The Doctor rung the doorbell of a quaint house, they'd been alone for 2 hundred years now, just the two of them, doing a farewell tour and who else should they go to see than the man who had to put up with them living in his flat. The door opened and Craig Owens shouted out, "im coping on my own!" and then his mouth fell open to see two people standing their, well one he recognised.
"Hello, Craig!" the Doctor grinned, "we're back!"
Craig blinked and looked at Star, who laughed and pointed at her face, "5th. Hello again."
He blinked again, "she didn't? How could she phone you?"
"How could you phone us? Sophie?"
"Nobody phoned us." The Doctor shook his head, "We're just here," he leaned forwards and peeked inside, "you've redecorated! I don't like it."
"It's a different house," Star whispered to him.
"We moved." Craig nodded.
"Yes, that's it." The Doctor agreed.
"What are you doing here?" Craig asked, "What happened to you?" he looked at Star.
"I regenerated." She shrugged.
"Thought it was about time I tried a social call." The Doctor remarked, "How are you?"
"Im fine," Craig replied slowly.
"This is the bit where we say, 'we're fine, too' isn't it? We're fine, too. Good. Love to Sophie, bye!" he and Star turned around and began walking off…when a light flickers.
"Something's wrong." Star frowned.
They ran inside, Craig shutting the door behind them as the Doctor scanned around with the sonic, "on your own, you said," the Doctor muttered running up the stairs "but you're not…you're not on your own!"
"Just, shh!" Craig followed them.
"Increased sulphur emissions. And look at the state of this place. What are you not tell us?"
"Doctor, please!"
"Shh!"
"No, you shh!"
"Shh!"
"Quiet!" Star whispered-shouted at them and entered a bedroom door.
"Star!" the Doctor ran in after her to find themselves in a small nursery with stuffed toys and cloth hanging on the walls, "whatever you are, get off this planet!"
"Dad!" Star hissed as a baby from the cot began to cry.
"Oh, you've woken him!" Craig groaned.
~.~
The Doctor closed the freezer and turned to Craig who was walking around the kitchen holding the baby, Star sat at the table pulling faces at the baby getting a few giggles out of it, "So when you say 'on your own...'" he began.
"Yes, I meant on my own with the baby, yes," Craig nodded, "cos no one thinks I can cope on my own. Which is so unfair. Because..." he broke down in stress, "I can't cope in my own with him! I can't. He just cries. All the time. I mean, do they have off switches?"
The Doctor sat next to Star and looked through a pregnancy book, "Human beings? No, I've checked."
"No, babies." Craig put the baby in his high chair.
"Same difference," Star shrugged, "this normal works," she put a finger to her lips, "Shh." the baby stopped crying, "there we go."
"Can you teach me to do that?" Craig gaped at her.
The Doctor now looked through the baby book, "probably not."
"Oh, please come in, I need something, I'm rubbish at this." Craig begged
"At what?" the Doctor looked at him.
"Being a dad. You read all the books; they tell you you'll know what to do if you follow your instinct. I have no instinct' that's what this weekends about, trying to prove to people I can do this one thing well."
The Doctor laughed at the book as Star asked Craig, "So what did you call him?"
"Will I blush?" the Doctor grinned.
"No, we didn't call him 'the Doctor'!" Craig rolled his eyes.
"No. I didn't think you would."
"He's called Alfie." he told them, turning to make some tea, "What are you doing here anyway?"
Star leaned over, listening to Alfie gurgle, "yes, he likes that, Alfie."
"Though personally he prefers to be called Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All," the Doctor added.
"Sorry, what?" Craig turned I them.
"That what he calls himself."
"How do you know that?"
"We speak baby."
"Of course you do! I don't even know when his nappy needs changing," Craig sat down at the table, "I'm supposed to be his dad."
"Yeah, he was wondering where his mum is." Star remarked as the Doctor massaged Craig's shoulders, "Where is Sophie?"
"Gone away with Melina for the weekend," he sighed, "Needs a rest."
"Stormageddon!" Star laughed, "He's your dad, you shouldn't call him 'not-mum.'"
"Not-mum?"
"That's you," the Doctor nodded, "Also not-mum, that's me and Star. Everyone else is...peasants."
"That's unfortunate," Star laughed, tickling Alfie's head.
"What are you doing here?" Craig repeated.
"We just popped in to say hello. You said it yourself that I probably would come visit again."
"We've been knocking about on our own," the Doctor sighed, "A farewell tour. One last thing, popping in to see you, then im off to the Alignment of Exedor."
"The Alignment of Exedor?" Craig frowned.
"17 galaxies in perfect unison. Meant to be spectacular. We can't miss it. Literally can't. It's locked in a time statis field, get one crack at flying the TARDIS into it.
"If you get your dates right," Star gave him a pointed look.
He rolled his eyes at her, "which I have."
"Sounds nice," Craig commented.
"So this is us popping in and popping out again. Just being social, just having a laugh. Never mind that."
"Never mind what?"
"Nothing."
"No, you noticed something," Craig stood up, "You've got your noticing face on. I have nightmares about that face."
"Nope, given up all that, done with noticing things," the lights flickered.
"You didn't notice that, did you?" Star asked.
"No, I didn't. Got to go. Good seeing you, Craig." He shook the mans hand, "Goodbye Stormageddon." He gave Alfie two Gallic air kisses.
"Bye Craig," Star hugged him, "by Stormy," Star kissed the baby's head before the Doctor took her head and the walked off.
