46

Ianto is on his way out of the Mermaid Quay, the attaché case full of antidote with him. He strolls over the boardwalk with a confident air. He knows he is not alone, of course not. That would be sooo boring. Ianto hides a grin as he mutters "Action stations."

In the base Toshiko swivels in her chair to move from her regular workstation to the secondary one and she leans over the keyboard like she is about to fly off somewhere. Her grin is as predatory as that of her cousin. Game on!

The three Blowfish follow to an area where there are boats tied along the pier. Ianto stops as the Blowfish spread out strategically around him. The Blowfish move closer. Ianto strikes quickly… swings the attaché case which slams into Blowfish #1, taking him down. He then spins low as Blowfish #2 steps forward and Ianto drives the attache case into his knees.

BLAM!

The Blowfish #2 crumples. Blowfish #3 is fast as Ianto swings the case SMASHING it into his face, swings the case back at the rising Blowfish #2… SLAM … into his face.

Blowfish #3 advances swinging punches at Ianto. Ianto blocks with the attaché case. Blowfish #1 has come to and starts to rise as Ianto retaliates on Blowfish #3, snap kicks him in the knee and swing drives the case into his stomach. Blowfish #3 goes down hard just as …SLAM! … Blowfish #1, recovered now, throws himself into Ianto brutally.

Ianto drops the case.

They fly back, smash through the railing and fall into the water. Ianto's blade he was pulling from a sleeve has landed on the bottom of the bay.

Ianto battles the Blowfish as great reptile predators emerge from the darkness and begin to circle them. They must keep an eye on each other and the encroaching Crocdillians.

Blowfish #1 eyes the glistening blade. Ianto sees him looking and as the Blowfish lunges for the weapon, Ianto goes for it too, sending the blade sliding further across the murky sand. The Blowfish struggles free and goes to retrieve it. Ianto has been cleverly manoeuvring the Blowfish into position. He sees what the Blowfish does not: One of the Crocdillians slithering out of the darkness and approaching the Blowfish from behind.

Blowfish #1 lifts Ianto, slams him to the bay floor. Ianto's winded. Blowfish #1 grabs up his gun and turns triumphant in the water like a slow pirouette. Smiles. Prepares to fire.

CLICK... CLICK... Of course the wet gun won't fire. Wet ya silly fucker. Not waterproof like Ianto's… not that he needs it. In the base under the water tower there is soft laughter as Ianto puts on a show. Ianto takes advantage of his confusion, smiles dryly at the camera he knows is watching them. Blowfish #1 stares at the gun, bemused.

The Crocodillian is advancing on him quickly, jaws open.

SNAP.

Ianto takes a few quick steps and uses the back of one of the other Crocdillians as it glides past for a boost and jumps up grabbing the edge of the pier above, pulling himself up as the Crocodillian drags Blowfish #1 into the darkness.

Ianto finds himself face to face with a gun pointed right at him. One of the Blowfish. Suddenly a high heel shoe slams down on the Blowfish's wrist. It's Gwen. She slams the Blowfish with the attaché case that was by her feet knocking him out.

"Thank you" Ianto climbs out of the water.

She offers him the attaché case. She turns to grab the handle of the stroller left so casually to one side and Ianto takes a moment to lean in and cluck at the baby within "Hello Poppet, going to visit uncle Jack? Hmmmm? Aw, she's smiling."

Ianto strolls away, coolly. A scream from the water behind him.

Ianto makes a mental note to thank Archie for calling in that favour they did these monsters a little while ago. Trust him to remember that they did a wee jobbie.

Evil bastards… and the Crocodillians are a bit scary too.

.

.

"Right, now they are royally pissed" Jack said with glee, the little baby in his arms oblivious to her surroundings as she drinks in the handsome man handling her and his megawatt smile. Jack has a way with kids, has to be said. It makes a fucking gorgeous picture, all he needs to make it better is remove his shirt… ahem… sorry… where was I … ah… right… he looked over at Toshiko.

She took his cue "So the one who survived Gwen's anger is moving fast in the water, he's making for the bay-side entrance to their underground lair, the Crocodillian on his tail is letting him get away… well most of him. Looks like a bite or two for effect like"

Cue some sniggering.

"And then what?" Gwen asked.

"Then we try this again, this time in a more… practiced manner. We have hopefully almost handed over the cheese they will now take to the head rat." Ianto said confidently "Once he comes after us we lead him into the biggest rat trap he will ever see."

"Namely the last one" Jack said firmly "And we end this."

"Yes. Hopefully without more innocent lives lost."

Ianto grew silent as he shared a look with Jack.

Without his life lost too, would be nice.