Torchwood Goes Forth

Chapter Thirty Two

Mandurah, Australia

The night was very dark but far from silent. All around the camp, in a remote part of the Austin Nature reserve, frogs croaked loudly making a crazy chorus of sound. Insects large and small were drawn to the lights, skittering and buzzing in mini-swarms. Occasionally birds swooped down on silent wings and took their prey before making off. This was all strange to Selwyn Agnew. Brought up in a London suburb the most wildlife he had ever seen were sparrows and robins, hedgehogs and once a glimpse of an urban fox. Australia teemed with life, most of it dangerous, and Selwyn was uncomfortable being outside amongst it.

He was sitting at one of the tables, laptop open in front of him, with Mark Tang. The rest of the agents were stood in a line four metres back from the water. They were armed with machine guns and all of them were itching for revenge. This was their opportunity finally to get even with the snake-creatures who had killed their colleagues.

"We're ready," reported Mark.

Selwyn checked his watch. It was 22.30, half an hour before the portal was due to open in Cardiff. Time to proceed. He looked at the laptop with the quartered screen showing each of the four locations in which cones had been placed. The quarters were arranged geographically. Top right was Yantis, Texas where it was 8.30. Lake Fork shimmered in the early morning sunlight and the sky was blue. In contrast, the top left quarter showed Irkutsk, Siberia at 23.30. Snow was falling onto a frozen Lake Baikal against the blackness of deepest night. At bottom left was the Bay of Harbours in the Falkland Islands where it was 10.30. A fine rain fell and mist hovered over the Atlantic Ocean. The final quarter at bottom left was Mandurah and the nighttime vista of the nature reserve stretching out to the Indian Ocean. These same images were on screens at each of these locations where men and women also stood ready to kill the snake-creatures.

Taking up his mobile, Selwyn said, "Kevin, we're all set. Whenever you're ready." Coordination had fallen to Selwyn but it was his colleague who would initiate action.

-ooOoo-

All over the world

"Understood." Kevin Heggerty pressed the send button on the control box. "Order transmitted."

He switched his attention to the laptop. Nothing happened in any of the four locations. Doubt began to set in. Had he misunderstood how the control box worked? Had he sent a duff message? Wait, something was happening in Texas.

There was no warning. One moment the surface of the lake was calm, the next huge black snake-creatures reared up and launched themselves onto the rocky shore. The FBI agents and the local police officers they had brought in to help opened fire and the early morning was filled with the sound of gunshots. Hot shell casings flew from magazines as machine guns emptied. In the centre of the line Hiram Wendover kept his finger on the trigger of his AK47 until the clip emptied then quickly reloaded. The creature in front of him had been sawn in half by the hail of bullets. He hoped it was the one who had killed Lorenzo. Three others were also dead but still they kept coming. How many were there?

Mandurah was hit just moments after Texas. Creatures reared out of the water and kept on coming. Selwyn stood back and watched as four were cut down in the first couple of minutes. Another wave appeared, six this time, which were similarly despatched. The ASIO agents were reloading as fast as they could and the air reeked of hot metal and cordite. Yet more snake-creatures emerged from the water and this time one almost reached the line of agents. Seeing the danger, Selwyn called a warning and snatched up a hand gun. He joined the line, firing at the horrid creatures. Would they never stop coming?

On the shores of Lake Baikal, Sergei Rostov had more than just machine guns. Two flame throwers sent out burning hot oil in graceful arcs onto the first wave of creatures. A small cheer went up as they frizzled and writhed in their death agonies. The second wave of creatures came too fast for the flame throwers to adjust their range and gunfire reverberated over the water. From his vantage point Sergei, who had recoiled with horror at his first sight of the loathsome creatures, encouraged his troops when the third wave appeared and wondered if they had brought enough ammunition. He had not imagined an attack of this ferocity and length. Just how many more were out there?

The UNIT forces standing on the Atlantic shore in the Falkland Islands had their weapons set on single shot mode. Against Kevin's advice, Major Ramirez had insisted on trying to capture at least one of the snake-creatures alive and did not want his men firing indiscriminately. At one end of the line of a dozen soldiers, the exobiologist and her team stood ready with dart guns loaded with full strength tranquilizers and restraining ropes. It was a disaster. Five creatures loomed out of the mist and startled the soldiers who hesitated a moment too long before firing. Two soldiers were taken immediately, disappearing under the water, along with the exobiologist and one of her team. Seeing this Sergeant Mills, who had no official standing with the UNIT troops, ordered automatic fire and opened up with his own SA80. The soldiers didn't need to be told twice. Automatic fire tore apart every creature that dared to show itself.

Kevin stayed a little apart, counting. In six waves twenty five snake-creatures threw themselves onto the beach and were torn apart. Finally there were no more. He ran back to his laptop and saw that the others had survived the attacks more or less intact. Men and women were standing over piles of stinking corpses but well back from the water and keeping a wary eye on it. He reached for his mobile, still connected to Selwyn. "Hello?"

