Match 18662 Jenny Flint (Doctor Who) vs. Spring Heeled Jack

[broadwaybeyonder]

If you are reading this, I believe I can make certain assumptions about you.  You are curious, and have enough of a spirit that you are willing to look into books you have been instructed you must never under any circumstances open.  It is the hands of such persons that I trust this book finds itself.  For it is only such persons that will have minds open enough to accept the possibility that the accounts written here are more than mere fiction. 

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Jenny Flint, and I lived in London in the late 19th century.  I ran away from home and found myself lost and alone in the city.  Until someone found me.  A brilliant, beautiful, unique someone.  Particularly unique because this someone wasn’t even human. 

Her name was Vastra.  She says her race, the Silurians, ruled the Earth when we humans were still apes.  According her, some still are.  When work was being done on the Underground, they accidentally caused a collapsed that crushed Vastra’s sisters as they slept in their hibernation units.  Vastra would have slain every human she could’ve gotten her hands on… If it wasn’t for the Doctor.  He convinced her to put aside her vengeance before it destroyed her, and instead try to join the human world to make a new life for himself.  A trifle optimistic, that Doctor.  But I’m glad whatever he said worked, because if Vastra hadn’t had a change of heart, she wouldn’t have saved me, and I wouldn’t have found the love of my life. 

You would be surprised how many people find that the oddest thing about us.  A woman with green skin that looks like scales?  A rare medical condition, surely.  But I think Vastra personally enjoys seeing ‘apes’ squirm at the rumors of the two us being married.  Either way, with her keen mind and Silurian senses, she proved to be a skilled detective, even helping out the boys down at Scotland Yard more than once.  “The Great Detective” they’d call her.  Still burns me up that old Doyle took some of our mysteries for his Sherlock Holmes.  Although Vastra just smiles and says that I’m just upset that I got replaced by a stuffy, old doctor in a mustache.  Well, he can have his mustaches.  I have a katana, and plenty of my own adventures.  Even if they didn’t all turn out the way I planned them…

Madame Vastra sat in the wicker chair in her conservatory.  From behind her veil, she gazed upon the two men standing before her.  One of them was Inspector Warren of Scotland Yard, an implacable man with a thick mustache.  The other was a Mister Harrison Clark, an owner of a shop on Pevensie Street.  Clark nervously pushed aside leaves of a potted plant as Jenny offered them both a cup of tea.  She was willing to keep up the façade of being Vastra’s maid, but part of her wished that the guests would fetch their own drinks. 

“So, you see, Madame Vastra,” Inspector Warren was saying.  “We at the Yard believe that this particular case is right up your alley, if you pardon the expression.”  Vastra remained silent as Warren continued.  “Three dead women in as many weeks.  And in each case reports of the assailant being able to scale two story walls in a single leap.” 

“It’s quite monstrous, marm,” said Clark.  “On top of those poor ladies, I can’t tell you what’s been happening to us storeowners.  Windows smashed, goods stolen.  He’s a menace, he is!  A menace!” 

“More likely a gang of boys causing mischief, Mr. Clark,” interrupted Vastra.  “Such vandalism is no doubt costly for you, but I fail to see how it would concern myself.  Or Scotland Yard for that matter.”  Jenny looked up from her tea tray in confusion as Inspector Warren sputtered.  “But… there have been three murders, Madame!  And what with how the murderer is able to jump to escape, the people are beginning to think that it’s Spring-Heeled Jack again!” 

“Really, Inspector,” said Vastra.  “I am certain that you and the rest of Yard will find in time that this ‘murderer’ is flesh and blood, not a fairy tale.”  Jenny was so caught off guard by Vastra’s words that a saucer slipped off the tray.  She quickly caught it before it hit the floor, looking embarrassed at the guests.  “Sorry, sirs.  Begging your pardon, sirs.”  Vastra looked back at Warren and Clark.  “Gentlemen, I do have other matters to attend to.  I am sorry, but I must leave this particular case in your capable hands.  My butler will escort you out.  Good day.” 

The two men looked at each other in bewilderment before looking wide eyed at Vastra’s butler.  Strax was a Sontaran, a race of cloned warriors that resembled stocky, legged potatoes.  After being punished by the Doctor to serve as a nurse for the crimes of his platoon, Strax suffered an injury, and was nursed himself by Vastra and Jenny.  He then accepted their invitation to join them, although at times he was more than a little… confused. 

