Children of Earth:Day Four
(Jared's POV)
Warehouse...
I'm still crying as Kyoko passed me some Pocky to cheer me up, as well as a lot of Japanese snacks.
"There you go." Kyoko said, as I began snacking on the Pocky.
"Thanks. I almost forgot what I was fighting for." I said, as I placed the Pocky in my mouth to eat them. "Strawberry, my favorite."
"You love strawberry Pocky too. How about chocolate?"
"It's good. But when it comes to snacks, I don't know which one I like. There's also sweets."
"Fluff, huh. You wish your life was like a fairy tale again."
"Yeah." I said, looking up at Kyoko. "I do."
"Y'know what makes a good ship name for you and Ruby Rose." Sayaka said, smiling. "Crimson Archer."
"Crimson Archer?" I asked, kicking my feet back and forth.
"Yeah. You use a bow and arrow like Madoka."
"And Crimson." Madoka said, smiling. "It means ruby or red."
"Okay, I have to admit, you girls are brilliant. Homura, what do you think?" I asked, looking at Madoka, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Homura.
"I, um, I like it too. It, uh, suits you and Ruby." Homura said.
"From this day forth. Ruby Rose and I will be known as Crimson Archer!" I said, happily.
"Now that that's settled." Sayaka said, as she picked up some takoyaki to eat it. "Let's eat. We need to be energized to later."
"It's gonna be a hell of a night." Kyoko said. "I get that you're worried about us. But we've dealt with worse than this."
"1965, I gave them twelve children." Jack said.
"You just handed them over and hoped for the best?" Gwen asked.
(Open POV)
1965 Scotland...
Clem remembers it from his point of view, Jack driving them in the bus onto the moors.
"You just come with Uncle Jack. We're gonna go on an adventure, yeah?" Jack asked.
They get to the location.
"Everyone off." Jack said, outside, in the night. The soldiers are behind them, guns ready. "Here we go. All right, children, you follow me. Adventure." A bright light appears. "Okay, children, walk into the light. Do as I say."
Clem stays behind.
"What's in there? What is it?" Young Clem asked.
"Just go." Jack said.
"It's safe though, isn't it?" Young Clem asked.
"Yeah. It's safe. Keep going. You don't want to be left out, do you?"
But the light vanishes before Clem gets there. He runs and hides.
"Everyone okay?" Jack asked.
"Yes, sir." The soldier said.
"The information's coming through now on the 456. It's the antivirus, just as they promised." Vanessa said.
"Good night's work." Jack said.
"Maybe the gods were kind. Maybe they are in paradise."
"No such thing."
Warehouse...
"You are in every nightmare I've ever had." Clem said.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I..." Jack said, when Clem grabs Gwen's gun.
"Gwen." Rhys said, and Clem shoots Jack.
"Jared." Iroha said, telepathically. "We lost her."
"Lost who?" Jared asked, kicking his feet back and forth. "I'm with Madoka and the others..."
"We lost Tsuruno."
"No...how? How could this happen?"
"She was fused. With an Uwasa." Yachiyo said, telepathically. "Inside an amusement park. She died."
"I don't, I don't know what to do now." Jared said, letting out more tears. "What can I do? What was even worth fighting for?"
"Oh, come on." Kyoko said, walking towards Jared. "You went up against Daleks and Cybermen. You helped us fight Witches and Familiars. You also defeat Grimm now and again."
"I've spent years in fighting all of that. At the cost of losing someone else..."
"It's okay." Madoka said, hugging Jared. "You're okay, right?"
"No, no, I'm not." Jared said. "It's been so long since I last saw Team RWBY. Well, all of them back together. Maybe I should..."
"You have us to cheer you up." Sayaka said, smiling. "So don't go into despair now."
"But that's a lie, isn't it? Isn't it? We both know I, I killed a man. I am dangerous." Clem said.
"Can I take that?" Gwen asked, taking back her gun and hands it to Rhys. "There we are."
"But it's wasn't my fault. There is something up there. They do want children. That man held my hand and took me to them." Clem said, and Jack revives.
"This is normal, okay? This is what he does. I told you he was going to be okay."
"No."
"Come on. Clem?" Gwen asked, while Clem runs away.
Jared then ran off in the other direction, towards the Nintendo Switch where Hibiki and Miku are playing Pokémon:Let's Go Eevee.
"Hibiki." Jared said, letting out more tears. "Miku..."
"Want me to make you some tea?" Miku asked, looking at the fanboy.
"Yes. Yes. Please." Jared said, as Hibiki places her hand on top of his. "Hibiki, how did you deserve a friend like Miku?"
"It's a long story. Hehe." Hibiki said, laughing a little.
Gwen catches up with Clem, who is hiding behind an over turned table.
"This is too much. Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Oh, too much." Clem said.
"You get to shoot first and ask questions later. How good is that?" Gwen asked.
"This is too much. Isn't it, isn't it?"
"Watch your head."
Back at Hub2.
"How does Osaka sound?" Hibiki asked. "Want some street food after this?"
"Osaka?" Jared asked, looking at Hibiki. "I, I don't know."
"Or you could go to Kamihama." Miku said, handing Jared a cup of tea. "Got you a cup of matcha."
"Thank you."
"The man who sent me and my friends to die can't die himself." Clem said.
Ashton Down cell block...
"Something's wrong." Shirabe said.
"Jared's dealing with it." Kirika said, happily. "I know he is."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Positive. I don't know what he's doing right now."
"In here." Johnson said, as Steven sits down in the cell with Shirabe and Kirika. "He doesn't know Harkness is his grandfather?"
"No." Alice said.
