Fic: Innocence Drowned 3/5
Story: Innocence Drowned
Author: wmr / wendymr
Characters: Ninth Doctor, Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler
Rated: PG13
Series: Bigger Inside
Summary: An alien, an immortal and a human - who's the odd one out?
So, yeah, as I said, this story is lindenharp's runner-up fic from the last Support Stacie auction. Yes, the one in March. More than six months later, I'm finally starting to post it. My deepest apologies to lindenharp, and to every other member of Wiggie's Posse who's still awaiting fic from me. You will get it, I promise.
Many thanks to my wonderful BRs, dark_aegis and yamx.You guys are brilliant!
Chapter 1: The Centre Cannot Hold l Chapter 2: Anarchy is Loosed
Chapter 3: Vexed to Nightmare
Of course Jack knows what he’s doing. It’s exactly what the Doctor would do, except that he’s got his own way of going about it.
He’s watched his lover do it often enough that he knows every step, every move, by now. The Doctor would talk and talk, utilising all his finely-honed weapons: sarcasm, humour, pedantry, and the most successful of them all, his Oncoming Storm routine. It’s all designed to show that he - as well as whatever he may be defending - is not at all threatened by the enemy might, that it’s the other way around: they should feel threatened by him.
No negotiation, no running scared, no giving in - the best thing the attackers can do is retreat. That’s the message the Doctor sends through his verbosity.
Jack’s sending the same message, but in a different way. He’s not a negotiator, he’s telling these people, because the people of this country do not need to negotiate. He’s here only to listen to a message and take it back, where it may or may not be heeded. He’s not intimidated by them, no matter what threats they make. He, and this country, are not a pushover.
It’s a tactic that’s worked when he’s used it before. Well, most of the time, anyway.
So he shows complete unconcern about the attack that’s just been launched, and the threat of physical harm. The immobilisation hasn’t affected him - maybe because he’s in the aliens’ ship - so he glances around and, seeing a nearby ledge, moves to lean carelessly against it.
“You know, that’s really not a very effective tactic,” he comments, smiling in apparent amusement. In his head, a voice is saying “You sure this is gonna work, Captain?” - but, he notes, the Doctor’s not actually criticising him or telling him what to do. It’s his game, and they’re playing it by his rules.
The alien he’s pegged as the leader frowns. “For what reason do you say that, human?”
“Well, it’s not,” he reiterates. “Stands to reason. I mean, you obviously want something from us. And you’re not just gonna take it, or you wouldn’t have asked for talks. So, you know, bringing out the heavy weapons before you’ve even said what you want... well, seems a bit backwards, if you ask me.”
His host’s busy, aquiline eyebrows snap together. “That is not in accordance with diplomatic protocol.”
Diplomatic protocol? That’s some diplomacy - throw your weight around before even asking to talk, then lay more threats on the table before talks begin. That’s not negotiation, it’s bullying.
“Yeah, yeah,” the Doctor’s voice in his head comments. “Nothing you or I haven’t encountered before.”
“Depends what you want to achieve,” Jack says, his tone deliberately lazy. “Get every military force on the planet ready to attack you? Sure. Win friends and influence people? Not so much.”
Because of course Harriet Jones has a Plan B - and very likely C and D as well - and of course they involve UNIT and the US military, and most probably the armed forces of every ally on the planet, particularly those with satellites in orbit or space travel experience.
“What would you advise, human?” Head Eagle asks, sounding curious. Bingo. It’s working - though it helps that the leader’s clearly more reasonable than some of his followers.
Jack spreads his hands. “Tell me what you want. I’ll tell my people. Then - depending on what it is - we talk. Pretty simple, huh?”
Head Eagle nods once, slowly. “It is not how my people conduct business. But perhaps we should consider adapting our methods to your race’s.”
There’s a hubbub as the others start to argue, but Head Eagle raises a claw. “Silence! I have decided.”
“Thank you.” Jack inclines his head. “But how about a gesture of good faith before we talk?”
Intakes of breath ripple around the ship’s bridge, and the Doctor’s voice in his head urges caution. He ignores it.
“What is this gesture?” Head Eagle asks.
“Release my people. Show them you trust them to conduct negotiations without the threat of harm.” At Head Eagle’s wary look, he adds, “What’ll it cost you? Like I said, it’s a good-faith gesture. The more you threaten, the more my people are gonna get hostile in return - and their retaliation’s likely to be an attack. Trust me, even your immobilisation tech won’t stop that.” Not that he’s going to explain why. If Head Eagle hasn’t considered the implications of global co-operation and diplomacy, he’s not going to be the one to deliver Politics for Dummies.
Head Eagle tilts his head to one side and remains silent; in Jack’s head, the Doctor counts to forty-two point six seven seconds.
And then he speaks. “It shall be done.”
Two seconds later, the Doctor confirms it: the immobilisation tech’s been lifted. Jack releases a breath, then prepares for stage two.
***
The Doctor’s standing by the window, away from everyone else, arms folded and avoiding everyone’s eyes. She knows he’s communicating with Jack, but his expression is completely bland, giving nothing away.
Of course, the only people in this room who knows about the Doctor and Jack’s telepathic link are her and the Doctor, and that’s no doubt how he wants it. So, though she’s itching to ask what’s happening, she bites her tongue.
“What’s happening?” the colonel demands, voice impatient. “This Captain Harkness was supposed to gather the necessary intelligence and report back as soon as possible. For all we know, he could be making all kinds of offers to these creatures that we have no intention of abiding by.”
“Or he could be dead,” Harriet retorts crisply. “But you indicated that neither is likely, Doctor?”
