It was a UNIT deep space satellite that sensed it first, moving slowly across the black velvet of space. The camera whirred as the onboard camera began taking pictures.
The onboard computer made its calculations and decided that whatever it was, it couldn't exist. It had no mass, no weight. No light shone from it and it swallowed the stars in front of it and left nothing in its wake.
But being a computer it did as it was programmed to do and began transmitting its findings. It didn't panic when the thing that had no mass or weight swallowed it, and its transmission stopped.
The thing that had no weight or mass carried on, slowly and steadily devouring stars, and began heading for the Pluto.
He stood against the wall, still trying to steady his heart, the echo of the murmur in his ear. As he stood there, the realization that he'd defied him sank in, the thought crossed his mind as to why Martha Jones had called him Doctor.
That was a false identity they'd tried to brainwash him with...wasn't it? He closed his eyes, trying to rid himself of such thoughts, but to his consternation other images flashed through his mind.
Images of someone in a White Coat, his rescuer, and what was he doing...to him?
A searing pain flashed across his body and new images and memories flooded into his mind. Images of pain, anger, sorrow, and rage mixed with that of the face of someone he thought was his rescuer and... Harkness!
He let out a cry of despair and sank to the ground...his whole world crumbling around him.
He let a shuddering sob and then he stopped as new thoughts entered his head, dark murderous thoughts and he felt his hearts race in response.
He opened his eyes and gone were the brown eyes that could be so expressive, replaced by black orbs, as dark as obsidian. Now he knew what he was, he was a Time Lord and he wanted revenge.
He stood up, looked round and began sniffing the air, searching for something...yes, there it was...his little bird...she hadn't flown far.
He straightened his coat and walked out onto Oxford Street. He walked along the street, occasionally sniffing the air, until he stopped outside a large department store.
He smiled; his little bird had flown into a cage.
With a smile he entered the shop, found the escalator and took it three steps at a time. He ignored the looks of the staff and customers as he casually strolled through the lingerie department.
He stopped and looked round, just to make sure no-one was looking and pushed the door to the ladies toilets open and stepped in. They looked empty, but he knew she was there.
He stopped, noticed a chair next to the door. He picked it up and wedged the door with it.
He them moved to the first row of cubicles, ignoring the ones with fully open doors. When he came to one that was only half open, he kicked it open, almost taking the door of its hinges.
It was then he heard a small sound off to his left. With a cold smile he moved to the second row of cubicles and slowly moved down them. He stopped in front of one, sniffed and with a snarl, he kicked the door.
Martha didn't stop running until she hit Oxford Street, and still didn't stop until she reached the safety of the nearest and largest shop. She pushed through the doors, ignoring the indignant protests of fellow shoppers. She chanced a look behind and then slowed to a fast walk.
It wasn't until she'd reached the ladies room that she finally stopped and sank to the floor, exhausted.
Of all the places she'd expected to find him, Oxford Street was not on her list at all, and he was a twisted as before...this would break Jack's heart. Steadying her racing heart, she went into one of the cubicles and half-closed the door.
She went to take her phone out, when she heard the door to the ladies open.
Her heart began to race again, when she heard the scraping of a chair, and then the sounds of footsteps.
She'd just pressed speed dial when the sound of a door splintering made her squeak in alarm.
She held her breath as the footsteps came closer and put the phone to her ear. She heard Jack answering and then her world became splintering wood.
Jack had only just sat down when his mobile rang. Sighing he looked at the caller ID and smiled. "Martha Jones, nice to have the sunshine call."
Any answer Martha would have given was lost in the sound of something being broken.
"Martha? Martha?"
The voice he heard when the sound died away wasn't Martha's
"Hello again Harkness, I assume this is you. I'm afraid Miss Jones is a little busy, she'll call you later. We have a lot to discuss."
Jack tried to speak, but he found himself mute, the voice was like a ghost speaking in his ear.
"What, the famous Captain Jack Harkness lost for words. That's a first. Perhaps we'll talk later."
There was the sound of a female's frightened whimper.
Jack found his voice. "No, wait, please!"
There was what sounded like an annoyed huff of air on the other end of the phone. "What now Harkness, me and Miss Jones are about to get reacquainted."
"Doctor, no!" Jack cried, but there was no answer, only the sounds of a struggle beginning.
The Doctor reached for Martha and almost had his hand on her hair when there was a banging at the door to the ladies.
"You in there, unblock this door, or we'll break it down!" a male voice shouted.
The Doctor growled in response. "All these interruptions, our first date will have to wait Martha Jones."
He stepped away and moved towards one of the walls. He took out his sonic and ran it quickly over the wall.
The room began to fill with the sound of the sonic and the sound of the door being broken down.
As the door splintered an orange and red swirling tunnel began to form on the wall.
The Doctor turned back to Martha, who was still cowering against the cubicle wall and grinned.
"Another time Martha Jones, and next time, wear something more alluring." With that he stepped into the swirling tunnel and seconds after he and it disappeared, the door to the ladies room flew inwards.
Jack paced up and down the waiting area in A&E, occasionally looking up as a nurse or a doctor walked towards him.
"Sit down Jack, she'll be okay. They just want to check she's not in shock," Gwen said.
Jack didn't stop pacing. "If he's hurt her..." he growled.
"Captain Harkness?" a voice called.
Both Jack and Gwen looked up, as a person walked towards them.
"How is she?" Jack asked.
"Miss Jones is fine, a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing serious. She can go home, but should rest for twenty-four hours."
Both of them sighed with relief and smiled when Martha walked out of the treatment area door.
"Thank God!" Gwen said and enveloped her in a hug.
Martha let out a shuddering breath, then a sob. She drew away from Gwen and turned to Jack, who wrapped his arms around her.
"He's back...he's back...and he's insane," she sobbed into Jack's chest.
Jack held her tighter and looked over at Gwen.
Gwen stopped breathing for a second; she saw the look on Jack's face. It was a mixture of sorrow and anger.
Jack held onto Martha, his thoughts a maelstrom of emotions...happiness that the Doctor wasn't dead...anger at what he'd done to Martha, and sorrow for what he still may have to do.