The start of a new collection of stories about the family of Jack and Ianto. I shall be focussing on Holly, Owain, Luke and Minda as adults although if I get a brilliant idea I may just slip in one when they were younger. To get us started, the first of a five part mini-series featuring Minda.
Lost in the Outback I – July 4722
The small laboratory was quiet, insulated from the noises of the rest of the Torchwood complex. This late at night there were also fewer people about and the two women were alone. Minda Jones and her supervisor, Jory, had their heads together over a long piece of metal with a bulbous end. It had been found on a dead Gren'ilker who had crashed into the Scottish National Park but no one knew what it was.
"It's not a weapon," mused Jory, turning the artefact over in her hands. "You've scanned for all types of explosives and there are none present." The artefact had been brought to Cardiff the day before for detailed examination and allocated to Minda. She had carried out the standard scans and puzzled over it for most of the day.
"But he must use it in some way," said Minda, looking from the artefact to the screen which showed a picture of the creature. A Gren'ilker was a metre and a half tall with four appendages that could be arms and two which were probably legs. Its eyes were on stalks coming out of the top of its head which was covered in a mat of fur. "I think it's for grooming."
Jory sighed and replaced the artefact. "Possible, but we won't sort it out tonight. It's late, you should be heading home." She smiled at the young woman and stroked her hair back behind her ear. "Pity I can't join you." She leant in and kissed Minda gently.
"I wish you could."
The two women been seeing one another casually for the past six months. Jory had been a friendly presence at Torchwood during the years Minda had augmented her education by spending time in the laboratories, and over the past three years since she had joined full time. The age gap did not bother them, in fact it helped. Jory was a role model and mentor as well as a lover.
"When I've finished nights, we must go out. I'll take you dancing again."
Minda laughed. "You know I have two left feet!"
"Oh, you weren't so bad."
"Your feet were black and blue!"
Jory watched as the other woman methodically tidied her workbench and secured the artefact in the walk-in storage unit. Minda was of average height with straight brown hair cut into a becoming bob. Her features were regular and she was attractive rather than pretty. Some people found her calm demeanour and self-assurance off-putting and it was true she was hard to get to know. But it was worth the effort for, as Jory had found, she was a loyal friend and passionate lover.
Smiling, Minda collected her light jacket, holding it over her arm until she emerged topside. With her bag in hand, she kissed Jory again. "See you tomorrow."
"Sleep well."
Sixteen floors up, Minda arrived on the teleport in the foyer of the Torchwood headquarters. She stopped to put on her jacket, exchanged a few words with the receptionist and the guards and emerged into the dark night. It was just gone ten o'clock and the square was quiet with just a few people walking to and from the teleport. Minda decided to walk home and set off along the walkways she had been using for almost a year. It still gave her a frisson of delight to think of her own apartment in the diplomatic sector and she quickened her pace, head held high. She was the only one of her siblings still living in Cardiff now that Holly had moved to Norwich taking Jonty with her, but she was glad she had moved from the old family apartment.
Dad and Tad had been so good about her moving out but nonetheless there had been plenty of disagreements about where she should live. She had fancied the cultural sector, with the mix of artists and musicians, and had not worried overmuch about the poor quality of the housing, the unscrupulous landlords and the higher than average crime figures. Tad had worried about these for her, insisting she could not live there. Minda might have held out against him alone, but when Dad had quietly asked her to think again she had relented. The current apartment was in a safe area and only one teleport jump from the concert halls and theatres that she loved. Of course, she could only afford to live there because Dad and Tad had bought the apartment for her and charged her the same rent as she would have paid elsewhere, well below the going rate for this select area. She was grateful they had persuaded her to go along with their wishes.
With the front door closed behind her, Minda took a moment to enjoy the feel and smell and sounds of home. Music issued from the speakers, rigged to start when the lights came on with a constantly changing selection of her favourites: she made a mental note to add some songs by a singer she had heard at a recent concert. Tidily hanging up her outer clothes, she went into the main living room. One long wall was all windows and looked out onto Celebration Square and the Victory Tower which was lit up as usual. At one end was a kitchen, part separated from the rest of the room, and it was here that Minda headed. Glancing at the painting of Ogmore hanging on the wall in pride of place she smiled at the many happy memories it evoked. She made herself a cup of coffee and took it with her as she walked to the two bedrooms at the other end of the apartment. Her bedroom was on the right, with the same view as the living room, and was simply furnished. She quickly undressed, drank some coffee, then showered and donned a robe. With the still half full cup of coffee, she settled in the living room on one of the large couches. She twisted to face the window, legs curled under her, staring at the view before picking up a portable screen and checking her messages.
-ooOoo-
"Any joy with the Gren'ilker artefact?"
"No," Minda sighed, sitting back in her chair, "but I'm not giving up yet."
"I've never known you to give up on anything," replied Ellis, the day shift supervisor. "I'd like a word, if you're not in the middle of anything critical." He pulled over a chair from the vacant workbench nearby. "Oh, that's better."
"Back ache?" asked Minda, looking at his swollen stomach in sympathy. Ellis was three months pregnant and had had all the worst symptoms.
