When Rose finally woke me, I felt worse than I had in a long time. All I wanted was to sleep and never wake up again. Unfortunately, Rose had taken to watching me like a hawk so returning to sleep was out of the question. Sighing, I sat up and took the cup of tea. She silently watched me take a sip, her expression stoic. I knew she was worried about me… and I couldn't blame her. I was a ticking time bomb on the verge of exploding and the only keeping me from doing so was her. I flinched as I felt her hand on my arm. "How're you feeling?" I glanced at her, not answering. She sighed. "I asked the Doctor to take us home for a visit. Maybe seeing mum would do some good. We could go to your flat for a bit, too. Maybe get her to give him another slap." She stopped when she realised I wasn't going to answer. "Alright then. I brought some clothes over so go shower and get dressed." I stood and followed her instructions, emerging ten minutes later, fully clothed and my hair soaked. I didn't care if it went through my clothes. I didn't care about anything anymore. I just wanted the pain to end.
Reaching the console room, Rose sat me in the chair and went over to the Doctor. I saw him glance my way for a split second before returning to the conversation he was having. After the quick exchange, Rose picked up her black and red travel bag and dragged me to the Tardis door, pulled me out. I barely noticed that we were on a playground as she led me into the estate and to her house. "Mum, it's us! We're b-a-c-k!" Rose called out the moment we entered the house.
Once the door had closed we saw Jackie move from the kitchen and she wrapped her arms around us. I managed to hug her back before going over to the settee and sitting as Rose stood with her. "Oh, I don't know why you bother with that phone. Neither of you use it!"
"Shut up, come here!" They hugged again.
"Oh, I love you!"
"I love you!"
"I love you so much!" Jackie exclaimed.
Minutes later, the Doctor entered. The moment he saw the woman's arms around my neck, he tried to slink past but Jackie let go of me and attacked him. "Oh, no you don't. Come here!" She kissed him. "Oh, you lovely big fella. Oh! You're all mine." I just stared as he squirmed, looking at Rose and me for aid... mainly Rose since she was the only speaking to him… even if she wanted to murder him.
"Just- just- just put me down!" he said when he saw we weren't going to help, me in particular.
"Yes, you are." She let go of him and he practically ran to my side, glaring at the three of us. I flinched away, the proximity making me uncomfortable.
Rose handed Jackie her rucksack. "I've got loads of washing for you. And I got you this." Rose pulled out a small metal knick-knack. "It's from the market on this asteroid bazaar. It's made of, er, what's it called?"
"Bazoolium."
"Bazoolium. When it gets cold, yeah, it means it's going to rain. When it's hot, it's going to be sunny. You can use it to tell the weather."
"I've got a surprise for you and all."
"Oh, I get her bazoolium, she doesn't even say thanks," she muttered to me, frowning when she saw my expression.
"Guess who's coming to visit? You're just in time. He'll be here at ten past. Who do you think it is?"
"I don't know." Jackie looked at me expectantly but I shrugged… just barely.
"Oh go on, guess."
"No, I hate guessing. Just tell me."
"It's your granddad. Granddad Prentice. He's on his way any minute. Right, cup of tea!" She walked into the kitchen.
"She's gone mad," Rose stated.
"Tell me something new."
"Granddad Prentice, that's her dad. But he died, like, ten years ago. Oh, my God. She's lost it. Mum? What you just said about granddad..." Rose and the Doctor joined her in the kitchen while I remained on the settee.
"Any second now."
"But he passed away. His heart gave out. Do you remember that?"
"Of course I do."
"Then how can he come back?"
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" She glanced at her watch. "Ten past. Here he comes." A humanoid shape walked through the kitchen wall and stood next to Jackie. Almost immediately I felt a familiar presence and a chill ran down my spine. Not sparing the three a glance, I ran outside, only to see more of them littering the streets.
"They're everywhere!" The Doctor said as he came up beside me. The thing that got me was that no one was running. People were going about their days as if it were normal.
"Doctor, look out!" Rose called as I turned to see one of the shapes walk through the Doctor. He squirmed, pulling a face.
"They haven't got long. Midday shift only lasts a couple of minutes. They're about to fade."
"What do you mean, shift? Since when did ghosts have shifts? Since when did shifts have ghosts? What's going on?"
"Oh, he's not happy when I know more than him, is he?" she asked me, light-heartedly, only to stop chuckling when I didn't reply. "What's wrong, honey?" I turned away from her and walked back into the flat, returning to my spot on the settee. I barely looked up a moment later when the three of them came back inside. Rose grabbed my hand as the Doctor took a seat in the armchair, pulling me from the living room to the kitchen.
"On today's Ghostwatch, claims that some of the ghosts are starting to talk, and there seems to be a regular formation gathering around Westminster Bridge. It's almost like a military display," drifted into the kitchen as the Doctor watched the telly. Rose, Jackie, and I were in the kitchen drinking tea. The older woman intently studying me. I squirmed under her gaze, hating that her critical eyes examined me.
"So tell me, you two alright?"
"What do you mean?" Rose asked.
"I know you two have been at odds since Christmas."
"Yeah, we talked."
"Good. I don't like my girls fighting."
"Yeah, it wasn't really a fight though. More like we were too stubborn to talk to each other."
"You were both always like that. But tell me, what's wrong with Cerys? What happened?"
"It's… erm, complicated," Rose cautiously replied.
"No, it's not. I know that look and I need to know what happened to her. I can't deal with another incident. Especially if it could be prevented. Now tell me what happened, Rose!"
"Mum…"
"Now, Rose Marion Tyler."
Rose jumped but before she could reply, the Doctor spoke up from the living room. "It's all over the world." Rose and Jackie led me to the living room as the Doctor turned off the telly. "When did it start?"
"Well, first of all, Peggy heard this noise in the cellar, so she goes down-"
"No, I mean worldwide."
"Oh. That was about two months ago. Just happened. Woke up one morning, and there they all were. Ghosts, everywhere. We all ran round screaming and that. Whole planet was panicking. No sign of you, thank you very much. Then it sort of sank in. It took us time to realise that we're lucky."
"What makes you think it's granddad?" Rose asked.
"It just feels like him. There's that smell, those old cigarettes. Can't you smell it?"
"I wish I could, mum, but I can't."
"You've got to make an effort. You've got to want it, sweetheart."
"The more you want it, the stronger it gets."
"Sort of, yeah."
"So, a psychic link, then?" Rose asked.
"Exactly that. Of course you want your old dad to be alive, but you're wishing him into existence," the Doctor rationalised. "The "ghosts" are using that to pull themselves in."
"You're spoiling it."
"I'm sorry, Jackie, but there's no smell, there's no cigarettes. Just a memory."
"But if they're not ghosts, what are they then?"
"Yeah, but they're human!" Jackie said, trying to get the Doctor to see it her way. "You can see them. They look human."
"She's got a point. I mean, they're all sort of blurred, but they're definitely people."
"Maybe not. They're pressing themselves into the surface of the world. But a footprint doesn't look like a boot."
The four of us had gone to the Tardis, Jackie and I staying outside while Rose and the Doctor went to get whatever was needed. I could feel the woman's eyes on me, knowing she was extremely worried about me. I began to pull away as I felt her place a hand on my arm but I forced myself to remain still. "What is it, sweetheart? Please tell me what's the matter." As much as I wanted to break down and tell her everything, I couldn't. Instead, I stared ahead, trying my hardest to ignore her but the more she asked what was wrong, the more I could feel myself losing the small bit of sanity and control I had. Finally unable to keep my head, I stormed off, making the ten minute walk to my own flat.
