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aviv_b_artworkTITLE: Chapter 86- Persuasion
AUTHOR: Aviv_b
RATING: Chapter 86- G/PG
CHARACTERS:: Ianto, Jack, Mickey
DISCLAIMER: Not mine; Aunty B's and RTD's
WORDS: ~ 1890
SUMMARY: Jack testifies before the UN Security Council. How will he explain where he's been and what's happened to him?
Title is from: Few persons are capable of being convinced; the majority allow themselves to be persuaded. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ianto's Journey begins here: http://aviv-b.livejournal.com/1972.html
All Chapter are linked.
Jack’s conduct during the Toclafane invasion remained a topic of controversy for several centuries. Some sympathetic scholars coined the name Harkness Exoneration Hearings (HEH) for the UN inquiry while others used the moniker FEH (Fake Exoneration Hearings) believing that Harkness had gotten away with if not murder then gross incompetence in the planning and execution of the defense of Earth.
As predicted, the conclusion one drew from the hearings was a matter of whether you believed the testimony of Director Harkness. Given the embarrassment that several Ambassadors had suffered during the previous days of testimony, most accusations were indirect and filled with innuendos.
UNIT high command stepped up and sent a key witness to testify on Jack’s conduct before and during the invasion.
“I’ve known Director Harkness for over twenty years and while he can be headstrong and undisciplined, I have never had a moments doubt that he always put the protection of planet Earth first. To imply that he somehow collaborated with the enemy is unthinkable,” General Stanley McGregor testified.
Things got a bit dicier when Jack was questioned directly by the Bolivian Ambassador.
“Director Harkness, I hope you won’t find my questions too personal but there seems to be some confusion as to your age. Exactly how old are you?”
Jack took a deep breadth. He and Ianto had realized that while he looked forty-eight (or forty-five by Jack’s reckoning) that it would be impossible for Jack to be younger than Ianto.
“I’m sixty-five,” Jack stated.
The Ambassador smiled. “You’re looking well for such an advanced age. I’d say you didn’t look a day over forty.”
“Good gene pool.” When he saw the Ambassador raise an eyebrow he quickly added, “as well as Botox injections.” Some laughter was heard from the other members of the Security Counsel. “Ok I’m vain, but last time I checked that wasn’t a crime.”
“Yet you seem to have aged quite a bit in the last seven weeks,” the Ambassador added as an image from Jack’s speech ten days prior to the invasion was displayed. A few gasps were heard, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you look like you’ve aged about…”
“Five years,” Jack interrupted. “I’ve aged five years.” The looks of confusion on attendee’s faces both at the UN and in London were almost universal.
“May I assume you have an explanation for this, Director Harkness?” the Ambassador enquired.
Jack explained about how he had traveled with the Doctor for five years chasing down the being that controlled the Toclafane. When asked about this powerful enemy Jack told everyone that the Toclafane called him their Master.
‘Close enough for government work,’ thought Mickey.
The Pakistani Ambassador snorted. “Do you really expect us to believe that you’ve been away for five years?”
‘You don’t know a 200th of the truth,’ Ianto mused.
“Well what’s your explanation for the change in my appearance?” Jack countered a little too aggressively.
The Ambassador shrugged. “Maybe you’re using makeup, in addition to not dying your hair to make us believe your story.”
“Why would I lie? Does it really matter whether I was gone for seven weeks, seven years or seven hundred years?”
‘Oh crap, he’s going to piss off the Security Council if he keeps that up,’ Mickey worried as he signaled that he’d like to be allowed to speak.
After being recognized, Mickey added, “As many of you know, I have also traveled with the Doctor. And time does work differently on the Tardis…his spacecraft. We moved not only across space but through time as well. I have witnessed civilizations far into the future and seen species that will never be seen on planet earth unless they fall through the rifts.”
Several Ambassadors pressed for information about the future. Jack and Mickey explained that they were forbidden to speak of the future unless they had the Doctor’s permission.
“So, you’re first loyalty is to the Doctor then, rather than the people of Earth.”
“They really are one and the same,” Jack explained. “If we reveal anything about the future, we could change events that would alter the course of humanity. Something seemingly harmless could cause the destruction of the planet or the extermination of the human race.”
“If you can safely tell us, does the human race survive for generations to come,” Dr. Ing asked.
Jack hesitated just for a moment. “I don’t think I’d be giving anything away if I tell you that yes, the human race will survive. In fact some humans will leave the planet and explore worlds off in distance galaxies. The human race will flourish for millions of years.”
This seemed to placate many of the UN participants. ‘If you knew what Toclafane are you might not be feeling so relieved,’ Jack thought.
