Chapter 10

Jeshurun Prime had one habitable continent, about the size of Australia; otherwise it was ocean speckled by small deserted islands which were used by the inhabitants for national festivals and rented by the well-off for private parties or the occasional business convention. Its capital city, New Jerusalem, was buffeted by ocean on one side and had a year round climate like summers in San Francisco or Palermo. The city's layout was similar to what one would find in most modern Earth urban areas – a large glitzy city surrounded by small suburbs connected to corporate centers and industrial plants with farm land connecting the regions. However, getting off their transport, new off-world arrivals would be surprised by the cleanness of the air, which was not polluted by fossil fuels, coal mining, or billions of "traces" of toxic admissions. Instead, areas are strewn with solar panels, hydro-electrical dams, and windmills. "I bet these people don't leave their lights and telly on all night," Gwen said in Rhys' direction, making him blush shamefully.

The airport was smaller than most the travelers were used to because it only handled intergalactic flights. The general populace and the commercial shipping exclusively used high speed rail (which operated at speeds up to 425mph/684kph) or hydropowered buses and trucks. Only government officials operated private cars and could only do so for official business. Jack, Sarah, and Aliyah left the ship first in such a government vehicle as they were to meet with the Minister of War who had an intelligence update. The others took a ten minute ride bus ride to the hotel.

Ianto's sister, Rhiannon, and her husband, Johnny, watched with gapping mouths at the scenario both in and outside the bus. Men and women dressed androgynously in long beige robes and head wraps like Bedouin men from the late 19th Century of the Ottoman Empire. The gender of some could be distinguished by a closely cropped beard or mustache but that number was few and far between. Johnny whispered to his wife probably louder than the situation suggested, "I don't remember everyone dressing like this on that Travel Channel show about the Holy Land."

Their children were similarly amazed. "Mommy, why are there two moons in the sky?" asked Rhiannon's daughter, Misha. Rhiannon gave her brother an I-know-something-is-funny-about-this-place look which made Ianto sigh.

Gwen leaned into his ear and said softly, "Don't worry. We brought plenty of retcon." She smiled weakly at him thinking that maybe he too wanted to stop lying to his family.

"Hopefully the hotel will be normal," he responded.

The hotel did distract by its luxury and endless amenities. The children's room was stocked full with the latest toys and video gaming options. Gwen and Rhys' room had all the comforts every pregnant couple would desire including a sunken foot massager in the bathtub and a private masseur available day or night. Ianto's room however, euphemistically called the "Preparation Suite", was more utilitarian. It was organized prior to the guest's arrival to contain the practical items needed to ready oneself for some significant event or activity. Since Jewish weddings were a long process, it was assumed that Ianto needed rest after the flight and so soft, cotton pajamas were laid across the king size bed next to the remote control for a 52" flat screen television. The quilt was turned down revealing properly fluffed pillows atop of creamy chocolate colored crisp sheets. Ianto walked across the plush, brown carpet to the Mahoney closet doors to begin organizing his items. Inside was a milk white silk robe, similar in style to the ones worn by the general population. The red large hat and shoe boxes on the floor underneath had a turban and sandals that matched the color of the robe. He touched all the items and suddenly felt his clothes didn't belong in their presence and so, did not unpack his wardrobe, opting instead to put his suitcases on the other end of the closet.

Ianto stood, considering whether he needed to retrieve his grooming bag and Jack's clothes, when he heard giggling. He turned around quickly, pulling his revolver from its holster. "What the fuck?" he exclaimed when he realized that behind him were three cute young women – well he was certain at least the two of them with unwrapped waist long hair were women while the one with shoulder length hair was a mystery. "What's this?" he said, lowering his gun slightly.

"You are Mr. Jones?" asked one of them – she had wavy black hair with green eyes. She would have passed as Ethiopian on Earth and for a moment she reminded him of Lisa. He was briefly embarrassed of being aroused by such a memory on the day before his wedding.

"Who are you three?" he asked as a way to distract himself. Even as his gun went down, Ianto's dick went up.

