NicoleR85: glad you liked it.
The Time Lord Oracle: thanks. Glad you like Jenna. And yes she will be saving more people like Mrs Moore.
Jenna stepped out of the TARDIS in a 50's style halter neck dress in the same shade as the blue box. On her feet were matching converse and around her neck hung Naiyah's locket. In keeping with the 50's style, Jenna had pulled her brown hair back into a high ponytail and secured it with a ribbon in TARDIS blue. The reason she was wearing 50's regalia was that the Doctor had decided to take her to see Elvis in order to try and cheer her up. Mickey's decision to stay in the parallel world was hard on all of them. Because of his choice Rose had decided to take a break from travelling so she could spend more time with her mother. Jenna on the other hand, opted to continue travelling with the Doctor but her usual excitable and sometimes childish demeanour was gone.
So after a few days of the new quieter Jenna, the Doctor had decided to do something to try and get the old Jenna back. He knew that she wasn't going to bounce back straight away, that it would take some time for the old Jenna to come back. Still it didn't hurt to at least try to get the happier version back even for a day.
"I think we're in the wrong place. This doesn't look like Vegas to me", Jenna called through the open door after she took in her surroundings.
"Why would you think we'd be going to Vegas?" the Doctor asked sticking his head out of the door, his hair gelled back teddy-boy style.
"We were going to see Elvis so I just assumed that we would be visiting the Vegas era", Jenna replied.
"You are kidding, aren't you? You want to see Elvis, you go for the late fifties. The time before burgers" the Doctor disappeared back inside the box "When they called him the 'Pelvis' and he still had a waist. What's more, you see him in style". The Time Lord rode out of the TARDIS on a blue late-50's moped getting a laugh out of Jenna which made him happy as that was the first time she'd laughed since the parallel world.
"You going my way, doll?" he asked in an impression of Elvis to try and another laugh or at least a smile from the girl.
"Absolutely", she replied with a smile. The Doctor handed her a blue helmet which she put on before sitting behind him on the moped. She put her arms around his waist as he started to drive off down the road. "Where we off to?" Jenna shouted over the engines.
"Ed Sullivan TV Studios. Elvis did 'Hound Dog' on one of the shows. There were loads of complaints. Bit of luck, we'll just catch it", the Doctor said loudly.
"That's the TV studio in New York right?" Jenna asked.
"That's the one!" the Doctor said happily. Suddenly a red London bus past them at the end of the street. The Doctor stopped the moped by a red post box and looked around.
"I'm digging that New York vibe!" Jenna joked as she took in the strings of Union Flags hanging between buildings.
"Well…this could still be New York. I mean, this looks very New York to me…sort…of Londony New York, mind", the Doctor said.
Jenna shook her head. She was getting used to the fact they never really seemed to end up going somewhere they actually wanted to go. They have, on a few occasions but more often than not they visited places that they hadn't planned on going to. "Should've seen that coming", she muttered "What's all the flags for?" she asked eyeing them.
In order to figure out exactly when they were, the Doctor parked the moped and the pair went for a walk. As they walked towards a parked van they heard a man say "There you go, sir, all wired up for the great occasion"
"The great occasion? What do you mean?" the Doctor asked the man.
"Where've you been living, out in the Colonies?" the man asked eyeing the Time Lord.
"He's a bit of a hermit", Jenna told the man as he closed the back doors of his van "doesn't get out much. So whats the big occasion?"
"Coronation, of course", the man replied.
"What Coronation's that then?" the Doctor questioned.
"What do you mean? The Coronation" Jenna's eyes widened when she realised he was talking about Queen Elizabeth's coronation which happened in the early 50's. The Doctor turned to Jenna for help as he still didn't know what coronation the man was talking about.
"Queen Elizabeth", she simply said.
"Oh!" the Doctor said, it finally having clicked for him "Oh! Is this 1953?!"
"Last time I looked. Time for a lovely bit of pomp and circumstance, what we do best"
"Look at all the TV aerials…looks like everyone's got one", Jenna remarked noting how every house seemed to have an aerial on the roof "That's weird. I thought tellies where supposed to be pretty rare, at least that's what I've been told". While she spoke the Doctor had wandered a little ways away looking at the houses.
"Not around here, love. Magpie's Marvellous Tellies, only five quid a box", the man told Jenna.
"Oh, but this is a brilliant year. Classic!" the Doctor said turning back to the pair. He took Jenna's hands and started dancing with her in the street much to the bemusement of the owner of the van. "Technicolour, Everest climbed, everything off the ration. The nation throwing off the shadows of war and looking forward to a happier, brighter future!" the Doctor spun Jenna around making her laugh in delight. The Doctor grinned at her glad that she seemed happier at the moment.
