5
"Whatcha doing?" Patty asked as she entered the far end of the kitchen where Ianto was working.
It was one of the Not Twins that answered "Making meals for those who want to eat in their residences tonight instead of at the main meal."
"Oh, I didn't' know that was a thing" she replied.
"Yes" Burn nodded as he turned to place the still warm buns on the respective tray to cool "those who want to have a quiet night in can sort their own food or they can request a meal. Tonight there are fifteen meals requested, these are the workers who are tired after a day in the Farm Room or Maintenance. A lot of work keeping this place heated and ventilated ya know."
"So… they get meals. Do they pick them up or you deliver?"
"I will deliver them" Ianto finally spoke, turning to smile in such a way that if felt like her Daddy was talking to her or something, so nice. She found herself smiling back as she had never felt this before, her own upbringing so quiet and although Jessica and Stan did their best, there was not the same affection as these ones clearly shared.
As if hearing her thoughts Ianto said softly "We are connected. Me and my children. We are never far apart and are very in tune to one another's thoughts and feelings. Not all families are like this. Not at all, we are unique."
"Freaks" Burn said with glee, sounding like his beloved Uncle Owen.
"Hey, there you are" Jessica called as she entered the kitchen area "They said you were here sweetie. Did you find the boots you wanted?"
"Yes, I found some good sturdy ones in the Wardrobe House" Patty replied with delight, turning to show her sister the boots. The 'down here' cavern called the same as the house up top.
"Whatcha doing?" Jessica asked, showing where Patty got the habit from.
Patty got to tell her sister about what was happening and soon they were all packing the food into some wooden containers for delivery, the four person casserole dishes slid in with ease. Jessica asked "these wooden boxes are great, you lift the top off and it's like a tray."
"Yes, easier to serve once delivered. Place on the table, unclip the sides and lift. Why I try to make sure it all looks nice and is properly packed for the ride. The only time I drive like a norm." Ianto nodded.
"Like a norm. Taddy, you have no idea what a norm is… ewwwww…. Who wants to be a boring old normal person" Tum giggled as she added a pretty nasturtium flower to each box…. For luck.
"And you deliver all of these in the VW?" Jessica asked as she looked over them.
"Yes Jessica, I will now" Ianto replied, turning to face her "wanna come?"
"Yeah, I would like that. Still parts of this place I have not seen or memorized… it's so damn huge." She laughed good-naturedly.
"And growing" one of the twins muttered, Ianto glancing over with interest as he got an image of Crystal. What was that sentient being up to?
Soon they were moving at an old man pace that clearly annoyed Ianto and Jessica asked "why do you do it this way."
"Hmmmm?"
"Well, these main tunnels are wide enough for two vehicles to pass one another easily, with room for a third if it's parked to one side for something, like a regular highway. Only some parts are single vehicle… not near the residences at all. Why not lay track?"
Ianto looked over at her with surprise then said "go on then Kitten."
She grinned at the affectionate name and continued "well… I see a railroad up top right? I see spare rails and those cute little one man and two man jiggers. You could lay track on one side for a single jigger easily, whip along with these packed on the jigger and deliver just as fast if not faster as you don't have to slow and check for incoming traffic, the rails do their own thing. And you get the wind in your hair, some freedom and fun. Then you simply turn the pump handle around and go home."
Ianto sat back and considered for several minutes then said "Pip likes that idea. He thinks Kev and Thor would be best, with Bonny and her boys. They could easily lay it like they did the top side rails. Spring, we could source some more but for now a single track line along the main tunnel system would be a great idea. And would cut down on the filtering needed with all the vehicles, and fuel consumption. Jack likes the fuel consumption lessened. He always says to think of this like a spaceship or submarine. You have to live with what you put in here."
Jessica looked at him long and hard then said "Did you lot just have a conversation in your head?"
"Yup. We are connected, I thought I said this already. Tried to explain it to Pricilla too. My kind are … well… hive mind I guess."
"Why you fear she is too" Jessica said softly, her mind going to the Lynxette and Ianto nodded silently in agreement.
Yes.
Much to fear… the unknown.
But those tracks were a good idea, the Not Twins already looking for their father in the Map Room to check the tunnels wide enough for an adventure such as that.
Once more, Jessica had provided and it felt good.
She and Stan were good assets. And they would prove it over and over again.