Torchwood: Fanfic: Elixir of life (Part two)

[m_findlow]

Title: Elixir of life (Part two)
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Rhys, OCs
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 11,973 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Inspired by Challenge 158 - Egg at fan_flashworks
Summary: A missing antique holds the key to one of life's greatest secrets

Previously on Torchwood...

Back at the hub, they'd managed to download a copy of the CCTV footage from the Parker residence and external gardens from the private security company, witnessing nothing out of the ordinary, but the same patrols wandering the halls and the gardens.

'They're like clockwork,' Ianto commented.

'Perfect if you're a burglar looking to steal something,' Jack added disparagingly.

'But how would they know it was there?' Gwen had hit the nail on the head. It was the first question; the one they had no answer for. Forget what it was and who would want it. How did they know it was there in the first place?

Jack turned his attentions to their second line of inquiry.

'Ianto, how are we going with that archive search?'

'I've checked all of our catalogues for anything egg shaped, anything known for its regenerative or healing properties, and anything that could fit inside an egg that size.'

'That doesn't exactly narrow it.'

'No, but I don't think we should discount the fact that it might not be the egg at all. Judging from these photographs, it could be a part of the inner decoration.'

'How many items are we talking?'

'One hundred and sixty six,  and the search is still running.'

'Brilliant,' Gwen chirped.

'What about the egg's history? Do we have anything on that?'

'Just a general history,' Ianto reported, running his eyes over the research on his screen. 'Crafted by the Russians from 1885 to 1917, and given to the wife of the Tsar on their anniversary each year. Each was unique in its crafting, the only specification being that it contain a surprise for the Tsar's wife.'

Jack frowned. 'A surprise?'

'Ornaments, figurines, alien healing devices?' Ianto explained. 'Sixty five eggs are believed to have been made, with fifty surviving to the present day, stored in various museums across Europe and the United States.'

'We think,' Jack added. 'Sounds like there's at least one more, and if I'm not mistaken, several of them are still in the UK, yeah?'

'Correct,' Ianto confirmed.

'Okay, so let's go back to the "who" for a moment. Gwen see if you can go back a few weeks and find out if we have any expected or unexpected visitors.'

'What are you thinking?' she asked.

'Well, the egg had to get there somehow. I think it's time we find out who Mr Parker's mystery vendor is.'

'I'll reference the footage against our databases.'

'Good, you chase up any leads there. Ianto and I have a date with the Queen.'

'We do?'

'Oh, yes.'

 

As the SUV was gliding down the M4, Ianto hazarded disrupting Jack's concentration on the road, which all things considered, was suitably pedestrian compared to his usual style of driving.

'I've been checking out the Crown's inventory records. Windsor Castle apparently houses three of the Imperial Eggs.'

'Officially,' Jack added.

'And unofficially?'

'Ten more.'

'And you know this how?' he asked, trying not to be surprised by anything. He'd learnt long ago that Jack knew far more than he ever let on. He might look like the braun of their operation, but there was a sharp mind behind that glamorous facade.

'I did a little of my own research. I'm not just a pretty face, you know.'

Jack cleared his throat before Ianto could put in his two pennies worth on the subject of his pretty face.

'There's a whole lot of stuff that's off the books. I might have helped them sort some of it once upon a time. Stuff got hidden all over the place during the war. Imagine the disused tube stations housing the collective works of Monet, Van Gogh and Da Vinci. Plus a few things less terrestrial.'

'And how much of a favour is this going to cost us?'

'Nothing. In fact, Old Lizzie owes me a few.'

'So you think that one of these eggs might give us clues about the one that's gone missing?'

'Here's hoping. If it's got peculiar healing properties, then it might not be the only one. If we can get a second one, we might be able to figure out a way to trace the first.'

'But how will we know?'

Jack afforded him a quick glance. 'I haven't quite figured that part out yet, but let's see what we can find out.'

Ianto sat there quietly for a few minutes before speaking again.

'Well, it might explain why Her Majesty and the Queen Mother have lived such long, healthy lives. If this egg that Henry Parker had was supposedly improving his health, your theory about there being more than one could have some merit.'

'I'm glad you think so. But if that's the case, how do you explain Prince Phillip, then?'

'Dry witted and inappropriate sarcasm can get you a long way,' he smirked.

Jack grinned. 'Don't I know it? Lizzie used to say I was the only one who could go out drinking with him all night, and still come back without having been offended or wanting to punch him in the face.'

'He was in good company,' Ianto quipped.

'Taught him everything I know,' Jack beamed. 'He might be getting on in years, but trust me, he's still rocking the casbah without me. Truth be told, I've declined his last few invitations.'

'Why's that?'

'He invited both of us, I just didn't want to offend your delicate ears with the sorts of things we get up to.'

'Please,' Ianto snorted, 'I've been to rugby matches in Swansea. These ears are bulletproof.'

 

For once, Gwen didn't mind being left behind. It was all well and good to go traipsing around the palace looking for God only knows what, but she had plenty here to keep her occupied. This was the real police work. Tracking down criminals from CCTV and cross referencing known smugglers, hustlers and other undesirables with a dab hand at offloading items to the right buyer for the right price.

This afternoon she'd come up trumps. She'd managed to trace back several weeks worth of footage to one soggy morning and an unexpected guest rolling up at the doors to the Parker estate. The van might have had a local painter's logo emblazoned on the side, but a bit of quick checking confirmed that the company in question had not been engaged to do any painting there. In fact, judging by the lack of tax returns lodged for the past six years, she wouldn't have been surprised if they'd not prised the lid off a single can of paint.

