I wouldn't leave you hanging too long. ;)

Next to last chapter! The government discusses what to do with the children, Jack comes clean, and something at the end turns the Apocalypse into the Time Lady Victorious. }:)

Here's "Day Four!"

***

"Why?" the Apocalypse demanded angrily, Rose gasping and tugging Clem to the side, Alice running to get her son, pulling Jenny with her as well, letting the two of them duke it out. "Why the hell would you do that?"

"1965, the 456 sent a virus to Earth," Jack winced, rubbing his stinging cheek. "They said it would mutate in four months, a new version of the Indonesian Flu. It could kill up to twenty five million people. All research supported the evidence." He swallowed, not able to help being scared as the Apocalypse circled him like an animal circling prey, he being able to hear her growling under her breath. Gwen and Tosh were staring, shocked, Owen and Ianto looking back and forth between Jack and the Apocalypse. Rhys and Alice, who had never seen a standoff like this before, were simply staring. Jenny looked scared. Rose was just . . . disappointed. "But they were offering a cure. They'd send the antivirus."

"In exchange for something of Earth's," the Apocalypse nodded. "They wanted twelve children."

"It sounded like a good deal," Jack admitted. "The 456 said they'd live forever."

"So why were you the one to deliver them?"

Jack closed his eyes. "Because they needed someone who didn't care."

Her growling turned into a snarl. "So you just handed them over and hoped for the best?!"

"You are in every nightmare I've ever had," Clem pointed at Jack accusingly.

"I'm sorry," Jack said honestly, tears in his eyes. "I'm really sorry. I - "

Clem lunged forward, reaching for one of the guns Torchwood had left on the console. Before he could get there, the Apocalypse pointed at Clem, and he froze in place, held by her telekinesis. "I am very tempted to let everything I have out on you," the Apocalypse rubbed the bridge of her nose, looking at Jack. "Give me a few moments."

She released Clem and stormed out of the console room, her hair crackling with energy. Jenny hurried after her, Rose letting Gwen comfort Clem before running after them both. Jack slumped into the captain's chair, his head in his hands, knowing the Apocalypse was more than likely about to demolish one of the rooms. Tosh and Owen quietly conversed about what they had seen on the computer, while Alice talked quietly to Steven. Only Ianto remained by Jack, and he was shaking his head. "I can't believe you didn't mention this before," he said.

"They didn't speak through the kids back then," Jack said. "I didn't recognize the signs at first."

"That's not what I meant," Ianto shook his head.

Steven suddenly walked over, Alice watching with a close eye. "So you're not my uncle?" he asked.

Jack blinked, then looked up at Alice. "How were you there in 1965," she explained.

Jack sighed. "No, I am not your uncle," he told Steven.

"Mum said you're my grandpa."

"Oh, don't call me that," Jack sighed. "Now you're really making me feel old."

"How's that possible?"

"Well," Jack leaned back, remembering. "Your Aunt Rosie is a very special woman."

By the time Jack had finished explaining, Steven was asking many questions, making Alice smile at her father and her son interacting.

***

Rose blinked as when she opened the door, she found half of the room charred black, the other half two inches frozen. "You weren't kidding about letting everything out," she told her sister.

The Apocalypse paced back and forth, doing a mixture of growling and snarling, her boots clicking on the frozen floor. "How could he not have mentioned that?" she demanded as Rose and Jenny watched. "We needed to know!"

"Left alone nearly a century, having to rely on himself, after being killed multiple times and left on the Game Station?" Rose shrugged. "I can believe he wouldn't care."

The Apocalypse sighed, rubbing her head. "How could he?" she repeated to herself.

"Mum," Jenny said quietly. "What's in the past is in the past. It's out now, and we can't change it."

"It's like you were after the Time War," Rose made a connection. "You were lost, too. And after you lost me. You did things you weren't proud of. This is one of the things Jack isn't proud of."

The Apocalypse was silent for a minute. "If one more child gets harmed because of this, I am going insane," she finally warned before storming back out the door.

Rose and Jenny eyed each other before hurrying after her.

***

" . . . must have known they'd be back," Gwen was saying when they returned.

"I knew it was a possibility," Jack corrected.

"But you still gave them the payoff?"

"We had no choice."

"Why us?" Clem asked, seeming calm now.

Jack winced, seeing the three girls were back. "You wouldn't be missed."

Surprisingly, everyone but Clem glared at him. "I can see that," Clem admitted.

"All this time, the one consolation I had was the deal seemed to work."

"It worked for forty four years," Rhys reminded him. "That's not bad breathing space."

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

"We know they only want pre-pubescent kids," Owen folded his arms. "Maybe it's got something to do with that. Maybe you were just on the cusp of puberty. Not quite adult, not quite child."

"Saved by the hormones," Rose giggled.

"Guys, they're starting again," Tosh sat up.

Everyone crowded around the laptop to watch. "Is this still recording?" the Apocalypse asked. "We need every second of this."

"Yeah," Tosh checked.

***

"Hello again," Frobisher swallowed as he stood in front of the tank. "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."

"Somebody is watching," the 456 growled. "Some remnant."

