XVI
The catalyst

20th Century
Planet Earth
Wales
1984

It takes a long silent moment to realise that in fact the syringe has not hit Rose, but the wall behind her, narrowly missing her throat by mere millimetres.

After getting her breath back, and seeing Terry and Aiden relax, knowing that she is unhurt, Rose realises that the men, who have transformed back into Slitheen in their angry outburst, are frozen to the spot. All Slitheen in the room are in an unblinking, not breathing and not moving state.

Aiden waves his hand in front of the Slitheen that was strangling him, yet it does not respond. Rose slowly edges away from the wall, hearing a soft hissing sound that seems to be coming from it.

"They've set something off." Terry says as she scans one of the unmoving Slitheen with her handheld device.

Rose looks at her quizzically. "Terry, what's going on?" She asks, her voice trembling slightly.

"In the week since their landing, they've managed to store bombs in the walls of nearly every building on the village," She replies sternly. "They did this for some sort of preparation for either a) being attacked by their enemy or b) destroying their enemy once caught."

"Not a bad idea." Aiden mutters under his breath.

"I don't understand," Rose says. "Why have they tried to kill us this way?"

"They weren't trying to kill us, they only want to kill the Doctor," Terry replies. "Think about it, Rose, they want revenge on the Doctor, and what better way is there than turning the ones he cares about the most into Slitheen? They wanted to turn us into Slitheen to help in their revenge."

"But what about these guys?" Aiden asks tapping one of the frozen Slitheen on the head. "Why have they suddenly frozen like this?"

Terry scans the wall with her handheld device. "The bomb reacts to their DNA," She mutters. "Because that syringe hit the wall instead of you, Rose, their DNA has set off the bombs like a catalyst and therefore putting the Slitheen's into a state of shock."

"We have to stop the bomb." Rose says sternly.

There is a sudden an ear piercing alarm that rings to announce the countdown for when the bombs are due to blow. As the alarm rings, a blue electrical charge surrounds each Slitheen. They start to shake and scream in spasm as the charge electrocutes them.

Rose, Terry and Aiden start running out of the kitchen and up some stairs, dodging more screeching Slitheen on the way. Once they reach the top of the stairs, they find themselves in the town hall.

To their luck, there aren't any Slitheen in the hall, and sitting on top of a metal table in the corner, is a digital clock, counting down the seconds, and a large computer-like machine tangled in different wires. They rush to the table and Terry is already at work, trying to stop the bomb.

As the seconds continue to tick away, Terry finally finds the hidden manual to defuse the bomb, but to her disappointment, it says nothing on how to stop it. She start frantically pulling wires out but nothing happens.

Then all of a sudden, just as the three of them are starting to become frantic, the stopwatch pauses. The hissing ceases and a sign on the screen says that the bomb has been defused. However, the three continue to hold onto their breaths in fear, not really know if it is true.

Then after a while, they slowly turn around in unison. The Doctor and April stand behind them, the Doctor having a bit of a smug look on his face, clearly pleased with himself.

"I nearly had it before you turned it off!" Terry hisses but the Doctor only laughs.

"In fact the Slitheen turned it off their selves," He replies as he walks up to them. "It's funny because when you come to think of it, the Slitheen don't have a lot of common sense. They linked all the bombs in all the buildings to set off a catalyst in an attempt to kill everyone off. Yet what they didn't realise is that their bombs were also linked to the ones in their own spaceship. So there they go, locking April and I into a cell to blow us up. Their own DNA sets off the timer for all the other bombs but the explosion of their spaceship was enough to stop the catalyst." The Doctor smiles at Rose before wrapping his arms securely around her into a big embrace.

"How did you find this out?" Rose asks.

"I'd like to say that I knew about this," The Doctor says as he releases Rose. "But April Hollerford worked it out herself." The Doctor says this proudly. "She told me this the moment we saw the Slitheen in the street being electrocuted."

April only looks back at Rose, still scowling.

Everyone suddenly jolts back to their senses when there is a screech from the Slitheen outside.

"The Slitheen will be scared," The Doctor says, running across the hall to pick up his long coat which he had left on one of the windowsills. "Our job now is to scare them out of planet Earth. Where are the others?"

There is a moment of hesitation of the memory of being attacked by the Slitheen out on the street comes flooding back to their minds.

"The vicar died from the blow of the Slitheen," Rose whispers, feeling overwhelmingly emotional over remembering it. "It was from shock and he lost too much blood by the time we tried to help him." She then finds her hand in the Doctor's as he gives her a reassuring smile. Rose nods.

