Resurgence - Chapter Twenty-Five
Author: Milady Dragon
29 January 5193 (Earth Standard Date)
Stark's World
Cartel Space
"You really think you're going to get him to talk?" Clint asked dubiously.
Phillip favoured him with a shrug. "He's a villain. Maybe I can convince him to do a bit of monologuing. You know how much they seem to enjoy doing that."
The Doctor thought that might work. Villains did like the sound of their own voices.
They'd dumped Derek Anthony in one of the cells at the main security centre a couple of buildings away from the Central Computer's Tower. It was a grey, plascrete room with a plain metal table and a pair of chairs, a bar across the top of the table where a prisoner could be handcuffed.
Derek Anthony wasn't handcuffed, which the Doctor thought was a shame.
They were standing in the surveillance suite, watching the man on cameras that were hidden within the room, although Anthony had to know they were there. He looked completely relaxed, as if he was waiting for dinner instead of an interrogation.
"If anyone can get him to spill his guts," Stark said through the comm unit the Doctor was still wearing, "it's Agent."
The Doctor really wanted to know the story behind that nickname. He had a feeling it would be pretty funny.
"I'd like to stand in on the questioning," the Time Lord requested.
"Actually," Phillip mused, "that might be a good idea. I'm fairly certain he doesn't know who you really are, yet, and that can work in our favour."
"He's a really cool customer," Clint observed. "He's been in there for hours, and he doesn't seem all that ruffled."
"Well, then I think it's time we ruffle him."
With those words, Phillip stepped out of the suite and down the corridor, toward the secure interrogation room. The Doctor followed eagerly, because he knew he was going to enjoy this very much.
There was a guard in the red and gold Stark livery on the door, and the man turned and disengaged the lock as they approached. "I'll be just outside if you need me, Sirs," the security man said.
The Doctor doubted they would, because Anthony didn't seem to be the one to get his hands dirty, but it was nice to know they had back-up.
Anthony glanced up as they entered, a superior smirk on his face. "Oh, have you come to escort me out of the building? How nice."
"These are some very serious charges against you," Phillip commented, taking the seat opposite their prisoner. The Doctor leaned against the wall, arms crossed, giving Anthony his best glare.
It didn't seem to affect him, which was disappointing.
"You have no proof."
"On the contrary, we have enough proof to get you extradited back to Imperial space to stand trial."
"Cartel Space is neutral. There are no extradition treaties with the so-called Human Empire."
"You're right," Phillip conceded, "however, the accords your previous CEOs signed when applying for residency on Stark's World gives the Central Computer the right to deport anyone who breaks the laws here, which is what you've done. I've already received approval from the Central Computer to take you into custody."
"And just what laws have I broken?"
"You've wilfully created technology that is patently useable as a weapon, and have allied yourself with a terrorist organisation. Those are more than enough to get your ass kicked off this planet."
Anthony finally seemed to lose a little of his previous calm. "You can't prove any of that."
"We have the initial reports on your nanotech, and it's pretty conclusive." Phillip leaned back in his own seat. "It would go easier on you if you'd just answer the questions I have about HYDRA. Perhaps I can get you into a nice, cushy upper echelon containment facility instead of a protracted stint in Stormcage, or a prison planet where you'd be doing hard labour for the rest of your life."
"HYDRA's responsible for a lot of death and destruction," the Doctor added. "You can pretty much bet whatever punishment you receive isn't going to be pleasant."
The prisoner gave them another smirk, and the Time Lord was impressed by Anthony's sheer chutzpah. "I have nothing to say."
Phillip gave him a cool glare. "You do realise that HYDRA's not going to be as loyal to you as you are to them."
Anthony crossed his arms, returning Phillip's glare with one of us own. "I don't know what you mean."
"Certainly, you had to be wondering why HYDRA's assassin used one of your data chips and conveniently left it at the scene of a particularly grisly murder?"
Oh, Phillip really was good. The Doctor had been wondering that very same thing, because if HYDRA had been counting on Anthony's doomsday weapon to give them an edge, then why incriminate the company – and by extension, the man – in Sabrina's death? And there was Phillip, using that little piece of information as leverage against Anthony in his quest to gain more information on HYDRA and their assassin.
For the first time Anthony looked uncertain. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
"I believe you do." Phillip came forward, resting his hands on the tabletop, lacing his fingers together and giving Anthony a hard staredown. "I'm aware that you know exactly who I am."
"Of course I do." The man sounded completely dismissive.