***

"It knows!" Clem's eyes widened. "It knows I'm here!"

"Somebody is watching," Alice translated Lois's shorthand.

"I told you, it knows!" Clem insisted, panicking. "Turn it off!"

"It's talking about the camera," Gwen patted his shoulder. "It doesn't know about us. Shush."

"They can't track the TARDIS," the Apocalypse patted the time rotor, the ship whirring, trying to comfort Clem.

***

"The Prime Minister, the leader of this country, the United Kingdom, 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 gestured to the camera.

"It is off the record?" the 456 asked.

"Yes."

"Come in."

Frobisher blinked. He hadn't been expecting that. "In there?"

"With your camera. Come in."

***

"It's hiding something," Clem said with certainty.

"They always are," the Apocalypse muttered, narrowing her eyes and leaning forward.

***

"Right, is that OK?" Dekker asked as he got the cameraman into a hazmat suit.

"Mmmhmm," he nodded. "Yeah."

"Now, you'll be able to hear us, and we can hear anything you say. OK, hand me a mouthpiece," he told the others. "There you go. Don't take it off until the light in the airlock goes green, OK?"

"Yes, sir," he nodded.

"Camera. I'll be monitoring you throughout."

"Good luck," Bridget said as the cameraman headed for the airlock.

"Thank you, ma'am," he said.

"Air content stabilized," Dekker reported.

The cameraman went into the containment chamber, and Lois moved to see what was on the camera. She cringed when she saw the 456 creature, still with its green bile. "I'm getting three heartbeats," Dekker said, and Lois looked at the monitor.

***

"Three hearts?" the Apocalypse frowned, shaking her head. "That can't be right."

"What do you mean?" Rose looked at her. "We've got two hearts. Surely other species do."

"There's slim few, and this creature does not have the description of one of them," the Apocalypse shook her head. "There's someone else in that tank."

***

"It's got three heads?" Frobisher asked.

"No, there's . . . there's three distinct forms of life in there."

"Get closer," Frobisher ordered the cameraman.

***

Owen let out a nasty curse at the same time as the Apocalypse, except hers was in Gallifreyan. "No, no, no, no, no, no!" Clem wailed when he saw who else was in the chamber.

***

"Is that a child?" Pierce demanded, looking at what was hooked up to the 456. "Where'd it get him from?"

***

"He's one of the kids from 1965," Gwen realized, clapping her hands over her mouth.

Alice gasped, turning Steven away so he couldn't see. "He's still just a child," Jack's voice cracked.

"Do you think he knows?" Rhys asked, looking at the bald child with wide eyes. "Is he conscious?"

"What's happening?" Clem asked, seeing the image blur.

"Lois is crying," Jenny said timidly.

***

"What have you done to him?" Frobisher demanded, looking at the 456. The 456 hissed and thrashed, and the camera was splattered. "Get him out of there!" Frobisher ordered. "Get him out! Get him out!"

"John, get me out of here!" the cameraman cried.

***

Green frowned when he heard the 456 relaying something in Frobisher's voice. "What's it saying?"

"That's John Frobisher's voice," Pierce narrowed his eyes. "What's off the record?"

***

"This is unacceptable," Frobisher shook his head as the cameraman was helped out of the suit.

***

"We do not harm the children," Alice swallowed as she read Lois's transcript. "They feel no pain. They live long beyond their years."

"Oh," Gwen swallowed. "Well, that's OK, then."

"Beyond their years, I believe," the Apocalypse shook her head. "Feel no pain? That I highly doubt."

"Agreed," Owen shook his head, remembering how many tubes were hooked up to the child. "That didn't look painless."

"What does it do with them?" Jack asked. "What does it want them for?"

"Bit late to ask now," Rhys said.

"We have answered your question," Alice said as Lois wrote more. "You have one day to select and deliver your ten percent."

***

"And if we refuse?" Frobisher asked.

"We will wipe out your entire species," the 456 answered.

***

The humans are tensed at the threat -

The Apocalypse just snorted loudly and rolled her eyes. "You know, if I had a dollar for every time I heard that coming from a species, I'd be able to quit the time traveling business and retire and never run out of money," she remarked to Rose. "Actually, no. If I had a jelly baby for every time I heard that, I'd be the most hyper woman ever to have lived."

"That would be hell," Owen couldn't help but say.

***

Pierce looked at Green angrily. "Am I to understand this country has had dealings with these creatures before?"

"Apparently so," Green mocked surprise. "I would point out I was only a child myself in 1965."

"Nonetheless, you made the decision only this week, sir, to keep those previous negotiations secret?"

"It could be said, that perhaps it was convenient, for the moment, until further consideration."

"You will give us all files on 1965 immediately, and the United Nations will decide what measures to take against you, Mr. Green," Pierce growled.

***

Jack managed to find something stronger than tea in the Apocalypse's kitchen, only to jump, startled, when he saw Ianto standing in the doorway. "This must have been eating at you," he said. "Why didn't you tell me? I could've helped."

"No, you couldn't," Jack shook his head.

"I tell you everything."

"Yeah? So tell me: what should I have done?"

"Stood up to them," Ianto answered easily. "The Jack I know would've stood up to them. I've only just scraped the surface, haven't I?"

