The Doctor raised his elbow, smashing the glass in, reaching through and unlocking the door. "Good way in." Cara chirped. D.I Bishop gave them a look, shaking his head. "Here, you can't do that..."
"But we just did." Cara said, stepping inside, the smell of pine and mint mingled with the smell of burning rubber. The Doctor already inside, walking towards the counter, tapping on the bell. Cara making her way to the drawers, pulling them open, hunting for anything of suspicion. "Shop?" the Doctor called out, tapping on the bell. "If you're here, come out and talk to me! Magpie?"
"Maybe he's out." Tommy suggested. "Looks like it..." the Doctor mumbled, glancing at Cara. "Find anything?"
"Uh-huh." Cara said, pulling out a brown device, looking like a strange hybrid cross between a portable radio and TV, handing it to the Doctor. "Not very 1953, don't you think?"
"I do indeed," the Doctor said, taking it from her giving it a sniff. "Oh, hello...this isn't right. This is very much not right." he said, to Cara's open disgust, as he licked it.
"No!" Cara shouted, making Tommy and D.I Bishop jumping. "How many times do I have to tell you to not put random things in your mouth?" Cara scolded. "This is getting ridiculous."
"Tastes like iron. Bakelite." The Doctor continued, setting it down on the counter. "Well, what were you expecting, Kit-Kat?" Cara grumbled, taking the device, holding her hand out for the sonic. The Doctor handing it to her, Cara easily opening it up. The Doctor leaning over her. "Put together with human hands, yes, but the design itself…"
"Not human, not to this level anyway." Cara mumbled, gently touching the framework with the sonic. "Pretty."
"Beautiful work. That is so simple."
"A moron could use it." Cara added, biting her lower lip. "Not the only source though. See?" she said tapping on the framework with the sonic. "I do." The Doctor said. D.I Bishop seeming too distracted to hear them, glancing at Tommy eagerly, saying: "That's incredible. It's like a television, but portable. A portable television!"
The Doctor taking the sonic from Cara's hands, pointing it around the room, the televisions around them, fizzing into static. "It's not the only power source in this room..." the sonic whirring in agreement, the static turning into faces, each T.V displaying a new one.
"You're missing people, I believe, Detective." Cara said, her sharp eyes sweeping around the room, her heart cracking slightly at the people. Their terror was evident, mouthing, no, screaming for someone, anyone to help them.
"Gran?" Tommy whispered, touching a screen, displaying his grandmother's face. The Doctor paused before another, with Rose's faces on the screen, bending down her gently touched the screen. "We're on our way."
'Hang in there, Rose.'
"What do you think you're doing?" Magpie yelled, from next to Cara, the girl letting out a squeal jumping back away from him.
"I want my friend restored and I think that's beyond a little backstreet electrician so tell me, who's really in charge here?" the Doctor shouted, glaring at him. Magpie flinching at his anger. Cara didn't blame him, it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
'It does?'
"Yoohoo! I think that must be me." a woman's voice said, appearing, abet pixelated onto the screen. "Ooh, this one's smart as paint." the woman said, eyeing the Doctor, who was looking almost surprised at her appearance. "Is she talking to us?" D.I Bishop asked slowly.
"Sorry gentlemen, child," Mr Magpie said, inkling his head slightly. "I'm... I'm afraid you've brought this on yourselves. May I introduce you to my new...friend."
"She's no friend." Cara said sharply. "Jolly nice to meet you." the woman continued. "Oh my God, it's her," D.I Bishop said gesturing to the T.V. "That woman off the telly."
"No," the Doctor said shaking his head. "It's just using her image."
"What...what are you?" Tommy asked, turning towards the image. The Doctor, D.I Bishop and Tommy in front of her. "I'm the Wire," the woman, now, the Wire introduced. "And I will gobble you up, pretty boy. Every last morsel. And when I have feasted, I shall regain the corporeal body, which my fellow-kind denied me." she said, her screen's colourising.
"Good Lord, colour television!" D.I Bishop cried. "10 years, detective." Cara quipped.
"So your own people tried to stop you?" the Doctor asked. "They executed me." The Wire said. "But I escaped, in this form, and fled across the stars."
"And now you're trapped in the television." The Doctor said, staring at the Wire's face, her smirk and the colour fading away. That touched a nerve, Cara wondered how long she'd been in there, mixed between the different frequencies and radio waves.
