SO, this is where the end begins for this story! Time to take the fight to the CyberTech Tower! As always, keep reading and reviewing!

"I still don't like the round things," Alec joked, stepping into the TARDIS, followed by the Doctor and his sister. "You don't like change much, do you."

"How long will it take to make this virus?" Sasha asked, closing the doors as the Doctor wondered down to the bottom level of the console room.

"It'll be done by the morning," the Doctor replied, rummaging about beneath Sasha's feet.

"But there's no concept of night and day in here."

"Then take a guess," the Doctor answered, reappearing with a box full of objects – wires and clamps and toggles and … an apple, which was quickly discarded, narrowly missing Alec's head. "These should suffice." Immediately, the Doctor took the box to the upper floor of the console room, sat at a desk, and began hammering together odds-and-ends.

"Does this mean we get our rooms back then?" Sasha asked.

The room feel silent, the air as thick as tar.

"Well, that is if we're going back to how things were. That is what's happening right? Yeah, of course it is!" Sasha rambled, unsure of where to go. "Sorry, it's just that I really need to sleep."

The Doctor watched Sasha for a moment, noticing how she was obviously unsure about the situation and where and if she would cross a line. "Yeah. Same room. It may not necessarily be in the same place but have a look about."

"Ok...Great," Sasha smiled awkwardly, before leaving to room and down the corridor.

Once again, the room fell silent – the occasional click of metal as the Doctor worked on his device, leaving Alec alone around the console.

"I got you a present, you know," Alec stuttered from the bottom of the stairs.

Metal clanged as the Doctor placed down his equipment, his back still to Alec. "I don't go for presents."

"Fine, well I could just bin it if it doesn't mean that much," Alec suggested.

"Well, I suppose if you've gone to all the trouble … I suppose you could give it to someone else instead."

"Fine, I'll just keep it then."

"Good. You do that."

"I will."

"Is this how the conversation's going to go now – just in circles?"

"No. I'm gonna let you get on with your software and programming, Time Geek, and I'm gonna go and Christmas."

"And Christmas?"

"Yeah, it's what people do at Christmas. Mince pies, Band Aid, tinsel, general jolliness, that sort of thing. Why even are you hammering all those things together?"

"I need to make a virus."

"I'm from two thousand and four but even I know that that's a software thing."

"But I need the hardware too. Imagine you have all the skills to make porridge, but then you don't have oats."

"Who eats porridge?"

"Alec, are you going to question me all night, or are you going to do something?"

"Questioning you is something, but fine," Alec sat back in a seat, "you know that the police won't dare come after us after the crash. You don't need to waste any more time questioning how to get us out of more trouble."

"Who says I wasn't."

"Don't lie to me, your eyebrows give it all away."

"Go on then. How come we're safe all of a sudden?"

"I was an agent, remember. Secret services don't make a fuss because they don't want to be caught out. They can't risk threatening my identity, so they'll sweep the crash under the carpet and lie through their teeth. They can't do it all the time though. If I threaten them, or I dunno – kill someone – then there's nothing they can do. If it's high profile, it's my problem."

"Makes sense. Humans. Always finding the easy option out."

"Well, we weren't going to pick the harder option were we." Alec sighed with a smile.

"So tell me," the Doctor began, taking a screwdriver to a set of bolts and wire, "why didn't you tell Claire or Sasha about this get-out-of-jail-free card?"

Alec sighed. "Because they need to realise that this – travelling in the TARDIS – has consequences. Claire definitely does now that she thinks her job's at risk, but I'm not convinced about Sasha. She was hospitalised for months, then jumps back in here like nothing's happened."

"And you think it's up to you to set everyone right?"

"I dunno . . . Yeah, I guess. If no-one else will."

"And I thought your sister was the control freak."

"I'll leave it to you," Alec smiled, leaving the console room.

"I want a car. Now!" Miss Rubens snarled.

"There'll be one within five minutes," Matt Jacobs, the Dorito scented receptionist, replied, following Miss Rubens down the central stairs of the CyberTech Tower.

"Forget five minutes, I want it now. CyberSocial launches in the morning and I want the entire top floor converted so that nothing gets in the way," Miss Rubens insisted.

"Yes, of course," Matt stuttered, "we'll get someone to hurry the cars along and . . . Sorry, but did you say converted?"

