Chapter Text
Cardiff Motorpoint arena emptied out into the cool night air as security tried to shoo away sellers trying to pedal counterfeit merchandise just outside of the doors. The general mood of the area was positive as everyone was still riding the buzz from the encore performance and, for a few people, more than a couple of drinks. It had been so long since Ianto had gone out to relax with anyone but Jack. It was strange, like he’d suddenly been teleported back to his late teens, just with better facial hair and less anxiety. He had to admit it had been fun to blow off some steam and the two women made good company. He’d been shocked with how well Melody had handled herself in such a massive crowd but she didn’t seem bothered, especially when the music started. In the mix of street and moon light it was easy to see the effect it had on her though. Her pupils were blown, barely any of the silver of her iris visible, and she had a definite skip in her step. If he didn’t know better he’d swear she was on something.
“Do you mind if we let some of the traffic calm before we head off?” Heather asked, pulling her keys from her pocket.
He smiled. “I don’t mind. I’ve got tomorrow off.”
“Cool… You’d never guess she spent the whole day meditating. Like, from the moment she got up this morning. I had to remind her to eat.”
“That explains how she wasn’t overwhelmed.”
“So… Can I ask you a question?”
His heart jumped into his throat. “Um… Ok.”
“So is everyone you guys work with attractive or has Mel just been showing off the pretty members of the staff?”
Ianto stifled a relieved laugh. “Don’t let our boss hear you say that. He’ll never stop preening.”
“Seriously though, I’d never get anything done. Sorry, I can’t file that for you, I’m too busy staring at my co-workers.”
“I have caught Jack watching me like that before, but he might have just been avoiding a report or two.”
The lights flashed from the car to say it was unlocked. “We packed some snacks and bottles of water if you’d like one.”
“Yea. Didn’t want to get too many drinks in there.”
“You’d have to take out a loan just to get tipsy.” She opened the boot and pulled forward a cooler box and a blanket. “Mel, you want this for the drive home?”
Melody took the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders like a cape. “Thank you. I’m going to crash so badly later.” She chuckled.
“I can always carry you to bed.”
“Like a sack of potatoes.”
“I mean I could carry you bridal style but sure.”
“Sleepy potato.”
“You’re adorable.” She smiled fondly, kissing her on the forehead. “Do you want to sit in the car. I can turn the heating on.”
Looking up to the nights sky she sighed contentedly. “I’m ok, but feel free.”
A loud scream from further down the carpark made them all jump. Ianto, being the tallest, tried to see what was going on.
“What’s all that about?” Heather asked as she closed the boot.
He narrowed his eyes and tried to focus on what he was seeing. People were running between cars towards them, but he couldn’t see what from. The streetlights burst in a shower of sparks above them. He needed to decide whether to take shelter in the car or make a run for it. There was no way out if they were in the car and were found by whatever was sending people into a panic because of the sheer number of cars trying to get onto the road, but where exactly would they run to? The sound of shattering glass and a scream being choked off answered that for him.
“We need to run.” He said, already trying to see where would be safest to get to.
Heather nodded and took Melodys hand. “I’ll try and keep up.”
They began running back towards the arena and Ianto tried to warn as many people as possible to head back and find somewhere safe. He knew it wouldn’t do much good until they actually saw the danger but it was worth a shot. It wasn’t far to the doors and it looked like staff were letting those who’d run there in a panic inside. He looked back to see what was following but it just looked like a dark mass in the little light he had to work with. He also noticed the ladies falling behind. He darted back and picked Melody up in a firemans lift, Heather able to keep up easily on her own. They ducked inside the doors with a group of others as the darkness engulfed the glass doors. The group of staff helped push them closed and pull down the shutters to brace them. They rattled under the pressure of the miasma that swallowed all light outside. There were no more screams from outside, only what sounded like rain.
He placed Mel back on her feet. “I know you’re tired, but can you tell what’s out there?”
“I… Whatever it is, is mechanical. I don’t get anything from it.” She said, staring at the blacked out doors, the blanket clutched tightly around her.
A cracking sound was followed by the security guard pulling the shutters down the rest of the way.
Ianto approached the head of security, glad he had his work ID in his wallet. “Excuse me, we need to get everyone away from the doors and somewhere safer.” He said firmly but calmly, holding out his ID.
“I don’t know what the hell’s going on out there and I wish I had time to ask but these shutters are old. Oi, Dan! Get everyone up to Exit Seven.” The man gestured to one of the other security guards who began ushering people towards the stairs. “If nothing else it’s comfortable up there.”
It wasn’t the worst idea to send everyone up to the bar but he could see some issues arising later. That didn’t matter for now, he needed to contain the situation and get in contact with the others. He took his phone from his pocket and frowned at the lack of any kind of connection. “Is the wifi still on in here?”
“Should be, why?”
“No signal to call for backup.”
“There’s a staff phone upstairs, give that a try.” He jumped back as he heard another loud crack from the glass set into the doors. He grabbed his two way radio. “If you can hear this make sure all shutters are down and get to Exit seven immediately. I’ve got no bloody clue what’s going on but it seems like a riot out there.”
There was a tense energy in the air as the terrified group sheltered in the bar. Ianto walked back to where Heather and Melody were sat.
“Anything?” Asked Mel.
He shook his head and sat across from them. “Line’s dead. Computer looked dead too. I’d say this couldn’t be missed but Jack’s at my place tonight.”
“Tosh has alarms set up for stuff like this though, doesn’t she? Plus the police must be getting calls.”
