THe Girl out of time
by ryder smith
The console room was darkened. The usually brightly lit roundel lights were off, with the only light emanating from the time rotor. Its brilliant green glow, with pulsating brightness, gave the place an even more unearthly look. In fact, it looked ghostly. Like a ghost ship, adrift at sea, with nothing and no one aboard.
Suddenly, without warning, the white-backed doors inside the TARDIS flew open. Rose’s blonde hair flowed behind her as she ran into the console room, the lights leaping back into life. Her clothes were muddy and torn in places, as though she’d been trekking through dense jungle for days. The Doctor, meanwhile, strolled inside casually, his suit still pristine.
“What was all that about?” asked Rose, sounding annoyed.
“Oh, that. Well, it was just a general- a general reconnaissance,” the Doctor replied.
“Is that what we’re calling it?!” she retorted. “I’ve been trekking through the jungle for hours. And then, it turns out you’ve gone marching into the place.”
“I mean, yeah, you could say that. But I knew you’d never let me go in there alone, and the people needed someone, so I got you distracted. A worthy cause, which, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t so bad.”
“Not so bad?!” exclaimed Rose incredulously, gesturing to her dishevelled look. Trekking through jungles - alien jungles at that - was not something she had expected. It wasn’t just hot and humid, it smelt revolting and was thick with razor sharp vines.
The Doctor looked at her for a second, before bursting into a fit of laughter. He always found something to laugh about, even in inappropriate situations. That was one of the reasons Rose travelled with him, he always found ways to make her laugh. Even now, despite her admittedly minor annoyance, she couldn’t help but laugh too.
“You’re bloody ridiculous sometimes,” laughed Rose.
“I know...it’s brilliant isn’t it!” he exclaimed, still chuckling.
“It’s all very well and good, but what the hell am I going to wear now?” she asked, “That Judoon confiscated my rucksack with all my clothes, then disintegrated it.”
“Anyone would think you’d never realised that the TARDIS has a wardrobe,” the Doctor noted. “I’m sure you can find something in there...just, you know, avoid the rainbow coat.”
“Rainbow coat?” she asked, curious.
“Yeah...” he replied hesitantly.
“I’m so finding that!” she exclaimed, before running off along the corridor to the wardrobe with eagerness.
“No, don’t do that. Really, just…” he trailed off as Rose went out of view. “Oh, well done Doctor, you had to open your mouth.” He scowled at himself, annoyed. He’d never live it down.
He strolled around the console, flicking the odd switch here and there. After a few minutes of this, the TARDIS was finally ready to take off again. And, with one pull of the materialisation lever, that strange wheezing sound filled the console room. The lights seemed to pulsate in sync with the noise, as if the ship was breathing somehow.
That sound was always relaxing to him, and he was always filled with wonder, never quite knowing where he’d end up next. Often, when he was alone, he’d stand at the console, listening to that sound, and stare up at the rotor. It was in these rare moments where he truly reflected on his life, remembering age-old adventures and long-gone friends. It was sad, of course, things always are when they end, but it was also wonderful, everything he’d seen and done. There was nothing quite like that.
He had once again drifted off, his memories cascading through his mind, like water falling over a cliff. Seconds later, however, he was interrupted by a beeping noise. It was coming from the scanner. “Ooh, what do we have here then?” the Doctor said aloud to himself, pressing a few buttons on the keypad. The screen flickered, before jumping to another page.
INCOMING SIGNAL...
Code: Unconfirmed
Origin: London, England, Sol 3, 1883 AD.
Details: No details available
“Now, that’s weird. What could be sending a signal from Victorian London...to the future?” he asked rhetorically, looking quizzical. The TARDIS lurched suddenly, almost throwing him off his feet. “What?!”
“Doctor, what’s happening?”
“I don’t...the TARDIS is being pulled in by this signal,” he said, bashing the screen as it started flickering again. “But it’s impossible!”
“Can you stop it?”
“The coordinates have fused somehow,” he exclaimed, looking confused. “But, whatever this signal is, it’s savage technology. 51st century tech if I had to guess.”
The TARDIS lurched again. “No, no, no!” the Doctor yelled.
“What is it?”
“Hold on tight. We’re gonna crash!”
He grabbed onto the rail around the edge of the console. Rose, who had started to make her way back to the console room, took hold of a sturdy-looking pipe. Then the TARDIS hit the ground, sending sparks flying about the room. It seemed to almost groan in pain.
“Rose, you okay?” he asked, rubbing his head.
“Yeah,” she replied, stumbling out of the corridor. “So, what’s the plan then?”
“Well, firstly, we need to find the source of that signal. Secondly, we need to deactivate said signal. Then, thirdly, deal with whoever sent the signal.”
“So, we need to be prepared then?”
“Oh, you know me, always prepared. Besides, we’ll do this stealthily,” he grinned, before running towards the door. “Come on then, let’s go!”
“Stealth mode? In Victorian London. With that suit?”
“What’s wrong with the suit?”
“Well, I mean, it’ll stick out like a sore thumb. And, you said, 51st Century, so it’s not a local doing this. If we go out, dressed like this, they’ll see us a mile away.”
“Oh yes, maybe you’re right. Let’s go for deep cover then, like that school.”
22“Yeah...you still just wore the suit.”
“Did I? I don’t recall,” he mused. “But I suppose you’re right.”
~JMA~
The TARDIS had materialised on a quiet, narrow alleyway, smog thick in the air. The door creaked open slowly, and Rose stepped out, almost colliding with the wall just outside. Her usual garb had been replaced with a plain, black lace dress, while her hair was tied back with ribbon. She paused, glancing up and down the alleyway, but the smog was clouding her vision.
“Doctor, what’s taking you so long?” she called back to the TARDIS.
“Sorry, just wanted to get this right,” he replied, stepping out from inside. He was dressed in a black version of his usual suit, with a black necktie in place of an ordinary tie, and a plain top hat. “What do you think then?”
“You should do this more often, when’s the last time you wore something different?”
“There’s nothing wrong with wearing the same thing, especially when it looks as good on you as that sut,” he said, closing the TARDIS door behind him. “Though I have been eyeing a blue one, might try it out at some point.”
“Okay, well that’s all well and good, but we’ve got a signal to follow. Shouldn’t we, you know, get on with that?”
“Ah yes, right. This way.”
“How’d you know?”
“I can sense the quantum stabilization emission within the atmosphere, used to enable signals to travel through the time vortex.”
“You basically located it with the TARDIS, didn’t you?”
“Yep,” he admitted.
They walked down the alleyway, the smog clinging to the buildings. There was no sign of any people, but it seemed to be very early in the morning. Rounding a corner, they found themselves on a mostly empty thoroughfare, where the skies were slightly clearer. A horse and cart was trundling along the road, carrying several barrels of what looked like ale. The shops were all shut up, their occupants clearly not having yet awoken. It all seemed ordinary, like a page out of a history book. Nothing was amiss whatsoever.
And then, as if on cue, a scream echoed out. A scream of deep anguish. Rounding on the spot, the Doctor and Rose immediately started running towards its source, not sparing a second thought.
~JMA~
6 Hours Later...
“Finally decided to show up, did you?” a stern looking woman called out. She was an older woman, probably in her mid-sixties, with her hair fastened up in a net. Her dress, a dark shade of purple, seemed to only increase her fierceness. Clearly, she wasn’t someone to be trifled with. “What sort of time d’you call this?”
“Sorry Ms Archer,” the girl replied, entering the inn cautiously. She looked a mixture of nervous and sad. “It’s just, well, someone took father.”
“What d’you mean ‘someone took father’?” Ms Archer asked, adopting a tone of disbelief.
“Someone took ‘im,” she insisted, potentially pushing her grandmother’s patience. “I-I didn’t see what happened. He just...called out, but when I got there, he was gone. His room was all smashed up too.”
“I wouldn’t worry,” Ms Archer said dismissively. “This is hardly the first time your father has made a disappearance. It probably won’t be the last either. All those fanciful notions of his, all his reckoning that he’s the next Galileo. Huh! it’s unpatriotic!”
“But-” she tried to argue.
“Ah, ah! We’ll hear no more about this. Besides, we’ve got customers, and a pretty face like yours doesn’t half keep ‘em drinking,” Ms Archer stated firmly, stroking her granddaughter’s face with the back of her hand. She didn’t really seem to care about the girl's feelings, despite her showing of affection. Just as she was about to head over to the bar, she noticed another girl behind her granddaughter. “Picking up waifs and strays, are we? Who, in the name of the crown, is this?”
“She’s a friend,” Laura answered, refusing to meet her grandmother’s gaze. “Rose.”
“Rose...who exactly?” Ms Archer pushed further.
“Rose Tyler,” Rose introduced herself, offering a handshake. “I’ve just been helping Laura.”
Ms. Archer merely looked down at Rose’s outstretched hand, before deciding she wasn’t going to reciprocate. “Well, Miss Tyler, I can’t say you’ve ever been mentioned.”
“Well, I’ve heard all about you Ms. Archer.”
“Have you now,” Ms. Archer drawled. She turned, having noticed some customers heading in. “Well, we’ve got customers, so if you wouldn’t mind...”
“P’raps I could help out?” Rose inquired.
“Hmm,” she expressed, clearly thinking of some reason to say no. “I don’t see why not. Just don’t get in the way, and don’t even think about straggling. I punish stragglers, you hear me?”
With that, Ms Archer headed back over to the bar, leaving the two girls standing in the middle of the room. Laura hurriedly fetched two pinafores, both of which were rather tatty. The inn itself wasn’t really anything special; several of the window panes had glass missing, the tables were all bashed up, and there also appeared to be a leak. It reminded Rose of a pub that used to be round the corner from the Powell Estate, one as rundown as this.
“‘ere you go,” Laura said, handing Rose the least tattiest pinafore available. “Might not be the best, then again-” she paused, before correcting herself, “No, never mind.”
“Go on, you can tell me. I won’t breathe a word,” Rose assured her, tying her pinny around her waist.
“Okay...it’s just, nothing round ‘ere is the best,” she breathed, her voice hardly audible.
“Yeah, your gran doesn’t seem like she’s bothered by all that. And you don’t seem short on customers either.”
“We’d best get to work, you really don’t want to keep grandma waiting,” Laura said hurriedly, rushing off to the bar, leaving Rose to keep up.
Look what I’ve gotten myself into, she thought. Stuck as a barmaid...while he’s off gallivanting about. Sodding typical.
She sighed, before committing herself to the task in hand. It couldn’t be that different to her last job, it was still London after all. Strolling up to her first table, where several middle-aged men who looked like ship workers were sat, she couldn’t help but think back to what had gotten her into this situation.
They ran, as fast as they could; the oxygen pumping through their veins. They reached a house, the source of the noise, and the Doctor threw open the door. He rushed up the stairs, with Rose in hot pursuit. There, they found a girl, probably in her early twenties, possibly younger, tears streaming down her face.
