"Why did I think this was a good idea?!" the red head exclaimed as she appeared high up on the clock tower. "Rose, if that bloody ship has gone, I'm gonna kill you!"
Zaly was about to send another pulse of magic out to where the ship was, only to see a hatch or something open and a man step out onto nothing, Rose following after him.
"Oh, so now he makes the ship noticeable," Zaly huffed when the man pressed something and the ship appeared.
Her jaw dropped in disbelief when she noticed the man open a bottle of champagne and pour it into two glasses that Rose had brought up.
"Oh, I'm so glad that she's not in any danger," the red head grumbled sarcastically before she focused on a point behind the pair to appear.
After making sure that the place she wanted to get to wouldn't have her falling off the ship and also giving her the element of surprise, Zaly made herself invisible before once again disappearing with a crack.
—
I think I might just sit down for a moment, Zaly told herself and she did just that the moment she had appeared on the ship, feeling as though she was going to throw up or pass out.
Let alone that she preferred her feet on the ground and not however high she was right now, the constant apparating was also making her sick and a little light-headed.
The red head put her head in her hands as she focused on not emptying her stomach, as well as listen to what Rose and the American were talking about. Thought she was wanting to gag at their obvious flirting.
"We're discussing business," the American said, and Zaly almost scoffed at that.
If this is business, then I've been going about it all wrong, she mused before wondering what Mels would think of doing business like this. Though that thought quickly left her when she realised how much she truly missed her partner.
"This isn't business. This is champagne," Rose replied.
"I try never to discuss business with a clear head. Are you travelling alone? Are you authorised to negotiate with me?" the man asked, gaining Zaly's attention.
So he is the one we were following, she continued to think.
"What would we be negotiating?" Rose questioned, though when Zaly finally looked toward the pair, she could tell the blonde was not really interested in talking business. That, and the American knew how to work someone without really even trying.
"I have something for the Time Agency. Something they'd like to buy. Are you in power to make payment?" the American questioned and Zaly almost did groan out loud.
Of course the Doc got drawn into a con, she mentally complained before standing up, keeping her movements silent. She had no idea if Rose knew that the man was a conman, nor did she know how dangerous he was.
"Well, I, I should talk to my companion," Rose evaded.
"Companion?" the American asked, sounding surprised.
"Well, two, in away," Rose told him, her nose wrinkling when she thought of Zaly, "I should really be getting back to him, however," she continued.
"Him?" the American questioned, "And whose the other?"
Zaly narrowed her eyes at the blonde. She had worked quite a few cons over the years and was not liking how much info the blonde was giving away, though she couldn't deny that Rose, even though she may not know it was a con, was doing okay for a rookie.
"Do you have the time?" Rose asked the man, not wanting to even think about Zaly.
Huh, guess her dislike for me worked in my favour, Zaly mused with a raised eyebrow, though she drew her gun when the man produced something.
It took her a second to realise it was a remote of some kind and Zaly lowered her weapon, though kept it ready at her side, prepared for anything.
The American pressed a button on his remote and Big Ben's clock face lit up as it struck nine thirty.
"Okay, that was flash. That was on the flash side," Rose stated, and Zaly could admit it was quite impressive.
"So when you say your companions, just how disappointed should I be?" the man questioned.
"Okay, we're standing in mid-air," Rose replied, and Zaly rolled her eyes.
"Mmm-hmm," the man hummed.
"On a spaceship, during a German air raid. Do you really think now's a good time to be coming on to me?" Rose questioned and for once Zaly actually agreed with the blonde.
There was no way in hell Zaly wanted to watch them flirt.
"Perhaps not," the man agreed.
"It was just a suggestion," Rose quickly said and Zaly almost face-palmed.
What is it with this chick and flirting with unknown men? she wanted to shout before frowning. What actually happened to the mutt? she thought, not having seen hide, nor hair of Adam since she had awoken.
The American seemed to like Rose's response as he asked her, "Do you like Glenn Miller?" as he pressed another button on the remote.
Moonlight Serenade started to play and Zaly did groan then, having quite enough. More so when the man took Rose in his arms and they started to dance.
Okay, this has gone on long enough, Zaly thought as she focused on the remote the man was using and had it flying towards her not a moment later.
