The Sontaran Stratagem
Kamihama City arcade…
"How are you even good at shooter games?" Rena asked, her milk tea on the desktop.
"I've got a crack shot at this." Jared said, aiming the gun at the screen, killing zombies in the process. "Dance Dance Revolution is Kyoko's thing, this is mine."
"You're wasting money on this?" Kaede asked.
"Are you into anything else?" Iroha asked.
"Kyoko beats me at Dance Dance Revolution every single time." Jared said, picking up his cup of milk tea, taking a sip out of it. "What's the point in even beating her?"
"You try." Yachiyo said, looking at Jared kill another zombie with Rena. "And zombies?"
"This is a Walking Dead game."
"What's the Walking Dead?" Kaede asked.
"I think it's a horror show." Yachiyo said.
"Horror?" Iroha asked.
"For American shows, it's a bit long." Jared said, placing the cup back onto the console. "Then again, there is Supernatural."
"What's Supernatural?"
"Oh, this is a simple quote from it. It involves two brothers saving people, hunting things. The family business."
"Isn't that what we do?" Kaede asked.
"Yes. But what do they hunt?" Yachiyo asked.
"Demons, Angels, Ghosts, Vampires, etcetera. Anything the supernatural." Jared said, killing another zombie.
"How are you beating me?" Rena asked, looking at the fanboy.
"Shooters are easy. And they don't tire you out."
"How about holding that gun?" Iroha asked.
"True. It is a bit heavy."
"Any weapon is heavy." Tsuruno said, walking up to Jared. "I thought you were hungry. So I got you something!"
"Lunch?" Jared asked.
"I accidentally gave it to Felicia. She was a bit hungry." Tsuruno said, sadly.
"You did what?!"
"You said anything good. And Felicia needed something."
"So, you chose her over me. You owe me lunch."
"I'll get you it. Don't worry!" Tsuruno said. "I know how much you like my food. Even if you consider it a C too."
"Shut up, Tsuruno Yui. I don't like your food."
"Yes, you do. Stop lying to yourself. It's really good, when my grandparents were running it."
"Maybe I should use the TARDIS to try out the Chinese food." Jared said, smiling.
"Now I'm a bit interested in trying it out." Iroha said.
"Me too." Yachiyo said, when the TARDIS materializes. "Symphogear in there?"
Jared ran into the blue box, and it dematerializes.
Tardis…
"Hibiki, Yukine." Jared said, running up to the two girls for a hug. "Hi."
"Hey." Hibiki said, while the Doctor hits the console with a hammer and pulls a lever, then lets Donna take control again.
"Left hand down. Left hand down! Getting a bit too close to the 1980s." The Doctor said.
"What am I going to do, put a dent in them?" Donna asked.
"Well, someone did." The Doctor said.
"That being Hibiki." Yukine said, while a telephone rings.
"Hold on. That's a phone." Donna said, while the Doctor takes a mobile phone from a socket in the console. "You've got a mobile? Since when?"
"It's not mine." The Doctor said, answering the phone. "Hello?"
Industrial estate…
"Doctor? It's Martha, and me, Shirabe, and Kirika are bringing you, Jared, Hibiki, and Yukine back to Earth." Martha said.
"Come on!" Kirika said, happily.
"The rest of us needs you two." Shirabe said.
"We're coming." Hibiki said, her voice over the phone.
"Don't get too mad. That Hibiki wanted to save others too." Yukine said, over the phone.
The Tardis materialises in an alleyway behind Martha, Shirabe, and Kirika and the Doctor steps out with Jared, Hibiki, and Yukine.
"Martha Jones." The Doctor said.
"The one I relied on the most next to Mami and Kyoko." Jared said, looking at Martha.
"Doctor." Martha said, hugging the Doctor and Jared.
"You haven't changed a bit." The Doctor said.
"Neither have you." Martha said, and she now looked at Jared. "A Skrull? Is that who you sent to see me with?"
"Sorry." Jared said, holding up his hands. "It was an accident. I swear."
"How's the family?" Hibiki asked. "Have they recovered, after you know?"
"You know. Not so bad. Recovering." Martha said, while Donna comes out of the Tardis.
"What about you? Are you okay?" Yukine asked. "Don't tell me you're upset just because you miss him."
"Right. Should have known. Didn't take you long to replace me, then." Martha said, looking between the Doctor and Jared. "And Jared, it didn't take you long to replace the Holy Quintet. Mami Tomoe has been in contact with me."
"Now, don't start fighting. Martha, Donna. Donna, Martha. Please don't fight. Can't bear fighting." The Doctor said.
"You wish." Donna said, as she and Martha shook hands.
"How was traveling across time and space?" Kirika asked.
"It was good." Hibiki said.
"Despite her being an idiot. Things have been fine." Yukine said.
"Miku? Is she fine?"
"She is." Shirabe said. "She misses you."
"I have to call her." Hibiki said, taking out her phone.
"Later. You have a lot of time for that." Jared said, looking at the four Symphogear users. "You do."
"Really? Who to?" The Doctor asked.
"Tom. That Tom Milligan. He's in pediatrics. Working out in Africa right now. And yes, I know, I've got a doctor who disappears off to distant places. Tell me about it." Martha said.
"Is he skinny?" Donna asked.
"No, he's sort of strong."
"He is too skinny for words. You give him a hug, you get a paper cut."
"Oh, I'd rather you were fighting.��� The Doctor said.
"Speaking of which." Martha said.
"Doctor Jones, report to base, please. Over." A woman said.
Martha answers her walkie-talkie, "This is Doctor Jones. With SG 2, SG 3, SG 5, and SG 6. Operation Blue Sky is go, go, go. I repeat, this is a go."
A convoy of jeeps, trucks and a squad of the Parachute Regiment go past.
"Unified Intelligence Taskforce. Raise that barrier, now!" A soldier said, while a car with Army top brass goes past, and they all go to the ATMOS factory. "Leave those safeties on, lads. They're non-hostiles."