"I suppose it would take some explaining, when Mum looks older than Granddad."
"I can only assume that you're holding me and these girls here as insurance against my father and one of his friends. But let me warn you, if you've angered them, then God help you."
"This from the woman who's spent her life running away from her father."
"And why do you think I did that? A man who can't die and a man who is a beacon of hope has got nothing to fear. So you watch it, and you keep watching." Alice said, going into the cell, and Johnson closes the door on them,
Warehouse...
"We got ya good!" Tsuruno said, telepathically.
"Tsuruno!" Jared said, happily, "I thought you were..."
"Dead? Nah. I'm fine. You missed me that much?"
"Well, yeah. But all the stuff about you fusing with a Rumor..."
"It did, um, happen." Sana said, telepathically. "Are you okay?"
"Besides fighting an alien species I don't like. Things could be better. I needed you guys over here."
"And where is here?" Yachiyo asked, telepathically.
"How fast can you guys get to Cardiff?" Jared asked. "There's some kids I need you guys to save. And I want to protect Symphogear."
"It could take a while."
"Why was I left behind? What's wrong with me?" Clem asked.
"We know they only want pre-pubescent kids. Maybe it's got something to do with that. Maybe you were just on the cusp of puberty. Not quite adult, not quite child." Gwen said.
"Saved by your hormones. But in the case of Magical Girls, not really. That's where the Incubators got them." Rhys said, laughing a little.
"Everyone follow us please, thank you." The computer said.
"Is this still recording, Ianto? I need every second of this." Gwen said.
"Yeah." Ianto said.
Contact room...
Bridget eyes Lois suspiciously as she makes her way around the edge of the room, so that she can see Frobisher in profile.
"Hello again. Before we consider your request, I've been asked for a point of clarification. Before we even discuss your, your request, we need to know exactly what it is you intend to do with the children." Frobisher said.
"Somebody is watching. Some remnant." The 456 said.
Warehouse...
"It knows I'm here. It knows!" Clem said, terrified.
Lois writes her shorthand note.
"Somebody is watching." Ianto said.
"I told you, it knows. Turn it off." Clem said.
"It's talking about the other camera. It doesn't know about us. Shush." Gwen said.
"The Prime Minister, the leader of this country, the United Kingdom..." The computer said.
Contact room...
"...is watching through this camera here, and he needs to know what would happen to our children if we were to hand them over to you." Frobisher said.
"It is off the record?" The 456 asked.
"Yes."
"Come in."
Warehouse...
"Come in." Ianto said.
Contact room...
"In there?" Frobisher asked.
"With your camera. Come in." The 456 said.
Warehouse...
"It's hiding something." Madoka said, looking at the computer screen.
Warehouse / Davies' home...
"Tsubasa, Maria, Chris." Jared said, kicking his foot back and forth. "I care about you guys so much. Especially Shirabe and Kirika. If something happens to you..."
"We're fine." Tsubasa said, telepathically.
"Don't worry." Chris said, telepathically.
"How's it going with you?" Maria asked, telepathically.
"Not so good." Jared said, letting out a sigh. "I need you guys after this. After these last two days."
"You want to be the hero that badly, huh?" Chris asked, telepathically.
"You're not the only one out there." Tsubasa said, telepathically. "So, why are you keeping us away?"
Contact room...
"Air content stabilised." Dekker said.
The airlock opens and the cameraman enters the containment chamber. Visibility is not good. He gets sight of the 456 with its green drool. Then Dekker's lifesigns monitor screen expands to three traces.
"I'm getting three heartbeats." Dekker said.
"It's got three heads?" Frobisher asked.
"No, there's, there's three distinct forms of life in there."
"Get closer."
The cameraman is close to panic. He follows the line of a plastic tube from the 456 to...
Warehouse...
"No, no, no, no, no, no!" Clem said, terrified.
"The hell a kid's doing there?" Kyoko asked, walking towards the computer screen. "Why?"
"He's one of the kids from 1965." Madoka said, her eyes widening.
"He's still just a child." Jack said.
"Do you think he knows? Is he conscious?" Rhys asked.
The camera shows the bald child blinking his eyes. The image on the computer screen blurs.
"What's happening?" Clem asked.
"It's Lois. She's crying." Sayaka said, sadly. "This is one of the saddest things ever."
Contact room...
"What have you done to him?" Frobisher asked, when the 456 throws a hissy fit, and the cameraman gets splatters with green. "Get him out of there. Get him out! Get him out!"
"It would ensure the smooth running of diplo, diplo, diplomatic relations..." The 456 said.
"John, get me out of here!" The cameraman said, terrified.
"Between Earth and 456, 456, 456, 456 if that previous encounter was kept off the record off the record off the record."
Warehouse...
"What's going on?" Sayaka asked.
"It's Frobisher." Jared said, frowning. "That's his voice. And off the record, I don't know what that means."
Contact room...
"By off the record I mean private..." The 456 said.
"Get it off!" A man said.
The technicians help him off with the hazmat suit, and clothes.
"Private, private, private, private." The 456 said.
"This is unacceptable." Frobisher said.
"We do not harm the children. They feel no pain."
Warehouse...
Ianto reads Lois' transcript, "We do not harm the children. They feel no pain. They live long beyond their years."
"Oh, well, that's okay then." Gwen said.
"In other ways, they're like Magical Girls." Jared said, placing headphones on Hibiki's head and Miku's head. "And I forgot what they wanted with them. I'm stressed out as is."
"Yeah, and why do they want them?" Sayaka asked.
"Bit late to ask now." Kyoko said, sadly.
"We have answered your question. You have one day to select and deliver your ten percent." Ianto said.
