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Chapter 60 – The Void Reopens

The Doctor and Samuel both stepped into Pete Tyler's office. Jake Simmons and Lewis were there, along with Thomas Trout.

The Doctor stopped walking as soon as he saw Thomas. He cut his eyes over at Pete, and put his hands in his pockets. "Gentlemen. You're pulling me away from a lovely drink."

Thomas spotted Samuel immediately. "Who is this? Does he have clearance to be here?"

Pete nodded. "Doctor Samuel Bennett, meet Thomas Trout. He is in charge of….something here at Torchwood-"

"The Space Port." Thomas told him, sounding insulted. He shook Samuel's hand.

Pete assured Thomas Trout, "Doctor Bennett here has the highest clearance rating, and is on loan to us from the State Department in America."

Samuel nodded, with an attempt to not look surprised. "Yes, sir."

Thomas was still sizing Samuel up.

"So, what's the problem Director Tyler?" The Doctor asked.

Pete directed their attention to the screen that hung on the wall beside of the desk. It had a transmission, and the lines of it could be seen on the screen.

The Doctor picked up the remote and played it. There were sounds of a struggle, a woman shouting something in an odd language, things crashing about, and the unmistakable sound of laser fire. Then, the transmission ended.

"Where is this from?" The Doctor asked.

"Caracalla." Lewis told him with his arms crossed.

Samuel asked. "Over in the Severan System? That's really close to here."

Lewis nodded. "A colony there. They say someone came in during the night, and fired on the town. There are 43 causalities and over 100 hurt."

"Do they have enough medical staff?" Pete asked.

Lewis leaned on the back on the chair. "Caracalla is a colony of scientists. Mostly medical staff."

The Doctor looked over a report that Jake handed him. "We've known about them for years, but they aren't a threat to anyone. They just keep to themselves."

"The people of Caracalla aren't a threat to anyone. They don't even have weapons there." The Doctor told them. "Who would have done this?"

Thomas Trout pointed at the report, "That's what we're trying to sort out. It's really close to us, and we're assessing the threat to them, and to Earth."

Lewis added, "Queen Ashena has sent several ships to help. They are currently looking to see if whoever is responsible for this, may still be in orbit."

"Hell, they wouldn't have stuck around." The Doctor insisted and handed Samuel the file to look over.

Pete pointed at the Doctor. "I'd like you to speak to the leader there and offer anything that we can do to help."

"They won't accept our help. They don't like outsiders. The Andromedeans and them aren't even mates."

"All the same. I don't want to do nothing. Go earn your pay." Pete insisted.

The Doctor groaned and walked out of Pete's office. "How many times have I bloody quit this job?"

Pete chuckled at his son in law's complaining. He pointed at the other men, "Alright. Keep me posted."

Thomas Trout left the room with Jake Simmons and closed the door behind them.

Lewis typed something in on his wrist. "Need me for anything else, Pete?"

Pete shook his head. "Nah. Thanks for coming so quickly."

Lewis looked up at Samuel. "Sam."

"Papa?"

"I want you to carve some time out of your schedule, what with your lovely fiancée, and come see your Papa sometime. Alright?"

Samuel smiled. "Yes, sir."

"And your Dad told me about you and the Lieutenant's chat. I agree that moving Anne to the island is a great idea. Arles is nearly finished copying her house."

Samuel nodded. "This keeps her safe."

Lewis pointed at him, "You're a Quauhtin without even trying. You make your Papa proud."

Samuel grinned. "Thank you, Papa."

"Are you still training?"

"I've been able to return to it recently. Yes, sir."

Lewis smiled proudly. "Alright. Well, I won't keep you and your grandfather then. I'm headed over to see Anne's place."

Samuel put his hands in his pockets. "Karen is going to think I've done a runner. We've been gone for a while now. Would you please tell her that I'll be home as soon as Dad is finished here? I probably need to assist him in something."

"Indeed, I will." Lewis smiled warmly at him and popped away.

Pete sat down at his desk, "So, your Dad has kidnapped you?"

"Without meaning to. It's been one thing after another all day." Samuel collapsed in the chair.

"I heard about Soli. How is he?"

"He'll be fine. I spoke to Karen about Vitex."

Pete grinned. "Oh, I hope this is good news, son."

He smiled, "She said, 'yes.'"

Pete rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Brilliant! You and I will go to New York tomorrow, and sign some papers."

Samuel crossed his arms. "There is one thing though."

"I'm sure there's more than one."

"If we do this, it's going to affect the Stock Market prices. Those numbers I gave you may not be accurate."

Pete nodded. "I've thought of that, too. So, I have pulled almost everything out for the next few days for both of us. Well, enough that no one will question it. Some losses are to be expected. We'll look over the list and see if it's still correct or not. Hell, I've already made way more money to cover the price of this company. We're good."

