The Doctor, Willow and Rose arrive in the year 1953, just in time for the Queen's coronation. However, something sinister is lurking on a normal suburban street where men in black are taking faceless people from their homes.

***

The TARDIS shifted onto a street next to a brick wall and a tall metal grating. Once it had settled, a young blonde stepped out, wearing a pink 50s style skirt with a petticoat and a blue jacket. Her hair was tied into a neat bun with a pink hairband. "I thought we'd be going for the Vegas era, you know the white flares and the, grr, chest hair."

Another girl popped out a second later, her hair in a high ponytail with a small poof on top. She had a black patterned scarf around her neck and medium-sized hoop earrings. Her black leather jacket made her seem like a biker on top of a yellow 50s dress. "That doesn't sound too appealing, to be honest." She replied.

"You are kidding, aren't you?" The Doctor put his head around the side of the door, his hair styled in a Teddy boy quiff while still wearing his unique suit and converses. "You want to see Elvis, you go for the late fifties. The time before burgers." He went back inside, retrieving something. "When they called him the Pelvis and he still had a waist." Rose giggled with her cousin as they admired each other's outfits. "What's more, you see him in style."

The girls suddenly pulled back upon hearing the sound of a revving engine. Soon enough, the Doctor came out of the TARDIS, riding a dark blue scooter. The girls guffawed in disbelief at the sight of it. He had a white crash helmet on like a real Mod of the 50s. "You going my way, doll?" He said, speaking with an Elvis-style American accent.

"Is there any other way to go, daddy-o?" Rose asked, using an American accent while putting on her pink shades.

Willow stared at her, knowing what she was going to say next and joining in. "Straight from the fridge, man!" They exclaimed in unity.

"Hey, you speak the lingo." He threw Rose a pink helmet and a yellow one to Willow, individually matching the colours of their outfits.

"Oh well, me, mum, Cliff Richard movies every Bank Holiday Monday." explained Rose as the girls climbed on the back of the scooter.

"Ah, Cliff. I knew your mother'd be a Cliff fan." He replied. Once everyone was hanging tight, the Doctor sped off down the street, ignorant of the Union Flags on the houses.

It had been around three months since the Doctor and Willow had become a couple. They'd gone on a few dates in-between their adventures in time and space, even having to fight a Siltheen on one of their romantic evenings. However, this never deterred them. It had been years since the Doctor had pursued love and never thought to, but ever since Willow came into his life, he finally felt like he was ready to move on from his past and start afresh.

Willow enjoyed being the Doctor's girlfriend also because, unlike her last boyfriend, he actually went full out when it came to dates. Though he sometimes didn't understand the term 'romance', the Doctor still tried to do the best he could and she loved him for it.

"Where we off to?" She asked.

"Ed Sullivan TV Studios. Elvis did Hound Dog on one of the shows. There were loads of complaints." The Doctor recalled. "Bit of luck, we'll just catch it."

Rose looked around, a little uncertain of their surroundings. "And that'll be TV studios in, what, New York?"

"That's the one." He pulled up by a red post box as a red London bus drove past at the end of the street. 

"Haha! Digging that New York vibe." joked Rose.

"Well, this could still be New York. I mean, this looks very New York to me. Sort of Londony New York, mind." He bumbled with scepticism.

Willow looked up at the houses, now taking note of all the flags hung up. "What are all the flags for?"

***

They decidedly parked their scooter nearby, wanting to gain some information about where they had landed. Down the street was a van that read 'Magpie Electricals' where a small man was delivering a television set to some young men. "There you go, sir, all wired up for the great occasion."

The trio wandered up alongside. "The great occasion? What do you mean?" The Doctor questioned.

"Where've you been living, out in the Colonies?" The small, middle-aged man closed the doors to his van, confused by the Doctor's question. "Coronation, of course."

"What Coronation's that then?"

"What do you mean?" He giggled half-heartedly. "THE Coronation."

"It's the Queen's!" Willow told him, yet he still seemed perplexed. "Queen Elizabeth!"

Eventually, after a quick think, it came to him what she meant. "Oh! Is this 1953?"

"Last time I looked." He said, writing on a notepad. "Time for a lovely bit of pomp and circumstance, what we do best."

As Rose gazed up at the houses, she acknowledged the many aerials on the chimneys. "Look at all the TV aerials. Looks like everyone's got one. That's weird. My nan said tellies were so rare they all had to pile into one house." She recalled.

"Not around here, love. Magpie's Marvellous Tellies, only five quid a pop."

Willow raised her eyebrows. "Really? That's cheap for this time."

"Oh, but this is a brilliant year. Classic!" The Doctor commented, excited for what to come. "Technicolour, Everest climbed, everything off the ration. The nation throwing off the shadows of war and looking forward to a happier, brighter future!"

