The Vesmier heard the transmission, but without the requisite referants to understand on a visceral level what was happening, it didn't hit him more than This is an innocent person being hurt.
What he can't help but feel, however, is the mass spike of emotions resonating from every part of the building, humming along the conductive walls, increasing and rebounding. And coming with that is a mindless aggression, and Ves knows enough to know that this can't end well if it's allowed to run its course.
And he's not going to watch them go to their certain capture, and have to contact the Doctor to apologise for letting the people meant to rescue him walk into such an unashamedly barefaced trap.
So he's walked down to the lobby and is standing in front of the doors, unsure how to reason down a group of emotionally-charged humans, but more than aware that he needs to. There's only a shade of concern on his expressions - which means that he's very, very concerned indeed, for himself as well as them.
Book's first action on hearing the transmission was to go to Torchwood's makeshift weapons locker (old habit he's never lost, knowing exactly where the weapons are at all times), and grab the largest, most intimidating weapon he could find.
It just happened to be for a different reason than, he suspects, most of Torchwood.
He heads for the main doors at a dead run, and pulls up short when he sees Ves. "I have the feeling you might've had the same idea I did." There's nothing of the peaceful preacher in his expression now. The way he carries himself is that of a man who was made to be a weapon, and who, for the moment, is choosing to be an uncrossable barrier. "We're on the verge of true stupidity here."
His face is grim, and he's clearly just as unhappy with what happened as anyone else, but he's not about to let his surrogate crew run blindly into more of what happened to Toshiko.
And sometimes a big gun and someone willing to use it are what it takes to get people to see reason.
Ves sees him coming up, registers the weapon, and the concern flickers a few points deeper before he smooths it over.
"Instagur Thane hopes for the very response I can feel them enacting," Ves says. "And was so confident in it that he could announce it in his own words. I have no intention of allowing them to further his aims."
Though the use of weaponry is not one which he would like to see this devolve to.
Book notes the concern, and keeps his voice low and soothing. "I don't much want to use this," he says, very pointedly holding the gun in a relaxed posture and looking distinctly unhappy. "I'm a man of peace these days. But shooting any of them here and now would be a kindness compared to what Thane's going to do. I intend to drive that point home if I have to."
He's not the sort of man to leave people to be tortured, and he's taken up arms to retrieve a teammate before. This time, he's hoping to keep from needing to get any more of them back than are already gone.
"It is my sincere hope that they'll listen," the Vesmier says, and turns to face the stairs. He's made it most of a millenium without ever having to resort to force while in his right mind, and he's not eager to start now.
And here comes Torchwood - at least, certain members of Torchwood - armed and angry and that combination is hardly ever a good thing with them. Gwen's in the lead, her jaw set, expression dark and determined. She can't stop to think about Tosh, what he might have done to her, if she's even alive now...
She does slow, just a little, seeing the Vesmier and Book in front of the door. Something about their position suggests they're not exactly planning on coming along. "We're not leaving her there any longer, so you can either come along and help or get out of our way," she snaps, still striding toward the door.
The Vesmier doesn't step forward. He takes a moment to ground himself, mentally and physically, raising his chin to indicate respectful disagreement.
"Were it possible to so easily retrieve any of them, you would not have waited this long," he says. "I do not think Ms. Sato's stay would be much improved by witnessing any number of you captured or killed."
Owen is coming down beside Gwen, and in exactly as much a mood to listen to reason. The fact that the new kids, people who have no idea what it means to be in Torchwood yet, are standing in to stop them-
"Yeah, well, we've not got a plan, you've not given us a plan, and doing something is better than leaving Tosh there while Thane does things I don't particularly want to think about," he says, motioning with his pistol. "Get out of the way."
"Not when that something involves her watching more of the same happen to you," Book says, voice low and commanding. "We have a great deal of information, and we haven't countered his advantages yet. He wants this. He wants every single one of us running in without thinking, without planning. He is ready for us, and by running in, you're just letting him win. Do you think she'd want that?"
Sometime during Book's little speech, Suzie and Ianto run up, Ianto's face covered in blood, Suzie pale and shaking, gun in hand.
They take in the situation, and position themselves firmly on the side of the invisible line separating Torchwood 3 from Book and the Vesmier.
"Problems getting out?" Ianto murmurs at Gwen.
Suzie just glares.
Book just takes in the new arrivals and continues. "She believes in you? She trusts you? Then don't betray that trust by giving Thane what he wants. At least take the time to work out a plan before running in, because I don't hold with making the girl suffer more, and that's what's going to happen if you let him
( ... )
Gwen glances to Suzie and Ianto as they draw into line with her and Owen, and quickly turns her attention back to Book and the Vesmier. Worry about what happened to Ianto later, he's on his feet and apparently alright, so she can push that to the back of her mind and...
"Yes, he still has the advantage, and he's going to no matter what. Everyone always does have the advantage, and Torchwood manages anyway - it's what we've been doing, since long before we came here. But we are not going to leave her there any longer, because by the time we have a plan, Tosh might be dead. Get out of our way."
The Vesmier doesn't budge. Oh, this is not good, and he doesn't know how to argue against emotions - this is why neither he nor his own Doctor could ever win their centuries-long argument
( ... )
Behind the Vesmier, anxious and uncomfortable, the TARDIS phases into existence on the outside of the Tower doors, a solid brick wall. She doesn't like it, doesn't like being so close to this building which should not exist, which is thinking and projecting and existing and uneasy against her sensors and instincts, but the Doctor ordered her to protect these people and she will protect them and if the Vesmier says they'll be in danger if they step outside she will not allow them to step outside.
