A/N:
Hello! This is the second book of a long-planned series inspired in part by the user LizzeXX! I really recommend that you read her work; it's lovely!
I do not own Doctor Who; BBC does.
The Alchemist - Ally, is a Time Lady of Gallifrey. Her face claim is Cintia Dicker. As you will learn how/why, in this story, my OC always regenerates with red hair and blue eyes, her pupil surrounded by gold.
I am cross-posting this series on multiple platforms, and this is the edited version of the first chapter of the tenth Doctor's run.
I'll use many different mentions of situations, objects, Time Lords, companions, planets, etc., that appear in the comics and some of the audio stories, as well as my additions to the lore. Each chapter is either a revision of an episode or something I wrote entirely, so I hope you enjoy it and review it!
I've broken up scenes by location.
'italics' telepathic communication.
'standard' communication with the Time Vortex/Teacher.
"Italics" Gallifreyan or Old High Gallifreyan communication (I will identify which variation when in use).
Warning:
I have a lot of triggers in these books, which is why it's marked as 'M.'
These books do not paint Rose Tyler in a good light.
I really hope you enjoy it!
Chapter One: The Christmas Invasion Part I
[The Tyler's flat]
Jackie adorns the white plastic Christmas tree and places gifts underneath it in the Tyler's flat. Her gaze is filled with longing as she looks at the one intended for Rose.
[Clancy's garage]
While at Mickey's workplace, Noddy Holder belts out 'Merry Christmas' on the radio when a faint sound is heard amidst John's hammering.
Mickey stands up and yells, "Hey, turn that down. Turn it off, Stevo. Turn that off! John, shut up!"
It's a familiar whoosh-wheeze sound. Mickey runs out.
[The Tyler's flat]
Jackie hears the wheeze now and starts running out of the flat.
"Rose!" she shouts.
[Powell Estate]
Jackie spots him, "Mickey!"
"Jackie, it's the TARDIS!" he says gleefully.
She nods, "I know, I know, I heard it. She's alive, Mickey. I said so, didn't I? She's alive!"
He waves her down, listening, "Just shut up a minute."
"Well, where is it then?" she demands, looking about.
The TARDIS comes out of the Vortex in mid-air, spinning. It bounces off three sets of flats and avoids a post office van that screeches in a swerve. The TARDIS slams into a set of waste bins. It slides to hit the wall.
The Doctor opens the door, still in a t-shirt and leather jacket and carrying his Bondmate in his arms, who's currently unconscious.
The Doctor beams, "Here we are then, London. Earth. The Solar System. We did it!" he spots the duo, "Jackie... Mickey... Blimey!" he rapidly shakes his head when they go to step forward, "No... no, no, no, hold on. Wait there. I've got something to say. There was something I had to tell you... something important. What was it?" they go to speak, "No, hold on, hold on. Hold on, shush, shush, shush, shush," he grins, "Oh, I know! Merry Christmas!"
The Doctor begins to falter, but the Time Vortex takes over the Alchemist. They leap out of his arms and gently grab him, easing him down onto his back.
Rose runs out of the TARDIS, worried and out of breath.
"What happened? Is he all right?" she asks, trying to look, but the Time Vortex turns to block her sight.
Mickey shrugs, "I don't know, he just keeled over. Luckily, she grabbed him," he gestures to the Time Lords, "But who are they? Where's the Doctor and Ally? And what's with her eyes?"
"That's them, right in front of you. That's the Doctor and the Alchemist. Her eyes just... do that sometimes."
"What do you mean, that's the Doctor? Doctor who? Who's the Alchemist?" Jackie asks.
"He is, and she is," a multilayered voice says as they pick up the Doctor.
The Alchemist's eyes have transformed into a complete sclera, shrouded in darkness, with an eerie glow emanating from the eclipse of the blue and gold that reside within.
"We must let them rest, Jacqueline Tyler, Rose Tyler, and Mickey Smith," they say and disappear in a blink.
