Torchwood

[Angelus]

Eric drove his bike up the the non descript building and stopped in front of it, wondering what the hell he was doing here. Only a few hours ago he had been in London but now here he was in Leeds because someone had given him a damn card. He looked at the door and told himself that he must be going crazy before he turned off the engine, kicked down the stand and pulled off his helmet. As he walked forward he pulled the zipper down on his jacket and pulled out the card, looking at it once more. He shook his head again before he moved towards the door.

He was determined to figure out just what the hell was going on here and why he had been recruited into this place and if it mean having to knock on the door and letting himself in then he would do just that. He walked up to the door and was about to knock on it when it slowly swung open and the man that had given him the card in the first place stood there looking straight at him.

"Ah, Mr Tyler. It is so good of you to come here so soon. I will show you to your office and when Miss Bennett has finished with the interviews she will come to see you. That is unless you would rather wait for you to see you in her office."

Eric stood there, his head swimming. He was still trying to figure out what he was doing here.

"How is it you got here so quickly. I only met you in London a few hours ago."

The man laughed as he moved aside.

"That was my ummmm, twin. There are so many of us around this world I am not sure how many there are."

Eric turned and looked at the man, wanting to tell him that he was crazy but nothing would come out. He turned and looked around the area that he was in, his mouth falling open at all that he could see.

"Where am I?"

"This is Torchwood Mr Tyler. We deal with 'things' that most normal people don't want to believe real so therefore we need someone of your talents so to speak. I know that you have more to ask but not now. I will take you to your office and Miss Bennett will be with you as soon as she can to tell you the rest and interview you properly."

 

[Mantra]

Matt Anderson

"Dr. Anderson, we have a sizable spike in rift harmonics."

"Triangulate source and confirm." he said, coming up behind the technitian. Matt Anderson had only been in London for three days since his reassignment to Torchwood from the United States. His first two days had been spent with 'his' engineering team, working to install the sensory modifications he had brought with him. Today was his first day 'on the floor' and already they were getting a hit it seemed.

Torchwood was definatly going to be an interesting situation.

"Confirmed. We have a rift opening six miles off the coast in the North Sea."

"OK. With any luck, whatever came through just drown. Pass the word up and I'll deliver the report."

There was a moment of hesitation as the computer spit out a report. Matt took it and attached it to a clip board, then went into the next room.


"Ahem," he cleared his throat to get the attention of Charlene. "Ms. Bennett, you may want to see this."

 

[Ithica]

Charlene watched to make sure that Sullivan would be gentle with Nite. Nite had been with her since Torchwood One. They had been through a lot together, and as a result she was protective of him. She normally wouldn’t have sent new recruits off unsupervised but she needed to talk to Sandy alone. She turned back to the brunette and smiled coolly. She opened the door and nodded for Sandy to follow her.

As they started walking to the staff room she said, “You have misunderstood what I asked. I didn’t ask if you wanted to join right now. I understand that I am putting you in a difficult situation. I know that I am asking you to make a decision on something that very few people have seen or have the ability to comprehend. As a result of this, I’m hoping you will base any decisions you make on what you see rather than what you think other people have heard.”

Charlene looked around and saw people trying to catch her eye. A young man approached her and said, “Excuse me Ms. Bennett, Mr. Tylor has arrived.” Charlene nodded and thanked the man. She was glad that Tylor hadn’t arrived at the same time as the rest. While Tylor was like d Arte, Sullivan, and Borne in the sense that they all, in one way or another, worked for the government, Tylor no longer did. He had left his job as a police officer and became a hitman. She felt it would be best to have him isolated while trying to deal with him.

She began to reshuffle her schedule to try and be as efficient as possible without rushing anyone. With the possibility of a crisis from the Rift, babysitting new recruits, and a soon to be ex-hitman to deal with, she knew that some quick decisions would have to be made. They entered a small staff room that contained a table, chairs, and a full kitchen.

Charlene gestured for Sandy to have a seat and moved towards the kitchen. She continued to talk while she began to make up some tea. “While showing you the creature back there may only give you a hint at what you may face here, it’s all we’ve got. But it is a pretty good hint that we are dealing with things outside the norm.”