The brunette with the olive colored skin and brown eyes stepped forward, "We are your wedding gift." She stepped in front of the Black girl to stand devilishly close. She took the gun from his hand, her soft skin and sandalwood perfume made him shiver slightly. She giggled again, noticing how he was responding to her, "I'm Arela." She moved to Ianto's right side and motioned her partner to come to his left, "This is Hadasah."

As Arela wrapped her arms around him, she gently grasped his ass, as did Hadasah on the other side. "We are here to help you prepare for the wedding, both through the night, into the morning prayers, and your cleansing immediately before the ceremony," said Hadasah. Both ladies had accents with the sing-song quality he always liked.

"Cleansing?" he was beginning to lose his composer. "I've been showering and dressing myself for quite some time," he said while trying to breathe steady. "Did Aliyah send you?" This only served to make the ladies giggle and caress him more.

The third "gift" was more serious than the others, "We are sent by Mr. Harkness but have years of experience and training in the art of preparing partners for the wedding." It was at this point that Ianto recognized the fact that this one was male. His accent however was American and he had blue eyes with blonde hair. It was just like Jack to send an incomplete substitute of himself.

"So, 'gift', do you have a name?" By this time, he was standing in front, holding Ianto's swollen dick firmly through the trousers.

"I am Galron," he said. "And Mr. Harkness has a message for you." Galron leaned into Ianto, cupped his face firmly with his free hand while still holding Ianto's cock with the other. He began kissing Ianto, who initially refused to open his mouth or respond fully. But his cock betrayed him again and his hips began grinding against the man's hand. The ladies watched on with eager grins and quiet moans, which undid him completely. Ianto's mouth opened slightly and accepted the man's tongue. The sudden acquiescence startled the male gift. Galron pulled away for just a moment then looked into Ianto's aroused, half closed eyes as if startled by some revealed secret. Like regaining a connection to some secret mission, he pulled Ianto close to him again and placed his lips at Ianto's ear, "Mr. Harkness said to tell you, 'enjoy'".

After a fabulous bath and a foot massage, Gwen happily gave Rhys a mind numbing blowjob, which quickly sent him to sleep. Shortly thereafter, her mobile rang with Jack's voice on the other end, "I've sent a car for you. We've got more intel."

"Okay," she replied. "We just got in. I need a few minutes to get dressed. Is Ianto coming too?"

"No," he deftly avoided her first statement. "Finish up with Rhys and get over here."

She quickly dismissed her irritation at Jack's lack of interest because she was slowly coming to the conclusion that she had no right to it. Instead, she woke Rhys up and instructed him to fuck her madly. He happily complied.

Gwen arrived at the Ministry of War and Intergalactic Affairs an hour later. "My compliments to Rhys! Your glow is particularly strong this day," teased Jack. Gwen rolled her eyes and walked passed him into the meeting room similar to the one at Torchwood Tel Aviv.

General Ashtam was a middle-aged, balding, portly man with an intense continence that overpowered what would have been a kind disposition. He seemed to like Jack Harkness but offered much reverence to Aliyah. "The rift activity on the Homeworld is increasing, according to our people on Earth and the activity is spreading to the other portals."

"Activity at other portals?" inquired Gwen. "I was only aware of rifts in the UK and the empire's former colonies."

"That was true until the 1970s," answered Aliyah, "when the Daleks attempted another invasion of Earth. They set up artificial rifts in two U.S. cities, one in Moscow, and another just outside of Beijing." Sarah pressed a button and a clear, see through computer screen lifted offering an image of the Earth. Aliyah continued, "Since that time, other alien creatures have set up rifts in under developed countries, mostly in Africa. They figure that the region's instability would make it ideal for clandestine transports ." She took a sip of the tea given to her by Sarah. "However, these were unsuccessful for the very reason they choose those locations – appearance by anything that was not immediately recognized as human and part of their tribal affiliation brought immediate destruction, no time for questions or integration when riches in diamonds, gold, and precious minerals are concerned. Soon these sites were abandoned – until now."

