Lost Souls (1)

Chapter 11- The Empty Child

The Tardis was in pursuit of a small spacecraft. Rose walked up to the Doctor and Maddie. “What’s the emergency?”

“It’s mauve.” The Doctor replied.

Rose frowned. “Mauve?”

Maddie looked at the Doctor as he replied. “The universally recognised colour for danger.”

“What happened to red?” Rose asked confused.

The Doctor looked at her. “That’s just humans. By everyone else’s standards, red’s camp. Oh, the misunderstandings. All those red alerts, all that dancing. It’s got a very basic flight computer. I’ve hacked in, slaved the Tardis. Where it goes, we go.”

“And that’s safe, is it?” Rose asked.

“Totally.” The Doctor replied.

Bang!

“Not safe!” Maddie exclaimed.

The Doctor shrugged. “Okay, reasonably. Should have said reasonably there. No, no, no, no! It’s jumping time tracks, getting away from us.”

“What exactly is this thing?” Rose asked.

“No idea.” Both the Doctor and Maddie replied.

Rose blinked. “Then why are we chasing it?”

“It’s mauve and dangerous, and about thirty seconds from the centre of London.” The Doctor replied.

-----------------

The Tardis materialised in a back alley between two terraces. The sort of crowded housing that no longer existed. They stepped out. “Do you know how long you can knock around space without happening to bump into Earth?” The Doctor asked them.

Rose frowned. “Five days? Or is that just when we’re out of milk?”

“Of all the species in all the Universe and it has to come out of a cow.” The Doctor replied sarcastically.

Maddie laughed. “Milk’s jummy.”

The Doctor rolled with his eyes. “Must have come down somewhere quite close. Within a mile, anyway. And it can’t have been more than a few weeks ago. Maybe a month.”

Rose frowned. “A month? We were right behind it.”

The Doctor looked at her. “It was jumping time tracks all over the place. We’re bound to be a little bit out. Do you want to drive?”

“I’m helping you drive.” Maddie replied to him.

Rose nodded. “Yeah. How much is a little?”

“A bit.” The Doctor replied.

“Is that exactly a bit?” Rose asked.

The Doctor shrugged. “Ish.”

“Helpful, Doc.” Maddie comment sarcastically.

Rose looked at them. “What’s the plan, then? Are you going to do a scan for alien tech or something?”

The Doctor looked at Rose. “Rose, it hit the middle of London with a very loud bang. I’m going to ask.”

“Of course.” Maddie comment.

The Doctor showed Rose and Maddie his psychic paper ID for the occasion. “Doctor John Smith, Ministry of Asteroids.” Rose told him.

“Hopefully they will give information.” Maddie told them.

The Doctor looked at them. “It’s psychic paper. It tells you...”

“Whatever you want it to tell me, I remember.” Rose interrupted him.

They come to a door marked Deliveries Only. “Sorry.” The Doctor told them.

Maddie made a face. “Right.”

Rose blinked. “Not very Spock, is it, just asking.” She comment.

“Door, music, people. What do you think?” The Doctor asked to them.

“Lets.” Maddie replied.

Rose looked at him. “I think you should do a scan for alien tech. Give me some Spock, for once. Would it kill you?”

“Nah.” Maddie replied.

The Doctor opened the door with the sonic screwdriver and looked at Rose’s Union Flag top. “Are you sure about that t-shirt?”

“Too early to say. I’m taking it out for a spin.” Rose replied, looking at her shirt.

“Mummy? Mummy?”

“Come on if you’re coming. It won’t take a minute.” The Doctor went inside.

“Mummy?”

Maddie and Rose saw a little boy in a gasmask up on a nearby roof. “Bloody hell!” Maddie rushed away to the boy.

“Doctor? Doctor? There’s a kid up there!” Rose shouted.

They went on the roof as Maddie asked worried. “Are you all right up there?”

“Mummy?”

Maddie and Rose got to a flat roof. The child was still above them.

“Mummy?”

“Okay, hang on. Don’t move!” Rose shouted as then she glanced at Maddie. They mind not like each other, but they had they same idea.
Suddenly two rope dangled down in front of Rose and Maddie. They took hold of it and pulled. It seemed secure. They were using the rope to help them climb up to the child.
“Mummy. Balloon!”

The barrage balloon drifted, pulling them away from the wall and the child, and they were dangling over the alleyway. “Doctor! Doctor! Doctor!”

