Sorry it's taken so long to update, I kinda had a bout of Writer's Block on this fic. But now I'm sorted- I think- so the next chapter shouldn't take so long! Thanks for reviewing so far everyone- cookies for all!
Chapter Five
The Doctor and his companions made an odd group as they walked down the empty street, gloomy street lamp after another alighting their faces under a clear sky. The sun had finally set, though it didn't seem to be taking the oppressive heat along with it.
"But that's mad!" Rose threw her arms up in despair, glancing at the Doctor. "So you mean to tell us that we are being infected with a virus that transmits itself electronically?"
"A computer virus," the Doctor corrected.
Mickey looked stupefied. "That ain't possible, our bodies aren't wires and metal machines! We're living flesh!"
"You're forgetting that machines can work in similar ways to humans," Jack said knowingly. "What are nuts and bolts between flesh and blood? Nothing really when you come down to it. Just because one is 'alive' and the other isn't. Sometimes I still wonder when you humans are gonna rewrite the definition of the word 'alive'."
"So…what you're saying is…the computer virus is entering our bloodstream like it does to the network in a computer?" Mickey grimaced, still trying to get his head around everything.
The Doctor patted him. "Yeah, small correction. The virus isn't entering the bloodstream. It's travelling through the nerves."
"So it must be transmitting electronically…the way a normal computer virus does," Rose finished. She beamed at the proud look in the Doctor's eyes, before her face darkened. "So who made a scan to check for other alien technology?" She looked pointedly at Jack and the Doctor.
"I thought you did." Both pointed at the other before gulping.
"Well it's too late now for that," Mickey said sarcastically.
The Doctor muttered, head in hands. "I should've known…those co-ordinates weren't random…we could've made a stop anywhere…but here of all places…"
Rose's face fell slightly. "So what do we do now?"
"First, we-" Jack began.
"We fix the TARDIS." The Doctor's eyes were steel.
Mickey stopped, face hardening. Rose could sense a stand off about to take place. "Wait a minute…did I just hear you correctly? You want to fix your machine?"
"TARDIS," the Doctor said.
"But what about all those people in hospital?"
"Well they're not gonna go anywhere are they?" The Doctor retorted, smiling thinly. "A few hours won't make any difference."
Mickey folded his arms. "Don't you even care about what happens to them?"
"The TARDIS is most important right now," the Doctor said, tight-lipped, end of story. Both were staring at each other, challenging to see who'd back off first.
"Oh, so you're gonna watch all those people die whilst you fix your stupid machine and waltz off to another friggin' place. What the hell is wrong with it anyway?"
"Guys…" Rose said nervously.
The temperature lowered ever so slightly.
"Seeing as you're so interested in what's wrong with it, why don't you go fix it. Go on, see what your feeble mind can make of it, eh? Stupid ape," he said, turning away in disgust.
Mickey's eyes were aflame with wildfire. "Fine." The word was articulated quietly, but with just enough force to make everyone take notice.
"What?" Everyone reeled back.
"I said I'd fix it," Mickey said quietly. "Prove myself to you, huh? That's what it's like every time, isn't it? Well we'll see what 'stupid Mickey' can and can't do." And with that, he stalked off, leaving everyone with their mouths wide open.
"Jack, will you go with him and make sure he's OK?" Rose asked, after she'd gotten over the shock of Mickey's turbulent exeunt.
"Jack, will you actually make sure he knows where he's going? And try to find the Knife too," the Doctor added. "After you've fixed it, set the TARDIS on auto and go look for us. I have a feeling we'll be travelling far tonight."
Jack flashed his trademark smile and saluted, "aye, aye Captain," before hurrying off after Mickey. Rose watched him turn the corner before she turned her attention back to the Doctor.
"What was that all about?"
The Doctor shrugged. Rose raised an eyebrow, hands on hips.
"Well Mickey needs to be in his best shape if he's gonna have half a chance of fixing the TARDIS."
"But Jack's going with him."
