4
Ianto looks up as the sound of a chopper comes closer, then exclaims "Oh my God."
"What?" Jack is looking up as well.
"If this is who I think it is." Ianto mutters as it gets closer, then his slender shoulders slump "It is."
"Who?"
"Owen Harper. He's a rich kook mythology professor. He's done some work with our museum. He also treks the universe to swim with Crocodillions." Ianto says like he is reciting his last words before an execution.
"With what?" Archie demands as he arrives.
"Crocodillions. He's an expert on them. And if he's here... then he must think that's what's in this lake." Ianto explains.
"In Paradise?"
"There have been Northern sightings." Ianto explains "But not this North."
As Owen Harper, this weird ball of life, disembarks his chopper and spots Ianto "You beat me. Balls."
"I need some of you to help me unpack." He barks, pointing to Gwen and Stevens "You and you. (to Archie) Not you. (to Ianto) Who do we have from Fish And Game?"
"Me." Jack spits.
"Who is this man?" Owen demands, "I could see the algae blooms just coming in, how long has this lake been stagnant? (extending his hand to Archie) Hi, Owen Harper."
Archie turns to Ianto "Who is he?"
"I'll need any and all topographic studies." Owen barks.
"Wait just a second." Archie blusters with obvious annoyance "You don't just fly in here and start barking orders."
"I apologize, I just don't want to lose the light, we've got time for a quick scout" Owen waves a hand distractedly at Archie as he turns to Ianto "you've had work done."
Ianto's nostrils flaring "I have not."
"Who is this man?" Archie repeats.
"Owen Harper, I said it once, let me know when it sinks in" Owen swings back to Ianto as he once again dismisses the sheriff "Ianto. Have you seen it?"
"No."
"Mister..." Archie says slowly.
"It couldn't be a Crocodillion." Ianto shakes his head.
"They've been migrating north, Ianto, this lake connects to the ocean…"
"Mr. Harper!" Archie roars with annoyance.
"C'mon, we're losing light" Owen hisses to Ianto "why does the big one heckle me? Surely he knows it's Doctor Harper?"
Ianto yanks him aside to whisper back in sotto "Owen. The big one has no sense of humour. And since he's the one who decides whether you get to play, try not to be your obnoxious self."
"That hurt my feelings."
And it did a little. Owen is a little Teddy Bear.
"If we're gonna go we better go." Jack cuts in as he arrives unaware of the conversation.
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Archie and Ianto are in one canoe, Owen and Jack are alongside in another. Owen is operating one of his sophisticated sonar devices. The calm. The still. The beauty.
"If he's here, I'll find him." Owen turns to Jack, nodding at Ianto "Did he tell you we had sex together?"
"I never had sex with you!" Ianto looks scandalised.
"Even so, you're allowed to boast." Owen leers "You look thin by the way, I've mentally undressed you, I can see your ribcage."
"I really don't mean to be discourteous." Archie drawls in a patronizing tone "But how is it a person could come to believe that a Crocodillion is in New Wales?"
"They have saltwater glands, they can swim across solar oceans, it's only a matter of time." Owen sniffs.
"And what would he do come winter?"
"They can survive winter. As long as their nostrils don't freeze, they survive" Owen shouts, turning again to Ianto "Am I foolish to explain things, he had such trouble with my name?"
"Owen." Ianto scolds as Owen grimaces and turns to Archie.
"Is this where it happened?"
"Around here. Yeah." Archie nods.
Owen knows his Crocodillions and explains "If he's eaten in the area, he shouldn't be far away. Crocs hang around the food source."
"But they're night-time hunters, Owen" Ianto interrupts "he'd probably be on land now anyway."
"'Cept he wasn't before, was he?" Owen smugly turns to Archie "You know, when friends or family members say things, they tend not to register so sometimes it helps to hear it from a total stranger. You're fat."
"Owen." Ianto gasps, scandalised.
Suddenly there are ripples, fish breaking surface about thirty feet away.
"What's that?" Jack asks with surprise.
"White perch." Archie steps closer to the water to watch.
"Are they feeding?" Jack looks at Archie who frowns.
"Doesn't look like it." He admits.
Jack looks at the water now boiling "They look like they're jumping."
"They look scared." Ianto says upon which something grabs the front of Ianto's canoe and with one crisp yank, flips it over like a spoon on a dinner table, sending them all flying.
In an instant, Archie and Ianto are swimming for their lives. Screaming/yelling, they scramble for the canoe, climb onto it's flipped-over back. Breathless, they all exchange confused looks. "What the hell happened"?
"My shoes." Ianto wails.
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CAMPSITE - SUNDOWN
Ianto, still in wet clothes, is talking on his Sat phone. Archie is there as Owen approaches. Jack is approaching as well.
"None of us actually saw anything." Ianto speaks into the phone and then hesitates as someone answers, "I realize this Sir, but something flipped us over, I doubt very much it was a mink."
"What's going on?" Owen asks.
"They don't believe him." Archie guesses.
"Thank you, it's so rewarding to imagine my tax dollar finding its way to you, you Fucker." Ianto spits then slams the phone down on the log he had sat on, a growl as he looks at it and then wonders if it's broken now.
"Such the flirt." Owen chortles.
"Wildlife won't send anybody without a confirmation." Ianto scoffs.
"Same thing from Fish And Game." Jack nods.
"Something's in that water." Ianto replies as he rises to stare at the water again.
"Well until we see it, we're not gonna be convincing too many people." Jack slumps as the Deputy Sheriff approaches.
As she approaches Gwen calls out to them and Archie looks over.
"You might want to see this." She says as she points downward.
There's hundreds, maybe a thousand worms squirming, surrounding... a human toe.
Oh Goddess, worms. I got a thing about worms." Ianto groans.
Gwen looks at Ianto like he's insane as she points out "It's a human toe."
Owen studies it, picks it up. Then mutters "Some decomposition, little acidic, it has been swallowed. (to Archie; holding the toe) Is this the man who was killed?"
Archie deadpans back. "He seemed taller."
"Well, you've got a croc alright, they're keystone species." Owen says sounding way too excited.
"Keystone what?" Archie frowns.
"Species, keystones affect the entire ecosystem, that could explain all these worms, the water. You've got a Crocodillion." Owen explains proffering the toe "Bury your friend."
Owen gives the toe to Archie, then heads off. Archie stands there, holding the toe.