"Someone help me, please!" They heard a woman shout from down the street. "Ted!" Two burly men in black suits were bundling a person into the back of a car, with a blanket over his head. "Leave him alone! He's my husband! Please."

The Doctor sprinted over to discover what was going on. "What's going on?"

A young teenage boy ran out of his house. "Oi, what are you doing?" He asked them.

"Police business." A man in a grey trenchcoat and hat informed. "Now, get out of the way, sir."

Rose strolled up to the young boy, questioning him. "Who did they take? Do you know him?"

"Must be Mister Gallagher." He theorised as the men stepped into their car and drove away. "It's happening all over the place. They're turning into monsters."

"Tommy!" A short podgy man marched out of the door, ordering his son. "Not one word! Get inside now!"

"Sorry. I'd better do as he says." supposed Tommy, heading back inside.

The Doctor, Rose and Willow got back on their scooter, ready for a car chase. "All aboard!" They sped down the road, must faster than the speed limit, following the black car as much as they could. However, they were prevented from proceeding upon reaching a dead end. 

Blocking their way was a large red gate behind two men with a vegetable barrow who seemingly didn't see anything. "Lost them. How'd they get away from us?"

"Surprised they didn't turn back and arrest you for reckless driving. Have you actually passed your test?" Willow doubted.

"Men in black? Vanishing police cars? This is Churchill's England, not Stalin's Russia." He stated.

"Monsters, that boy said," Rose said, remembering what Tommy had told them earlier. "Maybe we should go and ask the neighbours."

The Doctor nodded in agreement. "That's what I like about you. The domestic approach."

"Thank you." She smiled, before recalculating what he meant. "Hold on, was that an insult? Whoa!" Before long the trio was speeding off again, daring to find answers to this new mystery.

***

The trio arrived on the doorstep of the family they saw earlier, the Doctor ringing the doorbell. Their door swung open, revealing the short podgy man. The main man of the house they presumed. "Hi!" The three said in union.

"Who are you, then?" He asked.

"Let's see, then. Judging by the look of you, family man, nice house, decent wage, fought in the war, therefore I represent Queen and country." The Doctor pulled up his psychic paper, flashing it in front of his face. "Just doing a little check of Her forthcoming Majesty's subjects before the great day. Don't mind if I come in? Nah, I didn't think you did. Thank you."

They squeezed past him, entering their home. In the living room was the young boy from earlier and a woman who they assumed was his mother. "Not bad. Very nice. Very well kept. I'd like to congratulate you, Mrs?"

"Connolly." She answered.

"Now then, Rita. I can handle this. This gentleman's a proper representative." The man straightened his clothes up a bit, trying to make a good impression. "Don't mind the wife, she rattles on a bit."

"Well, maybe she should rattle on a bit more. I'm not convinced you're doing your patriotic duty." His eyes gazed over to the loose bunting on a nearby table. "Nice flags. Why are they not flying?"

"There we are Rita, I told you, Get them up. Queen and country."

"I'm sorry-" She tried to say, standing up, However, the Doctor placed a hand in front of her, stopping her in her tracks.

"Get it done. Do it now-"

"Hold on a minute-" The Doctor attempted to argue.

Mr Connolly took no notice of the Doctor trying to stop him. "Like the gentleman says."

"Hold on a minute. You've got hands, Mister Connolly. Two big hands. So why is that your wife's job?" He asked.

He shrugged. "Well, it's housework, innit?"

"And that's a woman's job?"

"Of course it is." Willow rolled her eyes, he shouldn't expect women to do all the housework.

"Mister Connolly, what gender is the Queen?" queried the Doctor.

He squinted, lowering his bushy black eyebrows. "She's a female."

"And are you suggesting the Queen does the housework?" The Doctor pressured, causing Mr Connolly to seem a little stressed. 

Willow giggled under her breath as Mr Connolly continued. "No. Not at all."

The Doctor crooked his finger, hooking it under the flags and picking them. "Then get busy."

"Right." He took a hold of them, heading to the nearest corner. "Yes, sir. You'll be proud of us, sir. We'll have Union Jacks left, right and centre."

"Excuse me, Mister Connolly. Hang on a minute." Rose said, catching his attention. "Union Jacks?"

"Yes, that's right, isn't it?"

"That's the Union Flag." She asserted. "It's the Union Jack only when it's flown at sea."

"Oh. Oh, I'm sorry, I do apologise." He pleaded with a tone of sarcasm.

"Well, don't get it wrong again, there's a good man. Now get to it!" She commanded, startling him.

Willow and the Doctor grinned at each other as Rose joined them. "Right then! Nice and comfy, at Her Majesty's leisure." The trio sat down comfortably on their sofa as the Doctor whispered through his teeth. "Union Flag?"

"Mum went out with a sailor." She mumbled.