“Jack’ll be fine,” the Doctor says. “An’ he’ll report back as soon as there’s something to report.”
“I see.” Harriet turns back to the colonel. “We will all just have to be patient, in that case.”
The Doctor turns briefly to Rose. His lips curve upwards in a slight, momentary smile. All’s well - so far. Good.
And, yeah, even though she’d love to know what’s going on, to be in on this secret communication the Doctor and Jack have, at least the Doctor’s sharing a little bit with her. He’s not keeping her in the dark the same way he is Harriet and the others. Even though he doesn’t want to let them know that he can communicate with Jack, he still found a way to give her at least something.
It’s good, too, to know that Jack’s okay so far. Even if he doesn’t stay dead, she still hates the thought of him being killed. Oh, he’s all blokey and macho about it, but dying hurts him every bit as much as it does anyone else - the only difference is that he comes alive again afterwards, and remembers it all.
Abruptly, the Doctor starts to laugh.
***
The colonel and the three suits stare at him with a mixture of expressions from irate to insulted. Even Rose looks taken aback. Harriet stands. “Doctor, I hope there’s a good reason-”
The Doctor grins at her. “Jack’s found out what they want.”
“How?” the colonel demands. “Doctor, if you do have a way to communicate with your man, it would have been appreciated had you shared that information sooner and let us all hear what he’s telling you.”
The Doctor shrugs. “I don’t answer to you. Yes, Jack can communicate with me, but that’s not technology I’m prepared to share with you lot.” As long as they think it’s some kind of long-distance listening device, that’s all right.
“But-” the colonel protests as his face starts to go purple. At a gesture from Harriet, though, he subsides.
Harriet’s hands have gone to her hips. “Doctor, I would appreciate it if you would take this seriously! What is it these... visitors want?”
“I am taking it seriously!” he protests. “They’re on a trade mission.”
Harriet stares, clearly not understanding. He clarifies. “They’re here to do business with you. They want to trade, and they’ve brought large quantities of gold with them. Jack’s seen it. It’s the real thing.”
“That’s preposterous!” the colonel exclaims. “They’re obviously lying, and your associate’s too gullible to see it, Doctor. Why would anyone who wants to conduct legitimate business begin by threatening and bullying?”
“That is a fair point, Doctor,” Harriet says. “How can we possibly believe them?”
He shrugs. Typical humans, expecting every race in the universe to practice the same cultures they do. It even surprises them when other Earth cultures do things differently. “I believe them. ‘S how things are done in their corner of the universe.”
“What, by intimidation?”
“Sort of, yeah,” he explains. “Know who they are now, I do. Harko’ons. Never actually met one before, but I know of them. They’re from the Zernakia galaxy. If you want to do business there, then unless you want to get completely ripped off you put on a show of strength before offering to trade. Stick, then carrot.” He shrugs again. “That’s all they were doing.”
“So what do they want to trade?” Rose asks. “They’ve really got gold?”
“Lots of it. And all pure twenty-four carat, Jack says.” He turns back to Harriet. “They want tin. Cornish tin, to be precise. Few dozen tonnes of it - as much as they can fit in their ships.”
“Tin?” Harriet’s eyes widen and her voice is high-pitched. “Why on earth would they want tin?”
“Not just any tin. Specifically, tin from Cornwall. Best source of stable isotopes in several galaxies,” he explains. “They want them as a source of power.”
“Now just wait a minute,” the colonel says, his face purple again. “I strongly advise against selling these creatures anything that will give them the ability to build stronger weapons to wage war against us, Prime Minister.”
“No.” He cuts in quickly before panic spreads among the humans again. “They told Jack they’re running out of isotopes to power transport and medical equipment. That’s why they want the tin.”
“And they couldn’t be lying?” the colonel demands. “Why should we believe that they’re telling the truth? Just because your associate believes them?”
“Jack knows what-” Rose starts, indignation in her voice. He cuts across her; hard evidence, as much as he has of it, anyway, is going to be more effective than gut reaction where the colonel’s concerned.
“Jack’s an excellent judge of when he’s being lied to,” he retorts. “But aside from that, like I said, I’ve heard of these people. Their culture might not be like yours, but they’re honourable. I’d believe them.”
“Well, if their intentions are so damned honourable - I beg your pardon, Prime Minister,” the colonel adds, casting Harriet an apologetic glance, “then why don’t they come down here like officers and gentlemen and approach our leaders in person?”
“Can’t,” he says, struggling not to roll his eyes. “Not oxygen-breathers. They wouldn’t survive more than a minute outside their ships.”
“I see,” Harriet says, her brow furrowed. “You’re asking me to take a considerable risk here, Doctor. If I agree to this trade, how do I know these cr... people won’t just attack us anyway? Or come back another time and just take what they want by force?”
Because he’s telling her they won’t. But, all right, she wants more than that. “Think about it,” he tells her. “You saw what they can do with that technology they have. But no-one got hurt, far as you know. They also only extended it to this country - not across the whole planet, though I’m guessing they could have.”
Harriet nods slowly. He’ll have to give her time to process this before pushing for a decision. A second or two of concentration, and he’s passed that information to Jack, who tells him in return that he’s explaining to the Harko’ons that they will have to be patient for a little longer.
“Doctor.” The alarm in Rose’s voice makes him turn to her instantly. “You said they’re not oxygen-breathers. That means they won’t have oxygen in their ships, right?” He nods. “Then how is Jack breathing?”
***
Jack’s breathing just fine, and it’s strange that it didn’t occur to him to wonder until the Doctor relayed Rose’s question. Not that the Doctor seems especially worried, so clearly his interest is pure intellectual curiosity. Course, the guy’s a genius. He’ll have known all along that Jack would be safe, at least in this respect.
