AN: The usual: Torchwood: don't own it; none of the characters are mine EXCEPT Eva. She's all mine and I'm not making any money off of any of it. Summary: As Ianto and Eva sleep, Transition begins. Jack contemplates the past and his future – a future that now is decidedly not as bleak as he first thought. The others also remember moments with Jack, Ianto and Eva. Twenty four hours later, he joins them for the last two days of Transition.
Torchwood: Archangel
Chapter Eight: Sleeping Angels
24:00 Hours to Completion of Stage One of Transition
Countdown Begins….
20:00 Hours ….
The others had left; Martha and Mickey had set up monitors that showed the progression of this…Transition. Jack stood leaning against a pillar that led from the lounge to the bedroom section of Eva's suite, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked to the bed…they looked so peaceful.
Eva….Ianto….FOREVER…
~~TWTWTW~~
Gwen and Martha had insisted on dragging Jack out of the Hub for breakfast on Eva and Ianto's orders (it was a request, but Jack didn't need to know that), once it was determined that both were well on their way with Transition. Mickey remained behind to monitor Rift activity, begin a few needed computer upgrades and (most importantly as far as Jack was concerned) watch over The Sleeping Angels, as Gwen was calling them.
Breakfast was a subdued affair at the restaurant. Jack apologized to both Gwen and Martha as they perused the menus. 'My heart isn't in this,' he said, vaguely gesturing to them and the table. 'It's back there…with them.'
Martha and The Doctor had agreed to keep what they knew of The Face of Boe to themselves as it could change Jack's future. But now…there was a possibility that future was already changed. Eva cleared that up before…
'You appeared troubled, Martha Jones,' Eva said as the doctor passed the medical scanner over the cyborg's body.
'Yes,' she answered softly; she didn't want Jack or the others to hear. She then looked the Archangel in the eyes. 'Whatever happens, don't hurt Ianto…or Jack.'
Eva looked back at Martha for a second before she removed her hospital gown and replaced it with a long satin sheath gown the color of burgundy. Her hands smoothed the fabric into place as she turned back to Martha. 'My Captain says that this color suits me…but I believe it suits Ianto better. I love him in dark red and light grey. Just as I love the Captain in his greatcoat and dark blue shirt with his black waistcoat and trousers with just a touch of white undershirt peaking out at the top. I would never allow anything to hurt Ianto or my Captain, Martha Jones. I…love him. I … love them both. They…I have changed so much since my arrival here. And they have watched over me every step of the way. Do you honestly believe, that now, when their fates are entrusted in my hands, that I would harm them?' Eva took Martha's hand in hers. 'They will save me in the long millennia to come…just as I will save them…him. Jack…The Face of Boe.'
Martha started. 'How did you-,' she began.
'I will let you in on a little secret. When you watched the last of Boe Kind die, I was in the shadows of the Senate Hall with Ianto, waiting for you and the TimeLord to leave so we could collect our beloved. That was but one of the many visages he will take…it was not his end. Just…the prelude to another beginning.'
~~TW TW TW~~
Martha was strangely comforted by that. That sad, noble end she witnessed on a planet that probably didn't even support indigenous life yet was not his end. She clasped Jack's hand and kissed him tenderly on his cheek. 'Let's make sure at the very least you don't get completely maudlin on us,' she said cheerfully as she reopened her menu. Jack squeezed her hand in return and smiled at her. The same smile he had given to both Ianto and Eva earlier.
24:00 Hours to Completion of Stage One of Transition
Countdown Begins….
17:00 Hours….
Jack was watching a holo-book in the lounge while he looked over to his Sleeping Angels on the bed. They both were so pale; their skin was almost translucent. Oh…how he just wanted to be with them! Just slip in between them, feel Ianto's strong arms wrap around his body, feel Eva's lips ghost over his skin as her fingers danced patterns across his bare chest…
But the Archangel, ever the voice of reason, cautioned him not to join them early. From the information she obtained from the data orb, the first twenty-four hours were crucial to Ianto's reconstruction. Eva was the template the process would use to recreate Ianto at the molecular level. If anyone interfered – it would kill Ianto, permanently injure Eva and destroy the interloper.
The night before Jack made it into the bed first. Ianto followed; Eva was going to give them some time together alone, but they both called her back. She gave them a shy smile as they accommodated her between them in the bed. As she lay semi-reclined on the pillows, Ianto put his head near her shoulder on the pillows and his arm over her chest while Jack rested his head on her stomach, one hand resting on her thigh. Slowly, she moved her fingers through Jack's hair, carding his now unruly locks while she traced her hand up and down Ianto's arm. Ianto sighed deeply, looking down to Jack with tired eyes. Jack's own eyes were losing the battle to sleep. He heard more than saw the smile on Eva's face.
'Sleep,' she said to both of them softly.
When Jack awoke again, Ianto was between him and Eva. She was awake and studying Ianto's sleeping form intently, her hand close enough to his skin to register the heat of his body without touching him.
MY CAPTAIN, her voice whispered into his mind.
MY EVA, he answered, studying her as intently. Her long blood red hair, her eyes that at times appeared to be that of a doll's, her body…a joy to watch… and touch.
