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Steven Carter, born 4 October 1999, was the son of Joe and Alice Carter and the grandson of Jack Harkness and Lucia Moretti, therefore Gray's great-nephew.
Biography
Steven's mother described Jack as his uncle as she wanted not to explain to him Jack's immortality and agelessness. The two appeared close, although their contact was infrequent. (TV: Children of Earth: Day One)
Steven, along with all the children on the planet Earth, were repeatedly influenced by the 456 to freeze in place and declare the impending arrival of the alien race until they made touchdown in Britain. (TV: Children of Earth: Day One, Children of Earth: Day Two)
Steven and Alice were taken as hostages by Agent Johnson and her team in order to keep Harkness from making public his knowledge of the 456. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Three)
As Jack needed a child to defeat the 456, Steven was used to reverse the signal and kill the lone representative of the 456 on Earth, without being explained the situation.
By reversing the signal, Steven, as Jack knew he would, died. Steven convulsed horrifically and blood began to spout from his nostrils, then collapsed where he stood. His mother cradled his dead body tearfully as Jack watched. She did not seem to forgive Jack for sacrificing her son. His death was also the final factor in Jack leaving Earth; the deaths of Suzie, Owen, Tosh, Ianto and Steven had become too much. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Five)
Behind the scenes
- Steven's death was the first death of a child seen onscreen in the Doctor Who universe. However, the Doctor Who stories: The Chase, School Reunion, Human Nature, The Fires of Pompeii, The Stolen Earth as well as the Torchwood stories Sleeper and Children of Earth have featured implied or offscreen child deaths.