Title: A Kind Of Destiny

Author: trustno1, aka trustno1987, aka me!

Spoilers: Anything up to and including Jack, if you've been living on Uranus ;-)

Rating: T

Pairing: Nine/Rose

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.

AN: I am currently on the coast of Ghana, West Africa, and it is difficult to get to an internet cafe with an internet connectionthat's actually up and running, so I apologize profusely for the ridiculous length of time y'all have had to wait for this installment, and I apologize in advance for any delays in the future - I'm here until the beginning of July (and it's fantastic!) So, here it is, with many 'sorrys!' attached...


CHAPTER 5 - ON BOARD

The transmission device in front of Engyel gave two short, impatient beeps to indicate there was an incoming message. Hastily checking the living quarters for any sign of Zadri, Engyel picked up the transceiver and hurried into a small, empty room. The door closed with a soft whoosh, and he was plunged into momentary blackness that didn't bother him in the slightest. After pushing a few buttons, the small, flickering hologram of Devos was projected from the device, casting a ghostly green glow around the room.

"This is an urgent message from Senator Jovik for Security Guard Engyel," the tinny voice of Devos proclaimed, pausing so that Engyel could type in the personal password that would allow him to continue listening to the message.

"The Secret Security Service for Senator Jovik has reason to believe that Security Guard Zadri is behind the scheme to overthrow the Senator. We have apprehended those on Zaarde who were involved in the plot, but we have overwhelming evidence that implicates Zadri as the ringleader in all of this. A Security transport ship has been dispatched and will be with you by the end of the day – you are to detain Zadri immediately until this time, then send him back to Zaarde in the transport ship where he will be questioned further. You are to remain with Ambassador Zoch until the Treaty signing is complete, then return in the vessel you arrived in. The Senator and I would like this executed sensitively please, Engyel; you do not need to inform Captain Harva of the full details of Zadri's arrest, only the information that is strictly necessary. I expect a full report when you have detained him. Security Officer Devos out."

The green hologram disappeared with a static fizz and the room was black once more, and filled with the noisy shallow breathing of Engyel as he ran over the content of the message in his head one more time. Finally, he took one deep breath, expelling it in a sudden, harsh burst that resembled more of a growl. He opened the door and stepped out into the dim, humid room, listening for any sound to indicate the Ambassador was awake or that Zadri had returned from his break. When he heard neither, he strode towards the entrance door, reaching into his robes for his weapon as he went.

II

At almost the exact same moment as Engyel received the transmission from Devos, Zadri was receiving a live transmission from a communication device that only two others knew he had access to: Ambassador Zoch, and Grysuik, Zoch's communications officer on Zaarde.

"Emergency transmission for Zadri from Grysuik." A lifesize hologram flickered into existence in front of a surprised Zadri, casting a green glow around the observation section, not unlike that which was currently lighting a small room in the Ambassador's quarters.

"I'm here," Zadri said, casting a quick, furtive glance around. "You should be more careful, anyone could've been walking about," he added sourly. The holographic Grysuik waved his hand dismissively.

"That's the least of your worries at the moment," he said, and flickered a little more. "At this very moment, Engyel is receiving a message – recorded, not live – from Devos, telling him to arrest you immediately and put you on a prison ship to be taken straight back home, where you will stand trial for treason," he said darkly. "They think you are the one behind the plot to overthrow the Senator."

Zadri was momentarily silent with disbelief, and stood staring at the hologram, which was flickering alarmingly, throwing huge, distracting shadows about the room.

"But … but the Ambassador … he's the one that sends the orders! How can they think I did it!" he asked, raising his voice before realising that Zoch's quarters weren't too far away.

