ent_alter_ego: Accused (Jack/Ten) [PG] (SUMMER HOLIDAYS, PROMPT 11)
Title: Accused
Author: ent_alter_ego
Pairing: Jack/Ten
Rating: PG
Spoilers/warnings: None
Challenge: Summer Holidays
Prompt group: 11: future - carry on - purpose - trial
Summary: Jack and the Doctor - criminals?
**
Most species were quite grateful when the Doctor and Jack saved their planet. In fact, the last time the duo had saved a planet, they’d been given the apparently rare honor of eating breakfast with the Kelierian Empress. Jack didn’t save worlds with the Doctor for accolades. However, he did think that expecting not to be thrown in jail for saving a planet was reasonable.
The Doctor had never been to Inrya before and knew very little about it, which was just one of their current handicaps. The other large one was that the Inrya had taken Jack’s weapon and the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver. Then some technician had mentioned that the Doctor’s pockets seemed to hold a great deal, and both of their coats were confiscated as well. Jack, even having much less time than the Doctor to accumulate a collection in his pockets, had a few useful items stashed away now that his coat pockets were bigger on the inside. At the moment, he wanted the metal file to take out a couple of the jail cell’s bars.
Since the Doctor had spent the last half hour pacing the cell - which was really more like their own private little dungeon - he’d had enough time stewing and trying to come up with a way out. Therefore Jack (who’d also tried without success to find an escape route) stood up and wrapped his arms around the Doctor’s waist. He didn’t say anything, because he didn’t have anything useful to say. Instead he simply allowed the contact to bring both of them a little comfort. In the two months since they’d admitted their feelings for each other, he’d never once taken for granted the privilege of physical contact with the Doctor.
After a couple of minutes they heard footsteps and moved to the front of their cell. “I think there’s been a mistake,” said the Doctor as soon as the owner of the footsteps came into view.
The Inrya, a short, bald creature, checked his clipboard. “You are the Doctor and Jack Harkness, yes?”
“That’s us. We’re the ones who just -”
“No mistake, then.”
“But we saved your planet!”
“And we’re very grateful for that.”
Jack spoke for the first time, glaring through the bars. “You call this gratitude?”
“You broke protocol. That must be answered for.”
The Doctor ran his hand through his hair the way he did when he was perplexed. “How exactly did we break protocol?”
“You are not authorized to access the controls of the planetary defense grid.”
“If we hadn’t, your entire world would’ve been turned into a Sakhish amusement park!”
“The first step to building a Sakhish amusement park is making the atmosphere breathable for Sakhs,” added Jack. “You all would’ve suffocated within hours.”
“Yes, yes. I’m aware. As your advocate, I’ve been briefed. Now, we have little time before the trial starts.”
“Isn’t there some kind of extenuating circumstances clause in your protocols?” asked the Doctor.
“Of course, if protocol cannot be followed due to the death or incapacitation of all individuals necessary to follow protocol. Such was not the case. We have seventeen eyewitnesses.”
Jack was beginning to wonder how the Inrya had survived this long. “Did those seventeen eyewitnesses happen to mention the atmosphere-changing bombs?”
“Yes, I know, you’ve gone over that already. Because of that I think we can successfully argue for a significantly lightened sentence.”
Frustration was evident in the Doctor’s voice when he asked, “Exactly how light?”
“I shouldn’t think more than three weeks incarceration.”
This, Jack thought, was so ridiculous it was almost surreal. “Three weeks! What part of ‘we saved your planet’ is so hard to understand?”
“Jack,” said the Doctor with a slight glare. “You’re not helping.”
“You take responsibility for your actions in breaking protocol, correct?” asked their advocate.
The Doctor replied without hesitation. “Yes.”
“And you considered them necessary in light of circumstances.”
“Atmosphere-changing bombs. Suffocation.” Jack crossed his arms. “I’d say that qualifies as necessary.”
“Then,” concluded the Inrya, “a light sentence should not be difficult to obtain. Here is the guard to escort us to the trial chamber.”
Even though the guard was well-armed, Jack could’ve easily taken him out. (Being immortal was useful like that.) However, the Doctor was giving him a ‘don’t-even-think-about-it’ look, and he had a point. If they were recaptured, trying to escape would probably ruin their chances of getting a lighter sentence. Therefore they dutifully held out their hands, which were locked behind them in double-reinforced magnetic handcuffs, and meekly allowed themselves to be tied at the waist to a chain. Jack hated being meek. The guard then led them out, with their advocate following.
