4
Jax heads down a side corridor that has steps leading down to the passenger berths and Owen is right on his heels as they trip down the stairs.
"Guests? I earn my passage, Captain…" Owen is now enraged.
"And it's time your little brother learned from your fine example." Jax throws over his shoulder as he sees Owen is catching up to him again.
"I've earned my passage treating bullet holes, knife wounds, laser burns..."
"Some of our jobs are trickier than others" Jax shrugs.
"And you want to put my brother in the middle of that." Owen sighs.
"Didn't say 'want'. Said 'will'." Jax laughs as he turns another corner and drops down again, "It's one job, Doc. He'll be fine."
The passenger dorm has a time-worn warmth that most of the ship shares. Except, of course, for the sterile blue of the infirmary into which the two men step.
He's just a boy. A mentally traumatized …"
"He's a reader." Jax cuts him off and stops moving forcing Owen to slam into him and bounce off like a small pebble hitting sold rock. "Sees into the truth of things; might see trouble before it's coming. Which is of use to me."
"And that's your guiding star, isn't it? What's of use." Owen sneers.
"Honestly, doctor, I think we may really crash this time anyway." Jax says happily, then a squeak as Owen jabs the inoculation needle into Jax's arm.
"Do you understand what I've gone through to keep Ianto away from the Agency?" Owen asks earnestly.
"I do, and it's a fact me and mine have been courteous enough to keep to our own selves." Jax agrees.
"Are you threatening to …"
"I got one purpose here: keep this boat in the air. I take the jobs I get … which is less and less, case you ain't been keeping track." He starts away, Owen still keeping pace. "Every year since the war the Agency pushes just a little further out towards the rim. Makes it a chore for naughty men like us to slip about – and keeping you two on board means working twice as hard to avoid the law. Means turning down a score of honest jobs."
They enter the biggest space on the ship. Giant doors sit at the front, which will open upon landing to reveal a lowering ramp. Catwalks surround the space, leading up at the front to the foredeck hall. We've come all the way through Torchwood.
"So here is us, on the raggedy edge. Don't push me and I won't push you." Jax throws his arms wide.
Owen starts up the stairs as Jax calls to him "Things get gritty I will keep him from the fray, but he's coming. Best you get him ready."
As Jax walks on, he passes the Mule, a four-man hovercraft hanging from chains near the ceiling. Rhys and Martha are tossing duffle bags into it.
"Martha, is Mickey gonna straighten this boat out before we get flattened?" Jax asks her and she flicks her dreads back to look at him.
"Like a downy feather, sir. Nobody flies like my mouse."
Up in the Guest quarters Owen is standing watching Ianto. He's lying on his side, looking straight at him. A loose summer shirt draped over his small frame. It looks a lot like one of those Jax wore. A belt clinches it all in making Ianto resemble some sort or Pirate with his black trousers and boots contrasting against the white shirt.
"I know. We're going for a ride." Ianto says softly in that soft welsh lit.
.
.
.
.
Torchwood settles gently down as the cargo bay door opens.
The chains are hoisted back up into the ceiling of the ship.
The mule floats just above the floor, Rhys piling in next to Ianto in the back as Owen continues to speak softly to him "Now, Ianto, you stay behind the others. If there's fighting you drop to the floor or run away. It's okay to leave them to die."
Rhys slowly turns to look at Owen and grin menacingly.
Ianto puts on a huge pair of goggles, looks at his brother with his eyes now huge in the lenses. "I'm the brains of the operation. Beep, Beep."
"Ianto, you are not fucking Mister Toad, this is not a game."
Ianto just grins maniacally and we see that he is definitely not firing on all cylinders if ya know what I mean.
"We should hit town right during Sunday worship. Won't be any crowds." Martha informs them as she fiddles with her own goggles.
"If Andy and Pandy are right about the payroll, this could look to be a sunny day for us." Jax grins at her.
"Captain, I'll ask you one last time..." Owen asks.
"Doctor, I'm taking your brother under my protection here. If anything happens to him, anything at all, I swear to you I will get very choked up. Honestly. There could be tears."
He peels out, leaves Owen fuming. Toshiko sidles up to him "Don't mind the Captain none, Owen. I know he'll look out for him."
"It's amazing. I bring Ianto all the way out to the raggedy edge of the 'verse so he can hide from the Agency by robbing banks." Owen laughs with sarcasm.
"It's just a little Trading Station. They'll be back 'fore you can spit." She smiles and it fades as he stalks off, "Not that you spit..."
Toshiko watches him go, a tad forlorn.