Author's Notes: Rassilon wanted a chance to tell his side of the story, including how he came to escape the Time Lock after the confrontation in 'End of Time,' so I let him take the reins. There are four parts to this story: this first chapter, which starts putting the pieces together (and the mysterious Casey who tormented Olivia Colasanto aboard the SHIELD helicarrier is revealed); the second chapter, in which Jack comes face to face with his father and learns the truth about his two missing years; Rassilon retrieves a lost Torchwood agent in the third; while the Eleventh Doctor makes an appearance in the fourth chapter. Oh, and just so you know, this new version of Koschei/the Master is 'played' by Robert Carlyle. 'Cause he's just that awesome.

Disclaimer: The following characters do not belong to me: Captain Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, any incarnation of the Doctor (but for this story, the Eleventh Doctor), Rassilon of Gallifrey, Koschei/the Master, the Families, Toshiko Sato, Suzie Costello, Owen Harper, Angelo and Olivia Colasanto, Esther Drummond, Rex Matheson, Captain Mike Yates, Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, his daughter Kate, Borusa or any other characters from 'Doctor Who' or 'Torchwood' that might be mentioned in these four parts. On the other hand, I do claim the Tregarths (aside from Esther, of course) and Alicia Yates (played in my imagination by Juliet Aubrey). As per usual, I don't mind if you borrow them … just ask first and make sure you return them reasonably intact. I don't ask for unscathed … this is 'Torchwood,' after all.

Chapter One

Those Who Would Inherit the Earth

Unknown location

Shortly after conclusion of End of Time

"You understand now."

The voice was actually gentle, painfully so, and almost apologetic. It was also almost completely devoid of madness. Not that he would have any room to condemn anyone else for madness. Even when he was at his most sane, he wasn't entirely. No … that wasn't entirely true. Even when he was totally sane, he simply didn't care. Even at his most sane, he was obsessed with immortality. He blinked a few times, until the face attached to the arms holding him came into focus and with it, the memories returned. The Naismith mansion. The revelation of the drums, of the source of the drums, his choice to save the Doctor (and, however reluctantly, the Earth). Followed by … another revelation, a journey, and then … and then his regeneration.

He'd have to look in the mirror, but from what he could see of his hands, he regenerated into an older man this time. That was … acceptable. After a few false starts, he was able to answer, "I do. I do understand now. I understand all of it. Except … how you knew that something needed to be done." The drums … oh, the drums were finally gone! He could have wept with joy and sadness, because the drums were his companions for such a long time, along with the false memory of what created the drums.

The other man sighed, finally releasing him, and answered, "The first sign of trouble was when he changed a fixed point by arranging the removal of Harriet Jones from power. That was actually what the humans call a twofer, because the destruction of the Sycorax was also a fixed point. Had the Sycorax not been destroyed … well. The Reapers would have had a feast, something Theta should have known. That was the first issue, and why you were released from the Time Lock in the first place. He was showing signs of the Time Lord Victorious even then. I beg your forgiveness for using you in such a way, Koschei, but it was necessary. The second issue came when Theta's former companion started blasting through dimensions to find him."

That actually surprised Koschei, but when he thought about it, it made sense. Use of that cannon weakened the walls between dimensions. While the Doctor wasn't directly responsible for that, the law of unintended consequences came into play. Seeing Koschei's understanding, the first among their people continued, "And when he chose you over the planet he has spent so many years protecting, over those who were so faithful to him, I knew it was time to act. Yes, even before the fixed point of Mars. Yet, I faced a dilemma … the best way to gain his attention. Unfortunately, that meant placing the Earth at risk … something with which you have a great deal of experience, Koschei."

Koschei swallowed hard, because while he still had no love for the stupid apes, certain memories were returning to him of events that he set into motion in 1928, when he sensed the presence of artron energy that permeated the blood in the vial provided to him by the particularly idiotic apes who called themselves the Families. He knew now that the blood belonged to a man whom he spent a Year torturing. And he had a terrifying suspicion that this particular man was far more important than anyone could have realized, even that sentimental old fool, the Doctor. Rassilon said in a silky voice, "Ahhh, I see that the pieces are falling into place for you. I must take some of the responsibility for what you did to that child. After all, it was I whom put those drums in your mind. But we will have words, you and I, about the pleasure you took in torturing my son."

