Child of Earth

By Lumendea

Chapter Forty-Five: Daughter of the World: Loyalty

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 Black Archive system was a mess of keywords. Rose had only a little sympathy for the people who had to catalogue everything because honestly, this should have been easy to find. It was created by they thought the Doctor, used in Berlin and had telepathic features. Yet she was still running down a list of items taken from Berlin and checking all the photos as she tried to find a match visually and in the dates.

"We've been here too long already," Alistair said darkly. He came over to stand behind her. "If the internal guards go too long without checking in an alert is triggered."

"How long have we got?" Rose questioned. She glanced back at Alistair who was guarding the door nervously. "I need more time to find the right item."

"Not long. It will probably be troops from London."

"Any chance that they'll just let us go?"

Alistair breathed out slowly, clearly weighing the situation. "Maybe," he finally said. "But with Geneva putting so much pressure on UNIT UK soldiers will be worrying about being court martialed. It's difficult to say how people will react to that."

As if summoned one of the sensors next to Rose began to beep. She pressed it and the screen overhead changed. Two UNIT jeeps pulled up and a total of five men jumped out. They were parked on the back side of the building and began moving around. Rose was a bit confused as to why they parked back there but pushed the thought aside.

"Any security systems?" Rose asked as she jumped to her feet and began to search the large panels full of buttons, switches and smaller screens.

"Not that I know of," Alistair grumbled as he searched as well. A moment later he flipped a switch and Rose heard something thud in the corridor beyond. "That won't take long. They can get an override code from London."

That didn't give Rose any confidence, but she quickly entered in a new query to narrow her current list of one hundred matches. Time was already turning against them once more. She again had a rush of anger over UNIT working against her. Some small part of her understood that it was orders from Geneva and they had no choice, but that didn't stop the anger.

Rose tensed as the soldiers came rushing down the corridor. She glanced towards the General who had a dark determined look. The device in his hand was at the ready, but Rose knew it wouldn't be nearly enough for a large group who were expecting trouble. The door crashed open and two rows of two men stepped inside with their weapons at the ready. Rose was pleased to see at least a little hesitation in their eyes, but none of them stood down even when the General straightened up. A soft gasp escaped her and Rose's stomach twisted as Benton stepped into view behind them. He was in full uniform and his eyes locked on hers as he frowned.

"Tyler, General," Benton greeted calmly, his face completely expressionless behind the line of soldiers. "You're under arrest by order of the British Government and Security Council of the United Nations."

The first of the soldiers began to step forward and Benton suddenly moved. He lunged forward and pressed his hand against the soldier's neck. A bright blue light flashed over the man's skin and he screamed for only a moment before collapsing. Benton grabbed the next one who was starting to turn towards him. Rose dashed forward, grabbing the side of the gun of another man to keep him from firing and kneed him in the stomach, sending him crashing to the ground. The General grabbed the last one and held his device at the man's neck. Rose held hers in place for a moment before he suddenly slumped to the ground with the General standing behind him. Everything was still for a heartbeat and Rose took a deep breath. Benton carefully stepped over the men and shook his head, clear regret on his face.

"Thank you, John," Alistair breathed with a soft smile. "You had me worried there for a moment."

"Sorry sir," Benton apologised, tugging at the bottom of his uniform. "Things are… tense. I suspect you already know that Kate has been arrested, along with Malcolm and a good chunk of the Science Division. Someone in Geneva is pushing back against UNIT. A man arrived only a few hours ago and took command."

"We suspected as much," Alistair admitted with a swallow. "You're not in command anymore?"

"No sir, don't know much about the man who now it. Bates is his name so we need to move fast because with him in control it's only going to get worse." He paused and looked toward Rose. "Honestly I'm not sure why I wasn't arrested. They probably only held off due to worry about mutiny."

"Thank you," Rose offered Benton softly as she pulled out the sonic pen again. She pointed it towards the door. The lock buzzed and went dark. "You've put yourself in a bad position."

"Yes well, I knew fairly soon after we met that someday I'd be committing another act of mutiny in the name of the Doctor."

Rose didn't know how to respond to that. She blushed a little and the computer behind her beeped. Dashing over to it, Rose sighed in relief. "Got it!"

"What are you here for?" Benton asked. "Please tell me I didn't just take down my own men for a joyride."

"Rose thinks an item brought here can deal with the aliens." Alistair was frowning darkly. "Things are happening at higher levels and they aren't good."

"Ten percent of all children are to be handed over," Rose explained as she tapped the computer and brought up the map of the item's location. "Harriet was able to buy a little more time, but we have to make this work." She touched the screen with a smile. "Right there. Aisle 17, row D."

"Go get it then," the General ordered. "We haven't much time."

"It's even close by," Benton agreed with a relieved smile.