"It's 1941, the height of the London Blitz, the height of the German bombing campaign, and something else has fallen on London. A fully equipped Chula warship. The last one in existence, armed to the teeth. And I know where it is, because I parked it. If the Agency can name the right price, I can get it for you. But in two hours, a German bomb is going to fall on it and destroy it forever. That's your deadline. That's the deal. Now, shall we discuss payment?" the man asked.
"Sure," Zaly said as she raised her gun and cocked it, before cutting the music off, dropping her invisibility spell in the process.
"Zaly!" Rose exclaimed when she spotted the red head, "What are you doing?"
The American spun on the spot, drawing his own weapon and aiming it at the red head.
"Sorry to spoil the mood, but I could only take so much," Zaly said as she held up the remote to the man, "And seriously, Moonlight Serenade? Come on, how cheesy is that?"
"How?" the man asked before patting the pocket the remote should have been in.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," Zaly told him as she took a step forwards, "I'm only interested in the ship."
"Zaly!" Rose hissed, trying to get the red head to stop.
"Well, there's no way I'm just going to hand it over. It's keyed into my molecular structure," the man said as he eyed Zaly before he grinned, noticing her weapon, "And with technology like that, I don't think you really stand a chance. I take it you're from the twenty-first century like your companion here?" he questioned, gesturing to Rose.
"Oh, darn. You caught me," Zaly said before throwing the remote up in the air and catching it, noticing the man twitch as she did so. "But I would have thought that someone in your field should know that looks can be deceiving," she added as she threw the remote in the air again.
The man's eyes widened in surprise when he noticed it stayed in the air.
"Now that I've got your attention, I want to know more about the ship you left in the middle of the London Blitz," Zaly said with a smirk.
Jack swallowed heavily as he eyed the red head in front of him.
His eyes flickered up to the remote that was still floating in the air and wondered how she was doing that.
"Why don't we go and see that companion of yours?" he questioned, looking back to Zaly.
"Oh, he's no companion of mine," Zaly said as she looked between Rose and Jack, "I'm only wanting to get home."
"Not that you're trying," Rose muttered bitterly.
Jack raised an eyebrow at the blonde, hearing her tone. "And what if I can help you do that?" he said as he looked back to the red head.
Zaly rolled her eyes at Jack, "And I'm sure that you can do that," she said, not believing the man. He was a conman and she knew better than anyone how untrustworthy they could be.
"Look, why don't I find her friend," Jack said, nodding to Rose, "And then we can talk about getting you home. I just need to finish off this deal with these Time Agents and then I'm free to take you wherever you need to go."
Zaly eyes the conman for a moment before grabbing the remote as it floated down to her, though she didn't lower her gun. "You take us to her friend," she said carefully, "And then you take me home."
Jack sighed and nodded as he lowered his gun, though not completely. Whoever Zaly was, he had a feeling she knew exactly what he was doing. "I finish this deal, I'll take you home," he agreed.
Rose watched as Zaly continued to eye Jack, having no idea what she was up to. The blonde was glad that she may be rid of the red head soon however, but was still a little miffed about the interruption.
"It's a deal," Zaly said as she stepped forwards and pocketed her gun. She held her hand out to Jack and the man grabbed it.
Jack suddenly found himself on the ground a moment later, Zaly sitting on top of him as she twisted his arm behind his back painfully.
"But if I find out that you're gonna try and con me," Zaly whispered in Jack's ear threateningly, her eyes flashing orange-yellow, "Know that I can make you disappear where no one would find you."
Her last words came out in an almost growl and Jack grunted as she drove her point home by twisting his arm further.
"I swear, I finish this job, you get home," he told her, though he couldn't help but feel a shiver of delight go up his spine when the red head moved off him.
Feisty, he thought as he got up, eyeing the red head in a new light.
"Probably too late," the Doctor told Constantine.
"No. There are isolated cases. Isolated cases breaking out all over London," Constantine explained before coughing.
The Doctor went to approach the man, but Constantine shook his head. "Stay back, stay back. Listen to me. Top floor. Room eight oh two. That's where they took the first victim, the one from the crash site. And you must find Nancy again," he quickly explained.
"Nancy?" the Time Lord question, rather confused.
"It was her brother. She knows more than she's saying. She won't tell me, but she might Mummy. Are you my mummy?" Constantine said before his face started changing, beginning with his mouth before the rest of his face turned into a gasmask.
"Hello?" the Doctor heard a males voice call from the corridor.
"Hello?" a voice he recognised as Rose's called as well.