"Oh ho ho ho. I bet she did." He leaned forward, talking to Tommy and Mrs Connolly. "Anyway, I'm the Doctor and this is Rose and Willow, and you are?"

"Tommy." The boy answered.

"Well, sit yourself down, Tommy." The Doctor, Willow and Rose squeezed up to the edge of the sofa, making space for Tommy. "Have a look at this. I love telly, don't you?"

"Yeah, I think it's brilliant." He responded.

"Good man!"

The man on the TV was showing the viewers at home the vertebra of an ichthyosaurus, which only seemed to interest the Doctor. "Keep working, Mister C!" He looked at Mrs Connolly, comprehending that she knew something of value. "Now, why don't you tell me what's wrong?"

"Did you say you were a doctor?" asked Mrs Connolly.

"Yes, I am." He replied in a serious tone.

"Can you help her? Oh please, can you help her, Doctor?" She pleaded.

"Now then, Rita. I don't think the gentleman needs to know-"  Mr Connolly tried to stir the conversation away but the Doctor wasn't having it. 

"No, the gentleman does."

Willow leaned towards her. "Tell us what's wrong, and we can help." All of a sudden, Mrs Connolly burst into tears. She wandered over to her aid, comforting her. "I'm sorry. It's all right. Come here. It's okay."

Upon seeing his wife upset, Mr Connolly snivelled and stared at the strangers in his house. "Hold on a minute. Queen and country's one thing, but this is my house! What the?" He threw the bunting down in a rage. "What the hell am I doing?" The stern-faced man marched over to the Doctor. "Now you listen here, Doctor. You may have fancy qualifications, but what goes on under my roof is my business."

"A lot of people are being bundled into-"

"I am talking!"

The Doctor had quite enough of him, rising onto his feet and towering over the man. " And I'm not listening! Now you, Mister Connolly, you are staring into a deep, dark pit of trouble if you don't let me help." He spat in pure hatred. "So I'm ordering you, sir! Tell me what's going on!"

Unexpectedly, from above their heads, three loud thumps were heard. Mr Connolly, who had started exuberating sweat, blurted out their situation. "She won't stop. She never stops."

"We started hearing stories, all round the place," Tommy explained to the trio. "People who've changed. Families keeping it secret because they were scared. Then the police started finding out. We don't know how, no one does. They just turn up, come to the door and take them, any time of the day or night."

"Show me." commanded the Doctor.

Tommy stood up, taking the key from his father and leading his family and the three others to the room of his grandma. He unlocked the door, opening it to reveal nothing but darkness inside. "Gran? It's Tommy. It's all right, Gran. I've brought help."

In the pitch black, a figure could be seen striding towards them. He flicked the light switch, exposing the fate of his gran. The old woman stood in front of the window with no eyes, nose or mouth. No features at all, in fact, her face was just blank. 

Willow widened her eyes at the sight of her while Rose almost let out a gasp. On the other hand, the Doctor was unfazed, walking towards her and inspecting the faceless woman. "Her face is completely gone." He said, using the sonic screwdriver to decipher more. "Scarcely an electrical impulse left. Almost complete neural shutdown. She's ticking over. It's like her brain has been wiped clean."

"What're we going to do, Doctor? We can't even feed her." Tommy asked, worried for her.

Abruptly, the front door was broken down, presumably by the police who took the people in the first place. "We've got company" Rose pointed out.

"It's them. They've come for her!" exclaimed Rita.

The Doctor ran up to Tommy, wanting to know more and fast. "Quickly. What was she doing before this happened? Where was she? Tell me. Quickly, think!"

"I-I can't think!" He stuttered with panic. "She doesn't leave the house! She was just..."

Nevertheless, it was too late and the burly men from earlier had burst from their grandma's room. The Doctor stepped back. "Hold on a minute. There are three important, brilliant, and complicated reasons why you should listen to me. One-"

Without hesitation, one of the men punched the Doctor in the face, knocking him out cold. "Doctor!" Willow yelled, catching him as he fell on the ground.

Meanwhile, the men placed a bag over the old woman's head and took her downstairs, the Connolly family following behind. "Leave her alone! No!"

Rose and Willow attempted to wake the Doctor up as the men put her in the car and started to get ready to leave. Rose slapped him a few times across the cheek, eventually reawakening him to their surprise. "Ah, hell of a right hook. Have to watch out for that."

He sped downstairs, Willow and Rose following behind. "Rose, Willow, come on!" The Doctor slipped out the front door as Mr Connolly tried to make his wife come back inside.

Rose stopped by the living room, curious to see red lights coming from the television. When Willow was almost out the door, she turned back to her cousin. "Rose, we need to go!"

"Girls, we're going to lose them again!" The Doctor yelled, putting on his helmet.

"I'll catch up with you!" She shouted at her.