Contact room...
"And if we refuse?" Frobisher asked.
"We will wipe out your entire species." The 456 said.
Warehouse...
"Um, how much did you know?" Homura asked.
"Of this? Everything. I know who's gonna die." Jared said, taking out some jelly babies to eat them. "I'm glad Tsuruno didn't make that hit list. Or..."
"Or you would have given up." Madoka said. "Don't give up hope, for us."
"Yeah." Hibiki said, smiling. "We said Osaka."
"I want today to end already." Jared said, looking at the six girls he has grown attached to. That being Madoka, Sayaka, Homura, Kyoko, Hibiki, and Miku. "I do. And I don't know what tomorrow will bring. I hope it'll be awesome."
"This must have been eating away at you. Why didn't you tell me? I could've helped." Ianto said.
"No, you couldn't." Jack said.
"I tell you everything."
"Yeah? So tell me, what should I have done?"
"Stood up to them. The Jack I know would've stood up to them. And the Jared I know would do the same too, he's as moody and guilty as ever. I've only just scraped the surface, haven't I?"
"Ianto, that's all there is to life. We live and we die. We make decisions and face consequences if it backfires." Jared said, walking towards the coffee boy. "That's what it means when you're a hero. You save others, you want dreams and hopes come true, when they never will. Just let it go."
"Jared's right, he spoke with how I'm feeling right now." Jack said, standing next to Jared.
"No, the both of you pretend that's all there is." Ianto said, looking between Jack and Jared.
"I've lived a long time. I have done a lot of things. And so has Jared. Even if he hasn't lived as long as me." Jack said.
"Jack, I've had enough of this. I want to go outside. Come on." Jared said, walking away from Ianto. "Let's make it quick."
"Ianto's right, you are being as stubborn as Jack." Kyoko said, watching Jared get further apart from her. "Come on, talk to us. The hell are you going with him?"
"We're gonna make a phone call. Not by telepathy of course. We can't do it here, because they'll trace it." Jared said, holding Jack's hand. "It's easy for them. And it'll put all of you in danger if we do it here. You okay with that, Kyoko Sakura?"
"You are temporary leader of the Puella Magi Holy Quintet." Kyoko said, smirking. "While Mami's not herself."
"And just so you know, I have a daughter called Alice and a grandson called Steven, Shirabe and Kirika were with them, and Frobisher took the four hostage yesterday." Jack said.
Thames House...
"You two should get a couple of hours sleep while you can." Frobisher said.
"So should you." Bridget said.
Frobisher's phone rings.
"It's Harkness and Shay. Ring Ashton Down. See if you can get a trace on it. Strong coffee, loads of." Frobisher said, as Bridget makes the call, Lois goes to get the drinks. "Hello?"
Industrial estate / Thames House...
"Hello, John Frobisher. It's Jared, and I'm here with Jack. We gave you twenty four hours to decide." Jared said, as the phone is on speaker mode. "Have you thought about what you said with Jack? While I was upset over what you've been doing."
"Bit busy, to be honest." Frobisher said.
"Okay, yes, talk to the 456. Who is copying your voice. Release Jack's family and release Shirabe Tsukuyomi and Kirika Akatsuki. Come on, we can work together, we're on the same side." Jared said, smiling.
"Give yourselves up and they won't be harmed."
"Well, you've given me a hell of a few days. I wish I could believe that. Jack, he's all yours." Jared said, walking away from Jack who takes the phone off the speaker mode. "I'll be inside. I said what I wanted to say."
Ashton Down work on the trace.
"You can, Jared, let me guess, he left you as he said. And so can you, Jack." Frobisher said.
"You've spoken to the 456, haven't you? They want more children." Jack said.
"What makes you think that?" Frobisher asked.
"They're on to it now." Bridget said.
"It doesn't take a genius. And with them going so public this time, I think they want a lot more. Millions even. If I have to stop you, and if Jared has to stop you, then both of us will tell the world what's really going on. There's too much at stake not to." Jack said, and the call ends.
Ashton Down monitoring station...
"Lost them. I'll try the Echelon satellite data." The operative said.
Thames House...
"It's gonna take some time." The operative said, over the phone.
"They'll let us know when they get a location." Bridget said.
"They'll be gone by then." Frobisher said.
"Why don't you get your head down on the couch for an hour?" Bridget asked.
"Sorry. The Prime Minister wants to see you." Lois said.
Downing Street...
"Take notes. Facilitate. Generally make sure it all runs smoothly. The most important thing is to blend into the background. No one should know you're there." Bridget said.
Warehouse...
Gwen reads the sign on the door Frobisher and co are going into, and Jared reentered the warehouse, "Cabinet Office Briefing Room A. COBRA. Where all the emergency planning takes place."
"Gold Command meeting's about to start." Ianto said.
"They'll sell us out, just like they did last time." Clem said.
"I'm sorry to hear about your family, and about Shirabe and Kirika, by the way. We'll get them out." Gwen said, looking between Jack and Jared.
"I know we will, Gwen." Jared said, sipping on some tea. "So, things are still as tense as ever, huh."
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's been decided we're going to make the 456 an offer." The computer said.
COBRA...
"A realistic number, something we can manage, and then we see what happens." Green said.
"You mean we're going to haggle? What about the military option?" Riley asked.
"There's nothing to take action against. Evidently, the 456 must have some sort of base of operations in orbit, but our satellites are showing nothing. Whatever's up there, it's beyond our technology." The defense secretary said.
"There's a target sat in Thames House."
"Taking that out would be a declaration of war."
The Deputy PM joins in, "A war we can't win."