"Kevin, hi." Selwyn was high on adrenalin after the encounter. "It worked!"

"We lost some people. You?"

"No, no we're all fine. How did it happen?"

Kevin saw Major Ramirez approaching. "I'll tell you later. Got to go."

-ooOoo-

Mandurah, Australia

Sobered by this news, Selwyn sat at the laptop and made contact with Hiram and Sergei. Other than a stray minor bullet wound and some singeing everyone had survived unscathed. Telling them to keep a close watch in case any creatures remained, Selwyn was about to call Lois when she called him.

"Lois, I was just going to call you."

"Check the net for reports from France. Some of the snake creatures came up out of the river at Lourdes."

"What? I'll do it now. You got any details?" He quickly googled Lourdes and news, waiting impatiently for the page to load.

"Four snake-creatures appeared from the Gave de Pau near an open-air meeting place. One local taken, others in the vicinity raised the alarm."

He had the page open now and was scanning the report. "I had no idea there were any there but it makes sense. They must have been waiting for the portal opening. Good job Jack changed the co-ordinates."

"I've brought it to the attention of the DCRI. Anything else I should do?"

"Yes. Do a search for anything similar anywhere in the world. Let me know if you find anything."

"Will do. Everything go all right with you? And Kevin?"

"No problems here. Kevin had a couple of deaths apparently. Haven't got all the details yet. Sergei and Hiram managed fine. There were lots of the creatures. Nearly thirty at each location." There was silence at the other end of the line. "Lois?"

"That many? I thought it was just a handful."

"We all did. Everything all right your end?"

"Umm. Gwen and Jack are set up in the Stadium. We're just waiting now. Oh, and Alonso's back."

"That's good news." He paused trying to find the right words. "Look, I know there's not much I can do from here but if there is anything …"

"I'll let you know. Thanks, Selwyn. Better keep the line clear now."

"Of course. Good luck."

"Thanks."

He closed the mobile and placed it on the table. Around him the ASIO agents were celebrating their success, dragging the dead snake-creatures up the beach and taking photographs of themselves with them like big game hunters of old. Selwyn could not join in. His concerns were back in Cardiff with the rest of the Torchwood team. Even the thought of spiders and snakes didn't bother him any longer.

-ooOoo-

Cardiff

The Millennium Stadium was impressive. Built, as the name suggested, to commemorate the beginning of the 21st century, it replaced the old National Stadium commonly known as Cardiff Arms Park opening in summer 1999. It had been a triumph from the start and had hosted many sporting events including rugby union and league world championships, FA cup finals and speedway. With close on 75,000 seats, it had also become a successful concert venue and exhibition centre.

Gwen stood on the grass pitch and looked round at the banks of tiered seating stretching up to the great oval roof. The retractable portion was part-open in accordance with Jack's orders; it would be closed very shortly. She had first come here on New Year's Eve 1999 to the Millennium Eve concert with a gang of friends including Rhys. He had been a regular attender since at various sporting events and was probably green with envy that she was standing on the hallowed pitch. She smiled, closed her eyes and did a twirl, like Julie Andrews at the start of The Sound of Music, and hoped he was watching.

Strong arms grasped her waist and she was joined in an impromptu dance by Jack. His pheromones filled her nostrils and she went where he led, waltzing round and round held close in his arms. His cheek was against hers and she felt his warm breath. It smelt of peppermint. Hers, she was pretty sure, still had the odour of the curry they had eaten at lunch and it was this that made her falter and the dance end. They stood facing holding one another's hands.

"UNIT will think we're mad," she said.

"They think that already. You move well."

"So do you." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "We ready then?"

"Yep." He released her hands. "The pyloxit field is ready to go and the technicians are working on the psychic block. They should get it working in time. You can bring Roman up now."

She spoke into the comms and made the request. Her mobile rang and she pulled it out checking the display: Rhys. "Hey, sweetheart."

"Bit of news for you. Alonso's back."

"Hang on, I'll put you on speaker." She moved closer to Jack. "You'll want to hear this, Jack. Alonso's back. Carry on, Rhys. Is he okay?"

"Got shot, in the leg. Not too serious, I'm told, but Lois has called in your doc to look him over. If he can get in the building that is." Rhys chuckled loudly.

"What do you mean?"

"'Lonso came down in the car park in a great big shuttle, I think that's what he called it. It was fantastic! Not much room left though, only just missed the car."

"Rhys, did you say you've got a UNIT shuttle?" asked Jack urgently.

"Yeah. Big black thing, looks like a box. Why?"

"Because it could be very useful. Very useful indeed. Is Alonso able to talk?"

"Uh, yeah. Want me to hand you over?"

"No, I'll call him direct. Thanks." Jack moved away.

