Child of Earth

By Lumendea

Chapter Forty-Six: Daughter of the World: Telepathy

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.

…

Luke Chesterton-Smith was beginning to hate the set of rooms they were waiting in. They were small soldier living quarters with bunks in one room, a bathroom and one main room where their guards stood during their rotation. It was connected to an identical set of rooms where Rose's mum, Rita Anne, Sharon and Shareen were. Other than going through and chatting with the others, there was almost nothing to do thanks to the bad phone signal. Skye was playing on their one handheld console he'd thought to grab, his grandparents were napping, his mum and dad were reading some old magazines and he was trying not to go out of his mind.

"Mum it's Rose," Luke said. He stood up and frowned at his phone. "The message says she needs my help moving satellites."

"Moving satellites," Sarah Jane repeated. She jumped up and moved over to her son, looking over his shoulder at the phone screen. "What does she have planned?"

"Doesn't say," Luke answered as he crossed the room towards the computer.

"Mister Smith," the UNIT guard said, stepping in front of him. "That computer is for staff use. You shouldn't be on it."

Sarah Jane frowned at the younger guard. "Oh, honestly what's he going to do?" His name Hicks was on his uniform and to her, he looked barely old enough to shave.

"Rose needs help!" Luke looked at the guard urgently. "She doesn't give details, but she wouldn't be sending me a list of satellites that need to be moved if it wasn't important! It's got to be about the aliens."

He must have raised his voice because Sharon and Shareen appeared in the door behind the guard. They were frowning and Luke nodded towards the computer making Sharon nod her understanding. The guard's expression became pained and he glanced towards the main door of the unit. He was clearly checking to make sure no one was coming in.

"UNIT was ordered to stay out of this crisis by Geneva. Honestly, the only reason you're still under protection is that that was done beforehand and no one is trying to change it."

"I'll thrilled with you reassurance," Sarah Jane growled. She narrowed her eyes. "So do we have to knock you out, Private Hicks?"

Hicks looked torn and Luke darted around him while Sarah Jane grabbed his arm. Sharon and Shareen came running up behind him. The noise attracted the others from the rooms, but they ignored them. Shareen grabbed the man's other arm as Luke went to the computer. He vaguely noticed that the man was struggling much. Then Sharon did something and the man sank to the floor.

"Nice Sharon," Shareen laughed.

"Don't. I'm not going to get in the habit of knocking people out. That's Rose's thing."

"Luke?" his mum called as she came over behind him. "Can you get in?"

"Yeah, probably won't have much time."

"Well Hicks didn't put up a fight or make any noise," his mum observed with a hint of fondness. "So we have some time. Do what you can to help Rose."

…..

In UNIT HQ, levels below the Tower of London, UNIT staff were scanning the empty screens frantically. Still no sign of a ship or anything else they could shoot at. Frustration and anger had taken root in the staff and tempers were high. There were rumours being whispered about Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Toshiko Sato and Malcolm Taylor being relieved and maybe even arrested though no one knew the charges. Then there was the rumour that Benton had been charged with mutiny and arrested. No one knew what was happening and their new commanding officer General Bates wasn't telling them anything. UNIT had been ordered to stay out of the crisis and keep monitoring the sky to make sure nothing else happened.

Colonel Elizabeth Frost stalked into the main room and eyed the wall full of screens. Her fingers tightened around the cup of coffee she'd just gotten and the urge to spike it with something returned. Instead, she walked up the steps and returned to General Bates. Holding out of the cup of coffee to him she stayed silent and waited for more instructions.

"Thank you, Colonel." Bates took a sip of the coffee. "Updates from Mace?"

"He and his forces have control over the Black Archives. There were uninjured and unaware guards outside who he had reinforced."

"Anything missing?"

Frost almost smiled in relief but kept her reaction contained. "Only one item sir. There was a search open on the computer and they checked its number."

