But Terry was staring out the window as she heard marching feet and the Doctor turned to look as well just in time to see dark shadows marching toward the house. Dark shadows with square antennae.
"It really is them." The Doctor breathed but Terry's mind was elsewhere.
"Rose."
Terry turned and dashed out the room, the Doctor hot on her heels. Together, they raced back into the main room where the party was being held. Terry spotted Rose by the window, staring out at what Terry and the Doctor had seen from the study.
"Rose." Terry called softly, getting the blonde's attention as she and the Doctor joined her quickly by the window.
"What's going on?" Rose asked quietly.
"It's happening again." The Doctor explained.
"What do you mean?" Rose demanded.
"I've seen them before."
"But what are they?" Rose asked.
"Cybermen." The Doctor explained before he realized something. "Terry?"
The Doctor whirled around, searching for the dark-haired Time Lady just as another squadron of Cybermen smashed through the French windows on the other side of the room. People screamed and huddled together as the Cybermen entered the large room through the broken windows. They stopped, standing guard by the windows while more Cybermen marched in through the door after breaking into the mansion through the front door. Rose found herself squashed against the Doctor as they were all pushed back into the wall as people tried to put as much distance between them and the Cybermen as possible.
It was then the Doctor spotted Terry worming her way through the panicking people and toward the President. His hearts almost stopped for a beat; that did not bode well at all. He hurried after the Time Lady, Rose right on his heels when she saw where he was headed, and the pair reached Terry just as the Cybermen stopped in place and the President's earpiece beeped.
Everyone went quiet, suppressing their panic as fear swept over them as the Cybermen seemed to stare down at them all. But the President himself remained relatively calm and collected as he answered his incoming call in a measured voice that was still not quite enough to mask his own fear.
"Mr. Lumic."
"Mr. President." An elderly male voice sounded through everyone's earpieces, and the combined noise was just enough for the Doctor, Terry and Rose to hear the man as well. Terry wrinkled her nose in distaste while Lumic continued.
"I suppose a remark about crashing the party would be appropriate at this point."
"I forbade this." The President thundered.
"These are my children, sir." Lumic shot back. "Would you deny my family?"
Rose leaned closer to her friends and whispered, "What are they, robots?"
"Not exactly." Terry whispered back at the same time the Doctor murmured, "Worse."
"Who were these people?" The President demanded loudly, and Rose's jaw dropped in horror even as Lumic answered impatiently.
"Doesn't matter."
"They're people?" Rose asked in horror.
Terry nodded grimly while the Doctor elaborated, "They were, until they had all their humanity taken away. That's a living brain jammed inside a cybernetic body, with a heart of steel. All emotions removed."
"Why no emotion?" Rose asked, almost afraid of the response.
"Because emotion hurts." Terry answered softly. "They're not unlike Daleks in some ways. But while the Daleks allow negative emotions like hate to exist because they find it beautiful, Cybermen strip it all away so that in the end, they're not much more than tin soldiers who only obey."
Rose turned to stare once again at the Cybermen in horror while the President said loudly, "I demand to know, Lumic. These people, who were they?"
"They were homeless, and wretched and useless, until I saved them, and elevated them, and gave them life eternal."
The Doctor pursed his lips while Lumic announced triumphantly, "And now I leave you in their capable hands. Goodnight, sir. Goodnight, Mr. President."
The President scowled heavily, but as soon as Lumic ended the call, the Cybermen began to move once again.
"We have been upgraded." The leader announced as it stepped ahead of the rest of its group to stand right in front of the President.
"Into what?" The Doctor called.
"The next level of mankind. We are Human point two. Every citizen will receive a free upgrade. You will become like us."
The crowd shifted uneasily at the Cyberman's announcement but the President was more pitying than afraid as he stared at the Cyberman sadly.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for what's been done to you, but listen to me. This experiment ends tonight." He declared firmly.
"Sir, they won't listen to you." Terry murmured from right behind the President's shoulder but he barely glanced her way before his attention returned to the Cyberman as it responded.
"Upgrading is compulsory."
"And if I refuse?" The President countered.
Realizing why Terry was sticking so close to the human male, the Doctor quickly pressed up close as well and he warned the President, "Don't."
"What if I refuse?" The President asked, ignoring the Doctor.
"I'm telling you, don't!" The Doctor said more loudly and Terry chimed in urgently, "Mr. President, listen to us-"
"What happens if I refuse?" The President ignored them as he stared down the Cyberman.
"Then you are not compatible." The Cyberman answered.
"What happens then?" The President asked, taking a step closer to the Cyberman.
