The finale! What you'd expect for a final episode, all in five parts. This is where plots are concluded, disputes resolved, and a fight to be won. It carries on straight after the last episode, and will change the lives of the main characters forever. This title may have given away the enemy, but keep reading to find out how it all ends. Thanks for sticking with the series, and I hope it ends how you would want. Not everyone will make it to the next series ...

"WE NEED TO GO!" the Doctor ordered as River hurried around the console.

"I know!" River barked, pulling a lever. The TARDIS shuddered. "There, we've departed. Go to hell, Alimatia."

"NO! YOU CAN'T!" Sasha cried. "GO BACK! I'm begging you, turn this ship around and go back!"

"We can't!" the Doctor snapped, releasing Sasha as she staggered through the console room, her face red and her hair sprawled out like wire.

"We have to try. You have to understand, he's my brother," Sasha pleaded, her voice burning with anger.

"We can't, Sasha. The volcano has blown; there's no going back," the Doctor replied.

"But he was there!" Sasha cried, her body trembling. "Mr Derbyshire was there. How is that possible? He died. You blew him up! That man tore my life apart and now he's doing it again! You were the last person to ever speak to him, Doctor, so I'm trusting that you did what you said you had."

"He was dead!"

"Clearly, not!" Sasha screamed, kicking the railings. "Did you see him die? Were you physically there?"

"I couldn't have; he blew up."

"EXACTLY!" Sasha yelled, making River jump a little. "You were careless, Doctor. You didn't care, did you, when it came to saving Alec; it was a simple job for your perilous standards. And that was your downfall – you treated it like a game; a way to thrill me and lure me into this place."

"You know that wasn't the case," the Doctor insisted.

"Oh, really! In Victorian London, you told Professor Sturridge exactly what I'm saying now. He ignored you like you're ignoring me. His obnoxious selfishness led to his death; what will yours lead to? Alec's been captured by that filthy, horrible man because of your lack of duty! We don't know where he is. We don't know why Derbyshire wants him. Instead of doing your job, you breezed through that day as quick as you could, boxing it off with the rest of your achievements. I bet saving all those children's lives looks pathetic up there on your mantle compared to all the other adventures you get up to!"

"That's unfair!" River snapped.

"And what makes you such an expert?" Sasha barked.

"Because we both travel with the Doctor, and we both who what he's really like," River replied, keeping a level head. "You're right; I'm not an expert. I was never there at the time. However, for Alec's sake, we need to focus on the present. We need to find and save him. I don't know who Mr Derbyshire is, and for all I'm concerned, I don't care. I'm not afraid!"

"BUT THIS IS HIS FAULT!" Sasha screamed, pointing a finger firmly at the Doctor. "You let him go, as far as I can see," Sasha taunted, stepping toe-to-toe with the Doctor, flaring her nose at him. "For ten years of my life I was obsessed with Alec. He'd disappeared before I'd even started my GCSE's, which tore me apart. I failed every one of my exams, so my struggling Dad had to repay for every one of them to be do again. I joined the police to try and find him, even though I'm terrible at it. I started a blog, reaching out to anyone who could help, but all they did was reach out to me, expecting that I'd be some God given gift. Imagine how I felt when I got him back – ten years of hate and hope finally paying off. How do you think I feel now?"

"Terrible," the Doctor replied.

"Terrible . . ." Sasha muttered, turning her back on the Doctor. "TERRIBLE DOESN'T SCRATCH THE SURFACE!" she cried.

"Sasha!" River begged, grabbing Sasha's arm. "We will sort this out. Trust me."

"That'll be my first mistake; I trusted him and look where it's got me," Sasha spat. "You gave me hope, Doctor. I was so happy. More than happy. So it sickens me now – so much that I want to be sick – knowing that you've taken that hope away."

A tear rolled down the Doctor's cheek. "I made one mistake! Forgive me, Sasha; you have to. Derbyshire should have died. I want to know how he didn't, but most of all I want to find your brother."

"What – as compensation? Save me more heartbreak and don't bother. You've done enough already . . ."