The younger Time Lord nearly swallowed his tongue with the confirmation of his worst fears. Handsome Jack (the freak, the abomination, someone who shouldn't exist) was Rassilon's child. The First among their people had a son who … Wait. Wait, if Handsome Jack shouldn't exist, why hadn't Rassilon taken him out? Koschei knew that Rassilon wasn't ruled by sentiment. The fact that the Freak was his son wouldn't make a difference. Which mean … oh. That changed everything. He wondered briefly if the Doctor knew this particular truth about his former companion … and rather hoped he didn't. He wasn't sure why … things with the Doctor were rarely clear-cut, including his own emotions toward his best enemy. And, admittedly, his desire to be one-up on the Doctor (as the apes said) played into that.

Rassilon continued after a moment, "As I said, much of that was my responsibility. And you are free to continue your mischief and to torment the new Doctor if you wish. That is between the two of you, and of no interest to me. But, understand me and understand me well … if you ever harm my child, or anyone under his protection, again, I will end you permanently, Koschei. I will strip you of all regenerations and make certain that you can never return to life. I make you this solemn vow." His voice never rose above its current pitch, but that made the threat no less fearsome. In fact, it made it all the more terrifying, and for the second time in the last few minutes, Koschei swallowed hard. There was no doubt in his mind that the father and the Lord President were the same being at the moment. Rassilon would wipe him from the timelines all together, would do so without hesitation if his son was targeted again.

"I … I understand, my Lord President," Koschei managed to choke out. He was never an obsequious type, but this was Rassilon … stars above, this was Rassilon. Not the monster of his tampered memories, but Rassilon, the first of their people. And he spent a year torturing Rassilon's (half) human son? He was lucky to be alive, much less have any regenerations! After a moment, he asked hesitantly, "What … how exactly did we get out of the Time Lock?" That was something he was still trying to wrap his mind around. How was it possible that they were out of the Time Lock, how was it possible that he was allowed out of the Time Lock in the first place? Shortly after he attacked Rassilon and growled at the Doctor to move out of the way, he found himself … here. Yes. Yes, he died in Rassilon's arms, staring into the Lord President's crystal blue eyes, eyes that were filled with compassion. Compassion, and not madness. When he regenerated, he found himself a new man (again), without the drums unceasing in his head.

"That, Koschei, is a very long story. The short version, as the humans say, is this: Davros and Dalek Caan escaped the Time Lock … ergo, to maintain balance in the universe, two from Gallifrey must be freed as well. That is us. How we were freed is a story that can wait until later," Rassilon answered. That made a terrifying amount of sense to Koschei, who said so, and Rassilon added dryly, "So glad you approve. Now, Koschei, we have work to do." Work? The First of their people explained, "For the last few weeks, no one on Earth has died. No matter how catastrophic their injuries or illness, no one has died … save one person. His name was Angelo Colasanto, and he knew my son. It is in his home that we're now."

There was something about that name that seemed more than a little familiar, but Koschei shook his head. That didn't matter right now. He asked softly, "What is the plan?" Rassilon brought his son into this once again, which meant that his Prime feared his child was in danger. It never occurred to him that the inability of the apes to die had anything to do with Jack Harkness. After all, the young immortal was a Fact, a Fixed Point, and that wasn't true of the undying apes. He was very careful to not even think of Jack Harkness as 'freak.' Koschei knew what would happen to him if Rassilon caught even a hint of his son being called a 'freak.'

"We need information, Koschei. We need to know who is creating this situation. If it's one of the Old Races whom I initially spared, I'll correct that mistake. They've hurt my son, and that will not be tolerated," Rassilon answered grimly. Koschei was actually quite grateful that his Prime's anger was directed at whoever started this particular mess (all the while, ignoring flashes of memory from a previous incarnation that something about this situation seemed so familiar), rather than at himself. But there were still some things that he didn't understand.

