The Christmas Invasion II
Inside the flat, Jack and Rose got the Doctor situated in bed again. Callie ran into the TARDIS, returning with some medical equipment. She placed the stethoscope on the Doctor's chest and frowned.
"I can only hear one heart," she said.
"That's bad," Rose said. She looked to Callie, concerned. "Really bad?"
"The regeneration energy will take care of it," Callie promised, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "Come on, let's go see what Mickey's found."
Mickey was perched at a laptop that was clearly from 2006— it was big and clunky, taking up the entire phone line to connect to the Internet. Trying to be useful, he was researching pilot fish.
"It's midnight," Jackie said softly, looking at the clock. "Christmas day."
Right then, nothing was feeling very Christmas-y.
On the TV, they were still discussing the Guinevere Space Probe, which had just landed on Mars and should be sending pictures of its surface any moment. The head of the program, Llewellyn, seemed nervous but excited about the new discoveries about to happen. Callie knew what was about to happen, though, and knew it wasn't going to go as well as poor Llewellyn hoped.
"Here we go, pilot fish," Mickey said, clicking his laptop. "Scavengers, like the Doctor said. Harmless. But the little fish swim alongside the big fish."
"Like sharks?" Jack asked, looking over from his spot on the couch.
"Great big sharks," Mickey confirmed gravely.
"So now that we had the pilot fish," Rose started.
"Now we get that," Mickey finished, nodding to his computer as a video of a shark played.
"You said it won't be bad, though, right?" Rose asked Callie. Callie claimed a seat on the ground, her eyes on the TV.
"I said we could handle it," she corrected. "Not that it wouldn't be bad."
"Oh, that's helpful," Jackie said sarcastically. "Happy Christmas to us."
"I— It's gonna be kind of scary," Callie admitted finally. "But it's going to be okay. We'll all be okay."
"I thought things were different than in your show?" Mickey asked gruffly. "So how can you know?"
Callie hesitated. "The things that are different shouldn't affect the outcome."
I hope, she added silently. It was true, though. As far as she could tell, the main differences were that Mickey was already traveling with them, and that Jack was still here. She couldn't see how either of those things would change the whole mess with the Sycorax. But still, she wasn't one hundred percent sure that the butterfly effect wouldn't change more than she expected.
"Funny sort of rocks," Jackie commented, watching the TV screen as the first image from Guinevere showed up. It started as a distorted, blurry image of the Sycorax leader's eyes, before pulling back to show the alien's full face. All of them gasped, flinching back as the alien began to roar loudly, wordlessly.
"What the hell is that?" Jackie cried. in confusion.
"The leader of the Sycorax," Callie responded. "They stole the space probe and are transmitting to us."
"Whoa," Mickey breathed. He lugged the laptop over to the coffee table, angling it so they could all see. "Look, the military is tracking a spaceship. It's big, it's fast— and it's coming this way." With the click of a button, Mickey popped up a video feed of four Sycoraxans, all staring at them menacingly.
"Coming for what?" Rose asked. "The Doctor?"
"No, that was just the pilot fish," Callie said absently. She pulled the laptop closer. "These guys want pretty much the same as the Slitheen. World domination."
"Why is it always world domination?" Jack asked wryly. "So what do we do?"
"Nothing," Callie answered. "Can't do much until they actually try to invade."
"We're just gonna let them?" Rose asked accusingly. "What would the Doctor do?"
"What do you expect me to do?" Callie snapped at her, glaring. "The Doctor's unconscious and it could kill him if we wake him up too early again. Until the Sycorax make their move, we have no chance of sending them away. There's literally nothing we can do right now. I know that's not what you want to hear, but that's it."
"So we're just sitting ducks?" Rose demanded.
"They're not going to attack yet— they're going to try to make us surrender first," Callie said, trying to hold back her annoyance. It wasn't Rose's fault— she was emotional and scared and Callie was wholly unequipped to be in charge right now.
Just then, the feed Mickey had hacked into came to life. The video of the Sycorax started, the leader speaking in a gravelly voice.
