71
It was cold and the fog was so thick that Ianto was slightly worried that one of them might shoot a bloody innocent cow or something so their coms were all open so they could reassure him they were OK.
"Gods, cold too babe, that sort of bone numbing cold" Jack sighed and Ianto glanced over at the baby playing happily in his playpen.
"Well, Andy is awake soon so I can come help search" Ianto promised, "The wee bit is still cuddled up with him so I don't want to wake them."
"Awwww" Rhys crooned down the coms, "Me lovelies."
"I am just glad our Anwen is old enough that she doesn't need him to chew her food for her or breastfeed because he would for sure give it a go" Mickey muttered and then there was a yelp as Martha obviously struck him in the head.
"The signal is still quite strong to the east of you, about half a click" Ianto said and the groans that filled the coms made Ianto smile softly. "Sorry."
"What's that bloody smell" Mickey asked and Rhys coughed, "Sort of…metallic. Like that smell of rain on asphalt in the summer ya know?"
"Jack!" Ianto was suddenly alert, "What are the readings?"
"Huh?"
"Air, what are the levels" Ianto demanded, "If the ship burst its thermal casing it might be venting gas."
"Shit"
Ianto listened as they all started talking at once, then their voices were harried as they seemed to be running.
"Flat" Jack panted, "Flat fucking ground, no way up."
Ianto was trying to think, rubbing his face as he cursed softly, "Is there a grain silo? Jack can you see a tank or something? Somewhere you can seal in?"
"Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck hole!" Mickey was gasping.
"Try not to talk, you take in more air" Ianto was on his feet as he looked to the bedroom where Andy was shuffling out on his walking frame, "Small breaths, try to focus on your feet."
"What's going on?" Andy asked as he watched Ianto pulling on armour.
"The vessel landed in water I think" Ianto said as he turned to face him, "The hull of the vessel has breeched, the air from within mixing with the H2O and it is creating a gas. They will be OK but I have to go to them now. You are on coms!"
"OK" Andy moved to the large comfortable chair that was his and logged in as Ianto strapped on his breather and after a moment's hesitation he removed it, reaching for the helmet Maddy had left by his chair instead.
As Ianto secured it the hum of the protective armour came on line and Andy watched with awe as Ianto was transformed into a Predator.
"Wow"
"Right then, I'll take the hover" Ianto declared as he stalked out and his voce sounded strange beneath the mask.
Alien.
Andy snorted and then spoke down the coms, "Ianto is on the way, just keep together. If that fog is as dense as you say he might only get one sweep."
"It's denser than a goose's fart" Mickey muttered.
"How many goose's arses do you hang around?" Jack laughed softly, his voice tight with worry.
"He means as thick as a Gwen" Rhys replied an there was a soft chuff of laughter, "Look there, is that a café? Would they have a walk in chiller?"
"Good call big guy" Jack huffed as they headed in that direction and Ianto spoke softly over the coms.
"The Goose Fart Café?"
More soft chuffs as they got inside and Jack cursed as they found people laying on the floor, a quick check telling them their worst fears were answered.
"Deceased" Mickey told Andy, "We have ten…ah shit, eleven in here, must have run in when they realised the fog was dangerous. It hit them pretty hard, thank fuck we caught on in time."
"Reminds me of the Stephen King novel about the fog, remember? They were stuck in a grocery store and those things were in the fog, trying to get in?" Mickey said as he looked around.
A large thump against the glass doors made them cry out with alarm.
"Good one Mickey mouse" Jack sighed, "You had to stir up the Gods."
"Ahhhhhh fuck, what is it?" Rhys whined "Tell me it's not a tentacle monster"
"Humerdons" Jack slumped, "Fuck. Carnivores. The only thing that saved us was the bodies were were passing, they stopped to devour them first."
"Bodies we…hang on, we were walking past dead people out there?" Martha swung to look through the glass.
"Double glazing" Jack said as he inspected the glass, "Air tight. Why we are OK, these poor bastards would have survived if they were already in here but….what."
"None of them are in a uniform" Mickey growled as he suddenly raised his rifle to his hip, "If those already in here were safe, where the fuck are the staff now?"
"Ah fuck" Jack agreed, "They must be hiding out back."
"And we are the intruders"