But, yeah, now he’s curious himself. So he asks the Harko’on leader, who has now identified himself as Elder Xarka.
“You are surrounded by an atmospheric bubble, Captain. It synthesises oxygen. Our technology is capable of synthesising appropriate breathable atmospheres for up to one hundred species.”
Clever tech. “So how come you can’t use it to synthesise your own atmosphere so you can travel down to Earth to talk to the Prime Minister in person?”
Xarka’s gaze drops. It’s only for less than a second, but it’s enough. They can do that - but they didn’t. So why’s that, then?
“Scared they might be vulnerable outside their ships? Or d’you think they’re lying about what they really want?”
“I’ll try to find out,” he promises the Doctor. “What’s the likelihood of a deal on the tin?”
“Harriet’s dubious. Doesn’t trust they’re genuine.”
“Understandable,” he replies. In the Prime Minister’s position, he probably wouldn’t trust them either. And he’d definitely want more than the Doctor’s assurance that he knows the Harko’ons by reputation.
The Doctor snorts.“She’s got me, hasn’t she? Though it doesn’t help that this colonel bloke wants to call in the Americans and a few dozen nuclear missiles. Wish Alistair was around - he’d know to listen to me.”
Who’s Alistair? But that’ll keep, he tells the Doctor, who’s about to launch into an explanation. “Let’s see what I can do here.”
“So you could do it,” he says to Elder Xarka. “But you won’t. Why not?”
“Why should we take that risk?” Xarka’s beak nods up and down, making the crest on his head shake. “We are safe here.”
“Yes, you are. So far, the only ones who’ve had to take any risks at all are my people,” Jack points out. “I came up here at your request-” Command, he could say, but he’s keeping it friendly. “-and you didn’t harm me. I give you my word that if you come down there with me to meet the Prime Minister, leader to leader, the same courtesy will be extended to you.”
Xarka’s looking intrigued, but still sceptical, so he offers his fallback position, something he knows the Doctor won’t be too happy about but he has no concerns about whatsoever. “Or, if it would make you feel safer, I’ll stay up here as surety for your safe return. All right?”
He senses rather than hears the Doctor’s objection to that, but ignores it. The offer had to be made.
Abruptly, chatter erupts from all around, in a language he can’t understand. He barely has to note that he can’t understand it when suddenly the conversation’s comprehensible. “Thanks, Doctor.” He smothers a smile, careful to give no outward sign that he can now understand every word.
Several Harko’ons are cautioning Xarka - some angrily, some rationally - against taking Jack’s advice. Others are hesitant, acknowledging that they can see his point and that it might be a worthwhile concession, if dangerous, but perhaps a representative should be sent instead. And one, a tall Harko’on he identified earlier as a likely second-in-command, is running one claw along the blade of a vicious-looking sword while recommending that they simply kill Jack now, immobilise the rest of the planet and just take what they want.
Elder Xarka holds up a claw. “Let the human speak.” He’s returned to English; Jack silently thanks the Doctor for tipping him off about that. “Captain, why should I do this?”
“Because it’s the easiest way to get what you want - and guarantee further trade in future, if you need.” He spreads his hands. “Thing is, the Prime Minister’s sceptical. You can hardly blame her - her first encounter with you is when you immobilise everyone in the country, and then you threaten to do it again if she doesn’t bargain with you. It’s not how we do things on Earth, so you’ll have to understand that it spooked us. But now that I’ve met you,” he adds with one of his best conman smiles, “I can see that you really do just want to do business. I know she’d feel a lot happier about taking you at your word if she could actually talk to you face to face, as equals. That way, everyone gets what they want and no-one loses face.”
Xarka nods thoughtfully, then turns to his people. “I think the human spokesman has a reasonable point. I will visit the human prime minister myself and put our case.” He turns back to Jack. “You will remain here as surety, Captain, as you suggest. A... gesture of good faith, shall we say?”
He smiles, nodding in wry acknowledgement.
“You’re really agreeing to that? You’re insane!”
Jack mentally shakes his head. “It’s the sensible thing to do. We need a way out of this stalemate, and if me staying up here a bit longer can do that I’m fine with it.” He sends the Doctor a smirk. “Besides, have you forgotten I have my very own personal teleport device? I can get out of here any time I want. Don’t even need the TARDIS.”
“Smartarse.” A visual of the Doctor swatting him on the arse fills his mind.
He grins. “Your smartarse, though.”
“S’pose so.”
***
The Doctor moves abruptly, straightening and stepping away from the window. “You’re gonna have a visitor, Harriet.”
Rose’s eyes widen. It’s clearly not Jack coming back, because he wouldn’t put it like that. Has to be one of the... what did the Doctor call them? Harpoons? Har-something, anyway.
“A visitor? Doctor, I wish you’d be more specific.” Harriet tuts.
“The leader of the Harko’on delegation,” the Doctor clarifies, looking smug. “But if you take my advice, you’ll let him introduce himself.”
The colonel draws a weapon. Rose sucks in a breath. “Doctor...”
But it’s Harriet who responds. “Put that away, Colonel,” she snaps, her tone impatient. “At least give him a chance to explain himself.”
The Doctor’s brows snap together. “Use that, Colonel, an’ me an’ my friends are leaving.”
A flash of bright light fills the room, and when it clears a creature the like of which Rose has never seen before is standing in the centre. He’s tall and bipedal, but covered in scales and with a head and claws like a giant bird.