Willow sighed, exiting the building and climbing onto the back of the Doctor's scooter as he started driving down the road after the men in black. She clung on tight to his waist as they went down the same route from last time. 

However, this time they were just fast enough to see the tail end of the car drive through the gates and disappearing. The market stall was quickly put together but not quick enough for the Doctor to realise what they were doing. "Oh, very good. Very good."

***

A bit later, the Doctor and Willow crept down the side of the building once the residents of the market stall had left. "Oh, I love this! Feels like we're in those classic spy movies." Willow exclaimed as the Doctor found a small door that possibly led to the people they wanted to find.

He used the sonic screwdriver to unlock it, then creeping inside for further investigation. Inside was a holding area where the two men were padlocking a wire door, full of people. Once they marched off to their superior, Willow and the Doctor travelled down towards the large wire cage. 

Upon unlocking it and walking inside, the couple observed the number of faceless people standing about, clueless to their surroundings. Occasionally, they would clench their fists and then outstretch them as hard as they could. They opened the metal cage they were in, examining them closely. The Doctor shined his screwdriver in their faces, scanning their details. 

Willow stared at one which had turned to face them as did many others. "Er... Doctor?" The faceless ones started to walk towards the light, closing in on the two. 

Suddenly, a bright spotlight shone from behind them, almost enlightening the tight space they were in. "Stay where you are!"

***

Rose arrived at Magpie Electricals, entering the shop as Mr Magpie was working behind his desk. He glanced up at her. "Oh, I'm sorry, Miss. I'm afraid you're too late. I was just about to lock the door."

However, she didn't budge. "Yeah? Well, I want to buy a telly."

"Come back tomorrow, please." He told her.

"You'll be closed, won't you?" queried Rose.

He seemed confused by what she meant, slightly nervous. "What?"

"For the big day?" He didn't seem like his cheery self from earlier like Mr Magpie was afraid of something. "The coronation."

"Yes, yes, of course. The big day. I'm sure you'll find somewhere to watch it. Please go." pleaded Mr Magpie.

"Seems to me half of London's got a television since you're practically giving them away." She mentioned.

"I have my reasons."

"And what are they?" Rose asked as a TV nearby turned on, revealing the face of an irritated woman. 

"Hungry! Hungry!" It spoke.

Rose looked at it, confused why this strange show came on. "What's that?"

"It's just television. One of these modern programmes." Mr Magpie attempted to dissuade her, obviously fearful. "Now, I really do think you should leave. Right now!"

"Not until you've answered my questions. How come's your televisions are so cheap?" She urged, wanting answers.

"It's my patriotic duty. Seems only right that as many folk as possible get to watch the coronation. We may be losing the Empire but we can still be proud. Twenty million people they reckon'll be watching. Imagine that." He marched over to the door, ready to let her out of the shop. "And twenty million people can't be wrong, eh, so why don't you get yourself back home and get up, bright and early, for the big day."

She shook her head. "Nah, I'm not leaving till I've seen everything."

"I need to close."

Rose straightened up, unknowingly being watched by the woman on the television. "Mister Magpie, something's happening out there. Ordinary people are being struck down and changed, and the only new thing in the house is a television. Your television. What's going on?"

Mr Magpie sighed, giving up the facade. "I knew this would happen. I knew I'd be found out." He locked the front door, alarming Rose.

She took a breath, losing her confidence in the process. However, Rose maintained her composure, continuing her investigation. "All right, then, it's just you and me. You going to come clean, then? What's really in it for you?"

"For me? Perhaps some peace." He answered truthfully.

"From what?"

"From her." murmured Mr Magpie, bobbing his head in the direction of the woman on the television.

Rose raised an eyebrow, unsure what he meant. "That's just a woman on the telly. That's just a programme."

"What a pretty little girl." She said to her, smiling cynically.

She flinched, backing away from the television slightly. "Oh, my God. Are you talking to me?"

"Yes I'm talking to you, little one." She replied. "Unseasonably chilly for the time of year, don't you think?"

"What are you?" Rose asked, wishing the Doctor was here. She should have never come on her own, not without Willow.

"I'm the Wire, and I'm hungry!" She exclaimed, suddenly latching a red electrical energy onto her face.

"Magpie, help me!" She begged, feeling everything different about her being stripped away.

Although Mr Magpie wanted to help, he couldn't in fear of the alien tormenting him. "Just think of that audience tomorrow, my dear, all settling down to watch the coronation. Twenty million people. Things will never be the same again. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Help me!" Rose screamed but he did nothing except painfully watching her being horridly taken by the Wire.

"Goodnight, children, everywhere." The Wire snarked with glee.

***

Willow and the Doctor were sat down by the men in the derelict building. "Start from the beginning. Tell me everything you know." The detective asked.