Charlene looked around for a glass then filled it with water and added a couple of ice cubes from a tray in the freezer. She set the glass in front of Sandy then sat down in a seat across from her. As she added a scoop of honey to the tea as she continued talking, “I’m looking for people who can adjust well with challenges and think on their feet. For now I simply would like to know if you are interested. ”

Just then Matt Anderson walked in. Charlene nodded to him and signaled for him to wait a moment. She turned to Sandy once more and said, “I am a very busy and don’t like to waste anyone’s time especially my own. If after everything you have seen you aren’t interested then there would be no point in showing you anything more. If you will please excuse me for a moment.”

Charlene walked over to Matt and asked, “Anderson, isn't it? What do you have?”

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Sandy sat down and crossed her legs.

"I'm sorry, but maybe I'm used to a different kind of breifing. You know, available facts then the goals, then the tools to meet the goals. Not to be disrespectful, but what we've done so far today was more like...a tour at a circus sideshow...than a breifing."

She leaned forward. "I'm hearing a lot of gaps, and not getting a lot of info, so, if you'd be so kind...what's the bottom line? Because so far what I'm hearing is that two of your facilites no longer exsits, and these rifts ...you don't know where they go or come from, and I have no clue what you want us...me...to do."

 

[Mantra]

Matt idly listened to the banter between the two women impaitently. Although he had only just arrived at Torchwood, he had thrown himself into his work with an almost religious fervor...and honelsly had difficulty understanding why other people didn't have the same ideals about work as he did.

"What's the bottom line? Because so far what I'm hearing is that two of your facilites no longer exsits, and these rifts ...you don't know where they go or come from, and I have no clue what you want us...me...to do."

Matt's ears perked up at the last comment.

"The bottom line?" He said with a sarcastic smirk. "In a nutshell, we keep the Closet Monster locked in the closet." His smile faded as he continued. "Think about it really, what do you think would happen if the world actually knew about these rifts... and what could come through them. That's where we come in. We work, sweat, bleed and struggle to stay ahead of this mess and the whole world gets to sleep in blissful ignorance for another night."

"So do you wanna help or not?"

He turned back to Bennett and offered her the clip board. "Sorry ma'am, but we have a confirmed rift opening in the North Sea, here are the details. I've taken the liberty of notifying the ops center that we'll need to dispatch a team at your convenience."

 

[rengadeirishman]

Dorian helped Nitanial to his room. "So where you from mate?" he asked, trying his best to converse with something so clearly not human. "What brought ya to merry old england?"

 

[Ithica]

Charlene looked over Anderson as he answered d’Arte’s comments. In truth she was relieved. It gave her a moment to collect herself and prevented her from sounding off on the woman herself. Charlene kept her back to d’Arte and looked over the clip board as he spoke. “Send out the team and tell them I only want a visual on what it is, before anything else happens.” Trying to keep from grinning she finished by saying, “Thank you, Anderson. If you wouldn't mind waiting a moment...”

Charlene turned back to d’Arte and said, “Things are not as simple as you think. I quite frankly don’t care what you are used to. No, I haven't laid all my cards on the table because I have given any available facts you should know. If there are anymore, they are on a need to know basis. The majority of training is on the job. The tools for meeting the goals are usually guns and some creative solutions. That’s enough of that now; you have taken up enough of my time for not answering my question. I don’t care what else you have to say. I’m only looking for a yes or a no.”

 

[NiteCrowe]

Nitanial, sheepishly looked up at Dorian and smiled.

'Im fine now thankyou.'

then he listened to the question.

'I came here, like most aliens, through the rift. unfortunatly, my race can sense its overactivity, and in somecases this can cause me immense pain. Anyway, i came through, and after being scared out of my wits by being attacked by a weevil, i volunteered myslef to Torchwood 1, where i remained until the incident a while back, and was saved thanks to Ms Bennett, and now here i am resident researcher, alarm system and in a way, psychologist.'

he chuckled, and reache dunder his bed for a bottle of what seemed to be scotch, procured for him by one of the techies.

