Time Doesn't Always Run Straight
Meat
Part 1
Sorry guys for the delay. Didn't actually realise it was that long. Things have just been intense lately. I graduated from University in October and have been spending almost all my free time applying for jobs, with no luck at all. Which is very stressful as I have no idea what I'm going to be doing next year and if I don't get a job soon, I might not get one till Easter. This story is a six-parter of about 2-4,000 words each. Then Adam. Thank you once again for everyone who has been supporting this story. Things are really bad at the moment so I do really appreciate the time you have all taken to read/favorite/follow and review.
Warning: Meat will be rated M. This is for lots of violence, mention of death, character death and some swearing. This is probably the most intense one I have written so far, especially part 4-6. Be prepared for lots of conflict.
Jack grins as he hears footsteps approaching his office. He is just about to snap out a lewd comment when he realises it's Owen not Ianto who has visited his office. He raises an eyebrow when Owen closes the door. Owen almost never visited his office, much less for anything that required privacy.
"What can I do for you?" Jack asks as Owen takes a seat.
"We need to keep an eye on Jestine before she loses it." Owen doesn't beat about the bush.
Jack frowns. Sure things hadn't been great for Jestine lately, but she had been part of the Agency, she could handle what had happened. Or so Jack had thought.
"For her safety and everyone else's." Owen explains. ".There's no way she couldn't be hurting after everything with Tommy. And the wounds from Beth are still fresh." Owen sighs. "We've both seen her, she doesn't hesitate to kill if she needs to but I don't think she is as unaffected as she pretends. And how many bullets do you think it will take before she loses it? As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with Gwen." Owen raises his hand as Jack is about to argue. "I'm not saying completely we should get rid of her or anything, just watch her. She won't talk to me so I don't know for sure but she can't be in a healthy mental state. And if that is the case she is a threat to civilians. How much would it take for her to shoot them?"
Jack nods. Jestine had proven time and again her willingness to kill and added to that everything that had happened recently, he could see the possibility of someone getting hurt. "We can't keep an eye on her all the time. You know how she wanders." When not given something specific to do, Jestine often spent her time wondering the lower levels of the base.
Owen shrugs. "Find a way to keep her up with us."
Jack sits back in thought. "Seeing as she never did any introduction, we could get her to tail each of you for a while to learn more about Torchwood other than the field aspect." He suggests.
"Whatever. As long we can see her. Life is shit enough, we don't need to make it worse." Owen mutters the last part as he gets up and leaves Jack's office.
Jack can't argue with Owen's sentiment, not just for Jestine but the rest of the team as well.
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Jack sweeps out of his office. "Call out. Traffic accident." He explains to the team.
"To do with us, how?" Jestine asks.
"Suspicious load on the truck." Jack supplies. "Tosh, Owen and Ianto with me."
"Jack I can't. I have an important program running, I need to be here." Tosh protest.
"I'll go." Jestine volunteers.
Before Jack can say anything the cog wheel rolls back to reveal Gwen.
"Gwen, you're late." Jack calls out to her as Owen and Ianto start preparing to head out.
"It wasn't my fault." Gwen whines. "Rhys had the morning off and you were the one who told me to not let my life outside of Torchwood slide." Gwen flutters her eyelids at Jack.
"I don't want to hear it. You want time with Rhys, you organise vacation time, not just come in when you feel like it. You aren't the only one that wants to spend time with their loved ones." Jack growls at her. "We've got a call out. Jestine I want you in keeping us up-to-date, Tosh support her. Gwen with us." And with that Jack storms off to the SUV with Jestine glaring at his retreating back.
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"Don't know why I couldn't go with them." Jestine mutters as she struggles with the computer. She mutters a string of words Tosh can only assume were alien curses.
"Jack wants you to learn more about the different areas of Torchwood, not just the field." Tosh replies patiently as she once again shows Jestine how to track the SUV and find the police reports. While Jestine had no issue using her vortex manipulator, one of the most complicated machines Tosh had ever seen, she seemed to struggle with all other technology.
"If I had a sonic it'll work." Jestine mutters, although Tosh doesn't understand the meaning. "Why would I need to know how to do this? You're here."
Tosh gives a small laugh. "And what if I'm not available to do it?"
"Ianto can do it. He knows everything." Jestine answers absentmindedly as she watches the screen. She has finally gotten to the program that tracks the SUV. It is stationary, showing that they must have reached the site.
Tosh sighs. "Regardless of what you say, you need to learn it. We all need to know at least the basics in each other's jobs in-case someone isn't available." Tosh doesn't mention the likely reason for them being unavailable.
"No-one knew how to do Jack's job." Jestine replies. "You lot were a mess when I got here."
"We were still trying to come to terms with Jack leaving." Tosh replies bluntly. She knew Jestine wasn't actually trying to upset her but it was still a slightly delicate conversation, even with Jack back. "And there is more to Jack's job than bossing us around."
"Ianto." Jestine retorts
"It won't hurt you to learn new skills." Tosh decides she has had enough of the argument. "How are you feeling?" Tosh's tone is softer now.
"What happened wasn't great but I'm fine." Jestine answers. "It's not the first time I've killed someone."
"Doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt." Tosh points out.
"How many have you killed?" Jestine asks.
"I..I.." Tosh stammers, unbalanced by the question.
"You could count how many, remember their faces." Jestine interrupts Tosh. She turns to face her. Tosh stares at the ice cold eyes, unable to look away. "I'm not some heartbroken girl who lost the love of their life. Tommy was just some guy I knew for a day. My hands were stained long before him. Worlds have burnt because of me. I have killed more people than I could ever count. Tommy is just one death amongst it all." Jestine forcefully tells Tosh before turning back to her screen.
Tosh moves back to her desk, unnerved by the conversation but not convinced by Jestine's words.
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"What's wrong with her?" Jestine asks as Gwen comes storming in with the rest of the team following close behind.
Gwen shoots her a glare before storming off to the lower levels.
"Need to do some testing, but seems there is some dodgy meat in Cardiff." Owen tells her as he makes his way to the autopsy bay.
"And she's angry why?" Jestine asks.
"The lorry the meat was being transported in is from Rhys' company." Ianto explains as he moves to make coffee.
"So?" Jestine asks again.
"She's upset at the possibility that Rhys might be involved." Jack explains.
Jestine frowns. "And she doesn't want her reproductive partner to be morally wrong because that reflects on her?" Jestine tries to grasp the concept of 21st century morality.
"Partner, people call them partners." Jack answers. "People like to think the best of their partners and if Rhys is involved, it means he isn't the person she thought he was."
"Which is bad?" Jestine guesses.
"People don't like being lied to, especially by those closest to them." Jack replies.
"But he didn't lie to her. I'm sure he has never told her he doesn't ship suspicious meat." Jestine retorts.
"Avoidance of the truth is still a lie." Jack explains. "Look, people don't like other people doing bad things, especially when they didn't know about it." He tries to explain it simply. "When someone does a bad thing, it makes the people around them question what other bad things they might have done."
Jestine shakes her head as she walks off, muttering to herself. "And this is why I avoid people. Too caught up with your morals and feelings."
Jack shakes his own head. He was trying to make Jestine a better person but statements like that made him wonder if it was even possible.
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Jestine and Jack watch Owen as he moves around the autopsy bay, giving his report.
"There is evidence of a vertebral column but its genetic makeup isn't compatible with any known animal." He explains as Jestine moves down to the bay.
"Any idea what it is?" Jack asks as Jestine starts poking the meat.
Owen glares at her. "Stop that, you don't know what it is. Neither do I, have to scan it. But whoever's farming this meat knows it's dodgy." Owen holds up the label while shooing Jestine out who just glares at him. "You see this? Official vet stamp, "Fit for human consumption. It's fake. It's good, but it's fake."
Jack nods before walking towards Tosh and Ianto who were by the computers. Gwen is at her workstation, not interacting with the team.
"Tosh, get on to the haulage firm. Find out where that meat is from and where it's heading." Jack orders.
Gwen mutters from her desk, "Why does it have to be Rhys's firm? It's a bit too close to home."
"You want to stand down?" Jack asks with understanding.
Gwen looks at Jack in shock that he would suggest anything of the sort. "No!." She exclaims. "I want to find out what's going on."
"At least if he is trading dodgy meat, you'd be able to move on and find a more appropriate mate. Shouldn't be too hard since you are still of reproducing age." Jestine comments as Gwen starts the advert for Harwood.
"Not helping." Jack warns Jestine as Gwen glares at her.
Jestine throws her hands up defensively. "What? I was being supportive. Cloud in the silver."
"Every cloud has a silver lining." Ianto corrects as he passes around coffees.
Jestine frowns before shrugging. "Still doesn't make sense but if you say so."
"Do you think the haulage firm might be in on it, too?" Tosh drags the conversation back to the relevant topic.
Gwen furiously shakes her head. "Rhys? No! He doesn't know what goes in the cans, he just hires them out."
"Driver must have seen it loaded." Ianto adds. He hopes for Gwen's sake that they are wrong. While he hadn't meet the bloke in person, what he had observed of him he seemed to be a nice guy.
"That doesn't implicate Rhys. He's the most honest man I know." Gwen almost snarls, sick of the team ganging up on her and now poor Rhys.
"Look we'll call the firm and ask some questions. Then we can determine what is happening." Jack interrupts before an argument broke out.
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The team listen as Tosh talks to Rhys, the phone on speaker.
"It's a firm called Harris & Harris. They came to us about two months back. It's a weekly contract." Rhys answers through the phone as Ianto writes down a note.
"Are they licensed?" Tosh asks.
"Yeah, of course they're licensed!" Even through the phone they could feel the outrage.
"Could you give me their address?" Tosh continues.
There is silence broken by some typing before more silence then finally "There's no address down here." Another silence and then "There's a pickup point. They said it was hard to find."
Ianto hands the note to Jack.
"No, sorry, all I've got is a service station on the A470, 15 miles from Cardiff." Rhys adds, the team can hear the stress in his voice.
"Do you have their contact number?" Tosh asks.
After a pause Rhys replies. "No, there's no contact number either?"