Rose instinctively ran over to the girl, crouching down next to her. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. You’re safe,” Rose reassured her. She placed her arm round her, trying her best to comfort the girl, who looked a little perplexed in amongst the tears. “My name’s Rose and this is the Doctor. What’s your name?”
“L-Laura,” she stuttered, tears still falling.
“What happened here Laura?” the Doctor asked, crouching down in front of her. He’d noticed signs of a struggle, but wanted to be certain.
“Someone took my father,” she sobbed. “I ‘eard a lot of noise, like a struggle, but when I got ‘ere...when I got ‘ere, he was gone.”
“It’s okay, we’re gonna get him back. Together,” Rose told her.
“Did you see anyone?” the Doctor inquired further. He lept up to his feet, and paced around the room, looking for any kind of clues. A variety of objects were scattered on the floor, a mirror lay broken, the bed sheets were ripped; all of which showed the tell tale signs of a struggle, yet nothing had been taken. All save the girl's father.
“No, they were gone when I got up ‘ere,” she replied, still sobbing.
“Did he, I dunno, have any enemies? Anyone who he’d slighted, or owed money to, or anything?” he asked, trying to think.
“No...everyone round ‘ere likes him,” answered Laura, her tears subsiding slightly. “He runs the stables at the inn, always discounts locals.”
“That leaves very little to go on,” the Doctor admitted solemnly, before stopping to stare at a scorch mark on the wall. “Although...that helps, a lot.”
“What is it?” Rose asked.
“Discharge from an energy blaster of some kind, the pattern is familiar. It’s gotta be our signaller friend. But, as for what they want with her father, no idea.”
“Wait...what are you saying? You know who took him?” Laura asked hesitantly, unsure if he was mad or a genius, or both.
“Ahh, well, not exactly,” the Doctor replied. “But I am gonna find out.”
“So, what’s our first move then?” Rose asked him, helping Laura to her feet.
“We split up,” he answered. “You stay with Laura, in case the signaller returns. I go and find her father.”
“You know, splitting up never goes well. It always ends badly in films,” Rose pointed out. “Just, be careful, yeah?”
“Oh, you know me.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You’d better be.”
“Right, I’ll be off then,” he said, flashing a cheesy grin. “Allons-y!”
~JMA~
The Next Day...
Rose had awoken fairly early, half expecting the Doctor back. He wasn’t. She had told herself he would be absolutely fine, he’d just be back later is all. But, as the hours had drifted by, she couldn’t help but start to think something had gone wrong. What if he’s been taken hostage, she thought, her mind racing, or has been arrested or strung up by bat-people. That is a bit unlikely, though stranger things have happened.
The sound of someone clearing their throat wrenched Rose away from her thoughts, and she looked up to see Ms. Archer glaring at her. “Girl! What was your name again? Oh, never mind, why are you stood around doing nothing?!” she snapped, “Get scrubbing. This floor best be shining when I’m back, or you’ll be out on your ear.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Rose responded, deliberately being overenthusiastic.
Ms. Archer did not look amused, in fact she looked like she’d been chewing on a swarm of very angry hornets. But, rather than making any vocal acknowledgement, she just turned on her heels and left the room in silence. Somehow, this was worse than if she’d have shouted, in this case the bite was more severe than the bark.
Sighing, she resigned herself to the task in hand. After all, she could hardly offer protection if the landlady kicked her out. A few hours and a bucket full of sweat later...and the floor looked no different, aside from being wet.
“Don’t worry, that floor never looks clean,” Laura admitted, noticing Rose’s exasperation. “In fact I often wonder whether grandmama has done something to it, use it for punishment scrubbing.”
“How’d you do it?” Rose asked in reply, pulling herself up from the floor. “I’m knackered just from this, but you manage it ten times over.”
“Practice, I guess,” she shrugged.
“Don’t you ever, I dunno, want to do more?”
“Sometimes…” she admitted, pausing on the word, as if saying it aloud was difficult. “It’s just, well I can’t, my whole world is here. My friends, my family, everything. Besides, you need an education to move up in things, and nobody round ‘ere can afford that. It’s for those folk with the big ‘ouses and fancy clothes, not the likes of us.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, not your fault.”
“It’s just a shame that you live in this time. Where I’m from, everyone goes to school, it doesn’t matter whether you’re rich or poor; it’s compulsory. I wish I’d put more effort in, especially when there’s people like you who want to, but can’t. In a way, I feel like I kinda owed them.”
“As they say, you can’t change the past. At least you got the chance, that’s the main thing. I think your home is probably wonderful. Why’d you leave?” Laura asked curiously.
“It’s a long story. But, basically, I found myself stuck in a rut, going nowhere, working a crappy job for even crappier pay, and then the Doctor fell into my life. And we travel about together, see all sorts of things.”
“Are you ‘n he…?”
Changing the subject, as if she simply hadn’t heard the question, she wondered aloud, “Speaking of the Doctor, I wonder where he’s got to?”
“Do you think he’ll find ‘im?” Laura asked apprehensively.
“Yes, I do,” she affirmed. “That’s what he – what we – do. Save people.”
“Why d’you do it?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do. We make a stand, when nobody else will.”
Laura gazed wistfully out of the window, pondering on this. Two people, travelling wherever the wind takes them, helping those in need, it sounded like something out of a fairytale. She had heard plenty when she was young, back when her mother was still alive, they’d always filled her with wonder. To be faced with something that seemed to be fairytale-come-to-life, in real life, was both amazing and slightly too good to be true.
“It’s strange...the more I listen to you, the more unusual you seem. You sound ordinary, just like anyone, yet there’s something more, something slightly distant.”
“I guess that’s travelling with the Doctor. He’s opened my eyes to so much, and I don’t want to close them again.”
“You’re lucky to have him.”
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
~JMA~
The Doctor had been tied up, in a darkened room, for hours. He’d also been gagged, which had only been done to shut him up. If he didn’t have a plan, he’d gab on for hours. Talking nonsense was a great way to convince his enemy he was stupid. In fact, it usually distracted them enough for him to come up with a plan, carry out said plan and win. But, in this instance, it didn’t seem to be going very well.
Yes, he’d been left alone, well aside from the also-tied-up figure in the corner. But, even if he’d got a plan, there wasn’t really anything around him that he could use to enact said not-yet-thought-up plan. He was tied up too, and really rather well, so he couldn’t even move to get the sonic from his pocket. Just typical. If only he was better at magic, then he could escape with ease. Perhaps he ought to take it up some day, for situations like these, and parties of course. It’d compliment his famous banana daiquiris.
At that exact moment, the door creaked open, and the man who’d tied him up walked in. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, with unkempt jet-black hair, a scraggly pirate-esque beard, and wore what appeared to be a modified American Civil War longcoat. “So,” he drawled, with an american accent. “You decided to tell me who you really are?”
The Doctor tried to answer, but he could only make vague sounds. If he had heard what he’d said, it would probably have solved everything, after all he was known for his people skills.
His captor strolled over to him, deciding to remove the gag.
“That’s better,” the Doctor proclaimed. “Hello.”
“Don’t start going off on a random tangent again, ‘cause then I’ll have to shoot you in the face,” he said matter-of-factly, casually revealing his holstered blaster.
“Before you get to any, erm, face shooting, who exactly are you? ‘Cos you’ve been very vague on that so far.”
He considered for a moment, before answering, “Captain Hex Krassic. Time Agent. Well, kinda.”
“Oh, I knew a kinda Time Agent once,” the Doctor told him. “You’re not a con artist too, are you?”
“Let’s just say I’ve had enough with missions and assignments,” he replied. “I want more than that, and you’re not gonna stop me.”
“Well, I mean, that kind of depends on what you want, and what you’re doing in the Victorian era. ‘Cause you’re probably not on holiday or something.”
“Where’s your partner?” Hex asked, changing the subject.
“My partner?” the Doctor considered, “Nope, I don’t have one.”
“How stupid do you think I am?” countered Hex, “Only captains can undertake solo missions, and I know all the captains...intimately. Ergo, you have a partner.”
“Ah yes, that’s right, I’m a Time Agent,” he lied, deciding it was easier to agree. “I run around doing Time Agent-y stuff.”
“Clearly your partner is the one in charge, you’re an idiot.”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“I’ll save my questions for ‘em, clearly I’m not gonna get anything more out of you.”
Hex hastily re-tied the gag, having decided it’d be best to keep him as a hostage. And, without sparing a glance, he exited the room, closing the door as he went.
~JMA~
Rose headed upstairs, having decided to turn in for the night. Ms Archer had, begrudgingly, offered her a room, though only after she’d agreed to not have any wages. If she’d have been staying permanently, then she’d have kicked up a right fuss, and undoubtedly ended up thrown out. Still, the Doctor would be back soon, she was sure of it. There’s no way he’d be gone longer, was there?
“Night Rose,” Laura called out from the end of the hallway, smiling.
“Night Laura,” she replied, smiling back. With that, she went into her room, which was as tatty as the rest of the inn. The bed sheets were stained, it looked like moths had been at the curtains, the windows were thick with grime, and there was the clear smell of damp. Still, she had seen worse; like her mates student accommodation, or that one house party.
Suddenly, she felt something around her neck. It was strangling her. She tried to scream. No sound came out. She tried to pull the rope or wire from her neck. It wouldn’t budge. Kicking and trying to wrestle her attacker, she managed to knock the two of them to the floor. But that didn’t save her. The rope grew taut.
She felt certain she was going to die. Her mum might never know what happened to her, she’d keep waiting. God, she didn’t want to die. In fact, it terrified her. She wasn’t ready. Not yet. There were things she wanted to do, things she needed to say. Now they might not be chance. No, she thought, keep fighting, don’t give up. So she made one last push. A final stand. She kicked. Elbowed. Flailed.
Everything started to go dark. Like the light was being drawn from the world. Her limbs became heavier. It wouldn’t be long until she-
There was a loud thwack followed by a groan. Rose coughed violently, gasping for air. She panted heavily, taking in deep breaths. “Rose, Rose!” Laura shouted, rushing over to her, “Are you alright?”
Rose looked at her, struggling to get the words out. It felt like someone had put barbed wire in her throat. “No...but, I’ll be fine,” she managed, sounding very hoarse. “I’m just...glad you...you got here.”
“So am I,” she replied, smiling forlornly. Behind her was the crumpled figure of the attacker, who Laura had hit across the back of his head. “Don’t worry, I gave ‘im a good whack.”
“Good on you girl,” Rose smiled. “What d’you use?”
“Saucepan.”
“You’re made of tougher stuff than you look,” said Rose, attempting to get to her feet. A wave of dizziness hit her, she grabbed a hold of Laura to steady herself.
“I think you need to sit down,” she told her, helping her to a chair by the bed.
“But I need to find the Doctor, he might be in trouble,” Rose protested, more at her own inability to stand than Laura’s recommendation. She turned to look at the attacker, but he was gone. “Where’d he go?”
