A DIFFERENT WORLD: CHILDREN OF EARTH

Day Four

Jack told them his story.

The 456 contacted the military through a wavelength. They gave no name but a set of instructions; give them twelve children at a specific location in exchange for the cure of the Indonesian Flu. The Indonesian Flu would mutate in four months time killing approximately 25 million people and unfortunately the research backed up the 456's theory.

Jack was asked to deliver the twelve children because he was someone who doesn't care.

"That's not true!" Tosh shouted her face looked horrified with tears spilling down her cheeks. "It's not true! You can care! You're one of the most caring people I know!"

"Toshiko" Jack whispered, rather shocked.

Tosh ran round the computers and wires, she snatched the lapels of Jack's jacket and tried to shake him. "If you didn't care you wouldn't have saved me!" she shouted. "You wouldn't guide me or hold me when I needed...or give me news on my mother...or...or...you wouldn't love me or the others!"

Jack wrapped his arms round Tosh and pulled her closer, hugging her tightly. At least he still had one friend on his side. Gwen looked slightly disgusted at what he did but that was probably her inner mother, something she had long before she found out she was pregnant, kicking in. Ianto's face was blank, the poor Welshman was probably feeling numb and Owen's face was a mix of fury and sympathy. It might take a while to convince his other friends.

"You" Clement said in a slightly shaky voice. "Are in every nightmare I ever had"

"I'm sorry" Jack said brokenly. "I'm really sorry"

Clement didn't reply. Instead he lunged for Gwen's gun that was sticking out from her belt and fired at Jack. Jack turned around, protecting Tosh who was still in his arms, getting hit in the back. He fell and crushed Tosh beneath him as he died.

Ianto ran to Jack and lifted him off of Tosh while Gwen tried to talk Clement into putting the gun down. Clement was too busy yelling at Gwen, at how she was on Jack's side and the 456's side. Owen grabbed hold of him from behind, forcing Clement to drop the gun down.

"Just calm down mate" Owen said gruffly. "We're not on the 456's side, you can smell the truth right? Well smell it, from under the twat stink I am telling the truth. We're on your side"

Clement slumped in Owen's grip. "I killed a man" he said numbly.

"No you didn't" Owen said reassuringly. "Jack will be all right" As on cue Jack came back to life, taking a deep gasping breath causing Clement to jump and yelp. "See Jack is fine; it's Tosh you could have killed. So next time you're angry just aim at Jack and not at the pretty lady in his arms"

"Thanks Owen" Jack said sarcastically.

Clement pulled out of Owen's grip and ran off screaming. Gwen ran after him shouting his name leaving everyone in the silence. Ianto and Tosh helping Jack up while Owen merely shrugged.

"Come on lets go and see if the idiots have messed up again" Owen said sitting back down in front of the laptop, everyone following and sitting around him. "You know Harkness, telling us about this before tonight could have helped"

"They didn't speak through kids back then" Jack said shaking his head. "I didn't recognise the signs at first"

"Could have told us long before that" Owen grumbled. "Didn't the bullet in your head tell you how much I hate your fucking secrets?"

Gwen then brought Clement back, holding his arm gently. "The man that sent me and my friends to die" Clement said hoarsely as if he had just been crying. "Can't die himself. Why us?"

"You wouldn't be missed" Jack said coldly.

"I can see that" Clement replied in the same cold tone.

"The only consolation I had was that the deal seemed to work" Jack said in a warmer tone.

"For 44 years, not bad" Owen agreed.

"Why was I left behind?" Clement asked. "What's wrong with me?"

"We know they're interested in pre-adolescent kids. Maybe you were in between that. Not a child but not an adult just on the cusp" Gwen explained softly.

"Saved by your hormones" Owen said smirking slightly at the thought.

"Well you would have a lifetime protection then" Ianto commented causing Owen to lightly hit Ianto's shoulder. "Is that still recording Tosh?" Ianto asked nodding towards the laptop. "We're going to need every second of this"

Tosh nodded and continued to watch the laptop intently. Frobisher asked what the 456 intended to do with the children; the 456 replied about some remnant watching causing Clement to claim it knew he was there. The 456 invited the cameraman in to film what will happen to the children. Watching from Bridget's eyes, Owen worked out that there were three distinct life forms in the metal and glass cell.

One was the 456, the other the cameraman and the last one was one of the children from 1965.

"NO! No, no, no, no, no, no" Clement wailed burying himself into Gwen as he wept for his friends. Gwen held him while looking horrified herself.

"That's just fucking sick" Owen whispered holding Tosh's hand tightly.

"He hasn't aged" Jack whispered. "He's still a child"

"Do you think he's conscious?" Ianto asked numbly.

The camera blurred. "What's...what's happening?" Clement asked pointing at the screen.

"It's Bridget" Tosh said quietly. "She's crying"

Bridget went back to her seat as Frobisher shouted at the 456, from the camera they read the words she was rapidly typing. The children felt no pain, they weren't harmed and they were going to live beyond their years.