"Because the fools still believe that Zoch is trustworthy, and I wasn't about to correct them," Grysuik replied contemptuously. "Now, if you'll start acting like a soldier, I'll tell you why I'm sending this rather illegal transmission to save your hide." Zadri nodded curtly, already berating himself for his behaviour, and prepared to listen. "Prepare yourself for a confrontation with Engyel. He won't be interested in listening to you – that wasn't in his orders and isn't in his nature, so don't bother attempting to talk. I suggest you try to disable him as quickly as possible, before Captain Harva or some other officer discovers you." Zadri shuffled uncomfortably, feeling more than a little irritated by the fact that a communications officer was giving him, a soldier, orders. He said nothing, however, knowing the risk Grysuik was taking by sending such a transmission with the Senator's Secret Service most likely breathing down his neck.

"Also, tell the Ambassador that the probe has been deployed successfully, and if it hasn't already docked, it will be doing so very shortly. The codes to arm it and ensure it's correct detonation time and location will be sent to your transceiver … " He paused, did something with the black device he was holding in his hand, and Zadri's identical device gave a short beep. "… now. I'm going to interfere with the satellites around Zaarde, prevent any long-range communication for the next day – that should be enough time to carry out the operation without unwanted interference."

"I'll let the Ambassador know. Thank you," Zadri said politely and business-like. The hologram flickered again.

"Good luck. Grysuik out." The green glow in front of Zadri promptly vanished, and the room was once again plunged into semi-darkness, lit solely by the millions of pinpricks of light that were far off stars in the vast regions of space.

And as Engyel was withdrawing his service weapon and heading down the corridor, Zadri was replacing the transmission device and drawing his own weapon from inside his robes, ready to intercept the security guard.

II

Down a secluded side corridor on the guest level of Captain Harva's Space Station, Zadri and Engyel met each other running in opposite directions. Zadri had just enough time to think how incredibly lucky it was that Grysuik managed to contact him this quickly, before Engyel collided painfully with him, knocking him backwards where he nearly lost his grip on his weapon. Almost immediately, the security guard was on top of him, cold metal butt of the weapon pressed against his neck.

"You're under arrest for high treason, you despicable son of a bitch," Engyel snarled, his eyes flashing dangerously,breathinglikea predatory animal hunting down its quarry. Zadri would not have needed telling by Grysuik that conversation with Engyel would be completely futile – he could almost feel the anger radiating from his body, which was still pinning him to the floor. However, it was only the shock of colliding with Engyel that kept Zadri underneath him. Knowing that whilst anger sometimes fuelled a strength that gave a person an advantage in battle situations, it also clouded the senses, and Zadri had no doubt that keeping a clear head would give him far more of an advantage when fighting Engyel.

Whilst Engyel ranted on about disloyalty and betrayal and pressed the weapon harder against his neck, Zadri noticed that almost all of Engyel's weight rested on the arm that was restraining his own arm and hand (the one holding his weapon) to the floor. In one swift movement, he brought his leg upwards, knocking Engyel's supporting arm from under him, causing him to crash forwards onto Zadri. This didn't worry him in the slightest, as he now had leverage with both arms to push the other guard off him, slamming him against a wall and dislodging the weapon, which skidded across the floor. With a guttural roar of anger, Engyel tried to lunge for it.

Zadri was too quick for him. With barely a thought he fired his weapon at Engyel. A bright blue beam of light hit him squarely in the chest and he fell heavily to the floor, unconscious. Pushing him roughly onto his back with his foot, Zadri now wondered where the hell he was going to stow this useless guard.

An obnoxious grin appeared on his face, contorting it into an even uglier sight than it already was, as an idea crept into his mind that was just perfect. Checking that Engyel was still unconscious, Zadri brusquely lifted his head off the ground and removed the large battle helmet, replacing it with his own and donning Engyel's. With some effort, he managed to haul him upright, and began to drag him towards the cargo bay, where Zoch had only just finished telling him that – as Grysuik said – the Space Probe was indeed waiting.