"All workers, lay down your tools and surrender." Someone on the speaker said.
"Shirabe, Kirika, I want you two to stay in the TARDIS." Jared said, looking between Shirabe and Kirika. "It won't be safe down here."
"How come?" Shirabe asked.
"Just…"
"Okay." Kirika said, entering the TARDIS with Shirabe. "I trust you."
"B section mobilised. E section, F section, on my command." Martha said, running off to join the troops under her command.
"Is that what you and Jared did to Martha? Turned her into a soldier? And has Symphogear always been soldiers?" Donna asked.
"Why did you send Shirabe and Kirika to the TARDIS?" Yukine asked.
"Spoilers." Jared said, happily. "It's better that they're there ahead of time."
"And you're qualified now. You're a proper doctor." The Doctor said.
"UNIT rushed it through, given my experience in the field. And Jared is UNIT's backup scientific advisor. Here we go. We're establishing a field base on site. They're dying to meet you." Martha said.
"Wish I could say the same." The Doctor said, as they get into the back of a pantechnicon truck.
Mobile HQ…
"Operation Blue Sky complete, sir. Thanks for letting me take the lead. And, this is the Doctor. Doctor, Colonel Mace." Martha said.
"Sir." Mace said, saluting the Doctor.
"Oh, don't salute." The Doctor said.
"But it's an honour, sir. I've read all the files on you. Technically speaking, you're still on staff. You never resigned."
"And I basically took your job." Jared said, taking out some jelly babies to eat them. "Or more like a backup to it. Since I'm always on Earth."
"What, you used to work for them?" Donna asked, looking at the Doctor.
"Yeah, long time ago. Back in the 70's. Or was it the 80's? But it was all a bit more homespun back then." The Doctor said.
"Times have changed, sir." Mace said, looking at Hibiki and Yukine. "Especially with the likes of S.O.N.G and Symphogear being around."
"We don't save the world from Noise for nothing." Yukine said.
"We help out whenever we can." Hibiki said. "To save others."
"Likewise, we appreciate you lot saving us from the Moon almost falling down to our atmosphere." Mace said. "And sir, you should use Symphogear more often. Especially with their track record."
"Yeah, that's enough of the sir." The Doctor said, annoyed.
"Come on, Spaceman, helping others like this isn't a bad thing." Jared said, happily. "You've seen the equipment S.O.N.G has! And the equipment Torchwood has. You've also been on board of the Valiant."
"We've got massive funding from the United Nations, all in the name of Home World Security." Martha said, agreeing with Jared.
"They've got a modern UNIT for a modern world." Hibiki said, laughing a little. "They handle things their own way, we handle things our way."
"What, and that means arresting ordinary factory workers, in the streets, in broad daylight? I get that S.O.N.G doesn't do that, since I've seen them. On the telly and on the internet. Not so much for UNIT. It's more like Guantanamo Bay out there. Donna, by the way. Donna Noble, since you didn't ask. I'll have a salute." Donna said, angrily.
Mace looks at the Doctor and Hibiki, who gives a sort of nod, so the Colonel salutes Donna, "Ma'am."
"Thank you." Donna said.
"So, what's going on in the factory?" Hibiki asked. "I've been away."
"Yesterday, fifty two people died in identical circumstances, right across the world, in eleven different time zones. Five a.m. in the UK, six a.m. in France, eight a.m. in Moscow, one p.m. in China." Mace said.
"You mean they died simultaneously." Yukine said.
"Exactly. Fifty two deaths at the exact same moment, worldwide."
"How did they die?" Hibiki asked.
"They were all inside their cars." Mace said.
"What happened?"
"They were poisoned. I checked the biopsies. No toxins. Whatever it is, left the system immediately." Martha said.
"What have the cars got in common?" The Doctor asked.
"Completely different makes. They're all fitted with ATMOS, and that is the ATMOS factory."
"What's ATMOS?��� The Doctor asked.
"Oh, come on. Even I know that. Everyone's got ATMOS." Donna said.
ATMOS factory…
"Stands for Atmospheric Omission System. Fit ATMOS in your car, it reduces CO2 emissions to zero." Martha said.
"There's no carbon dioxide in the car's system." Jared said, sadly. "Or any mode of transportation really."
"And you get sat-nav and twenty quid in shopping vouchers if you introduce a friend. Bargain." Donna said, happily.
"And this is where they make it, Doctor. Shipping worldwide. Seventeen factories across the globe, but this is the central depot, sending ATMOS to every country on Earth." Mace said.
"And you think ATMOS is alien." The Doctor said.
"It's our job to investigate that possibility. Doctor?" Mace asked.
The paratroopers are still rounding up workers as Mace leads them through a plastic strip curtain.
"Come on, look lively. Up the pace, go on. We haven't got all day now." A soldier said.
Office...
An ATMOS device is on a table.
"And here it is, laid bare. ATMOS can be threaded through any and every make of car." Mace said.
"You must've checked it, before it went on sale." The Doctor said.
"They did, nothing was found that was out of the ordinary." Jared said, leaning against the wall.
"And UNIT needed an alien expert." Yukine said.
"Really, who'd you get? Oh, right. Me, yes. Good." The Doctor said, as Martha and Mace leave.
"So, why does alien want to clean our atmosphere?" Hibiki asked. "It doesn't make any sense."
"A very good question."
"Maybe they want to help. Get rid of pollution and stuff." Donna said.
"Yeah right, ten years later in July, basically my time. It would have reached the hottest month ever worldwide." Jared said. "The ATMOS wouldn't reach that at all."
"Do you know how many cars there are on planet Earth? Eight hundred million. Imagine that. If you could control them, you'd have eight hundred million weapons." The Doctor said.
Noble home…
Tsubasa has been sitting on the couch with Maria, as the two are watching TV. Both are living normal lives which they haven't done in a while.
"So, what are we waiting for?" Tsubasa asked.
