Chapter 28
Day Four
London, England
September 7, 2009
Nehti watched as Frobisher and Bridget lead everyone back into the room. "Everyone follow us please. Thank you."
She hurried towards the front, determined that she would not miss a thing, for Torchwood or the Doctor. The smoke-filled glass box put her nerves on edge. She couldn't help but stare at it. Frobisher seemed afraid to approach the box again. After a moment of indecision, he strode forward.
"Hello again. Before we consider your request, I have been asked for a point of clarification," he announced. Nehti was shocked and disgusted that they would even consider it that long. It should have been an obvious refusal but of course, as history showed, it hadn't been.
"Before we even discuss," at this word, Frobisher seemed to betray the same emotions coursing through Nehti, "your…your request, we need to know exactly what it is that you intend to do with the children."
Nehti wasn't sure that she wanted to know but knew that she must nonetheless. Of course, the 456 did not immediately answer the question, instead commenting, "Somebody is watching. Some remnant." It then spewed more green gunk on the glass and banged its head. Nehti wished she understood why it was doing that. Perhaps that knowledge would make it less frightening. She suddenly recalled that Torchwood couldn't hear the 456 and she quickly wrote out to them, "Somebody is watching."
It seemed that John Frobisher turned his fear into anger. "The Prime Minister, the leader of the United Kingdom, this country, is watching through this camera here." Nehti wasn't sure that it was that camera the 456 were referring to. "And he needs to know, what would happen to our children if we were to hand them over to you."
At this, the 456 finally responded. "It is…off the record?" The words gave Nehti chills. It obviously had heard that distinctly human terminology before.
Frobisher also paused before stepping forward again. "Yes."
"Come in."
Nehti struggled to conceal her shock. She wasn't sure there was anything in the entire universe that could convince her to go into that box and she knew quite a bit more about the situation than John Frobisher did. She hurriedly relayed the message to Torchwood.
"In there?" Frobisher seemed to have the same reservations that she did.
"With your camera," was the response. "Come in." Nehti was relieved. It meant that at least Torchwood would also be able to see whatever it was that the 456 had to show Frobisher.
She watched in silence as cameraman suited up to enter the toxic environment. She heard them tell the man that he would be able to speak to them on the outside. She knew that she should be happy that she would be able to relay more information to those who needed it, but it also filled her with a kind of dread. She saw that they were keeping a close eye on the vital signs of the man as he entered the tank.
She crept up behind Frobisher to get a better look at the television screens. Bridget threw her a look but didn't say anything. The 456 were hideous, like something out of a nightmare.
The man monitoring vital signs broke the silence. "I'm getting three heartbeats."
"It's got three heads," Frobisher responded dismissively.
"No, there's…there's three distinct forms of life in there." Nehti felt her stomach drop. Frobisher seemed astonished by this sudden revelation, looked back over at the tank and then leaning in toward the screen.
"Get closer," he ordered the cameraman. The cameraman was already hyperventilating in fear. Nehti felt like she was about to join him.
At first, she didn't know what she was looking at. Then she saw the human eyes staring out of the sunken face, the mask fused over the mouth. It was human. It was a human child. It wanted 10% of humanity's children to turn into this. She couldn't stop the tears, the horror, the grief.
"What have you done to him!" Frobisher was horrified.
The 456 began spewing green liquid and banging the glass.
"Get him out of there! Get him out!" Frobisher ordered frantically. "Get him out!"
The 456 spoke, a chilling parroting of human politician, "It would ensure the smooth running of diplo, diplomatic relations…" but the cameraman, pressed against the glass shouted over it.
"John, get me out of here!"
"…Between Earth and the 456, 456, 456, 456 if that previous encounter was kept off the record, off the record, off the record." It skipped and repeated like a broken record. "…It's private, private."
By now, the cameraman, in his green splashed suit was out, crying for them to get the suit off him.
Frobisher's eyes were wide and horrified. "This is unacceptable."
"We do not harm the children," the 456 replied. "They feel no pain. They live long beyond their years."
Nehti felt the tears begin to well up again but fought them back. It was horrible but it didn't explain what exactly they were doing to those poor innocents.
"We have answered your question. You have one day to select and deliver your ten percent." Nehti transcribed without looking too closely at the paper. She couldn't bear to see it in writing but knew that it was necessary.
"And if we refuse?" Frobisher asked. Nehti could only hope that the image of that child would be enough to end this. They had surrendered in the timeline they were trying to change. She couldn't bear the knowledge that she would watch it happen.
