Twenty-One: At the Heart of the Matter

"It's called Adipose," Gwen told them as she handed over the pill, "Rhys got it just recently, after a trip to London, but hasn't started to take it because he's not sure about the science. He did check on the whole thing, but wants to make sure it's safe before he takes it. Supposed to start shipping out nationwide in a few days."

Jack frowned as he looked at the pill and the packs with it, detailing some of the science, the free item with a small pill-pendant on the end of a chain making Ianto raise his eyebrow.

"Charming."

Marius looked over the small packet, frowning at the name. "Where have I heard that name before..."

"Which one?" Gwen asked.

Jack looked at the spelling of the name before telling Gwen, "I'd toss all the stuff away."

"Why?"

Marius snapped his fingers suddenly, "The Adipose!"

"Who?" Ianto asked.

"They're a race of people who are made up of what humans would consider 'fat'. I remember why I've heard their name before. The planet they used as a birthing world was destroyed recently. I guess they want another one." Marius paused on the thought and turned to the computer before saying to Jack, "Isn't doing that here illegal?

"If they are making children, then yes," Jack said. "Any news on your end?"

Marius quickly typed, creating a small window before saying simply after a second of quiet. "Yes. Tesni said she got a note from the Curator of the Time Lord's Office, officially saying that they were 'handling it'."

The group was quiet for a while before Ianto said, "Great. One less thing to worry about."

"I'm starting to get stir-crazy," Gwen muttered, "and Rhys doesn't even want the thing. Only ordered it because he's hoping for something too. Andy even wants another Weevil attack."

Marius sighed. "I hate to say it, but boredom kills faster then aliens do."

Jack chuckled. "Well, the next one should be good. I'm pretty sure the Doctor isn't about to mess up two things in a row for us."

"Right..." Ianto said, "so now what?"

"I'll tell Rhys to try for the bees thing again."

Marius shrugged as he continued to type, "Maybe Tesni can find us something."

Ianto headed over, "I'll order some pizza. It should help."

Jack followed, Gwen sighing after she got off the phone and sitting nearby. "It should take an hour now."

"Two," Marius muttered, "but it doesn't matter anyway. My guess is we'll have to do damage control."

"Oh, I like that too," Gwen muttered, obviously annoyed by everything that was being quiet.

Marius shrugged. "What else can we do?"

--

"Um, Marius?"

"What is it, Jack?"

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Playing a game."

"...we're not that out of business...are we?"

Marius handed over the paper of the latest Rift activity (close to none), Weevil sightings (quiet) and locations of aliens, alien artifacts, etc (peaceful, none, or destroyed). He frowned and moved the mouse a little more, shaking his head. "I don't know what you Humans find so fascinating that this would become a popular game."

"You haven't tried the 'disasters' command, have you?" Jack said with a smile. "It's what makes God Games fun: you can be benevolent for only so long before you make them grovel at your feet." He paused before asking, "Did Ianto give you this?"

"Yes."

"WHY?"
"He figured a demi-god who's sole purpose in the universe at large is to file paperwork on Torchwood Three, the Rift, and Cardiff in general would enjoy building up a city, letting it prosper, then scrapping it all and starting from scratch."

"Which stage are you in?"

"Considering the 'disasters' button, to make it interesting. The last fire wasn't as fun...maybe if I start a flood..."

"Biblical."

"Nah."

"What about alien invasion?"

"Too B-movie, and I don't need real life working it's way into virtual reality, do I?"

"Meteor shower?"

Ianto wandered in and looked over the two's shoulder before saying, "Well, they're always 'riot'."

The three looked at each other, then back to the screen before Marius quickly caused a riot in his simulated city.

"Are you going to deploy the coppers?" Ianto asked innocently.

Marius shook his head. "I'll be vicious and cruel, just this once."

--

"Ma—who are you?"

The annoyed voice stopped suddenly as Tesni looked up, blinking at the man who was before her, a bemused older man next to him. She recognized one as a Caretaker of the Sterries line, a decent line that tended to take up with demons, angels, and tried to make the distinction between Light and Dark more like Good and Evil.