"You will be deleted." The Cyberman announced.
It raised its hand at the same time Terry lunged forward. She shoved the President to the side, barely getting him out of the way in time before the Cyberman could touch him. Except now she was the one in danger.
"Angel!" The Doctor cried, his hand locking around Terry's arm. He'd been prepared for her to do something reckless, and it was a good thing he was as he jerked her back just in time to save her from what had been the President's fate.
"Everybody, RUN!" Terry yelled as she toppled back into the safety of the Doctor's arms.
No one needed to be told twice. People ran screaming, but there was only so far they could go. Pained screams filled the air as several guests were caught by the Cybermen and electrocuted to death. Terry saw the President get grabbed and she yelled, "No!"
"Angel, come on!" The Doctor hauled her away quickly, rushing to get them out of danger.
Terry followed quickly, running with him and Rose as the Doctor raced for one of the broken windows.
"Wait, my mum-" Rose cried but Terry grabbed the companion's hand.
"RUN!" She yelled as she all but dragged Rose with her as she followed the Doctor out the window while people died with pained screams all around them. Rose struggled the entire way and she finally managed to break free as they dashed out onto the lawn.
"Rose!" Terry shouted, grabbing her friend.
"My mum's in there!" Rose protested, catching the Doctor's attention at last.
"She is not your mother!" The Doctor reminded the blonde as he assisted Terry in grabbing Rose and pulling her quickly away. "Come on!"
Rose followed helplessly, but they were quickly drawn up short when a row of Cybermen marched from the far side of the lawn toward them.
"This way!" The Doctor cried as he released Rose's hand and grabbed Terry's before leading them quickly in the opposite direction from the approaching Cybermen.
They ran around the side of the house, just as a figure leapt out the window behind them. Rose saw who it was first and she screamed, "PETE!"
Terry skid to a halt at once, dragging the Doctor to a stop with her as she turned to watch as Rose gestured wildly toward her father. "PETE!"
Pete saw them and then he saw the incoming Cybermen. Without wasting a second, he ran toward them and Terry and the Doctor led the way as they ran quickly away from the Cybermen and around to the far side of the mansion.
"Pete, is there a way out?" The Doctor demanded as they found themselves still boxed in by the gates that surrounded the mansion's four lawns.
"The side gates." Pete gestured into the distance as he took off, leading the way.
The others quickly followed, and Pete demanded of the Doctor as they ran, "Who are you? How do you know so much?"
"You wouldn't believe it in a million years." The Doctor replied just as Terry shouted, "Look out!"
She pulled the Doctor to a halt once again as more Cybermen appeared in their path and cut them off from their escape.
"Back, back, back!" The Doctor shouted as he and Terry backtracked quickly, trying to go back… only to be cut off as more Cybermen marched around the mansion's side and boxed them in completely.
"This way!" Terry yelled as she ran to the side just as bright floodlights switched on from the side of the lawn.
"Get behind me!" A familiar voice roared at them as two figures came running toward them from behind the floodlights.
"Who's that?" Rose asked, bewildered as she faintly recognized the voice that had shouted but not the tone.
"Go, go, go!" Terry urged as she pulled the Doctor with her. Rose and Pete quickly followed, getting behind Ricky and Jake as the pair opened fire on the Cybermen.
The bullets ricocheted off the metal men but the Cybermen did stop as though in surprise. Ricky and Jake stopped as well, saving their bullets, and Rose hugged Ricky in relief.
"Oh my God, Mickey, look at you. I thought I'd never see you again!"
"Um, Rose-" Terry started from beside the Doctor, but Ricky cut her off as he pushed Rose off roughly.
"Yeah. No offence, sweetheart, but who the hell are you?"
Rose stared at Ricky in shock, but thankfully, that was when Mickey arrived.
"Rose!" Mickey called as he ran across the lawn toward them. "That's not me. That's like... the other one."
Rose stared, wide-eyed, between the two identical men, while the Doctor groaned.
"Oh, as if things weren't bad enough, there's two Mickey's."
"It's Ricky." Ricky corrected with a snap.
"Not the time for this." Terry interrupted as she pointed to where the Cybermen were starting to converge on them again.
"We're surrounded." Rose said in fear as they saw more Cybermen appearing and starting to circle around their small group.
Ricky and Jake lifted their guns once again, and the Doctor called sharply, "Put the guns down. Bullets won't stop them."
Jake ignored his warning and started to fire once more. Yet again, his bullets just bounced off the Cybermen and this time, it did nothing to stop the metal men from marching steadily closer.