They still have a mission to complete and Rose can't help but notice a slight change in April. Although the scowl still remains on her face, she somewhat seems a little more relaxed in their presence rather than tense and keeping herself to herself. Rose smiles but April looks away, still not returning one.

The Doctor puts his arms round both Rose's and Aiden's shoulders.

"So all we need to do is scare the Slitheen back to their home planet and give you back your village. Well, the cult's village and to erase their minds from the Cytracik." He gives Aiden's shoulder an extra hard squeeze.

They follow the Doctor as they run out of the town hall and onto the village street. There is nothing in the village square, only some people peer out from behind their window curtains in their houses to see them running. They run down the street, but as soon as they see the Slitheen, Terry pulls them to hide behind a low wall. They silently watch the Slitheen as they march towards the end of the village and back out to the fields. They are marching in lines of five.

"What are they doing?" Rose asks.

The Doctor takes out his sonic screwdriver but as soon as the blue light at the end shines, the Slitheen react to its noise and turn their direction to the Doctor. He stands up and steps out onto the cobbled road, the Slitheen watching his every move.

Rose moves to join him but April quickly pulls her back down, sensing that the Slitheen do not want to attack him. They remain silent behind the wall, peering over the edge and listening carefully to their conversation.

"So this is it?" The Doctor starts as he stands there with his hands in his trouser pockets. "I don't have to scare you off? You're all just going to go back to your ship and just fly off without further ado?" The Doctor thinks about what he just said before bursting out in a sharp laugh. "Oh no, I believe you can't because you don't even have a ship!" He laughs more. "Oh, you guys are brilliant because you just never think before you do!"

"You helped us to fail our mission, Doctor," One replies. "You destroyed one of our families and now you build a team to keep you company while you stop us from succeeding in our revenge. Don't think we don't know how lonely you really are."

"So you're just going to leave? Make a peace treaty with us?"

But the Slitheen laugh at this.

"For the time being, Doctor. This cult is no use to us. You won't see us for a long while."

The Doctor raises an eyebrow suspiciously.

"We will take our final revenge at the ending of the Battle of the Cytracik. You heard of the Ice Girl's prophecy. You know what may or may not happen."

"The prophecy where April Hollerford can change her own fate to stop the Battle of the Cytracik and I'll be there for her every step of the way," The Doctor suddenly becomes very tense and the mention of this prophecy. He flicks a switch on his sonic screwdriver so that April, Rose and Aiden can no longer hear him. "And what happens if she changes it before the whole universe reunites for the Cytracik? What happens then?"

"She won't."

"Oh I'm not too sure about that. Time never happens as it's supposed to. It wobbles all over the place." The Doctor runs forward so he is up close to the Slitheen.

April only hears the mention of the Battle of the Cytracik and how she can change her own fate but then there is silence. The Doctor still moves his mouth and so do the Slitheen but they can't hear him. The three shift a little as they watch what's happening. It looks like a very heated discussion but moments later, the Doctor takes a step back as the Slitheen slowly start to disappear as blue particles fly up into the sky. Then they are gone.

The wind howls loudly, filling up the silence. The Doctor remains on the spot, looking down at the spot of road the Slitheen's were standing on only seconds ago. He takes in a deep breath to try and calm his frustration as he runs his fingers through his hair. All he can think about is his promise to Declan Hollerford and what the Slitheen have just informed him.

This is not the end of his meetings with the Slitheen. It is not the end of meetings with many of his enemies. And it is all downed to the Cytracik. The Doctor clenches his fists in anger. The damn Cytracik. Is he ever going to be at peace?

Soon enough, the doors and windows of shops and houses burst open as all the villagers cheer at the departure of the aliens.

Later that afternoon there is a street party to celebrate this. Buntings are hung up across the village and a long table is laid out with white cloth. Food from the bakery, shops and cooked from homes are taken out and the villagers consume the food merrily. Music plays all day long and people dance out on the streets, throwing confetti into the air.

Peace and freedom has returned to the village.

Aiden reunites with his remaining friends from the pub that are still alive and Terry finds herself joyfully dancing along with the other villagers.

It is a happy sight to see everyone in the village so happy and content that their safety has returned.

Both the Doctor and Rose sit on a bench watching everyone and eating some cupcakes one of the villagers gave them. The Doctor catches April awkwardly trying to dodge everyone but is then caught up in a dance. It warms his heart to see Aiden pull her into his arms and spin her around in circles. Aiden laughs and April finds herself laughing too. Soon she caves in and dances with him.

"Do you think she'll stay with us?" Rose asks.

"She has to," The Doctor replies. "I can't let her go back to Bruce."

