I LIKE IMPOSSIBLE

CHAPTER 6: Truths

Rose Tyler stood tall, put her hands on her hips, and curled her lips into her most frightening scowl. She was righteously pissed off. "I mean it. What the hell is going on?" Her voice was shrill and dangerous. "I've just finished a round of proper negotiations with you lot. And, now I find myself drugged, in a less than flattering hospital gown, and taken somewhere against my will and via spaceship by the sound of it! All of which is in direct violation of at least six statues of the Shadow Proclamation!"

The Cologian doctors watched her unflinchingly through the glass, there taut green faces unmoving. So Rose, her fury rising, grabbed her IV drip and smashed its base against the glass, shattering it. At that moment, the Cologian ambassador entered the observation area and aimed a sonic blaster at her. "Are you quite done yelling for the moment, Miss Tyler?"

Rose hardly flinched, though she lowered the IV she was wielding. "I guess that depends on whether or not you have some answers for me."

The ambassador nodded, almost politely, a gesture which endeared him to Rose not at all."I will answer your questions, though it is unlikely that your anger will be completely appeased. Would you like to sit? I realize that the sedatives in your system must still be affecting your motor functions."

"I'll stand, thanks." She answered defiantly, in spite of the tiredness that seemed to pulse through her muscles at his words.

"Very well." He continued, still pointing his gun levelly at her. "Yes, you are on a ship. We are on route to the Radadish System. We have been travelling for approximately one week of your earth time."

Rose was shocked. "I've been asleep for a week?"

"Yes. We deemed it best to keep you sedated. We had heard rumors of your strength and tenacity, not completely ungrounded it seems," he gestured to the remnants of the window, "And we acted accordingly."

"But why am I here? Why am I a hostage? You agreed to the negotiations; you signed the treaty. It was a square deal all around for both your people and the Glistygians…" Rose's face showed her frustration and confusion.

"Oh, yes." The Ambassador nodded benignly, "The Cologial Government agrees. We fully intend to honor the treaty, and we are most grateful to you for your efforts. The task of aligning two peoples with such different interests in a peaceable manner had seemed impossible to us. But, yet again your reputation preceded you, and you did indeed accomplish it. It was masterfully executed, one might almost say miraculously so."

Rose raised an eyebrow at the disconcerting praise. "Then, why?"

"For the oldest of all reasons, Miss Tyler," he responded coldly. "For money."

-DOCTORWHO-

Jack Harkness finalized the settings on the navigational computer and initiated the ship's hyper-drive. Then, he checked his watch. It would be close, but they should make it to the Delta Platform before the end of the auction. He turned in his chair to examine his two nearly silent passengers, Mickey Smith and Jake Simmonds, and sighed. This was going to be an interesting flight.

Mickey had insisted on a brief meeting with the Head of Torchwood before departing, and, before Jack knew what was happening, he'd been at a large home just outside London with a teary-eyed Jackie Tyler wrapped around his neck in tears. And, while he was sure the woman had her charms, he could have done without her slobbering stranglehold, especially when he knew that he could already be well on his way to rescue her daughter from mortal danger if it wasn't for blundering Mickey-boy. And, why in the name of anything holy did he even care? A reoccurring question, he decided to his chagrin, that he would have to leave unanswered.

Fortunately, Pete Tyler seemed to have his head on straight. He calmed Jackie enough to detach her from Jack's neck and sent her off to fetch and pack a change of clothes for Rose, making some light joke about knowing she'd want them after a week. Then, he had Jack report the intel that he had offered Mickey. When he'd finished explaining what he knew, Jack was surprised to hear Pete tell Mickey to go grab some guns and gear from inside the house.

And quite suddenly, Jack found himself alone, face-to-face with Peter Tyler. Unlike Mickey, this man walked with a bearing that Jack couldn't help but respect. The word on the street was that Pete Tyler was a powerful and intelligent man, a worthy colleague or adversary, and, in less than five minutes of interaction, Jack could only confirm the validity of his reputation.

Pete studied the man before him with the expression of a man trying to solve a riddle. Jack found the scrutiny a little intimidating, if the truth be told, but he squared his shoulders and met the man's gaze. After a moment, Pete shook his head slightly as though unable to reach a satisfactory conclusion. Then he cleared his throat and began quite civilly, "We've not met properly. Not really." Jack made a motion as though to speak, but Pete silenced him with his hand.

"I've heard rather contradictory things about you, Captain Jack Harkness." Pete continued, "All of the intelligence that we've got about you at Torchwood would indicate that you are nothing more than an intergalactic con-man. No threat to earth, but with a shrewd reputation for guarding your own interests only." Jack heard the nearly accusatory tone in Pete's voice, and he shrugged his shoulders almost lightly. He wouldn't show this little man that his words were touching unexpected marks.

"However, Rose," Pete paused and his voice softened, "My daughter, Rose, believes that you are something more, that you have something more to offer the universe than a trail of petty crime and swagger." He smiled the smile of a man who has lost something precious, and Jack, who had tried to harden himself against the mans accusations from mere seconds before, felt his heart stir at the sadness of that smile.

"I could take you into custody right now," Pete said, gesturing to several men who seemed to materialize around Jack out of nowhere. "Torchwood could commandeer your ship and send in a team to get Rose." He paused, watching a flush of anger fill the Captain's chiseled features. "However," he spoke with the deep confidence of a man who feels he is right. "I am not going to do that. I'm going to trust you. I'm going to send two field agents, my best two, boys I know and care for like sons, with you to retrieve my daughter… I'm going to trust you to bring her back to us safely because, and this truly is the most important part, I'm going to trust you to save Rose because I know without a doubt that she would trust you to do it. And, if I've learned to believe in anything in the five years that I've had Rose in my life, I've learned to believe in her."

Mickey returned with gear, Jackie returned with a bag (and an incredibly brave and resolved countenance considering the circumstances), and Jake showed up. Then, they had left.

And now… Now Jack was on a mission to retrieve a girl that he hardly knew with two "heroes" who hardly seemed up to the job. Moreover, he suddenly felt like meeting Rose's parents had been a mistake. It had almost seemed like they were giving him their blessing and with it some great responsibility in rescuing their daughter. And so, he eyed his companions warily and, in exasperation, asked the question that couldn't be helped. "So, just who in the hell is Rose Tyler?"

Jake looked across the ship to Mickey, a bright gleam in his eye, and Mickey smiled in return. Then, he turned to Jack almost cheekily, "Good thing this is a longish trip…"