Title: Insurrection

Author: Lady Rheena

Rating: T (some violence and non-kiddie friendly stuff)

Disclaimer: Not mine. Evidently. No money. Don't sue. Please.

Notes: I am primarily a TNS Who fan and won't try to convince anyone otherwise. Any muff-ups I therefore make with TOS continuity can just be considered part of the AU definition. The Antecedent Series was written midway through TNS season two, and begins just after the events of Tooth and Claw.

Insurrection

Part 2

Freyja was barely breathing heavily by the time she reached the top of the ridge. Rigorous physical and survival training was part and parcel of Traveller schooling at the Institute Academy, and although she was sweating heavily in the midday Italian sun she was still nowhere near the limits of her endurance. Her timeship was parked a little way off in the foothills, the chameleon circuit having rendered it to all outside appearances a conventional boulder, but she was still risking serious disciplinary action by neglecting even the most basic camouflage protocol for herself, still openly in her black and maroon Traveller's uniform. But in all sensible consideration a mysteriously dressed stranger would be easier to explain away in ancient Rome than a young native woman out and about in the small hours of the morning with only the first rays of predawn light creeping over the distant mountains. If all else failed she'd do something technological and pretend she was a messenger of the gods.

'It's a risky business, sneaking off on unofficial vortexes to follow up these leads,' the holographic Rose Tyler had told her. 'If the Board catches you-'

'I'm overwrought! Two of my best friends died and my lifelong hero was murdered as good as in front of me!'

'And I don't think the Doctor would approve of what you're doing either!'

'Well if it wasn't for the bastards I'm trying to track down, he'd be here in person to voice his objections, wouldn't he?' Freyja had sniped back bitterly. 'Besides, I know someone else who would and does approve of my technique.'

'My younger self is hardly an impartial judge!'

'And I wouldn't have thought you would be! Or has three centuries of holographic living turned your soul to circuitry?' She'd stormed out without waiting for a response, furious at herself, at Rose, at the hologram, at the Institute, at the universe in general.

What kind of a world is it where heroes can die? Her own words came back to haunt her and she shook her head, vaulting to the next outcropping and then dropping to her belly to avoid the wandering gaze of the sentry at the entrance to the temple. A more pressing question was the Institute's lack of action about the matter; no investigation, no ident check on the murderers who must have been caught on the internal cameras, just a perfunctory funeral service for Asha and Boz, and no mention of the 'renowned historical figure' who in their fardling pea-brained records had already been dead. So it had been left to Freyja, Cal, Will and Nat, with the sometime assistance of holo-Rose, to launch their own covert enquiry. A lead on a hidden file had brought Freyja here and now, but what she was about to find she couldn't even begin to imagine. Some stronghold of the murderous bluecoats who'd lasered the Doctor beyond all hope of recovery or regeneration and then killed the two people trying to protect him? The city of Rome on ancient Earth was a good hiding place for a criminal syndicate.

Her next task was to find it.

She timed her run to spring from the ledge onto the temple roof just as the sentry turned his back. Her boots cushioned the impact and since she managed to miss any loose tiling her landing was as soundless as the rest of her passage. Now securely out of sight of the ground below, she hastened across to make the easier jump to the next roof, climbing a partition to enter the slave quarters which served the temple's priests. Checking her wrist scanner, she found considerable harmonic readings coming from the third shack on the left and so scrambled carefully across to eavesdrop. Unfortunately the temple slaves had rather better accommodation than the usual, and the roofs were also tiled. After a moment's hesitation she reached for her thigh pocket and pulled out what was now undoubtedly her most precious possession; the sonic screwdriver that had once been the Doctor's. She'd not had a chance to give it back to him after he'd thrown it to her, telling her to seal the door back in the Institute's museum, and after everything that had happened Rose had insisted that she keep it. At first she'd been almost afraid to use it- it was his, after all- but the temptation had been too much, and now she found the little gadget far too useful. At times she wondered how she'd ever coped without one.

A few adjustments and she'd loosened a tile enough to let the majority of the interior noise out. Pressing one ear down onto the spot, she squinted in concentration. Damn! It sounded like the meeting was breaking up. And there were only two voices; a man that she didn't recognise, and a woman.

'What about our little investigators?' the man was saying. 'They're getting too close in places. Trained too damn well!'

'Don't worry,' the woman said cockily. 'If they get that close, it'll be the last thing they do. I'll see to it myself. How go the tests?'

'Slowly. Minimal co-operation from…the subject. Mind you, once we boxed him there wasn't a lot he could do about it.'

'Is he aware?'

'Only peripherally. Although he stopped screaming a week ago, which was an interesting development.'

'Stopped screaming? Now that is odd. Resignation?'

'Possibly. It doesn't matter. Lab says they're starting to make progress. Slow is still better than zero.'

'Absolutely. Is this all there is to relay?'

'That's everything, yes. Remember, absolute secrecy. You can't blow your cover. You're still the most valuable asset we have.'