"But what are they doing to them? What do they want them for?" Jack asked.

"Bit late to ask now" Owen muttered.

The 456 were giving the government one day to select and choose which children to give to the 456 and if they didn't, then the 456 will wipe out the whole human race.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

After an un-restful night of sleep, where a lot of tossing and turning and trying to find somewhere comfortable to lay on, the team sat gloomy round the breakfast Ianto made them. Jack had once more disappeared leaving them to watching everything through Bridget's eyes once again. It was then when Ianto told them about Jack's daughter and grandson, no one was overly surprised that Jack had a child. The amount of sex the captain had it was hard to not have at least one child. But they all agreed to save Alice and Stephen as soon as possible, no matter what.

The meeting to decide what to do started in the emergency briefing room. It had been decided to give the 456 an offer, a realistic number that they could manage. They couldn't take the military option since the satellites were showing nothing of a spaceship or more creatures. The government were looking into FAS children, failed asylum seekers...children that won't be missed.

Frobisher was sent to make the offer.

And it was denied.

Suddenly all the children began chanting a certain number, the same one the 456 was chanting to Frobisher. Across the world all the children was chanting a different number depending which country they were in. Due to Tosh's quick researching and mathematical skill, she worked out that each number was 10 per cent of the children of that country.

The government began making practical arrangements. To go through the school databases, round all the children and bus them to the pick up points. They just needed to decide on the criteria, random and alphabetical order was knocked out instantly. The people around the table all instantly agreed that their children are not in it and there will be no vote.

It was then suggested that the failing schools, the ones with children who were most likely to end up on the dole or in prison should be sent.

And it was agreed that those children will be the criteria.

"Fucking bastards" Owen growled. "I was in one of those failing schools and I turned out all right"

"So did I" Ianto said calmly.

"Times like this I was Saxon were here" Jack muttered darkly under his breath. "The son of a bitch would have just zapped the 456 dead"

"We have enough evidence to destroy every person in that room" Gwen said gleefully.

"And we could use it to force our way into Thames House and get face to face with that thing" Jack whispered, a hint of excitement in his eyes.

"And we'll get your family back"

"Right everyone knows what they're doing?" Jack asked as everyone but Tosh began to move.

"What if I can't get Bridget to agree to this Jack?" Tosh asked worriedly. "Bridget adores Frobisher; she's loyal to him as I to you. Only reason she agreed to this was because of my mother"

Jack squeezed Tosh's shoulder reassuringly. "She hasn't failed us yet. Use your family connection to help. If I were in Frobisher's place I would forgive you in a second"

Tosh smiled weakly. "But you're not" she whispered.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Using Tosh's amazing skills once more, they tricked the secret sector of the government to think Ianto was in the warehouse as he spoke on the phone. Ianto had quickly warned his sister so his niece and nephew would be safe; he also warned whoever was listening in that their children were also in danger. He hung up and went into hiding with the videos and information that was to be used as blackmail.

Owen went with Jack.

Tosh and Gwen sat together with Clement in the warehouse. Tosh had only managed to convince Bridget and they watched horrified as John Frobisher made up a cover story, the children were to be vaccinated from the aliens.

As the government began their arrangements, Bridget held her hand up firmly. "Excuse me, I have something to say" she said calmly.

John looked up surprised. "Bridget?"

"On behalf of Torchwood Three I would like to inform you that they have been recording all of these meetings and every word said at this table will be made public" the government looked sick and horrified, Frobisher was shocked that his own assistant, the one that had been loyal for years had betrayed him. "Unless you do everything Torchwood says" Bridget turned to John Frobisher. "I'm sorry John but Toshiko asked me, she was my best friend's daughter and I couldn't turn her down. You knew how much I adored the girl"

Then the control burst into the warehouse surrounding Tosh and Gwen. Gwen ignored Agent Johnson's orders and calmly showed the laptop which was still recording Bridget making their demands. She explained calmly what was going on while Tosh sat silently praying Jack and Owen will be all right.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Owen and Jack exited the lift; Jack slipped a piece of paper and demanded to the man that a life link would be sent to the number. They entered the room and stood before the metal and glass box filled with gas and alien that John Frobisher once stood not so long ago.

"I'm Captain Jack Harkness" Jack said in his most professional tone. "I dealt with you before and I'm here to tell you why exactly you're not getting what you want"

"You did in the past" a deep voice said.

"And don't I know it. I was there in 1965 and was part of the trade. I'm here to make sure it'll never happen again"

"Explain"

"There's a saying here on Earth. A very old and very wise friend of mine taught me it, an injury to one is an injury to all when people act to that philosophy, the human race is the finest species in the world" Jack explained calmly.

"Fuck the philosophy" Owen snapped. "What he's saying is you're not getting one child. Nada, nuhuh, never, goodbye"

"I like the philosophy" Jack said pouting slightly.

"Fuck you as well" Owen muttered.

