Terrance neared The Serpentine, the large lake in the center of Hyde Park. He would take a few steps then sweep the area with the meter looking for trace energy similar to the reading at Torchwood. With the vast technology at the center they ought to be able to pinpoint the location more easily.
He hadn't been working for Torchwood for very long. Six months to be precise, but he heard stories. Hell, every morning he used a teleporter. It was the only way to get into the underground location. It's what kept infiltrators out. Bit of an eye scan, bit of a teleport.
So why was he, along with a hundred other soldiers, doing ground scans on foot? It wasn't like he couldn't use the overtime, he reminded himself. Another month and he would be a father. Director Tyler paid them very well, with benefits, and time off for new fathers, something not many companies would do.
Shelia was already putting the nursery together, something she wasn't supposed to do in her condition, but she'd always been rubbish at doing what she was told. Something he loved about her and had loved about her since they met in high school. Was it only two years ago? It seemed like they'd been together forever, but then maybe that was the way when you found someone who was the better part of you.
"Co-shhh-el Wal-shhh,"
His walkie talkie blared through static interference. He pulled it off his jacket.
"Yes?" he asked.
"We-shhhh Ge-shhh Ferance."
"There seems to be some sort of interference."
"Re-shhhh back."
"Say again?"
He glanced around. Darkness was settling quickly. There was some sort of interference, but he couldn't make out what it might be. Static greeted him from the walkie talkie.
"Hang on."
He took a couple steps to his right hoping to find better reception. His arm bumped...a green light filled the area radiating up and around in the shape of a space ship. Wait.
"I found something," he said into the walkie talkie.
Rose hurried into the communication room.
"Rose," Pete said, looking up.
"Dad, what's going on?" she asked, all Torchwood soldier, even if she was wearing a dress and heels. Something she knew she wouldn't live down, at least from the looks she got as she hurried through the halls, but that was a worry for another time.
"We lost communication with Corporal Walters."
"When?" she inquired, ushering Mike out of the way and then taking his seat at the keyboard.
"About fifteen minutes ago," Pete said.
"There was some sort of interference and then nothing," Mike added.
"Where was he?" Rose inquired as her fingers flew across the keyboard, intent on filtering out as much of the interference as she could.
"Hyde Park, near The Serpentine."
Hyde Park was huge. The Serpentine narrowed it down, but not enough. Terrance was new. About six months out. She'd talked to him a few times over the past few months. His wife was expecting a baby next month. If anything happened to him she'd never forgive herself. She should've been there, not off gallivanting with some bloke. What was she thinking?
Static burst from the speakers for a moment, startling the entire room.
"Terrance?" Rose asked.
She waited. The static died down, but there was no reply.
"Terrance?"
"Yes." Corporal Walters answered.
Relief flooded through her.
"Are you all right?"
"Of course."
There was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind, but she ignored it.
"What happened?"
"Nothing happened."
Obviously something happened.
"What was the interference?"
"What interference?"
She paused. He had to have heard the static, same as her.
"You were cut off for a good fifteen minutes."
"I don't know."
His answers seemed strange. Then again he was new. This was his first time in the field. Maybe it was too much.
"You don't know what cause it?"
"No. There's nothing here."
"Did you get any readings?"
"None."
No readings, well at least there was that. The rest of the soldiers should be reporting back soon.
"All right. Come back in then."
"I will come back in."
She turned the mic off and then stood up. There was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind, but she could worry about that later. First she needed to take a look at those readings while she waited for the others to report in.
"Let's have a look at those readings," she said, catching her dad's gaze.
"I have the readout in my office," Pete replied, leading the way into the hall.
Bother Mine closed his eyes connecting the link from himself to the others. I have been asked to return to the place where the technology is stored. If he is there I will find him.
Standard Disclaimer.
Thank you to all my brilliant readers!
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