20
The news was on, Toshiko watching the wall screen as images of buildings burning were on the news bulletin as Ianto entered, not looking as Jack and John followed.
"What's happening?" John asked.
"Back on Sol3 there is some sort of riot or something going on. Apparently some sort of research facility went up first, followed by a university or something. Bombs. Someone has blown it all to kingdom come. WOW!" Owen gasped as a new image showed a large mansion exploded into the air, some people running, some on fire and the debris fell, hitting the camera and the screen went blank for a moment before the announcer came back on grimfaced.
"Latest reports are that the Olympian Foundation is under attack by unknown forces, so far they have suffered major loses in their research facilities worldwide, especially in their off-world bases. As you saw in the saw footage, their Campus was targeted while classes were not on, luckily no students were hurt but I believe several faculty members were inside at the time and we have no details as of yet of causalities."
"Turn it off" Ianto asked as he slumped in his chair "I don't care to watch it all burn. The taste of ashes in my mouth already."
"So … what happened?" Toshiko asked.
"They were wired for sound, as we suspected. Probably had retinal lenses for sight too. I laid it out, the truth. Told them that they were pawns, they were the children of the test subjects killed, can you believe that?" Ianto sighed, so tired now "What a waste of life."
"Oh my god" Gwen rose from her chair to pace "So … this is payback? They are turning on them now they know the truth?"
"Yep"
"Does that mean we are safe now? You are safe?" Rhys asked as Owen stood close to the screen watching little people running about.
"I guess so."
Jack and John were circling and Ianto knew it was time. They had suspicions, they knew. Deep down and he had to tell them so they didn't get the wrong ideas as they remembered things in fragments.
"We were almost a year into the experiment when we escaped. There were actually four of us in the beginning but … Sax … I guess we can die somehow become they got him and we never saw him again. I don't think he healed like us, I don't think he could regenerate. The three of us left, we ran for the hills and hid. Jack got pregnant, had a lovely little girl. Unfortunately we were found. Don't know how, could have been any number of things that led them to us but we ran and in a rare moment of calm I swapped our little daughter for another child on the same flight … we mourned that but knew we had to do what we could, the idea was to meet later and exchange children again but … our little girl we had start to adore even though she was not ours was killed. We buried her, mourned the loss and agreed to leave our true daughter where she was safely hidden in another family and then I started to bloom and we had another child. She was perfect too. We were again blessed but equally determined to run and never stop running. She was almost three when we were caught the second time. This time there was no warning, no time to flee, hide .. protect. My daughter was ripped from my arms and … we were beaten, killed a few times as they experimented on us and found us to be interesting pets. I lost my shit and fought back, but … they applied mind-wipes thinking we would be compliant and easier to play with. I fought mine and they thought they had succeeded but I waited for a chance to escape, making life so dammed hard for them as they were finally exposed to the higher ups in their organisation that were pissed to learn that this had been going on without their knowledge. Jack and John were released and went their separate ways … I did too. I knew they were watching, hoping I would come for my mates and show myself so I had to let them go. I sought out the first daughter, took her back and it's her voice you hear from my AI. The second daughter… my little girl … I never found. I assume they still have her somewhere, or they dissected her long ago. I know I will never see my biological daughter again. I can only keep John and Jack's safe now. Alice is a lovely woman, no idea who she is as the family who we swapped with never told her. I think though… she suspects she is different."
"So … your baby is gone. You saved theirs" Gwen said softly "What a bittersweet thing."
"It is what it is" Ianto shrugged "After all this time… we only have stories."
"Those who remember them" Jack added softly, looking over as John who was not moving, his face showing that he believed Ianto. It was true. He had fathered Jack's baby. All this time they had hunted for something, not sure what it was. It was her. Him. The family unit.
"What was she called?" John asked "The blonde angel?"
"Lucy" Jack said with a start "Lucy Loo. And she was a devil really with that smile."
"Well, Papa John did spoil her" Ianto rose and started to pace his hands wringing "Can we stop now? Please? Have I given my pound of flesh for today? Can I have some silence?"
Jack watched him leave the room and felt a pull as he knew he had fathered the little blonde girl Ianto had borne.
Lucy.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, the song he used to sing to her when he held her, rocking her to sleep.
