Chapter Text
Christofer enters the small room with the 2-way window, carrying a travel mug of coffee with a lid. "Osgood is still on scene at the University with the cleanup crew. Area was closed off. Retcon deployed after witness interviews." He explains, "a few of my people stayed back as security and crowd control." Christofer offers the mug to her, "you've been on the go since early this morning."
"And probably a few hours more tonight." Kate takes the coffee mug from him, glad it's him and no one else. She gives an absent nod toward the window, motioning to the Vellatrax in the hospital bed, "I've come to the conclusion that they were probably a part of that ship crash this morning." Kate brings the mug to her lips, taking a slow sip. "I think something as simple as a rogue lightning bolt. There were…electric burns on the ship hull." She pauses, slowly exhaling, "they must have been terrified."
"Seemed that way." Christofer nods absently, "we remained calm as we approached. There was significant - what we believe - is blood loss. I told my guys to lower weapons and the uh…the Vellatrax understood that we weren't going to hurt them." He explains quietly, "but this isn't about them right now, Kate. They're safe and secure." Christofer turns his head to look at her profile, "this is about you. You've been…distracted most of the day. Shirley told me about your two."
Kate didn't think he would notice. It's why she sent his team as support for Osgood's scientists. Whatever kept him out of the building.
"Your daughter was reported to be at home. So…at least there's that." Christofer turns his head forward again, absently looking at the Vellatrax in the hospital bed. "I looked into your son's whereabouts. His feed cut as he entered the building. At that time, four people entered the building within the same six seconds. One woman, three men. One of those men was recently hired in Document Procurement, or something. Paper pusher."
This catches her attention. Kate turns her head to look at him, "Gordy."
"I think so. He's using a false name though and it would probably be in your best interest not to draw attention that he's of relation to you. I don't know if he'd like that." Christofer explains, "though, really, it's your call."
"They think I'm dead, Chris." Kate explains quietly, "I went to…to great lengths for them to forget me. Retcon, memory re-training, essence of the Silence for whenever my photograph-"
"Silence essence?" Christofer furrows his brow in slight confusion, "what's that one?"
"The kids remember me when they're looking at a photograph of me, but forget my appearance when they look away." Kate explains quietly, "their sensors were coated in it. It was…experimental tech at the time. If they forgot me forever, that was the risk…and it'd be fine."
"How-how are you okay with that?" Christofer asks softly, "don't you miss them?"
"More than anything," Kate's voice is only slightly above a whisper, "but I also love them more than life itself and…I know how dangerous this job is. Especially my job. I know how easily they can be used to get to me. So…if they don't know me or…or think I'm gone, they won't look for me." She explains, "they won't get close. They won't be watched-"
"Gordon is already in the building. He's getting close without knowing." Christofer shakes his head a little, "I know you say you've done all of that to protect them and…that's commendable, but is it really protecting them or is it protecting you?"
"Protecting me from what?" Kate shakes her head absently, not quite understanding the question or the thought process.
"From needing to explain yourself each time you see them. From keeping them from being interested in this place…in you…and your life. Maybe even in me." Christofer draws his lower lip into his mouth, moistening it gently. "You worry about needing to decide between the human race and the lives of your children…because you don't think you'd be able to choose the human race over your children." He continues, "and if they think you're already dead, it stops them from trying to see you again. It stops that impossible choice from becoming concrete."
He was right. He knows her too well. Kate looks away from him again, biding herself some time by bringing her mug to her lips, taking a slow sip. "It's been years."
"Years that you've watched them from afar. Years that you've had us protect them." Christofer slowly nods, "I know."
"I don't think they'd forgive me anyway." Kate swallows, an absent, nervous tremble in her hands, only slight, "and it would be selfish of me to put them at that risk just to…"
"Just to tell them that you love them?" Christofer exhales slowly, "just to embrace them again?" When she doesn't answer, he continues after a few moments, "I don't think it's selfish. I think it's human." Christofer looks in her direction again, "and I think you should consider your decision in making them believe that you're gone already…because there's no telling how long we have on this Earth." Another pause, "we do what we do to protect the human race, sure, but…we really do it for the people we love." Christofer's eyes drift to her lips, then back up to her eye. "Would you agree?"
Kate gives a slight nod, reaching a hand out to place on his muscular forearm. She doesn't need to vocalize her agreement with him, simply just moving ever so slightly closer to him, her shoulder brushing against his bicep. It's enough for them right now.
Gordy scrolls through the photographs of the crashed spacecraft, tilting his head to the side as he raises his mug of tea to his lips, taking a slow sip. His mobile begins to vibrate, showing the telltale identification picture of his sister, flipping him the bird. Gordy quickly answers, glad that it's a video call. "Are you okay? I'm looking at these pictures from Miss Smith on the BBF servers. Why didn't you call me?" His brow is furrowed.
"Because I'm fine." Frankie shakes her head, "if I did call you, what would you do?" She raises an eyebrow, as if testing him, "besides, you were having your first day. That's way more important than my thing."
"In no way is it more important than your thing," Gordy sighs softly, "did you really come face-to-face with an off-worlder?"
"What?" Frankie furrows her brow, "a what?"
"You know…someone who isn't from this planet?" Gordy raises his brow with excited optimism.
