'Please! Doctor! He's gonna choke!' Donna calls over to him. He remains frozen and watches as Rose grabs a rock from the garden and continuously tries to smash the windshield to pieces, so far, all she's done is make impact marks. Donna furiously tugs the handle, switching periodically to bang on the window. He drops to the ground and positions himself under the car, still using the screwdriver
'It won't open!' The Doctor calls to them and he once again tries the sonic.
Rose hastily steps aside as she catches sight of Sylvia barrelling down the walkway with an axe held tightly in her hands.
'Get out of the way!' She calls and Donna moves beside the Doctor.
Sylvia rushes the car and slams the axe down over the impact marks that Rose had made. Given the force Sylvia used, the windshield shatters instantly. Gas pours out of the car.
'Hurry! We have to get him out!' Rose calls and together the Doctor and Donna move beside Rose to help pull Wilf out. They struggle slightly but manage to get him out safely and he takes in huge gulps of air while Donna crouches down and is rubbing his back.
Not that the deep breaths will do much good, the air has become a thick haze as the gas settles over Chiswick. And presumably the rest of the world as well.
Back on the UNIT base, there is chaos amuck as the soldiers desperately try to stop the gas from reaching further points, but there is nothing they can do. They are trying to stop their Jeeps from emitting the gas but again, all their efforts are for not. There are soldiers trying to get the information from across the world, establishing connections with others and hoping that England is only one suffering from this gas invasion.
'All soldiers to a door! Make the factory secure and take positions on the ground floor!' An officer directs the men to take action. This madness has to stop. As he finishes his sentence, the men fall into positions and he observes them intently. This is not the time for errors to occur.
'Wicowsky, take the soldiers into the factory! Make the area secure. Seal off doors and windows!' Mace arrives and points to the officer who directed the soldiers. He watches from a distance as the soldiers continue to push vehicles out of the factory, but it seems their efforts are in vain. A soldier comes running up to Mace, out of breath, he points behind him.
'We've tried everything, it just won't stop!' He pants and Mace nods. He turns on his heel and marches into the UNIT field base. There are a few soldiers there, trying to piece together the chaos that's coming in from around the world.
'What have we got Captain Price?' Mace questions and folds his arms and Price turns her attention from the screen to Mace.
'ATMOS is running wild, sir. It can't be stopped, it's everywhere. The whole planet.' Price informs him and Mace closes his eyes, inhaling deeply. There are red dots covering the inhabited areas on a large map.
How are they going to stop this?
Elsewhere on the grounds, the clone of Martha walks freely around before she enters the UNIT base. She walks towards another row of computers and places her hand on the soldier's shoulder. They turn to her and she smiles, as she relieves them. She sits at the computer and looks at the security card that she's stolen from Martha, who lies incapacitated, and enters in the code. As a level one-security holder, the clone has now gained entrance into the NATO defence system. Turning over her shoulders, grinning darkly, she turns back to the computer and awaits further orders.
'Thanks!' Wilf smiles to the three of them, as he sits on the curb and who exhale at his safety. Donna slowly turns to her mother, who still holds the axe tightly in her hands.
'I can't believe you've got an axe!' Donna cries in disbelief and her mother merely waves her hand dismissively and scoffs.
'Burglars!' Sylvia states simply.
'Get inside the house,' The Doctor states and Rose and Donna help Wilf to his feet. 'Just try and close off the doors and windows.'
The sound of screeching tires draws everyone's attention to the street as a black cab screeches to a halt. Jenkins leans his head out of the window and calls over to everyone.
'Doctor! This is all I could find that hasn't got ATMOS.' He calls and the Doctor nods, he takes Rose's hand and they jog towards the cab. Rose turns to Donna who remains standstill beside her mum and granddad. The Doctor has noticed as well and slows to a stop.
'Donna?' He calls to her.
'Are you coming Donna?' Rose questions and she watches Donna's face break out into a smile.
'Yeah!' She starts towards them but her mother grabs a hold of her wrist and Donna's turns back to her.
'Donna! Don't go!' Sylvia states. 'Look what happens every time that Doctor appears! Stay with us, please!' Rose stops in her tracks and turns back to Sylvia, while the Doctor gets into the cab. He holds out his hand for Rose and she takes it, sitting next to him.
'You go my darling!' Wilf replies and that causes Sylvia to gape at her father.
'Dad!' She cries.
'Don't listen to her!' Wilf instructs Donna. Donna's face breaks out into a smile. 'You go with the Doctor and Rose!' Donna nods her head and takes off for Rose and the Doctor, who have been watching the entire scene unfold from the cab's window. Their heads together. 'That's my girl! Bye!'
Donna climbs into the cab and smiles at the Doctor and Rose, but Rose can see the guilt in her eyes. Rose knows that she wants to stay and ensure that her family remains safe, but the thrill of this life is too much.
'They'll be okay, Donna.' Rose tries to comfort her. She needs to hear those words of comfort.
'Yeah?' Donna looks over to Rose and offers a meek smile.
'I know so.'
'Thanks Rose…' Donna continues to stare out of the back window as Jenkins pulls out of Donna's house and onto the street. Has she really done the right thing? Should she be staying behind? No, she belongs here. She can help them.
The clone has finished downloading NATO's security protocols. She stands up from the computer she has been sitting at and ejects the memory stick. She heads out of the room and puts the memory stick into her mobile, downloading the information.
Once that has been completed, she sends the information to the awaiting Sontarans.
'Success. The operative has the necessary information.' Skorr looks over to Staal.
'Good work, for a female,' Staal commends. 'Now she must be protected.'
'I will prepare an attack squad.' Skorr states and he leaves to ready his men.
'This is it, isn't? Oh man, this is war!' Luke cries out gleefully.
'How does it feel, boy?' Staal questions and Luke grins.
'Magnificent.'
Jenkins rounds the corner and slams the brakes on, causing everyone to lurch forward. Donna, Rose and the Doctor pile out and he lingers at the window.
'Ross, look after yourself, get inside the building.'
Ross nods. 'Will do,' He reaches for his radio and the Doctor goes off to join a waiting Rose and Donna. 'Greyhound Forty to Trap One, I have just returned the Doctor to base safe and sound, over.'
'Trap One, received. Over.' Mace's voice states.
The clone of Martha panics slightly and rushes over to Mace's side. She has to keep them guessing that she really is Martha.
'Sir, message from the Doctor, he says Code Red Sontaran.' Martha states and Mace's look becomes grave.
'All troops, Code Red Sontaran. Code Red Sontaran.' Mace instructs to the troops.
Rose, the Doctor and Donna continue to walk along the industrial part of the ATMOS factory, the air becoming thicker and more polluted. The walk to the TARDIS seems to be taking much longer.
'The air is disgusting!' Donna cries and covers her mouth.
'It really is.' Rose voice is muffled because she's covering her mouth, trying to stop the air from seeping in.
'It's not so bad for me,' The Doctor replies and Rose turns to stare at him. They all stop once they have reached the TARDIS and the Doctor pulls out his key. 'Go on, get inside you two,' He stops for a moment as if something has just hit him. 'Donna I just remembered, you'll be needing a key!'
'A key?' Donna questions and the Doctor places a key into her hand.
'Keep that! Go on, that's yours!' The Doctor smiles and Donna looks up to him.
'It's official now, Donna.' Rose grins and Donna continues to stare at the key.
'Quite a big moment really…' The Doctor trails off.
'Yeah, maybe we can get sentimental after the world's finished choking to death.' Donna informs them.
'Good idea! Go on, get inside,' The Doctor instructs and Donna opens the door and steps in. 'You too, Rose, it'll be safer in there for you.'
'Nope, sorry, you're stuck with me.' Rose crosses her arms. As the Doctor opens his mouth to protest, Rose holds up her hand, silencing him. Donna has been watching from the TARDIS doors and grins. Although, she worries immensely for Rose's safety.
The Doctor seems to be running through the same emotions before he finally seems comfortable with what's happened and he takes Rose's hand in his own and pulls her in the direction of the UNIT field base
'Where are you both going?!' Donna calls to them and the Doctor turns back to her, a wide smile on his face.
'To stop a war!' He shouts back and Rose grins.
'Bye Donna! Stay safe!' Rose calls to her and Donna waves at them, she can't help but think how silly Rose is being. Risking her health just so she doesn't have to leave his side. And the Doctor for agreeing with it. But then again, she knew he'd always ensure she was safe, because with Rose, it's just in a different way.
They continue run along the street and back to the mobile HQ that Martha had lead them to earlier. Rose is finding the air difficult to breathe in, she pulls her jacket collar over her nose to try and block and filter some of the air.
'Rose, how are you holding up?' The Doctor turns back to her and notices her eyes have begun to water due to the speed in which the air has been forcing itself into her face.
'Good…I think.' Rose manages to get out.
'We'll be there soon.' He reassures her and Rose nods.
By the time they have reached the mobile HQ, the Doctor has Rose shielded in his coat and chest, keeping her safe. They had to walk the last few feet before entering the building. The air was causing Rose to breathe in short, shallow breaths, and that was becoming slightly worrisome for the Doctor.
They spot Mace in the HQ surrounded by staff and Martha standing closer to him. Rose breathes a sigh of relief; she was worried about Martha when they hadn't heard from her. Upon closer inspection, Rose thinks Martha looks at little…off. Mechanical in her movements and her stare seems vacant. Of course, that may just be Rose.
Reluctantly, the Doctor lets her go and Rose clears her throat of the irritation and Mace looks over to them both.
'Right then, here we are,' Mace nods and the Doctor's expression becomes somber as he looks at the computer screen that shows the ATMOS that has been activated around the world. 'Whatever you do, Colonel Mace, do not engage the Sontarans in battle, there is nothing they like better than a war. Just leave this to me.'
'And what are you going to do?' Mace inquires and watches at the Doctor stops in his tracks, he just simply states a fact.
'I've got the TARDIS, I'm gonna get on board their ship,' The Doctor takes Rose's hand and they start towards the door. The clone glances down to her mobile device and presses a button. 'Come on Martha, you too!'
Elsewhere in the ATMOS factory, the two guards, Harris and Grey, suddenly become activated. They stalk through the factory and out into smoggy streets. They continue to march along the streets until they spot the TARDIS parked in the alleyway.
They walk with conviction towards the TARDIS with Donna still inside. She is unaware of her approaching guards and doesn't hear them attach devices onto the exterior of the TARDIS.
'Ready for transport.' Harris states and he watches, along with Grey, as the TARDIS disappears.
Staal and Luke stand watch as the TARDIS materialises in front of them, not knowing that Donna still waits inside.
'The spoils of war! The Doctor's infamous vessel in Sontaran hands!' Staal cries.
'It's time I made a move, sir; I have soldiers of my own. I'll tell them of the honour and the glory, sir! I'll tell them that Planetfall is coming!' Luke informs him and he heads back to the teleport. Instantly he is gone and returned to Earth. Skorr approaches Staal and they exchange rather sly smiles.
'He is behaving exactly as predicted, sir.' Skorr reports and Staal nods at the assessment.
As their backs are turned to the TARDIS, they fail to notice the door open quietly and Donna peeks out. She widens her eyes and quickly shuts the door again, now is not the time to panic, but it doesn't stop the fear she has growing in the pit of her stomach. She presses her ear to the door and listens as best she can.
'None of the humans can guess our true purpose.' Staal agrees and together they continue to study Earth from the window, merely waiting until the time is right. Donna leans back and looks over her shoulder…how is she going to let him know where she is…?
The Doctor leads the way through the HQ and back out onto the street. The air remains heavy and hazy as he navigates through it to return to the alleyway where he's left the TARDIS. He steals a look over his shoulder to Rose, who has covered her face again trying to stop the air from affecting her breathing. Martha…Martha doesn't seem right to him.
She continues to stare straight ahead at him, not blinking often and oddly, the air doesn't seem to bother her as much as it does Rose. He's entirely sure that this is not Martha Jones anymore, no, something has happened to her. It's just one thing after another today as he stops at the mouth of the alleyway and notices something is missing.
'Doctor! Where's the TARDIS?' Rose questions as she joins him and he just simply shakes his head and opens his mouth, sticking his tongue out. Rose eyes him oddly.
'Taste that, in the air?' He questions and Rose mimics him, but doesn't see, or taste, what he's on about. 'Yecch. That sort of metal tang. Teleport exchange. It's the Sontarans, they've taken it!'
'But how did they know it was here?' Rose wondered, but the Doctor seemed to ignore her question.
'I'm stuck, on Earth like…like an ordinary person. Like a human! How rubbish is that!' The Doctor feels a hit on his arm and he turns to Rose who is simply staring at him with an unimpressed look on her features. 'Sorry, no offence, but come on!'
'So what do we do?' The clone inquires and the Doctor eyes her suspiciously.
'Well…I mean it's shielded, they could never detect it.' He keeps studying her intensely. The clone folds her arms.
'What?'
'I'm just wondering, have you phoned your family and Tom?' The Doctor inquires and it draws an odd look from the clone. Rose watches them and wonders the same thing.
'No, what for?' She inquires and Rose gapes at her.
'The gas, Martha. You need to tell them to stay inside.' Rose informs her and Martha nods her head. As if she hadn't thought of it until she was reminded.
'Course I will, yeah, but, what about Donna? I mean, where is she?' The clone questions, and Rose doesn't quite like the look in her eyes. The clone tilts her head as she awaits her answer. Rose turns to the Doctor, hoping he'll lie to her. Something doesn't feel right.
'Oh, she's gone home. She's not like you; she's not a soldier. Right. So. Avanti!' The Doctor takes Rose's hand again, he leads them back out of the alleyway and towards the UNIT HQ. Rose steals glances back at Martha who just remain expressionless as she continues to run to keep up with them.
'Something isn't sitting right with me…' Rose whispers.
'Don't worry, I've got it all under control.' He replies and Rose nods, trusting him.
'She's okay though, right? Both of them?'
'Yes. I know they are.'
The clone catches up to them and they both fall silent, not wanting to say anything that might tip her off that they know more.
The students at Rattigan Academy look out to view of West London utterly confused and scared at what's happening. Everything is beginning to disappear under a layer of smog.
'Leave it. Turn away Civilisation is falling!' The students all turn to the voice that has just joined them.
'But it's all over the news, sir, it's everywhere. Paris and New York.' A male student comes forward to inform him. But Luke ignores him and smiles widely to himself. It's time they know everything. Why they have been chosen. Why they are so special, he would tell them why their work matters so.
'It's time I told you, all of you. It's time I revealed what our work has been for!' He declares, a tone of victory in his voice. The students turn to each other, confusion and puzzlement written all over their faces.
The Doctor bursts through the mobile UNIT HQ with Rose and Martha coming in behind him.
'Change of plan!' The Doctor announces as he strides into the centre of the room, standing beside Mace and staring at the wide screen before them. There is so much red on it now, they are running out of time.
'Good to have you fighting alongside us, Doctor.' Mace commends.
'Don't mistake this for us fighting.' Rose interjects and stands beside the Doctor; he turns to smile at her before turning his attention back to Mace.
'I'm not fighting. We're not fighting. We're not-fighting, as in not hyphen fighting, got it?' The Doctor eyes Mace and he gives a curt nod, not really believing him. 'Now, does anyone know what this gas is yet?'
'We're working on it.' The clone of Martha replies and the Doctor looks over to her. He is running out of time to find her as well.
'It's harmful, but not lethal until it reaches eighty percent density. We're having the first reports of deaths from the centre of Tokyo City.' A soldier informs him and the Doctor turns to the younger woman.
'And who are you?'
'Captain Marion Price, sir.' She salutes and it draws an eye roll from the Doctor and a very frustrated response.
'Oh, put your hand down. Don't salute.' He states, irritated.
'Jodrell Bank's traced a signal, Doctor, coming from five thousand miles above the Earth. We're guessing that's what's triggered the cars.' Mace informs him and the Doctor is nodding his head.
'The Sontaran ship.' He confirms.
'NATO has gone to Defcon One, we're preparing a strike.' Mace states and Rose widens her eyes at the absurdity of the very thought. That will not do a single bit of damage to that ship.
'You can't do that; nuclear missiles won't even scratch the surface. Let me talk to the Sontarans.' The Doctor turns his attention to the screen.
'You're not authorised to speak on behalf of the Earth.' Mace replies curtly. The Doctor frowns at his response but he brushes the comment off. So little Mace truly knew of him.
