Torchwood

[Ithica]

Charlene Bennett was looking over the files that were scattered across her desk. She picked up the first one about the forensic scientist and briefly skimmed through. The name at the top of the page was Teran Marshall Borne. She noted that Teran was very highly recommended. All of the references found enclosed could only be described as glowing. Charlene was pleased to find that Teran was referred to as intelligent, ambitious, and reliable. She put the file away to review again after meeting with Teran.

Charlene picked up Dorian Sullivan’s file and career military jumped out. He was loyal and was trained to follow orders. “I suppose that is an ideal character trait for a weapons specialist. Can’t have anyone unreliable or unstable around the guns.” Charlene smirked to herself. She continued to read and found comments like “gets lost in work”, and “may release stress in unhealthy addictions”.

Charlene heard a crash from outside and took a glance out the windows that surrounded her office. She watched as a few people stopped to help their colleague who had dropped the glass but most went about their business. They were all working on getting the new office set up and Charlene couldn’t wait until things were finished. That would mean that they were up and running with less people under foot.

Not that she didn’t appreciate the help because she had been spending most of her time looking for people who would be qualified to handle this very unusual job. Through pulling strings and rank she had gained access to the people she wanted. Charlene flipped open another file and sipped her coffee. Sandy d’Arte’s file said that she was empathetic and potentially ideal for questioning any witnesses or victims.

Just then the buzzer on the phone went off and a male voice could be heard over the speaker.
“This is front desk. Our guests have arrived, Ms. Bennett.”
“I’ll be there shortly, thank you.” She said into the phone.


Alan Scott put down the phone and straightened out his suit. He looked up through the darkened glass of the front door at the van that was dropping off the new recruits. He was curious about what they thought about being driven through a maze of industrial warehouses and being dropped off here. Not that he would ask them but he did watch for their reactions as they walked up. Alan got up from his desk and checked on the coffee. When the new recruits entered he nodded towards the chairs and said, “Please be seated and Ms. Bennett will be with you shortly.”

 

[rengadeirishman]

Dorian had been sitting in the pub when he got the call, resplendent in his dress uniform, enjoying a pint of stout and a fag. His mobile rang and he picked it up, "Sullivan." he said into it. "Sergeant Major, You've been called up, please exit the pub and come with us." "Aye" Dorian said into the phone, laying a fiver on the bar and collecting his hat as he walked out and entered the van. After a long ride he found himself at a building, waiting outside what was apparently the office of the commander. He stood at parade rest, his hat tucked under his arm. And he waited.

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Teran had been thinking a lot about this transfer and was silently afraid to just leave. She was sure that they would need her here at the office... no one knew this place like she did and she was quite the skilled little thing. She was considered young but was very intelligent for anyone even remotely close to her age. Of course the work of a CSI, while never over, was something to sober anyone up...

She looked out the window as he farewell party took place. It was kind of hard to say goodbye to so many good colleagues.

But then she heard the men enter the room. She knew that it was time to get started on this whole new thing... Honestly she didn't know what she was going to be doing there but she hoped that she was going to get along better. Sure, everything was nice back at the station but really she was not of use there, the sergeant never listened to her and while she knew some people complimented her it was the person that really really mattered that often blew her off.

She followed them out not really making any attempt to speak. She soon found herself at an office-like complex. She walked in where she was greeted by a man already seated and a man that seemed to actually work here.

“Please be seated and Ms. Bennett will be with you shortly.”

"Thank you," she said sitting herself down.

 

[Angelus]

Eric walked slowly down the street, his eyes scanning the walls around him. He had been told that his job was down the end of the street and that this would be the last time that he would actually be able to get near him. He walked towards the closest alley, pulled out his pistol and checked that it was clean and in working order. He didn't really care who this person was, just that he had a job and that they had to be killed. He slid the pistol back into its holster, slid on his gloves and walked back up the street just to see the large crowd in front of him. He cursed silently as he moved forward, trying to find the perfect position.

He stood, waited and watched the front of the hotel just to see the cars rolling up in front of the building and the man walk down the stairs. He spotted the crowd and started waving. It was then that there was a slight sound and everyone screamed as the man fell down the stairs. Nobody noticed as Eric moved slowly away from the crowd, hiding the gun back in his coat. He was glad that he had a face nobody would notice and started to walk away.

He walked back to his bike, jumped onto it and started the engine, roaring away just as the police rolled up, their sirens blaring.