It was a short walk down the corridor and a long ride up an escalator to the trial chamber. Their advocate filled them in along the way. “We are going to argue that, because of your honorable intent and the favorable outcome of your actions, you deserve the lightest possible sentence. That you realize you broke protocol, but your only failing was the inability to think up a solution that would have followed protocol due to time constraints. It would be most helpful if you indicate that you are willing to accept the sentence of the judge as a small punishment compared to the survival of our planet and people.”
“It is,” said the Doctor.
“Right,” Jack muttered, while thinking that it was stupid they had to pay a price at all. He understood that the Sakhs would be angry, so he’d expect to pay a price if capture by them. Immediately being arrested by the Inrya hadn’t even occurred to him.
Being a well-traveled fifty-first century guy and naturally open-minded, Jack was overall one of the least judgmental beings around. Still, as he stood handcuffed on his way to trial for saving a planet by the people he and the Doctor had saved, he couldn’t help but wish for the good old-fashioned British justice system he’d been accustomed to in Cardiff and the similarly good American justice system he’d also been familiar with. They weren’t perfect, but they were a lot better than this. Cultural elitism, maybe, but damn, it made a lot more sense.
He’d seen closets larger than the trial chamber - actual closets, not the one belonging to the Duchess of Polora Lunar Colony II, who had a closet the size of a small mansion. The Inrya judge seated behind a high, ornately carved platform wore such a heavily jeweled headset that it was a wonder she could hold her head up straight. Also, the bench for the accused was small, made for Inrya, so Jack and the Doctor had their knees bunched up. Not that the situation was comfortable to begin with, but that somehow added considerable insult to injury.
The prosecutor began by handing the judge a stack of papers. “Here are the signed statements of seventeen witnesses who saw the Doctor and Jack Harkness bypass protocol by accessing the controls of the planetary defense grid.”
“Witnesses who attest that the actions of these accused prevented the destruction of our planet,” added their advocate.
Nobody said anything while the judge examined the papers. The silence stretched on, interrupted only by the gently ‘clinks’ created when Jack tried in vain to get more comfortable. After several minutes of silently reading the statements, the judge looked up. “Point ceded. The intentions of the accused were honorable, and their actions saved Inrya. This can be no more than a Category 7 trespass.”
Jack seriously doubted Category 7 meant ‘since they saved the planet, they’re free to go.’ Unfortunately, he had no idea what it did mean. Furthermore, he didn’t think the proceeding could really be called a trial, since their guilt was already presumed. Sentencing, maybe. He wondered if that was the TARDIS translation matrix, or a cultural/linguistic difference.
“The accused believed there was no other option to avoid catastrophic consequences,” announced their advocate.
“Doctor and Jack Harkness,” said the judge solemnly, looking at them from behind her platform,
“Do you take responsibility for your breach of protocol?”
“Yes,” they answered together.
“And did you believe it necessary?”
“Yes.”
“Knowing the consequences, would you repeat the actions?”
“Yes.” This time Jack, who was ever so slightly bitter about the whole dungeon-and-trial business, took a second longer to respond.
The prosecutor refused to even look in their direction. He insisted smugly, “We must not allow breaching protocol to go unpunished.”
“Point ceded,” agreed the judge.
“The maximum penalty for Category 7 trespasses is eleven weeks’ incarceration. I propose ten.”
Their advocate shook his head. “Ten weeks does not take into account the extenuating circumstances. Surely one week is sufficient.”
“I do not believe that the interests of Inrya will be served by incarcerating these men,” pronounced the judge. Both their advocate and the prosecutor stared at her. Apparently this was an unexpected interruption of a well-known negotiation routine. Jack was glad that someone was finally seeing reason.
“What do you propose instead, Honorable Judge?” asked the prosecutor.
“I believe a service project is more fitting.”
Their advocate nodded. “May I inquire, Honorable Judge, what kind of service project you deem appropriate?”
The judge thought for a minute before declaring, “I have heard troubling reports that littering is on the rise, despite increased penalties. Thus the accused can serve well by removing litter.”
