I'm really sorry. Really, I am. I've just been really down lately, and I guess I haven't really been able to bring myself to write anything. I've been swamped with schoolwork, and the one week I did want to sit down and type, our power was completely out. But I want to thank Charlotte for kicking my butt back into action… I guess you don't want excuses, so here.
Disclaimer: Be glad, one and all. I do not own Torchwood.
"I just can't believe it! We've got all the same classes!" Scott spewed excitedly.
Robbie smiled widely; his friend's exuberance was infectious. "I know. It's great. I mean, you're the only one I know here. It'd be a bit lonely without you." He wasn't used to having a friend like Scott. It was a comfort to at least have the other teen in the same room.
"C'mon, we have to hurry!" Scott said, glancing at his watch.
The boys were jogging to get to the school building as fast as they could. They turned the corner, but unfortunately a girl about their age was right in front of them. She stepped in the way much too fast for the boys to stop.
The cries of surprise rang through the air. "Ooohh," the girl moaned, clutching her head. She tried to get up, but found herself buried under the two boys.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Robbie muttered, jumping off the girl. Scott attempted to lift himself off the ground. After two tries, he got himself upright, if not a little wobbly.
"Hey," Scott said, helping the girl to her feet. "You're… Haley, right?"
The girl shook her head, her tied up strawberry blonde hair moving with it. "Hadley, Hadley O'See."
"Scott, is it obligatory for you to run everyone you meet into the floor?" Robbie chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. He turned to Hadley. "I'm Robbie Montgomery. The lug over there is Scott Brown."
"Oh, an American, eh?" Hadley giggled, shaking the proffered hand.
"Yeah." Robbie grinned. He checked the time, and the smile slid off his face. "Agh! We're late!"
"I do not… I do not want to talk to her."
"Fret not, Addah. I will take care of it."
"My thanks, Iiv. I will go check if she left anything behind. I do not wish any other humans to find us."
"Go, my love. Be careful."
Toshiko had no idea how long she'd been sitting, staring at the blank wall. Her brain was working furiously, trying to make out what exactly had happened, and to calculate what she would have to do next.
"Human," a voice boomed.
Tosh's head whirled around to the direction of the force field. She gasped. On the other side of the invisible wall was an alien, tall and majestic. Its body was covered with a thin layer of blue-ish gray fur. Its torso seemed almost human like, but below was a body with four legs. It was much like centaurs of human mythos. On its head were great, bat-like ears, and jutting from its crown were several sharp spikes. It had its arms crossed across its bare chest; another, smaller pair of arms (coming from its back) was working with a small device.
The alien took a step closer to Tosh, its garments swishing gracefully. Its eyes narrowed into a venomous glare, its flat nostrils flaring.
"Who are you?" Tosh demanded weakly.
The alien's mouth twisted into a strange smirk, and it let out a harsh bark of laughter. "What a question!" The deep voice echoed through the metal corridors. "Iiv is my name, though I suppose your kind has never even bothered with trivialities like that!"
"I… I don't understand!" Tosh cried, standing up to face the alien.
"I do not appreciate your lies!" It roared. "You are with them! Those three: the males and the other female!"
Tosh reeled back, surprised. It knew her, but she had no idea about it. A small beep broke the temporary silence. The alien broke its gaze from Toshiko, glancing at the device. It brought its hand, which had three thick fingers, up to the force field. It seemed to dig its fingers into the energy without getting hurt. Using its other hand, it pulled apart the force field, creating a small hole.
"Give me your hand," it commanded.
Toshiko reeled back. Nearly tripping, the Japanese woman distanced herself from the alien.
"Give me your hand, human!" it growled menacingly.
"Why?"
"I do not wish to go in there, but I will if you make it necessary. Now give. Me. Your. Hand!"
Tosh did not obey. "No."
The alien grunted. Then it turned around, galloping down the halls. In a second, it disappeared. Several minutes passed, and then it returned with another alien. She was smaller, and she had a more feminine figure than her male counterpart.
A male and female! Could they be…? Tosh frowned, backing up against the wall.
The female seemed oddly hesitant. Iiv, the male, grabbed her arm gently. "I will only be a minute," he whispered. Tosh barely caught it.
The female typed a code into a keypad that was mounted on the wall. There was a buzzing, and the force field fell. The male jumped in and the female reactivated the invisible wall. The alien was at least three heads larger than Tosh and he was very muscular. He easily cornered her. With his strong hands, he grabbed Tosh's arms, holding her still as she struggled. One of the smaller hands extended, attaching the beeping device to Tosh's wrist.
A second later, he was gone, or more, he was outside the cell again. "It's a monitor, just in case you try something…" With that, the both of them exited, leaving behind a much shaken Tosh.
"Plan, plan…" Gwen muttered, frowning.
"Simple. We follow the signal, yeah?" Owen suggested. "Bring our gear, y'know, just in case." In case something bad has happened, he added silently.
"Agreed," Ianto muttered. "It is rather simple."
"Then let's go," Gwen said. None of them moved. Why did they all feel so hesitant? Fear? Apprehension? The woman shook her head. "Come on!" She lightly shoved Owen, smacking Ianto's shoulder. "We've got to find Tosh, yeah? No standing around!"
The men nodded. Ianto headed to the garage to start the car, while Owen gathered up his gear along with some of Tosh's. He followed after Ianto. Gwen grabbed some equipment, sending one doubtful glance at Tosh's desk.
An eerie stillness filled the Hub. Gwen shivered, running to catch up with the others.
Done. If you want to see what Iiv and his mate Addah look like, head over to my profile for my DA link. They're pretty old, though.
I'd appreciate it if you'd review. The only thing is, it still might be a while before the next chapter. Sorry.