"Where'd they go!?" Mickey asks, alarmed as he looks around.
Rose shakes her head, "Let's check the flat!"
Jackie leads them up, and they run in.
[The Tyler's flat - Jackie's bedroom]
The Doctor has been dressed in pajamas and put to bed by the Vortex.
"We must allow our Chosen rest now," the Time Vortex says and lays next to him, still dressed under the covers.
As they close their eyes, her body relaxes. She nestles against the Doctor, who adjusts slightly and wraps an arm around his wife, drawing her in even closer.
Rose frowns at the sight.
"We need something to check on their hearts," Rose mumbles, looking away, "Mum? Do we have a stethoscope or something somewhere?"
Jackie shakes her head, "We should take them to hospital."
"No! If you have one, can you just get it?" she demands.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll get one," her mother says and rushes out.
Rose frowns and shifts to sit on the edge of the bed, "Why'd you do this?" she sighs, "Why'd Ally let you do this?"
Jackie returns with a stethoscope after a few moments of silence.
"Here we go," she says, "Tina the cleaner's got this lodger, a medical student, and she was fast asleep, so I just took it. Though I still say we should take him to hospital."
Rose shakes her head, "We can't. They'd lock them up. They'd dissect them. One bottle of their blood could change the future of the human race," she waves off her mother when she goes to speak, "No! Shush!"
Rose listens to both sides of the Doctor's chest before hesitantly checking the Time Lady's.
"All working," she announces.
Jackie scoffs, "What do you mean, all?"
"Well, they've got two hearts," she explains.
"Oh, don't be stupid," her mother says with an eye roll.
"They do..."
Jackie pouts, thinking, "Anything else he's got two of?"
"Leave him alone," Rose orders.
Rose and Jackie depart while the Doctor releases a breath of the Vortex's shimmering golden energy. Some of it drifts away out the cracked window while the Alchemist inhales the remainder.
[The Tyler's flat - kitchen]
Rose investigates the fridge, trying to find something to eat.
Jackie leans against the counter, "How can they go changing their faces? Is that a different face, or are they different people?"
She huffs, "How should I know?" she winces at her own tone, "Sorry... The thing is I thought I knew him, Mum. I thought me and him were... And then he goes and does this," she frowns, "I keep forgetting he's not human and he's..." she shakes her head, "Anyway, the big question is where'd you get a pair of men's pajamas from and how'd Ally know where to find them?"
"Howard's been staying over. This Ally didn't know about that, though, honest," Jackie says, fiddling with something.
"What, Howard from the market? How long's that been going on?" Rose asks, turning to her.
She shrugs, "A month or so. First of all, he starts delivering to the door and I thought, that's odd. Next thing you know, it's a bag of oranges."
Rose spots the television, "Is that Harriet Jones?"
She rushes into the living room to watch.
Her mother scoffs, following her out, "Oh, never mind me."
[The Tyler's flat - living room]
"Why's she on the telly?" Rose asks as she sits on the sofa.
"She's Prime Minister now," Jackie shrugs, "I'm eighteen quid a week better off. They're calling it Britain's Golden Age. I keep on saying my Rose has met her."
"Did more than that. Stopped World War Three with her... Harriet Jones."
On the television, Harriet and Mr. Llewellyn are being interviewed.
"Prime Minister, what about those calling the Guinevere One Space Probe a waste of money?" one interviewer asks.
Harriet responds, "Now, that's where you're wrong. I completely disagree if you don't mind. The Guinevere One Space Probe represents this country's limitless ambition. British workmanship sailing up there among the stars."
"This is the spirit of Christmas, birth, and rejoicing, and the dawn of a new age, and that is what we're achieving fifteen million miles away. Our very own miracle," Llewellyn continues with a smile.
A narration plays over the image, "The unmanned probe Guinevere One is about to make its final descent. Photographs of the Martian Landscape should be received by midnight tonight."
Rose sighs. She needs to get out for a bit, and it is Christmas.
