests so we can be sure", Sarah offered.
Alyssa shook her head "no, I can get the TARDIS to run a scan to check", she said "not sure if a human pregnancy test will be able to confirm it or not since the Doctor is…you know…not human". Sarah opened her mouth to say something when they both heard a very familiar noise. Alyssa hauled herself up, her mother steadying her when she wobbled. "Thanks. Better freshen up before I go meet him", she said.
"I'll keep him occupied while you do", Sarah told her. Alyssa watched her go before she brushed her teeth very thoroughly to make sure that she got rid of that horrible taste in her mouth. She then ran her hands through her hair to smooth it down so it didn't look so frazzled. The young woman looked at her reflection in the mirror and nodded. Yes, she looked better. The red head took a deep breath and left the room.
The Doctor brightened when his girl appeared in the doorway of the living room. He was tempted to hug and maybe even kiss her…though that last one she'd probably stop given the 'ban' he was on. "Hey, love", he greeted.
"Hey", Alyssa greeted back
"You ok?" he asked.
"Yeah, fine", the red head quickly answered. The Doctor frowned at her response. She didn't look fine, in fact she seemed to be nervous about something. "Are we going to be heading off soon?" she questioned.
"If that's what you want", the Doctor replied.
"Yes. Yes it is", Alyssa said hastily, she was eager to have the TARDIS scan her to see if her mother was right about her being pregnant. She took his hand and led him out of the room.
"It was nice to see you again Sarah!" the Doctor called back to the woman.
"Likewise!" she shouted back. When they got the blue box, the Time Lord tugged his hand out of hers.
"Alright, we're alone. Now do you want to tell me what's bothering you?" the Doctor asked her.
"I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately and my mother thinks that I might be…um…" Alyssa twisted several strands of red hair around her fingers, her heart hammering away "and I just wanted to get the TARDIS to check before I told you in case my mother was wrong…" the Doctor cut her off by pressing his lips against hers.
"Sorry. I know I'm on the ban", he said apologetically.
"Actually as of this morning, I took you off it", Alyssa informed him.
The Doctor smiled "great!" he said, happily and kissed her again "and if you want the TARDIS to check you out first before you tell me anything, that's fine".
"Thank you", Alyssa said, glad that he wasn't upset that she didn't want to share straight away. The pair of them went into the TARDIS where Donna was waiting.
"Hey Ali!" she said, happily.
"Hey, Donna. I'll catch up with you later, there's something I need to do first", Alyssa said quickly walking past her.
"Oh…ok", Donna said "is she alright?" she asked, turning to the Doctor.
"I don't know", the Time Lord admitted "she seemed nervous about something, something she didn't want to tell me yet".
"Hope its nothing bad", Donna said, worried for her friend. The scanner flickered to life, gaining their attention.
"Guess I'm about to find out", the Doctor said "be back in a minute". The ginger watched him leave, biting her bottom lip worriedly. She really, really hoped it wasn't anything bad.
The Time Lord strolled into the med bay to find Alyssa standing in the middle of the room, staring at the tablet in her hands. "She was right", the red head breathed holding it out for him to see. The Doctor took it from her and glanced at the screen, freezing at the result. His girlfriend was pregnant! Alyssa watched him warily, not sure how he was going to react to her carrying his baby.
"This…this is fantastic!" the Time Lord declared, ecstatic. He dropped the tablet onto the floor before wrapping his arms around her waist, lifting her up and spinning her around. The Doctor set her down and gave her a loving kiss "I love you", he stated.
"I love you too", Alyssa said, very relieved that he was happy about it. She didn't know what she was so worried about. The Doctor knelt down and kissed her flat stomach.
"Daddy loves you", he said quietly earning him a smile from Alyssa "I cannot wait to teach you the wonders of the universe". He carefully hugged her middle as it was now carrying something incredibly precious to him. "You're going to be a brilliant mum", he said.
"And you'll be a fantastic dad", Alyssa countered, running her fingers through his hair. Dad… the Doctor smiled. He liked the sound of that. Yes, he'd been a father before though he never felt the same joy as he does right at this moment. Probably because his previous family was created through an arranged marriage but this baby…he or she was the product of his and Alyssa's love for each other.
By the time they got back to the console room, Donna was pacing back and forth. When she saw the pair, she stopped and walked over to them. "Well?" she asked.
"It's nothing bad", the Doctor assured her and Donna relaxed "actually, it's very good". He put an arm around Alyssa's waist, placing his hand purposefully on her stomach. The ginger's eyes widened at the movement and she squealed in excitement.
"OH MY GOD!" she shrieked making them wince at the volume "he mated with you Ali!" Donna laughed "I'm so happy for you both!" she hugged them pair tightly "please tell me I'm gonna be an auntie".
Alyssa and the Doctor exchanged looks "I don't see why you can't be an aunt", the red head agreed.
"Yay!" Donna said and hugged Alyssa again.
"Please don't call our private life 'mating'", the Doctor muttered which both females heard.
"How would you feel about learning to pilot the TARDIS?" Alyssa suddenly offered.
"Really?" Donna asked, surprised while the Doctor was a bit unsure on that.
