IDChapter23
After getting back to their room, which looked remarkably like a cheap hotel room minus the TV and with stone walls, Rose finished filling Jon in on what had transpired since she "died".
"I can't believe you've regenerated ten times. That was the most painful thing I've ever gone through, ten times worse than giving birth. I mean, yeah it's worth it, but OMG, I never realised just how traumatic it is."
"Well, you just had your entire DNA ripped apart and re-written. In an odd way you know, I'm rather glad you experienced it. I wish I'd been there, but now you are the one person who understands what it's like." Jon cupped her face in his palms. "I didn't think it possible to love you more, but I do." They stood together for several moments, forehead to forehead, simply drinking in each others presence.
"Mummy." Arianna had been sitting on the bed watching her parents. Her parents broke away from each other and sat down on the bed with her, one on each side.
"What is it, Sweetheart?" Rose asked. Wordlessly Arianna reached up and touched her mother's face, and simultaneously reached into her mind. Mother and daughter mentally hugged and sought to re-assure each other that all was well. Arianna took her hand away and smiled.
"Still me?" Her mother teased lightly.
"Still you." Arianna agreed with satisfaction.
"Sooo- ," Jon began, thinking this was probably as good a time as any to approach Rose with the idea, "I've been thinking."
"Uh - oh," Rose teased, "This is going to be bad, I know it!"
"No, no... not really, I don't think... well, maybe. Anyway, at this point I don't think there's any question but that the Shadow Proclamation in this universe oversteps its bounds."
"No, no question about that. The people of Karn would also agree with you there. That's why they've never joined, or so Isana and Jack tell me."
"So, what do we do about it?" Jon asked.
Rose stared at him a moment. "You want to use the Krillitane oil to resurrect the Time Lords."
Jon nodded. "Who else could stand up against them?"
Rose shook her head. "No one that I can think of, or surely someone would have by now. But Jon," she looked deep into his eyes, "Time Lords aren't exactly perfect, either. You of all people should know that. What if we wind up creating an even bigger threat? You saw how paranoid the Time Lords in the other universe became. You saw what they were willing to do to come back."
Jon blew out his breath. "But we know better now, and we can teach the new society just how corrupt the old one was, and set measures in place to prevent it. Hindsight being 20-20 and all. We can do this, I know we can. Look at it this way, Rose, what have we got to lose? The time lines in this universe are in constant flux, there seems to be little that is pre-determined. It's as if it were made for us. We can do better, I know we can."
"It's certainly worth thinking about," Rose agreed, "but first we've got to grow our TARDIS. Until we're safe in our own home, I don't think we can seriously start building a new society."
"Good point," Jon agreed. "That will be our first priority, then. As soon as Jack gets back, we'll get his help in locating the right spot, then we'll get going with growing our new home."
"Agreed. There's one other thing we need his help with before we do anything else."
"What's that?" Jon asked.
"He needs to warn Earth, and especially Torchwood. He has vortex manipulators, he can warn them before the Shadow Proclamation ambassadors get there."
Jon looked puzzled. "You think Earth should turn down Level 6 status?"
"No. But they do need to develop defenses in the next millennium in case our plan doesn't work out. They also need to examine the language of their agreement with the Shadows closely."
"True." He grinned and hugged her. "I think I'll keep you around, Rose Tyler."
"Well that's good to hear. I'm certainly glad I didn't rescue her for no reason." Jack stood in the doorway, grinning. He'd just gotten back from hiding his ship by very cleverly taking off, passing behind the moon, and then vortexing into a nearby ravine where sensors could only detect the ship if they were aimed at precisely the right angle.
"Uncle Jack! That was quick!" Arianna ran over to him, and he scooped her up. "Mummy and Daddy are going to grow a TARDIS!" She told him breathlessly.
"Really?" He asked her, wide-eyed. "How are they going to do that?"
"Well, first of all we need to locate the right spot, and we'll need some supplies. I'll need your help with that. After that, all we really need is to be left alone for a couple of years." Jon shrugged matter-of-factly.
"Hmmm... fill me in." Jack came over and sat on the bed next to Jon.
Jon told him of the environment and supplies needed, and of a location in the southern hemisphere which had been used for that very purpose in the other universe. As it turned out, that location so far had not been developed here, and Jack thought he knew the perfect cover story for keeping their activities private. "We could develop a mining operation, under the guise of an umbrella corporation, secretly owned by the Underground Railroad. I can come up with a private financier, someone who owes you something."