I sat in the dark apartment for what felt like hours before the door opened. I made no move to see who it was but I knew it was Rose. She was the only one who would come over exactly after I'd left. She'd known me for too long to care much about the hostility I'd possibly present. Jackie didn't care much either but Rose was pretty much the only one who could get through to me. As she sat beside me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders, I didn't flinch or move. Her touch was comforting… familiar and calming.
Rose was silent for a long while, just offering her support. Yet, the longer she was quiet, the more I dreaded the moment she'd begin to speak. I knew what she'd say… that she'd want me to go back and Jackie was worried. If I were being honest, I felt horrible for putting Jackie through that again. I hated myself more than I could express but I was unable to show how much I wanted to open up and say how I felt; to tell her how much pain I was in. "Mum's really worried. Gave the Doctor quite an earful when he refused to tell her what happened. He's worried too, you know? He wanted to come along but I told him it was best if he stayed away." I gave her a small nod. "I know you're not alright and I won't ask but I need to know… why did you act like it was nothing? Like it hadn't bothered you when all the while, it was constantly gnawing at you?" I glanced at her, not sure how I was going to answer or if I was. It was a valid question, one that I hadn't expected her to ask. While I knew she was going to say something, I truly thought she'd try to get me to actually speak to the man. I watched her watch me as I thought of an answer. There were many reason why I went on as if it didn't matter; the biggest being that I was in denial… no I just wanted things to go back to normal. As much I knew it was true, I had hoped ignoring the problem would be best. Looking away from her, I shrugged. From the hole I could feel being burned into the back of my skull, I knew it wasn't the answer she wanted. "Cerys, I know I can't force you to say anything but come back with me. Mum and I don't want you being by yourself… not in this state. You won't have to say anything. You won't even have to mind the Doctor. I… I just can't leave you alone." I gave her a curt nod and let her pull me up and out the door.
Reaching the Tyler flat, Rose and I found Jackie and the Doctor still outside. The Doctor glanced up at us a quick second before returning to his task of gathering up cones. Jackie approached us and without a word, she pulled me into a hug. I gingerly returned it before the two of us followed Rose and the Doctor into the Tardis where the man was rattled off. "I said so!" The Doctor threw his jumper on the railing and ran to the console. "Those ghosts have been forced into existence from one specific point, and I can track down the source. Allons-y!" He flipped a switch causing the Tardis to jolt, almost causing us to fall to the floor. "I like that. Allons-y. I should say allons-y more often. Allons-y. Watch out, Rose Tyler. Allons-y. And then, it would be really brilliant if I met someone called Alonso, because then I could say, allons-y, Alonso, every time." He stopped rambling long enough to catch Rose's eye. "You're staring at me."
"Mum's still on board."
"If we end up on Mars, I'm going to kill you," Jackie said from her seat. I gave the woman a small smile as she folded her arms. While I knew it was possibility that it could happen, I knew the Tardis wouldn't end up there, even with the Doctor's horrible driving.
When we materialized, the Doctor checked the scanner. "Oh well there goes the advantage of surprise. Still… cuts to the chase." The alien man scratched the back of his head. "Stay in here. Look after Jackie. Cerys, you're with me." I glanced up at him, confused as to why he wanted me to exit the Tardis with him. I hadn't spoken to him in hours, or felt his touch and yet he wanted me to go out there with him. It confused me but it felt as if he wanted to spend some form of time with me… like he needed it. I sighed and turned away from the trio, caught up in my thoughts. It wasn't until Jackie placed a hand on my arm did I turn back to the conversation.
"I'm not looking after my mum," Rose said as she followed after him.
"Well, you brought her."
"I was kidnapped!"
Rose ran in front of him, blocking the door. "Doctor, they've got guns."
"And I haven't." He grabbed her arms and moved her out of the way, placing her next to Jackie. "Which makes me the better person, don't you think? They can shoot me dead, but the moral high ground is mine."
"And what about Cerys?"
"Oh, they'd get me first."
"They better," Jackie snapped.