"Mickey, can I borrow some money off of you, and we'll go Christmas shopping?" she asks her boyfriend.
He nods, "Yeah, we'll head to the market."
[Market]
As the couple walk down the street, they pass a brass band clad in festive Santa outfits, filling the air with cheerful Christmas tunes.
"So what do you need? Twenty quid?" Mickey asks.
Rose nods, "Do you mind? I'll pay you back."
"Call it a Christmas present," he waves her off.
"God, I'm all out of sync," she groans, "You just forget about Christmas and things in the TARDIS. They don't exist. You get sort of timeless."
Mickey rolls his eyes, "Oh, yeah, that's fascinating... because I love hearing stories about the TARDIS," he scoffs, "Oh, go on, Rose, tell us another one because I swear I could listen to it all day. TARDIS this, TARDIS that."
"Shut up," she laughs.
"Oh, and one time, the TARDIS landed in a big yellow garden full of balloons!" he dryly imitates.
She gasps, "I'm not like that!"
"Oh, you so are."
"Mmm, must drive you mad. I'm surprised you don't give up on me."
He huffs, "Oh, that's the thing, isn't it? You can rely on me. I don't go changing my face."
Rose glares at him, "Yeah. What if he's dying?"
"Okay, and what if she is, too," Mickey reminds her.
She sighs, "Sorry."
"Just let it be Christmas. Can you do that? Just for a bit. You and me and Christmas. No Doctor, no Alchemist, no bog monsters, no life or death."
"Okay."
"Promise?"
She rolls her eyes, "Yes!"
Mickey nods and smiles, "Right! What're you going to get for your mum?"
They continue around the market, stall to stall, enjoying the light atmosphere.
"I'm round there all the time now, you know. She does my dinner on a Sunday, talks about you all afternoon, yap yap yap," Mickey informs Rose.
The band, wearing plastic masks, begins to pursue them slowly. Rose takes notice, her eyes fixed on them. Their music stops as one member unleashes a burst of fire from his trombone, igniting pandemonium. Mickey and Rose quickly duck behind a stall for cover.
Rose panics, "It's us! They're after us!"
A blast from the tuba sends flames shooting toward a tree, which keels over, landing on the mechanical player. Meanwhile, Mickey and Rose dash toward the street.
"What's going on? What've we done!? Why are they after us!?" Mickey demands.
"Taxi!" Rose calls and flags one down.
[Taxi]
"They're after the Doctor and the Alchemist," she informs him.
He rolls his eyes, "I can't even go shopping with you. We get attacked by a brass band. Who're you phoning?"
"My mum," she says, pressing send.
[The Tyler's flat]
Jackie's on the line already, unaware.
"She turns up, no warning. I've got nothing in. I said, Rose, if you want a Christmas dinner of meat paste, then so be it," the woman laughs.
[Taxi]
Rose groans and shouts, "Get off the phone!"
"Who were those Santa things?" Mickey asks.
"I don't know," she shakes her head, "But think about it. They were after us. What's important about us? Well, nothing, except the two things we've got tucked up in bed. The Doctor and the Alchemist."
[The Tyler's flat - Jackie's bedroom]
"Oh, no. Don't come round, darling," Jackie says over the line. "No, flat's all topsy turvy. Yeah, she just barges in and litters the place. Yeah. No, I'll come round and see you on Boxing Day,"
Jackie leaves two mugs of tea by the Time Lords' bedside before exiting the room again. More golden energy is exhaled while the Alchemist breathes some of it in.
[The Tyler's flat]
Mickey and Rose burst through the door before quickly locking it tight behind them.
Jackie laughs into the line, "So, save us a chipolata."
"Get off the phone," Rose demands.
Her mother rolls her eyes, "It's only Bev. She says hello."
Rose takes the phone, "Bev? Yeah. Look, it'll have to wait," she hangs up and turns to them, "Right, it's not safe. We've got to get out. Where can we go?"
