A/N: Okay, last part of Rise of the Cybermen. The next chapter will pick up with the beginning of Age of Steel. Enjoy!

The Ultimate Upgrade

With the help of the Wolf's psychic paper, she and John made it through the Smythe's back entrance as waiters fairly easily. A quick mention that their uniforms had been misplaced at the dry cleaners, and a coworker showed them to a small side room where extra outfits were being stored. The Wolf absolutely refused to dress in the typical women's uniform, an on-the-short-side frilly skirt and blouse, instead pulling out the smallest trousers and collared shirt she could find and taking them into the bathroom, leaving John to grin to himself and change in the room.

She returned a few minutes later, looking less like a penguin than any waiter had a right to, but John shook that thought away. "Did we actually have to be staff?" he drawled instead. "I was kind of kidding, you know. We could have been anyone."

"Got us in, didn't it?" she replied.

"You're the one in charge of the psychic paper. We could have been guests of some kind," he told her as they grabbed champagne trays and began circulating around the room together. "But no. We end up serving. I think we're both just a bit over-qualified for this job."

The Wolf scoffed. "If you want to know what's going on, work in the kitchens," she informed him. "Everyone ignores the person wearing the uniform. It's like you don't exist. You overhear the most amazing conversations that way."

"Really," he said, not convinced.

"Yes, now why don't you go and try it?" she nudged him, urging him to split away from her and make his own path through the throngs of guests. He hadn't seen his parents yet, nor the girl who was supposedly his sister. He guessed they would make their grand entrance later, being the hosts of this particular shindig.

Nearly an hour later, John – having heard nothing of much value – was looking for the Wolf. His parents still hadn't made an appearance, and he was beginning to think the evening was a waste of time when he spotted her talking to a young man in the kitchen doorway. Something inside him twinged, but he shoved the feeling down and turned away, looking for a distraction.

That was when he finally caught sight of who he'd come here to see. Thomas and Emma Smythe were descending the stairs, arm in arm. "Excuse me!" Thomas called out over the din, quieting the room. "Thank you. Thank you very much. Could I have your attention please?"

"Go on Thomas!" a man called out.

"It's about time you did some work!" another said.

Thomas just laughed and turned to look up at Emma a few steps above him. "I'd just like to thank you all for coming on this very special occasion. My wife's birthday." There was some general clapping and hoots from the party goers. "So, without further ado, here she is, the birthday girl," Thomas announced. "My lovely wife, Emma Smythe."

There was some more applause, but Emma waved it away. "I'm not giving a speech," she told them, a statement that was met with a happy cheer from the party goers. "No work here, no politics, just enjoy." She motioned for the music to start again, and the guests cheered again before going back to their conversations as Emma took Thomas' arm and they made their way down the stairs to talk to their friends.

"You can't stay," the Wolf's voice behind John drew his attention. He turned to her, to see her eyes were filled with understanding and compassion. "Even if there was some way to tell them, you can't stay."

"Of course I can't stay," John told her. "They've got each other, and a kid. One who isn't me. Besides," he nudged her playfully, "who would look after you if I did?"

The Wolf shot him a look, shaking her head but smiling a bit at his words. "They don't have you. All the different worlds, not one of them gets it right."

"But enough about me and my problems," he changed the subject. "What have you been up to?"

She shrugged. "Not much. Haven't really learned anything of great importance."

"What, tall, dark and handsome didn't have anything to say?" John muttered.

The Wolf tilted her head and looked at him, an amused glint in her eyes. "Why, John. Is that jealousy I detect in your tone?" she teased.

"No!" John denied hurriedly.

The Wolf burst out laughing, making John glare at her. After a few seconds, she composed herself. "Sorry," she apologized, "but you should've heard yourself. But anyways, that's Mark. And according to him, that man over there," she pointed out a middle aged black man, "is the current President of Great Britain."

"I was not jealous," John muttered. "And what's the President doing here if Thomas is running against him? That's still weird, too. President instead of Prime Minister. And what happened to the Monarchy?"

"I don't know what happened to the royal line. And apparently, their old friends. Thomas is the only one running against him this year, but they've remained cordial."

John smiled. "My dad always was friends with everyone, even those he didn't agree with."

"There's something going on here, though," the Wolf continued. "No one's talking about it, but the higher ups seem anxious. Stressed. Including your Thomas."

"How are you going to find out what it is?" John asked.

"I need a laptop."

