16
Jack had a lot to think about. Mainframe was alive. Ianto was not completely human anymore and he was the only one who knew.
He drove home with his head whirring, so much to try to decompress. He decided to run a bath, a long soak always helped with hard decisions. As he stood there it hit him that this is why Ianto spurned his advances. This is why, even though he clearly wants some sort of relationship with Jack, he fears rejection.
Not completely human.
Augmented.
Is he a cyborg?
.
.
"I don't know" Ianto muttered as he looked at the huge wing that was splayed out in front of him, his fingers sliding over the fake flesh until he found the tear. "Silly bird."
He positioned the soldering iron and the roll of lead solder, carefully patching the tear as the beak of the monster gently stroked his hair. Done, he stepped back and smiled "That will do. Let's see if it needs a patch up paint as well."
She flapped gently and he nodded "All good. Go on then, just remember that you are not indestructible ya mad thing."
With a chirp, the beast took to the air and was soon back up in the rafters in one piece. Ianto sat and pondered things, knowing that he had made a huge tactical move in trusting Jack with his secrets.
But he had to trust someone sometime.
.
.
"We have another Zombie."
"Hello Gwen, nice to see you. How's the family" Ianto stood at the door with a slow blink.
"Did you hear me?"
"Yes, I did. What do you want me for? Awe factor?"
"Well… to look at it of course" she huffed "Come on… it's different to the other one we had."
"OK, well, next time lead with that missus" Ianto stepped out and closed the door behind him, walking leisurely to the cruiser Hover and folding into the back.
"Fuck, he's like a fucking supermodel with those long limbs. Do you think all Weshlings are the same? Your Daddy is a Weshling right?" Andy whispered as he followed Gwen to the Hover "bet he has a thousand-yard stare too."
"Oh… he has" she assured hm, getting in and turning back in her seat to smile at the man in the back seat.
He gave her the stare and she found herself giggling at his playfulness. Shit, he's heard them?
Great hearing.
.
.
"Hello" Ianto settled opposite the man seated at the table, his eyes darting around the rom like he had expected someone else. "My… you are well made. I like the little flick of hair... sort of like Jack's."
At the mention of Jack, the eyes settled on him and he knew that was what it was looking for "Ah. You're looking for Jack Harkness? He's not here."
"I need to speak to him."
"Do you now" Ianto nodded as if he understood this perfectly "Well, shall I give him a call and see if he can swing by?"
"Please."
Ianto rose and left the room, now beyond curious about this. He did not like this at all, the feeling of… a predator in the room.
Jack was soon there, champing at the bit and Ianto held up a hand to admonish. "Wait a second there Jumping Jack Flash."
"He wants me so… fuck me sideways and call me Dorothy" Jack spluttered as a door opened and Jack entered to stand in front of… well… Jack.
"I took the liberty of creating a Sim of you" Ianto explained "for such an occurrence. It's not safe in there, I have a weird vibe from him and… he wanted to see you. Let him see you… or at least what he wants to see."
"Ianto…" Jack spluttered "Are you mad? Look at me. You think anyone else can pull off this level of hot?"
"If I am right… this might save your life. Why must you argue with me? You Harkness fuckers are so damned infuriating" Ianto sounded genuinely perplexed with Jack "Have I ever been wrong? Hmm?"
"Well… OK." Jack relented, "I want to watch though."
"There is a side viewing room to the interrogation room. It had a one-way mirror so we can see in but he can't see us. Buller proof, blast proof, fireproof… safe for witnesses who feel afraid." Gwen scoffed.
"I'm not scared" Jack blustered.
"And there is the problem" Ianto muttered following them into to the room to watch Jack Sim enter the room and settle at the table opposite the Zombie.
"Hi there… I mean… where are my manners" Sim Jack said, his voice so clear and so feckin believable, then came a soft grin that was also soooo reorganizable "Captain Jack Harkness, Hi there"
The zombie stared at him for a moment and then said "How do I know it's you."
"Are you mad? Look at me. You think anyone else can pull off this level of hot?" Sim Jack scoffed, a hand waving over himself and Jack found himself snorting with amusement as it really was something to see himself in full fuckface mode.
Seems Ianto knows him better than he thought.
"Jack Harkness, the continued efforts of Harkness Enterprises to subvert the continuation of the human race by replication and replacing humans with machines has to stop" the Zombie spoke with attuite and more than a little pompousness as it continued "the H4H demands you cease production of Sims and stop the theft of jobs that take food out of the mouths of goddess fearing humans."
"Or what?"
The explosion was loud, hard and as Ianto fell from the hard tackle form hi right, he found Jack's arms encircling him and they held him on the floor while the inferno in the next room melted both Sims into puddles.
Looks like H4H were stepping up their game.