"Yes. I think I must've," Miss Rubens smiled turning to Matt, whose face was frozen in a distorted expression of confusion. "And I think I'll start with you."

… A piercing wail echoed down the stairs.

"It is done!" the Doctor cried.

"What?" Sasha groaned, stumbling down to the console.

"The virus is complete," the Doctor explained, flinging switches with a quick flick of his wrist – above them dials turned, setting the TARDIS into motion.

"To the morning then," Sasha smiled.

"Urgh!" the Doctor suddenly cried, smacking the console with the palm of his hand.

"What's wrong, Doctor?" Alec wondered.

"We can't land!" the Doctor cried in frustration, the veins in his head growing increasingly prominent.

"Why can't we land?" Sasha inquired.

"The top floor isn't letting us in!"

"How can a whole floor be TARDIS-proof?"

"Well, I suppose the Cybermen must've worked out some things out after years of combat against each other."

"Then land a floor below. We can fight our way up," Alec suggested.

"Fight our way against the Cybermen? An old woman, a kid and a dashing young man?" the Doctor frowned.

"Well, remember that this dashing young man knows a thing or two about combat," Alec grinned.

"And this kid was a serving police officer," Sasha added.

"I'm noticing a lot of past tense verbs here . . . Hold on. Who are you calling an old woman?!" the Doctor bickered.

"Land, Doctor," Sasha ordered. "Time to show you what companions are made of."

With a valiant groan, the TARDIS materialised into existence - it's bright white lights fading. The thirty sixth floor of the building opened out into a large room. Carpet floors, ovular chairs, cold coffee mugs, large glass windows overlooking the city far out into the distance. Tinsel lined the rooms and cinnamon candles burned out into black soot – an office ghost Christmas.

"Well . . . Isn't this a great way to spend Christmas morning," Alec joked, grimacing slightly at the chilling sight.

Sasha observed the room – it was cold and grey. Out in the distance, Christmas lights were strung in the frost, yet not a single glimmer of cheer in the building. It was as if the room had been in full life, yet every sense of life had disappeared. Chairs out of alignment with tables, coffee cups cold and half-full, blazers strewn over furniture . . . And a pale flesh figure . . .

"Is that . . ." Sasha stuttered. "Is that a hand?"

The Doctor and Alec focused their vision where Sasha gestured. She was right – a ghostly pale hand was slumped over the back of a chair, a pair of high-heeled legs sliding out from beneath the unseen body.

"Hello? . . . Are you alright?" Sasha asked, stepping towards the woman in the chair.

"Careful, Sasha," the Doctor warned.

"Are you ok? Speak to me," Sasha stuttered, tapping the woman's hand – cold.

With ease, the woman slumped back out of the chair, flopping onto her knees, yet keeping her torso upright and her head to her chest. For a moment the room stood silent, watching the woman as she gently rocked like a rag doll. Then – almost robotically – she rose to her feet, her head and arms still loosely waving to the floor. And then her head snapped up.

A blue light shone from her eyes. Half her face was fused to wire and metal in an intricate circuit board design.

With a fierce jolt, she slumped forwards, taking her first steps, eyes piercingly fixed on the Doctor and his companions.

"Everybody back! Back!" the Doctor cried, pulling Sasha behind him.

"Look at her! She can barely keep her head up."

"Doctor," Sasha interrupted, yanking at the Doctor's arm, "look."

Behind the slumped woman, men and women in business attire began to crawl from off of the floor and behind chairs, stumbling onto their feet. Their heads remained slumped, but nevertheless the room was still glowing with an eerie blue light.

"Are these the Cybermen?" Alec wondered, his eyes flitting from person to person.

"No. These people . . . I don't know . . . What would you say Doctor?" Sasha explained.

"Part converted," the Doctor suggested. "Still dangerous so be careful."

Suddenly, every head turned to face the three of them.

"Ok. That doesn't seem like a good sign," Sasha worried.

"Top floor. Ignore them. Come on," the Doctor instructed, turning around as he ushered Sasha and Alec out the room.

The stopped.

Well, not stepped. Trapped!

The Doctor, Sasha and Alec looked around them – office workers surrounded them, their heads slouched, walking as if they were zombies, with their eyes glowing an eerie blue.

And they stepped. Closer! And closer!

Surrounding the Doctor and his companions.

Ok, I lied, you'll have to wait a little longer to find out what this present is, but it will be worth it! PLEASE REVIEW! Thank you :)