YES, she answered, smiling softly. YOURS…AND HIS. AS HE HAS FOUND A MODICUM OF PEACE, SO HAVE I.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE HIM? He had to ask.
MY KINGS TOLD ME MY MATE WOULD BE YOUR BELOVED. AND TO KEEP BOTH YOU AND ME SANE THROUGH THE LONG ADVENTURE THAT WILL BE OUR LIVES, WE NEEDED A THIRD. ONE WHOSE HEART WAS UNDERSTANDING AND LARGE ENOUGH TO LOVE US BOTH. Eva turned to lie on her back.
THE FIRST TIME I LAID EYES ON HIM…I DESIRED HIM. THAT DARK GREY PINSTRIPE SUIT. THE RED ACCENTS HE WEARS BECAUSE HE KNOWS IT PLEASES YOU. SUCH A YOUNG, PERFECT BODY, YET SUCH AN ANCIENT SOUL. She then gasped and rose slightly, turning to her side and resting her head on her crooked elbow and hand. She gave Jack a withering look.
YOU THOUGHT I WAS A VIRGIN?
Jack had the temerity to look chagrined. SO, he asked after a bit. WHO WAS IT?
NOT MY PRINCE…ALTHOUGH NOW I SEE HE WOULD HAVE QUITE EASILY… NO. IT WAS SOMEONE DIFFERENT. Jack's PDT began to receive images of Eva's first lover. He realized the man was a mix of himself and Ianto. Tall, his skin a blend of Jack's tanned and Ianto's light. Broad shoulders and chest; fine muscular arms that tapered to beautiful hands with long fingers. His hair was black…longer than Ianto's or Jack's; and the most beautiful green eyes he'd ever seen. Jack found himself attracted to the image.
HIS NAME WAS CASSIS. HE WAS ONE OF MY TUTORS.
IN WHAT? Jack asked suddenly. He didn't like where this conversation was going.
HARKNESS!! Eva admonished, then smiled at him. NO, QUANTUM TEMPORAL SPACIAL PHYSICS. She then smiled bitterly, sadly. LATER…IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE KAI VERSION OF THE KAMA SUTRA.
Jack coughed at that, then looked at her protectively. HE DIDN'T HURT YOU, DID HE?
NO, she said after a time. I WAS THE ONE THAT HURT HIM. I…COULD NOT FEEL AS HE FELT. MY MAINFRAME COULD NOT COMPREHEND…I DID NOT UNDERSTAND. HE WAS NOT PART OF MY PROTOCOLS. ONE DAY HE SAID IT WAS OVER AND I SIMPLY ACCEPTED. HE SAID HE DID NOT LOVE ME…AND I DID NOT LOVE HIM EITHER. BUT…IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE.
Jack slipped out from underneath the covers and crawled over to where Eva was. He laid her flat on the bed as he laid himself on top of her over the covers. He then cradled her face between his hands and kissed her tenderly. She opened her mouth for him after he licked her bottom lip, asking without saying for entrance. They took their time, tongues dancing from one mouth to the other, Jack pouring all his feeling for her into the act. Jack then rested his forehead against hers, his hands still cradling her face. She ran her hands through his hair again, carding it softly as she wrapped them around the back of his head.
IANTO AND I BOTH LOVE YOU, EVA. I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, WOULD HE HAVE SEX WITH YOU. HE SAID IT WOULDN'T BE SEX; HE SAID HE WOULD MAKE LOVE WITH YOU. HE SAID THAT HE AND I MAKE LOVE. He pulled back to look into her eyes, but they were closed. WITH YOU, IT WOULD ALWAYS BE WITH LOVE, EVA. WE WILL NEVER USE YOU OR MAKE YOU FEEL LESS THAN WHAT YOU ARE. YOU…ARE A BLESSING. FOR IANTO…AND FOR ME. He sighed then and moved his lips over to her ear. 'I will not let you fall, Archangel,' he whispered softly.
Eva then opened her eyes and looked into his oceanic blue ones; hers a storm of emerald and bark as a tear slid down her cheek. Jack smoothed it away with his thumb. She then gave him a small, heart-breaking smile.
THEN MY HEART, MY SOUL, MY PROGRAMMING AND MY NEW FOUND FEELINGS ARE IN GOOD HANDS, she whispered as she kissed him again.
~~TW TW TW~~
Jack smiled at the memory as his PDA went off. He contacted the Hub Mainframe and gave it new orders. TRANSMIT ALL FURTHER ALERTS TO MY PDT. He could almost feel the Mainframe rejoice at his decision. Eva and Ianto would both have their PDT's linked to it… When in Rome, he though as he got up and walked out to the Hub.
24:00 Hours to Completion of Stage One of Transition
Countdown Begins….
12:00 Hours….
Gwen was watching Jack swaying to music playing on the CD player Eva brought to his office month last month. She had said to both Ianto and Gwen that it was time Jack became a part of this time, just like she had to.
It was Jack Johnson…Gwen smiled. She never thought she'd ever see him dance to anything that wasn't swing or Big Band.
Martha came up and, standing next to Gwen, followed her gaze to Jack's office. 'I thought he only listened to Glenn Miller,' she said handing over a file. 'Report on the Weevil hunt today.' Gwen nodded as she opened it and began reading. Jack had captured the creature within fifteen minutes, claiming he learned a few tricks from Eva recently.