"Well, for starters, I know you can't wrap your hand around your elbow and make your fingers meet." The Doctor stated, making Willow laugh under her breath.

"Don't get clever with me." He pointed a finger at him. "You were there today at Florizel Street, and now breaking into this establishment. Now you're connected with this. Make no mistake."

He shrugged. "Well, the thing is, Detective Inspector Bishop-"

"How do you know my name?" The detective demanded.

The Doctor looked inside his collar, eyeing it. "It's written inside your collar. Bless your mum. But I can't help thinking, Detective Inspector, you're not exactly doing much detective inspecting, are you?"

"I'm doing everything in my power." replied Bishop.

"All you're doing is grabbing those faceless people and hiding them as fast as you can. Don't tell me orders from above, hmm? Coronation Day. The eyes of the world are on London Town so any sort of problem just gets swept out of sight."

Bishop's confidence started to waver. "The nation has an image to maintain."

He leaned forward. "But doesn't it drive you mad, doing nothing? Don't you want to get out there and investigate?"

The detective finally sighed, sinking into his chair. "Of course I do. But, with all the crowds expected, we haven't got the manpower. Even if we did, this is beyond anything we've ever seen. I just don't know anymore. Twenty years on the force, I don't even know where to start. We haven't the faintest clue what's going on."

"Well, that could change." Willow mentioned.

"How?"

The Doctor stood up, hovering over the depressed detective. "Start from the beginning. Tell me everything you know."

Soon enough, the Doctor had complete control over the investigation, comparing notes and files with Detective Inspector Bishop. Paper was strewn everywhere as the Doctor and Willow looked over them several times. "We started finding them about a month ago. Persons left sans visage. Heads just blank."

"Is there any sort of pattern?" He asked.

"Yes, spreading out from North London. All over the city. Men, women, kids, grannies. The only real lead is there's been quite a large number in-"

"Florizel Street."

The burly men entered the room, dragging in another faceless person. "Found another one, sir."

"Oh, er, good man, Crabtree." Bishop complimented as the Doctor and Willow looked up. In an instant, Willow knew who was hidden under the blanket. From the pink shoes to the pink skirt. The Doctor seemed to notice it as well. "Here we are, Doctor. Take a good look. See what you can deduce."

No, it can't be Rose, could it?

Nevertheless, when the sheet was removed from her head, Willow gasped at the featureless face of her cousin, Rose Tyler. "Rose." He muttered.

"You know her?" asked Bishop.

"Know her?" Willow said. "She's my cousin." She brushed past the men as she eventually reached her. Willow placed two hands, around what was left of her head, stroking it. The Doctor came up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder in comfort and sympathy.

"They found her in the street, apparently, over by..." One of the men informed Bishop while Willow and the Doctor zoned out in sadness. "... Square, abandoned."

The detective raised an eyebrow curiously. "That's unusual. That's the first one out in the open. Heaven help us if something happens in public tomorrow for the big day. We'll have Torchwood on our backs then, make no mistake."

The Doctor finally recollected himself, feeling the anger for his friend boil inside. "They did what?"

"I'm sorry?"

"They left her where?"

"Just in the street." He stated as if it were no inconvenience.

Willow was close to tears, unable to react to anything but her cousin's torment. However, the Doctor was livid. Someone had taken Rose's face, abandoned her and in turn hurt Willow's feelings. That was the worst sort of pain that anyone could imagine, losing a loved one. "In the street. They left her in the street. They took her face and just chucked her out and left her in the street. And as a result, that makes things simple. Very, very simple. Do you know why?"

"No."

"Because now, Detective Inspector Bishop, there is no power on this Earth that can stop me." He spat. "Come on!" He ordered, wishing to find the culprit as quickly as they could. 

Whoever did this to Rose was going to pay dearly, because the Doctor had no mercy left and he was sure Willow didn't have any either.

***

After working all night, the Doctor, Willow and Detective Inspector Bishop stepped out of the warehouse into the bright sunlight of a new day. "The big day dawns."

Though it was a historical day indeed, Willow and the Doctor no longer cared about the Coronation as today they were going to defeat whatever is taking people's faces and brain activity. To hell with whoever stood in their way because today, the couple held no compassion in their hearts.

The trio made their way down Florizel Street, eventually reaching the Connolly's house and ringing the doorbell. Tommy opened the door, surprised to see them. "Tommy, talk to me. I need to know exactly what happened inside your house." 

He stepped outside, closing the door behind him only for Mr Connolly to open it back up again. "What the blazes do you think you're doing?"

"I want to help, dad." Tommy affirmed.

They didn't have time for Mr Connolly's uptight jabber. "Mister Connolly-"

"Shut your face, you, whoever you are. We can handle this ourselves." He interrupted, trying to take control of the situation. "Listen, you little twerp. You're hardly out of the blooming' cradle, so I don't expect you to understand. But I've got a position to maintain. People round here respect me. It matters what people think."