The being bows. “I am Elder Xarka. I command the Harko’onian fleet moored above your planet.”
Harriet inclines her head in return. “And I am Harriet Jones, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. You are welcome to our planet, even in spite of your unprovoked attack on our people.”
Elder Xarka bows again. “Your spokesman, the Captain Harkness, explained that this is not your protocol for conducting trade negotiations. He recommended that I bring our proposition to you personally.”
“It is not our protocol. Captain Harkness advised you well.” Harriet steps closer to the Harko’on commander. “What is your proposition?”
“Our planet has urgent need of isotopes,” Xarka explains. “Our own source is exhausted, and an emissary from a neighbouring planet told us of your reserves of tin in places known as Devon and Cornwall, which are reputed to make very high-quality isotopes. My government requests to purchase quantities of tin from your mines.”
“Indeed.” Harriet nods slightly. “That may be possible. But my government would have concerns about the use to which you intend to put these isotopes. You will understand that we have no wish to supply you with the means to make weapons.”
Xarka looks concerned. “Prime Minister, that is not our intention. We have no need of this technology for weaponry. Our hospitals need isotopes for medical treatment, and our spaceships require them for transport. We have young in danger of dying because we lack medical isotopes.”
“That is different, certainly,” Harriet acknowledges, and she beckons to her staff to join the conversation.
The Doctor moves closer to Rose and nudges her with his elbow, grinning. “They’ll be fine now. Sorted!” He frowns abruptly. “Except Jack’s still up there.”
Elder Xarka turns abruptly. “You are a friend of the Captain Harkness?”
The Doctor steps forward. “Yep. I’m the Doctor.” He makes a complicated gesture which the Harko’on, after a surprised reaction, returns.
“You know our people, Doctor?”
“Yep. Didn’t realise who you were at first, but I know your galaxy.”
The Harko’on bows, then presses buttons on a small device in his claw. There’s another flash, and abruptly Jack’s standing next to him. “Captain Harkness, I thank you for your assistance, but I believe that Prime Minister Jones and I can speak without the aid of intermediaries now.”
Jack grins. “Yeah, looks like I’m kinda redundant now.” He salutes both the Harko’on and Harriet, then moves away to stand next to Rose.
The Doctor joins them, and Jack links arms with the two of them. “Score another for Team TARDIS,” he murmurs.
***
Jack’s right. After a brief conversation, in which Elder Xarka outlines his people’s need for tin and the price they’re willing to pay, Harriet calls her staff over and instructs them to draw up an agreement for sale. And just to prove she’s not a pushover, she brings the colonel in to talk weapons and safeguards with Xarka, making clear that if the Harko’ons revert to the use of force the Earth will retaliate.
“They won’t need weapons,” Jack murmurs to the Doctor. “I managed to copy the frequency for their immobilisation signal while I was up there. We just need to find a jamming frequency and upload it to a satellite or two and their tech’ll be useless.”
He claps Jack on the back. “Nice work, Captain!”
It only takes a minute or so to excuse themselves and find a computer and communications centre with a technical specialist who actually knows how to work the equipment. He and Jack download the signal and quickly create a corresponding signal to jam it, communicating by thought as if it’s completely natural for the two of them.
It feels good. Course, Jack’s not a Time Lord, but it does feel as if his head’s not so silent any more. And even the instinctual recoil he’s felt ever since Rose brought the lad back and turned him into a fixed point is fading.
He tells Jack that silently, letting the lad see how happy he is about both developments. Jack’s smile is immediate and ecstatic. “Wait till I get you back into the TARDIS. Gonna show you how glad I am.”
Rose nudges him. “What’s happening?”
Oh, right. He keeps forgetting she can’t hear what he and Jack are saying to each other. In silent apology, he loops an arm around her shoulders. “All done! All we have to do now is upload the jamming signal to a satellite, which Craig’s gonna do for us - yeah?”
“Sure,” Craig the technician says. “Consider it done.”
“That means we’re finished here, right?” Jack says. At his nod, Jack grins. “Score another for us.”
He grins in return, releasing Rose to slap Jack on the back, then shifts his happy gaze back to Rose. Is it his imagination, or does it take a moment before she smiles back? And is her smile just a bit less bright than he’s used to seeing from her?
Jack catches his attention then, tugging on his hand. “Come on, let’s go and check that Harriet and Xarka are still being polite to each other. Sooner we do that, the sooner we can get back to Jackie’s before she sends Mickey out on a man-hunt.”
When they return to the Prime Minister’s office, Harriet and the Elder Harko’on are busy reading over a draft treaty. Harriet withdraws from the discussion long enough to thank the three of them.
“Might we have your opinion on the treaty, Doctor?” she asks, signalling for one of her aides to bring it over.
He steps backwards. “Nah, you don’t need me. Got it all sorted, you have.” At her protest, he adds, “Proper first contact, this is. You lot should be doing it yourselves, not relying on me. You’ll go down in history, Harriet - first Earth leader to do business with an alien race.” He grins. “Good for you!”
Before she can come up with another argument, he’s caught Rose and Jack by the arms and ushered them into the TARDIS. Inside, he pulls the door shut and runs to the console. “Powell Estate, here we come. Reckon Jackie’ll have the kettle on?”
A movement catches his eye. It’s Rose, moving towards the inner door. “Gonna go to bed,” she says with a shrug as he gives her a quizzical look. “I’m whacked. See you two tomorrow, all right?”
Before he or Jack can say a word, she’s gone. Jack stares at him, confusion in his eyes. “Something we said?”
Said, or did, or... something. Because one thing’s very clear: that was an instruction not to follow her.
