The Doctor had dealt with General Cobb and took Alyssa back to the Tardis where she slept for hours in a healing coma. Jenny decided to stay behind to help Messaline become a great home for both the Hath and the Humans. The Doctor took Martha home but after that stayed by Alyssa's side waiting for her to wake up. He was leaning against a wall in the Medical ward when Alyssa finally woke up. She did so with a groan she looked around and the Doctor soon appeared in her vision.
"Good morning Sleeping beauty," he said, alyssa smiled up at him and sat up. "Alright there?"
"I never felt better." The Doctor crossed his arms and said: "What were you thinking!" Alyssa reeled back in shock at the tone of his voice. He sounded so angry with her
"I couldn't think of anything else!" Alyssa said,
"Who was supposed to die there?" The Doctor said, sitting down beside her
"No one really, but I couldn't let you go you go through that pain." Alyssa said,
"So you took that bullet for no reason?"
"No, I took it for you! Jenny was going to take it, and you would've left her on Messaline thinking that she died, and I couldn't watch you go through that pain." The Doctor sighed and took her hands
"What if you didn't regenerate? I can't lose you." The Doctor said,
"And I promise that you won't. And honestly, Doctor have you seen me in this regeneration before?" Alyssa said and the Doctor smiled at her and nodded, "Then there's your answer, you never had the chance of losing me." The Doctor smiled again and stood up and held her hand out for her
"Come on, you should see the new you." She smiled and took his hand and he pulled her up and to a mirror. She had blonde hair that went down to her shoulders.
"huh," She said
"What." The Doctor said, but Alyssa held up her hand
"Wait a second, Hello," she tested out her new voice and said "Oh you have got to be kidding me. I'm American?"
"You just now noticed?"
"Yes! Oh, you have got to be kidding me."
"I think you sound lovely," The Doctor said and, Alyssa looked at him and blushed slightly before she turned away from the mirror. "Donna was worried about you." the Doctor said, and Alyssa practically ran out of the Medical Ward and to the Console room where Donna was sitting in the pilot chair.
"Donna!" Alyssa yelled, and Donna instantly got up and hugged before pulling back
What were you thinking! Taking a bullet." Donna said, but instead of yelling at her more, tears started rolling down her face,
"I promise I'm alright." Alyssa said, pulling her back into a hug,
A few minutes later, the Doctor piloted the Tardis somewhere, and the three exited the Tardis to see that they were in front of some sort of house.
"Oh, smell that air. Grass and lemonade. And a little bit of mint. A hint of mint. Must be the nineteen twenties." The Doctor said, after smelling the air.
"You can tell what year it is just by smelling?" Donna asked,
"No, it's that vintage car coming up." Alyssa said pointing forward, and a very old vintage car drove past them. The three went forward some and watched as a footman gave information to two other people about a party that was going to happen soon.
"Never mind Planet Zog. A party in the nineteen twenties, that's more like it." Donna said smiling at the two,
"The trouble is, we haven't been invited. Oh, I forgot. Yes, we have." The Doctor said, holding his psychic paper in his hand. Making Donna and Alyssa smile at him.
The three went back to the Tardis to change into the correct era's close. Alyssa grabbed a lot of dresses all different colors until she settled on a light pink dress. She smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror before smiling and strapping her gun under the end of the dress near her ankle so she could easily grab it if needed and putting her hair up in a bun. She left the Tardis and smiled at the Doctor who was staring at her with his mouth open,
"You look beautiful." he finally said and Donna soon joined them
"What do you think? Flapper or slapper?" she said asking the two, as she walked out wearing a brown dress with designs made of fake jewels.
"Flapper. You look lovely." The Doctor said and offered his arm to Alyssa who happily took it and the group went off to the party. They soon reached where the garden where many guests were beginning to gather,
"Good afternoon." The Doctor said, as the footmen came over to them
"Drinks, sir? Ma'am's?" He asked,
"Sidecar, please," Donna said, The footmen nodded and turned to the Doctor
"Lime and Soda, thank you." He said, The footmen turned to Alyssa
"The same as him. Thank you." The Man nodded and another man came into the Garden
"May I announce Lady Clemency Eddison." he said, An old lady came into the garden and moved to three and The Doctor moved up to her and took her hand
"Lady Eddison." he said,
"Forgive me, but who exactly might you be, and what are you doing here?" Lady Eddison said,
"I'm the Doctor. And this is Miss Donna Noble, of the Chiswick Nobles. And this is Alyssa Smith," Alyssa smiled and shook her hand
"hello." Alyssa said, Eddison turned to Donna who put on a fake accent
"Good afternoon, my lady. Topping day, what? Spiffing. Top hole." Donna said,
"No Don't do that." Alyssa said, trying to hide her giggles. The Doctor then took out his psychic paper
"We were thrilled to receive your invitation, my lady. We met at the Ambassador's reception." The Doctor said,
"Doctor, how could I forget you? But one must be sure with the Unicorn on the loose." Lady Eddison said as they walked over to table.