A further search of the company's records, and she found what she was after.

'Bingo,' she said to herself, before switching on her earpiece and calling Jack.

'Yeah, it's me. I found out who Parker got the egg from. Does the name Monty Piers ring any bells?'

She heard Jack scoff on the other end of the line. Big Ben wouldn't have been able to out ring those particular bells.

Monty was of course only the name he'd taken to calling himself, since taking root here in Cardiff. He was reasonably humanoid, but a disgusting little sleaze of a creature despite. Had it not been for the irreparable damage to his vessel, he'd still be out galavanting around the universe, flogging whatever he could get his grubby little hands on. Human, or close enough to it to pass for one, as far as his clientele were concerned, he was mostly a pain in the arse, but not dangerous, and they'd had several run ins with his customers who had been on the receiving end of faulty products. The last had lost a hand when the so called harmless, but very rare plant had decided to switch up its diet. Not all of his customers would be as savvy as Henry Parker. In fact, some probably had no idea what it was they were actually buying.

'He made a delivery to the Parker estate three weeks ago, and another two months prior, which must have been when he delivered the egg.'

'Any idea what he was delivering three weeks ago?'

'No. I called Henry and asked him, but he told me to bugger off and mind my own business.'

'Time we paid our good friend Monty a visit.'

'I've got an address for the decorating company he's using as a front. It's little more than a flat. I can go over there this afternoon.'

'Take Rhys with you.'

'I can handle myself, Jack.'

'I know. But take Rhys anyway.'

 

'Wow,' Ianto exclaimed, as the door was opened by the guards, revealing the room inside. He'd seen parts of Buckingham Palace before, but this room, tucked away in an inaccessible part of Windsor Castle was something else entirely.

Everything was red and gold and oak. The ceiling was ornamented with every kind of gilded cornice work, in designs that curved from the middle of the ceiling all the way to where it flowed into the edges of the walls. The carpets were plush red, with matching velvet curtains, held back by golden ropes. Here and there were huge gilded mirrors hanging on the walls which made the room look larger still, and enormous oil portraits covered every other spare space. All of the furniture would have been hand carved, with lions, fleur-de-lis and other scrollwork, polished within an inch of its life, along with the thick, dark leather and brass studs on the furniture, and the walls ordained with elegant brass lamps, culminating in the largest crystal chandelier he'd ever seen.

'Nice digs if you can get them,' Jack observed.

'Must be a nightmare to clean, though.'

Jack lead them over to a large glass cabinet, not unlike several that lined the walls, housing various priceless objects. This one had what they were after though, containing ten eggs - the smallest the size of an avocado, and the largest almost melon sized. The photos from their database didn't do justice to seeing the real thing. Some sat upright, whilst others lay on their sides, some with ornate feet holding them up, others on cushions. Some were intricately studded with gold and jewels, whilst others were kept elegantly simple; some with carved openings that housed tiny figurines and models of trees and palaces, others painted with images of Russian life, or containing portraits of family members, but each was exquisite in its details and uniqueness.

'They're so beautiful.'

'They're okay', Jack replied nonchalantly. 'I can see something more gorgeous than them.'

Ianto tried hard not to blush at the compliment, knowing full well that Jack was referring to him.

'So what now?'

'Time to crack these babies open and see if they've got any stories to tell.'

'A poor choice of words,' Ianto quipped, praying that they did no such thing.

One by one, the eggs were carefully lifted out of the case and scanned inside and out, looking for anything out of the ordinary. The seventh one showed promise, the scanner beeping its excitement. It was lacquered a dark green, and had silver filigree chasing around its long edge, twisting its way up the sides of the egg into the delicately designed branches of an apple blossom. Jack carefully prised open the egg on its tiny hinges to reveal a much larger apple blossom inside, made of solid platinum, with a large, peach coloured stone at its centre.

'Ding, ding, we have a winner,' Jack observed.

'What do you think it is?' Ianto said, leaning down to take a closer look beside Jack.

'Bring up the photos of Parker's missing egg.' Ianto quickly produced them on his PDA.

'Look at that. The little model house inside is the same coloured stone as this.'

'So it's the stone giving off the readings?' Ianto pondered.

More specialised equipment back at the hub should give us a better idea. Jack closed the egg and dropped it gently into his oversized coat pocket

'Bloody hell, Jack! Be careful with that! You can't just take it!'

'Sure I can. Like I said, Liz owes me a favour, and she knows we're here on business.'

'I don't think this is quite what she meant,' he hissed.

'It's fine. Hey guys!' Jack called out to the two guardsmen who'd been standing just outside the doorway, looking stiff and immovable in their traditional fashion. 'D'you mind if I borrow this?' he said, holding up the egg. They stared back at him mutely, making no move to stop him.

'See, relax Ianto, we're good.'

'All the same,' Ianto said, carefully prising the egg from Jack's loose one handed grip, 'I'd feel better if it were in safer hands,' he added, cradling it like a newborn. 'If the corgis come baying for our blood, you can be the decoy.'

'Who's scared of a few corgis?'

'I am. They're Welsh.'

Continues in part three...

Comments

[bk_forever]

I really hope they'll be careful with that egg! Priceless objects such as that do not belong in Jack's hands! He'd better drive carefully on the way back to Cardiff!

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

Ianto will take good care of it and yell at Jack if he drives too dangerously.