!EDITED! 

A/N: was 9209 words, is now 11907! Enjoy! :D

Rose - Planet Earth... this is where I was born and this is where I died. For the first nineteen years of my life, nothing changed. Nothing at all. Not ever. And then me and my big sister, Lizzie, met a man called the Doctor. A man who could change his face and he took us far away from home in his magical time machine. Two years with him and he showed us the whole of time and space and we found out who my sister really was. She was a princess, the Last Royal of a lost world who married the Doctor, could change her face just as he could, and glowed with starlight. The three of us were a family, we loved and protected each other... saw the universe together, saved lives, and saw wonders you could never believe. I thought it would never end...

The Doctor, Star, and Rose were stood on a rocky alien planet. They were there to watch what look like manta rays flying in the sky in front of a beautiful sunset. The Doctor had one hand in Star's - her other hand wrapped around his bicep as she leans her head on his arm - and his other in Rose's. Looking between his girls, a soft smile plays on the Doctor's lips, "how long are you gonna stay with us?" he asks Rose.

"Forever," she answers immediately, squeezing his hand and giving him a wide grin.

Beaming, the Doctor nudges both girls with his hips and the three of them laugh together as they get into a mini-war, trying to knock each other over.

Rose - That's what we thought: we'd be together forever and nothing and no one could tear us apart. But then came the army of ghosts... then came Torchwood and the war... and that's when it all ended. This is the story of how I died.

1st Person POV:

Rose and I burst into the door - we were paying mum a visit - with the Doctor right behind us. "Mum, it's us!" Rose shouts, throwing her keys on the little tray by the door. "We're ba-ack!"

Mum rushes to the front door, "oh, I don't know why you girls bother with those phones! You never use 'em!" she scolds us, even as she wraps her arms around us tightly.

"Shut up, come here," I laugh, squeezing her and Rose as tight as I could.

"Oh, I love you!"

"We love you!" Rose and I giggle with me swaying us.

I pull away and smirk at the Doctor as he tries to squeeze past us. Mum was quick to grab his arm, "oh, no you don't! Come here!" she pulls him down into a kiss, making my eyes widen as I share an incredulous look with Rose, both of us trying not to laugh as the Doctor squeaks out protests. "Oh, you lovely big fella!" she hugs him tight. "Oh, you're all mine!"

"Just... just... just put me down!" he whines, trying to push her off.

"Yes, you are!"

The Doctor tries to call for help, "El- mmf!" he's cut off when mum kisses him again.

Rose walks into the living room with her hand over her mouth as she tries to contain her giggles, her other hand on her stomach. Mum sends me a cheeky wink before hurrying after Rose as the Doctor stares at the wall in shock. With a look of absolute disgust, he wipes at his mouth with the back of his hand. I cover my mouth when a snort slips out and he shoots me a dark look, "not a word," he warns.

"Snogging my mum, Kas? Really?" I raise an eyebrow.

"That was against my will!" he squeaks, still wiping at his mouth. "And completely unwanted!"

"Aw, honey..." I coo, grabbing his tie and pulling him down a bit. "You're pretty cute when you're all flustered," I smirk, nipping at his jaw playfully.

"Cute," he grimaces even as his cheeks burn. "Cute?"

"Like a little bunny," I coo, pinching his cheek and giggling when he swats me away.

Walking into the living room, I see Rose taking off her rucksack and throwing it into mum's arms. I snort, shaking my head and I smile when I feel arms go around my shoulders from behind and Kas leans his chin on my head.

"I've got loads of washing for ya! And, I got you this!" Rose beams, showing mum the gift she had gotten her. "It's from the market on this asteroid bazaar, it's made of um..." she trails off, turning to the Doctor and I. "What's it called?"

"Bezoolium," we answer, me leaning into the Doctor and holding onto his arms.

"Bezoolium," Rose grins, turning back to mum. "When it gets cold, yeah, it means it's gonna rain! When it's hot, it's gonna be sunny! You can use it to tell the weather!"

"I've got a surprise for you girls and all," mum smiles, making me perk up a bit and the Doctor chuckles quietly, kissing the top of my head.

"Oh, I get her bezoolium, she doesn't even say thanks," Rose pouts, making me smile.

"Guess who's coming to visit," mum smiles. "You're just in time, he'll be here at ten past! Who do you think it is?"

"I don't know," I shrug.

"Oh, go on, guess!"

"No, I hate guessing, just tell me," I pout, slapping the Doctor's arm when he snorts loudly.

"It's your granddad, Granddad Prentice! He's on his way, any minute!" mum beams and my face falls as I share a wary look with Rose - um, what? "Right, cup of tea!" she heads into the kitchen.

"She's gone mad," Rose murmurs, staring in shock.

"Tell me something new," Kas jokes.

"No, you don't understand..." I trail off, wondering what the hell is going on with my mother. "Granddad Prentice... that's her dad, but he died ten years ago," I murmur, my eyes widening as I step away from Kas. "Oh, my God, she's lost it!" I move into the kitchen. "Mum? What you just about granddad..." I trail off carefully.

"Any second now," she beams, standing by the counter.

"But... he passed away, his heart gave out," Rose tries to tell her gently. "Do you remember that?"

"Course I do!"

I blink, my frown deepening, "then how can he come back?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself? Ten past, here he comes," she smiles, looking at her watch.

My eyes widen as a figure steps into the middle of the kitchen - it was featureless and looks a bit like a shadow. I narrow my eyes at the humanoid figure and take a step forward with my hand hovering over my holster. Mum just beams at the thing, "dad... say hello to Rose and Lizzie! Ain't they grown?"

***

The Doctor, Rose, and I step out of the estate and into the lot. There were these shadows all over and... there were even children playing ball with a figure in the middle of them!

"They're everywhere!" Kas looks around, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Doctor, look out!" Rose calls.

I spin around, seeing one of the figures walking right through Kas and he shudders and twitches uncomfortably. "Ooo, that didn't look pleasant at all," I mutter, moving over to check him over.

"They haven't got long," mum comes over, smiling at the figures. "Midday shift only lasts a couple of minutes, they're about to fade," she explains.

"What do you mean 'shift'?" I frown, turning to her and folding my arms.

"Since when did ghosts have shifts?" Kas asks incredulously. "Since when did shifts have ghosts? What's going on?"

"Oh, he's not happy when I know more than him, is he?" mum teases.

"But no one's running or screaming or freaking out or-" the Doctor splutters.

"Why should we?" mum shrugs before checking her watch. "Here we go, twelve minutes past," she smiles and I watch as the figures disappear.

***

Getting back to the flat, the four of us were sat around watching the news. Rose and mum were on the sofa and I was in one of the armchairs with the Doctor sitting on the floor between my legs with his 'brainy' specs on as he flips through the channels. I was rubbing his shoulders and up and down his arms to try and calm him a bit.

