Hey guys! Welcome to the rewritten second chapter of Soleil Levant! To those wondering why I decided to rewrite this story, it's because I started writing it when I was fifteen and I've improved my writing since then, at least I hope I have, and feel like I can change this story for the better.
On a side note, who's seen The Incredibles 2? I saw it the other night and I loved it!
"What's the emergency?" Ella asked the Doctor.
"It's mauve," the Doctor replied.
"That's not good," Ella said. Rose just looked completely baffled while Ella walked over to the Doctor to look at the screen.
"Mauve?" Rose asked as she stumbled around the console room. Ella shook her head and sighed, mentally face palming, knowing why Rose would be confused.
"The universally recognised colour for danger," the Doctor told her.
"What happened to red?" Rose asked.
"That's just humans. By everyone else's standards, red's camp. Oh, the misunderstandings. All those red alerts, all that dancing. It's got a very basic flight computer. I've hacked in, slaved the TARDIS. Where it goes, we go," the Doctor explained as he tapped on the keyboard.
"And that's safe, is it?" Rose asked.
"Totally," the Doctor said. Ella raised an eyebrow at the lie. A loud 'bang!' sounded around the room and the console sparked, making Ella wince at the bright sparks. "Okay, reasonably. Should have said reasonably there. No, no, no, no! It's jumping time tracks, getting away from us."
"What exactly is this thing?" Rose asked, her eyebrows furrowing as she looked at the screen.
"No idea," the Doctor said honestly.
"Then why are we chasing it?" Rose asked.
"Because it's mauve and dangerous, and about thirty seconds from the centre of London, you idiot. Seriously, you have to know by now that we usually run towards the danger, Rose," Ella told her in an exasperated tone.
The TARDIS materialised in a back alley between two terraces. The sort of crowded housing that existed in the 20th century. Ella looked down at her outfit and decided it would be good enough for the time period.
"Do you know how long you can knock around space without happening to bump into Earth?" The Doctor asked as he left the TARDIS with Rose, following Ella.
"Five days? Or is that just when we're out of milk?" Rose joked. Ella's lips quirked.
"Of all the species in all the Universe and it has to come out of a cow," the Doctor said. The hairs on the back of Ella's neck stood on end as if something was watching them.
"Must have come down somewhere quite close. Within a mile, anyway. And it can't have been more than a few weeks ago. Maybe a month," Ella said.
"A month? We were right behind it," Rose exclaimed as the three walked towards one end of the alley.
"It was jumping time tracks all over the place. We're bound to be a little bit out. Do you want to drive?" Ella asked.
"Yeah. How much is a little?" Rose asked nervously.
"A bit," the Doctor said.
"Is that exactly a bit?" Rose asked, trying to get a straight answer..
"Ish," the Doctor added. Ella shook her head and Rose and her shared a glance.
"What's the plan, then? Are you going to do a scan for alien tech or something?" Rose asked, hoping for some Spock. Ella and Rose high fived behind the Doctor's back and he looked at them with an irritated glance.
"Rose, it hit the middle of London with a very loud bang. I'm going to ask," the Doctor told her, almost scolding her. The Doctor showed Rose his psychic paper ID for the occasion.
"Doctor John Smith, Ministry of Asteroids," Rose read out loud.
"It's psychic paper. It tells you..." the Doctor started.
"Whatever you want it to tell me, I remember," Rose told him. We came to a stop at a door marked Deliveries Only.
"Sorry," the Doctor apologised.
"Not very Spock, is it, just asking," Rose stated.
"Door, music, people. What do you think?" The Doctor asked, his ear pressed against the door.
"I think you should do a scan for alien tech. Give me some Spock, for once. Would it kill you?" Rose said angrily. The Doctor opened the door with the sonic screwdriver, and looked at Rose's Union Flag top.
"Are you sure about that t-shirt?" Dad asked Rose.
"Too early to say. I'm taking it out for a spin," Rose said. Ella looked around to find the source of the hairs on the back of her neck prickling and saw a child with a gas mask on top of the building.
