47

The vessel touched down and Marley strode from the belly of it into the camp, those there rushing to surround her with growing fear as the Predis followed her down the ramp … each one carrying a bag.

"Hello there. My name is Marley" Marley said calmly, smiling at the man who stepped forward like he was about to say something "I bring you your people back. I am afraid that we bring them back as they came … from the dirt you are borne… so shall you return. We buried what was too mangled to recover."

The Predis dropped their bags and stepped back, Marley kneeling to undo a bag and a head rolled out "Oops. Sorry … they are creatures without much concern for your feelings. You sent these people to attack another village. I am here to tell you that the village you want is protected and not available to you now. You have miscalculated and it is best you calmly pack your things and move to the West as fast and safely as you can. We are giving you 48 hours, when we return we want to find this place deserted and you all moving away with the knowledge that if you ever return I shall tear you asunder."

The man went to speak but Marley was done, bursting into clickers and flying in all directions as more than one person screamed with horror, the lead Predi opening his mouth to roar at them, a strange almost metallic sound that showed the many shark-like rows of teeth, before he shook himself and turned walking jauntily back to the vessel.

This entire time the vessel was cloaked so it looked like they stepped out of air, then disappeared back into some portal. Marley making sure she came back at such a spaced rate that she would have been invisible to them, less those clickers she deemed acceptable losses with her hair now brushing her collar instead of below her shoulder blades. Her bugs settled around the village to watch and report back as the place erupted into madness.

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"Awwwww look. He's smiling" Jack gushed as his son made a windy grimace and Ianto knew full well the hormonal changes happening in his mate as he agreed that their son was adorable.

"How are you feeling?" Jack asked glancing over at Ianto.

"strangely … of all my pregnancies, this one feels the most … pleasant. It is like I am not… just that blood lust. I cannot believe I did not know but … still nothing. A little morning sickness that I put down to nerves… not the gut wrenching stuff of the others. I feel… great!" Ianto said with surprise as he knew it was true. Not only was this one the strongest he had ever felt within him now it was showing itself … he was also the most…well … compatible.

"Good" Jack nodded as he clucked at his boy some more "Good."

"Well … they are packing up" Marley interrupted the conversation "Some are arguing to attack, only a handful, the others are shooting them down. I think they will be gone before sunset."

"Follow, make sure" Ianto said without looking away from the baby in Jack's arms "No tricks."

"Agreed" voices all said out loud, even Owen who laughed nervously as he inadvertently joined the bond's voice for a moment.

"Keep it up sweetheart" Owen said as he turned to leave the room "Rhys is making dinner and I am hungry enough to eat one of your kills."

"Do you think it's over Daddy?" Hope asked as she leaned on the other side of Jack, reaching out to stroke the baby's head lovingly. Tiny wisps of dark hair curling around her fingers as she smiled lovingly at him.

"Hopefully rosebud. We really can't tell, we can only watch and wait … hope."

"Is that why I am called Hope? You needed a lot of it?"

"Always" Ianto answered now "Always need hope, always need a chance to push forward. Look at us now. We are the hope for the future of mankind. Really does your head in, right?"

"Well… if they keep this up there won't be much of mankind left to protect … only Wolfling" Hope said as she started to walk away, stilling Jack's cooing as he looked up at Ianto with shock.

"Well … she is sort of right" Ianto whispered "Shitty way of putting it but … they are imploding at an amazing rate given the outside forces they should be looking at, instead of trying to fuck other survivors over."

"Still … I don't know how I feel about that" Jack sighed "Why does man always attack itself like a virus?"

"Viruses don't attack themselves … they attack everyone else." Ianto said as he moved away and Jack grimaced.

The truth hurts.