Samuel grinned. "I'm bringing Arles in to help me."

"Good! If you had told me no, he was the next grandson I was going to ask."

Samuel laughed under his breath. "Thank you for this, Grandfather."

"No, thank you. And with all of it, you know you can come and ask for my help."

"Yes, sir. I will, too. Don't think you're washing your hands completely of it."

"I'd like to wash my hands completely of this Torchwood thing. Interested in that?"

"No, sir!" Samuel answered quickly. "Dad has warned me about that for years."

Pete laughed just as his phone beeped.

He pressed the button and sat up in the chair. "Yeah?"

His secretary spoke. "Doctor Smith is back-"

"Well, send him in." Pete told her.

The Doctor walked in and sat on the chair next to Samuel. "And that's sorted. They said, 'Thanks, but no thanks.'"

"That sounds more like they said, 'Piss off'." Pete rose his eyebrows.

The Doctor grinned. "Well, translate it how you like. Meaning is the same."

Pete chuckled. "Shit. Well, my conscience is clear. Do you have any idea who would have done this?"

"No." The Doctor told him. "It's very odd. I can't remember anyone ever attacking them."

"Could it be one of their own people?" Pete asked.

"There's always that possibility. Although, I don't remember that, either."

Pete sighed. "Well, I'll keep you posted if we hear anything else. Oh, and there's something in the basement you need to identify."

The Doctor held his hands out. "Pete. You lot need to sort your own problems out-"

"You. Will want to see this. And make sure it's dead." Pete told him as he stood up. "I'll go down there with you."

The Doctor looked at Samuel and rolled his eyes.

Samuel laughed under his breath.

The three men walked together through the hallways of Torchwood. Pete put looked over at Samuel, who walked beside of his grandfather. "You have full security clearance here. It was in your packet."

Samuel nodded, "Yes, sir. I have the card. Thank you."

The Doctor walked on the other side of Pete and shook his head in disapproval. "Roping him in."

Samuel laughed. "It's alright. Makes me feel at home."

"You work for Torchwood at home?" The Doctor asked. "Have I taught you, nothing?"

Samuel chuckled, "Only on an 'as needed' basis."

"Ah!" Pete insisted. "See, like you. Freelance."

The Doctor groaned. "Freelance. That's the worse explanation I've ever heard of this. I would call it, 'servitude'."

Pete laughed. "Damn. You're cross. New plan. Next time I ring you up, tell me you're drinking-"

"I'll do that." The Doctor insisted.

An agent held the door open for them as they got to the lift. After a quick ride down, and a walk through the hallways there, they arrived to a door that an agent had to open for them.

Samuel noticed that it was heavily guarded. "Are you sure this is dead? What's with the guards?"

Pete stood aside and let the Doctor walk into the room first. "We hope it is dead. John can tell us."

Samuel followed his grandfather into the room that his Dad had just disappeared into. There was an odd, robot looking thing sitting there in the middle of the floor. Half of the bottom was blown away, and appeared as if it had taken heavy fire.

"What is that?" Samuel asked.

The Doctor pointed at it. "You don't know?"

"No." Samuel told him.

The Doctor nodded. "That is the best news I've heard. I hope you never see another one. Stand over there in case it's not dead."

Samuel and Pete walked over to where the Doctor had pointed, and stood behind a heavy, clear protective wall. Samuel watched his Dad look over the odd machine closely.

Pete looked back at his grandson. "It's called a Dalek. Your father issued an order to destroy any of them we ever see, without mercy."

"That does not sound like him."

"Oh, it does." Pete told him. "And he has a very good reason for that. These things, do not look dangerous, but they are lethal. That's the reason I want him to ensure it is dead."

"Pete?" The Doctor called.

"Yeah, son?" Pete replied with his arms crossed.

"Where did this come from?"

"It was down in the hallways here this morning. Took twelve agents to disable it."

"Kill anyone?"

"No. Thankfully. Injured Grey from the Wolves. The Doctors upstairs assure me that he'll be fine. Just burns."

The Doctor stood up and didn't take his eyes off of the Dalek. "This doesn't make any sense. Has anyone been working on the Void-"

He stopped speaking as he realized what had to have happened. He looked up at Pete. "Put this in the incinerator with an eyes on destruction order."

Pete nodded. "Understood. I'll do it myself-"

"No! Do not get around this thing." The Doctor insisted. "In fact. Keep a guard on this room and I'll handle this myself after I go shout at someone."

