Torchwood: Divergence
Book Four: Hatchweliad
Chapter 30
It had taken a solid ten days to get the Archives reworked and all of the Torchwood-Glasgow items properly integrated. Martha's autopsies on the two victims of the Rift Storms had determined they'd both died from massive organ disruption and exsanguination, due to the intrusion of large foreign bodies. Test results had indicated that the whiskey soaking the gear and clothing of Sergeant Abernathy, was exactly the same as residue on the masonry that had killed Ms. Denise Rotham of Nantgarw in her Vauxhall. The stonework had also shown clear signs of scorching and fractures consistent with a very powerful explosion. But with no trace of accelerant or other known explosive material, there was no way to tell the original cause of the damage.
The team had spent just shy of two weeks after the move trying to play catch-up with Rift surges once Mother Shadow had returned to the Scieron's normal plane of existence. So, they'd all been too busy to worry much over the impending incident that was generating the Storms they'd already dealt with. Now that mid-April had arrived and things had settled to a more every day pace however, that concern began to prey on the two senior members once again.
In a bid to keep their stress levels down, the pair was being sure to make time for a bit of "dabbling", or at least a span of cuddling and a few episodes of some vintage television programme after the team left for the evening, and they'd even done an overnight with remote alerts at the nearby flat a couple of times. Plus, Ianto being Ianto, he'd found the opportunity to research Reflexology and discovered the "happy spot" Tosh had mentioned in years past. Which had made Jack a very happy Captain at night, and been a lot of fun for his partner as well once he'd shared the secret.
So, when the system pinged a localised storm along Trade Street south of Penarth Road and west of the two previous Time flux Rift incursions at 8:35 pm shortly before the team was ready to head home, the field group dispatched out calmly if a bit hurriedly. They arrived on scene to find an area of the street blocked by several police vehicles, and PC Davidson waiting for them in the pelting rain.
"Building alarm went off at this location right as I got your call," Andy told the Torchwood operatives, quickly motioning them to follow him. "Place has been closed for renovations, no immediate signs of a break in, but the internal motion sensors tripped. I just had the boys tape off the area, figured it was best to let you lot go in and take a look first. Alarm company turned things off from their end to avoid problems when the constables dispatched. And is it just me, or is it only raining and blowing over this one block?"
"It's a very localised cell," Jack explained evenly. "And it'll likely be gone in about ten or fifteen minutes. Let us check for anything dangerous, then we'll head inside. You can come with us if you think you're up to it."
"Residual Rift energy but no active vortex," Turlough reported from nearby, pocketing his PDA. "Time flux and major distortion lasted about three minutes, and generated approximately two minutes after the storm manifested. We missed the fireworks by about five, so we should be okay to enter the premises."
"I'll grab a pry bar," the blond PC beside Harkness offered. "We should be able to pop the door open."
"Don't bother," Ianto countered, moving toward the entrance after handing Martha his black great coat. "Gwen's got the other officers looking away, and this'll help cover the break in angle for later."
Andy frowned uncertainly but remained where he was as the younger man ran a hand over the edge of the steel door near the handle to gauge where the lock was positioned, before simply stepping away to brace both feet then give a sharp sideways kick. The internal locking mechanism sheared as though cut with an industrial saw, the heavy portal banging open like it had been hit with a battering ram. The Changeling turned on his hand torch and ventured inside, his PDA in the other hand. After a moment, Harkness touched the Bluetooth device in his right ear, a frown appearing on his face as he started toward the open door.
"Gwen, bring the van over as close to the building front as you can, we've got cargo," the American stated grimly, looking back at where PC Davidson stood gaping at the entranceway. "We're clear to go in. Hope you've got a strong stomach."
The Captain disappeared inside, Turlough and Martha on his heels. Obviously uncertain, but not willing to give up the rare invitation, Andy followed. In a large room at the rear of the empty building, they found Ianto examining a body near the back wall by the light of his torch.
"Lights don't work in here," the young Welshman warned. "The Rift Storm likely blew the bulbs."
"What've we got?" Jack asked with a nod, accepting his partner's coat as Martha moved to give the corpse a once over, while Turlough quickly documented everything with a mini-cam.
"Military kit again," the young doctor frowned as she peered closely at the body. "Looks to be SAS, just like the first one. Patch on the body armour appears to be from the same unit, and one sleeve of his uniform is soaked with whiskey. Definitely from the same incident. I'd say cause of death is organ disruption and blood loss due to the great ugly chunk of masonry and rusted pipe that phased into his upper chest and face. I can try to ID him from his finger prints once we're back at the Hub. Good thing, is that the way the stone and metal fused into the body this time has prevented external blood loss. Tonnes easier to clean up the scene."
"I've got an extra-large body bag," Gwen called helpfully as she entered the room. "You okay, Andy?"
"Sort of…" the rain-soaked blond murmured, looking a trifle shell-shocked.