He gently took hold of my hand and began to pull me out the door. While I did enjoy the physical contact, something he and I hadn't shared for a while, I still felt slightly uncomfortable with it as well. I couldn't help but pull away from him… something he seemed to greatly mind but said nothing about it. Instead he let me do so and raised his arms while mine were crossed, guns pointed at us… almost an exact repeat of our time with the Slitheen family. A blonde woman in a black suit ran into the room, stopping before us with a huge grin on her face. "Oh! Oh, how marvellous. Oh, very good. Superb! Happy day." She began to clap and the soldiers lowered their guns and soon joined in. The Doctor and I shot each other puzzled glances before he lowered his arms.
"Um, thanks. Nice to meet you. I'm the Doctor."
"Oh, I should say. Hurray!"
"Ah, you- you've heard of me, then?"
"Well of course we have. And I have to say, if it wasn't for you, none of us would be here. The Doctor and the Tardis." There was more applause.
As uncomfortable as I was, I was also extremely curious. "And who exactly are you?" I asked, speaking for the first time in a while.
"Oh, plenty of time for that. But according to the records, you're not one for travelling alone," she said, glancing at me. "The Doctor and his companion, or companions. That's a pattern, isn't it, right? There's no point hiding anything, not from us. So where is the other one?"
"Yes. Sorry. Good point. This is Cerys Smith." I looked up at him, seeing him smirk. I rolled my eyes, slightly amused. It seemed as if he was happy I'd began to speak again, even if it wasn't to him in particular. "The other one's just a bit shy, that's all." He reached in the slightly open door and pulled someone out… that someone happened to be Jackie. "But here she is, Rose Tyler. Hmm. She's not the best I've ever had. Bit too blond. Not too steady on her pins, a lot of that-" He motioned his hand, making the talking sign. "And just last week, she stared into the heart of the Time Vortex and aged fifty seven years. But she'll do."
"I'm forty!"
"Deluded. Bless. I'll have to trade her in. Do you need anyone? She's very good at tea. Well, I say "very good", I mean not bad. Well, I say "not bad"-. Anyway, lead on. Allons-y. But not too fast. Her ankle's going."
"I'll show you where my ankle's going," Jackie muttered as I chuckled a bit, earning a surprised glance from the woman. The Doctor was in for another slap if he kept on but something told me that he would have if it meant I'd laugh.
"It was only a matter of time until you found us, and at last you've made it. I'd like to welcome you, Doctor. Welcome to Torchwood." We were in a massive warehouse area that had jeeps and trucks driving around, a vast amount of crates, and a flying saucer in the left corner. Soldiers and scientists seemed to bustle about the place, each person busy with one task or another.
"That's a Jathar Sunglider."
"Came down to Earth of the Shetland Islands ten years ago."
"Did it crash?" I asked, fearing the answer.
"No, we shot it down. It violated our airspace. Then we stripped it bare. The weapon that destroyed the Sycorax on Christmas Day? That was us. Now, if you'd like to come with me." She began to lead us deeper into the room. "The Torchwood Institute has a motto- "If it's alien, it's ours." Anything that comes from the sky, we strip it down and we use it for the good of the British Empire."
"For the good of the what?" Jackie asked incredulously while I gawked at the woman. Upon first meeting her, I had been extremely put off by her demeanour but at that moment, I wanted nothing more than to be as far away from her as possible. The fact that she could so nonchalantly speak of shooting down a ship, or murdering the retreating Sycorax ship, it disgusted me.
"The British Empire."
"There isn't a British Empire."
"Not yet. Ah, excuse me. Now if you wouldn't mind." A soldier handed her a gun.
"Is that a particle gun?"
"I was going to ask the Doctor but yes, it is. Good, isn't it? Took us eight years to get it to work."
"It's the twenty first century. You can't have particle guns."
