Post by Fitz Kreiner on Oct 23, 2010 20:45:28 GMT
“I’m sorry, sir,” Morris protested after several seconds, “but it sounds as though you’re saying that you’re investigating my staff.”
“That’s precisely what I’m saying, Morris,” Bailey replied.
“Then, why are you telling me?” Morris asked. “Would it not be easier to investigate him with an outside department?”
“Morris,” Bailey’s voice said, giving Morris the impression that the General was now leaning on his desk, “this is a very sensitive matter, and we don’t want it to get out that we’re having to investigate an operative in a secret department at this time. I’ve been given strict orders from Sir Daniel that Tom Rowan needs to be watched, and these orders come from the highest level. I’m sure you understand, we don’t want him getting any more involved.”
“No, sir,” Morris replied, shifting uncomfortably. “I have to say, I’m not entirely happy with this.”
“I can imagine not,” Bailey replied. “It’s never an easy time when you have to investigate one of your own staff; but has been passed to me as a matter of upmost importance and as national security. You wouldn’t believe the amount of red tape involved at my end.”
“Who do I make the reports out to?” Morris asked.
“If you have enough on his activities to perform daily reports, then so be it,” Bailey replied. “But they will need to be sent by courier, one who can be totally trusted, bring them yourself if you have to, to Westminster and given to Sir Daniel.”
“Very well, sir,” Morris sighed. “Is that all?”
“For the time being,” Bailey replied. “Although I wouldn’t be surprised if you get a visit from Ashfield at some point in the near future. Just keep your hands clean, Will.”
“Yes sir, thank you,” Morris replied before the phone line clicked off.
A visit from Sir Daniel Ashfield; that was all he needed. Since September, the man had introduced statute after statute and so many regulations that it made Morris’s head spin. It had been those new regulations which had lead to the argument he had had with the Doctor, and the Time Lord’s leaving Earth. Morris remembered Ashfield had initially been proposing a bill in regards to extra-terrestrials when his wife had been killed by the Autons in part of the Master’s last attack at Earth. Since then, his view on aliens had become increasingly xenophobic.
Sitting back and thinking about it, it didn’t really surprise Morris that Ashfield would order Rowan to be checked up, but daily reports? Bailey had said that it came from highest level, which clearly meant James Duncan. How he knew about Tom Rowan, Morris didn’t know. Although he did have one theory which soon popped into his head when he remembered that Bailey knew Tom had been to visit the Master; Crompton must have filed a report.
Pushing his chair back, Morris got to his feet, picking his cap from his desk as he did so. He didn’t want to have to do this, but it looked as though he would have no choice. Tom had said he was going to go to the pub to ‘gather information’. Morris wondered about that; whether he was just going for a drink or to really gather information. There were several pubs in the local area, and it could be done to get agents to visit them all to keep tabs on him, however, that would be risky, as he knew several of the agents who were about.
Still, he may as well check the lab. Tom rarely stayed out much these days, if at all, and the lab was as good a place as any to start his investigation. He had been having several informal chats with him of late and even if he wasn’t there, there were still the notes and papers he’d amassed about the Tower UFO’s and James Duncan. That would at least give a little information as to what he’d been up to.
Nodding to Sergeant Lovatt as she walked past the office and headed to the garage, Morris turned to the stairs and made his way up to the lab.
Kelly was unimpressed. She had expected something really exciting in the UNIT HQ Tom had taken her too. And as for a location of an impromptu first date, it was certainly lacking in something. It had looked, for all the world, like a plain and boring office building on the outside. In fact, she had passed it many times in her life when in Camden and not even noticed. Even the reception had been rather dull, some old glossy magazines on the small table, potted plants and a rather plain receptionist, although she had called Tom ‘Sir’ when he walked passed.
She hadn’t even seen any soldiers as they passed through some electronically controlled doors and into the main body of the building. Tom took her immediately into a stairwell, which as with all other stairwells was boring and lit by florescent strip lights.
