4 Massive Manoeuvring
Walter is just as thrilled with the danish as Peter said he would be. Prancing around the lab to the strains of Ziggy Stardust, Rose is thoroughly amused with his childlike delight. Again, she's strongly reminded of her Doctor. She hopes Peter's right and she'll find him soon. Her well of hope is getting a little shallow.
Heading toward a back corner of the lab, Rose follows Peter. Rounding the edge of a wall, she sees every surface is covered with drawings, schematics, and pieces of equations—all in various sizes and conditions.
"So this is the dimensional gateway?" Rose asks, peering at one of the sketches of the machine.
"No, the gateway is a portion of stable transition between the machines on either side of the divide. At one point I know that I knew what it was I had to do to create the gateway, but now I don't. It was lost with the reset. It's one of the reasons we're leery to shut them down. I don't know how to turn them on again. But that's not why we're here," he says, turning back to his desk and unearthing a computer. Booting it up, he turns back to Rose while it does its thing.
Rose is doing slow circles taking in all the various pieces of information littering the area.
"You were a bit obsessed when you did…this," she observes, waving a hand to the dynamic chaos filling the area. "Why?"
"Ahh, yeah; I guess I was obsessed. I haven't been in this corner in a couple of weeks. Not since…well, not since I was told that this Olivia is my Olivia and she chose to keep her past memories." He takes a moment to look around as well before answering her. "I thought the only way I could return to my Olivia was to go back to my timeline and I thought I could only do it with the machine."
"I gotchya. You were here because of the machine, so the only way back was through it again—makes sense. I bet your glad you don't have to though."
"Absolutely! I don't remember exactly what I had to do, but I remember the impressions that it wasn't terribly pleasant."
"Of course not, ya daft man. I can tell by these equations that you know exactly how much power you were channeling through your body. We're not meant to do that, you know," Rose says matter of factly.
"Listen to who's talking! Miss 'I punch through the Void like a skipping stone in nothing but the clothes I put on today,'" Peter replies with a touch of amused sarcasm. They are both perfectly aware of the incredibly dangerous risks they were willing to take.
"The things you do for love, yeah?" Rose says with a soft smile. "So is that thing up yet? I assume you're wanting to run some simulations."
"Yes, exactly, and yes it is. So let me set it up with the parameters of an outside force…closing the walls between Universes…instantly…and with no warning. Okay, let's see what it…Oh! Well, I guess that answers that." Rose joins Peter at the monitor watching as he runs the simulation again.
Peter and Rose are both pouring over the data retrieved from the experiment. A person with no idea what they were looking at could easily read the end result—a cascade of zeros—as a very bad outcome.
"Badda big boom!" Rose says, trying to lighten the mood.
"You think? More than big; if these results are correct, the instability caused by the instant reversal of the interaction between the two machines would shred the cohesion in the fabric of our two Universes causing the total collapse of both in a matter of seconds."
Rose pales at the implications. Peter, looking up from the screen at her, is visibly shaken as well.
"They are probably going to decide to shut the machines down anyway because of Jones, but I will stop from looking for other solutions. It's been interesting, but it's time to say goodbye." Peter almost feels relief at the decision.
"Will you tell them?" Rose asks.
"Only if they decide to keep them running and take our chances that we'll stop Jones on our own," Peter answers.
"When do you think that will happen?"
"Within the next couple of weeks would be my guess."
Nodding, Rose glances again at the readouts and the schematics for the machines.
"In that case, I want to see them."
Looking at her intently for a moment, Peter starts running scenarios in his head for how to make that happen.
"Why?"
"Mostly for pure scientific curiosity. You lot 've done something amazing here and I want to see it, but I also want to…I dunno…I just feel like I should. I'm almost drawn to these images. I just have a feeling I should see them. Does that make sense?" Rose asks. She feels a bit awkward about it really, but she can't shake the feeling now that she's this close.
"Yes," he says. "I feel the same way anytime I'm near them, but they are tuned to me."
"Yeeesss…," she draws it out while she's thinking. "Do you know what sort of energy it is they produce?"
"I don't know that they've named it. The Massive Dynamic scientists are never particularly forthcoming about their studies," Peter responds with a snort.
"I'm sure not; we at Torchwood aren't either. It's one of the problems with huge secret organisations. So, can you get me in?"
"Officially or unofficially?" Peters asks, eyeing her speculatively.
"Does it matter?" Rose replies with mischief dancing in her eyes.
"No, I guess not. I'm just trying to decide if I ask Olivia now or tell her later."
"Truthfully, Peter, I'd hate to get you in trouble, but I can't stay forever. I vote for later, but I won't be around for the fallout, so your decision."
Taking a breath and scrubbing his face a moment, Peter considers his options. There really is only one choice then.
"Alright, let me call Nina."
—∞—-
An hour later at Massive Dynamic, Peter, Rose, and a nervous Walter are ushered into Nina Sharpe's office.
