Steven Carter

Steven Carter, born on 4 October 1999, was the son of Joe and Alice Carter. He was also the grandson of Jack Harkness and Lucia Moretti, and Gray's great-nephew.

Premonition
The Unon high seer Evja looked into Jack's future and saw him cradling Steven's body. (COMIC: Weapons of Past Destruction)

Early childhood
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)

The 456 incident
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)

Legacy
When talking with convicted child murderer Oswald Danes, Jack still felt the guilt of Steven's death when he explained that he knew what it was like to kill a child. (TV: Dead of Night)

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, Logopolis, School Reunion, Human Nature, The Fires of Pompeii, The Stolen Earth as well as the Torchwood stories Sleeper and Children of Earth and The Sarah Jane Adventures stories Revenge of the Slitheen, The Lost Boy, The Day of the Clown and The Eternity Trap have featured implied or offscreen child deaths.

Steven Carter