The lab was slightly more interesting, albeit dark and dingy and still not as interesting as she had hoped. She had tried to move the heavy blackout curtains that Tom had put over the window to let a little natural light in, only to have him replace it almost immediately. The only light came from a computer screen and a dim table lamp. She couldn’t help but nosey at the files and papers that sat on the little table beside it. The file did have ‘Top Secret’ printed on it in thick red letters, which just made it all the more tempting. Taking her heavy winter coat off, she laid it down over the back of the sofa and sat down, folding her legs and gently brushing her hair over her shoulders.
“Ok,” she said finally. Tom hadn’t said much since they had left the Devonshire Arms and had just finished furiously typing out an email. “I’m gonna come out with it; this is rather dull. I was expecting James Bonds all over the place, or super gadgets.”
“Yeah, not as glamorous as that I’m afraid,” Tom replied with a shrug. “The Doctor’s the gadget man. I’ve tried doing some of my own, but they didn’t work out too well.”
“Ok,” Kelly said nodding. “So now you’ve got me here, why am I here?”
“We’re not likely to be overheard here,” Tom replied, finally turning to look at her. “Well, not by anyone who shouldn’t over hear anything,” he added.
“So you said that this Master person had tried to kill you?” Kelly asked.
“Yeah, a couple of times, but we last met him here in September, which for him was the first time he met us,” Tom paused as he tried to sort the temporal mechanics out in his head. “He was the one behind the attack, using animated plastic mannequins as his foot soldiers. It’s not the first time he’s tried to do that apparently, several times in the seventies he tried to conquer or destroy the Earth. He’s probably the only person on this planet who knows what’s meant to happen here and now and the only person who can help me.”
“Erm, ok,” Kelly said. “Let’s assume that you really are an alien and you can travel through time and this Master is some kind of alien super villain. Surely that’s all secret, why are you telling me?”
“I thought you believed Jess?” Tom asked, raising an eyebrow. “You called me ‘spaceman’ when you first met me.”
“Yeah, well, I know Jess can be a bit fanciful,” Kelly said, shifting uncomfortably. “But you’re human, look at you. You’re not green; you don’t have pointed ears or a Cornish pasty for a forehead. It’s not like you even have a space ship or a ray gun.” Kelly paused and cocked an eyebrow and her head to one side. “Or have you?” she added with a smile.
“No, ok,” Tom said, patting himself down before getting to his feet. “Try this then,” he said reaching out.
Looking up at Tom, Kelly reached out and took his extended hands. Gently, he pulled her to her feel until she was stood less than two feet away from him. She bit her lip expectantly as he brought her hands up to his chest. Gently, he opened her palms and laid her hands on either side of his chest. The look on Kelly’s face changed from excited expectance to confusion before shock as she pulled her hands away quickly and stepped back. Her eyes wide and flickering up and down over Tom, she cautiously stepped up to him again and placed her palms back on his chest. Sure enough she could feel a heart beat; one under each hand.
“You’ve,” she said faintly before stalling. “What?”
“Time Lord,” Tom smiled. “Two hearts, lower body temperature, faster metabolism, different aging cycle, I’m one hundred and eighty six by the way, respiratory bypass system, do you want me to go on?”
“Two hearts?” Kelly breathed. “You really are-?”
“Hands on hearts,” Tom grinned placing his hands on his chest over Kelly’s.
“Ahem.”
The voice from the door made both Tom and Kelly turn to look over, the two of them stepping a couple of paces away from each other.
“Caught you at a bad time?” Morris asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Kelly. “And who is this?”
“She’s with me,” Tom replied.
“Yes, I can see that,” Morris said slowly. “Who is she?”
“A friend,” Tom said.
“I see,” Morris said stepping into the room. “You know the rules Tom, no civilians to be inside the HQ. Reception is fine.”