'Eva's doing,' she said aloud, harshly. 'She's been showing Jack all sorts of things. New ways to capture rogue Weevils faster, new artists making old music like Harry Connick, Jr. and how to make Ianto an Immortal.' She stopped; then sighed, scrubbing her face with both of her hands. 'Don't mind me – all of this is a bit much for me.'
Martha patted Gwen's shoulder then squeezed it tenderly. 'You have the right to be angry and feel left out,' Martha said softly. 'But they are going one way, you another. Divergences, changes…they always hurt.' She sighed softly, taking the chair next to Gwen's. 'I was a bit put out when I first met Jack. I had a thing for The Doctor; Jack had a thing for him as well. We all suffered so much during that time…the time Jack was away. When everything was corrected and we were all going back, all Jack wanted was to come home. To all of you; but to Ianto most of all. Whenever he spoke of his team, his eyes would light up. But when he spoke of Ianto, they positively glowed. That was when I knew that Jack had found someone to love. My heart soared for a bit and then I realized…Ianto would die one day. We all will die one day and leave him behind. Jack would be all alone.' She stood and smiled at Gwen. 'Now I know that will never happen; Eva promised. And I believe her.' Martha chuckled. 'I bet he loved Harry.'
Gwen laughed at that. 'You had to see him and Ianto dancing. Then Ianto danced with Eva while Jack grabbed me.' She sighed softly. 'It felt…good. Like…before we lost Tosh and Owen.'
'It will get better, Gwen,' Martha said, grasping Gwen's shoulder again. 'Congratulations, by the way,' she added, smiling brightly. 'Jack told us this morning. He also said that Rhys made a request that you make it home by 5pm. I intend to make sure of it.'
'Where are you and Mickey staying?' Gwen asked, realizing that she had no idea what arrangements were made for them.
'Here; in Eva's capsule tonight. We'll probably stay the next couple of days to monitor everything. Unbeknownst to Jack, I rung up The Doctor. He said he would be here before Jack goes in…but you never really know with him.'
'Why did you do that?' Gwen asked, suddenly afraid again.
'In case things go pear-shaped. I'll need an expert here, though I doubt The Doctor could do much. This…has never happened before,' she answered.
Gwen thought back to the end of dinner the night before…
Rhys was getting their car while Ianto was settling the bill, keeping Eva close. She, however, understood. This was Jack's alone time with Gwen.
Gwen looked to the Captain's face; his mouth pursed into his contemplative moue as his restless blue eyes stared off into the distance. He looked up to Gwen then, giving her his patented Harkness Grin, complete with dimples. She smiled back, blushing a bit. No matter what happened, Jack would always have that affect on her.
'Penny for 'em,' he said softly.
'How…,' she began. 'How do you feel about all of this?' she asked.
Jack stared at the tarmac outside the restaurant, contemplating how to answer. With Gwen, dancing around the truth never worked. And for the first time in his long life there was no need to doctor the truth.
'Honestly? Like Ianto said to me when he and Eva told me of their intentions – hope. I have watched so many of my friends, my lovers die. I had a wife at the turn of the century, Annabelle…beautiful creature. She died trying to give birth to our only child. I lost them both…so many have been taken from me. Either by the job, fate or Retcon. They go on, lead other lives, or leave this plane of existence for God only knows where – and I'm…just here. But now…Eva calls us 'The Triumvirate', 'The Captain and His Archangels'. For me…it just means I will have forever…with them.' He turned and watched as Ianto and Eva walked out of the restaurant towards them. 'I now have an eternal family,' he said, turning back to Gwen, smiling softly.
The Rift Activity Alert sounded and Gwen, Mickey and Martha all jumped towards the terminals. Jack rushed out of his office towards Gwen's station.
'What is it and where?' Jack asked.
'Looks like something is coming through – wait a minute. The Rift is opening, but whatever is coming hasn't quite come through yet.' Gwen typed furiously on her keyboard for a few seconds. 'Oh! I don't believe it!'
'What?' Jack asked impatiently.
'It's Cathen of La-Ren. He's transmitting on that signal Eva gave him when he was here last,' Mickey answered. Jack shifted to stand behind Mickey. 'He's going to land on the same area as before in four hours time and wishes an audience with the Lord of the Archangels and to pay his respects on behalf of himself and his peoples,' Mickey continued, reading the message scrolling up the screen.
'Respects?!' Jack asked. 'For what?'
'Doesn't say,' Gwen began. 'Don't worry, Jack. Mickey and I will go out to them. You and Martha can stay here…keep close,' she said, her voice trailing off.
'No,' Jack answered, looking towards Eva's capsule. 'I've still a job to do…and you've another to think about. Besides, apparently I am The Lord of the…wait a minute. Mickey, scroll back the message.'
Mickey did as Jack asked; watching him frown as he re-read the message. 'Do you know if the computer is translating the message properly?'
'As far as I know, Jack,' Mickey answered. 'Why? What's…Archangels,' he breathed as it suddenly made sense. 'How do they know?'
'And who the hell is telling everyone else?' Martha asked, frantically tapping on her keyboard at her station.
'What gives?' Jack asked, now standing behind her.
'UNIT deep space probes are reporting a lot of traffic. Too much for this area, we are light years from most of the intergalactic shipping routes and due to the planet's Class Five status, most stay five parsecs or more away from any deep space satellites. They only do fly-bys to the UNIT ones because it gives them a rise. But this…,' Martha sighed as she turned back to Jack. 'Jack, this is going to put a lot of knickers into a twist.'
Jack was putting on his gun belt as he nodded to Mickey. 'You're with me. I'm going to see what Cathen knows as soon as he lands. In the interim, Martha, Gwen – get on the horns to UNIT, The U.N. and the Prime Minister. Tell everyone TO CALM DOWN. The last thing we need is a bunch of half-crazed human idiots causing World War Five two hundred years before it happens.' He then looked to Gwen again. 'You can call Rhys over and stay here – or go home at five, your choice.'
'He was making his giant lasagna tonight. I'll ring him and ask if he'll just bring it over,' she offered.
Jack simply nodded. 'Martha?'
'Yeah Jack?'
'How many ships are in a holding pattern at present?'
'At present, over one hundred and fifty. All are Starliner class or greater. Hundreds of smaller ones – too many to count at this distance. The Starliners numbers continues to increase by at least fifty to seventy an hour. A few are battleships, but we're not picking up heat signature blooms from any of their firing systems. We're even registering enemies within close proximity to each other, yet they are not firing on each other. All of their monitoring devices are trained on us…on Earth.' Martha then gave Jack an assessing look. 'Jack? I…called The Doctor. I thought he could help. Just in case…,' her voice simply trailed off.
'I understand Martha,' he said walking over to Tosh's old workstation where Ianto usually sat and reached under the desktop. The sound of tearing duct tape filled the Hub as Jack yanked the space standard issue Torchwood sidearm that Ianto kept hidden there in case of emergencies, such as Captain Hart trying to break into the Hub again. Jack turned to Mickey. 'You're armed, right?' Mickey simply nodded. 'Extra clips for this?' Again, Mickey nodded. He turned to Martha. 'Gwen is in charge, you are backup.' He then turned to Gwen. 'The Doctor does NOT go into that capsule under no circumstances until I return. If he ignores that order, you are authorized to shoot. Have I made myself clear?'
Gwen heard Martha gasp, but nodded.
'Transition can not be stopped. If he interferes in any way, it will kill Ianto and him; and leave Eva a mess,' he explained to Martha. 'I won't let that happen.'
Martha slowly nodded in understanding. 'He won't get near them until you get back,' she answered.
Jack let go a breath he didn't realize he was holding. 'Thank you.' He then turned to Mickey, tossing him the keys to the SUV. 'Think you can handle it?'
Mickey smiled broadly. 'Cybermen, Daleks, Alternate Dimensions, Archangels…your SUV? Drive through the park.'
Jack walked to him and clapped him warmly on the back. 'Thanks Mouse,' he whispered. Mickey simply continued smiling.
'Anytime, Captain Cheesecake.'
24:00 Hours to Completion of Stage One of Transition
Countdown Begins….
7:30 Hours….
Mickey and Jack arrived to what to be an open empty lot. As Mickey parked the SUV, an older looking Cathen stepped out of thin air, followed by three other La-Ren. As soon as Jack stepped out of the SUV, all three bowed their heads and dropped to their knees before him. As Jack waved them up to their feet, the three put three small boxes into Cathen's hands, which he in turn put into Jack's.
'What's this about?' Jack asked.
'A gift for The Celestial Triumvirate to come. For the Captain and His Archangels,' Cathen said, smiling broadly. His smile had far too many teeth for Mickey's liking.
'What Celestial Triumvirate? Would you mind explaining yourself?' Jack asked, looking down at the small boxes in his hands. 'And what is inside these things?'
'The story has been told for as long as our ancestors were able to look up and understand the stars,' a young La-Ren immediately answered, then lowered his head. Cathen gave the young one a scathing glare, then turned to the Captain.
'Forgive him, my Lord Captain. He is young and new to military command structure. He forgets his place.'
Jack waved it off and looked at Cathen again. 'What does he mean? What have you been told?'
Cathen then nodded to the young one. 'Jathren studied as a cleric,' he said by way of explanation. 'It would be best if he answered your questions.'
'As it was foretold,' both Jathren and the other La-Ren chanted. The young La-Ren cleric looked up to Jack's eyes, then quickly looked down. A shudder ran through his whole body, making his scales rattle slightly.
'Forgive me, my Lord Captain,' he began. 'These are great and wondrous happenings for us; for all of our kind. We have been waiting for so long for them to come to pass. Many of our ancestors waited…and now…well, when Fleet Lieutenant Commander Cathen first encountered the Archangel and word reached the Holy Order, they commanded that once the signs were seen in the skies and confirmed, the Commander would have to return. It has been said since the dawn of our kind that a Celestial Triumvirate would arise, The Captain and His Two Archangels. They would bring order to the universe, like the Eternals of old, only these would choose delegates amongst the races of the universe to spread the news. The news that they are no longer alone – and peace; true inner and outer peace can be achieved if we bring hope to the hopeless, enlightenment to those permanently imprisoned in the dark, spread peace and prosperity all in the name of The Great One.'