"We must defend our border against the aliens," the woman said as if the Doctor were obtuse. "Thank you… Sebastian, isn't it?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Thank you, Sebastian. I think it's very important to know everyone by name. Torchwood is a very modern organisation. People skills. That's what it's all about these days. I'm a people person."
"Have you got anyone called Alonso?"
"No, I don't think so. Is that important?"
"No, I suppose not. What's your name?"
"Yvonne. Yvonne Hartman." The Doctor nodded and picked up a black step stool with a handle on top and began to examine it. "Ah, yes. Now, we're rather fond of these. The Magnaclamp. Found in a spaceship buried at the base of Mount Snowdon. Attach this to an object and it cancels the mass. I could use it to lift two tonnes of weight with a single hand. That's an imperial ton, by the way. Torchwood refuses to go metric." The Doctor let it drop from his hand and back into the box
"I could do with that to carry the shopping."
"All these devices are for Torchwood's benefit, not the general public's."
"Watch it, you blond dimwit," I countered. She looked at me, giving me an extremely annoyed look and turned back to the Doctor. "What about the ghosts?" Her attention was back on me.
"Ah yes, the ghosts. They're er, what you might call a side effect."
"Of what?"
"All in good time, Doctor. There's an itinerary, trust me." Just then the Tardis was driven by on the back of a truck.
"Oi! Where are you taking that?" Jackie asked.
"If it's alien, it's ours."
"You'll never get inside it."
"Hmm! Et cetera." Yvonne gave smug smile and walked away, almost as if she thought she could get into the sentient machine. Turning, I saw Rose peak her head out the door and the Doctor gave her a small nod before we began to walk again.
"All those times I've been on Earth, I've never heard of you."
"But of course not. You're the enemy. You're actually named in the Torchwood Foundation Charter of 1879 as an enemy of the Crown."
"Scotland," I realized.
"1879. That was called Torchwood, that house in Scotland."
"That's right. Where you encountered Queen Victoria and the werewolf."
"I think he makes half of it up."
"Her Majesty created the Torchwood Institute with the express intention of keeping Britain great, and fighting the alien horde."
"But if I'm the enemy, does that mean that I'm a prisoner?"
"Oh yes. But we'll make you perfectly comfortable. And there is so much you can teach us. Starting with this." She scanned her badge and a steal door opened. We entered a laboratory with an enormous bronze sphere in the far center. The moment I laid eyes on the thing, I wanted to run. Sensing my discomfort, the Doctor grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. This time, I didn't pull away from him. I needed the comfort that his touch brought me. Yet, as much as I wanted it to help, it didn't. "Now, what do you make of that?"
"You must be the Doctor. Rajesh Singh. It's an honour, sir." Rajesh held out his hand for the Doctor to shake but his sole focus was on the sphere.
"Yeah."
"What is that thing?"
"We got no idea."
"But what's wrong with it?" Jackie asked.
Rajesh turned to her. "What makes you think there's something wrong with it?"
"I don't know. It just feels weird." The Doctor dropped my hand and put on his 3D specs and went up to investigate it.
"Well, the sphere has that effect on everyone. Makes you want to run and hide, like it's forbidden."
"We tried analysing it using every device imaginable. But according to our instruments, the sphere doesn't exist. It weighs nothing, it doesn't age, no heat, no radiation, and has no atomic mass."
"But I can see it."
"Fascinating, isn't it? It upsets people because it gives off… nothing. It is absent."
"Well, Doctor?"
"Cerys."
I rolled my eyes. It seemed as if he figured I was comfortable enough to actually talk again. While I wasn't, I wanted to be of some help, to at least try to seem as if I were okay during this adventure. I didn't want to cause any more trouble or worry for Jackie. "It's a Void Ship."
"And what is that?" Yvonne questioned.
"Doctor."
"Well, it's impossible for starters. I always thought it was just a theory but… it's a vessel designed to exist outside time and space… travelling through the Void." The Doctor jumped down from the step ladder, sitting on the second to last step, directly in front of Yvonne and Rajesh.