"A unicorn? Brilliant. Where?" The Doctor said, Alyssa shook her head
"Doctor, Dear she means The Unicorn, the jewel thief." Alyssa said,
"Indeed, nobody knows who he is. He's just struck again. Snatched Lady Babbington's pearls right from under her nose." Lady Eddison said as a footmen came over with a tray that had the groups drinks on it. They took the drinks
"Funny place to wear pearls." Donna said,
"May I announce Colonel Hugh Curbishley, the Honourable Roger Curbishley." one man said, introduced two newcomers one in a wheelchair and the other pushing the one in the wheelchair.
"My husband, and my son." Lady Eddison said, gesturing the two,
"Forgive me for not rising. Never been the same ever since that flu epidemic back in eighteen." Hugh Curbishley said, who was the man in the wheelchair. Roger, Lady Eddison' son came over to Donna
"My word, you are a super lady." He said
Donna laughed and said "Oh, I like the cut of your jib. Chin, chin." The Doctor smiled at Donna
"Hello. I'm the Doctor and this is Alyssa." The Doctor said, Holding his hand out for him to shake Rodger took his hand and shook it,
"How do you do?" he said,
"Very well." A footman came behind them and offered Roger a drink
"Your usual, sir?" he said,
"Ah. Thank you, Davenport. Just how I like it." Rodger said and took the drinking giving Davenport a look.
"How come she's an Eddison, but her husband and son are Curbishleys?" Donna asked as she watched Lady Eddison talk to her husband
"The Eddison title descends through her. One day Roger will be a lord." The Doctor said as the someone else joined the Party
"Robina Redmond." the announcer said, who was a woman wearing a dark red dress
"She's the absolute hit of the social scene. A must. Miss Redmond." Lady Eddison said as Robina reached her
"Spiffing to meet you, at last, my lady. What super fun." Miss Redmond saidm and another person came to the party
"Reverend Arnold Golightly." one footman said introducing him to the other guests.
"Ah, Reverend. How are you? I heard about the church last Thursday night. Those ruffians breaking in." Lady Eddison said as he reached her,
"You apprehended them, I hear." Hugh said,
"As the Christian Fathers taught me, we must forgive them their trespasses. Quite literally." the Reverend said,
"Some of these young boys deserve a decent thrashing." Roger said, shocking Donna as Davenport came up behind him
"Couldn't agree more, sir." Davenport said,
"Typical. All the decent men are on the other bus." Donna said, to the Doctor
"Or Time Lords." The Doctor said,
"Now, my lady. What about this special guest you promised us?" Roger said
"Here she is. A lady who needs no introduction." Lady Eddison as a new women came in and the others applauded her
"No, no, please, don't. Thank you, Lady Eddison. Honestly, there's no need." She said, She then turned to the Doctor, Donna, and Alyssa and held out her hand "Agatha Christie." The Doctor grinned at her,
"Oh it's wonderful to meet you. I love your work." Alyssa said, Agatha smiled at Alyssa and her gaze turned to Donna
"What about her?" Donna said
"That's me," Agatha said
"No. You're kidding." Donna said, shocked that she was speaking to Agatha Christie
"Agatha Christie. I was just talking about you the other day. I said I bet she's brilliant. I'm the Doctor. This is Donna. Oh, I love your stuff. What a mind. You fool me every time. Well, almost every time. Well, once or twice. Well, once. But it was a good once." The Doctor said, smiling brightly at her
"You make a rather unusual couple, one of you is from America and the other from here?" Agatha said gesturing to Alyssa and the Doctor, The Doctor beamed at Agatha, and threw his arm around Alyssa
"We're not married," Alyssa said The Doctor squeezed her shoulders hard making her glare up at him
"She doesn't like talking about it." The Doctor said,
"Well, obviously not. She's not wearing a wedding ring."
"Oh. Oh, you don't miss a trick." The Doctor said, taking his arm off of Alyssa's shoulder and taking her hand.
"Mrs. Christie, I'm so glad you could come. I'm one of your greatest followers. I've read all six of your books. Er, is, er, Mister Christie not joining us?" Lady Eddison said, taking Agatha's attention away from the two. Alyssa looked up at the Doctor and smacked the back of his head hard. He let out a yelp of pain and rubbed it
"Stop telling people we're a couple!" She hissed, missing the sad look the Doctor gave her. They looked back at Agatha,
"Is he needed? Can't a woman make her own way in the world?" She said,
"Don't give my wife ideas," Hugh said,
"Now Mrs. Christie, I have a question. Why a Belgian detective?" Roger said, as Alyssa went over and borrowed Hugh's newspaper, wanting to know the exact date.
"Excuse me, Colonel," She said, and looked at the date as Agatha answered Roger's question
"Belgians make such lovely buns." Agatha said, making everyone laugh,
"I say, where on Earth's Professor Peach? He'd love to meet Mrs. Christie." Roger said,
"Said he was going to the library." The Reverend said, and Lady Eddison then addressed her Housekeeper and said "Miss Chandrakala, would you go and collect the Professor?"
"At once, Milady." Miss Chandrakala said and rushed off. Alyssa looked up at the Doctor and Donna and gestured them over, Both joined her
"The date on this newspaper." She said, showing the Doctor who instantly got what she was saying.
