Episode 8: Black and Gold Part 5

Conner coughed in the dust, trying to see. It was pitch black, and he could hear Dorris from somewhere to his left groaning. There were small fires around them, on the ground and inside the train. Conner climbed to his feet, and stumbled over the rubble. He reached the train, and sighed in relief. It didn’t contain any passengers, but was used to transport coal around. He saw Susan lying under the tunnel’s bricks. She was clearly dead.

“Oh, but you were dead before this,” Conner sighed, turning away.

He walked back to Dorris, who reached out for him.

“You’re okay,” he said. “Thanks for saving me.”
“No problem,” Dorris laughed weakly. “Just get these bricks off of me.”

Conner nodded, and lifted the brick off Dorris. He helped her to her feet, and she brushed herself down.

“We need to get out of here,” she continued. “The hospital’s not far away. If it’s alright, I wouldn’t mind checking out my wrist. I think it’s sprained.”
“That’s where Georgia is,” Conner said. “Just try and move some bricks.”
“What about that carriage of the train?” Dorris asked.
“We climb over it,” Conner said determinedly.

The Doctor frowned in surprise.

“You work for Torchwood?” he asked.
“Yes,” Naomi replied. “The last time I saw you was when you were with Jack Harkness. The two of you came from the 21st Century. We saved the world.”
“Whatever happened,” the Doctor said. “I can’t find out. Cos it hasn’t happened to me yet.”
“Well I can’t wait to meet you,” Naomi smiled.

Triss used the Sonic Screwdriver to open the panel above the communications room. She dropped into the room, making the Doctor grin and Naomi look surprised.

“What took you so long?” the Doctor asked. “I didn’t expect you to use the air vents, I’m impressed.”
“We lost Steve,” Triss sighed wearily. “I’d better seal us in.”

She crossed the room and sealed the door with the Sonic Screwdriver. She threw it back to the Doctor, who caught it. Triss crossed to the communications equipment, and brought up the screen of the main control room, which was empty except for Larry.

“That’s Larry Roux!” Naomi said. “He’s alive!”
“It’s just us two left,” Triss said. “Larry? Can you hear me?”
“Triss!” Larry cried. “Doctor! Naomi!”
“Hello!” the Doctor grinned. “Now, what are we gonna do about the Kritzanthians?”
“I’m hiding this transmission now,” Triss said.
“We could blow up the ship,” Larry said. “The Kritzanthians are all onboard.”
“No,” Naomi said. “Some are on the Out Region.”
“We could blow that up too,” Triss said quietly.
“That’s genocide,” the Doctor spat.
“They’re gonna kill us humans anyway!” Larry protested.
“Have you never heard of peace?” the Doctor asked. “Maybe the Kritzanthians would agree to a treaty.”
“I doubt it,” Naomi laughed. “We tried that before the war.”
“Well, we can try again!” the Doctor said.

Conner pulled another brick away, and sunlight filtered into the tunnel. Dorris grinned as several more chunks of bricks fell away. Conner reached for another brick, which he dropped in surprise.

“Hello?” Conner cried.

He had seen a hand, lifting bricks from the other side of the tunnel. Dorris scrambled for more bricks as the amount of light let in slowly increased. There was finally a big enough gap for Conner and Dorris to squeeze through, but as the two made their way to the hole, Wendy French and Mrs Macready stepped through it. Conner pulled Dorris behind him.

“Dorris, run!” Conner said.
“I’m not leaving you,” Dorris promised.
“You will be perfect!” Wendy said.
“Susan and the others are dead,” Conner said. “They were so perfect, that they forgot to walk beside the track, and walked across it. The train hit them full on. If they were still human, they’d still be alive.”
“That is not my fault,” Mrs Macready said. “And they are expendable. I can operate on you two; I’m sure you will make up for the children.”
“Their mothers will never see them again!” Dorris cried. “You killed them!”
“I made them better,” Mrs Macready insisted.
“But what about you?” Conner asked, playing for time. “When do you plan to convert yourself?”
“I am already perfect,” Mrs Macready assured him. “I have created perfection.”
“But you’re old!” Conner said. “And since when were you perfect? You botched up on Susan and the others…”

Wendy looked at Mrs Macready as if seeing her in a new light. Conner noticed the she seemed to be agreeing with him. Dorris squeezed his hand, apparently noticing too.