'I've got that authority, I earned that a long time ago,' Rose feels herself inwardly smiling at his comment. Who was Mace to state such an illogical fact? And she loved that the Doctor shut him down, unable to stop herself, she smiles and watches as he takes out the Sonic Screwdriver to connect that UNIT systems to the Sontaran ship. He takes a seat in a vacant chair, putting his feet up and stares at the screen. 'Calling the Sontaran Command Ship under Jurisdiction Two of the Intergalactic Rules of Engagement. This is the Doctor.'
The transmission has been received inside the TARDIS as well, upon hearing the Doctor's voice echo in the TARDIS, Donna rushes over to the screen and she grins widely but her smile fades as she thinks of something.
'Doctor, I'm here, can you hear me?' She tries. When he doesn't respond she sighs and sits on the console chair. Great, now what?
'Doctor breathing your last?' Staal questions, his tone is very condescending.
'My god, they're like trolls.' Mace continues to stare wide eyed.
'Rude!' Rose calls over to him and Mace turns to her and soon, all of the room soon settles their gaze on her.
'Yeah, loving the diplomacy, thanks,' The Doctor turns to glare at Mace before turning back to Staal. 'So, tell me, General Staal, since when did you lot become cowards?'
'How dare you!' Staal shouts to him and gets closer into screen.
'Oh, that's diplomacy?' Mace mocks and Rose turns back to him. She narrows her eyes and he, too, locks his gaze with hers.
'Enough. You've no idea what you're dealing with. And you've no idea how to talk to these Sontarans. So back off.' Rose folds her arms, the Doctor turns back to steal a glance at her before turning his attention to the Sontarans.
'Doctor, you impugn my honour!' Staal shouts to him but the Doctor seems unfazed.
'Yeah, I'm really glad you didn't say belittle cause then I'd have a field day,' The Doctor informs him and turns back to Rose who raises her eye brows. But she smiles at him nonetheless. 'But poison gas? That's the weapon of a coward and you know it. Staal, you could blast this planet out of the sky, and yet you're sitting up above watching it die. Where's the fight in that? Where's the honour? Or, are you lot planning something else? Cause this isn't normal Sontaran warfare. What are you lot up to?'
'A general would be unwise to reveal his strategy to the opposing forces.' Staal quips and the Doctor's features light up at the unexpected revelation.
'Ah, the war's not going so well, then? Losing, are we?' The mockery in the Doctor's voice causes Staal to scowl and Rose to tug the Doctor's coat sleeve.
'What war are they fighting?' Rose questions and the Doctor turns to her and then eyes Mace.
'The war between the Sontarans and the Rutans. It's been raging, far out in the stars for fifty thousand years. Fifty thousand years of bloodshed, and for what?' He spat and he and Staal locks eyes and his gaze becomes one of conviction.
'For victory. Sontar-ha!' In the background the rest of the Sontaran troops join in the chant.
'Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha!'
'Give me a break.' The Doctor rolls his eyes and pulls out the screwdriver, and points it at the screen. It changes channels, settling on a cartoon. Rose looks up to the Doctor and he shrugs at her, mentally ticking the seconds away.
'Doctor. I would seriously recommend that this dialogue is handled by official Earth representation.' The Doctor is about to turn to Mace to say something when Rose is the one to speak first.
'He's the most qualified out of any of you, out of anyone on Earth, to handle something like this. When it comes to something like this, you're way out of your league. Leaving this type of situation to anyone other than the Doctor could be detrimental for Earth. So shut up about the rules and regulations.' Rose states and the Doctor gives a satisfied smile and takes her hand in his briefly, before pointing the screwdriver back at the screen. It flips back to the Sontaran ship.
'Finished?' The Doctor inquires.
'You will not be so quick to ridicule when you'll see our prize. Behold!' Staal motions to the TARDIS that stands behind him. 'We are the first Sontarans in history to capture a TARDIS.' Staal boasts and the Doctor and Rose exchange looks. She smiles meaningfully at him.
'Well. As prizes go, that's…noble,' The Doctor hopes that Donna is watching from inside the TARDIS. 'As they say in Latin, Donna nobis pacem.'
Donna stares wide eyed at the console screen as she tries to understand what he wants her to do.
'That's me! I'm here!' Donna calls out but again there is no reply.
'Did you ever wonder about its design?' The Doctor questions at Staal. 'It's a phone box. It contains a phone. A telephonic device for communication. Sort of symbolic. Like if only we could communicate. You and I.' The Doctor states but Donna frowns, the message is so cryptic what does he want her to do? Communicate how?
'All you have communicated is your distress, Doctor.' Staal informs him and Donna watches as a smile breaks out onto his face.
'Oh my god.' Donna whispers and reaches for the mobile phone that the Doctor had placed on the console after he had finished speaking with Martha earlier. She grins and opens it.
'Big mistake though. Showing it to me.' The Doctor watches Staal's look change from one of satisfaction, to utter confusion.
'But who do I phone?' Donna replies, exasperated. Does he even have a number?
'Cause I've got a remote control.' The Doctor lifts up a device and Donna watches as Staal squints at it before widening his eyes in shock.
'Cease transmission!' And Donna lets out a cry of frustration as the screen cuts to black.
'You haven't even got a number!' Donna cries and she turns to the door as she hears shuffling from the Sontarans as they draw closer to the TARDIS.
'Remove the box from the War Room, beyond the transmission field.' Donna turns to the door. She's thrown around the TARDIS as the Sontarans relocate it.
'But what do I do?' Donna says quietly and looks around the TARDIS.
'Oh, well.' The Doctor gets up out of his seat and stretches.
'That's achieved nothing.' Mace replies critical and Rose is really beginning to detest that man.
'You'd really be surprised, sir. It's achieved a lot more than you might think.' Rose informs him and the Doctor nods. The Doctor and Rose set their gaze on Martha and watch her carefully. She is next on his list.
Luke has gathered all of the students into a lab, and his trying to keep his composure. He's simply too excited, they are going to love his plans for their future. And he simply can wait no longer to tell them. But they don't seem so enthused with his revelation, no; all of them are glued to the windows, trying to see out into the dense fog. He whistles, loudly to get their attention and they all turn to him.
'All this stuff we've been building. All this invention. Where's it been heading? Gravity intensifiers, hydroponics, atmospheric conversion, ecoshell. More then enough to build a brand new world.'
'Luke, we haven't got time for this. I've got to find my parents.' Luke sets his gaze on the male student who has dared to interrupt him.
'Oh, but this isn't just theory. I'm talking Planetfall. For all of us. A brand new start for a brand new human race. Look,' Luke opens up a 3D projection of a planet. 'A new world. Far out. Beyond Alpha Geminorium, just waiting for us. Its official destination is Castor 36. I think of it as Earth Point Two. I did wonder about Rattigan's World, but…we can take a vote on that.'
'What the hell are you on about?' A male student questions and Luke turns to face him.
'This is where we're going. I have partners willing to take us there.' Luke replies and the students swap looks.
'Oh, he's lost it. I haven't got time for this.' A female student states as she begins to head for the exit.
'Excuse me, I haven't finished,' Luke turns off the projector, but the female student doesn't listen. 'Where are you going?' He demands and she stops, looking him up and down.
'To find my brother.' She states coldly.
'I didn't say you could leave.' Luke counters and she sets her gaze on him. He finds it unnerving. It's so steely.
'I told him to put ATMOS in his car. I've got to go and help him.'
'Stay where you are!' Luke cries and pulls out a gun, pointing it at the students who have begun to follow her.
'What do you think you're doing?' She spat and Luke points the gun at her.
'Luke. Put that down.' A male student says. His voice is calm and direct. Luke turns his attention to him. Why are they acting like this? Why can't they see the sacrifices he made for them?
'But…I did this for you. Don't you see?! We've spent all our lives excluded. The clever ones. They…they've laughed at us. And pulled us down. Those ordinary people out there. Those cattle. This is our chance to leave them behind!'
'You mean you want them dead?' A male student confirms, the very idea is horrific to him.
'And I chose you to survive! With Planetfall we can start again. We can build, and breed. We can prosper, we can do anything!' Luke cries and the group exchanges uneasy glances.
'We're going to breed?' A female inquires and a look of disgust passes her features.
'I've designed a mating program. I've planned the whole thing.' Luke confirms and he nods his head.