"Why not? Three people are better than two", Alyssa replied.
"Ali, love I'm not sure that's such a good idea", the Doctor spoke up. It was one thing for him and Alyssa to pilot the ship, it was another to try and teach someone else. Especially when all it'll take is pressing the wrong button accidently and someone…namely his girlfriend getting hurt. His hearts seized up at the thought of her so much as getting a scratch now that she was carrying his child.
"Oh, it'll be fine", Alyssa assured him "so, the Doctor and I will take the TARDIS into the Vortex and then you can take over". She glanced at the Time Lord and he sighed.
"Alright, fine", he reluctantly agreed. He supposed if he helped at least he could prevent anything from going wrong.
Donna clung onto the console watching the Doctor and Alyssa pilot the TARDIS into the vortex. "Ok, now it's your turn", the red head said. Donna moved over to where she was standing and her lesson began.
"I can't believe I'm doing this!" Donna exclaimed happily as the piloted the TARDIS with Alyssa correcting her every so often while the Doctor watched on. He had started out being the one to show Donna how to pilot the TARDIS but when he used the mallet on the console, making the ship unhappy with him, Alyssa took over.
"Careful! You're getting a bit too close to the 1980s", the Doctor warned noticing that on the scanner. He quickly took over temporarily to steer them safely away.
"Ok, that was a close one", Alyssa remarked "now…" she" broke off when they heard a phone ring. It was coming from her bag. She went over to where it was secured on the captain's chair and dug through it. Alyssa smiled seeing the caller ID.
"Hey Ali", Martha said when she answered.
"Hey. I know it's been a while since we last spoke", Alyssa said making her way back to the console.
"You've been busy having adventures, I understand. Anyway there was a reason a called. I'm bringing you and the Doctor back to Earth".
Martha smiled when she saw the TARDIS appear precisely 5 minutes after Alyssa hung up. The exact amount of time that Alyssa said they would be there. The Doctor stuck his head out the door looked one way and then the other, smiling when he saw his former companion. "Martha Jones", the Time Lord greeted.
"Doctor" the two of them hug as Alyssa stepped out of the TARDIS. Martha's smiled grew when she spotted the red head after moving away from the Doctor. The two women hugged.
"There's something different about you", Martha remarked, stepping back and taking in the woman.
"Well, there is something different", Alyssa admitted "I'm pregnant".
"Oh my god, that's amazing!" Martha said happily and hugged her again "congratulations to you both".
"Thanks Martha", the Doctor said "fancy becoming an auntie?"
Martha clapped a hand over her mouth in surprised "are you serious?" she asked "yes, of course I would! Are you going to ask Steve and Jack to be uncles?" she questioned. Alyssa was about to respond when Donna stepped out of the TARDIS. "Right. Should have known. Didn't take you long to replace me, then Doctor", Martha remarked when she noticed her.
"No one could ever replace you Martha Jones you're one of a kind", Alyssa said "Just like Donna Noble, the amazing super-temp". Old and new companions shake hands politely.
"I've all about you. The Doctor doesn't really mention you but Ali, talks about you all the time", Donna said.
"Don't worry it was all good things", Alyssa assured her.
"Absolutely", Donna agreed "Who's the lucky man?" she asked spotting the ring on Martha's finger.
"You're engaged? Who to?" Alyssa asked.
"Tom Milligan", Martha replied.
"Isn't that the name of the guy…?" Alyssa asked remembering Martha telling her about this man she met during the year-that-never-was.
"The same one", Martha confirmed "He's in paediatrics. Working out in Africa right now. And yes, I know, I've got a doctor who disappears off to distant places. Tell me about it".
"Is he skinny?" Donna asked.
"No, he's sort of…strong", Martha replied.
"He is too skinny for words" Donna gestured to the Doctor "You give him a hug, you get a paper cut".
"Doesn't bother me. I love him just the way he is", Alyssa said stepping to the Doctor's side and putting an arm around his waist.
"I love you just the way you are too", the Doctor said dropping a kiss onto the top of her head and hugging her back. A small smile crept onto Martha's face at the display of affection. Having been there at the very beginning of their relationship, which in all honesty probably wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for herself and Alyssa's friend Steve, it was nice to see that it was still going strong and will be even stronger now that there was a baby on the way. Martha was going to say something when she got a call over her walkie talkie.
"Doctor Jones, report to base, please. Over"
"This is Doctor Jones. Operation Blue Sky is go, go, go. I repeat, this is a go", Martha said into the walkie talkie. The four follow Martha back down the alley where some sort of military operation was going on at a warehouse up ahead.
"What are you searching for?" the Doctor asked Martha as they watched the proceedings.
"Illegal aliens", Martha answered.
This is a UNIT operation. All workers lay down your tools and surrender immediately a voice called over the tannoy.
"B section mobilised. E section, F section, on my command", Martha instructed into the walkie talkie before running off to join a group of soldiers.
