Chapter One: Boeshane Peninsula
Rose entered the console room, a mug of tea cradled in her hands, to see two pairs of legs sticking out from underneath the console. There was a spark, then a grunt and a muffled curse with a vague American accent made its way to Rose's ears. She snorted. "Way to go, Old Girl," she said with a tongue-touched grin aimed at the Time Rotor. The TARDIS's hum was tinged with amusement and the rotor bobbed up and down once.
"So, Rose Tyler," a northern voice said from behind her—when had the Doctor came out from underneath the console? "backwards or forwards?"
Rose chewed on her bottom lip for a second, thinking. It hit her that she'd chosen the last few trips. "'S not my turn t' choose," Rose decided, glancing meaningfully at Jack. The ex-conman's face brightened.
"I wouldn't mind a visit home," Jack said slowly. "It's been a long time since I saw my mother. Not to mention I've got something I know you would enjoy, Rosie."
"Show off," the Doctor grumbled. "It better not be the inside of your bedroom."
"Nah," Jack said easily. "I'd be inviting you along too if that were it."
The Doctor rolled his eyes and started entering coordinates. "Boeshane Peninsula, fifty-first century it is, then."
Rose settled herself on the jump seat as Jack helped the Doctor pilot the TARDIS. She managed to stay on her perch through the tumultuous landing, a small feat. With a wheezing groan, the TARDIS shuddered and ground to a halt.
Rose was out the doors before the two men had moved from their positions at the console. She looked around eagerly at the small city. There was a vibrant, bustling market in the center, and it was towards this market that the Doctor started off.
"Might as well look for some parts for the TARDIS while we're here," the Time Lord said. Rose and Jack followed behind him, and at first they stayed together. However, Rose was captivated by the market and as it didn't look like the Doctor was going to be keen on exploring for a while, she nudged Jack.
"Can we go look around? 'M just dying to see what some of these vendors are selling," Rose said, giving Jack a tongue-touched grin. Jack glanced over at the Doctor, but he was busy haggling over some part and wasn't paying his companions any attention.
"Come on," Jack said. "Maybe he'll start paying more attention to us if we just disappear; he might think I've gotten you into my bedroom at last," the Captain finished with a saucy grin and a wink.
"Wouldn't you just love it if you had?" Rose asked teasingly. She took his hand and followed him through the small crowd, away from the Doctor.
OoOoO
"Target acquired. He's left the Time Lord and is now looking at stalls. Complications: he has a blonde woman with him. She doesn't look like much, probably his recent conquest. I believe we can take them both down," a woman said into a vortex manipulator strapped about her left wrist. She was half-hidden in the shadows of a building. The woman adjusted the gun hanging from her waist and shifted.
"Roger. Wait for targets to move to a secluded place before you approach them. Remember, guns are set to stun, not to kill. We need to know what Harkness remembers." The woman pressed her lips together in a thin line.
"What about Blondie?"
"Traditional method for her. Don't waste the charge on the gun."
"Why keep her alive?"
"Because Harkness will be more willing to talk if we show her unharmed. You have your orders, Agent."
"Sir," the woman acknowledged. She turned and made her way to where ten men dressed in black fatigues stood. "Here's the plan…"
OoOoO
"Oh my God, Jack, what is this?" Rose asked, her eyes half-closed in pleasure. She took another large bit of the crispy, cream-filled mystery food, which Jack had assured her she would enjoy. He was right. Rose was more than glad that she'd filched one of the unlimited credit sticks from the Doctor's jacket pockets the other day, as it meant she could try her fill of fifty-first century foods.
Jack grinned at the look on the blonde's face. "It's called an Oitos," he told her. "Only found at this very stall in this market, anywhere in Time and space."
Rose laughed and finished the Oitos. "So what was it that you wanted to show me?" she asked. Jack grinned brightly.
"Follow me."
OoOoO
"Alert: targets are moving out of the bazaar. Be prepared to engage. Stun Harkness, take Blondie down, and bring 'em in. Let's move!"
OoOoO
Rose followed Jack out of the market and through a narrow, winding street. The road opened out into an open area carpeted in thick grass, which ran all the way to the edge of a small bluff overlooking the sea.
"'S beautiful," Rose breathed as she looked at the view. She turned to bestow a tongue-touched grin on Jack, only to see him fall to the ground, unconscious. Ten men wearing black uniforms came at her. Rose reacted on instinct, fighting them with everything she had. Something hard and heavy crashed painfully into her side, and she screamed as pain roared through her.
"Get away from me!" Rose shouted, but it did no good. "Jack!" She wisely refrained from screaming for the Doctor, not wanting to alert her kidnappers to his presence. "Somebody help me!" Then a cold metal gun slammed into her face. She felt her nose crack and blood gushed over her lips. The gun hit her again and everything went black.