The Doctor and Stella have a little... talk. ;)
**Enjoy! Hope this will tide you over for a little while, it may be a few weeks before my eyes are healed enough to permit me to spend a lot of time in front of my laptop. Surgery in 4 hours, eeek, I really cut this one close!**
When Stella Evans arrived at Torchwood around midday, she went straight to her office in the hopes of finishing up the last of her reports for the week. As she unlocked her door, she grabbed a handful of memos in her inbox and began sorting through them, making her way to sit behind her desk. A neatly folded note caught her attention.
Stella,
Please come by my office directly, there is an important matter I must speak with you about.
The Doctor
Putting down the rest of her interdepartmental mail, she briefly wondered what could possibly be so pressing that he would summon her to his office in such a manner. The Doctor had not been around the labs much over the past few weeks, opting instead to spend most of his time with that wretched Rose Tyler. They would run into one another every few days but he was usually busy and while cordial, not exactly keen on spending much time in her presence. He most certainly did not stay in his office for hours on end as was his habit. No doubt the Tyler heiress was behind it all.
Taking a deep breath, she schooled her features into a neutral expression and made her way to his office. If he was planning on leaving R&D to join Rose's team permanently she would most certainly have to tread carefully with her comments. She would not however go down without a fight; this would not be yet another one of that horrid woman's victories over her. No, this time Rose Tyler would not win.
A soft knock interrupted the Doctor's thoughts and he looked up swiftly, taking one last glance around his office. Closing the book he was absentmindedly paging through, he sat up straight and called out, assuming it was Stella coming to see him.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly and a smiling Stella Evans poked her head in.
"I got your note Doctor, you needed to see me? Is this a good time?"
"Oh yes, please come in. Thank you for coming, I hope I didn't interrupt any of your meetings?"
Closing the door behind her, she gave him another warm smile and shook her head as she took a seat across from him.
"Oh not at all, I don't have much on my plate today actually, just some reports to finish up. Not to worry, Doctor, on the contrary it's good to see you! The labs have been too quiet as of late, the staff does miss you when you're away. Enjoying your field work? I do hope you're not planning on trading us in for guns and orders, eh?" She let out a delicate laugh, attempting to soften the question that had come out a bit more pointed than she had intended.
Keeping a friendly expression, the Doctor sat back in his chair and gave Stella a reassuring smile. "Oh, well that's me… never could stay still for very long! I find myself craving a little adventure every now and then but no, I enjoy research and tinkering far too much to leave the labs entirely."
Relaxing visibly, Stella also sat back a bit in her chair and smiled even wider.
"Well, that's a relief, I have to admit. I cannot tell you how valuable you are to us Doctor, or how much we would all miss your presence here. The progress this department has made since your arrival is beyond anything I could have ever hoped for."
The Doctor watched in amusement as the woman before him smiled and simpered, knowing that if he let her, she would continue stroking his ego all day. As much as he loved a good dose of adoration however, the time for games had passed. His smile faded.
Sensing the change in his demeanor, Stella's grin also wavered and she crossed her arms, attempting to adopt a more serious and concerned look on her face.
"So, if you didn't call me in here to tender your resignation Doctor, what can I help you with then?" She tried to keep her tone light and informal.
"Weeell, I was hoping you would help me solve a little conundrum actually."
Sitting up straighter, she leaned forward and nodded eagerly. "Of course, anything. You know I'm here to help in whatever way I can, is it a question of materials or manpower? New project?"
"Materials, actually."
"Oh, well what is it you need that we don't already have here? Whatever it is, I'm sure I can acquire it for you… as director of this department there isn't much I can't get my hands on, of course." She winked and sat back in her chair again, looking quite pleased with herself.
"Indeed," replied the Doctor dryly, an eyebrow raised.
Stella's face registered a moment of confusion as if trying to work out if he was mocking her. Giving a slight shake of the head she proceeded cautiously.
"So… what exactly is it then?"
"Well, you see, a few months ago Torchwood acquired some very interesting crystals. Tim Oldham was researching their psychic dampening qualities and — are you quite alright Stella?"
The Doctor feigned concern as the color drained out of her face. She had suddenly gone quite rigid.
