This is my new Torchwood fic. I don't own Torchwood; that belongs to Davis and the BBC… I do own all OC characters. Please read and review

Chapter One: Discoveries

"Don't do it" an American male voice said behind me.

"Why not?" I asked as I looked over the edge and into the water.

"Because I know what you are going through and where you are coming from." He said; this got my attention as I turned to face him.

"And how would you know that?" I asked as I got a better look at his face, he was very handsome there was no denying that, he was wearing an old world war two coat, a period of time I had visited briefly and he pointed to my wrist-strap that was showing and held up his arm.

"Because I am properly the only person who could understand what you are going through. The name is Captain Jack Harkness and who may I ask is the pretty lady that I am saving?" He asked as he flashed a charming smile at me and held out his hand, I looked at it thinking if I should take hold of it or just jump into the murky waters of Cardiff bay if only for a few moments of peace.

"My name is Ilandere Starr." I said as I reached out and took his hand, he pulled me closer to him I assumed just to make sure that I didn't change my mind.

"Nice to meet you Ilandere, come on let's get you something warm to drink and we can talk what do you think?" He said as he looked down at me and I smiled as he led me away from the water and to a small tourist information place.

I was not an ordinary human, well to the naked eye I was but I was a person out of my time... but not only that, I was somewhat special shall we say. My wrist-strap was purple and I had also purple eyes, another thing that was strange. People assumed that they were color contacts and I did nothing to encourage this idea. I am small for my age, at twenty (well that is how I looked anyway, my real age I am not telling since no one would believe me) I have long black hair that went down to my waist and in the front I had two natural purple streaks these were not highlights but my real hair color; again people thought they were highlights and again it was another rumor that I did not discourage. I am not overweight; in fact the apartment block I live in has a gym so I was really toned and my figure... well let's just say I wasn't one of the curvy people I guess I would be a person who turned heads since I looked different but attractive... I don't wear make up, currently I am wearing black jeans, a red top and a grey cardigan jacket as I followed this Captain Jack to the tourist information place. We walked in, him being a gentleman held the door open for me and then I looked around. He smiled at me and then winked as he reached over and pushed a button... a door opened in the wall... cool! He walked up to me and held out his elbow.

"Shall we Ilandere?" He asked and I smiled as I took his arm and he led me down a dark corridor and then a lift. When we came out of the lift he pressed a button and I could hear a loud siren as a cog shaped door opened to revel an open office, the water from the bay waterfall was flowing down to the floor and into a small moot.

"They did a good job restoring the bay after the explosion." I mentioned as I turned to see Jack's face dropped and sadness in his eyes; I must have said something wrong. I read about it in the news; it was about a year and a half ago and I never thought that something like that would happen in Cardiff.

"Jack we have rift activity." A female voice said as he looked up and ran to her. She had black hair and was typing something onto a computer as Jack looked at the screen.

"You wanna help out?" Jack said as I looked at him puzzled. He came over to me and handed me something in my hand; I opened it and looked down and saw a small ear piece in my hand; I shrugged, all I had planned was to kill myself only to come back to life again, part of me being special.

"Sure why not." I said as I put the ear piece in my ear and smiled at Jack.

"Gwen you send the co-ords to the SUV and keep us up to date while we take care of this." He said to the other girl who eyed me wearily but nodded, Jack took hold of my hand and smiled. "Sorry Ilandere, we have to postpone that drink for a while." He said as he pulled me down a poorly lit corridor, I looked up and saw that there were a few light-bulbs that were out and then we were walking up some stairs. Jack paused as he bent down slightly and then there was a beep as the door opened. Jack opened in a crack and then opened it fully and led me to a black SUV in the car park. He opened the passenger door and helped me in as he got into the driving seat and pressed a button on a small remote as the car came to life. A small computer pulled out in front of me as I looked at it and smiled as it beeped. Jack put his finger on it as more information and graphs sprang to life and the sat navigation system kicked in, he looked at the co-ords and smiled as he began to pull out of the parking space and he drove onto the streets of Cardiff.

I looked around the SUV, there were bars behind the back seat into the boot and I could see other computers at the side of the seats in the back, both were showing the same graphs as the one in front of me.

"So Ilandere tell me, why did you want to jump?" He asked and I turned to look at him.

"All I wanted was just a few moments of peace." I said as I looked out of the window.

"Are you a Time Agent?" He asked and I looked at him as if to say 'as if'.

"They wanted me because of who I am, but no, I would not join that filth if I could help it, in fact the agency no longer exists thanks to me." I said and he looked at me as a grin passed on his face.

"That is a story you have to tell me sometime." He said as I nodded as I looked back out of the window as the streets of Cardiff flew past us.