Presenter - On today's Ghostwatch, claims that some of the ghosts are starting to talk, and there seems to be a regular formation gathering around Westminster Bridge... it almost looks like a military display.

"What the hell's going on?" Kas murmurs in disbelief, switching the channel and I frown when there's a weather map but instead of weather symbols, it was little cartoon ghosts.

Weatherman - And tonight, we're expecting very strong ghosts. From London, through the North and up into Scotland.

I watch as Kas flips through the channels, each one getting weirder and weirder. Leave it to the Humans to treat some sort of invasion or whatever the hell this is as a novelty. The Doctor leans back against me and I wrap my arms around him, leaning my chin on top of his head.

Trisha Goddard - So basically, Eileen, what you're telling me, is that you are in love with a ghost?

Eileen - He's my ghost, and I love him 24/7!

Advert - My ghost was pale and grey until I discovered... Ectoshine!

I wrinkle my nose as the woman in the advert sprays a little cartoon ghost and it becomes shiny and happy, floating around. I shake my head, taking the remote and flipping through a few news stations - the Eiffel Town, the Taj Mahal, a street in Japan. Kas looks up at me, his head leaned against my chest, "it's all over the world," he mutters with furrowed eyebrows.

Nodding mutely, I flip the channel once more as I run my fingers through the Doctor's hair. He sighs in content when I let my nails scratch his scalp lightly and he closes his eyes as he leans into me more. My frown deepens, though, when an episode of Eastenders comes on.

Peggy - Listen to me, Denn Watts! I don't care if you have come back from the grave! Get out of my pub! The only spirits I'm serving in the place are gin, whiskey, and vodka! So, you heard me: get out!

I shake my head in disgust, switching the telly off and looking at mum, leaning my head on the Doctor's, "when did it start?"

"Well, first of all: Peggy heard this noise in the cellar, so she goes down-"

"No, she means worldwide," Kas corrects her with a heavy sigh and his eyes still closed.

I'd stopped messing with his hair to cover my mouth when I giggled at mum and Kas taps my hand, looking up at me with a pleading pout. I roll my eyes playfully and go back to running my fingers through his hair, making him close his eyes once more.

"Oh!" mum's eyes widen and Rose and I snicker quietly. "That was about two months ago," she shrugs. "Just happened. Woke up one morning, and there they were: ghosts everywhere. We all ran round screaming and that, whole planet was panicking... no sign of you, thank you very much," she gives Kas a pointed look and he scoffs quietly. "Then it sort of sank in, took us time to realize... we're lucky," she smiles.

"What makes you think it's granddad?" Rose asks curiously.

"Just feels like him," mum shrugs. "There's that smell, those old cigarettes - can't you smell it?"

I sigh, shaking my head, "I wish I could mum, but I can't," I tell her gently.

"You've got to make an effort," mum insists. "You've got to want it, sweetheart."

"The more you want it, the stronger it gets?" the Doctor asks, looking over at mum.

"Sort of, yeah..." she nods.

"Like the psychic link," Kas muses. "Course you want your old dad to be alive, but you're wishing him into existence and the ghosts are using that to pull themselves in," he explains.

"You're spoiling it!" mum snaps.

I sigh, leaning my forehead on the Doctor's shoulder and he rubs my leg comfortingly. "I'm sorry, Jackie, but there's no smell, there's no cigarettes... just a memory," he tells mum gently.

"But if they're not ghosts, what are they, then?" Rose cuts in.

"Yeah, but they're Human! You can see them - they look Human!" mum insists.

"She's got a point," Rose murmurs and I look over at her with my head still on the Doctor's shoulder. "I mean, they're all sort of blurred... but they're definitely people."

"Maybe not," I shake my head. "They're pressing themselves into the surface of the world."

"But a footprint doesn't look like a boot," Kas adds.

"... and besides, Kas and I look Human," I sigh before kissing his shoulder and pushing him forward so I could stand up.

"Oi," he narrows his eyes at me and I just send him a wink before grabbing a snickering Rose and pulling her from the flat.

***

I was leaning against the TARDIS, getting a scanner ready while the Doctor got some device from underneath the console. Rose comes in with a newspaper in her hands, "according to the paper, they've elected a ghost as MP for Leeds," she leans against the console next to me, looking down at the hole the Doctor was in. "Now don't tell me you're gonna sit back and do nothing!"

Kas pops up with his device - a rucksack with a hose attached to it - and Rose and I burst out laughing. "Who ya gonna call?" he asks in a silly voice.

"Ghostbusters!"

"I ain't afraid of no ghosts!" he does a little dance, heading outside and throwing us a wide grin over his shoulder.

Rose and I follow after him as we laugh our heads off. I giggle, shaking my head as I set up the scanner. The Doctor was setting up the large orange cones I'd brought out earlier in a triangle on the grass. "When's the next ghost shift?"

Mum checks her watch, "quarter to," she answers before pointing to the Doctor. "But don't you go causing trouble," she narrows her eyes and Kas raises his hands in mock surrender. "What's that lot do?"

"Triangulates their point of origin," Kas shrugs as we connect them with wire.

"I don't suppose it's the Gelth?" Rose asks with her arms folded, watching us work.

"Good thought, but no," I shake my head. "They were coming through that one little rift but this lot are transposing themselves over the whole planet," I explain.

"Like tracing paper," Kas nods.

"Why are reducing it to science? Why can't it be real?" mum glares between us and I bite my lip, continuing to work. "Just think of it, though... all the people we've lost, our families coming back home... don't you think it's beautiful?"

I glance at Kas and he looks mum straight in the eye. "I think it's horrific," he answers honestly, making her gape at him in shock.

It would be wonderful and beautiful if there was a way for everyone we've loved and lost to come back. But there's not and that isn't what's happening here. It's wrong and Kas and I need to find out what it is and stop it.

"Rose, give us a hand, please?" I ask quietly as I unwind the wire into the TARDIS and over to the console, plugging it in by the monitor.

The Doctor, Rose, and mum come in after me - Kas and Rose standing on either side of me and mum on the other side of the console as she watches us. I flick the monitor on while Kas explains what we need Rose to do. "As soon as it becomes active, if that line goes into the red, press that button there," he points to the button she needs to press and she nods. "If it doesn't stop," he holds up his sonic to her and I snort loudly when she goes cross-eyed to look at it. "Setting 15B, hold it against the port for eight seconds and stop," he orders.

"15B, eight seconds," she nods, taking the sonic.

"Now, if it goes into the blue, activate the deep scan on the left-"

"Hang on a minute, I know..." Rose cuts me off, pointing to a button confidently. "It's that one!" she smiles.

"Mm, close," Kas tilts his head, folding his arms and leaning on the console.

"That one?"

"Ooo, now you've just killed us," I grimace dramatically, making Rose giggle and Kas chuckles.

"Eh... that one," she points to yet another button.

