Unfinished Symphony-E8-The Other Side-Part Five
Prelude
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Unfinished Symphony Episode Eight
The Other Side-Part Five
The SUV was silent on the ride back as well.
Ianto watched Luke in the passenger's seat, the boy was watching the trees as they passed by in a blur. It was obvious the teen was worried about whatever had happened when time had frozen around them. Obviously something with Rose had occurred, but she hadn't said a word about it since they left the camp. The military crew and the scientists were going crazy, trying to find out what happened to their rip in time. Ianto had gathered them together and left, before there was a decision to keep them there indefinitely. He looked in the rear view mirror and found he disliked what he saw even more.
Whatever choice Rose had been pondering on the ride up, had been made. There was no hesitation in her eyes, no wondering expression on her face. She knew what she had to do next, and if he wasn't mistaken, she wasn't that upset about it. She had a direction, and damned if anyone got in her way. Ianto was wondering who she thought was going to get in her way. She looked up and into his eyes, as if reading his mind. He looked back to the road and didn't look in the mirror again.
As they made their way back to Cardiff he sent a signal through the car to the base they were incoming. He heard the comm in his ear activate and Toshiko's voice whispered to him, “We have problems.”
He touched his ear twice, the silent signal that he was reading her but he couldn't vocally respond. She paused and then continued, “The Doctor just came back, the man he had gone to see in the country has been found dead, his entire house was burned down. The authorities have no idea the Doctor was there, but I was the one who sent him there.”, again a pause, “Do you think he did it?”
Ianto did indeed think The Doctor had done it, but that wasn't the question he was worried about. If he did burn the man's home down and kill him, that meant there was a reason. And that reason was going to make or break Torchwood. Because the moment Rose found out that the Doctor had killed an old man and then burned down his house...
Ianto closed the channel and tried not to think about it. The world would end when it ended. Worrying about it wouldn't make it any easier.
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He sat in his office and began searching the Torchwood files. He looked through every inventory, every acquisition every vault they possessed worldwide. He browsed the nine vaults Torchwood had kept around the island, he went through the listing of every artifact on file at the United States Area 51, he checked off every piece held in UNIT's Black Archive. He went through the entire list and then went through it again. Looking for anything, any little possibility that might get him out of this accursed universe. But every search came up empty.
There was nothing singularly or collectively that he could use to pierce the veil from this world to the other. He knew his other self was sending him clues, sending him to Ben, but he was at the end of those clues and was looking at a huge dead end. He tore at his hair as he looked over the list a third time, nothing was coming to mind.
“Mr. Smith I need you.”, he said in frustration.
After discovering the sentient computer in Torchwood's vault he had hooked it up to the mainframe, improving response time by a tenfold. Though Mr. Smith ran the worldwide datanet that the world leaders had agreed to, there was little need for anyone to address the sentience itself. It worked as an operating system and as far as the world knew, that's all it was. But the Doctor knew of Mr. Smith's phenomenal capability to sort and catalog information, but up to now he had never felt he would need it.
There was a small fanfare as the computer's desktop vanished and was replaced by the glowing lights that represented Smith's functional operations. “Yes Doctor, how can I assist you?”
“I need you to...”, he started.
“...find a way for you to pierce the dimensional barrier between this world and the other?”, the computer finished for him.
The Doctor paused impressed, “Yes, I need exactly that.”
“I have examined the dimensional energy residue from the barrier in conjunction with the ambient radiation brought back by Rose and yourself on your return.” The screen showed two graphs of energy wavelengths, one of the natural energy wave guides from this world, the other was a read out of the other dimension's energy guide as extrapolated by their own exposure to the other side. It was an impressive bit of informational magic, one he himself hadn't even thought of. By comparing the two energy wave lengths, it was possible to find out what the exact energy conductive difference that was preventing them from passing over.
The Doctor skimmed over the numbers for a few minutes and asked, “Is there an artifact in the databank that fits this energy difference?”
“At first glance no.”, Mr. Smith explained going through a checklist of every artifact kept in under Torchwood surveillance. But this there is an artifact that was obtained by a Torchwood agent July 18, 1964 that has an odd inverse energy reading.”
