Author's Note:
700 word case study analysis, twelve source-1,700 word lit review, and a 2,800 word analysis of the nine functions of a library. Prepped a fan fiction writing workshop for teens for a homework assignment. Conducted a successful workshop. Saw Barack Obama from a distance (you now have a few clues as to where I might be from) and that took a bite out of my schedule.
I'll explain the origins of some of these names in the next chapter. I admit I am not good at the profiling element of the show but I'll try my best.
Classes officially start on Monday. Those were mostly make-up assignments. But honestly I'll find a way to write when I need to feel like I am decent at something.
I'm sorry if this is a little messy.
Chapter 9:
The Geblan alien continued to speak:
"Doctor an alert has spread through the universe that your presence has returned," she explained. "I am not sure how you are receiving this but I am sending this transmission in the form of a video message. I cannot wait long for a response so you have an hour to reply with a vocal message yes or no after I have given my presentation."
"I am a police inspection officer in the region of Bren. Three children have been abducted and found dead over the course of twelve days" She knelt down to pull something out.
"Twelve days," Morgan muttered. "Are these days the same lengths as ours?"
"Very similar," Doctor Reid said without taking his eyes off the projection.
Three transparent pictures of three young-looking Geblans appeared. Their middle eyes were empty, exes were carved into their cheeks, and their throats were sliced. "The victims range in ages from seven to ten life cycles and are from different sections of the region. The first and the last victims were male. The only thing they have in common is the fact that they all had their index eyes punctured before their throats were sliced and the carving of exes appears to have taken place post-mortem. We fear another child will be abducted soon despite our calls for vigilance."
The images of the children faded away and tears dripped from her eyes. "Doctor, I don't know why, but I feel like you can help us. Something about your reappearance feels hopeful and also useful. I have secured the orders to allow for your entrance. Please help us and you will have my unending gratitude."
The transmission ended and the room was silent for a few minutes.
Doctor Reid smacked his hands together and stood up. "So who's up for catching a Geblan Un-Sub?"
Martha raised her hand. "Doctor, do you know how many problems there are with that idea?"
"Okay," Doctor Reid said. "What are they?"
"The Master," Martha said plainly.
"Transportation," Jack said.
"We don't know anything about Geblans," Morgan said.
"Okay in random order," Doctor Reid said and picked up the watch. "The watch contains only part of the heart of the TARDIS. Heart in the physical and emotional form as the Geblans were able to track my location through this thing. There are probably at least a dozen alien life forms trying to contact me right now. Why do you think they, or I should say she as I have a feeling she is acting on her own managed to contact me?"
The room was silent. "Come on," Doctor Reid said and pointed to Jack, Martha, and River. "You three have all traveled with me. Have I ever received a request to help in a murder investigation?"
Jack looked at the agents. "Are you suggesting their presence has something to do with it?"
"That is exactly what I am suggesting. You see the Geblans despite being very pragmatic also have highly advanced empathic senses. The young officer unknowingly sensed that the help she could use resided in my company. As I told my story about the watch your listening to it magnified the strength of the energy and now act as conductors" he gestured at the agents. "You are the reason I am here in every sense of the word."
The agents looked shocked. They had tried to block out the fact that they knew they were part of a much bigger world. It was hard to focus. Emily spoke first.
"Doctor Reid, do you seriously think we could help with an investigation on another planet?"
He smiled and spoke quickly. "Thank you for starting with that question. The wonderful thing about the Geblans is that they have a full range of human emotions and their physiology isn't terribly different. The middle eye is called the index eye as it allows for them to see thing farther away. Kind of like a telescope. Aside from their cosmetic appearance, the only other difference is the fact that they have six fingers. They are also a matriarchal democratic society so it is basically America and or the UK with the gender roles switched."
"You are enjoying this far too much," Martha observed.
"This is the first time he actually sounds like himself with a British accent," Rossi said.
Martha looked irritated. "Why haven't I heard of the planet before?" she asked.
His smile slipped. "Well because I am not allowed visit that solar system."
"You're banned," Morgan said.
"I wouldn't go that far," he said guiltily. "It is just that my presence is not welcome there because the Bocress solar system is a highly stable place in the universe that produces a variety of valuable intergalactic goods."
"In other words they're afraid you'd visit and unwittingly make a mess of things," River said.
"They are not a hostile people," Doctor Reid said quickly. "If I were to try to visit they'd capture my TARDIS in a gravity claw and then send me in a different trajectory. The same goes for other unwanted visitors. If they do break in they get thrown into jail until they are bailed out. Which reminds me," he said and spun to face Jack. "Yarg is part of that system correct?"