"Yeah!" Kas beams, grabbing my hand and pulling me past mum. "Now, what've we got? Two minutes to go?" he calls over his shoulder and mum hollers a 'yeah' as we step out of the TARDIS.

I hurry over to the scanner, sitting in front of it cross-legged while the Doctor goes around with his device and activates the cones. "What's the line doing?" he calls to Rose when he gets them all turned on.

"It's alright! It's holding!"

Tweaking the settings on the scanner a bit, I call, "what's it doing now?"

"The scanner's working! It says 'delta one six'!"

"Brilliant!" I beam, watching the center of the cones as we wait.

"Come on, then, you beauty!" Kas laughs madly, making me shake my head with a giggle as I keep an eye on the readings.

"I'm thinking I should be a bit jealous," I smirk up at him.

"Oh, you're far more beautiful, love," he smirks right back, sending me a cheeky wink when my face burns - smug bastard.

The scanner beeps and a ghost materializes in the center of the cones, making me squeal in excitement. Blue currents flow between the cones and meet at a point above the ghost. It looks sort of like an electric pyramid that was trapping it. Kas slips on a pair of 3D specs, making me smile as I adjust the settings. Turning the knob a bit more, the ghost shudders and groans. "Don't like that much, do ya?" I smirk.

"Who are you? Where are you coming from?" the Doctor murmurs as he walks around the edge of the cones, watching the ghost. "Whoa!" he stumbles back when the ghost lashes out and I wince, feeling an electric shock. "That's more like it! Not so friendly now, are you?"

Kas hands me the 3D specs and I slip them on. I tilt my head as I examine the ghost. There were green and speckly void particles surrounding the ghost as it shudders and groans more before disappearing. So, they came from the void... but how are they getting into this world and where did they come from? Also, what the hell are they?

The Doctor and I hurry up and gather all of the equipment before rushing into the TARDIS. He flings his long coat over the railing and I run to the console to follow the signal we received from the ghost.

"El and I said so!" the Doctor cheers as he rushes over to help. "Those ghosts have been forced into existence from one specific point!"

"Now, we have just got to follow the signal to the source!"

"Allons-y!"

I raise an eyebrow, snorting quietly when the TARDIS gives a few amused trills. Kas bounces around the console as we follow the signal. "I like that: allons-y! I should say 'allons-y' more often! 'Allons-y'! Look sharp, Star and Rose Tyler! Allons-y!" he presses a kiss to my cheek and pulls on my hair teasingly as he passes, making me giggle as he continues to ramble. "And then, it would be really brilliant if I met someone called Alonso! Because then, I could say 'allons-y Alonso' every time!" he laughs before coming to a stop in front of Rose and I. "You're both staring at me," he looks between us, his eyebrows furrowing.

"You're my husband, I'm allowed to stare all I like," I point out, making him smirk.

"Good point," he nods before raising an eyebrow at Rose. "What about you, then?"

"... our mum's still on board," she whispers carefully before biting her lip to keep from laughing when the Doctor's face falls.

Turning to where mum was sitting on the upper level with her feet dangling over the edge, he swallows as his face pales a bit in horror. Mum just glares with her arms folded, "I don't care if you are my son-in-law, if we end up on Mars, I'm going to kill you," she threatens.

I cover my mouth to stop a laugh when Kas squeaks out something unintelligible as he stares up at mum, completely horrified with the fact she was here. Sending an amused Rose a wink, I land the TARDIS and move over to the monitor to see where we ended up. "That's such rubbish," I frown at the soldiers surrounding us with guns in the room the TARDIS is in. "Well, there goes the advantage of surprise," I roll my eyes.

"Still, cuts to the chase!" the Doctor shrugs, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the door. "Stay in here and look after Jackie!" he orders Rose over his shoulder.

"I'm not looking after mum!" she argues, following us.

"Well, you brought her!"

"I was kidnapped!" mum protests indignantly, making me snort loudly.

Rose pushes past us and blocks the door, "Lizzie, Doctor... they've got guns," she looks between us worriedly.

"And I haven't, which makes me the better person, don't you think?" Kas retorts, letting go of my hand to grab Rose by the waist and move her out of the way. "They can shoot me dead but the moral high-ground is mine," he gives her a cheeky smile, making me roll my eyes. "Besides, El's got her blaster so if the moral high-ground fails, I've got my badass wife as back-up," he sends me a wink before pulling me from the TARDIS.

Kas and I raise our hands and I stiffen just slightly when the soldiers release the safety catch on all the guns and aim at us. A blonde woman in a black skirt-suit runs forward in her heels, "oh! Oh, how marvelous!" she beams at us, clapping and I frown. "Oh, very good! Superb! Happy day!"

The soldiers follow the woman's lead and lower their guns, beginning to applaud us. Kas and I share a confused look before slowly lowering our hands cautiously. "Um, thanks... nice to meet you," he frowns. "I'm... the Doctor and this is... Star," he introduces warily.

"Oh, I should say! Hooray!" blondie cheers and the applause starts up again.

"You... you've heard of us, then?"

"Well, of course, we have!" blondie scoffs lightly as the clapping stops. "And I have to say: if it wasn't for you, none of us would be here! The Doctor, his Star, and the TARDIS!" she gestures to her with both hands and the applause starts... again.

I raise an eyebrow and glance up at Kas, rolling my eyes. The moron was smiling a wide and smug grin. Whether it was from the applause or the possessive title I had received, I've no idea. It was probably both. He motions for them to quiet down, sending me a wink, "and... and... and you are?"

"Oh, plenty of time for that," blondie waves off. "But according to the records, you're not for traveling alone. The Doctor, Star, and their companion. That's a pattern, isn't it?" she smirks and we just stare at her blankly, me folding my arms. "There's no point hiding anything, not from us," her voice takes on a threatening tone and I narrow my eyes. "So, where is she?"

The Doctor gives a tight smile, sending a rush of anger over me at the implied threat to us and my baby sister. "Yes, sorry! Good point!" he nods, opening the TARDIS door a bit and reaching inside. "She's just a bit shy, that's all," he waves off, pulling a startled mum out and I grab her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "But here she is: Rose Tyler!" he beams, gesturing mum with both hands. "Hmm..." he looks her over thoughtfully and I sigh, knowing what's coming - arse. "She's not the best we've ever had; bit too blonde, not too steady on her pins, a lot of that," he mimes chatting and I try to stifle a laugh when mum shoots him a nasty glare. "... and just last week, she stared into the heart of the time vortex and aged fifty-seven years... but she'll do," he shrugs, sending me a wink when a giggle slips through.

"I'm forty-three," mum snarls, letting go of my hand and glaring between us.