"Yes, I have!" the Doctor snapped. "I brought your brother back – don't you think that was enough? I took you to Victorian London – still not enough? When I risked drowning to pull you from a lake? How about saving you from the Mork? Pulling you off a burning planet when you were stupid enough to try and run straight back on it? I've done so much for you, Sasha Parker. That doesn't come from selfishness; it's because I CARE TOO!"

"AND I'VE NOT DONE ANYTHING FOR YOU?"

"YOU'VE SAVED ME AS MUCH AS I'VE SAVED YOU!" the Doctor screamed. "Before you joined me, I might as well have been dead. I was depressed and ready to give up on all of this. Since that very first phone call, you save me from that dull, useless life. Do you know why I was depressed? I'd lost a companion. She was kind and feisty and beautiful, just like you. I care for every one of my companions; I care about Alec too, so don't for a second think that he's just tagging on our ride. I need him back just as you do. I messed it up! There, I confess it. But what is the point in talking when we can be fighting to get him back?"

Sasha hung her head. "Sorry," she muttered.

"No. Don't apologise," the Doctor sighed, wrapping his arms around Sasha as she cried onto his shoulder.

River smiled to the Doctor. He winked back. "So, where should I take us?" River asked.

"Let me," the Doctor insisted. "This is going to be déjà vu."

The TARDIS landed. The Doctor stepped out first, followed by his companions. Dark and cold – just as the Doctor had remembered the 24th century building. Sasha recognised the room they were in. Just a monitor in the corner, with screens and controls. The room was exactly how the Doctor and Sasha had left it.

"ALEC!" Sasha screamed. "Alec, are you here?"

"This was where he was kept?" River asked, shining a torch throughout the room. "It's so cold."

The Doctor switched on the monitor. On flicked images of the cells – white rooms with golden egg shapes on the walls, and iron chains on the floor. "This place is empty. It's been empty for years by the looks of it."

"Whatever you did, it worked. No more children here," River confirmed. "No life signs at all, apart from us," she added, scanning the area with her device.

Sasha collapsed to her knees. "He's not here . . ." she said, her eyes fading off in the dark in the distance. "He could be anywhere, Doctor. We don't have a clue where he could be. We've got nothing."

"We've got the name: Anthony Derbyshire," the Doctor reminded her.

"Did you learn anything else, when you were last here?" River asked.

Sasha shook her head, all hope drained from her. "He'd been taking children out of time and kept them here. Alec said that the children would be taken from their cells, but he didn't know why?"

"Do you know anyone who might?"

"Shannon might," the Doctor replied.

"Shannon? Who's she?" River asked.

"Alec met her here. She was in the cell next to him. She'd been here for months, so she'd probably know more. She only spoke to Alec about this," Sasha answered. "We should go and speak to her."

"I agreed. We need to find out as much as we can about . . ."

"We should speak to her because she deserves to know!" Sasha snapped. "She was Alec's best friend. They were so close. I want to tell her myself."

"You take Sasha to speak to Shannon; I'll stay here," the Doctor decided.

"Thanks," Sasha smiled.

"Come on," River muttered, taking Sasha by the arm as she led her into the TARDIS. "Take this, Doctor," River insisted, handing the Doctor her device, "in case you need to contact us."

The Doctor accepted it and watched, his eyes glowing, as the TARDIS disappeared in a bright white light. Wheezing, the blue box faded away into the darkness, and the Doctor was left on his own.

"Well, well, well," a voice teased. "Look who it is."

The Doctor recognised that voice – that harsh, deadly tone that reached out like a tendril. Slowly, the Doctor turned his head. Standing in the corner of the room was a ghostly figure, with a face so pale and cold, he could've been a corpse. "Hello again, Mr Derbyshire," the Doctor replied.

"Doctor, Doctor," Derbyshire taunted, stepping out of the dark. "I never expected to be seeing you again."

"Ditto. You can imagine my surprise."

"I am sure," Derbyshire laughed. "I'll never trust a jelly sweet again."

The Doctor stared at Derbyshire, unnerved by his eerie appearance. "Whatever game you're playing with me, be sure that I will win. I have no interest in being trailed along with one of your schemes, especially if my companions are caught in the middle of it."