***
tbc in chapter 4, Things Fall Apart
Author: wmr / wendymr
Characters: Ninth Doctor, Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler
Rated: PG13
Series: Bigger Inside
Summary: An alien, an immortal and a human - who's the odd one out?
So, yeah, as I said, this story is lindenharp's runner-up fic from the last Support Stacie auction. Yes, the one in March. More than six months later, I'm finally starting to post it. My deepest apologies to lindenharp, and to every other member of Wiggie's Posse who's still awaiting fic from me. You will get it, I promise.
Many thanks to my wonderful BRs, dark_aegis and yamx.You guys are brilliant!
Chapter 1: The Centre Cannot Hold l Chapter 2: Anarchy is Loosed
Chapter 3: Vexed to Nightmare
Of course Jack knows what he’s doing. It’s exactly what the Doctor would do, except that he’s got his own way of going about it.
He’s watched his lover do it often enough that he knows every step, every move, by now. The Doctor would talk and talk, utilising all his finely-honed weapons: sarcasm, humour, pedantry, and the most successful of them all, his Oncoming Storm routine. It’s all designed to show that he - as well as whatever he may be defending - is not at all threatened by the enemy might, that it’s the other way around: they should feel threatened by him.
No negotiation, no running scared, no giving in - the best thing the attackers can do is retreat. That’s the message the Doctor sends through his verbosity.
Jack’s sending the same message, but in a different way. He’s not a negotiator, he’s telling these people, because the people of this country do not need to negotiate. He’s here only to listen to a message and take it back, where it may or may not be heeded. He’s not intimidated by them, no matter what threats they make. He, and this country, are not a pushover.
It’s a tactic that’s worked when he’s used it before. Well, most of the time, anyway.
So he shows complete unconcern about the attack that’s just been launched, and the threat of physical harm. The immobilisation hasn’t affected him - maybe because he’s in the aliens’ ship - so he glances around and, seeing a nearby ledge, moves to lean carelessly against it.
“You know, that’s really not a very effective tactic,” he comments, smiling in apparent amusement. In his head, a voice is saying “You sure this is gonna work, Captain?” - but, he notes, the Doctor’s not actually criticising him or telling him what to do. It’s his game, and they’re playing it by his rules.
The alien he’s pegged as the leader frowns. “For what reason do you say that, human?”
“Well, it’s not,” he reiterates. “Stands to reason. I mean, you obviously want something from us. And you’re not just gonna take it, or you wouldn’t have asked for talks. So, you know, bringing out the heavy weapons before you’ve even said what you want... well, seems a bit backwards, if you ask me.”
His host’s busy, aquiline eyebrows snap together. “That is not in accordance with diplomatic protocol.”
Diplomatic protocol? That’s some diplomacy - throw your weight around before even asking to talk, then lay more threats on the table before talks begin. That’s not negotiation, it’s bullying.
“Yeah, yeah,” the Doctor’s voice in his head comments. “Nothing you or I haven’t encountered before.”
“Depends what you want to achieve,” Jack says, his tone deliberately lazy. “Get every military force on the planet ready to attack you? Sure. Win friends and influence people? Not so much.”
Because of course Harriet Jones has a Plan B - and very likely C and D as well - and of course they involve UNIT and the US military, and most probably the armed forces of every ally on the planet, particularly those with satellites in orbit or space travel experience.
“What would you advise, human?” Head Eagle asks, sounding curious. Bingo. It’s working - though it helps that the leader’s clearly more reasonable than some of his followers.
Jack spreads his hands. “Tell me what you want. I’ll tell my people. Then - depending on what it is - we talk. Pretty simple, huh?”
Head Eagle nods once, slowly. “It is not how my people conduct business. But perhaps we should consider adapting our methods to your race’s.”
There’s a hubbub as the others start to argue, but Head Eagle raises a claw. “Silence! I have decided.”
“Thank you.” Jack inclines his head. “But how about a gesture of good faith before we talk?”
Intakes of breath ripple around the ship’s bridge, and the Doctor’s voice in his head urges caution. He ignores it.
“What is this gesture?” Head Eagle asks.
“Release my people. Show them you trust them to conduct negotiations without the threat of harm.” At Head Eagle’s wary look, he adds, “What’ll it cost you? Like I said, it’s a good-faith gesture. The more you threaten, the more my people are gonna get hostile in return - and their retaliation’s likely to be an attack. Trust me, even your immobilisation tech won’t stop that.” Not that he’s going to explain why. If Head Eagle hasn’t considered the implications of global co-operation and diplomacy, he’s not going to be the one to deliver Politics for Dummies.
Head Eagle tilts his head to one side and remains silent; in Jack’s head, the Doctor counts to forty-two point six seven seconds.
And then he speaks. “It shall be done.”
Two seconds later, the Doctor confirms it: the immobilisation tech’s been lifted. Jack releases a breath, then prepares for stage two.
***
The Doctor’s standing by the window, away from everyone else, arms folded and avoiding everyone’s eyes. She knows he’s communicating with Jack, but his expression is completely bland, giving nothing away.
Of course, the only people in this room who knows about the Doctor and Jack’s telepathic link are her and the Doctor, and that’s no doubt how he wants it. So, though she’s itching to ask what’s happening, she bites her tongue.
“What’s happening?” the colonel demands, voice impatient. “This Captain Harkness was supposed to gather the necessary intelligence and report back as soon as possible. For all we know, he could be making all kinds of offers to these creatures that we have no intention of abiding by.”
“Or he could be dead,” Harriet retorts crisply. “But you indicated that neither is likely, Doctor?”