Their moment was interrupted by a woman shouting "Someone help me, please! Ted!" the Doctor and Jenna looked over to see a man with a blanket over his head being pushed into the back of a police car by two large men in black suits. "Leave him alone! He's my husband! Please", a woman called looking rather upset at the fact her husband was being hauled away.
"What's going on?" the Doctor asked as they ran over.
"Oi, what are you doing?" a young boy demanded running over.
"Police business, now, get out of the way, sir!" one of the black suited men said to the Doctor.
"Who did they take? Do you know him?" Jenna asked the boy.
"Must be Mister Gallagher…" he replied as the car drove off "It's happening all over the place. They're turning into monsters…"
"Tommy!" a man shouted as he stormed out of his house "Not one word! Get inside now!"
"Sorry. I'd better do as he says…" Tommy muttered before turning and heading in. the time travellers watched the black car drive away for a moment before hurrying back to the moped. The Doctor and Jenna got on, the girl quickly putting her arms around the Time Lord's waist as he kicked the moped to life and drove off after the car.
The short chase ended up with the Doctor coming to a stop in front of a market stall. Jenna frowned at it the scene in front of them, there was something not quite right about it. "Lost them. How'd they get away from us?" the Doctor asked bemused. Jenna didn't answer him, instead she just looked at the two men with the market stall, thinking. "Men in black? Vanishing police cars? This is Churchill's England, not Stalin's Russia"
"Monsters, that boy said", she murmured "Maybe we should go and ask the neighbours", Jenna suggested louder. The Doctor turned to her.
"A feeling?"
"I…think so", Jenna replied though she was a bit unsure.
It didn't take long for the Doctor to drive back to the road where they'd chased the van. "Which house should we start at?" the Doctor asked getting off the moped.
"Tommy's house", Jenna replied pointing to the two story building. They knocked on the door, it opening a few seconds later.
"Hi!" the Doctor and Jenna said in unison in a cheery manner.
"Who are you, then?" the man who'd shouted for Tommy asked looking at them suspiciously.
"Let's see, then. Judging by the look of you, family man, nice house, decent wage, fought in the war, therefore we represent Queen and country!" the Doctor produced his psychic paper and showed it to the man "Just doing a little check of Her forthcoming Majesty's subjects before the great day. Don't mind if I come in? Nah, I didn't think you did. Thank you". The Time Lord pushed past the man, Jenna following him into the house pausing briefly to glance at the staircase. "Not bad. Very nice. Very well kept" the Doctor commented taking a look around the living room "I'd like to congratulate you, Mrs..?"
"Connolly", the woman said timidly.
"Now then, Rita. I can handle this. This gentleman's a proper representative", Mr Connolly said joining them in the room "Don't mind the wife, she rattles on a bit".
"Well, maybe she should rattle on a bit more", the Doctor suggested shocking both Mr Connolly and Tommy. He continued on unfazed "I'm not convinced you're doing your patriotic duty. Nice flags. Why are they not flying?"
"There we are Rita, I told you, get them up. Queen and country", Mr Connolly said.
The Doctor looked skeptical as Rita said "I'm sorry…"
"Get it done! Do it now", Mr Connolly demanded.
"Hold on a minute…" Jenna began but Mr Connolly just ignored her.
"Like the gentleman says", he continued.
"Hold on a minute. You've got hands, Mister Connolly. Two big hands. So why is that your wife's job?" the Doctor asked slightly disgusted by the way the man acting towards his wife. Raising his voice, ordering her about like she was his slave than his wife. He would never treat his Jenna that way, ever. In fact the mere thought of acting like Mr Connolly towards such an amazing girl as Jenna made him feel ill.
"Well, it's housework, innit?" Mr Connolly asked.
"And you think that's supposed to be our job?" Jenna questioned.
"Of course it is!" an offended look came across Jenna's face at his answer. How dare he assume that because we're women we're supposed to do the housework?
"Mister Connolly, what gender is the Queen?" the Doctor asked quickly seeing that Jenna had gotten offended by his remark about housework being a woman's job.
"She's a female", Mr Connolly replied.
"And are you suggesting the Queen does the housework?" a smile crept onto Jenna's face as the Doctor got the better of Mr Connolly. She was rather glad he did because she was moments away from giving him a good telling off.
"No. Not at all", Mr Connolly answered.