"And swollen ankles. Never again," he vowed. "But don't get me started or we may be here all day. No, what I wanted to ask you, young Minda, is if you fancy a field trip?"
Minda's eyes lit up. "I'd love one, you know I would." She had only been on one trip away from headquarters in her three years as a researcher and had adored the experience. "Where to?"
"Australia. Somewhere called Koolambong." He shifted in the chair, trying to get more comfortable. "The geologists developing the area uncovered an artefact or two so the local office sent in a team to investigate. They found a ship of … interesting design and called on us for help in excavating and understanding it."
"I haven't heard about this," she remarked, surprised. There was a free flow of information within the Torchwood community and she heard most of it from colleagues or from her dad. "It must be recent."
"They uncovered it about three days ago but it's been kept under wraps until now. It looked fairly innocuous but yesterday they found the control room and it's got everyone very excited. And no," he added, holding up a hand for silence when he saw Minda was about to interrupt, "I don't know what is it. Just that they requested you."
That took her by surprise. "Me? They actually requested me?"
"Uh huh. Your reputation precedes you, Minda Jones."
He smiled. She was the best researcher he had working for him, had ever had working for him, with her intuitive sense for alien technology and systems and her passion for order and detail. Her long association with Torchwood had spread her reputation around the organisation and she could have had the pick of the postings – if the Director had allowed it. Jack Harkness, however, had made it very clear that he wanted his daughter to be treated like any other junior researcher and to follow the same training regimen unless it held her back unnecessarily.
"Gosh."
"I think it would be an excellent opportunity for you. You'll be working with Caradin."
"I've wanted to work with him for years," she enthused, excited and terrified at the same time. He was legendary. "I never thought I'd get the chance."
"So I can tell them you're in?"
"Yes!"
"All right. There's a team briefing at three this afternoon and you'll be leaving first thing tomorrow." He stood up, hand to his back as he stretched carefully. "I understand conditions are atrocious but I don't expect that'll put you off."
The hours until the briefing passed all too slowly for Minda. She continued her work but thoughts of the trip kept breaking into her concentration. Lunch was an apple and a sandwich in the refectory with her co-workers and she tried to join in the conversation but it rather passed her by. At three o'clock she was sitting in Briefing Room D, looking around her at the half dozen other people gathered there, when Lars Caradin entered the room and all conversation stopped. Seven pairs of eyes followed him as he walked to the front of the room and halted, facing them.
"You all know why you're here and you know me. If you don't know each other, you can introduce yourselves later," he began in his customary brusque manner. He activated the screen. "This is an overview of the site at Koolambong. Geologists searching for a water aquifer found these artefacts," the images changed, "and the Darwin office sent in a team. They found this." The image changed again and a trapezoid shape could be seen in the red soil. "Digging further, they confirmed it's a ship. Unknown origin made more complicated when the control room was uncovered." The screen showed a narrow space with room for only two or three adult humans and banks of equipment. "The technology is a blend of some we've come across." He pointed to the screen, "For example, this is an Ambriglian sensor array and this one has been found in Blowfish hand blasters. No one can understand why there should be these different technologies in the one ship and it's exciting a lot of interest. The Australian team is inexperienced and called for help: we are it." He looked at the seven people in front of him, four men and three women. "The plan is to go in and assess it in preparation for transporting it back here for further study. Over to you, Syd."
"Hi there. I'm Syd Fentle and I'm the expedition manager. All practical questions should be addressed to me." He grinned happily and Minda liked him already. "The conditions are awful. Hot and prone to dust storms; the terraformers just can't seem to get it right." Everyone laughed. "We'll be in accommodation pods and there will be no frills or luxuries. Bring one bag of personal possessions only. We leave from landing pad six at seven tomorrow morning. Be there half an hour before. Questions?"
"How long is this likely to take?" asked a young woman at the front of the room.
"We estimate three days on site. Hope that doesn't disrupt your social life too much, Breellan."
"No, that should be fine," the young woman answered with a grin.
Minda asked, "What equipment will be available?"
"We'll be taking two portable labs and they'll have the usual scanners, monitors and analytical equipment. There will also be links back to base resources. If there's anything specific you want, check with me and I'll see if we have space for it."
One or two other questions were asked then Caradin drew the meeting to a close and left the room. Syd stuck around and Minda waited for her turn to speak to him.
"I looked at the weather-cast when I got this assignment," said the woman Breellan, standing beside Minda. "It's hotter than Hades out there."
"I don't mind. I expect we'll be too busy to notice." Minda smiled at the young woman whom she thought was a few years older than her. "What's your designation?"
"Doctor. I get to keep an eye on you lot and cut up any corpses we may find. The name's Breellan."
"Melinda, Melinda Jones."
"Nice to meet you. Ah, he's free." Breellan went off to speak to Syd, Minda waited patiently.
-ooOoo-
Minda reported back to Ellis and handed over her notes on the Gren'ilker artefact; someone else would be taking forward the examination in her absence. She checked her messages and found one from her dad asking her to supper. Smiling, she sent an acceptance. He would know of her assignment and this was his way of making sure she was prepared for the next few days, he was so obvious at times.
