second verse same as the first, except for you know, being different. My lousy humour aside thanks for all reviews it is always good to know people are enjoying the stories. A new character(well two technically) of my own invention entering play now. one reviewer left an interesting idea which i can't help but play around with, you may see this idea appear in later chapters. until then please enjoy
"Is this the last of your stuff?" asked Luke lugging a suitcase up the stairs of his house.
"Yeah, thanks for helping me shift all this, would've taken me days on my own" replied Josh pushing the other end of the suitcase up the narrow staircase.
The two of them finally succeeded in forcing the case up the stairs and sat on the top step nursing sore fingers. Josh had come to look around the house a few days ago. He had a pretty laid back attitude and liked the house the moment he saw it. His parents had taken more convincing but they had agreed and he had moved in.
"We can probably talk Clyde into cooking stuff for tea when he's back from work" said Luke finally standing up and heading down the stairs "there's plenty of stuff for sandwiches in the meantime"
Josh let loose a snort of laughter and followed down the stairs. Lunch was an improvised affair but they both tucked in with abandon. They sat in companionable silence until Luke's phone broke it.
"Luke its mum, I'm sorry to bother you on a Saturday but there's trouble-"began Sarah-Jane
Luke got up from his seat and went to the other side of the room. Josh from his seat watched the action curiously.
"A priest of the old shadows has crash landed on earth" said Sarah Jane quietly into the phone "he's a high agent of the shadow proclamation, Mr Smith and I are trying to contact the shadow proclamation now, we need you to find him and help him until then"
Luke took down the location Mr Smith had provided and hung up the phone. His mum would try and meet him there, but it was imperative that someone got there before UNIT. Given their tendency for pointing guns the agent might consider it a threat and react just as violently.
"Everything alright?" asked Josh watching Luke dash around grabbing his keys and a jacket.
"Umm yeah" replied Luke "My mum just asked me to do something for her, I'll be back in a bit"
Luke disappeared out the door leaving a confused and curious Josh in his wake. The newest housemate knew he should probably leave things alone, but he just couldn't resist a mystery. Grabbing his coat as well he disappeared out the front door and followed Luke just out of sight. It proved harder to do once Luke got to his car, but London traffic was on Josh's side. The sky was starting to get dark when Luke and Josh finally reached their destination; the crash site was a few miles outside the city proper and had come down in a relatively isolated place.
"Alright mum I'm just outside the crash site" said Luke into his phone "UNIT is probably on its way, I'll try and lead the agent away"
He hung up and quietly walked towards the crash site, following a small trail of debris. Behind him Josh was beginning to freak out. What was Luke doing walking towards a crashed alien ship? What if it was like the Daleks or Cybermen? Swallowing his nerves Josh continued forwards and they both caught sight of the ship at about the same time. It was an elegant vessel, what was left of it. Neither of them paid much attention to the ship though, the alien at the centre of the wreckage was perfectly still. Luke realised with a lurch of his stomach it was dead.
"Luke what's going on?" asked Josh in a panicked tone "Is that an alien?"
Luke wheeled around in surprise and stuttered trying to find an explanation for Josh. Before he could think of something to say the alien behind him convulsed and a surge of electricity left his body. The energy struck josh and he crashed to the ground in a confused heap.
"Josh! Josh are you ok?" asked Luke crouching down next to his housemate
Josh didn't answer, but when he opened his eyes they were completely white. If josh hadn't been breathing Luke would have thought he was dead.
"It is unfortunate that I was forced to claim a new host from this world, the shadow proclamation transport will be hear shortly thank you for assistance" said Josh in a deep voice that didn't sound like his own.
Standing up Josh began to walk away from the crash site. Luke managed to grab his hand before he could move too far.
"Wait what are you doing?" asked Luke looking into his friends eyes with a flash of realisation "you're the priest I'm guessing a symbiotic entity, the true agent of the shadow proclamation"
"Correct, I am Reid Caldera" said the agent twisting Josh's face into an impressed smile "It would be wise for you to release me human, I do not take kindly to any who interfere with my duties"
Luke realised he still had hold of Josh's arm but didn't let go
"Before you go I need your word that you won't take Josh, the human you're inhabiting away from earth, this is his home and you have no authority to take him" said Luke quietly, not taking his eyes off of Reid
"You dare disrespect the authority of the shadow proclamation, you go too far human!" said Reid full of fury
Breaking the grip Reid pressed two fingers against Luke's forehead. Instantly Luke felt a surge of pain through his mind. He blacked out and fell to the ground in a heap.
"Master Luke, you must wake up" said K-9 nudging against Luke's leg
Luke stirred slowly and noticed his small metal dog. He sat up slowly trying to avoid moving his head too much; worried it might split in two.
"Mistress was worried about you, she sent me to investigate, suggest you contact her immediately" said K-9, manoeuvring himself so Luke could sit up.
Standing proved to be too optimistic for the moment so Luke rested against K-9 and felt around for his phone. His mum answered and Luke's headache didn't improve.
"I know mum I'm sorry" interrupted Luke before his headache got any worse "Reid did something that knocked me out, He's some kind of energy being old and powerful, his original host died in the crash and now he's taken my new housemate Josh as his next host"
Luke left his mum a moment to consider all the information and massaged his temples, trying to rid himself of the persistent headache that plagued him.