"That's not the Martha I know", Alyssa murmured watching soldiers hold their guns on blue suited workers. The year-that-never-was must've really affected her she thought. While the Doctor and herself where held on the Valiant, Martha was on her own wandering warzone that Earth had become when the Toclafane had been unleashed. Alyssa couldn't imagine what she went through, what she saw. She really hoped that the Martha she knew, the Martha she became good friends with, wasn't completely gone, replaced by this new Soldier Martha.
"Is that what you did to her? Turned her into a soldier?" Donna asked. The Doctor didn't say anything, just watched what was happening in front of them very uneasy. This was the kind of situation he didn't want to have his now pregnant girlfriend in. Hopefully it was going to resolved quickly so he could take Alyssa out of there as soon as possible.
"I guess congratulations are in order Doctor Jones", Alyssa said when the woman came back to join them.
"Thank you", Martha said "UNIT rushed it through, given my experience in the field. Here we go" the four of them started walking "We're establishing a field base on site. They're dying to meet you".
"Wish I could say the same", the Doctor said taking hold of Alyssa's hand and making sure she was close to him as he didn't feel at all that comfortable having her around with all these soldiers and guns. Alyssa squeezed his hand as she could feel his discomfort he was. They stepped inside the rear of a large truck that seemed to have been transformed into some kind of office.
"Operation Blue Sky complete, sir" Martha said walking towards a man in a uniform. "Thanks for letting me take the lead. And, this is the Doctor and Ali. Doctor, Ali, Colonel Mace".
"Sir! Ma'am" Colonel Mace saluted them both. Alyssa was surprised she got a salute considering she didn't think she'd be that important enough to get one, unlike the Doctor.
"Oh, don't salute", the Doctor said annoyed.
"But it's an honour, sir. I've read all the files on you two", Colonel Mace said.
"Wait, there's a file on me? Why?" Alyssa asked, confused about that.
"You're the Doctor's companion and you have psychic abilities", Colonel Mace stated.
"Well, I'd like you to destroy that file straight away", the Doctor ordered. There was no way he wanted UNIT to have any sort of record about Alyssa, especially about her gifts. "Actually, I would like to have to file given to me", the Doctor corrected. That way he could make sure it was properly gotten rid of.
"I'll make sure you get it later", Martha promised.
"And ensure there's no copies", the Doctor added.
"You got it", Martha said. She understood why he didn't want UNIT to have a record in case they ever wanted to exploit her for her powers, not that the Doctor would allow that.
"Good" the Time Lord sighed "UNIT used to be a bit more homespun back in the 70's…or was it the 80's".
"Times have changed, sir", Colonel Mace informed him.
"Yeah, that's enough of the sir", the Doctor said. He wasn't big on people calling him 'sir' or saluting. He didn't really like people saluting him. "But you best keep calling Ali ma'am I won…"
"No you don't Colonel Mace", Alyssa cut in "Alyssa or Ali is perfectly fine".
"Come on, though, Doctor. You've seen it. You've been on board the Valiant. We've got massive funding from the United Nations, all in the name of Home World Security", Martha explained.
"A modern UNIT for the modern world", Colonel Mace added.
"What, and that means arresting ordinary factory workers, in the streets, in broad daylight? It's more like Guantanamo Bay out there", Donna remarked "Donna, by the way. Donna Noble, since you didn't ask. I'll have a salute".
Colonel Mace looked at the Doctor and Alyssa who nodded. The uniformed man saluted Donna who look rather pleased. "Ma'am"
"Thank you", Donna said, pleased.
"Tell me, what's going on in that factory?" the Doctor asked Colonel Mace.
"Yesterday, 52 people died in identical circumstances, right across the world, in 11 different time zones. 5 am in the UK, 6 am in France, 8 am in Moscow, 1 pm in China", Colonel Mace explained.
"Meaning they died simultaneously", Alyssa stated.
Colonel Mace nodded "Exactly. 52 deaths at the exact same moment, worldwide", he said.
"How did they die?" the Doctor asked.
"They were all inside their cars", Colonel Mace replied.
"They were poisoned", Martha added "I checked the biopsies. No toxins. Whatever it is, left the system immediately".
"What have the cars got in common?" the Doctor asked.
"Completely different makes. They're all fitted with ATMOS, and that is the ATMOS factory", Martha answered.
"What's ATMOS?" the Doctor questioned.
"Oh, come on. Even I know that. Everyone's got ATMOS", Donna said.
I don't. Neither does my mother Alyssa thought recalling that day she stopped by her house, pre meeting Donna, and Tasha was there trying to convince Sarah to get ATMOS. In the middle of her pitch, Alyssa had got this bad feeling which she put it down to this new-fangled device. As such she flat out refused to put one in her car. And of course Sarah did the same as she trusted her daughter's judgment. If really ATMOS was the reason behind those 52 deaths then it was a very good thing that neither of them decided to have ATMOS installed.
Martha led the Doctor, Donna and Alyssa down the catwalk stationed over the factory floor all the while explaining what ATMOS was "Stands for Atmospheric Omission System. Fit ATMOS in your car, it reduces CO2 emissions to zero".
"Zero?!" The Doctor asked very surprised "No carbon, none at all?"
"And you get sat-nav and twenty quid in shopping vouchers if you introduce a friend. Bargain", Donna put in.