'Well then, shoot me!' She replies and runs from the room. The rest of the group tries to follow her, but Luke cocks the gun.
'Stay where you are. Stay where you are I said! Stay where you are!' Luke watches as the students begin to walk out on him. He follows them with the barrel of the gun, but can't bring himself to pull the trigger. 'Stay where you are, that's an order!' Most of the group has left the room, but one student remains and looks him up and down.
'Caster 36? You're just sick!' He states and runs from the room, leaving Luke all alone.
'Guess that just proves it!' Luke cries manically. 'I'm cleverer than you! I'm cleverer than everyone! Do you hear me?!' He shouts and begins to stamp his feet in a tantrum like attitude. 'I'm clever!'
Donna continues to turn the mobile over in her hands as she contemplates her next move. What could he possibly want her to do while she's on the Sontaran ship? And how in the world is she even going to get into contact with him? Does he even carry a mobile on him? Donna lets out a frustrated sigh. Before she does anything else she needs to call her family. She needs to make sure they're okay.
'Mum? You all right?' Donna breathes when her mother picks up the phone.
'Donna! Where are you sweetheart? Oh, just finish the job. Your granddad's sealing us in. He's sealing the windows. Our own house and we're sealed in! All those things they said about pollution and ozone and carbon, they're really happening aren't they?'
Donna can't get over the frantic tone in her mother's voice; it's so unlike her. 'There's people working on it, mum. They're gonna fix it, I promise.'
'Oh like you'd know, you're so clever?' Why is her tone so accusatory?
Donna looks down to the grating floor in the TARDIS. 'Oh, don't start. Please don't.'
'I'm sorry. I wish you were here.'
Donna frowns as rustling and shuffling is heard in the background before the phone exchanges hands. 'Donna? Where are you?' Donna smiles a bit at her granddad's voice.
'It's sort of hard to say. You all right?' Donna inquires and hopes this will end soon.
'Yeah, fighting fit, yeah. Is he with you, the Doctor?'
'No. I'm all on my own…' Donna quietly admits and looks around at the emptiness of the TARDIS. There isn't even any familiar humming to surround her. Just eerily quiet.
'Look, you promised me he was gonna look after you.'
'He will, Gramps. There's…something he needs me to do. I just don't know what.' Donna says.
'Well, I mean, the whole place is covered, the whole of London they're saying and the whole, the whole world. It's the scale of it, Donna. I mean, how can one man stop all that?'
'Trust me. He can do it.' Donna states, passion in her voice. Everyone is always underestimating him. She won't. And she won't let anyone else either, not while she's around.
'Yeah, well if he doesn't, you tell him he'll have to answer to me.'
'I will. Just as soon as I see him, I'll tell him.' Donna assures him.
'Huh.'
Donna ends the call and brings the phone her face as she tries to work out what she needs to do to help him while she's up here.
The Doctor reaches over to the clone and snatches the clipboard she's been carrying out of her hands. Together, he and Rose go over the schematics that are written down on it.
'There's carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides but ten percent unidentified. Some sort of artificial heavy element we can't trace. You ever seen anything like it?' Martha questions and Rose looks over to the Doctor.
'Must be something the Sontarans invented. This isn't just poison, they need this gas for something else. What could that be?' The Doctor questions and he and Rose set their sights on Martha who simply shrugs.
'Launch grid online and active.' Price informs everyone and Rose snaps her head in Price's direction.
'Positions ladies and gentlemen, Defcon One initiatives in progress.' Mace states and people begin to take their positions.
'What?!' Rose cries.
'I told you not to launch!' The Doctor shouts at him and Mace remains stoic.
'The gas is at sixty percent density, eighty percent and people start dying, Doctor. We've got no choice.' Mace informs him.
'Launching in sixty, fifty nine, fifty eight, fifty seven, fifty six…worldwide nuclear grid now coordinating. Fifty four, fifty three…' Price states.
On the Sontaran ship, Staal, Skorr and the rest of the Sontaran troops have been watching the events unfold in the UNIT mobile HQ.
'Ha! The planet is going nuclear! I admire them. The bravery of idiots is bravery nonetheless.' Staal states and Skorr joins him.
'The operative is in place, sir.' A Sontaran informs them and Staal nods.
'Commander Skorr! Is the attack squad ready?'
'Ready and eager for battle, sir. We've been watching for long enough, it'll be good to taste blood.' Skorr replies and together they smile.
'You're making a mistake, Colonel! For once, I hope the Sontarans are ahead of you.' The Doctor says and Rose nervously continues to watch the screen. What is going to happen to them once the countdown reaches zero?
'North America, online. United Kingdom, online. France, online. India, online. Pakistan, online. China, online. North Korea, online. All systems locked and coordinated. Launching ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five…' Price begins to sweat and tries to remain steady.
'God save us…' Mace whispers.
Rose holds her breath, and finds herself clinging to the Doctor's arm as she watches the screen intently. She can't look away…even the Doctor has reached for Rose's free hand as they stare intensely at the screen, while the countdown nears the end.
'Four, three, two, one…' Price says.
The clone looks down to her mobile, the hack display is up and she presses 'no' on her touch screen. The launch is avoided.
'Zero.' Price states and the whole screen turns off.
'What is it? What happened? Did we launch? Well, did we?' Mace repeats his questions after there is no answer. Rose exhales and rests her head on the Doctor's shoulder, they narrowly avoided catastrophe.
'Negative, sir. The launch codes have been wiped, sir. It must be the Sontarans.' Price informs Mace after she's able to confirm things.
'Can we override it?' Mace inquires and Price's fingers move quickly over the keyboard.
'Trying it now, sir.'
'Missiles wouldn't even dent that ship, so why are the Sontarans so keen to stop you?' The Doctor turns his attention to the clone, who is watching him as well. 'Any ideas?'
'How should I know?' Comes her reply.
Sontarans begin to march through the factory in large numbers. Jenkins is guarding a deserted corridor with four other soldiers. There has been no activity so far, but they need to remain vigilant. The soldiers have begun to talk amongst themselves and Jenkins lets out a sigh.
'Stinking out there,' He observes when he hears something. 'Shhh! Keep it down lads.' Jenkins observes the Sontarans as they march down the corridor in unified numbers. He instantly reaches for his radio while the soldiers prep their weapons falling into position.
'Enemy within! At arms! Greyhound 40 declaring absolute emergency. Sontarans within factory grounds, east corridor grid six.' Jenkins' voice is heard throughout the HQ.
'Absolute emergency, declaring Code Red. All troops, Code Red!' Mace states into his radio. The Doctor rushes up to Mace.
'Get them out of there!' He yells but Mace ignores him.
'All troops, open fire!' Mace instructs and Rose covers her mouth. They are going to get slaughtered.
'Guns aren't working. Inform all troops, standard weapons do not work!' Jenkins informs them and Rose shakes her head. Why aren't they getting out of there?! 'Tell the Doctor it's that Cordolaine signal. He's the only one who can stop them.' Static is heard over the radio. It tells the room that Jenkins has been killed.
'Greyhound 40, report. Over. Greyhound 40, report. Greyhound 40, report!' Mace shouts into the radio, Rose can't stand it anymore.
'His name was Ross! It was Ross! Not Greyhound 40, Ross!' Rose cries. The Doctor turns back to Mace, this needs to end.
'Listen to me, now and carefully, get them out of there!' The Doctor shouts to make and he reluctantly reaches for the radio again.
'Trap One to all stations. Retreat. Order imperative, immediate retreat!'
In the ATMOS factory, soldiers are running in every direction they can, trying to escape their enemies.
'Retreat! Retreat!' A soldier calls out to his men and they do their best to file out of the factory as quickly as possible.
The Sontarans march quickly and fan out into the factory. Once they catch sight of the UNIT soldiers, the Sontaran troops open fire. They begin to shoot everyone down and chaos ensues. The men try to shoot back in defence but the expansion of the copper in the bullets make it impossible. They attempt to scatter as best they can and flood every single exit.
A passing Sontaran notice that Grey and Harris have addressed another Sontaran and shoots them dead. Skorr watches gleefully as the UNIT men attempt to escape their impending deaths. He lets out a laugh, unable to get enough of the sport.
'This is too easy! They're running like slimebait from a speelfox,' Skorr declares and watches more of his men shoot UNIT soldiers dead. 'This isn't war, this is sport!'
