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magicomTitle: Infiltrator - Part Thirteen.
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
magicom
Rating: Maybe PG at the worst.
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of its characters. No money being made.
Pairing/Characters: Jack, Ianto, (Jack/Ianto), Gwen, Doctor Rupesh Patanjali, Johnson.
Spoilers: Takes into consideration all of S1, S2 and Day One of CoE.
Summary: As a whole: He's a doctor... they need a doctor. What if the 456 fuckery didn't happen and Torchwood actually did recruit Rupesh, who was trying to get the gig to spy on them for Johnson, as discussed in Day One? This part: Ianto's life is at stake.
Warnings: None to speak of.
Notes: Takes place starting just before and during CoE: Day One and goes AU from there onwards.
13
Rupesh walked warily into the Hub that morning. He was a little early and more than a little nervous. Harkness walked out of his office just then, gave Rupesh a nod and went to a computer terminal, punching something in. Oblivious.
Rupesh went to his desk and sat down, turning on the computer, trying to think of what he would do if it were a normal day and he weren’t waiting for Johnson to call Harkness with her demands; with what she would accept in trade for a twenty-six year old man’s life.
Gwen arrived. She was carrying a plastic grocery bag, which she placed by the coffee station.
“Ianto not arrived, then?” Rupesh heard her ask. She must not have seen his coat or some other tell-tale sign of his unobtrusive presence in the Hub.
Rupesh glanced over at Harkness, who shrugged in response.
“Haven’t seen him yet,” he answered distractedly, peering at the screen in front of him.
Gwen raised an amused eyebrow at him. “What were you two up to last night that he’s actually late for work?” she teased.
Harkness glanced over his shoulder at her. “I didn’t see him last night,” he said simply, turning back to his work.
Gwen’s expression became slightly more concerned. “You haven’t fallen out, have you?”
Harkness gave her an exasperated look.
“Okay, okay,” she relented, holding up her hands in defeat. “I’m just…”
Whatever she was going to say, it was interrupted by a phone ringing in Harkness’ office. He glanced at Gwen, then went upstairs to answer it.
He came back down shortly, something of a confused expression on his face.
“We’re supposed to request a video call to this IP address,” he told her, holding up the piece of paper.
Rupesh had to stop himself holding his breath.
“But wasn’t that the Home Office’s line?” Gwen confirmed.
Harkness nodded, going to one of the stations and typing something in as he glanced at the scrap of paper. He must have been following the instructions he was given. His face betrayed curiosity more than apprehension. He didn’t seem to have any inkling yet that something was terribly wrong.
Johnson’s face blinked into view on Harkness’ screen. Gwen stood looking over one shoulder. Rupesh moved to the other so he could see what was happening.
“Captain Harkness,” Johnson said in that clipped tone of hers.
“Who are you?” Harkness asked.
“That’s not important,” Johnson said dismissively. “Listen,” she instructed. “I want unrestricted access to the Torchwood archives for twenty-four hours. After that time, you may carry on with your business as usual. During that time, my people and I are not to be interfered with in any way and we will not be prevented from removing anything we see fit.”
Harkness’ expression was stony. “No.” It was a completely unqualified answer. Just ‘no’. “How did you get the phone number you called me on?” he countered. “Who do you work for?”
“None of your concern,” Johnson informed him. “And you haven’t heard my terms.”
“I’m not interested,” Harkness told her.
“Oh, but I think you are,” she retorted, her voice full of certainty. She stepped back from the camera as she said it, allowing them to see the form knelt on the floor behind her. There was a sack over his head and his hands were bound, but the suit was familiar enough.
Rupesh glanced at Harkness, noticing his eyes had narrowed and his expression hardened almost imperceptibly, but it was there.
Johnson nodded to one of her men, who then pulled the bag off Jones’ head. His face was cut and bruised. He’d been interrogated. Rupesh hadn’t been expecting that.
“Your archivist was not forthcoming with the information we required,” she noted. She stepped fully in front of the camera again. “But you’re as capable of granting us access as he is, so you can still save his life.”
“My archivist is one man,” Harkness answered icily. “There are things in that room that can cause harm to millions.”
Gwen was looking at Harkness anxiously and Rupesh suddenly had the notion that he could get her on side as far as convincing Harkness to cooperate if he struck now. He reached over and pressed the key to mute the conversation and Harkness looked at him sharply.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Harkness snapped.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Rupesh replied. “That’s a member of our team. You can’t just let them murder him!”
“Don’t presume to tell me the value of human life…”
“Captain, if we at least pretend to give in now, he’ll live long enough for us to think of a plan. If this person puts a bullet between his eyes now…”
“Rupesh is right, Jack,” Gwen said softly. “We have to let them into the Hub. Maybe we can come up with a trap afterwards, but we can’t just leave him to die.”