Realizing her indiscretion, Stella quickly recovered and gave an embarrassed laugh. "Oh yes, sorry! I just recalled some important details I left out of one of my debriefings yesterday. It'll mean another mound of paperwork to finish up this afternoon, but never mind that, I do apologize for becoming distracted… go on, you were saying?"
"Right, yes… well, these crystals. Tim had mentioned his research to me and seemed to be close to a breakthrough, brilliant that Tim! Anyhow, I've been giving the matter some thought and I realized what modifications needed to be made to render them effective while still protecting the wearer from their dampening powers. However, when I went to the vault to examine the collection, I found most of them gone."
The Doctor watched with increasing satisfaction as Stella's carefully constructed façade became even more strained. She remained silent, trying to work out just how much visible concern was believable.
"Upon conferring with Tim he informed me that he had been ordered to cease his research and deliver up his notes as well as most of the crystals over into UNIT possession. You yourself approved the transfer, is that right?"
"Yes, yes of course! I'm so sorry, I was trying to recall what research exactly it is we're talking about. But yes, I remember now. And so you're needing more crystals for your project than what we currently still have? Well, say no more Doctor, I'll have some transferred back from UNIT immediately. You should have them here within the week, I assure you! Now, if that is all I really should get back to my office, extra paperwork to get in order and all…"
As she hurriedly rose from her chair, the Doctor stood up and took the few steps that would put him between her and the door. Stella came up short, looking slightly alarmed.
"No, I'm afraid that's not all… you see, Stella, I didn't want to bother you if I didn't have to and so I called UNIT myself. I offered my assistance in whatever research they were conducting on the Metebelis crystals in exchange for a few back. Imagine my surprise, however, when Lieutenant Magambo denied any such request or transfer being made!"
Stella's alarm was becoming more and more apparent, as her eyes widened and quickly flitted from side to side, scanning her surroundings. Then her gaze met the Doctor's once more and with all the ease of one very accustomed to dealing with high security information, she gave him a placating smile and a dismissive little laugh.
"Well, of course she did, you don't have the clearance necessary to deal with UNIT regarding this matter. Please Doctor, rest assured I will handle this directly, you need not bother yourself any further."
As she tried to sidestep her way around him, the Doctor moved with her and once again planted himself in her way. Her eyes flashed with annoyance and her forced smile faltered once more.
"Really, Doctor, I must go!"
"Ahh, but what's the rush? Surely those reports can keep just a tick longer. I'm not done you see, nooo, I'm just getting started!" He flashed her a manic grin that any other day would have pleased her, but coupled with the cold, hard glint in his eyes now caused a shiver to run down her spine. When she said nothing, he pressed on.
"Do you know what I think?"
Crossing her arms, Stella pursed her lips, no longer trying to hide her frustration. "About what, exactly?"
"About the crystals! Do keep up!"
"No, Doctor, I don't. So please, go on, delight me."
"My pleasure, Stella, my pleasure… Curious things, these crystals. For a substance so rare in this universe, they do keep popping up in unexplained places!"
"What, in UNIT's possession? Why in the world would that be odd? We transfer goods of all kinds between our agencies, and just on account of you not having the necessary clearance doesn't mean-"
"AS I WAS SAYING-"the Doctor cut her off soundly while nonchalantly taking out his sonic and idly beginning to throw it up and down in the air, catching it effortlessly while still holding the woman's gaze unflinchingly, "I find it ODD that while they are supposed to be in UNIT's possession, they have instead cropped up in two of the most unlikely places!"
He paused, giving Stella the chance to ask the inevitable question. She remained silent, challenging him instead with an upturned eyebrow of her own.
"What? No guesses? Ahh, you're taking all the fun out of this! I do love a good guessing game! Pity. Anyhow, after some meticulous searching of the Jorxifallican remains, I came upon this beauty!" Reaching into his suit coat pocket, the Doctor pulled out a small blue crystal housed in an intricately woven metallic receptacle. The encasing appeared fluid like, rippling constantly although retaining its shape as if it were as hard as any other metal. The glow of the metebelis crystal was slightly muted and more of purplish hue than the crystals in their natural form. Handing it over to Stella, he watched her face closely.
After turning the proffered crystal over a few times in her hand, she simply looked back up at the Doctor and shrugged.