It took all of Jack’s self-restraint to keep quiet and protest that, while he didn’t want to sound full of himself, anyone could pick up trash and there were really much bigger problems in the universe that he and the Doctor were uniquely suited to solve.
“I request that we use the monitoring bracelets,” said the prosecutor. “And that the confiscated possessions are not returned until the sentence has been completed.”
“Points ceded.”
Jack hardly thought it was fair of the judge to cede the point before their advocate even got in a counter-argument, but then he didn’t think anything about this farce of a trial was fair.
“Honorable Judge,” their advocate began, “these are travelers. I request that they be given food rations and a temporary dwelling assignment.”
“Points ceded. Rations for two meals daily, and beds at Temporary Dwelling Block 16.” It was hard to be sure, but Jack was getting the distinct impression they’d be sleeping in a homeless shelter. Well, he’d slept in worse places.
The prosecutor glared, as though they didn’t have the right to food or shelter. “I propose ten weeks’ service.”
“Distinguished colleague, please recall that the accused saved our world. We would have suffocated, every one of us. Such circumstances call for lenience.”
“Nine weeks.”
“Two.”
“Hardly punishment at all. Eight.”
To Jack’s surprise, their advocate played on emotion. “The child your wife carries would never see our planet were it not for these men.”
That, at least, gave the prosecutor pause. “Five.”
“Three.”
“Four.”
“Three and a half.”
“Very well.”
“An agreement has been reached,” declared the judge solemnly. “The Doctor and Jack Harkness, for their breach of protocol in accessing the controls of the planetary defense grid, will serve three and a half weeks removing litter from the grounds of this city. During this time they are to be monitored via bracelets, provided two meal vouchers daily, and allotted beds at Temporary Dwelling Block 16. So ordered.”
While the judge walked out a back door and the prosecutor gave them a final suspicious glare, their advocate turned and smiled. “Better even than I’d hoped!”
“Yes, well, thank you, but I still think…” the Doctor’s sentence went unfinished as their advocate, pleased with himself, his so-called justice system, and his place in the universe, walked off humming a cheery tune.
By that point, Jack had just one question. Turning to his Time Lord boyfriend, he asked, “Can we remove this planet’s coordinates from the TARDIS navigation system?”
Author: ent_alter_ego
Pairing: Jack/Ten
Rating: PG
Spoilers/warnings: None
Challenge: Summer Holidays
Prompt group: 11: future - carry on - purpose - trial
Summary: Jack and the Doctor - criminals?
**
Most species were quite grateful when the Doctor and Jack saved their planet. In fact, the last time the duo had saved a planet, they’d been given the apparently rare honor of eating breakfast with the Kelierian Empress. Jack didn’t save worlds with the Doctor for accolades. However, he did think that expecting not to be thrown in jail for saving a planet was reasonable.
The Doctor had never been to Inrya before and knew very little about it, which was just one of their current handicaps. The other large one was that the Inrya had taken Jack’s weapon and the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver. Then some technician had mentioned that the Doctor’s pockets seemed to hold a great deal, and both of their coats were confiscated as well. Jack, even having much less time than the Doctor to accumulate a collection in his pockets, had a few useful items stashed away now that his coat pockets were bigger on the inside. At the moment, he wanted the metal file to take out a couple of the jail cell’s bars.
Since the Doctor had spent the last half hour pacing the cell - which was really more like their own private little dungeon - he’d had enough time stewing and trying to come up with a way out. Therefore Jack (who’d also tried without success to find an escape route) stood up and wrapped his arms around the Doctor’s waist. He didn’t say anything, because he didn’t have anything useful to say. Instead he simply allowed the contact to bring both of them a little comfort. In the two months since they’d admitted their feelings for each other, he’d never once taken for granted the privilege of physical contact with the Doctor.
After a couple of minutes they heard footsteps and moved to the front of their cell. “I think there’s been a mistake,” said the Doctor as soon as the owner of the footsteps came into view.
The Inrya, a short, bald creature, checked his clipboard. “You are the Doctor and Jack Harkness, yes?”
“That’s us. We’re the ones who just -”
“No mistake, then.”
“But we saved your planet!”
“And we’re very grateful for that.”
Jack spoke for the first time, glaring through the bars. “You call this gratitude?”
“You broke protocol. That must be answered for.”