"No!" The Doctor grabbed Jake's gun and forced him to stop. "Stop shooting, now."
Jake stared at him in bewilderment but the Doctor ignored him as he turned to the Cybermen and called loudly, "We surrender! Hands up."
Ricky and Jake stared at the Doctor as though he were barmy while Rose and Mickey instantly did as the Doctor ordered. Terry meanwhile slipped her hand against the Doctor's front, as though she were about to pull him from behind as he called out to the Cybermen, "There's no need to damage us. We're good stock. We volunteer for the upgrade program. Take us to be processed."
"You are rogue elements." The Cybermen answered as they came to a stop around the group.
"But we surrender." The Doctor protested.
The Cybermen remained unmoved however. "You are incompatible."
"But this is a surrender." The Doctor cried, stunned that the Cybermen weren't just submitting to their sign of surrender. This was new.
"You will be deleted." The Cybermen announced as though the Doctor hadn't said anything. "Delete."
"Yeah, I don't think so." Terry announced as she pulled her hand away from the Doctor's front where she had snuck into his breast pocket and removed the Tardis power cell.
She pointed it at the Cybermen and released the built-up energy. The Cybermen cried out, their voices buzzing like a malfunctioning computer as they were hit by the golden light. The companions all ducked in surprise while the Doctor watched grimly as the Cybermen were atomised by the energy blast.
"What the hell was that?" Ricky demanded, but Terry was already tossing the power cell back to the Doctor.
"Later - for now, run!" Terry yelled as she grabbed Rose's hand and ran.
The Doctor caught the power cell before dashing after Terry while the others quickly followed behind. A van hooted from the distance, and the group all looked over as an older woman poked her head out of a blue van window.
"Everybody, in!" She yelled as she came to a screeching stop right before them.
Terry pushed Rose toward the van while the Doctor grabbed Pete by the back of the man's suit jacket as he started to run back toward his mansion.
"Angel-" Rose started in protest, looking back longingly toward the house as well but Terry was firm as she pushed Rose in after Mickey.
"She's not your mother, Rose. I'm sorry."
Rose climbed reluctantly into the van and Terry looked over to where the Doctor was arguing with Pete.
"I've got to go back. My wife's in there!" Pete was saying fiercely but the Doctor was just as unmoving.
"Anyone inside that house is dead."
"But-"
Pete started to protest again and the Doctor cut in, "If you want to help, then don't let her die for nothing. You've got to come with us right now."
Pete looked back at the house longingly while Mrs. Moore shouted at them, "Come on! Get a move on!"
Finally Pete moved back toward the van where Terry helped him inside. The Doctor came up beside her and he asked under his breath, "Is Jackie…?"
Terry just shot him a dark look and the Doctor's lips pressed together firmly in understanding. But he said nothing more on the subject as he let Terry climb into the van next before he got in behind her while Mrs. Moore complained loudly above the sound of her own horn.
"Finished chatting? Never seen a slower getaway in my life!"
The Doctor slammed the door shut behind him and Mrs. Moore quickly took them off, avoiding the Cybermen that were flooding out of the house in search of more victims. Terry stared out the window back toward the house where she knew the Jackie of this world was still alive. But not for long. Yet, if she tried to help the other woman, she risked far more than would be gained. If this world's Jackie lived, Pete might never go looking for Torchwood. And Rose and her Jackie (our Jackie, Terry corrected herself) would never have Pete again in their lives. It was maybe selfish of her… but Terry didn't want that for Rose or Jackie.
Even if it meant sacrificing this Jackie.
"What was that thing?" Ricky asked, breaking Terry's line of thought.
She looked over to where the members of the Preachers were up in the cab of the van. Ricky and Jake were generally watching their little group in the back of the van shrewdly, although Ricky's eyes were currently fixed on the power cell in the Doctor's hands. Terry noticed Mrs. Moore shooting them glances in the rearview mirror every so often as well and her hearts clenched as she saw the woman more clearly now that they could stop for a breather. Terry averted her gaze while the Doctor spoke up as he held the small power cell in his hands.
"Little bit of technology from my home."
"It's stopped glowing. Has it run out?" Mickey asked worriedly. The Doctor shook his head.
"It's on a revitalising loop. It'll charge back up in about four hours." He pocketed the power cell while Ricky scowled.
"Right. So, we don't have a weapon anymore." He grumbled but Jake scoffed.
"Yeah, we've got weapons. Might not be one of those metal things, but they're good enough for men like him."
He glared at Pete, causing Rose to bristle.
