Child of Earth
By Lumendea
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Children of Earth: Threat Level Rising
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.
…
Timothy White or Clement MacDonald didn't talk much even as the nurses made frustrated noises as Rose helped him into the passenger side of her SUV. UNIT had gotten him released to her, but that was just step one in a newly forming plan that might or might not lead anyway. Breathing out slowly, Rose climbed into the driver's side and ignored the questioning looks the nurses were still giving her. It wasn't the priority right now and started the engine.
They headed back towards London on the A22 with the radio now. Timothy tensed up when they began talking about the strange chanting from children all around the world. It didn't take long for the a word to be thrown around with one commentator referencing the Sycorax ship. Otherwise there wasn't much. A brief statement had been made by Prime Minister Harriet Jones urging people to remain calm while the event was investigated. Similar statements had been made by other world leaders and Rose knew that her fellow agents around the world were all working on the mystery. Hopefully, it would remain peaceful and cooperative.
"Clem I'm taking you to a special computer that can scan you," Rose told him gently as she glanced at him in the corner of her eye. "It won't hurt and you have nothing to be afraid of."
"What are you looking for?" he asked nervously. "It's safe isn't it?" He flinched at his own question with wide eyes.
"Completely safe," Rose assured him. "The computer has scanned one of the children affected so he- it can run a comparison of the two of you. See if there is anything different. It might help us understand how the aliens are doing this."
To her relief, he nodded and Rose checked their location. They were nearing Ealing and she looked around at the various fast food places. "Are you hungry?" she asked gently. "We haven't got time for anything fancy, but that hospital food couldn't have been all that good."
Her words earned her an actual smile and Clem looked around outside with renewed interest. He pointed at a chip shop and Rose beamed at him. "Man after my own heart."
Pulling over, Rose debated having Clem wait in the car, but at his eager happy smile, she decided it would be okay. She dashed inside and got two orders of chips and a stack of napkins. Returning to Clem she handed him one order and wrestled the second into a cup holder.
"Don't tell anyone," Rose told him with a wink as they started driving again and she snagged chips as they went.
It was a fairly short drive, but Clem inhaled the chips and Rose made good progress on hers. There was no new information on the radio and no calls from Spock. Rose hoped that was a good thing, but couldn't help the nervous tap of her fingers against the steering wheel. They turned onto Bannerman Road and a long breath of mixed irritation and realisation escaped Rose. Several UNIT vehicles were parked on the street of Bannerman Road. Rose heard a sharp intake of breath from Clem.
"It's okay," she promised. "This is UNIT. I work for them. They're probably here to keep us safe and help with whatever we find."
Clem was still a little frightened by the crowd of people and Rose grimaced as she spotted her mother arguing with an exhausted looking sergeant. It was better than her flirting with him, Rose decided as she pulled around the UNIT vehicles and parked around the corner. Clem was looking around the neighbourhood like he'd never seen anything like it. Rose frowned a little. This man seemed to swing between an adult and a child.
"Come on then," Rose said as she popped the final chip into her mouth. "We'll do the scan and see what happens next."
"Okay," Clem agreed though there was a hint of hesitation in his voice.
Rose left the SUV unlocked and offered him a smile as he climbed out. "It's safe," she promised again. "I'll look after you."
Normally that sort of promise from an average height blonde woman didn't inspire much confidence, but Clem looked relieved. Rose wondered just what he could smell about her. He followed up around the corner towards Sarah Jane's house. The UNIT soldiers nodded in greeting to her and Rose hoped that no one stopped them. Clem was receiving a few questioning looks and stayed on Rose's left, keeping her between him and the strangers.
Looking through the crowd, Rose felt another pang of worry as she didn't recognise anyone present. There were a few familiar looking enlisted men, but she didn't know any of the officers. The knowledge that they were tied up somewhere else didn't reassure her. None the less, she offered them a small wave and escorted Clem to the drive of Sarah Jane's house. The door opened ahead of them and an irate Sarah Jane stood in the entry. She gestured them inside and quickly shut the door behind them.
"Why are they all here?" Sarah Jane demanded with a glance out the window. "I don't like my home being surrounded by soldiers."
"They're by mine too," Rose pointed out with a sigh. "Clem's our only lead right now Sarah Jane. Kate probably told Benton and they decided that keeping him safe was the priority." Rose turned to Clem and gave him a reassuring smile. "Clem this is Sarah Jane. Don't worry her bark is much worse than her bite." The statement got her a sigh from Sarah Jane and a smile from Clem.