"Bollocks," Turlough swore softly, rising from where he'd been trying to help the team medic move the corpse. "About ten centimetres of the iron pipe is sealed into the cinderblock of the wall a few hand spans behind him. Do we have anything with us to cut it with? Judging by your expression, Jack, I'd say that's a no."
"My bad," Harkness admitted apologetically. "I forgot to grab the molecular drill out of the Safe."
"Do you want the pipe removed from the wall, or cut flush to the surface?" his partner queried evenly, silently manifesting a wide-bladed short sword in the hope it was the latter.
"Be best if we could get it all out of the wall," Martha put in. "Less to explain."
"Oh, well… then we do it the old fashioned, messy way," Ianto sighed, dissolving the weapon as he moved over to examine where the pipe entered the cinderblock before pocketing his torch. "When I count three, you two shift the body toward you. Jack, I need you and Gwen to give me some light back here, but stay a safe distance."
The rain wet Archivist waited until the two had their hand torches aimed correctly, then summoned a long thin blade with serrated edges, that he forced between the iron pipe and the solid surface it was planted in. He sawed the blade all the way around the piece of metal, the screech of Scieron steel grinding against the cinderblock enough to raise the hair on everyone's heads. The blade melted away, and he sat down to get a two-handed grip on the pipe between where it exited the back of the victim's neck and entered the wall, both feet braced against the cinderblock in spite of the limited space and awkward position.
"One. Two. Three," Ianto pulled with all his strength and pushed away from the wall with his legs, the length of rusted iron squealing horribly as it came free.
Martha and Turlough shifted the corpse as directed, then immediately set about getting the victim into the provided body bag. The young Guardian who'd facilitated the action turned to sit panting against the wall, carefully flexing his fingers before rubbing his shoulders one at a time.
"Didn't realise you came back from the dead as bloody Superman," Andy commented with a wide-eyed expression. "Remind me to never get on your bad side, yeah?
"I don't think I'll ever have to… worry about catching you snogging Jack… so you're pretty safe…" Ianto half-smiled as he tried to catch his breath. "At least you didn't… panic over the body, or resort… to asking me if I'm really gay… which technically I'm not…"
"The whole zombie thing a few years back did a lot for the corpse issue," the constable nodded, looking from the twenty-six-year-old sitting by the wall to the RAF coat clad man who'd come to crouch beside him. "I got quite the ear full from Gwen about the last bit, twice. And you're definitely right on the first part… no offense, Captain Harkness."
"I'll just consider it self-defence," the American smirked, reaching out to check his partner. "Hey, buddy… Didn't herniate something important, did ya?"
"Really seriously strained a few muscles," the younger immortal confessed, finally getting his breathing back to normal. "Temperature is up a bit, but nothing horrific. Mostly just needed to breathe."
"Lemme give you a hand up," Jack offered, standing and helping the Welshman to his feet, then holding his coat for him to slip back into. "Andy, if you wouldn't mind grabbing one end of the body bag, Turlough can get the other and we'll load our mystery soldier into the van. Gwen, let the other constables know we found a single electrocution victim and a suspicious container we're removing due to strange energy readings. Keep them focused on you. They're clear to do a break in investigation once we leave. Martha, new gloves, then go pull the gas-powered rebar cutter I caught a glimpse of in the first room. Put it just outside the door we came in by, as the means of entry for the police case. Ianto, try to loosen up the muscles you strained and hold my torch. I'm gonna pop the cover off the light switch, expose the wires, and use my VM to surge the outlet like our guy closed the circuit trying to flip on the lights."
Everyone moved to complete their assigned tasks, Davidson stepping up like he helped move dead bodies on a daily basis. When the necessary work was completed, Cooper directed the Heddlu she'd been distracting to begin their own investigation, and the team prepared to head back to base.
"Thanks for the help, Andy," Harkness nodded to the dripping PC. "We'll be sure to get things squared at the morgue to cover this, so there shouldn't be any strange questions later. This kind of thing could happen again, so be ready. It's a pattern we can't fully track or stop right now, which means more damage and possible victims. Any time one of these pinpoint storms occurs, it'll be a Torchwood scene, but if you're able to block it off like this it's a huge help… and could prevent additional casualties. Just you and the other constables be careful. If you see electrical activity or odd lights, keep well away until they stop."
"I'll keep an eye and ear out then," the blond promised. "Do what I can."
"Good enough," the Captain acknowledged with a slight smile.
They parted company, Davidson moving back toward the building to further to break in story, and the two Torchwood vehicles heading away with the victim. Rift three, Cardiff zero… and it was only likely to get worse.
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AN: The Rift Storm rollercoaster is off and running…
The site is definitely having issues. It says a chapter has posted, but it doesn't show up for hours or even days. And once it does, it cannot always be opened or the site claims it doesn't exist. Support has not responded about this. I can only apologise, and suggest that you keep trying.
Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM