13
Ianto was watching the beginnings of a rescue plan being enacted as the huge Hover Rhys had retrieved rose to it's maximum height of twenty feet to then move over the sink hole, nervously lowering the grappling hook to try and 'fish' the vessel out. Said Vessel now almost half gone into the gaping sand.
The worry here is that the worm might get the idea and instead of dangling a worm to catch a shiny fish, they would wriggle that hook and… worst case scenario… get a worm. A big fucking worm. Gods save us. Ianto was still tapping his fingers against his thigh as he counted the beats he knew Rhys was as well, their need to get this done before Huckleberry lost patience and closed the window was drawing to a point.
"Taddy?"
"Ames?"
"Why do they drop the glass? Where does it come from and can I have some?" came the machine style demanding questions, and then she stopped demanding as she leaned back with her hands on her hips and stared at him expectantly.
"They drop the glass so we can see Huckleberry's limits. They walk the perimeter and see how far his tongues an reach, then give another half meter for his lips and the fact he is slow to move. The glass? Well it comes from areas of sand that were hit by the lightning strikes. If we can get close to the area of the storms and throw in some dye, we can get the pretty glass from the melted sand. And yes, you may have some." He said with the same calm monotone.
"Are they all so small?"
"No, if you want to wait I can take you out sometime to create some when I have a spare afternoon. It actually comes out all different shapes like crazy sculptures. The first one you create, you can keep" Ianto softly said "Now go play darling."
She skipped off, and left Ianto to think on things… mostly their visitors who were now frantically moving around in the cockpit, and then slowly he looked up at the sky.
Rhino ad arrived with the other resident Judoons and they were all helping, so the large creature lumbered over to see what Ianto was looking at, then he looked up too. Screwed up his face and asked "Whatcha looking at Boss?"
"Well, this small vessel is far too small to be in Outer Limit Vessel so… where did it come from?" Ianto asked like they were discussing some more rain coming on the horizon. This was a good question as everyone knows a vessel this size would not be able to withstand the pressure of the void. This is one kept for small planet to planet jumps. Called a Puddle Jumper.
Rhino was as efficient as ever in seeing Ianto's thoughts in the question "There must be another ship up there, this is only a twenty man vessel tops, even with you puny humans on board. Sorry. I mean… smaller things on board… I must agree with you. This is an Away Vessel on a Scouting Mission. They will not be alone."
"That being said my friend… why has no one come to help them?" Ianto whispered like they were being watched. Huh.
"Ah" the Judoon lowered his gaze to focus on the strangest and most interesting humanoid he had ever met. "This was a test?"
"I think so. We are being watched, measured and it means someone is watching us for a reason. Friend? Or foe?" Ianto asked. "Sent or came without knowing the mess they were stepping into?"
"Well, I think we need to go ask them then" the Judoon answered, "We have a big boat up there too. Have they not seen it floating in orbit? Our vessel pool is almost as large as our vehicle one now, all those ships we've commandeered. I am starting to feel like a pirate when choosing one for a jaunt."
Ianto lowered his gaze to meet that of the Judoon "Make it so."
The creature made a face, one it hoped looked like a grin. Then as it went to move off it hesitated and moved back "can I take the girly?"
"Amilie? No."
The Judoon raised his hand to wave over his head and Ianto shook his head "Justice is also benched. She is with child. Sorry."
The Judoon sighed, visibly slumping.
"You could take John if ya like… but muzzle him until you know for sure or he will blow you into the black without a second thought. You know he had impulse control issues" Ianto relented and the Judoon perked up, then looked for the man in question before heading over to tell him they could go blow something up if they were lucky.
Ianto knew they would not blow it up in the end, they would see the children on board as Ianto now saw those in the Away Vessel they were about to lower to safe solid ground nearby. The Worms did not like rock.
Ianto straightened his shoulders and went to make friends.
He was getting tired of this.