"Deluded, bless," Kas sighs 'sadly', patting mum on the shoulder. "We'll have to trade her in... do you need anyone?" he looks at blondie hopefully, shoving his hands in his pockets. "She's very good at tea," he promises before pausing, rocking on his heels. "Well, I say 'very good'... I mean not bad," another pause as his lips twitch up. "Well, I say 'not bad'..." he trails off, grimacing. "Anyway! Lead on! Allons-y!" he grins. "But not too fast... her ankle's going," he tells blondie 'delicately'.

With an amused smirk, blondie turns and motions for us to follow. Mum glares at the Doctor's back as he walks in front of us, "I'll show you where my ankle's going," she hisses.

"Please, for the love of God, don't make her slap you," I sigh, shaking my head as I try not to smile.

"Couldn't help myself," he throws me a smirk over his shoulder before yelping - me jumping - when mum kicks him in the calf. "Ow," he uses his other foot to rub at it. "... sorry, Jackie," he sighs.

"You better be, mister," she glares. "How the hell do you put up with him?"

"With a great deal of patience," I smirk, both of us snickering when Kas pouts with a whine of protest. "Seriously, mum, I should get a reward," I tease and Kas grumbles under his breath while mum laughs.

Blondie cuts in as she leads us through a corridor, "it was only a matter of time until you found us and at last, you've made it," she smiles over her shoulder when we stop at a pair of large double doors, making me roll my eyes. "I'd like to welcome you two," she leads us through.

My eyes widen as I look around at the huge factory room filled with alien artifacts - scientists tinkering with them - and more workers moving huge crates around on forklifts. When I see a spaceship that they were working on and taking pieces off of, my hands clench into fists as I glare around the room.

"Welcome to Torchwood," Blondie holds her arms out.

Wait a second, Torchwood. That was that house in Scotland... wasn't it? And didn't Zach say something about working for them when he was speaking to the Beast?

Kas wraps an arm around me, rubbing my arm, "that's... a Jathaa Sun Glider," he stares up at it.

I let my light flow around me as it is a bit nippy... seriously need to start wearing jackets more regularly. Hm, speaking of Scotland, maybe I could get out that trench coat that I wore while we were there. It was cute and very comfortable. Even better, it flowed behind me when I ran...

"Came down to Earth off the Shetland Islands ten years ago," blondie smirks up at it, cutting off my musings and folding her arms.

"What, did it crash?" I frown up at it - didn't look like a crashed ship.

"No, we shot it down," she corrects, making my head snap to her in shock. "It violated our airspace," she shrugs and the Doctor tightens his arm around me when I growl under my breath. "We stripped it bare," she smiles pleasantly at me with an amused glint in her eyes and I send her a nasty glare. "The weapon that destroyed the Sycorax on Christmas Day? That was us," she informs us proudly and my light flares.

"Calm down, tiny," Kas whispers and presses a kiss to the top of my head even as I get a rush of anger from him.

"Now, if you'd like to come with me," Blondie gestures for us to follow.

I rest my hand on the top of my holster, glad that it looks more like a purse. The three of us follow Blondie through the room. "The Torchwood Institute has a motto: if it's alien, it's ours," she smiles and I wrinkle my nose - where the hell do these people get off? "Anything that comes from the sky, we strip it down and use it for the good of the British Empire," she explains.

"I'm sorry, the good of the what?" I raise an eyebrow.

"The British Empire," she repeats, looking at me with her eyes widened in feigned innocence.

"There isn't a British Empire," mum argues.

"Not yet," Blondie smirks. "Ah, excuse me," she stops a solider that was passing and takes a... a particle gun off him. "Now, if you wouldn't mind," she turns to us, holding it up. "Do you recognize this, Doctor? Your Highness?"

"Just Star," I glare at her and she smirks, raising her eyebrows as she nods down to the gun in her hands. "That's a particle gun," I roll my eyes.

"Good, isn't it? Took us eight years to get it to work-"

I cut her off, "this is the twenty-first century, you can't have particle guns," I narrow my eyes.

"We must defend our border against the alien," she shrugs and hands the particle gun back to the soldier. "Thank you... Sebastian, isn't it?"

"Yes ma'am," he nods.

"Thank you, Sebastian," she smiles and turns back to us when he walks off. "I think it's important to know everyone by name. Torchwood is a very modern organization. People skills - that's what it's all about these days. I'm a people person," she explains with a smug grin.

Mum and I share a look, both of us rolling our eyes. In what universe is this woman a people person? The only thing she gives off is massive bitch energy and the only thing I want to do to her is slap that 'I'm better than you and know more' smirk off her stupid face. Kas squeezes me, looking around, "have you got anyone called Alonso?" he asks, smiling when I snort loudly.

"No, I don't think so," Blondie frowns. "... is that important?"

"I suppose not," he sighs in disappointment. "What was your name?" he asks as he drags me over to some artifacts to look them over.

"Yvonne, Yvonne Hartman," she smiles, following after.

"Lovely to meet you," I deadpan as I pull what looks like a sort of black step-stool device from a crate.

"Ah, yes, now, we're rather fond of these," Yvonne comes over as I weigh it in my hand. "The Magna-clamp: found in a spaceship buried at the base of Mount Snowdon," she grins. "Attach this to an object and it cancels the mass. I could use it to lift two tons of weight with a single hand - that's an imperial ton, by the way. Torchwood refuses to go metric."

Rolling my eyes, I drop the Magna-clamp back into the crate and brush my hands off. Mum comes over, looking down at it, "I could do with that to carry the shopping," she jokes, making me shake my head with a smile.

"All devices are for Torchwood's benefit, not the general public," Yvonne narrows her eyes and I roll mine - never heard a joke, lady! I thought you were supposed to be a 'people person'?

Mum pulls a face at Yvonne's back when she turns, making me snicker and she nudges me with her hip. The Doctor looks between us with an amused and fond grin before moving over to a giant magnifying glass and looking through it, "so, what about these ghosts?"

"Ah, yes... the ghosts," Yvonne nods. "They're, um, what you might call a side effect."

"Of what?" Kas raises an eyebrow.

"All in good time, Doctor, there is an itinerary, trust me," she waves off.

I snort loudly. Was she serious? Something blue catches my attention and my eyes widen when I see the TARDIS being driven off on the back of a truck. Mum gasps when she sees, "oi! Where're you taking that?" she demands.

"If it's alien, it's ours," Yvonne recites.

"You'll never get inside," the Doctor promises, narrowing his eyes.

"Hm, et cetera," she smirks, walking off.

Kas and I watch the TARDIS being driven away. Rose peaks through the door and Kas gives her a small nod, me sending her a wink. Giving a nod, Rose closes the door again and we follow Yvonne through another corridor. Soldiers come up to walk behind us and I was keeping my hand on my holster. I hated being around people with guns, they were always so unpredictable. Mine was only for when it was absolutely necessary and I mainly used it to stun. Also, it made me feel safer to know I have some sort of protection with me.