"Jared said for us to be here." Maria said, flicking through the channels.
"You two are still here." Sylvia said, entering the house. "You said you're friends of my daughter. Where is she then?"
"We don't know." Tsubasa said.
"How do you not know?"
"Tsubasa, Maria." Wilfred said, calling the two over to a different part of the house. "Have you seen her? Donna?"
"Yeah. We were with her in Pompeii." Maria said.
"Pompeii?"
"You won't get it." Tsubasa said.
"We're time travelers." Maria said.
"Time travelers?" Wilfred asked. "How did you…"
"Long story.��� Tsubasa said.
"It is a long one." Maria said.
"Will you two explain what you mean?" Wilfred asked.
"We're not the right people to ask." Tsubasa said.
"Who will tell me?"
TARDIS…
Shirabe and Kirika are walking around the TARDIS console room, and they spot a crate nearby. The blonde Symphogear user opened it up to see the other half of the Ember Celica.
"What's that doing in here?" Kirika asked.
"Maybe Jared is keeping it for sentimental value." Shirabe said.
"Keeping half of Yang's weapon in a box?"
"Yeah."
"Why would he do that?" Kirika asked.
"Jared did say that Yang is now armless." Shirabe said.
"That means she lost her arm!" Kirika said, holding the Ember Celica.
"We should, um, probably put that back."
"Right." Kirika said, placing the weapon back inside the box.
"Why did Yang lose an arm?"
"I think something more happened at the Fall of Beacon."
"Like what?" Shirabe asked.
"I don't know."
"Why don't we ask?"
"Maybe."
Kamihama City arcade…
"I wonder how Jared is doing." Iroha said, looking at Yachiyo.
"I bet he's doing okay." Yachiyo said. "He is with Symphogear in London."
"But I've got a bad feeling about this."
"A bad feeling about what?" Tsuruno asked.
"About what's going on halfway across the world."
"Same, what if he's in danger?" Kaede asked.
"He's Jared, a defender of the world." Rena said. "He is saving the world now."
"I can't help that he'll get into trouble." Iroha said.
"He has dealt with far worse than what's going on in this city." Yachiyo said. "Daleks, Cyberman, the Master, Slitheen in Downing Street. Rumors are just child's play."
"But he feels guilty about the Fall of Beacon." Kaede said, sadly.
"He could have stopped it, but he wasn't fast enough."
"Could he have done anything to stop it?" Iroha asked.
"I don't think there was any time." Yachiyo said. "Jared said it went way too fast for him."
"But how about now? With whatever alien threat is on Earth."
"He can handle it." Tsuruno said, determined. "We've seen him in action."
"Only we have." Rena said. "Me and Kaede. If it was just the Ood."
"Yeah." Kaede said.
Office...
The Doctor is looking at ATMOS's components, "Ionising nano-membrane carbon dioxide converter. Which means that ATMOS works. Filters the CO2 at a molecular level."
"We know all that, but what's its origin? Is it alien?" Mace asked.
"Nope, it's decades ahead of its time." Hibiki said, studying the device. "It's Earth technology at least, that's good, right? At least, at least it wasn't a bomb."
"Look, do you mind? Could you stand back a bit?" The Doctor asked, looking at Mace.
"Sorry, have I done something wrong?" Mace asked.
"You're carrying a gun. I don't like people with guns hanging around me, all right? The only people who get that exception are the ones who hang around Jared." The Doctor said.
"If you insist." Mace said, leaving the room.
Jared took out his phone and he went back to listening to some μ's and Aqours music as usual, "Man, I love these songs."
"You're really into idol groups." Hibiki said.
"I am."
"What made you get into the likes of school idols?" Yukine asked. "Or idols in general."
"Oh, the likes of a friend. Rena Minami."
"Was she the one who got you into girl bands too?"
"Yeah. Even if I met her recently, it feels like I've known her all my life. I just don't know why."
"It's okay. She is a bit stubborn, but she shares a common ground with you. What about you?" Hibiki asked.
"What about me?" Jared asked.
"How will we defeat the Sontarans?"
"I don't know."
"Okay. We can talk after a drink, yeah?"
Donna enters, "Oi, you lot. All your storm troopers and your sonics. You're rubbish. Should've come with me."
"Why, where have you been?" Hibiki asked.
"Personnel. That's where the weird stuff's happening, in the paperwork. Because I spent years working as a temp, I can find my way round an office blindfold, and the first thing I noticed is an empty file." Donna said.
"Why, what's inside it? Or what's not inside it?" The Doctor asked.
"Sick days. There aren't any. Hundreds of people working here and no one's sick. Not one hangover, man flu, sneaky little shopping trip, nothing. Not ever. They don't get ill." Donna said, opening up the folder.
"That's not right." Yukine said. "How can these people not get sick?"
"You've been checking out the building. Should've been checking out the workforce." Donna said.
"I can see why they like you." Martha said.
"Mmm hmm."
"You are good."
"She's my super temp." Jared said, happily. "The DoctorDonna. I love her so much!"
"Doctor Jones, set up a medical post. Start examining the workers. I'll get them sent through." Mace said.
"Come on, Donna, Yukine. Give me a hand." Martha said, exiting the room with Donna and Yukine.
ATMOS factory…
"So, where did ATMOS come from?" Hibiki asked.
"Luke Rattigan himself." Mace said.
"And himself would be?" The Doctor asked.
Mobile HQ…
Rattigan's file is shown on a computer screen.
"Child genius. Invented the Fountain Six search engine when he was twelve years old. Millionaire overnight. Now runs the Rattigan Academy. A private school, educating students handpicked from all over the world." Mace said.
"A hothouse for geniuses. Wouldn't mind going there. I get lonely.��� The Doctor said.
Personnel office…
"Do you think I should warn my mum about the ATMOS in her car?" Donna asked.
"It's better safe than sorry." Yukine said.
"I'll give her a call." Donna said.