"People," the leader said, "you belong to us now— to the Sycorax! We own you, your land, and your precious minerals. You will surrender or they will die. Sycorax strong! Sycorax mighty! Sycorax rules!"
"I don't understand what they're saying," Rose murmured.
"Me neither," Jack agreed. "The TARDIS always makes it so we can understand," he explained when Jackie looked confused.
"I can," Callie admitted. "It's just a threat— 'we've taken over, surrender or they die'."
"They die?" Mickey repeated. "Who's they?"
Callie paused, trying to remember. "They're going to do something… I can't quite remember how though. But they're going to threaten a large portion of the population to try to make the governments surrender."
"Oh, great!" Rose cried harshly. "That's just brilliant, isn't it?"
"You need to calm down," Callie said, holding her hand up. "Everything is going to be okay. This is just an ultimatum."
"You're just— you're useless!" Rose shouted, stomping outside into the winter air. She slammed the door behind her. Callie gritted her teeth and looked away from everyone else, who looked uncomfortable but not like they disagreed.
A news reporter on the TV was going on about how the alien footage was a hoax, but no one paid the television any mind.
"I'll, uh— I'll go check on her," Mickey stammered, following Rose out the door. Somehow, the way he closed the door softly behind him was worse than Rose's slam. Jackie, quietly, slipped into the bedroom to check on the Doctor.
"She didn't mean that," Jack said finally. Callie snorted in disbelief.
"Yeah, she did," she said. She stared at her hands, folded together and squeezing tight. "Not like she's wrong, though. I'm sorry."
"You said you hadn't met any of us before," Jack started.
"I've only been here— been jumping like this for a couple days," she admitted. "I'm still getting used to everything."
"Then don't feel bad," he said. "You're doing the best you can."
Callie wiped at her eyes before the tears could spill. "It's not good enough. It's never good enough. I want to help— but it's not like I know how to fly the TARDIS! If I could, I would fly right into the Sycorax's spaceship and put an end to all of this. But instead, we just have to wait for them to come to us."
"Rose will get over it," Jack promised her. He slipped from his place on the couch and sat next to Callie, pulling her into a side hug. "So will Mickey."
"And you? Aren't you mad that I'm a huge disappointment?"
It felt like she had been disappointing everyone since she arrived— Byatt, Amy, River, Rose… the Doctor himself. Was that going to be her life now? Jumping into dangerous situations and then just letting everyone down?
"I'm not mad," Jack said after a moment. "It would— it would be nice if you were a little more seasoned and knew what to do. But I can't be mad that you're young and don't know yet. We'll get through. We always do."
Callie leaned against his shoulder. To be quite honest, she didn't feel much better, but she let Jack comfort her anyway.
Callie blinked, and it was starting to get light outside. She hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep again, but now she was lying on the floor, sunlight beginning to filter in through the curtains.
"Jack?" Rose called uncertainly. Callie pushed herself up to see Jack walking out the door. "Where are you going?"
Realization struck Callie. "Shit," she whispered.
Rose grabbed Jack's arm, but that didn't slow him down.
"Let him go!" Callie said, pulling Rose off of him. "You'll only hurt him."
"What's going on?" Rose asked, whipping her head around to look at Callie. Callie sighed, and took her outside.
Though it was hardly six in the morning, Powell Estate was full of people. Roughly a third of the people in the courtyard and parking lot were walking numbly, mechanically, up any staircase they could find. Frantic family members tried to stop them, but there was no stopping this. They were fully under hypnosis, and the Sycorax were in full control.
"What's happening?" Mickey demanded, stumbling out behind them.
"He won't listen!" One of the neighbors cried, thinking Mickey was talking to her. "He's just walking— he won't stop walking! Jason? Please, Jason, just stop this!"
Her husband gave no indication that he heard her.
Jack was already on the next floor, working his way to the roof. Callie couldn't see him anymore. Her stomach churned— she hadn't considered that he might be one of the people compelled by the Sycorax. Blood control, right? If she remembered correctly, Llewellyn had included a vial of blood in the space probe, and anyone with that blood type was under their control.
