33

Ianto was sunning himself. Yes, cats of all sizes do that ya know! Sitting up on the boardwalk with a bag of food for the pigeons, flicking some out now and then to watch them flutter about while the dark suit drank in the heat. Bugger lock-down.

"Uncle?"

"Sit"

She slid into the seat and rubbed her hands on her skirt, looking at the handsome young man she had insulted a mere day ago "Uncle … I would like to start by apologising for what happened. They did not warn me that there were…ah… felines about."

"How would they know to warn you?" he asked, glancing over to watch her hands knit together in her lap, and then he flicked another handful of seed. The pigeons fluttered and he breathes in sharply, his eyes widening as the thrill of potential playthings moved before him. Not that he would do it, actually chase them. The queen's birds after all. She made a noise of delight as well.

"I know you are one of the elders but… I do not recognise your scent" she shifted to face him more "Why do you hide it so well? You seem so … huge."

"This generation you live in cannot transform anymore. The one before you could a little, the one before that could. They were house cat sized yes? Like Moses" Ianto glanced at her and she nodded, knowing Moses as most do.

"My Grandy" she said with a raise of her chin "Grandy Moses. I am of his bloodline."

"Well then Holly … you are of mine. For that is the title he gives me" Ianto let her finally know the level of annoyance he felt, watching her face pale as she stared at him silently, blinking as she struggled to breathe through the horror. "So … you have to choices. Either go back to the humans who sent you here on a fact finding mission and inform them that you have found an elusive Ancient Father … or do as a Felinealiod would … respect your maker."

"Old Father" she whispered, swallowing thickly "You are… you are of the other world?"

"Yes … I was born there, breathed the air there. Travelled so long to get here … yes. I am an original. An Origin Kat. And you are of my blood … my line. Be proud of that, of the few remaining bloodlines that can trace back to the ship … you now know your worth to our kind. Be kind to that knowledge. Be true to that blood."

Holly glanced to the left looking awkward and he sighed "Is this where you tell me you are wearing a wire? Silly girl? Is it a live feed?"

"No … recording" she reached into her chest's bodice and from her left breast pulled out a small piece of tech "They have to attach it to another to download the conversation and hear it. It is not live."

"Good" Ianto held out his hand and she placed it in his palm, his lightning fast snatch of her hand making her squeak as he now holds her in a vice-like grip "I will not have any joy in reprimanding you … if I must.. I shall and now you know what I am … you know I will do so with great malice. I am the one they called Warrior once upon a time!"

"Old Father" she whispered "I know. Will respect the rules, I will. I will tell them you found it, removed it and let me go. I will tell them you are powerful and Her majesty is watching. I will tell them that."

"This is the only warning I will give, as you are my grandchild so many times over … if they do come again … I will cut them to shreds and anyone with them. Understand?" he whispered, purring into her face "Next time .. of my blood or not ... you will feel my wrath."

Ianto finally let her got and she bolted, running across the cobbles and chasing the pigeons away as she made for the alleyway where he knew they waited for her. He wondered if there was a secondary device, decided he didn't care. He sort of hoped they did hear the convection, the questions it would raise would outweigh any answers and she could not tell the truth. The Kat Kode denied that chance. She would have to break that Kode and to do so would mean death. So many Kats living amongst the humans … they would know within minutes that she had betrayed them and she would be dead before she had a chance to say sorry.

Ianto rose and brushed off his trousers then wandered towards the Hub where Owen was already in his ear asking if coffee might materialize soon.

"Little worm" Ianto muttered.

"I heard that fucker"

Ianto laughed as he opened the door and stepped into his lair.

Owen had heard everything as well … and all he wanted was his coffee.

A good man.

For a Hooman.