Gwen clenches her jaw, glancing from the Vesmier to Book, past him to the TARDIS. It's not like there aren't other doors, but she imagines the TARDIS would be able to block them before they would be able to reach them, and...
She closes her eyes for a second and takes a deep breath, just long enough to gather some semblance of calm. It's not working well. Yes, Thane has all the advantages, but they can't just...
"Alright," she says slowly, just managing to keep her tone level, "we'll wait. But unless we have a better plan soon..." It's not that she can't see the virtue of waiting until they actually have a plan, but none of that's going to do any good if Tosh is dead by the time they do. They've already waited too long as it is.
There are a lot of benefits to being invisible, although Sark hasn't been in the tower long enough for creeping around unseen to be a little bit sketchy. He just couldn't sit in the damn TARDIS for another second, and really his intent for sneaking in was to corner Marshall, but then everything went to hell and he's been lurking in a corner of the lobby, watching and waiting for a moment to appear
( ... )
Gwen blinks a little, turning to face Sark with a momentary frown. Any other time, she'd have to ask what the hell he was doing in her Tower, apparently invisible... but just now, she'll let it go. Just appearing like that also probably wasn't the brightest idea in a room full of jumpy people with guns, but she's not going to question that either.
"What is it?" Anything more than they have right now is... Well, it's not like they have much choice.
Sark presses on, flat and emotionless, not particularly caring much that he could have very nearly got himself shot in this situation. He's apparently more desperate than he's showing. If he was less intelligent, less focused, or more driven by his emotions, he'd be right there with them right now, more than likely. Good thing he isn't
( ... )
What he can't help but feel, however, is the mass spike of emotions resonating from every part of the building, humming along the conductive walls, increasing and rebounding. And coming with that is a mindless aggression, and Ves knows enough to know that this can't end well if it's allowed to run its course.
And he's not going to watch them go to their certain capture, and have to contact the Doctor to apologise for letting the people meant to rescue him walk into such an unashamedly barefaced trap.
So he's walked down to the lobby and is standing in front of the doors, unsure how to reason down a group of emotionally-charged humans, but more than aware that he needs to. There's only a shade of concern on his expressions - which means that he's very, very concerned indeed, for himself as well as them.
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It just happened to be for a different reason than, he suspects, most of Torchwood.
He heads for the main doors at a dead run, and pulls up short when he sees Ves. "I have the feeling you might've had the same idea I did." There's nothing of the peaceful preacher in his expression now. The way he carries himself is that of a man who was made to be a weapon, and who, for the moment, is choosing to be an uncrossable barrier. "We're on the verge of true stupidity here."
His face is grim, and he's clearly just as unhappy with what happened as anyone else, but he's not about to let his surrogate crew run blindly into more of what happened to Toshiko.
And sometimes a big gun and someone willing to use it are what it takes to get people to see reason.
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"Instagur Thane hopes for the very response I can feel them enacting," Ves says. "And was so confident in it that he could announce it in his own words. I have no intention of allowing them to further his aims."
Though the use of weaponry is not one which he would like to see this devolve to.
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He's not the sort of man to leave people to be tortured, and he's taken up arms to retrieve a teammate before. This time, he's hoping to keep from needing to get any more of them back than are already gone.
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She does slow, just a little, seeing the Vesmier and Book in front of the door. Something about their position suggests they're not exactly planning on coming along. "We're not leaving her there any longer, so you can either come along and help or get out of our way," she snaps, still striding toward the door.
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The Vesmier doesn't step forward. He takes a moment to ground himself, mentally and physically, raising his chin to indicate respectful disagreement.
"Were it possible to so easily retrieve any of them, you would not have waited this long," he says. "I do not think Ms. Sato's stay would be much improved by witnessing any number of you captured or killed."
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"Yeah, well, we've not got a plan, you've not given us a plan, and doing something is better than leaving Tosh there while Thane does things I don't particularly want to think about," he says, motioning with his pistol. "Get out of the way."
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Sometime during Book's little speech, Suzie and Ianto run up, Ianto's face covered in blood, Suzie pale and shaking, gun in hand.
They take in the situation, and position themselves firmly on the side of the invisible line separating Torchwood 3 from Book and the Vesmier.
"Problems getting out?" Ianto murmurs at Gwen.
Suzie just glares.
Book just takes in the new arrivals and continues. "She believes in you? She trusts you? Then don't betray that trust by giving Thane what he wants. At least take the time to work out a plan before running in, because I don't hold with making the girl suffer more, and that's what's going to happen if you let him ( ... )
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"Yes, he still has the advantage, and he's going to no matter what. Everyone always does have the advantage, and Torchwood manages anyway - it's what we've been doing, since long before we came here. But we are not going to leave her there any longer, because by the time we have a plan, Tosh might be dead. Get out of our way."
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:: entity{group{'TORCHWOOD'}} : request(you.remain({location:here})) ::, she transmits. :: request(you.allow({I.PROTECT})) !! ::
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She closes her eyes for a second and takes a deep breath, just long enough to gather some semblance of calm. It's not working well. Yes, Thane has all the advantages, but they can't just...
"Alright," she says slowly, just managing to keep her tone level, "we'll wait. But unless we have a better plan soon..." It's not that she can't see the virtue of waiting until they actually have a plan, but none of that's going to do any good if Tosh is dead by the time they do. They've already waited too long as it is.
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"What is it?" Anything more than they have right now is... Well, it's not like they have much choice.
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