Child of Earth

By Lumendea

Chapter Thirty-Two: Dangerous Enterprise: Moment of Calm

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of the spinoff material and I gain no income off of this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.

…

The bright sun overhead was the only saving grace of being outside on the chilly January morning as far as Rose Tyler was concerned. In the yard of the Tyler house, Rani Chandra was doing a series of punches as she moved across the brown lawn and carefully avoiding the raised flowerbeds. Rose smiled as she watched the teenager's form and glanced towards Clyde who was doing pushups in the corner. She tried not to laugh when she caught him glancing up towards Rani after every few pushups. The boy was not subtle. Smiling slightly, Rose turned her attention back to Rani who had finished the series of punches and was looking her way.

"Good job," Rose told her with a nod earning a pleased look from the teenager. "You're moving smoothly and your form is good." She paused thoughtfully. "You need to be careful in how much power you put into your punches and kicks. Be careful not to throw yourself off balance, but you've got the basics."

"Thanks for teaching me," Rani answered with a grin, wiping some sweat off her forehead. "I feel more confident just knowing that I've got the ability to react to a threat."

"I know exactly what you mean," Rose agreed with a nod. "Sharon and Shareen have started taking self-defense classes together so they can learn. You've got the basics and you're got a good build for it, Rani, you might want to look at studying martial arts or taking a more advanced class. I'm pretty good, but I'm not trained to teach others."

"I'll talk to my Dad," Rani promised before looking over at Clyde. "We're done for the day Clyde, you can stop now."

"Oh good," Clyde sighed in relief, half collapsing on the ground. "I really wasn't bored enough for this. Why did I do this to myself."

"You're being a wimp," Rani teased, making Rose's smile widen. "You're not bored anymore are you?"

"Too bad the Smiths are out of town," Clyde grumbled as he stood up and wiped his forehead. "Why'd they have to go to Germany?"

"Sarah Jane was invited to cover an event and with it being break she thought it would make a good holiday," Rani reminded him with a roll of her eyes as she cleaned off her own face. "Still I miss then." She paused and looked a bit sheepish. "But the break from Skye is a little nice."

"Rani how could you say such a thing?" Rose half laughed and half asked. "She's a darling girl."

"I don't know," Clyde chuckled. "You weren't here when Skye discovered Blue Peter."

"Oh," Rani sighed dramatically. "She's almost obsessed. Loves watching it."

"Hey I loved Blue Peter as a kid," Rose countered with a frown. "You can learn a little about everything watching it."

"Yeah except Skye is actually trying to go back and watch every episode," Clyde informed with a grimace. "And I mean every episode."

"It's terrible," Rani agreed eagerly. "Sarah Jane is pretending it isn't bothering her and Skye actually getting Luke to watch them with her."

"Well sibling bonding," Rose offered weakly as she tried to remember what year Blue Peter even started. "And hey Skye has a lot to learn about Earth. She's clever, but she doesn't have Luke's super-fast information processing ability." Rose chuckled and nodded to Rani for her start practising again. "And it could be worse."

"How could it be worse?" Clyde whined.

"She could have become obsessed with Coronation Street and be trying to track down and watch all of those."

"Fair point," Rani conceded. "Course she'd just have to talk to my mum."

"Really?" Rose questioned, pressing her lips together thoughtfully. "My Mum is an Eastenders fan. That and about half the reality shows currently on."

Rani made a face and Clyde dramatically rolled his eyes. Rose was saved from whatever 'humorous' comment that Clyde was about to make by her mobile ringing. She fished it out of the pocket of her hoodie and glanced down at the number. It was Kate's private line at UNIT.

"Hello," Rose greeted. "Everything alright?"

"We're fine," Kate assured her with a hint of amusement. "I'm not calling about a crisis actually, this is good news."

"Really? Now I'm very interested."

"The Valiant is ready for its first space flight. We're taking her to the asteroid belt for a quick run," Kate informed her in an even tone though Rose could hear the excitement.

"Really?" Rose gasped. "Already? I thought you were looking at another six months!"

"Not everything is finished yet, but the engines, navigation and shields are fully operations. Geneva wants a run to confirm that all the money has been worth it. We want you there of course since your work with crashed aliens has been so critical."

"Oh wow, I'd love to!" Rose replied with a widening grin. "How soon?"

"Today."

"Today?" Rose repeated. "Are you serious?"

"Geneva only made the request yesterday. I would have called sooner, but the last twenty-four hours have been crazy. You're still on break-"

"Doesn't matter," Rose assured her. "I'll meet you at HQ in say two hours."

"Two hours," Kate repeated. "Until then Rose."

Rose ended the call, letting out a breath of excitement as her nerves twisted in her chest. She could feel a nervous flutter in her stomach and couldn't help but feel pleased. While it would be a secret now, this would be historic and she got to be a part of the first mission, even if it was only an engine and navigation test.

"What's up?" Rani asked as she eyed Rose's phone. "It isn't the Doctor is it?"

"No, it's Kate Stewart," Rose answered, giving the girl a look. "We've got a thing this afternoon."

