Emma's Six- The Final Year

Deception

'I've met up with some pretty nasty characters since I hooked up with Sarah Jane,' Clyde says when we retreat into the kitchen. 'But, as far as I'm concerned, none of them could hold a candle to my old man for what he did to me and my mum. But at the same time, he was my dad. Without him, I wouldn't even be here.'
'I feel the same way about Mrs Wormwood,' Luke says. 'I want to see her.'
'Mummy told you to stay away,' I say. 'And it's not like that Octopi scum wanted a kid, is it?'
'Emma's right,' Clyde nods. 'The Bane wanted to take over the world and eat us. That's something most families don't want to talk about.'
'I'm going,' Luke's about to step out of the room when I grab his arm.
'At least take someone with you.'
'I need to do this alone.'
'I'm not leaving you alone with her.'
'Can it, you two!' Anne yells. 'You two arguing already sparked off World War Three. Let's not start World War Four so soon!'
'It wasn't a World War,' Luke says, 'I don't get why you're all so dramatic about it.'
'After five hundred years, you get a different perspective on things. This is different to Emma not doing her GCSEs.'
'Please, Anne. I need to talk to her, alone.'
'Five minutes. If you're not down by then, we're coming up.' Luke nods and heads upstairs.

'Will Luke be okay?' Clyde asks.
'He'll be fine physically,' Harry says. 'Emma never said about his mental or emotional state.'
'Okay. How do you two know so much about us?'
'Emma,' Harry and James chorus.

The doorbell rings, and Clyde walks over to answer it. 'Sorry, this isn't a good time.' We hear a roar come from the front door and the door slamming shut. 'LUKE! IT'S THE ATTACK OF THE ONE-EYED SQUID THING! LUKE!' I run to help Clyde get the door.
'We can't hold it for much longer!' I yell at Luke as he and Mrs Wormwood descend the stairs. 'What is she doing out?'
'I couldn't leave her there; the Bane will kill her!'
'The containment vortex would've stopped them!'
'We have to escape, the back way!' Mrs Wormwood yells.
'Right, on the count of three,' Harry says. 'One...' A tentacle smashes through the window above the door. 'Forget it, just run!' We run out through the back door, only for a Bane to corner us there. All of us but Mrs Wormwood run out onto the driveway. When we get out onto the driveway, we find two Bane waiting for us.
'Typical. I turn vegetarian, and now I'm Bane munchies.' Clyde says.
'What happened to Mrs Wormwood?' Luke asks.
'She could be one of these squid things for all we know!' I yell as I pull my stomach out.
Clyde notices the hose. 'Luke, help!' We dash over, and Luke turns the tap on.
'Go!'
'Nothing eats Clyde Langer without a fight!' Clyde aims the hose at one of the Bane and presses the trigger, sending a jet of water at it. I fling my stomach at the other, and it shrieks. One of the Bane disarms Clyde. 'I think they're done playing with their food. Emma, is there any way you can protect us?'
'One, but it's full of risks, and-'
'Just do it!'
'There's a high chance we won't make it out alive if I do it.'
'We'll be fine,' Catalina assures me. 'You know who is friend and foe. Do it.'
I glance over at my stomach and nod. 'It will be best if we close our eyes.' I close mine, but I'm not sure if anyone else follows my suit.

'Bane kindred!' Mrs Wormwood yells just before I can do anything. The Bane turn to Mrs Wormwood. 'Humans and Hybrids are off the menu!' She uses her ring, and the Bane start shaking before they explode into yellow gunk.
'Nice one, Mrs W,' Clyde says.
'I had it under control,' I growl. A car screeches to a halt, and Mum, Mummy, and Rani dash out, with someone else close behind them.

'Luke!' Mummy cries. 'I told you to stay away from her!'
'She saved our lives!' Luke yells.
'It's true,' Clyde agrees. 'We were almost Bane chow before Mrs W used her ring.'
'Saving human lives is becoming a habit with me.'
'I had it under control,' I growl.
'I'm sure you had, half-breed.' I shrug. She's telling the truth; how can I see that as an insult? 'Do you have the scroll?'
'Yes, we do,' Mummy says.
'Then give it to me.'
'I don't think this is the right time.'
'Sarah Jane's right,' Rani agrees. 'UNIT soldiers spotted us, and they're likely heading this way!'
'Miss Chandra is right,' the other person says. 'We should be on our way.' His voice sounds authoritative- could it be?
'Brigadier?' I ask.
'Hello, you must be Emma Smith-White.'
'That's right. I guess Mum and Mummy talked about me.'
'UNIT also have a lot of files on you- most of them have Level One security.'
'I know of the last place UNIT will look for us,' Rani says. 'Let's go!'