Harkness gave Rupesh a hard look, then turned the microphone back on.
“How exactly do you expect this exchange to work?” he asked.
“You let me and a small team into your archive for twenty-four hours. No interference. If we walk out unmolested, my people release your boy. If we fail to emerge unharmed, then they shoot him in the head and dump him someplace… undignified.”
“And when do you plan on showing up?” Harkness asked next.
“Noon,” she told him. “If you accept the deal, the three of you will walk out of the base at Mermaid Quay and hand over the codes to me. If my watch reaches one minute past noon and you have not come out, then the deal is off.”
She disconnected the call.
Harkness didn’t move for a moment then he got up very slowly.
“What do you think?” Gwen asked. “Are they some sort of terrorist group?”
“A terrorist group that hacked into the Home Office files on us?” Harkness said testily. “That’s the only place they could have gotten so much information on us and that phone number.”
“You’re doing the right thing, Captain…” Rupesh began.
“Don’t you dare,” Harkness snapped at him. “There’s nothing right about this. The entire thing stinks and I’m not trading her potentially every life on the planet. Not even for his.”
The words were forceful enough, but Rupesh detected the slightest trace of uncertainty behind them. Like he was almost afraid of what he’d give her for that one life.
Harkness thrust the scrap of paper he’d taken down from the phone call at Gwen.
“Trace this IP address. Find out where they are. Now.”
Gwen sprung into action, going to her computer and doing as instructed with a sort of fierce passion.
Rupesh looked at Harkness. “Is there anything I can do?” he asked.
Harkness shook his head and went to his office. He remained there until Gwen shouted that she had a street address to match the IP address.
They sent the police, which surprised Rupesh a little, though he expected that was insurance so that they could meet their noon deadline if something went wrong. And something did. There was nobody there; just a laptop with a desktop that said ‘Nice try’.
Harkness growled something incoherent and kicked the nearest desk before running a hand through his hair and taking a breath. He looked at Gwen.
“We have to, Jack,” she said quietly. “We have to. We can’t… not after Tosh and Owen. Please.”
He held her gaze for a long moment, then went up to his office. He came back down wearing his coat.
“Let’s go,” he told them wearily, already walking towards the cog door.
In case you missed them:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve
Author:
magicomRating: Maybe PG at the worst.
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of its characters. No money being made.
Pairing/Characters: Jack, Ianto, (Jack/Ianto), Gwen, Doctor Rupesh Patanjali, Johnson.
Spoilers: Takes into consideration all of S1, S2 and Day One of CoE.
Summary: As a whole: He's a doctor... they need a doctor. What if the 456 fuckery didn't happen and Torchwood actually did recruit Rupesh, who was trying to get the gig to spy on them for Johnson, as discussed in Day One? This part: Ianto's life is at stake.
Warnings: None to speak of.
Notes: Takes place starting just before and during CoE: Day One and goes AU from there onwards.
Rupesh walked warily into the Hub that morning. He was a little early and more than a little nervous. Harkness walked out of his office just then, gave Rupesh a nod and went to a computer terminal, punching something in. Oblivious.
Rupesh went to his desk and sat down, turning on the computer, trying to think of what he would do if it were a normal day and he weren’t waiting for Johnson to call Harkness with her demands; with what she would accept in trade for a twenty-six year old man’s life.
Gwen arrived. She was carrying a plastic grocery bag, which she placed by the coffee station.
“Ianto not arrived, then?” Rupesh heard her ask. She must not have seen his coat or some other tell-tale sign of his unobtrusive presence in the Hub.
Rupesh glanced over at Harkness, who shrugged in response.
“Haven’t seen him yet,” he answered distractedly, peering at the screen in front of him.
Gwen raised an amused eyebrow at him. “What were you two up to last night that he’s actually late for work?” she teased.
Harkness glanced over his shoulder at her. “I didn’t see him last night,” he said simply, turning back to his work.
Gwen’s expression became slightly more concerned. “You haven’t fallen out, have you?”
Harkness gave her an exasperated look.
“Okay, okay,” she relented, holding up her hands in defeat. “I’m just…”
Whatever she was going to say, it was interrupted by a phone ringing in Harkness’ office. He glanced at Gwen, then went upstairs to answer it.
He came back down shortly, something of a confused expression on his face.
“We’re supposed to request a video call to this IP address,” he told her, holding up the piece of paper.
Rupesh had to stop himself holding his breath.
“But wasn’t that the Home Office’s line?” Gwen confirmed.