Skorr directs his men to the door and they slide the factory doors down, sealing the Sontarans inside.
'They've taken the factory.' Mace reports and the Doctor looks up to the ceiling, trying to figure it out.
'Why would the Sontarans need a factory?' Rose ponders and the Doctor nods at her assessment.
'Exactly. Why? They don't need it. Why attack now? What are they up to? Times like this, I could do with the Brigadier,' The Doctor's voice softens at his old friend. His attention is drawn to Mace. 'No offence.'
'None taken,' Mace replies. Rose assumes that it must be a friend that the Doctor has made when he worked for UNIT. Oh, she just wants to learn all about his life before her… 'Sir Alistair's a fine man, if not the best. Unfortunately, he's stranded in Peru.' Mace informs the Doctor and he closes his eyes in thought.
'Launch grid back online,' Price informs them and everyone turns back to the screen, which now has a map of the world up. The clone discreetly presses the 'no' button on her mobile screen again. Instantaneously, the screen cuts to black again and Price closes her eyes. 'They're inside the system, sir. It's coming from within UNIT itself.'
'Trace it. Find out where it's coming from, and quickly. Gas levels?' Mace inquires, dreading the answer he would receive.
'Sixty six percent in major population areas. And rising.' Price states and he nods.
'Doctor we need to figure this out…people are going to die…' Rose lowers her voice and he nods his head.
'I know, I've just about got it figured out. We'll stop them.' He assures her and Rose rests her head on his shoulder briefly.
'Commander Skorr reports victory with many glorious deaths.' Skorr's voice fills the Sontaran ship with the wonderful news.
Staal's attention is then drawn to the teleport as Luke appears. He does not look very happy. Staal eyes him as he approaches.
'Sorry to report, sir, I've failed. They wouldn't come. The students, they…didn't have the imagination to believe.' Luke informs him, his voice is solemn and Staal eyes him, it is of no concern to him.
'A pity. We've lost our target practice!' Staal turns to his men and throws his arms up for emphasis.
'What do you mean?' Luke studies the rest of the Sontarans. That statement doesn't make sense. Who is going to be a target?
'Upon arrival on board this ship, your students would have been shot down. Perhaps they were more clever then you thought.' Staal informs him and Luke widens his eyes at this betrayal.
'You promised!' Luke cried. He's feeling immensely hurt and betrayed. Why would they do this to him? They promised him refuge and a new planet.
'There was no Planetfall. Castor 36 indeed! We only needed you for the installation of the ATMOS system.' Staal states and rather dismissively. He gives Luke a dark and sly smile.
'No, but…I'm on your side!' Luke protests. 'I did everything you wanted!' He states and then another thought hits him. Just like that Doctor. 'And it's not ATMOS system, that a tautology. Just ATMOS.'
'Execute him!' Staal shouts and the Sontarans prepare to fire. Luke panics and presses a button on the teleport pod and disappears. He reappears on the floor of the pod in his room.
The sting of the betrayal becomes too much and Luke begins to break down. He's now utterly alone as he awaits death like the rest of mankind. There is no escaping it now.
Mace studies the world map and than back to the smaller map that shows the location of the Sontaran troops. Something isn't adding up to him, why are they here now? What's so special about now?
'Why are they defending the factory only after we were inside?' Mace wonders and the Doctor turns back to him, as if the answer should be obvious.
'Because they wanted UNIT here. You gave them something they needed. Something now hidden inside the factory. Something precious.'
'Then we've got to recover it. This Cordolaine signal thing, how does it work?' Mace questions and the Doctor eyes him with a strange look.
'The bullets. It causes expansion of the copper shell.' He reiterates.
'Excellent. I'm on it.' Mace declares and he leaves the room. The Doctor rolls his eyes and stands so Mace can hear him.
'For the billionth time, you can't fight Sontarans!' He calls but Mace waves him off. Rose comes to stand beside him and places her hand on his shoulder.
'You know…I hate to say it, but you don't have the super serious face anymore.' Rose says and the Doctor turns to her.
'You know…I've been thinking about that a lot lately,' He admits. 'No one takes me seriously cause of this.' He motions to his face.
'Sorry…luck of the draw this time.' Rose smiles slightly. The Doctor spots a soldier and he quickly leaves to talk to him. Rose watches intently. A few minutes pass, and the Doctor rejoins Rose, she tilts her head. He covertly motions to the clone with his eyes and Rose widens hers at the understanding.
'Phone. Have any of you got a phone? I need your mobile, quickly, hurry up!' He calls into the remaining soldiers who stare at him.
One fumbles with their pocket and pulls out their mobile, handing it to him. The Doctor pulls Rose with him back into Mace's office and he dials Donna. Hoping that she'd piece together the clues he'd left her earlier. He relaxes as he hears her voice.
'What's happened, where are you?
'Still on Earth. But don't worry, I've got my secret weapon.' The Doctor looks over to Rose, whose grin is crooked.
'What's that?'
'You.' The Doctor replies and Rose shuts her eyes. She imagines that Donna will not like being told that.
'Oh. Somehow that's not making me happy. Can't you just zap us down to Earth with that remote thing?'
'Yeah, I haven't got a remote, though I really should. But I need you on that ship. That's why I made them move the TARDIS. I'm sorry, but you've got to go outside.' The Doctor looks over to Rose, she's biting her lip in anticipation.
'But there's Sonterruns out there.'
'Sontarans,' The Doctor corrects and it draws a smile from Rose. 'But they'll be on battle stations right now. They don't walk around having coffee. I can talk you through it.' He tries to reassure her.
'But what if they find me?'
'I know, and I wouldn't ask, but there's nothing else I can do. The whole planet is choking, Donna.'
'What to you need me to do?'
'The Sontarans are inside the factory which means they've got a teleport link with the ship, but they'll have deadlocked it. I need you to reopen the link.' The Doctor informs her. But he turns to Rose and she knows that Donna is nervous, apprehensive and that he'll need her help to convince her. He passes the mobile to Rose and she presses it to her ear, just as Donna begins to speak again.
'But I can't even mend a fuse.'
'Donna, it's Rose. Listen to me…I know this is scary, but you can do this. You're too hard on yourself. You don't give yourself enough credit. You can do this, I know you can. I promise you'll be okay.'
'What if I can't?'
'Oh, I think you can. Believe in yourself, Donna. We do. Me and the Doctor, we know you can do this.'
There is a dead silence and some shuffling and Rose faintly hears the TARDIS door creak open.
'There's a Soneterrun…Sontaran.'
'Did he see you?' Rose questions and the Doctor watches her.
'No, he's got his back to me.'
'Right, okay, I'm going to pass you back to the Doctor. He can tell you what to do.' Rose informs her and hands the mobile back to the Doctor who begins to pace.
'Okay, so he didn't see you. Good. On the back of his neck, on his collar, there a sort of plug, like a hole. The Probic Vent. One blow to the Probic Vent knocks him out.'
'But he's gonna kill me.'
'I'm sorry. I swear I'm so sorry. But you've got to try.' There is so much fear in her voice. The Doctor stops as dead air is all he can hear on the phone. It's quiet; he's about to call her name when there is a quick shuffling noise, followed by a thud.
'Back of the neck!' The Doctor smiles at the triumphant tone in her voice.
'Now then, you gotta find the external junction feed to the teleport.'
'What's…what's it look like?'
'A circular panel on the wall. Big symbol on the front, like a, like a letter T with a horizontal line through it. Or, or two Fs back to back.' The Doctor informs her and Rose feels herself exhale, not knowing she had been holding her breath.
'Well, there's a door.' And the Doctor mentally tries to remember the lay out of the Sontaran ship.
'Should be a switch by the side.'
'Yeah there is. But it's Sontaran shaped, you need three fingers.'
'Donna…you've got three fingers…' Rose feels herself smile, despite the situation, even the Doctor grins once he's caught sight of Rose. And she can only imagine the conversation that sparked that comment.
'Oh yeah!' There is a brief silence. 'I am through.'
'Oh, you are brilliant, you are!' The Doctor kisses the mobile and then places a kiss on Rose.
'Shut up. Right, T with a line through it.'
The Doctor doesn't have time to reply as Mace renters the UNIT base. 'Got to go. Keep the line open!' He states and passes the phone to Rose who places it, still open, in her jeans pocket.
