The three time travelers seemingly dressed for the occasion, opened the doors and walked into an elegant meeting hall. Inside they found media, top celebrities, political figures, and the highest classes of London gathered around talking with each other. On the far wall sat an elevated stage with an object shaped like a car covered by a white sheet.
Martha commented, "Blimey, it's crowded in here."
The Doctor was searching for a particular individual he had seen on the news broadcast outside; Orville Toms. He found said man standing over by the stage with a cocktail in his hand chatting it up with an older grey haired man.
The three travelers made their way through the crowd toward him as they overheard the ending of the conversation. The older gentleman held out his hand to Orville shaking his hand while saying, "Mr. Toms, the academy is going to be delighted to see how you have made your car fly."
Orville replied humbly. "I am just thankful that the academy has supplied me with the funding to do it. With your help and my research we really can change the world!"
The Doctor tried to get his attention. "Mr. Toms? Orville Toms?"
"Yes?"
"The Doctor. Rose. Martha." The Doctor had pointed when introducing the other two women while shaking Orville's hand. "Nice to meet you."
Orville seemed to have momentarily reacted strangely through an almost defensive facial expression upon hearing the Doctor and Rose's names somewhat before shrugging it off and saying, "And you."
The Doctor pointed to the object under the sheet. "So I hear you got a flying automobile under there."
Orville laughed. "It's why you're here, isn't it, Doctor? I guess you can say that science has indeed taken us far. It was only a matter of time before someone figured this out and I guess I was the lucky one. But, I do apologize. It's time I start the unveiling." He smiled proudly. "You're going to love this!"
As Orville prepared to take the stage the Doctor and the two women made their way back into the crowd. All the people in the room gradually made their ways to the front of the stage in anticipation as word spread that things were starting.
The Doctor decided to share his thoughts with his companions. "Seems to me like your average genius inventor, but how he came across the materials to make it fly just really puzzles me."
Rose asked, "Why's that?"
"Well, for one levitation for cars and the like is supposed to be discovered by humans using an alien material, traded from a planet orbiting Alpha Centari. The woman that discovered it wasn't even a scientist. Actually just a business woman in the middle of a routine excavating mission."
Martha laughed. "Probably scared her wet."
"Actually, it did. She had to change which is how she met the biology student that suggested she look more into it."
Martha just grinned. "Sometimes I'm not sure what is truth with you and what is you just trying to say something clever."
"I'll have you know Martha that everything I say happened. I have seen…" The Doctor stopped mid sentence as he noticed Rose pick up a martini from the passing attendant. The action made him rather annoyed at her. "Hardly the time for a drink Rose."
Rose just grinned. "You know what they say Doctor; when in Rome." The Doctor decided to not press whatever his problem was as Orville took the stage to a sea of clappers.
Orville stood at a podium in front of the covered object and began his presentation once the noise quieted. The scientist took a deeper and more excited tone as he began, "Ladies and gentleman, the future of automobiles is before you. This prototype before me has been tested and I assure each and everyone's safety as I try it for the first time in front of a public audience."
He quickly pulled the curtain off of the car and everyone gasped wondering what they'd discover. To everyone's surprise the car seemed to be a fairly ordinary white Ford Focus.
Orville addressed the elephant in the room. "Yes, I know it look like an ordinary car. But, I will show you what makes this car a picture of what is to come!"
He went to the door and grabbed the handle to open it open it. Orville than sat down in the driver's seat, fished his keys out of his pocket, and put them in the ignition which turned it on. He flipped a switch attached to the steering wheel and in front of everyone's eyes the car lifted above the ground. The crowd began to collectively gasp as flashes from cameras became more than noticed in the crowd. He continued his presentation while inside the car with the door still open so people could see him.
"As you can see, I have developed a way to make cars lift. If I give it a little gas it'll move forward and remain in the air." Orville demonstrated just that to a dumbfounded reaction from the crowd. He then flipped the switch again and the car went back to the ground resting peacefully. Orville turned the key and removed it from the ignition, which turned off the car.
The crowd erupted into a huge applause with people shouting in glee while Martha yelled out, "Incredible!"
Orville finished his presentation after the applause died. "I hope you enjoyed my presentation, and I hope that soon the world's traffic problems will be solved by my invention. No more roads!" The audience erupted in applause, repeating, "No more roads" a couple times as Orville took a bow.
As Orville left the stage, the applause died with most of the guests beginning to leave the building. The Doctor left the women behind and started walking toward the scientist. He was going to take this opportunity to find out what was really going on...