Chapter 16: History Lessons
Harriet Jones was feeling so many emotions she was having trouble focusing on just one or two. She had seen things that couldn't possibly be real, but were. She witnessed the true threat to the world and to England. She witnessed the murdered of a top ranking military official. While she was still in hiding, she overhead the junior secretary who's name she didn't really know talk about a Code Nine to the trio of aliens that were masquerading as the acting Prime Minister, a member of MI5 and now General Asquith.
Listening in, she understood that someone was located in London who was top priority, an expert above experts it seemed. This man, this Doctor, would surely listen to her story and believe her, Harriet thought frantically. If she had read correctly, this man, the Doctor, was mentioned multiple times in the Emergency Protocols in the event of an extra-terrestrial situation. UNIT was also mentioned frequently. As Harriet had hurried down stairs, praying that she would be able to speak to someone, anyone, about what she saw. Until then, she struggled to contain the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to smother her. She couldn't allow that. Not yet. She was an elected representative of the people, the MP of Flydale North. She would stay cool, calm, collected. She was British, for God's sake.
Joseph Green had once told her, not long ago, that she needed to some perspective. Well, she had it. And she just needed to let someone know, to show them.
Entering the room with all the so-called experts, Harriet wandered through, watching everyone carefully. Her attention was pulled from the trio of murderous aliens to a man in the corner with a young girl. The man looked nothing like the others. He was tall, with broad shoulders that were covered by a leather jacket that almost looked too big for his frame. For a moment, his head lifted and she caught a glimpse of a large, Roman like nose that seemed to match his ears. Funny that she would notice how they just seem to suit him in a situation like this one. But it was his eyes that shocked her. Those brilliant blue orbs focuses on Asquith, Green and Blaine and went cold. She shivered at the look in his eyes, and how vast they were. But more than that, it was the darkness that stormed under the iced surface. Her attention turned to the small, blonde girl who was speaking quietly to him. She didn't look like an expert. In fact, she didn't look old enough to be out of school yet. What was she doing here? Another emotion to add to the mix, she thought dully.
The junior secretary entered the room and ushered everyone out. Then he addressed the leather wearing man and called him "Doctor". Harriet felt her heart lift and hope bloom for the first time in hours. She wandered closer, trying to not attract attention to herself when the man started growling, low and dangerous. He was demanding the girl stay with him. Just as she had been about to suggest the young lady stay with her, a woman from UNIT entered and claimed the young lady as one of their members.
Within minutes after she was left in the room, Harriet tried, desperately tried to get the man to listen to her. To come with her, to see what she found. He wouldn't listen to her, even when she tried coaxing him into taking a walk with her. Walking into the hallway, Harriet Jones sunk down into a chair and covered her face. She had never felt so scared, or desperate or confused in her life! She needed to talk to the Doctor or that young woman. She just knew instinctively that they would listen to her, they would believe her. Harriet has just finished thinking up a new plan to draw the secretary upstairs with her when the Doctor came running out of the conference room, saying something about aliens.
Standing quickly, she noticed that the secretary had come out and was standing near her, looking confused and concerned all at once. It seemed to her that only a few heartbeats later, the door to the conference room burst open again and this time the Doctor was running, gripping the young woman's hand tightly in his. Noting where he was heading, Harriet looked up and made her decision. Turning on her heels, she raced up the stairs as fast as she could.
"Hey!" she heard the man call out behind her and start to follow her up. "You don't have clearance to go up there! Wait a minute!"
That's right, Harriet thought determinedly, follow me up and see the truth for yourself.
Racing up to the flood with the Cabinet room took more out of Harriet than she thought, but she refused to stop. Her adrenaline was pumping now along with sheer desperation. She was panting as she ran towards the room only to be brought short at the sight of one of the green monsters standing in the office before you enter the Cabinet room. The monster roared at her and Harriet is not ashamed to admit, she screamed. Behind her, she heard the secretary behind her gasp and ask what is that thing in disgust. Wasting no time, Harriet just grabbed his hand and ran.
Terror became the dominate feeling now as Harriet heard the monster give chase after them.
….
"Did you mean for this to happen?" Rose had to ask as they went up in the lift. Seems time was going to play out similar.
The Doctor glanced at her, his eyes cold once again towards her, before looking at the doors.
