Title: A Kind Of Destiny

Author: trustno1, aka trustno1987, aka me!

Spoilers: Jack

Rating: Still K+

Pairing: Nine/Rose (just not immediately)

Disclaimer: Surprisingly enough, the Doctor, Rose, Jack and the general idea of Doctor Who does not belong to me. This story, however, does, as do any original characters within it, so © Lindsay.

CHAPTER3 - A LANDING AND A PLAN

Mahsa Kyanee, Head of Security for Captain Harva, strolled along the corridors near the guest quarters. One of the two security guards for the Ambassador of Zaarde was sitting in the empty guest observation room, staring at the endless view of stars. Despite having grown up in a civilization containing three other races from the stars, and a decent proportion of the crew coming from other planets in the system, she hadn't quite gotten used to the Apalka. Particularly the fact that they were so difficult to sense – no obvious emotions radiated from them, just a dull blankness, as if a wall had been erected around their emotions. As a security officer this was quite disconcerting, which was why she was keeping an extra close eye on their guests. This one security guard wasn't too bad, and made an attempt to communicate, especially when the others weren't around. Right now he gave her a friendly smile (at least, Mahsa thought it was a smile) and nodded to her. With him – Engyel, she thought his name was – she was able to sense some trust and friendliness. Only faintly, but still, it was more of a response than the other two. If only they were as accommodating, she mused, walking past the door to the Ambassador's quarters.

II

Inside the dimly lit, humid room, Zoch and his security guard were talking animatedly, casting furtive glances towards the door in case Engyel returned from his break.

"The final part of the Treaty signing is tomorrow," Zoch was saying, pacing restlessly up and down the length of the large, sparsely furnished room. "I have informed Prosolek that we will be proceeding to Part Two immediately…"

"Prosolek?" the guard interrupted, confused.

"Yes, Zadri," he said regretfully, not appearing to mind the interruption. "I decided a while ago that Devos is, alas, untrustworthy. I haven't disposed of him, however. He may be of use yet," he finished evilly.

"How long before the package will be delivered?" Zadri asked, but Zoch wasn't listening. He was staring intently at the door, as if attempting to see straight through it. His guard was about to ask if everything was alright, when the Ambassador strode over to his desk and began reading a proposal from the Senator. The reason behind this was revealed as the second guard, Engyel, entered the room. Giving Zadri a hard stare, he sat down in an empty seat to take his watch of the Ambassador.

"It's your break now, Zadri," he said, his eyes not leaving Zadri's until he left the room. Zoch observed this from behind his desk with great interest, and decided that whilst Devos might still be of use, this security guard most certainly couldn't be. With a nod to Engyel who was now checking the room again, he began to draft out how best to dispose of him, quickly and quietly.

II

The Doctor clapped his hands together, startling Rose and Beth, who had begun nattering again. He was eager to get going and put his theory into practice.

"Right, I just thought we'd slip into the Time Vortex and see where the TARDIS takes us…" he began, not giving Beth a great deal of warning, which was just how he liked it.

"Oh shit! Wait a minute! I need my bag, it's in the truck! Just… just hang on!" she cried, running for the door, flinging it open and sprinting across the desert.

The Doctor, clearly not expecting such an outburst, stood next to the controls, a perplexed look on his face. Rose was bad enough, but two human women to hold him up? Definitely too much. He sighed dramatically and began drumming his fingers against the console.

Rose bounded over the second Beth was out the door, a happy grin on her face, which instantly cheered him up.

"Hey! What are you looking like that for?" she joked, trying to get him to talk a bit more – he'd been unnaturally quiet since meeting Beth, and she hoped he wasn't regretting allowing her on board the TARDIS. It was great to be able to chat to another girl for a change, as opposed to a Time Lord and a Time Agent, who, although fantastic company, didn't understand and talk about certain little things she missed talking about.

"Don't worry, there's no-one in the Universe like you, Rose," the Doctor said affectionately, catching her off-guard. She accepted the compliment silently and smiled at him, moving a little closer to him and lowering her voice a notch.