"All those times we've been on Earth, I've never heard of you," the Doctor eyes Yvonne as she walks in front of us.

"But of course not," she laughs.

"I have," I put in, smiling when she looks back at me sharply.

"Well, your husband is named in the Torchwood Foundation Charter of 1879 as an enemy of the crown," she tells me, making me roll my eyes - I'd be more surprised if it had praised him for the way he acted when we were there. Of course, he was named as an enemy.

"1879..." Kas frowns. "That was called Torchwood, that house in Scotland."

"Yup, owned by Sir Robert MacLeish," I nod, gripping his bicep with both hands as I walk beside him and I wince when I remember what happened to the brave man.

"That's right, Your Highness," Yvonne throws me a smirk. "Where he encountered Queen Victoria and the werewolf," she nods before frowning slightly. "There were two girls with you... Dame Rose - guessing that's you," she points back to mum with her thumb. "... and the other one... Dame Elizabeth," she murmurs, making me send mum a look to keep quiet when she opens her mouth. "The Queen was fond of her. Gave a glowing report of her character and she didn't have her banished like you two. What happened with Elizabeth?" she asks and I wrinkle my nose at the use of my... Lizzie's... our full name.

"Oh, she... left," Kas waves off.

"Anyway," I cut in quickly. "That's enough of the 'Your Highness'," I narrow my eyes.

"Right, you're the last royal of Iralia," she nods. "Would you rather 'Your Majesty', 'Your Grace', or 'My Queen'?"

"Call me any of those and you will be getting sent to hospital with quite a few nasty burns," I snarl as my light brightens and the Doctor grabs my waist quickly, holding me back as the guards with us aim their guns at me. "It is Star, not 'Your Highness' and under no circumstance will you address me by a title that suggests that I am queen! Do I make myself clear?" I glare as tears prickle my eyes.

"Sweetheart," mum goes to grip my shoulder but the Doctor pulls me away, shaking his head at her.

Yvonne motions for the guards to lower their guns, "hm, as you wish, Star, royalty do always get their way, don't they?" she smirks, making me let out a low growl. "Moving on," she starts to walk again. "Her majesty created the Torchwood Institute with the express intention of keeping Britain great and fighting the alien horde."

"Are you alright?" mum whispers to me.

I nod, wiping at my eyes and Kas pulls me close, rubbing my side and I let out an involuntary shudder when his hand brushes bare skin. "You can't touch her until she calms down," he murmurs under his breath to explain why he'd pulled me away from her and mum nods. "Our bond makes me immune to her light, but you'd be burned in an instant with how bright she's glowing right now," he explains.

"S-sorry..." I whisper, feeling a bit ashamed for having my temper running thin right now. My mum was the last queen of Iralia... she has that title, not me... not ever.

"Don't be," mum smiles softly, blowing me a kiss and I couldn't help but snort.

The Doctor smiles, kissing the top of my head. "Hold on," he frowns, looking at Yvonne in front of us and she hums for him to go on. "If I'm the enemy, does that mean I'm a prisoner?"

"Oh, yes, you and your wife both," she nods, making his arm tighten around me. "But we'll make you perfectly comfortable," she assures us as we stop in front of a large metal door. "And there is so much you two can teach us," she presses her ID card to the lock. "Starting with this," she smiles and opens the door, making my jaw drop at the giant black sphere that was hovering in the large room. "Now, what do you make of that?"

Kas pulls me into the room slowly, both of us staring at the void ship with mum right behind us. I barely register a man holding his hand out to us, "you must be the Doctor and Star. Rajesh Singh, it's an honor, sir. Your Highness."

"Yeah..." Kas murmurs faintly.

"Hi... just Star," I wave off absently.

"What is that thing?" mum asks quietly.

"We got no idea," Yvonne answers.

"But what's wrong with it?"

"What makes you think there's something wrong with it?" Rajesh asks her eagerly.

"I don't know... just feels weird," mum shudders.

Darting forward, Kas drags me over to the little set of steps that lead to a platform under the sphere. Yvonne moves forward with mum, her arms folded, "well, the sphere has that effect on everyone: makes you want to run and hide... like it's forbidden."

"We tried analyzing it using every device imaginable," Rajesh puts in.

The Doctor slips on his 3D specs, examining the sphere before handing them to me. I shake my head when I see the void particles that were covering the sphere. Rajesh speaking again catches my attention, "but according to our instruments the sphere doesn't exist; it weighs nothing, it doesn't age, no heat, no radiation, and has no atomic mass."

"But I can see it!" mum protests.

"Fascinating, isn't it? It upsets people because it gives off nothing - it is... absent," he explains, making me snort as I sit on the edge of the platform and hand Kas his 3D specs back.

"Well, Doctor? Star?" Yvonne looks between us.

"This is a void ship," I mutter, kicking my feet back and forth.

"... and what is that?"

"Well, it's impossible for starters," the Doctor answers, moving to sit on the steps and leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "I always thought it was just a theory," he shakes his head.

"I did as well," I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "It's a vessel designed to exist outside of time and space, traveling through the void," I explain to the Humans' confused expressions.

"... and what's 'the void'?" Rajesh frowns.

"The space between dimensions," Kas answers, his tone quiet and serious and Rajesh and Yvonne frown in confusion. "There's all sorts of realities around us, different dimensions, billions of parallel worlds all stacked up against each other," he mimes things being stacked. "The void is the space in between, containing absolutely nothing. Can you imagine that? Nothing. No light, no dark, no up, no down, no life, no time, without end."

"My people and his called it the Void, the Eternals call it the Howling, but some people call it Hell," I murmur, an unpleasant shiver running up my spine.

"But someone built the sphere," Rajesh looks up at it. "What for? Why go there?"

"To explore? To escape?" I offer, rubbing my arm. "You could sit inside that thing and eternity would pass you by..."

"Big Bang... end of the universe, start of the next," the Doctor muses, clasping his hands and putting them to his mouth. "Wouldn't even touch the sides."

"You'd exist outside the whole of creation..."

"You see, we were right," Yvonne smirks, making me roll my eyes. "There is something inside it!"

"Oh, yes," the Doctor confirms darkly, making her smirk falter.

"... so how do we get in there?" Rajesh asks.

I give a derisive snort, hopping off the platform and putting my hands on my hips, "you are joking, are you not?" I raise an eyebrow.

"We don't, we send that thing back into Hell," Kas glares between them, moving to stand behind me and he places his hands on my shoulders, rubbing soothingly. "How did it get here in the first place?"

"Well, that's how it all started," Yvonne shrugs.

"Want to elaborate on that?" I roll my eyes.

"The sphere came through into this world and the ghosts followed in its wake," she explains.

"Show us," the Doctor orders, letting go of me and heading to the door.

Following him to the door, I wait by the doorway and lean against it will my arms folded. Yvonne comes up beside me with mum, "no, Doctor!" she calls, making me snort when he immediately turns on his heels to go the other way, grabbing my hand on his way past.