"Just hurry," Sarah Jane begged after a moment. "Barbara called and asked Johnny and I to join them in Cambridge. They share your concerns and the news isn't helping much."
"Understood," Rose agreed. "Finish packing and I'll take care of the scan."
Sarah Jane looked like she might say something more, but didn't. With a soft smile to Clem, Rose gestured him up the stairs. She paused on the second-floor landing just long enough to glance into Skye's room where she was busy packing a bag with her father's help. Rose kept moving up to the attic and found Spock open and waiting for them.
"It smells…" Clem trailed off uneasily as he looked at Spock. "Different."
"Uh the computer is a bit different," Rose agreed carefully, worried about startling the man. "Just stand right here," she told him as she headed into the room and stood in front of Spock. "There'll be a beam of light, but it won't hurt at all."
Clem was looking around the house with a strange expression. It was fond in a way, but also wistful and Rose found herself wondering just who this man had been before. She was tempted to ask but gestured him up the staircase. He followed her calmly and Rose thought again that he reminded her of a little boy in a way. Thankfully no one was in the attic and Spock was waiting for them.
"Now Clem this is the special computer," Rose said loudly, hoping that Spock would take the hint. "Just stand right here," she told him with a smile as she moved further into the room. "This won't hurt."
"You're worried," Clem observed with a slight frown. "Isn't it."
Rose frowned a little at the tic but dismissed it quickly. "A bit," she admitted honestly. "But I won't let anything hurt you."
The look Clem gave her made Rose feel so sad. He seemed truly surprised by the sentiment and without another word stepped over in front of Spock. The Xylok remained silent and a beam appeared in the air, sweeping down Clem's face and body. Rose tensed up and watched the screen as an image of Clem appeared. The beam moved up to his head and Rose was silent as it scanned his brain more deeply.
"This place smells strange," Clem complained softly as the beam vanished. "Wrong, not like Earth. Not right."
"Yeah okay," Rose breathed as she reached over and took his hand. "Okay, that's fair. I have to wrap some things up with Sp- the computer, but why don't you wait in the car. Is that okay?"
"It's alright," Clem agreed only to twitch and add, "Isn't it."
Rose wasn't sure what to make of that but led Clem back downstairs. Sarah Jane, Johnny and the kids were arranging their bags in the drive next to the family car as they stepped outside. Clem looked at Skye with a strange mix of envy and sympathy but kept moving. It was a short walk back to the SUV and Rose gestured for the UNIT personnel to stay back.
Clem remained quiet and climbed into the front seat of the SUV without a word. He sighed and settled back on the seat for a moment before he lowered the window and the chair. Rose smiled a little as he positioned himself for a nap and quickly moved back towards the house.
"Ma'am," an unfamiliar captain called, drawing her attention. "What's your plan now?"
"I'll take him to UNIT HQ," Rose promised. "I think it's best if he stays with me. He's been through something terrible in the past."
"I'll confirm that with HQ," the captain agreed, glancing towards Clem.
"We'll leave in a second," Rose added as she began to move back towards Sarah Jane's house. "I just need to follow up with Spock."
"Yes Ma'am," the captain agreed, snapping a salute.
"You don't need to do that," Rose sighed even with a slight smile. "Really."
Holding back a sigh when the captain awkwardly kept the salute up, Rose walked back toward the house. She was really starting to understand the Doctor's hesitation to accept salutes. Once you did it was like you had agreed to take command. That was not something she wanted at all. Especially not a day like today.
A strange sound down the street made Rose pause on the front doorstep. Suddenly there was a loud crash that made Rose jump into the house and look around frantically. Sarah Jane grabbed onto Skye in the living room and looked towards the windows with worry. K-9 rolled past her feet and with a soft hum began to float into the air.
"Mum?" Skye questioned softly just before the sound of gunfire ripped through the air, coming from the end of Bannerman Road. "Mum!"
"Skye, stay with me," Sarah Jane ordered sharply.
"Sarah Jane go to UNIT and get out of here," Rose told her as she glanced towards the roof. There was a loud noise from the backyard that made them all jump. "We're under attack!" Johnny pushed Luke towards the front door and stayed between Sarah Jane and the back. "Go!" Rose hissed. "K-9 escort them out."
"Rose?" Sarah Jane gasped softly as a crash from the back door made them all jump.
"Spock!" Rose called out, dashing for the stairs as K-9 began to fire at the intruders.