"And what's "the Void"?"
"The space between dimensions. There's all sorts of realities around us, different dimensions, billions of parallel universes all stacked up against each other. The Void is the space in between, containing absolutely nothing. Imagine that. Nothing. No light, no dark, no up, no down, no life, no time. Without end. My people called it the Void. The Eternals call it the Howling. But some people call it Hell."
"But someone built the sphere. What for? Why go there?"
"Many reasons. In there, eternity would pass you by. The Big Bang, the end of the Universe, and the start of the next; you'd exist outside creation," I answered.
"You see, we were right. There is something inside."
"Oh, yes."
"So, how do we get in there?"
"He didn't mean try to open it."
"She's right. We don't! We send that thing back into Hell. How did it get here in the first place?"
"Well, that's how it all started. The sphere came through into this world, and the ghosts followed in its wake."
"Show me." He jumped down, grabbed my hand and began to pull me to the left.
"No, Doctor." He turned and went right.
We ended up outside Yvonne's office once we'd left the lower levels. She had led us to a blank wall at the far end of the room it oversaw. "The sphere came through here. A hole in the world." The Doctor reached out and ran his hand over it. "Not active at the moment, but when we fire particle engines at that exact spot, the breech opens up."
"How did you even find it?"
"We were getting warning signs for years. A radar black spot. So we built this place, Torchwood Tower. The breech was six hundred foot above sea level. It was on the only way to reach it."
The Doctor put on his 3-D specs. "You built a skyscraper just to reach a spatial disturbance- How much money have you got?"
"Enough." Yvonne walked away and I followed a moment later, passing her as I went to Jackie's side. Glancing out the window, I was met with a breath-taking view.
Jackie went to look out the window. "Hold on a minute. We're in Canary Wharf- must be. This building, it's Canary Wharf."
"Well, that is the public name for it. But to those in the know, it's Torchwood."
"So, you find the breach, probe it, the sphere comes through six hundred feet above London, bam! It leaves a hole in the fabric of reality. And that hole, you think, oh, shall we leave it alone? Shall we back off? Shall we play it safe? Nah-"
"They thought to make it bigger," I finished off for him.
"It's a massive source of energy. If we can harness that power, we need never depend on the Middle East again. Britain will become truly independent. Look, you can see for yourself. Next Ghost Shift's in two minutes." She walked out of the office, the three of us following.
"Cancel it."
"I don't think so."
"I'm warning you, cancel it."
"Oh, exactly as the legends would have it. The Doctor, lording it over us. Assuming alien authority over the Rights of Man."
"Let me show you." He went back into her office. "Sphere comes through," he pointed the sonic at her glass wall and it cracked, "but when it made the hole, it cracked the world around it. The entire surface of this dimension splintered. And that's how the ghosts get through. That's how they get everywhere. They're bleeding through the fault lines. Walking from their world, across the Void, and into yours, with the human race hoping and wishing and helping them along. But too many ghosts, and…" he tapped the glass and it shattered, making his point extremely clear to the woman.
"Well, in that case we'll have to be more careful. Positions! Ghost Shift in one minute."
"Miss Hartman, I am asking you, please don't do it."
"We have done this a thousand times."
"Then stop at a thousand!" He growled. Sighing, I grabbed his arm and pulled him to me, grabbing his face and looking into his eyes until he calmed. It felt weird, doing that again, but I knew it helped him and that was enough for me at the moment. It was a normal action, one that showed I was fine.
"We're in control of the ghosts. The levers can open the breach, but equally they can close."
"Okay." He gently pulled away and went into her office, getting a chair. Sitting down, he pulled me so that I was on his lap. I forced myself to stare straight ahead, not wanting to make eye contact with the man. While I kept myself from doing anything, I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around him and plant a long overdue kiss onto his lips. The minute amounts of contact wasn't enough for me and I wanted so badly for it to be… at least for the moment.
