Chapter 2: To kill a mocking bird.

The Scanner pulsed around the strange alien device they had found in the aftermath of the second attack. You wanted to look twice at the thing as it would disappear, then reapperaer in a flash of rainbow colours again.

"It's like it has some kind of…" Tosh seemed stumped for a moment. "Phasic shield."

She put the scanner display on the main screen. It showed a 3D model of the device so they could clearly see the shape of it. It was like some medallion or some link in a chain. It definitely looked like it had been attached to something else. Along the sides where various readouts with numbers and measurements. All went over everyone's head except Toshiko's

"I can't believe I have just done an autopsy on a pigeon!" Owen exclaimed, his disgust clear as he ripped off the white gloves and tossed them into a nearby bin.

"Anything interesting?" Jack asked, standing to one side with his arms crossed across his chest. Gwen was sat at her computer, glaring at a rotating cube pattern screen saver.

She was on the phone to some Officer in London, trying to gain some new information from them. But it seems what happened at Trafalgar square was exactly the same as here. Without warning, the birds had just attacked commuters and tourists alike. And nobody had the foggiest idea why.

"They were infested with ticks, which I might add a really disgusting. They look normal. But what do I know? I'm a doctor, not a bloody vet!" Owen slumped down on his seat, and leaned back in mock-fatigue.

Ianto walked passed handing coffee to everyone; Gwen nodded her thanks, her scowl momentarily transformed into an expression of open lust as the aromatic smell of the vanilla coffee hit her nostrils. Jack gave her an inquiring glance.

Need anything? his eyes asked.

Gwen held up a finger. Just a minute.

Owen leaned over towards Jack. "Wanna play the game?" he asked.

Jack looked thoughtful. "Usual pool?"

Owen nodded.

Tosh nudged Ianto. "My favourite part of watching interaction with normal humans," she told him.

Ianto frowned. "What is?"

"This is Owen and Jack's latest game," Tosh, looking pleased. "They only started last week. Sit back and enjoy the show."

Gwen shook her head, glaring at Jack. He responded with a kicked-puppy look.

"Please, Gwen," he begged. "Please? Don't make me use my boss-in-authority-voice."

For a moment, they tried to stare each other down –but it was Gwen who looked away first, her traitorous lips curving into an unwilling smile.

Before she could say anything though, there was a slight click, and the classical music that had been playing in her ear and driving her mad shut off.

Do it quietly, she mouthed.

Tosh and Owen looked expectantly at Jack.

"She's been put through to the Commissioner," he predicted.

Gwen glared at him to keep his voice down. "Thank you for agreeing to speak to me, sir . . . yes, I am aware that a Commissioner has a lot of demands on his plate. . ."

Jack smirked. "He'll tell her what he found. . ."

"And around how big was this object, sir?" Gwen asked, rolling her eyes. "Yes, we'll arrange for one of our team to come and collect it . . ."

"Now," announced Jack, but in a low voice at Gwen's dagger look, "he'll ask where she has the authority to just snatch things off him like that."

There was a long stream of rather loud conversation from the other end of the phone, and Gwen said patiently, "Yes, sir, I think you'll find we are actually allowed to remove anything we judge to be within our jurisdiction. And that includes . . . yes sir, I am perfectly willing to risk my career in a court case for insubordination, but we'll still be sending someone down!"

"Now he'll back off, start being apologetic," Jack forecast.

"Yes sir . . . no sir, that's quite all right. We're sorry to have to interrupt you like that . . . for the time being I suggest you put it in a secure place and don't let anyone near it. It may be harmful. . . no sir, but best to be safe. . . thank you, sir."

Gwen placed the phone back in its cradle with a sigh. Even in the force she had hated talking to commissioners. They were always so stuck up, more politicians than police.

This one, out of three possible lectures (the "who do you think you are?" lecture, the "spluttering indignant war veteran" speech, and the "just who are you Torchwood people anyway?" demands), he had chosen option three. He had given her a piece of his mind, and informed her that Torchwood were "unlawful, secret service wanabes" and had wanted to know just who Torchwood answered to…..which got Gwen thinking. Who did they answer to?

Meanwhile, Jack, grinning smugly, was accepting a small pile of notes from Owen.

"One of these days," Owen was saying, "You're gonna slip up big time. And I'll be there, raking in the cash."

Tosh sniggered, and Ianto took his coffee cup.