Which was pointless in a bureaucracy, but still they tried.

She put down the pen she was using and tilted her head as she looked over at the man who had barged in, as well as brought in a mortal--

Tesni blinked again and corrected her mind. No, an Avatar...how interesting. She had heard about the fact that the Sterries were prone to getting avatars or connections like the Seidra line was, but not prone to having Hubs like the Seidra line, mainly Marius, were.

The Avatar himself was odd, a man with white hair that blended with his pale skin and dark eyes that stood out, making him look very much like a ghost or gaunt of some sort, a type of man that few would feel comfortable with. He wore an old-fashioned coat and shirt underneath, and stood straighter then possibly was good for a Human, but then again as an Avatar he would get some if not a lot of support from their Sidra counterpart.

Compline himself had dark eyes, like that of a shark, but also had short dark hair in contrast to his Avatar's pale hair, though it was apparent that Compline's form was more to look like his Avatar's then anything else.

"You didn't answer my question."

Tesni looked back at the man and sighed. "No, I didn't."

"So who are you, and where is Caretaker Marius? I need to speak to him."

"I see," she muttered, placing some of the files back and pulling out another file, opening it and tilting her head as she read the file simply, not looking up at Compline or his Avatar.

"Where is he?"

"Who?" she asked, putting the file down and marking something on it that would remind her to review that file as well. Marius had been a good record keeper, like any Caretaker who had come across the mess that Compline had left.

"MARIUS!" Compline yelled, glaring at her as his Avatar cool eyes simply glared at him, "I need to speak with him about what happened to Abbadon."

"The demon that was trapped in the Rift?" Tesni paused as she retrieved the partly-completed file and frowned. "Ah, I see. What's wrong? He filed his report on the incident already, and has already received his reprimand for handling the situation in such a...hot-headed manner."

"Pushing us into an open Rift is only considered 'hot-headed'?" the Avatar asked with a dry voice.

"Only due to the circumstances," Tesni said, holding the paper out to read simply, "'Gross negligence leading to the appointment of another Caretaker', 'leave without permission', 'manipulation of a Client race to further specified means resulting in dangerous or deadly situation', 'manipulation to cause a Client emotional distress', and a few more lines that lead to only a mild slap on the wrist. Considering the mental trauma that Marius reportedly was going through due to the pain he felt through a link with one Jack Harkness, then later trauma due to a rather unsightly year-that-never-was, I'm rather surprised they even gave him a formal reprimand for it. I also heard you appeared and confessed to these things in this very office." A mild, reproachful glare went towards Compline. "You should realize that speaking of such things will get out, even if the office is the Time Lord Office." Of course, Tesni had only heard and not actually gone to deal with the Time Lord Curator or Field Agent just yet...she was still adjusting to the new paperwork and schedule, but had heard from her father they received the fruit basket he'd sent them as a 'thank you' gift for recommending her as the new Caretaker of the Rift. Tesni still didn't understand the underlaying joke in it, and didn't feel the need to search for it either.

Compline stiffened and glared at her. "My Client was Abbadon."

"You didn't mention that, or fill out any formal notification, simply abandoned your post and then reappeared to cause massive havoc at the start of what would become a non-existent year of terror for the people of Earth. It was enough to cause more then one of the people who were supposed to be your Clients varying degrees of emotional and mental trauma, though Marius did what he could to help ease that. But now that we know that for certain, and record has been made of it," she waved to the flat, featureless wall nearby that was recording the information, a gift from one of her friends in Enforcement to help record meetings and take down important things like this, she asked sternly, "What is your complaint against Field Agent Marius?"

"FIELD AGENT?" the Avatar asked, bemused.

"He's upgraded," Compline muttered.

"I wouldn't call it that," Tesni said as she wrote some more on the file about the near-apocalypse and put it away again, "He was nearly taken away, and one suggestion that was crossed out suggested the one he was closest to be killed."

Compline frowned at that. She knew that Marius, even in his anger, knew that the Avatar was linked to Compline and killing him would have resulted in the same type of insanity that plagued Seidra line members should a Hub be killed. Compline had been weakened when Marius pushed the Avatar into the Rift because he was keeping both of them alive.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you're forever side-tracking the conversation, and never getting to the point of it," Tesni said, "what is your complaint?"