'Would you like a drink?'

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

"Then I'm going to have to say no." Sandy stood. "I understand your need for secrecy, but I can't see this working for us...you or me. Thank you for your time though." Sandy nodded her head and headed for the exit.

 

[Ithica]

After getting Sandy’s answer, Charlene looked down at the untouched glass of water and regretted having to do things the hard way. She followed behind Sandy as she walked out of the staff room. Charlene nodded to the three men across the room that had been watching them as they left the staff room. After getting the signal, the men made their way towards them. The men began following them as Charlene directed Sandy back to the elevators.

The elevator doors opened and Charlene gave the signal. The men moved fast pushing Sandy into the elevator and then restraining her. Charlene closed the door, ignoring any protest Sandy might give. Charlene said to Sandy, “As I said earlier, nothing is a simple as you think. We aren’t going to hurt you but we can’t let you just walk out of here.”

One of the men pulled out a needle, taped it a few times, and then pushed it into Sandy’s arm. “Not that it will matter, but what you are being injected with is call retcon.” Charlene explained, “This will allow you to return to your old life and forget everything that you saw. It is the only way we can ensure secrecy.”

As the elevator reached to top, Charlene concluded by saying, “These gentlemen will take you home. Excuse me if I don’t show you to the door.”

----------------------------
A few minutes later Charlene was walking into the office where Eric was waiting. “Welcome to Torchwood, my name is Charlene Bennett.”, Charlene said as she threw a thick file on the desk in front of him. She opened it up so that he could see that it was a file of most of his illegal activities in the last year. Charlene chuckled and said, “Do you think I can make an honest man out of you?”

--------
Meanwhile at Nite’s room, young woman in a nicely tailored suit walked in. She asked Nite how he was doing and then requested Dorian’s and Teran’s presence in the main room.

 

[NiteCrowe]

Nite Stood and motioned for the two recruits to follow him.

'Lets go kick some rift butt.'

He smiled. he would have winked if he had the eyelids.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Dorian took the proffered drink and tipped his head gratefully to the alien. The scotch was definitely of a high quality, and quite enjoyable. At the young ladies entrance he snapped to attention and immediately followed Nite lead.

 

[Ithica]

Twenty minutes later Charlene walked out of the office unsure of how the interview with Eric went. She left with the intentions of giving Eric Tyler a few minutes to think over her offer and decide if he wanted join them in the weapons room.

When Charlene walked out she had been given a headset so that she could listen to the team that had been sent out. From what she could hear the alien was big and not shy. From what the team was saying it was almost as if it was trying to be as destructive as it could possibly be. There were already four casualties spread out between the docks and a nearby coffee shop. The team currently had evacuated any civilians and forced the creature to a less public area.

She walked through the main room and could hear the police radios crackling out voices requesting assistance. As she passed Matt Anderson, she made a quick judgment call and asked him to join her. Charlene walked over to the new recruits and Nite. She asked them to follow her to the weapons room. She pulled off a Golock23, extra magazines and holster. As she put them on, she asked the group to choose a weapon. Charlene stepped aside and let them pick, helping anyone that looked lost and gave them a quick lesson in loading, turning the safety on and off, a how to hold it.

“I will require each of you to come with the group whether you have had combat experience or not. For now, whether or not you can use a weapon, take one with you for your own safety. We will teach you to shoot later. We have a situation and I need to find out if you can work together as a team. There is back-up if we get into trouble but do not let that lull you into complacency. Look out for each other and keep your wits about you. We are leaving now.”

Charlene led them out back, up some stairs to the surface and into a garage. She opened a sliding door to a black SUV and told them to choose their seats carefully. The two back seats had pull down computer screens and keyboards by them. Charlene explained that between the two of them they handled translations, police radio’s, com links between the group members, navigation, GPS, and some sample analysis. She then hopped into the driver’s seat and waited for everyone to get in.

 

[NiteCrowe]

Nite Nodded, and followed Ms. Bennett to the Weapons room, where he grabbed A belt of throwing stars (his own design) and a Sig Sauer with 2 extra magazines.