"And you need her for the Battle of the Cytracik," Rose sighs. "Do you know what she has to do?" But the Doctor only shakes his head. "It's quite amazing how much you have saved her, Doctor. It'd be great to see how she'll save you."

The Doctor doesn't reply and Rose nudges him playfully.

"You know that I'll never leave you."

The Doctor looks at Rose warmly before taking her hand in his. They then join the party, eating the food and shaking hands with some of the villagers who thank them for the help. They stand back and watch Aiden and his pub friends dancing with some of the Christians – which delights them – before going over to join them in the dance. April turns to look at the Doctor and Rose walk over in her direction. She has a broad smile on her face which aches the muscles in her cheeks but she ignores it because for the first time in years, she feels happy and is thoroughly enjoying herself.

They dance and celebrate all day long and Aiden even passes around free drinks from his pub. The Doctor, Rose, Terry and April sit at the table with a pint of cider from the pub. They clink their glasses together before taking a swig. However, April who has never tasted alcohol before takes quite some time to allow her taste buds to get used to the strong, dry taste. The party goes into the night and only stops in the early hours of the morning.

The villagers help to organise the vicar's funeral which takes place in the church's graveyard a couple of days later. It is a short and sweet ceremony and Aiden says a few words himself as they bury the coffin.

"I want to go somewhere else," April says to the Doctor as they leave the funeral service. "Feel like I've had enough of the Welsh valleys."

"Does that mean you're staying with us then?" The Doctor asks as they stop walking momentarily.

April sighs, well aware that the Doctor, Rose and Terry are all watching her, waiting for her response. "Well I have nowhere else to go," She glances to Rose. "Although I don't want to be stuck in your pocket," At this Rose laughs bitterly. "And as long as I can collect my belongings from my house. I managed to drop my bag after you hauled me through the dustbin."

With that, the Doctor, Rose, April and Terry walk away from the village together, talking about their adventure and find ways to make a joke out of it as if the whole experience and the Slitheen's stupidity is funnier than it really was.

They take the pathway between the two hills and back through the woods, remembering running frantically through here not long before. They then realise that they probably should have taken a much easier route back when they find themselves climbing down the steep hill, yet the hill doesn't seem as steep or so high than it was when they had to climb up it.

It is mid-afternoon when they reach the Tardis in the middle of the farmer's field. Only this time the Doctor does take note of the sign by the gate labelling "PRIVATE PROPERTY". The weather is exactly how it was when they first arrived: grey sky with a strong wind and to them, it feels like they have gone back to the start. They have gone in a full circle.

The Doctor takes out his keys to unlock the Tardis.

"Are you leaving without even saying goodbye?"

They turn to see Aiden Haulman standing not far behind them.

"Oh yes, of course," The Doctor says taking a step forward. "Can't leave this place without saying goodbye to our very own pub owner."

Aiden smiled broadly as he takes the Doctor's hand and shakes it firmly. "One needs a little adventure once in their life and I thank you for this one. It's one I shall remember till the end of my days."

"It's my pleasure."

"And maybe I'll see you soon?"

The Doctor hesitates. "Maybe if we come back here." But the Doctor's voice is unsure.

"Well as Ireen used to tell me that Time Heals."

The Doctor stares at him for a long while but Aiden only smiles back. The Doctor turns to the Tardis but then stops to look back at Aiden.

"When we leave, they will no longer be a cult. All memory of the Battle of the Cytracik will be gone. The village will appear on the map and they will go on with their lives normally. Your work here is done."

"For now though, Doctor. I'll see you at the end of the Battle of the Cytracik."

The Doctor pauses, the thought filling him with dread.

Aiden nods.

The Doctor nods back. "You might want to see this though." He winks at Aiden before turning back to the Tardis, unlocking the doors and stepping inside – still pushing the doors open rather than pulling. Rose and Terry wave goodbye and also step in. April takes one last look at Aiden and the Welsh surroundings.

"Hey," Aiden calls before April steps inside. "Don't worry too much about what those creatures said about your prophecy. It's probably all just folk tale; some sort of myth or legend. Everyone probably has some sort of prophecy that says they must change something."

"But you also called me the Ice Girl too." April replies.

"That is what we all know you of."

April smiles weakly before nodding. "I'll bear that it mind, Aiden." She then steps into the Tardis, allowing the door to swing shut.

A moment later there is a loud thud and the Tardis starts to make its whoozing sound as the blue light on the roof flashes as it slowly disappears.

Aiden stands back and watches in fascination, shielding his eyes from the bright light as the wind blows stronger. The Tardis disappears as its sound echoes in the distance before it completely vanishes.

Aiden finds himself laughing out loud before turning to head back to his home.