"Mum I'm home!" Jenna called as she entered her house. Sarah Jane stepped out of the living room and smiled, seeing her daughter. "I've missed you", Jenna said as they hugged.
"I've missed you too honey", Sarah Jane said. They stepped out of the hug and went to the kitchen where Sarah Jane started to make a cup of tea for them both. "So what have you been up to since I saw you last?" Sarah Jane asked pouring hot water into two mugs.
"Quite a bit actually", Jenna replied and then proceeded to tell her mother all about the adventures although she left out the fact that she'd almost died. She was pretty sure her mother would insist on her ending her adventures with the Doctor. Which she didn't want to do considering she was now in a relationship with the Time Lord. Now that she thought about it, it would probably be a good time to tell Sarah Jane. "Mum there's something I have to tell you" Jenna took a breath and then said "the Doctor and I… we're in a relationship".
"You and the Doctor are in a relationship", Sarah Jane repeated unsure if she'd misheard Jenna.
Jenna nodded "yes. I know this is probably a bit of shock…"
"That's kind of an understatement Jenna", Sarah Jane said "When did this happen?"
"You know I told you about the adventure where we were on a sanctuary base in orbit of a black hole?" Jenna asked.
"Well there was a bit I left out. I uh… got hurt really bad. I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the Doctor. He used his regeneration energy to heal me. Then he told me how he felt, after I'd woken from being unconscious for four days".
"You-you almost died?" Sarah Jane asked shocked to hear that her daughter nearly died, again.
"Yeah. And I know what you're going to say next. You're going to tell me it's too dangerous to keep travelling with the Doctor. But I won't stop mum, I can't. I love him".
Sarah Jane could see the sincerity on Jenna's face when she said that she loved the Doctor. She was glad that her daughter had found someone even if he was a two hearted alien. "It's a little worrying that you almost died but I'm not going to make you stop travelling. I know how dangerous it can be. Just promise me you'll be even more careful from now on"
"I'll do my best", Jenna promised.
"That's all I ask" they sat in silence drinking their tea until Sarah Jane spoke up again "so you and the Doctor. If I had to be honest I never would've expected that to happen".
"Me neither but I'm glad it did", Jenna said.
"Well he better not break your heart", Sarah Jane told her.
"I don't think he would ever do that", the brunette assured her mother.
"But if he does, he'll be answering to me, Sarah Jane said seriously.
"I'll make sure to tell him"
They drank the rest of their tea in silence. "I've got something to show you", Sarah Jane said setting her mug down "come on".
Jenna set down her mug and followed her mother upstairs to the attic. Sarah Jane walked down the wooden steps to stand in front of a blank wall "Mr Smith, I need you". Jenna's eyes widened as the wall opened up to reveal a futuristic looking computer!
"Whoa", Jenna said gaping at it.
"Hello Sarah Jane", Mr Smith greeted.
"Hello. Mr Smith I'd like you to meet my daughter Jenna" Sarah Jane tugged Jenna to stand in front of the screen.
"It's nice to finally meet you Jenna. Sarah Jane talks about you quite a bit"
"It's nice to meet you too" she turned to Sarah Jane "when did you get him?"
"A few months ago", Sarah Jane replied.
"And how did you come by a talking computer?" Jenna asked.
"I'm a Xylok, a member of a crystalline race that crashed to earth millions of years ago…" Jenna listened as Mr Smith explained how he came to be the computer before them.
"So you're an alien computer. That's pretty cool", she remarked.
"Thank you"
Jenna looked around the room wondering where K9 was. "Hey mum, where's K9?" she asked.
"I'm afraid he's not here at the moment, he's currently sealing off a black hole", Sarah Jane explained.
"Do you know when he'll be back?" Jenna questioned hoping she'd be able to see him soon.
"No idea, sorry", Sarah Jane said apologetically.
"That's ok. It just would've been nice to see him"
"Sarah Jane", Mr Smith spoke up getting both of their attention "it's almost ten past 12".
"Thank you. Come on. We need to get outside"
Jenna followed her mother down the stairs confused "why do we need to go outside? And why did Mr Smith tell you it's almost 10 past 12?"
"You'll see"
Sarah Jane and Jenna left the house and waited on the pavement. Jenna's eyes widened when several grey human like shapes appeared. "What are they?"
"Ghosts", Sarah Jane replied.
"Ghosts?" Jenna asked.
"Well that's what everyone is calling them", Jenna stepped out into the road to get a closer look at one of them.
"I can see why. They do look kinda like ghosts" even as she said that, there was something in the back of her mind that was telling her these weren't ghosts.
Sarah Jane glanced at her watch "almost 12 past. Nearly the end of their shift", she said.
Jenna stared at her mother "shift? Since when do ghosts have shifts?" she asked.
"I'll explain in a moment. They're about to disappear", Sarah Jane said nodding at the Ghosts. Jenna turned back to the street and watched them vanish.
"Ok, mum what's going on?" Jenna asked as they entered the house.
"Two months ago they just appeared out of nowhere. And it didn't just happen here, it happened all over the world"
"Surely people must've freaked out when they appeared", Jenna commented.