'It has already begun on our world,' Cathen added. 'The raiders we fought last time we met are now our cousins. For us it has been several generations since the Archangel repaired my first command ship. The ship I have now is my seventh command – and her maiden voyage. She was built especially to make this trip – so that we could return and give thanks to you and the new Triumvirate. It was told a great cosmic event would herald their coming – and it has come to pass.'
'What cosmic event?' Mickey asked.
'A supernova near the Parvus Cluster that should have destroyed our world. But instead of collapsing into a black hole, it created three new suns,' Jathren answered, pulling up a 3D image from a hand-held device he had. 'The suns generate just enough heat and light to bring life forth from several of the moons within our system. Within a few decades we will have moons from which we can harvest food – and cultivate more cows and chickens.'
Mickey and Jack both started at that. 'How?' Jack asked. 'We gave you raw meat!'
'Cloning technology,' Cathen said smugly. 'Took a generation or two to perfect – but it was achieved. We are no longer a race of raiders – but of cloners and a hired policing force. Now, with these new ecosystems so close to our own…we will live…and prosper.'
Mickey immediately relayed the coordinates to Gwen and Martha and asked if they could verify the event. Martha confirmed it. Mickey swallowed thickly, his throat suddenly very dry.
When he and Martha arrived, Eva pulled him aside after the good doctor gave her a clean bill of health.
She was wearing a thick knitted black wrap over her burgundy satin slip dress as she rose out of the Medical Bay. She was a vision…and Mickey was a red-blooded human heterosexual male. He couldn't help but stare.
'Thank you for appreciation of my attire,' she began, smiling widely. Mickey immediately looked down.
'Sorry,' he mumbled. 'Didn't mean it.'
'Yes, you did,' she said walking up to and seating herself next to him. 'Ianto and Jack do it all the time. But…uh, don't let them catch you doing it, yeah?' She finished, smiling. She then grew serious and put her hand on top of Mickey's. 'Yours has been a hard life, Mickey Smith. First your mother, then your grandmother…in both dimensions. Then Rose. But through it all you have remained steadfast and true to all of your friends. Even to my Captain. The way you and he verbally spar, one would think you do not like each other. But I know my Captain worries about you, always asks how you are getting on, and I, like he, am proud to call you Friend.' She squeezed his hand tenderly. 'Watch over him while Ianto and I are…indisposed. Many strange events and portents will occur within the next twenty-four hours – and others after Jack joins us. You must help to keep everyone calm so that we will have a world to return to. You must tell the Captain…to bring out the Old School Big Guns.'
Mickey gave her a quizzical look.
'He'll know what I mean. Oh!' she exclaimed, pulling out a silver metallic capsule the size of a lipstick case from within her wrap. 'Tell him this is for Alistair,' she said handing the capsule to Mickey.
'Jack!' he called out suddenly, walking away from the SUV and to the Captain. 'Gwen and Martha confirm the event. Martha said there are now over five hundred Starliner class ships just outside delineated space and literally thousands of smaller ones. They are warp jumping in – at least ten to fifty an hour. They are trying to stay out of range, but there are so many at this point they are causing bounce-back imaging on a number of deep-space radar scopes. UNIT satellites are trying to limit the information that is being picked up here…but it doesn't look so good.'
Jack nodded his head. Everyone on Earth was still reeling from what the Daleks had done to their people and planet. Having open hearts and minds towards aliens was not exactly a priority for Earth governments at the moment.
'We better get back,' Jack said to Mickey, then turned to Cathen. 'Will you stay here or return to watch with the others?'
'Return to the others,' Cathen said quickly. 'We do not wish to cause harm by remaining here. But…may we keep contact?'
Jack nodded, holding his hand out to the alien. Cathen carefully wrapped his claw hand around Jack's. 'I need you to do something for me,' Jack continued.
'Ask and it shall be done,' Cathen replied.
'Go to the others and tell them to employ shields so that the long range satellites of this planet can not detect them. Get the smaller craft that do not have cloaking shields to get behind the Starliners so as to mask their signatures. They are scaring a lot of locals down here…everyone has to keep their heads.'
'Understood, My Lord Captain,' the alien answered. Jack held his hand firmly.
'When this is done, Cathen of La-Ren, you will be the First Delegate of The Triumvirate,' Jack said softly. 'It is good to see you alive and fit.'
'The same with you, my Lord Captain,' Cathen replied, a single tear escaping his eye. 'You will have me and mine for generations to come. You have brought me honor beyond measure. I will not fail you.'
Jack nodded again and began walking towards the SUV with Mickey. He suddenly turned around. 'Jathren!' he called out. The skittish alien stood straight and turned towards Jack.
'Yes, my Lord Captain?' he squeaked.
'Who gave your people these signs to look for?'
'Their name is lost to us,' the former cleric said, bowing his head. 'But they are the ones who created The Archangel and it was said they were the ones that taught the Lords of Time their crafts.'
Jack jogged back towards the young alien and scooped him up into a bear hug. Jathren almost fainted. He stayed standing only through a sheer force of will and the desire not to embarrass his own captain.