"No, no, wait, wait, could you do the shushing thing? Shh." Craig rushed after them as Alfie began fussing again.
"Only works once, and only on life forms with underdeveloped brains."
"Hang on, you said farewell tour? What do you mean farewell?"
"Shh…" the Doctor put a finger to his lips and Craig couldn't speak.
~.~
"Just go." The Doctor murmured to himself as they walked out of the house, "Stop noticing. Just go! Stop noticing! Just go. Stop noticing. Just go. Stop it!" a streetlight flickered, "am I noticing?" he asked Star.
"A bit." She nodded
"Im not. And what I am not doing is scanning for electrical fluctuations." He scanned around with the sonic, "oh, shut up!" he looked warningly at Star. "We're just dropping in on a friend, the last thing I need right now is a patina teleport energy." He rested his head against the TARDIS, "I am through saving them."
"I don't think you'll ever been though saving humans."
"Are you noticing?"
"Yeah." She admitted, "Please," she gave him her big 'puppy dog' eyes.
~.~
The Doctor stood in front of a small group of children, demonstrating to them a remote control helicopter, "It goes up-tiddly up, it goes down-tiddly down-down. For only £49.99, which I think is a bit steep but then again it's your parents' cash and they'll only waste it on boring stuff like lamps and vegetables, yawn!"
Star, who stood slightly to the side, out of harms way, laughing, spotted Craig pushing Alfie in a stroller, on the phone to someone, know doubt Sophie.
"Nobody panic!" the Doctor called, "But I appear to be losing control."
"Emergency landing!" Star giggled.
The helicopter landed just behind Craig.
"Oops," the Doctor knelt down to all the children, "Guys. Guys, ladies and gentlemen, while I deal with this awkward moment you go and find your parents/guardians! Try in lamps!" he high-fived one of the young girls as all the children ran off.
"Hi Craig!" Star waved.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Craig demanded, walking over.
"I'm the Doctor. I work in a shop now. They gave me a badge," the Doctor pointed to the badge, "With my name of in case I forget who I am, very thoughtful, as that does happen."
"You were leaving...the alignment of Exeter, what about that? One chance to see it, you said."
"Well, we were on our way, saw a shop, got a job, you got to live the moment, Craig."
"Mind Yappy." Star nodded behind him.
"What?" Craig frowned.
"Yappy. The robot dog."
"Not as much fun as I remember." the Doctor shrugged, stroking the robot dog.
"Like K9."
"You look awful, Craig!"
"I haven't slept, have I?" Craig reminded them, "I still can't stop him crying. I even tried singing to him last night."
"Yeah," Star slowly nodded, "He did mention that. He thought you were also crying. He didn't get a wink. Yappy, say bye-bye to Craig and Stormy, can I call you stormy?" Alfie gurgled. "Thank you."
The Doctor picked up the dog and pretended the dog was talking, "Goodbye Craig. Goodbye Stormy." he set the dog down as something whizzed across the floor, "What was that?" he and Star took off down the aisle.
"You're here for a reason aren't you?" Craig accused, "You've noticed something, and you're investigating it." the Doctor went down in his hands and knees, "because it's you, it's going to be dangerous and alien."
"It might not be." Star argued as the Doctor stood back up.
"I live here, I need to know!"
"Nah, you don't."
"My baby lives here, my son."
"And he is adorable. Takes after his mum."
"Sheila Clack, went missing Tuesdays." the Doctor mused, "Atif Ghosh, last seen Friday. Tom Luker, last seen Sunday."
Craig picked up a newspaper, "Whys that not on the front page?"
"Page one had an exclusive on Nina," the Doctor remarked, "A local girl who got kicked off Britain's Got Talent. These people are on pages 7, 19, 22." he walked off as Star followed and pushed Alfie in the stroller, "No-ones noticed yet, they're far too excited about Nina's emotional journey, which in fairness, is quite inspiring."
"And what else?" Craig followed them.
"These funny old power fluctuations..." Star answered, "Which just happen to coincide with the disappearances."
"That's just the council, putting in new cables. Isn't it?"
The Doctor stopped in front of a blocked lift, "Oh, yes, that's it, mystery solved, oh, wasting our time, now you can go home and," he soniced the lift, "Me and Star can go to Exedor, goodbye and here's a lift."
"It says out of order." Craig pointed out.
"Not anymore." he pulled the tape block the lift apart, "See? Here to help."
Star handed the stroller back to Craig and walked into the lift.
"It says danger," Craig read to warning sign.
"Oh, rubbish," Star scoffed, "Lifts aren't dangerous."
"Do I look like I'm stupid?"
Alfie gurgled.
"Stormy!" She gasped, "Bad boy!"
"All right, there's more!" the Doctor admitted as entered the lift with them, sonicing the panel, the doors shutting behind them. "Just between, you, me, Stormy and Star, don't want to frighten my punters. Someone's been using a teleport relay, right here in this ship. Missing people last seen in this area," he placed a finger to Craig's lips, "Before you ask, CCTV's been wiped."
"A teleport?" Craig stammered, "A teleport? Like a beam me up teleport, like you see in Star Trek?"
"Exactly. Someone's been using a beam me up Star Trek teleport. Could be disguised as anything."
"But a teleport? In a shop? That's ridiculous!"
The lights flickered and the Time Lords realised that they were no longer in the lift but on a Cybership. Star quickly bent down in front of Alfie and began distracting him, keeping him happy.