The questioning went on all day. Jack described the chase across the stars for the Master as well as their final confrontation. When pressed as to how the Master was killed, Jack put on his best ‘regretful’ face and explained that it was really the Doctor who fired the critical shot. “And I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you anything more…”
“Due to the space/time continuum,” the Bolivian Ambassador sneered.
They broke for a late lunch and when they reconvened, Dr. Ing asked if General McGregor would mind clarifying a few points for everyone. The General was asked to testify as to whether Jack’s information on the Doctor and the space/time continuum was accurate.
“Completely accurate, as far as I know,” the General replied. “The Doctor has given us the same warnings about the dangers of messing up the timelines when we’ve asked about the future. I have never had a reason to believe that the Doctor has acted in any matter except to protect the planet Earth, even at the expense of other species. And I’d like to add, that Director Harkness has also acted in the best interests of Earth. Instead of an inquiry, you ought to be giving the man a medal.”
Some murmurs were heard. “No, really you should. He’s given up five years of his life for this planet. If he hadn’t killed this Toclafane Master, the casualties would have been at least ten maybe twenty times higher and the rest of our planet would have been enslaved.”
“Makeup…” the General continued in disgust, “how anyone can think such rot is just beyond my understanding.”
Both Mickey and Ianto wondered what had changed UNIT’s position of neutrality. Mickey thought that UNIT had probably realized that if Torchwood was sanctioned, UNIT could be next. Ianto wondered if Jack had some particularly juicy piece of dirt on the General. Whatever it was, Jack and Torchwood couldn’t have had a better witness.
The hearing wound down shortly thereafter. Final statements were read, with Mickey and General McGregor making eloquent statements asserting that Jack Harkness along with the Doctor had saved the Earth from near destruction. The Russian and Indian Ambassadors also spoke on behalf of Jack and Torchwood. A number of other Ambassadors including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and Bolivia reiterated that they believed that leaving planet Earth without informing the UN was a breach of protocol warranting a rebuke.
Only the Bolivian Ambassador dared to assert that Jack was a traitor and that it was obvious that he had aided and gave comfort to the enemy. Of course she didn’t have any proof of any of her accusations, but that didn’t stop her from making unfounded charges.
The hearings adjourned late that evening. The Security Council would render its conclusions on the conduct of Torchwood and Jack Harkness following closed session deliberations which would begin the following morning.
****
Jack pulled off his boots and loosened his tie the moment he entered Ianto’s house. “I don’t think that went too badly,” he remarked.
‘I’d say the assertions by the Security Council, with one notable exception were very restrained. Almost unnaturally restrained.’
Jack chuckled. “Oh I think those Ambassadors realized that they had a bigger stake than my neck in this game.” He walked over to the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of scotch. “OK, if I have some.” Ianto nodded.
‘Yeah, pour me a small one while you’re at it. Are you telling me that you let them know you had dirt on them? How did you do that in less than 72 hours?’
“You got it …and that’s one secret I think I’m going to keep to myself…for everyone’s protection,” Jack added when he saw Ianto start to protest.
‘But what about the Bolivian Ambassador?’
Jack handed Ianto his scotch. “She’s only been in place for six months and I haven’t had time to get to know her…uh…weaknesses. Still, I don’t think she’s in a position to influence opinion; too new, country lacking strategic importance, so I wouldn’t worry too much.”
Jack looked over at Ianto who seemed to be lost in thought.
“Ianto, a Euro for your thoughts.”
‘What? Oh, nothing, just thinking about everything since the invasion.’
“I’ve known you too many years to pretend that I don’t know what that look on your face means. You’re brooding.”
Ianto let out a breath. ‘How do you do it Jack? You’ve spent a thousand years chasing the Master and the world seems at best ungrateful, at worst hostile towards you.’
“Well besides their governments, who are of course covering their proverbial arses as best they can, who else can they blame? It’s not like anything serious is going to happen to me or Torchwood or UNIT.”
‘But what about the International Criminal Court?’
Jack chuckled. “I have it on very good authority that nothing is going to be raised to that level.”
Ianto raised his eyebrows at Jack. “Let’s just say that Dr. Ing and I came to an understanding on that point. And before you ask, no I didn’t threaten him or hold anything over him. He’s smart enough to realize that the quicker all the inquiries finish, the quicker things can get back to normal.”
‘That would be the new 'aliens exist' normal,’ Ianto quipped.
Jack raised his scotch to Ianto. “Here’s to the new normal.”
Ianto sighed.
Chapter 87 is here: http://aviv-b.livejournal.com/51562.html