"Then get busy", the Doctor said handing the flags to him.
"Right. Yes, sir", Mr Connolly said feigning enthusiasm as he started hanging them up "You'll be proud of us, sir. We'll have Union Jacks left, right and centre". Jenna's smile grew as the man had just handed her something that she could use to humble him even more.
"Excuse me, Mister Connolly. Hang on a minute. Union Jacks?" she piped up.
Mr Connolly paused in his work to look at her "Yes, that's right, isn't it?" he asked.
"That's the Union Flag. It's the Union Jack only when it's flown at sea", Jenna explained.
Tommy smiled at the fact that the violet eyed girl had also managed to get the better of his father even after his comments about housework being a woman's job. "Oh…oh, I'm sorry, I do apologise", Mr Connolly said timidly.
"Well, don't get it wrong again, there's a good man", Jenna said nicely "Now get to it!" she added with a little more force. The Doctor couldn't help but smile himself when Jenna pointed out Mr Connolly's mistake. As the man hastily got back to work, the Doctor and Jenna made themselves comfortable on the sofa.
"Union Flag?" the Doctor asked Jenna quietly.
"Jackie went out with a sailor once", Jenna told him.
"I bet she did", the Doctor commented quietly "Anyway, I'm the Doctor and this is Jenna", he said louder to Rita and Tommy. "And you are?" he asked Tommy who looked surprised that the Doctor had noticed him.
"Its Tommy isn't it?" Jenna questioned.
"That's right", Tommy confirmed.
"Well, sit yourself down, Tommy", the Doctor said shifting over to make room for the boy. Tommy sat down immediately.
"Rita you can sit down too", Jenna told the woman who was still standing up. After a moment's hesitation she sat down in the armchair.
"I love telly, don't you?" the Doctor asked.
"Yeah, I think it's brilliant", Tommy replied.
"Good man!"
The four of them watched a documentary on fossils in silence for a few moments before the Doctor called cheerfully to Mr Connolly who was still hanging up the flags "Keep working, Mister C!" he turns to Rita, dropping his cheerful act "Now, why don't you tell me what's wrong?" he asked quietly.
"Did you say you were a doctor?" Rita asked.
"Yes, I am", the Doctor replied.
"Can you help her? Oh please, can you help her, Doctor?" Rita pleaded.
"Now then, Rita. I don't think the gentleman needs to know…" Mr Connolly started.
"No, the gentleman does!" the Doctor said cutting Mr Connolly off from whatever he was about to say.
"Tell us what's wrong Rita, and we can help", Jenna said. Rita doesn't answer her, just burst into tears. Jenna got up and went over to the sobbing woman and put her arms around her. "I'm sorry Rita", she said apologetically. She didn't mean to make her upset, she just wanted to find out what was wrong so that she and the Doctor could fix it.
"Hold on a minute. Queen and country's one thing, but this is my house!" Mr Connolly throws the flags he was holding down. "What the…what the hell am I doing? Now you listen here, Doctor. You may have fancy qualifications, but what goes on under my roof is my business!" The man shouted at the Time Lord.
Jenna stood up and spoke in order to try to calm the man down "Mr Connolly a lot of people are being bundled into…"
"I am talking!" he yelled. The Doctor was on his feet in an instant and pushed the man away from Jenna.
"And I'm not listening!" the Time Lord glared at the man making sure to stand between him Jenna. "Now you, Mister Connolly, you are staring into a deep, dark pit of trouble if you don't let me help". Mr Connolly stepped back rather shaken by the Doctor's display of anger as he wasn't usually on the receiving end. Both Tommy and Rita looked rather scared by his anger too.
Jenna gingerly placed her hand on his shoulder "Doctor calm down. He's not going to tell us anything if you yell at him", she said gently.
The Doctor turned to her "he yelled at you", he said calmly though his voice was strained as he was trying to keep his anger in while speaking to Jenna "just like…"
"Just like my father did when I was little", Jenna said finishing his sentence. She'd explained shortly after the trip to Platform one why she reacted the way she did. "I'm not a little girl anymore, I can handle being yelled at. Besides I've face worse things than a bad tempered human" Jenna placed a hand on the Doctor's cheek. The Doctor closed his eyes, feeling himself calm under her touch.
He opened them and turned back to Mr Connolly. "Tell me what's going on", he demanded not sounding as angry as he was before. Mr Connolly looked at the Time Lord not knowing what to say. Then came the sound of banging on the ceiling.
"She won't stop. She never stops", Mr Connolly said with a hint of fear in his voice.
