Torchwood Nova Scotia; Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
Luc Sarkisian reviewed drone information. Atmore was secure. From the readings, Namir altered the bubble. The drone couldn't safely land and it was modified to land at Atmore. Nigeria looked clear. Four would send modified maintenance bots, if necessary. He needed the time to revise security and design custom sentinels. Three and Four looked clear. With both offices staffed, raids were unlikely. The Dublin shelter General Williams flagged had movement. The alien was probably making a run for it. He sent a quick note to Kailen to get CCTV of the car and license plate and driver, if possible. The readings from the Blanchardstown Centre were insane. Concentrated Rift energy. It didn't appear to be affecting the area, but he could only guess the affect it would have on Rift abilities. He sent Kailen an urgent message for more detailed area analysis looking for the source of the Rift energy. Drones over London and Liverpool indicated activity at the ports. He sent another message to check CCTV footage for vehicles and license plates. Cardiff information was interesting. Three vans were parked at Cardiff Docks near the warehouse where the body encased in fulgurite was recovered.
Luc reached for his mobile.
"Harkness."
Luc explained the activity. "One of the companies flagged by Liam is a janitorial and maintenance company?"
"Yeah."
"Did you ever determine what failed to come through the Rift?"
"No."
"Despite Torchwood declaring the area safe, there is a safety warning. The building and immediate dock area has not been used since the fulgurite."
"We'll handle it." An alarm sounded in the background.
"I have to go." The call ended.
Torchwood Three; Cardiff, Wales
Anwen Williams checked John's pockets for his Nanogene vial. The small container had been damaged in the attack. If the Nanogenes still worked, she couldn't access them. She dropped it on the floor, frustrated. John was bleeding in multiple places. Basic first aid did not prepare her for combat triage. She sat back with no idea how to help him.
With her wrist-strap, she remote accessed the hub. Summoning one of the stretchers using voice commands was an experience. She didn't think she could open the big door remotely. That would be an insane security problem.
"Jack Harkness."
"Where are you?"
"Tourist office. John's in bad shape. His Nanogene vial is damaged."
"Your mother's worried."
"She can freak out after John's safe in the infirmary."
Calm. John felt weak.
Anwen looked at her blood covered hands. "I don't think I can."
It wasn't long before she heard running footsteps. Uncle Jack appeared in the doorway. Dmitri nudged passed him soon after.
"What happened?" Dmitri asked, scanning John with a portable device from the infirmary.
"I don't know. An alien attacked him in Dublin." Anwen shook her head. "Finding a portal device took time."
"We need a portable Nanogene option," Dmitri said.
The robotic stretcher arrived. She opted for one that didn't play music.
"I need help, Jack."
Anwen noticed the other man as Jack and Dmitri lifted John onto the stretcher. Something about him made her think of Jack. He had an energy signature of some type. It wasn't chronons or Rift energy.
"Who are you?"
"Rex Masterson."
Anwen groaned. "We're letting the CIA in the hub now?"
"He's Torchwood," Jack said.
Rex stepped aside as Dmitri maneuvered the stretcher toward the hub.
"We have a situation at Cardiff Docks," Jack said. "Stay in the hub. Call your mother."
Anwen nodded and headed into the hallway beyond the tourist office. She stopped as she remembered something. "The general needs to secure the mall. It's filled with intense Rift energy." She hesitated. "I crushed the alien that attacked John. It's a clean-up situation."
Torchwood Four; Dublin, Ireland
General Trefor Williams needed information. Once he had a solid target, he would contact Miri. While it was personal, attempting to trigger two unstable Rift abilities in a large building full of people was unacceptable. Whatever his emotions, Global's policy on such actions was solid. The offenders would be found and killed. They didn't offer second changes for mass homicide, even if it failed to kill anyone. Zero tolerance was the best policy for deterrent.
Nova Scotia was evaluating the situation, but their priorities were different. That meant he needed another source of information. Even if Liam had those types of skills, he was with the Doves and Molly. Which left Keara. Her ability was currently unreliable, but the potential remained.
The computer indicated Keara was in the above ground garden. He found her under a potted alien tree. Sunlight filtered through the windows, creating an almost surreal effect. She gripped her hands around her knees and stared unfocused.
"Hey." He crouched next to her.
"The warehouse." Keara's voice was oddly flat. "Let them work."
"What warehouse?"
"Cardiff Dock. Let them work."
The general asked, "Why?"
"They need to complete the elevator."
"What's going on?"
"We're playing chess."
He remembered Miri saying something about Keara having a vision of a chess game with herself. "Why do they need to work?"
"They're pawns. Let them work."
The general nodded. "Who am I talking to?"
She looked at him, her eyes unfocused, tilting her head to one side. "Keara."
He sat on the floor. "Which Keara?"
"All."
Which suggested Other Keara. She was unhinged. "Please release this Keara. She's just a scared kid."
"This is not her fight. The Prophet gave her a better life."
"Please release her."
After a few minutes, she blinked and rubbed her head.
"Do you know what happened?"
Keara hugged herself. "There is more than one me."
"Yeah."
"No. Other Keara and the Keara from your time. I don't know what they're doing."
"Nessa and the girls are back." The general stood. "They're in the big breakroom."
"Why don't I know what they're doing?" She asked.
"They don't want you to."
Cardiff Dock; Cardiff, Wales
Jack Harkness drove the Torchwood van. It had been a long time since he'd worked with Rex. Normally, Gwen spoke to him. They didn't get along during the original situation. After Rex woke immortal, it wasn't any easier. He wasn't one for chats. Although he would talk to Gwen from time to time. Jack needed to tell her Rex needed to talk about South America. The rumors didn't provide details. Unnerving Rex enough for the regret to surface over Vera and Ester meant it was bad.
"What's with the kid?" Rex asked as they left the garage.
"A very long story."
"Anwen's what eleven?"
"Yeah." Jack had no idea how to explain. "She takes after Gwen."
"Right."
Jack parked near the warehouse, wondering if there was more to the location than he knew. What little they understood of the situation came from Morpheus. While his information appeared solid, there was always the question of motivation. Morpheus and his brothers protected their dreamers. Gwen was a means to that end.
"Anything I should know?" Rex asked as they climbed out of the van.
"Do you know what fulgurite is?"
"Sand hit by lightening?"
"Yeah. In April, a man died in the warehouse encased in fulgurite. It had to do with the Rift."
"Gwen was injured on the dock."
"Yeah." Jack could still picture the fulgurite fused to her leg.
Rex walked next to him. "What do the vans have to do with it?"
"A possible connection to the serial killer you were tracking at the time."
"He attacked Gwen. Then she was hurt. Is there a connection?"
Good question. "I don't know."
Working with Rex was different. He had no problem walking up to a warehouse with an unknown number of hostiles. They viewed it the same way. Having survived being stabbed, shot, poisoned and irradiated, not much intimidiated them. He couldn't get Rex killed permanently. One less thing to worry about.
The three vans were parked facing the water. Several men were unloading boxes and items from the back of the vans. From what Jack could see at a distance, several pieces looked Victorian. After what happened to Mercia Tew, he had a bad feeling about it.
"Is that an antique elevator?" Rex viewed the warehouse with binoculars.
Rex handed the binoculars over. "Victorian."
"That means something?"
"We need to get pictures for Dmitri."
