47
"So, lay it on us" John finally spoke.
"So… these big fuckers are mapping, walking around in a grid on easy to travel roads. They are clearly passing it on to others and for some reason as yet to be determined" Ianto said, "So… my theory is that they ARE underground but not to breed."
"To map in a drier environment" Owen blurted, rising from the floor with a gaping stare at Ianto "sewers."
"Yes. I think they are mapping the sewer systems" Ianto nodded.
"Why?" John asked with contusion.
"The reason we are pushed to get here." Ianto replied.
"Snow" Jack said with horror "The fuckers know about snow. They are looking for a way to continue mapping during winter. Fuck"
"Yeah. These Buggers have no intention of leaving or laying low… they have an agenda and whatever it is, it is still…" Ianto stopped talking like he had thought of something, then he went pale.
"Ianto?" Mickey said softly "What is it brother?"
"What are they doing in the sewers. Are they placing something? Growing something? Or dumping something?" Ianto was now pacing as he talked "Maybe… the dreams about the eggs… it's not eggs. They are placing something in the walls, the ceilings of the sewers so in spring…. It blooms. I mean, if they are here to wipe us out and the spores are not working… is it some sort of biological weapon that will be released with the spring thaw… something that can wither be released into the flood waters that will fill those sewers with the melt…. Or into the air? They know water… they are afraid of water for no apparent reason… is this the reason?"
"OK… now I am so freaked out I can't think straight" John said to Jack.
"You're freaked out. He just said he is dreaming about them, Christ Ianto, do you ever really rest?" Owen was full of concern now, as always, once the shock wore off he was a good friend.
"I will sleep when I know we are safe, when I FEEL we are safe" Ianto sighed "And those maps in ther ei left last time…"
"Babe. The Captain's truck has them too" Jack said softly.
"What?"
"In the Captain's Control Truck, there is a lot of stuff like spare bits and bobs for the rigs and all the maps as well" Jack pointed.
Ianto was moving fast, opening the back of the truck to start pulling out tubes with things written on them, muttering as he discarded them on the ground behind him, still looking. They stood back with confusion as it all flew about him like a weird whirlwind, then he found the ones he wanted and sat back on the tailboard of the truck, looking at the three he now had "Here they are."
"And they are…."
"The sewer systems" Jack said without even checking "The fire service has those in case of a building collapse or something so we can travel underground or know where not to put a heavy piece of equipment. You knew this?"
"I hoped. Right. We can check and see if there are any near us, any that might be a problem for us and if there are… there might be a collapse alright" Ianto muttered, rising to start gathering the maps up.
"OK, it's official. He is fucking scaring me now" John said as he knelt to pick up the maps discarded on the floor, then he went to flick them back into the truck, then he looked at Ianto "Or do you want them?"
"Let's just take the truck too" Jack said, seeing the way Ianto wanted things.
"Well… what now?" Owen asked.
"We get the rest of what we need then do a controlled burn" Jack said as he started to close the truck up and check the fuel gauge, "we need to hook up that portable fuel tank out there and pull it away first, we will need that."
"Portable… where?" John turned to look around.
"Out back, a place this remote has one, this truck can pull it so if they have to go deep for a forest fire it can be brought out with food and such for an all nighter" Jack explained.
"And I made fun of you for wanting to be a fireman" John pouted, "clever sexy beast."
"Mine" Ianto grunted as he walked past to look for more things to strip out, now they had agreed to burn those fuckers inside.
"Wow, he sounded just like you" Owen laughed, slapping Jack on the shoulder as they all started to get their acts together. By the time they were done and they were a good mile or so away watching the place burn, they knew there was nothing left there of worth.
And Jack knew, as John was learning, that everything of worth to Jack Harkness was stood right beside him with his arms folded and a look of satisfaction in a job well done.
And by god… he was starting to scare John now.
Shit was super real.
These Bugs… how the hell can this man know so much?