"We started hearing stories, all round the place. People who've…changed. Families keeping it secret 'cause they were scared. Then the police started finding out. We don't know how, no one does. They just turn up, come to the door and take 'em. Any time of the day or night", Tommy shakily explained.
"Show us", the Doctor ordered.
Tommy led the Doctor and Jenna up the stairs to his grandmother's room. "Gran? It's Tommy", the boy said opening the door. "It's all right, Gran. I've brought help", he added pushing the door open wider. Jenna's eyes widened when Tommy turned on the light and she saw his grandmother without a face. The Doctor approached the woman, getting out his sonic screwdriver to scan her face.
"Her face is completely gone. Scarcely an electrical impulse left. Almost complete neural shutdown. She's ticking over. It's like her brain has been wiped clean", he said looking at the results on his sonic.
"What're we going to do, Doctor? We can't even feed her!" Tommy said scared. Jenna was about to assure the boy that they were going to do everything they could to restore his grandmother when there was a loud crash from downstairs.
"It's them. They've come for her!" Rita cried.
"What was she doing before this happened? Where was she?" the Doctor asked Rita. The woman hesitated as sounds of footsteps came running up the stairs. "Tell me. Quickly, think!"
"I can't think! She doesn't leave the house! She was just…" Tommy was interrupted by a burly man bursting into the room closely followed by a few officers. The Doctor stepped forward to try and bind some time.
"Hold on a minute. There are three important, brilliant, and complicated reasons why you should listen to me. One…" the Doctor was cut off when the large burly man punches him across the face, hard causing him to fall to the floor unconscious.
"You're not getting her", Jenna said stepping in front of the elderly woman "you have to go through me first".
"So be it", the burly man said and grabbed her arm. Jenna quickly rotated her arm so that her palm was facing upward. She raised her arm and grabbed his hand with her free one. Jenna then delivered swift kick to the man's sensitive areas causing him to keel over slightly. She took the opportunity to shove him away. While she'd been fighting with the burly guy, Jenna didn't notice one of the officers come around behind her until she was struck hard on the back of the head. Like the Doctor, Jenna fell to the floor unconscious.
Jenna hurried down the road trying to shake off the lingering headache she had from being hit around the back of the head. It was safe to say she wasn't exactly happy when she regained consciousness. The Doctor wasn't either, especially when she told him how she was knocked out. Speaking of the Doctor, she really hoped that he doesn't lose the van again. They needed to know where the faceless people were being taken. Jenna would've loved to have been there with him but she had something equally important to do. Talk to a little birdie about a TV.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss. I'm afraid you're too late. I was just about to lock the door", Magpie said apologetically when Jenna stepped into his shop.
"Yeah?" Jenna closed the door "Well, I want to buy a telly".
"Come back tomorrow, please", Magpie said.
"But you'll be closed, won't you?" Jenna asked.
"What?" Magpie asked looking genuinely confused.
"For the big day? The coronation…" Jenna said reminding him.
"Yes, yes, of course. The big day. I'm sure you'll find somewhere to watch it. Please go", Magpie said rather urgently.
"Nah I'm not going anywhere. I know you're hiding something" Jenna's eyes flickered over to the counter.
"Hey what are you doing?" Magpie exclaimed as she darted behind the counter and started rifling through the drawers. Jenna discovered a strange looking device in a drawer. She scribbled something on a piece of paper before taking out the device which looked like a cross between a portable radio and a TV.
"Like this. Now it's been a few years since I did history but I'm pretty sure it's way too early for a TV this size" Jenna set it down on the counter "Even if it wasn't, you couldn't come up with this idea yourself. No offence but you don't seem clever enough" she walked around the counter and leant against it "and this little device isn't the only thing your hiding is it?"
"I don't know what you…"
"Oh come off it Magpie! Something is happening out there and you know all about it. Ordinary people are being struck down, changed and the only new thing in the house is a television. Your television. But you're not the one stealing those people's faces, you're just providing the means to your master…" Jenna paused thinking "or should I say mistress?"
"Aren't you a clever girl?" a woman's voice asked. Jenna looked at the bank of TV's to see one of them lit up with the black and white image of a woman "such a pretty little girl", she remarked "its unseasonably chilly for the time of year, don't you think?"
"What are you?" Jenna asked.
"I'm the Wire, and I'm hungrrrrrrrryyyyy!" the woman bared her teeth and bolts of red electricity shoots out from the screen almost hitting Jenna if she hadn't ducked at the last minute. She made for the door when Magpie grabbed her and held her still long enough for the red bolts to latch onto her face.
