Torchwood London; London, England
November 2037
Anwen Williams rested in a private room inside the infirmary. Rhosyn, her newborn daughter, slept in a bassinet near the side of the bed. Even after months of pregnancy, and everything that went with it, it didn't feel real. She was a mother.
She smiled, sensing John before he opened the door. He stepped in looking exhausted. An alchemy accident years earlier resulted in John being infused with Nanogenes that would remotely heal her if they were on the same planet. There was some type of complication partway through third stage labor. He passed out.
John crossed the room and sat on the bed next to Anwen and Rhosyn. "Are you all right?" He set a hand on hers.
"Yeah. Dr. McKinnon said I heal fast." Anwen wondered what John was trying to tell her. "What?"
"Simon has a lead on the universe collisions and destructions."
Anwen made an unhappy sound. "You're leaving." A metal tray rattled across the room.
"Earth is being used to target ancients. This universe has easier access to others. Making this version of Earth the focal point."
Anwen closed her eyes and focused on getting her temper, and telekinesis, under control. Her first thought was to demand he stay. An irrational thought. They didn't have that type of relationship. The pregnancy solved a problem with her girlfriend.
"Be careful." She met his gaze.
John squeezed her hand. "I will."
Rhosyn woke as he moved. He carefully lifted the baby and handed her to Anwen. Then kissed them both on the forehead.
Hughes Flats; Cardiff, Wales
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Anwen Williams woke to the wail of a crying newborn. She lay still, listening. Running water upstairs suggested Ianto was taking a shower. He'd done that at odd hours since Uncle Jack moved out. A low hum was the refrigerator. She sat up, continuing to listen. She knew something was wrong.
Then she felt the Rift change. Someone was using it to move through time. She had no idea how she knew that, but she did. The energy felt like John. Except he was sleeping safely on the second floor with Ken. Then she realized it could be John from the past or future. That conclusion sounded valid and foreign.
She closed her eyes and focused. Pulling him from the Rift this time was easier than the last. Although not positive, she suspected he arrived in Forest Farm again. She could sense him faintly after he left the Rift. Her first thought was to ignore it. But he could be hurt.
Quietly, she climbed out of bed and walked to the kitchen. She needed an excuse if her father woke. Then she opened her wrist-strap.
"Jack Harkness."
It took longer than usual. He might have been sleeping. It was the middle of the night. "Hey." He didn't sound tired.
"This is going to sound crazy." Anwen explained what she knew.
"You're sure John is home?"
She couldn't blame his skepticism. "Yes."
"Go back to bed," Uncle Jack emphasized.
The question Anwen had involved what she kept to herself. The baby meant something. She should have mentioned it. Why didn't she? It was some type of warning and felt different than information from the essence in her wrist-strap. She couldn't let it go.
Anwen held up her wrist-strap and asked quietly. "Did you hear the baby?"
Yes, the voice of her future voice said. You need to tell John privately.
Forest Farm
Jack Harkness parked the Torchwood van at the bend in Forest Farm Road and headed toward the bridge on foot. If Anwen was right, the person arrived in the same location John did previously. Jack believed her when she said John was home. She took comfort when he was nearby.
The question was who arrived in the park. Her theory on John time traveling in the past or future was possible. An attempt to portal while high on CN had resulted in him accidentally arriving in the wrong time period. Jack found it unlikely. Although he had to admit, the odds of Anwen mistaking anyone for John was less likely.
The unaccustomed jealousy surfaced again. First Michael. Now Anwen. The absurdity agitated him. Too much was happening to be distracted.
"Simon?" He sounded like John.
Jack flipped open his wrist-strap and scanned. It was John. Or a version of him at least. Age was uncertain which potentially fit internalized Nanogenes. The injuries were unusual and extensive. Jack had no idea what caused them.
John sat with his back to a tree. "Anwen needs to be warned. Rhosyn's in danger."
"Who's Rhosyn?"
Confused and weak, John asked, "Jack? Where am I?"
"Cardiff 2021."
John swore. "I need to be in London 2037." He struggled to open his wrist-strap.
A pillar of white light illuminated the night. John stopped.
Jack withdrew his Webly hoping that was Simon. Keara at Global would have allowed him to approach the station and the satellite grid without sounding the alarm. As an incredibly powerful psychic, she was also unlikely to ask questions or offer information.
