Chapter Eighteen: Planets in the Sky
The TARDIS landed in Cardiff just fine, but within seconds of landing, a great big jolt shook the console room quite violently.
"What the hell was that?!" Rose asked.
"Don't know," the Doctor replied. "It came from outside." He opened the door, and saw nothing but a few bits of space rock floating around.
"But we're in space," Donna exclaimed. "How did that happen? What did you do?"
The Doctor checked the scanners on the console. "We haven't moved… we're fixed. It can't have… No! The TARDIS is in the same place, but the Earth has gone! The entire planet… it's gone."
"What was that?! Martha asked, sparks and smoke all around her. "Was it some sort of earthquake? Jalandra, you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm okay," Jalandra replied.
Martha took on a businesslike approach. "Is anyone hurt? We've lost power. Someone get the lights back on. DaCosta, see to it. Suzanne, are you alright?"
"Martha, just look at the sky…"
Martha looked out at the sky. "It can't be…"
"Whoa, what happened?" Jack asked from the ground. "Was it the Rift? Are you all okay?" He started to get up.
"No broken bones," Ianto reported, moving the gizmo - or was it perhaps a whatsit? - that had landed on top of him.
"Slight loss of dignity." Owen stood up and brushed himself off.
"No change there, then," Tosh teased, also getting up.
"The whole of the city must've felt that," Gwen remarked as she helped Cassie up. "The whole of South Wales."
"I'm going to take a look outside." Jack ran out the door, while Tosh pulled up a computer screen.
"Um, guys?" Tosh beckoned the group over. "A little bit bigger than South Wales."
Meanwhile, Jack was looking up at the sky. "That's just impossible."
"Luke, are you alright?"
Apparently alright, Luke stood up, brushed himself off, and said, "Felt like some sort of cross-dimensional spatial transference."
"But it's night," said Sarah Jane, looking out the window. "It wasn't night. It was eight o'clock in the morning. Mr. Smith, I need you." Mr. Smith took a few seconds to turn on. "Oh, can you stop giving that fanfare. Tell me what happened!"
"Sarah Jane, I think you should look outside," the computer replied. "I think you'll find the visual evidence most conclusive."
Sarah Jane ran outside. "That's impossible."
The sky was full of planets.
On the TARDIS, Donna was starting to freak out. "But if the Earth's been moved, they've lost the sun. What about my mum and granddad? They're dead, aren't they? Are they dead?"
"I don't know, Donna," the Doctor admitted. "I just don't know. I'm sorry, I don't know…"
"That's my family," Donna whispered. "My whole world."
"There's no readings," the Doctor said, twiddling dials on the console. "Nothing. Not a trace. Not even a whisper. Oh, that is fearsome technology."
"So what do we do?" Donna asked.
"We've got to get help," the Doctor declared. He started setting coordinates.
"From where?"
"Donna, Rose, I'm taking you to the Shadow Proclamation."
"Doctor," Rose said, grabbing his hand before he could pull the lever. "Doctor, Cassie's down there!"
"Ianto, time and place," Cassie chastised as Ianto began laughing at some idiot on the TV making jokes about the planet-in-the-sky business.
"He is funny, though," Ianto argued.
"Gwen, come and see," Jack called Gwen over. She walked over to Jack, who put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "Someone's established an artificial atmospheric shell, keeping the air and holding in the heat.
"Whoever's done this wants the human rase alive," Tosh concluded.
"Well, that's a plus," Owen muttered, somewhat sarcastically. "Twenty-seven planets, including the Earth."
"No, but what's that?" Cassie pointed. "That's not a planet."
"The reading seems to be artificial in construction," said Mr. Smith.
"Some sort of space station sitting at the heart of the web."
Meanwhile, Luke was on the phone with someone. "They're fine," he said as he hung up. "Maria and her dad, they're still in Cornwall. I told them to stay indoors. And Clyde's alright. He's with his mum."
"Sarah Jane, I have detected movement," said Mr. Smith. "Observe."
"Spaceships," Luke whispered.
"Tracking two hundred objects. Earthbound trajectory. Geneva is calling a Code Red. Everyone to battle positions. Doctor Jones, if you're not too busy."
"I'm trying to phone the Doctor, sir," Martha explained.
"And?"
"There's no signal. This number calls anywhere in the universe. It never breaks down. They must be blocking it, whoever they are."
"We're about to find out. They're coming into orbit."
"Three thousand miles and closing," Tosh reported.
"But who are they?" Owen asked.
Just then, Jack's phone rang. "Martha Jones, voice of a nightingale. Tell me you put something in my drink."
"No such luck," Martha replied. "Have you heard from the Doctor?"
"Not a word. Where are you?" Jack began pacing around the floor.
"New York."
"Oooh, nice for some," Jack commented. Cassie and Gwen rolled their eyes.
"I've been promoted," Martha announced. "Medical director on Project Indigo."
Jack's eyes widened. "Did you get that thing working?"
"Indigo's top secret!" Martha exclaimed. "No one's supposed to know about it."
"I met a soldier in a bar, long story," Jack said in typical Jack fashion.
"Oi! When was that?!" Gwen gave him what could only be called a "look."
"Strictly professional," Jack said quickly.
"Fifteen hundred miles, people, and accelerating," Tosh interjected, and thank God. "They're almost here."
"I'm receiving a communication from the earthbound ships," Mr. Smith announced. "They have a message for the human race."
"Put it through, let's hear it," said Sarah Jane.
"EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!"
"No…" She hugged her son close. "Oh, God, you're so young…"
"No," Jack whispered. "Oh, no…"
"What is it, Jack?" Gwen asked. "Do you know them, Jack?" Jack pulled her close and kissed her passionately.
"There's nothing I can do," Jack murmured as he pulled away. "I'm sorry. We're dead." Tears formed in his eyes as he hugged Gwen close, the pain of losing her burning in his heart.
Hey guys! Here's chapter eighteen of Cassie! A little scattered but so is the show itself...
Love and ducks to Rachel and Jubilee, and many hugs to all of you!
Ofelia xxx