Laura rushed out the door to see if he was still there, and she saw him dive out the window at the far end of the hallway. “He, erm...dived out the window,” she called back to Rose.
“Dammit,” exclaimed Rose. Annoyed at herself for not being able to get up. “I’ll have to go after him.”
“No, you need rest.”
“But-”
“No, rest up. Go after ‘im in the morning if you must.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” she conceded. Laura was right, after all. She was in no fit state to go chasing people. As stubborn as she was, she couldn’t find the energy to try.
~JMA~
Rose awoke with a start. Bad idea. She squinted at the harsh sunlight that filtered in through the curtain and covered her face with her hand. Stifling a yawn, she tried to recall the exact moment she fell asleep yesterday, but everything was hazy after Laura had saved her.
She hopped out of bed and winced at the feel of the cold floorboards against her bare feet. “Victorian era could do with better central heating,” she muttered as she padded across the room and grabbed the clean white shirt that had been left on the stool for her.
As she reached to grab it, she heard indistinct murmurings outside her door. She curiously pressed her ear against the door and listened carefully. She couldn’t help her curiosity. Whoever was on the other side of the sounded uneasy.
“You’re overreacting!” It was Laura, and she didn’t sound very pleased.
“I won’t have your cheek, young lady!” Ms Archer hissed back. “Huh, overreacting. That girl isn’t right, she’s one of them.”
“One of who!” Laura spluttered. “Sort yourself out, gran!”
Rose adjusted her position slightly to get a better grasp of the conversation, and cursed quietly when her foot hit a creaky floorboard. The argument on the other side of the door ceased, and the next thing Rose knew, the Archers were barging their way into the room, forcing her further back.
“Huh, and there you have it, Laura!” Ms Archer proclaimed. “Eavesdropping, were you?”
“What d’you think was gonna happen?” Rose glared at her incredulously. “You were chatting outside my door!”
Ms Archer opened her mouth to retort, looked behind Rose’s shoulder, noticed the glass shards, pushed her aside and yelped. “What did you do to my window!” she shrieked.
“That wasn’t my fault!” Rose exclaimed.
“Oh, I bet it wasn’t,” Ms Archer scoffed. “See, that’s the problem with girls like you, Rose Tyler. All chat but no sense at all.”
“Oh, cheers. What are you, the Wicked Stepmother?”
“What are you saying now?!”
“Oh, right. Beyond your time.”
Laura stepped forward to diffuse the tension. “Grandma, c’mon, let’s ‒”
“Oh, be quiet, Laura!” Ms Archer snapped. “Don’t meddle in affairs beyond your station, you stupid girl! What would you father say, oh, I dread to think!”
“Oi, lay off her!” Rose interrupted, gesturing towards the broken window. “The glass is mostly on the outside!”
“So?” Ms Archer huffed.
“So, the glass was broken from the inside.” Rose. “So before you have a go at Laura, have a go at the person who attacked us last night!”
“Oh, I know all about that,” Ms Archer said proudly, jerking a thumb at Laura. “She told me. One of your lot, is he? What did you do to a fella like that, huh? What if he comes back? What do I tell the other guests?”
“Nothing,” Rose replied. “Because I’m going after him.”
“What?” Laura gasped. “Then I’m coming too!”
“You sure?”
Laura nodded earnestly. ”You ain’t gonna stop me?”
“Your choice,” Rose shrugged noncommittally. “I’ll just get dressed, and we’ll ‒”
“No!” Ms Archer cried, pushing Rose aside and clasping Laura’s hands in her own. “You can’t go! Think about what you’re doing!”
“I have to, grandma! What choice do I have? I’ve gotta find dad!”
“This foolhardiness isn’t going to help anyone, you silly girl!” Ms Archer sighed in frustration. “This is a matter for the police!”
“We’re beyond the police,” Rose piped up.
“A criminal? Well, I can’t say I’m surprised,” Ms Archer tutted. She turned back to her granddaughter and adopted a pleading tone. “Laura, please. This isn’t the way! Just stay here with me!”
“No!” Laura asserted. “I can’t just sit about and do nothing! They need help, and I’m gonna give it.” She gently pulled away from the grip and turned to Rose. “I’ll wait outside.”
Rose nodded, and after a final apology, Laura left the room. Ms Archer stood in the spot for a few seconds, too shocked to speak. Finally she plucked up the courage and turned to Rose, who had her arms crossed.
“This is all your fault,” she said accusingly. “You’ve put all these dangerous and reckless ideas in her head. Just who gave you the right?”
“Who gave you the right to stop her from doing what she wants?” Rose challenged in return. “”Insulting her, bossing her about, keeping her...trapped?”
“I’m her grandmother!” Ms Archer bristled. “It’s just me, my son and her. It’s always been like that for a long time now. We don’t need some stranger to come sauntering in and messing that up, thank you very much. Just who are you, Rose?”
“I’m here to help,” Rose replied.
“But, it’s like,” Ms Archer sighed. “Look at you. All confidence and swagger. You say you’re not part of the police, and you’re certainly not a member of her Majesty’s government or Torchwood or whatever that malarkey is, but it’s more.”
Rose uncrossed her arms and looked at her curiously. “What d’you mean?”
Ms Archer pursed her lips. “You walk about like you just haven’t got anything left to live for. It’s not right. It’s not proper. You’re not...you’re not right.”
“Look,” Rose sighed. She tried not to let the words get to her. “You can think all you want ‘bout me, but it ain’t changing nothing. There’s someone out there who’s hurting people. And he’s going to keep hurting people. Laura can help, just like she helped me yesterday.”
The conflict in Ms Archer’s eyes were as clear as day. Finally, she sighed and turned towards the door. “Do what you want. But you bring her back safe, you hear?”
Rose’s mouth formed a thin line. “I can’t promise that.”
“Huh,” Ms Archer muttered. “Of course you can’t.”
With that, she left Rose alone in the room.
~JMA~
“This looks like the place,” Rose observed. They’d arrived at what seemed like an abandoned factory, clearly the industrial revolution wasn’t as prosperous as it was made out to be. Still, it was surprisingly well-kept, in fact it seemed to be in full-working order, except there were no workers. Nobody at all.
“How can you be sure?” Laura asked. They had passed several factories and warehouses already.
“The air feels...strange,” she noted. “It makes your hair stand on end. Like static electricity.”
“What do we do then?”
“I’ll go marching in there, cause a big scene, and do something incredibly clever. Usually works for the Doctor.”
“And me?”
“You hang back, stay out of sight okay?”
“Sure.”
The two of them entered the building cautiously, trying to make as little sound as possible. It was strange to see it like this, with everything still in place, while the workers were nowhere to be seen. The Mary Celeste of factories. Edging further inside, being sure to stick to the shadows, the factory started to open out. It seemed vast, a cathedral of industry. Yet it was deadly quiet. Nothing seemed to stir as they approached the center of the place.
Rose stopped sharply, noticing something further inside, up on one of the gantries. She gestured to Laura, getting her to keep to the side of the room. There, she could remain hidden from view, behind the industrial equipment. Once she was safely out of sight, Rose moved further into the room, towards whatever it was she could just make out. After several paces, it became clear it was a person. Tentatively, she drew closer, and closer, until she could just make out their face.
“Doctor!” she exclaimed loudly, overjoyed to see him. She rushed up the metal steps, along the gantry, and towards him. Once she got within several feet, she was stopped in her tracks as the room abruptly lit up.
Not daring to move, she looked around her. The Doctor was bound and gagged, his head lolling to the side. He was unconscious. Obviously so he couldn’t have warned her of the trap she was walking into. She noticed, through the grating, a kaleidoscope of flashing lights. Blues, yellows, reds and everything in between. It could have been any kind of futuristic technology, but, if she had to hazard a guess, she’d say it was the device emitting the signal.
There was a spark of electricity, followed by a blinding white flash. A man, the same one who attacked her by the looks of it, had appeared just in front of her. “So, you’re the organ grinder then? I expected someone a little more...formidable.”
“I’ll show you formidable in a second mate,” she countered defensively.
“You’re a right firecracker,” he chuckled, before changing tact. “I think we can do away with the small talk, don’t you?”
“Good idea. Now let him go.”
“Can’t do that. Not until we’ve discussed business.”
“What business?”
“Don’t play the fool, I know you’re a Time Agent. And one with authority too.”
“Ah, he told you then?” she asked rhetorically, deciding to play along while she tried to come up with a plan. That’s what the Doctor did. “So, let’s get to it. What is it that you want?”
“I want you to walk away. Go back to the agency, tell them everything was fine, pretend you never saw me.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then we’ll be in an awkward quandary, won’t we?” he warned, overdramatically gasping for effect. “‘Cos I’m not going back to the agency.”
“But what’s to stop me just telling them everything?”
“Because your partner won’t be going with you.”
“You’ve really thought this through. I’m impressed.”
“Always knew the agency might catch wind of what’s happening here, I’d just hoped they wouldn’t detect any temporal anomalies.”
“Okay...here’s the thing, if you wanted to have this deal, why were you at the inn earlier?”
“I’ve not been to any inn, far too busy for pleasure.”
“Then who...” she contemplated, running through a list of increasingly unlikely people in her mind. “Oh, nevermind.”
“So...do we have a deal?”
“Hmm, what if I gave you a counter offer?”
“Go on...”
“You pack up. Leave this time zone. Find a nice beach somewhere.”
“I thought about it, sure, but that’s not enough, not for me. Why have a holiday, when you have the whole of time to play around with?”
“Yeah, but, like, what can you do in Victorian Britain?”
“The technology I have is way above these primitives. Nothing here can stand in my way, nothing. I can shape things to my will, decide who lives and who dies. I can become a god!”
“You wanna be a god? I mean, as plans go, that’s pretty...well, bog standard.”
“A typical bad guy trope,” he laughed. “But it’s exactly the sort of abuse of power that’d make the agency regret making an enemy of me.”
“You’ve got beef with the time agency, and you’re gonna mess with time to punish them?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “And, d’you know what else?”
“What?” she asked cautiously.
“You’re not a Time Agent at all,” he sighed, taking out his blaster and pointing it at her. “Who are you really?”
“I’m Rose, he’s the Doctor,” she revealed, giving up the deception. “We’re time travelers, like you. Our ship picked up a signal from this era, and that’s what led us to you.”
“Hex Krassic,” he offered his name in return, briefly forgetting where he was. “Anyway, that’s good. D’you know why?”
At first, she didn’t answer. But then he cocked his head expectantly, so she decided she may as well humour him. “Why?”
“‘Cos it means the agency can’t detect me. That signal is blocking them out, preventing them from detecting anomalies. Well, at least until it’s too late. I thought it wasn’t strong enough when you showed up, but clearly it is.”
“What about those people you’ve kidnapped, eh?”