'Counter attack!' Mace instructs and the Doctor stares at him.
'I said you don't stand a chance!' He restates, but Mace clearly ignores him and pulls out two gas masks and throws them each to Rose and the Doctor. The clone strides to where the two of them are still standing and she places her hands on her hips.
'You two aren't going without me!'
'Wouldn't dream of it.' The Doctor informs her and the clone smiles triumphantly.
Mace leads them out of his office and they walk along the corridors until they have reached the exterior door. Once outside of the ATMOS factory, Mace instructs everyone to put on their gas masks and Rose witnesses many UNIT people gather around Mace. Strangely, the Doctor hasn't followed them out but Martha stands very close to Rose, and she finds it rather unnerving. Martha keeps staring at her intensely that Rose has to finally distance herself. She attempts to readjust her mask so that it will be more comfortable. Mace looks around for the Doctor and frowns. As he waits he begins to give people their orders.
Rose places her hands on her hips as she tries to spot the Doctor, when he eventually taps her on the shoulder it startles her. She can't see anything in this damned smog. Rose points her finger at him, indicating he had scared her and he shrugs.
'Hey Rose. Look,' He points to the mask. 'Remind you of anything?' Rose studies the mask intensely before she finally realises what he's trying to show her. 'Are you my mummy?' They say in unison.
'Less scary than last time…' Rose replies and she gives him a playful shove. 'I don't think I remember ever seeing you that happy.'
'It was one of those very rare occasions when everything simply works out for the best. Those moments are few and far between.'
Mace, who has finally made his way back over to the Doctor, shows him a gun, and interrupts his moment in their past. The Doctor frowns as he studies it and Mace only offers a confident smile.
'Latest firing stock, what do you think, Doctor?' Mace questioned, the Doctor, rather annoyed, turns back to Rose to finish his conversation.
'And when everyone lives, it makes me happy.'
'If you could concentrate,' Mace has a bit of a sigh in his voice. The Doctor gives Mace his attention as Rose takes a quick look back at Martha; she pulls her shirt down over the mobile concealed in her jeans. 'Bullets with a rad-steel coating, no copper surface. Should overcome the Cordolaine signal.'
The Doctor can't seem to make him understand who exactly the Sontarans are. 'But the Sontarans have got lasers! You can't even see in this fog, the night vision doesn't work.'
'Thank you, Doctor, thank you for your lack of faith,' Mace replies, rather perturbed. 'But this time, I'm not listening.' He states and he pulls off his gas mask. He turns to the group of soldiers that have gathered around them.
'What do you think he'll do?' Rose whispers to the Doctor and he can't tear his eyes away from Mace.
'I don't know. Hopefully he's been listening to what I've been saying.'
'Attention, all troops! Sontarans might think of us as primitive. As does every passing species with an axe to grind. They make a mockery of our weapons, our soldiers, and our ideals. But no more! From this point on, it stops. From this point on, the people of Earth fight back and we show them! We show the warriors of Sontar what the human race can do! Trap One to Hawk Major! Go, go, go!'
Everyone's attention is drawn up to the smoggy sky as a loud sound is heard. Abruptly the sky begins to clear and the smog dissipates. The craft responsible for this is the Valiant. Rose can feel a smile begin to form on her features.
'It working! The area's clearing. Engines to maximum!' He instructs and with that the smog clears itself faster.
'It's the Valiant!' The Doctor states and turns to Rose, whose gaze is turned upwards.
'UNIT Carrier Ship Valiant reporting for duty, Doctor!' Mace turns to him and has a bit of a smug look on his face. 'With engines strong enough to clear away the fog.'
'Whoa, that's brilliant!' The Doctor commends. And he and Rose both take off their gas masks.
'Getting a taste for it, Doctor?' Mace questions with a bit of a smirk on his features. The Doctor adamantly shakes his head.
'No, not at all. Not me.'
'Valiant, fire at will!' Mace orders.
An abundance of green beams unite together and the Valiant fires at the ATMOS factory. Mace raises his hands and then drops it; the ground soldiers begin their advance on the ground as well. This time it is the Sontarans who have become overwhelmed by the power of UNIT.
'East and north secure. Doctor?' Mace runs off to join the rest of the foot soldiers.
'Rose.' The Doctor points to her back pocket and Rose turns away from the clone and the Doctor shields her as best he can.
'Donna? It's Rose, hang in there. We're coming.' She says into the phone just as the clone approaches the two of them.
'Shouldn't we follow the Colonel?' She inquires and the Doctor shakes his head.
'Nah, you, Rose and me. Just like old times!' He declares and grips Rose's and in his own. The clone looks down to her mobile and presses 'no' for the nuclear launch one more time. The Doctor points the screwdriver up to the sky to find a signal and pulls Rose in the direction of the signal. Martha has to jog to keep up with them. 'Alien technology this way!'
The Doctor has led them back into the ATMOS factory and down to the basement. As they continue to walk, the lights illuminate the corridor one by one. The Doctor continues to lead the way through the basement and Rose turns her attention to their surroundings so she can observe them. The basement is deserted, with no signs that anyone hasd been down there in some time. The Doctor takes a quick look around and smiles to himself.
'No Sontarans down here. They can't resist a battle,' The Doctor stops at the sight of a door. This is where Martha is. She has to be. He turns quickly to Rose and the clone. 'Here we go.'
The Doctor opens the door to reveal an eerie lab where the real Martha is still in a type of hypnotic sleep. Rose pushes past the Doctor and rushes over to Martha's side. The Doctor joins her and takes a look back at the clone who remains stoic.
'Martha? Martha, can you hear me?' Rose gently shakes her. She moves down to check her pulse, it's faint but it's still there. 'Still alive…Doctor she's still alive.' Rose turns to the Doctor who is still staring at the clone with a small grin on his face. The clone has drawn a gun at them and she has a confident smirk on her face. The Doctor turns to look at Rose and his expression tells her not to worry.
'Wish you carried a gun now?' The clone questions and the Doctor shakes his head.
'Not at all.'
'I've been stopping the nuclear launch all this time.' She states and the Doctor turns to Rose who darts her gaze between the Doctor and the clone.
'Doing exactly what I wanted. I needed to stop the missiles, just as much as the Sontarans. I'm not having Earth start an interstellar war. You're a triple agent! She's a triple agent Rose!'
'When did you know?' The clone questions and the Doctor contemplates her question briefly.
'What, you? Oh, right from the start. Reduced iris contraction,' The Doctor points to her. 'Slight thinning of the hair follicles on the left temple. And, frankly, you smell,' Rose blinks at that. She hadn't smelt anything 'off.' She hadn't even noticed the smaller things the Doctor had, just the odd behaviour. 'You might as well have wrong a t shirt saying 'clone.' Although, maybe not in front of Captain Jack. You remember him, don't you?' The Doctor watches the clone's eyes drop to the floor as she places the name. 'Cause you've got all her memories. That's why the Sontarans had to protect her, to keep you inside UNIT. Martha Jones is keeping you alive.'
The Doctor walks around to the back of Martha and Rose steps out of his way. He pulls the device out of the back of Martha's head. She awakens with a scream and clutches onto Rose, who is startled as well. She hugs Martha tightly and she watches the clone drop to the ground in obvious agony. The Doctor approaches her confidently and kicks her gun away from her after she's dropped it.
'Martha, it's okay, I'm here…' Rose soothes and Martha glances around the room, confused. Martha clutches onto Rose and then turns her attention to the Doctor.
'Martha…' He says, rather relieved.
'There was this thing, Doctor, this alien, with this head…' She tries to get out but is interrupted when a mobile rings.
'That's me…' Rose states and pulls the mobile out and tosses it to the Doctor, who catches it and answers it.
'Blimey we're busy today,' He comments. 'Donna? Got it?'
'Yes now hurry up!'
'Take off the covering. All the blue switches inside, flick them up like a fuse box. And that should get the teleport working.'
Rose carefully helps Martha into a sitting position and then onto the floor. She is wobbly at first and then something catches her attention. She stares at the mirror version of herself and feels her mouth open from the shock. The double version of herself is sitting on the ground, panting.
'Oh my god…Rose, that's me…'
Rose watches the Doctor begin work on the teleport device located in a corner of the lab. She helps Martha down and over to the clone who looks up at them with disgust.
