8

"Turn here" Rhys suddenly said and Jack turned the wheel, waking Ianto who grunted in the jump seat, sitting up to rub his eyes with the heels of his hands. So cute.

"What is this?" Jack asked.

"The little side village to the main one was here. Like an outpost. It's only seven or eight houses, like a satellite village. It's just for those who work the outer deer station so there is few people, their own huge fuel tanks and deer fencing all around it because of the deer in the fields… see, we have to get over the cattle grating. Do you think those things can navigate these?"

"No… I mean… they don't like crossing bridges where you can see gaps like cows so… I think these foot sized gaps would really freak them out." Ianto looked out his window with interest "do you think they have bed eyesight? They do seem to keep off sound more than movement."

"Could be. There seems to be no sign of their scratching marks" Jack agreed, the tracks for these things like long scratches in the dirt.

"People" Ianto barked, making Jack hit the brakes and they stopped in the middle of the village as three men stood with rifles pointed at the ground, but clearly ready to do damage.

"Mark!" Rhys yelled out the door as he opened it and fell out "BUDDY!"

"Rhys?" one of the men said with surprise "holy shit. Where did you come from?"

"The mansion" Rhys laughed, "We need to get to some village across the way. Ianto, that one in the fatigues, he comes from there and his family are still there… we hope. We need to refuel and rest if that's OK."

The men turned into a huddle as two more appeared and a woman who was heavily pregnant with a side arm swinging from her hand joined in. Then they all turned and nodded "come on in."

After a meal that was amazing Jack asked the questions. Yes, the cattle grid seemed to keep them out as did the deer fencing. They had lost a few deer as one of them found a way to open the outer gates to the field but once they locked them down there bugs stopped trying. Like they knew.

"They seem to be good at problem solving, but the gate latches is new to us… my fear is a door handle of course" Ianto agreed as he wiped his mouth politely "we notice water is a deterrent so filling the cattle stops with that would help too."

"Really?"

Owen took over with his observations and how he found out their water thing, then Jack asked "any outside world contact?"

"On the CB. We keep it tight, quiet and fast in case the fuckers are trying to hone on in us. Taking out the cell towers was fucking smart" the one called Nathan nodded as he waved a hand in a general direction "we have several small cells of people out there that seem to be hunkered down and doing well."

"Five houses… all of you…."

"No. Three of them are in use, the other two are…. Vacant" one of the men said with a grimace, the other older one still silently watching on.

"I'm Mickey" one of the men finally said "My missus Martha and her mother Francine, her father Clive. Tish is off at the moment with her brother Marcus checking the fences. We do most afternoons for luck."

"So. How many of you?"

"Me, Martha, Tish, Clive, Francine, Marcus, Heather and Nathan and then there is Boris. We don't know his real name as he was a tourist backpacking and he speaks little English so we named him that. We think he is Russian, not sure."

"Nine of you" Ianto canted his head, taking in the pregnant woman from earlier "so. Martha. I feel like I know you from somewhere but can't put my finger on it. You look a lot like a girl I used to know. Adeloa."

"My cousin?" she asked with shock.

"Ah. There ya go. I used to date Lisa back in school. Those two were tick as thieves." Ianto nodded as it all clicked tighter. He knew Martha and Tish. Marcus… he remembered him too. These people were from his home town.

"Ianto Jones! Oh god, you lost your wife in that fire… wow. A little girl right? Annie?"

"Anna" Ianto nodded "Why I am desperate to get back there."

"It is still there, we ran and chose to stay here as first sentry in case of a mass wave of the things, so the village would have time to prepare their defenses. Plus… we felt unsafe in the large numbers" Clive spoke softly as he reached for his drink "We have contact and about half the township is still there. They have high walls and a walkway up there, gun turrets and such and al the guns they could find in the outer farms. Mostly shotguns and the like. They have also fortified with fencing and eclectic fences from the local farms. The bugs don't like getting zapped."

"Another reason for no electricity" Jack muttered. "Car batteries must surprise them."

"It's all intact… I mean… the kids" Ianto was desperate now.

"They have the school as the epicenter of their compound. They lost a few of the older ones in the beginning as you know teenagers…. Ten foot ten and bulletproof, would sneak out to steal shit… but now keep them all safe, they have a good setup but they are overloaded and resources are thin." Clive admitted "winter is coming and it will be harsh."

"Winter" Ianto turned to Jack "Snow. Do these fuckers know what snow is? We have the rainy season about to start before the snow… I want to see them react to rain."

"I was a firefighter" Jack addressed the room "I want to know the nearest fire station."

"About twenty miles that way, another outer station for our local woods and such. There are some vehicles kept there so if a fire sparks in the mountain ranges they don't need to bring the rescorces all the way from town." Marcus said as he hooked a thumb "Several appliances and gear. Not manned. Why?"

"Fire engines…. Carry water. If these fucks don't like water... imagine their horror at being blasted by a water cannon." Jack grinned and Ianto knew they had a new mission.

And it WAS closer to home.

Home.

Which was still there.