Complaine sighed and said, "The Light and the Dark."

"They're fine."

"No, they--."
She held up a small report, pushing it over for Compline and his Avatar to read. "The Light are connected to Abbadon, while the Dark fight them for some reason I didn't care to look into. Due to the destruction of Abbadon in order to save humanity, the Dark began to outnumber the Light. However, the appearance of another chaotic figure...well, two, caused the Light to wake up again when the Rift was transversed by certain key figures: one called John Hart, the other called Gray."

Compline frowned as he read it. "I didn't see that happen. They're still at the same numbers."

"That's within the Rift, of course, but they are also at acceptable levels for both that, should they decided to destroy all of that reality by declaring full war on each other, they can do so realizing no one will win. Oh, and Abbadon was taken over by the Dark before he left the Rift, which is why when he drained the life from Jack Harkness he turned to his original form: dust. It will slowly seep back into the Rift and create Light, but that may take about ten years." Tesni took the note back and now sent a glare to Compline and his Avatar. "What else is wrong with him?"

Compline blinked at the harsh words and finally said, "One of the other Field Agents, who is not assigned to our area."

"What do they have to do with Marius?"

The Avatar was the one who spoke, "It was because of their infrequent visits to see about Marius that we were freed, and that the Light began to diminish. We believe they are collecting the ashes of our Lord, to force the Dark and Light into battle."

Tesni checked on another item and rolled her eyes, then glared at the wording. "This reality will not have any clash between the two...another one might, and that one needs looking after." She glanced at the two. "If you're not adverse to the change, I'll put in a request. You both will be busy, though, because the events from this time haven't fully been realized."

"Why put me in charge?" Compline asked, "I don't have any love for Harkness or his crew."

"You don't need that, you just need to be professional, and deal with the crisis there. It's more of one then here, and the timeline there is starting to shift around too much. Go clean it up using your Avatar—."

"Bilis."

"I wasn't asking-- and be done with it. He can act as a pseudo field agent until you need one. So," she leaned forward, "who is the Field Agent that is causing trouble now?"

--

Compline walked out of the door and shook his head, Bilis looking at him oddly.

"What's wrong?"

"I just pity those who make her mad."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Compline slowly shared the information with his Human avatar, being careful to ensure not a large amount went in all at once. "She was an Enforcer, and her family is a long line of Enforcers. She knows the laws, and she knows how much she can get away with that anyone will turn the other way. That Agent...should they harm her Clients in any way, since they aren't there for any business relating to their own Clients...she is within her rights to destroy them."

Bilis blinked at the information, then sighed. "I must deal with them again?"

"We have to establish ourselves there as well, I'm sorry for it. Look on the bright side—this time we won't be tossed into the Rift, or have to deal with anyone trying to interfere. In a sense, we can do what we must, and only have Harkness to complain about."

--

Marius slowly used his powers to get the cup of tea from the kitchen area, smiling as it came to him smoothly and without the same problems as before while he set it down and smiled at Ianto, who cast him a mild glare. Despite the work he had gone through to improve the barriers between the remaining group, he and Ianto still shared that Hub as a point of contact, with Jack's own Hub being his own area. It both annoyed Marius and confused him about it, but with the damned bracelet on he couldn't return home to study it.

And it wasn't like any of his family was about to actively acknowledge him, especially after what happened between him and Mextli. Of that much he knew they would be painfully clear on. He was still out of the family as well.

"Fancy watching the store for a while?" Ianto asked, looking over as Marius continued to levitate various small items around the Hub. The young alien looked over at him before looking over at where Jack was. It seemed that the avid leader wasn't in the general area, and he cast a glance at Ianto before realizing Ianto didn't want to spend time with Jack, but more time with him.

It made Marius more then a little happy as he nodded and the two headed up, Ianto rattling about the general area, the store, how to work the machine, and other small items that Marius already knew but was fine with listening to anyway.

"Tell me about Mextli," Ianto finally asked, causing Marius to come up short. "Were you two close?"