"Leave him alone." She snapped at the other blond. "What's he done wrong?"
"Oh, you know, just laid a trap that's wiped out the Government and left Lumic in charge." Jake answered sarcastically, and this time Pete bristled.
"If I was part of all that, do you think I'd leave my wife inside?" He demanded.
"Maybe your plan went wrong." Ricky shot back. "Still gives us the right to execute you, though."
"Talk about executions, you'll make me your enemy." The Doctor interrupted sharply. "And take some really good advice. You don't want to do that."
Ricky's scowl deepened and he answered with a growl, "All the same, we have evidence that says Pete Tyler's been working for Lumic since twenty point five."
Pete pursed his lips while Rose turned to her father's image in shock.
"Is that true?"
Pete didn't respond and Ricky looked almost triumphant.
"Tell them, Mrs M." He looked to his friend, who was all too happy to do so.
"We've got a government mole who feeds us information." Mrs. Moore explained smugly. "Lumic's private files, his South American operations, the lot. Secret broadcasts twice a week."
Pete frowned and he asked, "Broadcasts from Gemini?"
The tension on the van thickened and Ricky demanded sharply, "And how do you know that?"
"I'm Gemini. That's me." Pete answered and Ricky scoffed.
"Yeah, well you would say that."
"Encrypted wavelength six five seven using binary nine."
Ricky and Jake exchanged stunned looks while Pete carried on in a tone mixed with irritation and despair, "That's the only reason I was working for Lumic. To get information. I thought I was broadcasting to the Security Services. What do I get? Scooby Doo and his gang. They've even got the van."
He looked around the van pointedly. The Doctor also looked around with his lips pulled into a thoughtful pout, as though in agreement. Terry meanwhile sighed as Mickey interrupted, "No, no, no. But the Preachers know what they're doing. Ricky said he's London's Most Wanted."
"He's lying." Terry answered and Ricky shot her a look.
"How do you know that?" He demanded while Mickey asked, "What do you mean?"
Terry addressed Ricky first with an annoyed look. "You lot are in way over your heads with no equipment or plan, you need all the help you can get. Lying isn't going to help you. And neither is antagonizing the people who can help, like Pete."
He looked slightly taken aback at her scolding while Terry turned to Mickey and explained, "Ricky's London's Most Wanted for parking tickets."
Mickey's jaw dropped while Rose and the Doctor fought back laughter and Pete muttered, "Great."
"Yeah, they were deliberate. I was fighting the system." Ricky interjected defiantly.
"By parking anywhere?" Terry asked with a raised brow and she looked at the Doctor. "Guess we must be real rebels then."
"Oh, we are." He answered with a grin before he added as he looked around, "Oh, I'm the Doctor, by the way, if anyone's interested. And this is Terry Storm."
"Hi." Terry said shortly.
Jake eyed her with a mix of appreciation and apprehension while Rose chimed in, "And I'm Rose. Hello."
At that, Pete groaned. "Even better. That's the name of my dog."
The Doctor snorted back a laugh that thankfully no one else heard. But when she saw the way Rose's expression fell just slightly at Pete's words, Terry elbowed the Doctor hard in the side without anyone else noticing. The Doctor winced and whined in her head, while Pete went on obliviously.
"Still, at least I've got the catering staff on my side."
"Be quiet, Theta, you know you deserved it." Terry scolded mentally, shutting the Doctor up while Rose smiled encouragingly at Pete.
"I knew you weren't a traitor."
"Why is that, then?" Pete asked, glancing at Rose in surprise.
Realizing her near blunder, Rose answered quickly, "I just did."
Thankfully, Pete seemed to accept that although he was still rather despondent as he said despairingly, "They took my wife."
"She might still be alive." Rose pointed out, sneaking a glance at Terry questioningly.
Terry avoided Rose's eyes while Pete groaned, "That's even worse. Because that's what Lumic does. He takes the living and he turns them into those machines."
"Cybermen." The Doctor corrected, drawing everyone's eyes to him again. "They're called Cybermen. And I'd take those ear pods off, if I were you."
Pete was quick to do as the Doctor suggested and he pulled his earpods out while the Doctor pulled out his sonic.
"You never know. Lumic could be listening." The Doctor muttered as he took the ear pods from Pete and killed the signal on them.
Satisfied that the ear pods weren't a further threat to them, the Doctor added grimly, "But he's overreached himself. He's still just a businessman and he's assassinated the President."
The Doctor turned to look toward the Preachers and he said authoritatively, "All we need to do is get to the city and inform the authorities. Because I promise you, this ends tonight."