“Hang on!” Maddie shouted to her.

“I’m hanging on!” Rose shouted back. Searchlights combed the sky. Explosions and fires started in various parts of London. A squadron of German planes head for them. “Okay, maybe not this t-shirt.”

“You think.” Maddie comment rudely.

-----------------

High over Westminster, Rose and Maddie finally lost their grip on the thick rope. Screaming, they fell, but then they caught in a beam. Then they heard a voice. “Okay, okay, I’ve got you.”

“Who’s got us? Tell me!” Maddie shouted.

“I’m just programming your descent pattern. Keep as still as you can and keep your hands and feet inside the light field.” The voice replied.

“Descent pattern?” Rose asked confused.

“Oh, and could you switch off your cell phone? No, seriously, it interferes with my instrument.” The voice replied.

“You know, no one ever believes that.” Rose turned off her phone.

“Sure.” Maddie comment sarcastically. She turned off her phone too.

“Thank you. That’s much better.” The voice comment.

“Oh, yeah, that’s a real load off, that is.” Rose was being sarcastically. “I’m hanging in the sky in the middle of a German air raid with the Union Jack across my chest, but hey, my mobile phone’s off.”

“Be with you in a moment.” The voice told them. Moments later they heard it again. “Hold tight!”

“To what?” Both girls exclaimed.

“Fair point.” The voice replied.

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Maddie hurtled down the light field into Jack’s arms as Rose bumped into the ship unconscious by them. “I’ve got you. You’re fine, you’re just fine. The tractor beam, it can scramble your head just a little.” Jack told her.

Maddie glanced at the unconscious Rose. “Right.”

“Are you all right?” Jack asked to her.

“Fine.” Maddie replied. Jack put her down. “Why, are you expecting me to faint or something?”

“You look a little dizzy.” Jack replied.

Maddie felt dizzy. “I feel dizzy.” she fainted into his arms and he put her on a nearby bunk. Then he did the same with Rose.

--------------

Maddie and Rose woke up. “Who the hell are you?” Rose exclaimed.

“Jack Harkness.” Jack replied. “You two are on my ship.”

“What happened?” Rose asked.

Maddie looked at her. “You were already unconscious.”

“Oh.” Rose comment.

Just then Jack spoke up to them. “Better now?”

“You got lights in here?” Rose asked.

Jack turned on the lights. It’s a small, cramped, spaceship with bundles of wires hanging from the ceiling. “It’s small.” Maddie comment. “So who are you then?”

“I said that already.” Jack replied. Maddie made a face. “Captain Jack Harkness, One Three Three Squadron, Royal Air Force. American volunteer.” He handed her his ID card.

“You are lying. This is psychic paper. It tells me whatever you want it to tell me.” Maddie told him. Rose looked at it as well.

Jack frowned. “How do you know?”

“Two things. One, I have a friend who uses this all the time.” Rose replied instead.

“Ah.” Jack comment.

“And two, you just handed me a piece of paper telling me you’re single and you work out.” Rose continued.

“That its something.” Maddie comment.

Jack grabbed his paper back from Maddie. “Tricky thing, psychic paper.”

“Yeah. Can’t let your mind wander when you’re handing it over.” Rose nodded.

Jack looked at the paper. “Oh, you sort of have a boyfriend called Mickey Smith but you consider yourself to be footloose and fancy free.”

Maddie snickered as Rose exclaimed. “What?”

“Actually, the word you use is available.” Jack replied.

Rose blinked. “No way.”

“And another one, very.” Jack comment.

Maddie rolled with her eyes. “Shall we try and get along without the psychic paper? And don't try to use it on me.” She warned him.

“That would be better, wouldn’t it?” Jack asked.

“Yes!” Maddie replied.

“Nice spaceship.” Rose comment.

Jack shrugged. “Gets me around.”

“Very Spock.” Rose comment as Maddie face palmed.

Jack blinked. “Who?”

“Blimey.” Maddie comment, looking at him.

“Guessing you’re not a local boy, then.” Rose told him.

Jack looked at them. “A cell phone, a liquid crystal watch, and fabrics that won’t be around for at least another two decades. Guessing you’re not local girls.”

“That’s about right.” Maddie comment.

“Guessing right.” Rose added.

“Burn your hands on the rope?” Jack asked them. A bomb whistled past.