"He better be here," he heard Zaly's voice and he sighed as she continued, "Cause if I find out you lied, I will shoot you."
"I scanned for alien tech," the American stated, "And this is where it was saying it was located."
"Will you two just knock it off!" Rose huffed and the Doctor was quick to exit the room, knowing that if he didn't do something, Zaly would.
"See, I told you!" Jack hissed to Zaly when the Doctor came into the corridor. "Good evening. Hope we're not interrupting. Jack Harkness. I've been hearing all about you on the way over," he greeted the Time Lord.
"He knows. I had to tell him about us being Time Agents," Rose decided to inform the confused Doctor.
"And it's a real pleasure to meet you, Mister Spock," Jack said with a grin before motioning to Zaly, "Though I know she's not a Time Agent. Way to feisty for a start," he said with a wink.
"Keep pushing it mister, and I'll show you how feisty I can be," Zaly warned him, her eyes narrowing.
"Is that a promise?" Jack asked, only to jump when he felt a jolt pass through him and grinned.
"Depends in what I'm promising," Zaly said as she stepped up in front of the man, "But I can tell you right now, you won't like it."
"Oh, I highly doubt that," Jack murmured as he leant in closer to her, only to freeze when he heard the clicking of a gun being cocked.
"One, you're not my type," Zaly told him and Jack took a step away from her as her gun poked him in the stomach, "And two, I'm really starting to reconsider our agreement."
"Okay, no flirting," Jack said with a sigh, even though he was already thinking of ways to get through to the red head. She just seemed so...tense.
"What agreement? And who's Mister Spock?" the Doctor questioned, feeling uncomfortable at both the man's flirting and Zaly carrying her gun again.
Really should have taken it off her, he told himself once more.
Jack didn't say anything as he walked forward to the ward.
"What was I supposed to say?" Rose questioned the Doctor, trying to ignore the jealousy she was feeling towards Zaly. She couldn't understand why everyone seemed to like her. "You don't have a name. Don't you ever get tired of Doctor? Doctor who?" she continued.
"Nine centuries in, I'm coping," the Doctor replied, ignoring the surprised look from Zaly. "Where've you been? We're in the middle of a London Blitz. It's not a good time for a stroll."
"Nine centuries?" Zaly questioned, looking the Time Lord up and down, "Doing good, Doc," she added with a raised eyebrow and a wink before following after Jack.
The Doctor felt his cheeks warm at her comment and cleared his throat, missing Rose's scowl directed to the red head.
Even though he couldn't feel the pull, he knew it was there. And adding the fact that he wasn't even too sure how he felt about Zaly, or Tanith in general, her remark made him wonder what she actually felt about him.
"Who's strolling?" Rose spoke up, still glaring at Zaly's retreating form, "I went by barrage balloon. Only way to see an air raid."
"What?!" the Doctor exclaimed, breaking out of his thoughts.
"Listen, what's a Chula warship?" Rose asked, ignoring his exclamation, rather glad she had gotten the Doctor's attention.
"Chula?" the Time Lord questioned before looking back into the ward where Jack and Zaly were.
Zaly frowned as she walked around the ward, noticing all the patients all looked to be wearing gas masks. But upon further investigation, she couldn't help but notice that each mask looked fused to the patients faces, as well as looking exactly like mask the little boy had been wearing, but considering the year, it was quite plausible as to why.
Never know when the Germans will start using chemical weapons, the red head mused as she stepped closer to a patient, looking curiously at the face, wondering how the mask had been fused to the face, not seeing any signs of burns.
"This isn't possible," Jack spoke up as he scanned a patient with a device around his wrist, "How did this happen?"
"What kind of Chula ship landed here?" the Doctor demanded, drawing Zaly's attention away from the patient she was studying when she noticed his tone.
"What?" Jack said, looking to the Time Lord in surprise.
"Fully equipped Chula warship," Zaly spoke up, "Last one in existence and armed to the teeth...or so he says. Basically, parked it in the middle of the London Blitz, and wants you to make him an offer before a bomb destroys it."
The Doctor frowned at Zaly, still not too sure as to what agreement she and Jack had come to. It wasn't that he didn't trust her...okay, he didn't trust her, but from what he had gotten from what she had just told him, Jack was a conman trying to make a few bucks.
The Time Lord looked back to Jack, "What kind of warship?" he questioned again.
