Captain Jack and Captain Jack [for slayers_desire]

[fractured_agent]

It's been a few months since the team got their first lessons in psychic shielding, and once again, the Hub is open to April's expertise. Though he knows they're having guests, Jack doesn't push anyone to clean up the clutter so it looks better. The Hub is still a work space, and a chaotically changing one at that. They're all used to it by now, and Jack knows April won't mind.

Ianto is manning the tourist information office upstairs, as usual, and he knows that April is coming.

Comments

[slayers_desire]

"I am glad that I could help."

"Mostly for yourself, you can still be curious and helpful, with a strong mental shield in place."

[fractured_agent]

"I was worried about being too open-minded," Gwen says, a little joke.

[slayers_desire]

"You can balance allowing others into your heart, but keeping them from your mind."

[fractured_agent]

"I'll try my best." Finding that balance is one of the more difficult parts about being part of Torchwood, in her opinion.

[slayers_desire]

"Continue to train yourself in that method, and your mental shielding will get stronger."

[fractured_agent]

Gwen nods a little. "So do you want to have a quick look around, see how I'm doing?" she asks, tapping the side of her head.

[slayers_desire]

"Thank you for giving me permission. I wasn't here when you dealt with the situation on your end. I want to see from your perspective."

[fractured_agent]

She's slightly confused by that. "You want me to let you in?" She'd expected a test of her shields, working to keep April out. But she is sure that April has a reason. After all, she is the expert. And Gwen trusts her.

[slayers_desire]

"I need to see how you handled your situation, before I know what would best test your shielding."

[fractured_agent]

Gwen nods slowly. "All right. Should I just... picture what happened?"

[slayers_desire]

"Just reflect on your memories, your mind will do the rest of the work."

[fractured_agent]

"All right..." Gwen doesn't know if she needs to close her eyes, but she does anyway.

She just arrived at the Hub when reports came in that the Rift spiked, and the three at the dance hall weren't responding. She went to investigate, and found the door locked.

"Can I help you, my dear?" a voice asks from behind her. There stands Bilis Manger, looking exactly as he does in 1941. "I'm the caretaker. Bilis Manger, at your service."

Gwen finds him creepy, but doesn't have a good reason not to talk to him. He could be helpful. "Hello, can you open this up for me? I think my friends might be locked inside."

Bilis doesn't ask any questions, which upon reflection, Gwen realizes she should have found suspicious. "Of course."

Gwen looks around for close to an hour, calling their names whenever she hears the music. At one point, Jack's voice echoes through the Rift. So do Tosh's and April's. Owen joins the search, but he seems to be looking for something else. With his help, Gwen finds the equations, faded and yellowed, tucked away in the electrical box.

"Some of the equation is missing," Gwen says in worry.

But Owen takes the paper. "Right. I'll get this back to the Hub," he says brusquely, tucking it in his pocket, alongside another unseen item he found in the dance hall.

[slayers_desire]

"What was it that Owen took from the dance hall?"

[fractured_agent]

Gwen only knows the answer because she spoke to Ianto while April was testing Tosh. "Part of the Rift manipulator, the last piece needed to run it. I guess he must have found it in the dance hall while we were searching, but I don't know why it would'be been there."

[slayers_desire]

"Bilis..." April replies, without even needing to think twice.

[fractured_agent]

Gwen isn't too terribly surprised, but it is a sort of frightening thought. Who or what is this man who seems to never change, no matter how many years pass? And why is he toying with Torchwood? "Not much happened after that... Owen went back to the Hub, and I heard him and Ianto shouting at each other over the comms. Then a gunshot, and the next thing I heard was you all."

[slayers_desire]

"I think you handled the situation well."

[fractured_agent]

"I did my best with what I had," Gwen says modestly, though she's pleased by the praise.

[slayers_desire]

"For the next while, I want you to concentrate on using your concern to build stronger mental shields. You care about others... fuel your mental shielding with your natural instincts."

[fractured_agent]

Puzzling instructions, but Gwen is up to the challenge. "I'll try," she says with a nod.

[slayers_desire]

"You will do fine Gwen. You have a strong heart," said April.

[fractured_agent]

"Do you want me to try now, or are you ready for Ianto?"

[slayers_desire]

"You need a little more time to practice centering yourself, but you did well for today. Send in Ianto."

[fractured_agent]

"All right. Thank you, April." Gwen smiles at her, then goes to get the next 'student.'

Ianto is calm and collected, with no sign of his earlier terseness that he showed towards Owen. Nor does he feel particularly bothered by having to shoot him. His shields are pretty solid, allowing only surface readings, as he's recalled his earlier training and built on it.

[slayers_desire]

"I sense that you are handling your mental shields well, Ianto."