"You think this is a game?" Derbyshire laughed.

"Yes. I am not playing, so hand Alec over. I want him back, now!"

"No, no, no, Doctor," Derbyshire teased. "This isn't a game. 'Game' implies that there is a chance to be a winner or a loser, but, you see, I've already won. This isn't a game, Timelord – this is a trap."

"A trap?" the Doctor asked, then his eyes flared. "How did you know I'm a Timelord?"

"This was too easy!" Derbyshire smiled, clapping his hands together. "We've organised so many traps for you in the past, but never has one been so easy. The child spy; the beautiful maiden needing help to find her brother; a scary man who steals children – I'm surprised you didn't find the flaws."

"Sasha and Alec are part of this?"

"Ha! Of course not. We chose Alec out of so many because we knew he was interesting, and with a sister that would tear the world apart for his safety, how could we resist? We pushed the two of them into your way to lure you in. Then, we took Alec from you, and watched as you came running. Every piece of this was constructed for our trap. Even this building."

"And the children? Were they just for display; to make this believable?"

"No. We needed them."

"Why? What are they for? You've got me in your trap, so you might as well spill."

"We need to convert them."

"Into what?"

"Into us."

"And what are you?"

"Your darkest nightmare," Derbyshire said with a smile. As he spoke, his neck jolted to a side, crunching slightly. His skin tore open on his forehead, and a cylindrical object was pushed out from between his eyes. An eyestalk grew from his head, glowing with blue light.

"Daleks . . ." the Doctor gasped, staggering back from Derbyshire - a Dalek puppet.

"How could you not notice?" Derbyshire asked. "There were so many clues. The cells have golden eggs on the walls – Dalek design. I died ten years ago – did you not think it was suspicious that I'm so cold and my body is decomposing? How do you like my teeth?" Derbyshire opened his mouth, forcing the Doctor to stare into the crooked, yellow teeth, and the gums that peeled off them.

"Stay back!" the Doctor warned, threatening Derbyshire with his sonic.

"What are you going to do – sonic me to death?" Derbyshire teased. "Goodnight, Doctor." Derbyshire raised his palm at the Doctor. Just like his forehead, the skin ripped open, and out pushed a Dalek laser gun. The laser fired, and the Doctor was thrown back in white light.

The doorbell rang.

Shannon Taylor climbed over her sofa, shaking her hair, after flattening it on a cushion for the past couple of hours in front of the TV. Biting her lip, she resisted the urge to swear after stubbing her toe on a heavy, full box – she really wasn't good in the morning. She threw on a purple dressing gown (she was told it was rude to answer the door in her pyjamas) and looked through the eye-hole of the door. A smile lit up her face as she threw open the door.

"Hey!" Shannon grinned, hugging Sasha. "It's great to see you again! Where's . . ." Shannon paused, looking past Sasha to realise that Alec wasn't with her – just a woman with frizzy blonde hair. "Where's Alec?"

"That's what I need to talk to you about," Sasha said, trying to fain a smile.

The grin was wiped from Shannon's face. "What's happened?"

"Could we come in?" River asked.

"Erm . . . Yeah. Sure," Shannon replied, pushing the door open a little to let them in. "Take a seat," Shannon said, moving the boxes that littered the floor from their way. "Sorry about the mess."

"Is your mum in?" Sasha asked.

"Not for the next two hours – she starts work early. I'm having a bit of a lie-in. My record's three thirty," Shannon said, a little awkwardly, as she sat beside Sasha. "Tell me – what's happened?"

Sasha breathed deeply, ensure of how to break the news. "He's back."

"Who?" Shannon asked.

"Mr Derbyshire."

Shannon stepped off the sofa immediately, turning her back on Sasha and River. Her body shuddered a little, shocked by just the name. "You're sure it was him?"

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"How?" Shannon snapped. "He died! You said he died!"

"I know. We don't know how he survived, but he's out there."

"And he has Alec. How did that happen? How did you let that happen?"