The computer pulled an image of the item and displayed it on the screen. The Doctor paled a bit and gasped out loud, “That's a Verron puzzle box.”, he said. And then more firmly he asked, “Where did this come from?”
“It was obtained in 1964 by a Torchwood agent investigating the accidental death of a London teenager at Westport Pier. The sole witness was said to have this in her possession. It was confiscated and stored at Torchwood vault three.”
The Doctor saw the case files move across the screen and his face became completely white as his mouth fell open in shock. He could see the file and the Torchwood field notes that were taken.
Case File”1992-35
Subject's Name:Andrea Yates
Artifact:Puzzle box of unknown origin.
Description: Box is of an unknown alloy with markings on the sides indicating the ability to be manipulated like a puzzle. From examination, it appears the box should be able to move but all attempts to do so have met with failure. The box is immune to any known scanning devices (x-ray, gamma, neutron) and appears to have a hollow center from its mass. The box was found on the subject after witnessing the death of her best friend on a closed pier. The two had snuck out during a school field trip and her friend fell to her death. There had been a spike of rift like activity which lead agents to investigate the death. After exhaustive search, nothing besides the box was found to have any unusual link. The subsequent police report and insurance filing are also included in this report.
As head of Torchwood I am forced to close this case, but I cannot help but feel the death of Sarah Jane Smith was something of significance. But as of this time, I am unable to discover what. The case will be filed as orange, leaving it open for 20 years in case any other leads surface.
The Doctor just read in shock, he suddenly had another lead.
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Ianto drove into the Torchwood garage and was not surprised to find Toshiko and Owen waiting for them. He hadn't said a word in the car, wanting to see her reaction while not driving.
“Well? Have you heard what he did?”, Owen more demanded than asked. Another one of the Doctor's recruitments, Owen was a first class doctor that seemed to have a knack for xeno biology. And again, to Ianto there was this feeling the three of them worked together. A familiar sense that made some kind of unconscious sense and made them much closer than normal workers.
“Heard about who doing what?”, Rose asked, almost nonchalantly. Ianto wasn't a betting man, but if he was, he wouldn't take odds against Rose already knowing what had occurred.
“He went to see a man, a writer who lived out in the outskirts and now the man is dead and his place is burned down!”, Toshi exclaimed. She looked near tears, no doubt blaming herself in some way for simply giving directions.
Rose digested the information with no expression, while Luke's looked like he had been punched in the stomach. They were all silent and finally Owen asked, “Well?”
Rose looked at him and simply said, “Well he's the Doctor I am sure he has a good reason for it.”, and Ianto could tell, for her that was it. “Come on Luke, it's getting late and you have school tomorrow.”
She reached out a hand to place on his shoulder but the boy turned and stared at her as if she had grown a second head. Ianto thought to himself if she had, it might have been a bit less disturbing. “He did it.”, Luke said to her, “You know he killed that man.”
Rose smiled as if just learning the skill, it was cold and emotionless, but it was a smile nonetheless, “We don't know anything yet Luke. Don't you think he deserves the benefit of the doubt?”
This time Luke took a physical step back, “What about the others from the conference?”
Into groaned silently, THAT little nugget wasn't going to go down well.
“Others?”, Owen shouted.
“Conference?”, Toshi practically screamed. They had their jobs because they were smart and used to working completely around the box. Not outside of it, not bending the barriers of it, completely devoid of any box whatsoever. Even that small bit of information would lead to them figuring everything out, Ianto was sure about that. And by the look on Rose's face, she knew it too.
“People!”, she shouted over them, “We are professionals and we all understood that this job hinged on secrecy. There are simply things we all can't be made aware of. Need to know means just that. Not want, need. This is all connected to a case, and it is being investigated. But I can assure you, there is no wrong doing here.” Ianto was impressed, if he didn't know what was occurring first hand, he would have believed her. He could see the same doubt in Luke's face, but Toshi and Owen both lowered their head in shame. No doubt stunned by the rebuke, no matter how serious they thought the crime was.