"What was that?" Craig asked, "Was that the lights again?"
"Yup!" Star jumped up, "The lights, that's was all."
"Why did you do that?"
"What did she do?" the Doctor asked, his voice going squeaky.
"Why did your voice go all high and squeaky?"
"Craig, just look at dad," Star took his hand and placed them in the Doctors.
"Just keep looking at me Craig," the Doctor agreed, "Right at me, just keep looking at me."
"Why?" Craig frowned.
"Because I'm always looking for a way to keep him happy," Star made up, "and you make him happy, because..." she looked at the Doctor, giving him a look to keep Craig occupied.
"Because, I love you!" the Doctor told him.
"You love me?" Craig blinked, taken back.
"Yes, Craig. It's you. It's always been you."
"Me?"
The Doctor put his arms around Craig's shoulders and pulled out the sonic as Star went back to occupying Alfie, "Is that so surprising?" the Doctor asked.
"Doctor, are you going to kiss me?" Craig tried to lean back.
"Yes, Craig. Yes I am. Would you like that? Bit out of practice, but I've had some wonderful feedback."
"So wonderful that you got 4 kids out of it." Star murmured.
"Star!" he flushed.
"It's true!"
"Doctor," Craig interrupted, "We can't, I'm taken and you have Star," he turned around and saw that they were on the Cybership, "Oh my god!"
"Or we could just hold hands," the Doctor winced, his plan for Craig not to see the ship had failed, "would that make you feel more comfortable?"
"What is happening?"
A Cyberman appeared at the other end of the ship.
"Well first of all," the Doctor began, "I don't really love you, except as a friend."
"And what is that?" Craig cried as the Cyberman walked towards them.
The Doctor activated a sonic on the ships machinery and they were back in the lift just before the Cyberman reached them.
"That was fun," Star grinned.
"What the hell just happened?" Craig demanded.
"They must have linked the teleport relay to the lift but I've fused it!" the Doctor remarked walking out of the lift and down the aisles, Craig pushing the strolled behind him and Star skipped to keep up with them, "They can't use that again. Stuck up there in their spaceship."
"What were those things?"
"Cybermen." Star stated.
"Ship? Space ship? We were in space?"
~.~
The small group looked up at the sky as they exited the department store, the Doctor held the sonic up, scanning the sky.
"It's got to be up there somewhere," Star frowned.
"Can't get a fixed," the Doctor murmured, "It be must be shielded."
"You fused the teleport," Craig reminded them, "You sorted it. They can't come back."
"I've just brought us a little time. Still got to work out what they're doing before I can stop it."
"But if they've got the teleport and they're evil, why haven't they invaded already?"
"Craig," Star turned to him, "Take Alfie and go."
"No!"
"No?" the Doctor turned to him.
"No, I remember from last time. People got killed, people that didn't know you. I know where it's safest, for me and Alfie. And that's right next to you both."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, you always win, you always survive!"
"Those were the days." the Doctor sighed.
"I can help you, I'm staying!"
"Aww, Craig," Star grinned at him, "You are awesome. Come on, let's go investigating!"
"There's no immediate danger now." the Doctor agreed.
~.~
The next day, in the jewellery department, the Doctor, Star and Craig, pushing the stroller, walked through.
"Good afternoon, Val," the Doctor greeted the older woman behind the counter.
"Hello," Val waved to them.
The Doctor started to walk behind the counter when Craig grabbed his arm, "Where am I investigating?" he hissed.
"Well, look around," the Doctor whispered back, "Ask questions. People like it when you're with a baby, babies are sweet, people talk to you."
"That's why we take humans with us." Star added.
"I'm your baby?" Craig frowned.
"No, you're dad's baby."
"So I'm you're baby?" Craig turned to the Doctor.
"You're my baby!" the Doctor hugged Craig.
Craig walked off to another department with Alfie as the Doctor put on a pair of sunglasses.
"Hope you don't mind me saying, Doctor," Val smiled, "But I think you look ever so sweet, you and your partner and the baby, you must love your little brother, Star."
Star tried her hardest not to laugh at that. Of course the Doctor wouldn't understand what she meant, and she was proven correct with the Doctor muttering, "Partner. Yes, I like it. Is I better than 'companion?'"
"Companion sounds old-fashioned. There's no need to be coy these days."
"Have you noticed anything unusual around here lately, Val?" Star asked the woman.
"Well..." she trailed.
"Well, what?"
"Mary Warnock, saw Don Petheridge snogging Andrea Groom outside the Conservative Club on his so-called day of 'golfing.'"
"Yeah," the Doctor nodded slowly, before remarking to Star, "maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all." he air-kissed Val on both cheeks and they both began walking off.
"And then there's that silver rat thing."
The Time Lords turned back around, "What?" they asked in unison.
~.~
The Doctor scanned under a table with the sonic in the children's department. Star held a large net close by.
"A sliver rat." the Doctor stood up, "Glowing red eyes."
"Yes, then it zizzed off," Val nodded, "I wanted to get one for my nephew, but stockroom say there's no such item."
"I bet they do," Star mumbled as the Doctor put the sonic away.
"Well, what was it then? Answer me that."
Before they could answer there was a loud crash from another department, sounding like stands falling over. "What's all that hullabaloo?" Val wondered.
"Uh! That'll be my partner!" The Doctor replied as Star handed the net to Val and they ran off to the ladies department to find Craig rocking the stroller, trying to calm Alfie down.