"Let me go!" Jenna exclaimed struggling against the force that was pulling her face.
"Just think of that audience tomorrow, my dear…" Magpie said sadly stepping back watching the girl desperately fighting against the Wire "all settling down to watch the coronation. Twenty million people. Things will never be the same again. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry"
"The Doctor…. will…. stop…you", Jenna managed to get out before her face was sucked into the screen.
"Start from the beginning. Tell me everything you know", Detective Inspector Bishop ordered the Doctor who was sitting on the other side of his desk.
"Well…for…starters" the Doctor began seriously "I know you can't wrap your hand around your elbow and make your fingers meet".
"Don't get clever with me. You were there today at Florizel Street, and now breaking into this establishment. Now you're connected with this. Make no mistake", Detective Inspector Bishop said.
"Well, the thing is, Detective Inspector Bishop…" the Doctor began.
"How do you know my name?" Detective Inspector Bishop asked.
"It's…written inside your collar" Bishop looked embarrassed and quickly adjusted his collar "Bless your mum. But I can't help thinking, Detective Inspector, you're not exactly doing much detective inspecting, are you?"
"I'm doing everything in my power", Detective Inspector Bishop insisted.
"All you're doing is grabbing those faceless people and hiding them as fast as you can. Don't tell me orders from above, hmm? Coronation Day…the eyes of the world are on London Town…so any sort of problem just gets swept out of sight", the Doctor said spinning side to side in his chair, completely relaxed. Although he may look it, he was anything but relaxed. Jenna was off on her own and the last time that happened, she'd almost been killed by Cybermen. He didn't really have any time to stop her running off as he had to chase after the van that had taken Tommy's grandmother. He really hoped that she was ok and if she wasn't, heaven help anyone who'd harmed her.
"The nation has an image to maintain", Detective Inspector Bishop said.
"But doesn't it drive you mad, doing nothing? Don't you want to get out there and investigate?" the Doctor asked incredulous.
"Course I do. But…" Bishop sat down "with all the crowds expected, we haven't got the man power. Even if we did…this is…beyond anything we've ever seen. I just don't know anymore. Twenty years on the force…" the Doctor leaned towards him listening carefully "I don't even know where to start. We haven't the faintest clue what's going on"
"Well…that could change"
"How?" Bishop asked. The Doctor stood up and said
"Start from the beginning. Tell me everything you know"
"We started finding them about a month ago", Bishop explained as he and the Doctor stood by a large map "Persons left sans visage. Heads just…blank"
"Is there any sort of pattern?" the Time Lord asked turning to a desk and picking up a file.
"Yes, spreading out from North London. All over the city. Men, women…kids…grannies. The only real lead is there's been quite a large number in…"
"Florizel Street", the Doctor said seeing the name in the file. There was a knock at the door and a man appeared in the doorway with a blanket covered figure.
"Found another one, sir". The file dropped out of the Doctor's hands as he immediately recognised the blue skirt and converse that was peeking out from under the blanket. Please don't let it be her he thought.
"Oh, er, good man, Crabtree. Here we are, Doctor..." the Doctor's hearts stopped as the blanket was removed to reveal Jenna minus a face "Take a good look. See what you can deduce"
"Jen", the Doctor breathed staring at her with wide eyes as he approached.
"You know her?" Bishop asked.
"Know her?" the Doctor reached up and touched her cheek, his hearts aching "She's someone I care about". He gazed at the smooth skin where her face used to be. Gone where those violet eyes that practically lit up at the prospect of a crazy adventure. Gone was that lovely smile that made him want to smile. Everything that made her the amazing Jenna he knew was gone, wiped away. The Doctor was aware that Crabtree and Bishop were talking but their words were meaningless. The only thing that mattered to him was Jenna.
He needed to get her back. He needed his Jenna back. She meant too much to him, he couldn't lose her. Not now.
"They found her in the street, apparently, over at Square, abandoned", Crabtree explained.
"That's unusual. That's the first one out in the open. Heaven help us if something happens in public tomorrow for the big day. We'll have Torchwood on our backs then, make no mistake".
The Doctor heartbroken gaze turned to anger when Crabtree's words finally registered with him. "They did what?" he asked coldly, interrupting their conversation.
"I'm sorry?" Bishop asked a little surprised by the man's change in tone.
"They left her where?" the Doctor questioned in a very calm voice although he was far from calm. He was angry.
"Just in the street" with that answer, the Doctor's anger became fury.