Colonel Mace stopped on the catwalk and looked down at the factory floor where the soldiers were still rounding up the workers "And this is where they make it, Doctor. Shipping worldwide. Seventeen factories across the globe, but this is the central depot, sending ATMOS to every country on Earth"
"And you think ATMOS is alien", the Doctor stated.
"It's our job to investigate that possibility", Colonel Mace said "Doctor?"
Colonel Mace led the way through the warehouse and into a slightly smaller room where the ATMOS devices where set up "And here it is, laid bare. ATMOS can be threaded through any and every make of car"
"This may be a silly thing to ask but did you check ATMOS before it went on sale, to make sure it was safe?" Alyssa asked.
"We did", Martha told her "We found nothing. That's why I thought we needed an expert".
"Really. Who'd you get?" the Doctor asked. Martha doesn't answer him, just looks at him meaningfully so does Donna and Colonel Mace. "Oh, right! Me!" the Doctor said realising they meant him "yes. Good".
Alyssa shook her head fondly. Although she loved him, he was a bit oblivious at times. Martha and Colonel Mace left the trio to it while they checked on how things were going on in the factory.
"Okay. So why would aliens be so keen on cleaning up our atmosphere?" Donna asked.
"A very good question", the Doctor said looking over the ATMOS device.
"Maybe they want to help. Get rid of pollution and stuff", the Ginger woman suggested.
"I don't think so Donna", Alyssa said staring at the device "I don't think they want to help, quite the opposite".
"You think they want to harm the planet? Using our cars?" Donna asked sarcastically.
"It would be possible", the Doctor agreed "there are 800 million cars on planet Earth. Fit each one with ATMOS and you have 800 million weapons".
A little while later…
Alyssa stood by the Doctor as he examined ATMOS's components. "Ionising nano-membrane carbon dioxide converter. Which means that ATMOS works. Filters the CO2 at a molecular level", the Time Lord told them.
"We know all that, but what's its origin? Is it alien?" Colonel Mace asked.
"No. Decades ahead of its time", the Doctor replied. He eyed Colonel Mace, more specifically his gun. It was in close proximity to Alyssa and their unborn child which he didn't like at ALL. "Look, do you mind? Could you stand back a bit?" he requested. The man moved a back a little "bit more than that", the Doctor said.
Colonel Mace complied before asking "Have I done something wrong?"
"You're carrying a gun. My girlfriend is in the room. I don't like people with guns hanging around her, all right?"
"If you insist", the man said and then leaves, rather offended by what Doctor said.
"Tetchy", Martha commented although she could understand why the Time Lord was being protective, Alyssa was his girlfriend AND she was pregnant.
"Well, it's true", the Doctor said "and you seem quite at home, here", he added.
"If anyone got me used to fighting, it's you", Martha shot back.
"Oh right, so it's my fault", the Doctor argued.
"Well, you got me the job", Martha pointed out "Besides, look at me. Am I carrying a gun?"
The Doctor looked her over and saw that she wasn't carrying one which made him relax slightly "Suppose not", he conceded.
"It's all right for you two. You can just come and go, but some of us have got to stay behind", Martha said "So I've got to work from the inside, and by staying inside, maybe I stand a chance of making them better".
"That's more the Martha I know", Alyssa said with a smile glad that her friend hadn't completely changed.
"I learned from the best", Martha said.
"Well…" the Doctor began.
"Thanks Ali", Martha said putting an arm around the red head.
"Hey!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"Ok, you had a little influence on me", Martha admitted.
"Like how to ramble at hundred miles per hour?" Alyssa offered.
"Yep", Martha agreed.
"I thought you loved it when I ramble", the Doctor said.
"I do love it", Alyssa assured him "it's one of the things I love about you".
"What else do you love about me?" the Doctor asked.
"Plenty of things", Alyssa replied. She took his hands "I love your hands, they just seem to fit so well with mine. I love your arms, they make me feel safe whenever you hold me" Alyssa let go of one of his hands to place her hand on his cheek "I love your eyes, they're warm. Sometimes they're full of love and it makes me feel like I'm the luckiest woman in the universe. Because I know that love is for me" she smiled softly "I love your lips. Whenever you kiss me it feels like everything just falls away. The whole world disappears leaving only the two of us".
"That's exactly how I feel", the Doctor agreed before he kissed her. Martha looked away from the rather intimate moment happening in front of her. They were still going when Donna walked in carrying a folder. She waited for about a minute before announcing her presence to the oblivious couple "oi love birds", she said and the pair broke apart "All your storm troopers and your sonics" Donna continued ignoring the slightly flushed faces of both the Doctor and Alyssa "You're rubbish. Should've come with me".
"Why, where have you been?" the Doctor asked.
"Personnel", Donna replied "That's where the weird stuff's happening, in the paperwork. Because I spent years working as a temp, I can find my way round an office blindfolded, and the first thing I noticed is an empty file".
"Why, what's inside it? Or what's not inside it?" Alyssa asked.
