Author's Notes: And, we are headed into the home stretch! I'm anticipating two chapters at this, three max. Y'all know the drill … once this is completed, it's anyone's guess how quickly the next story (Lay My Honor in the Dust) will be up, especially since I need to re-work the prologue. What is everyone doing for New Year's Eve? My plans are the same they are every year … sitting at home, watching the ball drop in Times Square (assuming I'm still awake by then), as I have no desire to be out and about that night. Honestly, the only parties I've ever gone to for New Year's Eve are neighborhood parties, and I was always home by eight. As for the New Year itself, I don't make resolutions any more. We'll just see what happens. So, for this chapter, Rassilon explains why he used his son's blood to turn the Families to stone; another Time Lord makes an appearance; while Nick Fury gets a call from the rescue team.
Chapter Nine
An Eternal Prison
Outside the Devil's Fortress
Shortly after the Rescue
How … how had it all gone so wrong? He'd wanted to avenge his sister, make the man responsible for her death pay. Why was that wrong? This Harkness had robbed his brother-in-law of his wife, his nephew and niece of their mother, their parents of their daughter, and him of his sister. Why was it that whenever Harkness started screaming as if they were killing him, he started hearing his sister's cries and moans and the sounds of the machines in the home she shared with her husband? He had done the right thing … his sister deserved to live, and Harkness deserved to die, multiple times if that was possible. He had done the right thing!
He thought again of the moments before he witnessed his saviors (but were they really?) fate. The dark-haired woman protectively flanking Harkness found him as they entered the caverns … Cary tried to grab for the blonde woman at her side when he worked out that she was Harkness' lover, but the brunette had him on the ground instantly, growling, "Oh, no, you don't. You are not hurting anyone else who matters to me, you little asswipe!" The blonde (Esther was her name, he thought) asked who he was, and the other woman answered, "This is the little creep who took Jack. Owen, you got any zip ties I can use on him?"
His wrists were secured behind him and the Owen in question yanked him to his feet, before striding ahead. Cary found himself propelled forward by a fierce shove from the brunette and eventually found himself in the antechamber where Harkness was initially taken. And that was when the people who extended his sister's life became faces on the stone table where Harkness was … bled. Cary gagged when Harkness' father had Rogers smearing blood on each remaining member of the Families, and retched when he took his awful revenge. But the true horror was yet to come. As the two brothers were instructed to help Harkness to his feet and support him between them, Rogers asked Harkness' father how this was possible. And that was when Cary learned the true horror of what the man … Rassilon … had done.
"In the past, when people tried to gain immortality, they could claim my ring and boast that they'd won the Game of Rassilon. However, there was an issue this time … there were thirty such individuals, and one ring. After I finished cleaning and dressing Jack, I … dipped my ring into the ridge that held his blood. Oh, I cleaned it off, but my ring recognized my blood in my son's. Once you anointed the Families with Jack's blood … well. I believe you humans say, the rest is history. It was my best way to bring this ugly mess to a conclusion. They launched the Miracle, using Jack's blood in part … I damned them, by their own words, using the same," Rassilon answered wearily as Cary was pushed forward out of the caverns. His fate still hadn't been decided, and Cary wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad … especially since the brunette (Natalie) decked him for ruining her daughter's birthday.
"But that isn't all you did. I know that you're not the reason why Jack's blood is running down their faces … your look over your shoulder told us that … but you did something else. Something felt odd as we left the antechamber," the Black Widow observed. She walked purposefully alongside Cary, but it was Hawkeye who was pulling Cary along … and he didn't look especially pleased, either. One of two things would happen to him … either Harkness' father would take a pound of flesh out of Cary's ass, or he would turn him over to Director Fury, and right now, he wasn't sure which option frightened him more.
"You're right. It isn't. I enclosed them in a Time Lock and made a small adjustment, so that the ridge containing Jack's blood never runs dry. They will spend all eternity with blood on their faces," was the response and Cary was almost sick again (which would have been even more unpleasant, since he was gagged). There was silence among the rescue party as they trudged toward the escape pod Cary used to kidnap Harkness and the Quinjet. Much to Cary's astonishment, the escape pod lifted up, seemingly of its own volition, and zoomed off. Rassilon blinked, the first such surprise Cary had seen from him, and asked of the Black Widow, "Director Fury?" She inclined her head and Rassilon mused, "Excellent. I should have expected as much from him. And Natalie, you have my congratulations for silencing the Patriarch, however briefly. Where did you leave your self-awareness, indeed!"
