Chapter 22: The Age of Steel

Jack obliges and the next episode started immediately.

The Doctor points the recharging Tardis power cell at the Cybermen, who get bent backwards then atomised by the golden energy. Ricky asks what the hell that was but the Doctor yells for them to run. Mrs Moore sounds the van's horn. Pete wants to go back for Jackie but the Doctor tells him everyone in the house is dead.

"We can still use that to get us home right?" Mickey asks.

"Yeah, it'll just take a little longer to charge back up." Ten tells him, not mentioning Mickey won't be going home.

Moore yells at them to get a move on but Rose is still staring at the house. The Doctor reminds her that was not her mother and ushers her to the van. Moore sarcastically asks if they have finished chatting and she has never seen a slower getaway in her life.

"Well sorry for actually caring and wanting to save people." Rose scowls.

They drive off. More legions of Cybermen are on the move. Inside, Jackie peers round of the cellar door to see Cybermen nearby. Ricky asks again what that was and the Doctor tells him it's a bit of technology from home before assuring Mickey it's just revitalising.

"Thank god. No big delay then." Sarah-Jane sighed.

"Nope, but still can't use that again." Jack notes.

Ricky claims they don't have a weapon anymore. Jake states they may not work on the Cybermen but could kill Pete. Rose snaps at him to leave Pete alone.

Everybody looked at Rose anxiously but nobody decided to comment.

Jake tells her Pete just laid a trap that wiped out the government, leaving Lumic in charge. Pete protests if it was his plan he wouldn't have left his wife and Ricky concedes his plan might just have gone a bit wrong, they still have the right to execute him. The Doctor warns them not to. They give evidence Pete was working for Lumic until Pete proves he was their information leak Gemini.

"Good for 'im." Rose smirks happily.

"I wonder how these lot knew to intercept the signal?" Nine ponders. "Pete obviously didn't give them the wavelength but I'm assuming he had a way of checking that Lumic wouldn't receive it either."

Mickey protests the Preachers know what they are doing until Ricky confesses to being London's Most Wanted for parking tickets.

Everybody bursts out laughing.

"Yeah, I'd miss that part off too." Donna smirks.

Ricky protests that he was fighting the system and parking anywhere. The Doctor grins and says he does the same before introducing himself.

"Yeah but you can't exactly just park anywhere, nor does it get you parking tickets." Martha raises an eyebrow at Ten.

"It's the thinking behind it. Fighting back." He grins.

Rose then introduces herself too and Pete is unimpressed as that's the name of his dog before commenting at least he has the catering staff on his side. Rose states she knew he wasn't a traitor.

"Rose!" Almost everyone groans. Rose sinks back looking sheepish.

Pete asks why and she exchanges a look with the Doctor before saying she just did. Pete doesn't look convinced but moves on to the fact they took Jackie. Rose tries to reassure she might still be alive but he claims that's worse as she would be made into a Cyberman.

"Definitely worse." Jack agrees. Rose flinches slightly.

"But I saw them in our world in the museum." Rose points out.

"True but they aren't a race that are born they have to be made. Someone in that universe finally did." Nine explains. "They started out on a normal planet and because fearsome across the galaxy."

"So, in other words, better stop them." Mickey laughs grimly.

"Yep." Nine agrees.

The Doctor tells them they are Cybermen and advises Pete to take the ear pods off. He hands them to the Doctor who uses the sonic screwdriver on them. The Doctor then states they need to get to the authorities and promises it stops tonight.

"Uh oh, angry Doctor alert." Sarah-Jane tries to joke.

"I'm not that bad." Ten protests.

"Yes you are. It's incredible how you can go from Oncoming Storm to pouting five year old." Rose laughs.

"Oi! Time Lords do not pout." Nine tells her haughtily.

"This one does." Donna sniggers.

Lumic asks some of the Cybermen how it feels and one replies they feel nothing. He asks what they think in their minds and it states they think the same as they are uniform.

"There's nothing human left of them. No feeling, no creativity, no imagination." Jack looks at the screen sadly.

"Considering he wanted to preserve the human brain, it seems pointless if you are just going to make them all exactly the same." Martha agrees. "You may as well not bother murdering people and just make robots.

Lumic asks what it thinks of and it tells him it thinks of humans that suffer in their skin and they must be upgraded. Lumic states this is excellent.

"It is in no way excellent." Nine scoffs angrily.

He then tells the computer to activate ear pod primary sequence in all of London. In a pedestrianised area, a Cybus download signal sounds and everyone stops moving. Jackie receives it too in the cellar. She walks past the Cyberman and out of the cellar.

"You humans, always giving people a way to control you so easily." Nine rolls his eyes.

There is a TV report advising everyone to stay home and remove their ear pods. Crane rips off his ear pods just as the broadcast hits them.

"Even his own 'loyal' friends get destroyed. He is completely insane." Rose shakes her head.

"The most dangerous people usually are." Ten tells her.

On the street, Rose asks what the hell is going on as they watch the people walk past like they are in a trance. The Doctor informs them Lumic has taken control of the ear pods. Rose goes to remove some and he tells her not to as it will cause a brain storm. Jake calls them over and around the corner comes a squad of Cybermen.

"So many people." Martha breathes, hands over her mouth.