"In the street. They left her in the street. They took her face and just chucked her out and left her in the street. And as a result, that makes things…simple. Very, very simple. Do you know why?"
"No"
The Doctor tears his gaze away from Jenna and turned to the two men, fixing them with a look that would usually send armies running. The Oncoming Storm was unleashed "Because now, Detective Inspector Bishop, there is no power on this Earth that can stop me. Come on!" he shouted. Without waiting for Bishop he stormed out of the place.
The Doctor smashed his fist through the glass window of Magpie's shop door. Not even caring that he cut his hand in the process of unlocking the door. "Here, you can't do…" Bishop began but cut himself off when the Doctor gave him a glare. The Time Lord strode into the shop and up to the counter "Shop!" he shouted hitting the bell on the counter repeatedly "If you're here, come out and talk to me! MAGPIE?!"
He knew that man had something to do with Jenna's current state as the girl herself had come to the shop while he chased after the van. "Maybe he's out?" Bishop suggested.
"Looks like it…" the Doctor muttered. He was disappointed that the man didn't seem to be there. However as the shopkeeper was absent that gave him an opportunity to look around. The Doctor went around counter and started pulling open drawers. The first one had random odds and ends. The second one just had paper in it. There has to be something here! The Doctor thought getting frustrated that the first two had nothing that would give him answers. He pulled open the third drawer and a faint but familiar smell hit his nose, pomegranate. Jenna often used pomegranate scented shampoo. She must've found this too he thought picking up the only item in the drawer, a device that looked like a cross between a radio and a TV. Underneath was a piece of paper with a very familiar hand writing on it. It was hers. He ignored that for the moment, opting to focus on the device.
If Jenna had found this, then it must be important. Quite possibly had something to do with her current state. He set it down on the counter and scanned it with his sonic "it's put together with human hands, yes, but the design itself…." He frowned at the readings he was getting from the sonic. It was telling him that the device wasn't human design, it was alien. It was also picking up traces of power coming from it.
"That's incredible. It's like a television, but portable. A portable television!" Bishop said amazed as he'd never seen anything like it. The Doctor raised his sonic and pointed it around the room, the television's turn onto static as he did so.
"It's not the only power source in this room…" he said moments after he said that the static on the television screens faded away to reveal a face. There were various men, women and children on each of the screens all looking terrified, all crying out for help.
The Doctor walked past several Televisions until he spots Jenna. He knelt before the screen watching her say his name repeatedly, looking as equally scared as the other people. "I'm coming Jenna. I will save you", he promised. He was going to get her back, no matter what it took.
"What do you think you're doing?" Magpie asked as he entered from the back of the shop only to two people in his shop. One a policeman and the other he recognised as the man who'd been with the young girl earlier that day. The very same girl that he let the Wire take. He felt awful about that but she knew too much.
The Doctor rounded on him, his sad look he had when looking at Jenna's scared face was now replaced with one of anger. "I want Jenna restored, and I think that's beyond a little backstreet electrician, so tell me, who's really in charge here?" the Doctor demanded. Magpie flinched at the anger that was directed at him.
"Yoo hoo! I think that must be me", a woman's voice called. The Doctor turned to the televisions to see a new woman on one of them. He was a little surprised by this as it wasn't what he was expecting. "Ooh, this one's smart as paint"
"Is she talking to us?" Detective Inspector Bishop asked.
"I'm sorry, gentlemen I'm…I'm afraid you've brought this on yourselves. May I introduce you to my new…friend", Magpie said.
"Jolly nice to meet you" the Wire said politely waving at them.
"Oh my God, it's her, that woman off the telly", Detective Inspector Bishop gaped at the woman on the screen.
"No, it's just using her image", the Doctor said "What are you?"
"I'm the Wire, and I will gobble you up, pretty boy. Every last morsel. And when I have feasted, I shall regain the corporeal body, which my fellow kind denied me", the Wire said.
"Good Lord. Colour television!" Bishop gasped seeing the greyscale image turn into colour.
"So your own people tried to stop you?" the Doctor asked wanting to get back on track. He wanted to save Jenna, not chat about colour TV.
"They executed me", the Wire corrected "But I escaped in this form and fled across the stars".
"And now you're trapped in the television" the smirk fades from the Wire's face and with it the colour from the television.
"Not for much longer"
"Doctor, is this what got your friend? And all the others?" Bishop asked.
The Doctor nodded "It feeds off the electrical activity of the brain, but it gorges itself like a great overfed pig, taking people's faces, their essences. It stuffs itself", he explained not taking his gaze off of the Wire. He was going to make her suffer for taking Jenna from him. He going to make her feel what Jenna felt, tenfold.
