Torchwood Goes Forth
Chapter Thirty
Cardiff
Lunch was an uncomfortable meal. Nerves were strained as each of those present prepared in their own way to deal with the opening of the portal. Gwen was quiet, going over all they had learnt about Semiramis and the preparations they had made to contain her. Beside her at the boardroom table, Rhys chatted about Daniel to anyone who would listen and showed the many photographs he had stored on his mobile phone. Lois encouraged Rhys, finding his constant flow of words a distraction from her worry about Alonso. He had succeeded in thwarting the Irakiis, now he had to get away from UNIT.
On the opposite side of the table Jack ate voraciously, letting Rhys's prattle flow over him. He was not as worried as the others, his long experience and towering self-confidence armouring him against the possibility of failure. Beside him Andy Davidson was quiet but watchful, taking in all that was going on around him. His year as liaison to Torchwood and UNIT had opened his eyes to all the previously mysterious happenings in the city and he recognised this day was to see something just as dangerous. He eyed Ilie Roman who had been placed, handcuffed to a chair, in a far corner with a plastic bowl of food which he had to eat with his fingers. His various cuts and bruises had still not been treated. Andy's police training rebelled against this and he was finding it difficult to ignore the man's glances of fear and reproach.
"I love bathing him," said Rhys. "Just look at that smile. Who could resist him?"
"He's gorgeous," agreed Lois. She smiled briefly at the photograph of the baby sitting in a bubble bath obviously enjoying himself and pushed away her plate of half-eaten food. Her appetite had deserted her.
"I think so." Rhys finally put down his mobile and took another forkful of the curry and rice. "'Cos, I'd like a little girl too."
"More trouble than boys," said Jack unexpectedly. He took a sip of water, looking across the table. "Especially the older they get."
"Are you thinking of having another baby?" asked Lois. She was not sure if Jack wanted to talk about Alice – he didn't look too bothered but it was hard to tell – and wanted to steer the conversation onto less contentious issues.
"Oh yes," said Rhys.
Roused from her thoughts, Gwen raised her eyebrows. "I don't remember agreeing to that. It's all right for you, one lucky swimmer and your bit's done. It's me has all the hassle."
"Tell me about it," said Jack. "Never doing that again." He kept shovelling food into his mouth as the others looked at him in astonishment. Only Gwen had heard his claim to have borne a child before and even she remained sceptical.
Andy started to laugh nervously. "Right. Very funny." Jack looked at him out of the corner of his eye, expression serious and challenging, and the laughter trickled to a stop. "You can't mean it." Jack shrugged and went back to his food without reply.
Seeing her friend's alarmed expression, Gwen said, "Ignore him, Andy. You got UNIT lined up?"
"Yeah. The Brigadier will be here at one and his troops will be ready. How you planning to clear the Stadium?" The policeman seized on the change of subject gratefully; Jack was plain weird.
"Bomb scare. Police get everyone out ASAP and then we go in supposedly to check the place. Lois, you'll make the call at 1.30 precisely then stay here to co-ordinate. Rhys will be here to help."
"Hang on, Gwen," said Rhys. "I should be with you."
"I need you here, love, to run interference for Lois." She placed her hand over his and squeezed. It was important to her that he have a chance to survive; Daniel didn't deserve to lose both parents. "You saw what happened this morning. I can't leave her alone." He did not reply, his expression saying it all. He would stay as she asked but he did not like it. "Thanks, sweetheart."
Jack wiped his chin and sat back. "That was good. I'll start loading up." He had various pieces of equipment and weapons to take to the Millennium Stadium. "Andy, give me a hand." He pushed back his chair.
"Shouldn't we have heard from Alonso by now?" said Lois. It was 12.50 and he had not been in contact with anyone since his call to Jack. "I mean, he might be in trouble."
"Lois," said Jack, leaning forward and smiling broadly, "I wouldn't be at all surprised if he is. But there's no one I trust more that Johnson to get him out of it again."
-ooOoo-
On the Ark Royal
The first attack came shortly after Alonso and Agent Johnson left the bridge. The crestinoni had been dispersed and the captain had thanked them and sent them on their way. The crewman escorting them to the flight deck was taken by surprise when a UNIT soldier emerged from the shadows to block the corridor, his machine gun aimed at Alonso. Johnson knocked Alonso sideways and drew her weapon, ducking to avoid the soldier's shot which ended up buried in the hapless crewman. Johnson's Glock was out and she aimed and fired in one fluid movement. A small red circle appeared between the soldier's eyes and he dropped slowly to the deck.
"Get it," she said, indicating the machine gun. Her attention shifted to all the places further assailants could be hidden. When sure it was clear, she said, "Let's go."