"What about it?" Donna asked,
"It's the day Agatha Christie disappeared." Alyssa said she was quite a Historian back in her old universe. "She'd just discovered her husband was having an affair," looking at Agatha,
"You'd never think to look at her, smiling away." Donna said,
"Well, she's British and moneyed. That's what they do. They carry on. Except for this one time. No one knows exactly what happened. She just vanished. Her car will be found tomorrow morning by the side of a lake. Ten days later, Agatha Christie turns up in a hotel in Harrogate. Said she'd lost her memory. She never spoke about the disappearance till the day she died, but whatever it was." The Doctor said,
"It's about to happen." Donna said,
"Right here, right now." The Doctor said, and Miss Chandrakala came running to the party,
"Professor! The library! Murder! Murder!" she shouted, Then everyone took off running to the library where a body was and the Doctor instantly went to it.
"Bashed on the head. Blunt instrument. Watch broke as he fell. Time of death was quarter past four." the Doctor said and got up to look through the papers, and Alyssa helped him,
"A bit of pipe. Call me Hercules Poirot, but I reckon that's blunt enough." Donna said, Agatha leaned down and picked up a little piece of paper, the Doctor noticing because of the Mirror,
"Nothing worth killing for in that lot. Dry as dust." The Doctor said, as Donna stood up and walked over to the,
"Hold on. The Body In The Library? I mean, Professor Peach, in the library, with the lead piping?" Donna said, Saying that it was too much like one of Agatha's book. Then all the other guests forced their way in
"Someone should call the police." Agatha said, The doctor then took out his Psychic paper and flashed it at the guests
"You don't have to. Chief Inspector Smith from Scotland Yard, known as the Doctor. Miss Noble and Mrs. Smith are the plucky young girls who help me out.
"I say." Lady Eddison said,
"Mrs. Christie was right. Go into the sitting room. I will question each of you in turn. " The Doctor said, and Agatha then gestured everyone out as Alyssa and Donna helped the Doctor look for more clues.
"Come along. Do as the Doctor says. Leave the room undisturbed" Agatha said to the guests and soon everyone was out. "The plucky young girls who help me out?"
"No policewomen in 1926," Alyssa said,
"I'll pluck you in a minute. Why don't we phone the real police?" Donna said,
"Well the last thing we want is PC Plod sticking his nose in, especially now I've found this. Morphic residue." The Doctor said, and used at too to scrape something off the floor,
"Morphic? Doesn't sound very 1926."
"That's because it's not." Alyssa said,
"It's left behind when certain species genetically re-encode." the Doctor said, saying that the murderer was an Alien,
"The murderer's an alien?" Donna said,
"Which means one of the guests is an alien in human form." Alyssa said,
"Yeah, but think about it. There's a murder, a mystery, and Agatha Christie." Donna said, saying that everything was a bit weird,
"So? Happens to us all the time." The Doctor said,
"No, but isn't that a bit weird? Agatha Christie didn't walk around surrounded by murders. Not really. I mean, that's like meeting Charles Dickens and he's surrounded by ghosts at Christmas." Donna said,
"Well," Alyssa said, she hadn't been to that adventure but still she hoped she would go, She loved Charles Dicken's work.
"Oh, come on! It's not like we could drive across country and find Enid Blyton having tea with Noddy. Could we? Noddy's not real. Is he? Tell me there's no Noddy." Donna said after the Doctor began giving her a look
" There's no Noddy." The Doctor said, and left the room, but Donna was still on about how weird the situation was,
"Next thing you know, you'll be telling me it's like Murder On The Orient Express, and they all did it." Donna said,
"Murder on the Orient Express?" Agatha said as she joined the group
"Ooo, yeah. One of your best." Donna said,
"But not yet," Alyssa said,
"Marvelous idea, though," Agatha said,
"Yeah. Tell you what. Copyright Donna Noble, okay?"
"Anyway. Agatha and I will question the suspects. Donna, Alyssa, you search the bedrooms. Look for clues." The Doctor said to Agatha, before whispering to Donna and Alyssa "Any more residue." He then pulled out a large Magnifying glass and continued "You'll need this."
"Is that for real?" Donna asked, but Alyssa reached out and grabbed it and started upstairs only to stop and turn back
"Donna you coming?" She said and Donna turned around and joined her in going upstairs.
The two went through each room but didn't find more residue. Alyssa had given Donna the magnifying glass as they investigated. Soon they stumbled across a locked room and Alyssa reached up and took out one of the hairpins that were keeping her hair up in a bun. And began to work at the door Donna watching her only for both of them to jump
"You won't find anything in there." Someone said, behind them Alyssa stood up straight and turned around
"If that was true it wouldn't be locked, why is it locked anyway?" Alyssa said,
"Lady Eddison commands it to be so."
"And we command it to be otherwise. Scotland Yard. Pip, pip." Donna said as Alyssa put the hairpin back into her hair as the butler began unlocking the door.
"Why was it locked in the first place?" Alyssa asked, going farther into the room.
"Many years ago, when my father was the butler to the family, Lady Eddison returned from India with malaria. She locked herself in this room for six months until she recovered. Since then, the room has remained undisturbed."
"Malaria yeah," Alyssa said and the butler unlocked the door. The two went in it only to see that it was the most ordinary room. Only with a teddy bear on the bed and the Curtains were drawn.