"Ianto, that's all there is," Jack shook his head. "And the Jack you know didn't exist until after The Year That Never Was and I saw Calypsie more broken than I ever could be."

And it had hurt, more than anything, even more than giving the children to the 456. Seeing the Apocalypse after losing Rose, and then to watch her brother, her true brother in blood, die in her arms . . . he never wanted to see that happen again. He never wanted to watch her have to lose someone like that again, and more than anything, he didn't want to be in her position ever.

"You pretend that's all there is," Ianto corrected.

Jack sighed. "Yeah, I do," he admitted, heading back to the console room.

"Where are you going?" Ianto asked, frowning.

"Console room," Jack answered. "Time I gave Johnny boy another call."

***

"You two should get a couple of hours sleep while you can," Frobisher told Bridget and Lois as they waited in the lobby of Thames House.

"So should you," Bridget countered.

Frobisher would have answered, but then his phone rang. He took a look at the Caller ID and straightened. "It's Harkness," he said sharply. "Ring Ashton Down, see if you can get a trace on it. Strong coffee, loads of," he told Lois. Bridget made the call as Lois headed off for drinks. "Hello?" he asked as he answered.

"Have you thought about what I said?" Jack asked.

"Bit busy, to be honest."

"Let me put this right. Let the Apocalypse and I come, and we can work together."

"Give yourself up, and you won't be harmed."

"You know, no one ever believes that," the Apocalypse said on the other line.

"You can."

"But I won't."

"You've spoken to the 456, haven't you?" Jack asked. "They want more children."

"What makes you think that?" Frobisher stalled for time.

"Ooo, got your little lapdogs going, don't you?" the Apocalypse said casually. "You know, I guess you should know, Mr. Frobisher. I'm a time traveler. I'm in a time machine. Honestly, if you ever manage to track this girl, I'm giving up what remaining lives I have, because that would be a first."

"You can't find us, so don't waste your time trying to play games," Jack added as Bridget, confused, held up a text that said TRACE NOT FOUND. "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, then I'll tell the world what's really going on. There's too much at stake not to."

"And you may be government, John Frobisher, but I guarantee my friends would be all too happy to make sure nothing happens that we can't stop," the Apocalypse added. "They're standing by for my command. Mine, and no one else's. Think about what we said."

Frobisher groaned as they hung up. "They might as well be siblings," he muttered.

"Why don't you get your head down on the couch for an hour?" Bridget asked Frobisher.

He was about to do that when Lois ran up. "Sorry," she panted. "The Prime Minister wants to see you."

***

"Take notes," Bridget told Lois as they entered Downing Street. "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."

***

"Cabinet Office Briefing Room A," the Apocalypse read the sign. "COBRA, where all emergency planning takes place."

"Gold Command meeting's about to start," Ianto nodded.

"They'll sell us out, just like they did last time," Clem whimpered.

"If they do, I'm gonna kill the whole lot of them," the Apocalypse growled, eyes glowing gold, only comforted when her daughter took her hand.

***

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's been decided we're going to make the 456 an offer," Green said as Lois stood in the background. "A realistic number, something we can manage, and then we see what happens."

"You mean we're going to haggle?" Riley asked with a frown. "What about the military option?"

"There's nothing to take action against," the defense secretary shook his head. "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."

***

"Not beyond mine," the Apocalypse muttered, keying in a command on the TARDIS console.

Tosh blanched when she saw the many ships whizzing about above Earth. "Oh, my God."

"OK," Owen swallowed hard. "We're in trouble."

"Yeah, not yet," the Apocalypse shook her head.

***

"There's a target sat in Thames House," Riley said.

"Taking that out would be a declaration of war," the defense secretary pointed out.

"A war we can't win," Deputy Prime Minister Rick Yates added.

"That's why I've invited John to address the Gold Command," Green said. "In terms of managing the figures, what could we offer and get away with? We need to know how many units would be available by tomorrow morning."

***

"Isn't it? Isn't it?" Clem hid behind Gwen. "It's happening again."

"They're really going to do this," Rose said in disgust.

"Grandpa?" Steven looked up at Jack timidly. "Are they going to take us?"

"Over my once-and-for-all dead body," Jack shook his head, putting his hands on his grandson's shoulders protectively, making Alice smile.

"We're not going to let that happen," the Apocalypse said firmly in agreement.

***

"Look, it won't just be Britain, will it?" Riley asked.

"The idea is that every country makes a camouflageable contribution," Green said.

***

"Can you pass me the FAS file, please?" Frobisher asked Bridget.

"FAS?" Rhys narrowed his eyes. "Oh, now you're talking."

"Right, well . . . er, for a start," Frobisher flicked through the file. "There are twenty children in Oakington right now. Twenty one units. Unaccompanied asylum seekers waiting deportation."

"FAS, failed asylum seekers," Tosh said. "Orphans in '65, asylum seekers today."

"Is that progress?" Jenny frowned.

***

"And no one would miss them," Yates added. "We need more. Can you bump the numbers up to sixty?"

"I think so," Frobisher nodded. "We could have them all in Oakington by first thing tomorrow."

