The Great Empire and the Greater Man

Synopsis: Sarah Jane Smith spent many years with the Doctor and met many different people an aliens beyond imagination, adventure that would shape the universe and the life of its inhabitants, but there is one story that no one knows of, a time just after the doctor regenerated into the fourth doctor, where they spent many months with a very special friend of the doctor and now many years later events happen where Sarah Jane must tell Luke, Clive and Rani the story and the adventure she wants them to take.

This story is set just after the final episode of season 4. This is my first ever story.

Disclaimer: "This story is fiction, I do not own any of The Sarah Jane Smith Adventures characters as well as the show, and also I do not claim owner ship of any Doctor Who character as well as the show." –James W. Rogers

Chapter 1

Summer was close, and everyone was looking forward to the holidays, especially Clive and Rani who knew they were going to spending the summer with Sarah Jane protecting the planet form alien invaders but also because Luke was coming home from Oxford which would make Sarah Jane very happy. Clive and Rani had just finished their last day, and went to the only place which lingered in their minds, the moment they got through the school gates they ran to the bus stop hopping they would be lucky and it would come on time for once.

"This summer is going to be of the chain, weeks of fighting, rescuing coming ...very...close...to...death...hmm" Clive started to wonder.

"Maybe leave out the last part" Rani said with a smile on her face, "besides I bet your looking forward to see Luke again" Rani gave Clive I slight nudge in the arm

"Yeah, it has been the same without him" Clive gave Rani a teasing smirk

"Hey, we've had fun haven't we" Rani asked Clive attempting to say it as going along with the friendly joke but was really hoping for a positive response. Before Clive could answer the bus break in front of them, the squealing sound of its old used breaks made them both step back with a bit of a surprise.

"Come on we better get moving" Clive said as he motioned Rani to follow him on to the bus, which she did a bit disappointed she didn't get an answer but she didn't want to ask him again in case she sounded to serious, there had always been something between them both but they have both always waited for the other one to say something first, as nether of them wanted to damage their friendship if the other didn't feel the same way, so Rani just followed Clive to their seat and sat beside him .

Luke was already home and had settled in to his old room, he had missed his room, Oxford was fine but you never can escape that feeling of home the memories and comforts it holds at least while he was at Oxford he had K9 who had powered down and was "sleeping" in the corner of Luke's room. Luke sat on his bed, put his hand behind is head, laid backwards and began to daydream, all was calm and relaxed, until he heard voices from the attic, now this wouldn't normally cause Luke any disruption, after all the attic is where Sarah Jane spends most of her free time and she always talks to Mr Smith, but this time it was different, it recognises his mother's voice put not that of the other, he knew it was a man's voice it was deep but it sounded calm and the way that Sarah Jane spoke back to him was friendly and warm hearted she never spoke to anyone like that except him and her friends, Luke had to find out what was going on.

He started to walk up the stairs and he could make out more words clearly such as "the empire", "Citadel" and even heard the name of the person she was talking to "Zalthorn", Luke had never heard this name before, never seen it written down in notes, nothing. By this Luke had gotten to the stop of the stairs and was able to look through the door, he saw his mother sitting and Mr Smith, but instead on Mr Smith visual representation of screen he saw an human like alien, well almost human, he had light grey skin, grey eyes a short white hair, but young and very handsome, Luke could tell that if he looked more human he would have been on the cover of fashion magazines or something, Luke tried to make out as many words as possible and opened the door even more to get closer until...

..KNOCK KNOCK "Sarah Jane you home".

Luke ran down the stairs as quickly yet quietly as possible hoping to get down before Sarah Jane walked out the attic, the last words he heard was "Zalthorn I'll be back in a minute".

Rani was waiting outside the door and Clive was resting against Sarah Jane's car just behind her, "maybe they've gone out" Clive stated, Rani turned to look at him when Luke opened the door.

"Luke" Rani shouted as she threw her arms around him giving him a hug and Clive ran up behind them.

"Good to see you buddy" Clive gave Luke a hive five and pulled him in for a bro hug.

"Who is it Luke" Sarah Jane said as she walked down the stairs "ah Rani, Clive I didn't expect u to be here so soon, I guess the buses I running on time today" Sarah Jane said with a smile, and gestured them in "make yourselves at home guys I'll be back in a giffy" she ran back upstairs and into the attic, Luke knew that she was going up there to finish her conversation.

"So then Luke any grand adventures of your own in Oxford" Clive said gesturing his hands sarcastically.

"Later" Luke said "I just saw the strangest" Clive and Rani just looked at each other.

"after what we've seen I think u should tell Sarah Jane first" Rani said with a smile yet confused look on her face.

"That just it, I just saw mum talking to some alien on Mr Smith" Luke said with expectation of gasping a fainting from his audience.

"but Luke" Clive started "that every day life for your mum".

"yeah it she was probably just telling them summing like information about the planet, or even receiving a thank you from an alien she help get home" Rani stated.

"I know but it wasn't like that, it was like they where old friends, catching up" Luke continued still expecting more of an emotional response.

"You don't think it's the time traveller do u think" Clive said with excitement, they had all heard the storeys of the doctor and would love to meet him again.

"It could be" Luke answered "he could have erm...regenerated I think it's called".

"Why what did he look like "Rani asked. Luke then went on to describe the man he had seen and the words he heard, the idea of it being the doctor never crossed his mind, and then he remembered why.

"wait a minute, it can't be I heard mum say his name Zalthorn does that ring a bell to any of you" Luke look at Rani and Clive shake their heads and was disappointed by their response, that just when Sarah Jane walked in.

"So guys I'm glad you're here I have something important to tell you..." Sarah Jane said until Luke cut her off.

"Wait a second mum we have something to ask you" Luke stood up and Rani and Clive looked at each other "Who is Zalthorn" Sarah Jane's eyes went wide open.

"Luke Smith, what have I told you about ease dropping" Sarah Jane looked at Luke, she didn't look angry not even serious but you could tell she was disappointed, "as it so happens it what I wanted to talk to you about but before I can talk to you about Zalthorn or even what he's offering us I have to tell you about where he comes from and his people.