"There's nothing in here." the butler said, and Alyssa went further into the room
"How long's it been empty?" Donna asked,
"Forty years."
"Why would she seal it off? All right, we need to investigate. You just bustle off." Donna said, and the butler left and Donna closed the door, looking around the room more, only for there to be a buzzing noise. "1926, they've still got bees." Alyssa knowing she had seen this room before in a Doctor Who episode tried to remember which one it was "Oh, what a noise. All right, busy bee, I'll let you out. Hold on, I shall find you with my amazing powers of detection." Donna said
"Donna no!" Alyssa yelled, as she remembered the episode, but it was too late, she pulled open the curtains to reveal a giant wasp. Donna screamed and backed up the wasp then smashed through the glass,
"But that's impossible." Donna said, The two managed to get around the wasp and closer to the window as the wasp tried to attack them
"Not impossible!" Alyssa said, grabbing her gun and pointing it at the giant wasp.
"Shoot it!" Donna yelled,
"no the Doctor would kill me!" Alyssa yelled, "Only if I absolutely have too will I shoot it!" As they backed up to the window
"Doctor!" They both yelled,
"Donna the magnifying glass!" Alyssa yelled, and Donna got what she meant and held it up to the sun burning the wasp and giving them the chance to run out.
"Doctor!" Donna yelled again as she closed the door and the wasp stung the door making it sting go through the door but was then stuck. The Doctor and Agatha ran into the hallway. Donna said, "It's a giant wasp."
"What do you mean, a giant wasp?" The Doctor asked,
"I mean, a wasp that's giant." Donna said, and Alyssa put her gun back in her holster.
"It's only a silly little insect." Agatha said,
"When I say giant, I don't mean big, I mean flipping enormous! Look at its sting." Donna said, All four looked down and saw the sting
"Let me see." The Doctor said, a little bit excited, he opened the door and went inside only for the wasp to be gone. "It's gone. Buzzed off." The Doctor said and ran over to the broken window and Agatha examined the sting
"But that's fascinating" Agatha said, She leaned down to touch it but the Doctor rushed over.
"Don't touch it. Don't touch it. Let me" The Doctor said and used a pencil to scoop some of the liquid off the stinger and into a test tube. "Giant wasp. Well, tons of amorphous insectivorous lifeforms, but none in this galactic vector."
"I think I understood some of those words. Enough to know that you're completely potty." Agatha said,
"Lost its sting, though. That makes it defenseless." Donna said, Alyssa shook her head
"It's a big wasp alien thing, it will be able to grow a new one." Alyssa said,
"Can we return to sanity? There are no such things as giant wasps." Agatha said,
"Exactly. So. The question is, what's it doing here?" The Doctor said, and the four went back downstairs. Only to hear a scream, they rushed towards where the scream came from and found Miss Chandrakala on the gravel road with a gargoyle and she said "The poor little child." and then took her last breath. There was a buzzing sound and Alyssa looked up at the sky and saw the wasp once again which had grown a new stinger,
"There!" She yelled, the other three looked up
"Come on!" the Doctor said, Before running to get closer to it.
"Hey, this makes a change. There's a monster, and we're chasing it." Donna said as they ran up the stairs,
"It can't be a monster. It's a trick. They do it with mirrors." Agatha said, and they reached the upstairs corridor where the wasp's stinger could be seen. "By all that's holy," Agatha said,
"Oh, but you are wonderful." The Doctor said,
"Doctor there's a time and a place!" Alyssa yelled and the wasp dropped down,
"Now, just stop. Stop there." The Doctor said, and the wasp lunged at them but they quickly ducked
"Oi, flyboy." Donna said, and held up the magnifying glass which made it turn around and fly away.
"Don't let it get away!" The Doctor yelled getting up and chasing after it, the others following, "Quick before it reverts back to human form." Where are you? Come on. There's nowhere to run. Show yourself!" Every door opened and every guest stepped out,
"Oh you have got to be kidding." Alyssa said,
"Oh, that's just cheating." The Doctor said,
They went down to the drawing room and Lady Eddison was crying as the Doctor had just told her that Miss Chandrakala had died,
"My faithful companion, this is terrible." She said as she sat down.
"Excuse me, my lady, but she was on her way to tell you something," Davenport said,
"She never found me. She had an appointment with death instead."
"She said, the poor little child. Does that mean anything to anyone?" The Doctor said,
"No children in this house for years. Highly unlikely there will be." Hugh said,
"Mrs. Christie, you must have twigged something. You've written simply the best detective stories." Lady Eddison said,
"Tell us, what would Poirot do?" the reverend said,
"Heaven's sake. Cards On The Table, woman. You should be helping us."
"but I'm merely a writer."
"But surely you can crack it. These events, they're exactly like one of your plots." Robina said,
"That's what I've been saying. Agatha, that's got to mean something." Donna said,
"But what? I've no answers. None. I'm sorry, all of you. I'm truly sorry, but I've failed. If anyone can help us, then it's the Doctor, not me." Agatha said, and everyone turned around and looked at the Doctor who was leaning on the wall.