“It’s ok, she’s a contact of mine,” Tom replied looking at Morris.
“Even so,” Morris started before Tom put his hands up cutting the captain off.
“Ok, ok,” he said. “It won’t happen again, Cap’.”
“See that it doesn’t,” Morris said, stepping over towards Kelly and glancing down at the files on the small table before looking up at Tom and raising his eyebrows disapprovingly. “Especially if you insist on leaving sensitive material about the place,” he added picking the files up.
“Look, I’m not one of your army boys,” Tom replied with a tired sigh. “I don’t have to answer to you for my every action. I’m not even an official advisor to you.”
“You’re acting for UNIT, one of the signatures on your pass is mine,” Morris countered. “Anyone who enters the HQ has to have a full security check into their background and have signed the official secrets act.”
“I said ‘ok’,” Tom said grabbing his hat and coat. “Kelly, I think we should leave. Nothing personal, Cap’,” he added looking at Morris.
Skirting round Morris towards Tom, Kelly picked her coat and took the Time Lord’s offered hand and followed him out of the room. Narrowing his eyes as he watched them leave, Morris walked to the door and watched the two make their way down the corridor to the stair well. When he was satisfied they were gone, he re-entered the lab and closed the door behind him, turning on the main lights, flooding the room with a brilliant white glow.
A quick glance of the papers and files he held in his hands confirmed to him that they were about the ‘Tower UFO’s’ and James Duncan. Some of the papers had doodles and spider diagrams scrawled over them in Tom’s hand. One piece of paper even had an attempt at drawing a family tree, stemming from Duncan backwards. It petered out after seven generations at the most, some of the branches ending in question marks and at the top of the page, unceremoniously scribbled, were the words; ‘Oh sod the bloody thing”.
Turning another paper over, Morris saw doodles of the shapes of lights of the Tower UFO’s and some rough sketches over the top in an attempt to illustrate space craft. A list of alien races was scribbled down one side, some scored through, some with question marks beside and others just written. One name sent a shiver down Morris’s spine until he realised there was a mark through it. Still, the name ‘Dalek’ was always one that sent the shiver down the spine of any UNIT operative. There were other names he recognised, such as Cybermen and Zygons, but he was relieved to see they were both crossed through too.
Placing the papers and files down, Morris then picked up one of the stacks of books that littered the lab. Many of them were focussed on the Tudor’s, Elizabeth in particular; some were novels by various authors and others were relating to modern culture. Some of the books were still in cellophane wrapping, some were rather dog eared and others had book marks in at various places.
Smiling to himself, Morris turned to the computer. It was still running and the email was open. He’d never felt comfortable in doing something like this to one of his staff, it displayed a sense of mistrust and he made a point to always trust his staff, but his orders were not something he could ignore in the present state. Checking the emails, they were all as Morris expected them to be, although the inbox said that there was one new message. Not wanting to give away that he’d been snooping, he decided to ignore it, and briefly scanned the others for any clues.
Forwarding any email that he deemed apt to himself and then deleting the message from the sent box, Morris turned to stand. Who was the girl that Tom had brought into the lab? She had reminded him of Jess, primarily because of her dress style and obviously gothic leanings. Was Tom trying to compensate for the Doctor and Jess’s absence? Would he come in tomorrow to see someone looking like they’d just come from a fitting for a wedding in the lab? It was then Morris realised that he hadn’t taken the girls name, Tom never gave it, and the girl hadn’t spoken to him.
Satisfied he had got all he could from the room at that time, Morris turned and left the lab, turning the lights off as he left and closed the door behind him.
“Well, I don’t think much of your army friends,” Kelly said as Tom lead her to the stair well.
“The Cap’ isn’t always like that,” Tom said, glancing back before pausing thoughtfully. “Something’s wrong. I dunno what, but it is.”
“What makes you say that?” Kelly asked, tightening her hold on his hand briefly.