“Your hats and coats, human scum!” he barked as he handed Warren and Clark their belongings.  “You will now vacate the premises, or your entire genetic line will be purged from time and space!”  Warren and Clark shared a look, then briskly walked to the door, Strax following. 

When they were out of earshot, Jenny whirled to face Vastra as she removed her veil and revealed her Silurian features.  “Just what was all that about?” she asked irritated.  “What you turn them away for?” 

“Jenny, my dear, we can’t accept every case that comes to our doorstep.  The Yard will be able to handle the matter.” 

“Hmph,” Jenny huffed.  “If they could have handled it, they wouldn’t have come to you.  Suppose it isn’t just some run of the mill killer?  What if it’s something… you know… alien?”  Vastra sighed and rose from her chair.  “Really, Jenny, I will hear no more of this matter.” 

“But, Vastra…” 

“Jenny,” Vastra said sternly.  Jenny looked down in discomfort.  Vastra’s expression softened and gently lifted her head up.  “I’m sorry, my love.  But I must ask you to trust me.  I know you don’t like to standby, but my decision is final.” 

Later, Jenny paced the floor of her room.  It didn’t make sense for Vastra to not answer a cry for help.  She was the one who hunted down the Jack the Ripper.   Fought alongside the Doctor against alien threats.  Three women, their bodies torn and burned and left in the street to be found at morning, and rumors of the feared Spring-Heeled Jack?  Why wouldn’t Vastra want to take up the case? 

“Is everything secure, boy?”  Jenny rolled her eyes and turned to see Strax at the doorway.  She had long since given up in expecting the Sontaran to keep her pronouns straight.  “Not particularly, Strax.  Something’s gotten into Vastra.”  Strax’s eyes lit up.  “A parasite?!  Leave it to me!  I will just need some laser scalpels, cluster mines, and a pit filled with acid!” 

“No, Strax,” sighed Jenny, sitting on her bed.  “I mean that something is strange about Vastra.  Scotland Yard drop a murder case right in her lap, but she wouldn’t investigate it.”  Strax shrugged and grunted.  “Do you think that Madame is unfit to command?  If so, I could give her a full medical examination.” 

“We don’t have time for that,” said Jenny.  “This ‘Spring-Heeled Jack’ could be finding another victim tonight!”  Jenny paused, then looked thoughtful.  “On the other hand, Vastra said she wouldn’t take the case.  She didn’t necessarily say anything about me investigating for myself.  What do you think, Strax?  Want to go on an evening patrol of Pevensie Street?” 

“Sorry, boy, I cannot.  I have a great deal of dusting to do.”  Jenny looked in disbelief at Strax.  “Are you feeling alright, Strax?  I never known a time where you would turn down the chance for some action for anything!” 

“True, Jenny.  But Vastra is our commanding officer.  She has given her orders, and nothing will make me disobey them.” 

Jenny groaned and walked to the window, then grinned.  “Oh, Strax.  You remember those jelly sherbet fancies I got last Christmas?”  Strax unconsciously licked his lips.  “Yes.  They were most… non-nutritious.  They made me rather… overexuberant.”  Jenny turned back to Strax, smiling confidently.  “Well, I still happen to have a box of them left over.  And if you go out with me to catch Spring-Heeled Jack, I’ll let you have the whole box for yourself.  Is it a bargain?”  Strax thought for a moment, then stood at attention.  “At your command… marm.”  Jenny cast aside her maid outfit to reveal her black jumpsuit beneath.  She lifted her katana from off the hooks on the wall, and looked determined out the window.  “Right then.  Go to the vault and fetch those ‘seven league boots’ and charge up your rifle.  We are on the case!” 

 OK:

Jenny Flint: Trained martial artist and swordswoman.  Experience dealing with alien threats.  The ‘seven league boots’ will enable her to match Spring-Heeled Jack’s jumps.  Also has Strax as back up with his own laser rifle. 

Spring-Heeled Jack: Above average human strength, can leap 2 stories in a single bound, claws, and can breathe blue fire. 

Jenny wins by catching and/or killing Jack. 

Game On! 

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Jenny Flint (Doctor Who)
Read more about Jenny Flint (Doctor Who) at Wikipedia
Official Site: BBC Links: Wikipedia Wikia Doctor Who - BBC America

Spring Heeled Jack
Read more about Spring Heeled Jack at Wikipedia
Official Site: Public Domain Links: Wikipedia Mike Dash Altered Dimensions

[broadwaybeyonder]

Jenny in action.  

