Dancing Across Time (Book Two of The Bad Wolf Chronicles)

Chapter Seven: The Age of Steel

Grant raised an eyebrow. "Broadcast from Gemini?"

Jessie hitched a breath. Gemini . . . I've heard that before.

"And how do you know that?" Sally demanded.

"I'm Gemini," Grant replied. "That's me."

And Jessie remembered. She grinned with the realization and drew the Doctor down so she could whisper in his ear. "There was an undercover operation one time in SHIELD that Grant and Skye went down under. They had a broadcast called Gemini that they used to warn people nearby about any potential danger to them."

The Doctor grinned, but Sally simply snorted. "Yeah, well, you would say that."

"Encrypted wavelength six five seven using binary nine," Grant rattled off instantly, and Sally looked taken aback, and Jessie grinned wider. "That's the only reason I was working for Lumic. To get information. I was never Cybus to begin with." He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out the usual SHIELD standard 9mm, and the SHIELD badge, and Jessie and Saleen whooped together. "SHIELD sent me undercover. Took me years for a while, and I never thought I'd need to use Gemini. When I did, I thought I was broadcasting to the Security Services and back to them. And what do I get? Scooby Doo and his gang." He snorted. "They've even got the van."

"And I never was told what exactly Sally is London's Most Wanted," Saleen brought up.

She grumbled. "Parking tickets."

Grant snorted again. "Great."

"Yeah, they were deliberate," Sally commented. "I was fighting the system. Park anywhere, that's me."

"Good policy," the Doctor commented. "I'm the Doctor, by the way, if anyone's interested. Partner in crime over there is Saleen."

"And I'm Jessie," Jessie rounded out, waving a hand. "Hello."

"Even better," Grant commented. "That's the name of my dog." He sighed. "Still, at least I've got the catering staff on my side."

"Knew it," Jessie told him. "Knew you weren't a traitor."

"Why's that, then?" Grant asked, looking at her.

She shrugged. "I just did."

Grant sighed, slumping against the wall of the van. "They took my wife."

Jessie swallowed. "She might still be alive."

Grant shook his head. "That's even worse. Because that's what Lumic does. He takes the living and turns them into those machines."

"Cybermen," the Doctor corrected. "They're called Cybermen." He gestured to his ears. "And I'd take those ear pods off if I were you. You never know. Lumic could be listening."

Grant pulled them out, showing the symbol on them. "SHIELD design. Most agents wear them. We just aren't controlled."

Jessie grinned. "This SHIELD is just as brilliant."

Saleen grinned back, and even the Doctor looked impressed. "But he's overreached himself. He's still just a businessman. He's assassinated the President. All we need to do is get to the city and inform the authorities." He got a cold look on his face. "Because I promise you, this ends tonight."

***

Jake poked his head past a fence and blinked. "What the hell?"

Jessie looked around as well and her jaw dropped when she saw several people walking past them, looking like zombies. "What's going on with them?"

"It's the ear pods," the Doctor replied grimly. "Lumic's taken control."

"Can't we just take them off?"