I just want to say a quick thank you to those who have been reading so far, and to those who have taken the trouble to review. I found the last three chapters very difficult to write as I had very limited experience of Six, Seven and Eight. I have only seen 2 episodes with Six, 1 with Seven and of course the Movie for Eight. I should watch more and listen to some audios, I know.

The last three chapters were easier to write (although that may not mean they are any better) having watched all the new season episodes a hundred times over. Anyway, thanks for staying with me, and I hope you make it to the end. Reviews, comments, spellchecks and general chat always welcome.

Chapter Nine – Leather and Lace

I am lying in my bed exhausted. Today hasn't been a particularly good day. I've picked up some stomach bug and the nausea led to frequent trips to the bathroom during the day. I pick up my book again and lay back against the pillows, the historical romance a pleasant distraction from my illness.

My eyelids soon grow heavy and eventually I am asleep, the book fallen forward over my nose.

#

I am in a square room this time with oak panelling on the walls, a rich red rug covering most of the floor. I find the door immediately in its logical place, a brass plaque screwed to the wood announcing The Doctor.

I walk through without hesitation, but then immediately stop, alerted to my surroundings. I am in a tunnel. The walls are made of stone but covered with coloured cables. Running along the floor are train rails that reach far away into the distance. Overhead are a mishmash of wooden struts, there are no lights and I cannot see very far.

I fear that the lines are electrified and therefore have no desire to step forward. Instead I turn back to the door behind me. Perhaps I can just walk back through. The door is no longer there though and I realise I am trapped in this alcove in the dark tunnel, with no way to turn, no way to go, but down onto the rails.

Gingerly I step forward, placing me feet between the metal lines and stand in the middle of the tunnel. There is no draft and my vintage lace dress does not stir around my legs. I look to my left up the tunnel and then to my right. I don't know which way to go, I presume if I walk along the track I will reach a station, but which way is the shortest journey. I don't want to be on the lines when a train comes.

I am standing contemplating this, when I am hit with a thud in the chest, and forced back into the alcove. Stunned I try to collect my senses and straight away realise I am being smothered in leather. My face is covered in it, whilst the rest of my body is pinned up against the wall. I try to push against the body which has trapped me, but if anything it pushes back at me even firmer a hard wall of resistance. In that instant a train rushes past, with a shocking high pitched squeal, the air compressed in an instant and then released like a set of bellows.

As soon as it is gone, the leather jacket moves away from me and I look up into a pair of blue eyes.

"Hello" he says, grinning at me and waving a hand.

"Hi," I answer smoothing down my lace skirt that has ridden above my knees.

"That was close, bit of a squeeze, but I wasn't expecting you there, otherwise I'd have stopped off at the one before. Come on then," he said as I remained rooted to the spot.

He held his hand out to me but I didn't move. "Is it electric?"

"This? No." He jumped around the rails to show they were safe. "So are you coming, or are you staying there all day?"

I take his hand and step down onto the rails, but don't move any further a wave of nausea breaking over me again. I am annoyed that even in my dream I have to feel sick, could I not just enjoy a few moments relief. I then promptly throw up over his shoes.

"Eugh!" He grimaces as he shakes his shoes alternately and then pulls out a hanky to wipe them clean.

"Nice to see you too Alice! Is this a new form of ape greeting?"

"Sorry," I apologise. "I'm not feeling too great."

We start walking together up the tunnel and eventually exit at Kings Cross Station. The place is deserted and derelict. No gaudy posters on the walls, tiles are broken or missing. The place is gloomy and makes me feel depressed.

"Where is everyone?" I ask worriedly.

"Evacuated." He answers.

"Oh! Is this the war? Is it Hitler?"

"No, where've you been. It's the Sontarans."

"Sultarans? Who are they?"

"Son…Sontarans. Potato heads. Stamp a lot. Great warriors," he added with a hint of admiration in his voice. That's where I'm going. To see the general, to put a stop to this once and for all."

"How will you do that?" I race after him up the stationary escalators.

"I'll tell them to stop."

"And they'll take notice of you?" I look up at him with respect.

"Nope. Very unlikely."

"So then what?"

"I'll think of something," he carries on completely self-assured.

"What's with the trains?" I remember back and wonder why they are still running.

"Strategic soldier assembly. Fastest way to get a Sontaran from A to B. You should check out Southern Railways, most efficient they've ever run."

I don't answer him this time. My mouth is agape and I'm staring around me, my hands clammy with fear. We are in the ticket area and it appears to have been converted into some kind of factory. Rows of tanks filled with a green slime cover the floor space. At various intervals a little brown 'thing' with a squat fat body and huge bulbous head would climb out of a tank. I watched as these aliens just kept on climbing out, struck with horror and disbelief.

I looked round to find the Doctor who had marched on towards a Sontar-thing without me. They seemed to know who he was as I heard whispers of 'The Doctor' around me.

I watched as he stood to attention and then gave them his demand to leave. They just laughed at him. It was then that I was grabbed, a blue claw on either side of me, locked around my arm. I was marched away, the sound of the Doctor's protests ringing in my ears.

I instantly find myself strapped to a table, no recollection of how I got here. Leather bands restrain my ankles and my lace clad wrists. I see a headset being lowered from the ceiling and pull against my restraints anxious to avoid whatever is coming next.

The blue uniformed solider next to me, informs me of my fate and I scream in protest. I don't want to be cloned. I don't want to lose me.

The procedure is painless, but it is the most fearsome experience to date. I can feel my mind, my soul ebbing away from me. My whole conscious is shutting down on me. I am becoming an empty shell, becoming nothing, no-one. I look for the Doctor wanting him to save me, but he is nowhere to be seen.