"Well..."

"You heeded in the past" the deep voice said before an argument between Owen and Jack could start. "You will do so again"

"In the past the numbers were so small they could be kept secret" Jack said calmly. "But that's not going to happen again. Because we recorded everything, all the negotiations, everything the politicians said, everything that happened in this room and those tapes will be released to the public. Unless...you leave this planet for good"

"You heeded in the past. You will do so again"

"Oh fuck sake it's like having one of those annoying furbies that keep repeating everything" Owen snarled. "Listen here big, green and ugly. If parents find out that you're taking their kids, you'd have six billion furious humans wanting to protect their kids, taking any form of weapon to kick your arse"

"You might want to reconsider" Jack said. "Because people will fight to the death for their children and if I have to led them into battle then I will"

"This is fascinating isn't it?" the creature said. "The human infant mortality rate 29158 deaths per a day. Every three seconds a child dies. The human response is to exempt and adapt"

"We're adapting right now and we're making this a war" Jack said coldly.

"Then the fight begins"

Jack and Owen exchanged worried glances. "We're awaiting you reply" Jack said.

"Action has been taken"

The alarms went off and everything began to flash red. The doors and windows began to lock themselves and shut down, blocking all light.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

"You wanted a war. A virus has been released; it will kill everyone in the building"

Jack ran to give orders to prevent deaths, screams of panic and fear could be heard. Owen held his gun up calmly. "If there's a virus then there must be an anti-virus" he said a glint in his eye. "Give it to me or I'll blow this tank to smithereens and drag you to hell with me"

Jack ran back in and held his gun up. "You made your point now end it so we can talk"

"You are dying even now"

They shot at the tank. The glass didn't even break and a screeching noise could be heard as the creature bashed against the windows of it's tank.

"What is that noise?" Jack asked. "What is it doing?" Jack whirled round and grabbed Owen. "We got to get you out of here, I can survive anything but you can't. I already lost you twice; I'm not going for the third time!"

"Oh bloody hell Jack, I'm a doctor I can work something out" Owen said growling in frustration, he banged his head against Jack's shoulder. "But it's already too late" he mumbled.

"But there's got to be an antidote" Jack said panicky holding onto Owen tightly.

"You said you would fight"

"I'll take it all back, all right? I take it back just not him!" Jack shouted, tears falling down his cheeks. "I've lost him too many times!" Owen fell to the floor and Jack ran to him, holding Owen tightly to his chest. "No, no, no, no, no, no Owen, please hold on"

"Kay" Owen mumbled. "It was good though, you know? No one has had as many chances I have, right?"

"Yeah" Jack sniffled.

"Don't cry you bloody bastard, gotta be strong for Yan...Gwen...Tosh..." Owen's voice was getting weaker. "Don't forget us"

"Never could, you four will be in here, forever" Jack said thumping at his chest, where his heart was. "Right next to Rose and the Doctor"

"Tell Tosh...tell her...i...i...love..."

"Yes I will, I promise I will" Jack whispered as Owen's eyes fluttered to a shut and his breathing stopped. "Owen...don't go...please...tell Tosh yourself you bastard!"

"You will die and tomorrow your people shall deliver the children"

Jack said nothing; he merely glared before bending down and kissing Owen's forehead just before he collapsed into darkness.

Death once taken him again. Both Jack and Owen.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Ianto, Gwen and Tosh walked into the room filled with bodies in red body bags. A nameless and faceless person told them to look at 13 and 14. They slowly walked to the bags, not wanting to see Owen once again dead. They knelt between them, pulling number 13 open to reveal Jack handsome as ever even in death.

They turned to fourteen and as they dreaded Owen laid there as pale as Jack.

Tosh screamed.

Jack woke up.

Ianto and Gwen both had an arm round Tosh as they rocked her. Tears falling down their cheeks as well. Jack sat up behind them and pulled Tosh into an embrace.

"It's not fair Jack" Gwen sniffled. "How many times must we see him die?"

"A good few rounds I think" Owen groaned rolling round. "Someone turn off my alarm clock for me"

Everyone froze and looked up to see Owen sitting up slowly.

"Bloody hell, you're fucking kidding me. How many times is it now?" Owen moaned rubbing his eyes. "Jack, am I your secret son or something?"

Jack spluttered a laugh. "Oh no Owen, you don't have my looks or my charm"

"Oh thank god" Tosh said throwing herself onto Owen.

"No, thank goddess" Jack corrected. "Thank Bad Wolf, Rose Tyler, she's done it again. Two more immortals to be with me forever. We should have a threesome to celebrate"

"No" Owen and Tosh said at the same time.

Gwen and Ianto merely rolled their eyes before laughing in the sheer shock, relief and disbelief. The five piled up on top of each other laughing while hugging and ruffling one another's hairs.

"What are we going to do now?" Gwen asked what everyone was thinking out loud.

Jack shrugged. "No idea but we'll managed. We always do after all we're Torchwood"

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