"Mummy? Mummy?" She heard the child say. Rose also noticed the child and came to stand next to Ella.
"Come on if you're coming. It won't take a minute," Ella heard the Doctor say.
"Mummy?" The child said again.
"Doctor? Doctor? There's a kid up there!" Rose yelled. Rose walked forward and Ella followed behind. "Are you all right up there?"
"Mummy?" The child repeated. Ella saw Rose start running up a metal fire escape staircase.
"I'm going to regret this," Ella muttered before following Rose.
"Mummy?" The child repeated. Ella immediately felt as if this wasn't a normal child but she kept following Rose. They reached the roof and they both saw that the child was still further up.
"Okay, hang on. Don't move!" Rose warned. Suddenly a rope dangled down in front of Rose and Ella. She took hold of it and pulled. It seemed secure. Ella looked up and saw what the rope was attached to and that it was moving, the rope about to follow, so she then ran towards the building and jumped so she could use the wall to push herself upwards before grabbing the rope and holding on. Rose was using the rope to help herself climb up to the child. She obviously hadn't seen what Ella had.
"Mummy. Balloon!" The child exclaimed. The barrage balloon drifted upwards, pulling Rose and Ella away from the wall and the child, and dangling them over the alleyway. Rose was yelling for the Doctor while Ella was hanging on tightly and remaining calm.
"Doctor! Doctor! Doctor!" Rose screamed.
"He's not going to hear you," Ella shouted down at the blonde. Rose immediately shut up. Searchlights combed the sky and explosions and fires started in various parts of London. A squadron of German planes headed for the two girls.
"Okay, maybe not this t-shirt," Rose realised. Ella looked down at what she was wearing and nodded at how okay it would fit into the era. She was wearing a midnight blue long sleeve fitted shirt that went over her butt with black leggings and flats, perfect for running. Ella learned long ago that wearing heels while travelling was a dangerous game.
High over Westminster, Rose finally lost her grip on the thick rope. Rose grabbed Ella's foot on the way down and dragged the pink haired Time Lady with her. Screaming...well, Rose was screaming, Ella seemed completely calm but was inwardly panicking, they both fell. Suddenly, they both stopped and they were both caught in a beam.
"Okay, okay, I've got you," a male American's voice sounded. Ella had always had a weak spot for American accents, but this accent took the cake.
"Who's got me? Who's got me, and you know, how?" Rose asked, looking around her.
"I'm just programming your descent pattern. Keep as still as you can and keep your hands and feet inside the light field," the man's voice said.
"Descent pattern?" Rose asked.
"Oh, and could you switch off your cell phone?" Rose just laughed, thinking it was a joke. "No, seriously, it interferes with my instrument."
"You know, no one ever believes that," Rose said, turning off her phone.
"I believe him. Judging by this technology, the phone would mess with the equipment," Ella said to Rose.
"Thank you. That's much better," the man said.
"Oh, yeah, that's a real load off, that is. I'm hanging in the sky in the middle of a German air raid with the Union Jack across my chest, but hey! My mobile phone's off!" Rose yelled.
"Calm down, Rose, it will be worse if we panic. Breathe," Ella said to Rose gently. Rose breathed in deeply.
"Be with you in a moment," the man informed us, laughing.
"Hold tight!" The man warned.
"To what?" Rose screamed.
"Fair point," the man agreed.
Rose and Ella hurtled down the light field and Rose landed in the man's arms. Ella landed on the ground and held her head as she waited for the wave of dizziness to pass.
"I've got you. You're fine, you're just fine. The tractor beam, it can scramble your head just a little," the American explained. Ella studied him and noticed, not that it was hard, that he was extremely handsome. Gorgeous chocolate brown hair and bright blue eyes. An amazing jawline too.
"Hello," Rose greeted, a little dazed.
"Hello," the American replied.