"Hello, everyone!" the Doctor called as they approached, "Here to help."
"Hello Doctor," a young employee, Kelly, greeted.
"Hello, Star." George nodded
"Hey Kels. Looking good as always George," Star winked at him.
"Looking beautiful as always, Star."
"Hello," the Doctor interrupted, "Has anyone seen a silver eat?" they looked blankly at him, "Ok. Long shot, I see you've met our friend, Craig. Nice uniform George," he gave him the 'ok' sign and whistled.
"Thank you, Doctor. If he's with you two, that's all right then."
"Sorry," Kelly apologised, "I thought he was hassling me, cause that's the last thing I need today. Cause Shona's not turned up, right, do I'm doing twice the work for the same money."
"Shh." the Doctor put his fingers to his lips, silencing Kelly.
"Please teach me how to do that," Craig begged.
"No," Star turned to Kelly, "Who's Shona?"
"My supervisor," Kelly sighed, "She's meant to be in today but never showed up."
"Where did you last see her?"
~.~
The Doctor and Craig walked down the ladies changing room's corridor. Star walked behind them, she said she'd investigate as this was the ladies room, but the Doctor disagreed. The 2 centuries or however long it had been since they'd last seen the Ponds, he had grow a lot more protective of her, not that see needed protecting so much, see was more than capable of looking after herself and he knew it, but she wasn't complaining, she loved it!
"How do you do that?" Craig asked, cutting her out of her thoughts, "it's a power, isn't it, some sort of weird alien hypnotic power, I bet you excrete some sort of gas that makes people love you."
"Would that I could, Craig," the Doctor remarked, before he opened a curtain and a woman screamed, he quickly closed the curtain again, "Sorry, madam," he peeked back in, "I'd try that in red if I were you."
"I'm right though, aren't I?"
"Craig, can you honestly say that you like the last me?" Star looked at him.
"You were alright, I guess," he shrugged, fumbling for the right why to say it, "Bit grumpy at times."
"Yeah, that summed me up. Not now though." she gave him a big grin.
The Doctor peered into another room, "You love me, I've never excreted any weird alien gases at you."
"I don't love you!" Craig defended, "Don't start that again."
Alfie gurgled and Star smiled at him, "Yes I know. Of course he does. I do too, although a different kind of love."
"Of course you do," the Doctor agreed, "We're partners."
"But I did exactly what you would have done and I nearly got arrested!" Craig cried.
Alfie gurgled again, "Stormy thinks you should believe in yourself," Star translated as the Doctor scanned around.
"Great, now my baby is reviewing me."
The Doctor stepped into the last room, "Here. Right here. Last night, a Cyberman took Shona."
"A Cyberman...I thought it was a little silver rat?"
"It's not a rat," Star corrected, "it's a Cybermat."
"All right," Craig grumbled, "Don't have a go at me just cos I don't know the names."
Star gave him a hug from behind, "I'm not having a go at you, but now you've learnt something new."
"And that's enough hugging thank you," the Doctor cut in and pulled Star into a hug of his own, making her giggle before she pulled away and walked off back down the corridor.
"So what happened then?" Craig asked as they followed her.
"What happened what?" the Doctor frowned.
"How did she regenerate?"
"Oh...you know pirates, water, green singing shark in an evening gown." Craig raised his eyebrows at him, "It wasn't actually a shark, it was more a siren, a nurse sort of thing..." he sighed, "She almost drown but the siren went after her and," he shrugged, "she could either stay with the siren or regenerate."
Craig patted his back, "So it wasn't you fault. Don't go blaming yourself."
The Doctor could only nod before clapping his hands, "come on then." the headed after Star with Craig pushing Alfie in the stroller.
Fact was, he did blame himself, each time she had regenerated was all because of him, he was meant to protect her, protect her from regenerating, bang up job he was doing.
"Cybermats are infiltrators," Star explained as the men caught up, "Very small, very deadly, they collect power like bees collect pollen. One of them's been sucking the electrical energy from this area."
"But why a shop?" the Doctor shook his head, "You know, why not a nuclear power station?"
"Ok, why?" Craig asked.
Star grinned, "No idea. So we'd best ask it."
"You're crazy."
"Yes I am."
"We wait for the shop to shut," the Doctor nodded, "We stake the place out and grab ourselves a Cybermat."
"And this is just a coincidence, is it?" Craig rounded on them.
"What is?" the Doctor frowned at him.
"Aliens in Colchester? Aliens twice in my life, happening to me just when you turn up."
"This is not our fault, Craig."
Alfie began fussing in the stroller, "Shh, Shh. Look what you've done."
"It's his nappy," Star told him.
"He's mentioned it twice," the Doctor added.
"I don't speak baby do I?" Craig reminded them.
"There's a changing station over by the electrical goods," Star pointed.
"And of course, you know that," he recalled being in her mind, the girl was very clever when she wanted to be, but she preferred not to show just how smart she was, "Come on, Alfie," he headed off in the direction she pointed.
"Craig, it's a coincidence," the Doctor called after him, "It happens, it what the universe does for..." he trailed off see Amy and Rory walking around, Rory carry a few bags.
A little girl ran up to Amy, "Can I have your autograph please?"
"Yeah," Amy gladly took the girls' notepad, "Sure."
"...Fun." the Doctor finished; Star took his hand and pulled him behind so clothing rack, so they could watch but not be spotted.
"What's your name?" the heard Amy ask.
"Ellie," the girl answered.