"Exactly, the more the merrier." Rose gave him a penetrating stare. "Come on, let's get back and try to find out more about this virus. I have some very interesting questions that can't be answered by hanging around street corners." And with that, he dragged Rose off home.
xXx
Blue electricity crackled as Jack was thrown back. "Dammit! I need to know what I'm dealing with!" Rubbing his forehead he muttered- "Some kind of shield, can't be standard…seen it before…"
Mickey tentatively reached his hand forward and sparks shot out again. "Owww! Are all force fields like this?" He winced. "Computer games have certainly got it right."
Jack observed blue sparks dancing across the ripple effect of the force field and slapped himself. "Of course, that's why it looks familiar!"
"What?" Mickey asked dubiously.
"This force field. You have it on all your Earth games…and we all know the galaxy's advanced since these type A shields were created." Mickey looked lost. "OK," Jack said more slowly, as if he were reciting from a manual for dummies. "If anything has just been invented on Earth, then it probably means that we had it a few hundred years ago."
"Hey, you calling us Earthlings retarded?" Mickey said defensively.
"In more words," Jack shrugged. "OK, this force field is crude. There's no point in us trying to figure out how to take it apart-" Mickey opened his mouth –"-we don't have the technology for it…it's all locked in this baby." Jack slapped the TARDIS, before he realised what he'd done and was thrown back to the ground in a shower for sparks. "So," he picked himself up, and continued as if nothing had happened, "we go to option B. Break through the force field with sheer power."
"What? You mean like get a tank or something and ram it?" Mickey was looking more stupefied by the minute.
Jack's eyes sparkled. "Exactly."
xXx
The Doctor had been unsuccessful in his attempts to get at the virus from a distance, and was unwilling to subject himself to it.
"You know, in case I'm affected too, not that I will be of course. Body ship shape, but best not to take chances," he said, tapping his chest.
"Wait a moment Doctor," Rose murmured, staring at the computer screen. A whole truckload of virtual mail was sitting on her virtual doorstep and she knew that all of them would be carriers of the virus. "You say you want to find out how the virus works, but you don't want to open it yourself? Then how about getting someone who's already infected with it?"
It was as if the sun had risen. "Of course, Rose! I knew I recruited you for a reason!" He danced gleefully to avoid a swing from Rose before he grabbed her arm and- "to the hospital!"
xXx
"What do we do when we've found out more about the virus?" Rose puffed.
"Then we track down who is responsible. People on Earth aren't ready for this yet; this technology is centuries ahead. Oh, and we'd better find the Knife too," the Doctor added as an afterthought.
"Jack's got that sorted," Rose blurted, struggling to keep up with him. Boy, when the Doctor got going, he really did get going.
They swung past an empty playground, slide and swings illuminated by the last dregs of the setting sun. The Doctor had finally taken off his jacket in response to the heat, and as they neared the gloomy modern complex that was the hospital, he wiped his forehead.
"Can't you do something about your summers?" He asked, fanning himself.
Rose had finally caught up with him. "Doctor," she began hesitantly, twirling a strand of hair. "You know I was wondering, how hot it is…"
"Then go and take your clothes off," he interrupted bluntly. "Oh, and yes, the virus is what's responsible for this heat. Anything electronic is bound to come up against a lot of resistance. And friction equals heat, voila!" Without waiting for a reply, he said, "quickly see if anyone in here is actually conscious."
Ten minutes later and the disappointed look on Rose's face said enough. The hospital had been sealed especially for these patients, and not one of them was conscious- in fact, they were all in the same lifeless state.
"Remind you of a past experience?" The Doctor murmured.
"God yeah, I still have nightmares over that," Rose laughed, but stopped when the Doctor strode off purposefully down a corridor. "Hey, where're you going?"
Catching up, she saw him about to enter a curtained room that looked no different from any of the others. She saw him press an ear to the door, and with a look of satisfaction, went inside. She went up to the room herself, and peered in to see what all the fuss was about.
Someone was lying on the bed. But what was so special about this person? It took Rose a minute to register the faint beeping noise. The Doctor pointed to the person's hand and Rose saw that it was holding a small device with a button. The person's thumb jabbed feebly onto the button repeatedly; in response a faint beeping emitted from it.