“He was the one who encouraged me to start this investigation,” Tom said, chancing another glance through the window in the door. “Now he seems to be rather edgy about it all. I know Duncan has tightened security and all that, but still.” Tom paused, his mouth still open before closing it and looking away slightly.
“Are you alright?” Kelly asked.
“Yeah,” Tom said distantly before turning to look at Kelly. “Can you drive?”
“Yeah, why?” she asked.
“Because we’re gonna take a ride,” Tom said, his face deadly serious. “A little place called ‘The Wingmoore Institute’. I need to go and have a chat with someone.”
“Where’s that?” Kelly asked.
“I’ll direct you,” Tom replied, setting off down the stairs before pausing and looking back up. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine with me,” he smiled.
Sergeant Lovatt leant over the open bonnet of the land rover, her sleeves rolled to her elbows. She wasn’t an engineer, yet all UNIT engineers were currently out of the HQ, and she, knowing a fair bit about cars and engines, was seconded to do some routine maintenance on this land rover. It had been leaking oil and steaming when driving. She’d found the problem and was almost done with the repairs. That meant she would soon be out of the cold and draughty garage and into the warm with a cup of coffee.
Lovatt stood up and rested on the edge of the land rover. Ideally she’d rather be sat snug at Mark’s with some mulled wine and a crap B-movie on the TV which they could end up missing. As quick as the thought came, she caught herself and shook her head. She’d only been seeing Mark for four weeks, although it had been a good four weeks.
A sound and movement from the other side of the garage made her spin round. She was surprised to see Tom moving through the garage, looking slightly put out. He hadn’t seemed to have seen her, so she quietly unclipped the bonnet support and let the metal hood drop with a clang that echoed around the garage. She almost felt disappointed when the young Time Lord didn’t jump.
“Oh, hello Serg’,” he said softly.
“Can I help you, Tom?” she asked, brushing her hands together.
“Oh, no, no,” he said, looking ever more distant. “Just getting a bit of fresh air.”
Lovatt laughed softly. “I doubt you’ll get it down here, or outside.”
“Well,” Tom shrugged before trailing off.
“I was just about to get a cuppa,” Lovatt said after several slow seconds. “You want one?”
“Yeah, ok, that’d be great thanks,” he said smiling finally.
“Right,” Lovatt smiled, “I’ll be back in two.”
Tom stood on the spot, still smiling as he watched Lovatt leave. As soon as she’d left the garage, the smile dropped and he dashed to the door, peering through to the corridor beyond before turning back to the garage.
“It’s ok,” he said, “come on out.”
Cautiously, Kelly stepped out from behind one of the under-cover surveillance vans and looked around. “Why was I hiding?” she asked.
“If Morris wasn’t too chuffed about you being here, I can imagine what he’d be like if Sergeant Lovatt told him I’d brought you down here,” Tom said, as he lead Kelly over to a car before tossing the keys to her.
“So we’re stealing a car?” she asked, catching the keys.
“Borrowing a car,” Tom corrected. “I’ve got full authority to take a car whenever I want as a UNIT operative. However, I’ve never driven a car before; small shuttle, yes, car no.”
“I dunno,” Kelly said, glancing around.
“We don’t have time to argue about it,” Tom said, glancing over his shoulder. “Trust me, please?”
Biting her lip and thinking for several seconds, Kelly finally nodded. “What about the doors?”
“Electronic,” Tom smiled as he slipped into the passenger seat. “Turn left when you leave here.”
Nodding, Kelly pulled the car out of the garage. “Can’t say I’ve ever driven anything half as posh as this,” she said gently stroking the leather steering wheel of the Mercedes and shifting herself into a more comfortable position in the leather seat. “Alright, one more thing,” she said after several seconds, “why were we sneaking out of there like that? If you can borrow a car whenever you want, why did you make me hide?”