Amy signed the notepad, "I like you headband."
"Thank you."
"Alright?" Rory asked.
"There you go." Amy handed Ellie her notepad.
"Thank you," Ellie smiled, waving at them as they walked off. Ellie turned to her mother and pointed towards where the Doctor and Star were standing. They turned to see a large ad, with Amy's face in it for a perfume named Petrichor 'For the girl who's tired of waiting.'
"Amelia Pond," the Doctor smiled fondly.
"From Kissogram to perfume model," Star laughed lightly.
~.~
The Doctor, Star and Craig with Alfie, hid behind the counter in the perfume department as George walked past in patrol. Star held a net in her hand as the Doctor got the sonic out.
"Ok, Shh." the Doctor hissed as they slowly stood up, he began scanning around with the sonic. "Right. Let's be having you then, Cybermat."
Alfie began to cry, "Can you out that on quiet?" Craig whispered as he tried to calm Alfie down.
"No! It's a sonic screwdriver. Sonic equals sound!" he took something out of his jacket, "Take this. I got it on my discount. 10% off. It's a papoose," he dropped it over Craig.
"Why do I need a papoose?"
"Alfie wants to attach you to him." Star told him, "He says you're to slow when he summons you."
"When's he going to stop giving me marks?"
"Never," the Doctor answered, "That's parenthood. They never stop complaining and whining and moaning and..." he glanced at his daughter, "Are you going to kill me?"
"Not in front of Alfie," she stated.
"Could you have gotten a babysitter?" he asked as Alfie gurgled, "no, any babysitter...doesn't have to be a hot one." he gurgled, "Absolutely not!"
"Don't worry Alfie," Star laughed at his compliment, "Another time perhaps."
Craig could only shake his head, "I told everyone I know I didn't need their help this weekend, they won't answer my calls. I didn't know there was going to be an invasion of Cybermen," Alfie fussed. "Shh."
"Hey Alfie," She smiled at the baby, "Wanna see a trick?" he gurgled and she flashed he eyes at him earning a small giggle from him. She suddenly lunged forwards and caught the Cyberman in the net. "Ha!"
"That very odd. It must be in low power." the Doctor mused, taking it from Star.
"Or I'm very good."
"Or its low power." she looked at him, "No, you're right, you're very good."
"Oh, is that it?" Craig looked at it.
"Yeah."
"Oh, it's quiet cute look at that. Look, Alfie, look."
The Cybermat opened its mouth to reveal two rows of sharp teeth. The Doctor quickly soniced it as Craig screamed.
"Metal rat," Craig panicked, "Real mouth! Metal rat, real mouth, metal rat, real mouth!"
"Stop screaming!" Star shouted at him, 'STOP SCREAMING!' she shouted in his mind and he stopped.
They heard a scream in the distance.
"Come on!"
The Time Lords ran off and Craig quickly put Alfie in the papoose before following.
~.~
They ran into the basement, and the Doctor lit the way using the sonic as a torch. "George!" he yelled.
Star looked around and spotted a torch on the ground before noticing Georges body, "George..." she breathed and bent down to examine the body.
"Star!" the Doctor suddenly yelled.
She looked back only for a Cybermans arm to knock her to the ground. Her world going black.
~.~
"Star!" the Doctor called to her as she came around.
"Doctor! Star! What happened?" Craig asked. By the time he had caught up with them, they were both lying on the ground unconscious, he had quickly woke the Doctor up who had shot up with a cry of "Star!" before he'd shuffled to the girls side and woken her up.
"Ow." She groaned, sitting up, "My head."
"Yeah, we've been chipped, chapped...chopped!" the Doctor pulled her to her feet.
"The Cyberman...it killed George." she looked around for the body, "Took him back to the ship."
"The Cybermen are here!" Craig's eyes widened, "But you said."
"Yeah, I know what I said," the Doctor scanned around with the sonic, "But I fused the teleport it should have taken them days to repair."
"Are you both ok?"
"We should be dead...but the arm it chopped us with; it was damaged, old spare parts. Must have changed those missing people."
"They changed the missing into Cybermen? Why didn't they change you?"
"Craig, we're Time Lords," Star reminded him, "Not exactly compatible."
"But why are they using spare part, why?" the Doctor wondered, "Everything we find makes less sense!"
"Both of you listen to me," Craig cut in, "If the Cybermen are here, then we're not safe, we've got to go. We've got to go back to base."
Star blinked at him, partly from being knocked out, partly from confusion, "We have a base? Since when did we have a base?"
~.~
Back in Craig house, the Doctor sat at the kitchen table, watching Star intently as she mixed up something on the kitchen table, playing mad scientist. The Cybermat was next to her.
"I'm going down the shops," Craig informed them, "We're out of milk. You know what to do if he cries," he tossed the intercom at the Doctor.
"No!" the Doctor caught the intercom.
"Me neither!" Craig called from the hallway.
As soon as they heard the font door shut, Alfie cried.
Star smiled slightly and got up from her chair, "Come on then."
They headed upstairs to Alfie's room. Above his crib was a soft mobile of the moons and stars. As it turned around, music played and protected stars onto the ceiling.