"Hello. Sorry, that was hello twice there. Dull, but you know, thorough," Rose said. Ella snorted.
"Are you all right?" American man asked.
"Fine," Rose told him. The man then put Rose down. "Why, are you expecting me to faint or something?" Rose laughed.
"You look a little dizzy," American man said.
"What about you? You're not even in focus," Rose giggled before she fainted into his arms and he put her on a nearby bunk. He then turned to Ella.
"Hi!" Ella waved.
"Are you not gonna faint or something?" He asked with a charming grin.
"Nope, I'm used to this stuff. Her over there isn't though," Ella said. "So what's your name? I know you're American, I love the accent, by the way."
"Thank you, and thename is Captain Jack Harkness. And you?" Jack asked.
"Ella Smith. Nice to meet ya!" Ella grinned, getting to her feet.
"What's with the hair?" Jack asked.
"Born with it. I like it, don't you?" Ella said, holding a strand of hair between her fingers.
"I love it. I've always loved a girl that can stand out from the crowd," Jack smirked. Ella beamed at the American.
"I like you." Jack took a seat in the Captains chair with a grin. Rose moaned from the bunk and the two looked to the blonde as she woke up.
"Better now?" Jack asked her.
"You got lights in here?" Rose asked. Jack turned on the lights.
"Hello," Jack said.
"Hello," Rose replied.
"Hello," Jack repeated.
"Let's not start that again," Rose laughed.
"Okay," Jack agreed.
"So, who're you supposed to be, then?" Rose asked curiously.
"Captain Jack Harkness, One Three Three Squadron, Royal Air Force. American volunteer," Jack said, handing her some psychic paper.
"Liar. This is psychic paper. It tells me whatever you want it to tell me," Rose pointed out, a frown on her face as she read the paper.
"How do you know?" Jack asked.
"Two things. One, I have a friend who uses this all the time," Rose informed him.
"Ah," Jack sighed.
"And two, you just handed me a piece of paper telling me you're single, you work out, and you'd like to get to know pixie a bit better," Rose said, looking at Ella for the last bit with a smirk
"I'm a pixie? I know I'm small but a pixie? I like it," Ella chirped, making Jack grin at her.
"Tricky thing, psychic paper," Jack said.
"Yeah. Can't let your mind wander when you're handing it over," Rose said, giving the paper back to Jack.
"Oh, you sort of have a boyfriend called Mickey Smith but you consider yourself to be footloose and fancy free," Jack read.
"What?" Rose asked.
"Actually, the word you use is available," Jack pointed out.
"No way," Rose laughed.
"And another one, very," Jack added.
"Shall we try and get along without the psychic paper?" Rose said, starting to wonder around, making Jack follow behind.
"That would be better, wouldn't it?" Jack asked.
"Hang on!" Ella said, handing some psychic paper of her own to Jack. "Didn't want to be left out."
"You're single, love adventure, and wouldn't object to getting to know me as well, as long as some alcohol is involved. Great!" Jack grinned, handing the psychic paper back to Ella.
"Nice spaceship," Rose remarked.
"Gets me around," Jack said.
"Very Spock," Rose continued.
"Who?" Jack asked.
"Guessing you're not a local boy, then," Rose said.
"A cell phone, a liquid crystal watch, and fabrics that won't be around for at least another two decades. Guessing you're not some local girls," Jack said.
"Guessing right," Rose said.
"Burn your hands on the rope?" Jack asked Rose. A bomb whistled past and made a big bang.
"Yeah. We're parked in midair! Can't anyone down there see us?" Rose asked.
"No. Can I have a look at your hands for a moment?" Jack asked.
"Why?" Rose asked, hiding her hands and seeming nervous.
"Please? You can stop acting now. I know exactly who you are. I can spot a Time Agent a mile away," Jack said.
"Time Agent?" Rose asked.
"I've been expecting one of you guys to show up. Though not, I must say, by barrage balloon. Do you often travel that way?" Jack asked us.