Jack sighed. "Yarg I forgot about that place."
"Which is why you can't come with us. Steal from one planet and you steal from them all."
"Wait a minute," J.J. said, "you were a thief?"
"I preferred the term Time Agent," Jack said and then smiled slightly. "They had some amazing tech and I have been in worse jails. And I was in for attempted robbery for the record."
"How long were you there?" Blake asked curiously.
"About three years and I made some great friends," he said honestly.
"And step foot on another planet again and you're there for life. If this officer didn't get the full authorization we'll only get a slap on the wrist for entering."
"You still haven't addressed how we- you'd get there," Martha said.
"The same way we got here," he said and spun the watch in his hands. "Amara Lisa will send us the coordinates through the watch and I can plug the watch into the auto-pilot system of the plane. The plane won't be harmed in the Time Vortex. I can't exactly travel using the watch and the plane. But I can get from A to B if there is a B. And this why we should leave because we are basically sitting ducks here creating emotional energy for the Master to eventually track down."
Martha looked uncertain. "I'm not sure how much I like this idea," she said dreading the words as she spoke them. "They haven't traveled around the universe like we have." She hoped the agents wouldn't grow angry.
But it was obvious many of the agents shared the same concerns. Doctor Reid didn't seem to agree. "It is not as hard as you're thinking," he said calmly.
"Okay then let's examine the evidence," he said. "Three children abducted from different areas. The Geblans are literally very colorful so race isn't an issue, but there varying degrees of wealth in each population."
"Well she didn't mention anything about ransom demands," Rossi said.
"Would the Geblan have held back a detail about whether they were abused to protect the dignity of the victims?" Blake asked.
"No, she presented all of the relevant information."
"Something about it seems cold and emotionless," Morgan said. "The cuts look fine and precise."
"These murders weren't personal," Hotch said.
"How could any murder not be personal?" Martha said.
"Crimes of passion usually involved more violent jagged stabs and cuts," J.J said.
"These murders were a statement," Emily said.
"To who?" Jack asked incredulously.
"Why don't we go find out?" Dr. Reid said and turned to his time traveling companions. "Listen I know this sounds crazier than usual for me and I have no doubt you all think I haven't adjusted to my regeneration. But I know this is the right thing to do. These people have been my family for more than ten years and I trust them with my life. They and we as a team have look into the darkness and have brought killers to the light of justice. I don't think there is group of people more capable of helping the bring justice to the Geblans than the people in this room."
Some of faces of the agents were red with embarrassment. "You're too kind Spence," J.J. whispered.
"Then it is settled," Hotch said in a firm tone. "How far is Geblar, from here?"
Doctor Reid did some quick mental math. "I'd guess about nine hours. With the full TARDIS it'd be ten minutes."
Martha kept staring around them. "Am I the only one who thinks this still sounds mad? I mean think-"
Jack was quick to interrupt her. "I'll take this one Doc. Here's the thing, Jones: When people are thrown into extremely bizarre and indescribably dangerous situations people either panic or keep moving. That is how I found most of my associates on Earth Martha." There was a look of sadness on his face as he remembered the people he lost. "These people have made a choice Martha and they want to help us fight evil. So Doc, can the team become part of TORCHWOOD?" he asked on a brighter not.
"No," Doctor Reid said firmly. "So Jack you can you help River prep the base while Martha comes with us?"
"It'd be my pleasure," Jack said cheekily.
"Not on your life Jack," River said reading between the lines.
"I have a very long life," he responded.
"Why can't River come?" Rossi asked cutting the banter.
"There is too high a risk of creating paradoxes."
"Meaning things might slip and he might tell me things I shouldn't know about and vice versa," River explained. "Our relationship is so unique it causes and repairs rifts in time."
Hotch was growing impatient. "Why don't we send our response to the Geblans before getting into further planning?"
"You really want to announce wheels up in thirty don't you?" Doctor Reid said gleefully. A smile passed between the agents as they were thinking the same thing.
Hotch glared at him. "Send her an answer."
Doctor Reid carefully touched the face of the watch and said: "Yes."
They waited a minute and the figure of the young Geblan appeared. There was a faint smile on her face. "Doctor! Thank you! I am sending the coordinates to your navigation system. By my calculations it appears that you machine's traveling speed has greatly decreased, so I expect to see you by midmorning according to our time. I wish you safe a journey."
Everyone looked to Hotch expectantly. "Everyone gather your things. Doctor Reid I'd like to receive full report on what to expect during the plane ride. Wheels up in twenty."