"We will wipe out your entire species." Nehti's hopes died. Most species were terribly vicious when it came to self-preservation, especially humans.
Bridget Spear, John Frobisher and Lois Habiba sat outside the room on a bench. Bridget held her head in her hands but Nehti was frozen. There was only so much one could feel at a time and she had far surpassed her allotment.
Frobisher spoke first. "You two should get a couple hours sleep while you can." As if any of them could sleep after everything they had just seen. Nehti didn't think she'd sleep for a long time yet.
"So should you." Even now, Bridget was still mothering him.
Frobisher's mobile rang. "It's Harkness. Ring Ashton Down, see if you can get a trace on it. Strong coffee. Loads of."
Nehti was wrong. She could still feel. She was disgusted that after everything, he was still willing to have Jack Harkness murdered. She got up and went down the corridor where someone was gesturing to her. By the time she returned, the phone call had ended.
"Sorry. Um, the Prime Minster wants to see you."
Nehti followed with Bridget into the conference room. Bridget gave her rapid fire orders for her conduct within the walls.
"Take notes. Facilitate. Generally make sure it all runs smoothly. The most important thing is to blend into the background. No one should know we're there."
Once everyone was seated, the Prime Minister spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen. It's been decided we're going to make the 456 an offer." Nehti felt bile rise up her throat. "A realistic number, something we can manage, and then we see what happens."
"You mean we're going to haggle." the woman next to him smirked. "What about the military option?"
"There's nothing to take action against," Oduya, the military liaison responded. "Evidently the 456 must have some sort of base of operations in orbit, but our satellites are showing nothing. Whatever's up there, it's beyond our technology."
"There's a target sat in Thames House." The woman spoke again.
"Taking that out would be a declaration of war," Oduya finished for her.
"A war we can't win," the bald man across the table said needlessly.
The Prime Minister jumped in. "That's why I've invited John to address Gold Command. In terms of managing the figures, what could we offer and get away with. We need to know…"
Nehti looked at him. Part of her didn't want to believe that he would go along with this.
The woman cut back in. "Look, it won't just be Britain, will it?"
"The idea is that every country makes a camouflageable contribution." The Prime Minister's calm horrified Nehti.
Frobisher turned around. "Can you pass me the FAS file, please?"
Nehti took the empty tea cup but tried to keep an eye on Frobisher.
"For a start, there are 21 children in Oakington right now. 21 units." He corrected himself. "Unaccompanied asylum seekers awaiting deportation."
The bald one spoke. "And no one would miss them." The Prime Minister gave a short nod. "We need more. Can you bump the numbers up to 60?"
Frobisher took a long moment to check the file. "I think so. Uh, we can have them all in Oakington by first thing tomorrow."
"Thank you, John." The Prime Minister was dismissive. "Now go back to Thames House and consult with the 456. Make them an offer of 60 units and no more."
Frobisher refused their company back to Thames House. Instead, they remained in the conference room and watched it on the screen.
"I'm sorry, but we have discussed your demands and we've arrived at a solution that might satisfy both parties. I've been authorized to offer you one child for every million people on planet Earth. That's about 6,700 in total. Sixty two from the UK alone."
"That is not acceptable," was the immediate reply.
"Six thousand seven hundred. Six seven zero zero. That's our final offer. It's more than generous. I'll give you some time to think about it." With that, Frobisher walked away.
The cameras remained on. The 456 began to speak. "Three two five zero zero zero. Three two five zero zero zero." Nehti felt chills down her spine.
"It's confirmed." The bald man spoke. "Three hundred twenty five thousand is ten percent of the children, the, uh, units in this country. Every country is saying a different number, which, in each case, amount to 10%."
"I think it's fair to say that our final offer has just been rejected." The Prime Minister didn't betray a single emotion to this. "Okay. Thanks everyone, let's take a break."
As everyone stood to leave, the bald man interrupted. "It's worth considering though. The world's population will be 9 billion by 2050. That's a two and a half billion rise. The UK will go from 61 million to 77, every one of them needing food and water, a home, transport…"
Nehti heard this conversation and couldn't believe her ears. The Prime Minister interrupted. "Rick, Rick, Rick, Rick. What are you suggesting? A cull of 10% would do us good?" He sounded slightly angry.