“What do you think, Wendy?” Conner asked.
“She should be perfected,” Wendy said.
“Yeah, she should,” Dorris added. “And shouldn’t the creator of perfection be allowed to go first?”
“We wouldn’t want to insult the creator,” Conner said.
“She will be perfected first,” Wendy agreed, advancing on Mrs Macready.
“No!” Mrs Macready cried. “I created you! Stop!”

She stepped backwards as Wendy stepped closer. Conner pulled Dorris out of Wendy’s way. Mrs Macready attempted to push Wendy away.

“Leave me!” she screamed. “Get them!”

Wendy ignored her, and grabbed Mrs Macready. Mrs Macready shoved Wendy, and the two fell, clutching each other, off the side of the train with a bang. Conner let go of Dorris and ran to the edge. He looked at the pools of blood running along the twisted steel and bricks of the crash that had claimed two more people.

“They’re dead,” he said.
“Come on,” Dorris sighed, taking his hand. “Let’s go.”

She led him out of the collapsed tunnel. The sound of sirens filled the air; it seemed yet more people were hurt. They continued to walk through the smoke and the noise to the hospital, still holding hands.

Georgia led the Shadowy Man, Pippa, Becky, Carlisle and Jeremy through parts of the hospital she’d never seen before. These were full of patients and staff, who looked curiously at them as they passed. Nobody said anything, just gaped in silence. Georgia looked down at her Nurse’s uniform self-consciously. Perhaps it was a little revealing, she realised. Still, it seemed to have worked on the Shadowy Man, which helped, especially when you needed someone like him on your side.

“I just wish you’d tell me your name,” Georgia sighed as the Shadowy Man caught up with her.
“Okay,” the Shadowy Man said.
“Seriously?” Georgia asked.
“Yeah,” the Shadowy Man laughed.
“Oh,” Georgia frowned. “I thought it would be more dramatic than that.”
“I’ll leave it to a more dramatic moment if you like,” the Shadowy Man sighed jokingly.

Georgia nodded. They reached the main door to the hospital, and stepped out of it. It was dark outside, and the whistle of the air raid began to sound.

“We’d better go,” Becky said. “The Germans will be coming over London any minute.”
“I’m not going until this Gold has been stopped,” Georgia said determinedly.
“Me too,” Pippa said.
“I’ll stay,” the Shadowy Man said.
“Count me in,” Jeremy added.
“Carlisle?” Becky asked.
“I think we should stay darling,” Carlisle said. “We owe Georgia our lives. The Germans seem less threatening than this Gold, and it must be stopped.”

Becky sighed, and nodded. Georgia smiled gratefully at her. The Shadowy Man brought out a small black object, and waved it around in the air.

“The Gold is coming,” he warned the others.
“What do you want us to do?” Carlisle asked. “If I held it off…”
“You aren’t doing anything of the kind,” Becky snapped. “Stop being so noble.”
“Yeah Carlisle,” Georgia teased, trying to forget what awaited. “Stop being so lovely.”
“I think you should make a speech,” Jeremy told Georgia.

As they all nervously laughed, they did not see the Gold coming. Its stomps were unheard amongst the bombs. It was so close to Georgia, it could reach out and touch her. Or crush her.

“Georgia watch out!” Becky screamed.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion; Georgia turned, screaming, the Gold raised its fist, ready to strike, Carlisle pulled Becky aside, Jeremy flinched away, and the Shadowy Man dived at Georgia. He pulled her sideways, and the two fell onto the ground. But perhaps what was more shocking was what Pippa did next.

“I need you to do me a favour,” the Doctor told Triss.
“Whatever it is, I’ll do it,” Triss said.
“Thanks,” the Doctor smiled. “I need you to take this teleport; go to the Out Region. There’s a big blue box in your base. I need you to use this key, this one here, and open the blue box. Then slip this golden disc into the DVD player, and hold on tight.”

Triss nodded, and gripped the teleport, the Yale key and the golden DVD in her hand. Naomi looked at her quizzically, and she shrugged in reply.

“Bye,” Triss said, pressing the teleport.

There was a zzzp noise, and Triss found herself in the base she had worked in for so long. It was empty, and as she walked down the corridors, she couldn’t help but imagine what it used to be like.

“What is this blue box?” she muttered to herself as she found the TARDIS.