***

Yvonne leads us to the top floor where there was a massive, all-white room. At the back was her office that was separated by a wall of glass. In the main room, there were desks lining both walls and two huge levers on both sides. The far wall was blank and Kas and I move forward to look at it. "At least it's warmer up here," I murmur, letting my light fade and the Doctor hums in agreement, slipping his 3D specs on.

"The sphere came through here - a hole in the world," Yvonne explains. "Not active at the moment. But when we fire particle engines at that exact spot, the breach opens up."

"How did you even find it?" Kas frowns, running his hand over the wall and I hand him the specs.

"Well, we were getting warning sighs for years... a radar black-spot," she shrugs. "So we built this place: Torchwood Tower. The breach was six hundred foot above sea level. It was the only way to reach it."

"You built a skyscraper just to reach a spatial disturbance," I turn her incredulously, wrinkling my nose. "How much money have you got exactly?"

"Enough," she smirks, walking over to her office where mum was looking out her large windows lining her wall.

"I really don't like her," I huff, folding my arms.

"I don't either," Kas agrees with a fond smile as he ruffles my hair. "What the hell were they thinking," he sighs, pulling me to Yvonne's office and slipping the specs off.

"Hold on a minute... we're in Canary Wharf," mum was pointing out the window when we get to the doorway of the office. "Must be! This building is Canary Wharf!"

"Well, that is the public name for it," Yvonne nods, leaning against her desk. "But to those in the know? It's Torchwood," she smirks.

"So," I cut in. "You find the breach and prod it will all your stolen tech, then the sphere comes through! Six hundred feet above London and bam!" I slam my hand against the door.

Kas leans his hand against the doorframe, leaning his chin on my head, "it leaves a hole in the fabric of reality, and that hole, you think 'oh, shall we leave it alone? Shall we back off? Shall we play it safe'?" he mocks. "Nah! You think 'let's make it bigger'!"

"It's a massive source of energy! If we can harness that power, we need never depend on the Middle East again!" Yvonne argues, straightening and folding her arms. "Britain will become truly independent! Look, you can see for yourself," she steps out of the office. "Next ghost shift's in two minutes!"

I step away from Kas, "cancel it," I order

"I don't think so," Yvonne scoffs, making me glare at her.

"We're warning you: cancel it," the Doctor orders in a low tone.

"Oh, exactly as the legends would have it," Yvonne turns to us with a nasty glare. "The Doctor and his Star lording it over us! Assuming alien authority over the right of Man!"

"You've no idea what you are dealing with!" I snarl, my light flowing around my hands as I clench them into fists.

"But let us show you," Kas grabs my shoulders and pulls me into the office on the other side of the glass. "Sphere comes through," he motions to me.

I take out my sonic and aim it at the glass, clicking it on. The glass cracks and continue to splinter as the Doctor speaks, "but when it made the hole, it cracked the world around it. The entire surface of this dimension splintered, and that's how the ghosts get through. That's how they get everywhere."

"They're bleeding through the faultlines," I explain. "Walking from their world, across the void and into yours. With the Human Race hoping and wishing and helping them along!"

"But too many ghosts and..." Kas trails off.

I press the tip of my finger to the glass as lightly as I can and the entire panel shatters, making mum jump back with a gasp as it litters the floor. Yvonne stares at the glass for a moment, "well, it that case, we'll have to be more careful," she shrugs, making me growl lowly - this stupid fucking bitch. "Positions!" she turns to the staff. "Ghost shift in one minute!"

"Miss Hartman, I am asking you," Kas follows after her, pulling me behind him. "Please, don't do this?"

"We have done this a thousand times," she waves off.

"Then stop at a thousand!" I shout, getting in her face and glaring up at her.

"We are I control of the ghosts," she rolls her eyes. "The levers can open the breach but equally they can close it," she assures us.

I huff loudly and turn to Kas, sharing a look with him and he nods. "Ok," he smiles at Yvonne, moving into her office to grab a swivel chair.

"Sorry!?" she stares at us.

"No, don't mind us! As you were," I wave off, yelping quietly when I'm pulled into Kas' lap as he sits down.

"What? Is that it!?"

"Nah, fair enough! Said our bit," the Doctor waves off, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me back tight against him. "Any chance of a cup of tea?" he smiles at a pretty worker next to us.

"Ghost shift in twenty seconds," she ignores him.

"Ooo, can't wait to see it!" I beam, giggling slightly when Kas moves the chair from side to side.

"You can't stop us," Yvonne eyes us, looking rather unnerved - good.

"No, absolutely not," the Doctor agrees, leaning his chin on my shoulder "Pull up a chair, Rose! Come and watch the fireworks!" he smiles at Yvonne maniacally and mum stands behind us, folding her arms.

"Ghost shift in ten seconds! Nine... eight..."

Yvonne looks at the three of us with slightly wide eyes. I examine my nails while Kas stares at her with raised eyebrows.

"Seven... six... five... four... three... two..."

"Stop the shift! I said stop!" Yvonne blurts out.

I slump against Kas in relief and he squeezes me, kissing my cheek. "Thank you," he tells Yvonne sincerely, sliding me off his lap.

"I suppose it makes sense to get as much intelligence as possible," Yvonne straightens her blazer. "But the program will recommence as soon as the two of you have explained everything," she warns.

"We're glad to be of help," I give her a wide and very fake smile, putting my hands behind my back and rocking on my heels.

Yvonne rolls her eyes, "and someone clean this up!" she orders, pointing to the broken glass all over the floor. "They did warn me," she looks between Kas and I. "They said you two like to make a mess," she smiles, making me raise an eyebrow and watch her as she heads into her office.

3rd Person POV:

Rose had managed to find a white lab coat to blend in with the staff and was following a man through corridors to see if he could lead her anywhere interesting. The man rounds a corner and she breaks into a jog when there's the sound of a door opening and closing. Thankfully, there was only one door in the corridor. Stepping up to it, Rose gets out the psychic paper she'd gotten out of the Doctor's coat and she presses a kiss to it for luck before holding it against the door lock. She breathes in relief when the door slides open and she walks in slowly. It was the room with the void ship and she was staring up at it in complete shock, an uneasy feeling in her gut.

"Can I help you?"

The voice makes Rose jump, but she doesn't look away from the sphere, "I was just..."

"Try not to look at it, it does that to everyone," Rajesh sighs. "What do you want?"

"Sorry, um..." Rose shakes her head, looking at him. "They sent me from personnel, they said some man and woman had been taken prisoner," she smiles. "Some sort of doctor and a... a star princess or something? I'm just... checking the lines of communication. Did they tell you anything?"

"Can I see your authorization?" Rajesh eyes her suspiciously.

"Sure," Rose hands him the psychic paper, crossing her fingers of her other hand behind her back and praying it says whatever she needs it to.

