p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"strongspan style="color: #1a1a1a;"AN: Only 4 more chapters, people!/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Oh, Clara..." The Doctor muttered, looking down at the Impossible Girl's body in his arms. What was he going to do? Every human in Grand Central Station had collapsed on the floor, and he didn't know how much of New York was the same way./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor gingerly stepped over an old woman. He adjusted his grip on Clara and pressed on. He passed the Apple Store that Nina had mentioned. Why store that sells fruit was necessary in a train station, the Doctor knew not. Where was the Orange Store, or the Watermelon- The Doctor stopped mid-thought. Did someone just yell?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Bill?" Someone cried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Hello?" Called the Doctor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Bill? Bill! Oh, no- no, Doctor! Doctor, where is Bill? I need to talk to him about all these people on the floor!" A young man in a striped shirt came around the corner./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Gary?" The Doctor said incredulously. "I'm afraid Bill is also on the floor. Everyone except us is unconscious, it seems."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Oh. Oh. Is it from the photic stimulator? Why aren't we unconscious too?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""I think I'm not unconscious because the stimulators were set to target humans. But you..." The Doctor trailed off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""What? What?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""It might be your autism that's allowing you to stay conscious. Your brain isn't wired quite the same way as everyone else's, so it may not be affected." The Doctor glanced at Clara when he said 'everyone'./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Yes. All right. All right. Who is that? Who are you holding?" Gary asked, pointing at Clara's limp form./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Oh, it's Clara."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Oh." Gary thought for a moment. "Why are you holding her? Why didn't you leave her on the floor where she was?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor stared at Clara's blank face. "I... I guess I didn't want anything to happen to her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Gary stared at the Doctor. "Doctor, we are the only ones awake here. What would happen to her?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""It's hard to explain. But I couldn't just emleave/em her there!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""You need to find a safe place to put her then." Gary said, as if it were obvious. "Now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""All right, Gary. Help me look."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Gary awkwardly stepped over the crumpled forms and found a gray supply closet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Here! You can put her in here! Doctor! In here!" Gary called, pointing at the door. He opened it and found a plethora of mops, brooms, and other cleaning supplies. The Doctor walked over, Clara's body obviously weighing him down. He gently laid her on the ground, with her upper body leaning against the wall. It was almost comical, like Clara was sliding down the wall. The Doctor turned on the light, and closed the door behind him and Gary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Gary, is all of New York like this?" The Doctor asked. Gary's fingers fluttered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""No. No. It's just here, in Grand Central Station. Skylar was able to shut off the breakers for New York, but not the station." He reported./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor nodded. "Okay, we can work with that. Let's see... I'm not affected because the light frequency was directed towards humans, but why aren't you affected, Gary?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Dr. Rosen always says that I'm special, because of my autism. I'm special, that's why I'm okay." Gary said. "I'm special!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor grinned. "Right you are, Gary. Here, let me think... How can we wake these people up?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"They were both silent for a moment. "Doctor, make the lights flash again." Gary said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""What?" The Doctor asked, woken out of his train of thought./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Make the lights flash again!" Gary repeated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Yes! Gary, you are brilliant! I can sonic one of the switch boxes and make the lights flash the opposite way they did before, and wake everyone up! Genius!" The Doctor was about to grab Gary's shoulders to shake him, but remembered how Gary didn't like to be touched./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Gary scratched his head and waved his fingers around. "Here, Doctor, there's a switch box not far from here. It's next to a Starbucks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Starbucks? You mean the interstellar bank of the fifty-seventh century? How is there an interstellar bank from the fifty-seventh century in the twenty-first century?" The Doctor asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Starbucks is a coffee shop, established in-" Gary began./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Right, yes, thank you! Lead the way!" The Doctor cut Gary off, not wanting to lose time. The Doctor followed Gary through a maze of motionless bodies./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor found the gray metal switch box right beside a vending machine. He swiftly opened the door and could easily see the photostims inside. The Doctor took out his sonic, and after changing the frequency, sonicked the photostimulators. The lights flickered once, then sporadically. Gary put his hands over his eyes, as did the Doctor. When the lights stopped flashing, they put their hands down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Gary ventured over to the nearest person. He scrutinized them, then looked at the Doctor. "Did it work? Will they wake back up?