II

Ambassador Zoch began to stir in his sleeping quarters, as the lights gradually rose in brightness as programmed. Within about thirty seconds he was awake and alert, climbing off the bed and heading to the living area to see which guard was currently on shift. To his immense relief, he sensed Zadri as he entered the larger room, and had no sense of Engyel being about anywhere.

He received a shock, then, as the imposing figure situated in the centre of the room turned to face him, and he saw Engyel's battle helmet, not Zadri's.

"It's okay, it's me, Sir," came the gruff voice from beneath the helmet, before Zoch could quiz him.

"Well what the hell are you doing wearing his battle armour, Zadri?" Zoch snapped harshly, daring his guard to come up with a decent answer as to why he would dare wear any attire of that worthless guard. To his horror, a strong feeling of joy and accomplishment radiated from Zadri as though a switch had been suddenly flicked. Grabbing Zadri's arm roughly, he forced him into a chair and stood towering angrily over him.

"What the hell are you doing! Control your emotions, Guard! You know how empathic this race is, and how important it is that they remain ignorant to us! If you cannot restrain yourself you will be confined to quarters for the remainder of this mission!" Zoch shouted. To his relief, Zadri got a better hold of his emotions, but didn't seem phased by the severe reprimand he just received, and sat as straight backed as ever, eyes glinting excitedly.

"I'm very sorry Sir, it won't happen again," he said, and Zoch noticed for the first time that he was breathless, as though he'd been running or fighting, and was instantly curious. "But I have some news, Ambassador, some very good news."

II

Captain Harva strode down towards the guest corridor to the room where Ambassador Zoch was currently residing. The final stage of the Treaty was to take place this morning – or what counted as morning on a Space Station – and he was going to escort the Ambassador and his guards up to the first floor for a demonstration, before the Treaty would be signed by both parties, and technologies exchanged.

He felt a nervous excitement as he neared the room. They were on the precipice of a historic moment for the Alerik people, and he was at the forefront – Harva and his crew were the first to encounter the Apalka, and though he tried to be modest about it, it was all down to his work regarding wormhole technology. After graduating top of his class on Edymn, the past five years of his life had been spent on the Space Station, researching steadily into wormholes, and how to manipulate them to their own advantage. They had explored thousands of light years with the aid of wormhole technology, far more than they would be able to using only spacecraft. Harva had been commissioned by the Chief of Space Exploration to further his research on the Space Station, so they could search for uninhabited planets where they could set up a colony, in addition to the four already in existence on planets other than their own. It was during one of these searches, using wormhole technology to send a probe almost 15 thousand light years away (a relatively short hop, considering the range of the technology), where they discovered Zaarde. A ship was dispatched, and within next to no time it seemed, preparations were under way for the signing of the Treaty, on Harva's Space Station, no less.

Which was why Captain Harva was determined that this demonstration of the capabilities of their wormhole technology was to transpire without a hitch. He had been planning it ever since he knew the Treaty Signing was to take place on the Space Station: a brief lecture on the science behind the technology would precede the actual demonstration; they would then go up to the next floor – Deck One – where they would manipulate a wormhole and send a probe through. It would be a relatively short journey of about five thousand light years, just to illustrate to the Ambassador how the technology works, and then Harva would share any readings that the probe found. And then, well, they'd create another day for the history books, he thought happily, turning a corner and spotting the Ambassador's door.

He had no idea that the history they'd be making that day was for some very different reasons.

II

Zadri had scarcely finished relating the happenings of the last hour with an almost feverish excitement, when they both stiffened, and glanced towards the main door. As the intercom to the room beeped to inform its occupants there was someone waiting outside, Zoch and Zadri moved swiftly from standing huddled in the centre of the room, to Zoch being seated importantly behind his desk, and Zadri standing to one side, like the dutiful guard. Lazily, the Ambassador called 'enter', and the door slid quietly open to reveal Captain Harva, in an impressive military-type uniform, waiting at the threshold.