“Jack’ll be fine,” the Doctor says. “An’ he’ll report back as soon as there’s something to report.”
“I see.” Harriet turns back to the colonel. “We will all just have to be patient, in that case.”
The Doctor turns briefly to Rose. His lips curve upwards in a slight, momentary smile. All’s well - so far. Good.
And, yeah, even though she’d love to know what’s going on, to be in on this secret communication the Doctor and Jack have, at least the Doctor’s sharing a little bit with her. He’s not keeping her in the dark the same way he is Harriet and the others. Even though he doesn’t want to let them know that he can communicate with Jack, he still found a way to give her at least something.
It’s good, too, to know that Jack’s okay so far. Even if he doesn’t stay dead, she still hates the thought of him being killed. Oh, he’s all blokey and macho about it, but dying hurts him every bit as much as it does anyone else - the only difference is that he comes alive again afterwards, and remembers it all.
Abruptly, the Doctor starts to laugh.
***
The colonel and the three suits stare at him with a mixture of expressions from irate to insulted. Even Rose looks taken aback. Harriet stands. “Doctor, I hope there’s a good reason-”
The Doctor grins at her. “Jack’s found out what they want.”
“How?” the colonel demands. “Doctor, if you do have a way to communicate with your man, it would have been appreciated had you shared that information sooner and let us all hear what he’s telling you.”
The Doctor shrugs. “I don’t answer to you. Yes, Jack can communicate with me, but that’s not technology I’m prepared to share with you lot.” As long as they think it’s some kind of long-distance listening device, that’s all right.
“But-” the colonel protests as his face starts to go purple. At a gesture from Harriet, though, he subsides.
Harriet’s hands have gone to her hips. “Doctor, I would appreciate it if you would take this seriously! What is it these... visitors want?”
“I am taking it seriously!” he protests. “They’re on a trade mission.”
Harriet stares, clearly not understanding. He clarifies. “They’re here to do business with you. They want to trade, and they’ve brought large quantities of gold with them. Jack’s seen it. It’s the real thing.”
“That’s preposterous!” the colonel exclaims. “They’re obviously lying, and your associate’s too gullible to see it, Doctor. Why would anyone who wants to conduct legitimate business begin by threatening and bullying?”
“That is a fair point, Doctor,” Harriet says. “How can we possibly believe them?”
He shrugs. Typical humans, expecting every race in the universe to practice the same cultures they do. It even surprises them when other Earth cultures do things differently. “I believe them. ‘S how things are done in their corner of the universe.”
“What, by intimidation?”
“Sort of, yeah,” he explains. “Know who they are now, I do. Harko’ons. Never actually met one before, but I know of them. They’re from the Zernakia galaxy. If you want to do business there, then unless you want to get completely ripped off you put on a show of strength before offering to trade. Stick, then carrot.” He shrugs again. “That’s all they were doing.”
“So what do they want to trade?” Rose asks. “They’ve really got gold?”
“Lots of it. And all pure twenty-four carat, Jack says.” He turns back to Harriet. “They want tin. Cornish tin, to be precise. Few dozen tonnes of it - as much as they can fit in their ships.”
“Tin?” Harriet’s eyes widen and her voice is high-pitched. “Why on earth would they want tin?”
“Not just any tin. Specifically, tin from Cornwall. Best source of stable isotopes in several galaxies,” he explains. “They want them as a source of power.”
“Now just wait a minute,” the colonel says, his face purple again. “I strongly advise against selling these creatures anything that will give them the ability to build stronger weapons to wage war against us, Prime Minister.”
“No.” He cuts in quickly before panic spreads among the humans again. “They told Jack they’re running out of isotopes to power transport and medical equipment. That’s why they want the tin.”
“And they couldn’t be lying?” the colonel demands. “Why should we believe that they’re telling the truth? Just because your associate believes them?”
“Jack knows what-” Rose starts, indignation in her voice. He cuts across her; hard evidence, as much as he has of it, anyway, is going to be more effective than gut reaction where the colonel’s concerned.
“Jack’s an excellent judge of when he’s being lied to,” he retorts. “But aside from that, like I said, I’ve heard of these people. Their culture might not be like yours, but they’re honourable. I’d believe them.”
“Well, if their intentions are so damned honourable - I beg your pardon, Prime Minister,” the colonel adds, casting Harriet an apologetic glance, “then why don’t they come down here like officers and gentlemen and approach our leaders in person?”
“Can’t,” he says, struggling not to roll his eyes. “Not oxygen-breathers. They wouldn’t survive more than a minute outside their ships.”
“I see,” Harriet says, her brow furrowed. “You’re asking me to take a considerable risk here, Doctor. If I agree to this trade, how do I know these cr... people won’t just attack us anyway? Or come back another time and just take what they want by force?”
Because he’s telling her they won’t. But, all right, she wants more than that. “Think about it,” he tells her. “You saw what they can do with that technology they have. But no-one got hurt, far as you know. They also only extended it to this country - not across the whole planet, though I’m guessing they could have.”
Harriet nods slowly. He’ll have to give her time to process this before pushing for a decision. A second or two of concentration, and he’s passed that information to Jack, who tells him in return that he’s explaining to the Harko’ons that they will have to be patient for a little longer.
“Doctor.” The alarm in Rose’s voice makes him turn to her instantly. “You said they’re not oxygen-breathers. That means they won’t have oxygen in their ships, right?” He nods. “Then how is Jack breathing?”
***
Jack’s breathing just fine, and it’s strange that it didn’t occur to him to wonder until the Doctor relayed Rose’s question. Not that the Doctor seems especially worried, so clearly his interest is pure intellectual curiosity. Course, the guy’s a genius. He’ll have known all along that Jack would be safe, at least in this respect.