"My mate Stan, he'll put us up," Mickey says.
"That's only two streets away. What about Mo? Where's she living now?"
Jackie shrugs, "I don't know. Peak District."
"Well, we'll go to Cousin Mo's then," Rose decides.
"No, it's Christmas Eve! We're not going anywhere! What're you babbling about?" Jackie demands.
Rose realizes then that the little white Christmas tree has transformed into a large, vibrant green one.
She hesitantly asks, "Mum. Where'd you get that tree?" her voice goes frantic, "That's a new tree... Where'd you get it!?"
Jackie rolls her eyes, "I thought it was you."
"How can it be me?"
The woman gestures to it, "Well, you went shopping. There was a ring at the door, and there it was!"
Rose steps back, "No, that wasn't me."
"Then who was it?"
The tree sparkles to life and starts playing 'Jingle Bells.'
"Oh, you're kidding me," the companion deadpans.
The tree's layers start to whirl in various directions, creating a tornado-like effect as it surges ahead, wind swirling around it. In its path, it crashes into a wooden coffee table, leaving the humans frozen in shock.
Mickey snaps out of it, "Get out! Go, go! Get out!"
He picks up a wooden chair to defend them while they make their escape.
Rose stops at the door, realizing, "We've got to save the Doctor!"
"What're you doing?" Jackie shouts, alarmed as she heads deeper into the room.
"We can't just leave him!"
"Mickey!" Jackie shouts as the hell tree begins to eat its way through the legs of the chair, "Leave it! Get out! Get out!"
Rose calls from the bedroom door, "Mickey!"
"Get out of there!" her mother demands.
[The Tyler's flat - Jackie's bedroom]
"No, leave them!" Jackie cries, "Just leave them!"
"Get in here!" Mickey shouts.
Jackie rushes into the room, and they close the door tightly behind them. The three of them then heave a wooden wardrobe across the floor, positioning it to barricade the entrance.
Rose shouts, "Doctor, wake up!"
The Vortex has taken hold of the Alchemist, and they are advancing towards the wardrobe, gently pushing the two individuals back behind themself to protect them.
Jackie shouts, eyes shut, "I'm going to get killed by a Christmas tree!"
Rose reaches into the Doctor's jacket pocket to retrieve the sonic screwdriver, but her search comes up empty. The tree smashes through the door and freezes instantaneously with a flash of gold light.
Rose's mother opens her eyes and gapes, "...or not?"
The companion whispers into the Doctor's ear, "Help me."
He abruptly sits up and looks around.
"Where's my... Oh, Ally's over there," he realizes and leaps from the bed.
Teacher removes the Alchemist's screwdriver from her coat pocket and shuts off the tree before releasing it from their temporal hold.
The Vortex responds, "Not our Chosen."
"Ah, Vortex protection detail; nice," the Doctor grins before looking at the scan on the sonic, "Remote control? But who's controlling it..." he wonders.
"There are three here for you, Other half," they say, throwing him the dressing gown.
[Outside the flat]
Dressing gown on, the Doctor follows the Time Vortex, who leads them out. Down on the ground, three Santas gaze up, one holding a radio controller.
"That's them. What are they?" Mickey asks.
"Shush!" Rose hisses.
The Vortex aims the Alchemist's sonic screwdriver at them, and the Santas back away before teleporting.
Mickey scoffs, "They've just gone. What kind of rubbish were they? I mean, no offense, but they're not much cop if a sonic screwdriver's going to scare them off."
"Other half should be resting," the Vortex states, rounding on the Doctor, "The jealous heart stealer should not have called upon you. Other half should not have listened."
"I thought you were busy time traveling inside my wife's body," he sarcastically replies.
"We do not travel through ourselves."
The Doctor raises a brow, "She really wasn't lying when she said you were cryptic, was she?"
"Our Chosen does not lie," the Vortex remarks, "The Other half lies. Is that not one of the rules our Fated Pair came up with? ...Pilot fish."