"That's why I've invited John to address Gold Command. In terms of managing the figures, what could we offer and get away with?" Green asked.
Warehouse...
"...and get away with. We need to know how many units would be available by tomorrow morning." The computer said.
"Isn't it? Isn't it? It's happening again." Clem said.
"My God. They're really gonna do this." Sayaka said, her eyes widening. "This isn't in the style of us Magical Girls or Symphogear at all."
COBRA...
"Look, it won't just be Britain, will it?" Riley asked.
"The idea is that every country makes a camouflageable contribution." Green said.
Warehouse...
Frobisher speaks to Bridget.
"Can you pass me the FAS file, please?" The computer asked.
"SAS? Oh, now you're talking." Rhys said.
COBRA...
Lois picks up a coffee cup and moves to where she can see Frobisher's lips.
"Right, well, er, for a start, there are twenty children in Oakington right now. Twenty one units. Unaccompanied asylum seekers awaiting deportation." Frobisher said.
Warehouse...
"Failed asylum seekers. Orphans in '65, asylum seekers today. There's progress for you." Gwen said, looking at the computer screen.
COBRA...
"And no one would miss them. We need more. Can you bump the numbers up to sixty?" Yates asked.
"I think so. We could have them all in Oakington by first thing tomorrow." Frobisher said.
"Thank you, John. Now go back to Thames House and consult with the 456. Make them an offer of sixty units and no more." Green said.
Warehouse/ Ashton Down cell block...
Jared is sipping on some bubble tea as Hibiki and Miku confronted him, "Yes. I set up a connection with Shirabe and Kirika. Girls? How are you holding up?"
"Fine." Kirika said. "Like, how did we end up in this mess?"
"Shirabe? Kirika? Are you okay?" Hibiki asked.
"Who are you speaking to?" Alice asked.
"We're talking with Jared." Shirabe said, looking at Steven's mother. "A friend of Jack's."
"So, he's checking up on us. Is he?"
"Yes." Kirika said, happily. "He is. He's not immortal. But he has a heart."
"A heart. And how much does he care about us?" Alice asked.
"To the point of asking us to protect you. You and your son. You see? We're on your side."
"Uncle Jack wanted you to help us." Steven said, looking between Shirabe and Kirika. "I saw your outfits. Are you super heroes?"
"You could say that." Kirika said.
"Remember the moon? And how a part of it almost hit us?" Shirabe asked. "That was us. Well, some friends of ours. That stopped it."
"That's so cool!" Steven said. "What do you girls use? If you're heroes."
"Yo-yos, buzzsaws, chainsaws." Shirabe said.
"I use a scythe!" Kirika said, excitedly.
Contact room...
"I'm sorry, but we have discussed your demands and we've arrived at a solution that might satisfy both parties. I've been authorised to offer you one child for every million people on planet Earth. That's about six thousand seven hundred in total. Sixty two from the UK alone." Frobisher said.
"That is not acceptable." The 456 said.
"Six thousand seven hundred. Six seven zero zero. That's our final offer. It's more than generous. I'll give you some time to think."
"Three two five zero zero zero. Three two five zero zero zero."
Davies' home...
"All of these kids." Tsubasa said, looking back at Chris and Maria. "How can we save them?"
"I don't know." Maria said. "Jared didn't exactly plan ahead."
"I know." Chris said. "The hell are we supposed to do?"
"Three, two, five, zero, zero, zero." The children said.
"Oh, my God, they're doing it again. Mica? Where's Mica? Mica!" Rhiannon said, terrified.
"Three, two, five, zero, zero, zero. Three, two, five, zero, zero, zero."
"What's happening?" Chris asked, looking around the room,
"Three, two, five, zero, zero, zero."
"What are you going on about? Lottery numbers or what?" Johnny asked.
"Three, two, five, zero, zero, zero. Three, two, five, zero, zero, zero." The children said.
Warehouse...
"Three, two, five, zero, zero, zero." Clem said.
"Maybe they're coordinates." Madoka said, her eyes widening. "Or a grid reference."
"Children in different countries are saying different numbers." Louise Minchin said, on TV.
"Ici en France le nombre est de quatre, quatre, huit, zero, zero, zero." A French reporter said, on TV.
"The children of America are saying two, three, four, zero, zero, zero, zero." Trinity Wells said, on TV.
"But what is the meaning of three, two, five, zero, zero, zero?" Louise Minchin asked, on TV.
COBRA...
"It's confirmed. Three hundred and twenty five thousand is ten percent of the children, the, er, units, in this country. Every country is saying a different number, which in each case amounts to ten percent." Yates said.
"I think it's fair to say that our final offer has just been rejected. Okay, thanks, everyone. Let's take a break." Green said.
"It's worth considering, sir. The world's population will be nine billion by 2050. That's a two and a half billion rise. The UK'll go from sixty one million to seventy seven, every one of them needing food and water, a home, transport, fuel, TVs and fridges..."
"Rick, Rick, Rick, Rick. What are you suggesting, a cull of ten percent would do us good?"
"I'm just saying, if we need to spin this to the public, and God knows, at the moment, spin is all we can do, then in an age when we're terrified by the planet's dwindling resources, a reduction in the population could possibly, just possibly, if presented in the right way, be seen as good. Sir."
Ashton Down monitoring station...
"Anything?" Johnson asked.
"It's all gone quiet. All our usual sources from the government, the army, Whitehall, all gone silent. Whatever's happening in London, no one's breathing a word." The operative said.
"It's about time I found out what's going on. I'm taking a squad to London. Are the roads still blocked?"