'Eva will like you,' Jack said, smiling. 'You will be our Historian. When this is over, you will return with Cathen, understood?'
The young cleric simply nodded, too shocked to speak. Jack turned back to Cathen. 'Good luck, our First Emissary,' Jack said, saluting the alien. The alien returned the salute as he marched with his two companions into nothing, disappearing into thin air. Jack and Mickey jogged back towards the SUV
'Martha said people are getting a bit …weirded out at UNIT,' Mickey began, turning to Jack as he was strapping himself into the passenger seat.
'Translation: UNIT is trying to see if they something big enough left to blow them out of space. They can't. Those aliens have violated no laws – as of yet,' Jack growled.
'Eva gave me this,' Mickey said, handing the silver cylinder to Jack. 'She said you would need to bring out The Old School Big Guns and that that was for Alistair.'
Jack sat back, slightly in shock, then nodded. 'We have to get back now,' he said, tapping on his Bluetooth. 'Martha?'
'Yes, Jack?'
'Call The Doctor. Tell him to drop whatever he is doing NOW. All those ships, Cathen and his people, they are waiting for Transition to complete. They…oh, Martha,' he sputtered, putting his hand over his eyes as the enormity of what was said finally hit him. 'They are treating this like the Intergalactic version of The Nativity, Martha. They said a star went supernova and caused those three starbursts. Eva's creators were star designers…hell! That was what Omega did for the TimeLords! The King…both Kings knew!'
'They both Saw, Jack,' Gwen's voice said quietly. 'Just like Eva Saw for me…'
'Eva knew something was going to happen,' Mickey said quickly. 'She just asked that everyone keep a cool head until…it's all over.'
'Martha?'
'Yes, Jack?'
'Call UNIT. Tell them to enact BIG GUN Protocols. We'll be at the Hub in ten. Gwen, is Rhys making Lasagna?'
'Yes, Jack,' Gwen answered.
'Any chance he can bring us a few beers and nibbles? It's gonna be a long night.'
'No worries, Jack,' she answered. 'Ianto asked him to do the shopping. We're covered; just come home now.'
Jack keyed off his comm as Mickey put the SUV in gear and moved towards the motorway and the Plass. He looked to Jack. 'Eva also asked me to look after you,' he said suddenly. 'I'm not letting her down.'
Jack put his hand on Mickey's shoulder. 'Thanks,' he whispered as they sped back to the Hub.
24:00 Hours to Completion of Stage One of Transition
Countdown Begins….
3:00 Hours….
Rhys had made a chocolate frosted sheet cake for pudding, figuring there would be a lot of hungry people to feed. He even did a shopping run for the Hub as per Ianto's instructions….
'I know Jack will forget. He will have a lot on his mind…so, here's the company credit card and a list. Thank you so much for watching over them while I'm…we're, well…gone,' Ianto finished. Rhys liked Ianto from the first time they had met. He trusted the young man's cool and calm demeanor; he likened him to the balancing point between Jack and Gwen.
'You watch over my Gwenie when you are all out there, now I get to help for a bit. And I can get that coffee machine to work with me while I swear it works against everyone else but you,' Rhys joked. He then looked at Ianto with serious eyes. 'I'll get this all done, don't you worry. You and Eva…just come back with Jack. Don't leave my Gwenie to try and do this all on her own yet, yeah?' he said, holding onto Ianto's shoulder tenderly. Ianto smiled at him, and at that moment Rhys understood why Eva chose him. It was as if a true angel was gracing him with its presence.
'We'll be back, Rhys,' Ianto whispered softly. 'Don't you believe otherwise.'
Knowing that Ianto was the one Jack was all wrapped up in made it easier to deal with the handsome Captain being around his wife all the time. Even Eva cleared it up for him in that respect….
'The Captain has an aura around him that few Kai can resist. However, Rhys Williams, she is truly yours.' Eva smiled then, giving Rhys a quick sideways glance. 'Your Lady has all of us that love her in our ways: Jack, as an ideal; Ianto, as a sister. Myself…as a mystery that I will never truly know. But you, my dear sir, are the lucky bastard that gets her home every night. Remember that!'
He smiled as he finished putting away the shopping and popped the lasagna in the tabletop oven. Jack had taken the invisible lift up to collect a VIP guest from UNIT. As soon as the lift began its decent, Martha and Mickey immediately stood from their stations and walked towards the lift. Gwen followed as well. Rhys had finished in the kitchenette and came out, drying his hands on a tea towel.
Jack was beaming, laughing at something his guest had said as the lift finally touched down. The guest was an older gentleman dressed impeccably in a camel overcoat and three piece suit that Ianto could have picked out. His outfit was meticulous: leather gloves crisp and his black patent leather shoes that shone with the expertise only military experience could achieve. Although a little stooped and his hair completely silver, his presence commanded respect. Martha and Mickey stood at attention and saluted the gentleman. He waved them both down and Mickey reached over to help him down from the lift.
'Ah honor sir,' Mickey said respectfully.
'Pish, tosh young man,' the older man answered, clapping Mickey on his back warmly. 'Mickey Smith, the man who lived in two universes battling Cybermen and returned to defend us in The Battle of Canary Wharf. Then you returned again when the Daleks snatched the Earth away. You, sir, are a hero.'