"Can you tell me where your driver took the meat?" Tosh asks immediately. As Jack hands the note to her.
"Yes, he was taking it to Carewen Abattoir. It's a processing plant, just, uh, gen-a gen – general meat suppliers." The agitation was building in Rhys' voice.
"What time did the driver leave base?" Tosh asks.
Rhys again checks the logs. "Uh, signed out at 10 to 1:00. Can I ask, what's this about?" Rhys' agitation gets the better of him.
"I can't release that information, sir. Thanks for your cooperation." Tosh moves to hang up the phone. Rhys can be heard protesting just before Tosh hangs up and the line goes dead.
"So not answering means guilty?" Jestine asks.
Jack ignores her. "Ianto I want you checking the video cameras to see where they went. Tosh background check on everyone who has ever had anything to do with the firm. Owen check the meat, Jestine you can watch him. Gwen paperwork." He orders before storming off to his office.
"But Rhys wouldn't tell us, that means he is hiding things, doesn't it?" Jestine pesters Owen.
"Just come with me." Owen practically drags Jestine away before a fight can break out.
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"Got him!" Ianto exclaims. The team excluding Jestine and Owen turn to look at Ianto.
He points at the monitors. "There he is, coming back 40 minutes later." He stops the monitor. "Let's say it takes 20 minutes to load. We are talking a 10-mile radius."
Just then Owen calls out to Jack. The team head over to see what the commotion is about.
"Scan shows it's definitely alien meat." Owen tells them.
Jack sighs. "Where the hell would they get it from?"
"If it's going into the processing plant, that means it's going into pies, burgers, pasties – everything." Tosh points out.
Gwen screws her face up in disgust. "That means people have been eating it for months."
Owen runs up the stairs with the team following behind. He shows them the readings from the monitor projected onto the wall. "Well, the DNA traces are stable. There are some signs of animal sedative, but no detectable diseases or residues. My guess is, it's good to eat."
Gwen doesn't seemed convinced. "Would you eat it?"
Ianto interrupts before Owen can reply. "Pizza's arrived, presumed it would be a late one." He explains.
Owen sighs. "What'd you get me?"
"Usual- meat feast." Ianto replies.
"Lovely." Owen mutters sarcastically.
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The team sit eating the pizza as Ianto paces and shares his findings. Owen picks at his pizza, taking off the pepperoni and other meat. Tosh sits next to him, feeling a little sick at the knowledge that it could be alien meat.
"I've narrowed it down to three potential areas - only one warehouse is unoccupied. It's just outside Merthyr." Ianto tells them.
"Make sense, who knows what goes on there?" Owen adds as he watches with morbid curiosity Jestine eat her own Meat Feast.
"We've got to shut the operation down, neutralize whoever is doing this, and identify the alien meat." Jack orders.
"Why?" Jestine asks between bites.
"Why what?" Jack asks.
"Why are we dealing with this? Owen's found it's not a threat to anyone, why not just pass it to police to deal with the counterfeit part of it?" Jestine clarifies.
"What do you think our job is?" Jack inquires with a frown.
"Fighting for the future on behalf of the human race." She replies. "So any threat to humans but Owen has deemed the meat to not be a threat, therefore not our division."
"And what, let everyone continue eating alien meat." Gwen glares at Jestine as her phone goes off.
"Let the police deal with it. Not our area to deal with counterfeit products." Jestine counters.
"It is if it's alien." Jack reinforces.
"So we're using Torchwood 1's "if it's alien, it's ours" motto?" Jestine asks.
"If it's alien, it's our responsibility." Jack forces himself to stay calm. "We don't know what is happening here. They could potentially have a whole herd of whatever this animal is. We can't just let some defenceless creatures be slaughtered so someone can make some quick money."
"So alien welfare is important." Jestine confirms.
"Anything alien is important." Jack corrects.
Gwen interrupts the pause in conversation that follows. "I have to slip home to check on Rhys first." She announces.
"You can find out the extent of your reproductive partner's deceit." Jestine suggests.
"How dare you accuse Rhys!" Gwen yells at Jestine before storming out, how dare she assume that Rhys was lying about anything.
Jestine looks around at the team in bewilderment. "What did I say?"
"First, it's just partner, not reproductive partner." Jack points out. "But more importantly, you can't accuse people's partners of things when you don't know for sure that they are guilty."
"I thought we were assuming Rhys was guilty because he couldn't tell us anything." Jestine protests.
"Innocent till proven guilty." Owen explains. Jestine just frowns at the explanation as the team falls silent.
"How can you eat that knowing that it could have come from an alien?" Owen breaks the tension that had descended over the team.
Jestine shrugs. "You found it safe, why waste perfectly good food. Plus not the first time I've eaten unknown alien meat."
"You've eaten alien before?" Tosh asks. "What was it like?"
"She seemed to like." Jestine smirks.
Owen blanches at the thought. "God, you're as bad as Harkness." He throws down his piece of pizza. "No way could anyone eat around you. I'm going to see if I can find out anything else about the meat."
Jestine grins as Owen storms out.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read. Please tell me what you think. Even a hello would be amazing right about now. Thank you!