"Donna. Do they know where you are? Your family. I mean, that you're travelling with the Doctor and Jared?" Martha asked.
"Not really. Although my granddad sort of waved us off. I didn't have time to explain."
"No hell did you leave him behind." Yukine said. "Did you really?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't tell my family. I kept it all so secret, and it almost destroyed them." Martha said.
"In what way?" Donna asked.
"They ended up imprisoned. They were tortured. My Mum, my Dad, my sister. The Holy Quintet, over half of them were tortured and imprisoned too. Madoka, Sayaka, Homura, Nagisa. S.O.N.G was wiped out except Tsubasa and Maria. It wasn't the Doctor's and Jared's fault, but you need to be careful. Because you know the Doctor and Jared. The Doctor's wonderful, he's brilliant, but he's like fire. Stand too close and people get burnt. And Jared's amazing, he's caring, but he's like a tsunami. Get caught up in his ocean and you could lose your life." Martha said, looking at Donna.
"How is Jared a tsunami?" Yukine asked.
"It's a figure of speech. And during that Year. You died." Martha said, sadly.
"I died? How?"
"It feels like it was forever ago."
ATMOS factory…
"You are not coming with us. We want to talk to this Luke Rattigan, not point a gun at him." The Doctor said, walking with Jared and Hibiki.
"It's ten miles outside London. How are you going to get there?" Mace asked.
"Well then, get us a jeep." The Doctor said.
"According to the records, Doctor, you travel by Tardis."
"Well, the aliens could be hostile." Jared said, taking out a cup of milk tea to drink. "A time machine in the front lines, not the best idea."
"Yeah." Hibiki said, agreeing with Jared. "Even so, that thing is my way back home to Miku. In a fast way."
"I see. Then you do have weapons, but you choose to keep them hidden. Jenkins?" Mace asked.
"Sir." Jenkins said.
"You will accompany the Doctor, Jared, and Hibiki and take orders from them."
"Yeah, I don't do orders." The Doctor said.
"Any sign of trouble, get Jenkins to declare a Code Red. And good luck, sir." Mace said.
"I said no salutes." The Doctor said, annoyed.
"Now you're giving orders." Mace said, walking away.
"Oh, you're getting a bit cheeky, you are."
Donna enters, "Doctor. Jared."
"Donna, you're here. We're going to the countryside." Hibiki said, happily.
"Hibiki's right. Fresh air and geniuses, what more could you ask?" The Doctor asked.
"I'm not coming with you. I've been thinking. I'm sorry. I'm going home." Donna said.
"Oh, penny in the air." Jared said, sipping on his milk tea.
"Really?" The Doctor asked, looking at Donna.
"I've got to." Donna said.
"Oh, if that's what you want. I mean, it's a bit soon. I had so many places I had wanted to take you and Jared. The Fifteenth Broken Moon of the Medusa Cascade, the Lightning Skies of Cotter Palluni's World, Diamond Coral Reefs of Kataa Flo Ko. Thank you. Thank you, Donna Noble, it's been brilliant. You've, you've saved my life and Jared's in so many ways. You're…" The Doctor said, his eyes widening.
"And the penny drops." Jared said, laughing a lot. "It took him two minutes to realize what Donna meant."
"...you're just popping home for a visit, that's what you mean."
"Why did it take him that long?" Hibiki asked.
"I don't know." Jared said, finishing the cup of milk tea.
"How's Kirika and Shirabe?"
"I don't know."
"Ready when you are, sir." Jenkins said.
"What's more, you can give me a lift. Come on. Tsubasa and Maria are there, right? Broken moon of what?" Donna asked.
"I know, I know." The Doctor said.
Gray and Harris watch them drive away.
Medical post…
Martha has donned her white coat and stethoscope and Yukine Chris has her pendant out.
"And your name's Trepper, yeah? Is that Polish? Listen, we're not checking passports. It's not about that. But did you come across from Poland just to work?" Martha asked.
"I came to do my job." Trepper said.
"Okay. I need to listen to your heartbeat. This might be a bit cold. Lift." Martha said, while black-faced, no blinking Trepper lifts his shirt to reveal a hairless chest.
Martha hears a very fast heartbeat, "Yukine, listen to this."
"That's not normal. Unless someone has a high metabolism." Yukine said, grabbing the stethoscope from Martha to have a listen. "So, are you on any medication?"
"I'm here to work." Trepper said.
"How many hours a day do you work?" Martha asked.
"Twenty four."
"You work twenty four hours a day? How are you still standing? Why are you working to death?" Yukine asked, looking at Trepper.
"Down." Martha said, as Trepper did as he was told. "Mister Trepper, have you ever had any form of hypnosis?"
"I'm here to work." Trepper said.
"Okay. Er, if you could just wait here." Martha said, leaving the room with Yukine.
ATMOS Factory…
"Doctor Jones. Yukine Chris." Harris said.
"Not now, we're busy." Yukine said, looking back at the soldier.
"Just one question. Do both of you have security clearance level one?" Harris asked. "Since I assume UNIT and S.O.N.G are close."
"Yes, we do. Why?" Martha asked.
"Colonel Mace wants to see the two of you."
"Oh good, because we want to see him. Where is he?"
"Come with us." Grey said.
Rydale Street…
The jeep stops in the middle of a junction.
"I'll walk the rest of the way. I'll see you lot back at the factory, yeah?" Donna asked.
"Bye!" The Doctor said.
"See you later, super temp!" Jared said, happily.
"And you be careful!" Donna said, while the jeep drives off. "Hibiki, look after Jared. And Jared, look after the Doctor."
"Haven't seen you for days." An old woman said.
"Yeah. Been away." Donna said, walking past the cars parked half on the pavement and sees a young boy playing with a football.
Jeep…
Jared is staring off into space, thinking about the past, as he doesn't know what to do now. Especially with how much closer he is getting to the making of the DoctorDonna. An event where the DoctorDonna is born with the help of Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi.