Sighing, Rose shook her head. He never separated his mind from hers so she could feel his anger. She guessed it was at her, and not the attempted murder of all the humans downstairs. She couldn't bring herself to feel bad for killing Asquith Slitheen. She really couldn't. Her dealings with the three siblings in her past, coupled with what she dealt with in the parallel universe, she just couldn't find it in her to grieve him. Maybe, she thought, that was what angered the Doctor. The complete lack of remorse or sorrow that her actions cut a life short.
"You knew," the Doctor stated softly, still not looking at her.
"I did," she said, just as softly.
Silence settled between then as the lift stopped with a ding. The doors slid open and Rose gasped at the sight outside. An unmasked Slitheen had cornered Harriet and the man from downstairs. If this was the same one, that was Margret. Gripping the vinegar filled gun in her pocket, Rose was about to pull it out and shoot when the Doctor grinned and offered a little "Hello!" and closed the doors again.
Letting out a held breath, Rose relaxed. She had seen Harriet promptly start running when the Slitheen turned her attention to the Doctor and Rose. Looking at the Doctor, he pushed a button to taken them up one level. As the doors slide open, he motioned Rose for silence and stepped out, looking right then left.
'Come on,' his mind whispered to her.
'I was going to ask if you remembered you did this,' Rose mentally giggled at him as she followed him out to the stairs.
He didn't reply.
Together they raced down the stairs back down to the floor where she had spotted Harriet running for her life. The Doctor slowed and looked about cautiously before he let Rose off the stairs. Below them, many floors down, she heard the shouts of the sergeant, Price, calling out orders.
'Why don't they come up?' Rose wondered, letting the Doctor hear. 'Wouldn't it make more sense to sweep the place for us, floor by floor?'
'Got experience in that, do you?' the Doctor glanced back at her with a raised brow.
'Actually,' Rose sent him an annoyed look, 'I do. Now focus!'
As the Doctor was getting ready to turn to face her, the second lift dinged. Quickly the two stepped out of the hall into hiding spots, cervices on either side of the hallway. Rose felt her heart stop as another Slitheen stepped out of the lift. She didn't need to touch him to know he was furious, filled with grief at the death of his brother. The huge beast lumbered away, after his sister and the smell of two humans.
'Follow him,' Rose looked across to the Doctor. 'He'll lead us to Harriet and Indra.'
The Doctor nodded and after waiting a few more moments, motioned Rose to join in and together they ran after Green. He didn't bother to ask Rose anything else at this point. She was telling him what he needed to know as it was happening. If what she said was correct, as well as Mickey, there was a high chance she had crossed the timelines and was making changes. He really hoped that wasn't the case. Something inside him, told him she wasn't. He couldn't feel the threat of a paradox or the Reapers. All he could feel was her golden mind, buzzing next to his and the TARDIS, humming her song.
Frankly speaking, it did nothing to lessen his anger.
Ahead of them, they heard talking. The speech was garbled, a weird rumbling that reminded the Doctor of when Asquith had spoken in the room on the ground floor.
"Happy hunting?" a male voice rumbled, like there were marbles in his throat.
"Oh my brother," a female voice, vocal cords wobbling, cooed out. "Is it true? I felt our brother-"
"It is," the male voice growled. "He was killed by a little human girl. The blonde."
"She will feel my claws," the female cried out. "I will bend that young thing. All ripe, she is. All hormones and adrenaline." The female voice was coming closer to the door. "Fresh enough to bend before I snap her!"
"I can smell an old girl," the male chuckled, moving away from the door, further into the room. "Stale bird, brittle bones. And oh, another. Sniveling little worm, easy to pull apart. I will ease my grief with their screams."
Rose looked at the Doctor as he grabbed a fire extinguisher. She knew he would not like this, but she had little choice. He didn't know about them, he would give them a chance like the Gelth. She refused to let him be hurt like that again. Ever, if she could avoid it. Stepping forward with the same efficient calmness as before, Rose shifted to stand before the Doctor and lifted the Neptunian gun once again.
'Rose! NO!' she heard the Doctor shout at her mind, just a Margret the Slitheen stepped into view and roared at her.
Lifting her hand with practiced ease, she whispered a mental apology to the Doctor and squeezed the trigger a second time. Margret barely had time to react as she was sprayed down with the vinegar that acted as the ammo. Rose stepped back, anticipating Green to come charging as Margret let out a scream, going the same what her brother downstairs did, and if Rose was right, another was about to do soon too.
'What have you done!?' the Doctor thundered in her head, watching the Slitheen died.
Rose didn't answer, only stepped back again as Green came charging after her, claws poised to strike. Lifting the gun again, she pulled the trigger but nothing happened. Cursing now, she stumbled backwards as Green slashed forward, ripping the front of Rose's hoodie open. His largest of his three claws caught Rose's shirt, ripping it slightly. She didn't even notice as she fell backwards to avoid the strike. She hit the ground and looked up with wide eyes at the enraged Slitheen above her.
"NO!" the Doctor roared out loud this time, surging forward to protect Rose. Slamming his shoulder into the large creature stunned it. Rose, below it, prayed to the Universe that her arm strength would support her as she placed her hands backwards next to her head, and heaved her lower body up. With both feet, she put all her strength and leverage into the kick and caught Green square in the gut.
Rotting breath swooshed out of the alien beast, knocking him back and dazing him. Rose scrambled to her feet as the Doctor yelled for Harriet and Indra to hurry it up and follow them. The group took off running away from the now very pissed off alien. Looking over her shoulder, Rose groaned out. She had hoped that between her and the Doctor they would have been able to slow him down a little more. Sadly, the Universe was not on their side as Green charged after them.
"We need to get to the cabinet rooms!" the Doctor yelled out to the group. Reaching back, he took Rose's hand yet again.
"The Emergency Protocols are in there!" Harriet called back. "They give instructions on aliens!"
The Doctor grinned then, looking back at the panting older woman. She was impressive. He rather liked her.
"Turn right!" Indra instructed, not quite believing what was happening but not willing to stop and question now.
As they passed a room, Rose's free hand pointed what was looking suspiciously to the Doctor like a sonic screwdriver, she locked the door they had just ran through. He silently approved, he was thinking the same thing.
'I know,' Rose's thoughts giggled in his mind, clearly amused. 'I can see your thoughts you know.'
'That's cheating, Rose Tyler,' the Doctor smirked back at her as he lead the group into the open cabinet room.
Knowing there was no time, he snatched up a bottle of brandy and spun around, his sonic screwdriver pointed at the decanter.
"One more move," the Doctor warned, "and my sonic device will triplicate the flammability of this alcohol. Whoof! We all go up. So back off."
Green slowed, hesitating a bit. His large clawed hands flexed and clenched as he eyed the Doctor. His black eyes traveled over the little group, sneering at Harriet and Indra. His gaze landed on Rose. Without thinking about it, Green's lips pulled back into a snarl.
"Watch it," the Doctor warned again, this time his voice dropped into a terrifying soft tone.
Green turned his attention from the murderous little bitch he wanted to rip apart back to the Doctor.
"Good. Right then," the Doctor nodded. His tone lightened but that steel was still under it. "Question time. Who exactly are the Slitheen?"
Harriet answered in a hurry, terrified. "They're aliens."
"Yes, I got that. Thanks," the Doctor glanced over at the woman. "Who the hell are you anyway?"
Rose nearly groaned as the Doctor was distracted from the topic at hand.
"Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North," she answered quickly, hinting at her hidden backbone of steel.
"Nice to meet you," the Doctor grinned at Harriet.
"Likewise," Harriet replied.
Rose wanted to laugh, in fact she was, loudly in her head.
'No matter the situation,' the Doctor seemed to sniff indignantly at her mentally, 'there's no need for bad manners.'
Green cleared his throat now, "Who are you, if not human, Doctor?"
"Who's not human?" Indra asked from directly behind the Doctor.
"He's not," Rose nodded her head towards the Doctor, to the right.
"He's not human?" Harriet blinked, calling out from his left.
Rolling his eyes at the trio of humans, he looked over his left shoulder, "Can I have a bit of hush?"
"Sorry," both Indra and Harriet mumbled at the same time.
Rose was shaking her withheld laughter now. She could only imagine how confused Green was at the moment.
"So," the Doctor turned to address the alien again, "what's the plan?"
"He's got a Northern accent," Indra muttered softly now to Rose.
