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Ianto did not know if he would be picked, he had worked hard to get here and now he could only watch as those in the finer suits than he ever dared wish to wear walked the line of hopefuls checking each one over, choosing pretty ones here and there for the main front of house jobs.

Behind them came a second team who he knew were the real ones he wanted to get noticed by. The real work would be with them. As they came to the one on his left, the grumpy looking one swung a scanner over the lapel pin to open the file it contained "Right. Says he is fluent in eight languages…. Could be useful. Ah… bugger. He's been sterilized due to blood strain."

"Could still be useful for the service quarters on the SV Cardiff. Put him in their files for further consideration, shame to let him go" the woman standing beside him said, her soft features clearly Old Earth Japanese and as he stood there trying not to look, he sensed more than saw her gaze move to him. "This one is nice and straight. Looks like he might be strong. Owen, scan him."

Owen. Owen scanned his lapel pin and turned the screen so they could both look at it and she made a noise of surprise, making one of the men with all the dripping medals and weaponry turn to look over at them, then walk over in a lazy gait "What ya got there blossom?"

"Fifteen languages, including all five of the outer rim guttural strain" she replied, turning to show the screen to him and he looked Ianto up and down, then sighed, leaning in to sniff him.

Sniff him?

How fucking rude. But he had not choice but to stand there, it was only when the hand cupped his goods they his gaze waivered as he focused on the man and made eye contract making the man freeze, then snigger softly "My, my. Feisty one aren't ya Eye Candy."

"Well? I like him" Toshiko said, poking at Owen "Mine. He has Firefly training and seems to be clean, sturdy and if he can stand up to John he will do for me."

"Well, he's not on MY list. He is your problem once the Captain gets wind of him. You know how he is with the pretty twinks" Owen scoffed, Ianto now moving his gaze to Owen and Owen's smile faded as he saw pure anger there. "Wow. OK. I stand corrected. Maybe he IS strong enough for us. OK. He's on the list."

As they moved away the one called John took a step back to face him again "I like you Eye Candy, but just so you know… you re expendable. As expendable as the man next to you, behind you…"

"And in front of me?"

John froze, caught in the vowels before the words caught up to him and he blinked. Ianto waited for the blow, the revolt, the rejection but the man laughed heartily and slapped at Ianto's shoulder. Ianto felt relief as he had called to the man's sense of humour as he had hoped.

"Atta boy… you might just make it. Report to the Firefly Torchwood" John laughed "I am John Hart. Secondary Captain on this little flight… you… more like… general dog's body."

"Woof."

Again John laughed, moving away as he called out "Hey did ya hear that? He barked for me."

"You and your dog fetish" came a faint reply, making some of those with them laugh.

Ianto had no idea what he was in for, but knew he had to go.

The money handed over for the next of kin because they were not coming back, was worth it.

Rhiannon was counting on that money, Ianto's life was forfeit either way with the debt her feckless husband had left behind in his stupid fecking death race failure.

Ianto had to give his now.

But what is a life worth in this hellhole anyway?

.

.

"Rhiannon" Ianto called out, entering the quarters to find his sister wating for him, along with three unfavourable men in black gear.

They had struck her a few times, her mouth was split and bleeding, her left eye swelling shut but the sight of David with his own face marked was enough for Ianto to lose his shit. He came back to himself as his sister called his name repeatedly, the man choking under his hands fanatically trying to get free of the death grip.

Ianto eased off, looking at the other two who were both down "Listen fuckface. I came here today to give her money, to give you money. To help pay back the debt Johhny the fuckhead left but now… now I am soooo pissy I might just kill you and take the extra money in your pocket from the others you rolled before here."

"You would not dare" the man choked out, "If Master Lennnon finds out about…"

"What. I am on the crew list. I can take my family with me. No wife… no kids… why not take me sister and hers as my family? Hmmmm? Why not. I could do anything… many things come to mind right now but really… I think I will do what the money was given for… to secure the quarters on the main vessel for my family while I work on one of the security vessels that will fly in the armada." Ianto replied, realization hitting him with the words as behind him Rhiannon listened with surprise.

"I will hunt you down and I will not rest until… gerghhhh" his words died along with him, Ianto's snarl the last thing he saw for the stupid decision not to agree with the man, consciousness fleeing along with breath.

"OH goddess" Rhiannon whispered as David let out a whoop and ran to start packing his things his face eager as his hands shook.

"Mama, come on" he said, shaking his other from her revere "Let's go with Unka!"

"Go find your sister" she said softly, sliding the knife from the table to walk towards one of the men now starting to roll to his front in an effort to get up, groaning as he held his head. Ianto's headbutt clearly had not felled him as badly as the other one.

As she straddled him and plunged the knife between his shoulder blades with a loud roar of anger, Ianto watched David close the door to run for his siter, still in afterschool studies.

He resumed his concentration on the one laying beneath him.

By the time the neck made the satisfying pop Rhiannon had given up trying to remove the knife and simply got another from the sideboard, the second man still dazed as she calmly cut his throat.

She looked at her brother who sat on top of the man he had just killed and he panted out "Pack."

"Yes Ianto" she said softly, moving to obey the man of the family now.

Ianto started to rifle through pockets, all the money he could find would be needed to ensure a good berth for them, his mind now settled as he did what he did bast.

Planning three steps ahead.