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We touched down at RATS without incident. The hangar was packed. Not with Orions; our lost Orions were still missing at Sergei's base wherever that was. I was sure we'd get them back once Carrie was questioned. No, the hangar was packed with people.
Four of the plinths were occupied. The Lunik sat beside our landing pad, looking a little worse for wear. Orions 6b and 2b had beaten us here and were both sitting on adjacent pads. But as yet, their hatches were still closed. Waiting for us to arrive? Waiting for Jack.
Jack stared at the viewscreen, having activated the external cameras as soon as we landed. Outside, a crowd had gathered, but they weren't all RATS' people. There were Surgeons, Interns and Novitiates out there, certainly. Along with Technical, Security and Hospitality staff. Clearly, they'd all been released from house arrest for whatever this was. I also saw Medic Jones in the crowd. He looked kitted out for an emergency.
I wondered what the alarm had sounded like on our returns in Dispatch. I wondered who was with Amanda right now because down in the hangar was what I thought might be all of Anderson's overseers and his entire SWAT-like goon army.
But they weren't alone. Cameras flashed, reporters held out big fuzzy microphones, and was that the Prime Minister standing beside Anderson in front of them all? It looked like he'd been holding a press conference, in the freaking working hangar of RATS, of all places.
"This can't be good," I muttered.
"What the bloody fucking hell were they thinking? This is a working facility!"
"Yeah, and I bet we weren't invited to the party."
"Well," Jack said. "We're here now and the others are waiting for us to make the first move."
"How do you want to play this, Jack?"
He glanced at me, then reached across and gripped my hand. "Open the hatch and walk out?" he said and smirked.
I shook my head and glanced at Charles. "In or out, SAS?"
"Oh, I wouldn't miss this for the world," Charles replied. "Ma'am," he added and smiled.
"You're gonna cause a stir," I told him. "You're out of time."
Jack laughed without humour. "And so are you, Mouse. How the hell do you think Anderson is going to explain that?"
"Good point," I agreed. "Let's go add to his worries." The guy deserved the aggravation.
Jack shut the Orion down, while Charles slapped Sergei on the cheek, waking him up. The Russian was groggy, but quickly coming around. All the more the merrier, I thought, evilly.
The hatch was spun open, the steps came down. Jack looked at me one last time and then walked out, broad shoulders back, head held high. I followed behind him, and Charles and Sergei made up our rear.
Silence descended over the hangar. A lone camera bulb flashed. Charles threw Sergei onto the floor in front of the PM as my alternate family climbed out of the various Orions around us.
"Dr Evans?" Anderson spluttered. "What's the meaning of this?"
"This is the Royal Academy of Time Surgeons at work, Director," Jack said levelly.
"I didn't authorise this!" Anderson hissed. A second camera bulb flashed, catching the red shade of Anderson's cheeks, the look of worry in his eyes.
"An opportunity arose," Jack told him, "to save Time and RATS. As Deputy Chief Surgeon, I took the initiative."
"That title no longer exists!"
"I am a Surgeon of Time, Director. It's my job to protect Time, no matter what you call me."
"Director?" the Prime Minister said. "Is this how you control your staff?"
"This...I... Prime Minister, I'm sure there's a very reasonable explanation, once we give Dr Evans a chance to debrief us. In private."
"I think I've seen quite enough," the PM said. "You clearly have zero control over this facility. How many of those civilians are from this time? Any of them, other than Dr Evans?"
"I am," Pratt said, raising her hand to get everyone's attention, and then having Jessica frantically haul her arm back down to her side. "Well, I am, and we saved the day, Jess. I want my medal!"
"Shut up!" Jessica hissed. "Jack has a plan."
