A Place in Time (10/30)

[amberfocus]

                                                                                             Banner by Megz33

Chapter Ten:  The Walls Thin

As the blackness spread across the breach, it looked for all the world like the tip of an egg pushing itself through the gap. Indeed it protruded from the breach like a child being born. “Get Ianto down here now, Tosh!” Owen ordered. Toshiko rushed over to her work station to put on her headset and call the big boss back downstairs.

Owen turned to Rose. “Have you ever seen anything like this before?” he demanded. “Did your sources ever say, could it possibly be, something alive being birthed into our world?”

Rose shook her head. “No. Everything I know about the Void is that nothing can live there without specialized equipment. It’s death.”

“And yet there are records of creatures having travelled through it. There are stories that go back beyond modern records,” Owen told her.

“I know it was possible once to cross it,” Rose said. “But the right kind of equipment was necessary and neither my home world or this planet has that kind of technology.”

“Or they didn’t when you came here.” Owen whirled. “Tosh! Get him down here!” he snarled.

“Bloody keep your pants on, Owen!” Tosh snapped back. “They’re on the lift already.”

The black ovoid shape suddenly thrust forward. “We may have to evacuate,” Rose said. “We’re running out of room!”

“Are you absolutely sure of your information, Rose?” Owen asked his eyes drilling intently into her own.

Rose closed her eyes and tried to dredge up every last piece of information the Doctor had ever told her about the Void. “It’s the place of nothing, of absence, of…Reapers!” she burst out. “He told me Reapers came from the Void.”

“Reapers? Like the grim reaper?” Owen asked.

“Not anything like so pleasant as that,” Rose said in a tone that made Owen flinch. “No, they come when there has been an error in the time line, when something’s not supposed to happen and it does. They come to clean up the mess, and they devour everything and everyone in sight.”

Rose was breathing hard, trying to keep down the panic, as she relived that memory. “I saw it happen. It was the most horrifying thing I’ve ever seen in my life. They’re like dragons, only dark and ugly with bat-like wings and all teeth and claws. This could be one hatching!”

“Are you sure?”

“I don’t know! But if I’m right, its not something we want to see let loose on this Earth. Not even a baby one, especially if it means the parents might come after it to retrieve it. There's no damage to the time line, but who knows what they might do let loose without a purpose!  We have to figure a way to get it back in the Void and close the breach. It’ll destroy this reality if we don’t!”

A hideous cry, similar but not the same as rending metal, echoed through the building. Owen grabbed Rose’s arm and pulled her with him into the next work area just as a spray of sparks and hideously loud crackling sounds roared through the room. With a tremendous heave the thing resembling an egg fell to the floor at their feet.

Owen made as if to touch it and Rose grabbed his hand. “No!” she said sharply. “Did you forget that it’s been through the Void? The ice will still burn your hand.”

Ianto and Gwen leapt the last few feet off the lift and down onto the main floor. “What happened?” Ianto asked as he rushed forward.

“The Void gave birth,” Owen said his normal sarcastic humor returning.

“Don’t touch it!” Rose warned again as Ianto stepped closer. Suddenly the black ovoid turned as red as a flare and the ice became hissing steam. A horrendous crack shook the egg.

“Something’s coming,” said Gwen her eyes far away though it appeared she was looking at the scene before her. “Something wrong. Something fixed.  It doesn’t belong here.” Ianto pulled a gun out of his shoulder harness and leveled it in the direction of the object. As the metal cracked open a brilliant blue light flashed, temporarily blinding them. Again the horrific rending noise filled the cavernous space, lasting for two long minutes, while they cowered, hands over ears, unable to see. Fear kept them glued to the spot, unable to think or to run or to function at all.

When they were able see and hear and to look back again, the creature standing in the remains of the shell showed its teeth, shook out its limbs with the loud sound of leathery rasping and then focused its brilliant blue eyes, looking rapidly around the room, warily taking the measure of each person it saw before it until its eyes fell on Rose. A sound of triumph emerged from its throat. It took one step forward and then another and another.

“Rosie!” he said.

“Jack!” And Rose hurled herself across the room and into the arms of a man she never thought she’d see again, layering kisses on his forehead and cheeks in her excitement to see him.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down, sweetheart,” Jack said as she nearly threw him off balance. “I’ve got you.” But his arms were around her just as tightly and he had lifted her off the ground in his enthusiasm.