An hour later the group was back in the sitting room because Agatha had found a box. That someone threw out of a window. "Ooo. Someone came here tooled up. The sort of stuff a thief would use." The Doctor said as he opened that was filled with many different tools.
"The Unicorn. He's here." Agatha said, then Greeves came in with some drinks,
"The Unicorn and the Wasp." The Doctor said,
"Your drinks, ladies. Doctor." The Doctor said,
"Very good, Greeves." The Doctor said as Greeves put down some drinks before leaving.
"How about the science stuff. What did you find?"
"Vespiform sting. Vespiforms have got hives in the Silfrax galaxy." The Doctor said when Agatha found the box Alyssa and the Doctor was in the Tardis finding out what alien residue was.
"Again, you talk like Edward Lear," Agatha said,
"But for some reason, this one's behaving like a character in one of your books." The Doctor said looking up Agatha,
"Come on, Agatha. What would Miss Marple do? She'd have overheard something vital by now because the murderer thinks she's just a harmless old lady." Donna said, Alyssa facepalmed as Donna did it once again. Stated something that hasn't happened yet.
"Clever idea. Miss Marple? Who writes those?" Agatha said,
"Er, copyright Donna Noble. Add it to the list." Donna said, also realizing her mistake. Alyssa looked at the Doctor concerned,
"Donna" The Doctor said,
"Okay, we could split the copyright."
"No. Something's inhibiting my enzymes." The Doctor said, before doubling over in pain and said: "I've been poisoned." Alyssa jumped up instantly and dragged the Doctor with her to the kitchen
"I need Ginger beer." Alyssa yelled, Remembering what exactly the Doctor needed, the kitchen staff didn't move, "Now!" Alyssa shouted, and Davenport grabbed her a can of Ginger beer who instantly gave it to the doctor who instantly drank it and all over his body then spat out some of it
"I'm an expert in poisons. Alyssa, there's no cure. It's fatal." Alyssa smiled slightly before rushing over and grabbing a jar of walnuts,
"Not for me. I can stimulate the inhibited enzymes into reversal." The Doctor said, He smiled at Alyssa when Alyssa rushed over and produced walnuts. He took the jar and filled his mouth
"He needs something salty." Alyssa said, The Doctor pointed at her, saying she was right She raced over and grabbed a jar of anchovies. And waited for the Doctor to finish the walnuts before shoving the Anchovies at him and he dumped them into his mouth and Alyssa turned to Donna and said, "He needs a shock!"
"Right then. Big shock coming up." Donna said, before grabbing the Doctor and kissed him and when she released him he slumped back and a black smoke came out of his mouth, making Alyssa sigh in relief.
"Detox. Oh my. I must do that more often. I mean, the detox." He said when he straightened himself he turned to Alyssa and smiled "My Clever Alyssa." Alyssa blushed a bit but said nothing
The group then began planning out how exactly they were going to find out who was pretending to be a human. Soon dinner rolled around and all the guests were sitting around eating,
"A terrible day for all of us. The Professor struck down, Miss Chandrakala taken cruelly from us, and yet we still take dinner." the Doctor said
"We are British, Doctor. What else must we do?" Lady Eddison said
"Try to figure out who is doing the killing instead of expecting one person to do it for one," Alyssa said, but the Doctor grabbed her hand and gave her look that told her to be quiet. She sighed but nodded none the less
"and then someone tried to poison me. Anyone of you had the chance to put cyanide in my drink. But it rather gave me an idea." The Doctor said,
"And what would that be?" Hugh said
"Well, poison." The Doctor said, Alyssa smiled and scooped more of the soup and ate it, everyone giving her weird looks
"Drink up." Alyssa said, "We've laced the soup with pepper." Everyone sighed and continued eating
"Ah, I thought it was jolly spicy." Hugh said,
"But the active ingredient of pepper is piperine, traditionally used as an insecticide. So, anyone got the shivers?" The Doctor said, and right then there was a lightning strike and wind that blew out every candle and leaving them in total darkness,
"What the deuce is that?" Hugh said
"Listen, listen, listen, listen." The Doctor said, and there was some buzzing noise
"No, it can't be." Lady Eddison said, like she knew what the sound was, Lightning struck illuminating the room,
"Show yourself, demon." Agatha said,
"Nobody move. No, don't! Stay where you are." The Doctor said, and suddenly the wasp was in the room and Alyssa stood up and rushed after the Doctor, Agatha and into a different room where Donna and the Butler was.
"Well, we know the butler didn't do it." she said, looking behind her
"Then who did?" The Doctor said and grabbed a sword off the wall and they went back into the dining room. But the Wasp was gone everyone was looking around in fear.
"My jewelry. The Firestone, it's gone. Stolen." Lady Eddison said,
"Roger?" Davenport asked noticing that he was dead, with a knife pointing out of his back and his face in his soup. Eddison got up and mourned him.
The Doctor, Alyssa, and Agatha went downstairs and into the drawing room Donna stayed behind, The Doctor was leaning against the wall, Agatha was sitting on the couch upset about the death of Roger. And Alyssa was standing next to the Doctor. Donna came into the drawing room and said 'That poor footman. Roger's dead and he can't even mourn him. 1926? It's more like the dark ages." Talking about Davenport who had fallen in love with Roger.