"Gordy, I have no idea what you're talking about. I left just before lunch because I had a migraine." Frankie sighs, "did something happen?"
There's something in her voice that causes his brow to furrow, "Are you okay?" Gordy can't quite pinpoint it. He starts to look over her face, "do you need anything? I can run it over."
"No, no. It's fine. I ordered a takeaway and some paracetamol." Frankie lifts a hand to stroke through her long, straight light-brunette hair.
"Probably looking at a computer screen a bit too much." Gordy offers, "did you miss any classes?"
"No, but I don't really care if I did, to be completely honest with you." Frankie yawns, "I was up late last night studying so I knew I was going to be struggling a little this morning. I just didn't expect a bloody migraine…and you're telling me I missed ET visiting campus?"
"A non-human, yes." Gordon corrects quietly, "looks like they were bleeding and injured. Possibly part of a crashed ship that was found. You should see the photographs that were uploaded by-"
"Gordy," Frankie stops him from his rambling about his hobby. About the alien sightings or whatever is going on with the websites he frequents or podcasts he listens to, she's heard so much about it already. "You didn't tell me about your first day. Is the place as ugly inside as it is outside? I don't remember." Frankie pauses, "though, I think it was brand new when we went, so they've probably changed it a bit since then."
"No idea, but it's fine. It's just an office space like any other." Gordon shrugs, "my supervisor is pretty nice, but I'm still in the swing of training and, lucky for me, they're taking their time with it. Understandably, I reckon. One wouldn't want to mix anything up with that. Like mixing documents from the 1980s in with the files from the 70s, imagine the nightmare that would cause."
"I'm sure it would certainly be a pain." Frankie lays back on her sofa, "but otherwise U.N.I.T was okay?"
"A perfectly normal office. I'm even allowed to decorate my cubicle." Gordy nods, "though it's too bad I can't take any in of Mum and Grandad yet. I just don't want the special treatment."
Frankie had a feeling he would provide them with fake information, "Did the fake name thing work?"
"Like a dream. They didn't question too much, actually. I guess my good looks and charm prevailed." Gordon explains, nodding a little, "I do need to invest in some open earbuds, whatever they are."
"I have a few pairs that I use for school. I'll send you some links. I prefer to know what's going on around me instead of any sort of noise canceling." Frankie explains, "and they do exactly what you want them to do."
"I'd appreciate that, tech-o." Gordon smiles a little to himself, looking at his sister's face through the video link on the mobile. His voice drops, softening, "you know, when I saw everything that Miss Smith was posting to the server of your Uni…all I wanted to do was race there…make sure you were okay. I'm glad you were at home, though. I'm glad you were safe."
"And what would you have done?" An amused half-smile forms in the corner of Frankie's mouth.
"Whatever I could." Gordy knows she's right, knows that rash decisions would lead to injury.
Frankie nods slowly, "I appreciate the sentiment." She licks her lips, "but contrary to popular belief, I'm made of sterner stuff than you give me credit for and I wouldn't be the first Lethbridge-Stewart to sort out a few non-human foes." There's a slight chortle in Frankie's words, "and, who knows, they may fancy me so much that they ask me to be their new leader."
"I have no doubt that you could pull it off." Gordon nods slowly, doing his best not to let on how anxious the whole ordeal made him and how worried he was for her. "Did you hear the ship crash? It looks like it wasn't terribly far from your flat."
"No, there was a storm last night. Bad thunder and lightning. So, if there was anything, I was either studying while wearing earbuds or sound asleep." Frankie shakes her head absently, getting up from the sofa and walking through her flat, moving towards the kitchen.
Gordon watches the scenery behind his sister as she moves around, furrowing his brow when he spots something odd, "hold on, what was that?"
"What was what?" Frankie runs her hand through her hair again, sighing a little.
"Was that a skeleton?" Gordy furrows his brow with confusion, "in a maid's fancy dress?"
Frankie pauses in her movements, a slight half-smile forming in the corner of her mouth, "Oh!" She turns around, going to another area and turning on the rear-facing camera, letting him see the full object. "That's Bonehilda."
"Bonehilda?" Gordon starts to laugh quietly to himself, "where on Earth did you get something like that?"
"I'm not telling you where I acquire my wares, Gordon." Frankie replies in jest, "but wait, there's more. I've programmed her to a…smart home system. So she can control my lights, stereo, the blinds in the windows. She can take phone calls and messages…oh, and she can also vacuum, as she's connected to my robot vacuum." She turns the camera to face herself again, "she can tilt her head while speaking, but I didn't want to do it with her arms and legs because it would have freaked me out."
"I was unaware that you were into robotics." Gordy finds this entire thing amusing.
"I dabble." Frankie responds with a shake of her head, "I just wanted to see if I could do it. Built my own intelligence system and gave her a personality. She can carry a conversation if you want her to." She gives a shrug of insignificance. "I'll introduce you when you're over next."
"I'll let you know when I'm able. I haven't been given my regular schedule yet." Gordy explains, then exhales, "I'm really glad you're okay, Frank."
"Likewise. Never would have thought I'd be happy about a headache." Frankie bids her brother farewell, turning around and tossing her mobile onto the sofa. "I'm just glad he didn't see you." She turns to look at the smaller robotic animal on her small kitchen table, "at least not yet."
The animal twitches, tilting its head to the side as if understanding her fully.