"Not for much longer." The Wire said, her sickly sweet voice sending chills down Cara's back. "Is this what got my gran?" Tommy asked, eyeing the Wire with the look he'd given his father. "Yes, Tommy." The Doctor answered, glaring at the TV. "It feeds off the electrical activity of the brain, but it gorges itself like a great overfed pig. Taking people's faces, their essences, it stuffs itself."
"And you let her do it, Magpie." D.I Bishop yelled, turning on Magpie. The man whimpering in the corner. "I had to! She allowed me my face! She's promised to release me at the time of manifestation."
"God, Magpie you really are an idiot." Cara said, shaking her head, the brain pausing on the word: manifestation.
"What does that mean?" Tommy asked, seeming to have picked upon that as well. "
"The appointed time, my crowning glory."
"You're sick." Cara said, her the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. "Doctor, the coronation!" D.I Bishop gasped.
"For the first time in history, millions gathered around a television set." The Doctor said, edging closer to the TV. "But you're not strong enough yet, are you? You can't do it all from here. That's why you need this!" he said holding up the portable television. "You need something more powerful! This will turn a big transmitter into a big receiver."
"What a clever thing you are!" the Wire laughed. "But why fret about it? Why not just relax? Kick off your shoes and enjoy the coronation. Believe me, you'll be glued to the screen."
The Doctor reacted miles before she did, pushing her to the ground, a red beam shooting past her ear. "Doctor!" Cara shouted, watching lines of bright red light, burst from the TV, attaching itself to the Doctor, Tommy and D.I Bishop.
"Doctor!" Cara shouted, crawling back, behind the counter, away from the TV's.
"Hungry! Hungry! The Wire is hungry!" the Wire shouted in glee. Magpie whimpering in the corner. The Doctor, Tommy, D.I Bishop. They were being sucked in, their very souls to feed her.
And she was behind the counter, across from Magpie and while she was not whimpering in fear (at least not outwardly) she felt no better than him at the moment. Idea? Idea? She needed to know what to do next?
"Ah! This one is tasty!" the Wire shouted. Cara peeking over the counter, careful not to get caught in the beams or the TV's. "Oh! I'll have lashings of him!" The Wire cried, her beady eyes fixating on the Doctor. "Delicious! Ah!"
'Oh. Hell. No.'
Digging into her pocket, she fished out the sonic, jumping onto the counter, turning the frequency on high. "Hey!" Cara shouted. "Feed on this!" Lifting the sonic high above head, shutting her eyes. This was going to be loud.
"Armed! She's armed and clever!"
The sound was deafening. Which was almost funny, as the only thing she could hear the humming of the sonic screwdriver which simply reverberated in her ears, at what seemed like a thousand disciples.
"Withdraw! Withdraw!"
The Wire severed the connection, the three dropping to the floor. The TV screens in the room smashing, the glass sprinkling onto the floor, where the Doctor, Tommy and D.I Bishop lay. Red light, jumping into the portable TV, on the floor.
"The box, Magpie! The box!" the Wire squealed.
Magpie ran forwards, Cara jumping of the counter, making a grab for the box. Magpie grabbing the handle yanking in out of her grip, running out the door, the glass shattering when it slammed shut.
"Magpie! Get back here you coward!" Cara shouted, running out of the door. Magpie already driving off in the car. "Great." Cara said, rushing back in, skidding to the floor, shaking the Doctor violently.
'Wake up, already!' she screamed, the Doctor jerking awake. "Took you long enough." Cara said, the Doctor holding his head. 'Are you okay?'
'Headache. I'm alright.' the Doctor thought, checking D.I Bishop. 'Are you okay?'
'Better than him.' Cara thought, glancing at D.I Bishop, who had now joined one of the faceless. The Doctor looked grim. Cara walking to Tommy, giving him a rough shake. "Wakey, wakey. Come on Tommy, wake up!"
"What happened?" Tommy groaned. Cara helping him up. "The Wire. She tried to take you're faces. She jumped into the portable TV, Magpie grabbed it before I could, he drove off just a few minutes ago." Cara said, guilt seeping into her system. "I'm sorry, I should have ran after him or—"
"You saved us all." The Doctor said, squeezing her shoulder. "We just need to figure out where he's going."
"We don't even know where to start looking, it's too late." Tommy said quietly.
"It's never too late, as a wise person once said, Kylie I think..." the Doctor said, taking Tommy's shoulder, giving it a pat. "But the Wire's got a big plan...so it'll need...Yes, yes, yes, it's got to harness half the population...millions and millions of people...and where are we?"
"Muswell Hill." Tommy answered.