“Now let's get back to work and let this subject drop.”, she said smiling that non smile again, “I am sure we can find better things to worry about today.” And with that the two of them began to go back to the control center, while Ianto and Luke stared at her, waiting for an explanation.
One they would never get.
The door burst open and the Doctor was screaming, “Rose! Rose I know where we are! I know what this universe is!”, he seemed giddy and manic, all the signs he had stumbled on an answer of significant importance.
Rose's smile suddenly became real when she saw him, “You did? Marvelous!”, she said in what Ianto could classify only as, pure delight.
“Come!”, he said taking her hand, “You will not believe what I found out!”, he dragged her back to his officer, leaving Luke and Ianto to wonder.
What the hell was that about?
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“The Trickster's universe”, he said once they were safely in his office.
“The who?”, she said sitting down.
“The Trickster's Brigade is a force of chaos that has existed from the beginning of time.”, he started to explain, “They thrive on the energy created by time rewriting itself. They usually go for small events that have huge drastic changes. They were very active in the other universe a long time ago, in fact they were one of the forces that attacked during the Time War.”
“Because it was a Time Lord's job to stop them?”, she asked.
He nodded, “Most of the alterations of time that occur in the universe is in some way linked to the Brigade in one way or another. But we never figured out who or why they acted like they did. During the war we were able to force them, back, out of the universe. We never knew where they went to.”, he said, “But I know where they went now.”
“Here?”, she offered.
“Yes!”, he said smiling, “The time line of this universe is drastically different. You see this Doctor was killed during his 2nd generation, meaning he never moved past it.” She stared not understanding. “Don't you see? He never progressed to the 4th regeneration, without Four, Skaro and the Daleks were never stopped. They rose up around the galaxy unopposed, which began to change things.”
Rose looked confused, “But there aren't Daleks here.”
“Not yet!”, he said, “This world's Doctor was contacted by...well by me I think and told him what was going to happen. That events on this world were moving too fast and it needed to be sealed off.”, he moved towards her, “Don't you see? He sealed this universe off to trap the Brigade here, so any energy they gathered on this side couldn't be used against the other 'verses.”
“How did you suss all this out?”, she asked, still not grasping it all.
“Don't you see?”, he said, “In my...in our time the Daleks had landed on Earth several times by this point in history. But they haven't arrived yet. When the Trickester's fled the other universe, they came here, into their past. They began rewriting history slowly, carefully. They already knew how it would all end up, so they started with me! They removed me which allowed the Daleks to rise in power. The Daleks aren't here because they are still moving against the rest of the galaxy. Somehow I knew this and sent a message to this world's Doctor, who sealed the energy off from the rest of the mutliverse, rewriting the fabric of reality here, so the Brigade would be stuck, which they would have.”
“Until we crossed over.”, Rose said flatly.
“Yes!”, he exclaimed, “When we arrived here in the TARDIS, we fell through a hole in time. A hole they were focusing the energy on to get out! But we slipped in and were stuck. I think when we left, we left a hole, not a big one, but a hole nonetheless.”
“And they escaped?”
“At least one of them I believe. Which would have been enough to start messing with things on that side. Sarah Jane being erased from existence, the beetle on Donna's back, all agents of the Brigade. They found a way to lower the barriers and flee this universe because they aren't here any more.”, he said pacing the room, “At least as far as I can tell. I haven't seen any more major changes to the time lines since the we were sealed off again. I believe the Trickster's who escaped to the other side, moved time around enough to gather the planets together...”
Rose finished for him, “...causing the barrier to drop! So the Dalek's in the other world were actually...”
“...just setting up a series of events to release the Brigade from here.”, he finished. “Think about it, how do you figure a lone Dalek with an emergency temporal shift made it past the time lock? He was sent there! The Trickster's used their energy to propel past the lock, ensuring Davros would rise, the planets would be stolen and the barrier would fall.”
She was silent as she digested the information and finally asked, “So where is your proof?”
He spun the monitor around and showed her, “Look at the incidents on this world. They are too neat, too clean to be random. Sarah Jane killed as a teenager, you were never conceived because your mum was converted by the cybermen, Martha died when the Judoon took her hospital to the moon. They were taking out all opposition on this side. They knew what they were doing.”