"Only in the centre. Then patch me through a clear route. And keep watching for Harkness and Shay. If it's happening in London, then that's where they'll be. Shay does favor Great Britain as much as Japan and the United States."
COBRA...
"With regrets, ladies and gentlemen, I have to tell you that we're now facing the worst case scenario. And right now, we don't have time for a discussion on ethics. I'm afraid the hand-wringing will have to wait. All we can do at the moment is to address a number of vital and practical questions." Green said.
"Namely, how do we select the ten percent? Who would go? How would we transport them? And how could we sell it to the voters?" Yates asked.
"John?" Green asked, looking at Frobisher.
"Well, the selection's not down to me." Frobisher said.
"Nevertheless. Practical solutions, please."
"Once the selection has been made, then my department can arrange to bus all the children to the rendezvous points together, school by school. My staff are compiling various school databases."
Warehouse...
"Thank god for the TARDIS translation matrix." Jared said, laughing a lot. "Can't read goddamn shorthand."
"You just need to decide what criteria you'd use for selection." Ianto said.
COBRA...
"Which is out of my hands. Over to you, sir." Frobisher said.
"Anyone? Might I remind you the clock is ticking." Green said.
"It would have to be random." The defense secretary said.
"No-one'll believe it was random. Not unless some of us are seen waiting at school gates for empty buses to return." Riley said.
"If the criteria we use is demonstrably fair and entirely random, then at least we could defend ourselves..." The defense secretary said.
"So you're willing to risk your kids to make it look fair?"
"Then how else could we choose?"
"We could do it alphabetically." Yates said.
"Oh yes, thanks, Mister Yates." Riley said.
"I didn't mean. I've got no kids. I wasn't trying to..."
"Yes, no kids and no consequences. And yours have already grown up."
"Let's keep this civil, Denise." Green said.
"Oh yes, let's discuss the loss of millions of innocent children, and let's be civilised about it." Riley said.
"If you wouldn't mind, yes."
"Could we limit it to one loss per family? Every second-born child?" The defense secretary asked.
"That would take more time, more organisation. Time we don't have." Frobisher said.
"So it would have to be one school at a time."
"Look, I'm going to say what everyone else is thinking. If this, this lottery takes place, my kids aren't in it." Riley said.
Warehouse...
"I'm sure the families of Gold Command would be exempted anyway. In fact, isn't that official policy?" The computer asked.
"Argh, those guys are bastards." Sayaka said, crossing her arms. "Trying to decide the fate of children. Didn't you say they're on the same side as us?"
The blue haired Magical Girl looked at the fanboy who is at a trance of guilt.
"During a major civil emergency, we're also dealing with deeply debilitating personal grief." The computer said.
"Just listen to them." Kyoko said, snacking on some chips. "They think they know what's best. But it will backfire on them."
"It'll be hard enough as it is. I'm right, aren't I? It is official policy that our families get protection." The computer said, giving them the information from the defense secretary.
"Of course they bloody do." Gwen said, annoyed.
COBRA...
"So, we could have a show of hands. I hate to be crass, but in the circumstances..." The defense secretary said.
"Well, who votes? Those with kids, or those with no interest to declare?" Riley asked.
"No one votes. It's down to me to make an executive decision." Green said.
"Do you need some time?" Yates asked.
"No. Whatever happens, the children and grandchildren of everyone round this table will be exempt."
"What about nieces and nephews?" Riley asked.
"Don't push your luck." Green said.
"You seriously expect me to look my brother in the eye..."
"We need to limit the number of people who know."
"Look him in the eye and what, just give him a condolence card?"
"That's the responsibility of government, Denise!" Green said, angrily.
"No, the first responsibility is to protect the best interests of this country, right? Then let's say it. In a national emergency, a country must plan for the future and discriminate between those who are vital to continued stability, and those who are not. And now that we've established that our kids are exempt, the whole principal of random selection is dead in the water anyway." Riley said.
"Only so far as..." The defense secretary said.
"Let me finish. Now look, on the one hand you've got the good schools. And I don't just mean those producing graduates, I mean the pupils who will go on to staff our hospitals, our offices, our factories. The workforce of the future. We need them. Accepted, yes? So, set against that you've got the failing schools, full of the less able, the less socially useful. Those destined to spend a lifetime on benefits, occupying places on the dole queue and, frankly, the prisons. Now look, should we treat them equally? God knows, we've tried, and we've failed. And now the time has come to choose. And if we can't identify the lowest achieving ten percent of this country's children, then what are the school league tables for?"
"Anyone want to speak against that?" Green asked, and there is silence throughout the entire room. "Then there we have it. John, you have your criteria. We've selected the ten percent."
The meeting breaks up.
Warehouse...
"Um, we, we have enough evidence recorded here to destroy every person in that room." Homura said, looking at the computer screen.
"That means we can use the evidence to get into Thames House." Sayaka said, happily. "So we can finally face the 456. Because they're worse than Witches."
"Yup." Jared said, smiling. "We can get Jack's family, Shirabe, and Kirika released too."
"Right, everyone know what they're doing?" Jack asked.
"What if Hibiki, Miku, and I can't get Lois to agree to this, Jack?" Gwen asked.
"She hasn't let us down yet. Rhys, Madoka, Homura, okay? Let's go stand up to them, Ianto, Jared, Sayaka, and Kyoko." Jack said.
"Yes, sir." Ianto said.
Jack, Ianto, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Jared drive off in the stolen Boxster.
"Still can't believe they haven't tracked the license plate yet." Jared said, looking over at Sayaka and Kyoko.
"The government has yet to give a reason why the children have stated a number which equals ten percent of the child population of each country." Louise Minchin said, on TV.