Yvonne looked at him, confused. "Sorry?"
"Never mind. As you were."
"What, is that it?"
"No, fair enough. Said my bit. Don't mind me. Any chance of a cup of tea?"
"Ghost Shift in twenty seconds."
"Mmm, can't wait to see it."
"You can't stop us, Doctor."
"No, absolutely not. Pull up a chair, Rose. Come and watch the fireworks."
"Ghost Shift in ten seconds. Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two-"
"Stop the shift. I said stop." The wall dimmed.
"Thank you," he said standing us up but keeping a hand in mine.
"I suppose it makes sense to get as much intelligence as possible. But the programme will recommence, as soon as you've explained everything."
"I'm glad to be of help."
"And someone clear up this glass. They did warn me, Doctor. They said you like to make a mess," the woman said as she returned to her office, the three of us soon joining her. The Doctor lounged in one of her chairs, his feet resting on the desk while Jackie and I stood at the window. "So these ghosts, whatever they are, did they build the sphere?"
"Must have. Aimed it at this dimension like a cannon ball."
"Yvonne? I think you should see this. We've got a visitor. We don't know who she is, but funnily enough, she arrived at the same time as the Doctor." Yvonne turned the laptop so we could see. I grimaced when I saw Rose standing there.
"She one of yours?"
"Never seen her before in my life."
"Good. Then we can have her shot."
"Oh, all right then. It was worth a try. That's, that's Rose Tyler."
"Sorry. Hello." She waved at the screen.
"Well, if that's Rose Tyler, who's she?"
"I'm her mother."
"Oh, you travel with her mother?"
"He kidnapped me."
"Please, when Torchwood comes to write my complete history, don't tell people I travelled through time and space with her mother." I looked up, hearing a clunk.
"Charming."
"I've got a reputation to uphold."
Yvonne stood and went to the doorframe. "Excuse me? Everyone? I thought I said stop the ghost shift. Who started the programme? But I ordered you to stop! Who's doing that?" The levers began to move upright. "Right, step away from the monitors, everyone. Gareth, Addy, stop what you're doing, right now. Matt, step away from your desk. That's an order! Stop the levers! Andrew!" A scientist grabbed one of the levers. "Stop the levers!"
"What's she doing?" The Doctor went over and snapped his fingers in her face. The woman's expression remained unchanged as she continued to type away.
Yvonne ran over to a young black woman. "Addy, step away from the desk. Listen to me. Step away from the desk."
"She can't here you. They're overriding the system. We're going into Ghost Shift."
"Yvonne," I looked down at the computer. "I thought you said the next Ghost Shift was cancelled. What's going on? Yvonne?"
"She's busy right now. What's going on down there?"
"It can't be. It's active!"
"Doctor!" I looked up at him to see him zap the earpiece. The women and two men screamed before they collapsed. I ran over checking them, only to find them dead. My eyes immediately went to the earpiece, recognising it a heartbeat. Fear enveloped me, knowing what those earpieces meant and what followed. "Doctor…"
"What happened?" Yvonne questioned, seeing her collapsed colleagues. "What did you just do?"
"They're dead."
"You killed them."
"He didn't, mum." She turned and looked at me. I could tell from her expression that she truly believed that the Doctor had ended their lives. "They were already dead."
"But he killed them, Cerys!"
"Jackie, I haven't got time for this." I glared at him. "Sorry."
"He didn't. Trust me on this." She nodded and pulled me into a hug.
"What are those earpieces?"
Yvonne reached for the earpiece. "Don't."
"But they're standard comms devices. How does it control them?"
"Trust me, leave them alone," the Doctor warned.
She pulled one off the black woman, Addy. A rope of grey matter came out with it. "Urgh! Oh, God! It goes inside their brain." Yvonne dropped it, disgusted.
"What about the ghost shift?"
"Ninety percent still running. Can't you stop it?"
"They're still controlling it. They've hi-jacked the system."