"That's lucky," Rajesh smiles, making Rose smile back in relief. "You see, everyone at Torchwood has at least a basic level of psychic training... this paper is blank and you're a fake," he narrows his eyes, making Rose's smile fade. "Seal the room! Call security!" he calls into his wrist comm and the doors slam shut, making Rose's eyes widen in panic. "Samuel? Can you check the door locks? She just walked right in," he orders the other man in the room who was wearing a white lab coat as well.

"Doing it now, sir," 'Samuel' turns.

Rose stares in shock and her heart rate picks up when she sees that it's actually Mickey. She opens her mouth to call out to him, tears welling up in her eyes. He puts a finger to his lips, giving her a thumbs up with a wide grin that makes her heart do an odd flip.

1st Person POV:

In Yvonne's office, she was sat at her desk and the Doctor was in a chair on the other side with his feet up on it, his ankle's crossed. Mum was leaning against one of the widows with her arms folded and I was leaning against the back of the Doctor's chair. I was tracing shapes on the back of his neck with my light flowing through my finger. It was really hard to keep a straight face every time Kas tightened his grip on the armrest of his chair or bit his lip to hold back some sort of noise.

Yvonne speaking makes me look at her while continuing what I was doing. "So these ghosts, or whatever they are, did they build the sphere?" she asks, eyeing the Doctor's feet in disdain.

"Must have," Kas shrugs, swatting at my hand and I snicker quietly. "Aimed it at this dimension like a cannonball," he rolls his eyes.

"Yvonne? I think you should see this," Rajesh calls and she looks down at her laptop, raising an eyebrow. "We've got a visitor. We don't know who she is, but funnily enough, she arrived at the same time as the Doctor and Star."

I was in the middle of tracing my name on Kas when Yvonne turns her laptop toward us and my hand stills, my heart stuttering for a moment when I see Rose sitting beside Rajesh.

"She one of yours?" Yvonne looks between us.

"Never seen her before in my life," Kas shakes his head.

"Good! Then we can have her shot," Yvonne shrugs and I dig my fingers into Kas' shoulder, hissing slightly.

"You shoot her and you won't live very long," I snarl.

The Doctor reaches back to grab my hand and pull me into his lap, "it was worth a try," he shrugs, resting his hand on my side and rubbing circles with his thumb to calm me. "That's... that's Rose Tyler," he nods to the screen, his lips twitching up when I relax.

"Sorry..." Rose mutters sheepishly. "Hello," she waves and I shake my head with a small smile, waving back.

"Well, if that's Rose Tyler, who's she?" Yvonne frowns, pointing to mum.

"I'm their mother," she glares, gesturing between Rose and I.

"You're Star's mother?" Yvonne looks between us with raised eyebrows.

"Got a problem with it!?"

"No, no, not at all," she shakes her head before looking at Kas and she smirks. "Just... you travel with their mother?"

"He kidnapped me!"

"Please," Kas groans miserably, leaning his chin against my shoulder and looking at Yvonne pleadingly. "When Torchwood comes to write my complete history... don't tell people I traveled through time and space with my mother-in-law," he begs.

"Charming," mum rolls her eyes.

"I've got a reputation to uphold!"

"Oh, that's nice," I scoff, pushing his face away from me and he pouts.

I frown, though, when something catches my eye. The... the levers for the ghost shift were moving. Yvonne notices as well and stands, moving to address her staff, "excuse me? Everyone?" she calls, getting no reply. "I thought I said stop the ghost shift!" she steps into the main room and my frown deepens when they all just ignore her, staring straight ahead and typing quickly at their computers. "Who started the program? But... I ordered you to stop! Who's doing that!?" she points to the levers rising on their own. "Step away from the monitors! Everyone! Gareth, Addy, stop what you're doing, right now! Matt! Step away from your desk! That's an order! Stop the levers!" Two men in white lab coats rush over to the levers and struggle to push them down. "Andrew! Stop the levers!"

"What's she doing?" Kas slides me off his lap and we move over to the female worker, Addy.

"Addy?" Yvonne comes over with mum right behind her. "Step away from the desk," she orders.

My eyebrows furrow and I click my fingers in front of her face, getting no reaction at all. Her ear-pods catch my attention and my stomach knots up when I see that she is wearing two... and they're both blinking.

"Listen to me! Step away from the desk!" Yvonne shouts.

"She cannot hear you," I shake my head sadly, looking at the computer. "They're overriding the system..."

"We're going into ghost shift," the Doctor mutters as the wall begins to brighten.

"Kas... look at her ears," I murmur.

"It's the ear-piece, they're controlling them," he breathes from beside me, horror and anger and sadness washing over me. "We've seen this before," he shakes his head, getting his sonic out but he hesitates a second. "Sorry... I'm so sorry," he tells Addy sadly.

I turn my head away when he holds the sonic up to the ear-pod and deactivates them. Addy screams and then slumps over her desk with the other two workers doing the same at theirs. Yvonne stares at them in horror, "what happened? What did you just do?"

"They're dead," I breathe out shakily, moving the keyboard from under Addy.

"You killed them," mum glares at Kas darkly.

"Oh, someone else did that long before I got here," he grits his teeth, moving to one of the other computers.

"But you killed them!"

"Jackie, I haven't got time for this!"

"Mum it's... it was not his fault," I tell her as calmly as I can, working at the computer to see if Kas or I could stop the shift. "They... were already dead," I sigh.

"What are those ear-pieces?" Yvonne asks.

"Don't," the Doctor and I warn immediately.

"But they're standard comm devices.... how does it control them?"

"Trust us, leave them alone," Kas tells her.

"But what are they?" she takes one of Addy's ear-pods and pulls.

I grimace at the squelching sound it makes when it comes out Addy's head and a trail of brain tissue follows. Trying not to gag at the slime coming off it or the putrid smell, I continue to work. Yvonne screeches and drops the ear-pod, "urgh! Oh, God, it goes inside their brain!"

"We told you not to," I mutter, moving over to Kas. "What about the ghost shift?"

"Ninety percent and still running," Yvonne calls. "Can't you stop it?"

"They're still controlling it, they've hi-jacked the system," Kas shakes his head.

"Who's 'they'?"

I ignore her and take my sonic out, holding it in the palm of my hand as I spin slowly, "it could be a remote transmitter... but it has got to be close by... I can trace it," I murmur before grabbing the Doctor's hand in my free one and following the signal. "Mum, please stay here?" I call over my shoulder.

3rd Person POV:

Down in the sphere chamber, Mickey and Rose were staring up at the sphere as it causes crashes around the room. Rajesh was at his computer, "we've got a problem down here! Yvonne, can you hear me? Yvonne, for God's sake, the sphere is active!" he shouts, staring at his screen in complete shock. "The readings are going wild! It's got weight, it's got mass, an electromagnetic field! It exists!" he jumps, turning his chair to a crash behind him to see the large door slamming shut. "The door's sealed! Automatic quarantine! We can't get out!"

