33

"Whatcha got on today lover?"

"Mapping" Ianto said as he lifted the cup of coffee "Can take the monster."

"Ergh… sorry love. John already called dibs."

"Excuse me? Our baby is not… really?" Ianto canted his head "Is he clucky?"

"I think so. He never really saw himself as nurturing and such. The thing between us was a lifetime ago and he is just starting to see that we are not the kids we were back then. He has started to think maybe he deserves happiness too." Jack nodded "And that on there has him wrapped around her little finger."

"Well… what is she doing today?"

"The physical and paperwork side so we can place them into troops, she is the distraction" Jack accepted the plate of food from his daughter with a grateful smile as it was her turn on the roster today, Stephen excited to have tomorrow… god only knows what they will get "Lovely darling."

She smiled and offered Ianto a refill on his coffee which he accepted. He sat back "So, our daughter here is going to the school gymnasium to help set up for the dance, Fen here is with David and their group of larikins off to cause mayhem about the town. You have more war stuff with the baby along for shits and giggles… literally as it's all she has to offer yet… and I am mapping."

"Mapping?" Alice asked as she sat.

"I am taking the low skimmer to map out the new streets in the lower quadrant now it is cleared for the next phase of the city build. I will create streets, parking lots… everything we need for the four to six blocks about to begin construction." Ianto explained. "I have mapped everything built so far, this entire colony."

"Cool" she nodded "So our old house is not in the lower quadrant anymore, it is now considered middle ground?"

"Exactly. As they continue to clear and flatten the areas that do not impact the local wildlife we will continue to spread out to fill those spaces. I think another… five maybe six hundred people will be here withing the next five years. Why we will need a third bunker soon."

"Mphhhh" Jack said around a mouthful, waving his hand to speak like he was at school or something. Everyone waited patiently for him to clear his mouth, a sip of coffee to help so he could say "and we are already working on the designs for it Tiger."

"Good. My diggers are ready to start when you are" Ianto smiled, "But today… I map."

Everyone headed off to their respective jobs as Ianto hummed happily, heading for work as he really did enjoy the mapping part of it all. Creating the streets, the networks. He knew this place like the back of his hand because he created each and every turn.

"Hey fuckface" Ianto called out as he came to a halt, Owen clambering into the passenger seat.

"Hi Fucktard" Owen replied, also happy as when a Mapping Day happened he came with. Today he was not a doctor, not a revered and aloof prick. No, today he was a Mapper, alongside Ianto who let him do what he really enjoyed doing and saw as a reward for not deliberately killing a patient or two.

Own lifted the worksheet to check "Wow, you are adding a large parking area here?"

"The third bunker is going to go snug against the hill. Many will use Hovers to get there even if we both know running is probably faster." Ianto agreed, powering down as they got the worksite and both men got out to head for the workers waiting patiently. Some of the newbies were in the mix and Ianto knew some onsite training was about to happen, but he also hoped there would be some experienced workers in the group.

"Good morning everyone, I am your Commander" Ianto called out "Doctor Harper is my Port… who is my Starboard today?"

Someone stepped forward and Ianto felt his smile freeze as he stared at Lucia who looked as surprised as he felt "I am a fully licenced Drome operator Sir. I worked roadworks and battleground recon in my youth. I will be your Starboard pilot today."

Ianto turned to Owen and said softly "That's Lucia. Jack's ex."

"Well… fuck me sideways in a vat of honey" Ownes said loudly, walking towards the low skimmer like it was no big deal "I thought she would be taller."

Now maybe it was the weird comment about her height, or the fact she stood there like a deer in the headlights not sure what was happening, but Ianto found himself chuckling softly as he shook his head "Right. Come on Lucia. Let's get the show on the road."

"Yeah… let's hit the road.. after we make it" Owen roared back, chuckling as he sat in the back with a large drone, going over the fans with his fingers. A pre-flight check.

The Low Skimmer was like a Hover but it was only two or three inches off the ground and on the outer edges were jets that expelled florescent paint for the huge building bots to recognize. It was roughly the width of a standard two land road so both sides were mapped at the same time, the jets creating the road that the Bots would lay down. Wherever Ianto went, they would map and the huge drone either side would also record anything like building zones. Each drone creating a site identity by assigning a number for each plot of land selected by the Skimmer's jets.

It was huge, complex and only someone with Ianto's level of intensity was even capable of fully imagining let alone control the dual working that needed to all be auctioned at once.

As Lucia crouched on the back deck of the skimmer to check her own massive drone she would be operating Owen asked "So… you're really the one who left her own kids behind?"

"Owen. Stow that" Ianto scolded gently "She made a decision. For better or for worse… we were not there and not part of it."

"Yeah… but they ARE your kids now so… it has everything to do with you. As Jack's Bond-mate, you have every right to demand answers for the mess she left you to pick up" Owen argued like she was not there crouched frozen with her mouth open in shock.

"Owen. I said it once and I shall not again… are you really trying to make me repeat myself knowing my hatred for such an action?"

"Tosser" Owen went back to the drone which he had switched on and was now humming "But I will say… Alice does have her looks."

Ianto did not answer, merely firing up the machine to start moving forward.

Lucia crouched there for a few seconds more before Owen poked at her "Come on. Get fired up girl."

Lucia's hands shook as she rushed to catch up to him so the two drones could fly out in unison on either side of the skimmer, the man behind the controls of the huge vehicle not even glancing at her as she felt stabs of shame and alarm.

This was the one her husband bonded to? This is the one raising her children? No wonder he knew her name.

Now, more than ever she knew her return was not welcome.