Donna held the file up "Sick days. There aren't any. Hundreds of people working here and no one's sick. Not one hangover, man flu, sneaky little shopping trip, nothing. Not ever. They don't get ill"
"That can't be right", Colonel Mace said frowning.
"You've been checking out the building. Should've been checking out the workforce", Donna told him.
"I can see why They likes you", Martha told Donna.
"Mmm hmm", Donna hummed in agreement.
"You are good", Martha said.
"Super temp!" Donna said.
"Told you", Alyssa said happy that Donna finally saw that too.
"Doctor Jones, set up a medical post. Start examining the workers", Colonel Mace ordered Martha who nodded "I'll get them sent through".
"Come on, Donna. Give me a hand". She and Donna left the room.
Colonel Mace also left, rather quickly leaving Alyssa and the Doctor to hurry after him. "So this, this ATMOS thing. Where'd it come from?" the Doctor asked having caught up with the man.
"Luke Rattigan himself", Colonel Mace replied.
"And he is?" Alyssa asked.
In answer to her question, Mace took them back to the mobile office and showed them Luke's file "Child genius. Invented the Fountain 6 search engine when he was twelve years old. Millionaire overnight. Now runs the Rattigan Academy. A private school, educating students handpicked from all over the world", the man explained.
"A hothouse for geniuses", the Doctor commented.
"You'd fit right in then", Alyssa said "My clever spaceman".
"So would you. My brilliant Ali", the Doctor countered earning a blush from the red head.
"You are not coming with us. I want to talk to this Luke Rattigan, not point a gun at him", the Doctor as they walked through the factory.
"It's 10 miles outside London. How are you going to get there?" Colonel Mace asked.
"Well then, get me a jeep", the Doctor said.
"According to the records you travel by TARDIS", Colonel Mace said.
"Yeah, but if there is a danger of hostile aliens, I think it's best to keep a super-duper time machine away from the front lines", the Doctor said.
"I see. Then you do have weapons, but you choose to keep them hidden", Colonel Mace said.
"Sexy is not a weapon", Alyssa said coming to the defence of the box "nor will she ever be. And if you want to try and make her a weapon, you'll have to go through me first". She gave the man a glare, showing him that she meant it.
"Ok, the TARDIS stays put", Colonel Mace said. He felt guilty for calling the box a weapon especially when Alyssa had gotten offended him calling it as such. "Jenkins?"
"Sir", Jenkins said coming over.
"You will accompany the Doctor and Alyssa, take orders from them". Jenkins nodded and left to go find transport.
"Yeah, I don't do orders", the Doctor said.
"Me neither", Alyssa agreed.
"Any sign of trouble, get Jenkins to declare a Code Red. And good luck, sir, ma'am", Colonel Mace told them.
"I said no salutes", the Doctor said after Mace did just that.
"Now you're giving orders", the Colonel said smirking.
"That was a bit cheeky", Alyssa remarked after the man left.
"Yep", the Doctor agreed.
A moment later Donna appeared "Oh, just in time! Come on! Come on, we're going to the country. Fresh air and geniuses, what more could you ask?" the Doctor said.
"I'm not coming with you. I've been thinking. I'm sorry. I'm going home", Donna said.
"Really?" the Doctor asked slightly disappointed.
"I've got to", Donna told him.
"Oh, if that's what you want. I mean, it's a bit soon", the Doctor said "I had so many places I had wanted to take you. The Fifteenth Broken Moon of the Medusa Cascade, the Lightning Skies of Cotter Palluni's World, Diamond Coral Reefs of Kataa Flo Ko…Thank you. Thank you, Donna Noble, it's been brilliant".
"Penny in the air", Alyssa muttered seeing the growing smile on Donna's face as the Doctor rambled. She knew Donna wasn't going home for good.
"…you've, you've saved my life in so many ways. You're…" it then just hit the Doctor what she meant "you're just popping home for a visit, that's what you mean".
"And the penny drops", Alyssa cheered.
"You dumbo", Donna said shaking her head.
"And then you're coming back", the Doctor said.
"Know what you are? A great big outer space dunce" Donna turned to Alyssa "maybe that could be his new nickname", she suggested.
"Mmm….I think I'll just stick to Spaceman", Alyssa said.
"Ready when you are!" Jenkins called as he pulled up with a jeep. The three of them get into the vehicle. It was long before they dropped off Donna at a road junction before heading off to Rattigan Academy.
"UNIT's been watching Rattigan Academy for ages. It's all a bit Hitler Youth: exercise at dawn and classes and special diets", Ross Jenkins explained as he drove.
Turn left
"Ross, one question. If UNIT think that ATMOS is dodgy…" the Doctor began.
Go straight on
"How come we've got it in the jeeps?" Ross asked "Yeah, tell me about it. They're fitted as standard on all government vehicles. We can't get rid of them till we can prove there's something wrong".
Turn right
"Drives me around the bend", Ross told them.
"Nice one", Alyssa remarked as Ross turned the corner just as he said those words.
"Timed that perfectly!" Ross said.
"Yeah! Yeah, you did", the Doctor agreed.
This is you final destination
Alyssa didn't bother waiting for the jeep to come to a complete stop before she got out. She was just pretty eager to get some distance between herself and the vehicle containing ATMOS.