"Ah, Captain Harva, good day!" Zoch said genially, standing up and moving forwards.

"Ambassador," Harva nodded, trying yet again to sense any kind of emotion, and meeting the brick wall. Although … was that excitement on the Ambassador's part? He couldn't quite tell, though if it was indeed excitement, Harva wouldn't have been the least bit surprised; in fact he would have been very pleased to be sensing anything at all from this species, who, up until now were not easily read, and he found it incredibly difficult to trust anyone when he hadn't the first clue of their intentions.

"So, if you're ready, we can head upstairs and begin the demonstration and signing," Harva said, gesturing to the open door. Zoch nodded and waved over Zadri, who stood silently to his left.

"My guard would like to accompany me to the demonstration – he's very interested in making further advancements to our technological status on Zaarde, and this wormhole technology is a great achievement," Zoch said mildly, watching Harva closely but knowing that he'd allow Zadri along; he was that kind of man.

"Of course – I had assumed you would want at least one of your guards present at the signing in any case, so that's not a problem," Harva assured as they headed into the corridor. "Did your other guard – Zadri, is it? – wish to observe?"

"No, he's busy with our ship – the one that just arrived in your cargo area – making preparations, and so on, so he's… incapacitated, at the moment, you might say," Zoch said mildly, delighted to find that Harva had no idea Zadri was standing beside him, and that their battle helmets were incredibly important for identification purposes. He shot a sly glance in Zadri's direction that, had Harva caught sight and sense of, he would undoubtedly have assigned an extra couple of his own security staff to the observation area.

II

The presentation of the technology went off without a hitch, and both Captain Harva and Ambassador Zoch were very pleased with their outcomes for each respective individual. As the small party – consisting of the Ambassador, Zadri, Captain Harva, Mahsa Kyanee -Harva's Security Guard, and Strijda Dar, his First Officer – ascended to Deck One, Zoch hung back from the main group, whispering hurriedly to Zadri for a minute before handing him something small and thin from his dark cloak. When Kyanee glanced around at their guests, all she saw, heard and, to an extent felt, was the Ambassador and Engyel engaged in animated conversation about the technology they had just witnessed.

II

Jack had finally finished retelling one of his more daring (and definitely adult-rated) escapades to Beth, and Rose and the Doctor when they returned from the TARDIS, and the Doctor was now steering them all towards the cargo bay doors, eager to begin exploring the ship.

"Right, well the TARDIS didn't bring us here to listen to you relate tales of your complete incompetence, Jack," the Doctor said, though Beth swore she saw a glint in his eyes that suspiciously resembled mirth as he said it.

"Why did it bring us here then?" Beth asked, walking beside the trio as they headed across the dull, expansive room.

"She," the Doctor corrected, "She brought us here for the same reason she usually does." Glancing at both Rose and Jack, Beth learnt no more from this cryptic remark, other than the fact that their expressions were curiously blank, giving her no helpful idea of what this 'usual reason' was.

"Um, no offence, but I've been with you all of, what, two hours? That kinda comment really doesn't help me do a little thing we humans call understand," Beth said clearly and sarcastically, addressing the Doctor the entire time. She had a sneaking suspicion that he was somehow preventing the others from elaborating on his less than informative comments, as they had been doing for her so far. And she intended to find out exactly what that was – no-one took her all the way across the galaxy just to hold out on her; she'd had enough of that back on Earth.

With a sigh that sounded more resigned than exasperated, the Doctor paused and turned to Beth, blue eyes boring into her dark brown ones. For the first time, he noticed how exhausted she looked; dark circles surrounded her eyes, giving Beth the air of someone who hasn't had a decent night sleep in a long, long time. Her face, though tanned seemed paler in this light, and the weak lighting of the cargo baythrew harsh shadows about her face, giving it an angular appearance, as if it were carved crudely from stone, and wasn't at all flattering. Her eyes remained bright, however, shining out from their hollows at him defiantly.