Tom stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before turning to look at Kelly. “To be honest,” he said carefully, “I’m starting to get more and more convinced that I can’t trust the UNIT guys.”
“That’s precisely what I’m saying, Morris,” Bailey replied.
“Then, why are you telling me?” Morris asked. “Would it not be easier to investigate him with an outside department?”
“Morris,” Bailey’s voice said, giving Morris the impression that the General was now leaning on his desk, “this is a very sensitive matter, and we don’t want it to get out that we’re having to investigate an operative in a secret department at this time. I’ve been given strict orders from Sir Daniel that Tom Rowan needs to be watched, and these orders come from the highest level. I’m sure you understand, we don’t want him getting any more involved.”
“No, sir,” Morris replied, shifting uncomfortably. “I have to say, I’m not entirely happy with this.”
“I can imagine not,” Bailey replied. “It’s never an easy time when you have to investigate one of your own staff; but has been passed to me as a matter of upmost importance and as national security. You wouldn’t believe the amount of red tape involved at my end.”
“Who do I make the reports out to?” Morris asked.
“If you have enough on his activities to perform daily reports, then so be it,” Bailey replied. “But they will need to be sent by courier, one who can be totally trusted, bring them yourself if you have to, to Westminster and given to Sir Daniel.”
“Very well, sir,” Morris sighed. “Is that all?”
“For the time being,” Bailey replied. “Although I wouldn’t be surprised if you get a visit from Ashfield at some point in the near future. Just keep your hands clean, Will.”
“Yes sir, thank you,” Morris replied before the phone line clicked off.
A visit from Sir Daniel Ashfield; that was all he needed. Since September, the man had introduced statute after statute and so many regulations that it made Morris’s head spin. It had been those new regulations which had lead to the argument he had had with the Doctor, and the Time Lord’s leaving Earth. Morris remembered Ashfield had initially been proposing a bill in regards to extra-terrestrials when his wife had been killed by the Autons in part of the Master’s last attack at Earth. Since then, his view on aliens had become increasingly xenophobic.
Sitting back and thinking about it, it didn’t really surprise Morris that Ashfield would order Rowan to be checked up, but daily reports? Bailey had said that it came from highest level, which clearly meant James Duncan. How he knew about Tom Rowan, Morris didn’t know. Although he did have one theory which soon popped into his head when he remembered that Bailey knew Tom had been to visit the Master; Crompton must have filed a report.
Pushing his chair back, Morris got to his feet, picking his cap from his desk as he did so. He didn’t want to have to do this, but it looked as though he would have no choice. Tom had said he was going to go to the pub to ‘gather information’. Morris wondered about that; whether he was just going for a drink or to really gather information. There were several pubs in the local area, and it could be done to get agents to visit them all to keep tabs on him, however, that would be risky, as he knew several of the agents who were about.
Still, he may as well check the lab. Tom rarely stayed out much these days, if at all, and the lab was as good a place as any to start his investigation. He had been having several informal chats with him of late and even if he wasn’t there, there were still the notes and papers he’d amassed about the Tower UFO’s and James Duncan. That would at least give a little information as to what he’d been up to.
Nodding to Sergeant Lovatt as she walked past the office and headed to the garage, Morris turned to the stairs and made his way up to the lab.
*
Kelly was unimpressed. She had expected something really exciting in the UNIT HQ Tom had taken her too. And as for a location of an impromptu first date, it was certainly lacking in something. It had looked, for all the world, like a plain and boring office building on the outside. In fact, she had passed it many times in her life when in Camden and not even noticed. Even the reception had been rather dull, some old glossy magazines on the small table, potted plants and a rather plain receptionist, although she had called Tom ‘Sir’ when he walked passed.
She hadn’t even seen any soldiers as they passed through some electronically controlled doors and into the main body of the building. Tom took her immediately into a stairwell, which as with all other stairwells was boring and lit by florescent strip lights.