Jack shrugged. "Whatever keeps Doctor Frankenstein happy," he agreed, pocketing the notes. "I think I'll buy myself a new –"

"A-hem," Gwen looked impatient. "Can we get back to the real problem here?"

"Owen's ego?" asked Tosh innocently.

"Seems they found a little toy just like ours," Gwen indicated the device in the stasis field. "Told them to place it under lock and key….it's amazing how quick they comply when you hint at radiation"

"Good. Gwen, you'll have to fly down to London to pick it up. You have a better idea how to handle the red tape at New Scotland Yard. God, I hate dealing with the Met….they're even worse than the Welsh police." Jack put his face close to the device.

"Oi! And just what is that supposed to mean?" Gwen complained, levelling him a killer gaze.

Jack blanched as if he had suddenly realised he had said that out loud.

"Nothing, nothing. You shouldn't worry….you're not police anymore."

"Might I remind the great Captain Jack Harkness that this ex-police officer kicked your butt while still a police officer. Who figured out Suzie had been killing people? After taking Ret-con as well."

She poked Jack in the chest with her finger. Jack raised his hands in a placating manor.

"Okay, okay….you were a brilliant copper and I bow before your detective skills. Now will you stop poking me?"

"Good boy," Gwen smiled, giving Jack a quick peck on the cheek.

"Aww so sweet…I think I might be sick" Owen made retching sounds, and Gwen smacked him on the shoulder.

"Right guess I will see you lot later. Don't go chasing aliens without me!" Gwen waved to them all.

"Take care Gwen," Tosh shouted from her desk.

At the door, Ianto handed her a thermos.

Gwen unscrewed the lid a fraction, and smiled blissfully as the scent of vanilla coffee rose to meet her.

"Ianto," she said gratefully, "you're amazing. If I didn't have Rhys, I'd be giving Jack a run for his money."

Ianto's eyes twinkled. "You assume that he's paying me," he responded, dead-pan.

Gwen laughed, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Owen snorted in the background.

"Don't I get a kiss?"

"Do something for me and I'll think about it." With the rattling of Servos, she was gone as the large round door closed.

Suddenly, Tosh spoke.

"Jack," he turned at the concern in her voice. "It just started giving off a signal…very weak but it's there."

On the screen that held the 3D representation of the device, waves were emanating out of it like ripples in water. Above them Myfawny called in agitation, tilting her head sideways to look at the device uneasily.

"Could it be affecting her?" Tosh asked thoughtfully.

"It could be. Their brains are linked the same way as a pigeon's."

Everyone gave Ianto a strange look.

"I Wanted to be a Palaeontologist when I was young." Ianto almost floated out of the room, smugness radiating from every pore in his body. His comment added, he went to make more coffee.

"Where is the signal coming from?" Jack and Owen leaned over the back of Toshiko's chair

"I can't place it; it's bouncing all over the place." Toshiko's fingers where a blur as they flew over the keyboard. But the solution evaded her no matter how hard she tried. One moment it was in London, then in the hills surrounding Cardiff, then further a field to Hong Kong or the Arctic.

Behind them came the sound of fluttering wings….all turn to the morgue. The sound grew, until one pigeon came to sit on one of the railings.

"Coo" The pigeon sounded like all other pigeons. But this one was slightly difference in its appearance. Mainly to the fact that it's insides were hanging out after Owens autopsy.

"Please tell me I'm not looking at a zombie pigeon," Owen sighed as they all moved close together.

"Give it back." everyone blinked at the voice emanating from the pigeon. It sounded like a parrot, the quick words from a throat not used to human speech.

"And please tell me I am not now talking to a zombie pigeon."

Jack looked mystified. "Yep, we're talking to a zombie pigeon."

"Pigeons, plural," Tosh pointed to the two others that landed beside the first. One on either side.

"What do you want?" Jack addressed the pigeons.

"Give it back…coo," the one that had spoken before now sat in the middle

"Coo….give it back," the one to the left called

"Give," the last one a garbled call, as its head was to one side, its neck clearly broken.

"Why do you want it?" Jack addressed them again.

"GIVE" this time the voice deeper, it could never be created by the primitive vocal cords of a pigeon.

All three pigeons took to the wing and began to zoom towards them; the one with the broken neck never made it that far. Seems Myfawny was peckish. She snapped it straight out of the air, and had it down with two bites.