The Doctor ran his hand through his hair the way he did when he was perplexed. “How exactly did we break protocol?”
“You are not authorized to access the controls of the planetary defense grid.”
“If we hadn’t, your entire world would’ve been turned into a Sakhish amusement park!”
“The first step to building a Sakhish amusement park is making the atmosphere breathable for Sakhs,” added Jack. “You all would’ve suffocated within hours.”
“Yes, yes. I’m aware. As your advocate, I’ve been briefed. Now, we have little time before the trial starts.”
“Isn’t there some kind of extenuating circumstances clause in your protocols?” asked the Doctor.
“Of course, if protocol cannot be followed due to the death or incapacitation of all individuals necessary to follow protocol. Such was not the case. We have seventeen eyewitnesses.”
Jack was beginning to wonder how the Inrya had survived this long. “Did those seventeen eyewitnesses happen to mention the atmosphere-changing bombs?”
“Yes, I know, you’ve gone over that already. Because of that I think we can successfully argue for a significantly lightened sentence.”
Frustration was evident in the Doctor’s voice when he asked, “Exactly how light?”
“I shouldn’t think more than three weeks incarceration.”
This, Jack thought, was so ridiculous it was almost surreal. “Three weeks! What part of ‘we saved your planet’ is so hard to understand?”
“Jack,” said the Doctor with a slight glare. “You’re not helping.”
“You take responsibility for your actions in breaking protocol, correct?” asked their advocate.
The Doctor replied without hesitation. “Yes.”
“And you considered them necessary in light of circumstances.”
“Atmosphere-changing bombs. Suffocation.” Jack crossed his arms. “I’d say that qualifies as necessary.”
“Then,” concluded the Inrya, “a light sentence should not be difficult to obtain. Here is the guard to escort us to the trial chamber.”
Even though the guard was well-armed, Jack could’ve easily taken him out. (Being immortal was useful like that.) However, the Doctor was giving him a ‘don’t-even-think-about-it’ look, and he had a point. If they were recaptured, trying to escape would probably ruin their chances of getting a lighter sentence. Therefore they dutifully held out their hands, which were locked behind them in double-reinforced magnetic handcuffs, and meekly allowed themselves to be tied at the waist to a chain. Jack hated being meek. The guard then led them out, with their advocate following.
It was a short walk down the corridor and a long ride up an escalator to the trial chamber. Their advocate filled them in along the way. “We are going to argue that, because of your honorable intent and the favorable outcome of your actions, you deserve the lightest possible sentence. That you realize you broke protocol, but your only failing was the inability to think up a solution that would have followed protocol due to time constraints. It would be most helpful if you indicate that you are willing to accept the sentence of the judge as a small punishment compared to the survival of our planet and people.”
“It is,” said the Doctor.
“Right,” Jack muttered, while thinking that it was stupid they had to pay a price at all. He understood that the Sakhs would be angry, so he’d expect to pay a price if capture by them. Immediately being arrested by the Inrya hadn’t even occurred to him.
Being a well-traveled fifty-first century guy and naturally open-minded, Jack was overall one of the least judgmental beings around. Still, as he stood handcuffed on his way to trial for saving a planet by the people he and the Doctor had saved, he couldn’t help but wish for the good old-fashioned British justice system he’d been accustomed to in Cardiff and the similarly good American justice system he’d also been familiar with. They weren’t perfect, but they were a lot better than this. Cultural elitism, maybe, but damn, it made a lot more sense.
He’d seen closets larger than the trial chamber - actual closets, not the one belonging to the Duchess of Polora Lunar Colony II, who had a closet the size of a small mansion. The Inrya judge seated behind a high, ornately carved platform wore such a heavily jeweled headset that it was a wonder she could hold her head up straight. Also, the bench for the accused was small, made for Inrya, so Jack and the Doctor had their knees bunched up. Not that the situation was comfortable to begin with, but that somehow added considerable insult to injury.
The prosecutor began by handing the judge a stack of papers. “Here are the signed statements of seventeen witnesses who saw the Doctor and Jack Harkness bypass protocol by accessing the controls of the planetary defense grid.”
“Witnesses who attest that the actions of these accused prevented the destruction of our planet,” added their advocate.