"I'll get it," Rose offered. She was already moving towards the door to the outer area. "It's not very large. Fits into a briefcase."

"The Doctor always did like compact," Benton offered though the attempt at humour fell flat.

…..

The Black Archive main room was a cavernous space with long rows of heavy metal shelves. Boxes of all different, shapes, sizes and materials filled them with a small number and name plates fixed below each of them. Rose had always felt nervous knowing that so much unknown or deemed dangerous tech was sitting in one spot. Now she was grateful that the storage of items like this was at least in England. She doubted that she would have been able to get someplace else with the high security.

Aisle 17 Row D was easy to find in the grid system. Rose quickly began scanning the various plates that labelled the boxes. They were a mix of wood and metal boxes and many had sonic seals on them. Rose wasn't sure who they were trying to keep out, but she pulled out the sonic pen and placed it against the box she needed. It beeped and opened with a click revealed the briefcase that Alistair had built the hub into.

Relief welled up in Rose even as she closed the case. Her mind was already trying to sort out the next stop. She needed Spock and a little time which she couldn't get here. It was time to leave the Black Archive and find an alternate location. She began to run back towards the main control room, looking up towards it nervously.

Both of the officers were looking intently at another screen when Rose returned. The four UNIT soldiers had been moved out of the doorway and were lying unconscious in the corner of the room. They all looked peaceful and their weapons were arranged in a row on the only table in the room. Rose found it a bit creepy but headed for the generals.

"I've got it," Rose announced. They looked her way and there was a slight look of relief, but neither of them looked happy.

Around them, the computers flickered and a look of irritation appeared on Benton's face. "Must have ordered another team." A darker expression flickered over his face, but it didn't last long. "Should have expected this. They're trying to cut the power."

"There's more soldiers?" Rose repeated as a knot grew in her stomach. "UNIT's?"

"I should have figured that they'd be suspicious of me leading the team. Bates must have sent someone right after us."

Rose reached down and picked up Spock's backpack, carefully balancing herself with the hub case. Her fingers tightened around the handle protectively. Benton moved past her and activated something on the computer. The screens changed and brought up a series of cameras. Multiple vehicles were rolling in around the building.

"We can't hold the Black Archives while you do this," Benton announced as he turned back to Rose. He pulled out a set of keys and tossed them to her. "There's a jeep parked around the back. You have to get moving, take the emergency exit. We had it installed after that last problem here. The code for the door is 89241," Benton told her quickly.

"But-"

"We'll buy you what time we can," Alistair informed her.

"You should go with her sir," Benton protested.

"I'm in this now and unlike you Benton I have family on the line." He reached down and picked up one of the weapons and examined it. "Stun gun, Benton?"

"I argued that we'd never get soldiers to fire live rounds at two heroes," Benton answered. He looked torn for a moment, but also grateful as he picked up one of the weapons himself. "Course the new group they are sending might not follow that."

"Who do you think this Bates will send?"

"Probably Mace. He needs to pretend," Benton replied with a sigh. "And you know what he's like. Good man, but will always follow orders to the letter."

"Lovely," Alistair answered drily. "Rose get moving. You have the telepathic hub. Get moving and save the world."

There was a sudden crashing on the door and Rose almost jumped, but the two generals calmly raised their weapons and shifted towards the door. Already she could hear movement in the corridor beyond.

"Rose," Alistair repeated. "Get moving. If you ever take one order from me, then let it be this one."

Staring at them both for a moment, Rose felt her heart clench painfully at the terrifying thought she might be the cause of their deaths. She moved forward and kissed Alistair's cheek before doing the same with John.

"Thank you," she whispered, aware that the words were grossly insufficient. She ran.

Out of the entry corridor and back out into the rows and rows of shelves. She wasn't completely sure where she was going and tears were making her eyesight blurry even as she listened frantically for any sound behind her. Then she heard the first crash just as she finally spotted a small sign with an arrow marking the way out. Beside it on a shelf was a crate marked Mal Lupa and Rose let out a small sob.

The sound of weapons being fired echoed out of the corridor and around the massive space, but Rose didn't stop. She reached the small back door and set down the case with the telepathic hub. Rose quickly entered the code with her sword hand at the ready just in case. It opened with a soft beep and she all but fell out. Two soldiers were on guard, but Rose was prepared.

She swung her sword at their weapons, cutting off the long barrels, surprising the guards. Then she half spun, bringing a leg up to kick the first guard squarely in the solar plexus. He released a grunt of pain before collapsing back on the ground. The second lashed out at her with his fist and Rose retracted her sword before swinging at him. He blocked her first attempt even as his hand began to creep down for his secondary weapon. Twisting around him, Rose shoved him against the wall of the building, leaping up onto his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and used her legs to secure his arms. He stumbled back, but Rose held on even as he began to fall backwards.

