Odyssey

a Torchwood crossover story

by RoadrunnerGER

Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the related shows. I just love to play with their characters.

Summary: Abducted away from Earth and sold into slavery Team Torchwood has to fight for survival. Being left behind Tosh works with the Stargate team, going on a frantic odyssey across the universe in order to save her friends. Crossover, set s2

A/N: Thanks to whashaza. I'm sorry for the delay, but real life got in the way of updating. Special thanks to mandassina for beta-reading… sometimes it's scaring me how much we think alike. LOL Enjoy!

Chapter 5

"Yes, Owen! I think I'm all right," Gwen mumbled as she shoved past other people to get to the bars separating her cage from Owen's. "Did you hear Ianto?"

"Yeah, the teaboy's here, too," Owen growled, taking her hands through the bars. "You've got an abrasion there," he said, reaching up to brush over the spot on her forehead.

"Just a scratch," she assured him. "What happened?"

"Well, I can only guess," Owen replied, "but I think those aliens put us into their ships and brought us here… wherever here is."

"It stinks."

"Smells of fear," Owen confirmed. "You're not injured, are you?"

"I don't think so." Gwen rubbed the back of her neck, though. "I'm awfully tense. My muscles hurt."

"Maybe an effect of their kind of stun gun." Owen looked her over from head to toe. She really seemed to be okay. "Sit down, Gwen."

"We've got to get out of here," she panted excitedly. "We have to find a way back!"

Owen stared at her with open incredulity.

"What?" Gwen snapped. "Is something wrong with my face?"

"Nope," Owen drawled. "It's just… How the bloody hell do you expect to get out of here?"

"There must be a way out," she insisted. "Maybe we can pick the lock."

"Good luck."

"Owen!" she complained. "Have a little more faith."

"Hmph."

He turned and sat with his back leaning against the bars. Knowing Gwen she would try to find a hairpin and try to open the lock. Maybe it would work. Maybe not. But even if it worked, what would she do then? All they could see right now were rows of cages, all of them stuffed with prisoners. Since their capture Owen had not seen any of their assailants. They could be anywhere, and judging by the cargo hold, and he would not call it anything else, the ship had to be huge. It probably was capable of interstellar travel. Owen knew that he had not been awake for long, but if they were travelling in hyperspace, they could be anywhere in the galaxy by now.

"Jack will find us," Gwen suddenly said with firm conviction.

"Yeah," Owen growled and glanced sideways.

"Don't sound so optimistic," Gwen chided sarcastically. "Are you ready to give up so soon?"

"I don't know, Gwen. Look around you. Doesn't this discourage you?"

Seemingly for the first time Gwen looked at the cages around them.

"But we've got to do something!" she insisted. "When Jack comes…"

"No, Gwen!" Owen growled. Now he turned around again to face her. It was time to tell her what he had seen earlier. "I hate to break it to you, PC Cooper, but your precious Jack's stuck in the same cage as Ianto."

"Wha…?"

Her jaw dropped. Bonelessly she slumped against the bars, sliding down and coming to sit on the cold floor. She stared at a distant cage, sightless with shock.

"Yeah, that's what I thought, too," Owen grumbled and leaned against the bars again. There was nothing they could do.

xXx

Taking a deep breath Toshiko reached out for the door bell and rang. She did not have to wait long until the door opened and she was confronted by Rhys Williams, Gwen's fiancée.

As soon as she stood across from him it was over. She had promised herself not to break down, but the moment she saw him a sob escaped her and she started to cry helplessly.

"Oh, my God! What happened? Where's Gwen?" he demanded anxiously. She fought to control her tears and answer him, but she wasn't quick enough. Rhys's worry made him impatient, and after a few seconds, he demanded again, "Tosh? What has happened to Gwen? Why isn't she here with you?"

The fear in his voice made her shudder. There was no easy way to tell him so she chose the direct approach.

"Gwen vanished," she finally managed to choke out.

"What?" Rhys panted. "What happened?"

"I'm not even sure about that," Toshiko admitted.

Knowing that he would not get any more information for a while and realizing that Toshiko needed a few moments to collect herself, he wrapped one arm around her shoulders. "Come in," he said, carefully guiding her. "Have a seat."

Toshiko let herself be herded into the living room where she slumped on the couch. Rhys hurried away to return with a glass of cold water.

"Here," he offered. "That'll help you."

She sipped at the water, but she did not feel that it helped. Only slowly did she manage to regain some semblance of control. Then, in a weepy voice, she managed to explain.

"There had been a series of disappearances in the vicinity of alien energy signals," she said. "A few hours ago, we went out to investigate more signals, and… and she was taken."

"And where was pompous Jack to prevent it?" Rhys thundered, jumping up from where he had squatted beside her. "What's he going to do about it?"

"I… I don't know," she stammered. "Jack… he's… he's gone, too."

Rhys's jaw dropped and he stared at her with undisguised shock and dismay.

"Ianto and Owen as well," she said softly, so lowly that Rhys almost missed it.

"Tosh, I'm sorry," he murmured with a tremor in his voice, dropping down on the sofa beside her and hugging her carefully. He looked a little on the pale side now and his voice was wavering when he asked, "Just… how can they vanish? Were you out on the job? Have those weevil things taken them?"

A strangled and pained laugh escaped Toshiko at the idea that weevils kidnapped her team mates. "No, Rhys. No weevils."

"But… what?"

Toshiko fought against her tears. She had to calm down and talk with Rhys.

The door bell interrupted them.

"Sorry," Rhys said, letting go of her. "I'll be right back." And he hurried to the door, intent on getting rid of whoever was outside, but when he opened Andy Davidson stood on his threshold.

"Is Gwen here?" Andy asked and more or less pushed into the apartment. "I need to talk to her."

Rhys smashed the door shut and grabbed Andy's police jacket.

"Hey! Don't you come storming in like that!" Rhys told him angrily. "What's up?"

"I have to talk to Gwen. Is she here? No? I won't go until I've talked to her." While Andy spoke he charged into the living room, Rhys right on his heels. When he looked around in search for Gwen he found Toshiko. "Oh, you're here, too! And where's Gwen?"

Steeling herself Toshiko wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her shirt and stood up. Surprisingly facing Andy was easier than facing Rhys.

"Andy, sit down," she commanded, and added when he wanted to protest. "Now."

So the constable dropped down on an easy chair. He glowered at Toshiko. Something was wrong and he needed to find out.

"Rhys, have a seat, too," Toshiko said. "Please."

Hesitantly Rhys did as he was told.

"Good. Now let's all calm down and then we'll talk. Calmly. Okay, guys?"

"Yeah," Andy grumbled.

Rhys only nodded.

"Thank you. Andy, why are you here?"

"I want to talk to Gwen. It's about those UFOs. I don't think that they were figments of anybody's imagination. Too many people reported the same thing. I think they were real! And who else should I ask about them than Gwen… or you?"

"Okay, I'm here. Ask away."

"Were they real?"

Toshiko hesitated only for a second. "Yes."

"I knew it!" Andy cheered. "So I was right? The UFOs have something to do with the disappearances?"

"UFOs?" Rhys cut in. "Disappearances?"

"Yes."

Rhys blanched visibly. "Is that where Gwen…? I mean…"

Toshiko sank back on the sofa, weighed down by the truth.

"Yes, she was attacked by the aliens," she choked, fighting fresh tears. "We all were."

"And what…?" Andy gasped.

"Gone. They're gone. All four of them. I'm the only one left."

Shocked silence fell over the apartment as the men finally comprehended what Toshiko had just said.

tbc…