Something that his First seemed to understand, explaining, "I work here as a gardener, and I will be needed here. Your task, Koschei, is to go into the world and discover who has created this abomination. Once we know that … as well as who stands against them … then we can make our next move." It went without saying, at least to Koschei, that chief among those who would be standing against the creators of this situation was Rassilon's own child.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Colasanto Compound, Nevada

End of Miracle Day

Over the months, as he tended to his garden and cared for the children left adrift by the death of Angelo Colasanto and the … disappearance … of his granddaughter, Rassilon of Gallifrey quietly and carefully put together his new identity. He was Ray Zilon, a British émigré who came to the United States seeking his lost son. One thing Rassilon learned over the course of his (mind-numbingly) long life: when telling a lie, stick to the truth as much as possible.

On the rare occasions when he was pressed for details, he simply told them that his son was lost when he was a very small boy, taken from his birth family for his own safety. And that was true enough. If it hadn't been for the assassination plot that nearly took the life of his lover while pregnant with Jack, their son would have had a far different life. Maybe not better … as the son of the Time Lord Prime, the youngster would have been in constant danger … but certainly different. He let the humans fill in the blanks with their own imaginations. That was one thing he was coming to like about humanity … they had extraordinary imaginations.

Another thing he liked was their incredible capacity for compassion and kindness. Oh, aye, they could be stupid … they could be ungrateful … they could be selfish. But they could also be astonishingly compassionate. Here he was, a stranger, and more than once, he saw tears in the eyes of a woman when they learned that his little boy was lost to him. He always qualified it, saying that his son was no longer a small child and was now a grown man … but those women informed him that he still lost his little boy, and no matter how old they were, your child was still your child. They could be in their forties or fifties, but they were still your child, and always would be. Rassilon would never admit it, but he found himself blinking back tears once those ladies walked away (and they would only leave once he promised them to let them know if they could help him find his child). Of course, his children were far older … Jack was his youngest child, and was well over a hundred years old, but those words held true. This was still his child, the little baby boy he was only permitted to hold briefly, whose infant consciousness he touched before Jack was even born.

It was then, as he watched those matrons walk away, that Rassilon discovered that his desire to protect Jack was just as strong now as when his son was an infant. Oh, he knew that Jack didn't need his protection … by now, he was learning what his son had done to protect Earth, to save stupid, selfish, ungrateful apes … he had learned even more about Torchwood, and he was so very proud of his little boy. But Jack was his son, and he was Jack's father, and that was what parents did … they protected their child. He thought of the clumsy attempt of his baby boy when Jack wasn't even born to comfort him, that sense of 'it'll be fine, don't be sad, papa.' That sense became far stronger, when Jack was born, a tiny baby boy with black hair and bright blue eyes and a pair of extremely healthy lungs that made it known to all and sundry that he was very not happy about being brought into this bright, noisy new world, thank you very much! Rassilon smiled to himself, remembering the warm weight of that little boy in his arms and the broad grin of a particular Time Lord who delivered his child.

It was a far stronger version of that embryonic ability that nearly destroyed his son, when Rassilon came face to face with his grown child in those last horrific years of the Time War, before he and the Eighth Doctor came up with the idea of the Moment together. His beautiful, brilliant twenty-five year old son saluted him, before adding a bit slyly, "There's something familiar about you, my Lord Rassilon. Have we met before?" It took all of Rassilon's nearly-legendary self-control to keep from weeping and drawing his son into his arms. But even now, he had to show caution. Even now, Jack would be a target for the Time Lords who sought shelter at Rassilon's feet. They would not take kindly to his son. He was right, and his little boy almost died as a result. Rassilon smiled bitterly. The Time Lord who tried to kill his son, who sought to trigger Rassilon's darkest side, paid for that perfidy with his life. Oh, it took time, but in the end, just before they opened the Time Lock and journeyed to Earth, Rassilon killed that Time Lord under the auspices of behaving like a power-mad dictator.

It was that same echo that drew him here, to the Colasanto compound … that, and sensing his son. Jack's blood was spilled here, and it was fortunate indeed that the person responsible was long gone. He knew from listening to the servants that one of the CIA operatives was the one who shot his son … and by now, he also knew from those same servants that it was a group of apes who called themselves 'the Families,' descendents of three men who bought his son's blood back in 1928. And yet, it wasn't his son's blood that caused this. They might have used it, but there was more to it than that. No one affected was a Fact, as his son was. They didn't die and reset, they simply couldn't die. Rassilon didn't doubt that these accursed Families believed that it was Jack's blood that caused this Atrocity. They also believed that they would inherit the earth. They were wrong on both counts. Fools.