"They did at first and then people started to accept them. Many believed that they were deceased loved ones. Mr Smith has been trying to find out more about these ghosts but unfortunately he's not having any luck", Sarah Jane said.
"What about these 'shifts'?"
"Every day the Ghosts appear at set times for a few minutes and then they're gone", Sarah Jane explained.
"See that doesn't make any sense. Since when do ghosts have shifts? Surely they'd appear if and whenever they want to"
"The Doctor told me you get these 'feelings' sometimes. Did you get one when you saw them?" Sarah Jane asked.
"Yeah I did. I don't think that those ghosts are ghosts", Jenna replied.
"If they're not ghosts what are they?
"I don't know mum. But a footprint doesn't look like a boot", Jenna replied. She sighed "my best bet would be to meet up with the Doctor. See if he knows anything"
Sarah Jane followed Jenna out to her car "you'll be careful ok?"
"I will mum. I'll let you know what we find out", Jenna promised.
When Jenna arrived at the Powell Estate, she found the TARDIS parked in the park nearby. As she crossed the grass, heading in the direction of the blue box, someone called out her name. Jenna turned and saw Harmony walking towards her. "Miss Brooke?" Jenna said surprised to see her.
"You can just call me Harmony. Miss Brooke is a little too formal", Harmony said.
"Ok, Harmony. What brings you here?" Jenna asked.
"You", Harmony replied. She pulled out a thin package from the pocket and gave it to Jenna.
"What is it?" Jenna asked.
"Open it and you'll find out". Jenna unwrapped the package to reveal a sonic screwdriver. It was like the Doctor's one except this one had a purple tip.
"How did you happen to have one of these?"
"I have my ways", Harmony said mysteriously.
"Well thank you for this, it'll definitely come in handy" Jenna pocketed it "I don't mean this to sound rude but who are you Harmony?"
"I'm a friend" Harmony replied. Before Jenna could ask another question, the ginger spoke again "I have to go. Don't lose the sonic". The woman then turned and walked away.
"Wait!" Jenna called running after her. Harmony kept walking, not even bothering to stop when Jenna called her name. When Jenna reached the corner of a block of flats, Harmony was nowhere to be found. How did I lose her? She thought, she wasn't that far behind the woman. Jenna turned and walked back towards the TARDIS, thinking about Harmony.
She was actually rather preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn't hear the Doctor call her name. She only knew he was there when he stepped out in front of her, making her jump. "Doctor! You scared me", Jenna said.
"Sorry", he said apologetically "I did call out to you but you didn't seem to hear me".
"Sorry. I was um…thinking about stuff"
"Like what?" the Doctor asked.
"Like those Ghosts who aren't Ghosts", Jenna replied.
"You know what they are?" the Doctor asked hopefully.
Jenna shook her head "no, it's just this feeling I have".
The Doctor was a bit disappointed by her answer but tried not to show it "well, now you're here I'm sure between the two of us we'll figure it out".
Rose cleared her throat behind them, making her presence known. "Between the three of us, we'll figure it out", the Doctor amended.
~TARDIS~
Rose and Jenna stood watching the Doctor searching for something below the grilled floor. After a moment the Doctor popped up wearing a backpack and holding an odd looking device in his hand, bopping his head as the Ghostbusters theme played. "Who you gonna to call?" he asked.
"Ghostbusters!" the girls cheered.
"I ain't afraid of no ghosts", the Doctor added climbing out from the grilling and running down the ramp. Rose and Jenna followed him outside where Jackie was waiting.
"When's the next shift?" the Doctor asked her as he set up three cone devices in a triangle shape.
"Quarter to", Jackie said checking her watch "But don't go causing trouble. What's that lot do?"
"Triangulates their point of origin", the Doctor replied.
"I don't suppose it's the Gelth?" Rose asked thoughtfully.
"Nah" Rose shook her head, that was the answer she was expecting "They were just coming through one little rift. This lot are transposing themselves over the whole planet. Like tracing paper".
"You're always doing this. Reducing it to science" Jackie said crossly "Why can't it be real?" the Doctor just ignored her "Just think of it, though…all the people we've lost. Our families coming back home. Don't you think it's beautiful?"
"It would be if they were actually ghosts Jackie", Jenna said thinking about her aunt "but they're not".
"She's right", the Doctor agreed. He then starts unwinding a cable, leading it back to the TARDIS. As he plugs it into the console, Jackie stepped into the TARDIS and closed the door behind her.
"As soon as the cones activate, if that line goes into the red, press that button there" the Doctor explained to the girls "If it doesn't stop…" he pulls out his sonic and Jenna got out hers, surprising both the Doctor and Rose.
"Harmony gave it to me", Jenna said simply.
"Right", the Doctor said still very surprised she'd obtained a sonic. From the mysterious Harmony Brookes, no less. "Anyway, setting 15B. Hold the sonic against the port, 8 seconds and stop"
"15 B, 8 seconds", Rose nodded.
"If it goes into the blue, activate the deep scan on the left", the Doctor said.
"Hang on a minute, I know…" Jenna moved around the console and pointed to a button "that one".