"We were cousins," Marius said, "and fairly close. I told him about the connections, and made him swear to not tell but...well, it didn't work out so well."

"How so?"

Marius paused, sighing as he attempted to find the words to tell this person, who was like a brother to him, exactly what happened. "Most families from my line are very close, with a mild connection mentally. Being pushed out of that is...well...it hurts. The only thing that hurt more was having one of my connections die." Marius looked over at Ianto before saying, "Having the connection is considered a bad thing, and breaking them is impossible without them dying. You see my problem."

Ianto nodded, having only briefly felt the pain felt from Owen's death and experiencing a good amount of it when Toshiko had been shot and was dying. Marius had mentioned that he could feel it when Jack died through the connection, and luckily Jack had been a little more careful with his life, though Marius had also been out of the connections when Gray and John had attacked Jack the first time, turning into a backlash that incapacitated the young man during the attack on the Hub before Jack arrived again, and before the appearance of the woman calling herself Tesni, their new Caretaker.

"Well, look who shows his face," the voice was full of malice, Marius keeping his eyes on Ianto, or a spot behind Ianto, as the Welshman turned to look at the new customer who obviously was not human.

The man was obviously related to Ianto and Mextli, apparent by the same body type that the group had shared, though he was only a little older then Marius and younger then Mextli had looked, his clear eyes glaring at Ianto with barely-held rage, possibly at the fact that Ianto had even looked at him. A moment later the man glared at Marius. "Nothing to say to me?"

Marius let out a breath and shrugged, saying, "I didn't think you were supposed to be on this Earth. Last I checked, you were something besides a Caretaker, or even a Field Agent."

"Well, I just made Field Agent," the clear eyed man growled, "Surprised?"

"Somewhat," Marius said, sending a small image that told Ianto he should leave. The Welshman refused to move as Marius continued, "Is there a reason you're here?"

The clear eyed man's glare turned murderous. "You need to answer--."

"Field Agent Tyr!" the voice caused the statement to stop, and Marius to look over at Tesni stood, leaning against the door once more before she said, "I don't believe you are supposed to be here. In fact, if I recall right, you are supposed to be keeping track of the wayward last Client that you misplaced after an...incident...if I remember." She kept her tone light but her eyes and body language was anything but, openly hostile towards Tyr and obviously ready for a fight. "Bothering your brother isn't going to help the situation."

Brother?

I'll explain later, Ianto. Sorry about this.

"She's got a point," the voice of Jack caused the others to see him emerge from the Hub entrance, "Unless, of course, you want to talk to him alone?"

Tyr glared at the two, Marius standing and walking up to him. "What are you here for, Tyr?"

Tyr, as the man was called, glanced at him and said, "Another storm is heading to Earth. Do you plan on being here when it hits?"

Marius held up his wrist. "I don't have a choice."

"Damn it, Marius--."

"And I'm not going to use Mextli's solution either," Marius told him, "they're too important to me."

Tyr looked at Ianto and Jack, the doorbell ringing causing him to turn and see Rhys and Gwen there as well, Gwen glaring at the man and Rhys confused but willing to help.

Tyr snorted. "Family was important too."

"They're my family," Marius told him, "No one wanted to listen to me about that, though, last I recalled."

"Dad didn't. Neither did Hippoltya, or Mextli, or even Resef." Tyr shifted and looked back, looking over Ianto before asking, "Does it make that much of a difference? Having a connection you can never close, a way to learn their secrets but lose so much of yourself to them?"

Marius looked over at Tyr and the two brothers made eye-contact for a long moment, silence filling the room before Tyr broke it, playing with one of the postcard stands. "Should've guessed it."

"Are you here for a reason, Field Agent Tyr?" Tesni repeated, "Your Caretaker is probably in need of a report."

Tyr shrugged. "I know. I asked to go and speak with my brother. I can do that, can't I?"

"Not if what his family did to him is brought up, no," Tesni pointed out, "and since he's my Field Agent, I'll ask you let him keep his sanity for a little while longer."