* * * * *​

He stopped when he came to the old bridge and threw the bag containing the gun and gloves into it. He looked back towards the hotel just to see the helicopters hovering around the area.

It was then that the man came out of nowhere and handed him a card.

"Mr Tyler, we have been following you for a while and if you want answers to your situation then please go here. We have need of your talents. Consider yourself a part of the team."

Eric looked at the card, seeing that it didn't have a name but did have an address. He looked up from the card to see the man gone. Eric knew that he should be surprised but it wasn't part of his job, he just took it all in stride and started up his bike again. This was a truly interesting day.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Three days ago Sandy had had lunch with Miles Donovan. He was a senior aide with the Diplomatic Corps and had been Paul's best friend. They had started out together, slogging away though terrible assignments hoping for the coveted Ambassadorship.

"Have you made plans yet, Sandy?" He asked. His warm brown eyes showing concern, and his silvered hair making him a dashing figure that (so rumor had it) had made a swath through the female side of the corps. Apparently he reminded them of a English George Clooney.

"No." Sandy played with the heavy silver tableware. "There's been some noise about my citizenship, but, because of the house and everything there hasn't been any pressure. So, I'm still up in the air what I want to do." She smiled and shrugged an American shrug. "I love the house, but I can't just put it in my pocket and take it with me."

The house in question was one of those narrow pocket houses in Notting Hill with a lovely little rooftop garden. Paul had inherited it from his aunt when he was 20 and held onto it through thick and thin. He'd told stories about how he had once had six flat mates in the narrow one bedroom when he'd just started in the corps, and Miles had been one of them.

"The reason that I ask is because I've become aware of an..unusal...oppurnity. Not a strictly government job, but something I think you'd find interesting. Perhaps you could fax them over a resume?" He slid a card, face down, across the table and she dropped it in her pocket without looking at it.

"Thank you Miles, that's very kind of you."

The response had been immediate and positive, and she now waited in the lobby in a simple black pantsuit with her hair tied back and her only jewelry her wedding ring and a blue and white cameo.

 

[Ithica]

Charlene walked into the front office and tried to put faces to the files she had read. She couldn’t really guess who was who but decided that the man in the uniform must be Sergeant Major Sullivan.

“Welcome to Torchwood, my name is Charlene Bennett.” She shook each of their hands and asked for their names. “Thank you all for coming. You have all been invited here because you have something unique to offer our fledgling operation. Remember that this is an interview for a job that you can feel free to turn down. While we know that you each could find a place here, it is for you to decide whether or not stay.”

Charlene looked over the people in the office. There were more people here than she expected, not that it made a difference at this point. Usual procedure was to approach each candidate separately which allowed her to better gauge their reactions. But they needed help as soon as possible so procedure went out the window. “Best to just throw them in and deal with who ever can’t swim.” She said to herself.

“I’m sure you all have questions but please save your questions until we are inside. Please follow me.”Charlene turned and walked towards the door behind to half circle desk that Alan was sitting at. She stopped at the door and looked behind to be sure that she was being followed before continuing.

After walking through the door they entered a hallway. It looked normal with doors on either side. Charlene continued to walk to the blank wall at the far end. When they were half way there a small buzzer rang and the blank wall slid to the side revealing another hallway. Instead of being carpeted and dry walled, this hallway was well lit with no windows and brick walls. At the end was a small elevator. Charlene pushed a button and when the door opened she stepped in and held the door for everyone else.

“The Torchwood Institute was founded in 1879 by Queen Victoria. We are an intelligence agency of sorts. There are two other bases in operation, Torchwood two, and Torchwood three. We would be Torchwood five. One of your questions no doubt is why are we here?”

The lift stopped its decent but Charlene kept the door closed and casually continued talking, using the small space to look each of their faces.

“A couple of months ago a Rift in space and time opened over Leeds. Our job here, among other things, is to monitor the Rift, protect Britain, research and develop new technology that comes through.”

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

The question that popped into her head wasn't the one the woman assumed...it was What happened to one and four?

"Excuse me, what kind of rift?" She was having a hard time switching gears from what she expect to be going on and what she was actually hearing. A secret Victorian agency?

And the third thought was...They are being very free with disclosure, I wonder what their backup plan is for someone who says no..