Rose asks where they are going and the Doctor states Lumic must have a base. Pete supplies this is Battersea. Rose asks why he is doing this and Pete explains he is dying and it started out as a way to keep the brain alive at any cost.

"So not worth it." Rose scoffs.

Rose remembers seeing the Cyberman head in the museum and the Doctor explains there are Cybermen in their universe and this is a parallel version. Pete can hear them and is confused by their conversation. The Cybermen march towards them and Ricky takes charge telling them to split up and giving them all directions. He and Ricky run off. Mickey states he is going with Ricky, kisses Rose and runs off.

"And you were getting jealous of that Lucy woman?" Nine asks Rose quietly.

"Of course not." She denies, looking amused.

"You so were."

"Not." He gives her a knowing look but turns back to watch the screen.

Moore ushers them away but they run into more Cybermen, changing direction again down a side street. Mickey catches up with Ricky, asking which way. They both start talking at once until they both finish with the fact the Cybermen know where they are.

"It's probably a good job that universe doesn't have a Rose. One is perfect, two would be too many." Jack laughs. "Especially if she is exactly the same like those two are. So much stubborness in one place." Everyone laughs, including Rose.

Ricky asks what is with him as they are exactly alike and Mickey comments he is braver. Ricky states that is obvious.

Nine sniggers.

He then says Mickey's friends aren't bad. Mickey says he just tags along and Ricky tells him he isn't that bad then.

"Definitely not." Martha agrees with Ricky. "Anyone who can blow up Downing Street is not that bad."

Mickey hopefully asks if he really thinks that and Ricky plays it off. Then they hear Cybermen and they both yell to split up.

Mickey frowns, thinking they wasted too much time talking and not running. They could have been out of sight if they hadn't stopped.

A group of Cybermen march down an alley near where Mrs Moore, Pete, Rose and the Doctor are hiding behind rubbish bins. Rose grabs Pete's hand. The Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to transmit a signal, and the Cybermen march on. Once they are gone he ushers everyone on.

"Thank goodness." Donna breathes. "Just Mickey and Ricky to go."

"They aren't out of the woods yet." Jack looks doubtful. "There are still plenty more of those things around."

Outside Battersea Power Station Jackie is amongst the stream of zombies. Ricky and Mickey end up on opposite sides of a tall chain-link fence. The Cybermen are behind Ricky.

"Which one is Mickey!" Martha cries. Everyone looks anxiously from Mickey to the screen. Mickey's eyes widen in panic and he flashes a look towards Ten.

"On the safe side." Ten reassures them all. "Mickey was fine."

"Thank god." Rose sighs in relief.

Mickey urges him on as he climbs up but a Cyberman grabs his ankle and electrocutes him. Mickey cries out then he and the Cybermen stare at each other in silence, then Mickey runs.

They all look down for the loss of Ricky.

Crane is escorted in and Lumic comments he thought he was one of the faithful. Crane tells him he is and his earpods must have malfunctioned. Then he requests as upgrade.

"Something tells me that's not what he actually wants." Jack raises an eyebrow.

"No but then Lumic did try to control him like everyone else. Not what you expect when you're a loyal employee." Nine shrugs.

"He's working for an insane guy. He really should have expected it." Donna laughs. "Bad guys never appreciate help or loyalty."

Lumic comments he is a willing volunteer and Crane agrees they have known each other for a long time. He adds that having known him so long he knows exactly what to do. Crane grabs Lumic's oxygen line then starts wrecking the life support system at the back of his wheelchair.

"Nice." Jack whistles. "Although killing him may not be such a great idea. The Cybermen might not answer to anyone else and will cause even more chaos."

Lumic calls for help and a Cyberman tosses Crane across the room. It then electrocutes him.

"Should be enough. Not like the Cybermen will know how to fix him." Donna offers.

"No but they know how to upgrade him." Sarah-Jane points out. "Which is what he wanted anyway."

Lumic calls for them to help him and the Cyberman states he is in pain and they can remove pain forever. Lumic protests he is not ready yet.

"He's doing all this to prevent himself dying and now he is dying quicker and he's backing out?" Rose frowns in confusion.

"Maybe he's realised it isn't actually such a good thing." Mickey shrugs. As far as he is concerned, after the amount of people Lumic has slaughtered he deserves nothing less himself.

The Cyberman tells him they will give him immortality and Lumic reminds them he will upgrade with his dying breath.

"Not a lot of difference now." Nine points out.

It tells him to breath no more.

"Robots and they are still cliche." Donna sniggers.

The Cyberman takes remote control of the wheelchair. Lumic screams at it not to. Outside, Jake meets up with the others telling them the whole city is on the march. The Mickey appears and Jake grins until he realises he is alone and asks which one he is. Mickey apologises and Jake demands if he is Ricky. Rose then tentatively asks if he is Mickey and he agrees. She hugs him and Mickey tries to explain but Jake tells him to shut it.

"His best mate just died and you look exactly like him. Give him a bit of space." Sarah-Jane tells him gently.

"It wasn't your fault Mick." Rose assures him. "He's grieving. I'd be the same if Ricky had come back instead of you." He smiles weakly at her and Martha squeezes his arm.

Mickey continues there was nothing he could do but Jake yells for him to shut it. He tells him not to even talk about Ricky because he is nothing. Mickey looks hurt and Jake looks away before repeating nothing. The Doctor then steps in and says they can grieve when London is safe.

