Vengeance - Chapter Fifty-Two
Author: Milady Dragon
4 February 5193 (Earth Standard Date)
Outside of London Island
The old UNIT facility didn't look like much from the air.
Phillip touched his mate's shoulder, and Clint circled in for a landing. The bunker had been buried, and then re-excavated, but entire sections of it were still underground, hidden under rubble and poured permacrete and surrounded on all sides by more modern buildings, giving every single dragon member of the family a place to set down in the cleared space above.
Just ahead of them, Phillip could make out Ianto, with Jack on his back; Anwyn, carrying Walsh; and Arthur, his own mate seated comfortably between the ridge plates that led down the neck from Arthur's forehead crest. The rest of the family was in flight around them; even Robyn, which meant it was serious indeed.
The Jones Clan was going to war once more, and hopefully it would be for the final time for a very long time.
Arms tightened around Phillip's middle, and he could tell it wasn't in nervousness; but then, Toshiko had ridden dragonback before, in her previous life. It had been decided that she would fly with them, mainly because it was going to be the pair of them getting into the facility and breaking their security protocols. There was a certain ambivalence in it for him, as this version of his friend was ten years old, but at the same time Toshiko Sato truly was the best at what she did. Phillip hadn't even argued with her when she'd volunteered, although Ianto and Jack had both expressed their concern for her safety. Even though she was in a child's body, Toshiko had faced them both down, proving without a doubt that she was still one of the scariest women Phillip had ever had the pleasure of being acquainted with.
It would be her, Phillip, Cadi, and Nicole in one team, while the Doctor, Robyn, and Walsh would hunt down the wayward hostages and get them out of whatever cell they'd been placed in; there had been no stopping Robyn from going after her sister. Yet two more teams would help clear out the actual base; those made up of Shieldsmen, led by Steve, and Torchwood troops, whose leader was Phillip's favourite Kree, Mar-Von. Everyone else would create a distraction, hopefully to bring both Garrett and the Dragon Slayer out in the open.
Phillip still couldn't believe that Ianto had dug that damned sword out of the Archives.
Even back when Phillip hadn't really been aware of his magic, he been able to sense just how evil that sword was, back when they'd used it against the mad LMD, Aida. Both SHIELD and Torchwood had had their share of enemies who would've loved getting their hands on it. Phillip knew there had been a point when Jack had suggested they destroy it, but Ianto had demurred. It had been puzzling, but the immortal guessed that the dragon had had a reason for keeping such a horrific thing around, even though Ianto had vehemently denied it at the time, saying he just had a feeling that to get rid of it would be a mistake.
Phillip seemed to recall that someone had told Ianto that there would be a destiny for that weapon, but he couldn't remember who it was. Someone who claimed to be a Sorcerer Supreme, maybe? Oh, yes, it came to mind now…Stephen Strange. He had been an invaluable ally back in the 21st century.
Destiny could be a serious bitch sometimes, although it seemed as if Dr Strange had been correct.
Clint settled gently to the ground, onto one of the areas that had been paved over. Phillip slid down easily, then turned to catch Toshiko if she needed help. She glared at him so he backed off and let her do it on her own, although he kept close just in case.
She ended up taking a misstep, and the ice mage caught her easily before she could hit the ground. She mumbled her thanks, and tried to pretend she wasn't embarrassed. Phillip looked away in order to spare her blushes.
Dragons were landing all over. It really was an impressive sight. Phillip had missed the flight to Avalon, so he was awestruck to say the least even though he'd been a witness to them all landing before. He didn't think he would ever get used to this sort of thing.
Anwyn dropped down next to Clint, Walsh hopping down easily so that she could change into her human form. Clint was just a little behind her, and the golden magic of the transformations mingled together. Phillip had been surprised when she'd volunteered to carry the detective, especially since Ianto had entrusted Walsh with the Dragon Killer. He'd explained that the sword wasn't like Excalibur, in that Ianto couldn't extend the magic that allowed him to change, clothes and all, over the cursed thing. Walsh hadn't been all that happy at being asked, but Phillip could see that the man couldn't come up with a good excuse to turn the 'honour' down.
And so, the moment his feet hit the ground, Walsh was off and practically running toward Ianto, the faster the better in getting rid of that damned thing. He wanted to ask Anwyn how she'd been able to deal with having it in such close proximity, but didn't; the expression of sheer relief in her eyes as they tracked Walsh's movements was enough for Phillip to tell what she was thinking.
Ianto had touched down not that far away, and from where he was standing Phillip watched as Jack dismounted, and Ianto changed into his own human form. Walsh approached and practically shoved the sword at him. Ianto accepted it with a nod, saying something, and then the detective was on his way back, joining Robyn as she made her own way to Phillip's side.
Phillip didn't think he'd ever get used to someone so closely resembling his mate although, when they were side-by-side, there were certain differences. He'd never mistake one for the other, which was a good thing.
The Doctor popped up, along with Cadi, who not only had her usual blaster, but several other, equally lethal, weapons on her person. Her expression was fiercely determined, but there was something very much like peace in her eyes. Phillip wanted to know more about what had occurred on Trafusis, but supposed he'd get the entire story later on. There simply hadn't been time to share experiences before they'd all agreed on a plan and had left Torchwood Central.