"Is it PE?" the Doctor asked as he, Ross and Alyssa approaching a young man who was watching a group of people jog past "I wouldn't mind a kick around, I've got me daps on".
"I suppose you're the Doctor?" the young man, Luke Rattigan asked.
"Hello!" the Doctor said cheerfully.
"Your commanding officer phoned ahead", Luke said.
"Ah, but I haven't got a commanding officer. Have you?" the Doctor asked. Luke stared darkly at him "Oh, this is Ross and Alyssa. Say hello, you two".
"Hi", Alyssa greeted.
"Good afternoon, sir", Ross said.
The Doctor took Alyssa's hand rushes off to the entrance. "Let's have a look, then. I can smell genius...in a good way", he said happily.
Luke rolls his eyes behind the Doctor's back as he followed the couple into a room full of students performing experiments. "Oh, now! That's clever, look!" he put on his glasses and peered at a device "Single molecule fabric, how thin is that?! You could pack a tent in a thimble. Ooo! Gravity simulators" the Doctor started rushing around in excitement, taking Alyssa with him to show her all the amazing things "Terraforming, biospheres, nano-tech steel constructs! This is brilliant!" Alyssa giggled at his enthusiasm which was coming off him in waves. It was kinda making her feel like a child at Christmas. "Do you know, with equipment like this you could…ooo, I don't know, move to another planet or something?"
"If only that was possible", Luke said.
"If only that were possible", Alyssa corrected him "Conditional clause".
"I think you'd better come with me", Luke said walking off. The Doctor, Alyssa and Ross followed him into a large room where a strange device sat in the far end of the room. "You're smarter than the usual UNIT grunts, I'll give you that", Luke remarked.
"He called you a grunt!" the Doctor said to Ross "Don't call Ross a grunt, he's nice! We like Ross".
"Yes we do", Alyssa agreed.
"Look at this place…" the Doctor wandered off.
"What exactly do you want?" Luke asked exasperated.
"I was just thinking. What a responsible eighteen year old. Inventing zero carbon cars? Saving the world…"
"Takes a man with vision", Luke said.
"A blinkered vision more like", Alyssa said "Because ATMOS means more people driving. More cars, more petrol. End result, the oil's going to run out faster than ever. The ATMOS system could make things worse".
Luke took no time at all to point out her mistake "Yeah. Well, you see, that's a tautology. You can't say 'ATMOS system' because it stands for 'Atmospheric Emissions System'. So you're just saying Atmospheric Emissions System system. Do you see, little miss Conditional Clause?"
"It's been a long time since anyone said no to you, isn't it?" the Doctor asked coming to Alyssa's defence.
"I'm still right, though", Luke insisted.
"Not easy, is it, being clever. You look at the world and you connect things, random things, and think, why can't anyone else see it? The rest of the world is so slow", the Doctor said coming to stand by Alyssa's side.
"Yeah", Luke agreed as the Doctor was spot on.
"And you're all on your own", the Doctor continued.
"I know", Luke said.
"But not with this" the Doctor pulled out the ATMOS device from his pocket noting the way Alyssa moved away eyeing the device in his hand warily "Because there's no way you invented this thing single handed. I mean, it might be Earth technology, but that's like finding a mobile phone in the Middle Ages" he chucked the device to Ross, who just about catches it "No, no, I'll tell you what it's like! It's like finding this in the middle of someone's front room" he points at the device on the other side of the room "Albeit it's a very big front room".
"Why, what is it?" Ross asked.
"Yeah, just looks like a thing, doesn't it? People don't question things. They just say, oh, it's a thing", the Doctor said.
"Leave it alone!" Luke ordered.
The Doctor just ignored him and walked over to the device "Me, I make these connections" he stepped inside "And this, to me, looks like a teleport pod" he pushes a button and before the eyes of everyone, he vanished.
"Where did he go?" Alyssa asked Luke sensing his worry the second the Doctor had gone.
"I…"
"Where did he go?" she repeated. Before Luke could say anything the Doctor appeared running out of the teleport pod. He grabbed Alyssa's hand needing to get her to safety.
"Ross, get out!" the Doctor shouted "Luke, you've got to come with me".
"Uh Doctor?" Alyssa said seeing a short figure in blue armor appear in the teleport. The Doctor turned and quickly flashed his sonic at the teleport pod, disabling it.
"Sontaran!" the Doctor blurted out wanting to distract the alien from attacking them. He knew that Ross would try to stop it with his gun, but of course that would be ineffective. Then Alyssa would try with her powers and that was something he didn't want her to do, knowing how much it hurt her every time she used them. "That's your name, isn't it? You're a Sontaran. How did I know that, hey? Fascinating isn't it? Isn't that worth keeping me alive?"
"I order you to surrender in the name of the Unified Intelligence Taskforce", Ross said raising his gun and pointing it at the Sontaran.
"Well that's not going to work. Cordolaine signal, am I right? Copper excitation stopping the bullets", the Doctor said.
"How do you know so much?" the Sontaran asked.