"Quite right, too. And I suppose, if it's one last chance to say it, Rose Tyler..." Holo-Doctor said, vanishing along with Jared.
"Do you believe in destiny?" Pyrrha asked.
"PYRRHAAAAAA!!!!" Ruby said, as the white light envelopes her, spreading out to the Wyvern and Cinder.
"Crap!" Jared said, using the nanotechnology from his super suit to turn the hard copy of Ember Celilca into a copy of Elucidator. "You son of a bitch!"
"Get away from her!" Yang said, as mad as Jared.
"No...please..." Blake said, reaching out helplessly, whispering.
Hibiki noticed that Jared is staring off into space and she handed him her phone to give the fanboy a direct like to Miku Fohinata.
"Hibiki?" Miku asked, her voice over the phone.
"It's Jared." Jared said, sadly.
"Something's wrong. Are you thinking about what happened?"
"Yeah. I just, I just can't deal with this anymore."
"If I know something about you and Hibiki, you and her are so similar. You two keep on fighting for different reasons. Neither of you give up."
"I felt like I wasn't there for Yang and Blake. Even though I was. It was an alternate version of myself that was there. He lost an arm with Yang, just because I was careless. What do I do?"
"You do whatever you think is right." Miku said, her voice coming out of the phone. "Maybe you should talk to Blake and Yang."
"What's the point?" Jared asked, ending the call, and handing Hibiki her smart phone.
"She was only trying to help." Hibiki said. "She is my best friend."
Rydale Street...
Donna sees her Grandfather putting out the rubbish. He waves, and she runs to him for a tearful reunion.
Basement…
"What's he doing down here?" Yukine asked.
"He asked to see the two of you." Gray said.
"Why? Has he found something?" Martha asked.
Martha and Yukine enters the clone laboratory.
"Killiter Ichaival tron." Yukine said, taking out her pendant and transforming to put on her Symphogear armor in an instant.
"Now you put that on?!" Martha exclaimed, as she realized that something is wrong and tries to escape with Yukine holding out her crossbows, but Grey and Harris force them back in.
"Crap." Yukine said, heating Martha scream.
Nobles' home…
"I said so, didn't I. Aliens. I said they were real. I just didn't expect them in a little blue box. I expect them to be those Noise things seen in Japan." Wilf said, looking back at Tsubasa and Maria.
"It's bigger on the inside." Donna said.
"Yeah, but is it safe? This Doctor and Jared, are you safe with them?" Wilf asked.
"We're safe battling Noise." Maria said.
"We are." Tsubasa said. "We are Symphogear users after all. We save the world like the Doctor and Jared. Just a bit more incognito."
"They're amazing, Gramps. The Doctor's just dazzling and Jared's fortissimo like me, but he's sweet. And never tell them I said that." Donna said, smiling.
"No." Wilf said.
"But I'd trust them with my life."
"Hold up, I thought that was my job."
"You still come first."
"Well, for God's sake, don't tell your mother."
"I don't know. I mean, this is massive. Sort of not fair if she doesn't know."
Sylvia enters with a laundry basket, "Doesn't know what? And who's she, the cat's mother? And where've you been these past few days, lady, after that silly little trick with the car keys? I phoned Veena and she said she hadn't seen hide nor hair."
"I've just been travelling." Donna said.
"Oh, hark at her, Michael Palin. Are you staying for tea, because I haven't got anything in. I've been trying to keep your granddad on that macrobiotic diet, but he sneaks off and gets pork pies at the petrol station. Don't deny it, I've seen the wrappers in the car. Oh, I don't miss a trick. These two girls said that they're friends of yours, but they only came into your life, when you 'started traveling'. Now then, what were you going to tell me? What don't I know?" Sylvia asked.
"Nothing. Just nothing."
"Good. Right, then you can sit there and cut out those coupons. Every penny helps. This new mortgage doesn't pay for itself. Dad, kettle on."
"Yeah, kettle on." Wilf said.
(Jared's POV)
Rattigan Academy…
The jeep drives through the grounds.
"UNIT's been watching Rattigan Academy for ages. It's all a bit Hitler Youth. Exercise at dawn and classes and special diets." Jenkins said.
"Turn left." ATMOS said.
"Wait, if UNIT thinks ATMOS is unreliable…" Hibiki said.
"Go straight on."
"How come we've got it in the jeeps? Yeah, tell me about it. They're fitted as standard on all government vehicles. We can't get rid of them till we can prove there's something wrong." Jenkins said.
���Turn right."
"Drives me around the bend." Jenkins said.
"Good timing, Ross." I said, while Jenkins turns at a corner.
"Timed that perfectly."
"Yeah. Yeah, you did."
"This is you final destination." ATMOS said.
"You know, I could buy this place someday, and make it my home base." I said, while we got out of the jeep, and walk up to Rattigan who is standing still whilst his students are running around the building. "Maybe let the likes of magical girls come and visit here."
"Is it PE? I wouldn't mind a kick around, I've got me daps on." The Doctor said.
"I suppose you're the Doctor?" Rattigan asked.
"Hello."
"Your commanding officer phoned ahead."
"Ah, but I haven't got a commanding officer. Have you? Oh, this is Ross, Jared, and Hibiki. Say hello, you lot."
"Good afternoon, sir." Jenkins said.
"Hi." Hibiki said, happily.
"Hello." I said, holding Hibiki's hand.
"Let's have a look, then. I can smell genius! In a good way." The Doctor said.
Academy laboratory...
"Oh, now, that's clever. Look. Single molecule fabric, how thin is that?! You could pack a tent in a thimble. Ooo! Gravity simulators. Terraforming, biospheres, nano-tech steel construction. This is brilliant." The Doctor said.
"You know, with equipment like this, you could move to another planet." Hibiki said, happily.
"If only that was possible." Rattigan said.
"If only that were possible. Conditional clause." The Doctor said.
"I think you'd better come with me."
Recreation area...