"Mm, close"
"That one?" Jenna asked.
"Nnnow you've just killed us" the Doctor moved to stand behind her reaching around to take her hand and held it over the right button "it's this one"
"That one", Jenna repeated turning slightly to look at him.
"Yep", the Doctor said.
Rose looked away when the two connected their lips after looking at each other for a second. She was still having to get used to the fact that her best friend and the Doctor together. Initially she was shocked by it and a little hurt as she too had some feelings towards the Doctor. But after a few trips, Rose could tell that they were meant to be together. And so she decided to be as supportive to the couple as possible. As much as she didn't want to stop their moment, they did have more important things to do. "Um guys? The next ghost shift is going to start soon", Rose said loud enough for the Doctor and Jenna to hear.
The pair broke away a bit embarrassed that they'd gotten caught up in each other that they had momentarily forgotten about the ghosts. "Right", the Doctor said stepping away from Jenna. He then left the TARDIS to make sure the cone devices were ready.
"You know what to do right, Rose?" Jenna asked turning to her friend holding out her sonic.
"Yep", Rose said taking it.
"Good. Don't forget it's that button for the deep scan", Jenna said pointing at it and then she left to go help the Doctor.
Rose plunged Jenna's sonic into the port at the same as the Doctor presses the device he was holding earlier to one of the cones. As he does the same to the other two cones, he shouted to Rose "What's the line doing?"
"It's all right. It's holding!" Rose shouted back.
"You've changed so much", Jackie remarked after a moment. She could see how comfortable Rose was in the TARDIS and with the Doctor.
"For the better…"
"I s'ppose", Jackie whispered.
"Mum, I used to work in a shop", Rose said turning to her.
"I've worked in shops. What's wrong with that?" Jackie said turning defensive.
"No, I didn't mean that", Rose said quickly seeing that she offended her mother.
"I know what you meant. What happens when I'm gone?" Jackie asked.
"Don't talk like that!"
"No, but really. When I'm dead and buried, you won't have any reason to come back home", Jackie said seriously "What happens then?"
"I don't know", Rose said honestly.
"Do you think you'll ever settle down?" Jackie asked.
"The Doctor never will. Neither will Jenna, so I can't. I'll just keep on travelling", Rose answered.
"And you'll keep on changing. And in forty years time, fifty, there'll be this woman…this strange woman, walking through the marketplace on some planet a billion miles from Earth. But she's not Rose Tyler. Not anymore. She's not even human…." Rose stared at her mother shocked and a little hurt by her words. Before she could say anything Jenna called through the open doors.
"Everything ok?"
"Yeah! The scanner's working. It says delta one six", Rose called back.
~Playground~
The Doctor and Jenna face the center of the triangle "Come on then, you beauty!" the Doctor laughed, pretty much buzzing with excitement. He took Jenna's hand, intertwining their fingers as half-hopped on the spot.
As they watched the triangle, a ghost materialises in the centre. The cones around it spring to life creating a trap around the ghost. Jenna looked at the figure intently trying to see if she could trigger an instinct which would help them. The Doctor also watched the figure wearing a pair of 3D glasses. He knelt down to adjust a setting on his device and a green light blips.
"I don't think it likes that", Jenna said watching the ghost shudder and groan as the Doctor continued to adjust the settings. "Whoa!" she exclaimed stepping backwards as the ghost lunged forward, trying to break out of the trap.
"That's more like it!" the Doctor said moving back as well "Not so friendly now, are you?" he asked as the ghost continued to writhe within the trap. Then right before their eyes, the ghost disappeared.
The pair ran forward, gathering up the equipment before heading into the TARDIS. "I said so!" the Doctor said cheerfully setting the equipment down, shrugging his coat off and tossing it over a railing "Those ghosts have been forced into existence from one specific point! And I can track down the source" he goes to the console "Allons-y!" the Doctor pulled a lever causing the TARDIS to shudder. Rose fell to the ground while the Doctor and Jenna fall backwards into the captain's chair as the rotor rose and fell.
The Doctor got up from the chair and went back to the console "I like that. Allons-y. I should say 'allons-y' more often. Allons-y. Watch out, Rose Tyler! Allons-y! Jenna quick! Allons-y! And then, it would be really brilliant if I met someone called Alonso, because then I could say, 'allons-y, Alonso!' Every time!" he then noticed Rose looking at him with a strange smile on her face while Jenna just shook her head at him "You're staring at me"
"My mum's still on board", Rose said quietly. They all looked over to see Jackie sitting up in the gantry.
"If we end up on Mars, I'm going to kill you", Jackie said folding her arms as the Doctor just stared at her, horrified. Rose smirked at his expression while Jenna giggled.
"It's not funny", the Doctor said.
"No, it's hilarious", Jenna said still laughing "You know how he didn't like domestics in his previous body?" she asked Rose. Rose looked at her for a moment before she too burst out laughing, realising what Jenna meant.
"Oi! Stop it!"
Eventually Jenna managed to stop laughing "oh come on Doctor we're just having fun", she said.
"At my expense", he grumbled.
"That's the best kind", Rose said just managing to stop laughing.