"Jack." Simon stepped out of the trees.
Seeing another version of himself was unnerving. Seeing Simon was a reflection of who he could have been if he hadn't met The Doctor. Jack holstered his gun and stood. "What happened?"
Simon moved over to John. "I don't know."
Jack only partly believed him. "How did John wind up in 2021 instead of 2037?"
"His connection to Anwen is stronger in the past." Simon carefully lifted John.
"What's happening?"
"The children's prophecy." Simon walked the direction he came. "'The child would be born of the abyss and speak the language of the gods.' It's true. She's been born."
"Meaning?" The cryptic response was an attempt to answer the question without providing information.
Simon stopped moving. "The situation is something out of mythology. The gods are always arguing. Humans take sides and it causes more problems. A human was somehow slighted and is taking advantage of the latest conflict. Then a human hero is born capable of ending the conflict."
A pillar of white surrounds Simon and John, transporting them both to a ship.
Jack could think of no reason Simon would lie. Although it was possible. The mythology theory made an unfortunate kind of sense. They already knew about a conflict among the ancients. There was evidence that people with connections to the ancients were being manipulated. They appeared to need people to directly affect the world. That could explain why there were so many people suddenly connected to them. Without understanding the situation, or arrogantly not caring, the ancients could be viewed as an opportunity.
He needed to contact Azrael. Idrissa's sisters made the prophecy Simon quoted. If the girls had provided more information, Azrael would know. It could be an indication that his transformation was intentional. Other Keara, despite her psychic ability, wasn't perfect. And she'd obviously made deals with one or more ancients. They may have used her or manipulated circumstances around her.
Torchwood London; London, England
Rex Matheson lay awake with his arm around Davy. Complicated didn't begin to describe the situation. While he was confident she had nothing to do with the various situations indirectly connected to her family business, he had to accept the possibility. Resolving the car-jacking created more questions than answers.
"Incoming call from Cardiff."
Davy moved allowing Rex to roll over and reach for his earpiece of the nightstand. He placed it in his ear and tapped it before pushing himself up.
"What?"
"Sorry for waking you," Gwen said. "Interpol has a situation. Three men reportedly attempted to use an unknown device in the Philippines. Two are dead. The third barely made it to an embassy. There is a convenient communications problem making it impossible for the embassy to confirm the man's identity. The government wants him handed over. The embassy is concerned the police will kill him after all the drug-related deaths over the years. Interpol has the same concern."
Rex switched on the lamp. Then swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "Why the extreme reaction?"
"The device may be related to the island explosion."
That would be complicated. Whatever the intent, the result was an unknown ecological threat to a heavy populated area and possible ocean damage. That could affect the planet. Various governments and organizations were calling global terrorism. With no suspect, every political, social and religious possibility was being considered. Although Rex suspected the motivation involved the ancients.
"Who would we send to extract?" He needed to stay in London. Jack was in no condition to go anywhere, although no one would admit it. Nigeria was the closest, but they refused to provide personnel information.
"Azrael. He can make arrangements with Idrissa to use a bot and a portal device to evacuate the witness directly out of the embassy." Pause. "Nova Scotia can walk him through if needed."
No would be hurt that way, Rex thought. "Could it be a trap?" It was unlikely, but they had to consider it.
"Targeting who? Based on the situation, you, Jack, the general or Azrael would respond," Gwen said.
"Cardiff or Nigeria would be expected."
"You're not alone." Gwen sounded uneasy.
"No." Rex tensed.
Davy shifted behind him and ran a hand lightly over his back. He knew she was trying to reassure him. She could only hear his side of the conversation. But it added to the tension.
Gwen hesitated. "Under the circumstances, she's a security risk."
"Not an immediate problem." It was not a conversation Rex wanted to have nevertheless in front of Davy. "I need you to send everything you have."
"Already did."
"Thank you." Rex stood. "Have Nigeria assess and use judgment." A clicking sound indicated the call ended.
Davy sat up. "What's wrong?"
Everything. "A diplomatic problem." Rex hated the secrets. He was lying by omission. And no matter how times he told himself she'd forgive him, it was an unrealistic expectation.