"Suggest you engage running mode Mistress," K-9 offered quickly. "I will cover the retreat."
Outside the house, she could hear gunfire and grimaced at shouting from down the street as UNIT ordered the civilians into the vans. Rose prayed her mother would have the good sense to listen to them. Rushing up the stairs, Rose tried to stay calm, but the knowledge that something was attacking her home street made that difficult.
"Spock!" she called as she rushed into the attic. "We have to go!"
"Rose?" Spock questioned. "What is happening? I have been monitoring-"
"No time, disconnect from the system!" Rose ordered.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes," she gasped, looking towards the door with worry. "Someone is attacking Bannerman Road!"
"Eclipse?"
"Might be or Torchwood," Rose answered as she moved over to the window and saw the Chesterton-Smiths being loaded into a UNIT truck. The troops were lining up and firing both down the street and towards the house along with K-9 whose lasers were probably doing the best job. "The UNIT forces are holding them off and moving the Smiths. We have to get you out of here. Even K-9 can only distract them so long."
Rose reached underneath the large panel that housed Spock and pulled out a loaded backpack that held what remained of Spock's original interface. As the panel opened with a loud hiss, Rose unzipped the bag and tried to catch her breath. The crystal structure of Spock rose up slowly. Small wires and electrodes connected it to the computer mainframe, but Rose batted them off and lifted the crystal from the panel. Stuffing it in the bag, Rose hoisted it up onto her shoulder and flinched as she heard a crash on the stairs as someone knocked over one of the Sarah Jane's vases.
Opening the largest of the windows, Rose carefully set the bag out on the roof before climbing out herself. She jumped out after it and closed the window before pulling the bag on. The largest of the trees on the property had one promising branch that Rose grabbed onto. Grabbing onto it, Rose felt a rush of near terror as the branch bent beneath her weight, but it held. She tried to pretend it was an old piece of playground equipment as she shimmied her way to the trunk. Rose dropped onto a lower branch and then after taking a breath let herself fall into a set of bushes.
She could still hear the firefight and screaming from the neighbours as she dropped to the ground and the small branches tugged at her clothes. Her knees and ankles protested, threatening to crumble under her, but Rose forced herself to move. Rushing out the front gate, Rose heard shouting from the attic but kept moving. UNIT forces moved in behind her to cover her exit and she noticed that the truck with the Chesterton-Smiths was already gone.
"Rose!" Clem's almost panicked voice called from the car. "Gone wrong, isn't it!"
The side street was empty and Rose shrugged off the backpack enough to shove it into the back as she climbed into the driver's seat. Pulling out her keys, she heard a small boom echoing down the road. The gunfire continued, but Rose pulled them sharply away from the pavement while Clem whimpered beside her. Searching the road, Rose sped up and turned onto a side street, sending the backpack across the backseat. Up ahead more large black SUV were pulling towards Bannerman Road and Rose pressed the accelerator and sped past them. In the rearview mirror, she could see them beginning to turn, but sped up as much as she dared to put as much distance between her and them.
They just kept driving and Rose gradually slowed down to stop attracting attention. Clem was rocking himself and whispering under his breath when Rose finally looked in the mirrors and didn't see any SUVs. Breathing out, she looked around at their location. They were nearing Central London and she eased her grip on the steering wheel as she tried to think of what to do next.
Her phone rang the sound loud and startling. Rose's heart jumped and Clem grabbed the phone out of her pocket, just as alarmed as she was. Letting out a breath slowly to calm down, Rose shook herself as she took the phone from Clem. She hit the speaker button and dropped it into the cup holder.
"Rose!" her mum's voice demanded. "Where are you? Are you alright?"
"Mum?" Rose called into the phone. "You alright?"
"I'm fine," Jackie huffed at her. "Those UNIT blokes shoved me and Rita-Anne into a truck when the shooting started. Won't tell me anything, just that we're safe."
"Have they said anything about who attacked you?" Rose asked urgently.
"I just said that they won't tell me anything," Jackie reminded her. "Where are you, sweetheart?"
"I'm safe," Rose offered carefully. "Look Mum please stay with UNIT. Something is going on and I don't like it."
"What do you mean?"
"We shouldn't have been attacked," Rose told her with a sigh. "Something like this… all the agencies should be working together and I'm just not sure what is happening. Are you with the Chesterton-Smiths?"
"Yes we're in the same barracks, but really Rose barracks-"
"Good, you'll be safe. Stay with Sarah Jane and please listen to her if she tells you to do something. Tell her that I'm going to keep working on this, that I'm not going to let anything happen to Skye."