"Yep", Jenna agreed. She stepped forward "come on, smile"
"Don't want to", he said sounding like a child having a sulk. Oh I know what will make you smile Jenna thought. She tugged him down by his tie and kissed him. When she pulled away, the Doctor had a smile on his face.
"Now you're smiling", Jenna said "so can we get back to finding out where the ghosts come from?"
"Absolutely", the Doctor replied turning back to the console still with a smile on his face.
As the TARDIS appeared in a large storage area, soldiers burst through the doors, holding guns. "Oh well there goes the advantage of surprise", the Doctor remarked seeing this on the scanner "Still, cuts to the chase. You two stay in here, look after Jackie"
"I'm not staying here", Jenna said following after him.
"And I'm not looking after my mum", Rose added.
"Well, you brought her", the Doctor countered before turning to Jenna "yes you are staying behind, I don't want you getting hurt".
"You're not playing that excuse anymore. I'm going out there with you and its final", Jenna said firmly. The Doctor sighed knowing that he wasn't going to be able to get her to stay behind not when she's made her mind up.
"Fine"
"But they've got guns", Rose pointed out a little worried about the two of them going out there with several armed soldiers waiting for them.
"And we haven't. Which makes us better people, don't you think?" the Doctor said and with that he and Jenna stepped out of the box. They immediately raised their hands as the soldiers released the safety catches of their guns.
"Oh!" a woman, Yvonne, said happily running in, her high heels clicking on the hard floor "Oh, how marvellous" she claps "Oh, very good. Superb. Happy day!" she starts clapping and the soldiers join in.
The Doctor and Jenna glanced at each other, unsure what to make of this reception. "Um thanks", the Doctor said as he and Jenna slowly lowered their hands "Nice to meet you. I'm…the Doctor"
That set off another round of clapping "Oh, I should say. Hurray!" Yvonne cheered.
"You…you've heard of me then?" the Doctor asked.
"I'd say the way she's fan girling over you that would be a big yes", Jenna told him.
"Well of course we have", Yvonne said ignoring what Jenna just said "And I have to say, if it wasn't for you, none of us would be here. The Doctor and the TARDIS…!"
She started clapping again. Jeez lady stop fangirling! Jenna thought getting a bit annoyed with the blonde woman. As if the Doctor knew what she was thinking, he gestured for silence.
"And you are?" the Doctor asked.
"Oh, plenty of time for that" Yvonne turned her attention to Jenna "let me see. Brown hair…violet eyes… you must be Jenna Kiara Smith", she said.
"Yeah I am", Jenna said confused about how they knew her.
"How did you know who she was?" the Doctor asked tensing up at that fact this woman seemed to know who Jenna was.
"We have a…source", Yvonne said vaguely.
"What is your source's name?" the Doctor asked.
"Sorry but my source prefers to stay anonymous", Yvonne replied which didn't make the Doctor feel any better, it just made him a little more wary of the blonde woman. "My source also told me you currently travel with another companion", Yvonne continued "So where is she?"
"My other companion is a bit shy", the Doctor said. He pushed the door of the TARDIS open slightly and felt around for Jackie. Given how the blonde woman had a 'source' which told her all about Jenna, he didn't want to show her Rose. Also if Rose was left behind, she may have an opportunity to look around and find out whats going on. "But here she is, Rose Tyler" the Doctor looked her up and down "Hmm. She's not the best I've ever had. Bit too blonde. Not too steady on her pins. A lot of that" he mimed chatting which made Jackie glared at him. Jenna lightly swatted his arm.
"Oi rude and not ginger"
"A lethal combination", he said giving her a wink. Jenna just shook her head at him "And just last week, Rose stared into the heart of the Time Vortex and aged fifty seven years. But she'll do"
"I'm 40!" Jackie protested.
"Deluded. Bless" the Doctor winced from receiving another hit in the arm from Jenna "I'll have trade her in. Or maybe I'll just take her home so it's just me and my Jenna" he wrapped an arm around her waist "do you need anyone? She's very good at tea. Well, I say very good, I mean not bad. Well, I say not bad…anyway! Lead on. Allons-y. But not too fast. Her ankle's going".
Yvonne nodded, turned and walked off "I'll show you where my ankle's going", Jackie hissed at the Doctor as they followed Yvonne.
"It was only a matter of time until you found us, and at last you've made it", Yvonne said as she pushed open a door that led to a huge factory floor "I'd like to welcome you, Doctor to Torchwood".
The Doctor, Jenna and Jackie stared at the various alien artefacts that they could see and the scientists working on them. "That's a Jathar Sunglider", the Doctor said noticing the massive ship floating near the ceiling.
"Came down to Earth off the Shetland Islands ten years ago", Yvonne said.
"What, did it crash?" the Doctor asked.
"No, we shot it down. It violated our airspace. Then we stripped it bare. The weapon that destroyed the Sycorax on Christmas Day? That was us!" Jenna felt rather angry when Yvonne claimed responsibility for the weapon. The Sycorax didn't deserve to be destroyed in that way, not after the Doctor had won the duel with the leader, fair and square. "Now, if you'd like to come with me" Yvonne led them on to another part of the floor "The Torchwood Institute has a motto: 'If it's alien, it's ours'. Anything that comes from the sky, we strip it down and we use it for the good of the British Empire"
"For the good of the what?" Jackie asked.
