Series 9 Rumours & Speculation

[Quill]

In 1995, UK was deeply invested in Nigeria after oil interests. Local activists against a UK/Dutch oil deal there were arrested and executed. There were allegations that they were falsely accused and the local government was just trying to smooth the way for the oil deal. See more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates...539561.stm

Let's suppose that Maya was an a doctor involved with some NGO working there at the time. And that John/Lucas was another idealistic Brit. Being young and naive, he may got involved in the whole political mess, maybe against British interests and the results were catastrophic. People died and he felt responsible. The only way to not bring Maya down with him would be to disappear and end this chapter of his life. And then, the perfect way to expiate for what he perceives as his crime presents itself as a recruitment into MI-5. This is why he's so dogged loyal to the service until now.

China has invested a lot in Africa recently, looking for energy sources for its exploding growing economy. If the Chinese have done their research better than MI-5, they might be after Lucas because of his past activities. He might still have valuable contacts in Africa and the Chinese may think that he would be easy to turn.

I know, I know, there are holes in this theory the size of the Chunnel: the MI-5 vetting process must be really terrible, Maya must be more than fabulous, Harry is an idiot, Lucas is a fantastic idiot... Kudos writers are really driving me bonkers!