"Good morning, Peter. Walter," she greets them with a friendly smile. "So you must be the Rose Tyler, Peter mentioned," Nina says, standing to reach out a hand toward Rose, obviously sizing her up.
"Hello!" Rose quips. "I really appreciate you seeing us on such short notice, Ms. Sharpe."
"Of course, and call me Nina. Please, have a seat." Gesturing to the other chairs, she resumes her own.
"So, Peter tells me you'd like to see the gateway and the machines," Nina begins, getting directly to the reason for their visit.
"Yes, please," Rose replies with a cheeky grin.
"I see. The problem is, Miss Tyler, that they are a national secret and the fact you know about them is disconcerting at best. The fact that Rose Tyler doesn't exist now makes it alarming. So, you see my dilemma," Nina says, spreading her hands in the air.
"Indeed I do. See, I was there when Peter called you, that wasn't a secret, so I know that you have no information on me. But I have come prepared to barter for my visit to the gateway."
"Really, Miss Tyler? What do you have that Massive Dynamic would be willing to let a complete stranger into the most heavily guarded and fortified location on the planet…technically two planets?" Nina asks, but Rose doesn't miss the glint of curiosity that flashes through Nina's otherwise perfectly genial mask.
Rose gets a knowing smile on her face. She's actually having a great time. She's used to this sort of verbal and mental sparing when she's negotiating treaties with alien species. She's very good at it. Unfortunately, Rose is feeling pressed for time; so instead of indulging in the amusing back and forth, she gets right to the point.
"Weeeelllll, let's see…where to start. You told Peter, that as far as you know, there have been no astronomical anomalies, but there will be if I don't fulfil my mission. I'm going to give you a very abridged version of my reasons for being here that these two have already heard, but don't despair, I know Walter recorded the entire conversation we had last night." Walter nearly falls out of his chair at the revelation. He was sure he hadn't been noticed; apparently, he was wrong. "And that will give you much more in depth information. Your interpretation of it will completely depend on whether you believe me right now, though. May I continue?"
Rose feels just a little bad about throwing Walter under the bus. She'll have to apologise later, but it turned out to be a brilliant stroke of luck that he provided her with such a tool, and there isn't anything in her story that would damage their reality. A little dose of extraterrestrial tolerance would be good for them.
Nina's eyes have narrowed a bit and she glances back and forth between a clearly embarrassed Walter, an amused but openly unperturbed Peter, and a clearly confident Rose Tyler.
"Yes, I will hear you out, but that doesn't mean I agree to this, especially in the light that you are deliberately keeping Olivia out of the loop." Nina's tone clearly conveys her disapproval and the barb was well placed as Peter winces a little .
"Only for now," Peter assures her. "I plan on telling her everything. I just…" Sighing heavily, he looks at Nina beseechingly. "You know how long it took to persuade her to go to Rachel's. If I call her with this, she'll be on the first plane she can get them to let her on. I believe Rose, and I trust that she has no interest in harming us, the gate, or anyone else involved."
Nina visibly relaxes back in her chair and nods at Rose to begin. Peter's assertion has gone a long way to convincing her. He doesn't trust easily and Nina trusts his judgment.
"Right, let's see." Taking a breath, Rose launches into her story, albeit a much shorter version. Nina's eyes get big right off the bat since she started with, "At the age of 19, in the year 2005, I began traveling my Universe with a 900 year old alien in a sentient time and space ship called the TARDIS. That stands for…"
Managing to condense the story to a twenty minute, semi-linear, mostly accurate version impresses even Rose. The stunned look on Nina's face does not immediately reassure her of her success, though. Thinking back over the tale, she worries that maybe it was too condensed, maybe a little too flip. Inwardly grimacing, Rose mentally prepares to try and repair any mistakes she may have just made.
"Walter?" Nina asks, turning her gaze to the obviously bored man doing lazy circles in his chair.
Startled out of his reverie, Walter looks up sharply at Nina's questioning tone. "Yes?"
"Do you believe her story, Walter?" Nina asks gently.
"Oh! Oh, yes, Nina," Walter responds enthusiastically. "I find Zennia's story extraordinary, but absolutely, I believe her completely. Bigger on the inside pockets, Nina! Imagine what we could do," he says with obvious excitement. She has no idea what pockets has to do with anything, but that's Walter.
Looking over to Peter, she asks, "And how long was the unabridged version you received last night?"
"Hours. Rose arrived around 1AM. I couldn't sleep so I came over to see what Walter was working on and she'd been there about 15 minutes according to Walter. I didn't know he'd recorded everything though," he says with a smirk. "Sorry, Rose."
"No worries, I would have done the same," she replies, grinning at Peter and Walter. Walter sighs, happy that he isn't in trouble. He hadn't really thought about what he was doing. He just didn't want to miss anything.
"Alright, Rose. I will take your tale at face value, considering I get the unabridged version later."