"The British Empire", Yvonne repeated.
"There isn't a British Empire", Jackie pointed out.
"Not yet" Yvonne smirked "Ah, excuse me…." she took a weapon off soldier "Now, if you wouldn't mind…. do you recognise this, Doctor?"
"That's a particle gun", Jenna answered looking at it.
"Yes it is. My source told me you had a way of just knowing things like that", Yvonne said.
"It's the twenty first century. You can't have particle guns", the Doctor cut in wanting to steer the conversation away from Jenna's ability to just know something without knowing why.
"We must defend our border against the alien" Yvonne handed the particle gun back to the soldier "Thank you…Sebastian, isn't it?"
"Yes, Ma'am"
Yvonne smiled "Thank you, Sebastian" she turned back to the Doctor, Jenna and Jackie "I think it's very important to know everyone by name. Torchwood is a very modern organisation. People skills. That's what it's all about these days" she smiled smugly "I'm a people person"
Jackie and Jenna rolled their eyes at that. "Have you got anyone called Alonso?" the Doctor asked.
"No, I don't think so. Is that important?"
"No, I suppose not. What was your name?" the Doctor asked as he and Jenna wandered off to examine other artefacts.
"Yvonne. Yvonne Hartman"
The Doctor pulled out a large device from a box "Ah, yes. Now, we're rather fond of these. The Magnaclamp. Found in a spaceship buried at the base of Mount Snowdon. At-"
"Attach this to an object and it cancels the mass", Jenna said interrupting Yvonne "you could probably lift quite a bit weight with one hand if you used this"
"You can", Yvonne said annoyed at how Jenna interrupted her "I could use it to lift two tonnes of weight with a single hand. That's an imperial ton, by the way. Torchwood refuses to go metric".
The Doctor throws the Magnaclamp back into the box and brushed his hands together "I could do with that to carry the shopping", Jackie laughed.
"All these devices are for Torchwood's benefit", Yvonne said patronizingly "not the general publics". Jackie made a face at her so did Jenna which made the older woman smile. "So, what about these ghosts?" the Doctor called, looking through a magnifying glass.
"Ah yes, the ghosts. They're er…what you might call a side effect"
"Of what?" the Doctor asked.
"All in good time, Doctor. There is an itinerary, trust me", Yvonne said.
"Oi! Where are you taking that?" Jackie exclaimed seeing the TARDIS being driven in on the back of a truck.
"If it's alien, it's ours", Yvonne reminded them.
"You'll never get inside it", the Doctor told her.
"Hmm! Et cetera", Yvonne said not seemingly perturbed by that. She didn't seem to think it was going to be a problem. As the Doctor watched the TARDIS being driven past, Rose opened the door slightly and peeked through it. The Doctor nods encouragingly and looks away.
Rose closed the door and wondered what she should do. After all nobody knew she was here. Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out of her pocket, smiling when she saw Jenna's message.
Psychic Paper.
Doctor's left coat pocket.
Good luck
"Thank you Jenna", she murmured and strolled over to the Doctor's coat to look for the psychic paper.
~Corridor~
"All those times I've been on Earth, I've never heard of you", the Doctor told Yvonne as they walked.
"But of course not. You're the enemy. You're actually named in the Torchwood Foundation Charter of 1879 as an enemy of the Crown", Yvonne said.
"Wasn't that the name of the house in Scotland?" Jenna asked recalling the adventure the Doctor told her about, the one she missed out on "where you encountered Queen Victoria and the werewolf".
"Yes it was", the Doctor said vaguely remembering that Torchwood was the name of the house.
"Her Majesty created the Torchwood Institute with the express intention of keeping Britain great, and fighting the alien horde"
"But if I'm the enemy, does that mean that I'm a prisoner?" the Doctor asked.
"Oh yes", Yvonne said lightly "so is your Jenna".
"What do you mean she's a prisoner too? She's just a kid!" Jackie said angry that Yvonne would imprison Jenna too. The girl might not be her daughter but she still regarded her like one.
"Don't worry Rose, we'll make them perfectly comfortable", Yvonne assured her not at all bothered by Jackie's outburst. It didn't matter to her that Jenna was young, all that mattered is she had knowledge that would be of use to them. "And there is so much the two of you can teach us", Yvonne said to both Jenna and the Doctor Starting with this" she pressed her ID card against the digital lock beside the very large door they'd stopped at. They walked into the room where an enormous bronze sphere was suspended in mid-air. "Now, what do you make of that?" Yvonne asked. Jenna walked forward ignoring the scientist who introduced himself as Rajesh Singh. She was too busy staring at the sphere, something about it was making her feel uncomfortable.
"What is that thing?" Jackie asked.
"We got no idea", Yvonne said.
"What's wrong with it?" Jenna asked managing to tear her eyes away from it to look back at Rajesh
"What makes you think there's something wrong with it?" Rajesh asked her.