He didn't ask anything about Benton or Sir Alistair. Frost figured he already knew. She glanced around, there was no sign of her regular commanding officer yet, something had definitely happened to Benton. Looking back at the screens, Frost wondered just what had happened and what was going on.

"Sir!" Someone called from further in the room. "We just found Tyler's mobile signal. It's fairly weak, partially masked, but there."

"Where is she?" Bates demanded in a low voice.

The main screens changed to reveal a map with a moving dot near the outskirts of London. Frost felt her heart jump with a mixture of uncomfortable and potentially mutinous emotions. Bates had a nasty smile on her face that made her stomach twist.

"Send men and arrest her!"

"Sir she's trying to help," Frost heard herself say. The room went still and she realised that everyone was listening. Bates turned to her slowly.

"UNIT was ordered to stay out of it."

"Tyler is a consultant for UNIT only, not a soldier and technically nothing about her contract ever gave UNIT the authority to restrict her," Frost explained, uncomfortable with the way Bates was looking at her.

"She broke into the Black Archive."

"Maybe not if she was let in, we don't know what happened."

"Sir Alistair broke the law and took her there, giving her access that she wasn't cleared for," Bates snapped and Frost heard a sharp intact around the room. "She took an item and Sir Alistair and Brigadier Benton delayed Mace when he was sent to investigate to give her time to escape." Bates huffed slightly. "Is that illegal enough for you Colonel Frost?"

"Yes sir," Frost forced out. She looked towards the screen. "Sir, if we're seeing the signal than those forces who attacked Bannerman Road earlier probably can as well."

"Yes, I suppose so. If they're monitoring for her. Prep the unit I brought with me. I want them ready in twenty minutes to move out. I'll lead them myself."

"Respectfully, sir, you may be needed here. I'll take a unit after her."

"No, I will deal with Tyler."

Frost tensed up. Instincts that she thought had been beaten down in boot camp were suddenly returning with a vengeance. She glanced towards Private Ross who was on guard at the side of the room. He was frowning and as she caught the Private's eye he shook his head. Frost looked towards one of the other techs who looked just as uneasy. Her hand moved to her service weapon before the thought fully processed.

She pointed the weapon at Bates. There were a collective intact of breath through the room. The guards pulled their own firearms and everyone turned to see what was going to happen. Bates chuckled at Frost and gestured towards the guards including Ross.

"Really Colonel, what a way to end a career."

"I owe Tyler my life," Frost said both to herself and him. "And Sir Alistair and Benton have both already thrown their lot in with her. They believe in her and the population of children around the world is at risk. I know her, but I don't know you. So I'm going to bet on the horse that has actually won a race."

Bates frowned at her and gestured towards the guards. However, as they stepped forward Ross shifted his firearm and trained it on Bates. Others followed and Frost released a slow exhale. "Lt. Colonel Oduya," she called.

A tall dark officer in the back of the room moved forward. He hadn't drawn his weapon, but his hand was resting on it. Bates glared at him, but Lt. Colonel Oduya made no move to help him. "Colonel Frost."

"Where do you stand Lt. Colonel?" Frost asked.

There was a moment of hesitation, but Oduya nodded to her. "I am a father, Colonel. I've not liked having our hands tied."

"Then take some men and go and protect Tyler."

"This is mutiny, Colonel."

"This is fulfilling our greatest duty and obligation," Frost answered, returning her eyes to Bates. "Even when others don't want us to."

…

Turning the wheel sharply, Rose drove the jeep into the alley and stopped it. She pulled off the seatbelt and stumbled into the back. Spock's lights were flashing as he uploaded and downloaded information through her superphone.

"Three satellites in alignment," Spock told her.

"Lovely," Rose growled as she shifted in her seat and looked around. "Spock, can you be moved?"

"I would suggest against it," Spock replied. "But if you are concerned about safety we can-"

"No, I'll keep driving. Tell me when we're ready." Rose turned back to the wheel and stepped on the gas. The jeep lumbered forward again. "That will help at least."

She drove through the alley and turned left on the street. There was a sense of fear filling London. Traffic was greatly reduced and Rose tentatively started driving towards Thames House as worry churned in her stomach. She desperately wished that she could call someone to check on Alistair and Benton, but Spock was still sending instructions to Luke, Mel, and Ace. Rose tightened her grip on the steering wheel and looked around nervously, hoping that maybe she'd spot a vehicle large enough to transfer Spock into.

London seemed different to Rose as she drove through it. Every turn and side street were frightening and she was braced for an attack. Glancing back at Spock, her eyes landed on her phone. Superphone or not they had to be detecting something. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she started driving around Regent's Park. Rose kept looking around for a friendly looking street to follow, but nothing looked very friendly. She followed a taxi through a detour into an unfamiliar shopping district that was mostly deserted.

"Rose, we're ready."

Exhaling, Rose pulled over into a small open area between two buildings. Overhead were rows of windows that Rose suspected were flats. The jeep came to a halt and Rose unbuckled herself and shifted into the back.

"Okay so the satellites are in place and we have the signal," Rose said softly.

"But you need to keep the telepathic hub functioning," Spock told her. "It is genetically tied to you."

Rose nodded her understanding and looked down at the telepathic hub. It looked a bit like a crown built from a band of metal. There were small wires on the inside and tiny diodes that served some purpose Rose didn't understand. This was technology beyond her. A nervous voice in her head reminded her that she wasn't telepathic, but another voice argued that she'd felt something during every time the aliens broadcast.

"Damn Silver Lord," Rose grumbled. "Probably all his fault."

Gunfire rang through the air and Rose yelped, dropping her body over the telepathic hub and Spock. The jeep lurched as the tires deflated violently. She risked a glance out the window as men in black body armour marched towards the jeep. Her heart jumped to her throat and Rose shifted her arm, summoning her sword on instinct. Rose tried to think of a way to escape, but there were so many and they were closing in fast.

Then she heard shouting and there was another round of gunfire. Rose shifted and noticed that the men in black were spreading out in the street, but not around her. A pair of UNIT vehicles came squealing up with men firing with weapons out of the top. Gasping, Rose glanced between the two sides in shock as her brain tried to process what she was seeing. It couldn't.

"Rose we need to hurry. The satellites are in position, but won't be there for long."

Nodding, Rose tore her eyes away from the standoff as UNIT troops poured out of the vehicles and the Eclipse forces withdrew to more defensive positions. She picked up the thin metal band from the telepathic hub. It began to hum beneath her fingers and Rose took a deep breath before slipping it over her head. She really hoped that she reading Alistair right in what she was supposed to do with it. And she hoped that she'd never have to explain this one to the Doctor. She shivered as the sounds of gunfire began to fade away and the hum of the device began to take over.

"Uploading the signal," Spock said. "Rose you have to focus on the aliens and the signal. You control the Hub and we need to send that signal to all the children."

Rose slipped the band over her head. It settled into the groove just above her ears. Gasping, Rose felt a charge of energy tingling over her skin. There was a soft pulsing sound in her ears that she realised must be the signal. Doubt overtook her for a moment. Rose wasn't sure how to control it, but as the pulsing of the signal increased she focused on envisioning the children. She recalled the image of Skye chanting and the videos of the other children. The signal increased and the visions of the children began clearer and clearer. It was like she was right in front of them. Hot pain became to creep in the sides of her head, but Rose kept focusing on the children.

Agony. Rose's mind was red hot and trying to split open. Yet there were a few thin filaments that she could feel keeping everything together. The hum in her head, the rhythm of the signal was making her heart race, but she could also hear a tone. There was a mighty unified voice growing all across the world and feeding through her and the hub. It was hot beneath her fingers.

Distantly she heard Spock. There were loud noises like shots in the distance and vehicles with squealing tires. Yet it was too far away. The signal was close, surrounding her and pulsing through her head. The filaments were growing stronger instead of breaking. They shimmered blue and purple and a pair of alien faces flashed in Rose's memory. Rose shuddered and her eyes ached as they opened too wide.