"Lots of planets have a North," she found herself answering automatically.
Turning now to look at Rose, he frowned, "I said hush."
Rose bit her bottom lip, trying to hide her grin and nodded. This situation was just as mental as the first time around.
"Now, you've got a spaceship hidden in the North Sea," the Doctor began, laying out the facts. "It's transmitting a signal. You've murdered your way to the top of the government, what for?"
"Invasion?" Harriet asked, curious.
"Why would be invade this God forsaken rock?" Green asked in disgust.
"Something brought the Slitheen race here," the Doctor pointed out and felt Rose flinch mentally.
"Oh, the Slitheen is not our race," Green corrected, surprised. "It's our surname. Jocrassa Fel Fotch Pasameer Day Slitheen, at your service."
How he was able to say that with all the grace of a lord, and then bow rather gracefully was a bit of a mystery to the humans. And a surprise at the level of dignity and manners the murderous alien displayed just then.
"What?" Jocrassa asked. "There is never a call for bad manners, no matter the situation."
Rose laughed now. Everyone turned to look at her like she had gone around the bend. She waved her hand and gasped out her apologies. "Please, continue."
"So, you're family," Harriet asked softly, remembering how the one that had chased her and Indra called Jocrassa 'brother'.
"It's a family business," Jocrassa shrugged a little. It was easy to forget the rage that was boiling inside him at the deaths of his brother and sister only moments ago, for the time being.
"You're out to make a profit," the Doctor muttered before addressing the ugly green beast before him. "How can you do that on a 'God forsaken rock'?"
Tilting his head to the side, Jorcrassa studied the decanter in the Doctor's hand. "Excuse me, but your device will do what? Triplicate the flammability?"
"Is that what I said?" the Doctor offered an innocent, wide eyes look.
Rose stepped back, tensing up as the Slitheen's eyes flicked over to her now. A grin spread over the child-like face, show casing jagged, razor sharp teeth. "You're making it up, Doctor."
"Well, it was a nice try," the Doctor sighed and straightened his stance, offering the brandy to Harriet now. "Harriet, have a drink. I think you'll need it."
"You pass to your left first," she calmly reminded the Doctor, her eyes on the alien.
"Sorry," he handed the decanter to Rose, his eyes never leaving the Slitheen who was now flexing his claws again.
Rose shifted her weight, taking the brandy, her mind rapidly trying to think of a plan if Jocrassa attacked them. Muttering her thanks, she eased back a little. Out of the corner of her eye, she noted that Indra was shifting back as well. The hulking mass of alien shuffled forward, intent on Rose more than the others. It was her, after all, that killed his dear brother and sister.
"Now to end this," he purred out, "with a slaughter."
Raising his claws, fully intending to pop the little blonde human's head off her pretty little shoulders, the Doctor suddenly stepped into his field of vision.
"Fascinating history, Downing Street," he began to lecture. Rose caught his thoughts and quietly motioned both Indra and Harriet to back up slowly with her. "Two thousand years ago, this was marsh land. 1730, it was occupied by a Mr. Chicken. Nice man, he was. 1796, this was the cabinet room – if the cabinet's in session and in danger, these are about the four safest walls in the whole of Great Britain."
Without even looking, the Doctor pressed a button that had gone unnoticed on the wall. "End of lesson," he cheerful informed the Slitheen as steel plates slammed shut, sealing them all inside.
Turning to the assembled group, he grinned proudly. Looking over at Rose, who was smirking at him knowingly, he addressed the humans. "Installed in 1991. Three inches of steel lining ever single wall. They'll never get in."
Indra and Harriet looked around the seal up room, noting that even the windows were covered by the thick steel.
"How do we get out?" Indra asked, confused.
A brief, silent pause was ended by the Doctor simply saying "Ah..." and Rose bursting into laughter again. Everyone gave Rose an odd look before chalking it up to nerves and parted to see what they could do in this mess. Harriet and Indra headed to where the Emergency Protocols were still resting on the table. The Doctor approached Rose who was still chuckling to herself. The feel of his simmering anger, the one that had been there, under everything since she ended the Slitheen calling himself Asquith, invaded her mind. Looking up at him, questions in her eyes, the two didn't speak for a moment. Then the Doctor just took her arm and walked to the far side of the room, away from the other two. Crossing his arms, he stared down at Rose hard.