"Just looking at it is making me very uncomfortable. Like I'm not supposed to be looking at it but at the same time I can't help but look at it", Jenna replied.
"Well, the sphere has a similar effect on everyone", Yvonne told her.
"We tried analysing it using every device imaginable", Rajesh said. The Doctor put on his 3D glasses and looked up at the sphere, seeing the same red and green particles around it just like the 'ghost'. "But according to our instruments, the sphere doesn't exist. It weighs nothing, it doesn't age. No heat, no radiation, and has no atomic mass", the scientist continued.
"It can't be", a voice beside Jenna breathed. Jenna glanced over to see 2nd Naiyah standing there staring at the sphere with a look of shock on her face.
"But I can see it!" Jackie exclaimed.
"What is it?" Jenna asked Naiyah quietly not wanting anyone to notice how she was talking to, what would appear to them as thin air. Since it would make her look pretty crazy to everyone, except the Doctor.
"It's impossible. I thought it was just a theory…" Naiyah whispered.
"Fascinating, isn't it? It upsets people because it gives off…nothing. It is…absent", Yvonne said.
"Naiyah what is it?" Jenna asked again getting worried at the look on the Time Lady's face.
"Well, Doctor?" Yvonne asked.
"This is a Void Ship", the Doctor and Naiyah said together.
"And what is that?" Yvonne asked.
The Doctor pulled off his glasses "Well, it's impossible for starters. I always thought it was just a theory, but…it's a vessel designed to exist outside time and space, travelling through the Void", he explained sounding worried. Jenna glanced at Naiyah who nodded.
"And what's the Void?" Rajesh asked as the Doctor sat down on the bottom step of the step ladder. Jenna sat beside him and took hold of his hand.
"The space between dimensions. There's all sorts of realities around us, different dimensions, billions of parallel universes all stacked up against each other. The Void is the space in between, containing absolutely nothing. Imagine that. Nothing. No light, no dark, no up, no down, no life, no time. Without end" the Doctor explained "My people called it the Void. The Eternals call it the Howling. But some people call it Hell"
"But someone built the sphere. What for? Why go there?" Rajesh asked.
"To explore. To escape. You could sit inside that thing and eternity would pass you by. The Big Bang…end of the Universe, start of the next, wouldn't even touch the sides", the Doctor explained.
"You'd exist outside the whole of creation", Naiyah added although only Jenna could hear her.
"You see, we were right. There is something inside it", Yvonne said smugly.
"Oh, yes", the Doctor said looking at her.
"So how do we get in there?" Rajesh asked.
"Are you crazy? You don't want to open that thing ever!" Naiyah exclaimed, though again Jenna was the only one who heard her.
"We don't want to open that thing, ever", Jenna said, reiterating Naiyah's words as she stood up.
"She's right", the Doctor agreed also standing up "What we need to do is send that thing back into Hell".
"Couldn't agree more", Naiyah said which Jenna repeated.
"How did it get here in the first place?" the Doctor asked.
"Well, that's how it all started. The sphere came through into this world, and the ghosts followed in its wake"
"Show me", the Doctor said and strode out of the room.
"Wrong way!" Jenna called as he turned left. The Doctor turned around and went to the right.
"The sphere came through here. A hole in the world", Yvonne explained showing the Doctor and Jenna a white wall. "Not active at the moment, but when we fire particle engines at that exact spot, the breech opens up"
"How did you even find it?" the Doctor asked.
"We were getting warning signs for years. A radar black spot. So we built this place, Torchwood Tower. The breech was six hundred foot above sea level. It was on the only way to reach it", Yvonne explained.
The Doctor put on his 3D glasses "You built a skyscraper just to reach a spatial disturbance? How much money have you got?"
"Enough", Yvonne said walking away. Jenna watched her go and the Doctor contemplated the wall. As she turned back, a young black woman sitting at a computer caught her eye. Immediately she got a flash of the same woman but this time she was wearing a white lab/doctor's coat with an ID badge clipped to one pocket and a stethoscope. Jenna blinked and shook her head to get rid of the image.
"You ok?" the Doctor asked having noticed her staring at one of the workers.
"Yeah I'm fine", Jenna replied.
"I don't suppose you've had any feelings yet?"
"No sorry. But if I do, you'll be the first to know", Jenna told him. They walked across the room to a small office at the opposite end where Yvonne and Jackie were.
"So, you find the breach, probe it, the sphere comes through six hundred feet above London, bam. It leaves a hole in the fabric of reality", the Doctor said leaning against the doorframe "And that hole, you think, 'oh, shall we leave it alone? Shall we back off? Shall we play it safe?' Nah, you think 'let's make it bigger!'"
"It's a massive source of energy", Yvonne said turning to him "If we can harness that power, we need never depend on the Middle East again. Britain will become truly independent. Look, you can see for yourself. Next Ghost Shift's in two minutes". She left the office and entered the main area.
"Yvonne you need to cancel it", Jenna said.
"I don't think so"
"I'm warning you, cancel it", the Doctor said angrily. They were trying to tell her the dangers of what she was doing and she wasn't listening to them!