But, yeah, now he’s curious himself. So he asks the Harko’on leader, who has now identified himself as Elder Xarka.
“You are surrounded by an atmospheric bubble, Captain. It synthesises oxygen. Our technology is capable of synthesising appropriate breathable atmospheres for up to one hundred species.”
Clever tech. “So how come you can’t use it to synthesise your own atmosphere so you can travel down to Earth to talk to the Prime Minister in person?”
Xarka’s gaze drops. It’s only for less than a second, but it’s enough. They can do that - but they didn’t. So why’s that, then?
“Scared they might be vulnerable outside their ships? Or d’you think they’re lying about what they really want?”
“I’ll try to find out,” he promises the Doctor. “What’s the likelihood of a deal on the tin?”
“Harriet’s dubious. Doesn’t trust they’re genuine.”
“Understandable,” he replies. In the Prime Minister’s position, he probably wouldn’t trust them either. And he’d definitely want more than the Doctor’s assurance that he knows the Harko’ons by reputation.
The Doctor snorts.“She’s got me, hasn’t she? Though it doesn’t help that this colonel bloke wants to call in the Americans and a few dozen nuclear missiles. Wish Alistair was around - he’d know to listen to me.”
Who’s Alistair? But that’ll keep, he tells the Doctor, who’s about to launch into an explanation. “Let’s see what I can do here.”
“So you could do it,” he says to Elder Xarka. “But you won’t. Why not?”
“Why should we take that risk?” Xarka’s beak nods up and down, making the crest on his head shake. “We are safe here.”
“Yes, you are. So far, the only ones who’ve had to take any risks at all are my people,” Jack points out. “I came up here at your request-” Command, he could say, but he’s keeping it friendly. “-and you didn’t harm me. I give you my word that if you come down there with me to meet the Prime Minister, leader to leader, the same courtesy will be extended to you.”
Xarka’s looking intrigued, but still sceptical, so he offers his fallback position, something he knows the Doctor won’t be too happy about but he has no concerns about whatsoever. “Or, if it would make you feel safer, I’ll stay up here as surety for your safe return. All right?”
He senses rather than hears the Doctor’s objection to that, but ignores it. The offer had to be made.
Abruptly, chatter erupts from all around, in a language he can’t understand. He barely has to note that he can’t understand it when suddenly the conversation’s comprehensible. “Thanks, Doctor.” He smothers a smile, careful to give no outward sign that he can now understand every word.
Several Harko’ons are cautioning Xarka - some angrily, some rationally - against taking Jack’s advice. Others are hesitant, acknowledging that they can see his point and that it might be a worthwhile concession, if dangerous, but perhaps a representative should be sent instead. And one, a tall Harko’on he identified earlier as a likely second-in-command, is running one claw along the blade of a vicious-looking sword while recommending that they simply kill Jack now, immobilise the rest of the planet and just take what they want.
Elder Xarka holds up a claw. “Let the human speak.” He’s returned to English; Jack silently thanks the Doctor for tipping him off about that. “Captain, why should I do this?”
“Because it’s the easiest way to get what you want - and guarantee further trade in future, if you need.” He spreads his hands. “Thing is, the Prime Minister’s sceptical. You can hardly blame her - her first encounter with you is when you immobilise everyone in the country, and then you threaten to do it again if she doesn’t bargain with you. It’s not how we do things on Earth, so you’ll have to understand that it spooked us. But now that I’ve met you,” he adds with one of his best conman smiles, “I can see that you really do just want to do business. I know she’d feel a lot happier about taking you at your word if she could actually talk to you face to face, as equals. That way, everyone gets what they want and no-one loses face.”
Xarka nods thoughtfully, then turns to his people. “I think the human spokesman has a reasonable point. I will visit the human prime minister myself and put our case.” He turns back to Jack. “You will remain here as surety, Captain, as you suggest. A... gesture of good faith, shall we say?”
He smiles, nodding in wry acknowledgement.
“You’re really agreeing to that? You’re insane!”
Jack mentally shakes his head. “It’s the sensible thing to do. We need a way out of this stalemate, and if me staying up here a bit longer can do that I’m fine with it.” He sends the Doctor a smirk. “Besides, have you forgotten I have my very own personal teleport device? I can get out of here any time I want. Don’t even need the TARDIS.”
“Smartarse.” A visual of the Doctor swatting him on the arse fills his mind.
He grins. “Your smartarse, though.”
“S’pose so.”
***
The Doctor moves abruptly, straightening and stepping away from the window. “You’re gonna have a visitor, Harriet.”
Rose’s eyes widen. It’s clearly not Jack coming back, because he wouldn’t put it like that. Has to be one of the... what did the Doctor call them? Harpoons? Har-something, anyway.
“A visitor? Doctor, I wish you’d be more specific.” Harriet tuts.
“The leader of the Harko’on delegation,” the Doctor clarifies, looking smug. “But if you take my advice, you’ll let him introduce himself.”
The colonel draws a weapon. Rose sucks in a breath. “Doctor...”
But it’s Harriet who responds. “Put that away, Colonel,” she snaps, her tone impatient. “At least give him a chance to explain himself.”
The Doctor’s brows snap together. “Use that, Colonel, an’ me an’ my friends are leaving.”
A flash of bright light fills the room, and when it clears a creature the like of which Rose has never seen before is standing in the centre. He’s tall and bipedal, but covered in scales and with a head and claws like a giant bird.
The being bows. “I am Elder Xarka. I command the Harko’onian fleet moored above your planet.”