"Jack, you are about five hundred meters away from the rift activity, keep in contact, there should be some stun guns in the boot." The girl from the place voice rung through the SUV… Gwen I think Jack said her name was.

"Sure thing Gwen we can deal with this." He said as he pressed a button on the steering wheel and then looked at me and smiled, I blushed this time, there was no denying that he was charming. "And no, before you get worried, Gwen did not hear our conversation; unless I press the button it is basically a one-way communication, same with our headsets." He explained as he pulled into an alleyway and the sat navigation beeped again, meaning we had reached our destination. I didn't really need the headset, but I was not really going to say that to this new person I had met… but somehow he knew about the Time Agency, and he had a wrist-strap like mine meaning he must also be someone from my time. Jack went behind the SUV and opened the boot as I got out of the car and went to him. I looked as he pressed another button on the remote on his key-ring as the bottom opened to reveal weapons, many of which were not from this planet nor time period. He checked two weapons which I knew must be the stun guns Gwen was referring to and handed me one.

"Know how to shoot?" He asked as I grinned this time, he cheeks turned red… wait a second did he just blush at me!?

"I have other means of protecting myself if needed." I said as I checked over the weapon and put it in the back of my jeans down the waist belt and nodded at Jack who then closed the boot and I followed him.

"Okay Gwen, tell me what we are after." Jack said into the headset.

"I think it is just a weevil but the readings are not consistent to what we normally see for a weevil, hope you packed spray in case." She said as Jack reached into his pocket and handed me a can which I assumed must have been this spray.

"Rift readings for a weevil, you are right that is strange, keep lines open Gwen; we will tell you once we have the creature." He said as I looked around where we were.

It was an abandoned warehouse area, one of which was going to be knocked down in a few months if the signs around were anything to go by… modern apartments as I let out a sigh, things were changing and this kinda hurt me. I blinked as I saw something run and then hide again in the shadows as I reached out and touched Jack.

"It went over there." I said as he looked at me and nodded. He allowed me to take the lead as I went forward and then looked over the corner. I saw a creature; it must be what they called a weevil feasting on some kind of dead animal. Jack peered out and saw the same as me.

"Gwen we found it; it looks like a weevil but if you say rift activity maybe it isn't connected?" He said into the headset and I heard Gwen type something on the computer.

"The activity is getting weaker, maybe something has fallen through the rift near it?" She asked and Jack shrugged as he went into the open and whistled.

"Hey ugly, so tell me what are you doing around here?" He asked the creature as it looked up from it's food and then at Jack and huffed as it went back to eating, it was a dog it had found as I stood out of the shadows and next to Jack, this drew it's attention as I got a look at it and smiled, I reached out and touched it's mind as it looked at me and growled.

"Oh sorry, guess you don't like that huh?" I asked it as Jack looked at me. I walked closer to it; it had a simple mind which meant I could take control of it in case I needed to. It growled more as I got closer and I read its thoughts. "Now, now that is not such a nice thing to say is it?" I asked it stood on the spot. "So we can do this the hard way or the easy way, but you are not the reason behind this rift activity are you?" I asked it and it growled again, but it was frozen to the spot; my hand was extended a bit as I held it and Jack looked at me.

"Are you crazy?" He asked me.

"So I have been told." I said as I walked up and touched the creature; it was still growling but under my control it would not do anything. Jack came up to my side and looked at me.

"You can do more than you are telling me." He said; that was not a question, it was a statement.

"Spray the damn creature before I lose my control over it please." I said as I began to sweat; I hadn't been using my powers for a long time and it was beginning to take its toll… I had found the information we needed anyway as to what was causing the rift activity as Jack sprayed the creature and I released my hold as it fled down the sewers.

I fell to my knees and began to pant as Jack bent down and put his hand on my shoulder.

"Where is it?" He asked as I wiped the sweat from my brow and then looked at him.

"You are not scared of me?" I asked him, this was a reason I didn't use my powers, even though they were part of me, in my blood people called me a freak and ran away from me.

"No, of course I am not and I hope that in time you will open up to me, but now we need to get what is causing the rift activity, so where is it?" He asked as I closed my eyes and let the images from the creature fill my mind, flashes, one killing the dog and then another as several items fell around it as it fled. When it came back it took the dog outside and that was where we found it. I opened my eyes and pointed to the warehouse next to us as Jack helped me stand up. Shaking on my legs I leaned on Jack's shoulder as I closed my eyes and relaxed, the sent of Jack's aftershave filled my nostrils, it was a fresh sent and not too overpowering and it reminded me of the same kind of thing my brother wore… I missed my family but they were no longer there. I felt him moving as I opened my eyes and took hold of his arm as we went into the warehouse and looked around. I saw four metal devices on the floor, but they were not complete, they were pieces of something; something that was big. Jack sat me down on a box that was in the warehouse and went over to them; I held my hand out as I made the one closer to me levitate and come towards me as I examined it.