“Merely distractions for the agency. I give them new memories, drop them in a random time zone, and leave it to them to figure it out.”
“Distract them? What for?”
“To stop them looking for moi. I’m a fugitive, you see. Was on the run for some time before creating the jamming device. Now, I can be free of them. Oh, and yeah, free of you too.”
He raised his gun slightly, intending to shoot Rose. His finger was almost on the trigger when-
“Oi, mister!” hollered Laura, emerging from her hiding spot. She was carrying a large gun, clearly some kind of alien rifle. “Where is my father?”
“Oh for god's sake!” he exclaimed, clearly having had enough. “Just drop the gun, I know you won’t use it. Not that you’d be able to make it work.”
“I said, where is my father?” this time not asking, but demanding. She pointed the rifle at him, causing him to falter slightly. Rose, meanwhile, stayed rooted to the spot, not daring to move.
“I’m not sure I recall taking your father. But then, I don’t know who you are so, y’know, kinda difficult for me to answer.”
“The people you’ve taken, where are they? You said summat about time zones.”
“Not here, well, there may be one or two kicking about still. As for where I’m sending them, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
“I’ve dispersed them throughout time. Some in the past, some in the future. They won’t even remember where they came from, I fiddled about with their brains a bit.”
“So it’s like that Dickens book ‒ just without ghosts ‘n the old bloke ‒ and it’s real, it’s actually real? But you, you just use it to mess with people, use ‘em as distractions. All the things you could do, and that’s what you choose?”
“That’s about it, yeah,” he answered nonchalantly. “Now, why don’t you put down that gun, eh? Walk out those doors, yeah, otherwise you’ll never be seen again.”
“Not without my dad.”
“Well then,” he said, toying slightly. Like it was some kind of game, “I’m really very sorry. We all know what’s gonna happen here. You’ve not got it in you. But I have.”
"Give him back!” she yelled.
“No,” he shot back. “So, say your goodbyes now.”
“Okay,” she replied cooly. “Goodbye.”
She pulled the trigger. But, rather than kill him, she shot the blaster out of his hand, sending it spiralling down to the floor below. It was as much a shock for her as it was everyone else.
“You bitch!” he swore angrily. He went to move towards her but ‒
“Stay where you are,” she warned. “Move, and I shoot again, got it?”
“Loud and clear,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Go, Laura!” Rose cheered, before realising that she looked like a complete idiot. She rushed over to the Doctor, and hastily started to untie him. Laura approached the three of them, keeping the gun trained on Hex.
“Where d’you keep the people you’ve kidnapped?” she asked Hex.
“Down there,” he resigned himself to telling her, and pointed at a door to what looked like a storage room. “There’s still a few of them.”
She turned her head slightly, just enough to see the door. Bad move. Quick as a flash, Hex had wrenched the gun from her hand, turning it on her. “Oh dear, looks like ‒”
Whack. Rose had kicked him. Hard enough to send him over the railing, and onto the hard concrete floor below. As he hit the floor, his Vortex Manipulator sparked, and he vanished in a flash of light.
“Where’d he go?” Laura asked.
“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “But it looked like his Vortex Manipulator ‒ his time travel thing ‒ was damaged.”
“What if he comes back?”
“Hmm, he could do, yeah. You stay up here with the Doctor, I’ll get the gun.”
She climbed down a ladder at the side of the gantry. It was only a couple of meters to the ground. There wasn’t much light below, save for the signalling device, and the slight glint of the floodlights about her. She found the charred remains of Hex’s blaster which, on closer inspection was a Squareness gun, clearly they were all the rage in the 51st Century.
Moving over to the device, she could see all it’s lights flashing. There was a screen too, but it didn’t reveal anything, it just had a variety of unrecognisable symbols. Still, wasn’t important right now. Pulling some wires out of the way, she spotted the gun. It was a little off to the side of the room. She was within touching distance when there was another flash of light, followed by a loud thud.
Hex had reappeared. For a moment, he didn’t move. Then he crawled forward, putting his hand on the gun. But, even if he could have lifted it, Rose had put her foot on it. “Yeah, you’re not going anywhere sunshine.”
“Why are you two so hard to kill?” he groaned, “Even in the past, just now, I caught you off guard. Then she comes barging in, with an effing saucepan.”
“Oh shut it will you. It’s over,” she stated, before picking up the gun and throwing it up to the gantry. “Laura, reach inside his coat pocket, there should be a metal device, blue at the end.”
After a couple of seconds, she stuck her head over the side. “This it?” she asked, holding out the sonic screwdriver.
“Yeah, that’s the one,” she confirmed. Laura dropped it down to her, and she caught it with ease.
“What’s that device?” Hex asked, squinting at it.
“Never you mind mate. And I thought I told you to shut up?”
He grumbled, but said nothing else. Instead, he rubbed the back of his head, where he’d been whacked by Laura.
“Now, to shut down this thing,” Rose thought aloud. She pointed the sonic at the machine, and pressed the button. It made it’s distinctive whirring sound, which Laura thought sounded like a weird penny-whistle. The machine shot out sparks, and its lights faded into darkness.
“No!” Hex roared. “Do you know what you’ve done?!”
“Yeah, stopped your stupid plan, that’s what. You’re not gonna take anymore people either.”
“They’ll kill me you know. Just to keep their secrets hidden. They’re not as squeaky clean as they look.”
“Well I’m sorry. But, you know, the agency isn’t the one causing trouble here, this was all you.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” he remarked, before trying his Vortex Manipulator. “Argh, dammit, it’s fried.”
“Goodbye Hex,” she said, turning away from him. “I’d say it’s been a pleasure, but y’know, it hasn’t.”
“Thing will end sourly for you, mark my words. Shame I won’t be there to witness that storm.”
She ignored him, enough people had given her prophetic warnings, it was starting to become a real life trope. Instead, she climbed back up the ladder, leaving the former Time Agent to his fate. Laura had managed to finish untying the Doctor and, between them, they managed to carry him. The stairs proved a bit awkward though, as they weren’t very wide.
They made it to the other end of the factory, where the storeroom was, and propped the Doctor up against the wall. Entering the room, they found it piled with boxes, but they could see a few figures tied up, sacks over their heads. Laura went up to them one by one, removing the sacks, each time becoming more desperate to find her father. Meanwhile, Rose used the sonic to cut the ropes, so that they could get out when they awoke.
Getting to the last person, she hoped and prayed it was him. To have gotten this close and not find him would be devastating. Nervously, she lifted the sack from their head, it almost felt like time slowed, as if it took years. Wonderfully ‒ miraculously ‒ it was him. “Father,” she cried, beyond overjoyed. “Rose, Rose! Help me untie him.”
~JMA~
An hour later…
Between the two of them, Rose and Laura had managed to get the Doctor and Laura’s father back to the inn. A very concerned and dishevelled Mrs Archer had greeted them, she’d not left her son's side since. Laura seemed a lot more upbeat, especially after Rose had used the sonic to confirm he’d make a full recovery. If she hadn’t been so worried, Mrs Archer would have probably been all uppity about this device, calling it witchcraft or something.
Since then, Rose had been sat next to the Doctor. It made her think back to the time Grandad Prentice was in hospital, she and her mum visited every day. They’d sit by his bedside for hours, with Jackie reciting various family stories. Somehow, the memory of that made her feel safe, made her feel that everything would be okay.
“Rose,” the Doctor murmured. He immediately sat bolt upright. “What did I miss?”
“Doctor!” she exclaimed, giving him a big hug. “You’ve missed a lot. I’ll have to explain later.”
Laura came rushing in. “Oh, I’m so glad he’s awake,” she gushed. “Thank you Doctor, for trying to rescue my dad. You put yourself in danger to save ‘im.”
“Laura, it was my pleasure,” he smiled. “But it looks like you didn’t need me.”
“Rose was amazing!”
“How’s your dad?” Rose inquired.
“Still the same,” she admitted. “But he looks peaceful.”
“I’d hoped I might get to meet him, but we should be going now. Right Doctor?”
“Yeah, we should do that. Busy, busy, that’s us!”
“Must you?” Laura asked forlornly.
“Afraid so,” Rose told her. “I’m just glad to have met you, Laura Archer.”
“Just, don’t go yet,” she implored. “I’ll be back down in a jiffy, wait here.”
Before Rose could argue, Laura had shot up the stairs, out of sight. A second later, she was back, carrying something. Mrs Archer followed her down.
“I wanted to give you something, to remember me by,” she smiled, revealing the saucepan she’d hit Hex with.
“The best present I could wish for.”
“You’re welcome,” she replied, hugging Rose tightly. “Thank you Rose, for everything.”
“It was my pleasure, honestly.”
The Doctor, meanwhile, felt rather out of it. Was this what his companions felt like whenever he brought back new people? Still, he accepted a hug off Laura, all the same.
Mrs Archer walked up to Rose, sighed, and held out her hand. Finally deciding she was worthy of at least that. “Miss Tyler, I may not agree with your methods, or even like your company all that much, but thank you. Thank you for bringing Laura back safe, and returning my son. I’m forever grateful.”
Rose merely nodded in agreement. Best to leave things on a good note.
“Right, well, we’d best be going,” the Doctor said. “Goodbye Laura, Mrs Archer.”
“Laura, just remember, you’re brilliant,” Rose said happily. “Have a great life!”
“Thank you. I’ll miss you.”
“Me too,” Rose confirmed. The two hugged one final time, and with a wave, Rose was gone.
Laura sighed, and turned to face her gran. “Shall I start setting up?” she asked.
“No, I think we can skip one night. Besides, you should move on from this place. Find something you’d rather be doing. I’ll still be here, any time. As will your father.”
~JMA~
After a couple of days away, Rose was glad to be back in the TARDIS. She’d changed her clothes almost as soon as she walked through the doors; gone were the Victorian garments, back was her usual attire. The Doctor had gone off through the corridors, muttering something about “trying that blue suit on”. Knowing him, he’d spend hours trying on different things, like he was modelling them for himself, then come back with his normal suit.
As if on cue, he strolled back into the console room. Wearing his brown pinstripe suit. As expected. “That’s better,” he exclaimed, sighing happily.
“It definitely suits you, no denying,” she told him, before inquiring, “Where to now then?”
“Well, basically, wherever you want,” he beamed. “I owe you and all that.”
“Hmm, how’s about ‒” she started, before being interrupted by the unmistakable sound of her phone ringing. She picked it up. “Mum?”
The Doctor busied himself with the TARDIS, which, in this situation, meant trying to appear as though he wasn’t just waiting around. Jackie was clearly waffling on about something, as per normal. She could talk for england if she put her mind to it, and believe her she would.
“Okay, okay. Well, I’ll be there in like a second. Don’t try and argue,” Rose said to her after what seemed like an age. “See you shortly.”
With that, she put the phone down. “What’s up?” the Doctor asked.
“I need to give someone a piece of my mind.”