The other two headed straight for them, as one headed towards Toshiko she grabbed the nearest thing to hand…which happened to be Owen's metal baseball bat. She swung it with all her might, with a resounding "THWANG!" The pigeon was hit straight into the back wall with a small squelch.

"Wow….go Tosh" Owen exclaimed.

Both looked to Jack as the repeat of his Webly pistol rang out in the confined space….all that was left of the pigeon was a bunch of feathers.

"That was slight over-kill," Tosh said, looking slightly queasy as Myfawny eagerly devoured Jack's remaining bundle of down.

"I know…great isn't it?" Jack replied with his cheesy grin on his face. "Tosh, I think we need to see inside this thing."

"I'll do an ultrasound right now," Tosh hurried back to her desk.

"Owen, think you need to do another autopsy," he commented. "The last one wasn't very good, considering the bird's just talked."

Owen seemed to decide to let that one go. "I'll try" he agreed. "with what's left of them, at any rate."

"After you're done…burn them."

Owen picked up what was left of the one Toshiko had hit with his bat, hanging limply in his hand, and walked towards the autopsy room at the back of the hub.

Jack, meanwhile, went back to his office. he had a few phone calls to make….

8888888888

Gwen walked from the hub and went to her car. She did not see the lone pigeon trailing behind her. It followed her to the airport; it followed her plane to London where it got more followers as she passed Trafalgar Square to reach New Scotland Yard. Then it waited for her outside the station.

As Gwen walked into the reception office the officer behind the desk looked up. The young lad smiled at her, which she returned in kind.

"How can I help you miss?" he asked, in a strong London accent.

"Hi, I'm Gwen Cooper," she introduced herself. "I'm here to see Commissioner Bullworth." Gwen brought out her Torchwood ID. The young officer looked at it closely before handing it back to her. She could feel the atmosphere change as he realised she was Torchwood.

"Right you are miss, just sign here and I'll let him know you're here" Gwen sighed the Visitor book as the young officer picked up the phone and pressed the button for the Commissioner. "Sir, there is a Miss Cooper here to see you. She's from Torchwood. Yes sir" he placed the phone back in its cradle as he turned back to her

"I'll take you up ma'am. Richard, take over will you."

"Sure Chris" the one known as Chris pressed the door release to let her through the office, the buzz as she pushed on the door. She followed the officer through the large complex to a main office. On the door was a gold plaque with the name "Commissioner J Bullworth" stamped into it. Chris knocked on the door.

"Come in," called a voice from behind the plaque.

"Miss Cooper, sir."

"Thank you Chris, that is all."

"Yes sir." Chris waited until Gwen had walked into the office before closing the door.

"Please sit down Miss Cooper," he indicated the chair opposite as he rose from his.

He walked to a large safe in one corner. It almost looked like the safes you would have in banks –one of those safes that used for the crown jewels of small, influential oil countries.

If Gwen stood next to it, it would have reached above her waist. The Commissioner took out a long key. Placing it into the lock there was a soft clunk of well-oiled hinges as he opened the large door.

"I believe this is what you came here for" There, in a plastic evidence bag, was a copy of the artefact they had found earlier that day. But this one was slightly different –it looked bigger for one thing.

The Commissioner handed the item to her. Now it was in her hands, she could see they were in fact two in the bag, still linked together with what seemed to be chain links. So theirs was part of a bigger object. Exactly how big would be impossible to tell.

"Yes. Thank you sir" before the Commissioner could protest Gwen placed the item into a box she had been carrying with her. The small pack had the biohazard symbols clearly displayed in its sides. "I'd best get this back to Cardiff as soon as possible.

"What exactly is it?"

"It's too early in the investigation to disclose that information" Gwen replied, her tone all business.

"But surely…"

"I'm sorry sir, but we have reason to believe someone inside the Met is working with the organisation importing these devices. So I can tell you no more."

"I don't like it, you Torchwood riding rough shod over my lads. Just who keeps you in line I'd like to know?" Bullworth narrowed his eyes at her. His greying hair catching the light making it seem like shining silver, and his eyes were a deep emerald shade Gwen had a feeling would have had the women fawning over him in his youth.

"I'm sorry sir, but I really must go and catch my flight," Gwen kept her voice neutral.

