Red Dragon Centre; Cardiff, Wales

Monday, August 8, 2021

With everything, it was decided Ianto Jones would meet with Dr. Corse. He tried asking Owen about his experience with the doctor, but he insisted on asking questions about the retcon incident instead. Ianto reviewed the information from last December, took notes, and hoped there wouldn't be a problem.

He entered the coffee shop across Bute Place from the Millennium Centre. Mid afternoon between rushes had a short line and few people sitting. Dr. Corse waited near the door to the center with her back to a wall. Ianto received his order and walked over.

"Doctor Corse," he greeted, "I am Ianto Jones."

She motioned at the chair across from her. "Prynhawn da."

Ianto smiled as he sat. "You speak Welsh?"

"Enough to get into trouble."

That was unexpected. While it could be simple manners, he wondered why. "Have you had any problems with your investigation?"

"No more than usual."

That made him wonder more. The city attorney still argued that PD could not assist Torchwood without a court order or a warrant. Her reasoning appeared to be more complicated than she claimed. After the fertility clinic and the transportation company, the issue should have been resolved. For the same reason, there shouldn't have been a problem to begin with. If Dr. Corse wasn't having problems, she had connections.

"Any progress on finding the source?"

"No." She sipped her coffee. "There might be a connection to the industrial park you mentioned. Based on what I found at the port in Dublin, exposure was accidental." She was uncertain. "I have been unable to determine is why anyone would intentionally salvage the parasites. Or maintain them. Even as a weapon, there are simpler, easier options that are harder to trace. With fewer risks."

"Fear?"

"I doubt it." Pause. "It's a puzzle. The aliens kept them aboard their ship for a reason. The only detail that stands out is biological composition. They have very strange properties. Nothing comparable in the Torchwood database."

"Weapon, drug, folk medicine…"

"Not for humans. I checked on known aliens. I doubt a Hoix could eat them."

If there was an industrial park connection, it could be tied to the cases they were investigating. "Genetic engineering?"

"No. Exposure permanently damages the host. It would complicated harvesting biological material. Neither the parasite nor it's byproducts have any obvious value."

Torchwood Three

Gwen Cooper entered Jack's office. Secrets were nothing new. And questions she had no idea how to ask weren't either. Seeing Jack and John together made her wonder if she should say something. They had a history Jack wouldn't talk about. The conflict with Ianto hadn't been completely resolved yet, although he and Jack were trying to make it look that way. Given that John was the only other member of Jack's culture or the Time Agency available, reconnecting wasn't that surprising. Reviving their friendship had the potential to cause a number of problems. Depending on how bad things were with Ianto, rekindling the past relationship might appeal to Jack. Even after everything. She knew first hand the bad decisions a person could make when the stress became overwhelming and understanding was needed.

"We have confirmation the other four people killed in London were associated with Moss-Probert. They were the fake bomb squad that removed evidence of alien technology from the destroyed facility."

Jack nodded. "Any suspects?"

Gwen hesitated and Jack looked up. "Torchwood and PD still question whether you were involved. No witnesses. No evidence. CCTV for the area is fried."

"I wouldn't have left bodies."

Tosh had said much the same thing. Not reassuring. "It could have been retaliation or clean up. We don't have enough information."

Jack nodded. "Any local updates?"

"Three small businesses closed suddenly over the weekend. One did business with Moss-Probert, the fertility clinic and the transportation company."

"Anyone we can talk to?"

"No." The conversations she'd had with a few other local businesses had her wondering. "Half the businesses I called asking for information referred me to their solicitors. For no obvious reason. Cattrel Industries went so far as to say that they would only provide information to legitimate law enforcement."

"I spoke to the London office. The problem with database access is specific to us. IT went so far as to suggest that we needed office staff with computer experience."

Gwen grimaced. "Ianto was blamed?" Unless the person was unaware of their relationship, and it was often viewed as joke in London, the insult was intentional.

"HR asked about our relationship and whether it started before or after I hired him."

"What does targeting Ianto accomplish other than anger you?"

"I don't know."

Gwen had an idea, but she had no idea how to say it. "The future needed a way to ensure you would accept John. If Ianto left because of your view of sex…"

Jack stared at her a moment. "Ianto and I worked it out."

No you didn't, Gwen thought. Even Anwen could see it and said something. "It's a coincidence?"

John Hart needed a distraction from the insanely complicated energy distribution puzzle. Repairing a mini maintenance bot sounded like a simple task. He used the work table in Ianto's office. One complication after another made it embarrassing. He used his wrist-strap to run yet another diagnostic. Then realized it hadn't malfunctioned. It was reprogrammed. To do what?

The door opened and Anwen entered followed by a full-sized maintenance bot. She had her wrist-strap open and was giving it remote orders. That answered one question. "Uncle Jack showed me how to use it. Somewhat." She motioned at her wrist. "So I don't accidentally take over the hub or something."

"What did you reprogram this one to do?" John motioned to the bot.

Anwen smiled. "To override the Internet nanny on tablets and my laptop."

John laughed. If she was older, he would have thought of it, assuming she wanted access to porn. "Horse websites?" He had no idea why a nanny would block those.

"And cowboy movies made this century."

"I need to show you how to avoid conflicting instructions."

Anwen nodded. "I have an idea for the bigger one."

"Where are you supposed to be?"

"The garden." She grinned. "I redirected my GPS implant through the computer. If mum checks on me, it shows I'm in the garden. And I get a notification."

John laughed more. That sounded like him at her age. "What do you want to do with the bot?"

"Add security options. If it could offer a distraction, noise, throw something, it could distract an intruder. Or attack one."

The humor faded. "You're worried about Owen?"

"I'm worried about the next threat."