"We couldn't stop it," River explained. "Alec was trapped, and we didn't have enough time to get him out. Suddenly Derbyshire was there, and he took Alec."

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Shannon asked.

"I'm the Doctor's wife. I was with them when it happened."

"Ok," Shannon shrugged, still in shock. "No. This can't be happening. That man destroyed my life, and now he's doing it again! I was trapped in that filthy, horrible cell for four months while other children disappeared around me. What happened in that place has changed everything. Alec was the only good thing that has come from it, and now you're saying that he's been taken by that man?"

"It's true. We couldn't stop it," Sasha apologised.

"Do you know where he is?"

"We tried looking at the cells, be he wasn't there."

"Do you know anywhere else he might be?"

"We're clueless. I wanted to ask – did Mr Derbyshire ever say anything suspicious? Is there anything you might know?" River asked.

"I'm sorry, but no. I barely saw him. He would sometimes arrive in the cell next to me and drag someone either in or out. Whenever he did come into my cell, he never made sense."

"How so?" River continued.

"He would kneel down beside me, brush back my hair, and whisper the same phrase over and over. He told me that I would be the perfect for some trap of is. He said that I'd make it realistic."

"A trap," River gasped. "The trap; was that all?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," Shannon answered.

"River, is the Doctor in a trap?" Sasha asked.

"Maybe. He could be. I don't know." River worried.

"Where is he now?" Shannon asked.

"He was at the cells," Sasha replied.

"Then that's where we go," Shannon decided. "Give me a moment," she added, running to her bedroom to get changed.

River, now that Shannon had gone, turned to Sasha. "Should we be taking her with us? She's just a girl; this is too dangerous."

"She travelled with us. Just an adventure or two. Trust me, that girl as just as valuable as you or me. She's brave – braver than you might think."

"But this is different!"

"How?"

"If this is all a trap, how do we know that we're about to fall into it too? We'll be responsible for what happens to Shannon too."

"She's done this before. The last time we travelled with her, we were trapped on a planet with a monster that was strong enough to rip through iron barricades, and before that she saved Alec from dying. She can handle this!"

"Then I hope you can face the consequences."

Shannon reappeared from her bedroom, now in a purple dress and a leather jacket, her hair tied back. "I'm ready. Where's the TARDIS?"

"Outside. Let's go," Sasha replied, jumping out of her seat.

"Good. That sick man wrecked my life and I want revenge, and I want Alec back. Let's do it – us three against him. He'll be sorry he was ever alive," Shannon grinning, following Sasha and River out the door.

Just as Sasha was about to leave, realisation hit her. She stop, scanning the room as her theory was proved. "Shannon – why is your house full of boxes?"

Shannon stopped in her tracks, her cheeks glowing red. "No reason. Just because. Come on, Sasha. Let's go!"

"And this?" Sasha added, picking a leaflet up off the top of the TV. "Bargain flats in Liverpool? What's going on?"

"Nothing," Shannon snapped. "Let's go!"

"Shannon . . . Are you moving to Liverpool?" Sasha asked.

Shannon looked into the ground. "Yeah. Don't tell Alec."

"Why not? This is great news!"

"No, it isn't," Shannon groaned.

"Why? Don't you want to go?"

"I do! The flat Mum's found there is so much better than this place." Shannon bit her lip. Clearly, she was keeping something from Sasha. "Mum wants me to move on with my life. After my disappearance, she's scared. I can't tell her what happened, so she thinks I'm covering up for something really bad. This move is for a fresh start . . . And that means I can't see any of you again. No TARDIS. No adventure. No Alec."

Sasha's jaw hung open. "What? You do no how he feels about you?"

"Don't!" Shannon snapped. "I can't stop it from happening now; the flat's already bought. After this weeks, I can't see you again."

"Were you going to tell Alec?"

"I want to, but I can't. Even if I could somehow get the courage I would, you're always f in space. It's almost an , you can't tell him. I'll tell him whenever I can because he needs to find out from me. Promise me you'll do that."

Sasha gulped. How could she keep such a big secret from her brother? In a way, she had no choice; the news would have to come from Shannon. "I promise."