The brunette who captured Cary laughed a bit self-consciously before answering, "Thank you, my Lord Rassilon. I know I lack self-awareness at times, but that blew even my mind. And I was so stunned by his comment, I couldn't figure out why he would call me a whore. If Mr. Stark hadn't commented, I probably never would have figured that out." The so-called Iron Man made several choking noises, drawing grins from his fellow Avengers. Natalie Tregarth rolled her eyes, adding, "Hey, it's kind of a jump from a liar, which technically I was when I was undercover at that abandoned hospital, to a whore."
"Yes, well, you have to excuse him, he lacks basic understanding of the English language. Understandable, really … taking over the world is much more important than learning to communicate. So, Rass … what are we doing about Traitor-boy here? Way I see it, he loses big time either way. You decide his fate, he loses. Fury decides his fate, he loses. Hell, even if Nat here decides his fate, he loses … he messed with her kid, after all," Stark replied. Rassilon turned to face the billionaire playboy philanthropist, eyes flickering to Cary.
"I think you should take him back with you. I'm sure Director Fury will want to speak to him. I may want to revisit your helicarrier at some point, and speak to the Director about young Mr. Meadows' future. But not today. Not right now. I need to return to my own base of operations. There is one other thing you should know about the Time Lock. It is only around the table where the Families are forever imprisoned. The rest of the cavern is … fair game. Jack … my sweet boy, I shall see you soon," Rassilon answered as he moved to his son's side. He cupped Harkness' face in his hands, kissing his forehead tenderly, before pulling him into his arms. He offered Natalie Tregarth one last look, before making a motion with his hand, as if he was opening a door … and then vanished.
There were several moments of silence after his disappearing act, before Captain Rogers said quietly, "We need to decide what to do about what comes next … about ensuring that no one ever finds that place." The Avengers looked at each other, and Captain Rogers went on, "Seventy years ago, I flew a plane into the water, to prevent the destruction of New York. I thought at the time that Schmidt is dead, but I'm not so sure now. It could be that he was taken elsewhere. If we had a way to put Rassilon's Time Lock at the bottom of the ocean, I'd say we should do that, but we don't."
"What kinds of weaponry does the helicarrier have?" Natalie Tregarth asked, and Cary's blood ran cold as he realized what she was really asking. The Avengers looked at each other and smiled. No, no, no, no!
TWTWTWTWTWTWTW
SHIELD Helicarrier
Roughly the same time
It had been a little under an hour since the rescue team left the helicarrier for the rock formation called Devil's Fortress. Right now, only SHIELD personnel were on the bridge, but once Captain Rogers reported in, the Tregarth family and the rest of Torchwood Oklahoma would be called forward … well, aside from little Angel Tregarth, who never left the bridge and in fact, fell asleep in the arms of one of his techs (Hill had a picture of the sleeping toddler and was threatening to post it in the Triskelion).
"Director Fury, I have Captain Rogers on the line. The Families are neutralized and Captain Harkness has been safely rescued. There were no casualties for us," the commander in question announced, and the bridge erupted into cheers. Nick Fury allowed himself a tiny smile. Harkness was a pain in the ass, but it was Fury's experience that sometimes, your best allies were also the biggest pains in your ass. That was certainly true of Harkness, and it was true of Tony Stark as well. He thought briefly of pointing that out to Stark at some point, but decided to wait. Hill punched the button that would broadcast the captain's voice to the entire helicarrier, and said, "Everyone can hear you, Captain, go ahead."
"Thanks, Commander. Director, the Families are permanently out of commission and Jack is safe, but we want to ensure no one can ever find the Cousins. Natalie Tregarth has asked what kind of weaponry the helicarrier has. The heirs are all in the antechamber where Jack was held. Natalie wants to know if the helicarrier has a weapon that can focus on that room alone, without touching any of the rest of the cavern," the captain answered. Fury's eyebrows arched. What an interesting question, and from a woman he would have never expected to ask it. A glance toward Hill told him that she was thinking the same thing.
