Torchwood: Fanfic: Elixir of life (Part four)

[m_findlow]

Title: Elixir of life (Part four)
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 Torchwoood....

It was a long drive out to Swansea, but the weather was remarkably kind to them, even if their fellow motorists weren't. A bright blue Renault wasn't about to incite fear into the hearts of any driver having a bad day, and was nothing more than cannon fodder for the larger haulage trucks that powered down the M4.

Gwen had suggested that they wait until they could run some more tests on the jewel and find out more about what it actually did and was capable of, but Jack had merely pocketed it, telling them to get going.

'What's going on with Jack?' Gwen asked. 'He's been acting weird and short tempered all week.'

Ianto stared out of the passenger seat side window. 'I wish I knew. I think maybe he's just bored. We've had hardly a weevil to chase lately, let alone anything really threatening.'

'How terrible,' Gwen sighed, and Ianto smiled back in agreement.

It was one thing to be bored, but openly wishing for the world to end was just nuts. If anything, he'd actually been enjoying the peaceful lull in their workload, finally able to get on top of a hundred different projects which had all taken a back seat whilst they battled zombies, aliens and mystery viruses, as well as the usual flotsam and jetsam that the rift spat out. A few nights of proper sleep hadn't gone astray either, and Gwen was equally appreciative of some quality time spent with Rhys, which even included coming home early to cook dinner three nights a week.

'I don't understand how he could be bored. I mean, it's not as if we've had nothing to do,' Gwen said.

'Just nothing that Jack considers exciting. He was scouring the rift readings in the middle of the night last night trying to find some signs of odd activity. It took all my charms just to get him to come back to bed. He's been crawling up the walls looking for some action.'

Ianto let out a long sigh. Gwen caught the motion in the corner of her eye.

'What?'

'I was half worried he might be sick of us; that he might call up the Doctor and go travelling again, looking for adventure.'

'Don't be silly. He wouldn't leave. Not with us here. And Torchwood.'

'Really? It didn't stop him before.'

Gwen gripped the wheel uneasily. 'Yeah, but that was different. And he came back. For you.'

'For us. But... we're just specks, Gwen. Little blips in time. Jack goes on long after we're gone.'

'But not until we're gone, Ianto. Just you remember that. No matter how boring and unexciting this little city is, he won't leave us. Besides,' she said, checking her rear view mirror, 'we've got a case now, and he's got the bit between his teeth. That'll perk him up again, just you wait and see.'

Ianto hoped she was right. Hitting the fringes of the outer suburbs, he sighed again.

'I never liked Swansea. It's too dirty.'

'Me either,' Gwen agreed. 'But my parents live here now, so I have to pretend it's nice. They wanted us to move down here after we got married, but Rhys was having none of it. "What self respecting Blues supporter would live down here?" he said.'

'I'd rather live in Splott.'

'Careful now,' she laughed. 'Don't let my parents catch you saying that. And you know that everything weird that happens with the rift, always happens in Splott.'

 

They pulled off the motorway and wended their way through the run down streets that encircled the massive steel works. It was a poor area, industrial, and lacking in pretty terraces and lush green lawns.

Ianto provided directions whilst Gwen stared out at the gloomy looking estates that towered all around them, long lines of bins trailing up and down the road, left there by residents long after collection day had been and gone.

'Next left, he said, as she made the turn into a long street full of large warehouses and packing plants, machine hire lots and sad looking take out shops.

'Should be just on the right. Number 219.'

She slowed the car to a crawl, watching the numbers on signposts marking the various companies. It seemed an odd place for a state of the art medical research facility to house its operations, in this dirty, dingy little street, but perhaps this was how they cut down their overheads. Once she spotted the sign for number 234, she knew she'd gone too far, and pulled over the car.

'Did you see it?'

'Nope. But we must have passed it.'

They got out of the car and walked back down the length of buildings, checking each one. Number 225 was the last one, a company doing corporate signage, and the next was number 218 which was a motor oil wholesaler.

'Where's 219?' Gwen asked, looking around.

'Maybe it's around the back?'

They walked down the long driveway of number 225, checking for other buildings behind it, but there was nothing. Gwen popped her head into the reception area of the advertising firm and asked them. They just shrugged and said they didn't know anything about a number 219. The oil place had been there as long as they had. Maybe she had the wrong number.

 

Gwen rejoined Ianto, who was standing out in the middle of the street, checking his PDA and looking across at the gap between the two buildings.

'I found Number 219.'

'How?'

'Land Titles Office. I ran a title search. That's lot 219,' he said, pointing at the gap. It was about two yards across and ran between the two buildings, covered in patchy grass. 'It's an easement. No permit to built on it.'