Leaving work on time for once, Minda walked home enjoying the warm sunshine and cooling breeze. The apartment was as welcoming as ever and she soaked in the peace and comfort it gave her. Roughing it in hostile terrain was not her preference but she could cope with it well enough, the family camping trips had never been luxurious. She thought carefully about what to take with her and packed: casual tunic and trousers; a sunhat that could be rolled up, bought in Italy on a recent trip; underwear and toiletries; a sleep suit; a notepad with her favourite books loaded onto it; a music player also loaded with some favourites; and spare shoes. Even with these items, the bag was still only half full. On a whim, she took Foo-Foo from the bed and placed it in the bag.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Minda left the apartment and used the teleport to reach her parents' home. As she travelled, she thought of the newest addition to the household, her baby niece Newlyn. At only five months old she had already lost her mother and Owain, her father and Minda's eldest brother, was unable to care for her himself. And so Minda's parents had taken on the baby's care. It seemed they were fated to have a grandchild living with them; Jonty had moved out only a couple of months before Minda. Walking into the family apartment, Minda saw her tad sitting with the baby.
"Hello, sweetheart," said Ianto softly. "Be quiet, she's almost off."
Minda peered over his arm to see the sleeping child - she was a beauty - and kissed her tad's cheek. "Is she still waking a lot?" She sat down in the chair beside his.
"No more than any five month old, just at strange times. It's like she's using a different chrono to the rest of us. How are you?"
"Good. Dad told you, I suppose."
"About Australia? Of course he did." He glanced down at the baby then back at Minda. "He says it's straightforward."
"It is. We go in, analyse the ship and come back again. Three days tops." She settled more comfortably. "No need to worry about me."
"I shall always worry about you, cariad. When you are a great-grandmother I shall worry about you." He smiled but he meant every word. "Please take care."
"I shall." She rubbed his arm. "How's Owain?"
"Coping. It's hard for him." Ianto paused, holding the baby a little tighter. "Luke's keeping an eye on him, as best he can. With Bruce in Rio, he has some time to fill himself."
"It's good experience for Bruce though. Heard from Holly lately?"
"Yes." There remained a little coldness between Holly and her tad following the break-up of her marriage and the end of the affair that caused it, but they were generally on good terms. "The new job's working out well and Jonty's settled in at his Academy." Ianto missed the boy after caring for him for almost two years yet was pleased Stu Permink, his father, had allowed the boy to live with his mother now she was on her own again. "They're coming down to Ogmore for the weekend."
"Oh, I bumped into Toto the other day. Quite by chance. He was at the theatre sitting right in front of us!"
"How is he?"
"Doing well. He likes his internship and is being totally spoiled by Annese and Glonnix. He's putting on weight, they are just stuffing him with food!" she laughed.
They chatted a bit more until Ianto put Newlyn to bed. Minda started on supper, taking the dishes left by Piolette, finishing them off and putting them in the oven. She was laying the table when she heard her dad come in. She made all three of them a coffee, taking it into the living area where her parents were standing close together, in each other's arms, talking.
"Supper will be twenty minutes," she announced, passing round the coffees.
"Thanks, petal." Jack took the coffee and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Just like old times, having you back here."
"Don't get used to it, I like my own space." She sat on the couch and her dad joined her, putting an arm round her and pulled her into his side.
"I know you do. You go to the briefing?"
Jack was aware of all operations and research trips but only the general outline, he could not hope to get involved in the detail of all of them like in the old days. However, when Caradin had requested Minda for this particular trip it was specifically brought to his attention. Junior researchers were routinely assigned to field trips and Jack was pleased that one of his best men had requested Minda. She was well liked and her work respected so it was not surprising that he wanted her; she was a perfect match for the task. He had looked over the details and agreed she could be included .
"Yeah. Looks interesting."
The three of them discussed the assignment, Jack adding a little more detail to Caradin's briefing. Ianto listened intently and was reassured by what he heard. The discussion continued over supper and ranged wider to cover many other topics. With the meal finished and cleared away, they returned to the living area and watched the news-cast.
"I'd better go," said Minda from her comfy spot in the chair. She glanced over at her parents, sitting close together and smiled. They looked so good together and their relationship had stood the test of time, despite a few ups and downs.
"What time are you off in the morning?" asked Ianto.
"Seven. I'm almost packed, just a few final things to go in." She reluctantly stood up and walked over to get her jacket.
"You be careful, sweetheart," said Ianto, hugging her. "And call us when you have time."
"I will."
"Make sure you do, petal," added Jack, giving her a quick hug and kiss. "Use the private line if you want."
"Okay. But don't worry, I'll be back before you know it." She smiled and waved as she left the apartment.
-ooOoo-
The following day the team left on the dot of seven. Minda sent a few messages over the next two days, saying she had arrived safely and complaining of the heat but enthusiastic about the work. On the third day Ianto got worried when he had received no messages by the late afternoon and contacted Jack who had to tell him that three members of the team were dead and their daughter had disappeared.
More soon …
