The Assassins Network
Title: The Assassins Network.
Author: Nightchaser_sla
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Graphic violence; graphic torture; graphic sex.
Pairings: Jack/Ianto; Jack/OMC (past implied); OMC/OMC; Gwen/Rhys
Spoilers: Dr. Who - Army of Ghosts and Doomsday. Torchwood - up to 1x06 and mentions 2x12
Summary: The once great and powerful Time Agency has been corrupted and taken over by Whelmstow a ruthless dictator determined to maintain ultimate power at all costs. Tired of his battle against both the Resistance and the children of his predecessor, Whelmstow sends a cell of his strongest assassins back to 21st Century Britain to cause a paradox that will throw the Time Agency and everyone within it into non-existence.
Ianto Jones is one of only twenty-seven survivors of Canary Wharf, something which he soon discovers makes him a target as a large number of murders flood across the country. His trust that Torchwood and Jack Harkness can keep him safe is soon tested when he finds that he’s being stalked by a beautiful and dangerous woman, but is she friend or foe?
"From what my spies have told me Whelmstow is sick of fighting both you and the resistance for the Time Agency, and he's of the mind that if he can't have it nobody can," he said. "He's going to throw you all into non-existence and he doesn't care."
Authors Notes: This story is a long time in the making. It includes many characters and settings are based on those created from original fictions written by myself and my co-author sltoocoolish . The characters Nik, Sandy, Anthony and Whelmstow as well as the set-up of the Time Agency is based on a book called The Return of Evil. Linde', Rabutan and the Packs are based on a series called The Packs of Linde' and also feature in my epic Stargate Atlantis/SG-1 fanfic The Pack. If you want to use any characters etc just credit both myself and sltoocoolish please.
This is a 28 chapter novel length (roughly 250 pages) fanfic with two planned sequels, but today you only get the prologue and three chaps.
Beta'd by the wonderous sltoocoolish
Nik Garnett still shuddered every time he set foot into the Time Agency HQ, remembering the months he had spent down in the dungeons following the take-over, not that it had been the first time the Agency had used old fashioned torture techniques to gain the information they wanted; however back in the days when his father and grandfather had been in charge they had had the human decency to wipe those memories from their victims minds. Whelmstow it seemed did not believe in old protocols, instead he made Nik sacrifice himself everyday on the darkest of missions with those horrific memories holding him back, there wasn't a day that went past that he didn't hold that tiny vial of level 9 retcon and wish for naivety. He never did it though, knowing that giving himself absolution would mean the certain deaths of what remained of his family and friends, even a Garnett wasn't that selfish.
The entrance hall was enormous, a grand crystal dome which showed the three moons of Gastenia and the familiar constellations of his home system took his attention for several moments and he found himself lost in forgotten stories that made his heart mourn. He was so lost in memories that he didn't notice the tiny hand which had slotted into his until a tug on his arm brought his focus downwards. A tiny boy of seven was standing beside him, dark eyes full of fear staring up at him and his black hair a mess of unruly curls.
"Uncle Nik," whispered the boy, holding up his arms to be picked up. "Where's mummy?"
With a soft sigh Nik lifted the child into his arms and cradled him close, all he had left in the world was his half-sister Sandy and her son Nate, Whelmstow had killed everybody else. Nearly four months had passed since Nik had lost contact with Gastenia and in his blackest of days he had imagined that the psychopath had finally grown the balls to face Sandy's wrath and kill the boy, he was pathetically relieved to see him alive, though if he was anything like his mother that would never be a problem.
"I'm not sure." Nik pressed a kiss to the mass of curls. "That's what I'm here to find out, who's looking after you?"
"Jos," he answered, tightening his arms around Nik's neck. "But he won't let me have ice-cream."
Nik gave a laugh.
"I'm sure he won't, its Jos." He started to weave his way through the crowded hall. "He won't let me have ice-cream for dinner either."
Part of him was desperate to do what he thought Sandy should have done when their father had been murdered, send Nate somewhere far away in space and time, let the child have a normal safe life. Nik himself had lost two children to Whelmstow's quest for power and to think that his sister was willing to sacrifice a child it had taken her nearly three centuries to conceive was impossible.
"Mr. Garnett." The sound of fast moving heels on granite floor caused him to pause in his journey towards the main council chambers, and upon turning around he saw that it was Isis one of the lower level Agents hurrying towards him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, knowing that if other Agents were approaching him under the ever watchful eye of Whelmstow it must be of dire importance.
"Your sister gave me something for you sir," she said, hands fumbling in the deep pockets of her coat before pulling out a small white object.
Nik had been a Time Agent for most of his life, his training had began as a child instead of the usual eighteen that recruits had to be, so he knew antiquated technology when he saw it. The piece of paper had been folded into a tiny square that the young Agent pressed into his free hand before turning on her heel and stalking away as if nothing had just happened. Glancing around to make sure that nobody had just noticed the exchange, Nik hefted Nate higher up against his shoulder and moved swiftly into one of the lesser used corridors.