"...aurait demande a la Grande-Bretagne qu'elle fasse une declaration plus vite concernant ses..." The French reporter said, on TV.
"All eyes are now turning toward the United Kingdom as we ask, what exactly are they hiding?" Trinity Wells asked, on TV.
"London remains grid-locked in the city centre." Louise Minchin said, on TV.
Jack, Ianto, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Jared drive into the tail of a jam, then get blocked in behind. They continue on foot, as Ianto makes a phone call.
Davies' home / London...
"Pipe down, you lot. Shut up. Hello?" Rhiannon asked.
"It's me." Ianto said.
"Oh, I thought you couldn't call here. Is it all over?"
"It's only just beginning."
Ashton Down are listening in. Jared closed his eyes, so he can make the telepathic connection with Tsubasa, Maria, and Chris again.
"Girls?" Jared asked. "You doing well?"
"Yes." Tsubasa said. "Want us to stay here?"
"No, I want you guys to go back to Tokyo. Not now. But later."
"We spent a whole day here." Chris said, angrily. "And now you want us to leave?"
"What's gonna happen tomorrow, Japan needs all the help they could get."
"It's massive then." Maria said.
"Yeah."
"They what?" Rhiannon asked.
"They want kids, millions of them." Ianto said.
"Why?"
"I'm not sure. But over the next few days, don't let anyone take David and Mica away from you, for whatever reason. This goes for you people listening in on the wire as well. Forget the Official Secrets Act. If you've got children or grandchildren, you need to hear this. And you need to tell every parent you know."
Ashton Down monitoring station...
"I've found Jones. We can assume Harkness and Shay are nearby." The operative siad.
Land Rover...
"Okay, let's go." Johnson said.
Davies' home...
"Look, I've got to go. I love you. Don't let the kids out of your sight. I love them too. I'm even warming to Johnny a bit." Ianto said, over the phone.
"We love you too. Ianto? Ianto, are you there?" Rhiannon asked.
"What is it? What did he say? Come on, Rhi, what did he say?" Johnny asked.
Warehouse...
"You've got to go now. Have Madoka and Homura with you." Gwen said.
"You're just getting me out of harm's way, aren't you? Like how Jared has been doing it with Symphogear, I was able to tell with his facial expressions. You don't think I can hack it." Rhys said.
"You're the most important part of this whole plan. Now go on. You've got a job to do, and there isn't much time." Gwen said.
Rhys takes the laptop and leaves with Madoka and Homura.
London / Ashton Down monitoring station...
The area is deserted when Johnson and her armed men arrive.
"Long gone. Move out." Johnson said.
"I've done a sweep of the surrounding area. Two miles to the south, there's a warehouse area in Battersea. It used to be an old holding facility for Torchwood One back in the 90s. Could be significant. Ianto Jones worked for Torchwood One." The operative said.
"Can you pinpoint which warehouse?"
"I'll get onto it now."
COBRA...
"We need a cover story to explain why the operation is happening and to encourage participation. So the suggestion is we announce that the children will be given some kind of inoculation. A jab to stop them speaking in unison. We stress that there's no immediate danger, that everyone will be seen in due course. Then when it goes wrong, and the children disappear, we blame the aliens, claim ignorance, and face the music." Frobisher said.
"We say the 456 double-crossed us?" The defense secretary asked.
Warehouse...
"Double-crossed us?" The computer asked.
Gwen's phone rings.
Millbank...
"Gwen, we're here." Jared said, holding Sayaka's hand. "Good luck, and Hibiki and Miku will keep you safe."
"Take care." Gwen said, her voice over the phone. "Sayaka and Kyoko will keep you grounded."
Ashton Down monitoring station...
"Positive fix, Gwen Cooper, Hibiki Tachibana, and Miku Kohinata, Torchwood facility warehouse." The operative said.
The Land Rovers cross Battersea Bridge, sirens wailing.
"Excellent. It is the aliens' fault." The computer said.
Gwen types - Jack and Jared are in position. Let's do it.
COBRA...
"That is where the blame should lie. Not with us." Yates said.
"We play the part of naive dupes rather than willing accomplices." Frobisher said.
"We're not willing. No one in this room is a willing accomplice." Green said.
Land Rover...
"Roads all clear. ETA Torchwood warehouse, forty five seconds." The operative said, over the walkie talkie.
COBRA...
Gwen is typing. Jack and Jared are in position. Do it NOW.
"Thank you, John. Comments. Anyone?" Green asked.
Lois raises her hand.
"This is going to take a hell of a lot of organisation. We'll have to stand the police down and put the army in their place. We barely have time to talk. We need to get this thing moving." Yates said.
"Then should we reconvene at eighteen hundred?" Green asked.
"Excuse me." Lois said.
"Lois, stop it." Bridget said.
"I have something to say."
"Really? Well, it's nice you want to make a contribution, er, what was your name?" Green asked.
"Lois, Lois Habiba, sir." Lois said.
"Well, thank you for your hard work, Lois. It's much appreciated, but this isn't really the best time."
"I'm sorry, sir. I know I'm only supposed to be here to take notes, but er, I am a voter."
"Listen, love, this isn't a referendum." Yates said.
"Lois, could I have a word outside?" Bridget asked.
"No, but it needs saying." Lois said.
"Lois, seriously, not now." Frobisher said.
"And I'm not just speaking on my own behalf."
"Just what we need, a revolutionary." Yates said.
"If you like, sir, then that's what I am."
"Oh yeah? You and whose army?"
"Torchwood. The Puella Magi Holy Quintet. And Symphogear." Lois said.
"What?" Green asked.
