Transformations and Machinations 3/4 [Spooks/Dr Who fanfic, 15]
Title: Transformations and Machinations
Fandom: Spooks/Dr Who
Word Count: Total: 19226 (This chapter: 3399)
Rating: 15
Characters: Lucas North, Ros Myers, Connie James, Martha Jones, plus two guest appearances
Spoilers: All of Season Seven
Summary: The race through the tunnels to stop the suitcase bomber takes an unexpected turn.
Disclaimer: Don't own Spooks, just playing in the sandpit. No money being made etc etc. All rights belong to Kudos and the BBC.
Author's Note: Written for apocabigbang. Many, many thanks to the wonderful verdant_gt for the beta, and to fenna_girl and ladyofbrileith for their support.
Links to other chapters: Chapter One | Chapter Two
DAY FIFTEEN
CONNIE
It was late evening, and Connie had decided to take a small walk in the woods surrounding the compound. Considering she was no longer officially a prisoner, she still felt hemmed in. Maybe it was the accusatory glances Ros threw in her direction every time she passed by.
Either way, the fresh air felt good, as did the opportunity to be away from so much human suffering, even if it was only temporary relief. She found a collapsed tree on the edge of the woods and perched on it, staring out into the blackness. For the first time since the bombs fell, the sky was relatively clear, and some of the stars were visible. Those scientists that were left were trying to work out the likelyhood of suffering nuclear winter, and whether it was worth carrying on, or should people just all give up now. But Connie knew only too well that the human race were fighters to the core - they’d carry on until the bitter end.
Somewhere close by a twig snapped. Connie was instantly on alert. She knew that there weren’t many large animals left alive surrounding the camp - quite simply, anything that could be caught and used for food was. All food had been rationed, and any extra supplies created an instant black market. The chances of anything left alive within five miles was slim. That left something human.
"Show yourself," Connie demanded, looking at the direction from where the noise came. "You aren’t exactly being quiet."
A man slowly appeared from the shadows, shining his torch low on the ground so not to blind her. He held his hands out to the side in a gesture of submission. "Sorry," he said with a wry grin.
"Who are you, and why are you following me?" Had Ros finally developed the balls to order Connie killed? She was surprised that she hadn’t done it before.
"I’m impressed, Miss James," the man said, moving closer to Connie. "But you shouldn’t be alarmed, I’m merely here to make you an offer on behalf of my employer."
"Not interested," Connie replied, turning away from the man. "Tell your employer that working on behalf of someone else didn’t exactly get me far last time. I’m still waiting on the fall out from that." She knew that the Russians would eventually get revenge on her for turning against them in the end. They held grudges.
"Ah, but Sir Jocelyn has plans, Miss James. Plans that would reward the right people well."
Connie snapped round, looking at the younger man. "Sir Jocelyn Myers?" she asked, her mind turning over the possibilities. "I thought he was in jail."
"He was, but given the circumstances, his crime was deemed minor in relation to the space needed, and of no risk to the public at large. He was released a week ago."
"Minor?" Connie said, amused. "He very nearly led a coup against the government, including, I believe, authorising the murder of several prominent people."
"That wasn’t exactly his doing," the man replied. "Sir Jocelyn was more concerned with the overall planning, not the day to day workings."
"I see. And what are his plans now?" Connie asked, narrowing her eyes to look up at the younger man.
"Come now, Miss James. Telling you without getting some kind of assurance of your willingness to assist in return? We wouldn’t want you to run to your MI5 colleagues and tell them, after all. Especially Sir Jocelyn 's daughter."
"Simply telling me that he is out of prison and potentially plotting something could have me running to tell her right now," Connie pointed out. "I need more than that."
"Ah, but given your somewhat... delicate circumstances, you are not likely to waste an opportunity to gain an upper hand. At least, not in the opinion of Sir Jocelyn. Are we right?"
Connie sat silently for a moment. "Very well," she said. "You certainly have my attention. But tell me. What’s in it for me?"
"Sir Jocelyn ’s undying gratitude, and the knowledge that you will have assisting in putting the UK back in its rightful place on the world map. A perfect opportunity, you might say. And on a purely personal level, we will provide you with private transportation to wherever you wish to go in the world, such as is left, of course, and a chance at a new life... for however long we have until this planet decides to give up the ghost and kill us all. We hear that New Zealand managed to escape the brunt of the damage."
Connie gave a tiny smile. "Tell Sir Jocelyn that his offer is perfectly acceptable. What does he want me to do?"
"For now, keep an eye on things here. He does not wish to attract the attention his daughter just yet. If she shows any signs of investigating things that do not concern her, divert her attention."
"She won’t listen to me, you know."
"I’m sure you can be persuasive, Miss James."
DAY SEVENTEEN
LUCAS
Lucas had taken to sitting at sundown by the bank of the rivulet that ran through the camp. It was peaceful, unlike most of the rest of it, and gave him some respite. After all, this was where he’d been brought up, and it gave him some sense of belonging after Russia, then London. Ironic that it took a little thing like nuclear war to finally bring him some peace.
His thoughts had turned back to London, though. Had Elizabeta made it out safely, found somewhere else to live? Odd that he was thinking that of his ex-wife and her new family, but the truth was that she deserved the chance. He hoped that she hadn’t gone home to Moscow, but had found her way somewhere else. Something he'd most likely never know.
He heard soft footsteps approaching and turned his head to look. Martha Jones was walking towards him.
"Were my latest set of blood tests so bad that you had to come and tell me straight away?" he asked, though he was smiling slightly.
"Actually, no," she replied, walking to stand beside him. "You’re disgustingly healthy, all things considered."
"So, what brings you out here, Doctor Jones?" he asked, turning back to look at the stream.
"I just thought you’d like some company," Martha replied. "May I?" She gestured to the log he was perched on.
"Be my guest," he replied, before glancing at her. "And I’m not sure how much company I’d be."
"Well, it looks nice and peaceful out here," she said, smiling slightly. "Sometimes we just need a moment just to sit back and take stock. Sometimes I come out here on breaks. It’s a lovely spot, and it helps me relax."
"It reminds me of home," Lucas said, smiling at her. "My father used to bring me hiking to places like this."
Martha had settled on the log, and was watching the water. "Not many places like this in London," she said thoughtfully. "We got out on holidays, but tended to go abroad. You forget how beautiful England can be."
"Could," Lucas said absently.
"Well, this is still lovely," Martha pointed out.
Lucas turned to look at her, then nodded his head once. "Are you okay?" he asked suddenly.
Martha sat silently for a moment. "No," she said, sighing. "Today, we just delivered the first baby affected by..." She stopped, obviously upset. Lucas merely sat and watched her, letting her regain control. "The mother was eighteen weeks pregnant when it all happened. She delivered prematurely. Still born, thankfully, given how deformed the little girl was."
"And you think that’s just the tip of the iceberg?" Lucas asked, realising just what was bothering Martha. "Oh God..." He wasn’t normally a demonstrative person, but he pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her shoulder in an embrace. It just seemed to be the right thing to do. "I’m so sorry," he said quietly.
Martha appeared shocked at first but relaxed and leant against him. "It’s just... everyone is so wrapped up with their own problems."
"And they forget that everyone else has their own demons to deal with." Lucas realised that there were a lot of families at this camp, and very few single people. "Who did you lose?" he asked.
"In London? My parents, my sister, maybe my brother... and my fiancé," Martha said quietly. Lucas could feel her shivering against him. He broke away, taking off his jacket and wrapping it around her, before moving his arm back around her shoulder. It wasn’t a position he was used to, but if he could provide the tiniest bit of comfort, he would. "What about you?" she asked.
"Me?" Lucas seemed shocked at the question, especially after she had lost so many. "Hardly anyone, really. I’m divorced, though not sure where my ex was living lately. My parents should be safe - they are in South Cumbria, actually. Some colleagues I was close to, that's it." And he expected them to be killed sooner rather than later anyway. It was just the nature of the job.
"Security services must be a lonely life," Martha said, sitting upright. "And are you really from around these parts?"
Lucas gave a low laugh. "Yeah, I’m from just outside Barrow, about fifty miles south of here," he said. "Dad was the local Methodist minister."
"He’s not anymore?" It was obvious that Martha was looking for anything else to focus on, and for today, Lucas was happy to oblige.
"He retired in 2006," Lucas replied, giving a bittersweet smile. "Though, ministers never really retire, they just end up doing different duties."
"He’ll be helping in this crisis?"
"Definitely," Lucas nodded. "Knowing him, he’ll be providing comfort where he can, and mum will be supplying cups of tea."