She slipped the key inside the lock, and turned it. The doors swung open, and Triss stepped inside the TARDIS. The doors were knocked aside as Triss ran back out into the base. She pressed her hands to the wood panels and felt her way around the TARDIS.

“It’s bigger on the inside!” she laughed.

She ran back inside, and a hologram of the Doctor appeared.

“This is security protocol 712. This time capsule has detected the presence of an authorised control disc, valid one journey,” the Doctor said. “Please insert the disc and prepare for departure.”

Triss slipped the disc in the case, and grabbed the console as the TARDIS dematerialised.

“NO!” Pippa cried.

As Georgia and the Shadowy Man fell to the floor, Pippa pulled a gun from her pocket, and turned around. Bang! There was a gunshot, and chunks of Gold flew everywhere. The Gold, which had been shot in the head, fell to the floor and moved no more. Everyone fell silent, and stared at Pippa.

“Where did you get that?” Becky cried.
“It looks so futuristic,” Jeremy stuttered.
“It is,” Pippa said, slipping it back into her pocket.

Georgia stood shakily to her feet. Pippa just looked at her.

“What? What’s going on?” Georgia asked. “That gun isn’t from round here. Where did you get it?”
“That would be me, I’m afraid,” the Shadowy Man said.
“You?!” Georgia cried. “But… I’m confused.”
“You don’t honestly think I live in this dump?” Pippa sneered. “I work with him. I was hired to be his assistant. It seemed the boss doubted his capability.”

Georgia fell down to the ground, numb. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing; Pippa Blackwell was working with the Shadowy Man. They’d travelled here, to trap her…

“Boss won’t be happy with you,” the Shadowy Man said. “The Gold, you destroyed it.”
“She’ll get over it,” Pippa said. “Come on, let’s go. See you Bells.”

She looked down at Georgia, before pressing a teleport and vanishing in a flash of blue light. The Shadowy Man turned to face Georgia, who was still slumped on the pavement.

“Here’s your dramatic moment,” he said. “My name’s Petr Costravalos.”

And he disappeared into the light.

“Here’s the TARDIS!” the Doctor cried.
“Where?” Naomi asked.
“I’m not sure,” the Doctor said. “I can hear it anyway.”
“It can’t be far away,” Naomi said.

They were still in the communication room, listening at the door for the TARDIS. It had missed the room by several corridors. Meanwhile, Larry was trying to attract their attention.

“Doctor!” Larry shouted.
“Oh, yes, hello!” the Doctor turned around, facing the screen.
“The Kritzanthians have discovered me,” Larry told him. “It won’t be long before the get in.”
“Oh God…” Naomi said, clapping her hands to her mouth.
“I’m sorry,” the Doctor said. “Can you get through the air vents?”
“No,” Larry said. “Triss sealed the panel. But I’ve got a link to the Out Region. Before I go I’m gonna stop the war. Bang! It’ll all be over. No more Kritzanthians.”
“No!” the Doctor said. “You can’t!”
“I’m not asking you for your opinion,” Larry said. “I’m warning you. Get out of here.”

Naomi nodded and ran for the door. She turned back to the Doctor.

“We need the Sonic Screwdriver!” she said. “Triss sealed us in.”
“I’ve got it,” the Doctor said.
“Please, save yourselves,” Larry said. “Now!”

The Doctor sighed, and threw Naomi the Sonic Screwdriver. Larry pressed a button, and the Out Region exploded. The Kritzanthian spaceship and the Earth shook as one of the most prominent monuments of the times was wiped from Space.

“This is it,” Larry said, taking a deep breath.

He pressed another button, and the Kritzanthian spaceship exploded. The Doctor and Naomi burst into the corridor, fire erupting all around them. The TARDIS shook, and slid along the corridor. A large steel girder fell in front of the door, as Triss was thrown around inside the Doctor’s ship.

“Run!” the Doctor cried. “It’s not long until we lose atmosphere!”
“The Kritzanthians are all dead!” Naomi shouted back at him.

They burst around the corridor which the TARDIS had parked in. Part of the corridor exploded, and the Doctor was thrown sideways. A number of rooms could be seen burning where the walls had fallen down. The Doctor slid underneath the metal girder and opened the door to the TARDIS.

“Come on!” Triss screamed.

The Doctor jumped into the TARDIS as the metal girder slipped down and caught fire. Naomi picked herself up off the floor and ran as fast as she could.