"Rose Marion Tyler-"
"I love you, Mum," Rose interrupted. "But I've got to go. I shouldn't stay on the phone. Don't try to call. I mean it! This isn't safe and they might be able to track me."
Her own words made Rose pause as she ended the call. That was a scary good point, one she hadn't considered. Licking her lips, she debated if there was time for one more call. She didn't let herself hesitate further and grabbed the phone. Scrolling through her contacts, she found the mobile phone was a looking for, pressed the button and waited.
"Rose? Please tell me it's you?" the voice of Harriet Jones begged softly, sounding like she was whispering.
"It's me. Harriet, what is happening?" Rose demanded, much more harshly than she meant to.
"Rose I'm sorry," Harriet told her, sounding near tears. "Things are mad here. I tried to get information, but Torchwood is putting a lock on multiple layers of security. I was going to call you soon."
"Torchwood!" Rose snapped. "You're the Prime Minister Harriet!"
"You don't understand the situation with Torchwood Rose," Harriet sighed. "Hartman and her predecessors have… well, they've locked themselves into multiple levels of government. Nothing happens without her knowing about it and she's taken control of the situation. I don't have any leverage against her while she has already pressured multiple members of the cabinet."
"Harriet, someone made a move to kill me and my family and friends," Rose informed her after taking a deep breath.
"What?" Harriet gasped. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but I'm trying to figure out what to do next. Do you know anything? Do you think it was Torchwood?"
"I can't see Hartman doing something like that," Harriet insisted sounding more confident in her anger. "That's too big, too open and violent for her."
"Yesterday I might have agreed with you," Rose confessed, biting her bottom lip. "But you said that they're trying to shut things down. Something very ugly is going on here Harriet."
"I know," Harriet told her. "Look, Rose, what I have gotten is that this is connected to something called the 456. Possibly an alien species from the past, but the information isn't being given to me. I outright ordered it and was informed that there are things elected officials aren't permitted access to."
"I don't like the sound of that," Rose whispered into the phone, suddenly feeling very cold.
"I agree," Harriet replied sharply. "Look stay safe. I'm not sure who attacked you and your family, but you need to stay safe. Where are your family? Are they safe?"
"I'm not sure where they are," Rose admitted, hoping she wasn't making a mistake trusting Harriet. "UNIT took them into protective custody when there was an attack on Bannerman Road."
"Then hopefully they will stay safe," Harriet said with a sigh of relief. "But Rose the bureaucrats giving me the run around are also trying to limit UNIT's power in the crisis. Torchwood has already claimed jurisdiction over the crisis despite the global level. It's making things difficult for UNIT UK."
"How can they manage that?"
"I'm not sure, but I think someone might be influencing the Security Council," Harriet answered sounding every angry. "I'm finding things out about my government that I'm not happy with. I'll send you anything I find." There was a noise in the background. "Rose I need to go. Stay safe and please help us."
"I will," Rose promised into the phone, but the call had already ended.
Something was happening and even the Prime Minister couldn't find it or control it. Rose felt ill and took a long slow breath, looking around them in concern. She felt cold and the vague warning that UNIT might somehow be in danger made things worse. All she could do was hope that her mum and friends had been moved somewhere safe. Like maybe a bunker in Australia. Rose allowed herself a small chuckle at the thought before she reached down and turned off the phone. There was work to do.
"Are we going to UNIT?" Clem asked her causing Rose to jump slightly; she'd all but forgotten he was there.
"I'm not sure," Rose answered slowly, shocked at hearing the words. "If someone is trying to keep them out of this then me teaming up with UNIT may be playing into their hands."
"Bad people?" Clem questioned. "Isn't it?"
"Yeah," Rose sighed, tightening her grip on the steering wheel. "Bad people. Eclipse have plans of world domination. I guess this opportunity is too good to ignore."
"What can you do alone?" Clem pressed, looking nervous.
Breathing out slowly, Rose straightened her back and swallowed. "I have faith that Benton won't let anything happen to my mum and the others so I have to focus on what is happening. Someone wants to stop me and I can't let that happen. Step one we need to find someplace to set up Spock and see what more we can find." She looked at Clem who looked frightened. "I'm going to need your help, Clem. You're all I've got right now."
"I'll help," her told her in a soft childlike voice before he sniffed the air. He cast his eyes out the window and towards the sky. "But they're getting closer."