"Try upstairs," he suggested. "From what I can tell, that's where all the living quarters are. He probably keeps one in his room."

"Will you be alright down here on your own?" she asked, looking concerned.

John nodded. "Sure. Go on, save the day." The Wolf shook her head and left him, casually making her way up the stairs as though she owned them. She was right. No one paid any attention to her because of her uniform. John worked himself back into the crowd, making sure that he avoided Mark as he continued to serve champagne.

Eventually, he managed to situate himself next to Thomas, who was miraculously alone at the moment. Emma was across the room with the current President, laughing at something as Thomas looked on affectionately. "Champagne, Sir?" he asked politely.

Thomas looked at him in surprise, before snagging a glass. "Might as well. I'm paying for it," he joked.

John smiled. "It's a big night for you."

"For her," Thomas corrected, nodding at Emma. "Still, she's happy."

"She should be. It's a great party," John told him, trying to keep up the act of pretending that they were strangers. That this wasn't something he'd wanted to do for over fifteen years.

"Do you think?" Thomas asked.

"You're the Presidential candidate," John said with a grin. "You have to own your opinions, no matter how small, not question them."

Thomas chuckled. "Too right. I've told my wife that before."

"My father said it to me once. So, how long have you two been married?" John asked, knowing the answer.

"Thirty-three years," Thomas answered on a sigh.

"And no kids, or – ?" John, wanting the conversation to continue, let the question out.

"One. Antonia, over there," Thomas pointed out a teenager who was surrounded by others her own age, all laughing. "We almost – before – but then we put it off. Almost didn't have any. But Toni's a good kid. Her mother and I though, we've been having some problems. We're trying to work it out, but sometimes – we want to keep it quiet. You know, it's bad for business, especially in my line of work." Thomas paused and gave John an incredulous look. "Why am I telling you all this?" he wondered. "We haven't met before, have we?" John shook his head. "I don't know, you just seem sort of –"

"What?" John asked.

"I don't know. Familiar. Right."

John shrugged. "Oh. Guess I just have one of those faces," he excused. "You know, my parents used to fight all the time. They were two sticks of dynamite. But they always got through it. I've never seen two people who loved each other more. I wouldn't give up just yet, Mr. Smythe."

Thomas looked over at John curiously. "Thanks. What was your name?"

"John," he replied, taking the hand Thomas offered.

"Good name. If we ever had a son, we were going to name him John." A look of sadness crossed Thomas' face, but he shook it off quickly.

"Well, you have a good taste," John complimented, making Thomas chuckle before he moved back into the crowd.

"Stevie!" he called, greeting another man. "How're things? How's it going at Torchwood?"

John watched him for a moment before slipping up the stairs to find the Wolf. He found her in the first room he opened, absorbed in a computer screen. "How's it coming?" he asked, startling her.

"Geez, John, give a girl some warning," she complained as she turned to him. "Come over here, I think I found it."

John joined her at the computer. "What is it?"

The Wolf pointed at the screen. "This man, Lumic, is trouble. Genius, inventor, and all around bad news. Look at this." She clicked a video, and Lumic was shown giving a speech.

"The most precious thing on this Earth is the human brain, and it must be conserved. I have found a way to prolong the life of the brain, for with it, a person never truly dies." The curtain behind him rolled up, revealing a metallic human-shaped figure, standing at attention. "This is the ultimate upgrade," Lumic announced. "Our greatest step into cyberspace."

"Cybers," the Wolf growled. Without warning, she leapt from the chair and ran out of the room and down the stairs, heading for one of the front-facing windows. John followed her quickly and peered out the window, seeing a large group of the same metal robots approaching the house, as delicate as an elephant herd. "It's happening again," she muttered.

"What do you mean?" John asked.

"I've seen them before," the Wolf answered, still staring at them.

"What are they?"

"Cybermen." With that, the shattering of glass across the room caught their attention. The Cybermen smashed through the series of matching French windows on the other wall while others marched through the house, quickly surrounding the people in the house, herding them all into one room.

The President's phone rang suddenly, and he answered, putting it on speaker so everyone could hear. "Mister Lumic," he greeted stiffly.

"Mister President," a rough voice filtered through. "I suppose a remark about crashing the party would be appropriate."

"I forbade this," the President hissed into the phone.

"These are my children, Sir. Would you deny me my family?"

"What are they, robots?" John whispered in the Wolf's ear.

"Worse than that," was her barely audible reply.