Jack added, "Each one has seen increased activity but nothing coming through – like gates opening and closing for no reason."

"Are we the only ones monitoring things then?" asked Gwen.

"The Chinese dismiss it because nothing has ever come through their rift and they are too paranoid to have an organization more powerful than the central committee," said Jack. "The American's Torchwoods only share their secrets when it is to their benefit or when they can look the best. And the Russians are too busy raping what's left of their country and figure they are too vast to be worth the bother by another world."

"Brilliant, just us and the Israelis, eh?" Gwen pushed hair from her face and noted the flutter in her belly – a new sensation of motherhood which led her to wonder if the baby sensed the pending danger too. "Okay, now what?"

"We keep to our plan and continue to watch," said Ashtam, "It is likely that they will attack here first anyway."

"Why?"

Sarah walked over and handed Gwen the latest, translated intelligence report which clarified something of Stratton and company's plans. "They believe they can bring about the biblical revelation through designing and introducing the Messiah."

"How can he do that?" asked Gwen.

"That's what we want you to find out," answered Aliyah. "If they are going to strike, it is likely to start during the wedding, when they believe we are distracted."

"Rhys and I are going to miss the wedding?"

"You will stay here at the ministry with Sarah to monitor rift activity around both planets."

Gwen's was irritated, "And Rhys? I'm sure the enemy will be watching closely. Won't it look suspicious if I am not with him?"

Aliyah noted the hostility in Gwen's voice. "Yes, we have already detected three spies likely arriving for the wedding reception."

"So why don't we arrest and interrogate them?"

"In good time," Aliyah tried to reassure Gwen but knew she was failing badly. "We have people watching them. I'm hoping to track them to their handlers." Aliyah sat in a chair at a table while an attractive blonde with big tits bounced into the room like a confident runway model at a New York opening. "This is Leah," she said while punching some buttons on the flat keyboard. "She will escort Rhys to the wedding and reception."

"No, you've got to be bloody kidding . . . "

"I'm not," Aliyah's said.

"We captured another set of spies two weeks ago," interjected Ashtan. "One of the partners didn't respond to the 'typical' questioning techniques."

"You mean one of them died?"

"Considering the potential lethality of the situation," the Minister answered with some reserve, "my men may have been more 'enthusiastic' than what department policy instructs."

"Okay, it's isn't like I don't get the critical nature of the matter. But why me?"

Jack thought he could ease Gwen's irascibility, "I recommended you. You've got a nice touch with people and aliens alike – your approach makes a nice balance to my assertive nature." He gave a sly grin and leaned into her ear to whisper, "Anyway, we all know how hard it will be for you to give me up!"

Wrong move on Jack's part – Gwen's face turned red and she shouted – proving that Shakespeare was right, The lady do protest too much. "You really do think you're the center of the fucking universe, that it is all about you? Brilliant!"

He hadn't noticed that her attraction for him was more intensive, more profound than his to her. So Gwen's response shocked and confused Jack, leaving him uncharacteristically hushed.

"Please! This wedding is a diversion not a ruse," respond an exasperated Aliyah. "We've talked about this before, Gwen – a relationship with Jack would have been impossibly foolish for you. You made your decision and complaining about it now is nothing short of ridiculous. I saw pictures of your dance with Jack at your wedding – there is no reason for this ceremony to rub salt into a wound you've recreated."

Gwen snapped, her tone almost threatening, "Rhys is my husband. I don't want to lie to him, trick him."

Aliyah was nonplussed, "After all you did – the number of times you cheated on Rhys? Tell me, don't you think you owe him?" She snapped her fingers then pointed at Leah, whose face and body transformed instantly to look exactly like Gwen. "Besides, he will not realize it isn't you."

"Don't worry Ma'am," Leah said, "I will look after him – keep him safe."

Tears welled up in her eyes, as much from shame as anything else. "I'm sure you will," Gwen acquiesced.