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor came over to the person Gary was standing by. It was a woman in her early forties, with short blond hair. The Doctor gently turned over so she was lying completely on her back, and put his arm around her shoulders so he could prop her up. "Hey. Hey, are you all right?" Her mouth twitched. The Doctor poked her cheek. She swatted his hand away groggily. She still hadn't opened her eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Doctor, Doctor! She's waking up! She's waking up!" Cried Gary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""So it seems. Miss, can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?" The Doctor crooned. Slowly, the woman cracked open one eye, and studied the Doctor. She opened the other one./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Who the hell are you?" She asked, irritably./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""I'm the Doctor. I'm here to help you, and everyone else. Are you feeling alright? Dizzy, headache? You probably hit the floor pretty hard,"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The woman pushed herself out of the Doctor's grip and sat up by herself. "The floor? Why am I on the floor? What the hell is going on?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor rose and put his hand out, expecting her to take it so he could help pull her up. She didn't. The Doctor awkwardly put his hand by his side. "What do you remember happening before this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"She glared at him. "I had bought my ticket and was just leaving Starbucks to board my train." The Doctor held her gaze. "And then..." She scrunched up her eyes, trying to remember. "Um, strobe lights? I don't know, some kind of weird power malfunction, all of the lights started blinking really fast." She stood up on her own./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""What's your name?" The Doctor asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"She scowled and said, "Melody. I hate it." The Doctor nearly choked. Melody looked at him and cocked her head to the side./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""No, no, my um. My wife's name is-was- Melody." Now it was Gary's turn to look at the Doctor weirdly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Doctor, Clara's name isn't Melody."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Yes, yes, I know, Gary. It's very...complicated. Let's stay focused on the object at hand. Melody, can you work on waking the rest of these people up?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Melody glanced around, just now noticing the unconscious people that surrounded her. "What'd you do, gas the place?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""No, we, um, just wake them up!" Commanded the Doctor. Melody put her hands up defensively and moved to an old man near her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Come on, Gary, let's get Clara and go back to the other Alphas."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" The Doctor and Gary wove through the stirring people to the utility closet where Clara was stored. The Doctor vigorously pulled the door open, expecting to see a groggy Clara inside. There wasn't. Clara was exactly as he'd left her, still quite unconscious. The Doctor scooped her up into his arms again. "Claraaaaaa. Clara, wake up." Clara didn't stir. The Doctor frowned. "Maybe in a couple minutes then,"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"He, Gary, and the unconscious Clara stepped over people to get back to the platform where the Alphas were. Along the way, a small child grabbed Gary's leg as he walked past. "Agh! I don't like to be touched!" The child giggled and laid its head on its mother's stomach. She was still unconscious. The Doctor frowned at this. Why wasn't everyone waking up? Most people were sitting up, some were standing, but a few hadn't seemed to have changed their status./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"When they reached the platform, the Doctor almost dropped Clara when he saw that only Dr. Rosen was awake. Gingerly, the Doctor lowered Clara to the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Doctor Rosen! Doctor Rosen! You woke up!" Gary said, hurrying to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen scratched his head. "Yes, Gary, I did. But why didn't they?" He gestured in a wide circle to his colleagues on the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""I- er, I think that my sonicking the photostimulators only targeted the non-Alphas," said the Doctor, throwing a glance at Clara worriedly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen seemed to accept this. "And Stanton Parish?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Dead."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen nodded. "How do we wake the Alphas up?" He grimaced once, and put a hand to his stomach. The Doctor noticed and was about to saying something, but Dr. Rosen waved a hand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Uh, well, I think their vitals need to be checked, and then we go from there."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen knelt down next to Rachel, one hand pressed tightly to his abdomen. The Doctor eyed Gary and could see that he was also concerned. Dr. Rosen took Rachel's pulse and listened to her breathing. He put a hand to her forehead, which was shiny from sweat. "It's almost like she's fighting off a fever. Let me check the others,"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The rest of the Alphas all had the same symptoms. They seemed to be fighting something within their bodies. "They're only going to get worse. We need to get them back to HQ as soon as possible to get them checked out more thoroughly." /spanspan class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen said grimly. "And we need to do...something about Stanton."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Except they're all unconscious. And dead. And I don't think we can carry them through a crowded train station, that would look suspicious." The Doctor said. He suddenly snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah! I forgot, I added this cool thing to the TARDIS! I was gonna show Clara once we got those sweatshirts, but I forgot until now!" The Doctor whipped out his sonic screwdriver, fiddled with it a bit, and said, "Here goes!" He pressed the button. The TARDIS noise started emitting from the screwdriver. Dr. Rosen could faintly see the outline of the TARDIS materializing in front of them. "TARDIS call button!" Grinned the Doctor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="color: #1a1a1a;"AN: TARDIS call button! How cool is that? Though it isn't as cool as the TARDIS self-destruct button, but still. /span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Oh, Clara..." The Doctor muttered, looking down at the Impossible Girl's body in his arms. What was he going to do? Every human in Grand Central Station had collapsed on the floor, and he didn't know how much of New York was the same way./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor gingerly stepped over an old woman. He adjusted his grip on Clara and pressed on. He passed the Apple Store that Nina had mentioned. Why store that sells fruit was necessary in a train station, the Doctor knew not. Where was the Orange Store, or the Watermelon- The Doctor stopped mid-thought. Did someone just yell?