No … there were elements of a Time Lock, as well as something else. For now, though, the most important thing was that it ended. Rassilon had no illusions that the Families weren't still dangerous, that they were merely driven underground by their defeat, but for the moment, they weren't a threat. Koschei was there, in Shanghai when Jack ended the Miracle with the aid of Oswald Danes (who hopefully would stay dead this time), while that abrasive CIA agent Matheson did his part on the other side of the world in Buenos Aires. Koschei chose to follow Jack to Shanghai, as penance for what he'd done to him on the Valiant, but that didn't mean that Agent Matheson and that lovely young girl Miss Drummond were left unprotected. Oh, no. Koschei wasn't the only agent whom Rassilon had on this planet at this time.

When Borusa made his play for immortality so long ago, while he was in his previous body (who had truly bad taste when it came to fashion, but that was par for the course with Time Lords … humans were far more sensible when it came to their wardrobe), Rassilon had the opportunity to see the various Doctors in action, to say nothing of his companions. It was from those companions that Rassilon chose his other agents on Earth. Unfortunately, his first choice, the valiant Brigadier, was deteriorating rapidly. In fact, he would have died, were it not for the Miracle. It was truly a shame, but the man more than served his country and his world. Rassilon wouldn't disturb his rest, hard-earned that it was. No. No, he couldn't have done that, not after his own rest was disturbed by his recalcitrant children. He wouldn't do that to another person, human or Time Lord … much less to a man such as Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart.

However, a former subordinate of the Brigadier was alive and well, one Captain Mike Yates … and while he was too old to accomplish what Rassilon needed him to do, he had a daughter who was not. Further, Yates' daughter Alicia was good friends with Kate Lethbridge-Stewart-the late Brigadier's daughter, and quite formidable in her own right-and both women were beyond furious at what was done to their world by the Families and whoever was backing them. While they were understandably wary of him as a Time Lord, they became far more amenable to his requests when he explained that the Families harmed his son. He did not, however, mention that Jack was his son. He was well aware of UNIT's opinion of Torchwood as a whole and his son in particular and he was unwilling to take any chances right now.

His prudence paid off … the two women reported back to him that the Families tricked Rex Matheson into believing that Esther Drummond was dead. They even offered to rescue the girl themselves, but Rassilon asked them to wait … she was still in critical condition, and if they tried to rescue her now, her condition would likely deteriorate further. Thus, the rescue of Esther Drummond (nee Juliana Tregarth) was left to her birth family, as well as Rassilon's son and Agent Matheson. Yes, the Miracle was over, but the Families were still out there … and Rassilon knew they would have to be dealt with eventually.

But when it came time to finish the Families, it would be on Rassilon's terms … not theirs.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

London, England

June 2012

It had been nearly a year since the end of the Miracle, and to say that Alicia Yates was bored would have been an understatement of Biblical proportions. Even before Rassilon made his pitch to recruit her and Kate Stewart-Lethbridge, Alicia was doing whatever she could to help those in need. Not surprisingly, in the wake of the Miracle, a black market for supplies came into being. Alicia, in turn, stole from the black market and distributed the supplies to those who couldn't leave their homes for whatever reason. Great sodding bastards, they were no better than the Families. Not that she played Robin Hood … no, she helped particular people, those who were unable to leave their homes and fend for themselves, in particular. There was one Welshwoman she had no trouble turning away, even after the woman tried to use her daughter as a bargaining chip. For one thing, she demanded Alicia's assistance … demanded, not asked.

For another, Alicia recognized her voice from the footage of the destruction of that module. A great sodding glory hound she was, all 'look at me, aren't I wonderful for saying no.' Alicia growled, remembering the confrontation. That one could do for herself. Aside from that unpleasantness, Alicia was starting to understand why her father was in UNIT … not only did he help to save the world on a regular basis, but it was fun. Seeing what the Families did to her planet and her people wasn't a lot of fun, but the things she did to help protect those who couldn't protect themselves … that was fun. It was a lot of fun, and more than that, it was good to have a purpose again. She wasn't available when her friend Kate went with the Doctor … her son got himself into a spot of trouble … but she listened with delight to Kate when she returned.