"I'm just saying, if we need to spin this to the public, and God knows, at the moment, spin is all we can do, then in an age when we're terrified by the planet's dwindling resources, a reduction in the population could possibly, just possibly, if presented in the right way, be seen as…good."
Bridget pulled her away from the door before she could see the Prime Minister's response. She was terrified by what it could be.
"With regrets, ladies and gentlemen, I have to tell you that we're now facing the worst-case scenario. And right now we don't have time for our discussion on ethics. I'm afraid the hand-wringing will have to wait. All we can do at the moment is to address a number of vital and practical questions."
"Namely, how do we select the ten percent who would go?" Rick finished. "How would we transport them? And how could we sell it to the voters?"
"John?"
"Well, the selection's not down to me," he told the Prime Minister.
"Nevertheless. Practical solutions, please."
"Once the selection has been made then my department can arrange to bus all the children together to the rendezvous points together, school by school." Nehti had to write it down since his back was to her. "My staff are compiling various school databases. You just need to decide what criteria you'd use for selection. Which is out of my hand. Over to you, sir."
"Anyone?" The Prime Minister seemed determined not to be the one to make any decisions. Neither did anyone else. "Might I remind you the clock is ticking?"
Oduya answered first. "It would have to be random."
"No one'll believe it was random," the woman answered. "Not unless some of us are seen waiting at school gates for empty buses to return."
"If the criteria is demonstrably fair and entirely random, then at least we could defend ourselves…"
She cut him off. "So you're willing to risk your kids to make it look fair?"
"Then how else do we choose?"
"We could do it alphabetically," Rick responded.
"Oh, yes. Thanks Mr. Yates."
"I didn't mean…I've got no kids. I wasn't trying to…"
The woman was relentless. "Yes. No kids and no consequences." She addressed the Prime Minister. "And yours have already grown up."
"Let's keep this civil, Denise," he told her.
"Oh, yes, let's discuss the loss of millions of innocent children and let's be civilized about it!"
"If you wouldn't mind, yes."
"Could we limit it to one loss per family?" Oduya asked. "Every second-born child."
"That would take more time, more organization. Time we don't have," Frobisher answered.
"So. It would have to be one school at a time."
This announcement was met with silence.
"Look. I'm going to say what everyone else is thinking." Denise looked around. "If this…this lottery takes place, my kids aren't in it."
"I'm sure the families of Gold Command would be exempted anyway. In fact, isn't that official policy? During a major civil emergency, we're also dealing with deeply debilitating personal grief. It's hard enough as it is." Rick announced.
"I'm right aren't I?" Oduya repeated. "It is official policy that our families get protection. So we could have a show of hands. I hate to be crass, but in the circumstances…
"Well, who votes? Those with kids or those with no interest to declare?" Denise interrupted him.
"No one votes." The Prime Minister was solemn. "It's down to me to make an executive decision."
"Do you need some time?" Rick asked.
"No. Whatever happens, the children and grandchildren of everyone round this table will be exempt."
"What about nieces and nephews?" Denise stared at the table.
"Don't push your luck!"
"You seriously expect me to look my brother in the eye…"
"We need to limit the number of people who know."
"Look him in the eye and give him a condolence card?"
"That's the responsibility of government, Denise," he shouted.
"No, the first responsibility is to protect the best interests of this country, right? Then let's say it. In a national emergency, a country must plan for the future and discriminate between those who are vital to the continued stability and those who are not. And now that we've established that our kids are exempt, the whole principle of random selection is dead in the water, anyway."
"Only so far as…"
She didn't let Oduya finish and snapped, "Let me finish. Now, look. On the one hand, you've got the good schools. And I don't just mean those producing graduates. I mean the pupils who will go on to staff our hospitals, our offices, our factories, the workforce of the future. We need them. Accepted, yes? So, set against that, you've got the failing schools, full of the less able, the less socially useful, those destined to spend a lifetime on benefits, occupying places on the dole queue and, frankly, the prisons. Now look, should we treat them equally? God knows we've tried and we've failed. And now the time has come to choose. And if we can't identify the lowest achieving ten percent of this country's children, then what are the school league tables for?"
Nehti was appalled that they could consider the fellow members of their species as disposable. Furthermore, that no one had a response to this.
"Anyone want to speak against that?" The Prime Minister was met with silence. "Then there we have it. John, you have your criteria. We've selected the ten percent."
Nehti nearly ran to the restroom to splash water on her face. She refused to believe that this wasn't some sort of twisted nightmare. It was too horrific. Looking in the mirror, she saw the words appear in her vision. "We can stop this. But we need your help." It was too good to be true. She nodded.