"The usual reason for us going anywhere really, is that there's trouble – big trouble. You can handle a bit of an adventure, can't you?" he asked, with his trademark grin that he hoped made it to his eyes. Despite his light tone, it was a vitally important and serious question. He knew instinctively that Beth would say 'yes', and want to leap headfirst into an adventure; it was obvious from the way she had greeted them. But he had an obligation to her, to any one of his companions, to let them know what they were letting themselves into by agreeing to go with him. He did with Rose, answering simply when she asked if it would be that dangerous all the time.

But asking Beth outright like this had another advantage, in that Rose would see that he wasn't pressuring her into doing something she didn't want to; that it was all her own choice.

"Are you kiddin'?" Beth asked, a real smile lighting up her face and banishing the harsh shadows. "I am well known back home for my complete disregard for personal safety in the quest for a decent adventure – why did you think I was out in the middle of no-where by my self?" she asked, glad to see all three grinning with her.

"Well, in that case, we have a ship to explore, since the TARDIS had conveniently forgotten to direct us to any danger," the Doctor said, though he remained in one place with a thoughtful expression on his face. The others waited patiently whilst he ignored his own advice.

"Right! Jack, have you still got your psychic paper on you?"

"Always." Beth began to ask what that was but Jack turned to her. "I'll tell you in a minute."

"Beth, you go with Jack and check out the floor above us; if you run into anyone just say that we're passing through, or having a pit-stop or something." Jack nodded.

"Will whoever owns this ship have seen humans before?" Beth asked the Doctor, finding it hard to believe that you could just land on a ship and not have anyone think it was suspicious.

"Not humans, no, but the race that own this Space Station look very similar to humans, as do a few other races on this ship. Two or three definitely don't, but that's another matter. Now, Rose and I'll check this floor and the one below, see if there's anything interesting happening. You both got your mobiles on?" Rose and Jack nodded in agreement, and Beth began to feel slightly overwhelmed at the Doctor's lightning fast speech, and the fact he just asked about mobiles. Did he actually mean phones?

"Um… mobiles?" She questioned. "They actually work?"

"Yeah, with a bit of jiggery-pokery," Rose grinned, shooting a glance out of the corner of her eye at the Doctor.

"Yeah, er, just stick close to Jack, I'll figure something out with your phone later. And Jack can answer any of your questions, 'cause we're wasting time here," the Doctor said in his typical fashion, hurrying them towards the door now. Rose just rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath.

"Guess I'll see you two later," she said to Beth and Jack. "You; behave, and keep and eye on Beth," she said with a smirk and knowing look in Jack's direction. Jack frowned indignantly. "Beth; have fun, and keep an eye on him, would you?" Beth grinned, said she certainly would, and pulled a complaining Jack ( - "I resent that, Rose Tyler!" - ) out of the sliding doors and into a wide, brightly lit corridor.

The doors closed, leaving the Doctor and Rose standing side by side. The Doctor looked down at Rose's concerned face and offered her his hand. She in turn offered him a small smile and took his hand willingly, threading their fingers together tightly.

"I know, I know, I'm being too human, worrying about something I shouldn't, and not about the important things, and that Beth actually wanted to come," Rose said with an annoyed sigh that was directed as much at her as it was towards the Doctor.

"She'll be fine, Rose. I promise," he said gently, leading her towards another door set in a wall to their right that Rose hadn't noticed.

"How can you be sure though?" At his patient look, she shook her head, realising how unlike herself she sounded, and forcing herself to stop being ridiculous.

"'Cause I'm me! And I'm – "

"Fantastic!" Rose chorused, smiling at his infectious good humor, and the fact that they were yet again, doing what they did best – exploring, and getting into trouble. Giving his hand a loving squeeze, they headed down another corridor towards what appeared to be an elevator.

"Exactly," he said quietly, calling the elevator and desperately hoping he really was this time.

II