Tyr looked back at Ianto, frowning at him before saying, "I just wanted to warn him. The things going to be big, and he needs to get rid of that bracelet if he wants to survive. He might be disowned, but he's still my brother."

Marius looked back at Tyr as the clear-eyed man gave him a mild smile and shrug. "Take care of the family, then. Dad'll never take you back, and he'll probably yell at me for talking to you, but I don't mind. I miss you."

Marius didn't say anything to that as Tyr, and then Tesni a minute later, disappeared in a rush of gold.

--

Tyr frowned as he looked over as Rose once more disappeared back to her own world, casting a glance to see Tesni glaring at him. "I was only there because I had misplaced my Client."

"You took up being a Field Agent for the alternate world? Why?"

Tyr shifted and finally said, "He runs into Miss Lilith of the Time Lords and changed...then he gets into Torchwood and changes as well." Tyr shrugged. "I had to see what was so interesting that I decided to observe one her Doctor was closest to."

"Rose Tyler," Tesni said, "But what about Marius?"

"I couldn't understand him until earlier, until after I saw what Mextli did. How it affected him."

"You saw?"

"It was the first attempt Rose made, when Cardiff was attacked. She thought she had gone back in time, and left quickly, but I stayed a little too long."

Tesni sighed. "Why is she coming back?"

"She found something on her world, and now she needs to help the Doctor. Help him with an upcoming storm."

Tesni looked back. "What does this have to do with causing him any trauma?"

"I didn't mean to. But I helped force him away from his family. I shouldn't have. I want to reconnect...and we did."

Tesni frowned. "The eye-contact."

"We're brothers again." Tyr smiled, keeping to himself the thought that he would have another, in a sense. Ianto Jones was turning into a type of surrogate or foster brother, through the weird connection that made him almost an Avatar, but more than a Hub. He found he was enjoying Rose Tyler and Micky, despite everything, and that Rose had changed because of her loss, and then later her gain.

They make them into soldiers...

But it's necessary. All that is out in the world, it is necessary to realize that evil can happen, and that you sometimes must fight it however you can.

"You will call if anything happens?"

Tesni's question brought him up short, but he nodded as she left, leaving a piece of paper with the coordinates of Rose Tyler on them. Tyr smiled and disappeared as well.

--

Marius had his own flat, but he often would spend time over at Ianto's, unless he was busy with Jack or something. Since the events with Gray, Ianto had comforted Jack more and more, forcing Marius to either stay home or visit someone else, usually Gwen or, on an odd time, Andy.

After the visit from Tyr, Marius wanted to be alone. He wanted to consider all that had happened between him and his brother, and what that mild thought touch, the re-establishment of a connection he thought lost forever, meant.

Torchwood Three wasn't about to let that happen. At least, Ianto, Gwen, and Jack wouldn't, and where Gwen went, Rhys wasn't far behind with little understanding on what was going on but a shoulder to be offered anyway.

Marius didn't want any of them. He wanted to be alone, wanted to cut off all the connections and be alone for once.

Marius shuddered suddenly, remembering what that had felt like after Mextli had put that band around his arm, what it felt like to have no connection, and sighed, wondering how long the group was going to try calling him before they got the clue that he wanted to be left alone.

A familiar knock was met with annoyance on his end, causing it to end abruptly. Marius smiled in happiness and looked over at the bottle in front of him. He generally didn't drink, only kept some for the others, mainly Toshiko and, strangely, for Owen. He attributed that to the lost connection, which sadly seemed to deposit a few of the medic's traits into him, if the conversations had said anything.

Toshiko had dropped a few too, during that slow death that possibly made him want the bottle in front of him even more. Her shy but inquisitive nature, her instincts for technology and love of them, made him wonder as he considered once more the bottle before him.

It was just a bottle of beer, local and obtained from a local store nearby that sold it, which he had sadly taken a liking too. He opened the bottle and tried it, wincing at the bitter taste.

Another knock that he ignored in favor of drinking more from the bottle. The sour liquid worked it way down his throat as he coughed at it, putting the bottle down and heading over to obtain another one.

He could listen to the group from Torchwood later. For now, he wanted to drink and lose himself.