Torchwood Three; Cardiff, Wales

John Hart wondered if he overestimated his own recovery. He spent three days mentally connected to Anwen and days before that out of his head from CN exposure. He needed sleep and time to process. Yet, they needed information. The fact that Ianto openly argued with Jack said there was a serious problem. Either Gwen or the psychiatrist should have been a better option than sending him in there after everything.

"What does this man know?" John asked quietly, standing outside the secured cell. He knew about them from the short time he worked in Three. Torchwood London had similar ones. They weren't used for humans.

Jack closed his eyes. The blatant pain spoke volumes. "How I took out the 456."

It was a topic both Anwen's barred from discussion. No one could ask questions. Absolutely no one was to mention it in front of Jack. The one time he asked why it was an issue, she told him the 456 killed Ianto and Jack couldn't handle it. The explanation sounded extreme at the time, but Anwen could be overprotective.

"According to the London database, you used a temporal device with jury-rigged targeting and took them out with a bomb."

"No."

"Considering everything I've done, I won't think less of you. I need to know."

"Steven."

John couldn't remember Jack or Anwen mentioning a Steven. At least not remotely connected. "Jack."

"I killed Steven to stop the 456. I killed my own grandson."

That explained Anwen's approach to discussing it. He couldn't imagine what circumstances resulted in Jack killing a kid. But it explained the pain.

"How does Talbot know that?"

Jack looked at him. He obviously hadn't asked himself that question. "I don't know."

"Torchwood London has details on the device used. It said you used Retcon on everyone present because of classified information. If there were no witnesses, and you can't talk about, how does Talbot know?"

Jack rubbed his face. "The same way Ianto did. He knows about Alice and where she is."

"Whose Alice?"

"My daughter. Steven's mother."

"I will deal with Talbot. Go check on Alice."

John couldn't help but think what Anwen would do to the man. The Anwen he loved from 2039. Upsetting Jack would have made her angry. Threatening Jack's daughter might have resulted in a visit from Miriam. Her idea of a zero tolerance policy was usually bloody.

After a deep breath, John entered the adjacent room. It looked much the same as the ones in London. The transparent wall revealed a large, mostly empty room. The sole occupant stood as he entered. The information Ianto provided included a picture and known background details. Seeing the man in person made him familiar, somehow.

John grabbed a chair and moved it up the window. He flipped it around and sat on it, leaning against the back. He waited a moment before tapping the intercom button. Interrogation was not something he did, usually, for Torchwood. The general had people who were skilled at extracting information. But he had extracted information. A interrogator with no moral compass was a different matter. Pain and threats wouldn't work. Ianto's approach probably wouldn't work for him either.

"Derrian Talbot." John took a moment. "You make me look like a saint."

"Who are you?"

"John. You haven't heard of me. I work for the head of Torchwood London in the future."

"The mysterious agent who kills biomechs."

"Biomechs, aliens, general nuisances. The boss has a zero tolerance policy for people who piss her off."

"Why are you here?"

"I get asked that a lot. The boss is not happy with this whole CN mess. She has a thing for Jack."

The former army man crossed his arms. He looked tired. Days in solitary confinement could do that to a person. Especially a proud, self-righteous person. "What do you want?"

"An explanation. CN threatened Three, destabilized Four, endangered multiple Torchwood lives. Do you have any idea what Jack will do to you if anything happens to Ianto?"

"Torchwood won't resurrect him again?"

"Jack had to wait ten years to get him back. The time and psychological impact was difficult for both of them. The turnaround time is probably shorter if the hub doesn't have to rebuilt itself."

"Right."

It finally occurred to him who Talbot reminded him of. "The boss is fond of Ianto. When Torchwood London is rebuilt, he goes back. Between him and Langford, the boss doesn't have to worry about anything."

Talbot's reaction was brief, but telling. He was right, Derrian Talbot was Langford Talbot's father. If the man had any conscience whatsoever, he would care about his son. He had no problem referencing Steven's death and possibly threatening Alice. He had to believe others were capable of committing the same atrocities he was.

"I need names and locations associated with CN production, research and distribution."

"I don't answer to you."

"Computer, access Torchwood London, identify speaker."

"Captain John Hart, Torchwood Global special projects."

"Computer, what is John Hart's current posting?"

"Torchwood Three problem-solver."

Talbot backed up. "Woodside mentioned you."

"My reputation precedes me." Talbot's fear made John wonder what the librarian said about him. "Which special project did he mention?"

"The attack on the Fellowship of Inner Peace."

Woodside told Talbot he led Miriam's attack on the cult. He knew more about Miriam than the attack. It was ugly.

As Talbot broke down and told him about Rift abilities, research and CN, he couldn't help but wonder exactly what Woodside said. Or why. It suggested the librarian knew more about the future than two different copies of information from his Anwen's Torchwood London.

"There is some type of device near Torchwood Three. It caused the disappearance of Torchwood Four. It needs someone able to sense different types of energy to find it. Once its found, a person with a powerful enough Rift ability can take control of Torchwood Four."

They knew that much. "Did Beaupre find a person able to do it?"

"Yeah. Payton Borthwick."