"Oh, exactly as the legends would have it. The Doctor, lording it over us. Assuming alien authority over the Rights of Man"
"Why don't I show you what happens", Jenna said walking around to stand on the other side of the glass partition. She pulls out her sonic "Sphere comes through" she flashed her sonic at the glass causing a small hole to appear in one of the Torchwood's Os. The glass splintered and cracked, extending outwards from the hole "But when it made the hole, it cracked the world around it. The entire surface of this dimension splintered. And that's how the ghosts get through. That's how they get everywhere. They're bleeding through the fault lines. Walking from their world, across the Void, and into yours, with the human race hoping and wishing and helping them along. But too many ghosts, and…" Jenna raised her hand and ever so lightly touched the glass. It shattered all over the floor.
"Couldn't have said it better myself", Naiyah remarked.
"Well, in that case we'll have to be more careful", Yvonne said making Jenna's mouth drop open at how easily she just dismissed her warning. Yvonne turned to the rest of the staff "Positions! Ghost Shift in one minute"
"Ms Hartman, I am asking you, please don't do it", the Doctor said following after her. He still couldn't believe that even after Jenna showed her what would happen, Yvonne was still going to go ahead.
"We have done this a thousand times", Yvonne said.
"Then stop at a thousand!" the Doctor shouted as Jenna pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated. She was sure that she'd never met a person more infuriating that Yvonne ruddy Hartman.
"She really is an idiot, isn't she?" Naiyah remarked.
"That's a friggin' understatement", Jenna muttered.
"We're in control of the ghosts. The levers can open the breach, but equally they can close it"
The Doctor and Yvonne stared at each other in a battle of wills, until… "Okay", the Time Lord said lightly.
"Sorry?!" Yvonne asked startled that he'd just given up so easily. She looked at Jenna who was just surprised.
"Never mind! As you were" the Doctor said going into the office to grab a chair.
"What, is that it?" Yvonne asked staring at him in disbelief.
"No! Fair enough. Said Jenna and I have said our bits" The Doctor said settling into the chair and beckoned Jenna over. When she came over to him, he tugged her down to sit on his lap wrapping his arms around her "Don't mind us. Any chance of a cup of tea?" the Doctor asked as Jenna made herself comfortable on his lap, resting her head against his chest.
"Ghost Shift in 20 seconds", the young black woman Jenna had noticed, Adeola, announced.
"Mm! Can't wait to see it!"
"Me neither", Jenna agreed feeling her anger ebbing away. It probably had something to do with the Doctor's hearts. It can be rather soothing listening to them.
"You can't stop us", Yvonne argued.
"No, absolutely not!"
"Pull up a chair, Rose. Come and watch the fireworks", Jenna said cheerfully to Jackie who came to stand behind the chair.
"Ghost Shift in ten seconds…Nine…eight…" Yvonne stares at the Doctor and Jenna, uneasy. The Time Lord looks back at her, just daring her to go through with it while Jenna just looked completely relaxed. "Seven…six…five…four…three…two…"
"Stop the shift" Yvonne cut in "I said stop".
"Thank you", the Doctor said.
"I suppose it makes sense to get as much intelligence as possible…"
"Yeah because you're seriously lacking in that department", Jenna muttered. The Doctor lightly poked her.
"Now who's rude and not ginger?" he asked.
"It's a lethal combo", Jenna shrugged.
"But the programme will recommence, as soon as you've explained everything", Yvonne said getting their attention back on the subject at hand.
"Glad to be of help", the Doctor said.
"And someone clear up this glass", Yvonne called to the room. She turned to Jenna who was still on the Doctor's lap "my source didn't tell me you liked to make a mess".
"I guess your 'source' doesn't know everything about me then", Jenna said.
Yvonne sat at her desk eying the Doctor's feet that were crossed on the desk, the Time Lord having plonked himself in a chair looking completely relaxed. Jenna stood behind his chair. "So these ghosts, whatever they are, did they build the sphere?"
"Must have. Aimed it at this dimension like a cannon ball", the Doctor guessed.
"Yvonne?" Rajesh called through a video link, a small window popping up on the laptop showing the Sphere Chamber. "I think you should see this. We've got a visitor. We don't know who she is, but funnily enough, she arrived at the same time as the Doctor"
Yvonne turned the laptop around so that Jenna and the Doctor could see Rose standing next to Rajesh. "She one of yours?" Yvonne asked.
"Never seen her before in my life", the Doctor said.
"Good! Then we can have her shot", Yvonne said.
"No! You can't. That's the Doctor's other companion. The real Rose Tyler", Jenna said quickly.
"Sorry" Rose waved "Hello".
"Well, if that's Rose Tyler, who's she?" Yvonne asked nodding to Jackie.
"I'm her mother", Jackie said proudly.
"Oh, you travel with her mother?" Yvonne asked.
"He kidnapped me!" Jackie exclaimed.
"Please, when Torchwood comes to write my complete history, don't tell people I travelled through time and space with her mother…"
"Charming", Jackie muttered.
"I've got a reputation to uphold!" the Doctor argued.