"What thing?" Clyde asked as he moved over to join them. "Science department lunch or something?"

"Uh no, something they want me to take a look at," Rose replied only to get a pair of very curious looks in response. "UNIT has been working on a… ship for awhile-"

"The Valiant," they both said at once, nodding and drawing a look of irritation from Rose.

"Clearly I need to talk with Spock about how much classified information he gives the two of you."

"Hey we don't go spreading it around," Clyde protested.

"Is it done?" Rani asked eagerly.

"Almost," Rose agreed with a small smile. "Uh look this may take a couple days actually. It all just depends on how it goes. I've got to get cleaned up and head into London."

"Right," Rani agreed with a nod. "Just… tell us what you can afterwards okay?"

"Okay," Rose agreed with a small smile before she nodded towards the gate. "Here ends the lesson for today."

Rani and Clyde headed out through the side gate, waving to Rose and making her promise to see them soon. Both were moving a bit slowly, but Rose was happy to note that their exercises and training had gotten them to a level where they weren't as tired. Still, she imagined after their showers they'd be relaxing most of the day. Rolling her own shoulders, Rose walked into the kitchen and took another drink of water. Then she headed upstairs for a shower.

…

Towelling off her still damp hair, Rose headed down the stairs dressed in jeans and a nicer dark red jumper. She heard someone moving in the kitchen and glanced inside to find Rita Anne taking a kettle off the stove.

The older woman must have heard her because without turning around she called, "Sit down and have a cuppa."

Smiling, Rose moved into the kitchen as Rita Anne was finishing her preparations. Sitting down at the table with Rita Anne, Rose smiled at the much older woman and cupped her warm mug gratefully. She shifted the towel to keep drying her hair and glanced towards the clock, noting that she was doing alright on time.

"Still teaching the kids self-defence?" Rita Anne asked with a near huff. "In this temperature?"

"It's not so bad," Rose countered with a chuckle. "Besides you won't always have the luxury of it being nice weather."

"I can't argue with that I suppose," Rita Anne conceded, sounding a bit irritated by that. "And it's not a bad thing for Rani to know how to look after herself. With her wanting to be a journalist, she'll probably cross a few people in the future. Especially if she keeps learning from Sarah Jane."

Nodding, Rose sipped the warm tea and glanced up as her mother walked by with a basket of laundry, humming to herself. Rose followed Jackie with her eyes until her mother moved out of sight and then looked back at Rita Anne who looked a bit disgusted.

"You haven't met her new bloke yet have you?" Rita Anne questioned.

"No," Rose answered with another glance towards the doorway. "I didn't realise it was that serious. Mum's had so many…" Rose trailed off uncomfortably and shook her head. "I sorta stopped paying much attention."

"She's talking about asking this one to move in," Rita Anne informed Rose sternly. "Not just those visits I was supposed to pretend I didn't know about."

"Really?" Rose questioned in surprise, frowning a little. "Does that bother you?"

"Jackie having a man living here? No, might convince Mickey that he really doesn't have to visit all the time." Rita Anne shook her head and picked up her tea again. "No there's just something not right about this one. I don't like him."

"How so?" Rose questioned, straightening up and feeling much more alert. "Anything in particular?"

"Nothing I can put my finger on," Rita Anne admitted. "He's attractive, your Mum's age and polite enough. He's got money of his own so I don't think he's after her or rather your bank accounts. I even made sure to mention last time he was over that you pay for everything, but that didn't phase him. He just remarked that you are a dutiful daughter, but there's just something! I can't put my finger on it and your Mum thinks he's just lovely."

She slapped her hand on the table and Rose frowned. Mickey's grandmother was one tough lady, she'd raised daughter who grew up to have Mickey and left him with her. She's been feared by the kids on the Estate who knew better than to try anything. Plus she was well past the point of allowing anything to surprise her, even the information that Rose and Mickey both worked for UNIT had only gotten a hum and a lecture from her. So the idea that Rita Anne didn't like this guy and couldn't put her finger on it was worrying.

It wasn't like she had reasons to worry about herself either. Rita Anne couldn't just be concerned about being asked to leave which was unlikely as she had become family to Jackie. Mickey would be done with his own degree in a year and Rose knew his officer commission was waiting for that day. Benton had his eye on Mickey and even with him retiring in the future Rose knew that Kate would appreciate Mickey's more balanced approach. He had a well-paying job and despite Rita Anne's protests would have been happy to buy a house for her to live with him in. So this was something else completely and Rose didn't like the sound of that.

"Any idea when I can meet him?" Rose questioned seriously earning her a small smile from Rita Anne.

"That's what I like about you Rose," Rita Anne remarked. "You respect your elders and don't beat around the bush."

Rose wasn't sure how accurate either of those was, but she appreciated it and smiled. "Well if it is getting serious then I should meet him regardless, shouldn't I."

"By that logic, your mother should be meeting that boyfriend you're keeping hidden," Rita Anne retorted with a laugh, giving a pointed look to Rose's ring which was now on her left hand.