Harriet inclines her head in return. “And I am Harriet Jones, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. You are welcome to our planet, even in spite of your unprovoked attack on our people.”
Elder Xarka bows again. “Your spokesman, the Captain Harkness, explained that this is not your protocol for conducting trade negotiations. He recommended that I bring our proposition to you personally.”
“It is not our protocol. Captain Harkness advised you well.” Harriet steps closer to the Harko’on commander. “What is your proposition?”
“Our planet has urgent need of isotopes,” Xarka explains. “Our own source is exhausted, and an emissary from a neighbouring planet told us of your reserves of tin in places known as Devon and Cornwall, which are reputed to make very high-quality isotopes. My government requests to purchase quantities of tin from your mines.”
“Indeed.” Harriet nods slightly. “That may be possible. But my government would have concerns about the use to which you intend to put these isotopes. You will understand that we have no wish to supply you with the means to make weapons.”
Xarka looks concerned. “Prime Minister, that is not our intention. We have no need of this technology for weaponry. Our hospitals need isotopes for medical treatment, and our spaceships require them for transport. We have young in danger of dying because we lack medical isotopes.”
“That is different, certainly,” Harriet acknowledges, and she beckons to her staff to join the conversation.
The Doctor moves closer to Rose and nudges her with his elbow, grinning. “They’ll be fine now. Sorted!” He frowns abruptly. “Except Jack’s still up there.”
Elder Xarka turns abruptly. “You are a friend of the Captain Harkness?”
The Doctor steps forward. “Yep. I’m the Doctor.” He makes a complicated gesture which the Harko’on, after a surprised reaction, returns.
“You know our people, Doctor?”
“Yep. Didn’t realise who you were at first, but I know your galaxy.”
The Harko’on bows, then presses buttons on a small device in his claw. There’s another flash, and abruptly Jack’s standing next to him. “Captain Harkness, I thank you for your assistance, but I believe that Prime Minister Jones and I can speak without the aid of intermediaries now.”
Jack grins. “Yeah, looks like I’m kinda redundant now.” He salutes both the Harko’on and Harriet, then moves away to stand next to Rose.
The Doctor joins them, and Jack links arms with the two of them. “Score another for Team TARDIS,” he murmurs.
***
Jack’s right. After a brief conversation, in which Elder Xarka outlines his people’s need for tin and the price they’re willing to pay, Harriet calls her staff over and instructs them to draw up an agreement for sale. And just to prove she’s not a pushover, she brings the colonel in to talk weapons and safeguards with Xarka, making clear that if the Harko’ons revert to the use of force the Earth will retaliate.
“They won’t need weapons,” Jack murmurs to the Doctor. “I managed to copy the frequency for their immobilisation signal while I was up there. We just need to find a jamming frequency and upload it to a satellite or two and their tech’ll be useless.”
He claps Jack on the back. “Nice work, Captain!”
It only takes a minute or so to excuse themselves and find a computer and communications centre with a technical specialist who actually knows how to work the equipment. He and Jack download the signal and quickly create a corresponding signal to jam it, communicating by thought as if it’s completely natural for the two of them.
It feels good. Course, Jack’s not a Time Lord, but it does feel as if his head’s not so silent any more. And even the instinctual recoil he’s felt ever since Rose brought the lad back and turned him into a fixed point is fading.
He tells Jack that silently, letting the lad see how happy he is about both developments. Jack’s smile is immediate and ecstatic. “Wait till I get you back into the TARDIS. Gonna show you how glad I am.”
Rose nudges him. “What’s happening?”
Oh, right. He keeps forgetting she can’t hear what he and Jack are saying to each other. In silent apology, he loops an arm around her shoulders. “All done! All we have to do now is upload the jamming signal to a satellite, which Craig’s gonna do for us - yeah?”
“Sure,” Craig the technician says. “Consider it done.”
“That means we’re finished here, right?” Jack says. At his nod, Jack grins. “Score another for us.”
He grins in return, releasing Rose to slap Jack on the back, then shifts his happy gaze back to Rose. Is it his imagination, or does it take a moment before she smiles back? And is her smile just a bit less bright than he’s used to seeing from her?
Jack catches his attention then, tugging on his hand. “Come on, let’s go and check that Harriet and Xarka are still being polite to each other. Sooner we do that, the sooner we can get back to Jackie’s before she sends Mickey out on a man-hunt.”
When they return to the Prime Minister’s office, Harriet and the Elder Harko’on are busy reading over a draft treaty. Harriet withdraws from the discussion long enough to thank the three of them.
“Might we have your opinion on the treaty, Doctor?” she asks, signalling for one of her aides to bring it over.
He steps backwards. “Nah, you don’t need me. Got it all sorted, you have.” At her protest, he adds, “Proper first contact, this is. You lot should be doing it yourselves, not relying on me. You’ll go down in history, Harriet - first Earth leader to do business with an alien race.” He grins. “Good for you!”
Before she can come up with another argument, he’s caught Rose and Jack by the arms and ushered them into the TARDIS. Inside, he pulls the door shut and runs to the console. “Powell Estate, here we come. Reckon Jackie’ll have the kettle on?”
A movement catches his eye. It’s Rose, moving towards the inner door. “Gonna go to bed,” she says with a shrug as he gives her a quizzical look. “I’m whacked. See you two tomorrow, all right?”
Before he or Jack can say a word, she’s gone. Jack stares at him, confusion in his eyes. “Something we said?”
Said, or did, or... something. Because one thing’s very clear: that was an instruction not to follow her.
***
tbc in chapter 4, Things Fall Apart