The lab was slightly more interesting, albeit dark and dingy and still not as interesting as she had hoped. She had tried to move the heavy blackout curtains that Tom had put over the window to let a little natural light in, only to have him replace it almost immediately. The only light came from a computer screen and a dim table lamp. She couldn’t help but nosey at the files and papers that sat on the little table beside it. The file did have ‘Top Secret’ printed on it in thick red letters, which just made it all the more tempting. Taking her heavy winter coat off, she laid it down over the back of the sofa and sat down, folding her legs and gently brushing her hair over her shoulders.
“Ok,” she said finally. Tom hadn’t said much since they had left the Devonshire Arms and had just finished furiously typing out an email. “I’m gonna come out with it; this is rather dull. I was expecting James Bonds all over the place, or super gadgets.”
“Yeah, not as glamorous as that I’m afraid,” Tom replied with a shrug. “The Doctor’s the gadget man. I’ve tried doing some of my own, but they didn’t work out too well.”
“Ok,” Kelly said nodding. “So now you’ve got me here, why am I here?”
“We’re not likely to be overheard here,” Tom replied, finally turning to look at her. “Well, not by anyone who shouldn’t over hear anything,” he added.
“So you said that this Master person had tried to kill you?” Kelly asked.
“Yeah, a couple of times, but we last met him here in September, which for him was the first time he met us,” Tom paused as he tried to sort the temporal mechanics out in his head. “He was the one behind the attack, using animated plastic mannequins as his foot soldiers. It’s not the first time he’s tried to do that apparently, several times in the seventies he tried to conquer or destroy the Earth. He’s probably the only person on this planet who knows what’s meant to happen here and now and the only person who can help me.”
“Erm, ok,” Kelly said. “Let’s assume that you really are an alien and you can travel through time and this Master is some kind of alien super villain. Surely that’s all secret, why are you telling me?”
“I thought you believed Jess?” Tom asked, raising an eyebrow. “You called me ‘spaceman’ when you first met me.”
“Yeah, well, I know Jess can be a bit fanciful,” Kelly said, shifting uncomfortably. “But you’re human, look at you. You’re not green; you don’t have pointed ears or a Cornish pasty for a forehead. It’s not like you even have a space ship or a ray gun.” Kelly paused and cocked an eyebrow and her head to one side. “Or have you?” she added with a smile.
“No, ok,” Tom said, patting himself down before getting to his feet. “Try this then,” he said reaching out.
Looking up at Tom, Kelly reached out and took his extended hands. Gently, he pulled her to her feel until she was stood less than two feet away from him. She bit her lip expectantly as he brought her hands up to his chest. Gently, he opened her palms and laid her hands on either side of his chest. The look on Kelly’s face changed from excited expectance to confusion before shock as she pulled her hands away quickly and stepped back. Her eyes wide and flickering up and down over Tom, she cautiously stepped up to him again and placed her palms back on his chest. Sure enough she could feel a heart beat; one under each hand.
“You’ve,” she said faintly before stalling. “What?”
“Time Lord,” Tom smiled. “Two hearts, lower body temperature, faster metabolism, different aging cycle, I’m one hundred and eighty six by the way, respiratory bypass system, do you want me to go on?”
“Two hearts?” Kelly breathed. “You really are-?”
“Hands on hearts,” Tom grinned placing his hands on his chest over Kelly’s.
“Ahem.”
The voice from the door made both Tom and Kelly turn to look over, the two of them stepping a couple of paces away from each other.
“Caught you at a bad time?” Morris asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Kelly. “And who is this?”
“She’s with me,” Tom replied.
“Yes, I can see that,” Morris said slowly. “Who is she?”
“A friend,” Tom said.
“I see,” Morris said stepping into the room. “You know the rules Tom, no civilians to be inside the HQ. Reception is fine.”
“It’s ok, she’s a contact of mine,” Tom replied looking at Morris.