"Is Miss Tregarth there with you, Captain?" Fury asked and when Rogers acknowledged that she was, the director added, "Put her on." There was the sound of the comlink being transferred and a quick tutorial on how to use it, and when Fury heard mostly Natalie Tregarth's voice, he said, "This is Director Fury, Miss Tregarth. I understand you're wanting us to blow up a particular room in the Devil's Fortress cavern, without touching any of the other rooms. That's a lot of precision firepower, and I'm not sure it's worth the cost to taxpayers." Actually, if it kept the Families from causing more trouble, he thought it was more than worth the cost to taxpayers, but he wanted an explanation from the woman in question.
"It may well be overkill, Director Fury, if you'll pardon the pun. But it was suggested that we make it impossible for anyone to ever find them, and this was the best I could come up with. We can't stick them underwater. They're stuck inside a Time Lock, and they'll be there permanently. I really don't see how they could escape, but after what they've pulled … I just don't trust them. None of us do. A Time Lord put them inside that Time Lock, and I can't be sure that another Time Lord can't Unlock it. I don't know enough about the Time Lords. The heirs have been turn to statues, but I'm pretty sure they can still talk … and the last thing we need is some spoiled, entitled brat stumbling across them and starting more trouble," was the somewhat rambling response. However, it was a response that Fury couldn't argue with. He wasn't sure what she meant about Time Locks, but he could make a pretty good guess.
With that in mind, he observed, "Stand by." Hill punched the button that temporarily cut communications between them and the rescue team, and Fury asked, "Thoughts? While it does seem like overkill, she raises some good points about the Families making trouble by talking." And when the Tregarth girl talked about permanently, she didn't mean immortality, did she? Because that was a particularly ugly can of worms that he had no desire to open. His crew was silent as they considered what was being asked of them. On the other hand … he motioned for Hill to open communications back up with the rescue team, and when Hill indicated that communications were open once more, Fury asked, "Miss Tregarth, just to make sure we're on the same page … you are not asking us to kill the Families for you. You are asking us to make their prison a little more complete?"
"Exactly. Lord Rassilon, Jack's father, made them immortal. It's kinda hard to explain, I'll have to do it once we get back to the helicarrier. But he made them immortal as statues, sentient statues. They're aware of everything, but are unable to move. We can't kill them … that's part of their punishment. They'll never die. We're wanting to create an eternal prison for them. And even that probably won't be eternal, but it'll at least slow people down," Natalie responded. Once more, Hill placed communications on stand-by, but this time, the members of his crew were nodding slowly. It was one thing to kill an enemy when they were down … it was another thing entirely to imprison individuals guilty of crimes against humanity. They were still acting as judge, jury, and executioner … yet, at the same time, they weren't. Instead, they were trapping the Families in the exact same way the Families had trapped humanity. The director (or colonel) could appreciate the sentiment.
Fury looked at Hill, who nodded slowly … but her eyes were burning with rage. She saw this as he did. They were rendering a rough justice to the Families … but this would likely be the only way of dispensing justice. Fury thought it out a few times more, checking for any holes in his reasoning. Some would want them turned over to the justice system … but the question then became, which justice system? The Miracle affected the entire world, not just the United States and not just the United Kingdom, but the entire world. Fury already knew the answer, but it would be him who would be called to account, not Natalie Tregarth or Steve Rogers, and so he had to find these answers now, rather than later.
And as Nick Fury looked at his bridge crew, every last one of them affected by the Miracle in one way or another, he had his answers. Reading his mind this time, Hill restored communications with the rescue team, and Fury said, "There is a weapon we have which will keep the damage localized. There might be damage to the rest of the cavern, but only the rooms closest to the antechamber. Are you and the others clear of the blast zone?" There was another long silence, during which time he heard the comlink again being transferred. Not surprising. What was surprising was the smirk currently decorating Maria Hill's face. And were her eyes actually twinkling? He had to be seeing things!