“What about Donna?”, she asked.
He made a face, “I don't know...can't see to find her anywhere. But the rest is too much to be random, and we have to do something!”, he said.
“Why?”
“The Brigade is free! On the other side and the other Doctor needs help.”, he pulled out the paper, “Look at this, I found this at Bad Wolf Bay, it was in a bottle and floated right up to me. It's a message from myself!”
Rose looked over it, “How can you tell?”
“Because I am the only one smart enough to figure out how to send a message here. He needs our help.”, he leaned in next to her, “We need to get out of here!”
She stared at the paper and then back to him for a moment. And then slowly she smiled and said, “When do we leave?”
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As Rose and the Doctor walked out of the office, they both saw the entire staff staring at them.
Ianto, Toshi, Owen, Luke and Pete stood by the computers, a look of concern anger on their face. No one spoke as the Doctor surveyed the scene with an impassive face. Rose stayed a step behind him, her expression was so neutral that it almost would appear apathetic. Finally after a pause Pete spoke up, “Doctor, we need to talk.”, and then he looked past him, “Rose come here please.”
If she heard her father she didn't give notice, instead the Doctor said, “Very well Pete, what do we need to talk about?”
“I think you know.”, he said taking a step towards Rose, “Rose Tyler come to me now!”, he barked. Her head came around the Doctor's shoulder with one eyebrow arched, but made no attempt to move.
The Doctor moved slightly, placing himself between Pete and Rose, he noticed Owen and Ianto move slightly, flanking him in the most subtle way. “I am right here Pete”, he said locking eyes with the older man, “Talk to me.”
Pete tried again to make eye contact with Rose, but she remained out of sight. Sighing he looked at the Doctor, “We know about the deaths Doctor. We know about everything.”
Luke watched his face, looking for any sign that he had known about the strange demises. The rest of his life all depended on how The Doctor answered the next statement. The worst part was, the boy didn't know how he wanted him to.
“Are you talking about Ben?”, he asked, his face still not showing a lot of emotion.
“Ben, Harriet, the rest of the Torchwood team, all of them Doctor. We know about all of them.”, Owen said gritting his teeth.
Ianto winced as Owen spoke up, the plan was to let Pete rally at him and Owen and him move unnoticed around him. But Owen had seemed rather angry at finding out the men and women he had worked with in unifying the world were all dying or dead.
“What are you talking about?”, the Doctor said, looking more curious than shocked.
“They're dead Doctor.”, Pete said trying to grab the conversation back, “They are all dead because of you.”
“That's not...”, he started and then rambled off as he began thinking about it. He knew he had 'pushed' them into seeing the Torchwood initiative in a new light. A mental nudge to move them past their ignorance and fear, but kill? He would never, in a million years kill them. How could that be?
Yet he knew how that could be.
Right on the edge, the very fringe of his mind he could sense the truth, and the fact that parts of him had known. Pieces of the puzzle stitched together by his past regenerations. Parts of him a lot more willing to break a few eggs in the name of the greater omelet. He could sense Six and Seven, just beyond his touch scheming and waiting, sad at the loss of life, but secure that it had to be done. The walls, the walls were coming down, the parts that separated his mind from theirs, they had been weakening. His weak human mind couldn't contain Ten full regenerations, and the lines had been blurring.
He hadn't used just one mind to nudge the team along. He had used ten. Ten Gallifreyian minds, all trained in telepathic warfare, pressing in on untrained, unwilling human psyches. Of course they died, how could they not? He would have ruptured blood vessels, weakened tissue, destroyed neural pathways like they were rice paper. He had done, he had killed them.
And though part of his mind screamed in agony and regret...the rest of his mind simply shrugged. He looked at Pete, “Least they didn't die in vain.”
Which was all Luke needed.
Before Pete or Ianto could say a word the boy sprang at the Doctor like a madman. Screaming, “NO!!!!” His eyes glowing with power and rage, and at the loss of innocence that could never be regained. As the Doctor's mind collapsed in tears inside, the rest of it looked at the boy and sighed.
He was going to hate killing that boy.
To be continued...