'What was that all about?' he questioned with his mind. Apparently he didn't want them to be over heard.
'Which part?' Rose asked, looking for clarification, not trying to be sassy. 'A lot has happened in the last twenty minutes.'
'Okay,' the Doctor lowered his head a moment, as it to calm a little. Lifting his head again, he was glaring at Rose now. 'Let's start with the two Slitheen you just murdered.'
Flinching a little, Rose pulled out the now empty gun. 'You don't know them, I do,' Rose whispered softly into his mind. 'They are murderers at best. I remember what they did, would do. Nothing has changed for them, Doctor. I did what I had to, to save lives.'
'You didn't even give them a chance, Rose! How do you know they wouldn't take it?' the Doctor snapped back mentally, making Rose wince at the telepathic slap.
Anger started to swell inside her now as she let out a growl that drew Harriet and Indra's attention. The pair of humans watched what looked like an intense stare off between the Doctor and Rose Tyler.
"You want to know what they want? You want to know their plan? Because I know it! You really want to see why I did it?" Rose growled back, snapping back at him, making him flinch this time. "Fine!"
Harriet and Indra flinched at the sudden snarl out of the rather gentle young woman they had watched for the last few minutes. To them, she was brave and calm under pressure, even if she gave into her nerves after she had time to calm down. Would happen to anyone really, given the situation.
Reaching up, she pressed her index fingers against his temples. For a fraction of a second, he was left reeling that she even knew about this before she was there, pressing memories into the front of his mind. Despite how angry the two of them were, she was very careful to not press forward into his mind more. The Doctor grunted as her memories of a time that doesn't exist assaulted his mind. He saw flashes of Rose and Harriet witnessing Indra's death at the hands of the female Slitheen. From there, he felt the fear that had raced through Rose as she tried to hide from that same Slitheen, only to become terrified when two more entered the room she was trying to hide in. He watched as Harriet sprang forward to offer herself up to them, to save his Rose. He saw himself, in this very room, talking about the only people who could help them were dead in the room downstairs. More flashes and images, some from other times. Rose was having trouble focusing now. Her memories were started to overlap.
A beach, middle of nowhere, overwhelming pain and betrayal. The Slitheen in the now deceased Margret Blaine proudly explaining the family's plan to nuke the world and then sell it off, piece by piece. He saw what he could only assume was himself, but thinner, younger looking. He was kissing another woman, a blonde woman on French style nobility clothing. Rather enthusiastically. He saw war, in a London that was not London. He could hear screams and shouts as people raced through a dark forest, desperate for escape.
Suddenly, Rose pulled back and nearly dropped to her knees. The Doctor's body moved before he thought about it, scooping her into his arms. Harriet and Indra both cried out and had left their seats to rush to them. Shaking his head, the Doctor looked up at the two humans. They stopped short, freezing in their track. The dark look on the Doctor's face told them everything would be ending sooner or later. Carefully, the Doctor helped Rose to a seat and made her sit. Harriet scurried over to the forgotten decanter and poured a little brandy before handing it off to the pale looking Rose.
"Are you okay?" Harriet asked softly.
Rose shook her head, accepting the drink. She waved her hand a moment. She was dizzy and so light headed. She had honestly never done that before. She only knew in theory how that worked from what John once told her. She had never done it to him or allowed him that deeply into her mind. A fact she knew he always resented her for on some level. Leaning back in the chair, she looked up at the Doctor and gave him a grim smile. He tried to smile at her, easing himself into the seat next to her.
"Explain to Harriet and Indra what you know," he muttered softly, commanding really.
With a little nod, Rose looked over at the two confused occupants in the room. Before she could speak, her cell phone went off. Everyone jumped at the unexpected sound. Rose pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and noticed she had a text message. Flicking it open, she read it quickly and handed it to the Doctor.
"It's from Mickey," she told him softly. "That picture was taken from my mother's kitchen."
Taking the phone from her, he ignored the chatter from Harriet and Indra questioning how Rose's phone even got a signal in there. The Doctor felt his blood run cold as he realized he was looking at another Slitheen outside of 10 Downing Street. And it went after Jackie. He couldn't help but fear it was Rose they were actually after and they found Jackie instead. A new message came through as Rose explained to the two humans that he had upgraded her phone to a super phone. He scanned the message. He remembered then what Mickey had said, about the vinegar and the warning about large people with gas problems.