"Must be a nurse calling device," The Doctor muttered. "The battery's worn down. No wonder, if he'd been pressing it that many times."
The figure seemed to have registered their presence. He tilted his head towards Rose and croaked, "water."
Rose froze. "B-bobby? Is that you?" She edged closer, and…yes, it was Bobby! But why was he conscious, unlike the others?
"Rose, we've no time for this. Can't you see the boy's dying? Get him some water, quick!" The Doctor ordered. He bent over Bobby, and carefully removed the sheets covering him. He ran his sonic screwdriver over Bobby, and clicked his tongue in satisfaction.
"Doctor, what are you doing?" Rose had returned with the water. She helped Bobby into a comfortable position before tipping the water down his throat.
"Thanks," he rasped. Beads of sweat lined his forehead and his once spiky brown hair was now sticky as the gel ran down. His face was as pale as ever, and though his temperature was sky high he still shivered.
"What's wrong with him," Rose whispered to the Doctor. "Why isn't he like the others?"
"Before he became totally unstable I ran my sonic screwdriver over him- this was when you were with Jackie," the Doctor explained. "I came across an anomaly, and the screwdriver must have neutralised it- it beeped red to show that it did detect alien cells. The screwdriver must have caused the virus to freeze, and so Bobby became stable. At least he won't be deteriorating any further for now," he added cheerfully.
"Great," Bobby muttered, eyeing the Doctor warily.
"Right lad, you're coming with us." The Doctor moved towards the bed, but Rose stopped him first.
There was a look of horror in her eyes. "What! We're gonna use him?"
"Use me for what?"
The Doctor patted him on the head, before hastily wiping his hand, "Don't worry, Bobby you'll be fine…well as fine as you are right now."
xXx
They'd transported him home by wheelchair, and as he was too feeble they also carried him up the stairs.
"Boy, you must feel like the King," the Doctor muttered as he lowered Bobby onto Rose's bed.
"Yeah," Bobby answered back, "if…I didn't feel like throwing up or dying at the same time." A rattling cough followed which shut the Doctor up for a bit.
"Here we are," Rose flourished, as she connected up to the Net and loaded her emails. "All ready and prime for inspection."
"Wait a minute…" The Doctor's frown deepened as he scrolled down the screen. "Who did you say these were from…?"
"Well," Rose bit her nails, "a load are from this Lieratt Velmer, but some others are from a Mattie Levlert-"
"And they are all from a Time Traveller," the Doctor finished smoothly. He folded his arms and waited for Rose's reply.
"What?" Rose seemed to be saying that a lot recently.
"Simple. Anagrams."
It dawned on her. "Holy…" she whispered. "They knew all along, they were playing games right from the start-"
"And that's why we need you Bobby, as soon as possible." The Doctor had filled Bobby in on the story as they'd wheeled him home; now with the Doctor's help he was sitting upright and facing the screen.
"So what do you…want me to do," he coughed, "open it? Like we all did?"
"Yeah," the Doctor nodded, looking solemn.
"Then…here…we go," Bobby murmured, and clicked.
Suddenly the screen was filled with random numbers and data, and a warning flashed on screen.
WARNING! YOU HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH A VIRUS, WARNING!
"Literally, too," the Doctor said in sympathy.
A beam of blue lightning zapped from the computer to Bobby. He screamed in agony as the beam went coursing into his system. "It d-didn't…do this…be-fore!" He gasped.
"So there have been developments," the Doctor muttered. "It mutates." He studied the screen of randomly flashing numbers, and suddenly he typed in something far too quickly for Rose to see, and yelled, "grab onto Bobby!"
"What have you done?" Rose cried as she took a hold of Bobby's arm.
"I reversed the instructions that's what," the Doctor answered. "The virus must've been transported from somewhere, so all I've done is reverse it so we go to where it came from." He screamed as suddenly the lightning zapped him.
"Here we go!" Rose yelled as a portal opened up in the screen, pulling them, dragging them in. This was it.
"Welcome," a female voice whispered as the Doctor and Rose logged on and entered the Spider's Web.
Woah, that was long! At least, now here come the action scenes! Stay where you are, and thanks for reviewing!
