Thank you every one who's R & R'd it's keeping me sane at the moment!
As always i don't own Torchwood or any of its characters although wishful thinking sometimes helps me through the day!)
Chapter 4 - Surprising arrival
"How do you know about us?" Ianto asked.
"I've looked at your faces for the past twenty years now"
He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a battered piece of card and handed it to Ianto.
"This is a photo… I remember it being taken a few months ago when the Doctor and Martha were at the hub. How did you get this?"
"Nearly twenty years ago, I was captain of a small ship called 'the Jupiter'. I was privy to something very strange.. I was carrying an unknown cargo, and passengers… One of which was you… am I correct Captain.."
"Yes I remember… the Europa cargo.."
"So I believe… I can't remember all of what happened, I have gaps in my memory for that.. but before the …. The doctor…. I believe everyone called him that, left he gave me this picture and simply said 'remember the names remember the date you will need them' then he somehow vanished from my ship. I remember getting to America with no cargo and no passengers but very limited memories between collecting the cargo from Liverpool and arriving at New York."
"And Torchwood?"
"Meeting Cornelia was simply a chance encounter, She was looking for something and I happened to be investigating a power problem"
"I boarded at Southampton. I'd heard the rumour of a new Torchwood there. Just checking out the lay of the land. I think it's on Ellis Island. " Cornelia told them.
"Makes sense really. They dealt with Immigration and illegal aliens there, we just deal with Aliens" Ianto remarked dryly.
"Anyway… the power started being drained not long after we left Southampton. Then the first passengers started going missing, reports of ghosts on board, strange crackling and hissing noises and strange ships circling us, the Captain and I simply ended up bumping into each other trying to investigate. He showed me the photo, and using some of the tech I brought with me, I managed to get you here"
"Yes, but you've dragged us from Cardiff in the future, not from 1912 France"
She shrugged, "You're here, that's all we need"
"It's not just steerage passengers disappearing, but now a first class Passenger has gone missing. Colonel Astor is missing. He was walking on the promenade with his wife Madeline, she turned away to speak to someone, both heard this strange hissing noise and when she turned round he was gone. No one saw him disappear and he's defiantly not overboard." Continued the captain
"Who's Colonel Astor" Gwen whispered at Ianto.
"Wealthiest Passenger on the Titanic. Colonel John Jacob Astor built and owned hotels and skyscrapers… Very Controversial. Divorced his wife and went off with an Eighteen year old," he whispered back.
"Captain we need to look around freely, investigate some of these claims" Jack requested.
"Shouldn't be too hard if we're dressed as staff" Gwen suggested
"No. You forget the British class system; we wouldn't have much freedom at all"
"First class can go anywhere and it sounds like its somewhere on first. I've got a horrible feeling I know what it is, and it's not good. If I'm right, it's a weapon, obtained by the Time agency. It gathers power from any source, steam, electricity, even humans. It'll take from whatever is passing. Its explosion doesn't hurt anyone. It simply disrupts the time chain" Jack explained.
"I think I understood only a small part of that" Gwen was slightly confused
"Think of time as a series of chain links, today followed yesterday, tomorrow follows today ad infinitum… An Accelerator will break the links and disrupt them so that yesterday follows tomorrow, or next week, even last year. A planet cannot cope with this and its life cycle dies out. One minute you could be walking on a beach... next you're dinner for a dinosaur. It is possible to turn it off but I have no idea how and I've never heard of one being turned off without causing some damage. How it's got here is another question"
Captain Smith took out his pocket watch to check the time. "I need to go, Duty beckons. What ever you do please consider my passengers, and the name of the company. I don't want anymore disappearances. Miss Gwen, Miss Cornelia, would you like to join me at tea? Captains table?"
"Thank you that would be lovely, but I don't think I would be suitably dressed for the occasion." Gwen replied rather depreciatingly.
"I can help you there Gwen, I'm sure I can liberate some clothing from the ladies here..."
Gwen looked hopeful at Jack and Ianto, "I don't suppose it could hurt? And I do rather standout"
"We need to get information and find this Accelerator – not buck for a social promotion" Jack replied
"Don't be a sour puss. If it's in the first class area we may be able to gain some information one way or another... He never was one for formal occasions. He prefers to dress down instead of up" Cornelia poked Jack in the ribs, her brown eyes twinkled at some past memory.