Rose kneels down and helps Martha down, the clone attempts distance herself from the two of them.
'Don't touch me!' She shouts.
'Rose…' Martha starts and Rose nods, she gets up and gives them space.
'Right here if you need me.' She begins to head closer to the Doctor, but keeping her eye on Martha.
'It's not my fault. The Sontarans created you. But…you had all my memories…' Martha informs the clone.
'You've got a brother, sister, mother and father.' The clone remembers.
'If you don't help us, they're gonna die.' Martha pleads and the clone looks to the ground in contemplation. A thought hits her and she looks up and at Martha. She stares deeply in her eyes.
'You love them.'
'Yes. Remember that?' Martha tries.
'The gas!' The Doctor shouts from the teleportation pod. 'Tell us about the gas!'
'He's the enemy!' The clone shouts.
'But he isn't! He's trying to help. But we need yours first. Please.' Rose pleads and the clone throws her a disgusted look.
'She's just as guilty! By association!'
'Okay, okay. Then tell me. It's not just poison, what's it for? Martha…please!'
'Caesofine concentrate. It's one part Bosteen and two parts Probic Five.' She informs Martha and she closes her eyes at the relief.
'Clonefeed! It's clonefeed!' The Doctor shouts and Rose looks over to Martha. She shrugs her shoulders and Martha turns to the Doctor, who is still working away.
'What's clonefeed?' Martha questions and Rose turns back to the Doctor as she awaits her answer.
'Like amniotic fluid for Sontarans. That's why they're not invading; they're converting the atmosphere. Changing the planet into a clone world. Earth becomes a great big hatchery. Cause the Sontarans are clones, that's how they reproduce. Give them a planet this big; they'll create billions of new soldiers. The gas isn't poison, it's food!' The Doctor explains and he goes back to work on the teleport.
'My heart…it's getting slower…' The clone says quietly and Martha turns her attention back to her.
'There's nothing I can do.' Martha informs her.
'In your mind, you've got so many plans. There's so much you want to do…'
'And I will. Never do tomorrow what you can do today, my mum says. Cause…' Martha smiles as the clone joins her.
'Cause you never know how long you've got. Martha Jones…all that life…' The clone dies quietly and Martha closes her eyes. Gently, she takes her hand in her own and slides off her engagement ring.
Rose shuts her eyes and feels terrible. Her attention is drawn quickly back to the teleportation device when a voice is heard.
'Hello?' It calls out into the lab.
Rose sprints to pick up the phone. 'Donna?'
'Tell the Doctor the blue switches are done.'
'Doctor, blue switches, done.' Rose calls over to him and he smiles.
'Good.'
'But they found me! Rose, do something!'
'Doctor, they've found her!' Rose informs him, she's finding herself getting rather frantic.
'Now!' He yells and he backs away slightly, pointing the screwdriver at the teleport pod. It activates and materialises Donna. She looks around slightly and runs to Rose, who still has the phone in her hand, and embraces her. Next, Donna moves to hug the Doctor, but he tries to wiggle out her embrace.
'Have I ever told you how much I hate you?'
'Yeah, yeah. Hold on,' He rolls his eyes and pushes Donna away from him. 'Get off! Get off of me! I gotta bring the TARDIS down.' Donna eyes him while he sonics the teleport and the TARDIS materialises right in the alleyway it was left at before the events of the day unfolded.
Rose helps Martha back to her feet and then goes over to the Doctor. 'I need to borrow your coat for Martha.' The Doctor nods and takes it off, handing it over to her. Rose passes it off to Martha who smiles at her. She slips it on and takes one last look at the clone.
'Right, now,' The Doctor looks at the three of them and decides that they're all ready. 'We have one last stop to make. Martha, you coming?'
Martha nods her head very enthusiastically, but a thought suddenly strikes her. 'What about this nuclear launch thing?' She inquires and holds up the phone.
'Just keep pressing 'no,' we want to keep those missiles on the ground.' The Doctor informs her and Martha nods.
The Doctor begins to head towards the teleport pod and Rose follows; Donna catches sight of the dead version of Martha on the floor.
'But there's…two of them…' Donna breaths and Rose turns back to her.
'Yeah, bit of a crazy day. It's a long story.' Rose informs her and Donna finds herself nodding, but it still strikes her as being odd.
They follow the Doctor into the teleport pod. 'Here we go. The old team, back together. Well, the new team, rather.'
'We're not going back on that ship!' Donna states, her voice is a bit loud. Rose knows she's nervous for that. Maybe scared. There are Sontarans that won't be too pleased with losing their prize.
'No, no, no. No. I needed to get the teleport working so that we could get to…' He presses the button and they all disappear.
They reappear in Luke's bedroom at Rattigan Academy.
'…Here! The Rattigan Academy, owned by…' The Doctor stops, mid sentence, as a gun is abruptly shoved into their faces by a very distraught looking Luke. His eyes are wild and the Doctor's face sports a rather unimpressed look.
'Don't tell anyone what I did! It wasn't my fault, the Sontarans lied to me, they…' Luke is taken off guard as the Doctor strides towards him and snatches the gun from his hands.
'If I see one more gun…' He trails off and throws the gun away. 'Rose, I'll need your help please.'
Rose exchanges looks with Donna and Martha and the walks towards the Doctor who has begun to look around Luke's room for various objects.
'What do you need me to do?' Rose inquires as he hands her random pieces of equipment.
'Spread them out on the table in the order I pass them to you. It'll go by faster if you do.'
'Okay…' Rose wonders what exactly he's planning to do as she carefully sets the random objects on a table.
A thought suddenly hits him. 'That's why the Sontarans had to stop the missiles, they were holding back. Because caesofine gas is volatile, that's why they had to use you, Martha, to stop the nuclear attack. Ground to air engagement could've sparked off the whole thing.' The Doctor explains, as he approaches Rose and dumps more things into her outstretched hands.
'What, like set fire to the atmosphere?' Martha inquires.
'Yeah. They need all the gas intact to breed their clone army. And all the time we had Luke here in his dream factory,' The Doctor turns to Luke who is still staring at the four of them, unsure of what to do. 'Planning a little trip, were we?'
Luke looks to the ground, rather ashamed. 'They promised me a new world.' He says simply and the Doctor shakes his head.
'You were building equipment, ready to terraform El Mondo Luko so that humans could live there and breath the air with this! An atmospheric converter!'
The Doctor quickly makes the necessary changes to the device he envisioned, in no time, and then runs out of the room. The rest of them follow him out of the academy and outside. There is nothing that can be seen in the distance. Even a few feet in front of them have become hazy.
'Doctor, they must have increased the gas output.' Rose states and he nods.
'That's London. You can't even see it. My family's in there…' Donna whispers. Hoping with everything she has that they are okay. That they're safe, even among this gas.
'If I can get this thing on the right setting…' Everyone's attention is turned to the Doctor who has knelt down and is aiming the atmospheric converter at the sky. Martha widens her eyes.
'Doctor, hold on, you said the atmosphere would ignite.' Martha reminds him and he turns to her.
'Yeah, I did, didn't I?' He presses a button on the converter. It activates a flame that is shot into the sky and it causes the sky to ignite. Rose crosses her fingers, unaware that the Doctor has done the same. 'Please, please, please, please, please, please, please…' He whispers furiously.
'General Staal, sir!'
'What's happening?' Staal demands and they watch as the Earth is engulfed into a large flame. Once it clears, it reveals the planet to be blue and green and completely normal. Staal's features become angry. 'It seems we must revert to Basic Sontaran Stratagem One. We will ravage this planet. Prepare weapons! Wipe them out! Every last stinking human beast!' He barks orders at the troops.
The four of them stare up at the now blue sky in complete shock. It is Luke who is able to find his voice first.
'He's a genius!'
'Just brilliant!' Martha commends and she watches the Doctor get to his feet.
'Now we're in trouble!' He declares and picks up the device, running back into the Academy. Confused, everyone follows him back, running through the halls and back up into Luke's room. The group catches up to the Doctor just as he enters the teleport pod.
Everyone else continues to approach him, but Rose hangs back. She eyes him and when he sees her slowly approaching, he avoids eye contact with her. It confirms her worst fears. He's going to do something…and he probably won't make it out, so he believes.