“I hope so.”
“Look, I’m next to useless in this situation so maybe I should try and get in contact with them telepathically.”
“Only if you’re strong enough. Don’t hurt yourself.”
“I’ll be ok.”
“I’m going to see if I can get a look at what’s going on out there.”
“What? Who knows when those things could break in. You should stay here until we get in contact with the others.”
Heather stood. “I’ll go with you.”
“No. You can’t. You don’t know what you’re running into.”
“She’s right. No offence but I can’t let you put yourself in danger.” He said firmly.
Heather crossed her arms. “You’re not going out there alone. Even if I just have to run back to warn people.”
“Fine, but please, do everything I tell you and don’t ask why.”
“Deal.”
“Stay safe, both of you.” Melody said softly, still holding onto her blanket.
Jack stared at the cctv footage from the carpark before it was consumed by the silvery black mass and felt the knot in his stomach growing ever tighter. He knew Ianto couldn’t die but he also knew, from experience, that there were worse things than death. He had to push those thoughts away. Even before the mire chip Ianto Jones was a survivor. He was fast, smart and as stubborn as a mule. And, though Melody wasn’t as fast, she was certainly as stubborn when it came to staying alive.
He was waiting for Tosh to get something, though he wasn’t sure what exactly. Owen was impatiently tapping his fingers on his arm, wanting to get going asap. They both looked over as they heard metal feet hitting the concrete floor of the garage. Tosh rushed over with Ammit by her side.
“We don’t know if that wave is going to be aggressive so I thought it would be wise to send Ammit in ahead of us.” She clarified, opening the boot for the robot to jump in. “Is Gwen on her way?”
“She’s stuck at her mother in laws for the night. I’ll call her again if we can’t find Ianto or Melody.”
Ianto looked out of one of the windows facing the carpark. The cars themselves looked undamaged but there were definitely bodies down there, lit by spotlights brought in by the police. He frowned deeply, not seeing the SUV. No, they had to be out there somewhere. Most likely hidden in one of the areas still covered in shadows. He needed to keep his mind on getting people to safety.
“So, what is that stuff down there?” Heather asked, glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one else was around.
“I don’t know.”
“Look, I know you can’t give me details but whatever it is has us surrounded-”
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you. I just don’t know. It’s not something I’ve run into before.”
“Oh… Sorry.”
He looked at his phone again, hoping something had changed. It hadn’t. “So, how much have you been told?”
“Bugger all, but it doesn’t take a genius to work out. Girl with psychic abilities. Works in an office but has ridiculous hours, a sizable paycheque and comes home with injuries. Gwen doesn’t exactly seem the office type, and unless you spend your weekends at the gym, neither do you. Cardiff is full of stories. It’s a hive of paranormal activity. Someone has to police that.”
“That sounds a lot like a conspiracy theory.”
“And yet, here we are, trapped inside an arena by some kind of sentient wave of black goo. I’m fine pretending I can’t tell that the injuries obviously aren't from accidents, and I’m even fine pretending those implants on Mels back could be made by some fancy medical research lab, but when I’m in the middle of something I need to know what I’m running from.” She stared Ianto square in the eye, meaning every word she said.
He sighed. “Who do you think we are?”
“You’re Torchwood of course. Who else? If you were UNIT the carpark would be swarming with people with guns.”
“Too smart for your own good.” He mumbled.
“I’ve been told that before. So what kind of thing are we working with?”
“I’ve got no reason to doubt Melodys assessment of it so we can assume it’s mechanical. It’s not cyberman technology, they convert living things so they could still be picked up. So no idea where it came from, but it’s looking for something.”
“That’s why it didn’t keep chasing the other people and it isn’t attacking the police.”
“Exactly. Whatever it wants is inside here. But I don’t think it started here, otherwise it wouldn’t have attacked from the carpark.”
“So it had to have been brought in with the group that’s in the bar.”
“Or it is one of the people in the bar. Come on, we should go back and see what we can find out there. Even if we could break a window we wouldn’t get out before we were caught.”
She turned to look towards the stairs. “Maybe we can get a closer look at the wave now it’s calmed down.”
“Why?”
“We couldn’t see it well before and if it doesn’t want us then it shouldn’t attack if we go and just look at it through the glass. It could give us a clue as to what it’s looking for.” She reasoned, staying rather calm given the situation.
He thought it over for a moment. “Fine, but I look. You stay back at a safe distance.”
“Yes sir.”
“And now I feel old.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty nine.”
“Oh bugger off are you old. I’m only a couple of years younger than you.” She rolled her eyes, but still had the warm look on her face.
He began walking towards the stairs. “How are you this calm?”
“One, I’m out of adrenaline from earlier, and two, like I told Melody, she’s not the only one who’s run into strange stuff all of her life. I was in London six years ago.”
“Wait…” He stopped in his tracks. “You were there during the cyberman invasion?”
“I was at my nans house. She had this little space in her attic that she said was safe so we both hid there. She nearly broke her hip getting down afterwards… You sound like you were there too.”
“I used to work there until… That.”
There was a long silence between them as they continued their walk. “I’m sorry.”
“No… No, it’s ok. You didn’t know.” He wished the years had made it an easier subject to talk about, but it wasn’t. He doubted it ever would be.
The doors sat dark and quiet, the black mass still holding across them. He used his phones torch to illuminate the area. The mass didn’t react as he took a closer look and realised what the rainlike sound had been before. It wasn’t a single mass or a liquid. It was a swarm of tiny, insect-like, robots. Billions of them.