"Hello, Stormageddon," the Doctor cautiously stepped into the room, as Star watched from the doorway, "It's the Doctor and Star, here to help." he picked up a small stuffed bunny trying to get Alfie's attention, "Shh. There, there. Be quiet. Go to sleep. Really, stop crying." Alfie looked at him, "You've got a lot to look forward to, you know. A normal human life on Earth. Mortgage repayments, the 9 to 5, a persists t nagging sense to spiritual emptiness. Save the tears for later, boyo. Oh, no!" he rubbed his head, "That was crabby. No, that was old! But I am old, Stormy. I am so old. So near the end." he picked Alfie up, "You, Alfie Owens, you are so young, aren't you? And, you know, right now, everything's ahead of you. You could be anything. Yes, I know. You could walk among the stars. They don't actually look like that, you know, they are rather more impressive," he tried to pull the sonic out but couldn't with Alfie in his arms.
Star smiled fondly and walked into the room, "Give him here," she took Alfie from him and the Doctor soniced the projection and it became a more realistic projection of the stars. "You know when I was young, I dreamt of the stars. I'm living that dream. And I've never been happier. Have fun and live you life to the best, Alfie." she kissed his head.
"You're dads trying his best you know," the Doctor remarked, "Yes, I know. It's not his fault he doesn't have mammary glands. No, but neither do I. I'm coping looking after Star; I've done a pretty good job."
"Yes, you have." she nodded before coming serious, "But why is there a sinister beeping noise from the door?"
They looked over to see the Cybermat at the doorway, chomping its mouth.
"Oh, no you don't!" the Doctor quickly soniced it, "Come in, Alfie. Run! It's only stunned." he ushered Star out with Alfie and followed then down the stairs and through the kitchen to the back door.
"It's going to be ok," Star reassured Alfie as he fussed, "We're going outside. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."
The Doctor opened the door but in his hurry to ensure they were safe he dropped the sonic and the door locked behind them.
"No!" he groaned as he tried to door.
"Call Craig!" she ordered, bobbing Alfie up and down.
He quickly pulled the phone out and called Craig's mobile, "Come on, Craig, pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up!" it went to answer phone, "Craig, don't worry, Alfie is fine, but on no account enter the house."
"Doctor!" Craig screamed from inside the house.
They turned to see the Cybermat trying to get to Craig throat and he tried to fight it off.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no!"
"Help me!"
Star stared intently at the glass in the door, her eyes glowing red as the glass shattered and the Doctor ran though to help. She stayed a safe distance away, with Alfie, watching them, if they needed any help.
She watched as Craig pulled the Cybermat away from his throat, and it tried to attack the Doctors throat. He through it to the floor as Craig hit it with a baking tray, and held it down. As the Doctor found the right frequency on the sonic and finally 'killed' it.
She laughed with relief and ran back inside with Alfie.
"Alfie!" Craig sighed, seeing his son safe.
"He's fine," she assured him, "He's a tough boy like his dad."
~.~
The Doctor sat on the sofa working on the Cybermat using a loupe. Star sat next to him.
"I'm knackered," Craig yawned as he held Alfie in his arms, "That thing was eating up the electricity."
"And transmitting it up to the Cybership," the Doctor nodded.
"But why do they need power?" Star wondered.
"Why are those conversions not complete yet?"
"And what are they doing up there?"
"You said you were going to look at its brain." Craig reminded him.
"I had to wipe its brain." the Doctor said, "Now I can reprogram it, use it as a weapon against them."
Craig sat down on the Doctors right, "The Cybermat came after us?"
"No, after US." he gestured between him and Star.
"They sent it after us?"
"After US. Because of us, you and Alfie nearly died," he took the loupe away from his eye, "Do you still feel safe with me, Craig."
"I do!" Star cheered.
"You can't help who your mates are." Craig shrugged.
"No!" the Doctor shook his head, "I am a stupid and selfish man. Always have been. I should have made you do," he sighed, "We never should have come here."
"But it was my idea to come," Star reminded him, "We were leaving. I didn't want too. My fault." she leaned her head in his shoulder.
"It's never your fault."
"What would have happened if you hadn't come?" Craig countered, "Who else knows about Cybermen and teleports?"
"I put people in danger."
"Stop beating yourself up! If it wasn't for you this whole planet would be an absolute ruin."
The Doctor put the Cybermat down, "Craig, very soon I won't be here...my time is running out. I don't mean Exedor. Silence will fall when the question is asked. Don't even know what the question is. Always know I'd die still asking. Thing is Craig, its tomorrow. Can't put it off any more. Tomorrows is the day I..." he looked over to see Craig as Alfie fast asleep. Sighing, he covered them with a blanket.
~.~
The Doctor stuck a small note on blue paper written in silver ink to the refrigerator, 'Dear Craig, gone to stop Cybermen. Sorry, goodbye. The Doctor and Star,' before they headed out the front door and into the morning light, "safe mode," he muttered, "Clever me. Come along Bitey." he petted the Cybermat and walked off.
"See told you it was a good name." Star grinned. Last night after he had reprogrammed it, after Craig had fallen asleep, she'd named it Bitey...because it had lots of teeth.
~.~
They hurried through the ladies department before it was opening for they day, looking around, when Val walked over and greeted them, "Morning!"
"Morning," Star replied, distracted.
"Teleports still fused," the Doctor rambled, "They didn't repair it. Do the Cyberman last night, how did it get down here, how did it get out? And why...why am I asking you?" he pointed at Val, "And not her?" then at Star.
"You found the silver rat!" Val smiled brightly, seeing the Cybermat.
"But where are the silver men?" Star wondered as she began walking to the ladies changing rooms.
"Secondary teleport," the Doctor continued rambling, "No, there is no other teleport, they must have had a back-up system, something complicated, something powerful, something shielded."