 

[rengadeirishman]

Seargeant Major Dorian Sullivan stood at rapt attention as Ms. Bennett poke. "If I may Madam Bennett, What sort of things are we expecting to encounter?" he said in a thick Ulster accent. Aliens? Like the ones that killed O'Donnell and Houlihan? he wondered.

 

[Ithica]

Charlene stopped before she opened the elevator doors and looked at the pretty brunette who had asked a question. The question was silly but she didn’t write Sandy off yet. It was a silly question because she had already answered it to some extent. But the question was a safe one perhaps she was testing the water to ask other questions.

Charlene smiled and said, “It is a rift in space and time. There is another one that has been over Cardiff for a few years now. That one became unstable a couple of months ago but it was stabilized. One of the side effects, so far, was the opening of this rift. We have more science on it if you are interested. Some of our researchers have spent years researching the rift. If you are interested I’m sure anyone of them would be happy to further explain it.”

Charlene turned again to open the door but stopped when Sullivan asked a question. She hadn’t expected him to ask any questions but it was an appropriate one from her future weapons specialist.

“Anything…” she said and unwillingly thought back to the sounds of terrified screaming and catching glimpses through the smoke of people being dragged off. “If you follow me inside, I will be better equipped to explain what sort of things we can expect to encounter from the rift.” She opened the elevator door and entered into a large cavernous room. In the center was a large tube shaped machine that glowed slightly green.

“This is the main area. Everything leads off from here.”

Charlene turned right and state of the art but strange computers were set up. The computers had large screens and some had incomprehensible symbols running across them. There were people walking everywhere and only a couple of them stopped the look at the group that had just arrived.

Charlene started making a big loop so that they could see everything. From the computer area she passed by the lab. There were beakers, Bunsen burners, an autopsy table, lab coats, hooded vents, microscopes, and everything else that you could find in a well stocked lab. Next they walked through a door and into a small room well equipped with weapons. All of them were locked up and nicely displayed. There were all kinds of pistols and rifles but there were some strange ones that no one in this group could possibly identify.

“The other door at the end leads to a shooting range.” Charlene said before continuing, “I’m sure there are some questions but wait until we get to the next room. You may find some of the answers to your questions though you may find just more questions.”

Charlene led them out of the weapons room and towards a set of doors. They led down a couple of stairs and into a room lined with cells. There were two rows across from each other both with ten holding cells. They all held a bench and toilet but there were no bars like you would find in a regular jail. Closing off the cells was a thick clear glass with what looked like small breathing holes.

They passed by the first couple all of which were identical. All were the same until they reached the fifth cell. At first glance it looked like a short bald man in a boiler suit crouched on the floor. But when it lunged at the glass it was obvious there was something horribly wrong with him. His mouth was full of sharp pointed fangs and he had no nose to speak of. He backed off from the glass and crouched in the corner growling at the group. He looked like some horribly mutated ape with almost reptile like features.

“This may give you small idea of what we may encounter from the rift.”

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

“The other door at the end leads to a shooting range.” Charlene said before continuing, “I’m sure there are some questions but wait until we get to the next room. You may find some of the answers to your questions though you may find just more questions.”

She had been happy with the questions that the other two had asked and decided to stay silent as they went around the 'jail'. It was amazingly different from anything she had really ever seen. She was not really nervous or even worried... up until that man.

She let out a scream at the attack. It was not the most characteristic thing she had ever done... but Goddammit that had been scary. She glared at the man... monster...thingy and tired to figure out what the hell it was.

“This may give you small idea of what we may encounter from the rift.”

She shuddered at the thought of more of them like the one in the 'cell'. She didn't want to have to worry about getting killed in her sleep. Once they wer moving on she couldn't help it.

"What the hell was that damn thing?" She asked.

 

[NiteCrowe]

“What the hell was that thing?” The girl had said. He smiled as he walked up to her from behind, placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered "Trust me, you do not want to know"

He carried on past her towards Ms. Bennett and looked at the other recruits as he did so. Hmm, they looked no different than the others, except for the man. he seemed as if he would explode and shoot something any second.

"Ms. Bennett are these the new recruits?" He grinned and flicked out his tongue, "I have to say, i am impressed, they look as deadly as a pair of....what would you humans say...fluffy white rats, you know, those things with long ears and those little fluffy tails?"

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

"Trust me, you do not want to know"

"Shit!" She jumped at his touch. She looked back at him and frowned as he kept walking towards Ms. Bennett. What? She had really been freaked out considering she had been so close to the glass and... well she had never seen anything like that before.