"Well done. Not even rude or anything." Rose praises mockingly in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

"I'm not always rude." Ten protests with a smirk.

"Just mostly." She agrees, lips twitching. Nine pokes her in the side. "Yeah, you're just as rude as he is, you just say more of it inside your head." Rose tells him with a grin.

"You don't know that." He huffs playfully and she simply looks at him. He smirks and says nothing.

Opposite Battersea Power Station the group walk up and the Doctor states London has been sealed off and taken inside to be converted. Rose states they need get in and shut it down. Mickey asks how. The Doctor says he will think of something. Mickey accuses he is making it up as he goes along.

"Well you had to get experience somewhere I suppose." Donna mutters. Ten grins at her winningly. She simply rolls her eyes at him.

The Doctor agrees saying he does it brilliantly.

"Ego much." Rose laughs.

"Just the truth." He tells her.

Later, Mrs Moore has joined them and is using her Cybus Industries laptop. She tells them there are cooling tunnels under the plant, big enough to walk through. Pete then states there is another way in through the front door as that is where they will have taken Jackie.

"You can't exactly just waltz in there." Martha points out with a frown.

Jake points out they can't go strolling up and Moore pulls out two pairs of fake earpods. Pete states that going in is his job. The Doctor warns him he would have to show no emotion. Rose asks how many sets Moore has.

"NO!" Nine cries. "Way too dangerous for a danger magnet like you. Besides, you haven't quite mastered that whole 'no emotion' thing yet."

"I'll be fine." Rose protests. "I'm goin'." She adds sternly. He glares but realises she hasn't actually done this yet and he has time to avoid this in the future.

Rose states that if it is the best way of finding Jackie she is going in with him.

"You'd have been better off just saying he shouldn't go by himself." Sarah-Jane warns her. Rose nods in acknowledgement.

Pete asks why she matters to Rose. She deflects by saying they don't have time and telling the Doctor she is going and that's final. He asks if there is any stopping her and she denies it.

"You didn't even argue?" Nine rounds on his future self.

"Not a lot of point arguing with Miss Tyler." Ten says dryly. "Took a few centuries off my life though. I'm positive it's her life ambition to be the first person to give a Time Lord a heart attack."

"That's right comforting that is." Nine grumbles.

The Doctor doesn't argue and instead says they can take out the ear pods at the same time and give people their minds back. He realises Lumic is transmitting the signal from by the plant. He waves his sonic screwdriver in the direction of the power station. The Zeppelin is parked on top, with a circle of red lights blinking on the end. He asks Jake if he thinks he can take it out to which Jake agrees.

"You're going to send Mickey with him aren't you?" Rose sighs.

"Mickey knows his technology pretty well for an ape." Ten tells her.

"So does Mrs Moore it seems. Might be better to send her with him rather than the look-a-like of his dead best friend." Donna points out. Mickey flinches slightly at her blunt words.

"More likely he forgot about me again." Mickey mutters darkly Ten grins sheepishly and Rose sighs in exasperation as his expression means he did.

The Doctor asks if Mrs Moore would go with him and she agrees. The Doctor tells them all they attack on three sides, getting to the control centre and stopping the conversion machines. Mickey pipes up asking what about him.

"You did!" He accuses angrily.

"Weeeeell, not forget you exactly, just didn't give you a job." Ten shrugs and Nine laughs at his future self. Good to know some things won't change. Mickey glares for a few seconds before rolling his eyes and settling back onto the couch, grumbling to himself. Martha rubs his arm, trying not to laugh at whatever he is saying.

The Doctor looks over in slight surprise saying he can, but struggles to think of something. Mickey cuts him off saying he won't just stay out of trouble and be the tin dog.

"K9 really got to you didn't he?" Sarah-Jane asks Mickey in concern. He nods slightly but doesn't reply.

He declares he is going with Jake. Jake immediately states he doesn't need him, calling him an idiot.

"Backup is always useful." Rose smiles, cutting of Nine who looked about to agree with Jake. He pouts at her and she just shakes her head. He rolls his eyes but silently agrees not to say anything.

"So now I'm backup?" Mickey asks her with a grin.

"Yeah, you've got Jake's back and I'm sure he'll have yours if it's needed." Rose grins. Mickey looks unconvinced but nods anyway.

Mickey protests he is not an idiot and that he is offering to help. Jake looks at him for a second before muttering whatever and walking off. Mickey starts to follow when the Doctor calls him and wishes him good luck.

Mickey and Nine both look in surprise at Ten.

Mickey looks surprised and wishes him luck back before telling Rose he will see her later. She tells him he had better. The Doctor states that if they survive he will see him back at the TARDIS. Mickey looks almost about to cry when he replies that's a promise.

Nine watches in confusion as his words have such a big effect on Mickey. Sure he jokes about him and calls him Ricky but he wouldn't wish the stupid ape dead. That would upset Rose far too much. Besides it's not really in his nature to want things dead, even when they threaten people he loves.

Mickey walks off, then turns to see the Doctor hug Rose. The Doctor wishes her luck.