Ultimately, Tommy had a realisation about his father. "Is that why you did it, dad?"

Mr Connolly squinted at his son, bewildered by his suggestion. "What do you mean? Did what?"

"You ratted on Gran. How else would the police know where to look, unless some coward told them" He spoke, standing up for himself.

"How dare you! Do you think I fought a war just so a mouthy little scum like you could call me a coward?" Mr Connolly fired back.

"You don't get it, do you? You fought against fascism, remember? People telling you how to live, who you could be friends with, who you could fall in love with, who could live and who had to die. Don't you get it? You were fighting so that little twerps like me could do what we want, say what we want. Now you've become just like them. You've been informing on everyone, haven't you? Even Gran. All to protect your precious reputation."

By the time he was finished, Rita had already opened the door and heard all of the commotions. "Eddie is that true?"

"I-I did it for us, Rita." He stuttered. "She was filthy. A filthy, disgusting thing!"

"She's my mother," Rita stated, shocked by her husband's behaviour. "All the others you informed on, all the people in our street, our friends."

"I had to," argued Mr Connolly. "I- I did the right thing."

"The right thing for us or for you, Eddie?" She asked before turning to her son. "You go, Tommy. Go with the Doctor and do some good. Get away from this house, it's poison." Rita faced Mr Connolly, a man she once loved, in disgust. "We had a ruddy monster under this roof, all right, but it weren't my mother!"

Next thing he knew, she slammed the door in his face, locking him out. "Rita!" Mr Connolly shouted through the door.

"Tommy?" The boy turned back to the Doctor and, without hesitation, he left his father standing on the doorstep to save the world with the right sort of people. As they walked down the street, the Doctor ordered answers from him. "Tommy, tell me about that night. The night she changed."

"She was just watching the telly." He remembered.

Suddenly, Willow gazed up at the aerials, reminiscing what she had said the other day. "Rose said it. She guessed it straight away. Of course, she did. All these aerials in one little street. How come?"

"Bloke up the road, Mister Magpie, he's selling them cheap." He familiarised with them.

Bishop looked over at Tommy, intrigued. "Is he, now?"

"Come on!" The Doctor yelled as they headed down the street towards his television and other electronics shop.

When they finally reached the store, the Doctor immediately broke through the glass to open the door. "Here, you can't do that!" Bishop cried.

"Are you a policeman or what? It's your job to do these kinds of things!" Willow argued, following the Doctor inside.

The Doctor ran up to the bell, dinging it as hard as he could. "Shop! If you're here, come out and talk to me! Magpie!"

"Maybe he's out." Tommy said.

He huffed. "Looks like it" The Doctor hopped over to the other side of the counter, searching his drawers. His eyes lit up upon finding a small device with a little television inside of it. "Oh, hello. This isn't right. This is very much not right." He licked the item as Willow grimaced at him. "Tastes like iron. Bakelite. Put together with human hands, yes, but the design itself. Oh, beautiful work. That is so simple." He pulled out his sonic screwdriver, scanning it.

Bishop admired the object with amazement. "That's incredible. It's like a television, but portable. A portable television." He said in disbelief.

"It's not the only power source in this room." He raised the sonic screwdriver up high, activating every television to reveal all of the faces from the people who were taken. Every single one mouthed a 'Help Me' whilst no sound came out of the television sets.

Young Tommy noticed one television screen had the face of his gran in the midst of sorrow. "Gran?"

Since every victim was shown on the televisions, Willow scanned each one for the face of her cousin. And then there she was. The only difference from the rest of the victims was that she was mouthing the words 'Doctor' and 'Willow' over and over. "She's here." said Willow, kneeling down at her screen.

The Doctor bent down with her, observing the terror in her face. "We're on our way."

Abruptly, the moment was interrupted by Magpie entering from the back room. "What do you think you're doing?"

The Doctor stormed up to him in a rage. "I want my friend restored, and I think that's beyond a little backstreet electrician, so tell me, who's really in charge here?"

"Yoo-hoo! I think that must be me." They turned and stared at another television set, this time presenting a middle-aged fifties woman. "Ooh, this one's smart as paint."

Willow's eyes glared at her, bewildered. The detective didn't know how to react, cluelessly asking Magpie. "Is she talking to us?"

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, I'm afraid you've brought this on yourselves. May I introduce you to my new... friend." He introduced fearfully.

"Jolly nice to meet you." She commented.

"Oh my God, it's her, that woman off the telly!"

The Doctor shook his head, discouraging the so-called detective. "No, it's just using her image."

"What?" queried Tommy, confused. "What are you?"