"Don't be ridiculous." Frobisher said.
Warehouse...
"Don't be ridiculous." The computer said.
"She's doing it." Hibiki said, looking back at Miku. "It's still wrong."
COBRA...
"But Torchwood, the Puella Magia Holy Quintet, and Symphogear have been recording all these meetings, and everything that's been said around this table, every single word spoken by every single one of you, will be made public unless you do exactly what they say." Lois said.
Thames House...
"Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, and Jared Shay. We're Torchwood." Jack said.
"My friends here are Sayaka Miki and Kyoko Sakura." Jared said, looking back at the two Magical Girls. "They're part of the Puella Magi Holy Quintet. And they're around the same authority as us."
Warehouse...
"We've been expecting you." Hibiki said, happily. "Agent Johnson."
"On the floor. Face down, hands on your head." Johnson said.
"You traced Ianto's calls, did you?" Gwen asked.
"On the floor!" Johnson said, angrily.
"Now that you're here, you can take me to Alice and Steven Carter. And you can take to Hibiki and Miku to Shirabe and Kirika."
"You'll be in the very next cell. Second thoughts, maybe I'll just have the three of you shot while resisting arrest." Johnson said.
"You don't want to do that." Miku said, frowning.
"Why?" Johnson asked.
"Take a look at what we've been recording." Gwen said, moving out of the way with Hibiki and Miku.
"And how exactly are you going to make us do this?" The computer asked.
COBRA...
"Torchwood's been destroyed and the Puella Magi Holy Quintet was caught in the crossfire. Symphogear is in Japan as they have always been." Green said.
"I'm afraid not, sir. Right now, Captain Jack Harkness, head of the Torchwood Institute, and Jared Shay, one of the people on UNIT payroll and an associate of Torchwood, are in the reception of the MI5 building. So you're gonna stand aside, and let them do their job, and deal with the 456. Immediately. And, er, I think that's it." Lois said.
Warehouse...
"What she's telling them is, my gorgeous husband has recordings of them all secretly agreeing to sacrificing millions of innocent children to the aliens. Now, him and his laptop, at this very moment, are in a secret location, with Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi, and he's ready to press send and tell the whole world exactly what's been going on, unless you do exactly as we say. Take a seat. Maybe you'll learn something about the people you've been working for. Come on, Clem, Hibiki, and Miku." Gwen said.
Floor 13...
Jared gives Dekker a piece of paper, "I want you guys to reroute the live TV image directly to this number. Can you do that for us, please?"
"I can do it." Dekker said.
Contact room...
"I'm Captain Jack Harkness." Jack said.
"And I'm Jared Shay." Jared said, standing in between Sayaka and Kyoko, holding one hand of each Magical Girl.
"I've dealt with you lot before."
"We're here to tell you why you're not getting what you want. Which is the children."
"The both of you yielded in the past. For entirely different reasons, when it comes to sacrifices." The 456 said.
"And don't we know it." Jack said.
COBRA...
"I was there in 1965. I was part of that trade. And Jared was involved in a battle. He lost two of his friends that way. And that's why we're never gonna let it happen again." Jack said, on the monitor.
Contact room...
"Explain." Jack said.
"There's a saying here on Earth. A very old, very wise friend of ours taught me it." Jack said.
"Basically the Doctor." Jared said, shrugging his shoulders. "Haven't seen that Spaceman in forever."
"Like I was saying, an injury to one is an injury to all. And when people act according to that philosophy, the human race is the finest species in the universe." Jack said.
"The hell was with the philosophy? Just tell them that they're not gonna get the children." Kyoko said, letting go of Jared's hand.
"That's right." Sayaka said. "The deal is off."
"Er, I like the philosophy." Jack said, sadly.
"Me too." Jared said, frowning. "When life gives you lemons..."
"The both of yielded in the past. You will do so again." The 456 said.
"In the past, the numbers were so small they could be kept secret. But this time that is not gonna happen." Jack said.
Warehouse...
"Because we've recorded everything. All the negotiations..." Jack said, his voice over the speaker.
COBRA...
"Everything the politicians said, everything that happened in this room. And those tapes will be released to the public..." Jack said, his voice over the monitor.
Contact room...
"Unless you leave this planet for good." Jack said.
"You two yielded in the past. You will do so again." The 456 said.
"When people find out the truth, you will have over six billion angry human beings taking up arms to fight you. That might be a fight you think you can win, but at the end of it, the human race in defence of its children will fight to the death. And if we have to lead them into battle, then we will." Jack said.
"I've been transmitting the entire conversation here by telepathy to every single Magical Girl on the planet." Jared said, smirking. "Basically I'm a relay device, a cellular tower. My mental capabilities due to hanging around Magical Girls helped. It got better overtime, and by heart, mind and soul. They're still human, and don't you think for one moment, they won't fight back."
"You've got enough information on this planet, check your records. Their names are Captain Jack Harkness and Jared Shay. Go back a hundred and fifty years, and see what you're facing." Ianto said.
"This is fascinating, isn't it?" The 456 asked.
Warehouse...
"Isn't it? It knows I'm watching." Clem said.
"The human infant mortality rate is twenty nine thousand one hundred and fifty eight deaths per day. Some of them caused by Witches or Familiars, the ones that Magical Girls fight. Every three seconds, a child dies. Even now, when a human girl accepts a contract by the Incubators to become a Magical Girl. They die once they fall into despair. The human response is to accept and adapt." The 456 said, over laptop the speaker.
Contact room...
"Well, we're adapting." Jared said, happily. "And the Incubators raised an army, because they saw this coming. For like centuries. We're making this a war, 456."
"Then the fight begins." The 456 said.