"I love you." Nine blurts out quietly, like she was leaving him right then to march into a Cyberman base. His voice catches a little on the unfamiliar words and he curses himself but the bright, beaming smile she gives him in return makes it worth it. He feels worried about her even though he knows she came out of this alive. However, he can't help but wonder if she had considered staying in a world where she could have her dad back. Maybe she was secretly pleased when she finally got stuck there with no way back. She could be happy without having to feel guilty she wasn't trying to come back to him. Rose constantly tells him she will never want to leave but nine hundred years of feeling alone won't leave him be.

"As I love you." She whispers back, kissing him gently as if sensing his doubt. He relaxes as those three little words he had spent so long being terrified of, wash over him like a soothing blanket.

As they climb down into the cooling tunnels, Moore comments it is freezing and the Doctor asks if there is any sign of a light switch. She says she can't see a thing but she has a device for every occasion as she pulls a head torch out of her bag.

"Very well prepared." Jack nods approvingly.

"Someone had to be." Rose laughs.

"Oi! You trying to say I'm not prepared?" Ten mock glares at her.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." She laughs.

"Cheeky."

The Doctor asks if she has a hotdog in there.

"Not the time." Donna sniggers. "Good to know Martian men are just the same as humans though, ruled by their stomach."

"I'm not Martian." Ten sighs. He doesn't know why he feels the need to correct her every time. She knows he isn't and simply enjoys getting a rise out of him but he can't help himself.

She laughs and tells him it's mechanically recovered meat. He calls it the Cyberman of food but calls it tasty anyway.

"Well, I'm never going to see a hotdog the same way again." Martha wrinkles her nose.

Moore brings out a proper torch as well and the Doctor says they should see where they are. There are Cybermen ranged along the side of the tunnel.

"Crap!" Half the room exclaim.

"They aren't active." Nine reassures them all. "Or they'd have killed us the second we got down the ladder."

"Doesn't mean they won't become active while you are down there." Sarah-Jane points out. He shrugs.

The Doctor states they are already converted but put on ice and before moving off. Moore looks anxious but follows after a second. He taps on one Cyberman's face. No reaction. He tells her to go slowly and keep an eye out for trip systems.

"That would be just your luck." Jack groans.

Outside more people are being escorted in. Pete and Rose duck behind something to keep out of sight and Pete hands her a set of ear pods telling her to show no emotions or signs.

"Just find a way out before they upgrade you both." Nine mutters. He knows Rose makes it out but that doesn't mean Pete and Jackie do. That's not something Rose should ever have to deal with, let alone witness.

Rose tells him they can do it. They put the pods on and Pete points out they could die in there, asking why she is doing this. Rose replies she is doing this for her parents and they join the procession. They squeeze each others hand before letting go and acting like the others.

"Not bad so far." Mickey notes.

"Now you jinxed it." Jack tells him, shaking his head.

"It's already happened, how can I have jinxed it?"

"You just did though, watch and see."

Jake is first up the ladder to the roof. He says there are two guards and they can take them. Mickey tells him not to kill them. Jake asks who put him in charge and Mickey points out if he kills them he is no better than the Cybermen.

"Good job Mickey." Ten nods approvingly. Mickey smiles slightly, enjoying the change from constantly criticizing him.

Jake pauses for a second before saying they could use these, drawing out a vial. Mickey thinks it is smelling salts and Jake corrects those are a bit stronger and should knock the guards out. He counts down from three and they run over successfully knocking the guards out.

"Nicely done." Jack compliments.

"Not that those guards appeared very alert. That's way too easy so far." Nine frowns. "There has to be more on board."

Mickey points out there has to be more guards on board and Jake says lets go get them. In the cooling tunnels the Doctor asks Moore about how she got into tagging along with the Preachers. She explains about working for Cybus and finding a file she wasn't supposed to causing her to go on the run, then she found the Preachers who needed a techie.

"So Ricky didn't have your skills with tech then." Martha points out to Mickey.

"They weren't going to be completely identical." Ten reminds her. "Though I think Mickey ended up with the better skills. Using technology compared to getting parking tickets."

"Getting to claim you're London's most wanted must be fun though." Mickey smirks slightly.

The Doctor then asks about a Mr Moore and she confesses that isn't her real name. Then she admits her husband and kids think she is dead to protect them. She asks about his family and he replies who needs family as he has the whole world on his shoulders.

"All the more reason to need family." Rose frowns at him. He smiles softly at her.

"That's what I have you for." He manages to stop himself speaking in past tense. Also tries to stop himself thinking about when this little viewing session finishes and he has to go back to his timeline with no Rose. Just Donna. As good as she is, she isn't Rose and now he's had a taste of having her back he's not sure he can let her go again. She grins back at him and he tries to settle himself back into the present while he can enjoy it.

He then asks her real name and she tells him it is Angela Price before asking him not to tell anyone, which he agrees to. Behind them, a Cyberman is activated. It sends an alarm signal.

"Oh crap." Everyone mutters. Ten looks down as he remembers what happens next. Rose squeezes his hand gently and he draws in her strength.

In the control room a Cyberman sees the alarm and another one says to awaken the army. In the tunnel one of the Cybermen's hand moves. Moore notices but the Doctor dismisses it as the torchlight. Another one moves, turning towards them and he realises they are waking up, yelling for her to run. They run along the row, who fall in behind them and start clomping along. They get to a ladder at the end of the tunnel.

"Bloody lucky you were that close to the end." Jack breathes out.

"Yeah." Ten agrees half heartedly.

