'We may already be too late.'

The car glided along, Sarah Jane gripping the wheel as she looked ahead.

'Mum, what's so important about the forest?' Luke asked, alarmed by the car's high speed.

'There's no time to explain.'

'Is it-'

'There's no time, Luke!'

Was Mum all right?

As the forest came into view, the car gradually came to a halt.

'What about Cromley?'

'We're late.'

Luke reached for his phone.

No new messages from Rani.

'Late for what?'

Sarah Jane didn't respond, instead exiting the car. Luke followed, bewildered.

What was up with Mum?

Luke followed Sarah Jane as she strode further into the forest.

'Mum, are you all right?'

'Yes, Luke, just fine.'

Her tone suggested otherwise.

'Mum, tell me what's going on.'

Sarah Jane continued on.

'There's a life pod here, it was in the paper this morning. I wanted to investigate.'

'What about Cromley?'

'There was nothing I could do,' Sarah Jane said. 'Now, come on.'

As they approached the middle of the forest, a man greeted them. No life pod in sight.

'Good afternoon, Miss Smith. And the Archetype, Luke.'

Sarah Jane looked, as did Luke.

'Who are-'

'Oh, stop the pretence, Miss Smith,' the man said. 'You've done very well. Harrison will be proud.'

'Mum, who's Harrison?'

'I am.'

The voice blared like a tannoy on the Tube station.

'What a...pleasure it is, to finally...meet you both.'

Luke turned to Sarah Jane.

'Mum?'

She glanced, but didn't respond.

'And well done to you, Colin.'

He smiled.

'Ma'am.'

Luke glared at Colin.

'Whatever you've done to my mum, stop it now.'

Colin chuckled.

'And that would be...?'

'Don't-'

'It's nothing, Luke,' said Sarah Jane. 'Don't worry.'

'Colin, what have you done to-'

THUD!

Luke jarred, then hit the ground.

Colin smiled.

'Thank you for shutting boy genius over there up,' he said, as Sarah Jane lowered Cromley's pistol.

'Job done on Cromley too, I see.'

'And you, Colin.'

BANG! BANG!

Colin screamed, falling as his knees blew open.

'What the hell, Harrison?!'

'Honesty...is the best policy, Colin. Even Wormwood knew that.'

Colin held what remained of his knees, shaking and groaning.

'You bitch!'

'Miss Smith?'

Sarah Jane fired, and Colin became still.

'And now...it is your turn.'

Sarah Jane dropped the pistol and screamed, as a shrill discharge sliced through her ears.

Harrison chuckled, as Sarah Jane lay sprawled out across the ground.

Excellent.