"Thank you, John," Green nodded. "Now go back to Thames House and consult with the 456. Make them an offer of sixty units and no more."

***

Anna picked up the phone in her house when it rang. "Hello?"

"It's me," Frobisher said, sounding exhausted.

"Well, how did it go?"

"All you need to know is there's nothing to worry about. I'm sorry, I can't explain, but trust me. Don't worry."

"Well, have you slept yet?"

"No."

"Are you on your way home?"

"No time for that, sweetheart. I'm afraid it's a matter of utmost national security."

"Are you safe?" she asked worriedly.

"Of course I am. You know me, I'm just pushing papers around. They just need me to make sure all the documentation's in place. Did the bodyguards turn up?"

Anna checked out the window. "Yeah, they're outside."

"Good. Good. I just wanted to say I love you, and I love the girls."

"When will you be home?" she asked, tears in her eyes.

"Soon," he promised. "Look, I've got to go. I love you."

"I love you, too," Anna whispered as she hung up.

***

Frobisher entered the containment room and walked up to the tank. "I'm sorry, but we have discussed your demands and we've arrived at a solution that might satisfy both parties. I've been authorized 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."

"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."

As Frobisher turned to leave, the 456 spoke. "Three two five zero zero zero. Three two five zero zero zero."

***

"You are turning this house into a bloody playschool," Rhiannon accused Johnny.

"Ten quid a kid, more like a charity," Johnny shook his head.

"And who's doing all the work?" she glared. "Muggings here, that's who. I don't see you lifting a bloody finger."

"Three two five zero zero zero," the kids suddenly said at once, and when they turned, they were all stiff as boards.

"Oh, my God, they're doing it again," Rhiannon dropped what she was doing. "Mica?" she looked around. "Where's Mica? Mica!"

"Three two five zero zero zero. Three two five zero zero zero."

"What is it?" Johnny asked in confusion.

"Three two five zero zero zero."

"What are you going on about, lottery numbers or what?"

***

"Three two five zero zero zero," Clem and Steven said as one.

"Coordinates?" Rhys suggested as the Apocalypse hurriedly typed the number into the console. "Grid reference, maybe?"

"The number in France is four four eight zero zero zero," Rose found a new report pop up.

"And in America, it's two three four zero zero zero zero," Jenny checked as well.

"That's ten percent," the Apocalypse realized. "Ten percent of the country's population in children."

***

"It's confirmed," Yates said. "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."

"I think it's fair to say that our final offer has just been rejected," Green said dryly. "OK, thanks, everyone. Let's take a break."

"It's worth considering, sir," Yates said quietly as the others went to leave. "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," Green held up his hands. "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."

Green actually considered his words.

***

"Anything?" Johnson asked her men impatiently.

"It's all gone quiet," one of them shook his head. "All our usual sources from the government, the army, Whitehall, all gone silent. Whatever's happening in London, no one's breathing a word."

"It's about time I found out what's going on," Johnson decided. "I'm taking a squad to London. Are the roads still blocked?"

"Only in the center," he answered.

"Then patch me through a clear route," Johnson ordered. "And keep watching for Harkness. If it's happening in London, then that's where he'll be."

***

When Frobisher returned to COBRA, the meeting restarted. "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."

"Namely, how do we select the ten percent?" Yates listed them. "Who would go? How would we transport them? And how could we sell it to the voters?"

"John?" Green asked.

Frobisher shook his head desperately. "Well, the selection's not down to me."

"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. You just need to decide what criteria you'd use for selection, which is out of my hands. Over to you, sir."

***

"I am so bloody thankful I'm teaching you everything you need to know instead of sending you to an Earth school right now," the Apocalypse whispered to Jenny, her arm tight around her shoulders.

Alice did the same thing with Steven, kissing the top of his head as she continued to read Lois's shorthand.

***

"Anyone?" Green looked around the table. "Might I remind you, the clock is ticking."

"It would have to be random," the defense secretary finally said.

"No one'll believe it was random," Riley snorted. "Not unless some of us are seen waiting at school gates for empty buses to return."

"If the criteria we use is demonstrably fair and entirely random, then at least we could defend ourselves."

"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 suggested.

Riley gave him a nasty glare. "Oh, yes, thank you, Mr. Yates."

"I didn't mean," he sputtered. "I've got no kids! I wasn't trying to - "

"Yes, no kids, and no consequences," Riley rolled her eyes. "And yours have already grown up."

"Let's keep this civil, Denise," Green began.

"Oh, yes, let's discuss the loss of millions of innocent children, and let's be civilized about it," she glared at him.

"If you wouldn't mind, yes," he glared right back.

"Could we limit it to one loss per family?" the defense secretary asked. "Every second-born child?"

"That would take more time, more organization," Frobisher shook his head. "Time we don't have."

"So it would have to be one school at a time."

"Look, I'm going to say what everyone else is thinking," Riley looked around the table. "If this . . . this lottery takes place, my kids aren't in it."

***

"Gang of bastards, isn't it?" Clem asked. "Listen to them."

"I'm sure the families of Gold Command would be exempted anyway," Riley continued. "In fact, isn't that official policy? During a major civil emergency, we're also dealing with deeply debilitating personal grief."