“Doctor!” she cried. “I can’t get through!”
“No!” the Doctor yelled. “Come on!”

He attempted to shift the girder, but it was too heavy. Naomi clasped his hand through the twisted steel.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I can’t wait to meet you.”
“You’re gonna be amazing,” the Doctor promised. “Defending Earth, keeping Torchwood sane. The adventure’s we’re gonna have…”

The TARDIS began to dematerialise, and the Doctor let go of Naomi’s hand as the door shut.

“Goodbye Naomi,” he said sadly.

Conner ran to the hospital with Dorris, the bombs going off around them. He saw the hospital doors open, with several figures silhouetted against the light. One was slumped to the floor. It stood up as Conner ran towards it.

“Georgia! Is that you?” Conner cried.
“Conner!” Georgia screamed.

She stood up and ran towards him, the bombs exploding in the air. They hugged, as Dorris caught up with them.

“Dorris?!” Jeremy cried. “What are you doing here?”
“Mrs Macready tried to kill us!” she said, running up to him. “She crashed a train into Wendy and the others. We only just got away.”
“It’s okay,” Jeremy promised. “I’m here now.”

Georgia let go of Conner.

“Is that true?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Conner laughed. “But what happened to you?”
“There was this Nurse…” Georgia began. “And the Shadowy Man came. It turns out she was working with him, and they left. I really trusted her.”
“If I see that man…” Conner warned.
“No!” Georgia said. “Petr saved our lives!”
“Petr?” Conner frowned.
“He’s called Petr Costravalos.”

The TARDIS materialised on Earth. There were parties in the street, and some form of dragons leaping around with joy. Triss grinned as she stepped out of the TARDIS.

“We really won,” she said.
“Yeah,” the Doctor said. “Some victory.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Triss said. “Larry did what he thought was right.”
“The thing is, I’m not sure Larry was wrong,” the Doctor frowned. “And that’s what bugs me.”
“Goodbye Doctor,” Triss said firmly. “Go find Conner and Georgia again. You know how much you need them, and they need you.”
“I guess,” the Doctor said, stepping back to the TARDIS.
“Don’t forget me,” Triss said.
“Don’t forget me either,” the Doctor said, as the TARDIS dematerialised into nothingness.

Georgia and Conner looked up as the TARDIS materialised onto the street. The door didn’t open.

“It’s time to go,” Georgia told Conner.
“Give me a minute,” Conner said.

He walked up to Dorris.

“I’ll see you around,” he said.
“Not if I see you first,” Dorris laughed.
“Yeah,” Conner grinned. “In 65 years. That’s not bad. You hadn’t changed much at all.”
“It’s cos I do all this running around,” Dorris said, hugging Conner goodbye.

Jeremy and Georgia hugged, and Georgia moved on to Becky, and then Carlisle.

“I’ll see you around mister,” she told him, hugging him.
“I hope so,” Carlisle smiled.
“You know, I like you,” Georgia said. “But you’ve helped me realise, I like someone else even more.”
“Oh yeah?” Carlisle asked. “Well he seems nice. Go for it.”
“I want an invite to your wedding,” Georgia said. “Goodbye everyone.”

Becky, Jeremy and Carlisle waved. Dorris grinned at Conner and waved too. Georgia and Conner smiled at each other, and made their way back to the TARDIS.

“I really thought I could trust her,” Georgia sighed. “Still, it’s better just you and me.”
“Oh,” Conner said. “We ain’t letting no bitch come on our adventures.”

Georgia laughed. The door to the TARDIS opened, and the Doctor stood in the doorway.

“Onwards?” he asked.
“Onwards,” Georgia and Conner confirmed.

And the TARDIS dematerialised, onto new adventures.

Credits.

Next time:

"Ireyk, Kornfla?" the alien said loudly and the whole hall turned their heads and stared at the alien.
“Why isn’t the TARDIS here to translate?” Zac moaned.
“Funny I didn’t know aliens were interested in such things,” Mrs Sow said, “Do you think I should phone UNIT?”
“Zac it’s the TARDIS!”
“What’s wrong with me?” the Doctor asked.
“DOCTOR!” Beth shrieked, “I don’t want to be left behind! Zac! Kaylie! Conner!”
“Kaylie,” Conner and Zac said together.
"Welcome to the biggest court in the Galaxy!"