Torchwood Four; Dublin, Ireland
General Trefor Williams reviewed reports. Russell Lake's involvement generated more questions than answers. It could mean that some portion of Moss-Probert was still operating, that Lake was part of Beaupre's black op network, or Lake's involvement was a red herring. Whatever the case, tracing him was currently impossible.
Liam tracked down his friend Locke which led to his source of mushrooms. They turned out to be actual 'shrooms. The general improved his connection to local law enforcement by handing over a major drug bust without asking for credit. But it didn't get them any closer to the dealer who provided Jeannette with drugs.
The CN energy had already faded, but Jeannette was in no condition to answer questions. She even agreed to talk to Bree on video conference. His original assessment had been correct. Jeannette was not a danger to herself or anyone else under normal circumstances. They did learn something useful from the situation. Jeannette could recognize and determine the strength of CN. She could also learn to control the Rift ability, if she had to. Which was probably the motivation of the person or people who set her up.
Using criteria his mother and Ianto developed, he'd been unable to find a CN producer in the area. If it was the Sisters, they were good at hiding their secrets. He hoped they weren't keeping captive reptiles. The weaker version of CN suggested they had genetically altered dragons. Which were sickly and didn't live long after hatching. The remains were used to create more.
The general looked up at a knock on the open doorway. "I had an idea." Liam looked uncertain.
"Come in."
"We're looking for evidence that a women's rights group is operating in the area?"
"Yeah."
"I haven't had any luck tracking drug dealers through club contacts." Liam sat and handed him a tablet across the desk. "There is a weird charity. It's supposedly a Saint Philomena group offering assistance for families with young children. The public information fits a Catholic charity even one run without a connection to a church. But I'm hearing rumors about a domestic violence shelter with divorce assistance, relocation, and free condoms."
"That sounds like the Sisters. We need to start checking for vigilante activity." The general sighed. They had to much work.
"Is there some reason Nessa can't call the Sisters in Birmingham and ask?"
"That could work." The general hadn't thought of it.
His mobile rang. "Williams."
"General Williams, this is Eryn is Nova Scotia. Luc is reviewing his notes and conclusions about the various devices and Four. There is a possibility he was wrong."
"How bad?"
"The problem could be Four instead of the device outside the Red Dragon. Four has the ability to transport people. It could be related to Armore."
"I need to speak to Luc now."
Escaping Ianto proved more difficult than usual. Anwen Williams sat on the floor in the garden texting with Wynne and Teleri. Wynne's mum bought her a make-up kit and a questionable skirt she didn't want. Teleri's father delcared she wouldn't wear make-up until she was eighteen and out of the house. Like Wynne, Anwen didn't care about make-up or silly clothes. But it gave her ideas for annoying her mother after they had dad back. Wynne sent her a picture of the skirt. Anwen couldn't help but laugh, and replied "leggings." Which inspired her to save the photograph. She would show it to Ianto later and ask for one like it. His argument against it would be hilarious.
She was replying to a celebrity picture Teleri sent when her wrist-strap indicated an announcement. She flipped it open and listened. "Computer, Global Command Authority Anwen Williams, remote access Arctic Observatory, run diagnostic." Uncle Jack had her deactivate the facility.
Anwen quickly texted Wynne and Teleri, telling them her mom was insisting on chores. They would sympathize and not ask for details. Which worked. Lying meant remembering what she told them. They wouldn't believe the truth.
After a quick chat with her uncle, she headed for the conference room. Given the Observatory's connection to what happened in Southeast Asia, it was likely Uncle Jack would need her to do something. Her future self had made sure she couldn't hand over control. Anwen was sure it had something to do with the essence, as it called itself, in her wrist-strap. She wasn't sure what was worse: the telekinetic tantrums or the control freak tendencies.
Jack Harkness reluctantly left Ianto with Bree. Disarming him had been necessary, but always added to the anxiety. Bree didn't understand that Ianto's insistence on carrying it was based on past experience. The only way she was going to understand was first hand experience and he hoped it didn't happen. She'd been through enough.
He headed for the conference room while the hub downloaded information about the Arctic Observatory to a tablet. He already knew the basics. Bryer Deselle had somehow acquired a device, from Nigeria according to future Aman. Nigeria had containment boxes capable of transporting it. After failing to understand the device, and Luc's written information on quantum entanglement, he tried to get Luc's assistance. At some point after that, he transported the device to the island south of Vietnam.
What they'd been unable to determine was how he was connected to Moss-Probert and whether or not he was still alive. Deselle worked with a four man team. The other three scientists were confirmed dead. All died in Canada within a week of the Southeast Asia situation. Deselle ideally died during Miriam's assault, but the Refuge hadn't provided information about the dead. With no active cases, and no idea where to look, the investigation hadn't been a priority.
With Russell Lake as a potential connection between Beaupre and Moss-Probert, they had to consider the possibility that Deselle providing the device to affect the Rift was more than just greed. He would need to attempt to question Talbot again. They needed answers.
The door opened and Anwen walked in. "According to the diagnostic, the Observatory reactivated itself."
"How?"
Anwen shook her head. "Some type of computer preset."
"Is it secured?"
"My best guess is no." Anwen sat at the table. "I tried to take control. I'm not positive it worked." She hesitated. "You need to ask the general if it was destroyed before changes were made. Otherwise someone overrode Global's master control."
"I need to talk to John." He might have had experience with a rogue Torchwood office. The Duchess in the India office was the most recent he'd dealt with in decades and it was ideally a very different situation.
"John's with Ken."
"You let him out?" Jack asked rhetorically. "Why?"
"John's having problems. He's afraid of me." Anwen hesitated. "He needs someone to talk to who understands."
"He won't talk to me."
Anwen sighed. "I know you were involved with him at some point. He still loves you."
"He told you?"
"Not intentionally." She tapped the side of her head. "I got an image of you kissing John while I was connected to him at Four."
Jack reluctantly reached for his mobile. "What's his number?" When John first moved into the building, Ianto had actually been jealous for awhile. There were to many complications with trying to reestablish the friendship. Ianto's latest episode said he needed to be more careful until they found a way to work out their relationship issues.