"Who's they?"
"It might be a remote transmitter but it's got to be close by. I can trace it. Jackie, stay here!" He looked at me and I nodded, knowing he wanted me to stay. I wasn't going to argue, mainly because I wasn't in the mood for it and it wasn't the best time.
"Keep those levers down. Keep them offline," Yvonne ordered some technicians as she and the Doctor walked out.
Hearing Rajesh over the comms, I ran over to the laptop to see what he wanted, especially since he was still calling out for Yvonne a minute or so after she'd left. "We've got a problem down here. Yvonne, can you hear me?"
"She's a bit busy. What's the sphere doing?"
"The sphere is active! The readings are going wild! It's got weight, it's got mass, an electromagnetic field. It exists! The door's sealed. Automatic quarantine. We can't get out!"
"Just relax. I know this is terrifying but you are no good letting fear control you." As I said that, I realised just how much I should be taking my own advice. That was all I've ever done… let my fear control me. As it dawned on me, Cybermen brought the Doctor and Yvonne back, both with their hands on their heads.
"Get away from the machines. Do what they say. Don't fight them!" the Doctor exclaimed, but he was too late. The Cybermen shot the scientists holding back the levers, instantly killing them. I stared at their bodies, feeling my anger rising up. They didn't deserve to die that way. I ground my teeth, trying to get a handle on my flaring temper.
"What are they?"
"We are the Cybermen. The Ghost Shift will be increased to one hundred percent." The levers moved up.
"Online."
"Here come the ghosts."
"But these Cybermen, what've they got to do with the ghosts?"
The Doctor was about to speak but I shot him a glare, knowing he was about to get snippy with her. He quickly closed his mouth. "The Cybermen were the ghosts," I gently explained to her.
"Achieving full transfer."
"They're Cybermen. All of the ghosts are Cybermen. Millions of them, right across the world."
"They're invading the whole planet," Yvonne stated.
"No, this is their victory and it's all because you couldn't leave things alone," I snapped at the blonde. I was beyond pissed at the moment. "This only happened because you idiots just couldn't leave it alone. Instead of doing that, you figured, 'hey, let's poke it with a fucking stick'! You didn't think of the fucking consequences." I felt a hand on my shoulder but I shrugged it off, not wanting to be calmed. The last time we'd encountered the Cybermen, we'd lost Mickey. And now, it was Torchwood's fault that they were in our universe and I was ready to take down the entire building without hesitation or regrets.
"But I don't understand. The Cybermen don't have the technology to build a Void Ship. That's way beyond you. How did you create that sphere?" the Doctor asked.
"The sphere is not ours."
"What?"
"The sphere broke down the barriers between worlds. We only followed. Its origin is unknown."
"Then what's inside it?"
"Rose is down there."
"I know. We'll get her back. Promise."
"I know you will. Can't keep you two separated." I laughed a bit and looked up at the Doctor, letting him know I was fully intent on keeping my promise.
Hey hey. So glad you've stuck with me. I don't really have much to say here. Still editing and stuff. My kitten irritated me the night I planned on updating... she peed on me :8 Haven't played with her for a few days and still going strong... barely. She keeps doing things to get my attention. Anyways, thanks for the review NicoleR85. He's a great Doctor. I find them all amazing in their own way and I just love that he's so abrasive. He literally doesn't care what he says. The Doctor with absolutely no filter... brilliant. But I just loved that they met Robin Hood. I was extremely excited for that episode. The fact that he fought him off with a spoon was epic but I definitely felt bad that he couldn't get it through his thick skull that Robin Hood was a real person. No matter, it was rectified in the end. And Robin got his love... good ol' Doctor. I'm so looking forward to this week's :)
P.S. Since I haven't been getting too many reviews, I think I'm going to wait until I have at least four total before posting the next chapter. I really want to know what you guys thought and I honestly miss speaking to some of you. So... this is what I'm going to do.