“Even so,” Morris started before Tom put his hands up cutting the captain off.
“Ok, ok,” he said. “It won’t happen again, Cap’.”
“See that it doesn’t,” Morris said, stepping over towards Kelly and glancing down at the files on the small table before looking up at Tom and raising his eyebrows disapprovingly. “Especially if you insist on leaving sensitive material about the place,” he added picking the files up.
“Look, I’m not one of your army boys,” Tom replied with a tired sigh. “I don’t have to answer to you for my every action. I’m not even an official advisor to you.”
“You’re acting for UNIT, one of the signatures on your pass is mine,” Morris countered. “Anyone who enters the HQ has to have a full security check into their background and have signed the official secrets act.”
“I said ‘ok’,” Tom said grabbing his hat and coat. “Kelly, I think we should leave. Nothing personal, Cap’,” he added looking at Morris.
Skirting round Morris towards Tom, Kelly picked her coat and took the Time Lord’s offered hand and followed him out of the room. Narrowing his eyes as he watched them leave, Morris walked to the door and watched the two make their way down the corridor to the stair well. When he was satisfied they were gone, he re-entered the lab and closed the door behind him, turning on the main lights, flooding the room with a brilliant white glow.
A quick glance of the papers and files he held in his hands confirmed to him that they were about the ‘Tower UFO’s’ and James Duncan. Some of the papers had doodles and spider diagrams scrawled over them in Tom’s hand. One piece of paper even had an attempt at drawing a family tree, stemming from Duncan backwards. It petered out after seven generations at the most, some of the branches ending in question marks and at the top of the page, unceremoniously scribbled, were the words; ‘Oh sod the bloody thing”.
Turning another paper over, Morris saw doodles of the shapes of lights of the Tower UFO’s and some rough sketches over the top in an attempt to illustrate space craft. A list of alien races was scribbled down one side, some scored through, some with question marks beside and others just written. One name sent a shiver down Morris’s spine until he realised there was a mark through it. Still, the name ‘Dalek’ was always one that sent the shiver down the spine of any UNIT operative. There were other names he recognised, such as Cybermen and Zygons, but he was relieved to see they were both crossed through too.
Placing the papers and files down, Morris then picked up one of the stacks of books that littered the lab. Many of them were focussed on the Tudor’s, Elizabeth in particular; some were novels by various authors and others were relating to modern culture. Some of the books were still in cellophane wrapping, some were rather dog eared and others had book marks in at various places.
Smiling to himself, Morris turned to the computer. It was still running and the email was open. He’d never felt comfortable in doing something like this to one of his staff, it displayed a sense of mistrust and he made a point to always trust his staff, but his orders were not something he could ignore in the present state. Checking the emails, they were all as Morris expected them to be, although the inbox said that there was one new message. Not wanting to give away that he’d been snooping, he decided to ignore it, and briefly scanned the others for any clues.
Forwarding any email that he deemed apt to himself and then deleting the message from the sent box, Morris turned to stand. Who was the girl that Tom had brought into the lab? She had reminded him of Jess, primarily because of her dress style and obviously gothic leanings. Was Tom trying to compensate for the Doctor and Jess’s absence? Would he come in tomorrow to see someone looking like they’d just come from a fitting for a wedding in the lab? It was then Morris realised that he hadn’t taken the girls name, Tom never gave it, and the girl hadn’t spoken to him.
Satisfied he had got all he could from the room at that time, Morris turned and left the lab, turning the lights off as he left and closed the door behind him.
*
“Well, I don’t think much of your army friends,” Kelly said as Tom lead her to the stair well.
“The Cap’ isn’t always like that,” Tom said, glancing back before pausing thoughtfully. “Something’s wrong. I dunno what, but it is.”
“What makes you say that?” Kelly asked, tightening her hold on his hand briefly.
