Disclaimer: I still don't own anything but my original characters and the plot, annoyingly. :)
Fourth in the series, follows 'Who What Why', 'Trial Through Fire' and 'New Recruit'
A/N The card game the team are playing at the beginning is known as 'Hi Jack'
Brief Explanation – Similar to snap. All cards dealt out evenly between all players. Cards are then placed into the centre of the group one at a time in a clockwise direction around the players. When specific cards are placed down everyone must respond accordingly (see below) the last person to respond correctly picks up all the cards. The aim is to get rid of all your cards as quickly as possible.
Responses
King, salute – Queen, say 'Good evening madam' – Jack say 'hi Jack' – Ace, slap hand on pile as in snap.
All other cards have no action.
Hi Jack
"Pick 'em up Jack." teased Gwen as Jack picked up a pile of cards form the middle of the group of four.
"I'm rubbish at this game. Why can't we play poker or something I'm good at?" he complained placing a card down in the middle followed by Luciana then Ianto and finally Gwen.
The routine continued until suddenly, "Hi Jack!" yelled three of the four players.
"I missed it again!" groaned the captain as he got round to shouting the required response a second too late. "I'm so gonna loose." The only reply he got was a general laugh from his team before a harsh alarm began to resound around the hub. Jack jumped to his feet, thankful to get away from the game of cards he was obviously loosing. "Saved by the bell I think you could say. Got a rift alert out in Splott. Come on guys."
Discarding their cards the team headed down to the SUV and piled in, Jack driving of course, with Ianto in the passenger seat and the two girls in the back. Fifteen minutes later the team were climbing out of the SUV into a deserted builder's yard.
"I can't see anything alien." Stated Gwen after a quick look around the area.
"Split up, Gwen and Ianto check those garages, me and Luci will check the main building and the yard. Be careful."
"Yes Jack, we know."
Gwen and Ianto covered each other as they investigated each garage in turn.
"Any idea what we're looking for?" asked Ianto as Gwen reappeared from yet another empty garage surrounding the main yard.
Gwen shrugged, "Big spike, that's all I know…" she moved towards the next garage but stopped short as she heard the nearby screeching of tyres, probably boy racers taking advantage of the quiet roads she decided.
Jack watched as Luciana stepped confidently into the main warehouse. He followed slowly once he was certain that there wasn't anyone or anything following them. He swept across to the left of the large room, checking all the shadows for anything that could have fallen through the rift.
"Jack?" Luciana called, "I think I found it."
Jack moved quickly across the room and crouched down beside the medic, looking into the shadows to the side of a large cabinet containing all manner of building equipment to see an unexpected sight. A small creature was huddled as far into the corner as it could manage, trying to be as small as possible. He smiled as he offered his hand to the creature.
"What is it?" asked Luciana. It looked somewhat like a kitten; in fact she had initially mistaken it for one if it were not for the strange shade of ginger of its coat. It was a deep copper red, more red then copper, a completely unnatural colour. Upon closer inspection she noticed the odd proportions of its body followed by the fact that's tail was actually many separate tails.
"It's a kitten, well, technically not but that's the closest comparison. You remember those Pokémon games all the kids went mad over a few years back? It's like a cross between Nine-tails and Persian…" he glanced at Luciana, "I had a lot of time on my hands." He said simply. "Anyway, not a huge threat to the planet right now but give it a few weeks and it'll be twice that size, six months and it's about the size of a Labrador, by a year it's a Great Dane." He reached cautiously towards the creature succeeding in grabbing it by the scruff and pulling it out of the corner. He cradled it firmly by gently in his arms allowing Luciana to get a better look.
"Aww. That's so sweet! What are we going to do with it now?" she asked.
"Well we can't send it home, so I guess we're keeping it. Looks like we've just got ourselves a new pet, hopefully Myfanwy won't eat it." Jack looked up as he heard the screech of tyres close by. He passed the kitten to Luciana and went to investigate. As he reached out to open the door it flew open, almost hitting him in the face. Jack found himself confronted by two armed men aiming automatic weapons at him.
"Hi Jack. Long time no see."