"Thank you, Nina, but I have more to offer," Rose says getting a mischievous look on her face. "Peter, do you mind being my guinea pig?"
He stills a moment, and then a grin splits his features. "You're about to shoot me in demonstration?"
"Yep!"
"Stunner, right?" he asks, making sure.
Pulling said gun out of her pack, everyone sits up a little straighter as the strange weapon comes into sight.
"The only way to kill you with it would be to repeatedly beat you around the ears, but I think we'll forgo that
bit," Rose teases him.
"Thanks," he says sarcastically, standing up and moving to a more open part of the floor.
"My pleasure," she replies with a snort. "Alright, so this is a standard issue stun gun from my organisation. I wouldn't normally do this, but I can tell by the tech I've seen that this is well within your capabilities. We created it without any alien augmentation, so I don't feel like I'm giving you any unfair advantages. Do you understand the difference?" she asks Nina directly.
"I understand the potential hazards, yes," Nina agrees, very interested in the stun gun. It looks like nothing she's ever seen and that is intriguing. "And you're positive this won't hurt Peter?"
"Yep! As part of our training, we all have to experience all three levels of the stunner so we know what to expect if a badey takes our weapon."
"One question, Rose," Nina asks, raising a finger. "What other weapons do you carry with you?"
Rose takes a moment, considering. The question is a good one and after Peter's tale, she understands the reasons behind it. The situations the Fringe team have been in have been extremely dangerous, but a stunner could have answered more questions since it tends to leave more perps alive. But even her missions require lethal force sometimes; it just is never her first option.
"You'll get more of a complete answer when you hear the tape Walter made—Peter asked the same question," she replies, smiling at Peter. "The quick answer is violence should never be the first response. The Doctor taught me that. Humans tend to strike out first at what we don't understand and hope we can learn from the leftovers. Violence breeds more violence, and some of the species out there can squash the entire planet in a second." Rose clicks her fingers for emphasis. "When I'm on a mission, I carry a blaster as well, but never on the jumps, because time can be rewritten and my time in any one location is limited. Our interactions now may enhance certain aspects of your future, but I doubt they will drastically change things. In fact, if anything, I hope that my visit will make your first alien encounters easier. It will happen, I'm surprised it hasn't already," Rose finishes with a shrug. The guarded look in Nina's expression makes Rose wonder if it hasn't already. Ah well, they need to make their own mistakes. Hopefully they won't take out the planet.
Raising an inquisitive eyebrow at Nina, Rose turns back toward Peter after Nina's nod of approval.
"Peter?" she asks calmly.
"I'm ready, Rose. Anything I should expect?" Peter asks, eyeing the weapon.
"Well, here's the fantastic part. It has three settings. One will just shock the nervous system. The subject will be paralysed but able to speak. Two is higher powered. The subject will be stunned and immobile, but not unconscious. Three is the highest setting and will render the subject completely unconscious. It is a slightly different frequency for each blast, thus the three different barrels. The best part is this dial," she shows all three of them the dial on the side. "This allows you to determine the length of time either of these effects will last. I am going to paralyse Peter for 1 minute. Ready?"
Peter is still wearing an interested expression with no hint of fear. "Go ahead, Rose. I trust you."
Aiming at the centre of his chest, Rose fires. A short burst of purple energy pops out of the top most barrel and strikes Peter, straight on. He gets a surprised look on his face as he wavers and then crumples to the floor. Walter and Nina rush to his side past Rose.
"Peter, are you alight?" Walter asks, patting his son with his hands, wearing a worried expression. Nina has concern writ on her face, but is observing quietly. Rose moves up to their sides.
"Peter, can you hear me?" Rose asks.
"Yes. You didn't say it would itch."
"Yeah, sorry; at least it doesn't hurt," she says grinning, the tip of her tongue just visible.
"Can you move anything at all, Peter?" Nina asks.
Peter takes a moment to internally feel out his limbs. He can sense them and he still has full sensation, but he doesn't have control over any of them.
"No, but I can feel everything. It appears I only have control of my eyes and mouth. Oh, but now I am starting to get my hands back…,"
"Annnnd 60 seconds, you should be able to move fully," Rose interrupts. She'd been focused on her watch.
Eyebrows raised, Peter easily pulls himself from the floor, shaking out his arms and legs. "Nothing. There aren't any side effects. I don't feel like I experienced anything strange at all."
"Yeah, mate, let me tell ya—20 minutes of itching and you'll really consider talking," Rose tells him through a grin. Peter contemplates the times when that would have been helpful.
"Alright, Miss Tyler. I've seen enough. I accept your offerings and I'll take you to the gateway," Nina says, reaching out to shake Rose's hand again.
A/N: I apologise for the weird formatting on the initial posting of the last chapter. I got it all fixed and this looks to have posted correctly. Enjoy!
Things are about to heat up and braid together between the Whoniverse and the Fringe-verse! Two chapters left.