2
Clothes had been provided and he now sat sipping some water, grateful that his stomach had not betrayed his horror.
Predators.
Like … the real deal.
Fuck.
The one who sat opposite was huge and it had no mask on, its face mandibles moving as it spoke and he tried desperately to focus on the words, not the mouth expelling them.
"We have narrowed it to a research base in this learning facility." A clawed finger tapped a PDA and Ianto felt his throat constrict as he recognized it.
It was Tosh's.
"How did you get this?" he asked as calmly as he could.
"Same way we got you" he answered, "We stole it."
Ianto snorted with humor, looking up as he imagined a giant Predator stalking around Pink Panther style.
"We amuse you?" he asked.
At least … I think it was a he.
"No, the act itself is amusing to me" Ianto clarified, "You are such large, imposing beings to have to resort to theft."
Again he had chosen the right words and the beast hummed.
"So the woman …"
"She is a servant to us. Her kind is invaluable for their similarities to your kind" the finger rose again, this time to point at Ianto's chest, "You were difficult to obtain but she assured us that you would exceed our expectations. So far she is correct."
"In what way?" Ianto canted his head.
"You are alive" the monster said flatly and Ianto blinked back a hysterical giggle.
"So, these things are in the bowels of this university and you want me to infiltrate the base, seek and destroy, save the planet" Ianto said as if taking a lunch order. "Just another day at the office."
And find your captain.
Ianto turned and rose politely as she entered and she nodded.
He sat.
It will take both of you to stop this event. It is a timeline event that must be halted.
"I understand" Ianto nodded, "My first step is to get in. It is a large place; I could go in as a student. I can appear young enough once clean shaven and dressed appropriately. Once I am enrolled I can slip about and find what I can."
"We are providing you with what you need, we have also taken the machine you called "Mainframe" and set up finances. We hope it is sufficient. You can contact us if you require anything else" the Predator said.
"Why can you not do this yourself?" Ianto suddenly asked, "Not that I'm complaining, mind. But why?"
Your planet is not ready for the level of their ….cleansing methods.
"Ah, the bomb madness" Ianto muttered and the Predator leaned forward.
"You know of us?"
"Yes. I do. I believe your kind is unstoppable and immensely formidable. Impressive warriors and excellent hunters" Ianto said calmly as he felt it's black eyes boring into him.
Finally the Predator leaned back again, seemingly satisfied.
Ianto was dying to see the PDA … well, you know what I mean. He politely accepted a sealed sandwich container he recognized as from a truck stop near London. Lisa had purchased him these at the weekends when they went tramping.
Seems these ones had done their homework, he looked at the PDA again and wondered exactly what was waiting in that base.
The transport was tickly. His first space jump and he wondered how Jack ever got used to that uncomfortable tingle in his lower bowels.
Owen's flat.
Really?
It was empty apart from a bank of computers along one wall and a table in the middle of the room.
He walked over and looked at the money piled high, feeling sick all over again.
There had to be millions sitting there, neatly stacked.
"OK" he said shakily to the room. "What the hell am I hunting do you think."
He reached for the PDA and then froze as the large glass window flickered and turned into a huge screen.
The face that turned to look at him was so familiar that he was fighting tears as he walked over to stand in front of the life sized avatar.
"Tosh" he whispered sadly.
"Hello Ianto" she smiled, "My program completed. Unfortunately it had no purpose and we were all gone. Now I am here."
"You look lovely, what a pretty kimono" Ianto smiled softly, wishing he could touch her.
"Tosh?"
"Yes Ianto" those familiar whispered words.
God how they twisted.
"What am I hunting?"
She pulled a face he knew meant she didn't like the content of their conversation. She had given it before saying Gwen's name so many times and he wondered for a wild second if it was Gwen.
"Cybermen."
Ah fuck.
Would have preferred Gwen.