Eventually, upon reaching the Suv, Nite climbed into the back and sat at a computer, where he loaded up the analysis/police radio and communications programs.

'Comms is up and running.'

 

[rengadeirishman]

Dorian whistled as he saw the stock of weapons. He grabbed a .45 Magnum with an extra clip, and a Remington AR15 variant assault rifle with three extra clips. He smiled as he felt the familiar 8.5 pound weight and the sound of the clip lock. He smiled at the others, "I could field strip, clean, and reassemble this rifle hanging upside down with a blindfold on." he said chuckling. "Whats the situation Commander?" he asked.

 

[Mantra]

Matt touched his headset, keying the 'send' link. "I'm rolling out. Nick, you're in charge till I get back."

He then followed into the weapon's room and took down a simple 9 MM Baretta and two magazines. He was familiar with the basics of the weapon, but that was about it. Weapons were not his forte, or at least not these weapons anyway.

"I could field strip, clean, and reassemble this rifle hanging upside down with a blindfold on. Whats the situation Commander?"

He rolled his eyes at the new recruit. Probably one of the 'security' types, he had the same swaggering attitude and trollish manors.

"Gee, that'll keep all those rift aliens and nasties things from tearing us limb from limb! Hell, I feel all safe and stuff now..." He clicked on the shoulder holster and moved onto the car. "Save it for the maintenece bay and get in the car, hero."

Matt slid into the second back seat next to Nite. "Engineering on line." he said finally into the comline.

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Teran had been worried about the alien guy but now he seemed just fine. She wondered if things like this would be happening all of the time. there was really no doubt in the back of her head that this was not going to be a normal workplace and she was going to have to get used to the way that things were run here.

"I could field strip, clean, and reassemble this rifle hanging upside down with a blindfold on. Whats the situation Commander?"

She looked over at the military man next to her. Ok, so he seemed to have a grip on the weaponry. That was a good thing right? Well, she had been to the shooting round with her friends so she wouldn't be completely in the dark at least. Her eyes roamed the weapons finally resting on something relatively simple that she could handle.

It wasn't a big gun. It was a PPK and she was sure that it would work just fine for whatever she might need it for. She followed suite putting on the holster and slipping the gun in, taking some extra rounds with her.

"Gee, that'll keep all those rift aliens and nasties things from tearing us limb from limb! Hell, I feel all safe and stuff now... Save it for the maintenece bay and get in the car, hero."

She smiled into her hand and climbed in after the man with the mouth. Well, it was funny really.

"Engineering on line."

"What exactly is the situation?" She asked trying and hoping not to sound stupid.

 

[Mantra]

"What exactly is the situation?" The new girl asked as she squeezed into the back seat .

Matt glanced up at Ms. Bennett, well, if they were in on this mission, then they should be cleared.

"We really don't know yet. We have a confirmed rift opening 400 yards off the coast in the North Sea and approxamatly 50 feet below sea level. The rift remained open for exactly 128 seconds, then closed. No visible contact made yet."

"With any luck, whatever was on the other side got a big ass dose of seawater and croaked. Then this will just be a salvage operation but if not...well..." He shrugged.

 

[Ithica]

Charlene only half listened to the banter within the group. The rest of her attention was focused on the team that was following the alien. They had gotten a clear visual on the creature and had downloaded the picture to the base. They were just waiting to see if Torchwood had any information on it.

When everyone was seated, Charlene pulled the suv out of the garage and through the maze of warehouses. “Luck is not on our side today, Matt. Our target not only made through the swim, but did it with enough energy to spare to start running amok.”

“Nite, can you monitor the police radios. They may just stick to looking after the casualties but report if they start trailing our target.” Charlene moved the mike that was connected to the headset she was wearing and asked for a location.

Ten minutes later, the black vehicle drove past a small mall, busy with Friday afternoon shoppers. Charlene pulled away into a relatively deserted street. Charlene stopped the vehicle and got out. She handed each of them a pager and a radio.