'Here, here!' Gwen, Martha and Jack answered. The gentleman then looked to the others.
'Ah, Mrs. Williams, is it not?' Gwen nodded in reply as Rhys stepped over beside her. 'And your husband, Mr. Williams, I presume?' Again, Gwen nodded.
'Brigadier General Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, retired of UNIT. At your service,' he finished with a bow and a clicking of his heels. He then looked up to Martha and simply saluted her; then he opened his arms and Martha stepped into them, hugging him warmly.
'It is so good to see you, sir,' she said, emotion suddenly making her voice waver.
'At ease, Doctor Jones, Mister Smith,' Lethbridge-Stewart said comfortingly. 'I am here to liaise between UNIT and here and basically make sure everyone keeps level heads during this time of…change.'
'Transition,' Jack corrected.
'Yes,' Stewart said, a faraway look on his face. 'I remember your Archangels. Eva and Ianto. She arrived first; a bit after The Doctor left for good with Sarah Jane Smith. She had helped with tying up a few loose ends when the Welshman arrived.' At this, he actually stopped and sighed. 'There were times when I swore the pair of them were walking sex on legs. They were…beautiful beyond measure. Their actions were…breath-taking. They were perfection.' He then chuckled and turned to Jack. 'Thank God you didn't come with them. UNIT Command would have been wiped out by the three of you long before any alien invasion.'
'HEY!' Jack yelled out indignantly. The others simply laughed.
The General chuckled a bit more, then, clapping his hands together, proceeded to remove his gloves and overcoat. 'Right – your Archangel left something for me?'
Jack nodded, handing the General the gold cylinder. Stewart studied it intently for a moment, then twisted its base and set it down on Tosh's old desk. A beam of light shone out from the top of the cylinder and coalesced into a 3D image of Eva. She looked up to the General and saluted.
'Forgive me for having Captain Harkness pull you out of retirement for this, my dear Brigadier General. Or should I say - Alistair.' The implications were not lost on anyone, Jack and the General simply smiled.
'The years, I hope, have been kind to you and your men,' the 3D image continued. Please send my regards to Mssrs Benson and Yates. For me, our meetings have not yet happened. But like The Doctor, I can see timelines: past, present, future as they intersect and divide…and I know UNIT's new leadership would need a more seasoned hand at the tiller. I could think of no one better than you, dearest Alistair. My Captain should be joining us in about two and a half hours. The image then turned to Jack. 'It has been a long day for you, my Lord. Contact Cathen and let him know of the new arrangements, then eat and relax. You will join us soon enough. She then looked up at the others. As for the rest of you…fifty-one hours from this point and it will be done. However,' hereshe paused as a familiar groaning wheezing sound was heard; loose paper fluttered around the Hub as a gust of wind blew through. Jack, Martha, Mickey and Stewart all closed their eyes…they knew that sound too well. Everyone turned as a blue Police Box materialized next to Eva's capsule on the other side of the Hub. 'He has come,' the 3D Eva proclaimed. 'He does not understand, Alistair. He will take severe offense to this action – as he took offense to my Captain – as he took offense to me. Do not let him wound my Captain with his sharp and glib tongue. He speaks what he thinks is truth and this one truly likes to hear himself talk. Alistair – make sure you make him LISTEN! He thinks that because his kind dealt with Time Vortexes and their machinations that it gives him the right to claim the title of TimeLord. Yet my creators taught HIS kind – and now me, my Captain and my soon Mate will have intimate knowledge his kind could only dream of. We live it – while he is merely a tourist.' The image then bowed and winked out.
Everyone turned as the TARDIS doors flew open and a familiar blur of unruly brown hair, inquisitive eyes and unbridled energy stood before them. His long brown overcoat settled around his legs as he took in the people assembled before him.
'Well, Lethbridge-Stewart, Martha, Mickey, Gwen…and Jack,' The Doctor said, smiling brightly. 'So…what was so important that I could not miss?'
24:00 Hours to Completion of Stage One of Transition
Countdown Begins….
15 minutes….
'Have you ALL gone completely round the bend?!' The Doctor exclaimed again. Martha shushed him immediately.
'Doctor,' she said tightly. 'Eva said you'd be thick, but this is a new low for you.'
The Doctor harrumphed as took another forkful of lasagna. They had all gathered in the conference room to eat, drink and…discuss their next moves. Lethbridge-Stewart was coordinating UNIT Command, trying to soothe frayed nerves there while making sure Jack and The Doctor did not come to blows. He agreed wholeheartedly with Martha's assessment of the situation. The Doctor simply would not accept that just maybe this was a good thing happening on Earth for a change.
Rhys, Gwen, Mickey and Martha simply ate in silence while, like the retired General, got in between Jack and The Doctor when the shouting became too much.
'Eva Tovar, First and Only of her Kind,' The Doctor said mockingly, reciting the title from memory.
'And that sentence and its' tone had better end right there,' Jack finished warningly.
The TimeLord looked at Jack with narrowed eyes. 'I knew…I KNEW when I saw you,' he said, pointing savagely at Jack. 'That SHE would find you. That was one of the many reasons I ran from you. One of you was horrifying to look at – but two?'
