31
"Remember, check your kit" Kev demanded, watching as everyone checked their flat-vests, counting out loud their designated number for a weapon check, holding it out to show before putting t back.
"Unc… Kev. Why the torch when it's daytime?" Gill asked.
"Because if we are attacked and have to run from Thomas, we might get trapped out there overnight" Kev replied calmly "We need to think of all scenarios. If we think like we will be attacked by Zs or unfriendlies, we are on alert and ready. If we think it's safe because we travel that way once or twice a week we might get caught with our pants down."
Gill nodded, turning to Jack who was watching silently. He said to Gill "I once did that. We settled on a small planet that seemed to be devoid of life so I wandered from the ship to have a piss. It all kicked off with these things coming up from the sand. Sort of like the Clickers here but bright red and the size of dinner plates. Hungry too. We lost two security teams before we could take off and blow that planet."
Gill listened with wide eyes, Jack pulled up his pant leg "See this scar? This is from then. I was mortal then, this was before my little accident that made me immortal. This scar is a bite. I saw one bite a man's foot completely off so I was lucky it was a young one."
"Shit" Gill squawked, then slapped a hand over his mouth.
Jack laughed "Weird to think of life beyond this planet isn't it. But there is. Weird, wonderful, deadly and exotic. I wouldn't want to go back though. Too much here to think about to be a space pirate."
"A land pirate is just as daring" Ianto finally spoke and Jack grinned at him. "You are always the land Pirate to me, Cariad."
Frank grunted "Pirate?"
Jack lit up as he explained pirates to the Weevil who listened with his head cocked to one side like he did when drinking something in. Jack always swore he did it because Ianto did sometimes. Then the Weevil curled his lip back and said in a distinctly Welsh accent to Dean "you are always the Pirate to me, Cariad."
Jack blinked at the perfect mimicry as Dean gaped and Ianto started to laugh. The little bugger had said it perfectly. Each vowel and inflection perfect even though Ianto had never said that sentence before. Showed some moxie.
"Well I'll be damned" Rhys spluttered "that … Say something else as Ianto!"
"Don't push me!" the weevil growled and everyone burst out laughing as the voice was more Wolfling now.
"How long have you been able to do that?" Jack asked gently "It was very good. I am impressed Frankie."
Frank shrugged as Dean admitted "Not heard Tad before but he does you a lot when we are playing."
"You do?" Jack asked.
The Weevil parted his feet and slammed his hands into his pockets, striking 'Captain Pose' compete with leer then said in a perfect imitation of Jack "Come on, how was I supposed to know that would happen!"
More shrieks of laugher as everyone slapped at Jack who blinked then said "I don't sound like that."
"I don't sound like that" the weevil frowned back amid more laughter.
Ianto looked at the weevil some more and then wondered if this was an anomie or did Weevils once talk more? Did they lose the ability while hiding in the dark in the sewers? He found that a sad thought sort of like Planet of the Apes where the once intelligent ones were mute. At least this reset had done one thing. It had given Weevils a free run and he knew as much as Zs rule most cites now, underground Weevils were probably better off than ever.
"What are you thinking?" Jack asked softly as he watched Ianto go over the plan.
"That Frank might have shown me something in a world where I thought there was little still to learn about those out there."
"Weevils."
"Yeah. Poor Janet. Had she had this sort of start to life, how clever she may have been." Ianto smiled "This fella now showing Kev the correct way to stoke the fire might one day stand beside an Alpha."
"Do you think they are OK there in London? Given how we left it?" Jack asked.
"I think they are underground living it up, going up now and then to pillage and cause havoc go whoever thinks they own the place now. If you take into account those Apes and other zoo animals, Weevils and Zs then anyone wanting that place can bloody have it" Ianto snorted.
"Let's go for a train ride Holdfast" Jack whispered softly "come on. We can let Gill think he has a chance."
"Don't be silly" Ianto snorted and Jack nodded as they started for the train only to slow as Ianto pointed out a logic that has failed Jack "Unfortunately his parents just gave him permission for that."
Gill was on the 'Go' list now.
Jack grimaced as he saw Ianto's concern.
Gill was not a soldier.