"Does it matter?" Jack asked exasperated, "It's got nothing to do with this."
"This started at the bomb site. It's got everything to do with it," the Doctor told him firmly, "What kind of warship?" he asked again.
"An ambulance!" Jack cracked, "Look," he added as he produced a hologram from his wrist device. "That's what you chased through the Time Vortex. It's space junk. I wanted to kid you it was valuable. It's empty. I made sure of it. Nothing but a shell," Jack explained as Zaly looked at the hologram curiously, tilting her head as she studied it, "I threw it at you. Saw your time travel vehicle, Love the retro look by the way, nice panels. Threw you the bait-"
"Bait?" Rose cut in, sounding surprised.
Zaly scoffed as she grabbed Jack's wrist before swiping her hand over the device, her eyebrows raising when she managed to create a duplicate of the hologram in her palm. "Are you that naive?" she asked Rose before looking at the hologram in her hand, focusing on a part of it and with her fingers, zooming in on it.
The Doctor watched Zaly curiously as she continued to examine every part of the ship, frowning when he noticed Jack was doing the same.
"I'm not naive!" Rose exclaimed, glaring at Zaly.
"Dunno," Zaly muttered as she shook her hand, trying to dispel the hologram, but it wouldn't disappear. "You never realised he was trying to con you. He even told you how he was going to do it. And seriously, who thinks about making an offer on something they haven't seen," she continued as she frowned at her hand before forming a fist, her eyebrows raising again when the hologram disappeared.
"Oh, and I'm sure you know that, don't you? Being the criminal you are," Rose spat at Zaly.
Zaly shrugged, "Hey, least I wasn't the one about to buy some space junk."
"He said it was a warship," Rose shot back.
"You gonna stop them?" Jack whispered to the Doctor as they watched the pair argue.
"Nah," the Doctor replied with a smirk, for once glad that he wasn't on the receiving end of Zaly's attitude.
"They have ambulances in war," Zaly said in a way like she was talking to a small child, "He's a conman. Knew that the moment I heard Time Agent and payment. Only a conman would even consider trying to work an agency like that. And to even think he thought you were a Time Agent. Seriously. Who the hell would wear a Union Flag during a German air raid?" Zaly scoffed before frowning and looked to Jack, "What is a Time Agent, anyway?"
Jack grinned, "Maybe I'll tell you later," he told her flirtatiously, "Over a few drinks?"
Zaly smirked as she stepped towards the man, and Jack's grin grew. Neither noticed the Doctor's frown as he watched.
"I have a suggestion," Zaly said as she leant towards Jack to whisper in his ear.
"And what's that, Kitten?" Jack murmured.
"Flirt with me again and you can say goodbye to junior," she told him quietly and Jack froze when he felt something press against the inside of his calf, knowing exactly what it was. "Understood?" Zaly asked him.
Jack swallowed as he nodded, but was quick to answer vocally when he heard the sound of the gun being cocked, "Sure thing."
Zaly smirked as she pulled away, "Good boy," she said as she pocketed her gun, ignoring the frown she was getting from the Doctor and the glare from Rose. "Now that that's settled," she said as she looked around, "Anyone care to explain why these people seem to be wearing gas masks but not at the same time? Cause I really am a little freaked out right now. Especially since none of them are breathing."
All the patients suddenly sat up and Zaly jumped.
"Okay, definitely a little more than freaked out right about now," she said as she and the others backed away as the patients all stood up.
"Mummy? Mummy? Mummy?" the patients all spoke, each in a childlike manner.
"What's happening?" Rose questioned.
"I don't know," the Doctor replied as he watched the patients warily.
"Mummy?"
Zaly drew her gun, only for it to be taken off her from the Doctor. "What the hell, Doc!" she exclaimed as she turned to him, only for him to pull her back towards them when one of the patients got too close to her.
"Don't let them touch you," the Doctor warned.
"What happens if they touch us?" Rose asked, sounding terrified.
"You're looking at it," the Doctor told her.
"Help me, mummy," the patients all said and Zaly furrowed her brows as she looked at them.
"Wait, wait, wait!" she shouted as she pulled her arm from the Doctor's grip, "Something...something is familiar," she continued as her mind went back through everything she had seen since stepping out of the TARDIS earlier.
"Zaly, what are you doing?" the Doctor exclaimed as the red head took a step forwards.
"Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy," the patients continued to chant.