"I'm sorry to hear that" said Sarah Jane into the phone "It gets worse, I contacted the Shadow proclamation and they have forbidden interference"
Luke's headache didn't improve at that news; he had hoped that Reid's commanders would have been able to convince him to find a new host.
"Alright I'll convince Reid on my own then-"began Luke.
"No! no, if even half of what Mr Smith has found is true then you won't be able to stop him Luke, if he believes you're interfering in the laws of the shadow proclamation he'll kill you without hesitation" said Sarah-Jane in a nervous tone.
"I have to try mum, it's my fault he was there" said Luke hanging up the phone.
"K-9 can you track down Josh?" asked Luke, holding up a hand to forestall K-9's argument "Please"
K-9 paused for a few moments before rotating and trundling off in a similar direction to Reid. It took almost an hour to reach their destination. Reid was standing in a clear open space gazing at the stars.
"Child I warn you Interfere with me again at your peril" said Reid calmly without turning around.
"I'm sorry for trying but please, this is his home he has family here" Luke said stepping closer to Reid "I'm betting you can see his memories, Look at them, his parents will be devastated to lose their son"
Reid turned and considered Luke. His white eyes close momentarily and when they opened again Josh's face was tinted with sadness.
"It is cruel to ask me to experience such things after the efforts I took over the years to separate myself from them, regardless my answer remains the same"
Reid turned away and continued gazing at the stars. Luke guessed this was where he had arranged to be retrieved, there couldn't be long left.
"Please! Can't you just take another host once your ship gets here, leave him behind?" asked Luke trying to find a solution
To Luke's surprise Reid didn't respond with anger, instead Josh's face twisted into a sigh
"I see your knowledge of me is not complete" Reid said turning to face Luke completely "I exist as the electrical current in this body, when I leave the energy leaves with me and this body would die, this is why I don't leave a host until it is their time. I am sorry"
Luke threw up his hands in frustration and racked his brain for anything that might help. Up in the sky Luke saw flashes of light indicating a ship in the atmosphere. He knew Reid was bound to uphold laws but he was still a compassionate being there had to be some way of convincing him.
"Wait! Reid, you embody the highest laws of the shadow proclamation, you are bound to abide by the laws of any planet you land on, correct?" asked Luke
Reid simply turned his head in a questioning glance
"Kidnapping is a serious offence on my planet, to break this law would bring shame on the shadow proclamation, correct?" Luke asked again
He couldn't be certain but Luke suspected he saw the corner of Josh's mouth quirk upwards into a smile.
"Your theory is missing one piece of information, this planet is not under our jurisdiction, and so not under the protection of its laws" Reid said walking back and forth on the spot "But. This world is growing, soon perhaps it will be"
Luke felt a glimmer of hope stir; Reid was close to agreeing with him
"The lifespan of human beings is short, you wouldn't have to stay long on this world, just let Josh finish his life on earth and then you can return to your duties" Luke said in a pleading tone.
Reid turned his face upwards and the lights in the sky began to fade. Whatever ship had been in the atmosphere was leaving again.
"My masters are far from happy with me, but I will do as you ask" said Reid calmly "be wary though Luke, it was not by accident that my ship crashed here"
Before Luke could ask another question Josh's eyes returned to their normal colour and he sagged forwards like a puppet with cut strings. Luke caught him before he could fall and supported his friend until he could stand on his own.
"Luke you have a lot of explaining to do" said Josh with a lopsided grin.
Luke laughed and helped get Josh back to the house. Once sat down with a cup of tea Luke began to explain everything to Josh who for his part sat silent and listened. Over an hour passed and Luke was finally finished speaking. He sat and waited once done, waiting for Josh to say something.
"This was one crazy housewarming party Luke, and this alien business is unbelievable, but an alien in my head is pretty solid proof. Thanks for helping me" said Josh giving Luke a jovial slap on the shoulder
Luke let out the breath he'd been holding along with a burst of laughter, he had expected Josh to react with anger or fear; instead he had just shrugged his shoulders and gone with it. At that moment Clyde came through the door and found them both laughing.
"Off to a good start then, what I miss" asked Clyde dumping his coat on the peg.
Luke and Josh took one more look at him and their faces split into fresh laughter leaving Clyde completely perplexed. At the crash site UNIT personnel were gathered around the remains of the alien
"all remains will be escorted back to unit HQ, you two stay and cordon off the area until we can bring a crew to remove the ship" ordered a UNIT officer
Two soldiers took position near the largest parts of the wreckage while the others took the alien corpse away. Once alone the two soldiers turned to face a third arrival
"The host is dead and the shadow proclamation vessel did not leave this planet with any additional passengers, indicating the priest died too" said one of the soldiers to the visitor
"Excellent, his investigation on this planet could have caused much trouble, our master will be pleased" replied the visitor with a vicious smile.
The soldiers returned to their post and the visitor departed leaving the crash site behind.
darn that dastardly villain what could he be up to, who knows. well i do. but i'm afraid you will have to wait, next chapter is well on the way and will see a return of everyone's favourite little sister. till then reviews are always appreciated