"I'm the Wire, and I will gobble you up, pretty boy." She said, breaking out the fifties mould. "Every last morsel. And when I have feasted, I shall regain the corporeal body, which my fellow kind denied me." The screen slowly turned from black and white to colour, startling both Bishop and Tommy. 

"Good Lord. Colour television!" He exclaimed.

Willow stepped towards it. "Give back my cousin! Give her back!"

However, the Wire simply laughed in response. "Ah, I can't do that! Besides, she was so delicious."

She was ready to smash the television set until the Doctor laid a hand on her shoulder, stopping her from doing so. "So your own people tried to stop you?"

"They executed me. But I escaped in this form and fled across the stars." She explained.

"And now you're trapped in the television."

The colour on the television faded back to black and white. "Not for much longer."

"Doctor, is this what got my Gran?" Tommy inquired, slightly afraid of the alien being they were talking to.

"Yes, Tommy." He confirmed. "It feeds off the electrical activity of the brain, but it gorges itself like a great overfed pig, taking people's faces, their essences as it stuffs itself!"

Bishop turned to face Magpie once more. "And you let her do it, Magpie."

"I had to." He admitted. "She allowed me my face. She's promised to release me at the time of manifestation."

"What does that mean?" queried Tommy.

"The appointed time. My crowning glory." The Wire said, giving a vital clue.

Eventually, Bishop realised what she meant, using his brain for once. "Doctor, the coronation!"

"For the first time in history, millions gathered around a television set. But you're not strong enough yet, are you? You can't do it all from here. That's why you need this." The Doctor pulled out the portable television, mocking her. "You need something more powerful! This will turn a big transmitter into a big receiver."

"What a clever thing you are! But why fret about it? Why not just relax? Kick off your shoes and enjoy the Coronation. Believe me, you'll be glued to the screen." Abruptly, her red electrical energy lanced out at the four, latching onto their faces and trying to strip them away.

The group screamed in anguish as they felt a part of themselves being pulled away. "Hungry! Hungry! The Wire is hungry! Ah, this one is tasty. Oh, I'll have lashings of him! Delicious!" 

However, Willow unexpectedly calmed, clenching her fist tightly as golden energy began to swirl around her hands. Then, some of the televisions exploded, shattering into pieces. Magpie ducked behind his counter as the unnatural event occurred. From the looks of it, the Wire seemed to be fearful as well. "Power! She's powerful and clever! Withdraw! Withdraw!"

She withdrew the energy from their face, only taking one of them. The four collapsed onto the floor, unconscious while Willow didn't even realise what she had done. "The box, Magpie! The box!" The Wire demanded Magpie who swiftly rose up from behind the counter and stepped over their sleeping bodies. He grabbed the portable television from the Doctor's hand. "Hold tight." The Wire used its power to transport itself into the device. "Conduct me to my victory, Magpie."

He fled outside and jumped into his van, driving away from the scene. Meanwhile, inside the shop, the Doctor woke up from his short-lived nap, acknowledging Bishop's blank face. "Tommy, Willow, wake up." Willow awoke to the sound, grunting as she picked herself up. "Tommy, come on!"

Tommy snapped awake, discerning they were on the floor. "What happened?"

The Doctor scanned the room, realising Magpie had left. "Where's Magpie?"

They ran outside the shop whilst the Doctor began to figure out a plan of attack. "We don't even know where to start looking. It's too late." Tommy commented.

"It's never too late, as a wise person once said. Kylie, I think." He mumbled. "The Wire's got big plans. It'll need. Yes, yes, yes, it's got to harvest half the population. Millions and millions of people and where are we?" 

"Muswell Hill."

"Muswell Hill. Muswell Hill! Which means..." The Doctor gazed off into the distance. "Alexandra Palace, biggest TV transmitter in North London. Oh, that's why it chose this place!"

Willow dug her teeth into her lip. "Then how do we stop the Wire?"

"Well, first things first, we're going shopping." The Doctor ran back into the shop, followed by the others. "Look through those electronics, we need equipment."

And so they did. Tommy, Willow and the Doctor searched through every piece of hardware they could find, fishing out anything useful. Soon enough, they had made a collective pile of electronics that could be useful for their plan. "Is this what you want?" Tommy asked, holding a big valve.

The Doctor wandered up, snatching it from him and smiling. "Perfect! Right, I need one more thing." He gave Tommy the collection of parts, leading him and Willow back towards the TARDIS. 

Once arriving, the Doctor went inside, retrieved his long brown jacket and other pieces of technology. "Got it. Let's go."

They sprinted all the way down the street, luckily there were no cars nearby since everyone else was watching the coronation. Whilst they ran, the Doctor speedily put his contraption together as they neared Alexandra Palace. "There!" Tommy pointed, addressing that Magpie was climbing the transmitter with the Wire.

"Come on!" They ran towards a guard and another woman who noticed their presence.