"Are you okay? Only you seem a bit quiet?" He was gazing down at Rose, wondering what to say now, in front of Jack, and what to leave until they were alone, when she caught his eye and he suddenly had an irresistible urge to just kiss her. He began to lean towards her before his brain caught up with his hearts and yelled that Jack was standing about ten feet away, and probably watching with great interest. The Doctor quickly recovered, much to the disappointment of him and Rose, and whispered in her ear: "I'll tell you later," before straightening up and stepping to another part of the console.

Rose shivered as the Doctor's warm breath tickled her cheek and their bodies momentarily pressed together. Trying to quell the butterflies that rose in her stomach she turned to the console a few feet from the Doctor, where could discretely glance at him out of the corner of her eye. From across the room, Jack watched this exchange with a small grin on his face.

00

Beth stepped back into the TARDIS, back pack slung over her left shoulder, and saw Rose and the Doctor standing side by side at the control panel. Rose had one hand on the Doctor's leather-clad arm, and they were staring intently at each other, seemingly oblivious to anyone else. As Beth watched, the Doctor began to close the already small gap between them, but at the last minute obviously decided against it, and whispered something in her ear. Beth frowned, though she wasn't completely sure why, as Rose bit her lip and turned to the controls looking from time to time out of the corner of eye at the Doctor, who, unbeknown to Rose but in full view of Beth, shot discrete glances in her direction too.

00

"What the hell is that!" cried the Doctor upon sight of Beth hovering just inside the doorway. Slung over her shoulder was a large backpacker's rucksack, not unlike the one Rose had flung at him with a gleeful expression and the marvellous phrase "you're stuck with me!". Though Beth's was considerably larger.

Rose and Jack exchanged amused glances at the Doctor's shocked expression, and Rose had the distinct impression that there was about to be a speech involving him not doing domestics, or something vaguely insulting about humans and luggage, or both.

"What are you bringing that for?" the Doctor questioned, not overly kindly. He received a glare from Rose that told him to be more polite and less like himself, and an immediate straight-backed, defensive posture from Beth.

"I am bringing it because it contains clothes, documents, my laptop with everything that has any significance to me and my life, including every single photo and song I love, and, most importantly, Pip," she replied clearly and defiantly.

"What's a Pip?" Jack asked from across the room before anyone had chance to say anything. Beth allowed a small smile to cross her lips and her face relaxed as she opened the rucksack and pulled out a grey stuffed toy. It just over a foot tall, the conventional teddy bear shape, with arms and legs in the starfish position, but it had rounded ears and whiskers.

"It's a mouse," she explained. "Called Pip. And don't ask why he's called that, coz I don't remember. I've had him forever, and wherever I go, he goes. He's like my significant other, only much better, coz he's a fantastic listener and doesn't answer back," she said affectionately, carefully placing him in the bag with the top unzipped, so he was effectively looking out.

Not for the first time since they'd met her, the Doctor thought there was more to Bethany than met the eye. Her defensive reply to his question about her bag for starters. He detected a distinct sadness, even loneliness, in her voice when talking about her toy, and behind her humor there was hidden meaning to her words. He just wasn't sure what.

"Well, that's okay then," the Doctor said kindly after a moment, pausing for an instant to look at Beth again, to whom it felt like a lifetime. "Right then, he said loudly, turning back to the controls as if nothing had happened. "Jack, you stay over there, I need you to work the controls from over there, and hold that lever down all the while please. Rose, you need to hold that blue button there – " he pointed six inches to her left. " – and when I say, push this one here – " he pointed some sixteen inches to her right, next to where his left hand lay on a small wheel. "Beth?" She glanced up, hoping he wasn't about to ask her to press anything or turn something. "Hold tight!" he said gleefully. "This could be a bit bumpy!" Noticing Rose and Jack groaning and bracing themselves, she put her arms around a support column and grabbed hold her bag, feeling adrenaline beginning to pump through her body as she realised just what they were about to do.

The Doctor began pumping a lever and pushing seemingly random buttons, yelling at Jack to do the same. The central column began pulsing up and down like a steam train piston, glowing in shades of blue and green and emitting the same rushing, screeching sound as Beth had heard in the desert, not two hours previously. She held tightly to the column as the ship began rocking and shaking slightly, though it wasn't anything to knock her off her feet, and she began to wonder if maybe the Doctor wasn't exaggerating.