And then, Steve Rogers was saying, "We're boarding the quinjet now, and we've got Meadows in custody. The escape pod should be on its way back to you, if it isn't already." It had, in fact, docked just moments before, and it was a good thing they had Meadows in custody. Fury still wasn't sure what he would do to the boy, but he had enough charges against him to put him in Leavenworth. There was kidnapping, theft, and Fury was sure he would learn of other charges. None of which helped in figuring out what to do about him. It was tempting to turn him over to Hill … or maybe Coulson, since his good eye was the one who figured out there was something going on with the young man. Oh yes … he liked that idea.
"It's here … docked just a few minutes ago. We're reviewing protocols and who is permitted to access them. Hill has suggested that they can only be released from the bridge, but I'm not sure that's the proper response. I'm guessing that you're staying until that part of Devil's Fortress is destroyed?" Fury inquired and was immediately rewarded with at least two voices responding with 'yes,' and several other voices calling variations on the affirmative. Fury smiled to himself, because of course they would want to see this done. He added, "Stand by. It'll take five minutes to charge up the weapon. Tell Barton that if he's not at least two clicks away, he has time to get to minimum safety distance."
"Understood," Rogers answered. Again, Hill put the rescue team on standby … but this time, it was because of a strange sound. Fury couldn't describe it, but if he heard it again, he'd recognize it. Especially since it was accompanied by a blue and white police telephone booth, like the ones he saw in Peggy Carter's old pictures of England. Charles Havelock muttered something under his breath, something that sounded very crude, but only tensed a little. Hill glanced at Fury, then at his sidearm, and he shook his head. Not yet. Not until they knew what they were dealing with, although Fury had a pretty good idea.
The door swung open and a dark-haired man ambled out of the 'police box' in a brown trench coat, hands in his pockets. The man appeared to be somewhere in his thirties, but looks were deceiving. Especially with this man, whose reputation was well known to Fury. He opened his mouth, but before he had a chance to speak, Havelock spat, "Hello, Doctor!" Fury motioned his people to stand down … he knew that the newcomer was dangerous, but he also had a hero complex … or a god complex, it was hard to know which it was in people like this. The Doctor (obviously the Tenth, given Havelock knew him) looked taken aback, not just at Havelock's addressing of him, but the utter contempt in his voice.
"I'm sorry, do I know you? You look terribly familiar, and where exactly am I? Ah! You're Nick Fury, director of SHIELD. So this must be the SHIELD helicarrier, might I have a tour?" the Doctor inquired. Fury was pleased to see that not a single member of his crew relaxed. Nor did they look particularly impressed. Not everyone knew about Havelock's tour of duty aboard the Valiant, but they did know the man … and everyone was taking cues from him. Fury would do the same, and nodded to Hill to continue prepping the laser. They still had a job to do, and he wasn't about to let the Doctor distract him or his people from doing what had to be done. Nick Fury answered to Alexander Pierce, the president of the United States, and God (Rassilon, too, as well … on occasion). He did not answer to the Doctor.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
It wasn't common knowledge, but Maria Hill's brother served on the Valiant, just as Charles Havelock did. That was one reason why she took care of his training herself, because he reminded her so much of her brother. Her brother, who was alive and dead at the same time. Her brother, who had severe PTSD as a result. Her brother, who was all she had left and kept failing every single day because she couldn't be what he needed her to be. And before her stood the Doctor. The Doctor, the very same one who set all of that mess into motion when he cleared Harold Saxon's path to become prime minister. Maria exhaled slowly, and continued on clearing the laser. Dealing with people like the Doctor was part of the director's job … this was hers.
And then, that job was interrupted by, "No, no, you can't do this! I won't let you do this!" Hill looked up from her progress. Two more checks to do in the five minute window they gave Rogers and Tregarth Daughter Number Three. She returned her attention to her work, tuning the rants of the Doctor out … at least until she heard him moving toward her and the director. It took her half a second to complete the final check, remove her sidearm and turn to face the so-called Oncoming Storm. She pointed the weapon in his face with no expression on her own. He stopped, eyes flickering from her expression (or lack thereof) to the gun in her hand, and said placatingly, "You don't have to do this, you know … you don't have to follow his orders."