"And you let her do it, Magpie", Bishop said turning to the man shocked that he could allow this thing to steal innocent people's faces.
"I had to! She allowed me my face! She's promised to release me at the time of manifestation"
"What does that mean?" the Doctor asked. Normally at this point Jenna would've spoke up having either figured it out or had a feeling. He glanced at the screen she was on saying his name over and over.
"The appointed time. My crowning glory", the Wire hinted. The screen Jenna was on flickered and what she was mouthing changed. She was now saying 'coronation' repeatedly.
"The coronation. Of course!" the Doctor said giving the girl a smile. He turned his attention back the Wire. Whether he'd just imagined Jenna saying that on the screen or she really did manage to give him the answer, he didn't really care. He now knew what the Wire was up to and what she needed the portable TV for. "For the first time in history, millions gathered around a television set. But you're not strong enough yet, are you? You can't do it all from here. That's why you need this" the Doctor grabbed the portable TV and showed it to the Wire "You need something more powerful! This will turn a big transmitter into a big receiver".
"What a clever thing you are!" she smirked "just like that pretty little girl was. Didn't do her much good though, she couldn't escape me!" the Wire laughed at the expression on the Doctor's face "and she was ever so tasty" the Doctor's expression darkened. There were a few aliens that he hated with a passion, the Daleks at the very top of the list. The Wire was second for what she did to Jenna. He was going to enjoy making her suffer. "But why fret about it? Why not just relax? Kick off your shoes and enjoy the Coronation. Believe me, you'll be glued to the screen"
Lines of red electricity lashed out, grabbing hold of the Doctor's and Bishop's faces. "Doctor!" Bishop cried as his face was being pulled towards the Wire's TV.
"Hungry! Hungry! The Wire is hungry! Ah, this one is tasty like the little girl" the Wire concentrated the beams onto the Doctor "Oh, I'll have lashings of him! Delicious!"
The Doctor strained to reach into his pocket for his sonic. He had to save Jenna! Keeping that thought in his mind, he managed to pull out his beloved screwdriver. Though not without considerable effort.
"Armed!" she gasped "He's armed and clever. Withdraw! Withdraw!" the Wire quickly severed the connection between herself and the two men. The Doctor, for the second time that day, fell to the floor unconscious along with Bishop.
The Doctor opened his eyes and saw Bishop minus a face. He shot to his feet and ran out the door "Damn it", he cursed seeing that Magpie's van was gone which meant the man had gone too. But gone where? Then he remembered the piece of paper that Jenna had written on. Maybe, she'd left him a clue. He ran back into the shop, around the counter and yanked open the drawer which housed the device.
The Doctor picked up the piece of paper. On it were the words: Muswell Hill and Alexandra Palace.
Muswell Hill was circled and had an arrow pointing at the words Alexandra Palace. He knew Alexandra Palace was the biggest TV transmitter in North London, perfect place for the Wire to be able to harvest millions of people all at once. He also remembered that particular transmitted happened to be located in Muswell Hill. His eyes widened when it hit him. They were in Muswell Hill and Jenna knew it. She must've had a feeling when she was in the shop earlier "oh Jenna. You are good". He dashed into the store room and started gathering various bits of equipment. Now he knew where to go, he could focus on stopping the Wire.
10 minutes later, the Doctor was running out of the shop carrying his makeshift device.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where do you think…" the official at Alexandra Palace began to say when the Doctor waved his psychic paper at him "Oh! I'm very sorry, sir. Shouldn't you be at the Coronation?"
"They're saving me a seat", the Doctor told the official who nods confusedly. He then hurried along until he reached a control room. The Doctor very quickly set up the tape machine before running of the room, snatching a coil of copper wire as he goes. He passes the official who looked at him still rather confused.
"You'll get yourself killed up there! Your Majesty!" the official called seeing the Doctor start to climb the transmitter. The Time Lord just ignored him and continued up the transmitter forcing himself to climb faster as Magpie was above him.
Magpie reached the top, first and attached the portable tv into the main current. The Wire laughs triumphantly. Across the country, TV aerials draw in sparks emitted for the pylon and people watching the TV are having the faces pulling into their television sets.
"Oh! Feast! Feast…ing! The Wire is…feasting" the Wire said joyfully.
"It's too late! It's too late for all of us!" Magpie shouted at the Doctor.
"I shall consume you…Doctor", the Wire shrieked, blasting him in the face with red energy.