She would get over it....

"Ms. Bennett are these the new recruits?" He grinned and flicked out his tongue, "I have to say, i am impressed, they look as deadly as a pair of....what would you humans say...fluffy white rats, you know, those things with long ears and those little fluffy tails?"

"Rabbits?" She asked looking confused as to why he wouldn't know what rabbits were and... well annoyed that she would be compared to one. She didnt' need to prove herself to him.

"I assure you... I'm not a gun slinging peon..." She looked him up and down... "But I'm no bunny..." She said huffily.

 

[Ithica]

Charlene had been expecting at least one of them to scream so hadn’t been startled when it happened. She knew that the creature would jump at them and thought of it as an initiation ritual. Behind them she saw the door quietly open and, when she saw who it was, she turned her eyes back to the group. She had hoped that none of them had noticed what drew her attention. She waited while the group settled down and the new arrival approached. She had to suppress a grin while waiting for the inevitable.


Charlene chuckled that Nite had chosen Teran to make his presence known. She was impressed that Teran had adapted quickly but then again the creature in the cage was far more threatening than a man with webbed hands and no eyelids. She continued to watch for reactions from her charges trying to see which one would jump off the deep end.

“Nite, this is Teran Marshall Borne, Dorian Sullivan, and Sandy d'Arte.” She turned back to addressing the group, “And that is a Weevil." She said nodding towards the creature in the cell. "They come from the Rift and usually live in the sewer. They usually are not a threat unless they come back to the surface. For reasons only known to them, they come to the surface and start killing people.”

Charlene looked again at the Weevil and was again disturbed by the fact that it was wearing the boiler suit of a Torchwood employee; they always did. She knew that they came through the Rift but always wondered if they were alien or not. They could have come from Torchwood in some dark future. But no sense in worrying about it now and she turned her attention back to the questions.

“I can only give you a few hints at what comes through the Rift. There is an endless possibility of what can make its way through. Not only do we deal with whatever aliens come through but because it is a Rift in time as well… we are kept on our toes. You asked what we do here. We protect the public from anything that comes out of the rift but we also research it and any technology that arrives as well. Because of the sensitive nature of our work, it is required that you keep not only the public but your friends and family in the dark as to what we do here. It is the best job you will ever have; you just can’t talk about it.”

 

[NiteCrowe]

Nite grinned, he was impressed with how the recruits had reacted to himself and the weavil, he especially liked the girl Teran, and once again wished to be human. He was glad no one was aware of his deepest desire, and rememebering he had a larger purpose for interrupting the tour.

Vaguely registering the fact that Ms. Bennett was talking, he averted his gaze from the woman, and turned to face Ms. Bennett.

He hoped nobody had noticed that his gaze had lingered on her, and politely coughed.

"Ms. Bennett, a word if you please."

He waited until she had turned around, and whispered to her, hoping that the recruits wouldn't hear.

"I have a feeling that we're soon going to be in a bit of trouble. Big trouble if you know what i mean."

He looked back at the recruits in sorrow, but lingered longer on a single one.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

fluffy white rats, you know, those things with long ears and those little fluffy tails?"

"Rabbits?" Teran asked

"Thank you for the compliment." Sandy said, smileing her most bland smile. "After all, no one suspects the butterfly...it's always the butler, isn't it?"

She turned back and stepped closer to the door. She was taking in the details. He, whatever he was, had said they wouldn't want to know. But, if this was what they were fighting against, then...they'd have to know. Not knowing would be bad.

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

“Nite, this is Teran Marshall Borne, Dorian Sullivan, and Sandy d'Arte. And that is a Weevil."

Teran looked at 'Weevil' and frowned. He was a curious creature that was for sure and while the man was right... she didn't want to know... she did need to know.

"They come from the Rift and usually live in the sewer. They usually are not a threat unless they come back to the surface. For reasons only known to them, they come to the surface and start killing people.”

"Lovely..." She stated flatly before running a hand through her long brown hair in hopes of calming whatever nerve had been frazzled in that 'attack'. She took a breath, let it out slowly before nodding having found her center once again. She would be fine so long as she had her center.