'Try three,' Jack growled. 'And there is nothing wrong with Eva! Say whatever you want about me…no! I take that back! There is nothing wrong with me – or Eva – or Ianto when this is all over. And I will not have you saying anything otherwise. We are going to be SOLID facts in the universe, Doctor. So get used to it!' He then stood from his chair and turned towards the sideboard, giving The Doctor his back.
'But what is wrong with them?' Rhys asked The Doctor; speaking the one question everyone else was dying to ask.
'They are permanently fixed points in time and space. Nothing is meant to be like that…nothing,' The Doctor answered.
'Except perhaps, for God,' Lethbridge-Stewart said softly. 'Doctor…the universe is not ordered to your specifications. For as long as you have lived – and for as many times you've scraped by only by the skin of your teeth, you still have difficulty believing in something bigger than…this?'
The Doctor then looked to Jack and the General and everyone else present. 'You are telling me you believe in her Creator?'
'I don't know what I believe in,' Martha answered softly. 'But right now there are literally thousands of ships gathering on the edge of our galaxy, just waiting. Starliners, freighters, warships, luxury liners, private craft – thousands. And not one has fired on another. Not one has attempted to get closer…they are simply here because of a prophecy told to them generations before that after a certain celestial event, a Triumvirate would be born that would help them. They're not out there to conquer…they're out there for hope. And stranger still, they're arriving here from different times as well. They will return to their own homes in space and time with this story…this hope. And if that hope is a Creator working in disguise…I'm ready and willing to believe.'
She stood and joined Jack at the sideboard, then turned towards The Doctor. 'It's time for Jack to get ready. Now, I wanted you here in case anything went wrong. But if you're just going to be a stick-in-the-mud, I suggest you pack it in right now and swan off to whatever it was you were knee-deep in before I called. I wanted you here because I thought you were Jack's friend. Please don't make me regret calling you, Doctor. Because so far, you have.'
The others then gathered their plates and started filing towards the bin at the door and up towards Eva's capsule. Lethbridge-Stewart looked at The Doctor as he too stood to go with the others.
'Come along, Doctor,' he said softly, putting a hand on the brooding TimeLord's shoulder. 'Time to let some prejudices go. Time to believe in something new for a change.' The Doctor looked up into the General's world weary eyes and saw what was missing from his own...hope.
24:00 Hours to Completion of Stage One of Transition
Countdown Begins….
0:00 Hours….
Jack stood in front of the bed looking down at the two most important beings in his universe. The both of them were covered in a white translucent carapace while they slept underneath them. He had changed into a pair of striped flannel pyjama bottoms earlier and then turned to look at everyone around him. Martha and Gwen stood at his sides. He, in turn, gripped their hands in his.
'It's like waiting for a firefight,' he whispered, his nerves making his voice wobble slightly. 'A World War Two pilot was asked once what was it like waiting for a fire fight. He said "It was hours of boredom followed by seconds of sheer terror." I feel that now,' he sighed nervously. He then looked down and then back up, tears at the corners of his eyes. 'For so long I thought it would be just me…forever. And now that I've been shown there's a possibility…a chance of change…I'm scared out of my mind!'
The lighting within the capsule changed from the soothing blues and purples to greens and reds, startling everyone as The Doctor whipped out his "brainy specs". 'Interesting,' he said softly.
'TRANSITION STAGE ONE ENDS,' a female computerized voice announced throughout the capsule. 'TRANSITION STAGE ONE ENDS.'
The two Sleeping Angels rose from their places and separated, making space for Jack between them.
WE AWAIT YOU, they said, their voices merging, the male and the female, sounding without speaking.
'Ah, telepathy…cute,' The Doctor mused.
IT IS TIME, MY CAPTAIN. JOIN US, MY LORD. MY LOVE, Eva's voice said softly.
PLEASE JACK, Ianto's voice said just as softly. JOIN US…JOIN ME. FOREVER JACK. FOREVER MY LOVE.
FOREVER, Eva's voice echoed.
Jack let go of Martha and Gwen. 'Forever,' he whispered, climbing into the bed between them. Ianto curled into him on his right side, Eva onto his left. Eva's hand crossed over Jack's chest and joined with Ianto's from the other side. Jack's two hands crossed over theirs and the three joined. Jack laid his head back and gasped, his skin going white as his eyes closed. His own skin carapaced immediately and the three bodies almost seemed to merge into a cocoon as the familiar female computerized voice proclaimed:
'STAGE TWO COMMENSING NOW. STAGE TWO COMPLETE IN SEVENTY-TWO HOURS. COUNTDOWN BEGINS.'
A/N: Wow – twenty pages on WORD! Man…this was long and hard…and all of you get your minds out of the gutter all ready! Thanks to everyone that's been reading this. I hope you guys have enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it – home stretch here…one more chapter and then an epilogue of sorts…
So next chapter: Jack, Ianto and Eva wake up to a new universe: one with a Celestial Triumvirate in it. Gwen still has growing pains as to where she fits in this new dynamic…Martha, Mickey, The Doc and Lethbridge-Stewart (Hey! Had to dig the old boy out of Mothballs for this!) make appearances.