Trafferth i Torchwood (Trouble for Torchwood)

Chapter 1- Stormy Blue

Welsh country people

The dappled sun played on the ground and danced across the faces of Alice, Katya and Clara. The smell of sweet flowers was pungent in the air and the heat of spring clung in the air uncomfortably. However there was a light breeze in the air which made the trees rustle peacefully, but this also stirred panic in Clara as she feared someone was always behind her. As the breeze began to pick up pollen was blown into their eyes, blinding them for a minute or two. The girls instinctively rubbed their eyes, Katya sneezed loudly and silence followed awkwardly. The girls clutched hands desperately and walked on huddled together accompanied by the sound of busy bees on their way. The trees heavy with leaves made the path dark and the sun struggled to reach through, the girls trod cautiously stepping out every bump on the path hesitating at every turn.

Clara confidently led the others meanwhile Alice lurked behind unsure of the way. Katya staggered further back, dragging her feet heavily, complaining from the effort. Katya was distracted from the group to the side of the path. As she strayed away Clara ordered her to keep up. Katya was lured to a patch of old dandelions; she plucked one out of the ground and blew on it lightly spreading seeds everywhere. She dropped the stalk carelessly and raced after Clara and Alice calling helplessly "Wait for me!" as she caught up breathless Clara and Alice were mulling over a complicated direction in their walk book. As Katya came to an abrupt halt, the sun was obscured by a large black cloud, rain was threatening to sky. Clara shuddered as the wind howled like a wolf on a cold night, it blew cold air through her clothes and goose bumps materialised on her arms. "Is it just me or is it really cold!" Clara enquired. "No I'm cold too!"Alice replied. They hugged each other tightly to spread their warmth and as a comfort for each other. Katya bumped between them and poked her head through the warm mass "Is there space for me!"

As the girls walked on the sun rose to its full height and burnt out all the clouds instead the sky was scorched a perfect blue. The suns strength was immense and it tortured their bodies as the heat beat them violently. Sweat ran down the side of Clara's face and she wiped the beads of sweat swiftly off her forehead with the back of her arm. Trudging in the light dust, feet shuffling in agony, a meek voice was heard "How much further?" whined Katya. But there was no response. Clara and Alice were rested on an old wooden stile. Panting with exhaustion they all collapsed in a heap on the ground, they rolled around in the grass, laughing in delight childishly. The spring sun was blinding them as they laid on the grass carpet peacefully gazing up at the vibrant blue sky, cloud gazing "Look at that one, it looks like a cat!" Alice pointed out naively. But before they could lie there any longer the sun was once again blotted out by a large grey cloud ominously. The sudden changing of the weather was strange and it stirred an atmosphere of panic within the stomachs of Clara, Alice and Katya. Funnily enough Alice's stomach grumbled as the clouds rolled across the sky and in the far distance thunder clattered in the sky like the breaking of bones.

Torchwood 4

"Jones, yeah you Jones, are you ready?" With tacit agreement and a slight nod the broad backed Captain pulled his greatcoat over his large shoulders and slipped into it like a preset mould made from years of wearing it. "Guns ready Captain" remarked Gwen and Harper added "And medi kit loaded". With a jingle of car keys and a slamming of doors the team were off with Jack at the wheel. Disappearing behind them was a ridiculously tall skyscraper; its presence was felt as it peered over the top of Cardiff city. The whole building was made of glass that reflected the rare sunshine in Cardiff. However the top three floors of the building had completely blacked out windows which gave the building its name the Black Topper, and it was on these top three floors that Torchwood 4 had its base.

The view from the Black Topper was immense as Cardiff Bay stretched out in front of it and the skyline was not obscured by any other buildings. From this position Torchwood had the ideal advantage of seeing any unusual activity or monster sightings. However they could not be disturbed or easily spotted hidden at the top of the largest Welsh bank firm. They had their own private lift only to be accessed with a special code they also had a private car park to accommodate the company Land Rover Defender and employee's cars. But what was the most important aspect of the building for Torchwood was the fact that the Rift ran straight through the building and out through the top of the roof. This way Sato could constantly monitored what was coming in, and this was the most ideal aspect of the building for Torchwood.

"So what have we got?" enquired Gwen Cooper as she rotated in her passenger seat to look behind to the rear seats at Miss Sato and Dr. Harper. Jones was in the further row of seats next to the cage compartment with Fifi, the teams newly accomplished sniffer dog. A certain Miss Sato replied "It's the countryside; bodies are disappearing, hundreds of them, missing people!"Gwen looked into her Captain's eyes; they were no longer a clear aquatic blue but rather a stormy blue. "Could it be?" Gwen implied it could be the Harvest that they had encountered in the Countryside 10 years before. "It's been 10 years "added Gwen but Jack only shrugged heavily in reply and focused on driving. A voice from the very back of the car hesitated "What happened 10 years ago?" "Oh nothing to worry about!" Mr. Harkness interrupted abruptly being as secretive as he was. However tears began to well up in his eyes and one loose one ran down the side of his face as memories of his old team flooded back. Gwen rested an arm on his knee to reassure him she was there for him and she had suffered equally.

Jack put his foot down hard on the accelerator and the car sped along the main road at 80mph. The brakes squealed as Jack swerved the car dangerously to turn at a junction. Meanwhile the team braced themselves and Fifi barked accordingly. Gwen's hand slipped from Jack's knee as she gripped on tightly to the inside of the car door. Harper and Sato clutched each other desperately and on the back row Jones had a face of panic as she was thrown against Fifi's cage.