The Doctor cried out in pain before glaring up at Magpie and the Wire. He wasn't going to let a blast of electricity to the face stop him. Not when he had to save Jenna. Nothing was going to get in the way of that. "I won't let you do this, Magpie!"
"Help me, Doctor" Magpie pleaded "It burns. It took my face, my soul"
"You cannot stop the Wire. Soon I shall become manifest", the Wire gloated. She blasted the Doctor again but he barely flinched that time.
"No more of this", Magpie begged "You promised me peace!"
"And peace you shall have" the Wire laughed as Magpie screamed as he was blown apart into thousands of particles of red light. The Doctor climbed up to the portable TV and got zapped when he tried to pick it up.
"Been burning the candle at both ends? You've overextended yourself, Missis. You shouldn't have had a crack at poor old Magpie there" the Doctor picks up the TV ignoring the zap to his foot "nice try" he smirked "rubber soles".
The Doctor inserted a switch into the TV and watches as the light beams retreat from the pylons, right back into the portable TV. The Wire writhes and wails in pain, the Doctor watching rather pleased that she was in pain. Now she knew what Jenna had felt when she had her face stolen. "It's close down, I'm afraid, and no epilogue", the Doctor said coldly. The Wire screamed and the screen turned off.
~the police station~
Jenna gasped as her face was restored. She placed her hands on her face and smiled "way to go Doctor", she said happily. She ran out of the station and saw the holding area full of people with their faces all restored.
It didn't take long to get the door open, Jenna only had to threaten the policeman who'd knocked her out and he agreed to help. "Listen miss I'm sorry for knocking you out. If there's anything I can do"
"Yeah there is one thing. Just stay still", Jenna said.
"Why?"
Jenna didn't answer him, instead she punched him in the face. She then walked off with a smile on her face, not even noticing the fact that the policeman was clutching his nose.
When Tommy answered the door he was surprised to see Jenna standing there with his grandmother whose face had come back. She hung back while they had a happy reunion. Rita and Mr Connolly came to the door when they heard Elizabeth, Rita's mother talking. "Thank you", Rita said to Jenna giving the girl a hug.
"It wasn't me, the Doctor was the one responsible", Jenna said.
"Well tell him thank you from me", Rita said.
"I will", Jenna promised "speaking of responsible, is there something you want to confess Mr Connolly?"
"No", the man replied quickly.
"So you don't want to confess how you're responsible for calling the police about Elizabeth. Or about how you snitched on everyone who had a loved one that had their face stolen?" Jenna asked.
"Eddie is it true?" Rita asked staring at her husband in disbelief.
"She's lying", Mr Connolly insisted.
"Then I suppose it was just coincidence that the police showed up to take Elizabeth away the same day the Doctor and I turn up. Or it was the fact you didn't want us helping so you called the police", Jenna said putting her hands on her hips.
"I had a position to maintain", Mr Connolly said.
"What as the Muswell Hill snitch?" Jenna shot back.
"Why you little…" Mr Connolly took a step towards Jenna but was stopped when Tommy stepped in front of the girl.
"Pack a bag", Rita said. Mr Connolly turned to his wife.
"What?"
"You heard me. Pack a bag. I want you out", Rita said firmly.
"Rita!"
"I mean it Eddie. I want you out", Rita said firmly. Mr Connolly's shoulders slumped knowing that it was no good to keep fighting. He entered the house to start packing but not before throwing a dirty look at Jenna. She just grinned back, unfazed by his look.
"Thank you Jenna", Rita said sounding rather relieved that finally she'd managed to stand up to her husband and it was all thanks to Jenna.
"You're welcome. I couldn't let him get away with it, especially after the way he treated you", Jenna said.
"What are you going to do now?" Tommy asked her.
"Well, I've got friend of mine to find and then I'm going to party. It is a celebration after all" Jenna bid them all farewell and walked off through the crowds to look for the Doctor.
Meanwhile the Doctor was strolling through the street looking for Jenna. He stopped when she saw her standing there looking around her face restored. When she saw him, her face lit up. He started running towards her as she ran towards him. The Doctor caught Jenna in a huge hug, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around. He grinned when she heard her laugh. God he'd missed that!
The Doctor set her down and pulled back so he could look at her properly. He studied her face, memorizing every little detail. Jenna blushed at the look he was giving her, making her even lovelier in the Doctor's eyes. "You want to go join the celebration?" she asked trying to ignore how her heart sped up a little from the look he'd given her.
"Sure" he replied. He held out his hand which Jenna took. Hand in hand, they joined the celebration that was going on right there in Florizel Street.