'Well, that can't be right. Maybe the address on their website was wrong.'

'Nope,' he replied, 'Title confirms it's owned by Intelsius Corporation, alright.'

'But where's their research facility then?'

'Not here, which makes me wonder what else they're hiding.'

'We should report back to Jack.'

'Already tried,' Ianto said. 'He's not answering his phone.'

'Bloody Jack,' she said, pushing past him, headed back to the car.

 

Jack sat in the car and stared at the address. It wasn't necessarily bogus, probably just the home of some rich company director, that the accountants and lawyers had though fitting to put on the official paperwork. It certainly wasn't the head office of a major corporation. Regardless, he got out of the car, determined to get some answers for questions he had. Gwen and Ianto wouldn't be back for at least a few hours, but that wouldn't stop him.

He pulled up his collar and knocked on the door of the modern looking house. It was all square and black glass, imposing itself on the street, like something off Grand Designs. Not his cup of tea at all, preferring the old style terraces, and houses with long winding driveways, sprawling English roses, and welcoming porches; French bay windows, and cosy old fashioned fireplaces.

'Who is it?' came a smooth, effeminate voice, which he realised was from an intercom panel on the side of the wall near the door.

'My name's Captain Jack Harkness. I'd like to speak to someone from Intelsius Corporation.'

'Do you have an appointment?'

'Afraid not, but it is very important.'

'Very well. I'm sure that we can... accommodate you.'

The door unlocked with a gentle click, almost imperceptible, and Jack stepped through. On the inside there were no rooms, and no furniture. It didn't look like a house at all. All he could see was one long passage that seemed to stretch from one end of the house to other other. Just before he reached the end, it tapered off to the right, leading downstairs to sub-basement level.

 

His senses alert, he pulled his Webley out and flipped off the safety catch, slowly proceeding down the stairs. At the base of the stairs was a solid silver door. He sensed a trap, but like all closed doors and rules, they were there to be broken. He twisted the knob, which turned easily in his hand, and stepped through. The room was dark, with just the one bright white light hanging loose in a fixture overhead. It shone down on a plain grey metal desk, behind which sat a man, who slowly rose from his chair.

He looked human, but that could have been a ruse. He was tall but wide, dressed in a long black cassock style robe, his head completely bald, eyes dark and beady, perched very close to his equally small nose.

'Hello. We've been waiting for you.'

His voice was the same one from the intercom, smooth and hypnotic, like a snake latching onto its prey, distracting it, whilst it wrapped its long tail around it, slowly squeezing the life from it.

We? Jack quickly turned and saw another tall, heavy set man behind him, also dressed in black, but clearly more of a guard or a flunky, than an equal.

'Who are you?' Jack asked.

'No one,' the man purred. 'Yet.'

'What is Intelsius Corporation? You don't look like a research facility to me.'

He tittered, amused. 'I'm afraid you've been quite take in by my little corporate shell,' he said, holding his arms out. 'The grand sum total of employees of Intelsius Corporation are standing right here before you.'

'I don't understand.'

'There is indeed research done here, unfortunately, no one will ever see the benefits of it.'

The man was answering him in riddles, so he tried a different line of questioning.

'You stole something from a friend of mine. An egg containing a valuable jewel.'

The man sighed, sounding disappointed. 'Steal is such a vile word. I paid good money to acquire the item. That's hardly stealing.'

'Why did you take it?'

'Because I needed it. Just like I needed you.'

 

At that, the second man grabbed Jack from behind, gripping his wrists behind his back with his huge, meaty hand, rifling his pockets with the other, and pulling out the second gemstone. Jack struggled against him.

'I wish you wouldn't,' the man tutted, 'resistance is very unbecoming.'

The guard kicked Jack behind the knees and he went down, kneeling on the floor between the two men.

'I do find lackeys so very helpful, don't you? Every good leader should have at least one. Always there to help out with all those little odd jobs: taking your coat, making you comfortable...  oh I don't know, what else, ah, maybe make you a coffee?' he said suggestively.

'Whatever you want, you leave Gwen and Ianto out of it.'

'Of course,' he replied, smiling congenially. 'I won't harm a single hair on their pretty little heads. After all, what use are they to me? They've played their part, following the little trail of breadcrumbs I left for you. Henry Parker, Monty Piers, Intelsius Corporation. I hear you even went all the way to London for me just to bring me a second gem. How delightfully thoughtful of you.'

He took the gem between his fingers and held it up before Jack's face.

'This little gem has some unusual properties, not unlike yourself.'

'What do you want?' Jack said, forcing the words through gritted teeth.

'Why, to live forever, of course. And you're going to help me.'

Jack felt a pinprick jab in the side of his neck, then nothing.

Continues in part five...