Harkness nodded, going to one of the stations and typing something in as he glanced at the scrap of paper. He must have been following the instructions he was given. His face betrayed curiosity more than apprehension. He didn’t seem to have any inkling yet that something was terribly wrong.
Johnson’s face blinked into view on Harkness’ screen. Gwen stood looking over one shoulder. Rupesh moved to the other so he could see what was happening.
“Captain Harkness,” Johnson said in that clipped tone of hers.
“Who are you?” Harkness asked.
“That’s not important,” Johnson said dismissively. “Listen,” she instructed. “I want unrestricted access to the Torchwood archives for twenty-four hours. After that time, you may carry on with your business as usual. During that time, my people and I are not to be interfered with in any way and we will not be prevented from removing anything we see fit.”
Harkness’ expression was stony. “No.” It was a completely unqualified answer. Just ‘no’. “How did you get the phone number you called me on?” he countered. “Who do you work for?”
“None of your concern,” Johnson informed him. “And you haven’t heard my terms.”
“I’m not interested,” Harkness told her.
“Oh, but I think you are,” she retorted, her voice full of certainty. She stepped back from the camera as she said it, allowing them to see the form knelt on the floor behind her. There was a sack over his head and his hands were bound, but the suit was familiar enough.
Rupesh glanced at Harkness, noticing his eyes had narrowed and his expression hardened almost imperceptibly, but it was there.
Johnson nodded to one of her men, who then pulled the bag off Jones’ head. His face was cut and bruised. He’d been interrogated. Rupesh hadn’t been expecting that.
“Your archivist was not forthcoming with the information we required,” she noted. She stepped fully in front of the camera again. “But you’re as capable of granting us access as he is, so you can still save his life.”
“My archivist is one man,” Harkness answered icily. “There are things in that room that can cause harm to millions.”
Gwen was looking at Harkness anxiously and Rupesh suddenly had the notion that he could get her on side as far as convincing Harkness to cooperate if he struck now. He reached over and pressed the key to mute the conversation and Harkness looked at him sharply.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Harkness snapped.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Rupesh replied. “That’s a member of our team. You can’t just let them murder him!”
“Don’t presume to tell me the value of human life…”
“Captain, if we at least pretend to give in now, he’ll live long enough for us to think of a plan. If this person puts a bullet between his eyes now…”
“Rupesh is right, Jack,” Gwen said softly. “We have to let them into the Hub. Maybe we can come up with a trap afterwards, but we can’t just leave him to die.”
Harkness gave Rupesh a hard look, then turned the microphone back on.
“How exactly do you expect this exchange to work?” he asked.
“You let me and a small team into your archive for twenty-four hours. No interference. If we walk out unmolested, my people release your boy. If we fail to emerge unharmed, then they shoot him in the head and dump him someplace… undignified.”
“And when do you plan on showing up?” Harkness asked next.
“Noon,” she told him. “If you accept the deal, the three of you will walk out of the base at Mermaid Quay and hand over the codes to me. If my watch reaches one minute past noon and you have not come out, then the deal is off.”
She disconnected the call.
Harkness didn’t move for a moment then he got up very slowly.
“What do you think?” Gwen asked. “Are they some sort of terrorist group?”
“A terrorist group that hacked into the Home Office files on us?” Harkness said testily. “That’s the only place they could have gotten so much information on us and that phone number.”
“You’re doing the right thing, Captain…” Rupesh began.
“Don’t you dare,” Harkness snapped at him. “There’s nothing right about this. The entire thing stinks and I’m not trading her potentially every life on the planet. Not even for his.”
The words were forceful enough, but Rupesh detected the slightest trace of uncertainty behind them. Like he was almost afraid of what he’d give her for that one life.
Harkness thrust the scrap of paper he’d taken down from the phone call at Gwen.
“Trace this IP address. Find out where they are. Now.”
Gwen sprung into action, going to her computer and doing as instructed with a sort of fierce passion.
Rupesh looked at Harkness. “Is there anything I can do?” he asked.
Harkness shook his head and went to his office. He remained there until Gwen shouted that she had a street address to match the IP address.
They sent the police, which surprised Rupesh a little, though he expected that was insurance so that they could meet their noon deadline if something went wrong. And something did. There was nobody there; just a laptop with a desktop that said ‘Nice try’.
Harkness growled something incoherent and kicked the nearest desk before running a hand through his hair and taking a breath. He looked at Gwen.
“We have to, Jack,” she said quietly. “We have to. We can’t… not after Tosh and Owen. Please.”
He held her gaze for a long moment, then went up to his office. He came back down wearing his coat.
“Let’s go,” he told them wearily, already walking towards the cog door.
In case you missed them:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve
