CHAPTER FOUR
Ianto Emrys Jones Jr., oldest living son of Jack and Sean Jones (formerly known as Captain Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones) leaned back in his seat in the shuttle, frowning. "Did they say why approach is denied?" he asked his navigator, Hernnar.
Hernnar was part of his personal shuttle crew and a good friend. He was tall and lanky, and mostly human looking except for the coppery green skin, copper gold coloured hair, gold eyes, and 7 digits on each hand. Ianto had never seen Hernnar's feet, but from what he knew of life forms from many worlds, it stood reason that the navigator had seven toes, or something that passed for them, as well. The fingers were normal enough by human standards, so he assumed the toes be too.
The navigator frowned and looked over to Ianto, who was piloting the shuttle. "I don't know. They just said that all entry to TorchWorld is suspended and to head over to Satellite Nexus, where we can determine what to do next."
"Did you give them our authorisation code?" Ianto asked.
"I did," Hernnar stated as he looked back at the rest the crew, who were watching them and listening with interest. "And that's the response I received."
Ianto Jr. frowned. "We're not just any shuttle requesting approach, and our authorisation code should have been enough."
A blonde female chuckled and stood up from a table located midway in the fore shuttle compartment where most of the crew sat around. She made her way across the compartment until she stood behind Ianto's chair.
"Hey Skipper, why don't you let a real pilot handle the controls and you try that special, super fancy code of yours, being the Directors' son and all?" she suggested.
Ianto looked back at her. "I am a real pilot, Danielle," he remarked, and then gave her a smile. "But you're probably right about pulling rank." He grinned and, after flipping a couple of switches, stood up, indicating for her to slide into the seat and take over.
As he started to walk over to a communication console, Danielle muttered loud enough for him to hear, "I didn't say to pull rank."
Ianto Jr. raised an eyebrow as he glanced back at her, noting out of the corner of his eye that Hernnar was trying not to laugh. He was certain the other crew members were doing the same. "No, you didn't say that exactly. But I am. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get us clearance to come in for a landing."
Danielle shook her head as the others chuckled. Ianto started to input his personal authorisation code into the system, intent on getting answers. He was not worried about clearance, because of his unique position within the Torchwood Organization. He knew he would get the shuttle to land somewhere on the planet, even if they had to do a little travelling or teleporting to do so.
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Sean Jones, formerly Ianto Jones of 21st century Wales, relaxed on the soft, comfortable couch in the conservatory that looked out to the ocean, taking the moment to relax. The immortal had his feet elevated on an ottoman that Carryn had set before the couch when he'd first sat down.
Ianto and Carryn, along with a security detail, had met Latimer Ambraxsis and his three children at the shuttle field located on what once had been the site of John F. Kennedy International airport until the 23rd century, along with some of the surrounding area of what was still known as Queens. Using an unmarked Torchwood flyer, they'd taken the family to a Torchwood safe house in the Hamptons. The house was an older home, almost 250 years old, and had been built in the design of the stately beach side manors that the Hamptons were known for back in the 20th century. Recent renovations included all the new technology. Ianto preferred the style of this home to the newer designs consisting of groupings of glass blocks and tunnels among gardens going from room to room. Jack and he had lived in a house much like that several centuries ago, in another part of the universe, during one of their so-called retirement periods from Torchwood. They had also occasionally used this particular house for vacations when it was not being used for official business. Jack, Ianto discovered shortly after he had started to live with the older immortal, loved to live near the water, preferably with a beach close. It was not long after that, Ianto discovered why as Jack told him about the Boeshane Peninsula and his childhood. Ianto's own preference was for older homes, one shared by Jack. Ianto figured he liked what had been normal for him during his early years, much like how Jack had once preferred 1940's style clothing for the longest time. It was what Jack felt comfortable with as time went on, and stuck with the style for a very long time. Ianto understood that too, because he still loved a well-cut pinstriped suit over the latest fashions when it came to work clothes.
