36. 10.30am – Day Four
Ianto refused the crutches, settling for the cane Her Majesty had offered, the Wolfs Head handle apt somehow as he settled in the jump seat of the Chopper and nodded as the pilot took off, shooting out of the cargo bay and into the blue sky.
The V3 as they were now calling it had entered the atmosphere to hover over a green zone and Ianto had revelled in the Welsh countryside as they shot along at breakneck speed, these new stealth choppers were the ultimate toys and Jack's laughter was booming through everyone's headsets as he forced his low enough to make the other occupants scream.
"Cariad, these are probably not insured" Ianto purred down the line, "You break it you bought it!"
"Well, maybe I do want one" Jack teased, "Do you think they come in red?"
"Jack!" Ianto growled, "Stop it!"
More laugher as others joined in and they entered the city limits, banking to head for the area that had been deemed low risk and Ianto's craft hovered as the teams from the others spewed out onto the ground and ran for cover, their face masks catching the sunlight as their breathing apparatus hugged their faces.
"Start the clock" Ianto said calmly, "We are on the ground and moving."
"Barriers intact" Jack's panting came over the coms, "Blasting in three….two….."
A soft bang and some smoke wafted from the tunnel entrance.
"We're moving" Jack informed them, "Tosh, these new PDAs are the bomb, ooops…too soon?"
"Cariad, any sign of Weevil?" Ianto asked and Jack huffed a negative.
"They might have gone deep mate" Owen answered, "Could be they ran like the fucking wind, there is no telling how deep this thing goes really, I am sure they know every inch of it."
"I know, I just hope they are OK" Ianto sighed softly, "Looks like you are coming to the T junction Jack, remember to check the air there, that manhole cover is directly above you now."
"Thanks, we can't see up in this dark" Jack said shakily, "Fuck it's blacker than the void in here."
AIR CLEAR
"Thanks Mainframe" Jack called out, "Rolling."
Ianto watched the blips on his PDA with open worry then he knew they were at the entrance to the lower hatch of the bunker.
"Blowing hatch in three….two…."
"Shit"
"Jack?"
"It's OK, we just had a bit too much in the charges" Jack was laughing, "Gods, I am covered in shit! Like, I am the shit monster!"
The adrenalin must be thrumming as they all laughed and then Jack was calling out.
"Got them, babe" Jack said happily, "Ok, team one is coming out, see you soon Tiger"
Ianto watched as the first team appeared led by Gwen, covered in the foil emergency blankets to help buffer any radiation as they were rushed to the waiting chopper, then it lifted off and took off for V3, Ianto watching it leave before turning back to the entrance, "Gwen's team away Cariad."
"Awesome, is Chopper 2 down?"
"Confirmed"
This went on for the next half hour, Ianto watching nervously as each group was led out, finally seeing Jack emerge with a teenage boy helping an older woman between them, her face one of terror. As they neared the chopper she panicked and he sighed, knowing she was not going to approach the heavily armed and masked men.
"Take us down" he said to his pilot who raised his eyebrows.
"She's panicking, look at their breathers, full face coverage. She's scared of them. We will have to scoop her up with us instead." Ianto explained and the pilot agreed , swinging around the chopper already on the ground to land facing them and the two pilots waved at each other as Ianto shuffled to the side doors and slid them open to call out.
"Cariad, over here, Bring her to me!" Ianto yelled, opening his arms and they turned to look, the woman giving a sob of relief as she saw him and they headed for him, Jack covering her more as the other chopper powered up.
"Come on love" Jack said as she lifted her into the cabin and Ianto seized her to pull her back, the boy proving quite spry as he clambered in with Jack and Jack secured the doors as he called out for them to go.
"Would you like to sit up front?" Ianto offered, "See the world up here?"
He helped her to the jump seat and pointed, "See? That ship up there in the clouds. That's where we are going. It's a real Darlek spaceship. Pretty isn't she?"
"Oh my goodness." The lady gasped.
"Welcome to a brave new world" Ianto said as he hugged her gently, "I can't wait to show you the control room, you'll love it SJ."
Jack's head shot up as he stared at Ianto, blinking slowly as he turned to look at the boy whose face was one of pure glee.
"Hi, Captain Jack Harkness" he said holding out his hand.
"Luke. Luke smith, that's my mother Sarah Jane" the boy smiled back as he accepted the handshake.
Ianto started to laugh as he turned back to look at Jack, "Tell me you recognised her. You didn't? Seriously Sir, this affinity you have for gathering up us ex-companions is quite startling."
"Sarah Jane Smith" Jack sighed, "Well, bugger me!"
"Actually" Ianto said as he smiled as her, "He's mine for the buggering part but you can slap him if ya like."
Sarah Jane laughed as she gripped the lovely young man's hands.
"Ianto" she said with delight, "I've missed you."