"Who were these people?" the President demanded to know, his words causing John's eyes to widen I horror. These had been people once?

"Doesn't matter," Lumic dismissed.

"They're people?" John asked in disbelief, dreading the confirmation.

"They were, until they had all their humanity taken away. That's a living brain jammed inside a cybernetic body, with a heart of steel. All emotions removed," she said grimly.

"Why no emotions?"

The Wolf hesitated, her face growing sad. "Because it hurts," she said softly, swallowing hard.

"I demand to know, Lumic!" the President spoke once more. "These people, who were they?"

"They were homeless, wretched, and useless," Lumic replied carelessly. "Until I saved them, and elevated them, and gave them life eternal. And now I leave you in their capable hands. Good night, sir." Lumic hung up without waiting for a reply.

"We. Have. Been. Upgraded," a Cyberman said robotically.

The Wolf carefully worked herself up behind the President, and John stood behind Emma, ready for anything. "Into what?" she asked.

"The. Next. Level. Of. Mankind. We. Are. Human. Point. Two. Every. Citizen. Will. Receive. A. Free. Upgrade. You. Will. Become. Like. Us."

"I'm sorry," the President apologized. "I'm so sorry for what's been done to you, but listen to me. This experiment ends tonight."

"Upgrading. Is. Compulsory," the robot denied.

"And if I refuse?" the President asked.

"Don't," the Wolf warned him quietly.

"What if I refuse?" he said again.

"I'm telling you, don't," she advised.

"What happens if I refuse?" the President went on stubbornly.

"Then. You. Are. Not. Compatible," the Cyberman said.

"What happens then?"

"You. Will. Be. Deleted." Without further warning, the Cyberman put its hand on the President's neck, electrocuting him. The crowd screamed and turned into chaos as everyone tried to run at once.

The Wolf grabbed John, and he grabbed Emma, who had been staring on in shock. "Emma, run!" he yelled as the Wolf dragged him away. Emma stumbled but followed him. The three jumped out a broken window the Cybermen had previously climbed through.

"There's nothing we can do!" the Wolf yelled at him as she stopped him from going back through the window.

"My father's in there!" he yelled.

"He is not your father! Come on!" she forcefully pulled John with her, Emma following close behind. They took off across the lawn, but were cut off by a line of Cybermen before they made it halfway. They ran back, and were met by Thomas jumping out the same window they had just escaped from.

Emma shrieked and ran at him, engulfing him in a hug just as he yelled for her and Toni.

"Quick, quick!" John urged them.

Thomas and Emma followed him and the Wolf as they ran from the house. "Thomas, is there a way out?" the Wolf yelled over her shoulder.

"The side gates. Who are you? How do you know so much?"

"You wouldn't believe it in a million years," she replied. More Cybermen cut off the path to the side gate, drawing them to a halt. The Wolf spun around, looking for another exit, as two armed figures appeared in front of the floodlights, running toward them.

"Get behind us!" the darker skinned fellow yelled. He and the other man, a blonde, opened fire on the Cybermen, but the bullets just bounced off. The robots halted their march.

"Who the hell are you?" John asked. And why does he look like Mike?

"Oh, as if things weren't bad enough," the Wolf muttered disdainfully, "we've got guerrilla fighters with big guns."

"We're surrounded," Thomas broke in.

"Put the guns down," the Wolf ordered the two young men. "Bullets won't stop them. The blonde started shooting again, but the Wolf forcefully pulled the gun from him, surprising the kid with her strength, and tossed it away. "No! Stop shooting, now!" she warned the other one. He reluctantly dropped his weapon to the ground. "We surrender!" she shouted to the robots. "Hands up," she commanded the rest of the group, hers already in the air. "There's no need to damage us," she said to the Cybermen. "We're good stock. We volunteer for the upgrade program. Take us to be processed."

"You. Are. Rogue. Elements," one Cyberman announced.

The Wolf frowned. "But we surrender."

"You. Are. Incompatible," it said.

"But this is a surrender," she protested. John looked at her worriedly.

"You. Will. Be. Deleted."

"But we're surrendering! Listen to me, we surrender!"

"You. Are. Inferior. Man. Will. Be. Reborn. As. Cybermen. But. You. Will. Perish. Under. Maximum. Deletion." The robots advanced on the group, their deadly hands held out toward them. But John was watching the Wolf slip one hand into her pocket, and wondered what she was doing.

"Delete. Delete. Delete!" was the ominous chant.