"Did you enquire after the necklace?" Agatha said,
"Lady Eddison bought it back from India. It's worth thousands." Donna said,
"This thing can sting, it can fly. It could wipe us all out in seconds. Why is it playing this game?" The Doctor said,
"Don't complain." Alyssa said,
"Every murder is essentially the same. They are committed because somebody wants something." Agatha said,
"What does a Vespiform want?" The Doctor said,
"Doctor, stop it. The murderer is as human as you or I." Agatha said, having enough with all the Alien business,
"You're right. Ah, I've been so caught up with giant wasps that I've forgotten. You're the expert." The Doctor said,
"I'm not. I told you. I'm just a purveyor of nonsense." Agatha said,
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Because plenty of people write detective stories, but yours are the best. And why? Why are you so good, Agatha Christie? Because you understand. You've lived, you've fought, you've had your heart broken. You know about people. Their passions, their hope, and despair, and anger. All of those tiny, huge things that can turn the most ordinary person into a killer. Just think, Agatha. If anyone can solve this, it's you." The Doctor said,
Soon everyone had been called into the Drawing room so Agatha could solve the case and the Doctor said "I've called you here on this Endless Night because we have a murderer in our midst. And when it comes to detection, there's none finer. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Agatha Christie." He then sat down as Agatha stood up and began,
"This is A Crooked House. A house of secrets. To understand the solution, we must examine them all. Starting with you, Miss Redmond."
"But I'm innocent, surely?" Robina said worriedly,
"You've never met these people, and these people have never met you. I think the real Robina Redmond never left London. You're impersonating her."
"How silly. What proof do you have?"
"You said you'd been to the toilet," Agatha said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh, I know this. If she was really posh, she'd say loo." Donna said, as Agatha then picked up the box she'd found earlier and continued
"Earlier today, Miss Noble and I found this on the lawn, right beneath your bathroom window. You must have heard that Miss Noble and Mrs. Smith were searching the bedrooms, so you panicked. You ran upstairs and disposed of the evidence."
"I've never seen that thing before in my life," Robina said,
"What's inside it?" Lady Eddison asked,
"The tools of your trade, Miss Redmond. Or should I say, the Unicorn? You came to this house with one sole intention. To steal the Firestone." Robina sighed and her accent changed from really British to not,
"Oh, all right then. It's a fair cop. Yes, I'm the bleeding Unicorn. Ever so nice to meet you, I don't think. I took my chance in the dark and nabbed it. Go on then, you knobs. Arrest me. Sling me in jail." She said, taking out the Firestone and throwing it to the Doctor,
"So, is she the murderer?" Donna asked,
"No, she isn't," Alyssa said, looking at Robina who nodded slightly at her,
"Yeah, don't be so thick. I might be a thief, but, well, I ain't no killer." Robina said,
"Quite. There are darker motives at work. And in examining this household, we come to you, Colonel." Agatha changing her attention to the Hugh,
"Damn it, woman. You with your perspicacity. You've rumbled me." he said before standing up, shocking everyone in the room expect Alyssa, who was getting tired of the situation,
"Hugh, you can walk. But why?" Lady Eddison said,
"My darling, how else could I be certain of keeping you by my side?" Hugh said,
"I don't understand." Lady Eddison said,
"You're still a beautiful woman, Clemency. Sooner or later some chap will turn your head. I couldn't bear that. Staying in the chair was the only way I could be certain of keeping you. Confound it, Mrs Christie, how did you discover the truth?" Hugh said, turning his attention back to Agatha
"Er, actually I had no idea. I was just going to say you're completely innocent." She said,
"Oh. Oh." Hugh said, realizing he had stood up for no reason,
"Sorry." Agatha said,
"Well. Well, shall I sit down then?" Hugh said,
"I think you better had."
"So he's not the murderer," Donna said,
"Indeed, not. To find the truth, let's return to this." Agatha said, and took the Firestone from the Doctor and held it up "Far more than the Unicorn's object of desire. The Firestone has quite a history. Lady Eddison.
"I've done nothing." Lady Eddison said,
"You brought it back from India, did you not? Before you met the Colonel. You came home with malaria, and confined yourself to this house for six months, in a room that has been kept locked ever since, which I rather think means" Agatha said, and Lady Eddison who looked upset as Agatha told the truth about her trip
"Stop, please." She said,
"I'm so sorry. But you had fallen pregnant in India. Unmarried and ashamed, you hurried back to England with your confidante, a young maid later to become the housekeeper. Miss Chandrakala."
"Clemency, is this true?" Hugh said,
"My poor baby. I had to give him away. The shame of it." Lady Eddison said,
"But you never said a word." Hugh said,
"I had no choice. Imagine the scandal. The family name. I'm British. I carry on." Lady Eddison said,
"And it was no ordinary pregnancy." The Doctor said,
"How can you know that?"
