The End is Where We Begin. - Part 4
Part one is here
Captain John Hart paused, standing in the shelter of the wall by the door as he lit a cigarette. Watching the flame flicker over the tip he couldn't help wondering how it had become such a fixed habit in such a short time. This planet was a bad influence on him. Still, it did have a mildly soothing effect and, as Ianto had assigned his main stress toy to babysitting duty, cigarettes would have to do for now.
Grinning to himself, the freelancer shrugged deeper into his jacket and strode off along the wooden walkway, enjoying the thud of his boots on the surface. Of course, her being busy did mean he had a few hours to get ready for their next meeting - maybe he even had time for some supplies shopping first. Weevil hunts always made Johnson kindof feisty so perhaps something special could be arranged...
John was so lost in his fantasy, he didn’t even notice the soft beam of blue light playing over his back, or the shadowy figure hiding under the stairs who shone it at him. With a small beep, the light shut off and the figure returned to the shadows.
Wrong target.
But the figure was patient. The right one would come soon. And then it would be time for it to act.
********************************
Ianto Jones walked out of the old Tourist Information office into the morning sun and started to head towards the stairs, before pausing as he spotted a small group of people lining the walkway above him. The man who ran the boat tours was chatting to them, drawing their attention, and he spoke more loudly as he noticed Ianto emerge. Catching the man's eye, Ianto nodded once in thanks, before hastily turning round and heading up the ramp instead, jogging to get clear of the door before he was spotted.
The Torchwood fan club. That was the only down side of Martha’s broadcast, those who wanted to see Torchwood or join them - or even just follow the path of groupies since time began and be able to say they had slept with one of them. Whilst John was usually all too happy to oblige them in that respect, Ianto was grateful for the other side effect of their new found fame.
The people of Cardiff had long known about Torchwood, and had even longer turned a blind eye to the rift and the strange events surrounding their city. But when they went public, people had begun to talk to each other and share stories. Nearly everyone in the city had either been affected by the events that happened there or knew someone who had.
Everyone knew someone who had been personally touched, saved, by Torchwood.
It was mostly unspoken, but ever since going public, Ianto and his team had been helped and hidden by the people of Cardiff. From a free muffin at the local coffee shop, to messages of support on internet message boards or the pages of the local papers, or even just a knowing nod, the people of Cardiff had taken Torchwood to their hearts. They would help them and protect Torchwood, just as they had always been protected by Torchwood.
The damage was done though; the world had worked out that Cardiff was the centre for Torchwood. Even without the rumours, the 'Earthquake', strange animal sightings and so on, the explosion at the Hub had been a big giveaway. But the people of Cardiff were still protecting their secret any way they could. Including keeping the groupies distracted whenever possible.
Glancing back over his shoulder, Ianto made sure he was clear of the fans before he slowed, blending into the early morning bustle of people moving around the bay. Getting more entrances and exits to the Hub was definitely a high priority.
Failing that, maybe some bouncers wouldn’t go amiss either...
**************************************
The figure shifted in the shadows, watching as the potential target turned and went the other way, slipping out of its reach. A human would have cursed at that point, thwarted whilst so close to completing the mission.
But the figure wasn’t human.
Folding its arms across its chest the figure stepped back into the shadows and appeared to melt into them. By the time the morning sun reached that spot and chased the darkness away there was no sign of it left.
Part 5
Captain John Hart paused, standing in the shelter of the wall by the door as he lit a cigarette. Watching the flame flicker over the tip he couldn't help wondering how it had become such a fixed habit in such a short time. This planet was a bad influence on him. Still, it did have a mildly soothing effect and, as Ianto had assigned his main stress toy to babysitting duty, cigarettes would have to do for now.
Grinning to himself, the freelancer shrugged deeper into his jacket and strode off along the wooden walkway, enjoying the thud of his boots on the surface. Of course, her being busy did mean he had a few hours to get ready for their next meeting - maybe he even had time for some supplies shopping first. Weevil hunts always made Johnson kindof feisty so perhaps something special could be arranged...
John was so lost in his fantasy, he didn’t even notice the soft beam of blue light playing over his back, or the shadowy figure hiding under the stairs who shone it at him. With a small beep, the light shut off and the figure returned to the shadows.
Wrong target.
But the figure was patient. The right one would come soon. And then it would be time for it to act.
********************************
Ianto Jones walked out of the old Tourist Information office into the morning sun and started to head towards the stairs, before pausing as he spotted a small group of people lining the walkway above him. The man who ran the boat tours was chatting to them, drawing their attention, and he spoke more loudly as he noticed Ianto emerge. Catching the man's eye, Ianto nodded once in thanks, before hastily turning round and heading up the ramp instead, jogging to get clear of the door before he was spotted.
The Torchwood fan club. That was the only down side of Martha’s broadcast, those who wanted to see Torchwood or join them - or even just follow the path of groupies since time began and be able to say they had slept with one of them. Whilst John was usually all too happy to oblige them in that respect, Ianto was grateful for the other side effect of their new found fame.
The people of Cardiff had long known about Torchwood, and had even longer turned a blind eye to the rift and the strange events surrounding their city. But when they went public, people had begun to talk to each other and share stories. Nearly everyone in the city had either been affected by the events that happened there or knew someone who had.
Everyone knew someone who had been personally touched, saved, by Torchwood.
It was mostly unspoken, but ever since going public, Ianto and his team had been helped and hidden by the people of Cardiff. From a free muffin at the local coffee shop, to messages of support on internet message boards or the pages of the local papers, or even just a knowing nod, the people of Cardiff had taken Torchwood to their hearts. They would help them and protect Torchwood, just as they had always been protected by Torchwood.
The damage was done though; the world had worked out that Cardiff was the centre for Torchwood. Even without the rumours, the 'Earthquake', strange animal sightings and so on, the explosion at the Hub had been a big giveaway. But the people of Cardiff were still protecting their secret any way they could. Including keeping the groupies distracted whenever possible.
Glancing back over his shoulder, Ianto made sure he was clear of the fans before he slowed, blending into the early morning bustle of people moving around the bay. Getting more entrances and exits to the Hub was definitely a high priority.
Failing that, maybe some bouncers wouldn’t go amiss either...
**************************************
The figure shifted in the shadows, watching as the potential target turned and went the other way, slipping out of its reach. A human would have cursed at that point, thwarted whilst so close to completing the mission.
But the figure wasn’t human.
Folding its arms across its chest the figure stepped back into the shadows and appeared to melt into them. By the time the morning sun reached that spot and chased the darkness away there was no sign of it left.
Part 5