'And don't I know it!'

Freyja sat up, frowning. The cheerful lilt in that female voice was tantalisingly familiar. And what the devil were these tests they were discussing? She pushed the consideration aside and slithered along the row to follow the dark-suited figure- another Traveller in uniform- along the street. A grapple line shot up and then the woman was on the roof of the far set of shacks, but they were so close together it was an easy matter to sneak a leap across. Keeping a low profile, Freyja followed her back up onto the Temple roof. The sun had just begun to rise, which could easily blow her cover if she was spotted, but she had to know who it was.

The figure had paused now as if surveying the city quarter. Freyja flattened herself to the tiles, her heart beating rapidly. She felt for her sidearm. A couple of months ago the thought of killing one of her own, even a bluecoat, would have been repugnant to her, but if this scum had anything to do with the Doctor's murder then she had no qualms about it at all. Now, why wasn't the woman moving?

'You always were a good sneak, Freyja.'

Fardles! How could she possibly have known she was there?

'Of course, you marked much higher than I did in the stealth exercises. In everything, come to think of it. Which is why outfoxing you was so much fun!' The woman turned and Freyja's jaw dropped. She scrambled to her feet, momentarily unsteady in shock.

'Asha? But you-'

'Died! I know.' Asha grinned, her teeth showing whitely against her now-tanned skin. 'A few squibs and a prize-winning performance. Makes you sick, doesn't it? You may have scored higher on all the final exams, Frey, but I still bested you where it counts.'

Freyja felt shock drain away to be replaced by cold fury as realisation dawned.

'You betrayed us,' she said, wanting to hear the words out loud, to make them real.

'Yup! So hand me my thirty pieces of silver. I knew you and the rest of our happy little classmates would start up a little clandestine nose-poking. Glad I didn't have to be disappointed. I hate that.'

'Boz?' Freyja asked through gritted teeth.

'Oh, I hadn't planned for him to get involved.' A shrug. 'Had to pop him one when he started to blurt over the audio. Still, added a nice little bit of dramatic credibility. Although it was pure luck he had the good grace to expire before he told you the full thing. I'm a lucky gal on that front!'

'The Doctor,' Freyja hissed. 'You gave them the Doctor.'

'Come on, Frey. You haven't asked how I knew you were following me yet. One thing at a time.' Another sunny grin that made Freyja's blood boil. 'I read up. Historical files say that on this date the sentries of this particular temple witnessed a- how did they put it?- a battle between goddesses. Plucky as Nat is, I knew she'd never have the guts to face me down. And even a Roman couldn't mistake Will or our Cal for a girl, which left you. I did wonder, I admit, about little miss Tyler, but let's face it, she couldn't take on a plucked chicken and win without her precious pet Time Lord-' she stopped as Freyja whipped out her sidearm and aimed between her eyes. 'You're gonna shoot me, Freyja? Your own classmate?'

'You gave them the Doctor,' Freyja spat at her. 'You set us all up, you set him up, and you practically gift-wrapped him for them to tear him apart! How long did you plan that?'

'Oh, it was a spur of the moment thing. I mean, I've been in the inner circle since just before I graduated- they've a knack for spotting the candidates who aren't over-idealistic dreamers- and then you arrive in the museum and just drop the guy in my lap!' Asha laughed. 'How could I resist? You made it so easy! I just sent off the call while I was off getting the sequencer. Easy! So damned easy!' Suddenly her own gun was aimed between Freyja's eyes. 'So be honest, Frey. You seem pretty ready to kill for him. Are you ready to die for him?'

'I'm not planning on dying before you, Asha.'

'Then you may have to change your plans. Oh, come on.' Asha rolled her eyes. 'Shooting is so inglorious an end. I should know-' her wink made Freyja almost physically sick with anger '-so if we're going to go down in Roman chronicles as battling goddesses shall we do it properly? I'd really love to get up close and see your eyes when you die. And I just bet you'd like to get your hands around my throat. So no guns, how about that?'

Freyja didn't have time to respond as Asha rushed at her. She did manage to holster her sidearm just before the other woman head-butted her full in the stomach, sending her tumbling head-over-heels backwards down the roof. Scrabbling for purchase, her fingers dug into the narrow lip between tile and column but then all she could do was hang there, helpless.

'You really are too easy, Frey,' Asha said. 'I told you, we gotta give them a show-' and she dragged Freyja back up by the back of her jacket, throwing her onto the main area of the roof and then striding over to kick her twice in the stomach before she could react. Winded, Freyja barely managed to roll away and stagger upright. She ducked under the first punch that Asha threw but the second she wasn't expecting and, reeling back, felt blood on her lip.

'Tch tch, you oughta do some rounds in the gym, Frey,' Asha said to her mockingly. 'Your hand-to-hand's pitiful.'

Anger drove through pain and Freyja rounded back on her, landing a roundhouse kick that knocked Asha's knees from under her. The follow-up blow to the head only made her laugh, however.