Suddenly a noise started up in the Rift Chamber getting all of their attention. "Excuse me? Everyone? I thought I said stop the ghost shift" those working at the computers simply ignored Yvonne "Who started the programme? But I ordered you to stop! Who's doing that?!" she pointed at the lever which was rising upwards on its own. "Right, step away from the monitors, everyone" the trio working away, again just ignored her "Gareth, Addy, stop what you're doing, right now. Matt, step away from your desk. That's an order! Stop the levers!"
Two scientists rush over to the levers and struggle to push them down. Jenna ran over to Adeola and paled when she saw the all too familiar pods in her ears "oh god", she breathed. "Doctor come see this", she called and he came over.
"It can't be", the Doctor said.
"I'm afraid it is", Jenna said seriously. She looked up at the wall, the light getting brighter.
"What is it?" Yvonne asked wondering why they looked so worried.
"It's the ear piece. It's controlling them. We've seen this before" he took out his sonic "Sorry. I'm so sorry", he said sincerely before holding the sonic by the ear piece and pressed the button. Adeola screamed in pain as the pods were deactivated and slumped over her desk. Gareth and Matt collapsed in the same way suggesting that their ear pods were connected.
"What happened? What did you just do?" Yvonne demanded.
"They're dead", Jenna stated looking down at Adeola.
"You killed them", Jackie said horrified.
"Oh, someone else did that long before I got here", the Doctor said turning to the computer.
"But you killed them!" Jackie cried.
"Jackie, I haven't got time for this", the Doctor said angrily.
"What are those ear pieces?" Yvonne questioned.
"Don't", the Doctor warned.
"But they're standard comms. devices. How does it control them?" Yvonne asked curious.
"Trust me, leave them alone", the Doctor said going over to Matt's computer.
"But what are they?" Yvonne reached for one of Adeola's ear pods when Jenna grabbed her wrist.
"What part of 'leave them alone' don't you understand?" she asked. Jenna let go of her wrist and walked off, muttering 'idiot' under her breath. Yvonne rubbed her wrist when Jenna let go. That girl sure had a grip on her.
"What about the Ghost Shift?" the Doctor asked Yvonne.
"Ninety percent there and still running. Can't you stop it?" Yvonne asked.
"They're still controlling it. They've hi-jacked the system", the Doctor answered.
"Who's they?" Yvonne questioned.
The Doctor takes out his sonic from his pocket and holds it flat on the palm of his hand, turning slowly on the spot "It might be a remote transmitter but it's got to be close by. I can trace it" he darted off as he received a signal "Jackie, Jen stay here!"
"I guess we're staying here then", Jackie said turning to Jenna who was staring at the doorway "Jenna what is it?" she asked as the girl's eyes widened.
"Rose, she's in trouble", Jenna replied.
"What do you mean?" Jackie called as she ran off "Jenna? Jenna!"
Jenna darted into the Sphere Chamber just as the door crashed shut behind her. "The door's sealed. Automatic quarantine. We can't get out!" Rajesh exclaimed.
"Ya think?" Jenna said sarcastically. She turned to Rose "you ok?"
"Yeah I'm fine. What are you doing here?" Rose asked.
"I had a-"Jenna broke off when she noticed Mickey "Mickey?!"
"Hey Jenna", the black man greeted.
"How…? How are you back? You were in a parallel world. That should've been impossible", Jenna said gaping at him.
"And yet here I am", Mickey said with a smile. If he managed to get to our world… Jenna's eyes widened
"The Ghosts, they're Cybermen", she breathed.
"What's inside that sphere?" Rose asked as a crash sounded from inside the sphere.
"No one knows. Cyber Leader, Cyber King, Emperor of the Cybermen…." Mickey grinned "Whatever it is, he's dead meat".
"It's good to see you", Rose smiled.
"Yeah. It's good to see you too. Both of you" Jenna returned Mickey's smile with a small one of her own.
As the room started to shake violently, Rajesh rushed over to the comm calling for help. He broke off when the Chamber stilled suddenly. The man joined Jenna, Rose and Mickey as they stared at the sphere as smooth cracks start to appear, light spilling from them.
Mickey shrugged off his coat and removed his ear pod "Here we go". They watched as more light spills from the Sphere as it continued to open. "I know what's in there, and I'm ready for them. I've got just the thing" Mickey retrieved a rather large gun from where he'd hidden it and then positioned himself in front of the Sphere. "This is going to blast them to Hell"
"Samuel, what are you doing?!" Rajesh exclaimed rather startled by the man's actions of producing a weapon.
"The name's Mickey. Mickey Smith. Defending the Earth" he cocks his gun as the Sphere opened even more.
Jenna stiffened as she got that all too familiar sensation of a 'feeling'. But this one left her feeling a mixture of fear and anger. And there was good reason for it as the top part of an alien that she'd thought she had seen the last of emerged from the Sphere.
"That's not Cybermen…"
"Oh, my God" Rose gasped as four Daleks levitated down.
"Location, Earth. Life forms detected. Exterminate!" a Dalek announced.
Mickey aimed his gun at them while Jenna tugged Rose behind her, the blonde not resisting as she was too afraid. She gripped onto Jenna's arm, staring at the Daleks.
"Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminate!"
To be continued…