"You’re lucky," Martha said suddenly, hunching over, closing in on herself.
Lucas was silent for a moment. "Not really," he said quietly.
"They’re alive."
"There is that," Lucas said. "But I haven’t seen them for nine years."
Martha frowned as she looked at him, then her eyes widened. "Russia," she said, making the connection. "My God, how long?"
Lucas sat silently for a moment, looking at the flow of the water. "Eight years of those nine. They know I’m back but... it’s hard for them. I mean, we talked by phone soon after I returned, but talk about strained. They hate what I do for a living, what the cost is. But at least they are safe, compared to a lot of people. So many lost everyone." ‘Like you’ was hanging in the air, but Lucas had the grace not to actually say the words.
"Still hard in its own way," Martha said, smiling slightly.
"Yeah, but then working for UNIT can't be the easiest life," Lucas said, glancing at her. "I mean, we've heard about it, but not had much to do with anyone."
"Ros sent you to ask about me?" Martha asked, though the corners of her mouth twitched with amusement.
"She suggested it might be an idea, but I'm curious for myself," Lucas said, deciding honesty was always the best way. He was privately glad he'd disagreed with the methodology of finding out though, given when he'd just found out.
"I got introduced to it by a friend," Martha said. "It made sense to end up working there. They needed medical officers, they made me an offer I couldn't refuse after I qualified."
Lucas continued looking straight ahead. He caught a certain tone in Martha's voice. "You don't seem very happy about it," he said eventually.
Martha took a deep breath. "I'm... I'm just a bit annoyed with my friend. He's got a habit of appearing when things go wrong, doing his best to sort everything out, making it right. He didn't come this time. Guess I shouldn't learn to rely on him."
"I'm sorry," Lucas said eventually. "Finding out something like that is hard."
"Yeah, it is. But the work is the one thing that saved me. I was stuck on an island, doing some research when it all happened. My fiancé, Tom? He wasn't so lucky. He'd been in Africa, working in some kids hospitals out there, had only been back about three weeks when it happened." Lucas was silent, sensing that Martha needed to talk to someone about it. "I barely got a chance to see him."
"Work has a habit of doing that when you least need it to," Lucas said, thinking of Elizabeta. "Especially in jobs like ours."
Martha looked at him, and smiled suddenly. "Yeah, it does. It's nice to meet someone who actually understands it."
DAY EIGHTEEN
LUCAS
Lucas was sitting quietly in an office, preparing for the move back to Edinburgh when Ros walked in. "We've got a problem," she said without preamble, before sitting opposite him. "Someone is having undue influence over our future King."
Lucas frowned. "In what way?"
"He's making rash decisions about where people should be, what they should do, that kind of thing. His latest is wanting to move his base to Liverpool of all places, uprooting everyone."
"Wait. That goes against what everyone thought. Trying to set up there would be a nightmare. There is at least some chance of security in Edinburgh."
"He wants to get amongst the 'common people', apparently."
"Ok, this is Harry. He spent enough time firstly in nightclubs, then in the rank and file of military to know the common people. He's smart enough to know what's needed, and Edinburgh makes sense."
"Exactly. Which is why I think someone is trying to influence him."
"Evidence, or are we going on gut feeling?" Lucas asked. Either way, he had to agree.
"For now, gut feeling. It's too sudden," Ros replied.
"We need to get moving as soon as possible."
"Two more days, then they will lift restrictions to essential personnel. That's the earliest they say that the journey is safe."
"Two days too long. I'm assuming we have people in place already?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, they will have to do what they can until we get there."
"Have a little faith, Ros," Lucas said, smirking.
"You know me and my faith in humanity."
DAY NINETEEN
CONNIE
"Sir Jocelyn requires something of you," Connie's shadow said quietly one evening while they were in the queue for a meal.
"Oh?" Connie replied, looking at the food on display, not visibly paying attention to him.
"The Russian friends you arrived with. They are trying to make contact with back home. It could be a problem if, for instance, they got permission to start working with MI5. He requests that you do something about it, then leave. If MI5 know, and suspect it was you, so much the better," he said.
"For him, maybe. But for me, it would make things somewhat awkward, don't you think?" Connie said, turning to look at him.
The man handed her a small package. "Your ticket to a new life, starting as soon as you leave here," he said. "They won't find you."
"Don't underestimate them," Connie warned. "I did that, and it nearly cost me everything. Myers and North working together are a formidable pairing. Sir Jocelyn would do well to remember that."
DAY TWENTY
ROS
Lucas and Ros were sitting chatting in the small room Ros used as an office, when Tom knocked on the door. Both looked up as he walked in. "Tom. You’re looking rather serious. It suits you," Ros said.
"Yeah," Tom replied, giving a wan smile. "Look, something’s happened, and you both need to come and take a look. We’ve kept it locked down for now, but things could get ugly when news gets out."
Ros glanced over at Lucas, then stood up. "Well, you’ve got our attention. Let’s go."
They followed Tom through the community centre, to a small portakabin at the back. Ros recognised it immediately as the rooms in which the Russians had been staying. Everything about her went onto alert.
Martha was standing outside, staring into space. When she turned to look at the small group, she looked as serious as Tom did. "Martha?" Lucas asked, concerned. "What’s up?"
Tom answered for her. "Martha was checking on them first thing this morning - one of them was beginning to show signs of radiation poisoning. She was keeping close eye on him. She went in and found... well, this." Tom opening the door, touching Martha on the shoulder briefly. Ros and Lucas followed her, stopping in their tracks as they entered the room.
"I’m surprised it hasn’t happened before," Ros said, taking a deep breath as she looked at the four dead Russians.
"Yeah, but you’d expect by an angry mob, not this," Lucas replied, glancing around.
Martha had entered the room behind them. "I think they've been garrotted," she said. "Very thin piece of wire. They all bled out, and I think they were sedated first. It was the only way they could have all been taken out without a struggle. They died here."
Lucas and Ros gave each other a long look. It was just too familiar after Ben’s death. "A message?" Ros asked Lucas.
"Why now, and why here?" Lucas asked in return. Tom look between the two of them.
"This means something to you guys, doesn’t it?" he demanded.
Ros ignored him, turning to Martha. "I don’t suppose we have a pathologist hanging around here, do we?" she asked.
Martha raised an eyebrow. "No, we don’t. I can tell you how they died. I can do bloodwork, see if there is anything shows up in their blood. If there is anything unusual, I can consult with my colleagues. I can try and give you a rough time of death, but it won’t be anywhere near precise."
Ros nodded slowly. "Dr Jones. Your time with UNIT. Did you sign the Official Secrets Act?"
Martha cocked her head to one side slightly. "What we did went a little bit beyond that. No, I haven’t though if you want me to, I guess I can. Why?"
Ros looked over at Lucas. "Your friendship with Lucas places you at risk. Yes, don't think I haven't noticed the amount of time you two have spent together."
Martha glanced over at him, flushing slightly. "Why?"
"Because of who did this," Lucas responded, ignoring Ros' comment for now, sitting down and rubbing his face. "We’ve seen it before."
"When?" Tom asked.
Lucas looked at Ros, who replied. "A day or so before the first bomb. One of our colleagues was killed in the same way."
"Connie James did this." Tom had surmised quickly who it was by what Lucas and Ros weren’t saying. "Shit. I suppose it’s too late to check if she’s still here?"
"She wouldn’t want to stick around," Lucas said with a wry smile. "She'd know we’d make the connection fast."
"Why would she do it?" Martha asked sitting down next to Lucas, sounding shocked, confused and hurt at the same time.
"And that is the million dollar question," Ros said, nodding. "She’s working to some agenda, we’re just not sure what."
"She’d been working for the Russians," Lucas explained. "Us finding out was part of the trigger for, well, everything. So, unless her orders from the motherland were to kill their only operatives with any kind of foothold in the UK, she’s found another agenda to follow."
Ros took a deep breath. "It’s time to move from here, closer to the centre of power. I’ve a feeling that’s where things are going to happen, and not necessarily in a good way. Tom, are you and Christine ready to go?"
"Yeah. It’s not as if we have much here, after all," Tom nodded in response. "A day, and we’ll be good."
"Lucas?"
"Fine with me," though he glanced once at Martha.
Ros caught the glance, and smiled to herself. "Doctor Jones, I've received notification that UNIT intend to reform in Edinburgh as well. If you wish to join us..."
Martha looked between them all. "There are more doctors here now," she said carefully. "I can safely leave and go back to my old job. And if you need a UNIT liaison..."
Ros nodded slowly. If nothing else, she could keep an eye on her this way. She still wasn't utterly convinced that Martha wasn't involved somehow. Call it an ideal opportunity.
Link to Chapter Four
Fandom: Spooks/Dr Who
Word Count: Total: 19226 (This chapter: 3399)
Rating: 15
Characters: Lucas North, Ros Myers, Connie James, Martha Jones, plus two guest appearances
Spoilers: All of Season Seven
Summary: The race through the tunnels to stop the suitcase bomber takes an unexpected turn.
Disclaimer: Don't own Spooks, just playing in the sandpit. No money being made etc etc. All rights belong to Kudos and the BBC.
Author's Note: Written for apocabigbang. Many, many thanks to the wonderful verdant_gt for the beta, and to fenna_girl and ladyofbrileith for their support.
Links to other chapters: Chapter One | Chapter Two
DAY FIFTEEN
CONNIE
It was late evening, and Connie had decided to take a small walk in the woods surrounding the compound. Considering she was no longer officially a prisoner, she still felt hemmed in. Maybe it was the accusatory glances Ros threw in her direction every time she passed by.
Either way, the fresh air felt good, as did the opportunity to be away from so much human suffering, even if it was only temporary relief. She found a collapsed tree on the edge of the woods and perched on it, staring out into the blackness. For the first time since the bombs fell, the sky was relatively clear, and some of the stars were visible. Those scientists that were left were trying to work out the likelyhood of suffering nuclear winter, and whether it was worth carrying on, or should people just all give up now. But Connie knew only too well that the human race were fighters to the core - they’d carry on until the bitter end.
Somewhere close by a twig snapped. Connie was instantly on alert. She knew that there weren’t many large animals left alive surrounding the camp - quite simply, anything that could be caught and used for food was. All food had been rationed, and any extra supplies created an instant black market. The chances of anything left alive within five miles was slim. That left something human.
"Show yourself," Connie demanded, looking at the direction from where the noise came. "You aren’t exactly being quiet."
A man slowly appeared from the shadows, shining his torch low on the ground so not to blind her. He held his hands out to the side in a gesture of submission. "Sorry," he said with a wry grin.
"Who are you, and why are you following me?" Had Ros finally developed the balls to order Connie killed? She was surprised that she hadn’t done it before.
"I’m impressed, Miss James," the man said, moving closer to Connie. "But you shouldn’t be alarmed, I’m merely here to make you an offer on behalf of my employer."
"Not interested," Connie replied, turning away from the man. "Tell your employer that working on behalf of someone else didn’t exactly get me far last time. I’m still waiting on the fall out from that." She knew that the Russians would eventually get revenge on her for turning against them in the end. They held grudges.
"Ah, but Sir Jocelyn has plans, Miss James. Plans that would reward the right people well."
Connie snapped round, looking at the younger man. "Sir Jocelyn Myers?" she asked, her mind turning over the possibilities. "I thought he was in jail."
"He was, but given the circumstances, his crime was deemed minor in relation to the space needed, and of no risk to the public at large. He was released a week ago."
"Minor?" Connie said, amused. "He very nearly led a coup against the government, including, I believe, authorising the murder of several prominent people."
"That wasn’t exactly his doing," the man replied. "Sir Jocelyn was more concerned with the overall planning, not the day to day workings."
"I see. And what are his plans now?" Connie asked, narrowing her eyes to look up at the younger man.
"Come now, Miss James. Telling you without getting some kind of assurance of your willingness to assist in return? We wouldn’t want you to run to your MI5 colleagues and tell them, after all. Especially Sir Jocelyn 's daughter."
"Simply telling me that he is out of prison and potentially plotting something could have me running to tell her right now," Connie pointed out. "I need more than that."
"Ah, but given your somewhat... delicate circumstances, you are not likely to waste an opportunity to gain an upper hand. At least, not in the opinion of Sir Jocelyn. Are we right?"
Connie sat silently for a moment. "Very well," she said. "You certainly have my attention. But tell me. What’s in it for me?"
"Sir Jocelyn ’s undying gratitude, and the knowledge that you will have assisting in putting the UK back in its rightful place on the world map. A perfect opportunity, you might say. And on a purely personal level, we will provide you with private transportation to wherever you wish to go in the world, such as is left, of course, and a chance at a new life... for however long we have until this planet decides to give up the ghost and kill us all. We hear that New Zealand managed to escape the brunt of the damage."
Connie gave a tiny smile. "Tell Sir Jocelyn that his offer is perfectly acceptable. What does he want me to do?"
"For now, keep an eye on things here. He does not wish to attract the attention his daughter just yet. If she shows any signs of investigating things that do not concern her, divert her attention."
"She won’t listen to me, you know."
"I’m sure you can be persuasive, Miss James."
DAY SEVENTEEN
LUCAS
Lucas had taken to sitting at sundown by the bank of the rivulet that ran through the camp. It was peaceful, unlike most of the rest of it, and gave him some respite. After all, this was where he’d been brought up, and it gave him some sense of belonging after Russia, then London. Ironic that it took a little thing like nuclear war to finally bring him some peace.
His thoughts had turned back to London, though. Had Elizabeta made it out safely, found somewhere else to live? Odd that he was thinking that of his ex-wife and her new family, but the truth was that she deserved the chance. He hoped that she hadn’t gone home to Moscow, but had found her way somewhere else. Something he'd most likely never know.
He heard soft footsteps approaching and turned his head to look. Martha Jones was walking towards him.
"Were my latest set of blood tests so bad that you had to come and tell me straight away?" he asked, though he was smiling slightly.
"Actually, no," she replied, walking to stand beside him. "You’re disgustingly healthy, all things considered."
"So, what brings you out here, Doctor Jones?" he asked, turning back to look at the stream.
"I just thought you’d like some company," Martha replied. "May I?" She gestured to the log he was perched on.
"Be my guest," he replied, before glancing at her. "And I’m not sure how much company I’d be."
"Well, it looks nice and peaceful out here," she said, smiling slightly. "Sometimes we just need a moment just to sit back and take stock. Sometimes I come out here on breaks. It’s a lovely spot, and it helps me relax."
"It reminds me of home," Lucas said, smiling at her. "My father used to bring me hiking to places like this."
Martha had settled on the log, and was watching the water. "Not many places like this in London," she said thoughtfully. "We got out on holidays, but tended to go abroad. You forget how beautiful England can be."
"Could," Lucas said absently.
"Well, this is still lovely," Martha pointed out.
Lucas turned to look at her, then nodded his head once. "Are you okay?" he asked suddenly.
Martha sat silently for a moment. "No," she said, sighing. "Today, we just delivered the first baby affected by..." She stopped, obviously upset. Lucas merely sat and watched her, letting her regain control. "The mother was eighteen weeks pregnant when it all happened. She delivered prematurely. Still born, thankfully, given how deformed the little girl was."
"And you think that’s just the tip of the iceberg?" Lucas asked, realising just what was bothering Martha. "Oh God..." He wasn’t normally a demonstrative person, but he pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her shoulder in an embrace. It just seemed to be the right thing to do. "I’m so sorry," he said quietly.
Martha appeared shocked at first but relaxed and leant against him. "It’s just... everyone is so wrapped up with their own problems."
"And they forget that everyone else has their own demons to deal with." Lucas realised that there were a lot of families at this camp, and very few single people. "Who did you lose?" he asked.
"In London? My parents, my sister, maybe my brother... and my fiancé," Martha said quietly. Lucas could feel her shivering against him. He broke away, taking off his jacket and wrapping it around her, before moving his arm back around her shoulder. It wasn’t a position he was used to, but if he could provide the tiniest bit of comfort, he would. "What about you?" she asked.
"Me?" Lucas seemed shocked at the question, especially after she had lost so many. "Hardly anyone, really. I’m divorced, though not sure where my ex was living lately. My parents should be safe - they are in South Cumbria, actually. Some colleagues I was close to, that's it." And he expected them to be killed sooner rather than later anyway. It was just the nature of the job.
"Security services must be a lonely life," Martha said, sitting upright. "And are you really from around these parts?"
Lucas gave a low laugh. "Yeah, I’m from just outside Barrow, about fifty miles south of here," he said. "Dad was the local Methodist minister."
"He’s not anymore?" It was obvious that Martha was looking for anything else to focus on, and for today, Lucas was happy to oblige.
"He retired in 2006," Lucas replied, giving a bittersweet smile. "Though, ministers never really retire, they just end up doing different duties."
"He’ll be helping in this crisis?"
"Definitely," Lucas nodded. "Knowing him, he’ll be providing comfort where he can, and mum will be supplying cups of tea."
"You’re lucky," Martha said suddenly, hunching over, closing in on herself.