Callie let go of Rose and walked down the stairs, bumping into mindless people as they climbed up.
"Alan, come on, now stop this!" a woman passing by cried. "It's not funny anymore! Katrine, listen to Mummy. You come back inside now!"
Everyone was hysterical, and for good reason. What a Christmas morning, huh?
From the ground, Callie could see the people starting to line the edges of the building. No one wavered. No one looked even remotely frightened. They just stood there.
"Are they going to jump?" Jackie asked, voice pitching. "Are they all going to jump?"
"No one's going to jump!" Callie said, but the words caught in her throat as Jack came into view. He was perfectly still on the edge of the building, eyes vacant and staring ahead. "They're going to be fine," she said, a little forcefully.
"Surrender or they die," Rose murmured, staring up at Jack as well.
"What do we do?" Mickey asked, looking to Callie.
"Nothing," Rose answered for her. Callie looked at her, surprised. "What? That's what you were going to say, right? There's nothing we can do."
"No, actually," Callie said. "We need to get ready." She took stock of what they had, which wasn't much. "Okay. Mickey and Rose, you need to get the Doctor into the TARDIS without waking him up. We can't risk his regeneration going wrong by waking him again. But we have to be in the TARDIS as soon as possible."
"What can I do?" Jackie asked desperately. Callie blinked, trying to remember if Jackie had been in the TARDIS at all in this episode.
"Snacks, maybe?" she guessed. "I'm not sure how long this is going to take, and who knows how much food the TARDIS has right now."
"It always has food, though," Rose said, confused.
"And it always translates in your head," Callie reminded her. "Take no chances."
Rose nodded, pursing her lips. They all headed back inside, Callie taking one last look up at Jack.
"You're going to be okay," she said to him, though he was too far away and too far gone to hear her. "I promise you're going to be okay!"
Inside, Jackie was bustling about the kitchen. She was grabbing food for sandwiches, making to-go cups of tea, and grabbing bags and bags of chips. Callie grabbed her bag and the Doctor's clothes, stuffing the sonic screwdrivers and the clothes inside. She slung it over her shoulder.
Mickey held the Doctor by the shoulders, Rose by the ankles. Callie grabbed the door, holding it open as they made their way through.
In the living room, Callie could hear Harriet Jones on TV.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I may take a moment during this terrible time," Harriet said shakily. "I'm afraid the Queen's speech has been cancelled. Oh, have we asked about the royal family? Oh. They're on the roof.
"But ladies and gentlemen, this crisis is unique. And, I'm afraid to say, it might get much worse. I would ask you all to remain calm. But I have one request— Doctor? Callie? If you're out there, we need you. I don't know what to do. If either of you can hear me, please. If anyone knows them, or can find them— the situation has never been more desperate. Callie, Doctor, please. Help us. God help us all."
Callie only realized she was crying when Jackie came up, her arms full of supplies. She wiped the tears away, locked the door behind them, and they made a run for the TARDIS. Rose and Mickey were down the steps, but moving slowly.
As soon as Callie and Jackie made it to them, a rain of glass showered above them. They all cried out, ducking as shards fell.
Callie tripped, scraping up her palms as she fell. She felt glass slip inside, cutting her from the inside out. Mickey and Rose could hardly hold onto the Doctor, but they kept moving. Their only goal in sight was to get to the TARDIS.
"What was that?" Jackie yelled over the din— everyone in the area seemed to be shouting. Well, everyone but the people on the roofs.
"I think the spaceship just hit the atmosphere," Callie replied. "Keep moving! We'll be safe in the TARDIS."
Above them, the Sycorax's ship came into view at an alarming rate. It blocked the sun, dimming the world around them. Fortunately, the four of them kept moving. Callie reached the TARDIS first— and was struck with the realization that she didn't have a key. She hadn't needed one; the Doctor had always been there to let her inside.
She touched the doors, turning to call to Rose, but there was a soft click. The door opened without a key. Thanking the TARDIS softly, Callie held the door opened and ushered everyone inside.