That was, until the Doctor yelled 'Now!' to Rose, who slammed her hand down on a weird, mauve-colored button. The TARDIS gave an almighty lurch, sending Jack and Beth to the hard floor amid some colourful language from both parties, and Rose as well, who had gone careening into the Doctor's side. He caught her around the waist, and if the landing hadn't been so violent might have succeeded in keeping them both upright. The momentum of Rose slamming into his side, however, sent them both – laughing – to the floor in a undignified heap.

Jack was the first to recover, pulling himself up and making his way over to Beth, rubbing the bruise on his leg.

"You okay?" he asked, giving her a hand up.

"'A bit bumpy'!" she asked incredulously, nursing her own bruised leg. "I'd like to see what very bumpy is!" Jack gave her a knowing look.

"Trust me, you wouldn't." He looked over to the Doctor and Rose, who were still laughing and making no attempt to get up. "Maybe we should leave them alone?" he mused in a tone of voice that suggested in a tone of voice that said he didn't want to leave them alone. Beth gave a short laugh.

"Yeah, like you'd volunteer to miss out on anything," she retorted slyly. Jack shrugged.

"Alas, you're right. Y'know, we're remarkably alike when you think about it, and…" he raised his eyebrows suggestively. Beth also raised her eyebrows, but sarcastically, in a move that was remarkably reminiscent of Rose. Or maybe all women did that?

"Don't even go there," she warned good-naturedly.

"Okay, can't blame a guy for trying," he said, surprising himself at how quickly he left it alone. Must be the Doctor and Rose's influence, he thought. Or maybe it was the sudden, strange, frightened darkness in Beth's eyes that told him to back off.

00

Their laughter subsided, and Rose realised that the Doctor still had his arm around her waist. Only it was pinned under her and rather uncomfortable. Still, she was loathe to move immediately – her head was perfectly comfortable resting against his shoulder – and it wasn't as if he was doing much to correct the fact that they were both lying in an undignified heap on the floor.

"Well, here we are," the Doctor stated after a long couple of seconds, beginning to get up and pulling Rose with him.

"And where exactly have we crashed?" she asked, casually leaning against the Doctor as she rubbed her leg. Choosing to ignore Rose's jibe at his driving skills, he glanced at the monitor, then at the trio.

"Here! Am I brilliant, or an I brilliant!" he beamed, his theory having worked perfectly. The others didn't look quite so impressed.

"Oh, sure Doc, you're a real genius," Jack said sarcastically, purposefully using the nickname he knew the Doctor hated. "So tell me, where exactly did we fall out of the sky this time? And try to be a tad more specific if it's at all possible." The Doctor, however, said nothing, merely taking Rose's hand and heading for the front door, which he flung open.

"We're exactly where the TARDIS wants us."

II

Senator Jovik's Head of Security manoeuvred his seven and a half foot bulk into the office and closed the door. Out of his thick black robes he withdrew a small electronic-looking device not too dissimilar to a pocket computer, and placed it on the desk in front of the Senator, who motioned for him to take a seat. He did so gratefully, relaxing slightly.

"I trust you come with an update about our situation, Devos?" the Senator asked curtly and to the point.

"Yes, Senator," Devos replied, keeping his voice calm and professional despite feeling excitement at the news he brought. "We received another transmission from the Space Station – we have been given orders to advance to the second stage of the plan: the overthrow you, Sir. There were three other members of the Senate present, myself and Prosolek excluded, who witnessed the transmission and are preparing to implement the overthrow tonight." The Senator sighed deeply, his fears for the last few months finally realised with the revelation of this plan.

"Does Zadri suspect anything?" Senator Jovik asked eventually. Devos shook his head.

"No, Sir. He continues to consult me regarding the proceedings, and doesn't always require that Prosolek be present as a witness – he continues to trust me. We also received confirmation that it is Zadri, from the communications officer within the Secret Security – he analysed two of the transmissions and confirmed a voice match." Devos pressed a button on the small pocket computer and brought up the evidence of a voice match for the Senator, who nodded curtly.

"Now we know why he was so desperate for the assignment," Jovik said, feeling betrayed by one he thought he knew. "I would like you to send a transmission to Engyel immediately – he is to detain Security Officer Zadri and return him, via secure transport, back here, where he be detained prior to standing trial for high treason," Jovik said briskly, preparing to draw up the necessary papers for the trial. "I trust you have handled the matter regarding Prosolek?"