Moore yells for him to get up quick. There is a trapdoor and Mrs Moore keeps yelling. He finally gets it open and climbs up, urging her to come on. They beat the Cybermen up the ladder and close the trapdoor again. The Doctor seals it with the screwdriver. He declares they are a good team and she nods.

Everyone lets out a sigh of relief. Again, they all know the Doctor makes it out ok but that doesn't mean the rest of the group do.

In the power station Rose and Pete are walking along as a Cyberman voice states units upgraded is now six thousand five hundred.

"So many people." Rose flinches. Everyone looks horrified.

A Cyberman stops the procession at Rose. Pete is right behind her. It moves away and he asks if she is alright. She replies no. A woman walks into a chamber. Multiple blades whir into action, then a Cyber head is lowered. Complete Cybermen walk out of chambers and clomp away.

"Oh my god!" Martha exclaims.

"How on earth are you going to get out of that, even if you do find Jackie?" Sarah-Jane asks in both horror and astonishment.

"No idea." Rose mutters.

Pete asks if there is any sign of Jackie. A Cyberman stomps up asking him if he is Pete Tyler which he confirms. It tells him she was Jackie Tyler.

"NO!" Rose cries out in shock and horror. She had known there was little hope of finding Jackie but it still hurt to see it shoved in her face. Nine pulls her face to his chest so she can't watch and whispers soothingly to her, quiet enough that the film will start again.

Both Rose and Pete cry out. The Cyberman states they are unprogrammed and calls for them to be retrained. Pete tries to say it is lying and that it is not his Jackie. The Cyberman agrees it is Cyber-form but was once Jackie Tyler. Rose protests that it can't be her to which it replies her brain is inside the body. Pete says he came to save her and the Cyberman says Pete worked with Cybus to create the Cybermen and orders the others to take them to Cyber control.

"That's actually safer than where they were." Jack points out quietly, trying not to upset Rose any more than she already is.

"Yeah, that's where the Doctor and Mrs Moore are aiming for." Sarah-Jane agrees.

Pete and Rose are escorted away. As they are marched away Rose declares in shock that they killed her. Pete tries to suggest the can reverse it but Rose tells him there is nothing they can do, he tries to protest that she remembers something but can't work out which one is her. Rose points out they all look the same.

"It's non reversible." Ten confirms although everyone has assumed that. Rose lets out a small sob and Nine holds her tighter, rubbing her back while everyone else fixedly watches the screen, trying to give them some privacy.

On the zeppelin, Mickey and Jake dump a guard on the floor. Jake says they need to find the controls. Mickey asks what they look like and Jake admits he doesn't know but tells him to look. The Zeppelin has a nice big ship's wheel for steering. Then they see something in an alcove. It is an inactive Cyberman. Jake goes up to it with a pistol, and turns on the alcove light. Mickey knocks on its head. They both turn their attention back to finding the controls.

"Better to just throw it out anyway." Jack winces. Mickey nods his agreement having just seen the others come alive.

The Doctor and Moore walk down a corridor when a Cyberman appears in front of them. It states they are not upgraded. Moore tells it to upgrade this as she throws a small canister at it which sticks. The Cyberman jerks, sparks and collapses. The Doctor looks impressed as he asks what it was and she tells him it was an electromagnetic bomb.

"Device for all occasions was right." Nine smiles approvingly.

"She's definitely handy to have around. No wonder the Preachers wanted her with them." Donna agrees.

They move over to it and the Doctor uses the sonic to open up the front. Inside there is a white substance that Moore asks if it is flesh. The Doctor confirms it is a central nervous system that has been artificially grown so the suit responds like a living thing. Then he points out an emotional inhibitor.

"How would Lumic even make one of those?" Rose asks, finally looking up from Nine's jumper where two damp patches have appeared.

"It's not too advanced. A bit ahead of your time but this universe already seems to be." Ten tells her.

Moore asks why it's there and the Doctor explains they still have a human brain and if it realised what it had become it would go insane.

"That's so sad." Martha sighs.

Moore states they cut out the one thing that made them human and the Doctor says it was because they had to. The Cyberman then asks why it is cold. Moore realises it is alive and can feel and the Doctor states they broke the inhibitor before apologising.

"Oh my god." Sarah-Jane whispers mournfully.

"Can't you just kill it completely. Before they realise what they are?" Jack asks. Ten looks pained but doesn't respond.

It asks why so cold and the Doctor asks its name. It replies she is called Sally Phelan. Moore comments she is a woman and Sally asks where is Gareth they realises she was supposed to be getting married the next day.

"I can't believe anyone could do this to people." Rose whimpers.

She complains about being cold and again and the Doctor tells her to sleep. He puts the sonic screwdriver inside the chest cavity and switches her off. He then says Sally didn't die for nothing as he realises the inhibitor is the key. If they could feed the cancellation code to every Cyberman they would realise what they are and it would kill them. He asks Moore if they can do that.

"Oh, Doctor." Rose sighs sadly. There was obviously no other choice but having to make that kind of decision, see himself responsible for killing that many people would hurt him deeply.

"You had no choice." Sarah-Jane tells him, using past tense as she has no doubt that's exactly what he did. Because when it came down to hard, horrible choices, the Doctor always made the right one. "Lumic killed them, you will give them peace."

"Six and a half thousand people. More by the time we even get the code." Nine's voice trembles slightly with desolation.