"Then you must know that I was fighting HYDRA back in the twenty-first century. So you must also know that I've probably forgotten more about HYDRA than you have ever known. And I can tell you this: HYDRA doesn't care about you. They only care about their goals, and somehow you've failed in whatever task they've given you. They've used the murder of one of my operatives to implicate you, in order to get you out of the way. HYDRA's loyalty to you ended the moment they concluded that you'd been unsuccessful. If it wasn't to lay the blame on you for Sabrina Jones-Swann's killing, then chances are they would have arranged their assassin to come after you. The fact that they're willing to burn both you and your research says a lot about your failure, doesn't it?"
Oh, the Doctor hoped that Phillip never questioned him, because he'd have been spilling secrets all over the place. Not that that would have been particularly hard, because the Doctor was well aware of his tendency to ramble.
"Damn, and I thought you were badass before…" Stark whispered in awe through the personal comms.
The uncertainty that Anthony was displaying grew, and he shifted slightly in his seat. It was enough to give away just how bothered he was by Phillip's observations.
"At the moment," the immortal continued inexorably, "we have you on, at the very least, admission to being involved with a terrorist group and conspiracy to commit murder – "
"I didn't kill anyone!" Anthony denied hotly, the last of his calm completely gone.
Well, that didn't take as long as the Doctor had thought.
"No, but we have evidence that you were involved, at least peripherally – "
"How do I even know you have anything that can trace back to me?" the man challenged.
Reaching into his pocket, Phillip withdrew the data crystal in its clear evidence bag. He tossed it onto the table. "I wasn't lying to you when I claimed we'd found this, and that it linked back directly to Persephone Corporation…and that's you, Mr Anthony. You, as the CEO, oversee your company and its employees. Now, if you can prove that this data crystal got to the scene of Ms Jones-Swann's murder innocently, that particular charge will be withdrawn."
He paused, waiting patiently as Anthony fidgeted in his uncomfortable chair, staring at that tiny piece of tech as if it had personally betrayed him.
The Doctor knew that Phillip sat there, quietly, for two whole minutes before he removed the data crystal from sight. "I guess you don't have anything for me, then." The immortal stood. "But while you sit and stew here, waiting for official transport, you might want to think about what I've said. HYDRA's betrayed you, Mr Anthony. Their assassin was the one who left us this evidence, linking back to your company. If the assassin had meant to keep you in the clear, you can bet they would have removed anything that would have led to Persephone Corporation. So, do you really still owe them your silence?"
With those parting words, Phillip swept out of the room, and the Doctor followed, far more impressed than he'd ever been. Once the door was closed and locked, he laughed. "That was fantastic. Honestly, Phillip, very well done."
The tiny smile the immortal wore shone in his pale eyes. "Thank you, Doctor. Now, let's see how long it takes for him to consider talking to us."
He made his way back to the security suite, where Clint and Nicole waited. The moment they were both over the threshold, Clint had grabbed Phillip by the front of his jacket and had him pressed up against the wall, where he did his best to remove the immortal's tonsils with his tongue.
Nicole sighed, shaking her head. "I'm sorry about my parents, Doctor," she said, sounding slightly disgusted.
"To be fair," the Time Lord answered, "what Phillip did in there was impressive. I can hardly fault Clint for…rewarding him."
"But in my security suite," Stark groused, scandalised.
Clint separated from his mate somewhat reluctantly. "Don't worry, we don't do public shows. Your digital virtue is safe, Stark."
"I'm not worried about my virtue, Hawkass…it's Agent's that's in danger!"
"I lost my virtue a long time ago, Stark," Phillip said dryly. "After all, I do have a biological daughter now."
"I did not want to know that!" The living computer actually made gagging noises, which had Clint rolling his eyes and Phillip looking smug.
At least they weren't like Jack and Ianto, who were lovey dovey all of the time.
Phillip took a step back from his mate, and if the Doctor was any judge it was done somewhat reluctantly. "If I remember correctly, from experience HYDRA agents are usually fairly loyal. Let's see if they're the same in the future as they were in the past."
The four of them had just been sitting down to lunch when a call came over the comm.
"Director Coulson, Director Harkness is attempting to contact you," the anonymous voice from Stark's communication hub murmured in each of their ears.
Phillip looked concerned. They'd all heard about Henry being found, so it couldn't have been that. No, this was something else, and the Doctor was suddenly afraid that HYDRA had struck once more.
They left their lunch untouched and headed toward the comm console that Stark had set up for their use. It had been the first thing the living computer had done, making certain they could be reached at any time, and Phillip had let Stark know how grateful they were for the courtesy.