"Sometimes we get swept off our feet. By balloons," Ella told him, flirting a little bit. "Never actually been swept off my feet though."
"What are you doing?" Rose asked Jack. Jack wrapped his scarf around her wrists.
"Try to keep still," Jack told her. He pressed a button and a glowing bundle zoomed into Rose's burnt palms.
"Nanogenes. Sub-atomic robots," Ella realised, walking forward and crouching down next to Rose.
"Correct. The air in here is full of them. They just repaired three layers of your skin, blondie," Jack said. The glow disappeared and he untied her wrists.
"Well, tell them thanks," Rose said.
"Shall we get down to business?" Jack asked.
"Business?" Ella asked, realising this might be about the object we saw in the Time Vortex.
"Shall we have a drink on the balcony? Bring up the glasses," Jack said, and winked at me.
Jack opened a hatch to the top of his spaceship and went up. Ella grabbed three glasses and followed him up. Ella watched the fires of London burn below them, and searchlights pass through where the spaceship was. She knew it would be invisible, because otherwise people would be freaking out, but she couldn't help but admire the view.
"Whoa. It's gorgeous up here," Ella said in awe before wincing at her words. "You know, despite the fact we're in the middle of the Blitz." Rose came up and she looked slightly terrified.
"I know I'm standing on something," Rose said, a bit freaked out. Jack pressed a button on a remote control and the ship appeared. "Okay, you have an invisible spaceship."
"Yeah," Jack chuckled.
"Tethered up to Big Ben for some reason," Rose said, confused.
"First rule of active camouflage, Rosie. Park somewhere you'll remember," Ella explained. Jack opened the bottle of champagne and filled the glasses Ella brought up. Rose took hers and then admired the view. Jack and I had a nice little conversation until Rose interrupted.
"You know, it's getting a bit late. We should really be getting back," Rose said, walking towards them.
"We're discussing business," Jack stated.
"This isn't business. This is champagne," Ella told him.
"I try never to discuss business with a clear head. Are you travelling alone? Are you authorised to negotiate with me?" Jack asked.
"What exactly would we be negotiating?" Ella asked, leaning in towards Jack a bit.
"I have something for the Time Agency. Something they'd like to buy. Are you in power to make payment?" Jack asked Rose and Ella.
"Well, I should talk to my companion," Ella said, Rose nodding along.
"Companion?" Jack asked.
"We should really be getting back to him. Shouldn't we, Rose?" Ella said to the blonde.
"Him?" Jack asked.
"Do you have the time?" Rose asked Jack. Jack pressed another button on his remote and the clock face lights up and Big Ben strikes nine thirty. Ella and Rose laughed.
"Okay, that was flash. That was on the flash side," Rose giggled.
"So when you say your companion, just how disappointed should I be?" Jack asked them. He stepped closer to Ella and placed his hands on her waist.
"He's my dad, so for me you won't be disappointed at all," Ella asssured with a grin. Jack threw her a smirk.
"Okay, we're standing in midair," Rose said.
"Mmm-hmm," Jack agreed.
"On a spaceship, during a German air raid. Do you really think now's a good time to be coming on to me?" Ella asked.
"Perhaps not," Jack agreed. Letting go of Ella.
"It was just a suggestion," Ella pouted
"Do you like Glenn Miller?" Jack asked. Ella nodded. Jack pressed another button on the remote and 'Moonlight Serenade' plays. Jack took Ella in his arms and the two danced, Rose smirking at them. Ella laughed at how odd it was, but made no move to stop. She hadn't danced in a long time and she missed it. "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?"
"Do you know what I think?" Ella asked Jack.
"What?" Jack asked.
"I think you were talking just then," Ella smirked.
"Two hours, the bomb falls. There'll be nothing left but dust and a crater," Jack pointed out.
"Promises, promises," Ella teased.
"Are you listening to any of this?" Jack asked,
"Of course I am. You used to be a Time Agent, now you're some kind of freelancer. You want to sell the Time Agency a Chula Warship and our deadline is in two hours when a bomb falls on it," Ella told him.