"Well…"
"Who is he?" the Sontaran asked Luke. They're in it together Alyssa thought taking note of the interaction.
"He didn't give his name", Luke replied.
"But this isn't typical Sontaran behaviour, is it? Hiding? Using teenagers, stopping bullets? A Sontaran should face bullets with dignity. Shame on you", the Doctor said mockingly leaning against a desk.
"You dishonour me, sir", the Sontaran said.
"Yeah? Then show yourself", The Doctor challenged.
"I will look into my enemy's eyes!" the Sontaran said. Ross and Alyssa's widened as the alien took off its helmet revealing its potato like head.
"Oh, my God…" Ross breathed gaping at the alien.
"And your name?" the Doctor asked.
"General Staal, of the Tenth Sontaran Fleet. Staal the Undefeated", the Sontaran answered.
Alyssa raised an eye brow "bit of a mouthful", she commented.
"Oh, that's not a very good nickname. What if you do get defeated? Staal the Not Quite So Undefeated Anymore But Never Mind?" the Doctor said getting a laugh from Alyssa.
"He's like a potato. A baked potato. A talking baked potato", Ross said staring at Staal.
"Now, Ross, don't be rude. You look like a pink weasel to him" the Doctor said moving over to a chair where a racket and ball sat, picking them up "The Sontarans are the finest soldiers in the galaxy, dedicated to a life of warfare. A clone race, grown in batches of millions with only one weakness".
"Sontarans have no weakness!" Staal said.
"No, it's a good weakness", the Doctor insisted.
"Aren't you meant to be clever? Only an idiot would provoke him", Luke said.
"No, but the Sontarans are fed by a probic vent in the back of their neck. That's their weak spot. Which means, they always have to face their enemies in battle", the Doctor explained.
"They can never turn their backs", Alyssa added now realising why he picked up the racquet and ball.
"We stare into the face of death", Staal said proudly.
"Yeah? Well, stare at this!" the Doctor throws the ball up into the air and hits it with the racquet. The ball flies past Staal, hits the back of the teleport pod and bounces back smacking the Sontaran's probic vent. The Doctor then drops the racquet, grabs Alyssa's hand and they race out of there, Ross quickly following after them.
"Greyhound 40 to Trap 1. Repeat, can you hear me? Over", the Doctor said into the radio but he got no response.
"Why's it not working?" Ross asked.
"It must be the Sontarans. If they can trace that, they can isolate the ATMOS", the Doctor said.
Turn left
"Try going right", the Doctor suggested.
"It said left", Ross said.
"I know. So go right", the Doctor said. Ross tried to do so but he couldn't.
"I've got no control. It's driving itself. It won't stop", Ross said.
"The doors are locked!" Alyssa exclaimed as she tried hers.
"Ah, it's deadlocked. I can't stop it!" the Doctor said after trying to use the sonic on the ATMOS.
Turn left
The jeep jolts and swerves to the left. "The sat-nav's just a box, wired through the whole car!" he added.
"We're headed for the river!" Ross shouted seeing where they were going.
"What do we do?" Alyssa asked worriedly.
"ATMOS, are you programmed to contradict my orders?" the Doctor asked.
Confirmed
"Anything I say, you'll ignore it?" he questioned.
Confirmed
"Then drive into the river! I order you to drive into the river! Do it. Drive into the river!" the Doctor ordered.
The jeep skidded to a stop several inches from the water's edge. The trio get out of the jeep and start running for their lives.
Turn right…left...right…left…
"Get down!" the Doctor shouted pulling Alyssa to the ground, covered her body with his and braced himself for the inevitable explosion.
Left, right, left, right, left, left, right, left, right
The sat-nav emits a small bang that sets off a shower of sparks. The Doctor looked up, disappointed "Oh, was that it?" he asked.
"I'm just glad there wasn't a massive explosion", Alyssa said making him look down at her.
"You know, this is a very familiar postion we're in", the Doctor said making Alyssa blush.
"There's a time and place. And that's not now", she told him.
"Later?" the Doctor asked rather hopeful.
"Absolutely", Alyssa said. The Doctor beamed and kissed her soundly.
The Doctor examined the Nobles' car, bending down to check the ATMOS attached underneath. He Alyssa and Ross headed straight for the Nobles house after narrowly escaping being driven into the river. Well not straight away, the couple had gotten carried away kissing each other. If it hadn't been for Ross getting their attention and reminding them of the current danger, they would've forgotten all about it.
"I'll requisition us a vehicle", Ross told the Doctor who was now examining under the hood of the car.
"Anything without ATMOS. And don't point your gun at people!" Ross gave a small salute and ran off.
"Considering you don't like giving orders, you've given a few today", Alyssa said from where she stood at a relatively safe distance from the car. The Doctor looked up from where he was working, noting how far she was from the vehicle.
"I don't like giving orders most of the time", he amended. He understood why she didn't want to be anywhere near the car as the last one fitted the ATMOS tried to kill them. To be honest he preferred her to be as far from the vehicle as she was currently standing.
"Is it them?" a familiar voice called. Alyssa looked over to see Donna's grandfather come out of the house.