"Muswell Hill. Muswell Hill! Which means..." the Doctor said, glancing out the window, Cara following his gaze to a large building. "Alexandra Palace, biggest TV transmitter in North London! Ohh! That's why they chose this place!"
"If the Wire connects at Alexandra Place, she'll be able to transmit to a wider audience. Big transmitter into a big receiver." Cara said, glancing around the store.
"What are you going to do?" Tommy asked, glancing between the Doctor and Cara. "We're going shopping," the Doctor called, dashing inside the backroom of the store.
"Is this what you want?" Tommy asked, holding up the device, Cara and the Doctor made. "Perfect! Right, I need one more thing." The Doctor said, handing some of the other equipment to Tommy. Cara picking up a stray duffle bag, sliding in a few more things. "Just in case." she added, when Tommy shot her a quizzing look.
Sliding the bag over her shoulder, she and Tommy ran out into the street, the Doctor running out. "Got it, let's go." he said, breaking off into a sprint. Tommy after him, able to match about 70% of his speed.
"I feel like you don't grasp the fact, I have short legs!" Cara yelled, running after them, puffing and panting as she went.
"There!" Tommy shouted, pointing at Magpie on the pylon above them. "How'd he get up there?" Cara puffed, hands on her knees gasping for air.
"Come on!" the Doctor shouted, sprinting towards the entrance. "Come on…" Cara whined, running after him. One of the officers around Alexandra Place stopping them. "Woah, Woah, woah! Where do you think-"
The Doctor whipped out, his psychic paper. The official's eyes flying out of his skull. "Oh! I'm sorry sir! Shouldn't you be at the coronation?" he said. "They're saving me a seat." The Doctor said shortly, walking past. Cara inclining her head towards him. The official half bowing as they went past.
"Who did he think you were?" Tommy asked, when they rounded the corner, making their way to the door. The Doctor glanced at the psychic paper. "King of Belgium, apparently."
"Poor guy." Cara chuckled, pushing open the door that lead to the control room. The Doctor dashed around, Cara taking the backpack, pulling out all the necessary equipment. Tommy pulling out the video machine, standing next to the TV screen.
"Keep it switched on." The Doctor said, to Tommy, Cara fiddling with the wires. If it needed to work, she had to keep everything stable and connected. "Don't let anyone stop you, Tommy. Everything depends on it. You understand?"
Tommy nodded. Cara tossing the Doctor, the device they built. "Be back." The Doctor said, going out the door. Cara paused for a second, before pushing it open after him. "Doctor!" she called. He paused, glancing behind him.
"Be careful."
He smiled. 'I'm always careful.'
Cara snorted, pushing open the door, standing next to Tommy. "What now?" Tommy asked, glancing neverously at her. Cara sighed. "We listen and we wait."
Easier said than done of course. After a few second of near silence, with the flickering noise of the TV, screams echoed all around them. "What's happening?" Tommy asked.
"I don't know." Cara mumbled, the image on the TV flickering slightly. "Get down!" she said, grabbing him by the shirt, yanking him to the floor, as a red beam expelled from the TV.
"What the-!"
"Shh!" Cara hissed, a odd burning sensation entering her chest. The Doctor…was he hurt? Most time she didn't even think he could get hurt. The Doctor so brave and funny and selfless and kind. So otherworldly and constant. Most times she forgot…he could even be hurt.
One of the wires connected to the TV, sparked. The smell of smoke burning her nose. "Damn it." she mumbled. "We gotta find another plug quickly." she said to Tommy. He nodded, running to the left, pulling out drawers, rummaging in for the plug. Cara doing the same on the right.
"Got it!" Tommy shouted, pulling out the old, re-places it with the new. Re-plugging it into the machine. "Think it worked?" he asked. Cara paused for a second, shutting her eyes. She could feel it, right at the back of her mind. Triumph.
She grinned. "I think it did."
The TV made a noise, making the two jump, before realising it was the crowds. The coronation. She almost forgot.
"What have I missed?" The Doctor asked, pushing open the door, throwing some of the burn out wiring and rope to the corner of the room. "Doctor!" Tommy said brightly. Cara smirked to herself. Someone found himself a new role-model. She was glad, anyone was lucky if they chose to be like the Doctor.
"What happened?"
"Sorted. Electrical creature, TV technology, clever alien life form, that's me by the way." The Doctor said, standing behind them, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "I turned the receiver back into a transmitter and I trapped the Wire in here." he said, inclining his head to the TV. "I just invented the home video 30 years earlier. Betamax."