"Well, that's a little harsh. I like to think of myself as a criminal," Jack flirted.
"I bet you do," Ella laughed.
"So, this companion of yours, does he handle the business?" Jack asked both the women. Ella's eyes flickered over to Rose who was sitting down and smirking knowingly at me.
"Well, I delegate a lot of that, yeah," Ella told him. "Seeing as I am his daughter."
"Well, maybe we should go find him," Jack stated.
"And how're you going to do that?" Rose asked.
"Easy. I'll do a scan for alien tech," Jack said, letting go of Ella to work with his Vortex Manipulator.
"Finally, a professional," Rose said, grinning. Ella rolled her eyes fondly.
A few minutes later, the three were walking through the corridors of a hospital. Apparently the Doctor was here, and Ella was trying to figure out why. Ella held her Laser Spanner in her right hand, ready to use it if needed.
"Hello?" Jack yelled.
"Hello?" Rose called out as well.
"Dad? Hello?" Ella shouted. They then saw the Doctor walking towards them.
"Good evening. Hope we're not interrupting. Jack Harkness. I've been hearing all about you on the way over," Jack greeted, shaking the Doctor's hand.
"He knows. I had to tell him about us being Time Agents," Ella said, winking at the Doctor. He obviously understood.
"And it's a real pleasure to meet you, Mister Spock," Jack said, hitting the Doctor on the back. Jack continued forward to the ward with Ella following. He went over to one of the patients to scan them, Ella did the same but on the opposite side of the room. Jack was using his Vortex Manipulator to examine the patients.
"It's not possible," Ella said, just as the Doctor and Rose entered the room. Ella immediately went to her third patient to scan them and got exactly the same results.
"This just isn't possible. How did this happen?" Jack asked.
"What kind of Chula ship landed here?" The Doctor asked.
"What?" Jack asked, confused.
"He said it was a warship. He stole it, parked it somewhere out there, somewhere a bomb's going to fall on it unless we make him an offer," Rose explained.
"What kind of warship?" The Doctor asked.
"Does it matter? It's got nothing to do with this," Jack protested.
"This started at the bomb site. It's got everything to do with it. What kind of warship?" The Doctor asked, getting angry.
"An ambulance! Look," Jack yelled. He produced a hologram of the ship from his Manipulator. "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. 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 asked.
"I wanted to sell it to you and then destroy it before you found out it was junk," Jack said.
"You said it was a war ship," Rose pointed out.
"They have ambulances in wars, Rose," Ella said.
"It was a con. I was conning you. That's what I am, I'm a con man. I thought you were Time Agents. You're not, are you?" Jack said.
"Just a couple more freelancers," Ella grinned.
"Oh. Should have known. The way you guys are blending in with the local colour. I mean, Flag Girl was bad enough, but U-Boat Captain?" Jack asked. "At least pixie could belong, you know, once the guys get over the fact she's wearing pants."
"They'll get over it," Ella shrugged.
"Anyway, whatever's happening here has got nothing to do with that ship," Jack said adamantly.
"What is happening here, Doctor?" Rose asked.
"Human DNA is being rewritten by an idiot," the Doctor said angrily.
"What do you mean?" Ella asked.
"I don't know. Some kind of virus converting human beings into these things. But why? What's the point?" The Doctor asked. The patients suddenly sat up.
"Mummy. Mummy. Mummy? Mummy?" The patients chanted.
"What's happening?" Rose asked, her voice rising slightly in pitch.
"I don't know," the Doctor replied, frowning. The patients all stood up and walked towards the group.
"Mummy," the patients chanted.
"Don't let them touch you," the Doctor warned them.
"What happens if they touch us?" Rose asked, voice still high.
"You're looking at it," the Doctor said. The patients started to close in on Dad, Rose, Jack and Ella, forcing them into a corner.
"Help me, mummy," they all chanted. "Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy."