Transformations and Machinations 4/4 [Spooks/Dr Who fanfic, 15]

[kirsteena]

Title: Transformations and Machinations
Fandom: Spooks/Dr Who
Word Count: Total: 19226 (This chapter: 4474)
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 | Chapter Three



DAY TWENTY FOUR

ROS

The reports she was getting were disturbing. Just a little thing here and there, but enough to make an interesting pattern. Someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, manoeuvring themselves into a position of power. She didn't like it. An assault here, a scandal there, never much, but just enough to make her think.

"Lucas," she said, walking into their new facilities. It hadn't taken them long to get some semblance of order, and she was gratified to see that some staff who had been out on field ops had survived. It meant that they actually had some chance of setting up an effective department quickly. Lucas looked up from where he was explaining something to a junior officer, glancing at her. He was now fully recovered from his gunshot wound, and was in the field as much as he could be. "My office."

Lucas followed her, curiosity written all over his expression. It wasn't often they kept things quiet from the rest of the new team, which meant only one thing. "Have you see these reports?" Ros asked, handing him a file.

He opened it, glancing quickly at the contents. "Some of them," he said, sitting down. "You think there's a link?"

"I don't know," Ros confessed, sitting down at her desk. "I can't help but feel there must be. It's all careful, quiet positioning."

"What's the target? Position so that they are working as one of Harry's advisors, or something else?" Lucas wondered. "At least, that would be my initial thoughts, but some of these reports have nothing to do with the royals at all, or purely governmental. I'd almost say it was personal against someone."

"Exactly," Ros said. "Have you got a couple of people you can trust amongst the new staff?" There were days she missed Jo, Malcolm and the others.

"They need a bit more training, but actually doing the job is always the fastest way. However, for this? I'll take Tom," Lucas said, staring intently at her. "You want me to look into this deeper?"

Ros hated the fact that she'd agreed to take charge while everyone got things back to some semblance of normality. Lucas made a good section chief, but she itched to be back doing what she did best. "Yes. I'd love to, but..."

"You're stuck being politician. How ironic," Lucas said, smirking at her.

"I can still send you to the worst jobs," Ros warned him, though she was smiling.

"And here is me thinking that you already did," Lucas said, standing up. "I'll do some digging, see if any of my old contacts are still around. We'll find it."

DAY TWENTY ONE

LUCAS

Fuel was heavily rationed, but Lucas managed to call in enough favours to get a full tank of petrol as he and Tom set out for Newcastle.

"Newcastle?" Tom said, disbelieving. "Your contact is in Newcastle."

"I know. Real hotbed of politics and spying," Lucas said with a grin. "I'll take what I can these days though."

"What's he got?" Tom asked, glancing through the file Lucas had passed him.

"Don't know, but he was always a solid asset, so I'm not going to dismiss him out of hand," Lucas replied. "Had him even in the days before you worked with me."

"And he survived the whole Event?" Tom said. No one really knew what to call it, not so close to it happening. 'Event' was one of the more popular titles.

"Apparently. He sent me a message a week ago saying we needed to talk. I don't know how he tracked me down, and part of me is desperate to know, though part of me doesn't care."

"You want to know to stop anyone else from doing it?"

"Yup."

Newcastle had more people in it that Lucas had thought. It seemed that once the restrictions on travel had been lifted, people came back, something that wasn't the case in every city. The famed northern spirit was obviously strong here, he thought to himself with a smile. Grey's Monument wasn't difficult to find, though the shopping areas close by were mostly closed, a few hardy souls were trying to start to rebuild their lives.

He and Tom stood there for a moment, trying not to look conspicuous, and failing. People turned to look at the two men, just standing around in a busy thoroughfare. "Let's see if there's a cafe," Lucas muttered.

"You think he'll turn up?" Tom asked as they walked, trying not to draw attention to themselves.

"Yeah, I do," Lucas said, looking around. "If he survived he'll be here. He's reliable." He looked over at Tom. "What?"

"I never had you pegged as an optimist," Tom said, smirking slightly. "You always seemed the pessimistic type."

"Times change," Lucas said, grinning at Tom.

"That they do," a new voice added to the conversation. Both Lucas and Tom spun to face the stranger, hands going to the firearms they had on them, but Lucas relaxed first as he realised who it was.

