Disclaimer: I don't own the Doctor, the TARDIS, Rose or any of the characters, planets, technology etc that appear in Doctor Who. I wish I did but who doesn't?

Chapter Summary: The Doctor and Rose are busy waiting to speak to Mistress Liana. Meanwhile, the blond man the Doctor saw has a report to make.

Chapter Five: Xianfrith

Former Commander Xianfrith Excalda had been enjoying his chat with the strange human girl when the security personnel came lumbering in their direction. He had moved swiftly out of their line of vision, heading through the heavy crowd and making sure he kept well ahead of them. That they were not after him obviously crossed his mind, but when one was heading the 'Most Wanted' list then it paid to be overly cautious.

Xan was good at cautious and at patient, but sometimes recklessness took over. He had seen the young woman struggling with her meal and, amused, he had decided to talk. Now he was regretting it. Still, he had another motive in talking to her.

When the prisoner had died early that day, he had seen her with a man, a man who had seen him, stood away from the action. The man had seemed familiar, although Xan had never seen him before. There was something familiar about him, something that Xan recognised although right now he couldn't place.

He hurried through the crowd, moving against its tide. It had been a long time since he had dared to venture out into the busy streets again, but it was unavoidable. He had been needed, and then everything had fallen apart because one of the prisoners had escaped.

He took the quickest exit out of Circle Three and made his way down to Circle Seven, otherwise known as the Slums. It had been the place where he had grown up, had fought most of his life to escape and was now where he was forced to hide.

No one who might have tried to apprehend approached him and he made his way very quickly into Circle Seven. A few people on the street corners, members of the street gangs that ruled Circle Seven, saw him heading their way. Attracted by his expensive clothing and the fact that he was alone, a couple looked up and watched him intently, poised to spring upon him.

But Xan was known to the street gangs, and most knew better than to mess with him. The people who were getting ready to try and mug him suddenly recognised him and backed away hurriedly. News like Xan got around quickly. The last people who had attempted to attack him had seriously regretted it.

He moved swiftly through the streets. The Slums had fallen into even greater poverty since he had left. The buildings were shored up with sheets of metal that were covered in rust, rotting wooden beams, broken bricks and chunks of stone. There were skips filled with rubbish, overflowing, and piles of rubbish on the road sides. The people were mostly dressed in dirty or ragged clothes, looked half starved and many were suffering from diseases and injuries and couldn't pay for doctors or any kind of medicine. There were few jobs available for the people of the Slums, and the only kind was rough labour, the kind of jobs no one else wanted.

Xan kept his head down and hurried on his way. He hated coming here. He hated that he was no longer in a position to help anyone here.

He reached his destination. It was a tiny shack wedged between two large, mouldering building. The door was on crooked.

He knocked.

After a moment, the door opened a crack and a face peered out. 'Oh,' it said. 'It's you.'

He leant against the doorframe and treated the woman behind the door to a lazy smile. 'Can I come in?' he inquired.

The door closed. There was a rattling noise and then it was opened again.

'Get in,' she said in an unfriendly tone.

He stepped lightly inside. The door slammed and shook in its frame.

'How are you, Keisha?' he asked.

She gave him a filthy look and pushed past him in the narrow corridor. 'How do you think we are?' she shot over her shoulder.

'I don't know,' he said simply. 'That's why I asked.'

'You really care?' Keisha snapped. 'We don't see you here very often.'

'I'm busy trying not to get caught and executed,' he retorted, anger flashing across his face.

Keisha didn't reply. Silently, she led him through the building, down into the basement. 'He's here,' she announced unceremoniously. Giving him another dirty look, she walked out.

'You upset her,' a voice said.

Xan looked around. This room hadn't changed much since the last time he had been here. It was still filled with junk cleverly disguised as computers and scanners and tracking equipment. There was a woman sat in a chair, gazing intently at the main computer screen.

'I always seem to upset her,' he said dryly. 'I don't think she likes me very much.'

'No.' The woman swivelled her chair around and said, 'Well? Why are you here?'

'There was another escape today.'

'I heard.'

'People still aren't suspecting anything.'

'Incorrect, Excalda. I thought you were trained to report more accurately than that.'

His mouth twisted irritably. 'People just think it's some crazed psycho.' His grimace turned into a bleak smile. 'In some ways, that's pretty accurate. No one has any idea how deep this goes, Cat.'

Cat nodded absently. 'I know. Do you have any information I don't already know?'

'It's not as if I can help being a wanted man,' Xan said crossly. 'I do the best I can, Cat. You know that.'

'Do you have anything to tell me?'

'Yes. A man noticed something. He's – I've never seen him here before. Maybe he's a visitor. I can find out. There's a woman with him, too. I think he realised there was something – wrong – here.'

'Keep a check on them both.'

'He saw me.'

Cat frowned. 'He saw you?'

'That's what I just said, isn't it?'

She turned back to the screen. 'If he's a visitor, he won't know who you are and you're probably safe. If he does know who you are, then this will be over for you soon enough.'

'Thanks for your concern.'

Her voice softened slightly. 'This is a war, Xianfrith. You knew that when you signed up for this. You were aware you would probably die in the course of this. Don't complain now.'

'I'm not complaining,' he said mildly. 'I was wondering when you lost your regard for human life.'

'But you're not human, are you.'

He drew in a sharp breath and bit his lip, looking down at the floor.

Cat didn't look around. She clearly knew her comment had hurt, but she made no apology. 'If anyone can identify you, you're no use to us,' she said bluntly. There was a pause. 'Tell me the truth. Could he identify you?'

'Not by name.'

'That's not what I asked.'

He drew a deep breath. 'He doesn't know who I am, but he could certainly identify me and presence there today.'

'Thank you.' She didn't say anything else.

He waited until his usual patience deserted him. 'Do you have a mission for me?'

'No. At present, you're useless to us.'

Xan nodded. Nothing more than he had expected. 'Will I be of use to you again?'

'Maybe. We'll have to see.'

'Oh well, thanks,' he muttered.

'Be grateful you haven't been killed,' she said, her tone suddenly sharp. 'You know too much. By rights I should have you executed.'

Xan smiled. It was an ugly expression. 'You wouldn't. I'd go as far to say you couldn't.'

Cat didn't reply.

He sighed, the smile fading. 'I'll go. You know I won't reveal anything if I'm caught – but I'm not going forever. I'll carry on doing what I can.'

'You'll do nothing to jeopardise anyone else involved in the resistance,' she said curtly.

'Whatever,' he said in a low voice, and turned and walked out.