"Oh, I'm not pointing a gun in your face because I was ordered to … I'm pointing a gun in your face because I want to," Hill retorted and had the pleasure of seeing the Doctor's eyes widen. She smiled coldly as she went on, "On this bridge are two people with connections to the Valiant. You do remember the Valiant, don't you, Doctor? The place where you chose the Master over humanity? One person is Charles Havelock, who … greeted you after you emerged from your TARDIS. The other is me. My brother served on the Valiant, he died on the Valiant while trying to protect Tish Jones, and now he's alive … but he remembers dying. Can you imagine, Doctor, having two sets of memories? And so help me God, if you repeat that inane, 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,' I will shoot you until you run out of regenerations!"
"Hill," the director said quietly, and Hill put the gun away. In truth, she was still embarrassed by losing her composure with Alice Carter earlier in the afternoon … mortified, really. And the Master's enabler wasn't worth her time. She turned her back on the Doctor, trusting Director Fury to protect her, and focused on firing the laser up. However, she listened to Fury tell the Doctor about the Families, about what they had done. He spoke of Miracle Day, and the horrific way it came into being, with a betrayal and a night of repeated murders. And that was when the Doctor really put his foot in it.
"I should have known Jack Harkness was involved …" was all he managed to say before the entire bridge stopped what they were doing and turned toward him in appalled silence. The Tregarths were gaping at him in disgust, and little Ailsa was glaring at the Doctor as if she would threaten any minute to beat his butt, a threat made by the child after Harkness was taken.
But it was Charles Havelock who stalked forward until he was nose to nose with the meddling Time Lord, growling, "How dare you blame Jack for this?" The Doctor's eyes widened, but before he could start babbling about how he was sorry, he was so sorry, Havelock went on, "You know, Doctor, you weren't the only one who suffered on the Valiant. Hill's brother did … I just remembered him, remember seeing him sprawled at my feet after he protected Tish Jones from the Master. Every human being on that ship suffered in one form or another. Including Jack, especially when he was distracting the Master from you. And how was that loyalty repaid?"
"It wasn't. So. This is the Doctor, the magical being my father spent so many years believing in. I love my dad, but in this instance, I'm seriously not impressed. My father spent a night being murdered by other human beings, human beings who sold his blood to monsters in human flesh … who then created the Abomination. My father isn't the villain here. And you are not the hero. You didn't come during the 456 mess because it was a mess created by humans? Fine. This is a mess created by humans, and humans are cleaning it up. So you can go now. We don't want you here, we don't need you here. And my father certainly doesn't need the likes of you. Commander Hill, who was it that requested this strike?" Alice Carter asked.
Hill had only a moment to make her decision … and it was surprisingly easy to make. Or maybe not so surprisingly … because while she respected the civilians who took part in the rescue, she didn't have to listen to them. She replied, "It was Captain Rogers. He requested the strike when he realized the danger to humanity that the Families still pose … or rather, what remains of the Families." The Doctor looked utterly horrified at the revelation, and Hill mentally apologized to the captain for throwing him under the bus. In the very next second, she hoped she was there if the Doctor confronted Captain Rogers about that request.
"Captain Rogers? Captain America sanctioned this? I don't believe you, he wouldn't do such a thing! It's immoral. Not that it matters. None of that matters. I'll stop you. And even if I can't, I can make sure that neither of you ever hold command positions again! By the time I'm finished with the both of you, because the rest of these people wouldn't act if you two weren't in the picture, by the time I'm finished with you, no one will hire you!" the Doctor threatened furiously. He was actually shaking with rage, his manner threatening. Do what I want or else, was what he was saying, and the only thing it was doing was further infuriating her. To her surprise, the Director actually smiled at that.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll try. But here's something you've failed to take into account, Doctor. I'm not an elected official. Neither is Hill. Nor is anyone on this ship. But even if we were, you couldn't do anything about it. You're not an American citizen, so you can't vote us out. Oh, you might try to destroy us the way you did Harriet Jones. You might even succeed. But ask yourself this, Doctor … who is worse? Harriet Jones? Or Harold Saxon? I think we both know the answer to that. Just as we know that Hitler wasn't stopped by inviting him to tea and crumpets," Fury answered.