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Bill?" Someone cried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Hello?" Called the Doctor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Bill? Bill! Oh, no- no, Doctor! Doctor, where is Bill? I need to talk to him about all these people on the floor!" A young man in a striped shirt came around the corner./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Gary?" The Doctor said incredulously. "I'm afraid Bill is also on the floor. Everyone except us is unconscious, it seems."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Oh. Oh. Is it from the photic stimulator? Why aren't we unconscious too?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""I think I'm not unconscious because the stimulators were set to target humans. But you..." The Doctor trailed off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""What? What?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""It might be your autism that's allowing you to stay conscious. Your brain isn't wired quite the same way as everyone else's, so it may not be affected." The Doctor glanced at Clara when he said 'everyone'./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Yes. All right. All right. Who is that? Who are you holding?" Gary asked, pointing at Clara's limp form./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Oh, it's Clara."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Oh." Gary thought for a moment. "Why are you holding her? Why didn't you leave her on the floor where she was?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor stared at Clara's blank face. "I... I guess I didn't want anything to happen to her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Gary stared at the Doctor. "Doctor, we are the only ones awake here. What would happen to her?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""It's hard to explain. But I couldn't just emleave/em her there!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""You need to find a safe place to put her then." Gary said, as if it were obvious. "Now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""All right, Gary. Help me look."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Gary awkwardly stepped over the crumpled forms and found a gray supply closet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Here! You can put her in here! Doctor! In here!" Gary called, pointing at the door. He opened it and found a plethora of mops, brooms, and other cleaning supplies. The Doctor walked over, Clara's body obviously weighing him down. He gently laid her on the ground, with her upper body leaning against the wall. It was almost comical, like Clara was sliding down the wall. The Doctor turned on the light, and closed the door behind him and Gary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Gary, is all of New York like this?" The Doctor asked. Gary's fingers fluttered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""No. No. It's just here, in Grand Central Station. Skylar was able to shut off the breakers for New York, but not the station." He reported./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor nodded. "Okay, we can work with that. Let's see... I'm not affected because the light frequency was directed towards humans, but why aren't you affected, Gary?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Dr. Rosen always says that I'm special, because of my autism. I'm special, that's why I'm okay." Gary said. "I'm special!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor grinned. "Right you are, Gary. Here, let me think... How can we wake these people up?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"They were both silent for a moment. "Doctor, make the lights flash again." Gary said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""What?" The Doctor asked, woken out of his train of thought./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Make the lights flash again!" Gary repeated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Yes! Gary, you are brilliant! I can sonic one of the switch boxes and make the lights flash the opposite way they did before, and wake everyone up! Genius!" The Doctor was about to grab Gary's shoulders to shake him, but remembered how Gary didn't like to be touched./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Gary scratched his head and waved his fingers around. "Here, Doctor, there's a switch box not far from here. It's next to a Starbucks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Starbucks? You mean the interstellar bank of the fifty-seventh century? How is there an interstellar bank from the fifty-seventh century in the twenty-first century?" The Doctor asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Starbucks is a coffee shop, established in-" Gary began./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Right, yes, thank you! Lead the way!" The Doctor cut Gary off, not wanting to lose time. The Doctor followed Gary through a maze of motionless bodies./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor found the gray metal switch box right beside a vending machine. He swiftly opened the door and could easily see the photostims inside. The Doctor took out his sonic, and after changing the frequency, sonicked the photostimulators. The lights flickered once, then sporadically. Gary put his hands over his eyes, as did the Doctor. When the lights stopped flashing, they put their hands down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Gary ventured over to the nearest person. He scrutinized them, then looked at the Doctor. "Did it work? Will they wake back up?