"I don't see what this, whatever it is, has to do with the Metebelis crystals, Doctor. It doesn't even appear to be the same kind of rock." She handed it back to him and sighed. "Your point?"
"Ahh, my point, yes! Well, how strange that this slightly altered form of Metebelis should show up on the very life forms that attacked myself and all of Rose's team as well as somehow finding its way into this very same room."
"Not strange at all, you just took it out of your pocket! Doctor, really, why are you wasting my time here? Is this some sort of joke?"
"No, no, you misunderstand me. I'm speaking of two separate yet identical crystals. The other one is, again oddly enough, on you Stella Evans."
At this accusation, Stella let out a short harsh laugh. Spreading her arms out, she took an open stance as if inviting the Doctor to search her, a tight smile on her face.
"Ahh, but you see I've learned my lesson this time around. It was an exquisitely powerful perception filter that kept this concealed on that day. If it wasn't for my slightly addled and quite desperate state of mind as I lay injured in that warehouse, I would have never made the fortunate mistake that led to this…" With a lazy flick, he pointed his sonic at her and scanned from head to toe. As the sonic made its way back up the high pitched buzz increased in intensity at about waist level. Adjusting the setting with a click, a wavelike shimmer appeared over Stella's delicate belt buckle, its gold trim morphing into the same silvery fluid like metal that housed the crystal in the Doctor's other hand. The crystal within her buckle shone the muted purplish hue.
Shock replaced the smug smile that had just seconds ago settled upon Stella's face when she had welcomed the search.
"Clever, of course, the further modification to your crystal! Oh yes, you couldn't just waltz into Torchwood every day wearing a psychic dampening field, it would have been a dead giveaway! So you muted its power dramatically, leaving only enough to protect you from probing minds, say… mine perhaps? What you couldn't have known, of course, is that once I regained my memories of what I'd seen and felt in the warehouse, I recalled the specific… flavor, let's call it, of this crystal's dampening sensation. Modify it however you will, I'll not forget it now, oh no!" A self-satisfied smirk tugged at his lips as he surveyed her.
Stella's shock turned to defiance. "Oh Doctor, you are a clever man, but you are forgetting UNIT's part in all of this, not that you could possibly guess-"
"STOP LYING!" The Doctor's eyes blazed as he took a step closer, all trace of humor wiped clean off his face. His voice suddenly turned icy cold and very low, both in timbre as well as volume, causing Stella to strain to catch his words, though they were but mere inches apart.
"The only question that remains is why… though I dare say I can work that one out as well. You see, not knowing that Rose had been ill that weekend, you couldn't have known that she would be unable to take part in the search and rescue mission. She and Donna tried warning me about you, Stella, but I chose to give you the benefit of the doubt. However, I could be mistaken but as manipulative and despicable as you may be, I do not believe I was the intended target of that attack… was I?"
Stella said nothing for a moment, her eyes trained on the floor, chest rising and falling quickly and fists clenched. Then her gaze lifted and with tears in her eyes she gave a minute shake of the head.
"No… no, I never meant for you to get hurt. Please, you must believe me!" she whispered.
"So your target… it was Rose then?" Impossibly, his voice sunk lower still. Although he had not laid a finger on her or even made one single movement, Stella took a swift step back, bumping into the back of the chair she had just been sitting in.
"I… my objective was never to kill anyone, not even Rose! I just… it was meant to be a warning, that's all. I thought that perhaps you would convince her to step down if she were in enough danger. Please, I know how much she means to you, I would never wish to jeopardize your happiness-"
"People DIED, Stella! Whether it was your intention or not, it happened and all because of your ambitions and hatred! You disgust me."
What little color was left in her drained at that last comment and with it the last of all her pride and bluster. Openly weeping now, she clutched at one of the Doctor's arms which he wrenched away.
"Please Doctor, let me explain! You don't understand! You're a good man, I know you are… if you'll just give me-"
Although Stella was a tall woman, the Doctor drew himself up to his full height and it seemed to her that he towered above her, looking down in disdain.
"No second chances, I'm that sort of a man."
Without a second glance, he strode heavily to the door and flung it open; standing aside as Pete Tyler and two armed guards marched in. Behind them was Rose, who quickly made her way to the Doctor's side and reached for his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. They watched in silence as Stella was handcuffed and escorted away, still sobbing.