"Daddy..." Star cut him off, "You know you say I ramble?"
"Yes...?"
"I know where I get it from." she smiled innocently at him.
He nodded slowly, agreeing with her, before continuing, "They must have something...something like a door. A door!" they went into the last room.
"A disillium-bonded steel door disguised at a wall!" Star pouted, "That's cheating!" she crossed her arms in a small huff, "No fair!"
He pushed the mirror and it swung out on its hinges to reveal a roughly carved tunnel, "So...it didn't teleport down. It climbed up." he pulled the sonic out and walked down the tunnel. They quickly walked down and into a large cavern where the Cybership was hidden.
With a nod to each other, the entered the ship and looked around.
The Doctor gave a low whistle, "Well, well, well. You have been busy."
Looking around at the ground, half buried in the dirt, Star found George's name tag. They heard stomping from behind, the Doctor quickly made his way over to Star as a Cyberman approached.
"You have come to us." it stated.
"Took us awhile," Star shrugged, standing up again, "Stuff on our minds." Different stuff of course, but still both of them had been thinking about what was to happen in Utah.
"Let's see," the Doctor faced the Cyberman, "This ship crashed here centuries ago, no survivors, but the systems are dormant waiting for power. And then the council stick a load of new cables right on top of you."
"Bitey wakes up and channels the power, you start crewing up from the shop as best you can, not enough power, not enough working parts."
"When we are ready we will emerge." the Cyberman stated, "We will convert this planet to Cyberform."
"What?" Star laughed at them, "the 6 of you?"
"You know that is enough. You know us. You are the Star and the Doctor."
"Just Star!" she stressed. Why does nobody understand that? Is it hard to understand unless you're Time Lord?
"Correct," the Doctor nodded, "and the Doctor always gives you a choice. Deactivate yourself or I deactivate you." he aimed the sonic at it and it took a step back.
Star screamed as a Cyberman snuck up behind her and held her arms back. Another doing the same to the Doctor causing him to cry out in pain. The Cybermat fell to the ground.
"They must be the new leaders." One Cyberman decided.
"No," another disagreed, "They are not like us. Brain and binary vascular system incompatible. They will be discarded. Other body parts may be of us."
Suddenly Craig jumped into the room, a price scanner in his hands, holding it like a gun "Oi, Cyberman! Get off my planet, or I activate this."
"Craig!" the Doctor shouted, "Stop this, get out!"
"Its like you said, Doctor, got to believe you can do it!"
"You located us?" the second Cyberman turned to him.
"Teleport in the lift, bit rubbish. That little Cybermat never stood a chance. See what you're dealing with?"
"You are compatible. You are intelligent." He touched his hand to his chest panel and shot a bolt of electricity at Craig forcing him to drop the scanner. The last Cyberman grabbed Craig and pulled him forwards.
"No, im not intelligent, you don't want me!" Craig yelled.
"Do not fear. We will take your fear from you. You will be like us. You will be more than us." He moved to one of the conversion chambers and opened it.
"No, no, no, no."
"You designation I'd Cyber Controller. You will lead us, we will conquer this world." They forced Craig into the chamber.
"Doctor! Star!"
"Craig!" Star struggled against the Cybermans grip.
"Do something! Please!" the part began to clamp onto his arms and legs, "DOCTOR! STAR!"
"Craig, don't worry," the Doctor assured him, "I've reprogrammed the Cybermat, it'll drain their power!" he pulled out the remote and the Cybermat scuttled along the floor…until the Cyberman stepped on it.
"You have failed, Doctor," it stated, "begin conversion! Phrase one. Cleanse the brain of emotions."
"No!" Star screamed, "Craig! Fight it! They can't convert you if you fight it! You're strong, don't give in to it!"
"Help me!" he cried.
"Think of Sophie," The Doctor tried, "Think of Alfie; don't let them take it all away!"
"Make it stop. Please make it stop!"
"Craig, you have to listen to us!" Star called, "we believe in you, you can do this!"
"We've always believe in you! All our lives!" the Doctor added, "Im going to die, Craig. Tomorrow, im going to die, but I don't mind if you just prove me right! CRAIG!"
"CRAIG! You are braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think, you can do this!"
The headpiece closed around Craig and seamlessly welded shut down the middle, "Begin full conversion," the second Cyberman ordered.
They could only stare in horror as the machinery began to whir…
…until they heard a baby crying.
They looked at the monitors to see the security footage of Val trying to comfort a crying Alfie.
"Unknown sound wave detected." The first Cyberman said.
"It is the sound of fear. It is irrelevant. We will remove all fear."
"Alfie!" the Doctor shouted, "im so sorry! Alfie, please stop! We can't help him!"
"Emotions eradicated conversion complete." Craig's fingers twitched and an alarm sounded, "Alert. Emotional subsystems rebooting. This is impossible." Energy began to crackle around the headpiece.
"He can hear him." Star realised, "he can hear Alfie!"
"Oh please, just give me this!" the Doctor began to smile, "Craig, you wanted a chance to prove you're a dad. You've never going to get better one than this!"
A creak appeared in the headpiece, "What is happening?" the second Cyberman demanded
"What's happening you metal moron? A baby is crying. And you better watch out, cos guess what? Ha!"
"Daddy's coming home!" Star laughed.
The headpiece opened, "Alfie!" Craig called out, fighting the machine and it began to overload. "Alfie, im here! Im coming for you!"