"What?" Rose asks, confused.
The Doctor nods, "They were just pilot fish like they said."
He suddenly gasps in pain, and Teacher quickly grips him around the waist to steady him.
"What's wrong?" Rose cries.
He grumbles, "They're right. You woke me up too soon. I'm still Regenerating. I'm bursting with energy," he exhales the golden energy, which surrounds the Vortex, who breathes it in deeply. He nods to the golden swirls, "You see? Although that was odd..." he glances behind him, "You just... breathe it in?" he shakes his head, "Later pile. The pilot fish could smell it a million miles away. So they eliminate the defense, that's you lot, and they carry me off. They could run their batteries on me for a couple of... actually..." he turns to the Vortex again, "Now that we have time to chat, I have a few..."
The Vortex shakes their head, "We are time, Other half has eight seconds."
He blinks, confused, "Eight seconds until Whhaatttt..." he gasps, "Ow, yep. Got it now. I woke up too soon. Still not done."
The Time Lord lets out a pained groan as he leans back against the Vortex, who supports him effortlessly.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" Jackie cries.
"My head! I'm having a neuron implosion. I need..." the Doctor grunts out.
"What do you need?" she asks.
"I need..."
"Say it. Tell me, tell me, tell me."
"I need..."
"Painkillers?"
"I need..."
"Do you need aspirin?" Jackie asks.
"That is poison," the Time Vortex states.
The Doctor groans again, "Vortex, any help?"
"No. Our Chosen laughs," they reply.
"Ugh, she would," he gasps, "I need..."
"Codeine? Paracetamol? Oh, I don't know, Pepto-Bismol?" Jackie rambles out.
"I need..."
"Liquid paraffin. Vitamin C? Vitamin D? Vitamin E?"
"I need..."
"Is it food? Something simple. Bowl of soup. A nice bowl of soup? Soup and a sandwich? Soup and a little ham sandwich?"
He shouts, "I need you to shut up!"
Jackie rolls her eyes, "Oh, he hasn't changed that much, has he?"
"We haven't got much time. If there's pilot fish, then..." he pauses, straightening, as he pulls his hand out of his pocket, "Why's there an apple in my dressing gown?"
Jackie winces, "Oh, that's Howard. Sorry."
"He keeps apples in his dressing gown?"
"He gets hungry."
"What, he gets hungry in his sleep?"
"Sometimes," she admits.
"Argh!" the Time Lord gasps, "Brain collapsing... The pilot fish... The pilot fish mean that something, something, something is coming..."
The Doctor passes out into the Vortex's arms, and they pick him up.
[The Tyler's flat: Jackie's bedroom]
Teacher gently settles the Doctor back into bed before focusing on Rose.
"Jealous Heart Stealer, he will be feverish now, and a heart will cease its beat," they inform her with a glare.
Rose sighs and leaves the room to get something to mop his brow. Apparently, the Time Lady is still mean.
"Jacqueline Tyler," Teacher calls out loudly, and the woman enters the room.
She gasps, seeing the eyes again, "Your eyes are..."
"We are the Time Vortex. It is clear. He needs tea. You have been correct; keep it hot and constant. We must rest our Chosen's body again. He will weaken more without her by his side."
The Time Vortex sits on the bed, moving to get back under the covers so their Time Lords can recover until they are needed again.
"Will they both be alright?" Jackie asks worriedly, "Who is she?"
"Yes. Our Chosen, the Alchemist, is the Doctor's wife and Bondmate. Heat and tea. Remember this, Jacqueline Tyler. We thank you for your kindness and belief."
Jackie smiles at the pair and runs out of the room after the Vortex lays back and closes their eyes, relaxing once more as the Doctor pulls his Bondmate in tight.
Rose enters with a furrowed brow, clearly displeased by what she sees. She rolls her eyes in frustration before picking up the stethoscope to listen to their hearts again.
She glares at the Alchemist as she mops the warned fever sweat from his brow.