"I'm so sorry." Rose tells him, resting her head on his chest again while tightening her grip on Ten's hand. Both of them cling to her like she is their life raft.

Moore assures him they need to before they kill everyone else. She stands up and there is a Cyberman behind her which electrocutes her.

"No!" They all cry out.

The Doctor stands up yelling that they didn't have to kill her. The Cyberman states they detect a binary vascular system and call him an unknown upgrade. It says he will be taken for analysis and the Doctor gives it a disgusted look before being marched off.

"Guess we are all going to the same place. Just Mickey and Jake left." Rose mutters.

In the zeppelin Mickey states the transmitter controls are sealed behind a panel and that they will need an oxyacetylene or something. Jake sarcastically says he forgot to bring it with him. They debate crashing the zeppelin by leaving in on automatic but those controls are locked. Mickey says to let him have a go as he is good with computers. As Mickey works, a red light on the back of the keyboard blinks. The Cyberman in the alcove turns.

"Aww crap. Told you, you would jinx something." Jack tells Mickey.

"If you break the ear pods now before you can deactivate the Cybermen, aren't they just going to kill a whole bunch more people?" Martha asks cautiously.

"Possibly but honestly better that than being turned into a Cyberman." Jack tells her.

The Doctor walks into the control room saying he's been captured but Pete and Rose are still out there, oh never mind. He asks if Rose is ok and she says yeah but they got Jackie. Pete adds they were too late and Lumic killed her. The Doctor asks where Lumic is and one Cyberman states he has been upgraded. He scathingly says Lumic is now just like them. It states the Lumic unit has been designated Cyber Controller.

"Well, I'd like to say at least he has some control over them but that's really not a good thing." Donna sighs.

A door opens and a Cyberman is wheeled out in an upgraded wheelchair.

"You'd have thought being upgraded would at least include not having to use a wheelchair." Jack scoffs.

"Maybe it's his version of a throne." Nine suggests in disgust.

On the zeppelin Mickey says he is almost there and Jake looks at him thoughtfully before saying good work.

Mickey smiles slightly, pleased Jake was finally not taking out his anger on him.

The Cyberman flexes its hand before moving towards them. Jake turns and calls out it is moving as they both get out of the way. He reminds Mickey he had said it was dead. They back up to the transmitter controls and Mickey starts calling it over towards him.

"Good plan." Sarah-Jane smiles happily.

"Thanks. Hope it takes out that Cyberman as well as the controls." Mickey replies.

Mickey stands in front of the panel labelled Transmitter Controls and beckons to it. He ducks as the Cyberman smashes its fist into the panel and electrocutes itself. In the power station the ear pods stop flashing and people wake up. They all begin to run out. More Cybermen are outside but the sheer numbers of people push around them. Jake and Mickey celebrate as they realise the controls are down.

"Good job." Jack grins widely.

"Still need the code for the inhibitor." Martha pointed out.

"The Doctor will get that, no problem." Rose smiles confidently. Both Doctors grin at the faith she has in them.

The Doctor realises what's happened and claims that is his friends at work. Lumic states he will take humanity by force, claiming London has already fallen.

"Well, six and a half thousand people is a horrible number but compared to the millions that live there I would hardly say it has fallen. Especially as they have free will back." Donna corrects.

On the zeppelin Mickey gets the monitor to show them what is going on in the control room. He is pleased Rose and the Doctor are alive but Jake is more concerned about Cyber-Lumic. Mickey gets the sound working.

"Nice going." Rose smiles.

The Doctor asks about imagination, saying the it is the one thing that lead Lumic to this and now he is killing it. Lumic asks his name and he introduces himself as the Doctor. Lumic calls it a redundant title and Cybermen don't get sick.

"It is not redundant." Nine protests indignantly.

"Of course not." Rose tells him soothingly.

The Doctor calls him a clever man going as far as to say he would call him a genius if he wasn't in the room.

Everyone bursts out laughing.

"There's that ego." Donna snickers.

He continues that Lumic did everything to fight his sickness, claiming this to be brilliant and very human.

"Brilliant might be a stretch." Rose mutters sourly.

Then he asks what there is to strive for without sickness and mortality. Cybermen won't advance. Lumic asks if he is proud of his emotions and the Doctor proudly agrees he is. He then asks if he has known grief, rage and pain.

"Far more than most." Sarah-Jane sighs sadly. Everyone else nods in agreement and both Doctors look down.

"But if you take away those you also take the pleasure and happiness as well." Jack points out quietly. "I'd rather have both good and bad than nothing at all." They all agreed with him.

Lumic asks if they hurt. The Doctor replies they do. Lumic states he could set him free, asking if he wants a life without pain as that is what he could offer. The Doctor firmly states he might as well kill him and Lumic replies he takes that option. The Doctor tells him that's not his option to take as he doesn't control him or anything with blood in it's heart. Lumic retorts he has no way of stopping him as he has an army. The Doctor isn't concerned, putting a hand over his face and then claims he still doesn't get it. He says an army is nothing.

"Well, not exactly nothing." Rose corrects. "They are still dangerous."

"You look like a teacher who has just had a kid get an obvious answer wrong." Martha laughs.

"Well it should be obvious." Ten shrugs.

