45

"There is another way" Ianto said once he and Jack were alone, Jack turning to face him with the shaving cream all over his face.

"If we DO take off and nuke the planet from space, we might upset a few people" Jack said as he settled against the hand basin to listen to Ianto.

"Well… what if we… show our hand?"

"Go on" Jack nodded, listening for real now as he saw that gleam in Ianto's eye that told him a plan was still forming and he could be a part of it. Hopefully the part that ensures Ianto's safety. Damned if he was not getting invested.

"We DO have an antidote, for one of the strains. Not the other… what if we let them se that antidote in action. Like… oops. We didn't mean to show that. Let them think we have one to ALL the strains as we are now cocksure of ourselves over it. Well, you can be. I know you like to do that part." Ianto pointed out.

"Naturally" Jack nodded.

"We suspect Blowfish are the general dogsbodies here so … we make sure they are the ones to see us set off a death bomb. Right?" Ianto was on a roll now "We then wait for the Blowfish to approach one of us, asking questions and… Gwen. Sorry but you know she is our weakest link there, we let her somehow slip to us having all of them. Only, I am transporting them to a secure location and they will never know where. She can scoff pretty well, right?"

"She is still getting over the baby and…"

"Jack. Come on. You would give birth and keep firing between contractions if it was you. Stop making her the weaker sex. Come on. Either the Blowfish tell their masters and the come after us, or the Blowfish come after us themselves so they have leverage over their masters" Ianto countered "Which would you bet on?"

"Blowfish trying to take it themselves to crow about" Jack said, then frowned "But they will fail."

"Yes, and in so doing, will let their masters know as a payback to us, not realizing that they will also be shooting themselves in the foot. Whoever the mastermind is behind all of this, yet to raise his head from the foxhole, this will piss him off no end. He will retaliate and the Blowfish will be pissed, that will leave a clear field between us. Or… stream?"

"Better still, why not make it seem more of an accident that they know? Why use Gwen when we can use Tosh? Toshiko can view some of the footage we already have of the antidote working, sort of accidentally on a less secure server that they are monitoring, right? Then they can be more sure of themselves, then once we actually release a Dead Bomb… they will be slathering for the bait. Oh sweetie, I do love fishing" Jack gushed happily.

"Jack. Did you just call me… never mind. Just… don't." Ianto shook a finger at him with annoyance and Jack laughed softly.

.

.

"They got it" Toshiko called out excitedly "They are downloading like mad, I will give them another few seconds before slamming them out… and… boom!"

Toshiko tapped a key and the screen went blank, then a picture of a large red dragon head filled the screen. She grinned. "quality kit."

"Cow" Ianto said happily as he turned to Jack, "Right. Now they will take about a day to go over it, argue about it and then all realize what a great opportunity this is to be big fishies… stupid fucks will probably take the basic smash and grab approach as per."

"I would rather it not be you that…"

"OK. Let's get one thing clear. OK? I am not a wilting flower, I am not a little delicate thing that needs back up from you. I am a Kingsman and I am well aware of the risks, the procedures here and unlike anyone else in this room… bar you… I know how to cheat!" Ianto replied angrily "Do not think to know me or my abilities Sir!"

"Ooooo, so homoerotic … the way your nostrils flare like that… sexy"

"Oh stop it" Ianto's face softened as he rolled his eyes.

"Right, let's start the clock then" Jack clapped his hands and was rewarded with the rare airing of the stopwatch. Jacks' grin deepened as Ianto clicked the button.

They were on.

.

.

"So what now?" Estelle asked as she leaned on Archie's chair, watching their boy though the many cameras of Torchwood.

"Now we wait and see if the boy was right" he replied.

"And if he's miscalculated?"

"Don't' be silly… when has that boy ever been wrong? In all his years, not a single misstep." Archie said with pride "No… if I trust anyone to get this right, it's him. You know we call him the Dragon for a reason dear. We are all knights of the round table, under oath to protect the reining sovereign."

"And the only wildcard in the deck is a joker" she nodded.

"Yes love. Or a dragon in disguise as one" he grinned in a more predatory way as he itched to get things rolling. He went to lift the phone off it's cradle as he added "And speaking of dragons, there is a favour to call in that might be of use in all of this."

He might be old, he might even be considered retired but he would be damned if he ws ever going to be anything other than that boy's proudest family member.

By god, the blood runs thick!

This was going to be fun!