Alonso left the side of the dead crewman and took up the machine gun. He had taken the captain's willingness to let them leave to mean they would have no trouble. No such luck, they were going to have to fight their way out and hope not to get involved in standoffs that would delay or even prevent him getting back to Cardiff in time to help Jack and the others. The two went forward cautiously but quickly, hugging the side walls. It would not take long for the bodies to be discovered and the alarm to be raised. They could have returned to the bridge but considered it unlikely they would get any protection there; either the captain was part of UNIT's plan to abduct Alonso or would be stopped from interfering. Besides, it was better to take a chance and get off the ship as soon as possible. Avoiding the lift, they took the stairs down to the next deck where another ambush awaited. Three soldiers blocked the corridor and demanded Alonso go with them. Flinging herself down full length on the deck, Johnson rolled into them and knocked two off their feet. Alonso shot and wounded the other before joining Johnson. They disabled both remaining attackers and locked all three in a service cubicle.
"They mean business," said Alonso. He had two handguns wedged into his waistband as well the machine gun held in both hands across his chest. He grinned suddenly, with the thrill of the moment. His time with Jack had been peppered with unexpected moments of danger and he had come to enjoy them.
"Remember that and don't take chances. We need you to get off this ship." He was the one who could fly one of the small shuttles, their only way off. "No hanging about now, we make a straight run for it."
They proceeded down two more decks, sticking to the stairs and saw off one more attack. Breathing heavily, they stood in a concealed recess and studied the door to the flight deck, guarded by two soldiers. Johnson was reloading her weapons. She was sure the attacks had been organised by the sergeant who had travelled up with them from Cardiff and was concerned that, so far, he had not shown himself. He was a dangerous man and she tried to think like him, to anticipate his next moves. No doubt he was the last line of defence inside the flight deck.
"It's weird there's been no alarm," whispered Alonso. "They must have found some of those men by now."
"They don't want to panic the rest of the crew." She shoved the full magazine into her Glock and cocked it.
"Umm." Alonso grinned mischievously. "I don't think we should let them miss all the fun." Without waiting for a reply, he slammed the butt of a gun into the alarm set on the wall. A loud wailing started throughout the ship. The guards at the door looked around anxiously. While their attention was diverted, Alonso raced forward. "Allons-y!"
Alonso bashed into one of the guards and knocked him to the floor, unwilling to kill when he did not have to. Johnson, only a stride behind him, did the same to the other. They were still grappling with them when the flight deck door opened and people began flowing out on their way to the emergency stations. In the confusion, Johnson slammed the head of the guard against the wall and let him fall unconscious to the deck. With his machine gun in her hand, she looked round for Alonso. He wasn't there. The other guard was lying inert on the deck and some of the crew stood around looking at her with a mixture of surprise and curiosity; confirmation that they were not part of the attacks. Before they could decide to stop her, Johnson stood and covered them all with the machine gun.
"Stay back. Alonso!" No reply. "Alonso!" Still nothing. "Where did he go?" she demanded of the crewmen.
"Young lad? Tallish?" asked an older woman. "Went in there." She pointed to the flight deck.
Johnson believed her and went through the door, keeping low in case of an ambush on the other side. She jammed the door lock behind her; she didn't want unexpected visitors. The flight deck was large but felt smaller due to the dozen craft parked there. It was also brightly lit but the overhead lights threw fantastical shadows onto the deck and walls. Johnson stayed low and scuttled left into a patch of shadow all the while scanning the area for signs of Alonso. It was quiet in here, even the wailing alarm was muffled, and appeared unpopulated until two figures stepped out from behind a fixed wing craft. The UNIT sergeant had an arm round Alonso's throat, holding him before him as a shied. A Sig Sauer was pressing into Alonso's temple.
"Throw away the weapons, Agent Johnson." The sergeant's voice was calm. "All of them."
"You won't kill him," she replied. It had become clear from the earlier encounters that the attacks were designed to capture Alonso not injure him. "You want him alive."
"That won't stop me putting a hole in him. Now, weapons."
"Don't do it!" said Alonso, fighting to get free. Knowing they wanted him alive gave him an advantage and he intended to make the most of it. The arm holding him tightened and he felt his airways blocked. Alonso fought for air desperately but held on, telling himself over and over that they wanted him alive. At the last possible moment, the pressure was released slightly and he took shallow restoring breaths.
The machine gun clattered across the deck followed by two handguns. When they had stopped moving Johnson stepped forward, hands raised. "Now what?" she asked when roughly three metres away.
"Now we leave." The sergeant gestured to Alonso and himself. "You? This is the end for you." He raised his gun and aimed at her.
The sergeant's plan was scuppered from an unexpected quarter. Alonso bent forward, tightening the choke hold around his neck. His vision blurred as the air was cut off but the movement took the sergeant off balance which was his intent. As the blackness started to cloud his vision Alonso heard two shots, felt a sudden excruciating pain and then nothing.