She could hear the tone now. One note was resonating around the world as the signal jumped from child to child. Rose could feel the thrum from the signal echoing through her bones. Around her, the back of the jeep glowed as the lights on the small headband went crazy. Rose thought she heard Spock and her eyes jumped to the front of the building. Suddenly the ground shook and a pillar of fire appeared in the distance.

Then the signal was gone. The energy rippled across her skin was gone. Only the ache remained. There was a sharp pain and sense of loss that echoed through Rose's head as the visions of the children were suddenly gone. Gasping for air, Rose collapsed onto the floor of the jeep. It was cool against her overheated skin.

"Rose!" Spock's voice called. "A ship appeared briefly, it was masked under a low-level telepathic field. It was destroyed by the energy backlash. The communications barrier is gone, shall I contact the Shadow Proclamation.?"

"Yeah," Rose forced out. Her mouth was dry and she throat felt raw. Slowly she reached up and pulled the band off of her head with trembling hands.

Her head ached. It felt different, stretched out and raw. Rose thought she heard Spock talking again, but couldn't focus. Darkness was coming over the edges of her vision. Then her eyes slid shut as she heard someone calling her last name.

…..

The light above Rose was too bright as she tried to open her eyes. A low groan escaped her and someone dimmed the light. Inhaling deeply, Rose mustered up the strength to open her eyes again. Malcolm smiled down at her with a relieved smile.

"Welcome back," the science advisor greeted. His warm was warm and his eyes were bright. "You had us worried."

"What happened?" Rose croaked.

"Numerous things actually, but firstly you're going to be fine and your family is safe," Malcolm assured her.

"Alistair and Benton?" Rose asked urgently, beginning to sit up.

"They are fine!" Malcolm rushed to tell her as he put a hand on her shoulder. "Both are in observation due to the voltage weapons being used to take them down. Neither of them is as young as they used to be, but neither of them are in danger."

"The children? The aliens? Did it work?"

"Well, something worked," Malcolm answered. "All the children around the world started releasing one tone and it caused the alien to… well, explode. The signal was strong enough that it revealed their ship, course that blew up a moment later. The Orthans arrived only a couple of hours later to retrieve the remains. They took the matter to the Shadow Proclamation, but apparently, this aliens were exiles and looking to enter the drug trade."

Rose's mind ached at the information dump or it might have been left over from what she did. Blinking, Rose took in a slow breath and closed her eyes for a moment. "Spock?"

"He was turned over to Sarah Jane when they were taken home three hours ago."

"How long have I been out?"

"We found you in the back of the jeep unconscious and bleeding out of her ears and nose. You've been asleep for two days. MRI came back a little odd, but nothing to suggest long-term problems."

"Eclipse…" Rose frowned, she'd been sure they were there. "Malcolm, what happened?"

"When you turned started sending data dumps to your friends they were able to track you, but UNIT was able to as well." Malcolm hesitated for a moment. "Colonel Frost might have led a mutiny against General Bates to come and help you. UNIT forces arrived at your location moments after Eclipse. They kept them back and protected you."

Rose tried to remember, but it was fuzzy. There had been gunfire when they shot out her tires, but she did sort of remember the UNIT trucks arriving. Fear for what might have happened flared in her chest for a moment before easing. Malcolm reached over and squeezed her hand.

"Things are still a little crazy here, Rose," he admitted. "The science department has been reinstated and Kate's family are just fine."

"What going to happen to Alistair, Benton, and Frost?"

"We don't know yet," Malcolm admitted with a sigh, suddenly looking much older. "They violated direct orders and in Frost's case openly pulled a weapon on her superior officer." Malcolm smiled a little and reached down to squeeze Rose's hand. "But the world was saved, Rose." She nodded at the words. They were true though she still felt guilty and worried. Her eyes went around the bare UNIT hospital room. "All we can do is wait and see," Malcolm said.

"Yeah," Rose sighed. "Wait and see."