"These are nothing but parts." I said as Jack looked at me and nodded.

"Welcome to the dumping ground of the universe." He said as he picked up the other three parts and put them in his pocket. "So, you are from the same time period as me and have telekinetic and mind controlling abilities, no wonder the Time Agency wanted you." He said as he walked over towards me and helped me to stand up. "You are half human but also half something else right?" He asked and I nodded, there was no need to deny it. "So you going to tell me what else you can do?" He asked as we walked back to the SUV.

"All in good time Captain…. Can't a girl have some secrets?" I asked him as he laughed.

"Jack, come in, is everything okay?" Gwen asked on the communicator… opps forgot about her.

"All taken care of Gwen, we are heading back to the hub, why not take the evening off and go spend time with Rhys and your child." He said as to which I could assume Gwen smiled.

"Aye, aye Captain, I will await for your arrival." She said as we got into the SUV and Jack drove us back to the place he called the hub.

When we got back we went in the same way we got to the car and Jack pointed to the sofa in a kinda station type area and I sat down as he put the parts on the table; Gwen joined me and sat down on another chair.

"Ilandere you want coffee?" Jack asked.

"Water is fine thanks." I said as he looked at me and nodded.

"Hi, my name is Gwen Cooper; I guess you will be sticking around then?" Gwen said as she held her hand out and I took it and shook it.

"My name is Ilandere Starr, yeah I guess so, depends on extenuating circumstances." I said as Gwen looked at me puzzled. "Yeah umm… don't worry about it." I said as I tried to smile as she did with me and Jack brought Gwen a cup of coffee and me a bottle of water. He sat down next to me on the sofa and put his cup down on the table.

"So you think she should stay too then Gwen?" Jack asked her and she nodded.

"At least she isn't freaking out like I did when I walked in." Gwen said and Jack laughed.

"You didn't freak, you were just somewhat above your head in deep water." He said and I looked at the pair confused.

"So this is what you found?" Gwen said and Jack nodded. "There seems to be more and more pieces coming through, do you think that they belong together?" She asked and Jack shrugged. "Well Captain it looks like you don't have the answers. Well I am heading home, call me if anything happens." She said as she went over and squeezed Jack's arm and then smiled at me. She picked up her jacket and then the siren went again as she left the hub.

I opened my bottle of water and began to drink as I looked at Jack who smiled at me.

"So, why were you going to jump this morning?" He asked and I let out a sigh.

"As I said, I just wanted peace albeit for a few moments." I said as I pulled my knees up and hugged them.

"Sure, I can see the logic, jumping into the bay's grubby waters and then drowning to get a few moments peace… makes sense." He said as he looked at me.

"You wouldn't understand what I have been through and what has happened to me." I said as I stood up and walked away, only for my arm to be grabbed by Jack's.

"Try me." He said as I turned and looked at him, tears streaming down my eyes. I looked at him and hung my head, could I really trust this person with everything?

"No, it is too soon." I said as I shook my arm free and began to type something in my wrist-strap.

"Please come back tomorrow." Jack said as I vanished. I teleported myself to my apartment as I went up and de-activated my alarm system I went into my bedroom and collapsed on my bed, finally allowing the tears that I kept bottled up to flow freely.

My father grabbed my hand as the shooting took place around us and looked at me.

"Ilandere you need to get out of here, they can not get hold of you. Go back to the twenty-first century and find Torchwood, there someone will take care of you I promise, keep a low profile and remember that we love you dearly!" I took hold of his hand as the tears fell down as he put on the necklace he always wore around my neck and took several things out of his pocket and put them and the necklace in mine just as our house door burst open. The machines came in as I hid under the table and looked into the eyes of my father for one last time as he typed in something on my wrist-strap and I was gone, just as I was fading, I heard his screams and knew that he was dead.

I awoke in a sweat as my breathing began to get more rapid. The nightmare, the flashback, whatever you wanted to call it haunted my dreams ever since that day happened. I looked at the clock, it was morning and I remembered the words from Jack. Did I dare go back? I mean I was where my father had told me to be and maybe Jack was the person who could take care of me? I reached up and touched the pendent that never left my neck. It was a locket, but inside it was a hologram of my family and also on the outside a light blue stone, it was a family heirloom my father said, the stone had some importance but it was something I never thought about. I went into my bathroom and began to run the water so it would be hot for me to have a shower. Once the room was steaming I got undressed and went under the shower and allowed my thoughts to wander about what had happened yesterday.