Mickey Smith had known what was coming as well.
Closing his eyes, the Doctor lowered his head a moment. He needed a moment to let the fact that his sweet, compassionate Rose had just killed two other living things. That Mickey Smith, the brave young man with a protective streak the size of the Medusa Cascades, had ended a third one that had threatened the people he called family.
"There are more," the Doctor muttered softly, handing the phone back to Rose. She looked at the message and let out a breath. Her mother was safe.
The Time Lord sprang from his chair and began to pace around the room. A low, feral growl rumbled out of him as he paced. He didn't know how to feeling. Rage that the pair had so easily ended three lives like it was nothing, neither seem to show any remorse. His golden girl certainly wasn't feeling any. Rose just watched him. Turning she began to explain what she knew to Indra and Harriet.
"The aliens, the ones calling themselves the Slitheen," Rose began. "They are in the business of selling nearly anything they can for profit. That's the bottom line for them. They intend to sell off the Earth. After causing a nuclear war and turning the planet into molten slag."
"How-how could you know that!?" Indra asked, shocked and scared.
"UNIT," Rose said simply. "And other contacts."
She glanced at the prowling Doctor a moment before looking back at the pair. His anger was lessening, but still she was trying to gauge his reactions now. Especially to her little lie just then.
"They are from a planet called Raxacoricofallapatorius," Rose continued. "Beyond that, I'm in the dark really. But I do know there are a lot more of them outside in positions all over Great Britain."
Harriet sunk down on weak legs into a leather chair, staring unseeing ahead. "But, but they can't just fire off an atomic weapon. Given our past record and I voted against that, thank you very much, the codes have been taken out of the governments hands and given to the UN. As such, they would need to get a special resolution from the UN for a strike big enough to do … what you are suggesting the Slitheen want."
The Doctor frowned now, looking over at Harriet. Indra hovered at her shoulder, watching the Doctor quietly. "Say that again."
"Which part?" Harriet asked.
"The part about the codes," the Doctor clarified, moving to stand at Rose's side.
"Oh, well to be able to even get a nuclear strike, you need release codes," Harriet expounded on her earlier statement. "However, as I mentioned, it's kept secret by the United Nations. Why? Is that important?"
"Everything's important," the Doctor muttered, looking down at the still pale Rose. "Call Mickey. See what he has."
Rose offered the Doctor a relieved smile and hit the button to call up Mickey. Without a word, she handed the phone up to the Doctor. He carefully took it from her hand, letting his fingers trail over hers a second before placing it to his ear. He staying close to her, however, placing a hand on her shoulder. Since she showed him her memories, he could barely feel her in his mind. The little golden spark that was her was still there, but it was much weaker now. The Doctor knew it was just because she had exhausted herself, but still. He wanted to keep in contact, to keep that soft warmth of her within him.
"Doctor," Mickey answered the phone after two rings.
"Rickey," the Doctor greeted with a smirk down at Rose. She just rolled her eyes and smiled back.
"Mickey," the man on the phone laughingly corrected. "What's the situation, boss?"
"The Slitheen family have branched out into other government departments," the Doctor started. "Pretty sure they will be doing something soon to try and get a nuclear strike against London. What do you have?"
"Bout the same," Mickey admitted. "Got a friend on the case with the other members of the family."
"Mickey," Jackie was heard in the background, "how do you know all this?"
The Doctor hooked the little cell phone up to a speaker in the center of the table, so everyone could listen.
"See, Jacks," Mickey was explaining to Rose's Mum, "the government has known about aliens for years. But they kept everyone in the dark for their protection."
'Jackie was born in the dark,' Rose heard muttered into her mind by the Doctor. She just elbowed him. He gave her a wounded look in return.
"Mickey," Rose called out. "Who's the friend?"
"Someone I know, Rose, don't worry too hard on it," was the cheeky reply. "Hang on, adding someone to the call."
A few seconds later, a familiar warm heavily North Eastern accent voice greet them all.
"Clive!" Rose cried out joyfully.
"Rose, always a pleasure," Clive chuckled. "And a pleasure to meet you, Doctor, even if it is on the phone."