"We're waiting for your reply." Jack said.
"Action has been taken."
"Son of a..." Jared said, when alarms go off in Thames House, and the doors slam shut. "I forgot, I forgot all about that."
"What's happening?" Sayaka asked, and the whole place is secure.
"The hell did you do?" Kyoko asked.
"Your friends wanted a demonstration of war. A virus has been released. It will kill everyone in the building." The 456 said.
Warehouse...
"Can they override it?" Hibiki asked. "With a code or something?"
"I don't know." Johnson said.
COBRA...
"The building's designed to withstand chemical and biological attack. Nothing or no one can get in or out." Frobisher said.
"Oh. Happy now?" Green asked.
Floor 13...
"Yachiyo." Jared said, as the staff trample each other in their attempts to escape. "I changed my mind about you going to London. Head to Mitakihara. I need the Holy Quintet with me."
"The air's poisoned. Call someone. Shut down the air conditioning. Block every air vent. Get gas masks, hazard suits, oxygen cylinders." Jack said.
Contact room...
"Well, if there's a virus." Sayaka said, looking around. "There must be an antidote."
"Release the antidote now." Kyoko said, transforming into her Magical Girl outfit and she took out her spear. "Or..."
"The three of us will blow a hole in that tank, and we'll all die together." Ianto said, as Sayaka transformed into her Magical Girl outfit to take out a sword.
"Okay, we get it." Jared said, taking out his dual pistols. "Stop it, please. Let's talk things through, like intelligent beings."
"The both of you are dying even now." The 456 said.
Jack, Ianto, and Jared fire at the containment area glass with the weapons Sayaka and Kyoko aimed at not making a dent.
"The hell's going on here?" Kyoko asked, looking at the glass that's bulletproof and magic proof. "Bullets and our magic doesn't work?"
"What's that noise? What's it doing?" Jack asked.
The 456 is thrashing about and emitting a high pitched tone.
Warehouse...
"Clem." Miku said, and Clem can hear the frequency. "Turn it off."
"Turn it off!" Hibiki said. "It's hurting him!"
"Clem? Clem?" Gwen asked, while Clem is in pain.
Contact room...
"Ianto, we've got to get you out of here. Magical Girls and I can survive anything, and so can Jared with his Aura, but you can't." Jack said.
"Too late. I breathed the air." Ianto said.
"There has to be something." Sayaka said, sadly. "An antidote. To cure the poison."
"You said you would fight." The 456 said.
"No!" Jared said, letting out tears again. "I'm not fighting, okay? Not at the cost of Ianto. Even after I thought I lost Tsuruno. We take back the war. Me and Jack!"
"He's right, we take it back! But not him!" Jack said, as Ianto collapses. "No! No, no, no, no, no. No, Ianto. No."
"How much did you know?" Kyoko asked, while Clem is screaming in agony.
"More than I should." Jared said, and blood is pouring from Clem's ears.
"The remnant will be disconnected." The 456 said.
Warehouse...
Clem goes quiet, and relaxes.
"He's dead. Why did that happen? What about Thames House?" Hibiki asked, looking at Johnson.
"They can't get out." Johnson said, sadly.
Dekker makes it to a storeroom and gets into a hazmat suit as other staff start to collapse. Jared puts his suit of armor after activating Umi again, to survive the poison for a good while. The guards take fire axes to the main doors, to no avail.
Contact room...
Jack cradles Ianto, "It's all my fault."
"No Jack, it's my fault." Jared said, holding the hands of the two Magical Girls near him. "I knew this would happen. I should have stopped it. I should..."
"No, it's not. And Jared, you tried your best." Ianto said, looking at Jack, then at Jared.
"Don't speak. Save your breath." Jack said.
"Jack, I love you." Ianto said.
"Don't. Ianto? Ianto. Ianto, stay with us. Ianto, stay with us, please. Stay with us. Stay with us, please." Jack said.
"Hey. It was good, yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Don't forget me."
"Never could."
"Ianto Jones, back home, you have a shrine dedicated to you." Jared said, laughing a little. "Right near the Torchwood Hub. A little memorial."
"A thousand year's time the both of you won't remember me." Ianto said, frowning.
"Ianto, we will always remember you. I promise. Jack too." Jared said, looking at the coffee boy. "I won't let you down. And I'll keep your niece and nephew safe."
"Ianto. Ianto? Don't go. Don't leave us, please. Please don't." Jack said.
"You will die, and tomorrow your people will deliver the children." The 456 said.
Jack kisses Ianto one last time, and keels over, dead. Jared then looked over at Sayaka and Kyoko.
"Why did Ianto die?" Sayaka asked.
"I don't know." Jared said, standing up to give Sayaka and Kyoko a hug. "Umi? How long till my Aura levels are back up?"
"Fifteen minutes." Umi said, her voice coming out of the necklace.
"Fifteen minutes." Kyoko said, looking at Jared. "You used up a hell of a lot of it for the transmission and for bullets."
"Yeah. I did." Jared said, happily. "Yachiyo, you there?"
"Yes." Yachiyo said, telepathically. "What's the plan?"
Jared laid down onto the floor with Sayaka and Kyoko, as he discussed his plan with Yachiyo and Iroha before passing out from exhaustion.
Thames House...
The virus must have been short lived, because the dead are now in body bags. Gwen is brought in and told where Jack, Ianto, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Jared are.
"Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen." The soldier said.
Gwen kneels between them and uncover their faces. Jack, Jared, Sayaka, and Kyoko sit up. Jack and Jared hug Gwen as the five weep over Ianto.
"There's nothing we can do." Gwen said, sadly.