Creator's Note:
At this point, I'm working without a beta net. 12 hour days do not for a good beta reader make. I do love ya, Pip, but I couldn't wait any longer. So, hopefully this all doesn't sound too American, nor is it rubbish. Usually, it's not rubbish.
This will be your last disclaimer for the story so that I don't intrude much longer. You should know I am not a famous singer, but I am borrowing some songs in an upcoming chapter or two and hence, I am not a famous artist and I don't claim to be. Maybe someday, maybe this planet. One never knows. But it's not right now. I mean no infringement whatsoever and I hope the artists would be flattered with the use of their works. That being said...
--On With the Show!--
"How long will they stay out?"
"It's hard to tell really. Alien sedatives and all that."
"Meeting. Board room. Five minutes." Jack pushed his palm slightly in front of Owen's face just to show how serious he was as he stormed out of the cell block. He shook his head. First, the pill pushers, then farmers, and now...branders? Why does everyone pick on the Weevils? Now, granted they aren't the most intelligent of species, but that doesn't give anyone a license to pick on them.
Most of his anger had fluctuated into action by the time he found himself entering the board room, Gwen waiting patiently.
"What do you want?"
"Do I always have to want something?"
"Well, have you found anything useful out?"
"No, but seeing as how you stormed up to your office in a daze and then made a beeline for this room, I was wondering if you'd found anything."
"I'd say we're all in the dark here." Tosh entered the room with her normal light foot steps.
"What we know is that the sedative is alien in origin and is enriched by nitrogen-enriched oxygen, courtesy of planet Earth. Poor bastards; probably about as close to getting high as they can get."
"Since when did you sympathize with weevils, Owen?"
"Since he became their lord and master." Ianto closed the door behind him with his foot while laying the coffees down on the side table.
"Well, let's start with the facts. First is the shape of the mark."
"The mark represents an alien beetle named the Markovian acid beetle. We have a similar species on this planet that protects itself by shooting a toxin out of its backside that acts very much like fire."
"And the color of the brand?"
"Well, the tests all show that it's nothing more than a high-grade alien sedative. Whoever is doing this knows just what they are doing, and most likely paid a pretty penny for such sedative."
"And why put it in a brand?"
"The effect has to be absorbed, otherwise it would have just killed the weevils."
"So: We are looking for an alien that knows how and where to get this stuff, presumably deals with it all the time. Any ideas?" Eyes darted all around the room, everywhere but where Jack was. He scratched under his chin and licked his lips briefly. "Okay, I'm really sick of everyone messing with wayward aliens. Any ideas? Shoot it off the top of your head, out your ass, just give me something guys?"
"Okay, well, how about this? It's a sedative, so they possibly will wake up. However, if Owen implants an alien tracer into the skin then it's possible we could track them back to the nest?"
"Would that work?"
"In theory, yes. Presumably, the sedative is there in brand form to let other aliens know who these weevils belong to, and also it's not fed in toxic doses, so it may mean they have just escaped their master. Much like cattle, I suppose."
"Do we want to send them back into that situation?"
"It won't be for very long."
Jack sighed. "I suppose not. Let's get to work on this. Gwen, see if any humans have been filed away with any such "tattoo". Owen and Tosh, you work together to perfect these little trackers. I don't want anything going wrong. Ianto, find out which artifact they need and get it. Then bring me some coffee. It's been a long night."
"Yes, sir." Everyone went to their dutiful tasks and Jack was watching the proceedings from his office's hawk view when Ianto tapped on the door. He went to his desk and flipped through paperwork, muttering come in, just loudly enough for Ianto to hear.
Ianto moved soundlessly and swiftly to Jack's side. He set the coffee down gently and Jack closed his eyes. The younger man's presence filled Jack as he came closer, inch by struggling inch. He released a sigh as Ianto's fingers moved from his forearms to his shoulders, tracing the lines of tension with the kiss of his skin.
His lips darted under Jack's ear and nibbled slightly on the skin of his neck, blowing a hot breath on the back of his neck as well. Jack titled backwards and met Ianto in a hard, exhausted kiss. He reached for Ianto's tie as he rocked backwards, his feet extending to reach over the pile of papers he had pretended to look at. The silk tie rustled through his hand, and Jack's finger's moved upwards to feel Ianto's heart beating. The pressure of Jack's fingers on his skin made the beat just that much faster.
Tosh's voice called from the Hub. "Jack, we have everything ready!"
Ianto whispered later into Jack's ear as he readjusted his tie and walked back out of the office. Jack took a few seconds more and joined the team as they conversed near the computers.
"So, the weevils are all outfitted?"
"Didn't even put up a fight, thanks to yours truly."
"I'm sure you're a lifesaver Owen."
"Jack, since they appeared in the Rift split up, should we release them together?"
Jack bit down on his lip as he thought. "It might be better for them to wake up in separate locations and then find their way back I suppose."
"Fancy this as a trap?"
"No, the Rift is randomized. I don't know of anyone, not even the Doctor, who'd be able to finesse the rift like that."
"Even so, let's take precautions. Lord knows we don't want to go into a trap with bells on or anything."
"Right. Owen, Tosh, and Gwen; go ahead and take the first weevil back to the bay and Ianto and I will trace the second back to the factory. Keep in contact at all times."
"Wait...why are we...?"
"Just leave it, Gwen. You wouldn't get any sleep doing surveillance with Jack."
"And sleep will be the worst of our problems if you start arguing with a cranky Jack."
There must have been an hour left on the sedative after they dumped the body back where it had fallen and discretely began the systems in the nondescript Torchwood SUV.
"I need a five letter word for arrogant."
"How many letters does..."
"Watch it."
"I'm only teasing Owen."
"That teasing's not very nice, you know. I'm just a bored man trying to finish a crossword. My defenses aren't even prepared."
"The weevil's on the move."
"Let's roll Tosh."
Without the sedative coursing through its systems, the weevils seemed far more coherent than normal. The two teams sped along perpendicular streets, struggling to keep up with the shadowy weevil runners.
"They've stopped."
"Well, I guess this is the part where we get out and follow on foot."
"Right." Ianto nodded as he inhaled sharply, stepping out of the SUV they were parked in.
As the teams walked closer to the beeping monitor system, both teams noticed the same grey van, although one was above and one below.
Ianto was first to reach the back of the open van. "There's no sign of the weevils," he exclaimed as he circled the seemingly abandoned Chevy Astro.
"Weevils just don't disappear into thin air, Ianto."
"We're coming down Jack."
Jack looked toward the building above and nodded at Gwen. Ianto peered into the back of the van and disappeared into darkness.
"Ianto?" The door of the van offered a sharp bang as an answer, swinging, and Jack's grip on his gun and his jaw tightened.
Jack brought himself forward, only barely hearing the echoed steps of the rest of the Torchwood team as the black of unconsciousness took him.