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor came over to the person Gary was standing by. It was a woman in her early forties, with short blond hair. The Doctor gently turned over so she was lying completely on her back, and put his arm around her shoulders so he could prop her up. "Hey. Hey, are you all right?" Her mouth twitched. The Doctor poked her cheek. She swatted his hand away groggily. She still hadn't opened her eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Doctor, Doctor! She's waking up! She's waking up!" Cried Gary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""So it seems. Miss, can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?" The Doctor crooned. Slowly, the woman cracked open one eye, and studied the Doctor. She opened the other one./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Who the hell are you?" She asked, irritably./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""I'm the Doctor. I'm here to help you, and everyone else. Are you feeling alright? Dizzy, headache? You probably hit the floor pretty hard,"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The woman pushed herself out of the Doctor's grip and sat up by herself. "The floor? Why am I on the floor? What the hell is going on?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The Doctor rose and put his hand out, expecting her to take it so he could help pull her up. She didn't. The Doctor awkwardly put his hand by his side. "What do you remember happening before this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"She glared at him. "I had bought my ticket and was just leaving Starbucks to board my train." The Doctor held her gaze. "And then..." She scrunched up her eyes, trying to remember. "Um, strobe lights? I don't know, some kind of weird power malfunction, all of the lights started blinking really fast." She stood up on her own./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""What's your name?" The Doctor asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"She scowled and said, "Melody. I hate it." The Doctor nearly choked. Melody looked at him and cocked her head to the side./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""No, no, my um. My wife's name is-was- Melody." Now it was Gary's turn to look at the Doctor weirdly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Doctor, Clara's name isn't Melody."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Yes, yes, I know, Gary. It's very...complicated. Let's stay focused on the object at hand. Melody, can you work on waking the rest of these people up?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Melody glanced around, just now noticing the unconscious people that surrounded her. "What'd you do, gas the place?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""No, we, um, just wake them up!" Commanded the Doctor. Melody put her hands up defensively and moved to an old man near her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Come on, Gary, let's get Clara and go back to the other Alphas."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" The Doctor and Gary wove through the stirring people to the utility closet where Clara was stored. The Doctor vigorously pulled the door open, expecting to see a groggy Clara inside. There wasn't. Clara was exactly as he'd left her, still quite unconscious. The Doctor scooped her up into his arms again. "Claraaaaaa. Clara, wake up." Clara didn't stir. The Doctor frowned. "Maybe in a couple minutes then,"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"He, Gary, and the unconscious Clara stepped over people to get back to the platform where the Alphas were. Along the way, a small child grabbed Gary's leg as he walked past. "Agh! I don't like to be touched!" The child giggled and laid its head on its mother's stomach. She was still unconscious. The Doctor frowned at this. Why wasn't everyone waking up? Most people were sitting up, some were standing, but a few hadn't seemed to have changed their status./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"When they reached the platform, the Doctor almost dropped Clara when he saw that only Dr. Rosen was awake. Gingerly, the Doctor lowered Clara to the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Doctor Rosen! Doctor Rosen! You woke up!" Gary said, hurrying to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen scratched his head. "Yes, Gary, I did. But why didn't they?" He gestured in a wide circle to his colleagues on the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""I- er, I think that my sonicking the photostimulators only targeted the non-Alphas," said the Doctor, throwing a glance at Clara worriedly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen seemed to accept this. "And Stanton Parish?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Dead."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen nodded. "How do we wake the Alphas up?" He grimaced once, and put a hand to his stomach. The Doctor noticed and was about to saying something, but Dr. Rosen waved a hand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Uh, well, I think their vitals need to be checked, and then we go from there."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen knelt down next to Rachel, one hand pressed tightly to his abdomen. The Doctor eyed Gary and could see that he was also concerned. Dr. Rosen took Rachel's pulse and listened to her breathing. He put a hand to her forehead, which was shiny from sweat. "It's almost like she's fighting off a fever. Let me check the others,"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;"The rest of the Alphas all had the same symptoms. They seemed to be fighting something within their bodies. "They're only going to get worse. We need to get them back to HQ as soon as possible to get them checked out more thoroughly." /spanspan class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;"Dr. Rosen said grimly. "And we need to do...something about Stanton."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"span style="color: #1a1a1a;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="color: #1a1a1a;""Except they're all unconscious. And dead. And I don't think we can carry them through a crowded train station, that would look suspicious." The Doctor said. He suddenly snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah! I forgot, I added this cool thing to the TARDIS! I was gonna show Clara once we got those sweatshirts, but I forgot until now!" The Doctor whipped out his sonic screwdriver, fiddled with it a bit, and said, "Here goes!" He pressed the button. The TARDIS noise started emitting from the screwdriver. Dr. Rosen could faintly see the outline of the TARDIS materializing in front of them. "TARDIS call button!" Grinned the Doctor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="color: #1a1a1a;"AN: TARDIS call button! How cool is that? Though it isn't as cool as the TARDIS self-destruct button, but still. /span/strong/p