Maddie looked at her hands. “Yeah, but its not that bad.”

“Yeah.” Rose nodded. “We’re parked in midair! Can’t anyone down there see us?”

“No. Can I have a look at your hands for a moment?” Jack asked them.

“No, only... uh... not you.” Maddie protested. She put het hands down.

Rose frowned. “Why?”

Jack looked at them. “Please? You can stop acting now. I know exactly who you are. I can spot a Time Agent a mile away.”

“Yeah, right.” Maddie scoffed. “Nope.”

Rose looked confused. “Time Agent?”

“I’ve been expecting one or two of you guys to show up.” Jack replied. “Though not, I must say, by barrage balloon. Do you often travel that way?”

“No.” Maddie replied.

Rose glanced at Maddie. “Sometimes I get swept off my feet. By balloons. What are you doing?”

Jack wrapped his scarf around her wrists. “Try to keep still.” He pressed a button. A glowing bundle zooms into Rose’s burnt palms. “Nanogenes. Sub-atomic robots. The air in here is full of them. They just repaired three layers of your skin.” The glow dissipated and he untied her wrists. Then he wanted to do the same with Maddie.

“No, thank you. I told you its not that bad.” Maddie told him. Jack nodded.

“Well, tell them thanks.” Rose told him.

Jack looked at them. “Shall we get down to business?”

“Why?” Maddie asked, frowning.

Rose was confused. “Business?”

“hall we have a drink on the balcony? Bring up the glasses.” Jack opened a hatch to the top of his spaceship.

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Back on top on Jack’s spaceship. The fires of London were burning below, and searchlights pass through where the spaceship was. “I know I’m standing on something.” Rose told him.

“Spaceship.” Maddie added.

Jack used a remote control and the ship appeared. “Okay, you have an invisible spaceship.” Rose comment.

“Yeah.” Jack nodded.

Rose looked at the Big Ben. “Tethered up to Big Ben for some reason.”

“First rule of active camouflage. Park somewhere you’ll remember.” Jack opened the bottle of champagne and filled the glasses Rose brought with her. Maddie stared at them.

Rose looked at him. “You know, it’s getting a bit late. I should really be getting back.”

“And me too.” Maddie added.

Jack looked at them. “We’re discussing business.”

“This isn’t business. This is champagne.” Maddie comment sarcastically.

“I try never to discuss business with a clear head.” Jack told them. “Are you travelling alone with her? Are you authorised to negotiate with me?”

Maddie frowned. “What would we be negotiating?”

“I have something for the Time Agency.” Jack replied. “Something they’d like to buy. Are you in power to make payment?”

Rose looked at him. “Well, I, we should talk to our companion.”

“Rose!” Maddie warned her.

Jack looked confused. “Companion?”

“We should really be getting back to him.” Maddie replied this time.

Jack blinked. “Him?”

“Do you have the time?” Rose asked. Jack used his remote. The clock face light up and Big Ben strike nine thirty. “Okay, that was flash. That was on the flash side.”

Maddie looked at the light. “Right.” 

Jack looked at them. “So when you say your companion, just how disappointed should I be?”

“Very, I don’t like you.” Maddie replied.

Rose ignored the question. “Okay, we’re standing in midair.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Jack hummed.

“On a spaceship, during a German air raid.” Rose told him. “Do you really think now’s a good time to be coming on to me?”

Jack shrugged. “Perhaps not.”

“It was just a suggestion.” Rose comment.

“Do you like Glenn Miller?” Jack asked them. The magic remote again. Moonlight Serenade played. Jack tried to take Maddie in arms, but she slapped him away, then he took Rose in his arms and they danced. “It’s 1941, the height of the London Blitz, the height of the German bombing campaign, and something else has fallen on London. A fully equipped Chula warship. The last one in existence, armed to the teeth. And I know where it is, because I parked it. If the Agency can name the right price, I can get it for you. But in two hours, a German bomb is going to fall on it and destroy it forever. That’s your deadline. That’s the deal. Now, shall we discuss payment?”

“You discuss this Rose.” Maddie replied, irritated.

Rose glared at her as then she looked at Jack. “Do you know what I think?”

Jack frowned. “What?”

“I think you were talking just then.”

“Two hours, the bomb falls. There’ll be nothing left but dust and a crater.”

“Promises, promises.”