Returning to the room, she settled back on the bench and waited for Frobisher to address them.
"We need a cover story, to explain why the operation is happening and to encourage participation. So the suggestion is we announce that the children will be given some kind of inoculation, a jab to stop them speaking in unison. We stress that there's no immediate danger, that everyone will be seen in due course. Then, when it goes wrong and the children disappear, we blame the aliens , claim ignorance and face the music."
"We say the 456 double crossed us?" Oduya was incredulous.
In Nehti's vision she saw, "Jack's in position. Let's do it."
"Excellent. It's is the alien's fault. That is where the blame should lie, not with us."
Nehti hesitated. She wasn't sure that this was the correct mode of action but she had been unable to reach the Doctor. She had left him a message, explaining the plan to him but he had yet to contact her.
"We play the part of naive dupes, not willing accomplices." Frobisher acknowledged.
"We're not willing. No one in this room is a willing accomplice." The Prime Minister seemed almost offended.
'Jack is in position. Do it NOW' Nehti wished for more time. She wasn't ready.
"Thank you, John. Comments. Anyone?"
"This is going to take a hell of a lot of organization." Nehti began to raise her hand, too timid to interrupt. "We'll have to stand the police down and put the army in their place. We barely have time to talk. We need to get this thing moving."
"Then, should we reconvene at 1800?"
Nehti saw her opportunity slipping. She managed to speak. "Excuse me."
"Lois, stop it." Bridget scolded her.
"I have something to say."
"Really?" The Prime Minister did not seem interested. "Well, it's nice you want to make a contribution…what was your name?"
"Lois. Lois Habiba, sir." She stood in an effort to feel less intimidated by his condescending stare.
"Well, thank you for your hard work, Lois. It's much appreciated, but this really isn't the best time."
"I'm sorry, sir. I know I'm only supposed to be here to take notes. But, erm, I am a voter."
"Listen, love, this isn't a referendum," Rick seemed almost amused.
"Lois, could I have a word outside." Bridget stood to force the issue.
She ignored her. "No, but it needs saying."
"Lois, seriously, not now." Frobisher seemed frustrated.
"And I'm not just speaking on my own behalf," she forged ahead.
"Just what we need, a revolutionary," Rick spat out.
"If you like, sir, then that's what I am."
"Oh yeah? You and whose army?"
"Torchwood." The atmosphere in the room changed instantly.
"What?" The Prime Minister seemed frozen.
"Don't be ridiculous." Frobisher scowled at her.
"But Torchwood has been recording all these meetings. And everything that's been said around this table, every single word, spoken by every single one of you, will be made public, unless you do exactly what Torchwood says."
"And how exactly are you going to make us do this?" the Prime Minister challenged. "Torchwood's been destroyed."
"I"m afraid not, sir. Right now, Captain Jack Harkness, head of the Torchwood Institute, is in the reception of the MI5 building. So you're going to stand aside and let him do his job and deal with the 456. Immediately." She enjoyed the feeling of power but realized that she didn't know what to do next. "And…uh…I think that's it."
The room was silent as they watched Captain Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones confront the 456. Nehti felt her mobile phone vibrate in her pocket. It was a message from the Doctor.
"It's playing out almost as if it's predetermined. There is no way Ianto will survive this. Don't worry, I have a plan."
Nehti felt faint.
The 456 released their toxin. Nehti couldn't believe that she had worked so hard with no result. She felt like giving up.
Frobisher spoke. "The building's designed to withstand chemical and biological attack. Nothing or no one can get in or out."
The Prime Minister looked at Lois. "Happy now?"
No. Not in the slightest. Seeing Jack say his goodbyes to Ianto made her heart break. That was what they were supposed to avoid. She missed the days when failure did not have such a high price.
She seemed to be the only one affected as the Prime Minister then asked, "What now?"
"Two choices," Rick answered. "Either we go to war against an enemy we can't beat or we go to war against our own people for their own good."
"An injury to one is not an injury to all, we have to surrender," Denise refuted Jack's earlier statement.
"Thirty five million children," the Prime Minister put it in simple terms.
"Or 6.7 billion people," Denise stressed.
The Prime Minister turned to Frobisher. "Start putting your plan to action."
The Doctor said he had a plan and she knew that she had to have faith in him. It was just difficult to see how he could make this right.
