Arranging for a job offer [futureverse, for slayers_desire]

[fractured_agent]

The little yellow farmhouse looks just the same as it always has, perched on the flat plains of Kansas amidst miles of cornfields. Though it's nowhere near a beach, the small agricultural community of Smallville has always reminded Jack Harkness of Boeshane, a tiny little place out in the middle of nowhere, with neighbors who looks out for each other and stay close together as a community with a shared, tragic past.

The year is 2041 - he double-checked, just in case something went wrong with the Nexus again, or his vortex manipulator. The little piece of tech was never meant to last more than a century without maintenance, but it's served him well so far.

Jack looks the same as he always has, plus a single gray hair or two, his ancient gaze the only sign of the two thousand plus years he's already lived. It's warm in Kansas this time of year, but he doesn't seem to mind the heat from his wool greatcoat, one of his only constant companions, as he walks up the dirt road towards the Kent farm.

Comments

[slayers_desire]

"We would always be protecting her here..." April says softly, as if realizing the truth herself. "Us... her siblings..."

"He is right. She would be so sheltered by us... she would never find her true potential."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark doesn't want to accept that. It's difficult, letting go of their youngest when all her other siblings are already out in the world, especially when she has no powers. "That can't be true."

[slayers_desire]

"Clark... you thought it yourself... if she was here in our world, you could always come to her rescue."

"You don't think that way for the others... you let them live their own lives."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"The others can defend themselves better than her. She's talented and strong, but how many times have we had to bail her out? What happens when she runs into trouble with Torchwood and can't get ahold of us?"

[slayers_desire]

"When is those thoughts going to stop, Clark? We have to let go sometime..."

"And if she stays here... we are going to have a harder time doing that. We have sheltered her so many times already."

"I am not happy about this either... I worry about her too..." April wipes away a few stray tears. "She is my baby. But maybe, we have babied her too long."

[fractured_agent]

Clark is torn. He knows that one day they'll have to stand back and let Martha make all her own choices, but he worries for her safety. And it's hard to accept that he can't protect her forever. "Jack, be honest with us. What's the life expectancy of a Torchwood field agent?"

That was a question Jack was hoping they wouldn't ask. "Ten to fifteen years of service."

[slayers_desire]

April flinches slightly. They have lost JLA members, but the majority of their team has been with them for much longer.

"That isn't very good..."

[fractured_agent]

Jack won't pretend that the job is safer than it is. But neither will he let them think it's a death sentence. "No, it's not, it's a dangerous occupation. I've lost plenty of people during my time at the Institute. But not everyone stops being an agent because they died either."

[slayers_desire]

"What happens when someone stops being an agent?"

[fractured_agent]

"Most are given retcon and a cover story," Jack says, and by now the Kents will know that retcon is the name of Torchwood's custom-made amnesia drug. "It protects Torchwood, as well as the retired agent. Then they just go back to their normal lives."

"You're not going to give that to our little girl," Clark says with a frown.

[slayers_desire]

"There is no way we would allow her memories to be altered." Especially since that almost happened to April and Clark themselves.

[fractured_agent]

Jack nods, not surprised by their objection. "I did say most. There are exceptions to the rule. And if Martha retired from Torchwood and came back here, there wouldn't be much reason to retcon her. No one would go after her here to find out about us."

[slayers_desire]

That is one relief. If Martha was able to be hero in her own right, April definitely wouldn't want her forgetting any of those memories.

"The team supports each other too... right."

[fractured_agent]

"Of course. I can't say who will be active duty by the time Martha would be ready, but I like to make sure everyone works well together. Team building activities and such. It's not always chasing Weevils into the sewers." Torchwood has never had much spare time for having a life outside of being Torchwood, but ever since Gwen reminded Jack of the importance of the human factor, he's made sure to keep up group cohesion in a positive, constructive way.

[slayers_desire]

"Clark..." April looks at her husband, to see if he has any further questions. She knows Martha will be home soon... and while she is still having doubts, she is having trouble denying her this opportunity.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark is still just trying to accept the idea of letting Martha do this. Rationally he knows that she'll make her own choices, whether he likes it or not. Emotionally it's harder to do that than it should be. "Can you promise us that she would return to us safely?"

That's another question Jack had been hoping they wouldn't ask. But he won't lie. "No, I can't guarantee it."

[slayers_desire]

"The JLA doesn't really promise the parents of our heros that they would be returned safely." There is a certain risk in everything. Every job. Every path.

[fractured_agent]

"I wouldn't offer her a job if I didn't think she could do it," Jack says. "Torchwood doesn't waste resources training an operative if they won't make it a week. We want the best there is to offer, and that means a long-term investment. I would never do anything to endanger her beyond what I'd ask of any other field agent. Martha has great potential, and I can let her exercise that potential in a place where she won't be limited by being 'lesser' than her peers."

[slayers_desire]

This is so tough to hear. To have the knowledge that their daughter would have been limited... if she had stayed with the JLA. In this world.

April is more mad at herself right now. For not thinking bigger and better for their youngest.

"When would you want to start training?"

[fractured_agent]

"She can start learning some essential skills now, the earlier the better, but I wouldn't need to bring her to the Hub just yet," Jack says. He can tell they're both upset, and he expected as much. "Right now she has a special opportunity that most Torchwood agents don't get. Most recruits come in after they've earned a degree that's useful to the Institute. Martha's still a blank slate, so to speak. I'd encourage her to finish her schooling before taking her on as a field agent. She would have at least four years to prepare for the job without any of the associated dangers."

[slayers_desire]

"To still go to university..." And grow up a little bit more.

[fractured_agent]

Jack nods. "She could specialize in whatever skill she'd like to contribute. The team always needs a medic, for instance. Or we could use someone skilled with technology, weapons and defense, vehicles, even diplomacy. She wouldn't have to complete a degree to be hired on so long as she has the necessary skills, but I'd encourage her to see it through regardless, so she has something to fall back on after she's retired." And maybe by planning for the future, it would help ease the Kents' worries about their youngest.

[slayers_desire]

April really can't find any real reason to deny Martha this opportunity. "I really think... we should talk to Martha about this. And see what she wants to do."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark can't either, besides parental protectiveness. It doesn't make it much easier though. "She should be getting home soon."

[slayers_desire]

April reaches over to take her husband's hand in hers. She feels that protectiveness too.

"This is... very scary."