He continues that ordinary people are the key. Then he starts talking, mentioning an idiot and on the zeppelin, Mickey realises the Doctor is talking to him. The Doctor tells Mickey in code what to do, send out the cancellation code for the inhibitor using binary nine. Mickey gets to work as Lumic tells him his words are irrelevant.

"He does that a lot but this time it's actually useful." Donna laughs.

"My talking is always useful." Ten huffs, sticking his nose in the air.

"Is not." Rose snickers. "Lion king speech?" She reminds and his cheeks go a little pink. She raises an eyebrow at this, the Doctor does not blush very often at all. He refuses to say anything and she decides to corner him later.

The Doctor agrees he talks too much.

"Well you finally admitted it." Mickey smirks. "Took you long enough."

He mentions getting Rose a cheap tarrif on her phone, looking obviously at the camera and Mickey pulls out his mobile. Lumic states he will be deleted and the Doctor talks about delete, control and hash as buttons on a keyboard. Rose's phone beeps as the code arrives and she states it's for the Doctor, tossing him the phone. The Doctor puts the phone into a docking station, which it miraculously fits. The code is transmitted and the Cybermen cry out in pain. The code appears on every computer screen.

"I'm so sorry." Ten mumbles at the screen. He could still hear all the screams echoing in his head both from his memories and those on screen.

"You had to." Sarah-Jane assures him.

Mickey and Jake celebrate.

Mickey looks over at the Doctors, regretting his joy at so much death.

Cybermen everywhere clutch their heads in pain. One near the Doctor catches sight of itself in a shiny piece of metal. He apologises and outside a Cyberman's head explodes.

"Oh my god." Martha flinches. Rose buries her head in Nine's jumper again as she realises Jackie Tyler is one of those Cybermen. He holds her tightly and Ten doesn't let go of her hand.

Lumic asks what he has done and he replies he has given then back their souls. He states they can see what has been done to them and it's killing them. The Doctor grabs the phone and then he, Rose and Pete run out. Lumic cries out delete, delete, delete. Things start to explode. The emergency exit is blocked by writhing Cybermen. More explosions and fire breaks out. The Doctor looks around and states there is no way out.

"The zeppelin!" Martha grins excitedly.

On the zeppelin Jake spins the Zeppelin's wheel. Mickey asks what he is doing and he explains they need to get away before the factory explodes. Mickey demands he takes it back. Jake protests they've had it but Mickey argues. They briefly wrestle over the wheel but Mickey wins as Jake finally gives up. Mickey gives Jake his phone to put by his ear. He tells Rose to head for the roof.

"Thank god for Mickey." Rose smiles weakly at him.

"Now he can be the trained getaway dog." Nine smirks. Rose slaps his arm.

"You're going to have to live with the fact he saved us for a change." She tells him with a grin and he scowls.

"I suppose miracles do happen every now and again." He mutters petulantly. She takes that as a victory for now.

Rose tells the others to head for the roof. The Doctor, Rose and Pete run up a metal staircase as fires break out behind them. Cyber Lumic disconnects himself from the chair and stands. Rose and the others emerge on the roof and she yells into the phone asking where he learnt to fly the zeppelin. He states on the playstation.

"All those hours on there weren't for nothing, eh Rose?" Mickey grins triumphantly.

"Most of those hours were still useless." She rolls her eyes.

"A primitive games console is nothing like flying a real zeppelin." Nine frowns in concern.

"Well I wasn't actually going to be flying a real zeppelin for training now, was I?" Mickey asks him sarcastically.

Jake points out they can't go any lower and Mickey replies he has to. Jake reminds him they will crush the others. Looking around desperately, Mickey finds an 'in case of emergency lever' and pulls it. A rope ladder falls out of the zeppelin.

"Oh my god!" Donna whimpers. "That is so not fun."

"Nor is dying." Jack reminds her dryly.

Pete mutters they have to be kidding and the Doctor urges Rose up the ladder. The zeppelin starts to rise and Rose joyously calls out they did it.

"Way to jinx it." Sarah-Jane laughs lightly.

Something heavy pulls at the ladder, nearly making them lose their grip. It is Cyber Lumic. The Doctor gets the screwdriver out. He yells instructions to Pete as he drops the screwdriver down to him. Pete holds the sonic to the rope calling out this is for Jackie Tyler. The rope finally gives way and Lumic falls. Pete is the only one who looks particularly happy about it.

"Thank goodness." Martha sighs. "I swear you just enjoy having close calls."

"Of course not." Ten protests.

Back at the TARDIS the Doctor puts the power cell back into the console, and the Tardis starts to light up. Outside, Pete asks what happens inside and Rose offers to show him. He replies he doesn't want to, asking who they are. Rose tells him to imagine a different world where Pete and Jackie had a daughter. Pete looks freaked out and says he has to go.

"Oh Rose." Nine sighs sadly.

She tries to convince him to just look inside but he says he can't as he has to tell the authorities and sort things out. The Doctor comes over and says they only have five minutes of power and need to go. Rose calls Pete dad and he tells her not to before leaving.

"I don't know how somebody could ever be stupid enough not to want you as a daughter but he's had a very long, crappy night including losing his wife. That probably wasn't a good time to spring that." Nine tells her gently. She nods against his chest. He waves away the others watching them knowing Rose hates an audience.

Mickey and Jake come over and Mickey hands the Doctor his suit back saying he found it and it doesn't have a crease.