The inside of the TARDIS was dim, like the lights were turned way down low. It felt like the TARDIS was sleeping, just like the Doctor. Like it was recovering as well.
Jackie dumped her bags of food onto the floor as Rose and Mickey carefully laid the Doctor on the ground beside them.
"You don't happen to know how to fly this yet, do you?" Mickey asked Callie, looking up at the console.
"Spoilers!" Rose hissed, but it was too late.
"I can fly the TARDIS in the future?" Callie asked. Rose sighed.
"'Course you can."
"So, what now?" Mickey asked the two of them. "We just sit here?"
"Try some of this," Jackie suggested. She held a travel mug in her hand. With the lid off, steam wafted into the air. "Nice cup of tea."
"Mmm, the solution to everything," Rose said sarcastically. Jackie shot her a look.
"Stop your moaning. I'll get the rest of the food," she said, handing Mickey his own mug.
"Wait!" Callie called just as Jackie got to the door. "Don't go out there."
"Why not? I thought we needed food."
"We'll be fine just— stay, okay?" Jackie sighed, but nodded and stepped away from the door. Satisfied, Callie turned and looked up at the console. Mickey walked around to the TV screen, but Callie didn't pay attention to what he was saying.
Can you help me? She asked silently, focusing on the TARDIS. Pain stabbed behind her eyes, worse than when she'd conversed with the Doctor, but she tried again. Please, we need to get on board.
Nothing. The TARDIS didn't respond at all, though Callie wasn't sure if it could at all. Still, she'd hoped for a hum or a flicker of the lights or anything.
Her gaze dropped to the console, but it was its usual mishmash of buttons and levers and keyboards— nothing she could make sense of. Nothing she could hope to figure out.
The TARDIS gave a huge lurch, sending Callie face-first into the console. The edge of the console slammed under her ribs, knocking the air out of her. Around her, Jackie, Rose, and Mickey all yelled as they were sent flying. Mickey had to roll to avoid landing square on the Doctor's stomach. The mugs of tea and bags of food spilled, sliding all over the grated floor.
"Shit," Callie gasped, desperately sucking air in. "Is everyone alright?"
"Yeah," Rose said, sitting up and rubbing the back of her head.
"I think I bruised my arse," Jackie complained.
"Twisted my ankle, I think," Mickey said. "Doctor seems okay."
"What even was that?" Rose asked. Callie turned, facing the door.
"I have a theory," she said, her voice still wheezy. "Stay inside until I say." She had her hand on the door when Rose laughed.
"You've got to be kidding me," she said. "You really think we're gonna stay behind?"
"Well, I might," Jackie said lightly. Rose rolled her eyes, but didn't comment. Callie huffed.
"Look, I'm, like, eighty percent sure we just got beamed up to the Sycorax's spaceship," she said, facing them. "You prepared to face an army of aliens hell-bent on taking over the human race?"
"So, just a normal Tuesday, then?" Mickey asked, half-serious. Callie shook her head, but a smile crept onto her lips.
"Just— stay behind me. Jackie, stay here and watch the Doctor, please."
Callie opened the door and stepped out, and was swiftly grabbed by a pair of alien arms. She let out a shout, twisting and turning and kicking at the Sycoraxan who held her. Through blurry eyes, she saw Rose and Mickey get grabbed up, too. Mickey just barely got the door shut behind them— thank god. The last thing they needed was the Sycorax getting their hands on Time Lord technology.
"Callie!" Harriet shouted, grabbing her as the Sycoraxan dumped her onto the floor. "Rose! Oh girls, I'm so glad to see you two."
Callie paid her no mind. Instead, she looked up at the enormous spaceship— it must have been carved from rock. All around were Sycorax— they all looked nearly identical, and menacing with their red-and-white bony features.
"Is the Doctor here?" Harriet asked Rose.
"No," she answered, sounding fearful. "Callie's all we got."
A/N: Another chapter down! I hope the site's glitchiness from last week is over, so everyone can read this just fine. I would love to hear what you guys think!