Samuel could see the determination from his Dad. "Dad. I could destroy it if you-"

"You! Absolutely, do not ever get around one of these things. If you see one, you get away from it immediately-"

"Dad. It's a simple-"

"There is nothing simple about a Dalek, son. These damn things destroyed my life in the other Dimension and they are bleeding through the Void to come here. I won't allow it. Pete, double the agents on this room. I'll return as soon as I can to deal with this."

"So, you don't think it's dead."

The Doctor typed something on his wrist. "I'm not taking the chance. Jake Simmons has a protocol for the weapons that are needed for this. Have them issued immediately to all agents."

Pete nodded, "Right, son."

The Doctor grabbed Samuel's arm and popped away.

XXXXX

The Doctor and Samuel appeared on the same grassy island where they had been a few days before. The small cottage where Doctor Bruce Banner was working out his gamma radiation problem sat in front of them. The wind blew violently, even though the sun shone brightly.

The Doctor looked at his son, "Well, that's not a good sign."

They rushed to the door together and opened it to confirm the Doctor's fears were true. Inside was a large opening to blackness. Doctor Banner had reopened the Void.

It spun were there had been a wall before. The wind blew papers and everything small, into it. Samuel noticed the opening, already a meter wide, was getting larger.

The Doctor shouted. "Banner!"

Doctor Bruce Banner snapped his head back when his name was called. "I got it to work! This is awesome!"

The Doctor quickly rushed over to the computer where he was standing and began to try to stop the Void from opening more.

Samuel looked around and found the cannon that he had read about, years ago, when he had done a research paper on his Mum's paper. He ran over to it and looked for a way to disable it.

The Doctor typed quickly. "This. Can't. Happen!"

The wind became more violent, and started to pull the lighter bits of furniture into the Void. The Doctor worked at the computer faster in an effort to close the opening.

Doctor Bruce Banner was in awe at his discovery. He went over to stand in front of the Void, "It's beautiful! Imagine that! A doorway to another dimension, John!"

The Doctor stopped working and looked up, "Samuel?" He became frightened, "Samuel! Where are you?"

The wind was howling and Samuel couldn't hear him. He was still working on the cannon and pulled out several wires that would prevent it from firing. Just as a chair was lifted and sucked into the Void's opening, Samuel grabbed onto the pole that the cannon was mounted on to keep from being sucked in.

Doctor Banner was not as lucky. The Void pulled him towards it. He held out his arms and went willingly.

The Doctor was desperate to get the Void to close. He continued to type commands as fast as he could. "Samuel?! Answer me, son!"

He looked up to see the Void finally beginning to close just as Doctor Banner was sucked inside.

The Doctor saw Samuel hanging onto the pole. His heart sank. He was about to lose his son the same way he had lost Rose all of those years ago. And Pete wasn't going to be there to save him. "No. SAM!"

Samuel lost his grip and fell towards the Void.

"NO!" The Doctor shouted as he saw his son falling.

Just as Samuel got closer to the Void's opening, it closed.

Samuel was already traveling through the air at a high rate of speed and couldn't stop. He slammed into the wall behind where the Void had been and fell to the ground.

The Doctor rushed to his son. "Sam!"

He saw his legs hanging out from under what seemed like a million papers and debris. He threw the wreckage to the side to free his son. When he finally saw his face, he was relieved to see that Samuel was laughing hysterically.

He sighed in relief. "Just like your Mum. Are you hurt?"

Samuel sat up and laughed. "No, Dad. Oh, that was some mad shit."

The Doctor, relieved that the danger had passed, collapsed against the wall and slid down it. "I can't believe that happened."

Samuel continued to laugh and ran his hands through his hair. "You know, we were just going to check on Soli. When did this day become so exciting?"

The Doctor helped him up to his feet, and took a deep breath to steady himself. Rose felt his sudden moment of panic and began to speak in his head.

'What the hell is going on?' She asked.

'Nothing. Everything is alright. Samuel just gave me a double heart attack.'

'Are they both beating, again?'

'Thankfully.'

Samuel dusted himself off. "Well, this shirt is rubbish." He said as he put his fingers though some holes in his oxford shirt.

Before Samuel knew what had happened, the Doctor had embraced him tightly.

Samuel rose his eyebrow and returned his hug, "Dad. I'm alright."

His Dad didn't let him go.

Samuel pat his Dad's back. "Really, man. I'm good."

The Doctor stepped back at looked at his son and pointed at him forcefully. "You have no idea how badly you just frightened me then!"

Samuel smiled. "I'm fine, Dad. Look. I'm right here. In one piece."

The Doctor slid his hands to his son's shoulders and smiled again. "You're alright."

"Completely fine." He reassured him.

The Doctor laughed in relief and embraced his son again.

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The Doctor and Rose, and all of their friends return in Book #11 in the series, New Beginnings.