"Peregrine," he said, dropping his hand, and glancing over at Tom. "You're late."

"Had to be sure I wasn't seen," Peregrine responded, looking Lucas up and down. "You look older. Who's your friend?"

"Happens when time passes," Lucas deadpanned in return. "He's with me. You can trust him."

"I hope so, Mr North," Peregine said. "Let's walk."

The streets were virtually deserted as the three of them walked slowly along them, just looking as if they were three friends out for a ramble. "Three years ago. Do you remember a failed coup attempt?"

Lucas stopped and looked at Peregrine. "Coup attempt? Here?"

"I'm guessing not, then," Peregrine replied, amused at Lucas' reaction. "You sound as if nothing like that has ever happened before."

"Not for a while," Tom said. "Thinking back, I remember hearing about some unrest in the UK from some of our employees. At the time, my business took off, lots of people started using us. There was a riot in London, as well, wasn't there? Though if I remember rightly, it was relatively short lived, and I assumed that whatever it was had been controlled quickly. I never heard any rumour about a coup attempt, though."

"Well, it happened," Peregrine replied. "Rumour has it a fair amount of the disturbance was the responsibility of MI6. Certain of their upper echelon wanted more powers - the ability to lock up people without trial, used armed police to prevent civilian protests, that kind of thing. So-called bloodless coup. Not that they ever are."

Lucas shook his head. "Never heard about it, but then I could only catch up on so much when I got back. Things got busy quickly. But MI6...? I'm assuming that it was stopped fast."

"Yes. The primary MI6 conspirator suicided, the others ended up either in jail or utterly disgraced. Of course, with the unrest now, prison space is in short supply."

"And at least one of them has been released," Lucas said, realising what Peregrine was leading towards. "And free to take advantage of the natural chaos since the Event."

Peregrine nodded. "That's what I'm hearing. One of the main potential benefactors was released from prison not long after the Event, and he's been rebuilding ever since."

"So, who is he? And what do we have to worry about?" Tom asked.

"Well, as for what... he's determined to work himself into a position close to King Henry, to take advantage of him. His Majesty doesn't always necessarily make the logical decision, and that can be exploited. Who? Someone close to one of you. Sir Jocelyn Myers."

Both Lucas and Tom turned as one to look at Peregrine. "As in...?" Lucas said eventually.

"Your boss' father? One and the same," Peregine replied.

Lucas took a deep breath, and turned away for a moment, thinking. "Do you know what he wants, other than power?" he asked, turning back to Peregrine.

"You're asking me if he wants to go head to head with his daughter?" Peregrine asked. "I don't know for sure, but I know that it wouldn't surprise me. He's been building up contacts everywhere he can. Even that camp you were in. How do you think those Russians died?"

"Crap," Tom muttered to himself.

Lucas sighed. "We knew she'd done it, just not who she was working for. This changes things."

"Yeah, it does," Peregrine said. "Look, Lucas. Most things I find out are relatively minor. If it helps you fine, if not, not that many people are affected. This? This is a whole different ballgame. He's taking the old rule book and tearing it up, and people are going to get hurt. My recommendation? Take him out, and fast."

Lucas was silent. What more could he say?

"What are you thinking?" Tom asked him when they were driving back to Edinburgh.

"I'm thinking how many young officers are going to get hurt when Ros goes off on one after I tell her," Lucas said, staring at the road ahead of him. Silent roads were a strange concept, especially for someone used to driving in rush hour London, and he was keeping a close eye out, just in case anyone tried to leap out in front of a vehicle to stop it. "Either that or I'm going to get it."

"It's not that bad, is it?" Tom asked, pulling a face.

"You haven't seen her when she gets mad," Lucas said. "Though she's more likely to bottle it in and explode when she is physically in the same place as him."

"So how are you going to play it?"

Lucas sat silent for a moment. "I need more information first," he said. "I need to dig, find out more, see if what Peregrine has given us is good or he's been fed it."

"You think he might have?"

"I don't know," he said. "I want to think it's good info, but I need to be able to get some kind of confirmation before I take it to Ros. Because really - 'Hi, your father is leading a conspiracy against the reformed government...' No, I'm not that insane."

"Want me to check that he was released from prison?" Tom asked, wanting to help in any way he could.

