32
"What are you" the General asked, his uniform crisp and clearly brand new.
"An unusual cat" Ianto replied sagely "Hello General Dwyer. It is I, Ianto Jones."
"Of course it is" he blinked as he recognised the voice on the phone "Well now… the picture I had of you in my head was slightly different."
"I have a voice that can trick" Ianto nodded sagely like they were having a normal conversation "Jack is ready to receive you but I warn you… coming unannounced like this has set his teeth on edge and as you know… one on edge sets us all on edge."
A woman in the group stepped forward and held out her hand "I am Brigadier Harding. Pleasure to meet you."
Ianto looked at her and then reached out to take the hand, her face changing as their hands slid tighter and he pulled her against him in a quick motion that had the men reaching for their sidearms. She waved her free hand back at them to stand down as she stared into Ianto's eyes.
"Well now… hello there Holly" Ianto said on a low tone "Come to piss me off? Running with the wrong crowd."
"Not true Uncle" she whispered back, her eyes wide as she tried to work out which of the Elders this was "Merely protecting my spot in the sun."
Ianto considered and released her, letting her step back and she took a deep breath adjusting her clothing then turning to the men "By calm. We are known to one another. I was not told that this base was protected, we should have been more polite in our approach here."
"no time for niceties Ma'am" the General grunted "they don't understand that. Bunch of heathens that only respect action and strength."
"General, I may be a middle aged woman in a uniform tht you would rather be worn by a man but I assure you I earned every fucking medal on this chest by acting in a manner befitting one of her majesty's service. As her representative, I can assure you … I always bring manners to the table."
Ianto watched her bristle and felt sorrow in the fact she was of this generation that no longer enjoyed longevity. So human that she lives a human lifecycle. The Kat in her so small she could not transform anymore … probably been at least two generations since that was possible. This is how their kind will die out. They will breed themselves out. Like many other civilisations before I guess.
"So. Are we ready to roll then?" he asked politely "That tray sitting there is for your weapons. They do not enter."
"We do not need…"
"Do as he commands" she cut him off "He will know if we cheat."
"A full body scanner?" the General looked at the door frame with a dubious screwing up of his nose "A metal detector perhaps?"
"I can smell them" Ianto said blandly "And I smell bullshit a mile away too. So … do not pretend you are here for a cuppa. Jack is pissed, so am I. Get in here and stop pissing me off more or my claws shall come out again. Besides … your pussy there will need his face seen to my our medic. Cut out the snivelling, it was only scratched. I could have taken your eyes!"
Holly snorts softly at the insult. To call one a pussy is to call them a baby.
They followed Ianto down to the main Hub and as they entered he stepped to one side then simply wraithed into the shadows leaving them all standing in a clump at the entrance door.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" a voice commanded from the large screen on the wall "Come closer. Let us see you!"
"Shit" the general said softly as her majesty sat regally in her favourite chair, glowering at them through the screen then he slumped like a naughty child about to be scolded by his mother, walking over to stand in front of the screen "Ma'am?"
"General Kline. We should have known. Did we not have a conversation with you three hours past? Hmmmm?"
"I came to simply …ah… clear the air between the two camps. I was angered to hear of the allegations against us and came to set it straight so…"
"General. We have limited time and more limited patience" the queen cut him off "And you are currently standing in OUR camp. And what the devil is that man doing with his face covered? This is not peek-a-boo!"
"I lost my temper when he came too close" Ianto replied sagely "Sorry about that."
"Well … I guess you always were partial to swipe now and then" she sighed as she focused on Ianto and smiled softly "there you are Mister Jones. Handsome as ever. And your captain?"
Jack stepped in beside Ianto so she couldf see him and waved cheerfully "Hello Brussell Sprout."
"Oh Uncle Jack, you are a cad!" she laughed "Behave. I am Queening here!"
"Still too pretty for that job. A super model like you" Jack winked and she tittered like a school girl then turned to the group again "I want you all to return to barracks and write up your reports on the reasoning behind this blatant disregard for my direct order. And General … I would like another word with you tomorrow… in person."
"Ma'am" he swallowed thickly as Ianto canted his head and smiled, the queen's face softening once more as she looked on someone she adored for as long as the man standing beside him with a possessive arm around his waist.
"You two … make a handsome couple." She finally said. "That you found one another … my childhood friends. Lovely … and Ianto … your human form is delectable."
"Thank you Lilibet" Ianto bowed his head politely and Jack bowed theatrically, of course. The General paling more as he looked at the men once more, now sure he ws in deep doo-doo.
The screen went blank and the group stood in stunned silence as Owen stomped over and pulled up his britches before addressing them.
"Well? You heard the woman. Piss off!"