"Likewise," the Doctor grinned, his own Northern accent adding into the mix, seeming a little thicker after hearing Clive's. "Now, to business."
"The other members of the Slitheen family have been identified. A raid is being conducted now on those that can be reached," Mickey stated, like he was reading something off the computer. "I've gotten into UNIT's main system, looking to see if there is anyone we can reach for more help."
"I've been working on that signal," Clive put in. "Translating it, as it were. Almost got it. S'on repeat, saying the same thing again and again."
Rose was quiet as the Doctor worked with Mickey and Clive to get things into place, when Jackie broke through everything, demanding to speak to the Doctor. Groaning softly, she opened her eyes and looked up at the Doctor who had yet to leave her side.
"I've got a question, if you don't mind," Jackie's voice snapped into the phone. "Because since that man walked into our lives, I've been attacked on the streets. I have had a creature from the pits of hell in my own living room-"
"Not hell, Mum," Rose interrupted, wanting to clarify a little. "Raxacoricofallapatorius."
"Oh, listen to her," Jackie mocked. "That's what I mean! I had my daughter disappear off the face of the Earth, and she comes back talking about talking skin flaps and alien markets!"
"Mum," Rose stood now, glaring at the phone. "I told you what happened. It's up to you to believe it or not."
"I'm talking to him!" snapped Jackie. "I've seen this life of yours, Doctor. And maybe you get off on it. And maybe you think it's all clever and smart, but you tell me. Just answer me this – is my daughter safe?"
The phone line was silent as Jackie waiting for her answer. The faint sound of a signal playing on repeat could be heard faintly from Clive's line. Harriet reached out and gripped one of Rose's hands tightly, offering the young woman a smile. Indra was looking at the Doctor now. The man in question was staring intently at the phone. Rose could feel his turmoil, fear, and anxiety. He wanted to say yes, but it was a lie, and she knew it too.
"Is she safe?" Jackie pressed on, insistently. "Will she always be safe? Can you promise me that?"
"Mum!" Rose snapped at her mother. This was neither the time nor the place really for this conversation.
Ignoring her daughter, Jackie pushed further. "Well, what's the answer?"
"Rose," Clive's voice broke in now. "Just heard from our friends on the raid. They weren't successful. Only got one of the three off site. Ewan McAllister was taken down. There are two more. Ah, Tennant James, and a Sylvia Dillane. They should have reached 10 Downing Street by now."
"Lovely," Rose groaned. The Doctor looked over at Rose with an apologetic look.
"Not only that," Mickey groaned now. "You'll want to hear this, boss."
Rose heard Mickey moving around, closing her eyes. She had a feeling she knew what was coming now. Dread settled into her stomach as she reached for the Doctor's hand. Clive went silent as well, listening in. Harriet stood, unable to sit any longer and circled the table. Indira offered her a small glass of brandy for her nerves. Offering his a smile of thanks, she sipped the rather strong alcohol.
"-es and Gentlemen, Nations of the World, Human kind," Green's voice floated over the speaker now. "The greatest experts in extra-terrestrial events came here tonight. They gathered in the common cause. But I'm afraid, I must now bring you grave news indeed. The experts are dead. Murdered, right in front of my by alien hands. By someone they thought they could trust."
"But," Rose began to protest, she knew that wasn't true. She saved all those people!
"People of the Earth, heed my words," Green was saying now. "These visitors do not come in peace. Our inspectors have searched the sky above our hands and they have found massive weapons of destruction, capable of being deployed in as little as 45 seconds."
Horrified gasps echoed around the room. The Doctor's eyes hardened as he listened to the broadcasting. Rose's eyes were closed and she was clinging to his hand desperately. Harriet covered her mouth, looking terrified and in disbelieve. Indra's legs gave out and he had to sit heavily in one of the chairs around the massive table.
"Our technicians can… baffle… the alien probes," Green seemed to admit unwillingly. "But not for long. We are facing extinction. Unless we strike first. The United Kingdom stands directly beneath the belly of the mother ship. I am begging the United Nations – pass an emergency resolution. Give us the access codes! A nuclear strike at the heart of the ship is our only chance of survival. Because… from this moment on… it is my solemn duty to inform you, people of Great Britain, of the world… Planet Earth is at war."