"I've had this for years and you know it," Rose reminded her, fighting back a blush. "And wearing it on my left hand keeps idiots from making passes."

"Doesn't change the fact you've got a man," Rita Anne told Rose calmly. "Just pointing out that you'll need to be a bit careful in how you approach this with your mother."

"Noted," Rose sighed, rubbing her temples for a moment. "I've got to get my things together. I'm going to a big meeting, last minute." Rose told her carefully. "I might not be back for a couple of days."

"Then I don't want to know any more about it."

Rose chuckled and nodded, "See you later Rita Anne."

"Do stay out of trouble Rose," Rita Anne called after her as Rose headed up the stairs.

…..

UNIT HQ was in near chaos as Rose parked her SUV and climbed out to meet Malcolm who was waiting for her by the lift doors. He looked frazzled but was practically jittery with excitement.

"Hello Malcolm," Rose greeted with a smile, letting the man give her a big hug. "Excited?" she asked with a teasing smile.

"Oh very Rose," he answered with an eager smile, grabbing her hand and tugging her along after him. 'I'm so glad you could join us for this."

"So how is the Valiant?" Rose questioned as a guard opened a door for them.

"The name is still being debated," Malcolm admitted with a laugh as they walked through the corridors of UNIT.

"What are the options?" Rose questioned.

"Well the original plans were for a ship called the Valiant," Kate informed Rose as she walked down the hall towards them. "But that was for an atmosphere vessel." She smiled at Rose and extended her hand. "Good to see you, Rose."

"Always a pleasure Kate," Rose returned as she released Kate's hand. "So you were saying?"

"After our work helping crashed ships we've learned enough to make it a fully operational space ship," Malcolm chimed in, rubbing his hands together eagerly like a boy on Christmas morning. "So there's new debate on the name."

"Not so much a debate," Kate pointed out with a fond smile in Malcolm's direction. "More like suggestions from some of the science department."

"What suggestions?" Rose asked, her lips curling into a smile as she grew suspicious.

"Enterprise," Malcolm confided with a grin.

"Okay I like that much better than Valiant," Rose told Kate seriously as she turned back to her. "Can we hold a vote?"

"Are you going to hand over Spock to serve as the main computer control?" Kate questioned with a growing smile.

"Not yet, after Sarah Jane has no need of them then we may have to seriously talk about that," Rose offered carefully. "But that could mean Spock on the Enterprise-A or something."

"Let's worry about the first Enter- I mean the first ship for now," Kate replied, shaking her head at her own little slip. "And come along Rose, I'll take you to the transmat."

"You coming, Malcolm?" Rose questioned as she looked back at Malcolm.

"I need to wrap this up and then I'll be right behind you," Malcolm promised.

Kate made an impatient noise and Rose turned to follow her out of the room while rolling her eyes. They stepped into a long plain corridor and a woman appeared to be waiting by a doorway at the end of it. A few soldiers were scattered about on guard duty and nodded to her and Kate as they strode by. Kate came to a stop in front of the young woman wearing a very long multicoloured scarf and a lab coat. Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her brown eyes were largely hidden behind thick glasses. She stood up very straight as they approached and shifted nervously.

"Rose Tyler this is Petronella Osgood," Kate introduced calmly though a smile was tugging at her lips. "Our newest recruit to the Science Department."

"Nice to meet you," Rose greeted even as her eyes lingered on the scarf, remembering the last time she'd seen the Doctor. "Nice scarf."

"Thanks," Osgood stuttered. "Uh very nice to meet you too."

"So dare I ask where they found you?" Rose asked in a teasing tone.

"Actually my dad was part of UNIT," Osgood stammered. "Not part of the science department, but still…"

"That's great," Rose told her, glancing towards Kate who looked ready to laugh.

"Yeah," Osgood gasped, shifting nervously again.

"Uh… are you okay?" Rose questioned uneasily.

"Sorry! I just- I mean you're Rose Tyler," Osgood breathed with barely contained excitement. "Future Mrs Doctor."

Rose grimaced at that description, but beside her, Kate merely chuckled. "Don't call me that," Rose sighed, trying to keep her voice even. "I love the man and I'm accepting that practically everyone at UNIT knows about us, but I am not only my relationship."

"Right," Osgood breathed as her eyes widened further and the hero worship glow in them actually increased. "Of course you're right."

Rose had a bad feeling that her response had only increased the hero worship radiating off the young woman. Still, she had a feeling that the Doctor would find her adorable and Rose had to admit that she really was. Osgood recovered quickly and looked back to Kate for instructions.

"We're going to transmat up to the ship now," Kate informed the young woman. "Toshiko and Malcolm will follow us in a few minutes."

"Yes ma'am," Osgood answered quickly, spinning back to the doorway so fast that she almost tripped on her scarf. "Right through here Miss Tyler."

Rose looked over at Kate one more time, noting the amused expression still clear on her face. It was a little annoying and a little funny, especially when Rose conceded how much her amused expression was like her fathers. Sighing, she followed Osgood into the room and smiled as she took in the repaired transmat machine on the far side of the room.