8

Jack stood watching the vessels land, his eyes going repeatedly to the flash new sleek one the Judoon was captaining like a boss. Shiny.

"Cariad!" Ianto was down the ramp and moving toward him, the handsome man griming widely as the Meatsticks all started to pour out behind him. Jack looked and sighed, knowing this would mean the new training quarters would have to be re-thought, clearly the last licks of paint would be for these ones, not the next intake.

Not that that mattered, they were readily able to build more.

"Do you like the vessel? A fuckwit challenged me then chickened out, we had us some arguments and it was agreed I could have his vessel as payment for the insult. The Meatsticks… well… they were staff for the event and … I sort of… pied pipered them." Ianto grinned.

"I know that symbol on the side. I remember him from the Academy, he was a year above us and acted like it made him better." Jack scoffed.

"I knew that I knew him from somewhere" John clicked his fingers as he pointed at Jack "Yes. That's it. Fucker sat on the electric prodder for the Ferkils."

"That's right."

Both men roared with mirth and Ianto caught the faint image of the man screaming while holding his arse.

"And how are you feeling, my beloved?" Ianto asked, reaching out to touch Jack's arm gently.

"All the better for having you home. And a shit load of newbies. Gods. Look at you, so greedy. Did you leave them any to wash their undies?" Jack asked, watching as Rhys and Gwen met, kissed and embraced, then Andy slamming into the back of Rhys to welcome her as well.

Ianto turned to see what he was watching and grinned "nice family right?"

"A Triad?"

"Yes. Seems they are happy to share their love with each other." Ianto nodded.

"I didn't think Gwen was that into Andy" Jack said with a shrug as he turned to walk away, then faltered, swinging back to stare at his mate's amused face. The laughter thrumming in their bond. "No."

"Yes. It's Rhys Andy is with, Gwen is happy to have a break with someone who loves the kids as his own" Ianto infirmed him.

"Would you? You know… ever…."

"If John ever even tried to sniff around I will kill him" Ianto's smile did not fade as he offered his arm "Come on Cariad. I will put that down to a brain fart due to bubs."

Jack agreed to accept that pass.

.

.

Ianto watched the new members imbibed into the general populous and apart from a handful who still tried to serve in a bended knee, most quickly assimilated to freedom. Today he was walking the dust outside the glass walls, checking their integrity before the next great wind storm when he felt something, looking up with surprise.

Moisture?

He started to examine the roof and the edgings, alarmed as this would mean a broken water pipe or something. Then he felt another droplet on his face and he froze. Closed his eyes. Gave thanks.

By the time those inside were aware of something happening Ianto was standing with his arms out wide like he was calling someone in for a hug, the rain falling light and soft to the ground to make the dust darken around him.

Rain.

It was raining.

For the first time in centuries it rained on the Red Planet.

Ianto raced inside, dripping on the floor as he ran for his waters and slammed into the main room where everyone looked up with shock, seeing him dipping on the floor as he laughed and shook his tail "Jack… look."

"What happened!" Jack asked with horror.

"It rained… it is still… Jack look!" Ianto pointed at the windows and they all watched the soft, gentle shower coming down, the dust now dark brick red.

"Shit, the venting system" Jack said as he rose awkwardly from the seat only to have Rhys enter with a wide smile, telling them that the venting system was closed so the water didn't get in, the water was being gathered by people in pots and such, even one idiot out there holding up a mug.

Toshiko was checking it and I was clear, clean water.

After all this time, it seems that the water evaporating had finally reached crisis point point up in the atmosphere and it had not only developed clouds, it had developed a precipitation system.

As in … rain.

.

.

"And it was not here yesterday" Ianto repeated softly, still trying to get his head around what he was seeing.

"Nope, whatever this is, it grows fast. Probably to use what little time it has to reap the rewards of water. I mean, usually any water is maybe 24 hours in the soil tops after a spillage or something? Maybe even blood from a kill? If we get regular rain, this grass will spread like wildfire" Rhys said as he crouched to let his hands run over top of the bluish green grass.

"This is crazy," Ianto said softly as he looked around "I didn't know it could get any crazier."

The Red Planet is becoming the Green Planet… and the fact not only flora was appearing, but fauna too. Lizards coming up, even insects bursting for the damp ground.

Ecosystem reboot established.

How about them apples.