Suddenly, without warning, the white-backed doors inside the TARDIS flew open. Rose’s blonde hair flowed behind her as she ran into the console room, the lights leaping back into life. Her clothes were muddy and torn in places, as though she’d been trekking through dense jungle for days. The Doctor, meanwhile, strolled inside casually, his suit still pristine.
“What was all that about?” asked Rose, sounding annoyed.
“Oh, that. Well, it was just a general- a general reconnaissance,” the Doctor replied.
“Is that what we’re calling it?!” she retorted. “I’ve been trekking through the jungle for hours. And then, it turns out you’ve gone marching into the place.”
“I mean, yeah, you could say that. But I knew you’d never let me go in there alone, and the people needed someone, so I got you distracted. A worthy cause, which, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t so bad.”
“Not so bad?!” exclaimed Rose incredulously, gesturing to her dishevelled look. Trekking through jungles - alien jungles at that - was not something she had expected. It wasn’t just hot and humid, it smelt revolting and was thick with razor sharp vines.
The Doctor looked at her for a second, before bursting into a fit of laughter. He always found something to laugh about, even in inappropriate situations. That was one of the reasons Rose travelled with him, he always found ways to make her laugh. Even now, despite her admittedly minor annoyance, she couldn’t help but laugh too.
“You’re bloody ridiculous sometimes,” laughed Rose.
“I know...it’s brilliant isn’t it!” he exclaimed, still chuckling.
“It’s all very well and good, but what the hell am I going to wear now?” she asked, “That Judoon confiscated my rucksack with all my clothes, then disintegrated it.”
“Anyone would think you’d never realised that the TARDIS has a wardrobe,” the Doctor noted. “I’m sure you can find something in there...just, you know, avoid the rainbow coat.”
“Rainbow coat?” she asked, curious.
“Yeah...” he replied hesitantly.
“I’m so finding that!” she exclaimed, before running off along the corridor to the wardrobe with eagerness.
“No, don’t do that. Really, just…” he trailed off as Rose went out of view. “Oh, well done Doctor, you had to open your mouth.” He scowled at himself, annoyed. He’d never live it down.
He strolled around the console, flicking the odd switch here and there. After a few minutes of this, the TARDIS was finally ready to take off again. And, with one pull of the materialisation lever, that strange wheezing sound filled the console room. The lights seemed to pulsate in sync with the noise, as if the ship was breathing somehow.
That sound was always relaxing to him, and he was always filled with wonder, never quite knowing where he’d end up next. Often, when he was alone, he’d stand at the console, listening to that sound, and stare up at the rotor. It was in these rare moments where he truly reflected on his life, remembering age-old adventures and long-gone friends. It was sad, of course, things always are when they end, but it was also wonderful, everything he’d seen and done. There was nothing quite like that.
He had once again drifted off, his memories cascading through his mind, like water falling over a cliff. Seconds later, however, he was interrupted by a beeping noise. It was coming from the scanner. “Ooh, what do we have here then?” the Doctor said aloud to himself, pressing a few buttons on the keypad. The screen flickered, before jumping to another page.
INCOMING SIGNAL...
Code: Unconfirmed
Origin: London, England, Sol 3, 1883 AD.
Details: No details available
“Now, that’s weird. What could be sending a signal from Victorian London...to the future?” he asked rhetorically, looking quizzical. The TARDIS lurched suddenly, almost throwing him off his feet. “What?!”
“Doctor, what’s happening?”
“I don’t...the TARDIS is being pulled in by this signal,” he said, bashing the screen as it started flickering again. “But it’s impossible!”
“Can you stop it?”
“The coordinates have fused somehow,” he exclaimed, looking confused. “But, whatever this signal is, it’s savage technology. 51st century tech if I had to guess.”
The TARDIS lurched again. “No, no, no!” the Doctor yelled.
“What is it?”
“Hold on tight. We’re gonna crash!”
He grabbed onto the rail around the edge of the console. Rose, who had started to make her way back to the console room, took hold of a sturdy-looking pipe. Then the TARDIS hit the ground, sending sparks flying about the room. It seemed to almost groan in pain.
“Rose, you okay?” he asked, rubbing his head.
“Yeah,” she replied, stumbling out of the corridor. “So, what’s the plan then?”
“Well, firstly, we need to find the source of that signal. Secondly, we need to deactivate said signal. Then, thirdly, deal with whoever sent the signal.”
“So, we need to be prepared then?”
“Oh, you know me, always prepared. Besides, we’ll do this stealthily,” he grinned, before running towards the door. “Come on then, let’s go!”
“Stealth mode? In Victorian London. With that suit?”
“What’s wrong with the suit?”
“Well, I mean, it’ll stick out like a sore thumb. And, you said, 51st Century, so it’s not a local doing this. If we go out, dressed like this, they’ll see us a mile away.”
“Oh yes, maybe you’re right. Let’s go for deep cover then, like that school.”
22“Yeah...you still just wore the suit.”
“Did I? I don’t recall,” he mused. “But I suppose you’re right.”
~JMA~
The TARDIS had materialised on a quiet, narrow alleyway, smog thick in the air. The door creaked open slowly, and Rose stepped out, almost colliding with the wall just outside. Her usual garb had been replaced with a plain, black lace dress, while her hair was tied back with ribbon. She paused, glancing up and down the alleyway, but the smog was clouding her vision.
“Doctor, what’s taking you so long?” she called back to the TARDIS.
“Sorry, just wanted to get this right,” he replied, stepping out from inside. He was dressed in a black version of his usual suit, with a black necktie in place of an ordinary tie, and a plain top hat. “What do you think then?”
“You should do this more often, when’s the last time you wore something different?”
“There’s nothing wrong with wearing the same thing, especially when it looks as good on you as that sut,” he said, closing the TARDIS door behind him. “Though I have been eyeing a blue one, might try it out at some point.”
“Okay, well that’s all well and good, but we’ve got a signal to follow. Shouldn’t we, you know, get on with that?”
“Ah yes, right. This way.”
“How’d you know?”
“I can sense the quantum stabilization emission within the atmosphere, used to enable signals to travel through the time vortex.”
“You basically located it with the TARDIS, didn’t you?”
“Yep,” he admitted.
They walked down the alleyway, the smog clinging to the buildings. There was no sign of any people, but it seemed to be very early in the morning. Rounding a corner, they found themselves on a mostly empty thoroughfare, where the skies were slightly clearer. A horse and cart was trundling along the road, carrying several barrels of what looked like ale. The shops were all shut up, their occupants clearly not having yet awoken. It all seemed ordinary, like a page out of a history book. Nothing was amiss whatsoever.
And then, as if on cue, a scream echoed out. A scream of deep anguish. Rounding on the spot, the Doctor and Rose immediately started running towards its source, not sparing a second thought.
~JMA~
6 Hours Later...
“Finally decided to show up, did you?” a stern looking woman called out. She was an older woman, probably in her mid-sixties, with her hair fastened up in a net. Her dress, a dark shade of purple, seemed to only increase her fierceness. Clearly, she wasn’t someone to be trifled with. “What sort of time d’you call this?”
“Sorry Ms Archer,” the girl replied, entering the inn cautiously. She looked a mixture of nervous and sad. “It’s just, well, someone took father.”
“What d’you mean ‘someone took father’?” Ms Archer asked, adopting a tone of disbelief.
“Someone took ‘im,” she insisted, potentially pushing her grandmother’s patience. “I-I didn’t see what happened. He just...called out, but when I got there, he was gone. His room was all smashed up too.”
“I wouldn’t worry,” Ms Archer said dismissively. “This is hardly the first time your father has made a disappearance. It probably won’t be the last either. All those fanciful notions of his, all his reckoning that he’s the next Galileo. Huh! it’s unpatriotic!”
“But-” she tried to argue.
“Ah, ah! We’ll hear no more about this. Besides, we’ve got customers, and a pretty face like yours doesn’t half keep ‘em drinking,” Ms Archer stated firmly, stroking her granddaughter’s face with the back of her hand. She didn’t really seem to care about the girl's feelings, despite her showing of affection. Just as she was about to head over to the bar, she noticed another girl behind her granddaughter. “Picking up waifs and strays, are we? Who, in the name of the crown, is this?”
“She’s a friend,” Laura answered, refusing to meet her grandmother’s gaze. “Rose.”
“Rose...who exactly?” Ms Archer pushed further.
“Rose Tyler,” Rose introduced herself, offering a handshake. “I’ve just been helping Laura.”
Ms. Archer merely looked down at Rose’s outstretched hand, before deciding she wasn’t going to reciprocate. “Well, Miss Tyler, I can’t say you’ve ever been mentioned.”
“Well, I’ve heard all about you Ms. Archer.”
“Have you now,” Ms. Archer drawled. She turned, having noticed some customers heading in. “Well, we’ve got customers, so if you wouldn’t mind...”
“P’raps I could help out?” Rose inquired.
“Hmm,” she expressed, clearly thinking of some reason to say no. “I don’t see why not. Just don’t get in the way, and don’t even think about straggling. I punish stragglers, you hear me?”
With that, Ms Archer headed back over to the bar, leaving the two girls standing in the middle of the room. Laura hurriedly fetched two pinafores, both of which were rather tatty. The inn itself wasn’t really anything special; several of the window panes had glass missing, the tables were all bashed up, and there also appeared to be a leak. It reminded Rose of a pub that used to be round the corner from the Powell Estate, one as rundown as this.
“‘ere you go,” Laura said, handing Rose the least tattiest pinafore available. “Might not be the best, then again-” she paused, before correcting herself, “No, never mind.”
“Go on, you can tell me. I won’t breathe a word,” Rose assured her, tying her pinny around her waist.
“Okay...it’s just, nothing round ‘ere is the best,” she breathed, her voice hardly audible.
“Yeah, your gran doesn’t seem like she’s bothered by all that. And you don’t seem short on customers either.”
“We’d best get to work, you really don’t want to keep grandma waiting,” Laura said hurriedly, rushing off to the bar, leaving Rose to keep up.
Look what I’ve gotten myself into, she thought. Stuck as a barmaid...while he’s off gallivanting about. Sodding typical.
She sighed, before committing herself to the task in hand. It couldn’t be that different to her last job, it was still London after all. Strolling up to her first table, where several middle-aged men who looked like ship workers were sat, she couldn’t help but think back to what had gotten her into this situation.
They ran, as fast as they could; the oxygen pumping through their veins. They reached a house, the source of the noise, and the Doctor threw open the door. He rushed up the stairs, with Rose in hot pursuit. There, they found a girl, probably in her early twenties, possibly younger, tears streaming down her face.
Rose instinctively ran over to the girl, crouching down next to her. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. You’re safe,” Rose reassured her. She placed her arm round her, trying her best to comfort the girl, who looked a little perplexed in amongst the tears. “My name’s Rose and this is the Doctor. What’s your name?”
“L-Laura,” she stuttered, tears still falling.