"This is your fault, Alchemist," she snaps, "If you had done something in the first place, none of this would have happened, and he'd be the same. Now he's even worse because you waited... again."
Rose storms out of the bedroom, intent on checking in with Mickey.
The Alchemist frowns in her sleep, tucking her head under her husband's chin as he wraps his other arm around her waist, drawing her closer still.
[Living Room]
Holding his laptop, Mickey calls out, "Jackie, I'm using the phone line. Is that all right?"
She nods, "Yeah. Keep a count of it. It's midnight. Christmas day," she turns to her daughter, "Any change?"
"He's worse. Just one heart beating; hers are fine, though," Rose sighs.
The television is on in the background.
"Scientists in charge of Britain's mission to Mars have re-established contact with the Guinevere One space probe. They're expecting the first transmission from the planet's surface in the next few minutes," the reporter says.
Llewellyn replies, "Yes, we are. We're, we're back on schedule. We've received the signal from Guinevere One. The Mars landing would seem to be an unqualified success."
"But is it true that you completely lost contact earlier tonight?" the reporter asks.
"Yes, we had a bit of a scare. Guinevere seemed to fall off the scope, but it... it was just a blip. Only disappeared for a few seconds," the man confirms, "She is fine now, absolutely fine. We're getting the first pictures transmitted live any minute now. I'd better get back to it, thanks."
Mickey turns the laptop, "Here we go, pilot fish. Scavengers, like the Doctor said. Harmless. They're tiny. But the point is, the little fish swim alongside the big fish."
"Do you mean like sharks?" Rose asks.
"Great big sharks," he nods, gesturing to the screen, "So, what the Doctor means is, we had them, now we get that."
"'Something is coming,'" she recalls with a frown, "How close?"
"There's no way of telling, but the pilot fish don't swim far from their daddy," he explains.
"So, it's close?"
Jackie, focused on the television, says, "Funny sort of rocks."
"The first photographs," the reporter announces.
Rose steps closer to the screen, "That's not rocks."
"This image is being transmitted via mission control, coming live from the depths of space on Christmas morning."
A creature with crimson eyes adorned in what appears to be an animal skull dominates the screen, letting out a series of growls in its tongue.
"The face of an alien life form was transmitted live tonight on BBC1," the reporter says.
Another American reporter says, "On the 25th of December, the human race has been shown absolute proof that alien life exists."
"These remarkable images have been relayed right across the world," says a third.
[UNIT HQ]
"Mister Llewellyn," Blake greets and leads him toward a quiet room amongst the chaos of the floor.
"Mister Llewellyn, ma'am," he greets the Prime Minister.
She nods and shows him her ID, "Harriet Jones. Prime Minister."
He blinks, "Oh. Well, yes, I know who you are. I suppose I've ruined your Christmas."
"Never off duty. Now, we've put out a cover story. Alex has been handling it," Harriet informs him.
Alex steps up, "We've said it was a hoax. Some sort of mask or prosthetics. Students hi-jacking the signal, that sort of thing."
"Alex is my right-hand man," she smiles, "I'm not used to having a right-hand man. I quite like it, though."
"I quite like it myself," Alex adds.
Llewellyn grimaces, "I don't suppose there's any chance it was a hoax?"
"That would be nice. Then we could all go home. I don't suppose anyone's offered you a coffee?" Harriet asks.
"No."
Harriet nods, "But, no, the transmission was genuine. And this seems to be a new species of alien. At least, not one we've encountered before."
Alex hands him the coffee, and he accepts it.
"You seem to be talking about aliens as a matter of fact," Llewellyn frowns.
She smiles, "There's an Act of Parliament banning my autobiography."
Blake steps forward, "Prime Minister?"
"I'm with you," Harriet says, and they head out into the busy main office.
"Miss Jacobs can explain," Officer Blake states.
Harriet smiles, "I don't think we've been introduced. Harriet Jones, Prime Minister."