'Right, so…Donna, thank you. For everything. Martha, it was wonderful to see you again. Luke, do something clever with your life. Rose…' He turns his attention to her, where she hangs back from the rest of them. Oh, she knows. She just stares at him, an unreadable expression on her features. Her gaze is deep and he finds himself having to turn away from it.
'You're saying good bye.' Donna says and she's overcome by confusion.
'Sontarans are never defeated. They'll be getting ready for war. And, well, you know, I've recalibrated this for Sontaran air, so…' He trails off and steals another glance at Rose. Her breathing is now deep and her stare, why is it affecting him like it is?
'You're going to ignite them…' Martha realises and he looks away from her.
'You'll kill yourself.' Donna states, hoping that fact would change his mind.
'Just send that thing up, on its own. I don't know…put it on a delay.' Martha tries, she pleads with him, and she finds herself becoming frantic.
'I can't.' He states firmly, another look at Rose. Her eyes are closed, and he a tear escape from her. Again he needs to look away from her.
'Why not?' Donna questions.
'I've got to give them a choice.' He informs them and Donna becomes annoyed. She turns to Rose.
'Rose, say something, please. You can't be okay with this! Please…tell him no. He listens to you…' Donna pleads, and Rose opens her eyes, she remains quiet and the Doctor holds her gaze.
'I'll see you…' Rose whispers and smile crosses the Doctor's features.
'Not if I see you first.' He teleports and Donna and Martha look at the now empty teleport with despair.
'Rose! How could you agree with him! He's gonna get himself killed! And for what? To give those Sontarans a choice?' Donna shouts and Rose continues to stare at the empty teleport.
Oh, how does she tell them that he survives this? She doesn't know how, but he does. It scares her, how close he is going to come to the edge. But he survives, and that's all that matters to her. Martha and Donna will understand as soon as he arrives back. Why she let him go like that. It is because she's privy to knowing the events of the future, especially his. He'd be okay. And she continues to tell herself that, because it doesn't make events like this less scary for her. Her fear is trying to win out, and she needs to stay logical if she wants to overcome it. It's saying what if he really will die on that ship, and the timeline will be altered. She tries to push those thoughts away. That's not what will happen. It can't. It just simply can't.
The Doctor appears in the Sontaran ship, and Staal smiles triumphantly.
'Oh, excellent!'
'Genera Staal, you know what this is,' He motions to the device he holds in his arms. 'But there's one more option. You can go. Just leave. Sontaran High Command need never know what happened here.'
'Your stratagem would be wise if Sontarans feared death. But we do not. At arms!' Staal orders and his men prep themselves.
'I'll do it, Staal. If it saves the Earth, I'll do it.' The Doctor informs him and Staal takes a step forward.
'A warrior doesn't talk, he acts!' Staal informs him but the Doctor closes his eyes.
'I'm giving you the chance to leave.' He replies simply. But Staal lets out a mocking laugh.
'And miss the glory of this moment?' He inquires.
'All weapons targeting Earth, sir. Firing in Twenty.' A voice of a Sontaran informs them from the loudspeakers.
'I'm warning you!' The Doctor shouts and Staal crosses his arms.
'And I salute you! Take aim!'
'Shoot me, I'm still gonna press this! You'll die, Staal.' The Doctor attempts to reach him.
'Knowing that you die, too.' Staal counters. Their ancient enemy would be eliminated.
'Firing in fifteen.' The voice interjects.
'For the glory of Sontar!' Staal begins to chant. 'Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha!'
The rest of the Sontaran troops begin to join in. 'Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha! Sontar-ha!'
'I'll do it!' The Doctor shouts to them.
'Then do it!' Staal taunts.
Rose watches intensely as Luke continues to fiddle with the teleport pod. It's drawn stares from Martha and Donna.
'What are you doing?' Martha questions and Luke looks up to her briefly before turning his attention back down to the teleport.
'Something clever.' He stands up and enters the teleport. He pushes a key and instantaneously he disappears. At the same moment, the Doctor reappears and looks around rather confused.
He sets his sights on Rose, who is smiling out of relief. He exits the teleport pod and strides across the room to her. She runs to him and embraces him. It scared him, slightly, to know that he came so close to never seeing her again.
Still confused, he turns back to the teleport pod and breaks away from Rose. He studies it and then realises what Luke has done. He's shocked, so much so, that he sits on the edge of the pod. Knowing the Doctor is uneasy about the events that transpired, and so, Rose approaches him. She embraces him tightly, cradling his head and he clings to the sense of her familiarity. Only she can ground him. And she's doing it perfectly.
Donna has decided that enough time has passed for the two of them to have their moment, and so she strides up along side them. She sits herself on the Doctor's right side and hits his arm, to show how worried she was about him. He peeks at her from Rose's embrace and Donna's features soften into a smile.
Not wanting to be left out Martha joins them and sits on the Doctor's left. He turns to her next and Martha smiles, so relieved he's alive.
'The streets are half empty. People aren't driving. There's kids on bikes all over the place, it's wonderful,' Donna and Wilf turn their attention to Sylvia as she enters the kitchen. She's carrying two very large grocery bags. She lets out a bit of sigh and turns to Donna and Wilf. 'Unpack that lot, I'm going to see if Suzette's all right.' Sylvia places the bags on the kitchen counter and once again heads out of the house, shutting the door.
'I won't tell her. Best not. Just keep it as our little secret, eh?' Wilf smiles warmly at Donna who nods her head solemnly.
'Yeah…' She agrees and she blinks repeatedly, trying to fight back her emotions.
'And you go with him, that wonderful Doctor. You go and see the stars. And then bring a bit of them back for your old Gramps.' Wilf informs her and Donna nods her head. She stands up and embraces him tightly, placing a kiss on his head.
'Love you.' Donna whispers fiercely and she walks out of the house. She's doing her best to fight back the tears that are threatening to fall.
Donna walks down the street and sees a woman peeling off the ATMOS sticker in her rear window. She smiles and waves to Donna who returns the gesture. She continues to walk down the street until she spots the TARDIS. Donna approaches and opens the door, inhaling deeply and she spots Martha, Rose and the Doctor waiting for her.
'How were they?' Martha inquires and Donna swallows a lump in her throat.
'Oh, same old stuff,' She wipes away a stray tear and does her best to sound casual. 'They're fine. So! You gonna come with us?' Donna wonders.
'Oh, Martha, please say yes!' Rose tries to persuade her and Martha contemplates the question.
Should she? She's missed these adventures greatly and now that she no longer harbours a crush on him, maybe she can finally enjoy herself instead of vying for his attention. But then again, she has someone waiting for her here. Someone she loves. She can't just up and leave him, it isn't right. No. She can't. But god how she wants to. She just wants to throw herself back into this life.
'Oh, I have missed all this,' Martha confesses and Rose straightens herself up. 'But, you know…I'm good here. Back at home. And I'm better for having stayed behind. Besides,' She flashes Rose, Donna and the Doctor her engagement ring. 'Someone needs me. Never mind the universe, I've got a great big world of my own now!'
Rose embraces Martha fiercely and nods her head. Martha breaks their embrace and heads for the Doctor, who hugs her just as tightly.
'Take care then, Martha.' He tells her and she nods.
'You bet. Donna, it was great to meet you.' Martha embraces Donna.
'You too, Martha. And good luck. With everything.' Donna states and Martha nods.
She turns back to the TARDIS doors and gives everyone a quick wave. Just as she's about to step through the door suddenly shuts and the TARDIS shakes wildly, indicating they have gone into flight.
Everyone clings to whatever is around them to try and keep their balance. Under the console, where no one is looking, the hand in the jar is bubbling wildly.
'What? What?!' The Doctor cries and he looks on stunned at the console.
'Doctor, don't you dare!' Martha calls and the Doctor turns to her.
'No, no, no! I didn't touch anything! We're in flight, it's not me!' He states adamantly.
'Where could we possibly be going?' Rose wondered and she turns to the Doctor.
'I don't know, it's out of control!' Another violent shudder wracks the TARDIS and everyone is thrown off balance.
'Doctor, just listen to me! You take me home, take me home right now!' Martha shouts and the Doctor looks helplessly at the console, wondering where they could possibly be going.
Hello everyone!
One more down! Hopefully this one is quite up to standard. I hope I'm keeping your interest as a write this. And it's always lovely to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for reading!