Latimer was settling in the master suite on the second level, while Carryn was with the children on the beach. Ianto could not understand why the children got excited over seeing the Atlantic Ocean. They lived on TorchWorld, and the planet was mostly ocean, but if it gave them some pleasure during a time when they had lost one of their parents, then he was not going to find the logic of it. Ianto checked the time and decided it wouldn't hurt to close his eyes until it was time for them to head back to Manhattan and continue with business.
Carryn entered the sitting room with the children. The youngest, a little girl named Calliyer, looked up at her with a finger on her lips. Carryn smiled and nodded, then indicated for the children to continue quietly across the room. She watched as they made their way into the hall and up the stairs to join their father. Shaking her head fondly, she went over to the couch and gazed down at her sleeping father. She had noticed him through the glass panels on the veranda and it had looked as if he was sleeping. She was right. Checking her watch, she decided to leave him be for a while and went to find Latimer to confirm the list of things he thought he would want.
Upstairs, she stood by the open door of the master suite. From the sounds, the man was putting the children down for a nap. Each child had been designated their own room but for now, Latimer felt better having all the children with him. She caught Latimer's attention and indicated that she was waiting for him once he was done, then went down the hall to open a door and stand on a veranda, looking out to the water.
Not long after, she heard Latimer join her. He leaned on the twisted iron railing and looked out to the ocean. "They seem to be settling down. Thank you for talking them to the beach for a while. I believe it helped in getting them tired enough to take a nap."
"Children are resilient," Carryn stated, "but that doesn't mean it'll always be easy for them."
Latimer nodded. "I think it hasn't really sunk in for them yet. All they know is that we suddenly went somewhere without PopPop." He sighed heavily. "For all I know, they're thinking Dyleena is going to join us in a few days." He shook his head slowly, a finger rubbing the railing. "Sometimes I find myself thinking that."
"Dad will see that justice comes to the guilty," Carryn stated, the anger in her voice. "At this moment, my brother Ianto should be arriving at TorchWorld to give him a hand."
"I almost pity the individuals responsible." Latimer turned his head to look at Carryn. "Almost, but not quite. It's the children that pains me the most, you know. I mean, I miss him more than you can imagine, but our little ones… they're so young, and Dyleena had so much to give to them. Now they'll go through life without one of their daddies."
"They'll still know him through you," Carryn assured. "It's not the same, I know. But the children will never forget him."
"No, they won't. He was the one who carried them." A warm smile came to the man's face. "Oh, when he found out the operation took and he was pregnant with Koeka…I don't think he was so happy on our binding day. But then, to have a family was the final link in our binding. You see, back on our home world, they're still a bit backward. We left because we'd heard of worlds where we would be allowed to be bound just as if we were male and female. It was forbidden on our world because binding should lead to having children. We figured after a few years of being bound, we would look into adopting in this new, tolerant society. We wanted a big family." He dropped his head, seeming to be lost in thought as he went off track. "We were not finished having children. We planned to have several more." Shaking his head sadly, he hit the railing in frustration. "We thought we were lucky enough to finally be binded. Dyleena lucked out and got that entry level position with Torchwood, working interspecies customs. Then, we heard of men having children and he immediately started to inquire about it. About a year later, we found out he was pregnant with Koeka."
Carryn knew about the broken family's past, but allowed Latimer to talk on, knowing he needed to, and hoping it would help him get through the tragedy. She nearly jumped when she heard her father's voice in her ear, "Where are you, Carryn?" She heard the accusation in his voice.
"We're upstairs, Tad," she replied through her comm unit. "Hall veranda. But be quiet, because the children are taking their nap."
Ianto muttered in Welsh, a language he still remembered even if Welsh itself had changed significantly over time, as he turned off his comm unit. She had been taught the language by him and shook her head at the swearing.
She turned around to find him reaching the landing and starting to cross the hallway to join them.