"Yes, I know who you are," Sally deadpans, "The transmission didn't come from the surface of Mars. Guinevere One was broadcasting from a point five thousand miles above the planet."
"In other words, they've got a ship, and the probe is on board," Blake clarifies.
Llewellyn frowns, "But if they're not from the surface, then they might not be from Mars itself. Maybe they're not actual Martians."
"Of course not. Martians look completely different. We think the ship was in flight when they just came across the probe."
"And they're moving. The ship's still in flight now. We've got it on the Hubble array," Sally informs the group.
Harriet nods, "Moving in which direction?"
"Towards us," she replies.
"How fast?"
"Very fast."
Harriet eyes her, "What was your name, again?"
"Sally."
She smiles, "Thank you, Sally."
[The Tyler's flat]
"Rose," Mickey calls out, "Take a look. I've got access to the military. They're tracking a spaceship. It's big, it's fast, and it's coming this way."
She approaches, looking at the screen, "Coming for what, though? The Doctor and the Alchemist?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's coming for all of us," he suggests.
Mickey downloads a clear photo of four of the incoming aliens.
"Have you seen them before?"
"No," Rose sighs.
[UNIT HQ]
The alien is speaking in the recording.
"Translation software," Blake says and hands him a drive.
Alex nods, "Yes, sir."
[The Tyler's flat]
"I don't understand what they're saying," Rose shakes her head, "The TARDIS translates alien languages inside my head, all the time, wherever I am."
"So, why isn't it doing it now?" Mickey asks.
"I don't know. Must be the Doctor. Like he's part of the circuit, and he's... he's broken."
"You don't think Ally's connected?"
"Clearly not, she's fine, just sleeping," Rose scoffs.
Mickey frowns in thought.
[UNIT HQ]
"I'm getting demands from Washington, ma'am. The President's insisting that he take control of the situation," Blake alerts Harriet.
She huffs, "You can tell the President, and please use these exact words. He's not my boss, and he's certainly not turning this into a war," Harriet turns to Alex, "What have we got?"
"Nothing yet. Translating an alien language is going to take time," he replies.
Blake purses his lips, "How far off is the ship?"
"About five hours."
[The Tyler's flat - bedroom]
"They're married," Jackie says to Rose.
Rose pauses in wiping the Doctor's forehead again, sighing.
"...I know," Rose replies.
Jackie shakes her head, "Whatever you feel for him? Forget it. He's taken, Rose Marion Tyler."
The girl turns to her mother, "Full name, Mum? Really?"
"When it's needed, and apparently it is! I've seen enough homewreckers, Rose. Don't become one," she orders and leaves the room to get fresh tea.
[UNIT HQ]
Harriet turns to Blake, "I don't suppose we've had a Code Nine? No sign of the Doctor or this... Alchemist?"
"Nothing yet," he replies, "You've met him, haven't you? More like the stuff of legend."
"He is that," she nods and whispers, "Failing him... what about Torchwood?"
Blake's eyes widen in shock, "I... they shouldn't..."
Harriet waves it off, "I know I'm not supposed to know about it, I realize that. Not even the United Nations knows. But if ever there was a need for Torchwood, it's now."
"I can't take responsibility, and they shouldn't be around based on the Queen's orders!" he hisses.
"I can. See to it. Get them ready."
"No, UNIT will not be involved with this. Code Ten and Eleven prevent it and we would never go against their orders," Blake glares.
"Code Ten?" Harriet scoffs, "Lady Ally Starlight-Smith? Now, that is a legend. As for Eleven, The Queen will understand..." she eyes him, "If you won't or can't do it, I will."
Blake shakes his head as he leaves the room with Sally, calling out, "You're making a grave mistake in going against both of them, Prime Minister."
Alex approaches, "Prime Minister."
"Has it worked?"
"Just about. 'People...' that could be cattle. 'You belong to us. To the Sycorax.' They seem to be called Sycorax, not Martians. 'We own you. We now possess your land, your minerals, your precious stones. You will surrender, or they will die. Sycorax strong, Sycorax mighty, Sycorax rock,' as in the modern sense, they rock."