"Excuse me, Agatha, this is my territory. But when you heard that buzzing sound in the dining room, you said, it can't be. Why did you say that?" The Doctor said,
"You'd never believe it." Lady Eddison said,
"The Doctor has opened my mind to believe many things." Agatha said, urging her to tell the story,
"It was forty years ago, in the heat of Delhi, late one night. I was alone, and that's when I saw it. A dazzling light in the sky. The next day, he came to the house. Christopher, the most handsome man I'd ever seen. Our love blazed like a wildfire. I held nothing back. And in return, he showed me the incredible truth about himself. He'd made himself human, to learn about us. This was his true shape. I loved him so much, it didn't matter. But he was stolen from me. 1885, the year of the great monsoon. The river Jumna rose up and broke its banks. He was Taken At The Flood. But Christopher left me a parting gift. A jewel-like no other. I wore it always. Part of me never forgot. I kept it close, always." Lady Eddison said, telling them that he was also an alien wasp.
"Just like a man. Flashes his family jewels and you end up with a bun in the oven." Robina said,
"A poor little child. Forty years ago, Miss Chandrakala took that newborn babe to an orphanage. But Professor Peach worked it out. He found the birth certificate." Agatha said,
"Oh, that's maiden. Maiden name." Donna said,
"Precisely."
"So she killed him?" Donna said,
"I did not." Lady Eddison said, shocked that Donna would think such a thing.
"Miss Chandrakala feared that the Professor had unearthed your secret. She was coming to warn you." Agatha said,
"So she killed her." Donna said,
"I did not." Lady Eddison said'
"Really Donna please stop jumping to conclusions," Alyssa said,
"Lady Eddison is innocent. Because at this point, Doctor." Agatha said, Turning the leadership of the investigation over to the Doctor
"Thank you. At this point, when we consider the lies and the secrets, and the key to these events, then we have to consider it was you, Donna Noble." The Doctor said,
"What? Who did I kill?"
"No one Donna, you didn't kill anyone," Alyssa said, glaring at the Doctor,
"you said it all along. The vital clue. This whole thing is being acted out like a murder mystery, which means it was you, Agatha Christie." The Doctor said, pointing at Agatha,
"I beg your pardon, sir?" Agatha said,
"So she killed them?"
"Donna please!" Alyssa said, she was already getting a headache from the whole situation,
"No. But she wrote. She wrote those brilliant, clever books. And who's her greatest admirer? The Moving Finger points at you, Lady Eddison."
"Don't. Leave me alone." Lady Eddison,
"So she did kill them." Donna said,
"No. But just think. Last Thursday night, what were you doing?" The Doctor said, asking Lady Eddison,
"I was I was in the library. I was reading my favorite Agatha Christie, thinking about her plots, and how clever she must be. How is that relevant?"
"Just think. What else happened on Thursday night?" The Doctor said, looking at the Reverend, who said: "I'm sorry?"
"You said on the lawn, this afternoon. Last Thursday night, those boys broke into your church." The Doctor said
"That's correct. They did. I discovered the two of them. Thieves in the night. I was most perturbed but I apprehended them.
"Really? A man of God against two strong lads? A man in his forties? Or, should I say forty years old, exactly?" The Doctor said, trying to tell them that the Reverend was the child, that Lady Eddison gave up,
"Oh, my God." She said,
"Lady Eddison, your child, how old would he be now?"
"Forty. He's forty." Lady Eddison said,
"Your child has come home."
"Oh, this is poppycock." The Reverend said,
"Oh? You said you were taught by the Christian Fathers, meaning you were raised in an orphanage."
"My son. Can it be?"
"You found those thieves, Reverend, and you got angry. A proper, deep anger, for the first time in your life, and it broke the genetic lock. You changed. You realized your inheritance. After all these years, you knew who you were. Oh, and then it all kicks off because" The Doctor said and grabbed the Firestone and continued, "this isn't just a jewel. It's a Vespiform telepathic recorder. It's part of you, your brain, your very essence. And when you activated, so did the Firestone. It beamed your full identity directly into your mind. And, at the same time, it absorbed the works of Agatha Christie directly from Lady Eddison. It all became part of you. The mechanics of those novels formed a template in your brain. You've killed, in this pattern, because that's what you think the world is. It turns out, we are in the middle of a murder mystery. One of yours, Dame Agatha."
"Dame?' Agatha asked,
"Not yet, doctor." Alyssa said, He nodded and said "Oh. Sorry, not yet."
"So he killed them, yes? Definitely?" Donna said,
"Yes." The Doctor said,
"Well, this has certainly been a most entertaining evening. Really, you can't believe any of this surely, Lady Edizzon." The Reverend said, getting up to leave but the others noticed that he had a bit of buzzing when he said Lady Eddison.
"Lady who?" The Doctor said, and the Reverend tried again "Lady Edizzzzon."