Attack of the Supermodels! - The Crimson Horror - Doctor Who Series 7 Part 2 (2013) - BBC One - Bing video

 

[DSkillz]

Another good set-up, broadway. I barely know anything about Doctor Who, but this looks like a good story. 

As for the match, after reading the Wiki pages on both Spring-heeled Jack and the Paternoster Gang, I have a feeling Jenny and Strax can handle Jack in a confrontation. The question is whether they can track Spring-heeled Jack down.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
5.00 - patrickthekid
4.80 - Boratz
4.60 - DSkillz

FPA Calculation:
3 Total Votes cast
14.40 Total Combined Score
14.40 / 3 = 4.80 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Jenny Flint (Doctor Who): 1
Spring Heeled Jack: 2

[broadwaybeyonder]

(Finally) THE BOTTOM LINE

Jenny bounded across rooftops after the figure in the long coat and top hat, a black scarf covering his face.  The ‘seven league boots’ had been working perfectly.  They had a more complicated scientific name she had been told by the man who gave them to her and Vastra in gratitude for helping him out of nasty situation.  She sometimes wondered where that Captain Jack went.  She had wanted to meet him again. 

To discuss more about future technology, of course.  She was a married woman, after all. 

On the street below, Strax urged the horse that pulled the carriage to greater speeds to keep up with Jenny and their suspect.  “Faster, horse!” he barked.  “Or join your brethren in oblivion!”  The carriage around a corner and found itself on Pevensie Street, while from above Spring Heeled Jack made another leap for the buildings on the other side of the road. 

“Oh no you don’t!” shouted Jenny.  Jumping onto a chimney and springing into the air, Jenny tackled Spring Heeled Jack and both of them crashed down to the cobblestones.  Jenny pinned Jack’s shoulders down as he growled and struggle to free himself.  “You’re not going anywhere, ‘Mr. Jack’!” said Jenny as she ripped the scarf away from the man’s face.  Her eyes widened in shock. 

“Mr. Clark?!” 

It was the face of the man who had come to Paternoster with Inspector Warren, but it was taut with rage, and his eyes shined with a blue glow.  “I knew you’d be trouble!” Clark growled.  Shifting his weight, he monkey flipped Jenny off of him and kipped up to his feet.  Jenny could see the man’s teeth becoming sharp and pointed, and his fingers were becoming claws.  Jenny drew her katana and held it at the ready.  “I’m not going to allow you to harm anybody else!” 

“Foolish child!” cackled Clark.  “These streets are my hunting grounds!  And it’ll take more than your little toys to stop me!”  He took a deep breath and exhaled a blast of blue energy.  Jenny dropped low and rolled out of the way. 

There was the familiar sound of Strax’s laser rifle as it fired a shot past Clark’s head.  Clark whirled around to see the Sontaran taking aim again.  “Surrender and your death will be glorious, creature!”  Strax fired again, but Clark quickly leapt into the air, somersaulting down into a dropkick that sent Strax back first into a brick wall. 

“Strax!” cried Jenny.  She rushed towards Clark as he advanced on Strax.  She swung her katana and landed a strike to his leg, causing him to snarl in pain.  He leaped backwards over Jenny and swung down with his claws.  Jenny ducked, but when Clark landed he delivered a strike to her torso.  Jenny screamed as Clark’s claws ripped through her jumpsuit, only for Clark to deliver another kick that sent her sprawling down the street. 

Jenny could feel the blood coming from her wound as she struggled to get back to her feet, only for Clark to come crashing down feet first on her spine.  Jenny was left gasping in pain as Clark kicked her katana out of reach.  “You should have been like your mistress and stayed out of my business,” he snarled, raising his clawed hand to the sky to deliver the final blow.  Jenny took a deep breath, certain that it would be her last. 

Then Jenny heard the sound of a blade piercing flesh.  She looked up at Clark, still with his hand upraised, only now he was gaping down at the katana sticking out from his chest.  Over his shoulder, Jenny saw hood covered face of Vastra.  “That was for assaulting my butler,” she hissed into Clark’s ear as he struggled to free himself.  “And this is for hurting my wife.” 