The Cyberman staggered form the emotional onslaught, "Yes Craig!" Star cheered, as the machine started to release Craig and the Time Lords where about to pull free of the Cybermans grip on them.
"Emergency. Emotional influx!" the second Cyberman called.
The Doctor pulled out the sonic to help Craig out, "you've triggered a feedback loop into their emotional inhibitors." He tossed the sonic to Star so she could unlock the other side,
She freed him, "All that stuff they cut out of themselves, now they're feeling it! Which means big boom!"
"Overload, overload, overload." The Cybermen cried.
They ran to the door, "get this open, we need to get to Alfie!" Craig urged.
"They've sealed the ship!" the Doctor breathed. They Cybers head began to explode.
"We've got to get out of here!"
"I know!" two more Cybers head exploded.
"The teleport!" Star remembered as they ran for the teleport. The Doctor quickly activated it with the sonic. The lift shook as the ship exploded. The Doctor pulled Star in tightly with Craig and pulled away when the lift pinged.
Craig ran over to Val as she calmed Alfie.
"How did you get in there?" Val frowned, spotting them.
"Alfie!" Craig breathed.
"Here's you daddy," she handed Alfie over to Craig as the Doctor and Star ran over.
"That was another review," the Doctor told him.
"10 out of 10." Star smiled.
"The Cybermen…they blew up. I blew then up with love!" Craig hugged his son.
"No, that's impossible," the Doctor shook his head, "and also grossly sentimental and over simplistic. You destroyed them because of the deeply ingrained hereditary human trait to protect one's own genes which in turn…" the Doctor began but Star cut him off.
"You destroyed them with love!" she laughed.
~.~
Star rambled to Kelly in the ladies department as the Doctor smirked amused, just watching, "the buildings totally safe now, structurally and of course the bonded disillium contain the explosion."
"Right," Kelly nodded slowly, confused, "why are you telling me this?"
"I like hearing my own voice and you didn't tell me to stop. Shh."
Kelly fell silent.
They looked over to Craig at Val's counter wearing a new shirt.
"It suits you." Val complimented him.
"Thanks." Craig beamed.
"Discount applies to partners."
"Great."
Star snorted. At first she thought it was just the Doctor being oblivious but now it seemed that it was just all men. Men are idiots.
"Are you two married then?"
"Nah, we talked about it, but it's just a piece of paper, isn't it?"
The Doctor walked over with Star and put an arm around Craig's shoulders, "thank you for your help, Val. Good noticing. Keep em peeled."
"I will," Val smiled, "im glad you two made up for the children's sake."
"Ah!" the Doctor looked at Star to see her red in the face as she tried not to laugh.
"How d'you mean?" Craig frowned.
"Its nice for children to have two daddies who love each other." Val remarked.
"Wait…hang on a sec! Two daddies!" he and the Doctor looked at each other as Star burst into a fit of giggled, "you think im…?"
"His companion." Val nodded.
Craig laughed and turned around, "Doctor?" only to see the Doctor and Star gone.
~.~
Craig stepped into his house and stopped in surprise, "who's tidied this up?" he looked around at the now spotless house, a vase of freshly cut flowers were now on the coffee table, he entered the kitchen to see the Doctor and Star enter through the newly-repaired door.
"See, we do come back." The Doctor commented.
"How did you…?"
"We have a time machine!" Star reminded him.
"But even with time travel, getting glaziers on a Sunday, tricky." He ran his finger along the glass.
"You went back in time?" Craig gaped, "that means you used up your hours. What about Exedor?"
"Exedor Smexedor," Star waved him off, "We couldn't have you being in trouble with Sophie."
"You used up for time for me?"
"Course we did," the Doctor nodded, "you're my mate. I notice Stormageddon very quiet and happy."
"He prefers Alfie now." Star added, "And he is very proud of his dad."
"Are you proud of me?" the Doctor nudged Star, grinning madly.
"Why?" she blinked at him, "what have you done?"
"Well, I cleaned up all this mess!"
"So?"
He pouted causing her to giggle, "Im always proud of you. You're awesome." He beamed.
"He calls me dad?" Craig's eyes filled with tears.
"Yes, of course he does now!" she listened to Alfie gurgled, "Know I think all dads are just naturally thick."
"Shut up, you two!" Craig laughed.
"Well…" the Doctor clapped his hands, "Now its time. We have to go."
"Doctor, I know that something's wrong, I can help you."
"Nobody can help me. Not even Star. I hope Sophie wont mind. I need these." He held up a handful of blue envelopes.
"Where are you going to go?"
"America."
"Sophie will be home any second, are you sure?"
"I can't miss this appointment, Craig. Goodbye mate."
"Wait there. One second." He left the room and came back a moment later with a Stetson, "From Sean's stag." He put it on the Doctors head.
"Wow."
"You ride em, pardner."
"Suits you." Star nodded.
"Oh, thanks." The Doctor snapped his fingers on both hands and pointed them at Craig like a gun before heading to the back door.
"Bye." Craig called.
There was a knock at the front door and they headed out back to the TARDIS.
"Well then, old girl." He licked his thumb and wiped off a spot on the woodwork, "one last trip, eh?"
Star nudged him and he turned to see three children staring at them, "hey. Im the Doctor, this is Star." he took her hand and she squeezed it tightly, "we were here to help. And you are very, very welcome." He tipped his hat at them before entering the TARDIS with Star closing the doors behind her.