The guard attempted to stop them. "Wait, wait, wait! Where do you think-" However, the Doctor flashed his psychic paper at him while rushing past. "Oh! I'm very sorry, sir. Shouldn't you be at the Coronation?"

"They're saving me a seat." He told him. 

Once they were far enough away, Tommy queried. "Who did he think you were?"

The Doctor looked at the psychic paper, reading what it said. "King of Belgium, apparently." Willow laughed as they ran into the control room as the Doctor set up all the equipment. "Keep this switched on. Don't let anyone stop you two. Everything depends on it. You understand?"

"Good luck." She gave him a quick peck on the lips before he ran off with the copper wire to stop the Wire.

They waited patiently inside, silently watching the Coronation being shown on the television, hoping the Doctor would achieve his goal. A few minutes later, the valves in the Doctor's contraption sparked and exploded. "What do we do?" He questioned.

She waltzed over to the device, inspecting it. "Tommy, find a new valve now!"

He obeyed, quickly searching the store for a new one. In an instant, he managed to find a replacement, handing it to Willow. She removed the old and broken valve, placing the new one in. Meanwhile, Tommy plugged the contraption back in, hopefully making it work properly.

The device whirred, taking something in as the Coronation on the television was completed and Elizabeth was officially Queen of England. The sound of cheering crowds and the song of the National Anthem was enlightening to hear. They didn't even realise what was going on, they were just mindlessly happy for their new ruler.

"What have I missed?" asked the Doctor from behind. As Willow spun around, she smiled at her boyfriend and jogged over for a hug.

"Doctor! What happened?" Tommy urged.

He let go of her and headed over to his contraption. "Sorted. Electrical creature, TV technology, clever alien life form. That's me by the way. I turned the receiver back into a transmitter and I trapped the Wire in here." He pulled out a VCR, admiring it in all its beauty. "I just invented the home video thirty years early. Betamax." The Doctor glanced over at the television screens. "Oh, look. God save the Queen, eh?"

They all watched as Queen Elizabeth the Second was waving from the balcony at Buckingham Palace with her family.

***

The Doctor, Willow and Tommy made their way back to the yard where all the faceless people were now returned to their normal state and were gathered in a large crowd, happy to be released. Tommy spotted his grandma as he ran over for an embrace.

Then, in the distance, a blonde girl in pink looked their way and grinned. Willow's mouth contorted into a bright smile as she sprinted over to her. "You're ok!" She exclaimed.

The Doctor joined them in glee, knowing that they had defeated the Wire and saved the Earth once again.

***

Down Florizel Street, a party was in full swing with people dancing, listening to music and drinking or eating as much as they could. The trio strolled along in discussion. "We could go down the Mall, join in with the crowds." Rose suggested.

"Nah, that's just pomp and circumstance. This is history right here." said the Doctor.

"The domestic approach."

"Exactly."

They giggled with each other for a moment before Willow spoke again. "So, the Wire, is it trapped in there? Will it ever get out?"

"Hope so. Just to be on the safe side though, I'll use my unrivalled knowledge of transtemporal extirpation methods to neutralise the residual electronic pattern." He explained.

"You what?" queried Rose.

He sighed jokingly, translating his explanation to something much simpler. "I'm going to tape over it."

"Just leave it to me. I'm always doing that." She commented as they caught up to Tommy.

"Tell you what, Tommy, you can have the scooter. Little present. Best, er, keep it in the garage for a few years though, eh?" The Doctor told him.

Although, Tommy was distracted by the sight of his father leaving their house with a suitcase in hand. "Good riddance."

The trio looked over at the depressed man. "Is that it, then, Tommy? New monarch, new age, new world. No room for a man like Eddie Connelly."

"That's right. He deserves it." He stated.

"Tommy, go after him." Rose advised.

He squinted at her, confused. "What for?"

"He's your dad." She said.

"He's an idiot."

"Of course he is. Like I said, he's your dad. But you're clever. Clever enough to save the world, so don't stop there. Go on." implied Rose, encouraging him to try and change him for the better.

Tommy nodded, obeying and jogging over to his dad, helping him with his things. The trio looked on, proud of the young boy as the Doctor handed the girls two glasses of orange juice. He himself had one too, making a toast. They clinked their glasses to together, drinking the liquid with happiness.

***

Oh gosh, this chapter took longer than expected, I hope you enjoyed it though!

Coming up next are two more interludes with a twist. One will kind of be from the perspective of Rose while the other will be from the Doctor's. Not in the first person though, I don't think I'll ever write in first person again!

Believe me, if I had enough time on my shoulders then I would edit the whole of 'The Girl Who Forgot' and make into the third person. Maybe I'll do that in the future. 

I didn't want to include the main climax as I wanted to get this over and done with and it doesn't really include Willow that much anyway.

Again, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

- Alice ❤