"Get out of my office," the man snapped. "Damn Torchwood, think they're all high and mighty. I have no use for upstarts like you lot . . ." with a trail of muttered comments about useless braches of the government following her, Gwen left the station. She never really realised how deep the animosity between the two forces ran. This could be trouble in the future.

Gwen found herself back at the airport. She booked a seat on a small charter plane. The two jet engines more than enough to travel that distance. As she waited to board her mobile rang. She looked at the display. "Rhys Calling"

"Hello sweetheart," she said in greeting.

"Hi babe, when are you going to be back?" Gwen looked at the clock –it was already nine.

"I think I'm going to be late," she said apologetically. "I'm in London at the moment."

"London! What the hell are you in London for?" Rhys exclaimed, his disproval coming out of the phone in waves.

"I had to pick something up from the Met, my boss didn't trust anyone else to do it," she tried to kept her voice calm. It wouldn't help with them getting into a shouting match.

"You could have at least warned me!"

"I didn't have time, and I didn't think it would take as long as it has. Look I'm catching the 9:30 flight from London. I'll be back in a couple of hours. I have to drop this thing at the office for the investigation. So I was going to be late in whatever. I'll try to get home tonight. If not I'll see you tomorrow."

"Gwen we can't keep going on like this!"

"I'm sorry, Rhys. But this is important!" She was getting annoyed now. Her voice rising slightly, which Rhys matched octave for octave.

"It always is! Just tell me why."

"You know I can't do that! I can't disclose information about an investigation. But people could die if I don't hurry up"

"But what about our lives! Our relationship is always on hold. Just once I'd like to come first!"

"You do come first!"

"Well it doesn't feel like it. And to be honest Gwen, I have had enough!" he shouted down the phone.

"Flight 599 now boarding" came the announcement in the background.

"Look we'll talk about this when I get back. I have to catch my flight"

"When you get back….I might not be here"

"Rhys….Rhys!"

But he had hung up, Gwen stood immobile a moment.

"Flight 599 now boarding" the call broke her out of her paralysis. She ran for the plane all the time thinking of Rhys. He didn't mean it, did he?

"Well why shouldn't he?" her mind snapped back. "After how you have treated him . . . left him in bed alone at nights while you casually sleep with a workmate. Come on, get real, Gwen"

Gwen got in her seat still agonising over Rhys.

The flight went past quickly, as her mind was elsewhere. As they were about 5 minutes out her mobile rang. She looked at the readout hoping it was Rhys…but it was Torchwood.

"Don't bother me," she sighed, and had never meant it more in her life.

"Nice to hear from you too…" Jack's voice trilled in her ear.

"Not now, Jack" she sighed. "Maybe I'll just join a nunnery. Do you employ nuns?"

There was a pause. "Nah," said Jack's voice after a moment. "their vows always come up at the most awkward moments. You know, truthfulness, honesty . . . chastity . . ."

Gwen stifled a giggle. She realised she was glad she could rely on Jack to stay consistent –even if that meant consistently skirt-chasing.

"What's wrong?" he said after a moment. Gwen could hear the concern, and mentally thanked him for it.

"Life problems. Don't worry about it, Jack. I've the artefact, and it's bigger than the one we have in the hub. Were just heading into land, so I'll be back in….." Gwen was cut off as a big THUMP beside her head made her jump. She looked to the window of the plane, but could see nothing wrong.

Thud,thud,thud . . . WHUMP!

Gwen put her face close to the window, trying to see into the night sky –then snapped her head back as something banged against the fibreglass window. She could just make out the form of a bird.

Then the plane dipped, and the bottom dropped out of her stomach. She could hear Jack calling her on her phone but now the whine of the engine was louder and even though she was no mechanic, she knew something was wrong.

"Gwen! GWEN!"

"Jack!" her voice shook, she couldn't take her gaze from the window. Now the panic screams of the other passengers permeated the terror that had gripped her.

"Gwen! What's going on?"

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump

"I don't know Jack….a bird smacked into the side. No . . . oh my god, Jack, it's . . . there's hundreds of them!"

The repetitive thump like a machine gun as another, and another, and another pigeon smacked into the plane. As Gwen watched, there was a loud bang and a belch of flame as the engine exploded. The place dipped wildly, screaming its death knell.

"GWEN!"

"Oh God, Jack!" she screamed, and then the phone was knocked from her grasp as the plane bucked and writhed. The Thumps never stopping, just mixing with the screams of terror as the ground rushed up to meet them…….

TBC……