Placing Nate on the ground, he grabbed the paper out of his pocket and with a quick glance around to make sure they were alone, unfolded it.
Yr newydd rhyfel
Na cariad yr tadua
Cymru
Diolch.
It was simple and to the point, written in a language that had been extinct now for nearly two millenia, a language which they had only learnt due to the insistence of their father.
It would seem that Sandy had gone back to Earth to save the lover of the father from the new war, now all he had to do was figure out which Wales she had gone to.
----
The 21st Century. The very stench of it was enough to turn Sandy's stomach, leaning up against the damp wall in the tiny back alley and trying desperately to breath through her mouth instead of her nose. These people thought they were so technologically advanced, so far ahead of the last century but what they didn't know was that in three millenia time they would be the equivalent of Neanderthal man. Not that she hated them or held it against them, after all they couldn't help being further down on the evolutionary scale and they had made some rather large jumps since she had last been here in 1907, and then there was always the fact that her second father seemed to like it enough.
Finally pushing away from the wall she wrapped her enormous leather coat around herself and then flipped open her black vortex manipulator, the comforting blue lights reflecting around the alley. With a deep sigh she quickly scanned the area and then scowled at the enormous amount of alien tech that was scattered all over the place, how in the universe was she supposed to find a small cell of Time Agency assassins amongst all this? Not for the first time she was second guessing her betrayal, she may be the best assassin in the known universe but taking on Whelmstow was probably one of the most stupid decisions she had ever made. Undoubtedly she would end up hideously maimed, in most likely a horrendous and humiliating way at the end of all this and for what, family pride? That in itself seemed stupid since she had murdered her own uncle when she had been seven years old, and whereas most society's would find a way to discipline her the Time Agency had immediately recruited her.
With a groan she snapped the vortex manipulator closed and glared up at the dark sky, no stars were out tonight because heavy clouds were blocking their light and Sandy had a feeling that this was what Cardiff was always like. Fucking arsehole of the universe really, and who would have thought that this was where the now great and mighty Time Agency had began? Pushing her hands into her pockets she stepped out of the alley and onto the empty street, somewhere out there was nine people just begging to be killed ... and it was her destiny to do it.
----
The sensation of the blade slowly splitting the skin of his forearm made Nik twitch in agony and turn dazed green eyes up to the huge man standing in front of his chair. This certainly wasn't the first time that Whelmstow had ordered him tortured for something that Sandy had done, and Nik was under no illusions that this would be the last, unfortunately for him his sister was a survivor and not only that but Whelmstow was absolutely terrified of her which meant he had to turn his unwelcome attention to her younger and physically more vulnerable brother. Oh it wasn't like Nik was completely incapable of taking out an enemy, or even fighting against men far larger than himself. No it was just that there was something about Sandy, there always had been, that made her the ultimate killing machine with no sense of remorse or even guilt when she was sent in to maim and torture innocent civilians over something as petty as stolen rations. She was a tribute to the Time Agency's training skills, and even more a tribute to Garnett blood that such a woman could be created from the genes of mostly conmen and high level aristocracy.
"Where is she?" the smooth fluid voice of Whelmstow dragged him from his silent thoughts, forcing him from a world of protection and back into one of immense pain. "Because I know she's not on a mission for the Agency, and I sure as hell know she's not on holiday."
"Oh and how do you know that?" demanded Nik. "For all you know she could be at the Virellan spa getting her hair and nails done."
Even the image of it made him smile, the very idea of Sandy seated on a massage table getting a facial was absurd.
"I'm tired of playing games Garnett," hissed Whelmstow, crouching down and moving his face so close that Nik could see the swirls of gold in his eyes. "Now where is your sister?"
Struggling against the straps that restrained him in the chair, Nik pressed his forehead against Whelstow's in a move that could almost be affectionate. "Do you think if I knew I would be here with you right now?"
"Are you saying you don't like my company Mr. Garnett?" whispered Whelmstow, pressing his lips to Nik in a way that forced the other man to respond. "Because you've never complained about my company before."
An involuntary shudder of disgust went down Nik's spine at those carefully chosen words, there were many times when Whelmstow had ordered him to be delivered to his room and proceeded to do things that a Garnett shouldn't allow. God if his grandfather were still alive there would be hell to pay, Toma Garnett Snr would suck Whelmstow into the Void come hell or high water. Nik didn't know what was worse: that it happened at all or that some dark and twisted part of his mind actually enjoyed it.
"If you're asking whether I would rather sit here and be tortured to within an inch of my life by your goon here or AWOL with incredibly competent sister, then I would have to say no I'm not enjoying your company," he finally hissed.
Whelmstow gave a barking laugh that echoed around the cell, before getting back to his feet and walking around behind Nik's chair, his fingers starting to card through Nik's damp blond hair as the goon lifted the knife again. He held back his scream as the knife began to slice patterns on his exposed torso, desperately trying to let the gentle circles Whelmstow was tracing on his temples distract him from the burning trails left by the blade.
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