"Someone owes me something?" Jon blinked.
"Yep. Seems you and your family killed off some renegade Krillitanes awhile back. There's a sizable uncollected reward waiting for you, courtesy of the Krillitane Esteemed Father."
"Really? That's fantastic! So how much is this reward?"
Jack grinned. "You'll be rich, Doc. You'll never be hurting for money."
"Call me Jon, please." He reached out and patted Jack's arm. "Doctor is my public name, but among friends I prefer Jon now."
"OK - Jon. But forgive me if I slip up, it'll take a little getting used to."
"Right, then. I believe you said something earlier about eating?"
"Yep, we have a central dining area, nothing fancy, but you'll be able to meet the people I work with, and we can tell you more about our operation here." Jack looked at Jon earnestly. "I hope you'll be proud of me. I've really tried to do good things here."
"Jack!" Jon looked at him as if wounded. He leaned over and embraced Jack in a bear-hug. "Captain, I am always proud of you! Never forget that!"
Jack stood up and smiled back at Jon. "OK," he said, but Jon could see pain and doubt in his face. He wondered what could possibly have happened to cause his friend to feel that way. He'd have to look into that later.
Jack escorted them down a passageway and into an open area where tables had been set up. The makeshift dining hall had quite a few people there, including a man and woman with a small girl child who eyed Arianna with interest. As Jack sat them down at a long table, Isana and Koschei joined them. Rose noted that whenever Jack was not with Isana, Koschei was. As they settled down to their table, the couple with the little girl came over and introduced themselves.
"Excuse us, I am Daneth, brother to Koschei, and this is Sabilla, my wife, and Alia, our daughter. We were hoping that perhaps your little girl could come over and dine with us, Alia hardly ever gets to associate with other children."
"Why thank you!" Jon smiled. "I am the Doctor, this is my wife Rose, and our daughter Arianna." Turning to Arianna he asked, "Would you like to go eat with them?"
"Yes!" Arianna squeaked excitedly.
Remember the rules, Rose thought to her. Pretend like you're on Earth talking with the neighbors. No Time Lord stuff.
Arianna nodded and scampered over to their table with them.
They sat down and Koschei gesture for food and utensils to be brought over. "Nothing fancy," he said with a smile. "Just basic food." As they were being served they all took turns introducing themselves. Jon blanched when Koschei stated his name, but kept his reaction under control. It's just a name, he told himself.
"So," Koschei started, "what brings you to Karn? Surely not our cuisine, although it's better up on the surface."
"We're looking for others of our kind." Jon said. "We come from pretty far away, and all our kind are gone. We were hoping to find more here."
"Pretty far away as in, another universe entirely?" Koschei asked. At Jon's look, he added "News travels fast. I know they're watching you. 'They' being the Shadows. What did you do to earn their wrath?"
Jon considered his words carefully before responding. "My wife was attacked in her sleep and killed one of them while defending herself."
Koschei sat back in his chair abruptly and looked appraisingly at Rose. "Pretty formidable. I didn't think it was possible to kill a Shadow, let alone live to tell about it. But then, you didn't live, did you? Rumour has it you're dead."
Rose met his gaze and replied, "Well, you can't trust rumours, can you? Obviously, I'm not dead."
"Look, if you want our protection, you're going to have to be honest with us." Koschei stated in disbelief.
"They have our protection." Jack stated flatly, glaring at Koschei. "And speaking of honesty, where exactly did you hear these 'rumours'?"
Koschei met Jack's gaze unflinchingly. "I have my sources, just as you have yours. Last time I checked, I am second in command and have the right to question anyone I want. You have no right to question my honesty, Harkness. You haven't told the entire truth about these friends of yours, have you?"
"Both of you, stop it!" Isana's retort cracked like a whip across the table, silencing them. "I'll personally debrief them later. Right now, I'd like to eat."
At that they all tucked into their meals, with the two opponents occasionally exchanging glares. Isana explained all about the Underground Railroad to Jon, who was excited to find that there were remnants of this universe's Gallifreyans.
"Perhaps," he said to Isana, "we can help each other out. I can help you develop better technology to stay hidden and defend yourselves, and you can help me find connect with what's left of my race."
Isana smiled. She hadn't felt this optimistic in a long time. Perhaps her people could quit hiding someday soon. One could only hope.