"It'll be hard enough as it is," the defense secretary sighed. "It is official policy that our families get protection."

"Of course they bloody do," Owen rolled his eyes.

***

"So, we could have a show of hands," the defense secretary looked around the table. "I hate to be crass, but in the circumstances - "

"Well, who votes?" Riley interrupted. "Those with kids, or those with no interest to declare?"

"No one votes. It's down to me to make an executive decision."

"Do you need some time?" Yates asked.

"No. Whatever happens, the children and grandchildren of everyone round this table will be exempt."

Frobisher slumped in relief, happy his daughters were safe. "What about nieces and nephews?" Riley asked.

"Don't push your luck," Frobisher scowled.

"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 snarled.

"No!" she snapped. "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."

"Only so far as," the defense secretary began.

"Let me finish," she cut him off. "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?"

The entire table was silenced.

***

So was the entire group in the TARDIS. "Is it horrible for me to say I can see her logic?" the Apocalypse asked heavily.

"No," Jack said in disgust. "I see it, too."

"Anyone want to speak against that?" Green asked. No one answered. "Then there we have it," he said with finality. "John, you have your criteria. We've selected the ten percent."

"Call the commander," the Apocalypse told Rose quietly. "Tell him to rally the troops."

Rose nodded quietly and went off, dialing Ross's number on her phone. "We've got enough evidence recorded here to destroy every person in that room," Gwen said with a smirk.

"And we can use it to force ur way into Thames House, finally get face to face with this thing," Jack nodded. "Right, everyone know what they're doing?"

"What if we can't get Lois to agree to this, Jack?" Tosh asked as Rose hung up after talking with Ross.

"She hasn't let us down yet," Jack said. "Rhys, OK? Let's go stand up to them."

"Yes, sir," Ianto nodded as the Apocalypse sent the TARDIS back to Earth.

***

Jack, Ianto, and Owen walked through the streets of London before Jack set eyes on a fancy car. He and Ianto shared smirks, making Owen groan as the two of them headed for the car, stealing it from its owner.

***

"In position?" the Apocalypse asked through her headset, watching Gwen, Tosh, Rose, and Jenny on her console screen through the camera in an old Torchwood One warehouse, Rhys, Alice, Clem, and Steven behind her.

"We're ready," Rose confirmed.

"Right, then," the Apocalypse switched channels. "Ianto? You're up."

***

It bloody figured they'd steal a fancy car and get stuck in a gridlock.

Owen was still snickering from the irony as they climbed out of the car and continued on foot. Ianto heard the Apocalypse and took a deep breath, dialing his sister's number. "Pipe down, you lot!" Rhiannon shouted to who were most likely kids. "Shut up! Hello?"

"It's me," Ianto said.

"Oh, I thought you couldn't call here!" Rhiannon gasped. "Is it all over?"

"It's only just beginning," Ianto shook his head. "Tosh is blocking this call from another place."

"It's Ianto," Rhiannon told her husband.

"Listen, that column of fire over London, did you see it on the telly?" Ianto asked.

"No, I was watching the other side," Rhiannon drawled sarcastically. "Of course I did, you dumbo! What's happening? The kids said they are coming, but who's they? Who is it?"

"Just stop a minute and listen," Ianto ordered.

"Ianto, just tell me," Rhiannon begged. "Who are they?"

He sighed. "They're from another planet. They want children. That's why they're here."

"They what?!"

"They want kids, millions of them."

"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. 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."

"We love you, too."

Ianto hung up and took a deep breath. "Let's do it."

***

"We need a cover story to explain why the operation is happening and to encourage participation," Frobisher said as the four women watched on their laptop. "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."

"We say the 456 double-crossed us?" the defense secretary suggested.

Gwen's phone rang, and she picked up. "OK, Gwen, we're here," Ianto said.

"Take care," Gwen answered.

***

"Excellent," Yates smirked. "It is the aliens' fault." Lois jumped when a message came in over the lenses. - Jack is in position. Let's do it - "That is where the blame should lie, not with us."

"We play the part of naive dupes rather than willing accomplices," Frobisher nodded.

"We're not willing," Green shook his head. "No one in this room is a willing accomplice."

- Jack is in position. Do it NOW -

"Thank you, John," Green nodded. "Comments, anyone?"

Lois raised her hand, but no one noticed her or paid attention to her. "This is going to take a hell of a lot of organization," Yates said. "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."

"Then we should reconvene at eighteen hundred?" Green looked around.

Lois cleared her throat. "Excuse me."

"Lois, stop it," Bridget hissed.

"I have something to say," she insisted.

"Really?" Green asked sarcastically. "Well, it's nice you want to make a contribution, er . . . what was your name?"

"Lois," she answered. "Lois Habiba, sir."

"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 rolled his eyes.

"Lois, could I have a word outside?" Bridget narrowed his eyes.

"No, but it needs saying," Lois shook her off.

"Lois, seriously, not now!" Frobisher hissed.

"And I'm not just speaking on my own behalf!" Lois held the others off.

"Just what we need," Yates huffed. "A revolutionary."