“What happened here Laura?” the Doctor asked, crouching down in front of her. He’d noticed signs of a struggle, but wanted to be certain.
“Someone took my father,” she sobbed. “I ‘eard a lot of noise, like a struggle, but when I got ‘ere...when I got ‘ere, he was gone.”
“It’s okay, we’re gonna get him back. Together,” Rose told her.
“Did you see anyone?” the Doctor inquired further. He lept up to his feet, and paced around the room, looking for any kind of clues. A variety of objects were scattered on the floor, a mirror lay broken, the bed sheets were ripped; all of which showed the tell tale signs of a struggle, yet nothing had been taken. All save the girl's father.
“No, they were gone when I got up ‘ere,” she replied, still sobbing.
“Did he, I dunno, have any enemies? Anyone who he’d slighted, or owed money to, or anything?” he asked, trying to think.
“No...everyone round ‘ere likes him,” answered Laura, her tears subsiding slightly. “He runs the stables at the inn, always discounts locals.”
“That leaves very little to go on,” the Doctor admitted solemnly, before stopping to stare at a scorch mark on the wall. “Although...that helps, a lot.”
“What is it?” Rose asked.
“Discharge from an energy blaster of some kind, the pattern is familiar. It’s gotta be our signaller friend. But, as for what they want with her father, no idea.”
“Wait...what are you saying? You know who took him?” Laura asked hesitantly, unsure if he was mad or a genius, or both.
“Ahh, well, not exactly,” the Doctor replied. “But I am gonna find out.”
“So, what’s our first move then?” Rose asked him, helping Laura to her feet.
“We split up,” he answered. “You stay with Laura, in case the signaller returns. I go and find her father.”
“You know, splitting up never goes well. It always ends badly in films,” Rose pointed out. “Just, be careful, yeah?”
“Oh, you know me.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You’d better be.”
“Right, I’ll be off then,” he said, flashing a cheesy grin. “Allons-y!”
~JMA~
The Next Day...
Rose had awoken fairly early, half expecting the Doctor back. He wasn’t. She had told herself he would be absolutely fine, he’d just be back later is all. But, as the hours had drifted by, she couldn’t help but start to think something had gone wrong. What if he’s been taken hostage, she thought, her mind racing, or has been arrested or strung up by bat-people. That is a bit unlikely, though stranger things have happened.
The sound of someone clearing their throat wrenched Rose away from her thoughts, and she looked up to see Ms. Archer glaring at her. “Girl! What was your name again? Oh, never mind, why are you stood around doing nothing?!” she snapped, “Get scrubbing. This floor best be shining when I’m back, or you’ll be out on your ear.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Rose responded, deliberately being overenthusiastic.
Ms. Archer did not look amused, in fact she looked like she’d been chewing on a swarm of very angry hornets. But, rather than making any vocal acknowledgement, she just turned on her heels and left the room in silence. Somehow, this was worse than if she’d have shouted, in this case the bite was more severe than the bark.
Sighing, she resigned herself to the task in hand. After all, she could hardly offer protection if the landlady kicked her out. A few hours and a bucket full of sweat later...and the floor looked no different, aside from being wet.
“Don’t worry, that floor never looks clean,” Laura admitted, noticing Rose’s exasperation. “In fact I often wonder whether grandmama has done something to it, use it for punishment scrubbing.”
“How’d you do it?” Rose asked in reply, pulling herself up from the floor. “I’m knackered just from this, but you manage it ten times over.”
“Practice, I guess,” she shrugged.
“Don’t you ever, I dunno, want to do more?”
“Sometimes…” she admitted, pausing on the word, as if saying it aloud was difficult. “It’s just, well I can’t, my whole world is here. My friends, my family, everything. Besides, you need an education to move up in things, and nobody round ‘ere can afford that. It’s for those folk with the big ‘ouses and fancy clothes, not the likes of us.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, not your fault.”
“It’s just a shame that you live in this time. Where I’m from, everyone goes to school, it doesn’t matter whether you’re rich or poor; it’s compulsory. I wish I’d put more effort in, especially when there’s people like you who want to, but can’t. In a way, I feel like I kinda owed them.”
“As they say, you can’t change the past. At least you got the chance, that’s the main thing. I think your home is probably wonderful. Why’d you leave?” Laura asked curiously.
“It’s a long story. But, basically, I found myself stuck in a rut, going nowhere, working a crappy job for even crappier pay, and then the Doctor fell into my life. And we travel about together, see all sorts of things.”
“Are you ‘n he…?”
Changing the subject, as if she simply hadn’t heard the question, she wondered aloud, “Speaking of the Doctor, I wonder where he’s got to?”
“Do you think he’ll find ‘im?” Laura asked apprehensively.
“Yes, I do,” she affirmed. “That’s what he – what we – do. Save people.”
“Why d’you do it?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do. We make a stand, when nobody else will.”
Laura gazed wistfully out of the window, pondering on this. Two people, travelling wherever the wind takes them, helping those in need, it sounded like something out of a fairytale. She had heard plenty when she was young, back when her mother was still alive, they’d always filled her with wonder. To be faced with something that seemed to be fairytale-come-to-life, in real life, was both amazing and slightly too good to be true.
“It’s strange...the more I listen to you, the more unusual you seem. You sound ordinary, just like anyone, yet there’s something more, something slightly distant.”
“I guess that’s travelling with the Doctor. He’s opened my eyes to so much, and I don’t want to close them again.”
“You’re lucky to have him.”
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
~JMA~
The Doctor had been tied up, in a darkened room, for hours. He’d also been gagged, which had only been done to shut him up. If he didn’t have a plan, he’d gab on for hours. Talking nonsense was a great way to convince his enemy he was stupid. In fact, it usually distracted them enough for him to come up with a plan, carry out said plan and win. But, in this instance, it didn’t seem to be going very well.
Yes, he’d been left alone, well aside from the also-tied-up figure in the corner. But, even if he’d got a plan, there wasn’t really anything around him that he could use to enact said not-yet-thought-up plan. He was tied up too, and really rather well, so he couldn’t even move to get the sonic from his pocket. Just typical. If only he was better at magic, then he could escape with ease. Perhaps he ought to take it up some day, for situations like these, and parties of course. It’d compliment his famous banana daiquiris.
At that exact moment, the door creaked open, and the man who’d tied him up walked in. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, with unkempt jet-black hair, a scraggly pirate-esque beard, and wore what appeared to be a modified American Civil War longcoat. “So,” he drawled, with an american accent. “You decided to tell me who you really are?”
The Doctor tried to answer, but he could only make vague sounds. If he had heard what he’d said, it would probably have solved everything, after all he was known for his people skills.
His captor strolled over to him, deciding to remove the gag.
“That’s better,” the Doctor proclaimed. “Hello.”
“Don’t start going off on a random tangent again, ‘cause then I’ll have to shoot you in the face,” he said matter-of-factly, casually revealing his holstered blaster.
“Before you get to any, erm, face shooting, who exactly are you? ‘Cos you’ve been very vague on that so far.”
He considered for a moment, before answering, “Captain Hex Krassic. Time Agent. Well, kinda.”
“Oh, I knew a kinda Time Agent once,” the Doctor told him. “You’re not a con artist too, are you?”
“Let’s just say I’ve had enough with missions and assignments,” he replied. “I want more than that, and you’re not gonna stop me.”
“Well, I mean, that kind of depends on what you want, and what you’re doing in the Victorian era. ‘Cause you’re probably not on holiday or something.”
“Where’s your partner?” Hex asked, changing the subject.
“My partner?” the Doctor considered, “Nope, I don’t have one.”
“How stupid do you think I am?” countered Hex, “Only captains can undertake solo missions, and I know all the captains...intimately. Ergo, you have a partner.”
“Ah yes, that’s right, I’m a Time Agent,” he lied, deciding it was easier to agree. “I run around doing Time Agent-y stuff.”
“Clearly your partner is the one in charge, you’re an idiot.”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“I’ll save my questions for ‘em, clearly I’m not gonna get anything more out of you.”
Hex hastily re-tied the gag, having decided it’d be best to keep him as a hostage. And, without sparing a glance, he exited the room, closing the door as he went.
~JMA~
Rose headed upstairs, having decided to turn in for the night. Ms Archer had, begrudgingly, offered her a room, though only after she’d agreed to not have any wages. If she’d have been staying permanently, then she’d have kicked up a right fuss, and undoubtedly ended up thrown out. Still, the Doctor would be back soon, she was sure of it. There’s no way he’d be gone longer, was there?
“Night Rose,” Laura called out from the end of the hallway, smiling.
“Night Laura,” she replied, smiling back. With that, she went into her room, which was as tatty as the rest of the inn. The bed sheets were stained, it looked like moths had been at the curtains, the windows were thick with grime, and there was the clear smell of damp. Still, she had seen worse; like her mates student accommodation, or that one house party.
Suddenly, she felt something around her neck. It was strangling her. She tried to scream. No sound came out. She tried to pull the rope or wire from her neck. It wouldn’t budge. Kicking and trying to wrestle her attacker, she managed to knock the two of them to the floor. But that didn’t save her. The rope grew taut.
She felt certain she was going to die. Her mum might never know what happened to her, she’d keep waiting. God, she didn’t want to die. In fact, it terrified her. She wasn’t ready. Not yet. There were things she wanted to do, things she needed to say. Now they might not be chance. No, she thought, keep fighting, don’t give up. So she made one last push. A final stand. She kicked. Elbowed. Flailed.
Everything started to go dark. Like the light was being drawn from the world. Her limbs became heavier. It wouldn’t be long until she-
There was a loud thwack followed by a groan. Rose coughed violently, gasping for air. She panted heavily, taking in deep breaths. “Rose, Rose!” Laura shouted, rushing over to her, “Are you alright?”
Rose looked at her, struggling to get the words out. It felt like someone had put barbed wire in her throat. “No...but, I’ll be fine,” she managed, sounding very hoarse. “I’m just...glad you...you got here.”
“So am I,” she replied, smiling forlornly. Behind her was the crumpled figure of the attacker, who Laura had hit across the back of his head. “Don’t worry, I gave ‘im a good whack.”
“Good on you girl,” Rose smiled. “What d’you use?”
“Saucepan.”
“You’re made of tougher stuff than you look,” said Rose, attempting to get to her feet. A wave of dizziness hit her, she grabbed a hold of Laura to steady herself.
“I think you need to sit down,” she told her, helping her to a chair by the bed.
“But I need to find the Doctor, he might be in trouble,” Rose protested, more at her own inability to stand than Laura’s recommendation. She turned to look at the attacker, but he was gone. “Where’d he go?”
Laura rushed out the door to see if he was still there, and she saw him dive out the window at the far end of the hallway. “He, erm...dived out the window,” she called back to Rose.
“Dammit,” exclaimed Rose. Annoyed at herself for not being able to get up. “I’ll have to go after him.”
