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Gwen hated when she had to venture out into the ruins of Cardiff. She used to love being outside, exploring her city, but ever since UNIT rained fiery hell upon them for “Harbouring a Fugitive”, it just reminded her of everything they lost. UNIT controlled everything in the British Isles, and the last thing Gwen had heard from the outside world was that they were sinking their claws into the Americas. Not that she knew, ever since the destruction of Wales they’d been totally isolated, left to die.
The Welsh were stronger than that. Gwen, Andy, Banana Boat, and quite a few other Heddlu and neighbours had huddled up in the police station, including multiple families with children. It was a good place to reside, with the basement having survived UNIT’s initial attacks. They’d investigated whether they could leave Wales, but the border was swamped in guards with red berets, reminding Gwen of the Marcher Lords she learnt of in history.
But, Gwen, as one of the adults, and someone with the survival skills that came from being a copper, was going out to find supplies. They needed something more consistent than what they could rustle up from supermarkets and police rations, but nothing had stood out. That was what led Gwen to her current trip, trying to visit a garden centre. They’d saved some potatoes, and if she could get her hands on some good compost and vegetables, they might stand a chance at growing something. It was a better idea than anything else they’d come up with.
Andy had just returned from scavenging in Tesco, a trip that took far longer than it had before UNIT, due to the constant scanning and drones. Gwen found herself wishing that she had some form of invisibility charm, more often than not. Apparently Tesco was almost completely empty, so they would need to venture further afield. She was hoping that the Waitrose just past the garden centre might still have some supplies left.
Eventually, at what felt like a snail's pace, she arrived, leaving their supplies trolley just at the door, locked to the bike rack, and she slipped in through the shattered glass that had once been an automatic door. Luckily for her, avoiding glass over the floor and around you was lesson number one if you were ever on the Cardiff beat, what with all the bar fights. The roof of the Garden Centre had survived, but the damage she had seen from the outside put her on edge. She didn’t want to not return. She could join Rhys, once she died. UNIT killed him even before the bombing, after Harwoods got caught up in some smuggling operation. But, she didn’t have the time for that yet. People were relying on her, to come back, to bring them food. She wouldn’t fail them.
She made her way past the toys section, noticing a few surviving Lego sets. If she had room on the trolley, or in her backpack, she’d grab some for the kids. Little Owain liked to build things, at least.
Gwen turned, preparing to investigate camping supplies, to see if there were any sleeping bags or supplies for warmth when she heard a noise. Instinctively she froze, ducking behind a shelving unit like a mouse into a hole.
A woman’s voice echoed through the space, a whisper amplified by the emptiness that surrounded them, “Suzie- Suzie!” She sounded frantic. And not very Welsh. London, if Gwen were to guess.
Someone responded to her, tone dry, and louder, nearer to Gwen, “It’s fine Tosh. Enjoy that Jack actually let you out.” This one sounded like a Londoner, too.
The first woman- Tosh- hissed back, “I’m not a prisoner, Suzie. He just doesn’t want me to go back.” Her voice turned more serious, “I’m telling you, there’s someone else here.”
Suzie scoffed, but Gwen heard her steps turn lighter, and felt them through the floor.
She was outnumbered, two to one. And they had someone looking out for them.
Weighing up her options, Gwen raised from where she stood, hands pointed to the sky. Hesitantly, she spoke, trying to stop her voice from shaking, “Hello.”
She could see them now, two women in leather jackets, cargo trousers, and with hair pulled back from their faces. They immediately spun towards her, pointing guns in a joint harmony.
“Don’t shoot. I’m just here for supplies.”
They looked suspicious, but one of them lowered her gun, and the other’s hands shook.
The one on the left was Japanese, and wore a purple top, and when she spoke Gwen recognised her as Tosh, “We are too.” She opened her mouth to continue speaking but Suzie, whose jacket was zipped up, elbowed her in the stomach.
That was when the rain started. Gwen scowled, but kept her voice friendly, “I don’t feel like catching a cold or anything, so I’m going to see if any tents survived.”
The women nodded, and Tosh spoke once more, “We’ll join you. I’m Toshiko, and this is Suzie.” Suzie smiled, and put her gun away.
“PC Gwen Cooper,” Gwen started to walk across, “well, I was. What brings two Londoners to Cardiff? Not exactly a hot destination spot anymore.”
“I lived here since before the destruction,” Suzie sounded wistful as she prowled through the wreckage.
Toshiko paled slightly, but spoke up herself, “Ran into some trouble with UNIT. Wound up in Cardiff just,” she paused, “just before the.”
Gwen turned back around and nodded, knowing what she was going to say.
The camping section hadn’t fared as well as the rest of the indoor section, with the roof fully caved in. Gwen sighed, resigning herself to the rain, when Suzie interrupted, “We can reach that tent,” she pointed, a broken box just under a collapsed roof.
Gwen’s eyes widened, but she responded positively, as did Toshiko, the pair of them ready to stop the ceiling from falling on top of Suzie as she pulled it out.
They got it set up, huddling inside a tent designed more for one than three, with their jackets all discarded in a pile, and wet hair sticking to each other’s skin. Gwen took off her backpack, pulling out a granola bar. She faced the other two, “Want a bite?”
They smiled, both grabbing their own strange packets, “Military rations,” Suzie explained, looking slightly disgusted, “taste like shit, but they have the energy.”
It took hours for the rain to let up, during which Gwen learnt that Suzie and Toshiko were in a small group, just them and three others, including the Jack they mentioned earlier.
“You should bring your people to our Hub,” it was Toshiko who offered, when the rain was just a pitter patter, not the storm it had once been, “It’s underground, and we have more than enough room.”
Gwen tilted her head to one side, finding that she really, truly, liked the idea. She liked Toshiko and Suzie, and more space was always a win. Unfortunately, “I can’t commit to anything without asking everyone else.”
Suzie smirked, “We have a Doctor, too.”
“Come to the police station, the one nearest to here, 3 days after we leave this centre. I’ll have an answer then.”
They nodded, and Gwen knew that the answer would be a yes, even without discussing with the group.
“It’ll be good to have you around,” Suzie smiled, and Toshiko nodded, leaning into the other woman.
Gwen couldn’t help but agree.