Phillip slid into the seat at the console, inputting his codes and connecting the call. The screen lit up, revealing Jack, looking tense and upset and the Doctor knew immediately that he'd been right in assuming something was very, very wrong.
"Lisa and Rhys have been kidnapped," he said without preamble.
Phillip stiffened in his chair. Nicole made a hissing noise in distress, and Clint let you a string of curses that were entirely justified. All the Doctor could think of was that it was a good thing neither of them was dead.
"Do we know what happened?" Phillip snapped in anger, although that hadn't been directed at Jack.
And Jack was obviously not taking any offence at Phillip's tone. "Cameras show that they were approached as the pair of them headed toward your home – "
"This was on Hubworld?" Clint snarled incredulously.
That was surprising. Hubworld's security was some of the best in the Empire, tightened up ever since HYDRA had reared its ugly head and Suzie Costello had managed to steal the Master's ring out from under the noses of Fitz and Simmons. It should have been impossible for anyone to have taken Lisa and Rhys forcibly from Hubworld.
Apparently, it hadn't been.
"They were approached by four men and a woman," Jack went on, not answering Clint. But then, he really didn't need to. "From what we've been able to gather from the footage, we believe they threatened Rhys' life in order to get Lisa to cooperate."
"Then it was Lisa they wanted?" Phillip's voice had gone low, which meant he was at his most dangerous. He loved Lisa perhaps as much as he did his own children, and had been close even before Samara had discovered that the young foundling dragon had been a reincarnation of Morgana le Fay, the ancient sorceress who'd managed to conquer Camelot, albeit briefly. Phillip reminded her of her dragon father's human form, and had been more comfortable around him than her own parents at times.
"Lisa seemed to recognise the woman," Jack said. "I showed a still frame to Arthur, thinking it was someone from Morgana's past…and he claimed it was Morgause, the woman who'd been Morgana's half-sister. It was Morgause who'd eventually made Morgana realise she could be Queen of Albion."
Oh, this was even worse than HYDRA poking its nose out of the woodwork. Lisa had done her best to put Morgana behind her. The Doctor was very much aware of just how much Lisa hated that part of herself, and how she'd recreated herself as Lisa Harkness-Jones, daughter of Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones, and not Morgana le Fay, bastard child of Uther Pendragon and half-sister to Arthur, and who had been driven to madness by a lying parent and the mores of the time she'd been born into.
Lisa had had the benefit of a loving family in this lifetime, and Arthur had forgiven her for the past. And now, that past was back in full force, and had taken Lisa and Rhys, who was more than likely going to be used as leverage against her.
"There's something else you should know," Jack continued.
"Can this get any worse?" Clint asked rhetorically.
Jack didn't deign to answer his son. "That information you sent on to Fitz and Simmons…it contained information on Derek Anthony. Arthur knew him as well…as his father, Uther."
"I just had to say something," Clint muttered, aggrieved.
"One more thing. It's the name Lucy gave Arthur and Merlin."
"Let me guess," the Doctor spoke from his position at Phillip's left shoulder, "another reincarnation?"
"Yes," Jack confirmed. "It was John Garrett."
Phillip's spine stiffened. "Of course it was. This is the confirmation we needed that he was involved in this." His voice was cold, and the air around the immortal grew as chilly as his tone.
"Agreed. I told Arthur to let Steve know, as well as Melinda. John Garrett isn't an unusual name, though, so there might be a bit hard to track and we need all the help we can get. We've put out an alert on it, and on the name we think he's going by now…Garrett Paxton, and his ship."
They'd explained all about that once the Doctor and Phillip had been rescued from the Library. Their former teammate, Suzie Costello, had been forced into stealing the Master's ring by HYDRA, who had taken her wife hostage. Torchwood had done all they could to trace the ship, the Typhon, but it had been lost by ImpPat ships in hyperspace. They'd thought the ship would have gone to the Library, but it had never shown up.
John Garrett had been a friend of Phil Coulson's, who'd turned out to be HYDRA. The Doctor didn't envy the man, having Phillip Coulson on his trail.
"Where are these reincarnations coming from?" Nicole demanded. "This shouldn't be happening!"
"But it is, and there's nothing we can do about it except stop them," Jack soothed.
His former companion was correct. They needed to stop HYDRA and the reincarnations of all of these enemies that were popping up, when it should have been impossible.
"Can we bring Arthur here to confront Uther?" Phillip asked.
That earned him a sharp grin from Jack. "As soon as the TARDIS can get here."
The Doctor nodded. "I'm on my way."