'Good god, Frey! He fought harder than that!' Seeing the astonishment on Freyja's face, Asha roared with laughter. 'Never expected your famous Doctor to know how to fight, huh? Neither did I. He had a mean right hook, too. Took me clean by surprise. I tell you what else, though, even a Time Lord can't take on sixteen armed troopers all at once!'

Knowing that Asha was goading her but unable to guard her own reaction to it, Freyja threw herself bodily to knock the other woman down. She rained punches, screaming nonsensical monosyllables of fury, oblivious to the fact that not a single one was hitting home as Asha shielded her face with her arms. When Freyja subsided briefly, exhausted, Asha toppled her and proceeded to pummel her face with blow after blow. Her vision blurred red and purple as pain exploded into her awareness. Flipping her neatly over, Asha yanked her left arm up her back.

'So much for the mighty champion goddess. All ready for your fall from grace, Freyja?' She gave the arm a cruel twist and Freyja screamed. It felt good to scream, and it would cement her appearance in Asha's eyes; weak. Freyja had never felt stronger in all her life. Stars burst in front of her eyes and with a sense of odd detachment she realised that her left shoulder had been dislocated by Asha's untimely wrench on it. Considering she was very likely about to die, she wondered why she didn't feel any panic.

'As ready as you,' she growled. 'Once the Board finds out what you-'

Asha gave another bark of laughter and drove her knee into the small of Freyja's back.

'Oh, Freyja, you are so simple. I'm acting under orders from the Board, you moron!'

No factions. In one crystalline burst of clarity, Freyja suddenly understood. There are no factions…no bluecoats. The Board ordered it. The Institute isn't segmented…it's united…and I'M one of the few dissident elements left…

'Do you get it now?' Asha asked scornfully. 'You and your little gang of cronies are a minor irritation with your little Time Lord fan club. I work for much higher goals, and so does the rest of the Institute. Have you honestly never wondered why it's so rare they capture a so-called bluecoat when there are supposed to be so many? It's your kind they're really hunting. The Director was so hoping you'd decide to join the right side…you can't imagine the disappointment on her face when I told her that wasn't going to happen.'

You're brilliant! God, the brain on you- and this is me talking here. Oh no, don't blush, I mean it! The Doctor's voice sounded so clear in Freyja's mind that for one bizarre moment she was sure he was somehow sitting next to her. She opened her eyes, feeling the coolness of the roof tile against her cheek where it was pressed down, and blinked in surprise. He was there…impossibly there…hunkered down in her line of vision with that broad, boyish grin all over his rangy face. Cor, I wouldn't half like to get inside your head. Bet it's all neat lines and columns joining things up.

Am I dying? Freyja wondered. Is this what dying feels like? She hadn't expected the Angel of Death to turn up looking- and sounding- like the Doctor. But there wasn't time for further reflection as Asha hefted her up and dragged her to the edge of the roof, facing the courtyard. The upturned faces of the astonished Romans below was morbidly amusing…a battle between goddesses indeed!

'You want to know one last secret, before you meet you maker?' Asha leaned in to whisper into her ear. 'He's not dead.'

Freyja froze.

'You really think some blood smears and a laser-riddled coat count as conclusive evidence?' Asha added. 'Tut tut, little Traveller. Oh, he's alive. Boxed. Very, very safe. For as long as we need him…and he's proving very useful indeed…'

'You-' Freyja couldn't even summon a suitable expletive, her battered body unable to do much more than sway futilely in Asha's grasp.

'So, Frey, what do you think of your great hero and idol now?' And Asha let go. For one oddly peaceful moment Freyja was weightless as light, turning through the air with nothing but inevitable silence awaiting her in the courtyard. She saw Asha's silhouette move away on the roof…escaped. Not that it mattered now. No doubt her back would break when she landed, and she'd take what she'd learned with her to her unlikely grave. But then the thought intruded.

He's alive…

Some instinct she didn't remember possessing or acquiring prompted her to execute an impossible twist in mid-air, slipping the sonic screwdriver out of her pocket into her right hand. Her thumb found the switch and as she fell past one of the great swathes of white silk adorning the front columns she took aim. A tear appeared and one of the supporting cords dropped. Despite her injuries she somehow found the reflexes to lunge out, and clung with all that remained of her strength to the golden-twined rope as it swung inwards. It burned her hands as she slid down it, but the drop to the floor was no longer fatal even if it jarred her bones as she let go. Lurching to her feet, she regarded the gaggle of astonished natives dispassionately for a moment and then wondered why on earth the Doctor was standing at the front, looking at her. He cocked his head meaningfully at her, looked deliberately at the nearest side alley, and then the crowd closed around him. Freyja didn't even wait, responding to the unspoken prompt by reeling in the indicated direction. Drawing on reserves of strength she'd never even known she had, she somehow made it back to the countryside, bypassing the city gates through the sewer as if on autopilot. Once she'd reached the crest of the first foothill, however, she felt her knees give and collapsed, blackness taking her.