Lucas was silent for a moment. "Not really," he said quietly.
"They’re alive."
"There is that," Lucas said. "But I haven’t seen them for nine years."
Martha frowned as she looked at him, then her eyes widened. "Russia," she said, making the connection. "My God, how long?"
Lucas sat silently for a moment, looking at the flow of the water. "Eight years of those nine. They know I’m back but... it’s hard for them. I mean, we talked by phone soon after I returned, but talk about strained. They hate what I do for a living, what the cost is. But at least they are safe, compared to a lot of people. So many lost everyone." ‘Like you’ was hanging in the air, but Lucas had the grace not to actually say the words.
"Still hard in its own way," Martha said, smiling slightly.
"Yeah, but then working for UNIT can't be the easiest life," Lucas said, glancing at her. "I mean, we've heard about it, but not had much to do with anyone."
"Ros sent you to ask about me?" Martha asked, though the corners of her mouth twitched with amusement.
"She suggested it might be an idea, but I'm curious for myself," Lucas said, deciding honesty was always the best way. He was privately glad he'd disagreed with the methodology of finding out though, given when he'd just found out.
"I got introduced to it by a friend," Martha said. "It made sense to end up working there. They needed medical officers, they made me an offer I couldn't refuse after I qualified."
Lucas continued looking straight ahead. He caught a certain tone in Martha's voice. "You don't seem very happy about it," he said eventually.
Martha took a deep breath. "I'm... I'm just a bit annoyed with my friend. He's got a habit of appearing when things go wrong, doing his best to sort everything out, making it right. He didn't come this time. Guess I shouldn't learn to rely on him."
"I'm sorry," Lucas said eventually. "Finding out something like that is hard."
"Yeah, it is. But the work is the one thing that saved me. I was stuck on an island, doing some research when it all happened. My fiancé, Tom? He wasn't so lucky. He'd been in Africa, working in some kids hospitals out there, had only been back about three weeks when it happened." Lucas was silent, sensing that Martha needed to talk to someone about it. "I barely got a chance to see him."
"Work has a habit of doing that when you least need it to," Lucas said, thinking of Elizabeta. "Especially in jobs like ours."
Martha looked at him, and smiled suddenly. "Yeah, it does. It's nice to meet someone who actually understands it."
DAY EIGHTEEN
LUCAS
Lucas was sitting quietly in an office, preparing for the move back to Edinburgh when Ros walked in. "We've got a problem," she said without preamble, before sitting opposite him. "Someone is having undue influence over our future King."
Lucas frowned. "In what way?"
"He's making rash decisions about where people should be, what they should do, that kind of thing. His latest is wanting to move his base to Liverpool of all places, uprooting everyone."
"Wait. That goes against what everyone thought. Trying to set up there would be a nightmare. There is at least some chance of security in Edinburgh."
"He wants to get amongst the 'common people', apparently."
"Ok, this is Harry. He spent enough time firstly in nightclubs, then in the rank and file of military to know the common people. He's smart enough to know what's needed, and Edinburgh makes sense."
"Exactly. Which is why I think someone is trying to influence him."
"Evidence, or are we going on gut feeling?" Lucas asked. Either way, he had to agree.
"For now, gut feeling. It's too sudden," Ros replied.
"We need to get moving as soon as possible."
"Two more days, then they will lift restrictions to essential personnel. That's the earliest they say that the journey is safe."
"Two days too long. I'm assuming we have people in place already?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, they will have to do what they can until we get there."
"Have a little faith, Ros," Lucas said, smirking.
"You know me and my faith in humanity."
DAY NINETEEN
CONNIE
"Sir Jocelyn requires something of you," Connie's shadow said quietly one evening while they were in the queue for a meal.
"Oh?" Connie replied, looking at the food on display, not visibly paying attention to him.
"The Russian friends you arrived with. They are trying to make contact with back home. It could be a problem if, for instance, they got permission to start working with MI5. He requests that you do something about it, then leave. If MI5 know, and suspect it was you, so much the better," he said.
"For him, maybe. But for me, it would make things somewhat awkward, don't you think?" Connie said, turning to look at him.
The man handed her a small package. "Your ticket to a new life, starting as soon as you leave here," he said. "They won't find you."
"Don't underestimate them," Connie warned. "I did that, and it nearly cost me everything. Myers and North working together are a formidable pairing. Sir Jocelyn would do well to remember that."