“The pagers are for you to wear at all times. The radio is just in case we get separated. Our target is highly aggressive and hell bent on destruction. I hate to use this cliché but this maybe a shoot first and ask questions later situation. Our target will be heading this way. We have to keep it from getting past us and into the busier sections of the city. Wait until you have good clean shot before shooting. Don’t take any risks with your guns. Nite, take Dorian and Matt to the opposite side of the street and follow. Teran, you are with me. ”

Charlene walked quickly towards the end of the street, listening closely to the com. that kept her informed of the alien’s movement. When they got to the end of the street she backed Teran into the nearest doorway and looked at Teran’s face to decide if she was frightened. Finding nothing in the woman’s green eyes that showed panic, she looked across the street to make sure the Nite’s team was stopping and signaled them to take cover.

It didn’t take long before they could hear a loud roar. It sounded a little strange like blood was caught in the creatures’ throat causing there to be a gargle sound in the roar. Charlene took a quick look. The alien was still a couple of blocks away from them and running fast. It was making a zigzag pattern in the middle of the street where it ran, making no attempt to find cover. The creature had to be over seven feet tall and over four hundred pounds. It had features similar to a human but its skin was a mix of dark blues and greens. The creature had no visible weapons but claws and teeth that would have been found on a saber-toothed tiger. No wonder it was drawing attention Charlene thought. Charlene moved so that Teran would be able to take a quick look at the creature.

Before she could signal them to shoot it, the creature stopped dead in its tracks and looked in their direction before taking a quick right turn down a street away from them. “After it!” Charlene shouted before she took off running.

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Teran, you are with me. ”

Teran followed the woman and swore under her breath at her shoes. Yes, they were heels, luckily they were not the big heels, rather they were smaller and a little thicker. Well at least she had something going for her there. Teran did not spook easily and she could tell that that was what the woman before her was trying to figure out. Somehow she wished that she had brought something a little more impressive in the way of a firearm but no use crying over spilt milk she guessed.

Teran did jump a little at the loud roar, it was unexpected and when she got her chance to look. "Oh my fucking lord heavenly father jesus christ..." She said as if amazed to see such a thing. Yes, she had a bit of a mouth on her but she hung out with men what was to be expected?

“After it!”

Charlene bolted and Teran was behind her, damn she wished she hadn't worn such a skirt. This was just silly now. She wanted to make a memo that she needed to be left at the office next time. The beautiful young woman was able to keep up fairly well and was tryingto figure out what they were going to do to bring this beast down.

"And to think I just came in for an interview..." She said to herself as she continued to run, hoping against hope she didn't 'pop out' as it were.

 

[NiteCrowe]

Nite had just reached the far end of the street, when the creature appeared.

It looked ever so slightly familiar to him, but he couldn't place where from or what it was.

The next thing he saw was the creature turning down a street away from them, and heard Ms. Bennett take off after it.

Realising that out of himslef, Matt and Dorian, he was the senior tochwood member of the small group, he noticed a side ally leading in the same direction as the street the creature took, and using the map of the city he had memorized (he has photographic memory, made an executive descision.

'Dr. Anderson, Mr. Dorain, Follow me.' He switched to comms, 'Ms. Bennett we going to attempt to cut him off from infront.'

He just hoped, Ms Bennett would trust him.

 

[Ithica]

Charlene lost sight of the creature when it turned the corner. She glanced back at Teran to see how she was doing. Even though she was keeping up well, Charlene wonder how long she would be able to with the shoes she was wearing.

"Teran, go back and get the van. GPS will show you where the team is. Bring the van to us. Keep in contact with me with the radio." Charlene yelled before throwing her the keys.

Charlene turned the corner into an alleyway when she heard Nite on the radio. "Alright." She said to the radio before pulling out her gun.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Dorian was amused by the Doctor's comment. "I am a Sergeant Major in Her Majesty's Special Air Service, so its Sergeant Major Hero to you doctor." he said with a mischievous smile, climbing into the vehicle.

When they arrived, He followed Nite as per the commander's orders. "Its been awhile since I had to chase a hostile through the city, jolly good fun it is." he said his weapon shouldered and sweeping in every direction. Then he saw it. "Hello beastie, bloody hell your a big fella." he said as he kept following Nite.