-ooOoo-
Cardiff
"That's him?" Brigadier Burke-Tarkleton stood in the corridor looking through the glass window at the pathetic figure of Ilie Roman. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." Gwen stood beside the Brigadier. Ilie was still in the corner chair, his face bruised and cut and his body hunched over. She knew he was not seriously hurt and was not fooled by his demeanour. "He's killed three people himself and a number of Network personnel around the world have died because of him. Don't waste any sympathy on him."
Rupert Burke-Tarkleton eyed Gwen curiously. This hardness was a new aspect of her personality and perhaps explained why she stood so high within the Network. "Very well."
"Come and meet Jack." She led the way into the workshop after telling Rhys to keep an eye on Ilie. "Jack, this is Brigadier Rupert Burke-Tarkleton. Brigadier, Jack Harkness." They came to a stop near Jack who was bent over peering at a screen.
"One second." Jack made a couple of keystrokes then turned round. "Well, hello."
The broad grin and twinkle in his eye surprised Gwen who had never known Jack to like any UNIT officer. Even more surprising was the blush slowly creeping up the Brigadier's cheeks. She could only think of one reason for this and silently groaned. Was there anyone in Cardiff, no, she amended, the UK that her former boss had not slept with? She hoped it wouldn't complicate matters.
The Brigadier swallowed audibly and felt the heat in his face. "I … I don't believe it."
"What? That I'm still so devilishly handsome?" Jack preened.
"You're Jack Harkness. I never knew." The blush was deepening and he had to clear his throat. For five glorious weeks years ago a mysterious man had entered his life and introduced him to delights he had never imagined. After all these years, and even in the light of Jack's abrupt disappearance, it remained one of the happiest times of his life. In hindsight, Burke-Tarkleton had realised Jack had used him to obtain information on the Bermuda Project but had not felt cheated then or now.
"No need for introductions back then. And look at you, all gold braid and medals." Jack stepped forward. "When I last saw Rupert, he was a baby Lieutenant with none of this stuff." He flicked a hand over the multicoloured medal ribbons, turning the careless movement into a caress.
"It was a long time ago. Twenty five years, near enough." He paused. "You haven't changed." Jack did not reply, continuing to grin at the other man's discomfiture.
"You two can talk over old times later. First we have to stop this Semiramis woman." Gwen folded her arms and looked at both men, forcing them back to important matters. "Brigadier, are your people ready?"
"Yes." He pulled himself together, dragging his gaze away from this reminder of his youth. He dreaded the reaction when it became known he had been one of Jack's conquests. "Three platoons of infantry and a specialist team. Are you sure that's going to be enough?"
Jack was now perched on the edge of the desk, a mischievous smile tweaking the corners of his mouth. "We won't be making a frontal assault. Your troops are there to look tough and fire only if ordered."
"I see."
"Jack's got something up his sleeve to counter her," said Gwen smoothly. She did not look at Jack who merely raised his eyebrows at the assertion; it was news to him. "The less people around the easier it will be to implement."
The Brigadier looked from one to the other obviously unconvinced. "And what is this secret weapon?"
"Yes, Gwen, what is it?" asked Jack.
"Secret. For now." She glared at Jack then turned to the Brigadier. "There are seven entrances and exits to the Stadium. Station four of your men at each to keep the curious out. Put another platoon around the perimeter, including on the river. You have boats?" He nodded. "Good. The rest will be held in reserve in the pitch side tunnel. Your technicians will be in the North Stand."
"I can do all that, but I still want to know what to expect. From all you've sent me and the data we also have, this is a powerful entity we'll be facing. She won't be stopped easily."
"It never is easy, Brigadier. But we'll do it because we have to."
Gwen's confidence was complete and Jack regarded her proudly. He had taken an ordinary police officer and in four years forged this tough, competent woman who was ready and able to face whatever life threw at her and still stand tall. She could deal equally well with manipulative politicians or attacks by the scum of the universe. And yet, through all the ups and downs, she had not lost her basic compassion and humanity. Perhaps that was why, unlike so many who had gone before her, she had maintained a loving relationship with Rhys and become an attentive mother to Daniel. She was pretty remarkable.
The realisation that, yet again, he was putting her in danger gave him a moment's pause. She had ensured her son and now her husband were away from the worst of the action but he, Jack, had done nothing to protect her. He was about to take her to meet one of the most powerful entities he had ever met while having no definite way of dealing with it. The bits and bobs he had cobbled together might drain some of Semiramis's psychic energy, could even be enough to persuade her not to hang around, but it would not stop her altogether. For a moment, Jack considered telling Gwen to stay behind but even as he thought it, he knew there was no point. Her will was as strong as his and she would come regardless of what he said. Besides, he admitted to himself, it wouldn't feel right without her beside him.