10
The return home was melancholy as Ianto had been so sure that this was it… the treasure. But for some reason it wasn't. He placed the little device on the table and went to get a drink, returning to find everyone in the main room playing a game of monopoly.
Ianto sat and accepted his son who ws cooing as he snuggled into him and grabbed for the medallion, shoving it into his little mouth to suck on. Ianto hummed as he rubbed his back and settled back to try and relax a little, reaching out with his other hand to pick up the device and look at it again, now more confused than ever. Hunter looked at his Taddy's hand and made a noise as he reached out and grabbed the piece of tat from his loose fingers. Ianto was shocked that the newborn had the dexterity to do it, let alone the strength and he gaped with frozen surprise as the child shoved it into his gob.
The device lit up like a Christmas tree making everyone yell and race to look.
"What is it?" Ianto asked with wonder. "It's not hurting him is it?"
"No sweetie.. it's just… wow" Jack said softly.
"A beacon" Holdier said with alarm as he stepped back and started clicking to his siblings, soon the bugs swarming from the house to disappear in the long grass around the house.
"A beacon?" Owen asked.
"I think he means a homing beacon. Holy shit… Hunter. It was you. Your DNA set it off love" Jack said as he plucked his son from Ianto and they stood staring at one another in mute horror.
It seems the Hint is not over after all… the most precious thing the universe revealed. The next great King of All.
Hunter.
.
.
They came in broad daylight. The hovers racing across the grass as John stood waiting at the start to the 'boundary' with his weapons on display.
"Only those who come on peace may proceed" John called out as he stood proudly in his best clothing, his katana at his hip gleaming "Step forward and claim the right to proceed."
"We know he's in there. Come on… bring out the Full Blood!" the man demanded as he staunched up to John. John ignored him and looked at the others, letting his gaze rest on someone he recognized. An Agency Man. He pointed "You. Step forward."
The man did so silently, shoving those out of the way that argued and then one tried to make a run for it, the grass seeming to swallow him as he screamer with horror, his sounds of death unnerving for all those watching the blood flying.
"Right. Land mines… some of them are… ah… organic" John said the glee as a bug rose to let himself be seen, then sink back down "We have several of those loyal men out there… and we have man traps galore. I should know… I put them there!"
"Come on… we have a right…"
"You are Hunters… all of you... come here for the sign that foretold this day. You really think you will just waltz in and claim the prize? Are you all fucking nuts? Do you have ANY idea what that prize is beyond the last set of traps?" John challenged with glee.
"Captain Hart" the Agency man said softly "I can see that he is well defended… I do not want to challenge him, you or anyone else… I merely want an audience with him."
John watched the man pull out an envelope with the royal crest on it, similar to the one on the medallion around Ianto's neck and he leerily turned his head slightly. Out of nowhere Jack seemed to materialize, startling them all as he stepped from a hidden spot behind the vehicles that had been parked already. Oh yes... the Hunt had trained him as an agent too, he knew all the tricks, had been taught how to find then avoid them and in so doing… how to create them too.
The man handed the envelope to Jack with mild alarm as he was bigger and more imposing that you can imagine, his plain black clothing hugging every curve. He looked… professional.
"Captain Harkness… " the man started to speak.
"Harkness-Jones" Jack cut him off "Ianto and I are bonded now. Fully."
The man stood starting into those Boeshanninan eyes and knew he was in the right place, nodding as he stepped off, even though Jack had been the one to invade the space. He saw the danger, recognized the threat and acted accordingly, letting Jack have the spot.
"Fuck this" Another said, placing a gun to Jack's head "Either we go in or he dies."
The sound of a gun cocking had them all freezing and looking down to find a small man about hip height with a gun nestled into the crotch of the man who had stupidly just spoken.
"That one is called Roger. Aren't you Roger. Roger does not speak much… kind of… shy. His trigger finger isn't though… it's keen to get the job done, right Roger?" Jack smiled as the gin against his held had no threat, Jack could see the stupid thing was not even real. A replica. What sort of moron brings a toy gun to a gunfight?
One who does not realize that it is not just a gunfight… but a free for all.
"Roger that" Roger snarled, pressing the gun harder "Are you green?"
"Well? Roger asked you a question Dickwad. Are you green?"
"Super green" the man choked out, then gave a sigh of relief as Jack stepped away from him and the little man drew the gun back from the pressure point… a bit.
"We should do him now.. for sheer stupidity. It's not a real gun" Roger scoffed. "He will just get in the way when the battle commences."
"No. He is not a real Hunter" Jack agreed and the man now felt shame as the other Hunters gaped at him and then the gun in his hand.
"I will go talk to Ianto… you all stay here. Anyone… anyone approaches my house and family… you all die" Jack said as he started to stride across the grass like it was just a letter from the letterbox to hand to his love.
Inside Ianto watched from behind the lace curtains with growing dread.
People were gonna die today.
In the end… to carve out a kingdom… to build your empire… you have to cut down some trees.
