Near Victoria Park; Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada

Azrael walked through the dark woods with a growing list of questions. The mauled body was the least of it. He reactivated the mainframe from his universe or alternate timeline and asked Idrissa to run searches. The fake group suicide reminded Azrael of one of his first cases. When he saw Canada the first time, it was beyond foreign. Five adults were dead. A six-year-old girl was missing. Alien artifacts found on-site suggested a Torchwood situation. Human-trafficking was also a possibility.

He'd been very different then. The version of Jack he knew found him in Africa. After Kailen's death, money and power meant very little. They'd lost their Eryn long before that. Azrael had nothing to live for. Somehow he became Torchwood's resident expert on organized crime.

After Miracle Day, it was obvious that Torchwood wasn't the only organization with a historical interest in aliens and the unexplained. But they had no idea there were groups older with more knowledge and fewer ethics. As bad as the original possibilities, it was much worse.

He was in charge of the Nigerian facility before he realized it originated from a different organization. The Templar Vaults under London reminded him of the group he encountered in Canada. They were similar to some depictions in cult films.

When Azrael found the entrance to the underground structure, he felt a small amount of relief. Whatever situation Bobby escaped from, it wasn't what he was concerned about finding.


Torchwood Nova Scotia

Eryn Sylla stood in the bedroom doorway checking on Bobby. It had been a long night. Sick, missing, possibly dead kids. It was an awful night. No matter how it turned out for them, the government conflict over Bobby would be a lot worse.

Aman's voice came over her ear com. "Azrael found where the kid escaped."

Eryn stepped back and walked toward the table. "How bad?" she asked quietly.

"An underground research facility. Involving alchemy."

"Alchemy?" Then Eryn remembered what had been discovered about Luc's genetics. His paternal grandfather was suspected of modifying himself. Which resulted in Luc and his father having serious anger issues. "Anything Torchwood related?" There were questions about how Luc's parents met. The Beaupres were involved in Torchwood black op projects. The Sarkisians had been altered with alchemy. It could have been coincidental.

"Why?"

"It's a secret lab close to a Torchwood office." Eryn realized she needed to talk to Luc. If there was any possible connection, they needed to check Ruthie Beaupre's files. They still didn't know what led to Ronald Beaupre's attack on the facility. Luc had trouble discussing his parents' deaths. Anything potentially connected was too much.

"Eryn."

"The Beaupres." It wasn't a good topic for them either. Ronald Beaupre was behind the attack in De Waal Park. He was somehow angered by Aman's father and decided to kill Aman.

Aman an unhappy sound. "That could set Azrael off."

Eryn forgot at times that Azrael was a future version of Aman. That day in the park ended very differently for Azrael. It still haunted him. "I can't talk to Luc and babysit."

The computer chimed announcing search results. Luc Sarkisian turned his head to look from one screen to the next. The list of files was expected, but not the dates and computer section. He checked for more details. The search flagged fifteen-years-old presets.

The formal physics report made Luc smile. He paged through wondering if it was a computer glitch. Then he found details on a similar form of energy. It wasn't the first time it had been identified in the area. For reasons his father couldn't determine, it was somehow associated with a group of UFO investigators.

Luc doubted it was UFOs. The Torchwood satellite network would have notified them.

He tapped his ear com. "Kailen?"

"Yeah."

"What do we know about the dead adults the Mounties found?"

"Give me a moment." Kailen paused. "Tourists. I had to bypass RCMP to get the information."

"Why were they here?"

"Research. According to social media, they were cryptid researchers. Except they believed Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster were a result of unethical genetic experimentation."

"UFOs?"

"No." Kailen hesitated. "Why?"

Luc explained.

"Send me a list of locations. I'll compare them to cryptid sightings." Kailen sounded resigned.

Since the investigation into Rhys' extended disappearance, and the chaos surrounding Atmore, they already had the resources to search Internet conspiracy sites. It was time-consuming and the results required independent confirmation. But it had it's uses.

"Start with Cardiff's Forest Farm. Cryptids and unexplained energy readings."

Kailen made an unhappy sound. "Cardiff is the Bermuda Triangle of the Twilight Zone."

"Send Ianto the request. He might know a better way to search."


Aman Oliviera entered the lab unsure how to ask or say what he needed to. Luc was fourteen when an attack on the facility resulted in the death of his parents. He wouldn't talk about it. But it sounded like he waded through bodies and blood.

"Update?" Luc asked absently.

Aman explained what he knew about the facility as he crossed the room.

"Torchwood tech?"

"I don't know."

Luc pushed his chair back and looked at Aman. "What?"

"It's possible your mother knew about your father's father."

Luc closed his eyes a moment to control his temper. The turned back to his computers. "The area energy readings flagged my father's files."

"He was a physicist."

Luc motioned toward the screen. "Who had information about cryptid hunters."

"Could the energy be related to the animal mauling?" Aman asked. "Azrael agreed it looks like a crocodile kill." Luc's reaction to Azrael's name reminded Aman how the two met before and after Azrael's change. "If it's not the creature's first kill, it could have attracted the researchers."

"Torchwood monitors unexplained deaths. After Forest Farm, reptile is specific." Luc pinched the bridge of his nose, and rested his elbow on the desk.

"What's wrong?"

Luc hesitated, resting his face on his hand. "I don't want to know what secrets my father kept."