“Are you listening to any of this?”

“You used to be a Time Agent, now you’re some kind of freelancer.”

“Well, that’s a little harsh. I like to think of myself as a criminal.”

“I bet you do.”

“So, this companion of yours, does he handle the business?”

“Well, I delegate a lot of that, yeah.”

“Well, maybe we should go find him.”

“And how’re you going to do that?”

“Easy. I’ll do a scan for alien tech.”

“Finally, a professional.”

Maddie rolled her eyes at them.

-------------------

Later they were in the Albion Hospital. They were walking around called for the Doctor. “Hello?” Jack asked.

“Hello?” Rose also asked.

“Doctor?!” Maddie asked.

“Hello?” Jack asked again.

Then they walked through the corridor and found the Doctor. “Good evening. Hope we’re not interrupting. Jack Harkness. I’ve been hearing all about you on the way over.” Jack told to the Doctor.

Maddie put her hands into her pockets. “Good to see you, Doc.” The Doctor frowned at her action, she never put her hands into her pockets.

“He knows. I had to tell him about us being Time Agents.” Rose told him.

“And it’s a real pleasure to meet you, Mister Spock.” Jack walked forward to the ward.

The Doctor frowned in confusion. “Mister Spock?”

Rose shrugged. “What was I supposed to say? You don’t have a name. Don’t you ever get tired of Doctor? Doctor who?”

“I let her arrange it.” Maddie added.

“Nine centuries in, I’m coping.” The Doctor complained. “Where’ve you been? We’re in the middle of a London Blitz. It’s not a good time for a stroll.”

Rose frowned. “Who’s strolling? I went by barrage balloon. Only way to see an air raid.”

“I did the same.” Maddie added.

The Doctor raised his eyebrows at his soulmate. “What?!”

Rose looked at the Doctor. “Listen, what’s a Chula warship?”

“Chula?” The Doctor asked them. Maddie shrugged.

------------------

Jack was using a wrist tricorder thing to examine the patients. “This just isn’t possible. How did this happen?”

The Doctor walked up to Jack. “What kind of Chula ship landed here?”

“What?” Jack asked confused.

“He said it was a warship. He stole it, parked it somewhere out there, somewhere a bomb’s going to fall on it unless we make him an offer.” Rose replied instead.

“What kind of warship?” The Doctor asked.

Jack sighed. “Does it matter? It’s got nothing to do with this.”

Maddie looked irritated. The Doctor glanced at her. “This started at the bomb site. It’s got everything to do with it. What kind of warship?”

“An ambulance! Look.” Jack produced a hologram of it from his wrist device. “That’s what you chased through the Time Vortex. It’s space junk. I wanted to kid you it was valuable. It’s empty. I made sure of it. Nothing but a shell. I threw it at you. Saw your time travel vehicle, love the retro look, by the way, nice panels. Threw you the bait...”

Rose looked confused. “Bait?”

“Knew there was something fishy.” Maddie comment.

Jack looked at them. “I wanted to sell it to you and then destroy it before you found out it was junk.”

“You said it was a war ship.” Rose comment confused.

“They have ambulances in wars.” Jack exclaimed. “It was a con. I was conning you. That’s what I am, I’m a con man. I thought you were Time Agents. You’re not, are you.”

“No.” Maddie confirmed. “We are not.”

“Just a couple more freelancers.” Rose added.

Jack sighed. “Oh. Should have known. The way you guys are blending in with the local colour. I mean, Flag Girl was bad enough, but U-Boat Captain? Anyway, whatever’s happening here has got nothing to do with that ship.”

Then Rose looked at the Doctor. “What is happening here, Doctor?”

“Human DNA is being rewritten by an idiot.” The Doctor replied.

“Wouldn’t surprise me.” Maddie comment.

Rose frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.” The Doctor replied. “Some kind of virus converting human beings into these things. But why? What’s the point?”

Suddenly the patients sat up. “Mummy. Mummy. Mummy? Mummy?”

“What the hell?!” Maddie exclaimed.

Rose had her eyes widen. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know.” The Doctor replied.

The patients all stood up. “Mummy.”

“Don’t let them touch you.” The Doctor told them.

Maddie looked at them. “What happens if they touch us?”

“You’re looking at it.” The Doctor replied.

The patients closed in on the Doctor, Maddie, Rose and Jack. “Help me, mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy.”