"Dress down and right off!" Ianto murmured under his breath.
Jack heard the comment and arched his eyebrows suggestively. "Later, you'll need to think of a safeword!"
"Why don't we mingle with the men and let the ladies do whatever ladies do. It'll be a start on getting any information" Ianto suggested.
"As long as I don't have to go on deck and see the sea"
"There is the smoking room. – No ladies. No windows. You'll be fine there"
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Whilst Cornelia ensured Gwen was suitably dressed, Jack and Ianto ventured
down a level into the gentleman's room. They were amazed at the opulence of it, gilded lighting and mahogany panels, stained glass was back lit. Soft leather chairs hid many of the occupants. A steward showed them to an area where they could be seated and brought whiskeys for them both. Jack's appearance caused many glances, as did Ianto's immaculate suit.
They sat in silence listening to snatches of conversation floating through the area. A tall impressively dressed man waked towards them. His smile just visible under his moustache.
"Gentlemen, How do you do? I'm Bruce Ismay, Chairman of the White Star line. What do you think of my Ship?" He held out a hand for them to shake
"Impressive beyond doubt. Captain Jack Harkness and Mr Ianto Jones, My Colleague"
"Ah I should have guessed a man of military bearing. And what brings you on board the Titanic?"
Jack smiled "Who would want to miss the amazing Titanic? Tell me what makes the press believe she is unsinkable?"
Ianto rolled his eyes "I'm sorry, the captain gets a little nervous on ships"
"No need to be on this one Captain. The designer is probably the best person to speak to regarding the whys and how's, but yes, she is completely unsinkable, and I hope to prove shortly, the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic and regain the Blue Ribbon"
"Now that would be something to see" replied Ianto, "I understand that her top speed is 22 knots, didn't the Kaiser Wilhelm Der Gross take the ribbon at 22.5 knots?" asked Ianto?
"Our advertised Speed is 22 knots, I wanted to surprise the competition, besides we have a 'secret' that may help us beat the competition" Ismay smiled.
"Why don't you gentlemen join us?" Ismay swept his arm round to indicate a few men sat in a huddle by the fireplace.
As they walked over Ismay introduced them to his companions,
Thomas Andrews – Designer of this wonderful ship, Isador Strauss, Owner of Macy's department store in New York, Major Archibald Butt, and James Joseph Brown"
There was a little hint of distain as he introduced Mr Brown,
"New Money" he whispered theatrically in way of explanation.
"So how do you aim to break the Blue Ribbon? Surely steam can only power so much?" Jack asked directly
"Talk about subtle" Ianto sighed.
"We've been trying to get that out of Ismay since we came on board, he's always played his cards close to his chest" Replied Brown
"Only so you can't steal it and patent it. It was quiet by accident; it was discovered in the dockyards where she was built. "
"That would be the ones in Ireland?"
"Yes Harland and Wolf in Belfast"
Ianto leaned over to Jack, "I heard there was a small rift there before the 1800's but your 'Friend' managed to close it somehow"
"Anything come through?"
"Not sure. The records weren't kept very well"
"Captain" Major Butt interjected, "Captain of what? Which regiment?"
"I'm a flyer, not an army man, although I have been close to many battles"
"Ah those flying machines... Won't catch on mark you. Have you done much flying?
"More than you can imagine and flown further than you would believe possible but most of its secret work so I can't really explain much more"
"And you Mr Jones?"
"Sorry I can't say much either"
"Ah… I think I understand... Spying and all that"
"Something like that" agreed Ianto
"It's rather unusual for an American to be involved in Europe." He remarked on Jacks accent.
"Unfortunately there's an ill wind brewing which will end up being more than just a scuffle which Brittan can suppress"
"Nonsense! Remember the Great in Great Brittan!" Major Butt came across very pompous. Ianto hid his smile behind his drink.
Suddenly they heard the blare of a horn. A cry from the deck could be heard. Jack and Ianto pushed through the crowds gathered down one side of the ship… scanning the ocean they and the 200 people viewing the scene saw the top of a U-boat's conning tower. The German war cross showing proudly on top. Water gushed off as the submarine raised itself from the depths of the water.
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Thank you next one may take a little longer to complete as I'm mixing two pov's..
Amazon
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