DAY TWENTY
ROS
Lucas and Ros were sitting chatting in the small room Ros used as an office, when Tom knocked on the door. Both looked up as he walked in. "Tom. You’re looking rather serious. It suits you," Ros said.
"Yeah," Tom replied, giving a wan smile. "Look, something’s happened, and you both need to come and take a look. We’ve kept it locked down for now, but things could get ugly when news gets out."
Ros glanced over at Lucas, then stood up. "Well, you’ve got our attention. Let’s go."
They followed Tom through the community centre, to a small portakabin at the back. Ros recognised it immediately as the rooms in which the Russians had been staying. Everything about her went onto alert.
Martha was standing outside, staring into space. When she turned to look at the small group, she looked as serious as Tom did. "Martha?" Lucas asked, concerned. "What’s up?"
Tom answered for her. "Martha was checking on them first thing this morning - one of them was beginning to show signs of radiation poisoning. She was keeping close eye on him. She went in and found... well, this." Tom opening the door, touching Martha on the shoulder briefly. Ros and Lucas followed her, stopping in their tracks as they entered the room.
"I’m surprised it hasn’t happened before," Ros said, taking a deep breath as she looked at the four dead Russians.
"Yeah, but you’d expect by an angry mob, not this," Lucas replied, glancing around.
Martha had entered the room behind them. "I think they've been garrotted," she said. "Very thin piece of wire. They all bled out, and I think they were sedated first. It was the only way they could have all been taken out without a struggle. They died here."
Lucas and Ros gave each other a long look. It was just too familiar after Ben’s death. "A message?" Ros asked Lucas.
"Why now, and why here?" Lucas asked in return. Tom look between the two of them.
"This means something to you guys, doesn’t it?" he demanded.
Ros ignored him, turning to Martha. "I don’t suppose we have a pathologist hanging around here, do we?" she asked.
Martha raised an eyebrow. "No, we don’t. I can tell you how they died. I can do bloodwork, see if there is anything shows up in their blood. If there is anything unusual, I can consult with my colleagues. I can try and give you a rough time of death, but it won’t be anywhere near precise."
Ros nodded slowly. "Dr Jones. Your time with UNIT. Did you sign the Official Secrets Act?"
Martha cocked her head to one side slightly. "What we did went a little bit beyond that. No, I haven’t though if you want me to, I guess I can. Why?"
Ros looked over at Lucas. "Your friendship with Lucas places you at risk. Yes, don't think I haven't noticed the amount of time you two have spent together."
Martha glanced over at him, flushing slightly. "Why?"
"Because of who did this," Lucas responded, ignoring Ros' comment for now, sitting down and rubbing his face. "We’ve seen it before."
"When?" Tom asked.
Lucas looked at Ros, who replied. "A day or so before the first bomb. One of our colleagues was killed in the same way."
"Connie James did this." Tom had surmised quickly who it was by what Lucas and Ros weren’t saying. "Shit. I suppose it’s too late to check if she’s still here?"
"She wouldn’t want to stick around," Lucas said with a wry smile. "She'd know we’d make the connection fast."
"Why would she do it?" Martha asked sitting down next to Lucas, sounding shocked, confused and hurt at the same time.
"And that is the million dollar question," Ros said, nodding. "She’s working to some agenda, we’re just not sure what."
"She’d been working for the Russians," Lucas explained. "Us finding out was part of the trigger for, well, everything. So, unless her orders from the motherland were to kill their only operatives with any kind of foothold in the UK, she’s found another agenda to follow."
Ros took a deep breath. "It’s time to move from here, closer to the centre of power. I’ve a feeling that’s where things are going to happen, and not necessarily in a good way. Tom, are you and Christine ready to go?"
"Yeah. It’s not as if we have much here, after all," Tom nodded in response. "A day, and we’ll be good."
"Lucas?"
"Fine with me," though he glanced once at Martha.
Ros caught the glance, and smiled to herself. "Doctor Jones, I've received notification that UNIT intend to reform in Edinburgh as well. If you wish to join us..."
Martha looked between them all. "There are more doctors here now," she said carefully. "I can safely leave and go back to my old job. And if you need a UNIT liaison..."
Ros nodded slowly. If nothing else, she could keep an eye on her this way. She still wasn't utterly convinced that Martha wasn't involved somehow. Call it an ideal opportunity.
Link to Chapter Four