Parallel: From Another World [1] (The Parallel Series) ✓

The Idiot's Lantern - Two

Bishop looked at the TV in full disbelief. "Is she talking to us?"

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, ma'am, I'm afraid you've brought this on yourselves. May I introduce you to my new friend." He paused on the last word as if it wasn't true at all.

"Jolly nice to meet you." She beamed at them.

"Oh my God, it's her, that woman off the telly." Bishops eyes widened.

"No, it's just using her image." The Doctor told him.

"What? What are you?" Tommy asked.

"The wire" Rita spat. "That's what you are aren't you?"

"Oooo this one is very clever even knows my name, yes I'm the Wire, and I will gobble you up, pretty boy" the Wire looked at Tommy who looked back in horror. "Every last morsel. And when I have feasted, I shall regain the corporeal body, which my fellow kind denied me." The black and white image changed to fully colour.

Bishop gasped at the sight. "Good Lord. Colour television!"

"So your own people tried to stop you?" The Doctor asked for confirmation.

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

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

"Not for much longer." The Wire smiled evilly.

Tommy asked his voice shaking. "Doctor, is this what got my Gran?"

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

"It's disgusting" Rita spat the words out.

"And you let her do it, Magpie." Bishop turned to him.

Magpie violently shook his head. "I had to. She allowed me my face. She's promised to release me at the time of manifestation."

"What does that mean?" Tommy asked.

"The coronation" Rita answered. "All those people watching the television, how many would that be Doctor?" Rita asked.

"millions" he replied then started to explain. "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." He waved the portable television around. "You need something more powerful! This will turn a big transmitter into a big receiver."

"What a clever thing you two are! But why fret about it? Why not just relax? Kick off your shoes and enjoy the Coronation." She smiled. "Believe me, you'll be glued to the screen."

"Doctor the sonic-" the energy pulled at her face stopping Rita from continuing to speak, it felt like her whole face was being ripped apart.

"Doctor!" Bishop cried out.

The Wire laughed. "Hungry! Hungry! The Wire is hungry! Ah, this one is tasty. Oh, I'll have lashings of him! Delicious!" She cried. The Doctor wasn't giving up. Slowly he reached up, pain coursing through his body, not as much as the others but it was there, he grabbed the sonic screwdriver.