"Absolutely, Sir. I sent out a Security Team as soon as we disbanded to carry out our sections of the plan – I received word a few moments ago that all mutinous members of the Senate have been incarcerated and await questioning. Prosolek and Zadri will be first, of course, Sir." Devos hesitated slightly, unsure whether to trouble the Senator with Prosolek's final words as he was being led away. Jovik sensed his uncertainty and glanced up, meeting his gaze with weary eyes.

"Is there anything else, Devos?"

"Well, there was something, Sir. Prosolek initially attempted to run – he was not at the intended post, in accordance with our instructions from Zadri, but was captured quickly," he began hastily, not wanting the Senator to believe they had failed to carry out orders sufficiently. "As he was being taken into custody, he shouted that we were too late, that you were as good as dead. Which was blatantly untrue, as his part in the plan was to assassinate you, Senator, and that was all." Devos waited nervously whilst the Senator thought over this new information.

"You are absolutely certain we haven't missed anything – that no other transmissions were sent to Prosolek or any other members of the Senate?"

"No Sir," he said adamantly. "No other members have a transmitter to receive such information in the first place. All are obtained through Ambassador Zoch's communication's officer, Grysuik, as you know, and the only four in circulation are used by you, myself, Engyel and Zoch." The Senator nodded and dismissed Devos to deal with the prisoners – he would not be questioning them tonight.

"Oh, Senator," Devos said, as he reached the door. "We have a bit of good news tonight – Grysuik has informed me that our latest Space Probe has been launched successfully, and should be sending back reports within a day." Jovik nodded, and Devos left the Senator to his thoughts.

'At least we are able to carry on with our scientific studies despite this terrible business', he thought, pouring himself a large drink. Unfortunately, contrary to his beliefs, the release of the Probe meant that the Senator's real troubles were only just beginning.

II

Captain Harva was in his lounge when he got a call from his Security Officer regarding an unauthorized landing in one of the cargo bays. He told Mahsa to seal off the area until they had determined who it was and what they wanted and was almost out of the door, when his computer bleeped. He was receiving a transmission. Deciding that the person or persons in the cargo bay could wait a little while longer, he hurried back to his desk and brought up the message.

"This is a message for Captain Adish Harva from Secret Security Officer Devos, on behalf of Senator Jovik." Harva acknowledged that it was indeed he who was receiving the message, and played it.

"I am sending one of our ships to your Space Station to pick up one of the guards stationed with the Ambassador. Zadri has to be brought back to Zaarde immediately, but unfortunately I'm afraid I can't disclose any further information. Engyel, the remaining guard, will escort him to the ship, which has been programmed to return to Zaarde, and then return to his duties as the Ambassador's guard. The Senator thanks you for your patience with this matter and apologizes for any inconvenience caused to you at this time. Officer Devos out."

Harva closed the computer and set out for the cargo bay to check that the landing was indeed made by a ship from Zaarde. He also asked one of his crew members to check for any special anomalies that meant the ship arrived before the transmission from Zaarde – if there was a problem at their end, he wanted it fixing before the Treaty signing the next day.

On his way to the cargo bay he called by Ambassador Zoch's quarters and asked him to accompany him to confirm the orders and that the ship was indeed his. Zoch declined the accompaniment of his own guards, which Harva was particularly pleased about. So far he had always had at least one of his guards with him at all times, but declining their presence was another step forward in the trust between the two species. That was, after all, one of the goals they were aiming for in the signing of the Treaty.

Zoch confirmed that the ship was indeed theirs, asking for the area to remain sealed off until Zadri was to use it. Captain Harva saw no harm in this, knowing how closely ships were guarded against anyone that might 'borrow' odd bits of information about the specific workings of a ship, especially one that might have to be used in battle. Harva set the security force level that would be used around the ship under the watchful eye of Zoch and they made their way back to the guest level of the Space Station.

Unbeknown to anyone aboard, there were two unauthorized landings that occurred simultaneously in adjacent cargo bays, one of which went undetected. As the force field descended around the cargo bay and the Ambassador and Captain headed back to level three, a blue box was standing only a few meters away.