"Yeah, that would be good. I'm going to ask a friend to help with some digging at governmental level," Lucas said.

"Say hi to her from me," Tom smirked.

"You want me to do what?" Martha asked, staring at Lucas.

He was leaning against the units in the kitchen in the tiny flat she'd been given - a symbol of her status within UNIT. With so many flocking to the cities for work, most people he'd heard of were sharing living accommodation - even if it was tiny studio flats. He was granted his own living space, but he hadn't heard that Martha had as well. "Do a little digging," he replied, sipping his drink.

"You want me to use overstretched UNIT facilities to spy on someone you think might, just might, be involved in a conspiracy," Martha said, with a shake of her head. "You don't ask for much, do you ,Lucas?"

Lucas sighed. "Look. Strange things have been happening. We saw it at the beginning with those Russians who were killed at the camp. There have been other things happening, moving behind the scenes." He paused. "We've got an idea who is involved, but we need confirmation. If I, or anyone from MI5 goes stomping in, then we're likely to send them underground and we'll never find out for sure. And believe me, we need to know."

"Why?" Martha asked. "Why is this so important?"

Lucas moved, going to sit down on the small sofa in the living area that Martha had. "A few years ago, there was a coup attempt in Britain. Unrest, and on the back of it, an attempt to give certain people some extra powers. It shouldn't have worked, but given how well they were placed, it almost did. It apparently took one of the people working for them to turn round and say 'no, this is wrong' to bring it down." And Lucas was determined to keep Ros out of this for as long as he could.

"Wow," Martha said, sitting down beside him, and looking at the table, obviously lost in thought. "And you think that at least one person from then is involved in this... conspiracy?"

"I do."

"Couldn't it be that working for who you do, you see conspiracies everywhere?" Martha asked. "I mean, you say it was one which you uncovered too late that caused this whole event, now this?"

"Part of my job is to read patterns," Lucas said. "And there is a definite pattern emerging. It's not much, but it's there. Someone is trying to manipulate things."

Martha watched him for a few seconds then nodded. "Okay, but believe me, you owe me dinner when we get a chance to actually have something."

Lucas gave a genuine smile. "Thank you, Martha. I just want to figure out what's going on before anyone else gets hurt."

"I notice you didn't say anything about the dinner."

"What, you expected me to say no?"

DAY TWENTY SEVEN

LUCAS

It took a few moments to mentally steel himself for the forthcoming conversation. He had all the evidence he needed, that part wasn't the problem. The problem was not knowing how Ros would react to the news. He'd talked to a few people, old contacts in MI6 that worked with her in the past, assets who'd dealt with her, and he still couldn't tell how she'd react to the fact that the father whom she adored and from all account, wanted approval from (at least back then). The only thing he knew for certain was that she wouldn't take it well. He was betting that she would internalise, possibly exploding in a fit of anger at a later date. At least he would have if he was the kind of man who would lay a bet with a friend like, say, Tom.

He stood up, and looked towards Ros' office. He glanced over at Tom, who was watching him carefully, and nodded once, before going over and knocking on her door. He barely waited for the muffled 'come in' before he'd opened it.

"Lucas," Ros said, an eyebrow raised. "Something happen?"

"Sort of," he replied, and first went to the chair in front of her desk, then changed his mind. "Let's walk," he said suddenly.

Ros frowned at him. "Walk?" she said, confused.

"Outside," Lucas said. "You know, in the fresh air?"

"Fresh air?" she said, though she was smiling slightly. "Let me grab a coat."

"Well, this is all very pretty," Ros said as they walked through Princes Street Gardens. She was looking around her at the few flowers that had begun to bloom - an unusual sight in the aftermath of the Event.

"Yes," Lucas said simply.

Ros was silent for a moment, giving Lucas a sidelong glance. "However, pretty flowers aren't exactly what you brought me out here for, are they? Spill."

"Spill?" Lucas said, amused at her turn of phrase. "Well, no, not really." He took in a deep breath. "Remember that problem you tasked me to look into?"

"Well, it too you long enough," Ros replied. "You met your asset, what, a week ago? And you're stalling now."

"I was making sure of my facts before I came to you," Lucas said, shrugging. "I had a bit of checking to do, and it hasn't exactly been quiet to be able to do it." For all they had taken a while to get set up in Edinburgh, they were now as busy as they back in London, processing incoming threats.