The Doctor looked around, seeking support from the people on the bridge … and finding none. Hill straightened and folded her arms over her chest, saying, "The laser is ready. You see, Doctor … none of us are, or have been, your Companions. We've met them, and respect them beyond measure. Not just Captain Harkness, but Martha Jones-Smith as well. She's an amazing person. And you may think that when she walked the earth, telling everyone she met about you, that the people she talked to believed in you. But they didn't. Their faith was in Martha Jones, not in the Doctor. The laser is ready and we are in the best position to seal the Families into their eternal prison. Charles Havelock said earlier that you chose the Master over humanity … well, this is humanity, choosing Captain Harkness … and Martha Jones … over you. Fire at will!"
For while Fury had been talking, Hill had quietly turned the ability to fire to everyone's station. Havelock, who was standing near an open station, turned and said to Carlyon Tregarth, "You fire, sir. It was your granddaughter held captive by the Families, and your daughter who risked her life as an undercover operative to help get her out. And I know you remember the Year as well … it should be you who puts an end to this … you and Ms. Carter, after what they did to her and her father." The elderly man looked at Fury and Hill, and Fury nodded once. With a grim smile, the former colonel exchanged a look with his friend's daughter and together, they pushed down on the firing button. The entire carrier shook before that single, deadly beam shot out, racing toward Devil's Fortress. A long look passed between the two, and Hill would have been lying if she said she wasn't curious about what that look meant. A small smile touched the corners of Tregarth's mouth and Alice Carter inclined her head, before both the elderly colonel and his best friend's daughter stepped back from that weapon of death, and Carlyon Tregarth turned his attention to the Doctor.
There were a thousand things the World War II veteran could have said. But Hill was pretty sure that the cold contempt in his eyes said everything that needed to be said. The Doctor looked at the Tregarth family, at Alice Carter, at everyone on the bridge, before shaking his head sadly and walking back into his police box. But before he could close the door behind him, Carlyon Tregarth added, "Your song is ending, Doctor … you might want to start thinking of the ways you can thank your Companions for putting up with your nonsense. All … of your Companions." The Doctor froze and turned back to look at Colonel Tregarth, who smiled coldly. The two men stared at each other for several moments, the colonel never looking away from the Doctor. The Time Lord broke away first with a heavy sigh that told everyone just how disappointed he was in them. But Maria Hill didn't care. She neither wanted nor needed the forgiveness of the being who forgave her brother's murderer.
"Rescue Team, this is the Helicarrier … our information indicates that the target has been destroyed. Come on home," she said and smiled to herself as she heard the response from the Avengers and their allies. As she glanced at the director, she caught sight of his answering smile. He inclined his head to her, and she returned the gesture. This wasn't the end, she knew … not even of the Families. There were still individual Cousins out there, running around, looking to raise their empire once more. And SHIELD would be waiting.
TBC
Additional Author's Notes: Okay, that ended up going places I wasn't expecting, but Maria Hill kinda hijacked this final section and insisted on having her say. I say 'no' to Hill about as often as I do to Natasha. It occurred to me, only hours after posting the previous chapter, that I needed to address how Rassilon tied things together. In The Five Doctors, he turned Borusa into a face on his sarcophagus when Borusa put on his ring. However, there were thirty Cousins present, and just the ring wouldn't be enough in this case. Since the Families used Jack's blood to instigate the Miracle (with a great deal of assistance from the Mire technology), Rassilon thought it poetic justice to use the same to punish them. Also, it occurred to me as I was driving into Fayetteville to pick up my new DVD of The Musketeers season one … while it was the Doctor whom everyone was calling on when Martha returned to the Valiant in The Last of the Time Lords, it wasn't the Doctor whom the people on Earth believed in, had faith in … it was Martha. The people on Earth didn't know the Doctor, but they did know Martha. They had faith in her, and Martha had faith in the Doctor. The next few chapters will wrap things up with the Nevada contingent and what happens to the rest of the Cousins running amok. Until next time!