After I had finished my shower I went back into my room and picked a pair of stone blue jeans and a short cut black top. Picking up my long black coat I threw it on and grabbed my keys, phone and wallet I threw them in the front pocket of my bag. After activating the security system I went out of my apartment and down the stairs to the ground floor.

"Hey Ilandere wait up!" I heard a voice from behind me; it was my neighbor who had a crush on me and he didn't make it a secret.

"Good morning Jesse, how are you?" I asked him as I held the door open and he came to my side, it looked like he was going to work too.

"You know same old same old. How would you like to have dinner with me this evening?" He asked as I felt a presence next to me.

"She can't, she is having dinner with me." The American accent, so unmistakable, it was Jack. I looked up as he handed me a cup of coffee and I smiled my thanks as he gave me a few packets of sugar.

"Ah, I see, well maybe some other time Ilandere, well have to go to work before I am late." Jesse said as he walked off, turning and looking at Jack who glared back at him. I put the sugar in my coffee and stirred it as I then looked at Jack.

"Stalking in any century is a crime you know." I said to him as I took a sip of my coffee.

"Yeah but when you are as sexy as me you can get away with anything." He said as he grinned and I just laughed lightly.

"Worried that I wasn't going to come back Captain?" I asked him as he led me to the SUV.

"You could say something like that. Come on, I would like to take you somewhere." He said as he held open the passenger door for me and I climbed in. Doing my seat belt up I continued to drink the rest of my coffee as Jack started the car and began to drive.

"Wow Jack this is amazing!" I said as we stood on top of the roof of the Millennium Center and I looked around at the city below us. I walked up to the edge and I could see people walking around and going to work, ignoring us standing here as Jack appeared at my side. The wind blew through my hair sending it back as I closed my eyes and smiled. I have only been in this time period for about two years, but it has been long enough for me to get myself settled down, regardless of the backwards of the technology and stuff but I had my wrist-strap to help with upgrades and it worked perfectly. So far I have only upgraded personal items, my computer at home and notebook which I always carried with me and also my home security system.

"So if you are not a Time Agent, how did you get hold of one?" He said as I opened my eyes and held onto my wrist-strap.

"My brother was a Time Agent and when he quit, he modified it for me. Each member of my family had special powers, some of mine you have seen, well his was to see into the future and he knew what was going to happen so he trained me in combat, weapons, and also how to use the wrist-strap. He was one of the lucky ones and died before they came." I said as tears began to fall down my eyes as the memories of my brother came back to me.

"Come on Ilandere, we are nearly there!" I heard my brother shouting in the distance as I began to run up the mountain, gasping for breath. He stopped as we reached the top and I turned and looked down at our home town, it was amazing and the view as the suns set was breathtaking. The sky shimmered between red and purple as they set and the lights in the city began to turn on.

"Wow Jalen this is amazing!" I said as I leaned onto my brother as he put his arm around me. He pulled me closer as I looked at him, he was five years older than me and we have always been close, but recently more so than normal. He knew that the Time Agency was after me and for this reason he quit and we had fled from them and now lived in our city for the past six years in peace.

"Thought you would like it little sis." He said as we sat down on the grass and watched the second sun go down. "Look, I know we have been running and going through much and that I have been pushing you hard, but know this; I love you and no matter what will always be with you in spirit." He said as I looked up at him; he had short black hair and green eyes, he was at least a good foot taller than me and was well built. He hated the Time Agency and supported my fight against them to bring them down.

"Can you not tell me what you saw?" I asked him, I knew that he had a vision about me and for this reason he was training me.

"You know I can't do that sis, just enjoy the time we have together and know that I love you ever so much." He said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out something. "Here, I modified it and made it more suited to your taste. I hope that you will find great use for it." He said as he put the wrist-strap on my arm and I looked at him and smiled as tears fell down my eyes and I hugged him. With my brother in my arms, we watched the suns set and the sky change to night.

I wiped away the tears that had fallen down my cheek from the flashback, as I felt warmth beside me. Jack put his arm around me and pulled me closer as I allowed myself to feel somewhat safe in his embrace.

"Who were they?" He finally asked after a long period of silence.

"They were two dying breads who formed a new race, the old races were Dalek and Cyberman, the new race were called the Cyberleks, yeah I know not very original but these two were bent on one thing; destroying the human race either by extermination, enslavement or conversion. My town was the first to be hit as far as I know." I explained as I felt Jack's grasp tighten around me… he must have had some knowledge of these creatures.