"You're prevaricating, Lucas. That's not like you," Ros said.

"No, it's not normally." Lucas reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a sealed brown envelope, pausing before handing it to Ros. "You were right. There is one person behind it all. Someone who, from all accounts wants to gain power, and who might have been responsible for some of the activities we've noticed, though pinning it on him is going to be difficult. He's covered his tracks well."

Ros opened the envelope and suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, gasping slightly - the most emotion Lucas had ever seen from her. "You're joking," she said eventually.

"I wish I was," Lucas said, sighing. "Look, as soon as I knew there was a possibility, I began checking, and double checking. He was released from prison about five days after the Event, when someone decided he wasn't a threat. Tom is trying to find out who that was..."

"Tom? He knows about this?" Ros asked angrily.

"Yes, he does. He was there when I met my asset, remember?" Lucas said, frowning slightly as he spoke. "He doesn't know much, though. I'm the only one who's gathered everything together."

Ros turning away from Lucas for a moment, obviously gathering her thoughts. He leaned against a wall, watching her, waiting for her to repond. "Tell me," she said eventually.

Lucas watched her for a moment more, then nodded. "Peregrine first gave us the name, told us that he was behind several things, including Connie's little trick before disappearing. Apparently he wants to shake things up a little bit. Of course, that was just the starting point. Tom did his digging, though he couldn't find out who signed the release papers. He can make an educated guess, at one governor who appears to have left the country."

"His old style," Ros said. "Get what he wants by any means necessary, including paying them. But that isn't enough to go on, Lucas, and you know it. Where did this photo come from?"

"UNIT, actually. I asked a favour of Martha. I needed someone who has relatively high access who was less likely to trigger any suspicions, and let's face it, a pretty woman? Always good for that."

"You surprise me, Lucas."

"That I would do that? I thought you knew me?"

"More that you'd use someone you have a friendship with."

"I'll do what's necessary," Lucas said, somewhat defensively. "Anyway, it took her a couple of days, but she found out some things. His Majesty is taking a lot of recommendations from his advisors - I suppose it's a long time since a King has had this much power, after all. But two of the main ministers advising him had a little meeting, as you can see. It appears your father is pulling the strings, getting them to work the way he wants." He gave a tiny smile. "As ever, it's amazing what people will tell a pretty woman."

"Some things never change. So, what does the old fool want?" Ros asked, starting to regain her sense of equilibrium.

"That's the thing. No one knows. Yes, he's pulling strings but to what end? I don't know, and from what Martha found out, she's not sure the ministers do either. Everyone seems to just be puppets to him, and he's the puppet master."

Ros suddenly started walking again, leaving Lucas to stride quickly to catch up with her. She was silent for a long moment. "I want a meeting set up with him," she said.

"Are you insane?" Lucas said. "You want to let him know that we're aware of what he's doing?"

"He probably already is, Lucas," Ros pointed out. "The chances are high that he has someone placed within our ranks, who's seen you digging around, even though you've been discreet."

"And you think that you talking to him will help?"

"No, but I need to find out what he's planning. He came so close last time, Lucas. You don't know what it was like."

"I did some digging, I found out some of it," Lucas said softly.

"If I hadn't made my choice..."

"If you hadn't chosen as you did, we would be in a far worse place now," Lucas said. "And I'm not saying that just to pat you on the head, make you feel better. It's genuinely what I think."

Ros blew out a breath. "Set up the meet. Sooner rather than later."

"Are you sure? Last chance to change your mind."

"I'm sure. I've never been more sure. Time for me to face my father."

DAY THIRTY

ROS

Ros reflexively pulled her coat close around her as she walked through the streets of Edinburgh. It wasn't especially cold, but enough to add to her mood.

Was she actually ready to see her father again after all these years, after all that she'd been through? If what she'd heard was to be believed, he hadn't changed at all. She had been through the whole situation with Adam, the betrayal with Yalta, the fake death, then the willing embrace back into the fold. She wasn't the willing accomplice, looking for parental approval at some level any more.

But she still didn't know how she would react to seeing him again, especially as it now appeared they were on opposite sides.

She reached the meeting point that had been agreed, still unsure if he would even turn up. After all, once he showed it confirmed all their suspicions.

