12

The woods were dark, the wind whipping tough the canopy of trees surrounding the clearing where Ianto stood waiting.

The city beyond the limits was starting to feel the effects of the influx of 'visitors' with people being attacked in the streets and general mayhem. Ianto knew it was only a matter of time before he would not be strong enough to seal all the portals as more opened like a dam starting to prepare to burst.

Mara were there, watching silently as he stood and scrunched his toes into the mossy ground then leaned forward to place his hands on the ground as well, finding dirt. He would need all the power he could get, also crouching to add their hands to the ground as well. All he can get. He closed his eyes and let himself bleed into the world around him. Grass. Dirt. Roots. Trees. Leaves. Birds. Mara… hello cousins. Out… go.. seek. More.

Ianto found the zoo and let himself bleed through thru concrete to the animals housed within. The Mara listened, watched and then some dispersed. They knew his plan now and were eager to help. After all … Friday's Child is loving and giving … and they will do the bidding of their oldest and wisest cousin.

They will assist.

Ianto felt the world breathe, the earth move and the sky above him seemed to change colour from the dense black of evening to a softer glow… more of a golden tinge to it like before or after a storm.

I am going for… before.

.

.

.

Jack slammed out for the SUV running for the woods as Owen got out and looked around with confusion. "Trees? Really?"

He then sighed and walked around the back of the SUV, getting out some things he was sure he would not even need then flicked open the large case that housed Bertha Boom Boom and followed the noise of Jack crashing though the undergrowth like a rhino on heat.

Jack found Ianto in the clearing, once more standing erect, his hands now reaching for the sky and he stopped running, crouching to undo his shoes. Owen came alongside and looked down "What the fuck are you doing? What is he doing?"

"Ianto is pulling power from the grid" Jack panted, "I have to … log on."

"Log on?"

"Patch in. Join him. Commune. You know… add" Jack rose and placed his bare feet into the clearing, feeling the power surge as Ianto turned his head to look at him, then look back up the heavens. Owen watched with interest then went to crouch. Jack said quickly "No… don't. He will bleed you dry without meaning to. This is going to hurt Owen. Ianto will never forgive himself if you are injured being this close to the epicenter of this."

"This." Owen was shouting now as the wind whipped up around them, the weird calm in the eye of the storm making them feel like they are in a fish bowl "What is this?"

"Owen… this is how the world began" Jack said with glee "Stand back and whatever you do... do not touch me or anything around you. Hands in pockets, your rubber soles will keep you safe. Just watch. Ianto is about to let loose on the world!"

Owen did not get it, did not understand a single thing Jack was saying but had learned long ago not to argue with him or his weird demands, slipping his hands into his pockets then turning back in time to see Ianto start to levitate several feet off the ground.

Owen blinked.

What the fuck?

Ianto started to turn slowly as the air started to crackle. Owen glanced over at Jack and found his hair was all standing on end like he was being electrocuted even though his face looked serene. Jack was staring at Ianto with such a look of … adoration that Owen was stunned. He loves him.

Ianto started to speak in an ancient, long dead language of the sand people, something that had Jack jerking as he recognized it immediately. Boeshanninan. Ianto was speaking an ancient dialect of HIS people and now Jack knew it was no game of chance that had brought him to this planet. Jack was looking at someone he now knew was the protector of not just this planet… but his.

"Friday" Jack whispered softly "My God."

Ianto looked at them, his eyes glowing with a golden glow, ringed with the most brilliant iridescent blue that made Jack feel weak at the knees. He grew, Became before them and Jack now saw the old pictures, the early markings of his people. His God. Friday. Ianto. The one who released man to the stars. Protected his journey, blessed the lands. Loved them all. Made the stars beacons.

Right now, Ianto was pulling them to him, the very power of the universe called to assist in this act as Ianto's voice lowered to a rumble, felt in the very bones of the two men witnessing.

"Holy shit" Owen breathed as he felt his own hair start to move.

"Don't. Move" Jack hissed, his own eyes wide as he watched Ianto fling his hands out, releasing the pent up emery and tendrils of bright blue lightning flew from his fingertips.

"Wow" Owen breathed, his mouth open as his ears popped. The sky blazed with colors, then golden hues of a false sunset… darkness fell.

Jack felt it too, his blood seeming to rush through his body at a crazy rate and his heart beat so fast that it was like a fright train then… it stopped. Jack frozen with shock as he felt everything freeze. He looked over at Owen and then at Ianto who was looking straight at him and Ianto smiled softly "Here they come Cariad"

Jack knew what this meant.

In releasing the power needed to shield this realm he had rung a dinner bell and all those this side of the now closed doors were coming to seek vengeance. Power. Ianto. As Ianto powered down and gracefully returned to the earth, folding into himself Jack started to run to him. The world came alive.

Owen yelped as he reached for Bertha.