“No, you need rest.”
“But-”
“No, rest up. Go after ‘im in the morning if you must.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” she conceded. Laura was right, after all. She was in no fit state to go chasing people. As stubborn as she was, she couldn’t find the energy to try.
~JMA~
Rose awoke with a start. Bad idea. She squinted at the harsh sunlight that filtered in through the curtain and covered her face with her hand. Stifling a yawn, she tried to recall the exact moment she fell asleep yesterday, but everything was hazy after Laura had saved her.
She hopped out of bed and winced at the feel of the cold floorboards against her bare feet. “Victorian era could do with better central heating,” she muttered as she padded across the room and grabbed the clean white shirt that had been left on the stool for her.
As she reached to grab it, she heard indistinct murmurings outside her door. She curiously pressed her ear against the door and listened carefully. She couldn’t help her curiosity. Whoever was on the other side of the sounded uneasy.
“You’re overreacting!” It was Laura, and she didn’t sound very pleased.
“I won’t have your cheek, young lady!” Ms Archer hissed back. “Huh, overreacting. That girl isn’t right, she’s one of them.”
“One of who!” Laura spluttered. “Sort yourself out, gran!”
Rose adjusted her position slightly to get a better grasp of the conversation, and cursed quietly when her foot hit a creaky floorboard. The argument on the other side of the door ceased, and the next thing Rose knew, the Archers were barging their way into the room, forcing her further back.
“Huh, and there you have it, Laura!” Ms Archer proclaimed. “Eavesdropping, were you?”
“What d’you think was gonna happen?” Rose glared at her incredulously. “You were chatting outside my door!”
Ms Archer opened her mouth to retort, looked behind Rose’s shoulder, noticed the glass shards, pushed her aside and yelped. “What did you do to my window!” she shrieked.
“That wasn’t my fault!” Rose exclaimed.
“Oh, I bet it wasn’t,” Ms Archer scoffed. “See, that’s the problem with girls like you, Rose Tyler. All chat but no sense at all.”
“Oh, cheers. What are you, the Wicked Stepmother?”
“What are you saying now?!”
“Oh, right. Beyond your time.”
Laura stepped forward to diffuse the tension. “Grandma, c’mon, let’s ‒”
“Oh, be quiet, Laura!” Ms Archer snapped. “Don’t meddle in affairs beyond your station, you stupid girl! What would you father say, oh, I dread to think!”
“Oi, lay off her!” Rose interrupted, gesturing towards the broken window. “The glass is mostly on the outside!”
“So?” Ms Archer huffed.
“So, the glass was broken from the inside.” Rose. “So before you have a go at Laura, have a go at the person who attacked us last night!”
“Oh, I know all about that,” Ms Archer said proudly, jerking a thumb at Laura. “She told me. One of your lot, is he? What did you do to a fella like that, huh? What if he comes back? What do I tell the other guests?”
“Nothing,” Rose replied. “Because I’m going after him.”
“What?” Laura gasped. “Then I’m coming too!”
“You sure?”
Laura nodded earnestly. ”You ain’t gonna stop me?”
“Your choice,” Rose shrugged noncommittally. “I’ll just get dressed, and we’ll ‒”
“No!” Ms Archer cried, pushing Rose aside and clasping Laura’s hands in her own. “You can’t go! Think about what you’re doing!”
“I have to, grandma! What choice do I have? I’ve gotta find dad!”
“This foolhardiness isn’t going to help anyone, you silly girl!” Ms Archer sighed in frustration. “This is a matter for the police!”
“We’re beyond the police,” Rose piped up.
“A criminal? Well, I can’t say I’m surprised,” Ms Archer tutted. She turned back to her granddaughter and adopted a pleading tone. “Laura, please. This isn’t the way! Just stay here with me!”
“No!” Laura asserted. “I can’t just sit about and do nothing! They need help, and I’m gonna give it.” She gently pulled away from the grip and turned to Rose. “I’ll wait outside.”
Rose nodded, and after a final apology, Laura left the room. Ms Archer stood in the spot for a few seconds, too shocked to speak. Finally she plucked up the courage and turned to Rose, who had her arms crossed.
“This is all your fault,” she said accusingly. “You’ve put all these dangerous and reckless ideas in her head. Just who gave you the right?”
“Who gave you the right to stop her from doing what she wants?” Rose challenged in return. “”Insulting her, bossing her about, keeping her...trapped?”
“I’m her grandmother!” Ms Archer bristled. “It’s just me, my son and her. It’s always been like that for a long time now. We don’t need some stranger to come sauntering in and messing that up, thank you very much. Just who are you, Rose?”
“I’m here to help,” Rose replied.
“But, it’s like,” Ms Archer sighed. “Look at you. All confidence and swagger. You say you’re not part of the police, and you’re certainly not a member of her Majesty’s government or Torchwood or whatever that malarkey is, but it’s more.”
Rose uncrossed her arms and looked at her curiously. “What d’you mean?”
Ms Archer pursed her lips. “You walk about like you just haven’t got anything left to live for. It’s not right. It’s not proper. You’re not...you’re not right.”
“Look,” Rose sighed. She tried not to let the words get to her. “You can think all you want ‘bout me, but it ain’t changing nothing. There’s someone out there who’s hurting people. And he’s going to keep hurting people. Laura can help, just like she helped me yesterday.”
The conflict in Ms Archer’s eyes were as clear as day. Finally, she sighed and turned towards the door. “Do what you want. But you bring her back safe, you hear?”
Rose’s mouth formed a thin line. “I can’t promise that.”
“Huh,” Ms Archer muttered. “Of course you can’t.”
With that, she left Rose alone in the room.
~JMA~
“This looks like the place,” Rose observed. They’d arrived at what seemed like an abandoned factory, clearly the industrial revolution wasn’t as prosperous as it was made out to be. Still, it was surprisingly well-kept, in fact it seemed to be in full-working order, except there were no workers. Nobody at all.
“How can you be sure?” Laura asked. They had passed several factories and warehouses already.
“The air feels...strange,” she noted. “It makes your hair stand on end. Like static electricity.”
“What do we do then?”
“I’ll go marching in there, cause a big scene, and do something incredibly clever. Usually works for the Doctor.”
“And me?”
“You hang back, stay out of sight okay?”
“Sure.”
The two of them entered the building cautiously, trying to make as little sound as possible. It was strange to see it like this, with everything still in place, while the workers were nowhere to be seen. The Mary Celeste of factories. Edging further inside, being sure to stick to the shadows, the factory started to open out. It seemed vast, a cathedral of industry. Yet it was deadly quiet. Nothing seemed to stir as they approached the center of the place.
Rose stopped sharply, noticing something further inside, up on one of the gantries. She gestured to Laura, getting her to keep to the side of the room. There, she could remain hidden from view, behind the industrial equipment. Once she was safely out of sight, Rose moved further into the room, towards whatever it was she could just make out. After several paces, it became clear it was a person. Tentatively, she drew closer, and closer, until she could just make out their face.
“Doctor!” she exclaimed loudly, overjoyed to see him. She rushed up the metal steps, along the gantry, and towards him. Once she got within several feet, she was stopped in her tracks as the room abruptly lit up.
Not daring to move, she looked around her. The Doctor was bound and gagged, his head lolling to the side. He was unconscious. Obviously so he couldn’t have warned her of the trap she was walking into. She noticed, through the grating, a kaleidoscope of flashing lights. Blues, yellows, reds and everything in between. It could have been any kind of futuristic technology, but, if she had to hazard a guess, she’d say it was the device emitting the signal.
There was a spark of electricity, followed by a blinding white flash. A man, the same one who attacked her by the looks of it, had appeared just in front of her. “So, you’re the organ grinder then? I expected someone a little more...formidable.”
“I’ll show you formidable in a second mate,” she countered defensively.
“You’re a right firecracker,” he chuckled, before changing tact. “I think we can do away with the small talk, don’t you?”
“Good idea. Now let him go.”
“Can’t do that. Not until we’ve discussed business.”
“What business?”
“Don’t play the fool, I know you’re a Time Agent. And one with authority too.”
“Ah, he told you then?” she asked rhetorically, deciding to play along while she tried to come up with a plan. That’s what the Doctor did. “So, let’s get to it. What is it that you want?”
“I want you to walk away. Go back to the agency, tell them everything was fine, pretend you never saw me.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then we’ll be in an awkward quandary, won’t we?” he warned, overdramatically gasping for effect. “‘Cos I’m not going back to the agency.”
“But what’s to stop me just telling them everything?”
“Because your partner won’t be going with you.”
“You’ve really thought this through. I’m impressed.”
“Always knew the agency might catch wind of what’s happening here, I’d just hoped they wouldn’t detect any temporal anomalies.”
“Okay...here’s the thing, if you wanted to have this deal, why were you at the inn earlier?”
“I’ve not been to any inn, far too busy for pleasure.”
“Then who...” she contemplated, running through a list of increasingly unlikely people in her mind. “Oh, nevermind.”
“So...do we have a deal?”
“Hmm, what if I gave you a counter offer?”
“Go on...”
“You pack up. Leave this time zone. Find a nice beach somewhere.”
“I thought about it, sure, but that’s not enough, not for me. Why have a holiday, when you have the whole of time to play around with?”
“Yeah, but, like, what can you do in Victorian Britain?”
“The technology I have is way above these primitives. Nothing here can stand in my way, nothing. I can shape things to my will, decide who lives and who dies. I can become a god!”
“You wanna be a god? I mean, as plans go, that’s pretty...well, bog standard.”
“A typical bad guy trope,” he laughed. “But it’s exactly the sort of abuse of power that’d make the agency regret making an enemy of me.”
“You’ve got beef with the time agency, and you’re gonna mess with time to punish them?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “And, d’you know what else?”
“What?” she asked cautiously.
“You’re not a Time Agent at all,” he sighed, taking out his blaster and pointing it at her. “Who are you really?”
“I’m Rose, he’s the Doctor,” she revealed, giving up the deception. “We’re time travelers, like you. Our ship picked up a signal from this era, and that’s what led us to you.”
“Hex Krassic,” he offered his name in return, briefly forgetting where he was. “Anyway, that’s good. D’you know why?”
At first, she didn’t answer. But then he cocked his head expectantly, so she decided she may as well humour him. “Why?”
“‘Cos it means the agency can’t detect me. That signal is blocking them out, preventing them from detecting anomalies. Well, at least until it’s too late. I thought it wasn’t strong enough when you showed up, but clearly it is.”
“What about those people you’ve kidnapped, eh?”
“Merely distractions for the agency. I give them new memories, drop them in a random time zone, and leave it to them to figure it out.”
“Distract them? What for?”
“To stop them looking for moi. I’m a fugitive, you see. Was on the run for some time before creating the jamming device. Now, I can be free of them. Oh, and yeah, free of you too.”
