Emma's Six- The Final Year

Judoon Crashes

It is the first Sunday after we started year eleven, and a lot has changed. Instead of larking around as much as we used to, we sometimes spend our time together doing homework or catching up on our studies. While it is only the beginning of the year, Mum says we can never start too soon. But today is not one of those days we are revising. It is still warm and sunny, and UNIT agreed to give Sundays off for those going through Project History. Harry and James are in the driveway with Luke and Clyde, watching Clyde try to teach Luke a new trick. Catalina, Anne, Jane, Anna, and Kitty are in the back garden, talking and planning a musical they want to perform. They want my older self to be part of it, but they haven't heard back from her yet. From what I recall, Rani's still over the road with her parents, trying to make it seem like everything is normal. Let's face it; our lives are never usual. Most people would expect these to be the most exciting part of their lives: promotions, getting married or having children. But for us, those who help defend Earth, we know our lives will be far more unusual.

But most adventures begin on a typical day, and that's precisely how this one started. Mummy is driving back through the driveway after she met with the owner of Genetec when we spot what looks like a meteor shooting through the sky, passing very close to our house. 'So, what was that?' Clyde asks as we regroup. Even the queens emerge from the back garden. 'A meteor? Or a comet? Or something cool?'
'I think it was something "cool",' James says, 'but it's hard to tell what it is.'
'Are we finally succeeding in getting you both more attuned to twenty-first-century language?' Rani asks.
'Before we know it, it will change again,' Anne says, 'so we better keep our minds and ears open.'
'It was a body entering Earth's atmosphere, and that generates temperatures above 1,600 degrees centigrade. No way was that something cool, Clyde,' Luke says. We all groan when Luke finishes. Of course, that is something terrific!
'Yeah, you still have a long way to go with that humour thing, my young padawan,' Clyde says. Both Harry and James give him a blank look- we still haven't introduced them to Star Wars yet.
'Come on,' Mummy says. 'Mr Smith might know more.'
'We promised we'd help Emma today,' Catalina says. 'It's a couple of hours before Cunard reveals who's getting the promotion to first officer, and she's gone nuts.'
'Did she apply for the promotion?'
'Of course not! She never does, but they always consider her. Anyway, queens, we better get going.' The queens hurry over the road and out of sight.

'Mr Smith, I need you!' Mummy calls as we walk into the attic. She puts her handbag by her desk, and we all gather in the attic. Mr Smith opens up, and I notice both Harry and James still look amazed. When I meet Mr Smith after living through five hundred years, I will also look amazed.
'Sarah Jane, might I assume you witnessed the extraterrestrial body that recently entered Earth's atmosphere?'
'Good to see you're on the ball, Mr Smith,' Rani says.
'Well, he would know about it,' I say, 'he is a Xylok.'
'I have been tracking the object since it entered the solar system forty-five minutes ago.'
'It crossed the solar system in forty-five minutes?' Mum asks. 'There is no way we can be dealing with a normal meteor.'
'I detected the matter signature of ionic pulse fusion engines.'
'So, spaceship?' Harry guesses.
'That's correct, Harold.'
'How many times do I tell you to call me Harry?'
'I think I prefer calling you Harold. Anyway, I intercepted the following distress signal.' On Mr Smith's screen appears a talking Rhino. It seems humanoid, but the picture is grainy, so we cannot get a great view of it. But it seems to be enough to make Mum and Mummy's faces fall.
'Oh, boy,' Rani groans, 'a talking Rhino. Whatever next?'
'He's Judoon,' Mummy says. 'They work for the Shadow Proclamation. They're sort of galactic policemen.'

Judoon. They were present at the school! They were the ones that stole Park Vale! If I can question one of them, I might find out where Sky is and get her back. I owe my older self at least that.

'We nearly ran into the Judoon before, at the school,' Rani says, 'first day of year ten.'
'I remember it well,' I agree, 'do you think he'd know?'
'He must do. Surely all Judoon would know about that case?' Clyde asks, 'if he does, we can find him, and-'
'I'm sorry to disappoint you, Clyde, but UNIT has already isolated the spacecraft crash site.'
'It's not our problem, then. Leave it to the professionals, terrific.' We all head to different parts of the attic.

'But UNIT seems unaware of the life pod that was ejected before impact,' Mr Smith says after a few moments.
'Life pod?' Mum asks.
'My calculations suggest that it fell some ten miles outside the UNIT isolation zone, in the abandoned Brindley Chase Council Estate.'
'YES!' Harold says. 'This will be our first proper alien since we came back.'
'So you're not counting the Slitheen?' Luke asks.
'No, Slitheen are more every day compared to Judoon.'
'It takes a lot to knock a Judoon off its feet,' Mummy says, 'but someone might be injured. They might need our help!'
'If they're already looking for this ship, isn't it best left to UNIT?' Luke asks.
'Do you really want UNIT to have all the fun?' Harry asks. 'I want to get back out there and help defend Earth.'
'Me, too,' James agrees. 'I missed out on almost a hundred years of dealing with aliens; no way am I backing out now.'

'Although Luke has a point,' Rani says as we leave the house. 'Do we want to upset UNIT again? The whole Mrs Wormwood business only happened a month back!'
'And how do we explain that we know the ship ejected a life pod?' I ask. 'We are not letting UNIT get their hands on Mr Smith.'
'Plus, Judoon don't seem to be all that bright,' Mum agrees, 'it will be best if we step in to help out.'
'Oh, great,' Clyde says, 'a pan-galactic PC Plod!'
'UNIT carry guns, and so do the Judoon. If you ask me, that always spells trouble.'

'Sarah!' We hear Gita call.
'Sarah Jane,' Mummy mumbles as Gita hurries over the road.
'Sorry,' Rani whispers.
'Wait up,' Gita says as she approaches us. 'Oh, are you off somewhere?'
'Yes, Mum. According to the news, the meteor came down near here. We're going to check it out.'
'So, we are in a bit of a hurry,' Mummy says.
'Oh, not to worry, darling. It's just that I'm stepping up the corporate side of the flower shop.'
'"Corporate side"? Sounds fascinating.' It sounds anything but.
'I was just wondering, you know, with your contacts, whether you had any suggestions? People I could approach?'
'My contacts? Oh, Gita, our regular contacts don't usually have an interest in flowers.'
'Corporate buildings these days- all glass and steel.'
'Mummy, shouldn't we be going?' Luke asks.
'Yes,' Mummy agrees as we start climbing into the car. As we do, she spots a brochure lying on the car seat. 'Oh, Gita, why don't you take a look at these people? A little flower power- just what they need.' Mummy hands the brochure to Gita before she climbs into the car, and we drive away.