NCIS: Torchwood V2- Chapter 2

NCIS: Torchwood-  Brave New World


Chapter 2- Learning Curve
-Vonvoltair

"What the hell happened here Duck?"  called out Gibbs as he, Kate and Jack entered into autopsy only to find the later twos companion laying covered on one of the autopsy tables before them.

As Ducky and Ziva turned towards Gibbs voice, he noticed the two people standing with him.  Caitlin was one of them and she looked as if she was in a state of pure panic.  It took Ducky a moment and he almost chuckled.

"Oh no my dear.  Your friend is quite alright.  After we removed the foreign object from her arm she passed out.  Not sure if it was from the pain or from utter exhaustion..." he said moving towards them.

Kate let go of Jack as she listened to Ducky speak.  After a moment she realized that her sister was breathing softly under the blanket.  She moved slowly around Gibbs to the left side of the table and looked at her sister, and her bandaged arm.  Her color was coming back, but she still looked rather restless.  

As Gibbs moved over towards the girl Jack asked Ducky  "What exactly did you remove from her arm?"

Gibbs looked at Ducky as he moved towards Jack.  He looked at Gibbs for a moment before he spoke.  
"I don't know how I missed it the first time, however when we removed her bandages her arm was swollen, and dark black... blood was coming from the wound.  Inside I found what seemed to be part of a ... a claw..." he said making a motion with his hands.

Jack looked worried, a look that Kate took notice too.
"What Jack?" she asked.

He sighed for a moment, then started to explain.
"The creature in the warehouse, its claws are laced with a neurotoxin.  While not deadly it causes weakness and confusion usually so they can make quick get always or keep a target subdued.  I really don't know what damage long term exposure to it may cause, especially if the claw its self was imbedded in her arm."

Gibbs turned back and looked at the girl.  She looked much better than she did in the interrogation room earlier in the day.  Her color was returning and she seemed to be asleep.  As he reached out to touch her arm Ziva noticed his motions and called out to him.
"Gibbs...wait don't..." But it was to late.
The moment he touched her arm her glazed eyes opened for a moment and her arm shot up grabbing tightly onto the collar of his shirt pulling him down.  He grabbed her hand with his free on but her grip was tight.  She took a sharp breath in and squinted.

Luna felt drowsy and out of it... she tried to focus on her surroundings but everything was fuzzy for the moment.  She was holding onto something and felt something warm around her hand.  Then she heard Kate's voice as her shadow leaned over her.
"Luna its ok... its Kate. We are.... safe now." she said hoping her startled sister would respond to her.  She looked up as Jack just snickered at Luna's reaction to being startled awake.
Her grip relaxed, and Gibbs took her hand in his not quite sure if he should let her go again or not.

Luna for the moment ignored the person now holding her hand as she rolled her head towards her sister.
"Kate..." she said her voice dry and raspy.... "I've been having the strangest dream..."  
As she said this she looked to the other side of the table.  It took her a moment before she could focus on the man holding her hand.  She blinked and she held her breath for a moment...

She yanked her hand quickly back towards her out of the mans grip.  She used it then to rub her eyes as she looked back towards Kate and said as a statement not a question....
"Not a dream..."
"No Luna." Kate responded even though she knew she didn't need to.  "Its not."
"I don't feel so well..." she finally admitted as she closed her eyes again.
"I know...." Kate said stroking the girls hair.

Ziva looked at Jack as she moved next to Gibbs and whispered... "She did the same thing to me earlier... she's a bit jumpy"  to which Ducky replied
"Well the girls been effectively poisoned, I think that's enough to throw any one off their game."

"Were is the claw now?" Jack asked.
"Mr Palmer took it up to Abby."  Ducky said.
Gibbs took note of the worried look still on the new mans face.  He thought for a moment as he looked up at Ziva.
"Ziva take our... guests here to Abbys lab." he finally said.

"Gibbs?" she asked in response.
He took a moment.  This was unlike anything that they had dealt with before and they needed more information.  He motioned with his head towards the door.
"Ill be there in a moment."

Ziva moved over to Kate, who in turn looked back at Luna who had drifted back to sleep.
"Ill keep watch over her, and make sure you know if your friend needs anything." Ducky said trying to reassure the girl.  His voice had an edge to it,  something was bothering him.

Jack put his hand on Kates shoulder and whispered into her ear.  
"You said we can trust them, so... trust them.   She will be ok for now.  We need to learn what they know..."
She nodded.

Her reluctance to leave was not lost on Gibbs nor Ducky as Ziva walked them from the room.
Once the doors slid shut Gibbs turned to Ducky.
"What is it Duck?  Did she say something to you?" he asked.
Ducky took a moment as he moved over to the table by the sleeping girl.
"Its not what she said Jethro... its how she said it." he stated.

