33
It was on the way back late in the afternoon that it finally happened, Ianto having smelt them some time ago but not clearing them as he usually did. He watched the four Zs slouching towards the train to pause on the tracks as Tommy bore down on them and Gill's shrill scream broke the silence as he saw them.
Everyone watched as the gun rose and Gil started to fire with a roar of horror, the bullets cutting two of them down as the third one turned to stare at them like it was shocked. The fourth never flinched as it started to run, racing towards the incoming train like it was gonna play chicken and Gill adjusted his grip on his gun, firing again.
Ianto was satisfied, taking out number three.
Tommy rumbles over the carnage and Ianto watches the viscera flying out from under the wheels. Frank leans out and hoots with interest as well, the smell something no Weevil can ignore as it is ingrained in them to investigate rotting.
"Smell that?" Ianto said to the young Weevil, "That means bad juju."
Frank nodded "Yeah"
Ianto smiled, pleased the Weevil was trying harder to talk with the small band around him, no longer afraid to show his intelligence. Clever little fellow. Dean looked proud too, his hand on Frank's arm possessively and Ianto knew his second sight was true. They would rule a pack one day, together as a mated pair. Ianto was unsure how to really feel about that bit knew it was not up to him.
After all, he was not human himself.
"Gill, check the weapon son" Jack said gently, pulling the boy back to help him discharge the spent bullets and flick the safety on, then Dean ran to collect the bullets and place in his pocket for the Weapon's lab. One of his favourite things was watching his Dad make more bullets. Jack liked showing him too, his son as quick and clever as his Taddy.
"So. Scotland" Rhys broke the silence, "we going or what?"
Ianto looked over at Jack who was pleased to be given the lead. Jack nodded "I want another trial walk-through in the training village. This time with some Wolfing acting as the Zs. I want us all ready and the paintball guns will be used. Each person gets a colour. If my pups come back without someone's colour in their pelt … they need to explain themselves."
"Paint!" Ianto huffed as Jack smiled softly.
"Come one love, the hot tub the guys made is screaming for a try out. We can all soak the paint off in there and have some fin. Just us men." Jack crooned, then frowned "Is it sexist that there are men females in the group?"
"This is just the track clearance and fix. The real jaunt to Archie is not yet. We will scope and return, regroup and then go in" Ianto reminded him.
"But ... we will keep pretty much the same group, won't we. I mean … Bonny Girl will come. Tosh too, right?" Jack frowned.
"Archie doesn't like them" Ianto reminded him "Always said they were too troublesome even if he did keep one around himself. I think we need to keep that in mind. Tosh is all we can squeeze in. He knew her so if he does have booby traps and such the back doors for her will still be there"
"Seems strange, to talk of a recon like it's nothing. Feels sort of sleazy to be sneaky about it. I mean … we are not, right?"
"Jack. The pups are all listening in. They know everything and not a single complaint, right? We will talk to the humans, we always do and they have already made it known what they think, we are not going behind anyone's back even if there are things we are … omitting… from what we say we are looking for. I know there is weaponry down there you seek. I also know there are things that should never be released. We will have to go in hard and fast because we have a small window, a onetime only deal to get shit out and ourselves as well."
"If they knew how dangerous it was none of them would agree to their family members … oh" Jack sighed as he saw Ianto's point.
"Why we are only telling them what they need to know. The facts, after all … hopes and fears have no part in a logical debate" Ianto shrugged as he rose to go back to lopping about "Besides, if the fail-safes have already triggered for some reason it's all a mote point. The lower levels will be gone."
"Gods, I hope not" Jack grimaced "It is too .. too …"
"The word you are looking for is exciting" Ianto growled "I feel that too. You burn for a bit of a fight, for some excitement and adrenaline. Be carefully Cariad, you may get it."
"And you" Jack said pointedly.
"Yes, but I would rather go without pups in the mix" Ianto muttered to himself as he watched Dean and Frank play some hand game they had made up.
There was no choice though.
There would always be pups.