"If you like, sir, then that's what I am," she nodded firmly.

"Oh, yeah? You and whose army?"

Lois smirked. "Torchwood."

That made everyone look at her. "What?" Green stared.

"Don't be ridiculous," Frobisher blanched. They'd gotten to one of his assistants?

"And it's not just them," Lois added. "They've got help from the Time Lady, the Apocalypse."

That seemed to scare them even more.

***

"Oh, yeah," the Apocalypse chuckled. "We've still got it."

***

"I think she's doing it," Gwen beamed. "Good girl!"

***

"But Torchwood has been recording all these meetings, and everything that's been said around this table," Lois looked around. "Every single word spoken by every single one of you will be made public unless you do exactly what Torchwood says."

***

"Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, and Owen Harper," Jack announced as they entered Thames Hous. "We're Torchwood."

***

When Johnson and her men entered the warehouse, they found the four women reclining. "Well, about time you got here," Rose grinned.

"We've been expecting you," Gwen added.

"On the floor," Johnson ordered, aiming her gun at them. "Face down, hands on your head."

"You overheard Ianto's call, then, didn't you?" Tosh smirked.

"On the floor!" Johnson shouted.

"No, I don't think so," Jenny shook her head. "It's dirty."

"Most of the places we've been have been horrid," Rose pointed out.

"But this is a concrete floor!"

"Or maybe I'll have you shot while resisting arrest," Johnson narrowed her eyes.

"No, I'd rather not die again any time soon," Rose shook her head.

"Or maybe you'd like to take a look at what we've been recording," Tosh gestured to the laptop they had.

Johnson narrowed her eyes, edging forward as the Prime Minister spoke again.

***

"And how exactly are you going to make us do this?" Green asked. "Torchwood's on the run, and the Apocalypse can't exactly do anything to us."

"I'm afraid not, sir," Lois shook her head. "Right now, Captain Jack Harkness, head of the Torchwood Institute, is in the reception of the MI5 building. So you're gonna stand aside and let him do his job and deal with the 456, immediately." She paused. "And, er . . . I think that's it."

***

"What she's telling them is my gorgeous husband and my boss's sister have recordings of them all secretly agreeing to sacrificing millions of innocent children to the aliens, Gwen explained. "Now, they, at this very moment, are in a secret location, and they're 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, and maybe you'll learn something about the people you've been working for," Rose invited.

Johnson eyed her, then nodded and sat down.

***

"I want to feed the live TV pictures direct to this number," Jack told Dekker as they walked up to Floor 13, handing him a slip of paper. "Can you do that?"

Dekker nodded. "I can do it."

Jack went past him into the contact room, Ianto and Owen flanking him. "I'm Captain Jack Harkness," he announced to the 456. "I've dealt with you lot before. I'm here to explain why this time, you're not getting what you want."

"You yielded in the past," the 456 pointed out.

"And don't I know it," he nodded. "I was there in 1965. I was part of that trade, and that's why I'm never gonna let it happen again."

"Explain."

"There's a saying here on Earth. A very old, very wise friend of mine taught me it. 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."

"Never mind the philosophy," Owen frowned.

"What he's saying is, you're not getting one solitary, single child," Ianto said. "The deal is off."

Jack huffed. "Er, I like the philosophy."

"We gathered," Owen gave him a look.

"You yielded in the past," the 456 said. "You will do so again."

"In the past, the numbers were so small they could be kept secret," Jack said. "But this time, that is not gonna happen, because we've recorded everything. All the negotiations, everything the politicians said, everything that happened in this room. All those tapes will be released to the public unless you leave this planet for good."

"You yielded in the past," the 456 repeated. "You will do so again."

"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 defense of its children will fight to the death, and if I have to lead them into battle, then I will."

"You've got enough information on this planet," Ianto said. "Check your records. His name is Captain Jack Harkness."

"Go back a hundred and fifty years and see what you're facing," Owen smirked.

"This is fascinating, isn't it?" the 456 said.

***

"Isn't it?" Clem whimpered. "It knows I'm watching!"

"You're safe, Clem," Alice promised, hoping to God the TARDIS really was that safe. "They won't hurt you."

***

"The human infant mortality rate is twenty nine thousand one hundred and fifty eight deaths per day," the 456 said. "Every thirty seconds, a child dies. The human response is to accept and adapt."

"We're adapting right now, and we're making this a war," Jack narrowed his eyes.

"Then the fight begins."

"We're waiting for your reply."

"Action has been taken."

Alarms went off in Thames House, and the door to the room shut, along with every window. "What have you done?" Jack stared, eyes wide as Owen ran to try and get the door open.

"You wanted a demonstration of war," the 456 answered. "A virus has been released. It will kill everyone in the building."

***

"Can they override it?" Rose asked nervously, looking at Johnson, Tosh's eyes wide as she put her hands over her mouth.

"I don't know," Johnson looked sick.

***

"The building's designed to withstand chemical and biological attack," Frobisher looked at the feed. "Nothing or no one can get in or out."

"Oh," Green growled, looking at Lois as she shrank back. "Happy now?"