"It's alright, babe," Mickey grins at Rose and she can't help but smile back even with how terrified she is at the moment - she'd missed him so much. "We beat them before, we can beat them again. That's why I'm here, the fight goes on," he tells her and her smile falters a bit, making his stomach knot up.

"... the fight against what?"

"What do you think?" he scoffs lightly. "We had them beaten, but they escaped - the Cybermen just vanished," he explains as there's another crash from the sphere. "They found a way through to this world... but so did we."

"But... the Doctor said that was impossible," Rose frowns.

"Yeah, well, it's not the first time he's been wrong," Mickey rolls his eyes with a small smile and Rose snorts, unable to disagree with that.

"What's inside the sphere?" she grabs onto Mickey's arm when there's a stronger crash.

"No one knows," he shrugs. "Cyber Leader, Cyber King, Emperor of the Cybermen? Whatever it is, he's dead meat," he grins.

Rose gives him a coy smile, leaning her chin on his shoulder, "it's good to see you," she squeezes his arm and presses a kiss to his cheek.

"Yeah... it's good to see you too," Mickey beams, nudging her playfully.

1st Person POV:

The signal on my sonic had taken Kas, Yvonne, and I a couple of floors down to a closed-off area that was separated by plastic tarps. "You two, you come with us," Yvonne gestures two soldiers and they start to follow us with a 'yes, ma'am'.

"Yay, more soldiers," I cheer unenthusiastically and Kas squeezes my hand.

"What's down here?" he nods to the entrance of the tarped off area.

"I... I don't know," Yvonne shakes her head, staring at the tarps with a deep frown. "I think it's just building work... it's just renovations," she shrugs.

"You should go back," Kas warns, starting to pull me forward.

"Think again," she scoffs, following us with the two soldiers.

The five us walk through the plastic tarps... it was like a maze in here. I stop when my sonic beeps and I stare down at it - the results running through my mind - and pale as my heart starts to beat faster. Yvonne's voice makes me jump, "what is it? What's down here?"

The Doctor squeezes my hand, pulling me closer, "ear-pieces, ear-pods... this world is colliding with another and I think I know which one," he murmurs.

Shadows form around us from behind the curtains and Yvonne demands what they are with a yelp. "They came through first," I breathe, moving in front of the Doctor with my hand over my holster. It was mainly for comfort, though, as I wouldn't be able to take out this many Cybermen without possibly hurting one of the Humans or Kas and I.

"The advanced guard," Kas mutters, tightening his hold on my hand even more as they slit the tarps in half with their hands. "Cybermen," he tells the Humans as they begin to march forward.

The two soldiers begin firing immediately. "That won't work!" I shout, Kas trying to pull me away with Yvonne right behind us but more Cybermen step in front of us... we were surrounded.

***

The Cybermen lead all of us back to the rift chamber, our hands behind our heads. "Get away from the machines! Do what they say! Don't fight them!" Kas orders the workers that were still alive but the Cybermen shoot them anyway, making me clench my fists as my light starts to surround them.

"What are they?" mum stumbles over to us and I wrap her up in a tight hug before pushing her behind me.

"We are the Cybermen," the Cyber Leader answers in its monotonous voice that sends shivers down my spine. "The ghost shift will be increased to one hundred percent," it announces and clamps a fist to its chest, making the levers start to rise once more and the ghost shift begins.

Computer - online

"Here come the ghosts," Kas murmurs darkly as the light brightens and I just about slap him - really, Kas? Really? I shoot him a look and he gives me a slightly sheepish one, squeezing my hand as we watch rows upon rows of Cybermen march out of the light.

3rd Person POV:

"Can anyone hear me? Come on, I need help down here!" Rajesh yells into the comm as the entire sphere chamber shakes accompanied by loud booms. "I need-" he's cut off when the shaking and noises suddenly stop and he joins Mickey and Rose.

"Here we go," Mickey smirks, removing his lab coat and ear-piece and they watch as a smooth crack appears in the sphere as it opens, light spilling from the gap. "I know what's in there and I'm ready for it. I've got just the thing," he moves over to one of the work stations and pulls a large gun from under it, aiming it at the sphere. "This is gonna blast them to Hell," he sends a wink to Rose to calm her obvious fear a bit and she shakes her head, lips twitching up as she moves to be behind him and grips his shirt.

"Samuel, what are you doing!?" Rajesh demands, staring at him in shock.

"The name's Mickey, Mickey Smith, defending the Earth," he retorts with a smirk as he flicks the safety off on his gun and cocks it.

1st Person POV:

"These Zybermen-"

"Cybermen," I correct quietly.

"... Cybermen, what've they got to do with the ghosts?" mum asks shakily.

"Don't you ever listen?" Kas snaps, a wave of anger and slight fear washing over me as we watch the 'ghosts'. "A footprint doesn't look like a boot!"

"Achieving full transfer!" the Cyber Leader announces.

"They are all Cybermen," I whisper, my voice wavering. "All of the ghosts are Cybermen..."

"Millions of them... right across the world," the Doctor breathes out.

"They're invading the whole planet," Yvonne stares at them.

"I wish it were an invasion," I shake my head sadly.

"It's too late for that, it's a victory," Kas tells her and mum darkly.

I frown when there's beeping from behind and see that the computer was saying that the sphere was activated. Sharing a look with the Doctor, we move over to the Cyber Leader. "Ok... so what I don't understand is Cybermen don't have the technology to build the void ship - that's way beyond you," I shake my head. "How did you create that sphere?"

"The sphere is not ours," it answers.

"What?" Kas whispers, just as stunned as I am as I stare at the Cyber Leader with wide eyes.

"The sphere broke down the barriers between worlds, we followed. Its origin is unknown," it explains.

"Then... what's inside it?" Kas frowns.

"Rose is down there," mum pales and I move over to her, pulling her into a hug and clutching onto the back of her jacket.

3rd Person POV:

The three were still staring at the sphere when an eye-stalk starts to emerge from it. "That's not a Cyberman..." Mickey frowns in confusion, his grip on his gun loosening as four Daleks levitate out - three the normal bronze color and one all black.

"Oh, my God..." Rose whimpers, face paling and heart racing as she grips Mickey tighter.

Mickey aims his gun at them while Rose and Rajesh just stare at them, both with wide-eyed fear. Rose because she thought they were dead and they came back. She had thought they killed her sister and the Doctor had thought they had killed his wife and they came back. She jumps, starting to shake a bit when the Daleks begin to scream and move forward. "Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminate!"

A/N: So, um... holy fucking shit 'The Last Royal' has reached 100k reads! What!? Thank you so much for reading my story and for being so patient! Love you guys! Let me know what you think by dropping a comment or a vote! :*