"I am sorry about your family." He said and I nodded.

"The fifty-first century, oh how I miss it so much but I know that I can not go back, my father sent me here for a reason, all I need to do is find out why." I said as I looked up at Jack and he grinned at me.

"Come on; let me show you around your new workplace." He said as he reached his hand out; taking it he took me down to the plaza and then onto a paving slab… I felt a hum of energy as I smiled.

"So there is an invisibility barrier here, nice." I said as he looked at me.

"How did you know?" He asked.

"I can feel the barrier around us." I explained as he opened his wrist-strap and pressed a few buttons and the lift moved.

I looked down at the hub below us and saw Gwen who was sitting at a computer doing something as she looked up and smiled at us. When the lift stopped Jack stepped off and offered me his hand yet again which I took and nodded in thanks.

"Ilandere; welcome to Torchwood." Jack said as he showed me around. "We have an extensive server and database full of information regarding alien life and artifacts here on Earth. This is Gwen, my second in command; we have recently been re-built after the explosion a year and a half ago and Gwen has been holding the fort for the last year and a half until I came back from my trip." He said as I looked at him puzzled.

"How long have you been back?" I asked him, I had felt a pull in the timelines about a month ago and wondered if he was the reason.

"A month ago, it has only taken Gwen until this week to forgive me." He said as Gwen walked up to Jack and put her hand on his shoulder.

"First thing he did was to get rid of the people I had hired, there was nothing wrong with them Jack!" She said as she put her hands on her hips, man she was pretty; her black hair shone under the light and she had the perfect figure; one I would more than likely kill for.

"They were not good enough!" He said as he led me to a workstation.

"And she is?" She asked as she pointed to me… fair question I had no anger towards her. Jack looked at me and I looked at him confused as I tried to reach into his mind… there was nothing… kinda like with me.

"Ilandere would you be so kind as to give Gwen a demonstration of how I know you are good enough?" He asked and I let out a sigh as I shrugged. I held out my hand as I levitated a folder that was on her desk to me and opened it and read a bit about it… it was a report on the recent rift activity; Gwen looked at me and gasped. "Does that help answer your question Gwen? And no she hasn't told me why she can do this stuff but trust me, she is perfect." He said as he walked towards the empty workstation; I handed Gwen her folder as he paused and waited for me. I followed him and he typed something on the computer. "Right, we need a retinal scan, blood sample and also finger print." He said as he began to type some more. "Say cheese." He said as I turned and smiled as my picture was taken and my information was entered into the database. I bent to show my eye for the scan and put my thumb on the pad for my finger print… now for the blood. I looked at him as he smiled. "Not going to promise I can hit anything first time, we are still looking for a doctor but so far we haven't found anyone." He said as he led me to the medic bay down a few stairs.

I looked around and saw that there were several cubby holes, I assumed for dead people and also an autopsy table… now I was wondering what the hell I was getting myself into.

"What happened to the other doctor then?" I asked as I took off my jacket, I saw Jack's shoulders lower; I must have touched another sensitive subject.

"This job kills people; no one lives to old age when you work for Torchwood." He said and I nodded as he got a torque and began to look for a vein.

"Yeah, I guess that is a danger of the job, but the excitement makes up for that I guess." I said as he found a vein and took a few blood samples.

"Once you enter Torchwood you can't leave." Gwen said as I looked up at her and she smiled at me. "I came to make sure that Jack hasn't butchered your arm." She said as she walked down the steps and took the blood samples from Jack as she put them in a tube rack and then in the fridge. "We have had a call from the hospital and they wanted us to look into something." She said as she put her hand on Jack's shoulder and he nodded. "Maybe this time if you find the right doctors you won't scare them away." She added as she walked up the steps and Jack snorted.

"He passed out his first alien autopsy, some doctor he would have made. His life is better after taking the Retcon." Jack said as he put a plaster on the site he had just removed the needle. I stood up, feeling a bit queasy but I was curious why they were not examining my blood. I grabbed my jacket and followed Jack up the stairs; he threw me a communicator as I looked at him and snorted.

"Technically I don't need one but whatever." I said as I put it in my ear.

"You can read thoughts and talk to people via your mind." Jack said, again this was not a question it was a statement. "I felt you around in my head a while back." He said and I blushed… busted! "Don't do that again." He said and I nodded as Gwen looked at me.

"Don't worry, I didn't read your thoughts and I won't, promise." I said and she let out a sigh of relieve.

"You are off to UHW, there in the accidents and emergency area a female has been admitted with something strange where they need our opinion." Gwen said as Jack grabbed his coat and then my hand as he dragged me to the area where the SUV was parked.