“He was the one who encouraged me to start this investigation,” Tom said, chancing another glance through the window in the door. “Now he seems to be rather edgy about it all. I know Duncan has tightened security and all that, but still.” Tom paused, his mouth still open before closing it and looking away slightly.
“Are you alright?” Kelly asked.
“Yeah,” Tom said distantly before turning to look at Kelly. “Can you drive?”
“Yeah, why?” she asked.
“Because we’re gonna take a ride,” Tom said, his face deadly serious. “A little place called ‘The Wingmoore Institute’. I need to go and have a chat with someone.”
“Where’s that?” Kelly asked.
“I’ll direct you,” Tom replied, setting off down the stairs before pausing and looking back up. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine with me,” he smiled.
*
Sergeant Lovatt leant over the open bonnet of the land rover, her sleeves rolled to her elbows. She wasn’t an engineer, yet all UNIT engineers were currently out of the HQ, and she, knowing a fair bit about cars and engines, was seconded to do some routine maintenance on this land rover. It had been leaking oil and steaming when driving. She’d found the problem and was almost done with the repairs. That meant she would soon be out of the cold and draughty garage and into the warm with a cup of coffee.
Lovatt stood up and rested on the edge of the land rover. Ideally she’d rather be sat snug at Mark’s with some mulled wine and a crap B-movie on the TV which they could end up missing. As quick as the thought came, she caught herself and shook her head. She’d only been seeing Mark for four weeks, although it had been a good four weeks.
A sound and movement from the other side of the garage made her spin round. She was surprised to see Tom moving through the garage, looking slightly put out. He hadn’t seemed to have seen her, so she quietly unclipped the bonnet support and let the metal hood drop with a clang that echoed around the garage. She almost felt disappointed when the young Time Lord didn’t jump.
“Oh, hello Serg’,” he said softly.
“Can I help you, Tom?” she asked, brushing her hands together.
“Oh, no, no,” he said, looking ever more distant. “Just getting a bit of fresh air.”
Lovatt laughed softly. “I doubt you’ll get it down here, or outside.”
“Well,” Tom shrugged before trailing off.
“I was just about to get a cuppa,” Lovatt said after several slow seconds. “You want one?”
“Yeah, ok, that’d be great thanks,” he said smiling finally.
“Right,” Lovatt smiled, “I’ll be back in two.”
Tom stood on the spot, still smiling as he watched Lovatt leave. As soon as she’d left the garage, the smile dropped and he dashed to the door, peering through to the corridor beyond before turning back to the garage.
“It’s ok,” he said, “come on out.”
Cautiously, Kelly stepped out from behind one of the under-cover surveillance vans and looked around. “Why was I hiding?” she asked.
“If Morris wasn’t too chuffed about you being here, I can imagine what he’d be like if Sergeant Lovatt told him I’d brought you down here,” Tom said, as he lead Kelly over to a car before tossing the keys to her.
“So we’re stealing a car?” she asked, catching the keys.
“Borrowing a car,” Tom corrected. “I’ve got full authority to take a car whenever I want as a UNIT operative. However, I’ve never driven a car before; small shuttle, yes, car no.”
“I dunno,” Kelly said, glancing around.
“We don’t have time to argue about it,” Tom said, glancing over his shoulder. “Trust me, please?”
Biting her lip and thinking for several seconds, Kelly finally nodded. “What about the doors?”
“Electronic,” Tom smiled as he slipped into the passenger seat. “Turn left when you leave here.”
Nodding, Kelly pulled the car out of the garage. “Can’t say I’ve ever driven anything half as posh as this,” she said gently stroking the leather steering wheel of the Mercedes and shifting herself into a more comfortable position in the leather seat. “Alright, one more thing,” she said after several seconds, “why were we sneaking out of there like that? If you can borrow a car whenever you want, why did you make me hide?”
Tom stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before turning to look at Kelly. “To be honest,” he said carefully, “I’m starting to get more and more convinced that I can’t trust the UNIT guys.”