When they finally let go of each other she asked him, “Did the Doctor send you?”

Jack smiled. “No. I left a message on Martha’s voice mail, but the signal was out of area so I’m not sure if she got it to give to him.”

Rose looked at him blankly. “Martha’s got a jiggered phone. You know, like what the Doctor did to yours so you could call home from the end of the world?”

“Who’s Martha?” Rose asked with just a tinge of jealousy.

“She’s a doctor, works for me sometimes, gallivants with the Doctor on occasion, saved the Earth once.” Rose’s face fell. “She is not a replacement for you Rose. Don’t even think it. She and Donna are just friends of his.”

“Donna? What's he got, his own personal harem onboard now?”

“No one like you, Rose. No one anywhere ever, like you. He’s been a hearts-sick man since he lost you and for good reason. Don’t you worry on that score.”

“As much as I’m enjoying this little reunion, would you mind terribly telling me who you are and what you’re doing in the middle of my Torchwood?” Ianto Jones asked smoothly, a touch of aggression in his otherwise mild tone.

“I’m Captain Jack Harkness and you are Ianto Jones.” Jack’s eyes moved about the room again. “Doing quite well for yourself here, in charge and everything. Gwen Cooper, Toshiko Sato, and Owen Harper.” He said their names as he nodded at them in turn.

“How’d you know that?” demanded Owen.

“Because in my universe the four of you work for me. And I’ve slept with two of you,” Jack said. “And not necessarily the two you might be thinking.” Jack grinned enjoying the eyes shifting about as they tried to figure out who he was talking about.

“Well, kid,” he said, “I’ve come to take you home. The opening is only going to last for 3 more hours before it starts to seal itself. And it takes half of that to traverse between the two realities and a half hour just to seal the ship up again. You ready to go?” he asked reaching out his hand.

“More than ready,” she said putting her hand in his.

As the capsule clanged shut around them a half hour later and they were launched into the Void, she rested snuggly in Jack’s arms. She felt such a strong surge of hope and joy. She’d soon see her Doctor again, as soon as he could be contacted. She was finally going home. To him.

Ch. 11:  http://amberfocus.livejournal.com/50415.html 

Comments

[angelfireeast.livejournal.com]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! They keep missing each other!!!!!

please post more soon!

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

It'll be chapter 13 before they reunite. Sorry. I'll see what I can get up tonight. *laughs* But I was going to do ch. 2 of Andromeda Rising. Well, maybe...

[wish-wielder.livejournal.com]

Ok, before I even get to the rest of the chapter: you are evil! xD I seriously thought a Reaper was being birthed there! xD

That being said: WHAT? Double on the evil score! Guh. Beyond officially hooked on this. <3

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

He he he he he. Exactly what you were supposed to think! And yeah, evil is good.

[wiggiemomsi.livejournal.com]

Loved the sound effects & visuals of the egg "hatching;" added immeasurably to the drama!

Don't gooooo Rose! You'll be sorry!!

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

Now you know she needs this time with Jack. *smiles* Or he needs it with her.

[capemaynuts.livejournal.com]

Boy am I glad I read the original version of this, or I'd be sending you curses and death by reaper threats. I am enjoying it even more this time around. Maybe because I'm not so anxious?

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

Probably. But it's fun being anxious the first time through, I think. I certainly was since I wrote it on the fly. *grins*

[absolutbritish.livejournal.com]

Oh noooo! I don't believe it! Wait for him, he told you he'd come!!! Gah!

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

Well, no, he actually said they'd be together soon. Gotta watch the wording in my fics because I choose my words very carefully. *grinsI

[sunnytyler001.livejournal.com]

Damn, Jack!!!! I know that there are still 20 chapters before the end, but really.
Bad timing, indeed...

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

He didn't know any better. *grins*

[gate-ship.livejournal.com]

What is wrong with Rose and the Doctor? Wouldn't Rose call her mum to say goodbye? This is ridiculous.

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

Neither of them is thinking clearly, they're too caught up in the excitement.

re: A Place in Time (10/30)

[acciochocolate.livejournal.com]

I'm totally stunned by this chapter's developments.

Re: A Place in Time (10/30)

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

*grins* A little bit of a plot twist.