He raised his gun slightly, intending to shoot Rose. His finger was almost on the trigger when-
“Oi, mister!” hollered Laura, emerging from her hiding spot. She was carrying a large gun, clearly some kind of alien rifle. “Where is my father?”
“Oh for god's sake!” he exclaimed, clearly having had enough. “Just drop the gun, I know you won’t use it. Not that you’d be able to make it work.”
“I said, where is my father?” this time not asking, but demanding. She pointed the rifle at him, causing him to falter slightly. Rose, meanwhile, stayed rooted to the spot, not daring to move.
“I’m not sure I recall taking your father. But then, I don’t know who you are so, y’know, kinda difficult for me to answer.”
“The people you’ve taken, where are they? You said summat about time zones.”
“Not here, well, there may be one or two kicking about still. As for where I’m sending them, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
“I’ve dispersed them throughout time. Some in the past, some in the future. They won’t even remember where they came from, I fiddled about with their brains a bit.”
“So it’s like that Dickens book ‒ just without ghosts ‘n the old bloke ‒ and it’s real, it’s actually real? But you, you just use it to mess with people, use ‘em as distractions. All the things you could do, and that’s what you choose?”
“That’s about it, yeah,” he answered nonchalantly. “Now, why don’t you put down that gun, eh? Walk out those doors, yeah, otherwise you’ll never be seen again.”
“Not without my dad.”
“Well then,” he said, toying slightly. Like it was some kind of game, “I’m really very sorry. We all know what’s gonna happen here. You’ve not got it in you. But I have.”
"Give him back!” she yelled.
“No,” he shot back. “So, say your goodbyes now.”
“Okay,” she replied cooly. “Goodbye.”
She pulled the trigger. But, rather than kill him, she shot the blaster out of his hand, sending it spiralling down to the floor below. It was as much a shock for her as it was everyone else.
“You bitch!” he swore angrily. He went to move towards her but ‒
“Stay where you are,” she warned. “Move, and I shoot again, got it?”
“Loud and clear,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Go, Laura!” Rose cheered, before realising that she looked like a complete idiot. She rushed over to the Doctor, and hastily started to untie him. Laura approached the three of them, keeping the gun trained on Hex.
“Where d’you keep the people you’ve kidnapped?” she asked Hex.
“Down there,” he resigned himself to telling her, and pointed at a door to what looked like a storage room. “There’s still a few of them.”
She turned her head slightly, just enough to see the door. Bad move. Quick as a flash, Hex had wrenched the gun from her hand, turning it on her. “Oh dear, looks like ‒”
Whack. Rose had kicked him. Hard enough to send him over the railing, and onto the hard concrete floor below. As he hit the floor, his Vortex Manipulator sparked, and he vanished in a flash of light.
“Where’d he go?” Laura asked.
“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “But it looked like his Vortex Manipulator ‒ his time travel thing ‒ was damaged.”
“What if he comes back?”
“Hmm, he could do, yeah. You stay up here with the Doctor, I’ll get the gun.”
She climbed down a ladder at the side of the gantry. It was only a couple of meters to the ground. There wasn’t much light below, save for the signalling device, and the slight glint of the floodlights about her. She found the charred remains of Hex’s blaster which, on closer inspection was a Squareness gun, clearly they were all the rage in the 51st Century.
Moving over to the device, she could see all it’s lights flashing. There was a screen too, but it didn’t reveal anything, it just had a variety of unrecognisable symbols. Still, wasn’t important right now. Pulling some wires out of the way, she spotted the gun. It was a little off to the side of the room. She was within touching distance when there was another flash of light, followed by a loud thud.
Hex had reappeared. For a moment, he didn’t move. Then he crawled forward, putting his hand on the gun. But, even if he could have lifted it, Rose had put her foot on it. “Yeah, you’re not going anywhere sunshine.”
“Why are you two so hard to kill?” he groaned, “Even in the past, just now, I caught you off guard. Then she comes barging in, with an effing saucepan.”
“Oh shut it will you. It’s over,” she stated, before picking up the gun and throwing it up to the gantry. “Laura, reach inside his coat pocket, there should be a metal device, blue at the end.”
After a couple of seconds, she stuck her head over the side. “This it?” she asked, holding out the sonic screwdriver.
“Yeah, that’s the one,” she confirmed. Laura dropped it down to her, and she caught it with ease.
“What’s that device?” Hex asked, squinting at it.
“Never you mind mate. And I thought I told you to shut up?”
He grumbled, but said nothing else. Instead, he rubbed the back of his head, where he’d been whacked by Laura.
“Now, to shut down this thing,” Rose thought aloud. She pointed the sonic at the machine, and pressed the button. It made it’s distinctive whirring sound, which Laura thought sounded like a weird penny-whistle. The machine shot out sparks, and its lights faded into darkness.
“No!” Hex roared. “Do you know what you’ve done?!”
“Yeah, stopped your stupid plan, that’s what. You’re not gonna take anymore people either.”
“They’ll kill me you know. Just to keep their secrets hidden. They’re not as squeaky clean as they look.”
“Well I’m sorry. But, you know, the agency isn’t the one causing trouble here, this was all you.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” he remarked, before trying his Vortex Manipulator. “Argh, dammit, it’s fried.”
“Goodbye Hex,” she said, turning away from him. “I’d say it’s been a pleasure, but y’know, it hasn’t.”
“Thing will end sourly for you, mark my words. Shame I won’t be there to witness that storm.”
She ignored him, enough people had given her prophetic warnings, it was starting to become a real life trope. Instead, she climbed back up the ladder, leaving the former Time Agent to his fate. Laura had managed to finish untying the Doctor and, between them, they managed to carry him. The stairs proved a bit awkward though, as they weren’t very wide.
They made it to the other end of the factory, where the storeroom was, and propped the Doctor up against the wall. Entering the room, they found it piled with boxes, but they could see a few figures tied up, sacks over their heads. Laura went up to them one by one, removing the sacks, each time becoming more desperate to find her father. Meanwhile, Rose used the sonic to cut the ropes, so that they could get out when they awoke.
Getting to the last person, she hoped and prayed it was him. To have gotten this close and not find him would be devastating. Nervously, she lifted the sack from their head, it almost felt like time slowed, as if it took years. Wonderfully ‒ miraculously ‒ it was him. “Father,” she cried, beyond overjoyed. “Rose, Rose! Help me untie him.”
~JMA~
An hour later…
Between the two of them, Rose and Laura had managed to get the Doctor and Laura’s father back to the inn. A very concerned and dishevelled Mrs Archer had greeted them, she’d not left her son's side since. Laura seemed a lot more upbeat, especially after Rose had used the sonic to confirm he’d make a full recovery. If she hadn’t been so worried, Mrs Archer would have probably been all uppity about this device, calling it witchcraft or something.
Since then, Rose had been sat next to the Doctor. It made her think back to the time Grandad Prentice was in hospital, she and her mum visited every day. They’d sit by his bedside for hours, with Jackie reciting various family stories. Somehow, the memory of that made her feel safe, made her feel that everything would be okay.
“Rose,” the Doctor murmured. He immediately sat bolt upright. “What did I miss?”
“Doctor!” she exclaimed, giving him a big hug. “You’ve missed a lot. I’ll have to explain later.”
Laura came rushing in. “Oh, I’m so glad he’s awake,” she gushed. “Thank you Doctor, for trying to rescue my dad. You put yourself in danger to save ‘im.”
“Laura, it was my pleasure,” he smiled. “But it looks like you didn’t need me.”
“Rose was amazing!”
“How’s your dad?” Rose inquired.
“Still the same,” she admitted. “But he looks peaceful.”
“I’d hoped I might get to meet him, but we should be going now. Right Doctor?”
“Yeah, we should do that. Busy, busy, that’s us!”
“Must you?” Laura asked forlornly.
“Afraid so,” Rose told her. “I’m just glad to have met you, Laura Archer.”
“Just, don’t go yet,” she implored. “I’ll be back down in a jiffy, wait here.”
Before Rose could argue, Laura had shot up the stairs, out of sight. A second later, she was back, carrying something. Mrs Archer followed her down.
“I wanted to give you something, to remember me by,” she smiled, revealing the saucepan she’d hit Hex with.
“The best present I could wish for.”
“You’re welcome,” she replied, hugging Rose tightly. “Thank you Rose, for everything.”
“It was my pleasure, honestly.”
The Doctor, meanwhile, felt rather out of it. Was this what his companions felt like whenever he brought back new people? Still, he accepted a hug off Laura, all the same.
Mrs Archer walked up to Rose, sighed, and held out her hand. Finally deciding she was worthy of at least that. “Miss Tyler, I may not agree with your methods, or even like your company all that much, but thank you. Thank you for bringing Laura back safe, and returning my son. I’m forever grateful.”
Rose merely nodded in agreement. Best to leave things on a good note.
“Right, well, we’d best be going,” the Doctor said. “Goodbye Laura, Mrs Archer.”
“Laura, just remember, you’re brilliant,” Rose said happily. “Have a great life!”
“Thank you. I’ll miss you.”
“Me too,” Rose confirmed. The two hugged one final time, and with a wave, Rose was gone.
Laura sighed, and turned to face her gran. “Shall I start setting up?” she asked.
“No, I think we can skip one night. Besides, you should move on from this place. Find something you’d rather be doing. I’ll still be here, any time. As will your father.”
~JMA~
After a couple of days away, Rose was glad to be back in the TARDIS. She’d changed her clothes almost as soon as she walked through the doors; gone were the Victorian garments, back was her usual attire. The Doctor had gone off through the corridors, muttering something about “trying that blue suit on”. Knowing him, he’d spend hours trying on different things, like he was modelling them for himself, then come back with his normal suit.
As if on cue, he strolled back into the console room. Wearing his brown pinstripe suit. As expected. “That’s better,” he exclaimed, sighing happily.
“It definitely suits you, no denying,” she told him, before inquiring, “Where to now then?”
“Well, basically, wherever you want,” he beamed. “I owe you and all that.”
“Hmm, how’s about ‒” she started, before being interrupted by the unmistakable sound of her phone ringing. She picked it up. “Mum?”
The Doctor busied himself with the TARDIS, which, in this situation, meant trying to appear as though he wasn’t just waiting around. Jackie was clearly waffling on about something, as per normal. She could talk for england if she put her mind to it, and believe her she would.
“Okay, okay. Well, I’ll be there in like a second. Don’t try and argue,” Rose said to her after what seemed like an age. “See you shortly.”
With that, she put the phone down. “What’s up?” the Doctor asked.
“I need to give someone a piece of my mind.”
writer - RYDER SMITH
cover art - JANINE RIVERS
story editors - ZOE LANCE & ED GOUNDREY-SMITH
producer - JANINE RIVERS & ED GOUNDREY-SMITH
cover art - JANINE RIVERS
story editors - ZOE LANCE & ED GOUNDREY-SMITH
producer - JANINE RIVERS & ED GOUNDREY-SMITH