Gwen took up the conversation. "Everything else okay?"

"Lois says to tell you that the operation with the snake-creatures worked. Some of the buggers turned up in Lourdes. She's checking if there were any more anywhere else."

"Selwyn, Kevin and the others all right?"

"Seems so." He paused. "I saw your little dance."

"I was thinking of you. Remember that concert?" She could sense he was not happy she had been dancing with Jack; Rhys still saw him as a rival.

"'Cos I do. I remember going back to your place after."

"Enough of that, Rhys Williams!" Ilie Roman was approaching between his two UNIT guards. "I've got to go now, cariad. Love you."

"Love you too."

"You, on your knees by here." She pointed to a spot close by and waited until Ilie had complied. His hands were cuffed in front of him and he looked thoroughly miserable. "Thanks," she said to the guards. "Go back and wait by the entrance."

She moved back into position standing just behind Ilie Roman. They were at the north east corner of the Stadium, standing on the pitch about thirty metres from the stands. To their right, she could just see the UNIT technicians in the North Stand, hunkered down behind the first tier of seats. They were working hard. To her left, Burke-Tarkleton and his troops were waiting, hidden in the pitch side tunnel that usually contained sportsmen and women. They would remain hidden until Semiramis had made her entrance and then come forward to surround her, but at a distance. According to Jack the bullets developed to penetrate Sontaran armour (with which they were armed) might hurt her but first they had to take down her psychic defences. Even Torchwood's big guns would not get through them.

Gwen scanned the surroundings one last time then her gaze rested on the large clock on the electronic scoreboard. It was 14.55 and any time now the portal would open and they would face the Goddess of the Wikoo. Gwen released the safety on the gun she held, the one that had blasted apart the Nostrovite on her wedding day.

Jack came up and stood beside her, also behind the kneeling Roman. He handed her a PDA. "This controls the pyloxit field. When I give the word, activate it by pressing this button. The portal will close instantly."

"What will you be doing?" She studied the PDA's display screen but the figures and symbols meant nothing to her.

"This and that." He flipped open his wrist strap, looking less battered since being remounted after the explosion in the Hub. "It's starting."

They both looked up.

Through the rectangular opening they could see the overcast sky, a frequent sight as the city got more than its fair share of rain. Now, however, the grey clouds were moving in a way never seen before. They were rotating, slowly at first but increasing in speed until they formed a whirling mass that grew in circumference until it filled the visible part of the sky. A clear patch appeared in the centre of the vortex but instead of blue sky Gwen saw a night sky, black with tiny pinpricks of light. Within minutes this was replaced by a light, red initially but then taking on orange, violet, purple and pink tones in an kaleidoscope of colour. The patch of light grew larger and dark blue appeared at its edge giving an ominous appearance. All this was happening in silence. Despite looking like a tornado, the air was still. The light display continued for several minutes, the colours flickering in and out with flashes of yellow that had the appearance of lightning.

The huge clap of thunder knocked Gwen to her knees and she dropped the PDA to put her hands over her ears. It was louder than anything she had heard before and her ears rang for seconds afterwards. A hand gripped her elbow and pulled her upright, thrusting the PDA back in her grasp. Jack made sure she was braced and went back to monitoring the display on his wrist strap. The vortex pulsed with more lightning and the colour display coalesced into a solid pink. Wind came out of nowhere and blew down into the bowl of the Stadium, picking up stray pieces of litter and whirling them about. It grew stronger, there was a crack across the sky and brilliant pink light lanced down from the centre of the vortex. Gwen closed her eyes as the brilliance increased only opening them again when she could detect it had faded to bearable levels.

Semiramis stood in the centre of the pitch.

"Now, Gwen," ordered Jack. She activated the pyloxit field.

Jack touched a button on his wrist strap controls and the roof of the Stadium began to close. It normally took twenty minutes to open or close fully but he had tweaked it and the two halves met in a mere two minutes. He noted that Ilie Roman had flung himself down prostrate on the grass but Jack's main attention was on the figure standing before them.

She was roughly three metres tall and humanoid. Dressed in a flowing robe and headdress of deepest crimson, she resembled most a medieval courtly lady; Katherine Hepburn playing Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter. But Kate at her best had never exuded the commanding presence of Semiramis. Nor had she been able to emit a pink cloud that surrounded the lone figure to a depth of up to a metre but which did not prevent Jack seeing her nor her seeing him. Her gaze, which had been roaming around her surroundings, settled on the trio and especially upon Jack.

"Patriarch. Approach." The voice was deep and penetrating. Seizing an opportunity he had not even hoped for, Jack stepped forward. If he could get close enough, he might be able to take her down.

"No!" cried Ilie Roman, rising suddenly. He lunged at Jack and buried the knife stolen from the workshop in his heart. Jack crumpled to the ground. "I am the Patriarch!"