Nobody said anything while the judge examined the papers. The silence stretched on, interrupted only by the gently ‘clinks’ created when Jack tried in vain to get more comfortable. After several minutes of silently reading the statements, the judge looked up. “Point ceded. The intentions of the accused were honorable, and their actions saved Inrya. This can be no more than a Category 7 trespass.”
Jack seriously doubted Category 7 meant ‘since they saved the planet, they’re free to go.’ Unfortunately, he had no idea what it did mean. Furthermore, he didn’t think the proceeding could really be called a trial, since their guilt was already presumed. Sentencing, maybe. He wondered if that was the TARDIS translation matrix, or a cultural/linguistic difference.
“The accused believed there was no other option to avoid catastrophic consequences,” announced their advocate.
“Doctor and Jack Harkness,” said the judge solemnly, looking at them from behind her platform,
“Do you take responsibility for your breach of protocol?”
“Yes,” they answered together.
“And did you believe it necessary?”
“Yes.”
“Knowing the consequences, would you repeat the actions?”
“Yes.” This time Jack, who was ever so slightly bitter about the whole dungeon-and-trial business, took a second longer to respond.
The prosecutor refused to even look in their direction. He insisted smugly, “We must not allow breaching protocol to go unpunished.”
“Point ceded,” agreed the judge.
“The maximum penalty for Category 7 trespasses is eleven weeks’ incarceration. I propose ten.”
Their advocate shook his head. “Ten weeks does not take into account the extenuating circumstances. Surely one week is sufficient.”
“I do not believe that the interests of Inrya will be served by incarcerating these men,” pronounced the judge. Both their advocate and the prosecutor stared at her. Apparently this was an unexpected interruption of a well-known negotiation routine. Jack was glad that someone was finally seeing reason.
“What do you propose instead, Honorable Judge?” asked the prosecutor.
“I believe a service project is more fitting.”
Their advocate nodded. “May I inquire, Honorable Judge, what kind of service project you deem appropriate?”
The judge thought for a minute before declaring, “I have heard troubling reports that littering is on the rise, despite increased penalties. Thus the accused can serve well by removing litter.”
It took all of Jack’s self-restraint to keep quiet and protest that, while he didn’t want to sound full of himself, anyone could pick up trash and there were really much bigger problems in the universe that he and the Doctor were uniquely suited to solve.
“I request that we use the monitoring bracelets,” said the prosecutor. “And that the confiscated possessions are not returned until the sentence has been completed.”
“Points ceded.”
Jack hardly thought it was fair of the judge to cede the point before their advocate even got in a counter-argument, but then he didn’t think anything about this farce of a trial was fair.
“Honorable Judge,” their advocate began, “these are travelers. I request that they be given food rations and a temporary dwelling assignment.”
“Points ceded. Rations for two meals daily, and beds at Temporary Dwelling Block 16.” It was hard to be sure, but Jack was getting the distinct impression they’d be sleeping in a homeless shelter. Well, he’d slept in worse places.
The prosecutor glared, as though they didn’t have the right to food or shelter. “I propose ten weeks’ service.”
“Distinguished colleague, please recall that the accused saved our world. We would have suffocated, every one of us. Such circumstances call for lenience.”
“Nine weeks.”
“Two.”
“Hardly punishment at all. Eight.”
To Jack’s surprise, their advocate played on emotion. “The child your wife carries would never see our planet were it not for these men.”
That, at least, gave the prosecutor pause. “Five.”
“Three.”
“Four.”
“Three and a half.”
“Very well.”
“An agreement has been reached,” declared the judge solemnly. “The Doctor and Jack Harkness, for their breach of protocol in accessing the controls of the planetary defense grid, will serve three and a half weeks removing litter from the grounds of this city. During this time they are to be monitored via bracelets, provided two meal vouchers daily, and allotted beds at Temporary Dwelling Block 16. So ordered.”
While the judge walked out a back door and the prosecutor gave them a final suspicious glare, their advocate turned and smiled. “Better even than I’d hoped!”
“Yes, well, thank you, but I still think…” the Doctor’s sentence went unfinished as their advocate, pleased with himself, his so-called justice system, and his place in the universe, walked off humming a cheery tune.
By that point, Jack had just one question. Turning to his Time Lord boyfriend, he asked, “Can we remove this planet’s coordinates from the TARDIS navigation system?”