They hit the ground together, but Rose didn't let go until she finally felt his body go limp. Slowly releasing her grip, Rose pushed him off of her and climbed to her feet. She couldn't hear anything anymore and didn't see any additional troops. Mace must have secured the back and taken the rest in. While that thought multiplied her worry for John and Alistair she made one frantic wish that the soldiers would hesitate just enough not to kill them and she reached back through the ajar door to grab the case. Closing the door, she pulled out the sonic pen and fried the circuits. It wouldn't' stop them, but it would slow them down. With that done, she bolted for the jeep Benton had told her about and didn't dare look back.

Rose turned it on and fired it up with a dull roar. The tires sent gravel flying up and she started driving around the large building. Other trucks and vehicles were parked all around, but most of the troops had been sent inside. In front of her, the main gate was shut, but Rose pulled out the sonic pen. She didn't slow down even as it opened and a pair of guards started shooting at the wheels. The shots missed and Rose hoped that was on purpose as she sped past them.

…

Inside the Black Archives, Alistair pressed himself against the wall and groaned as his back protested. He was far too old for this. Benton was still leaning forward and sending shots down the corridor. There was shouting echoing up to them.

"Didn't we talk about this after that mess with the Cyberman," Alistair sighed as he glanced towards Benton. "About you not taking orders from civilians."

"I remember that," Benton replied with a chuckle. "You said not to listen to them even if they called me chicken, were associates of the Doctors or beautiful women." Benton shrugged a little. "In my defence sir it was hard enough just with the ones he travelled with. Really what chance was there with the one he'll marry."

"None I suppose. Do you think she can do it?"

"Yeah," Benton said with a slight smile. "I think she can."

…..

Rose was driving frantically. The UNIT jeep was larger than she was used to handling and worried tears were blinding her. She desperately hoped that Benton and Alistair would be alright. Surely the soldiers, even Mace who so loved regulations, wouldn't actually fire on them. Things had gotten a little better only to backslide again. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened and she turned sharply onto a small back road to get away from potential reinforcements coming from London.

Up ahead was a turn off partially hidden by trees. Rose searched the surroundings for any signs of a pursuit, but thus far she was alone. Slowing down, she pulled over and grabbed Spock's bag and the case. She climbed into the large back, noticing the benches for troops with a grimace. Rose opened Spock's bag and quickly unfolded the interface and set him inside. Spock flickered to life and Rose secured the interface with a few of the wench ties on the bottom of the jeep.

"Rose? Where are we?"

"Back of a jeep. I'll let you start checking out the interface. I need to know what we'll need."

"The General?"

"Buying us time," Rose answered softly. "We've got a job to do Spock. I need to know if this will work and if we need anything else.

She secured the case directly in front of Spock and there was a soft hum as his soft range sensors switched on. Studying it for a moment, Rose admired the compact design and noted the small screen that Alistair had built in. Right next to it was a small indent that Rose placed her finger into. There was a scratch against her finger and a moment later the whole hub hummed.

'DNA match' appeared on the screen.

"Yes!" Rose cheered softly. "It's online Spock. Work your magic."

Rose climbed back into the front of the jeep and got them moving again. They came to another larger road with more traffic and Rose carefully looked around before pulling onto it. Still no signs of pursuit from either UNIT or Eclipse. Pressing down the gas pedal, Rose urged them faster and faster towards London. That was probably their best chance.

Sometime later Spock beeped in the back. "Rose I've analysed the structure of the telepathic hub and I believe I have a calculation for what we need to do. The key is indeed to turn the Qreiz'elt's signal back on them. Rose, I'm afraid we'll need some help."

"What kind of help?"

"In order to send the signal out across the globe and gather enough strength to destroy the Qreiz'elt we're going to need some satellites to help bounce the signal."

"Isn't there any other way?" Rose asked nervously. "That's not going to be easy with you not hooked in."

"There is an alternative, but I doubt you'd like it."

"Oh?"

"We could use a child as the transmitter, but it would be deadly to the child. The telepathic hub can link the children up in a similar way, but we'll need the boost of the satellites to reach the same saturation."

"Okay satellites it is then."

"In my present condition, I cannot link to the number of satellites that we will need. I strongly urge you to contact Luke for his assistance."

"Mel too," Rose murmured as she reached towards her bag and pulled out her superphone.

"However calling anyone will expose your signal. They must be watching for it by now."

"Yeah," Rose agreed. "But the whole world, Spock. We keep moving until we're ready. What else do you need."

"I'll need a stable internet signal, not the link I currently have."

"London it is then." Rose turned on the phone and glanced down as she found the first name on the list. "Be ready with instructions, Spock. They'll need to know exactly what satellites to move and how much."

"I am prepared."

"Alright then, let's give Eclipse something to chase."