We hurry out of the driveway and into the Brigadier's car, which is bigger on the inside. How do cars do that? The Brigadier drives down the High Street until we come to Bloomin' Lovely, Gita's flower shop. Gita isn't in today, thank goodness. We start closing the blinds. At least we don't have to worry about the sign. 'Hiding in a flower shop?' Clyde asks.
'I think it's a brilliant idea,' Jane says, 'UNIT won't think to look for us here, and nor will the Bane.'
'Tea,' Rani says. 'Come on, Mum's got a kettle out back.' Rani leads Clyde out to the back room.
'So, now can I see the scroll?' Mrs Wormwood asks.
'I should thank you for saving Luke and Clyde,' Mummy says. She's stalling for time.
'Oh, there's no need. I'm an outcast of the Bane Kindred; their only interest in me now is of digestion.' I head out the back, only to stop and stare.

Kaagh the Sontaran is holding Clyde and Rani at gunpoint.

I run to the front and grab a chair before racing back in and hitting Kaagh over the head. 'THAT IS FOR MURDERING MAGGIE!' I whack him again. 'THAT IS FOR TRYING TO DESTROY EARTH!' Kaagh disarms me. 'Go fuck yourself, Kaagh!'
'Silence, half-breed!' Kaagh holds his gun at me.
'A silly little gun doesn't scare me. What are you going to do? Shoot me? I'll just come back.'

'KAAGH!' Mrs Wormwood yells. I grab the gun off him, and we wrestle for it for a few moments.
'Kaagh is otherwise indisposed,' Clyde says.
'I will crush you with my bare hands, half-breed!'
'I will happily blast you to smithereens, clone!' I grab the gun and aim it at him.
'Are you really going to do it?' I hold my finger over the trigger as Kaagh advances. I back away towards the table. 'Will you shoot me in cold blood?'
'For Maggie? For Earth? Yes, I will!' But my finger still hovers. My back hits the table as Kaagh moves closer.
'You might think you are strong because of your Qetesh blood, but your human consciousness makes you weak!' Kaagh grabs the gun and pulls it towards him, pulling me with it. 'How you can live with yourself astounds me.' He pushes me to the floor and storms out to the front of the shop. I pick myself up. 'A Sontaran always keeps an oath of vengeance.' Kaagh snatches Mummy's sonic lipstick from her.
'You alien chaps never get the message, do you?' The Brigadier asks. Kaagh drops the sonic and stamps on it.
'You will regret doing that, Kaagh!' Mummy yells.
'You shall regret robbing me of the honour of Sontar for all eternity!'
'Kaagh and I both have a score to settle, Miss Smith,' Mrs Wormwood says. 'Our vengeance will span a galaxy.'
'Kaagh, do you have the consciousness of Horath?' I ask.
'A Sontaran never gives away his plans.'
'So, you do not deny that you are the Bane's agent? And are you both double-crossing them?'
'I could never return to Sontar. What sort of soldier is beaten by two females and a bunch of half-forms?'
'A very dumb one because you're a sore loser!'
'Emma,' Mum shoots me a warning glance.
'I was reduced to working as a mercenary for the Bane.'
'Kaagh was carrying the consciousness of Horath for the Bane when he recognised me on a planet in the Snake Tongue Nebula. The Bane had put a high price on my head. But I encouraged Kaagh to see the bigger picture. A much bigger picture. So, give me the scroll.'
'Don't do it, Sarah Jane!' Rani cries.
'Oh, I suggest you do. Or Kaagh will incinerate your friends one at a time.' Kaagh aims his gun at me, and I lunge for it.

Kaagh shoots me, and my body hits the ground.

'Shot yet again?' Charles Lightoller asks as he helps me up.
'Kaagh shot me, stupid Sontaran.'
Will chuckles. 'How many more times are you going to run into that Sontaran?'
'I hope this will be the last. Kaagh's infuriating.' I look around the group. James and Harry are still on Earth, but everyone else is here.
'Why are you facing a Sontaran again?' I tell the group what happened.
'If we can come back, we will support you,' Captain Smith promises. 'I will talk to the Higher Authority when you return, see what we can do.'
'Thank you, Captain. I better get back. I don't know what my friends are doing, and I'm needed there.' Captain Smith nods, and the golden gates appear. He walks through them, and the gates fade away.

'How do the gates work?' I ask.
'We have no clue,' Henry says. 'I thought they teleported, but it seems like they do something else.'
'Is that to stop people who can still live from going through?'
'I believe so. Do you know what you will do?'
'I will stop Mrs Wormwood and Kaagh bringing Horath back. I need to save the universe.' As I speak, the light around me glows brighter, and I close my eyes.