"You let me sleep again," Ianto accused her.
"At least this time it was all your fault for falling asleep, Tad. That's your body telling you something."
Ianto sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, I know. Once the conference is over, let me check in with your dad or brother and see how things are progressing there. Then I promise you – no, I promise this little one, that I'll go get a couple hours of sleep. Will that do?"
"It'll have to," Carryn conceded, yet still surprised that he gave in that much. Instead of feeling relieved, it only made her start to worry. She decided that she was going to keep a closer look on him. "Tad, you do have your baby monitoring button on, do you?"
Ianto glanced down at the wriststrap. "Oh damn, it somehow turned off. Here, it's on again, so you can tell Isaac to stand down."
"Tad," Carryn chastised, but left it at that, since it appeared that he did turn on the communication so Isaac could monitor his vitals via the wriststrap.
Ianto turned to Latimer. "I wish we could stay here with you, but we do have to head back to the city. Remember, we have a grief councillor here for any of you, if you need. Call me if you can't talk to anyone else." When the other man nodded, he asked, "Is there anything else other than a few changes of clothes that you think you need?"
"Nothing I can think of. The staff has been most efficient, as expected. The kitchen has our favourite foods, and the children have some of their favourite videos. You contributed some of your own children's toys. Everyone has been most kind," Latimer replied.
"Remember, if you need something, ask someone from the house staff and they'll get it for you. Do not leave the grounds and make sure the children do the same," Ianto warned. "Once Carryn and I leave, we'll be activating the security dome that is only to be let down by orders from me, Carryn, or Jack. This is for your own protection."
"It protects my children – Dyleena's children. I will ensure that we stay satisfied within the dome."
"The security dome does include the private beach," Ianto stated. "Only, should you dare to brave the ocean, you can't go out very far before you hit the dome."
"I'm certain any swimming done around here will be in the heated pool," Latimer assured Ianto.
Ianto placed a comforting hand on the other man's shoulder. "Once this is all over, I'll come here to stay for a few days, if you like. I'll most likely be forced to get plenty of rest and relaxation. Hopefully, Jack will be able to join us soon too."
"That would be appreciated, Sean. Thank you. I hope this is over quickly. Jack needs to return well before it's time for the baby to come into the world."
The two men hugged, followed by Carryn hugging Latimer and then Carryn and Ianto left the house, hoping it would not be too long before Ianto and Jack would return along with Darlene, Charlene, and Eric. She decided a nice beach vacation until it was time to deliver the baby would be just what her Tad needed.
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"Ianto, what's wrong?" Danielle asked, looking back at her commander, who sat at the communications station, looking pale.
"I'm patching the course they're allowing us over to the nav station. Just get us down," Ianto snapped, running a hand through his short, dark curls. "Do it as fast as you can." He stood up and pulled down on his blue tunic in a nervous gesture. "I'll be in the back for a few minutes."
The crew asked more questions, but he did not answer any of them as he went through the sliding doors and disappeared from view.
"What the blazing hells was that about?" Danielle asked to the rest of the crew who were trading glances.
Hernnar shrugged and shook his head. "At least he got us clearance to land on TorchWorld. Even if it is halfway across the planet."
"What is going on?" Danielle asked, not expecting an answer.
"Dear Gods," muttered a red-headed woman, Veronica Butler, who was part of Ianto's own security team. "I got a newsfeed."
"What happened?" Danielle demanded.
"There's been an explosion in New Wales City. It took out the Delta section in the shuttle bay section. Direction Jones, um, Jack Jones was last heard from in the bay when it blew," Veronica reported.
"Oh, shit," Hernnar muttered.
"We're getting there faster than possible," Danielle stated, determined.
Hernnar nodded his head and together they worked on bringing the shuttle down. No words needed to be exchanged, and there were only quick looks shared among the crew. They all knew they had just only one objective now. Help their leader and friend find his father.
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