Llewyllen asks, "'They will die?' Not you will die, 'they' will die? Who's 'they?'"
"I don't know, but it is the right personal pronoun. It's 'they,'" Alex explains.
"Send them a reply," Harriet nods, "Tell them... This is a day of peace on planet Earth. Tell them we extend that peace to the Sycorax. And then tell them this planet is armed, and we do not surrender," Harriet picks up her phone, ready to dial, "I need to contact Torchwood."
[The Tyler's flat - bedroom]
Jackie has fallen asleep by the Doctor and the Alchemist's bedside, two more hot mugs of tea on the nightstand, even closer than before to the couple.
"The Doctor wouldn't do this. The old Doctor, the proper Doctor, he'd wake up. He'd save us," Rose bemoans.
Mickey sighs, "You really love him, don't you? Just promise me, at least for them, it's not more than a friend or that you're just stuck on him right now."
She nods, "It's not."
Rose turns to Mickey, and they hug.
The Alchemist scrunches her nose in her sleep.
[UNIT HQ - Christmas Morning]
"They got the message," Alex says, "Here comes the response."
The Sycorax leader holds out his hand and a form of blue energy surges from it.
"What was that? Was that a reply?" Harriet asks.
Alex shakes his head, "I don't know. It looked like some sort of energy... or static?"
Llewellyn frowns in thought, "Almost like someone casting a spell... Maybe it's a different form of language, some sort of ideogram or pictogram."
A wave of the same blue energy flows above Sally's head, and alongside her, three other workers, also affected by the blue glow, walk out along with Sally.
"What the hell?" Llewellyn calls out, "It's the light. It's the same light," he reaches for the woman, "Sally, what're you doing? Sally?"
Harriet rushes forward and pulls him back, "Oh, leave her. You'll hurt her."
"Let them pass!" Blake orders.
"Where are they going?" Llewellyn wonders.
[Outside the flat]
"What is wrong with you? Jason? Jason?" a woman yells from outside the flat.
Rose and Mickey hear her and rush outside to check.
"Sandra?" Rose asks.
"He won't listen," she shakes her head, "He's just walking. He won't stop walking! There's this sort of light thing... Jason? Stop it right now! ...Please, Jason, just stop."
Rose and Mickey gaze outside, observing individuals of various ages meandering through the estate as if on autopilot.
[Flats rooftop]
They follow Jason to the rooftop of the flats worriedly.
Sandra shouts, "Jason, I'm talking to you! Just stop!"
Possessed, the people line up along the rooftop edge.
"What do we do?" Mickey asks.
"Nothing," Rose shakes her head, "There's no one to save us. Not anymore."
[The Tyler's flat - Living Room]
The Tylers and Mickey watch the broadcast of Harriet, which should have been Her Majesty's.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I may take a moment during this terrible time. It's hardly the Queen's speech. I'm afraid that's been canceled," Harriet begins before turning to an aide, "Did we ask about the royal family?" she turns back to the camera, "Oh. They're on the roof," she sighs, "But, ladies and gentlemen, this crisis is unique, and I'm afraid to say, it might get much worse. I would ask you all to remain calm. But I have one request. Doctor, if you're out there, we need you. I don't know what to do. If you can hear me, Doctor. If anyone knows the Doctor, if anyone can find him, the situation has never been more desperate. Help us. Please, Doctor. Help us. God help us."
Rose begins to sob.
"He's gone. The Doctor's gone. He's left me, mum. He's left me, mum," she pauses to correct herself, "...They've both left."
Jackie sighs and tries to console her, "It's all right. I'm sorry."
A deafening sonic boom shatters the glass windows of the estate buildings, sending shards flying, while vehicles parked on the street are left with broken glass scattered around.
Rose and Mickey step outside to take a quick look, but she suddenly dashes back inside, with Mickey trailing behind her.