"Oh look! God save the Queen, eh?"
"May her rein be long and plentiful." Cara said, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes, before pulling a face. "Just letting you know, I'm not walking another step." she said, rubbing her ankles. "You know how painful it is to run in Mary-Janes?"
The Doctor laughed, ruffling her hair. Cara smacking his arm. "Really again." she said, trying to fix it up, flattening it down. 'Are you okay?'
'I'm better now.'
"Don't fret your majesty," The Doctor hummed, bowing so low, that his hair touched the floor. "I, the King of Belgium, will humbly grant your wish."
Tommy and the Doctor return to their street. There are loads of people milling around and meeting their loved ones.
"Gran!" Tommy shouted, spotting his grandmother though the sea of people. "Look, it's my grandson! Oh son!" Tommy's grandmother called, holding out her arms for a hug. Tommy racing into his grandmother's arms, hugging her tightly.
Cara rested her head on the Doctor's gelled hair, the two scanning the crowd for a familiar pink skirt. "There!" Cara called pointing from the Doctor's shoulders. "Rose!" she called, waving.
A wide smile burst on Rose's face, running towards them, giving the Doctor a hug, helping Cara off his shoulder, giving her a squeeze too. "Thank you." Rose mumbled into her ear. "For what?" Cara asked, Rose taking her hand, giving it a squeeze. Cara smiled. "Anytime."
"Now this is a party." Cara mused, watching the people out on the street: 50's music blasting out (only the greatest 10 hits) playing, people are out on the street dancing and talking. The trestle tables lined the centre of the road covered in pastries, cakes, drinks, whatever you could name and think of, it was there.
"We could go down the mall, join in with the crowd." Rose suggested. The Doctor shook his head, popping a cake into his mouth. "Nah, that's just pomp and circumstance. This is history right here."
"The domestic approach." Rose teased. "Exactly." The Doctor said, looping his free un-caked hand in Cara's. They chuckled, Cara grabbing a cupcake off the table, promptly shoving the entire thing in her mouth.
"Will it...that thing...is it trapped for good, on video?" Rose asked. "Hope so." The Doctor said swallowing, dusting his hands off. "Just to be on the safe side though, I'll use my unrivalled knowledge of trans temporal extirpation methods to neutralise the residual electronic pattern."
"You what?" Rose asked. "He's going to tape over it." Cara muffled out, her mouth still fill with cake. "Just leave it to me, I'm always doing that." Rose laughed.
"Hey, Tommy," Cara greeted. Tommy running up to them, grinning. "Tell you what Tommy, you can have the scooter." The Doctor said, before he could even open his mouth. "Little present. Best...um...keep it in the garage for a few years though, eh?"
Cara snorted, pausing for a second. Mr Connolly was walking down the street, suitcase in hand, head bowed low. "Good riddance." Tommy said, voicing the thought in Cara's mind.
"Is that it then, Tommy? New monarch, new age, new world, no room for a man like Eddie Connelly." The Doctor said tucking his hand into his pocket. "Agreed." Cara said, squinting her eye at the sun.
"That's right. He deserves it." Tommy said, his words harsh, but his eyes just a little …heartbroken. Rose nudged his shoulder lightly. "Tommy, go after him."
"What for?" Tommy asked, but Cara could see a glimmer of longing. "He's your dad." Rose answered. "He's an idiot." Tommy replied. Cara snorting into her third cupcake. 'Agreed.'
"Course he is." Rose said easily. "Like I said, he's your dad. But you're clever. Clever enough to save the world so don't stop there. Go on!" she said, giving Tommy another nudge. Tommy paused for a second, before turning around, giving them a goodbye, he ran down to his father, taking his bags from him.
"He's a good kid." Cara said, munching on her cupcake, folding in paper case neatly. "He is." The Doctor mused. "Don't you dare." he added, Cara pausing in reach for another cupcake. "Come on, I'm starving." she said, pouting.
"Then we'll get some food, you can't eat so much sugar, you'll get sick." The Doctor scolded, making Rose burst into peals of laughter. "Ugh, you're such a downer." Cara whined, childishly.
The Doctor paused. "One more, but that's it. Then we'll get some lunch."
Cara grinned, taking another, already halfway finished with it, before the Doctor even finished his sentence. "Deal."
Hiya!
Thoughts?
My fav storyline is finally here! I have 1 thing to say, (besides the usual) Gather your tissue boxes.
Thanks for all the love, everyone!
Don't forget to fav, follow, review ect...
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Till next time...