"I didn't think you would have the gumption to turn up alone, Rosalind," an all too familiar voice came from behind her.

"You know me, Daddy. Never could resist a challenge," Ros replied, plastering a smile on her face before turning to face him.

"No, you couldn't, could you?" Sir Jocelyn replied. "You wanted to see me? I would have thought you'd be too busy to bother with the likes of me. You know, terrorists to deal with. How's the new job working out, by the way?"

"Just fine, actually," Ros said. "Suits me more than Six ever did, actually."

"Very strange." Sir Jocelyn sighed as he looked at Ros. "Where did it all go wrong? We were a formidable team, you and I."

"It went wrong when you put yourself, and what you wanted, ahead of country," Ros said. "I couldn't let it go on."

"You know, I never had you pegged as a nationalist, Ros," he replied. "How was your death? Oh yes, I heard all about that, even in prison. You have no room to talk about putting yourself ahead of country."

Ros turned angrily to her father. "You know nothing of it," she said in a low voice, her eyes blazing. "You and your cushy, easy life. Just like you've always had - things handed on a plate to you."

"And you think you're so different, daughter?"

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," Ros said. "But I do know what it's like to have to fight for the things you love."

Sir Jocelyn watched his daughter for a moment. "Interesting turn of phrase there," he said. "Once upon a time, you loved me unconditionally, you would have done anything for me."

"That was before you broke a simple rule - what was right, and what was wrong. You crossed the line, and you got what you deserved."

"Is that was you really think? I was doing what I thought was right, and at the time, so did you."

"And now? You think that what you are doing is right? And why now?"

"There was an opportunity, I took advantage, Just like you have."

"Me?"

"If the Event hadn't happened, do you think you would be where you are today, in charge of a section at MI5?"

"You think I wanted this job, stuck behind a desk? I'm a field officer, but I stand up and do what's needed when I have to," Ros said. "And that is nothing like what you are doing."

"Just what am I doing?" Sir Jocelyn's smile was smug.

"Manoeuvring yourself into a position of power behind the King, positioning yourself as an advisor. In that role you can push him into doing whatever you want, no matter how subtle you make it, and have whoever you want dealt with."

Sir Jocelyn smiled at her analysis. "You think you've got it all worked out, don't you?"

"You forget, I know you. You taught me everything, including how you think."

"Well, now you know. The question is, what you are going to do about it?"

Ros looked at him. "It was suggested that we solve the problem a traditional way, and assassinate you."

"You won't though." The laugh he gave was condescending, showing his disdain at the idea.

"Won't I?" Ros asked.

"If you were going to, I'd be dead," he replied, a smug grin appearing. "Rather than threaten me with it now. Please, you can do better than that, Rosalind."

"Trust me, I seriously thought about it," Ros said, conceding his point for now.

"So, what now? I mean, you know what I intend, and I know that you won't stop me. You could arrest me, but we both know I wouldn't stay locked up for very long before my contacts release me. It rather gives the advantage to me, don't you think?"

"You might think that, but don't forget, I can and will counter you," Ros said, a small smile appearing for the first time. "I know how you think, remember? And believe me, we're ready to deal with you."

"I doubt that, my dear."

Ros raised an eyebrow. "You have been clever up until now, but there will come a point when you will give yourself away. How do you think we found you so easily?"

"It took you long enough," Sir Jocelyn said, that same smug grin in place, but Ros could tell that he was curious.

"Not really. Much less time than you think when we began. And we will keep it up. This isn't the same world it was, Daddy. We've all changed. You'd do well to remember that."

"We'll see in the end, won't we? Because unless you intend to stop me right here, and right now, with no evidence, I'm going to continue down my path, but with more caution now I know you're watching. Not one of your cleverest moves, really."

"Really? You'd be surprised. Enjoy what little time of freedom you have left. It will be your last for a very long time." Ros gave a smug smile, then turned and started walking away, leaving her father to stare at her, frowning.

"That's it? You're going to let me carry on?"

She turned to look at him one more time. "The lines are drawn, father. You'll cross them, push them to the utter limits, it's in your nature. And I'll be there, stopping you. That much I guarantee. May the best man win."

Sir Jocelyn Myers was silent as he watched his daughter leave. So that was how it was to be. So be it.