Mae'r Chwaer Hyll; Cardiff, Wales

Captain Jack Harkness entered the familiar pub with Ianto. They needed a quiet night. The cult situation was a ticking time bomb. The weapon of planetary mass destruction was contained for the moment under as much debris as the Liverpool fire department could manage. The firefighters even found broken concrete to pile on top. Anwen reported someone using a portal device and Torchwood confirmed it.

"I'll get menus." Ianto headed for the bar. He sounded like he was feeling better. That was something at least.

Jack claimed the same table where he'd met John a couple months earlier. He placed his back to the wall and viewed the entire room. No obvious concerns. A

Then a man wearing a black t-shirt, jeans and dusty boots entered the pub and headed straight for him. He looked South American, probably Brazilian. "Jack." He sat across from him. "This is very strange." His accent was mixed, but sounded closer to South African. "Twenty years and there is no recognition."

"Aman Oliveira."

"Yes."

"Why are you here?" If what John said was true, the other man had him at a disadvantage.

"To correct an injustice."

"The injustice includes a clockwork god?"

"Excuse me?" Oliveira looked genuinely confused. Without knowing him, it was hard to be sure.

"The Liverpool vault. There is an ancient, alien device capable of destroying the solar system."

That seemed to add to the confusion. "This is one of Captain Hart's stories?"

"No. I scanned it myself."

"That is not possible."

Jack motioned Ianto over. "In twenty years have I ever lied about a WMD?"

"No."

"It has to be destroyed before it gets lose."

"Where would such a device come from?"

Jack had wondered that himself. "The alien race that tried to send a warship through the Rift a couple months ago."

"Tried?" That confused him more. "Anwen is already in control of the Rift?"

"Torchwood destroyed it."

Oliveira's expression said do I look stupid. "The last time Torchwood opened the Rift, a demon emerged." A beat. "You would not risk it."

Ianto handed Jack the menus and stood next to him.

"What injustice are you here to correct?"

"I did what needed to be done. The self-righteous head of global would not tolerate what she perceived as a threat to her authority."

"And General Williams?"

"You have been discussing the future with Hart?"

"He mentioned a fist fight."

"Not me." Oliveira trailed off while watching his expression. "You had a fist fight with General Williams? Over what?"

"You."

Oliveira laughed. "Hart did not explain your connection?"

"No."

"General Williams is your son. Physically, he is your twin. More tactics. Less rogue." Oliveira was amused. "The Torchwood Space Fleet uniforms are based on the World War II RAF." Oliveira smiled. "You did not physically fight with Trefor Williams."

"What do you want?"

Oliveira narrowed his eyes and laced his hands together on the table. "An understanding. I don't know what Hart said about me, or even why you would believe him. My conflict with Torchwood was ideology."

"You want an army?"

"Torchwood was losing, Jack." He sighed. "Corporations created armies and were destroying the planet. They fought each other. They invited aliens here that Torchwood had to fight off. Is that the world you want?" Oliveira took a moment to compose himself. "If I wanted power, I could have it. With what I know of my father's business, I could move in and take over before he gets himself killed. I know enough about organized crime in Africa, I could wage a bloody war of domination and win." He shook his head. "What I want is to give Torchwood a chance to save the world before its too late."

Oliveira stood. "Ask Hart how many Torchwood foot soldiers died in 2049."

Jack watched him leave wondering how much of what Olivera said was true. He could ask John, but he wasn't sure he could believe him either.

Ianto sat after Oliveira left. "He doesn't hate you."

"No." Jack explained to Ianto what he missed.

"Which one of your psychotic exes do you believe?"

Jack smiled. "Jealous?"

"Of the one who tried to blow up Cardiff or the one who wants to destroy the world?" Ianto shook his head slightly. "Dating you is never boring. Insane, but not boring."

Jack reached across the table and set a hand over Ianto's.

Oliveira stepped out of the bar. Seeing Jack hurt. Whatever he expected, it was not Ianto Jones. Jack probably thought Anwen returned him as some kind gesture. Oliveira suspected it had more to do with him. She wanted to prevent their relationship. Or maybe, she expected him to kill the competition. That was something Jack would not forgive. Nor recover from. A ridiculous situation for another day.

Liverpool was the priority.