***

"The air's poisoned," Jack ran out to Dekker. "Call someone! Shut down the air conditioning, block every air vent. Get gas masks, hazard suits, oxygen cylinders."

"If there's a virus, then there must be an antivirus," Ianto said, aiming his gun at the tank, followed by Jack and Owen. "Release it now, or we'll blow a hole in that tank, and we'll all die together."

"You've made your point," Jack said. "Now stop this, and we can talk."

"You are dying even now," the 456 said.

Together, the three men unloaded their clips at the tank, only to find the glass bulletproof. The 456 hissed and thrashed about, releasing a high-pitched tone. "What's that noise?" Jack winced. "What's it doing?"

***

"What's it doing?" Alice stared at the screen.

"It's a wavelength, reaching for Clem," the Apocalypse said, putting her hand on the rotor. "They're trying to get Clem." The man whimpered, reaching for his ears, but nothing was happening to him. "Atta girl," the Apocalypse smiled proudly at the rotor, hearing the TARDIS buzz. "Go to the kitchen," she told Clem and Steven. "Both of you, go. Rhys, go with them."

"Why?" Rhys frowned.

The Apocalypse swallowed, reaching for a lever, even as Steven and Clem headed off. "Because I don't know what I'm going to find once I get into Thames House."

Rhys blanched, understanding, and he nodded and shepherded the other boys off, leaving Alice to help the Apocalypse.

***

"We've got to get you two out of here," Jack turned to his fellow teammates, his family. "I can survive anything, but you can't."

"Too late," Ianto's face drained of color, looking at Owen. "We breathed the air."

"Oh, God," Owen gulped, shaking. He'd been here once before, about to die, and the Apocalypse had narrowly arrived to save him. But now, he was already dying before she could make it.

"There's got to be something!" Jack looked at the 456 in desperation. "There's got to be an antidote!"

"You said you would fight back," the 456 pointed out.

"Then I take it back, all right? I take it all back, but not them!"

Owen choked, reaching for his throat as he collapsed on the ground, yelping in pain when he fell against one of the chairs. Ianto fell not long after, Jack running to their sides. "No!" he shouted. "No, no, no, no, no! No, Ianto! Owen!"

***

"Owen!" Tosh sobbed, hands over her mouth as she watched the footage.

"They can't get out," Johnson actually looked a bit green.

Jenny whimpered and turned her head into Rose's shoulder, unable to watch. Rose couldn't stop watching, unable to turn her eyes as she watched the three men, horrified.

***

"Oh, my God," Alice blanched, seeing the two men fall.

"Come on," the Apocalypse grabbed Alice's hand, putting it on a lever. "Keep that level at all times, all right? We're entering a poisoned area, this will make sure it doesn't get inside."

Alice could only nod as other switches and levers moved on their own accord, the Apocalypse pushing the TARDIS for all she was worth to get into Thames House.

***

"It's all my fault," Jack whispered, one hand on Owen's arm, the other one cradling Ianto's head.

"No, it's not," Owen croaked, shaking his head.

"Don't speak," Jack shook his head. There he was, two cherished members of his family, dying right in front of him. His family had the worst luck in the world. "Save your breath, both of you."

"I love you," Ianto managed to choke out.

"Don't," Jack snapped, tears blurring his vision, seeing Owen's eyes flutter. "Ianto? Ianto, Owen, stay with me. Guys, stay with me, please. Stay with me. Stay with me, please."

"Hey," Ianto smiled weakly. "It was good, yeah?"

"Yeah," Jack admitted.

"Don't forget us," Owen raised a trembling hand to put it on top of Jack's.

"Never could," Jack said.

"A thousand years time, you won't," Ianto muttered.

"Yes, I will," Jack nodded. "I promise I will." Owen nodded faintly, then his eyes slid closed. Ianto squeezed Jack's hand; a moment later, his eyes closed as well. "Ianto? Don't go," Jack sobbed. "Don't leave me, please. Please, don't, Owen. Tosh needs you."

"You will die, and tomorrow, your people will deliver the children," the 456 declared.

The last thing Jack recalled after he kissed Ianto and keeled over dead was the sound of the TARDIS wheezing around him, thinking that for once, his sister hadn't been on time.

***

Alice screamed when they materialized around the three, and she wrenched herself away, running to Jack's side. "Dad!" she sobbed, checking for a pulse as the Apocalypse bolted to check on Ianto and Owen. "Dad, please! Dad!"

"Ianto? Owen?" the Apocalypse nudged them. "Guys?" She checked for pulses, and she closed her eyes, a sob escaping her.

Alice cried even harder, hugging Jack close as the Apocalypse stood, taking Jack's phone in a trembling hand and making a call as she piloted the TARDIS by herself.

***

"She's there," Rose sighed in relief when they saw the TARDIS materialize, blocking the camera.

Tosh's phone rang, and she hurriedly picked up. "Jack?" she asked hopefully, but then her face blanched of color. "Calsie?"

"I'm bringing the TARDIS down the block," the Apocalypse said, sounding miserable. "Get here as soon as you can."

The girls had never run faster in their life, leaving Johnson with the recordings.