Vastra twisted the katana and pulled upwards, slicing up through Clark’s head, cutting it in half.  She then swung the katana again and the two pieces of Clark’s head tumbled to the cobblestone, followed by the rest of his body.  Jenny looked on in shock as arcs of blue electricity leapt over Clark’s body, quickly reducing it to a pile of ash and smoldering clothes. 

Vastra sheathed the katana and rushed to kneel at Jenny’s side.  “My love, are you alright?”  Jenny looked at the blood on her hand.  “I… been better, marm.”  Vastra ripped off a strip of cloth from her cloak and wrapped it over the wound.  “You should consider yourself lucky, Jenny.  Not many Silurians would be able to say they faced a K’Tal in combat and lived to tell the tale.”  Before Jenny could respond, Strax trundled down the road toward them, coming to halt when he saw Vastra.  “Madam!  I, er, was just out doing the shopping.  At the shop.  For the… shop… things.  When I suddenly heard a noise and…” 

“Not now, Strax,” Vastra said briskly.  “Bring the carriage round.  We need to get Jenny back to Paternoster Row so you can see to her wounds, as well as your own.”  Strax gave a small bow.  “Understood, Madam.  And may I say, I had told the boy that we should have followed your orders and remained at the house.”  Jenny glared at Strax as he hurried back up the street.  “Good luck getting a sherbet fancy from me, you OW!” 

Vastra offered her hand to Jenny.  “Save your strength, dear.  Take my hand and lean on me.”  Jenny winced as Vastra helped her to her feet.  “You called that thing… Clark… a… K’Tal?” 

“Yes, Jenny.  A particularly nasty race of creatures,” said Vastra as they slowly moved towards the carriage.  “They take a great deal of pleasure into turning other people’s planets into their own private game reserves.  There were records of them hunting Silurians, early humans, even dinosaurs.  When the first murders here on Pevensie took place and rumors of Spring Heeled Jack started, I had a hunch it might have been another K’Tal hunting ritual.  And after my meeting with the Inspector and ‘Mr. Clark’, I found my hunch was correct.” 

“But… how?” asked Jenny. 

“In my research, I found that the K’Tal were such skilled hunters because they had perfected a way to disguise themselves.  That’s why ‘Clark’ assumed the role of a Pevensie shopkeeper.  A perfect way to observe and choose his victims.  But altering their appearance did result in creating a rather distinctive odor.”  Jenny furrowed her brow in thought.  “Like those aliens you told me about from Raxa… Raxa…?”  Vastra smiled.  “Raxacoricofallapatorius, dear.  Don’t worry.  It’s hard enough to say when one hasn’t just been in battle.  But yes.   Perhaps not as flatulent, but just enough of a scent for a Silurian nose to detect.” 

“Hang on a minute!”  Jenny stopped short as Strax pulled the carriage up to them.  “Then you knew Clark was one of these K’Tal all along!  But why didn’t you take the case?  Why’d you turn down Inspector Warren?”  Vastra sighed and looked apologetic.  “An unfortunate but necessary deception, Jenny.  Because another of the K’Tal’s talents is a slight empathic sense.  They can use it to track their prey by their fear.  But they can also detect the aggressive thoughts of a hunter tracking them.  And as you have seen first-hand, they can become particularly violent when they are directly challenged.” 

Jenny closed her eyes and sighed.  “So that’s it.  If you had taken the case or let on you knew what Clark was, he would have attacked you.” 

“And you, dear, and Warren and Strax.  And since my research was limited on the range of the K’Tal’s power, I had to continue the charade as long as Clark was near Paternoster.  I was planning on explaining it to you both, but you had already slipped out of the house by then.”  Jenny looked down sheepishly.  “I’m sorry, Vastra.  I just couldn’t bear the thought of just sitting around while that thing was on the loose.”  Vastra brushed Jenny’s cheek and smiled.  “I understand, Jenny.  Your courage is one of the many things that made me fall in love with you.  But if you could do a small favor for me?” 

“A… favor?” 

“Yes.  The next time you plan on going off on a potentially dangerous mission without consulting me first, do promise that you will take a moment to look before you… leap?” 

Jenny looked confused for a minute at Vastra’s grinning face, then groaned.  “Oh really, Vastra!” 

The Great Detective chuckled as she helped her wife into the carriage, leaving Pevensie Street empty except for a pile of tattered clothes and a most peculiar smell.