“I can only give you a few hints at what comes through the Rift. There is an endless possibility of what can make its way through. Not only do we deal with whatever aliens come through but because it is a Rift in time as well… we are kept on our toes. You asked what we do here. We protect the public from anything that comes out of the rift but we also research it and any technology that arrives as well. Because of the sensitive nature of our work, it is required that you keep not only the public but your friends and family in the dark as to what we do here. It is the best job you will ever have; you just can’t talk about it.”

"Judging from what I just saw..." She said looking again at the thing in the glass cage, "I wouldn't think anyone would believe me..." Teran said before watching that thing more closely. She hadn't noticed it before but the clothes he was wearing seemed to be that of a Torchwood employee... Had this being killed that man and put on his clothes to hide?

She doubted it.

She looked up to see that man, Nite, looking at her. How long had he been watching her? She didn't know but she doubted it was for log... probably a chance glimpse.

"Ms. Bennett, a word if you please."

She watched the two of them start to whisper so she turned her attention back to Weevil... for now. "How long has he been here?" She asked. There wasn't exactly a cute little nameplate sitting out for her.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Dorian stood at parade rest as the strange man with no eyelids took Charlene aside. He made a quick assessment of Madames Borne and d'Arte and his surroundings as he waited for the tour to continue, noting the "weevil" and wondering as to the threat it posed in combat.

 

[Ithica]

Charlene looked up at Nite when he finished explaining that there could be trouble. She thought for a minute about how to proceed with the new recruits. She nodded to Nite before giving him a wait signal and turning from him.

"I will be cutting the interview short. I believe that anything that you have already seen will give you a decent idea of what we do here. Are you interested in working for Torchwood? It can be dangerous work and it is like nothing else you will ever do. Or would you like to return to your reasonably safe everyday lives? This is an amazing opportunity and I think you should take it. I'll give you a couple of minutes to decide."

Charlene turned back to Nite and led him further off from the group. "Is it something from the rift? Has the radio or scanners picked up anything yet?"

 

[NiteCrowe]

Nite Shook his head, 'Honestly Ms. Bennett i have no idea, but i can sense activity from the rift. It is is getting very...AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!'

Nitanial's head suddenly felt like it was goin to explode, fell to the floor, seemingly unconscious with his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Dorian needed no time, clearly her majesty's MI6 thought this was the best way to serve the crown. "I'm in Madam Bennett." he said, just then, the man without eyelids collasped.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Sandy looked at the others with a look of disbelief. "Fifteen minutes of briefing on something no one has ever heard of and your asking if we are ready to commit our time and effort, not to mention our lives from the things you've hinted at."

"I'm sorry, but..." She was interrupted by Nite's wail of pain. Seeing him clutch his head like that out of the blue wasn't a good selling point, in her book.

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Teran had not been sure that she was up for joining but... She was done with her old office and if she didn't accept here... then where would she go? She saw the gentleman accept and the other woman was saying something obout it being unprofessional or something like that.

"I'll join you," she said flatly. It was just a moment before the man who had startled her fell to the ground screaming as if in a great deal of pain. Well, everyone else was just staring, she moved forward and got down on her knees next to him.

He was not of this world that was for sure, or he was and was just deformed.

She looked up to her new employer.

"What's going on?" Teran asked as she propped the unconscious man's feet up on her purse to try and help. Levitate the feet and then make sure he was still breathing. What about a heart beat?

 

[Ithica]

Charlene had turned towards Sandy but heard Nite cry out before she said anything. She knew what was going on and wasn’t panicked. Charlene would have helped him but saw Teran run to him. She had noticed how Nite had been watching Teran earlier and, not wanting to spoil any fun for her friend, she choose not to get in the way. She smirked while Teran helped him thinking that he could thank her later.

At Teran’s inquiry she said, “He is sensitive to activity from the Rift. It can be painful, but he will be fine. Why don’t you and Mr. Sullivan take him to his room? Go to the second door on the left. He can direct you from there. When you are finished, please join me in the staff room. Ms. d’Arte, would you care for some tea?”

 

[rengadeirishman]

Dorian snapped his heels together and gave a salute "Aye commander." he said as he walked over to the fallen man. "Alright lad, up you get." he said, taking Nite by an arm.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

"No thank you." Sandy didn't drink decaffeinates, she didn't like the highs and lows it caused. The agent probably thought she was being standoffish, but at the moment, that suited her. She was basically in a forgein country asking to jump blind into something she didn't know much about on information that didn't logically stack up. There were old agents, and bold agents...but there were no old bold agents.