***

The Apocalypse, Rose, Jenny, Gwen, Tosh, and Alice stood in the TARDIS med bay later, the three men laid out on slabs. They looked as if they were just sleeping. "I shouldn't have let them go alone," the Apocalypse muttered. "I should have gone with them."

"You couldn't have known this would happen," Rose shook her head, eyes still red.

Tosh was just dead silent, her hands still covering her mouth, eyes still puffy and overflowing with tears. Gwen stood with her arm around her, both of them looking down at Owen. "There's nothing we can do," Gwen whispered.

None of them reacted with Jack awoke with a small gasp, eyes wide.

They did, however, jump back, stunned . . . when the two other men did the exact same thing, the two of them hacking for breath, color returning to their faces . . . both of them very much alive. "What?!" the Apocalypse shrieked, blue eyes wide in surprise.

"What the hell?" Rose stared, even as Jenny laughed in relief.

"Where are we?" Owen looked around before he caught sight of Tosh, her mouth open wide. "Tosh?"

"Owen!" she slammed into him, sobbing into his shoulder as he hugged, her, confused.

"What?" the Apocalypse looked between Ianto and Jack and Rose, Gwen's mouth opening and closing, nothing coming out.

"Jack?" Ianto looked at the man. "But, we - "

"Died," Jack's eyes were just as wide, looking from the man he loved over to Owen. "But, how - ?"

"What?" the Apocalypse repeated for the third time.

***

"I don't believe this," she shook her head as she looked at the readings coming from one of the scanners, Ianto and Owen sitting on two different beds in the med bay, Jack right by Ianto's side, Tosh sticking like glue to Owen's. "Granted, I've already seen this once, but this . . . "

"Are they like me?" Jack prompted.

"Yes," the Apocalypse nodded, rubbing her forehead. "The same readings as you, Jack. Immortal, unable to stay dead."

"Oh, my God," Alice shook her head, stunned, as Jack sighed in relief and hugged Ianto hard.

"And that's not even the strangest bit," the Apocalypse said, making everyone look at her. "Guess who else onboard has those exact same readings?" she swung the screen around.

Gwen blanched as Tosh clapped a hand over her mouth. "Us, too?" she stared at the screen.

"Torchwood is going to be around protecting Earth for a very long time," the Apocalypse nodded, unable to believe it. "For good measure, I checked Rhys, too. He's got an extended time. I can't promise how long, Gwen, but as long as he doesn't die, you'll definitely set a new record for how long you've been married."

Tosh sobbed in relief, Owen hugging her tightly. To have lost Owen in a flash, only to gain him back, and not just get him back, but for forever . . . "How?" she managed to ask. "How did this happen?"

"It can't have been the Game Station," Jack shook his head. "I hadn't even met them yet."

"The Crucible," Rose realized, her eyes widening. "Oh, my God, this is my fault."

"Rose?" Gwen frowned as they all looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"When you regenerated, the Vortex was still inside you," the Apocalypse recalled, eyes clearing as she made the connection. "When you regenerated, it blasted out of you."

"It knocked us off our feet," Tosh remembered, eyes wide. "That was it?"

"Must've been," Rose swallowed. "And if I couldn't control where it was going, it could have easily hit Ianto, Gwen, and Rhys."

"So we're immortal now?" Ianto asked, just for clarification.

"You're stuck with him," the Apocalypse smiled and nodded.

Ianto shrugged, smiling at Jack. "Not a bad life."

"Better with two," Rose smiled as Jack smiled back at him.

"Oh, my God," Gwen blanched. "How the hell do I tell Rhys?"

"I think we have something to do first," the Apocalypse went back to expressionless, a dark look on her face.

***

They were there as workers laid out those who had died in Thames House, and who stayed dead. Tosh kept Owen's hand tight in hers, Jack and Ianto not separating. Gwen stood with Jenny and Rose, watching as people found their loved ones dead.

The Apocalypse, meanwhile, stood at the head of the group, her arms folded, blue eyes narrowed, gold seeping into her pupils. When the door opened, she didn't turn to look. "Commander," she said emotionlessly.

"Apocalypse," Ross answered, nodding as he eyed the bodies. "I came as soon as I heard the message. What do you need?"

"Ready the 1001st Legion," the Apocalypse answered, a growl in her voice. "If it's a war the 456 want, it's a war they're going to get. And they're going to regret the day they decided to mess with the family of the Time Lady Victorious."

Ross stiffened to attention and nodded, turning and walking out the door. "You really mean that, don't you," Ianto looked at the Apocalypse, shocked. "You're really going to win a war for us, aren't you?"

"Jack's family is mine, too," the Apocalypse nodded. "I said that a long time ago. Yes. You are all worth fighting for. And I intend on taking it right to the 456. And I intend to win."

***

Bet none of you saw that twist coming, did you? }:) To be continued in the finale, "Day Five!"

Come on, did you really think I was gonna kill off Ianto? I said Jack and Torchwood were gonna be around for a long time. Well, now they are for a really long time.

And with the near loss of Ianto and Owen, the 456 have truly unleashed the Apocalypse, and she's calling war. This just got real interesting.

Next hint about the next Apocalypse: she can speak two languages fluently and has knowledge of at least three more. I will not say which languages. ;)