"We all know what we're doing?" he confirmed with his companions.
Clint looked a little bothered by the whole thing. "I don't like the idea of you going in there without me."
It hadn't escaped the immortal's attention that Clint had been decidedly clingy ever since the Library. He hadn't been on Throneworld during the Palace bombing, and that was making Clint even more overly protective than before. Phillip could certainly understand it, but he could also take care of himself, especially with his magic since it had become much easier to use, and so very much stronger. Phillip was much more accepting of it, now that it had almost killed him. It didn't make sense, but there it was.
"You need to stand with Jack and Ianto, and the others," Phillip reminded his mate. "They need you more than I will."
Clint nodded, but he didn't look at all happy. "I don't like you not having someone to watch your back."
"Hey!" Cadi exclaimed, affronted. "Have a little faith, baby brother!"
"Alright," he backed off, holding his hands up. "I didn't mean to offend you."
She gave him an understanding smile. "I get it, Clint. I do. But I'll watch out for both Phillip and Aunt Tosh. Besides, Phillip can take care of himself, you know."
"Yeah, I know," Clint grudgingly accepted the truth in that sentence.
"And I'll be along as well, Dad," Nicole piped up. "Between Dad and me, we'll take 'em all down."
Phillip got the distinct impression that Nicole had volunteered to go along as a way of acting as Clint's surrogate, in order to make sure Phillip wasn't overly damaged during their operation. He would have told her to stay with the rest of the family, if it wasn't for the fact that she might be useful. Plus, she still wasn't quite certain of her dragon form yet, and it would be better if she was on the ground.
Cadi, though…she would have also been useful outside, but she'd claimed that she'd gotten her vengeance out of her system and could be level-headed as part of the strike team going in. It wasn't as if HYDRA wouldn't have seen them coming, but at the same time Cadi was nigh-on indestructible, like the rest of her blood relations, and she'd shown a propensity to look out for Toshiko. Also, Phillip knew she would watch his back, as he would watch hers.
According to the plans they'd managed to acquire, Phillip knew there was an entrance that had been excavated not far from where Clint had landed. "We go in together," he said to the group gathered around him, "and then separate when we get to the corridor leading to the cells. You all know what to do after that."
He got nods from everyone.
"And Doctor," he pinned the Time Lord with a glare that was half serious, half teasing, "no detours."
The Time Lord rested both hands on his chest, over his hearts. "Phillip, you wound me."
"No…I know you, and River will have my hide if I let HYDRA get their hands on you." Phillip was honestly surprised that the Doctor's wife wasn't going with them, but she'd claimed to be content with staying behind with Merlin and the other humans in the clan.
"She's not that scary," the Doctor waved off his statement.
"Yes, she is," Cadi contradicted.
The Doctor sighed soppily, "Yeah, she is."
"Director Coulson-Jones."
It was going to take a bit to get used to being called that; the immortal had tried very hard to keep his family life away from Torchwood, and using Clint's surname had been a part of that attempt. However, Danielle had put paid to that in her little speech. "Shieldsman Charlton."
Charlton stood a little ways off, a determined expression on his face. It was also going to take a bit of getting used to the fact that Barney Barton was now a good guy, and actually worked for Steve. "The Grand Master requested that I accompany you, and to hold whatever security suite you might find for the reinforcements to arrive."
Clint smiled, happy at that development. He approached the reincarnation of his wastrel brother, clapping him on the shoulder. "Watch out for them, alright?"
"You got it," Charlton confirmed.
Something about the exchange must have surprised their family, because every single one of them standing in the area was staring at him in various forms of confusion and curiosity. There hadn't been time to even mention the fact that HYDRA had reawakened Barney's memories in an attempt to get him to join, and that Barney had refused, fully expecting to be killed for that rejection. That didn't happen, which was still a bit of a puzzle, but with Danielle leading a purge on Throneworld of any and all threats HYDRA wouldn't be able to strike against this version of Barney's family.
Normally, he wouldn't have trusted Barney Barton as far as he could throw him, but this version of Clint's former brother was firmly on the side of the angels, and Phillip was usually willing to give second chances.
He gave the man a sincere smile. "Don't you think you should be calling me Phillip?"
Charlton grinned. "Then it's Brant."
"Excellent. We should be heading out, shouldn't we?"
Clint took a moment to hug him, pressing a chaste kiss to Phillip's lips then burying his face in the immortal's shoulder. "Take care, you."
Phillip held him. "You, too." Then he whispered in his mate's ear. "Don't let Ianto do anything stupid."
Clint snorted. "Easier said than done."
They reluctantly pulled apart. "Let's get this done, and then we can go home."
He received nods all round.
Clint turned away, walking toward the rest of the family, several of them still in dragon form as they perched on the rubble strewn field and waited for the word to begin.
Taking a deep breath, Phillip led the others toward the entrance that had been on the old plans, hoping it was still unblocked.
They had a job to do.