While Kate was off saving the world with the Doctor, Alicia was doing research not just on UNIT, but on its rival Earth-protecting organization, Torchwood. And she was angry. She was beyond angry. Not at Torchwood Three (who drove off those child-hijacking bastards), at their director Jack Harkness, or his father Rassilon (really, just how stupid did Rassilon think she and Kate were? Never mind, one should never underestimate the arrogance of an advanced species, especially when a member of said advanced species was literally older than dirt). Truly, she wasn't even sure whom she was angriest with. But the protection of the Earth shouldn't fall to a handful of people. There was more to Torchwood than Yvonne Hartman (another glory hound) … and there was more to UNIT than her and Kate's respective fathers.

And so, for the last several months, after she helped to bury those who died at the conclusion of the Atrocity, Alicia mused and thought and plotted and researched (except when her son's mischievous streak popped out) … and now, she thought she had a viable solution. Kate told her that Torchwood Two was in Scotland … and there was a Torchwood branch in Oklahoma, of all places. Kate told her that it was initially a satellite branch, run by former Torchwood Cardiff director Carlyon Tregarth, until he encountered Captain Jack Harkness whilst rescuing Esther Drummond. And that's when it came together for Alicia

Whatever dreams she might have had, Alicia knew that she wasn't a heroine. She wasn't like her dad, she wasn't like Kate or her father … she was just Alicia. But during Miracle Day, just Alicia was enough. She wasn't a heroine, she would never save the Earth … but she could help those who did. When Alicia went to Kate with her thoughts, her friend surprised her … not everyone belonged in UNIT or Torchwood, but Kate was more than happy to provide Alicia with a name: Dr. Martha Jones-Smith. She was a former Companion of the Doctor, and a former member of UNIT who left not long after the child-hijacking aliens made their appearance.

As it happened, Martha just gave birth to her daughter and was on maternity leave. For an active woman, she was finding it difficult and Alicia's request gave her just the outlet she needed. There were many days when Martha and Alicia would pour over the logistics and information while Martha cuddled her as-yet-unnamed daughter. Mickey, Martha's husband, hovered in the background, always ready to change his daughter's nappy or feed her or do what had to be done. If Alicia wasn't practically old enough to be his mother, and he wasn't already married, she would have been tempted to make a play for him.

With Martha's help, Alicia began to put her plan into action. Namely, to set up a network of willing and competent individuals who (even if they couldn't fight) could help to protect those unable to protect themselves. Mickey provided his own assistance by providing Alicia with the name of a British expatriate who relocated to Vermont and was setting up another branch of Torchwood in the States by using a loophole supplied by the Crown. Alicia wouldn't be part of that, but she would gladly take the old gentleman's advice. If these sodding bastards could pull off something like the Miracle, they wouldn't go down easily, and they would try it again.

He also provided her with the contact information of groups that fulfilled similar functions to Torchwood and UNIT around the world. There was Inoltre in Italy; the Erde Einrede in Germany (the baby of the family, so to speak, created in 1991); Escudo in Spain; and many others. Alicia began dashing off email after email, explaining whom she was and what she was trying to do. And little by little, responses started to filter in … and the more people understood what she was trying to do, the more support she received. Once they understood that she wasn't trying to do their job for them, but was, instead, trying to make their job easier by searching for ways to keep civilians safe the next time the Daleks or the Cybermen or the Silurians or the Families decided the Earth was their personal plaything … they provided her with the information she requested.

She wasn't the Doctor. She wasn't Captain Jack Harkness or Rassilon or the Brigadier or Kate, or even her father. She was just Alicia Yates, a forty-five year old mother of three who wanted to see her children grow up and make lives of their own. She wanted to make sure that they would have a world to inherit … and this was her way of doing it. Torchwood, Inoltre, UNIT, Escudo, the Erde Einrede and other such organizations couldn't do it alone. Ordinary people could take up the mantle, they should, and they did. There were other ways to say 'no,' other than sitting astride a motorbike and generally making an arse of herself.

This was her planet, too… and she would fight for it in her own way.

TBC