"It's you", she said recognising him from last Christmas.
"And its you", Donna's grandfather said happily seeing Alyssa "Alyssa Palmer, right?"
"Yep that's me", Alyssa confirmed.
"You two have met before?" Donna asked coming over after trying to call Martha and having no luck.
"Yeah, Christmas Eve. This young lady here and the Doctor disappeared right in front of me", Wilf explained.
"And you never said?!" Donna exclaimed.
"Well, you never said", Wilf countered "Wilf, ma'am. Wilfred Mott"
"Pleasure to meet you properly Wilf", Alyssa said shaking his hand.
"Is the Doctor here?" Wilf asked.
"Yep", Alyssa replied gesturing to the car. Wilf went over and the two males had a brief talk where Wilf introduced himself again.
"Donna, anything?" the Doctor asked coming over with Wilf.
"She's not answering. What is it, Sontorans?" Donna said with the phone to her ear.
"Sontarans", Alyssa corrected a little worried that her friend wasn't answering the phone.
"But there's got to be more to it. They can't be just remote controlling cars. That's not enough", the Doctor "Is anyone answering?"
"Hold on", Donna said as she heard the line click.
"Don't tell me…Donna Noble", Martha's voice said coming through the phone.
"Martha!" Donna said relieved to hear her voice "Hold on, he's here" she handed the phone over to the Doctor.
"Martha, tell Colonel Mace it's the Sontarans", the Doctor instructed "They're in the file. Code Red, Sontarans. But if they're inside the factory tell them not to start shooting. UNIT will get massacred. I'll get back as soon as I can, you got that?"
"Code Red Sontaran. Gotcha", Martha repeated and hung up.
After talking to Martha the Doctor went back to examining the car engine "But you tried sonicing it before. You didn't find anything", Donna pointed out.
"Yeah, but now I know it's Sontaran, I know what I'm looking for"
"The thing is, Doctor, Donna is my only grandchild. You got to promise me you're going to take care of her", Wilf said to the Time Lord.
"Actually she takes care of me", the Doctor admitted.
"We take care of each other", Alyssa added putting an arm around Donna "besides us gingers/red heads have to stick together".
"Absolutely. Gingers/red heads United", Donna agreed.
"That would be a pretty cool club. No other hair colour allowed", Alyssa said.
"Oi! It's not my fault I haven't been ginger yet", the Doctor whined.
"He's adorable when he does that isn't he Donna?" Alyssa asked.
"I suppose he is", Donna said .The women laughed at the look on his face.
"Aw come on, we were just teasing", Alyssa said going over to the Doctor "you know I love you, right?" she kissed his cheek "my spaceman".
The Doctor looked at her, his annoyance at them teasing was gone. He leaned in and kissed her too, on the lips "I love you too, my brilliant Ali". The pair smiled at each other.
Suddenly shot up from the ATMOS device making them both jump. The Doctor quickly pulled her away from it "It's a temporal pocket. I knew there was something else in there. It's hidden just a second out of sync with real time", he explained.
"What's it hiding?" Alyssa asked.
Donna's mother appeared around the car "I don't know, men and their cars. Sometimes I think if I was a car…." she trailed off when she saw the Doctor and Alyssa "Oh, it's two. Ali and Doctor what was it?"
"Yeah, that's us", the Doctor said waving at her distractedly.
"What, have you met him as well?" Wilf asked his daughter.
"Dad, it's the couple from the wedding! When you were laid up with Spanish flu. I'm warning you, last time that they turned up it was a disaster!" Donna's mother exclaimed.
Alyssa opened her mouth to defend them when the spikes from the ATMOS device started to let off a cloud of white gas. "Get back!" the Doctor called tugging Alyssa away from it even more. He pulled out his sonic and used it on the ATMOS device. Thankfully the sonic managed to shut off the gas, "That'll stop it"
"I told you. He's blown up the car! Who is he, anyway? What sort of doctor blows up cars?" Donna's mother demanded.
"Oh, not now, Mum!" Donna complained.
"Oh, should I make an appointment?" when no one answered her, she stormed off back to the house.
"That wasn't just exhaust fumes…some sort of gas. Artificial gas", the Doctor said.
"And it's aliens, is it? Aliens?" Wilf asked.
"But if…it's poisonous…then they've got poisonous gas in every car on Earth", the Doctor replied.
At those words Wilf decided to get the car off the street "It's not safe. I'm going to get it off the street" the car doors suddenly slam shut and all the locks click into place. The car turns on and smoke begins to pour from the exhaust pipe.
"Hold on! Turn it off. Granddad, get out of there!" Donna shouted.
"I can't! It's not locked! It's them aliens again!" Wilf shouted back. Donna pulls at the car door, growing more frantic as fumes began to seep into the car.
"What's he doing? What's he done?" Sylvia, Donna's mother exclaimed.
"They've activated it!" the Doctor said.
"There's gas inside the car! He's going to choke! Doctor!" Donna cried.
The Doctor rushed around and tries to sonic the door "It won't open!" he turned and looked at the street. Every car is spitting out poisonous fumes into the atmosphere "It's the whole world…"
To be continued…