"Nice one." Jack nods. "Though it's a shame he has to get out of that tux." He adds with a wink towards Ten.

"Bad things happen when I wear a tux." Ten complains.

The Doctor is thrilled to have it back before turning to Jake and asking him to find Angela's husband and kids to tell them she died saving the world. Jake agrees. The Doctor then says they better go and Mickey confesses he is staying.

"What?" Rose looks up in astonishment and horror.

"My gran is there, Rose." Mickey tells her gently. "I have nothing back home but there I can see her again. Help Jake continue the fight."

The Doctor looks at him in shock, asking he's doing what. Rose says he can't and Mickey states it balances out because that world lost Ricky but there is him. Rose repeats that he can't stay. Mickey tells her his gran is still alive and that she needs him. Rose asks what if she needs him.

"You don't need me though, Rose. You didn't even want me along with you." Mickey looks at her. "I'm sorry this sucks with what just happened with that Pete and Jackie but it's better for me to stay there. You've got the Doctor and he's the only person you need anymore." Nine looks rather pleased at this statement, especially when Rose doesn't deny it.

"I'm sorry I was selfish for so long, Mick, but that doesn't mean you need to live in a completely different world." Rose looks at him pleadingly.

"It hasn't happened yet Rose. Might not do anyway. Don't think his worship will be allowing me on board next time around." He nods at Nine who is trying to rearrange his smirk. It's quite easy when he thinks of how much this is hurting Rose. Instead he scowls at Mickey for doing this to her. He is a very selfish creature and despite how painful it would be to watch Rose with someone else he could never leave knowing he would never see her again. He knew he didn't deserve her and even her friendship would be enough if it were a choice between that and nothing so he could not comprehend how Mickey could choose that.

"No I will not." Nine agrees with Mickey about not letting him on board. He is a little tempted to bring him on just to drop him off in a parallel world but Rose would not be impressed so he ignores that little thought. Ten smirks at him knowingly.

Mickey looks pained as he points out she doesn't need him. They had something a long time ago but not anymore. Rose says they will come and visit. The Doctor points out they can't. They only came by accident, through a crack in time he will have to fix when they get back. The Doctor shakes Mickey's hand.

"You did a good job that time." Ten tells him with a small smirk. "Ricky." Mickey rolls his eyes.

The Doctor tells him to take Rose's phone and get the code out there to stop the factories.

"Consider it done boss." Mickey manages a smile.

"Well I couldn't trust that with anyone else." Ten nods.

He then wishes him luck, calling him Mickey the idiot, clapping his cheek and MIckey tells him to watch it.

Everyone laughs, glad for a relief from the tension and sadness of the room.

The Doctor goes back into the TARDIS. Rose gives Mickey her phone. They say goodbye and hug. Mickey says she doesn't want to miss her flight and she hugs him tighter before heading to the TARDIS. She looks back before going in. Mickey tells Jake to watch as the TARDIS dematerialises. Jake is astonished.

"We all are at some point." Donna laughs.

"Watching it sucks." Rose mutters quietly. "Just means you aren't in it." Nine rubs her back as she still hasn't looked up from his jumper.

The TARDIS materialises in the living room just as Jackie is filling the kettle, to make a cup of tea. Rose comes out saying she is alive. Jackie claims she was last time she looked as Rose hugs her desperately. She asks what happened and where they went. The Doctor gravely tells her they went far away. Jackie asks where Mickey is and he tells her he went home.

"You'll be pleased to know we ended up staying with Jackie for at least three days." Ten tells his younger self pleasantly, smirking slightly. Nine simply looks at him.

"Good." Everyone looks at him in astonishment, including Rose. He tugs on his ear self consciously.

"You needed it after that. I'm surprised you didn't make me stay longer." He confesses with a lopsided grin. Rose manages a weak smile and kisses his cheek.

"I knew you were a softie really." She murmurs in his ear. He feigns indignation.

"I am not!" Everyone looks at him curiously, not having heard what Rose said.

Mickey climbs into the van. He tells Jake he knows it isn't easy, given he looks exactly like Ricky but assures him he isn't there to replace him. He states they can remember him by fighting on, asking if Jake thinks there will be a Cyber factory in Paris. Jake grins slightly saying yeah. Mickey suggests they go liberate Paris. Jake looks unconvinced, asking if he means just the two of them and a van. Mickey tells him there is nothing wrong with a van and that he once saved the world with a big yellow truck. Jake grins and they set off. The screen goes black.

"I think we could do with a little break." Nine announces. Everyone nods. Mickey goes over to Rose where she stands up and pulls him into a hug. They embrace for a full minute before he kisses her cheek and goes back to Martha who takes his hand. Rose watches them before realising both Doctor have stood up beside her.

"You want to go to our room?" Nine asks. She nods and he takes her hand, leading her towards the door. Ten watches them, wanting desperately to follow, to soak in as much of Rose as possible but he knows that his younger self needs to be the one to comfort her. They need as much time to bond, here in peace, as they can get. Without him getting in the way. Besides, he knows he will be hogging much of Rose's attention soon enough. There is no way he can watch himself losing her again without having her there beside him. The idea is unthinkable. He finds himself praying to deities he doesn't believe in that his younger self never has to fully understand the pain he has been through. That they find a way to do the impossible, yet again.