"Little bit of buzzing there, Vicar." The Doctor said,
"Don't make me angry." the Reverend said,
"Why? What happens then?" The Doctor said,
"Damn it, you humanzz, worshipping your tribal sky godzz. I am so much more. That night, the universe exploded in my mind. I wanted to take what wazz mine. And you, Agatha Christie, with your railway station bookstall romancezz, what'z to stop me killing you?" The Reverend said, his head twisting and starting to glow purple as he spoke making Lady Eddison get up to go comfort him
"Oh, my dear God. My child." Lady Eddison said,
"What'zz to stop me killing you all?" The Reverend said and transformed into the wasp and Lady Eddison kept going forward
"Forgive me." she said, and Hugh grabbed her
"No, no, Clemency, come back. Keep away. Keep away, my darling." Hugh said, Pulling her away, Agatha grabbed the Firestone and held it up,
"No. No more murder. If my imagination made you kill, then my imagination will find a way to stop you, foul creature." Agatha said, She then ran out of the room, Alyssa, the Doctor and Donna chased after her, and the reverend followed them
"Wait, now it's chasing us." Donna said, as they ran out and onto the driveway. Agatha drove past them and honked her horn and the Wasp bursts through the door. Agatha then yelled,
"Over here! Come and get me, Reverend." Agatha said, and was about to drive off
"Agatha, what are you doing?" the Doctor said
"If I started this, Doctor, then I must stop it," Agatha said and drove off and the wasp follows her.
"Come on," Alyssa said and ran over to a car and all three of them got in and chased after her.
"You said this is the night Agatha Christie loses her memory." Donna said,
"Time is in flux, Donna. For all we know, this is the night Agatha Christie loses her life and history gets changed." the Doctor said, as Alyssa drove the car after Agatha.
"But where's she going?" Donna asked, They then passed a lake sign
"She's heading to the lake!" Alyssa yelled,
"What's she doing?" The Doctor asked, but Alyssa said nothing and just sped up the car until they reached the lake. Where Agatha was holding up the Firestone and said
"Here I am, the honey in the trap. Come to me, Vespiform."
"She's controlling it," Donna said, as the three got out of the car and ran over to her
"Its mind is based on her thought processes. They're linked." The Doctor said,
"Quite so, Doctor. If I die, then this creature might die with me." Agatha said,
"Don't hurt her. You're not meant to be like this. You've got the wrong template in your mind." The Doctor yelled,
"Sorry Agatha but you have a great future ahead of you and you are not dying today, not on my watch." Alyssa said, before grabbing the Firestone and into the lake. The wasp following it. "How do you kill a wasp? Drown it, just like his father." She said,
"Alyssa, that thing couldn't help itself." The Doctor said,
"Neither could I." Alyssa said as the water started glowing purple,
"Death comes as the end, and justice is served." Agatha said,
"Murder at the Vicar's rage. Needs a bit of work." The Doctor said,
"Just one mystery left, Doctor. Who exactly are you?" Agatha said, only to double over in pain and the Doctor caught her
"Oh, it's the Firestone. It's part of the Vespiform's mind. It's dying and it's connected to Agatha." The Doctor said, Agatha glowed purple for a few seconds before stopping and Agatha fell unconcious "He let her go. Right at the end, the Vespiform chose to save someone's life."
"Is she all right, though?" Donna asked,
"Of course. The amnesia. Wiped her mind of everything that happened. The wasp, the murders." The Doctor said,
"And us. She'll forget about us." Donna said,
"Yeah, but we've solved another riddle. The mystery of Agatha Christie. And tomorrow morning, her car gets found by the side of a lake. A few days later, she turns up in the hotel at Harrogate with no idea of what just happened."
They delivered Agatha to the hotel and she walked forward and looked back at the three only to see no one there and teh Doctor said "No one'll ever know."
"Lady Eddison, the Colonel, and all the staff. What about them?" Donna asked,
"Shameful story. They'd never talk of it. Too British. While the Unicorn does a bunk back to London town. She can never even say she was there." The Doctor said,
"What happens to Agatha?" Donna asked,
"great life like I said. Met another man, married again. Saw the world. Wrote and wrote and wrote." Alyssa said smiling,
"She never thought her books were any good, though. And she must have spent all those years wondering." Donna said, and the three went back into the Tardis and the Doctor threw his jacket onto one of the Coral Beams
"The thing is, I don't think she ever quite forgot. Great mind like that, some of the details kept bleeding through. All the stuff her imagination could use. Like, Miss Marple." The Doctor said,
"I should have made her sign a contract."
"And, where is it, where is it, hold on." The Doctor said before running over to the console and pulling a grate off the floor and said "Here we go." pulling out a chest and opened it, he began shifting through it taking things out as he went "C. That is C for Cybermen, C for Carrionites, and Christie, Agatha. Look at that." he said, and took out a book and showed the two the cover which had a wasp on the cover, Alyssa smiled and took the book from the Doctor and Donna said "She did remember."
"Somewhere in the back of her mind, it all lingered. And that's not all. Look at the copyright page." The Doctor said, and Alyssa opened the book showing Donna as she did and read what it said
"Facsimile edition, published in the year five billion!" Donna read, which made Alyssa beam,
"People never stop reading them. She is the best selling novelist of all time." The Doctor said,
"But she never knew." Donna said,
"Well, no one knows how they're going to be remembered. All we can do is hope for the best. Maybe that's what kept her writing. Same thing keeps me traveling. Onwards?" The Doctor asked,
"Onwards." Donna said, Alyssa looked down at the book in her hands
"Doctor can I keep this?" Alyssa asked, The Doctor smiled and nodded at her. Alyssa slipped it into her pocket. She then clutched her head in pain and said "I'll see you later Donna Doctor." and once again disappeared.