Title: Masters of Fate
Author: Missa
Fandom: Torchwood
Category: AU
Pairing: Jack/Ianto eventually
Disclaimer: Not mine. BBC and RTD get to make that claim.
Additional Disclaimer: I'm not British, though I've done my best.
Warnings/Spoilers: All of Season 1 Torchwood, end of Season 2 Dr Who. OC Character death. Un-beta'd.
Summary:
"We are still masters of our fate. We are still captains of our souls." Winston Churchill.
Torchwood Cardiff starts to get strange readings from the rift that correspond with a new project being undertaken from London. Knowing only that the rift is becoming unstable, Jack tries to convince Yvonne to stop the project before she rips the world apart. Team Cardiff not only has to deal with the unstable rift and the consequences, but tragedy amongst themselves and finding the fate of the world in their hands.
Author's Note: this fic was originally published on my fiction live journal (mfic(dot)livejournal(dot)com) in the summer of 2007.
Prologue:
Ianto straightened his tie nervously before knocking on the doorframe of the Director's open door. He'd been waved by the assistant's desk, the young woman barely looking up, earning a frown from Ianto. "You wanted to see me, Director?" He'd only met the Director twice before, when he'd been hired, and when she'd come down to the Archives to personally check on some artifact.
"Mr Jones. Yes, please come in, have a seat." Yvonne Hartman sat behind her large oak desk, red hair set off by the severe black suit jacket. An open file folder sat in front of her, and Ianto caught a glimpse of his name as he stood in front of her desk.
Ianto took a seat in one of the chairs facing the Director's desk, hands folded neatly in his lap. His navy-blue pinstripe suit was immaculate, shoes perfectly shined.
"You've been with us for five years now, I believe," Yvonne began, glancing down at the folder. "Your supervisors speak highly of your work, especially some of the minor changes to the database that you've implemented that have made the search algorithms more efficient. You have been recommended for a promotion to Assistant Head of Archives next year, when Joseph Turner retires."
Ianto nodded. "Thank you." He knew about that recommendation, and had been ready to accept it, one of the youngest individuals to do so.
"So then, can I ask why you have put in a request to transfer to Cardiff?" She sat back in her seat, toying with a pen.
"My mother." Ianto cleared his throat quietly. "She's not well. I'd like to be closer." He had heard through the grapevine that Captain Harkness was looking for another team-member for the Cardiff area and he'd leapt at the chance. And after nearly ten years, he was tired of London, and there was little to tie him to the city, not since Russ - and with his mother's cancer diagnosis, he at least had a reason to request a transfer to Cardiff.
"Indeed. I'm sorry to hear that. Have you no other family?" The Director was tapping her pen thoughtfully against her chin.
"My sister is studying in America, and my brother is stationed abroad at present. Army," he said, anticipating her next question. His sister was also engaged and planning on settling in the US after earning her doctorate, and his brother was not likely to see home duty any time soon.
"Hm. Well," she said. "There is a position available. It won't quite be a lateral move, you understand," Yvonne said. "You'll be serving as Chief Archivist, which is a step up from your Assistant (II) Position here, but there will be other tasks involved as well, largely, serving as Harkness' Personal Assistant, which does not come with its own pay-grade." She smiled. "I will also require periodic reports as to the status of the Cardiff base."
Ianto nodded. The pay grade wasn't important. He wouldn't need much, anyway. He intended on moving in with his mother in Cardiff. "I understand, ma'am." The Director's opinion of Captain Harkness was well known, though Ianto only knew the man by reputation. He knew what she was asking of him – not to spy, not directly, but to supplement the Captain's own status reports with his own.
"Alright then." Yvonne stood and extended her hand to Ianto. "Congratulations on your promotion, Mr Jones. When can I tell them to expect you in Cardiff?"