"Definitely gonna add my own touches to this someday." I said, looking at the swimming pool in the foreground, and a transmat in a corner. "And maybe making that smaller. Putting in an area for Pym particles, grief seeds, and LiNKER."
"You're smarter than the usual UNIT grunts, I'll give you that." Rattigan said.
"He called you a grunt. Don't call Ross a grunt. He's nice. We like Ross. Look at this place." The Doctor said.
"You're thinking about living here." Hibiki said. "And why do you need those supplies?"
"Because why not? I want that area to be capitalism at its finest." I said, taking out some chocolate chip cookies to eat them.
"Where are you gonna get Pym Particles?"
"2015. Or January 4th, 1970. Either of those years work."
"Yeah. Well, you see, that's a tautology. You can't say ATMOS system because it stands for Atmospheric Emissions System. So you're just saying Atmospheric Emissions System system. Do you see, Mister Conditional Clause?" Rattigan asked.
"It's been a long time since anyone said no to you, isn't it?" The Doctor asked.
"I'm still right, though."
"Not easy, is it, being clever. You look at the world and you connect things, random things, and think, why can't anyone else see it? The rest of the world is so slow."
"Yeah."
"And you're all on your own." Hibiki said, sadly.
"I know." Rattigan said.
"But not with this. Because there's no way you invented this thing single handed. I mean, it might be Earth technology, but that's like finding a mobile phone in the Middle Ages."
"Or like finding a Rumor in Kamihama City." I said, still snacking on the cookies. "But the Incubators could be aliens, after all. Despite them being fiendish."
"No, no, I'll tell you what it's like. It's like finding this in the middle of someone's front room. Albeit it's a very big front room." The Doctor said, walking towards the machine in the room.
"Why, what is it?" Hibiki asked, as I am also walking towards the machine.
"Yeah, just looks like a thing, doesn't it? People don't question things. They just say, oh, it's a thing."
"Leave it alone." Rattigan said, while The Doctor and I stepped into the transmat.
"Me, I make these connections. And this, to me, looks like a teleport pod." The Doctor said, while he pushes a button and we vanished.
Spaceship…
"Orbit now holding at five five six point three, sector two seven zero." A computer said.
"Oh." The Doctor said.
The Sontarans all turn to look at the Doctor and I.
"We have intruders." Staal said.
"Thanks for pointing that out." I said, laughing a lot. "How did they get in, in tru da window?"
"Bye, bye!" The Doctor said, as we ran away with the Time Lord pressing the button.
Recreation area…
The Doctor appears, running in front of me, "Ross, Hibiki, Jared, get out! Luke, you've got to come with me."
"Balwisyall nescell Gungnir tron." Hibiki said, holding out her Relic and she transformed to wear her Symphogear armor. "What is that?"
"An alien." I said, while Staal appears just before the Doctor can zap the teleport with his sonic screwdriver.
"Sontaran! That's your name, isn't it? You're a Sontaran. How did I know that, hey? Fascinating isn't it? Isn't that worth keeping me alive?" The Doctor asked.
"I order you to surrender in the name of the Unified Intelligence Taskforce." Jenkins said.
"Well that's not going to work. Cordolaine signal, am I right? Copper excitation stopping the bullets."
"How do you know so much?" Staal asked.
"Well." The Doctor said.
"Who is he?"
"He didn't give his name." Rattigan said.
"But this isn't typical Sontaran behaviour, is it? Hiding? Using teenagers, stopping bullets? A Sontaran should face bullets with dignity. Shame on you."
"You dishonour me, sir."
"Yeah? Then show yourself."
"I will look into my enemy's eyes!" Staal said, removing his helmet.
"What the...what?" Hibiki asked, shocked.
"Yeah, he looks more like a soldier than you." I said, taking out a frozen pork bun from my backpack. ���You know what to do with this?"
"Not yet." Hibiki said, as I looked back at her.
"Punch it when you know the weakness." I said, holding the pork bun a safe distance from the brunette. "This will take a while to melt."
"Okay."
"Now, Ross, don't be rude. You look like a pink weasel to him." The Doctor said, looking over to see that I'm holding the pork bun and Hibiki has her fist out. "The Sontarans are the finest soldiers in the galaxy, dedicated to a life of warfare. A clone race, grown in batches of millions with only one weakness."
"Sontarans have no weakness." Staal said.
"No, it's a good weakness." The Doctor said.
"Aren't you meant to be clever? Only an idiot would provoke him." Rattigan said.
"No, but the Sontarans are fed by a probic vent in the back of their neck. That's their weak spot." The Doctor said, looking back at Hibiki Tachibana.
"Oh, now I get it." Hibiki said, happily. "Ready when you are, Jared."
"Which means, they always have to face their enemies in battle. Isn't that brilliant? They can never turn their backs."
"We stare into the face of death." Staal said, and I tossed the pork bun to Hibiki.
"Okay, stare at this!" Hibiki said, punching the frozen pork bun into the back of the teleport, where it rebounds and hits Staal right on the probic vent. "I'm sorry! Even so, you're an alien I haven't met yet."
"Nice work, Hibiki." I said, looking at Staal who is in pain. "Now it's time for us to run!"
The Doctor, Jenkins, Hibiki, and I run as Staal slumps to his knees.
"What has you done? What has he done?" Rattigan asked.
The Doctor, Jenkins, Hibiki, and I speed away in the jeep.
"Don't touch me. A Sontaran would rather be court martialled than show pain. I must return." Staal said.
"But he broke the teleport." Rattigan said.
"Ha. Primitive sonic trickery." Staal said, zapping the teleport with his staff. "The device is now repaired."
(Open POV)
Yachiyo's house/Jeep…
"Jared, what's wrong?" Kaede asked, putting the phone into speaker mode.
"Tell Tsuruno that her three star food saved our lives." Jared said.
"And you said that my food is average." Tsuruno said.
"We said that it's a C." Iroha said.
"Thank god I froze a pork bun." Jared said,
"You know with enough force a pork bun could kill someone." Yachiyo said.
"Really?" Kaede asked.
"Anything can be a weapon." Jared said.
"What are you up against?" Rena asked.
"And do you need any help?" Iroha asked.
"We're up against Sontarans." Hibiki said. "And they looked creepy."
"More creepy than Witches and Rumors?"
"No, they look like baked potatoes." Jared said, laughing a lot. "Sontarans have a weakness. Mark it down, Yachiyo."
"Where?" Yachiyo asked, taking out a notepad and a pen.
"The back of their armor. There's a probic vent there. That's their weakness. One hit should knock them out." The Doctor said.
"Yeah, we're on our way back to UNIT HQ." Jared said.
"And Tsubasa and Maria are at Donna's." Hibiki said.
Clone laboratory…
Martha has a device fitted around her head and is fastened to the trolley by the bath, and the same is going on with Yukine.
"Will someone tell us what the hell is going on?" Yukine asked, when Skorr enters.
"Okay. So, listen. You're not the first aliens we've met. Just tell us who you are." Martha said.
"Commander Skorr of the Tenth Sontaran Battle Fleet. Known as Skorr the Bloodbringer." Skorr said.
"What have you done to those two?" Yukine asked.
"Simple hypnotic control, as with the factory drones. But with the two of you, we need something more complex." Skorr said, and two hands rises from the green liquid. "Especially since a Symphogear wielder is really complex."
"What is that?" Martha asked.
"Soon, those will be the two of you." Skorr said.
Mami's home/Yachiyo's home…
"Have Martha told you what's going on in London?" Yachiyo asked.
"Besides the ATMOS, no." Mami said, sipping her cup of tea.
"The ATMOS and the Sontarans are linked."
"Linked how?"
"ATMOS is short for atmosphere. Which means…"
"They want to change the atmosphere. But what for?"
Noble home…
"Now where is Jared and Hibiki?" Donna asked, looking between Tsubasa and Maria.
"I don't know." Tsubasa said.
"They could be anywhere." Maria said.
"The Doctor, Jared, and Hibiki." Donna said. "That could be like finding needles in haystacks."
"Yeah." Tsubasa said. "We should call them later."
Clone laboratory…
"It is inadvisable to struggle. The colored female has a weak thorax." Skorr said.
"But what are you doing?" Yukine asked.
"Completing mental transfer. The clones need full memory access." Skorr said.
"Clones?" Martha asked, as a second Martha and a second Yukine rose from the green liquid.
"You can't." Yukine said, trying to break free. "The Ichaival is linked to me. A clone might not even be compatible with it. Let me go."
The clones pull off their umbilical cords.
"That's not." Martha said.
"You will sleep, girls. Sleep, and keep the memories alive. Memories we can use in battle." Skorr said, as Martha and Yukine fell asleep.
Jeep…
Jared has his AirPods in his ears and he is listening to a song off of Spotify, "I wonder if this is a theme song."
"What are you listening to?" Hibiki asked, while Jared places one of his AirPods into her ear. "Madoka Magica?"
"No, I found this out of the blue. It's called Kakawari. I think it was in the game I was playing. Magia Record."
"Magia Record?"
"You know those final attacks that magical girls like to use. That's their Magia. And those discs here." Jared said, loading up the game to show it off to Hibiki. "Those discs here, they're called records."
"I get it. Those things must be cool."
"Turn left." The ATMOS said.
"Go right." Hibiki said, looking at the GPS.
"It said left." Jenkins said.
"I know. Just go right."
"I've got no control. It's driving itself. It won't stop." Jenkins said, as the Doctor tries to sonic the ATMOS.
"The doors are locked." Jared said, grabbing one of his AirPods from Hibiki, to place both earbuds back inside it's case. "I knew they would be."
"Ah, it's deadlocked. I can't stop it." The Doctor said.
"Let me." Jenkins said.
"Turn left." ATMOS said.
"The sat-nav's just a box, wired through the whole car." The Doctor said.
"Damn." Jared said, placing his hand on top of Hibiki's. "We're stuck in here."
"We're heading to the river." Hibiki said.
"ATMOS, are you programmed to contradict my orders?" The Doctor asked.
"Confirmed." The ATMOS said.
"Anything I say, you'll ignore it?"
"Confirmed."
"Then drive into the river. I order you to drive into the river. Do it. Drive into the river." The Doctor said.
The jeep stops at the edge of the river and the Doctor, Jenkins, Jared, and Hibiki get out.
"Turn right. Left."
"Get down!" The Doctor said.
"Left, right, left, right, left, left, right, left, right." The ATMOS said.
The sat-nav goes bang with a few sparks and a bit of smoke.
"That was it?" Hibiki asked.
"I was expecting a bit more than that." Jared said, lifting Hibiki off the ground.
"Me too." Hibiki said.
Clone laboratory…
Skorr switches off Martha's headset then Yukine's headset.
"Ready and waiting to advance the great Sontaran cause, sir." Martha 2 said.
"We will do whatever it takes to make us succeed, sir." Yukine 2 said.
"Then go to work." Skorr said.
Outside the Nobles' home…
"You would not believe the day we're having." The Doctor said.
"It's been one hell of a dead." Jared said, as Tsubasa and Maria exited the house. "Tsubasa."
"Jared." Tsubasa said, while the Doctor inspects the family car and sees the ATMOS fastened below the engine bay.
"I'll requisition us a vehicle." Jenkins said.
"Let me come with you." Maria said, walking towards Jenkins.
"Anything without ATMOS. And don't point your gun at people." The Doctor said, as Jenkins and Maria leaves.
Wilf comes out of the house, "Is it them? Is it them? Is it the Doctor and Jared? Ah, it's you lot!"
"Who? Oh, it's you." The Doctor said, looking at Wilfred.
"What, have you met before?" Donna asked.
"Christmas Eve, 2008." Jared said, taking out a cup of peppermint mocha to drink out of. "The Space Titanic. The Doctor, Shirabe, Kirika, and I disappeared right in front of him. Sorry about that."
"And you never said?" Donna asked, looking at Wilf.
"Well, you never said. Wilf, sir. Wilfred Mott. You must be one of them aliens." Wilf said, shaking the Doctor's hand.
"So, is Yukine Chris answering?" Jared asked, looking at Hibiki.
"No." Hibiki said, her phone near her ear.
"Shit. I forgot that she was with Martha."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Tsubasa asked.
"Sontarans. But there's got to be more to it. They can't be just remote controlling cars. That's not enough. Is anyone answering?" The Doctor asked.
"Hold on." Donna said, her phone near her ear.
ATMOS Factory…
"Don't tell me. Donna Noble." Martha 2 said, with Yukine 2 next to her.
"Martha." Donna said, her voice over the phone.
Outside the Nobles' home…
"Hold on, he's here." Donna said, handing her phone to the Doctor.
"Martha, Yukine, tell Colonel Mace it's the Sontarans. They're in the file. Code Red, Sontarans. But if they're inside the factory tell them not to start shooting. UNIT will get massacred. I'll get back as soon as I can." The Doctor said.
ATMOS Factory…
"You got that?" The Doctor asked, his voice over the phone.
"Code Red Sontaran. Okay." Yukine 2 said, as she is standing next to Martha 2.
"Doctor Jones, SG 2. Found anything yet?" Mace asked.
"No, sir. Nothing to report." Martha 2 said, ending the call.
Outside the Nobles' home…
"This is gonna take a while." Jared said, as the Doctor has the bonnet up. "Going through the hood of a car."
"But you tried sonicing it before. You didn't find anything." Hibiki said.
"Yeah, but now I know it's Sontaran, I know what I'm looking for." The Doctor said.
"The thing is, Doctor, Jared, Donna is my only grandchild. You got to promise me you're going to take care of her." Wilf said.
"She takes care of me and Jared." The Doctor said.
"Donna is there for me, when I'm not hanging out with Mami Tomoe or Yachiyo Namami." Jared said, sipping on his peppermint mocha.
"Oh yeah, that's my Donna. Yeah, she was always bossing us round when she was tiny. The Little General we used to call her." Wilf said, happily.
"Yeah, don't start." Donna said, annoyed.
"And some of the boys she used to turn up with. Different one every week. Here, who was that one with the nail varnish?"
"Matthew Richards. He lives in Kilburn now. With a man." Donna said, as spikes suddenly stick out of the ATMOS device.
"Whoa." Tsubasa said, looking under the hood of the car. "That's not normal. What is it?"
"It's a temporal pocket. I knew there was something else in there. It's hidden just a second out of sync with real time." The Doctor said.
"But what's it hiding?" Donna asked.
"I don't know, men and their cars. Sometimes I think if I was a car. Oh, it's you. Doctor, Jared, what was it?" Sylvia asked.
"Yeah, that's us!" Jared said, excitedly. "Hello, Sylvia Noble!"
"What, have you met them as well?" Wilf asked.
"Dad, it's the men from the wedding. When you were laid up with Spanish flu. I'm warning you, last time those men turned up it was a disaster." Sylvia said.
The spikes start giving off gas.
"Get back!" The Doctor said.
Yachiyo's house…
"What do you think the Sontarans are up to?" Iroha asked.
"I don't know." Tsuruno said, hold her fist up. "But it might not be good."
"It can't be that big of a deal." Felicia said. "I am getting a bit hungry, though."
"You can eat later." Yachiyo said. "The Doctor told us how to beat them. If we ever encounter them. The probic vent at the back of their necks."
"But we deal with Witches! Not Sontarans!"
"Who knows?" Sana asked. "We could encounter Sontarans too."
Outside the Nobles' home…
"That'll stop it." The Doctor said, while an explosion happened nearby.
"I told you. He's blown up the car! Who is he, anyway? What sort of doctor blows up cars?" Sylvia asked.
"Oh, not now, Mum." Donna said, annoyed.
"Oh, should I make an appointment?" Sylvia asked, entering the house.
"That wasn't exhaust fumes." Tsubasa said.
"It might be some sort of gas." Hibiki said, coming up with a theory. "Oh, it could be artificial gas!"
"And it's aliens, is it? Aliens?" Wilf asked
"But if it's poisonous, then they've got poisonous gas in every car on Earth."
"And that isn't good." Donna said, looking at Hibiki.
Wilf gets into the car, "It's not safe. I'm going to get it off the street."
"No, don't!" Jared said, when the car locks Wilf inside and starts the engine.
"Damn." Tsubasa said, as thick gas comes from the exhaust pipe.
"Hold on! Turn it off. Granddad, get out of there!" Donna said.
"I can't! It's not locked! It's them aliens again!" Wilf said.
"What's he doing? What's he done?" Sylvia asked.
"They've activated it!" The Doctor said, while gas is pouring from the exhaust pipes of hundreds of parked cars.
ATMOS Factory…
"Turn them off! Turn them off! Turn off the engines!" Mace said.
"It's all of them, sir. Every single car on the planet." A soldier said.
"Now we begin. Let's get to work." Martha 2 said.
"Right." Yukine 2 said.
Outside the Nobles' home…
"There's gas inside the car! He's going to choke! Doctor! Jared!" Donna said, terrified.
"It won't open! It's the whole world." The Doctor said.
"Help me." Wilf said.
"Imyuteus Ame no Habakiri tron." Tsubasa said, holding out her pendant and she transformed into her Symphogear armor. "Right, this isn't good."
"Yeah." Hibiki said, looking back at Tsubasa. "What do we do?"
"We disable the engine." Tsubasa said, as she and Hibiki pulled all the connections they can find in the engine, but the gas continues to fill the car.
"Get me out of here!" Wilf said.
Sylvia runs inside as Wilf collapses.
"Doctor!" Donna said. "Jared!"