Gibbs made a face at Ducky, a face that he knew all to well.
"She spoke to me like she trusted me.  Almost...." his voice trailed off for a moment
"Almost what Duck?" Gibbs asked.
"Almost as if she knew me, and knew me well ...."
Gibbs took this in for a moment.   Ducky was not one to be fooled easily.  
"Did Ziva tell you..." he started to ask but Ducky cut him off
"Yes... she told me about what they said in the interrogation room, about the knife... about.... you." Ducky said looking up at Gibbs.
"You think they are telling the truth don't you." Gibbs said.
Ducky thought for a second then replied, "As impossible as it may be.  What is your gut telling you Jethro?"
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McGee and Abby were staring at her computer, neither believing what they were seeing.   First they had started to analyze the "Claw" fragment that Palmer had brought them.  It had apparently been lodged in the blonde woman's arm.
That was the first thing that got Abby excited.  It was definitely exterritorial.  There was unknown genetic material and so much other stuff it even made McGees head spin.  The computer was having a total spaz attack sorting and categorizing and trying to figure out what it was being asked to figure out so while it worked its magic for Abby.  She and McGee had started to talk about what they had heard and seen upstairs earlier.
After several minuets of comparing notes Abby decided to run the blood from the blonde girl just because she could.  While the girls fingerprints gave them no ID on her, her blood while it alone interested Abby for its strangely unique genetic design came back with a match... a match for family.... a match.... for Kate....

"Oh my God... McGee...." Abby said looking at the screen...
"I see it... but... wow... at least we know why she was overly worried about the blonde girl now."  He said leaning in towards the screen.
"Duh McGee... If it was your sister hurt, you would be worried to." Abby said.
"Well... Half sister anyways it looks like."  McGee corrected her....  " I guess we found one more thing that differs between our worlds...." he said
"So you believe the stuff that Jack guy was saying?" Abby said Turning to him.
"Captain Harkness...." McGee said mocking him from earlier " and ... yes... sort of... at least now with this...." he said waving to the screen.  

It was then that they both heard foot steps from behind them.  As they turned Abby clicked the keyboard to hide the screen her and McGee were just looking at just in case.  After a moment Ziva followed by two others entered the lab.
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Ziva had been quite the whole time to Abby's lab.  She noticed that Kate... especially Kate seemed a bit uncomfortable around her.  She wondered why, however she felt for now it would be best not to ask as in all honesty she felt a bit uncomfortable with Kate to... seeing as how she was suppose to be dead or at least in this world anyways..

The lab was quite as they entered.  Ziva noticed Abby was anxious and twitchy as she looked from her to Kate.  Jack and Kate noticed it to, however Jack thought it would be funny to nudge Kate towards the girl slightly.  The sudden movement was all the headway Abby needed to launch her self at Kate before McGee could stop her.

She wrapped her arms tightly around her while mumbling...."Oh my god Kate.... I know your not my Kate... but your still Kate.... Ive missed you sooo much..."
Kate hugged the girl back.  She understood the girls reaction, at least to some point.  When she first saw Gibbs she felt the same way.
"Abby... " McGee said not taking his eyes off Kate.  "She still needs to breath."
Abby held on for a moment longer afraid almost if she would let go that should would wake up and this would be all some sort of dream.  She took a deep breath and then stepped back with a smile on her face.

Jack took this moment to speak up.
"So, the doctor told us he sent you what was in Luna's arm?" he asked
She looked at the man for a moment as McGee clicked on the keyboard.
"Uh... yeah.  The Claw fragment, definitely not like anything we've seen before..." she said getting excited again.
"Its from a real alien isn't it..." McGee said turning around just as a voice from behind Jack spoke up.
"What do you think McGee...."  It was Gibbs.

"Well ah... boss... its not like dna make up for any species on file." He said.
Gibbs moved into the room and stood next to Abby and turned to face Kate and Jack.
"I think our new friends here will be able to shed some light on what we are dealing with." he stated giving Jack a look.  Jack just smirked back at Gibbs which earned him an elbow in the ribs from Kate.
"Remember what you said to me earlier..." she said softly referring to his little speech in autopsy.

"What ever this thing is..."  Abby said " The closest we can come to matching it is arachnid dna."
Jack relented to Kate.   "Their species is called the Anubrakin, and you are correct in the aspect that the creature they seem most related to on this planet would be an Arachnid."

Ziva made a face, she did not like spiders. Abby on the other hand was over whelmed with excitement of finding alien life.
"Why is it here?" McGee asked.  It was a question that Jack knew was coming but he him self was unsure of the answer.  He took a moment between looks from Gibbs and the others and decided to start from the beginning again.

"This particular Anubrakin is referred to as a Hunter Seeker.  Its class from what we understood in the higharchy of their empire before its collapse was as a scout, finding things, people what ever." he started.

"When you say collapse..." Ziva unexpectedly interrupted him.
Jack looked at her then said
"They are a dying race now.  The remnants of their species seem to sell their services to the highest bidder.  This one and its partner for the past year seemed to have been collecting alien artifacts from operatives from all governments around the world."

"When you say collecting..." McGee said.

"He means murdering them and taking the artifacts." replied Kate.

"What sort of artifacts?" Gibbs said.

Kate and Jack looked at each other for a moment before Kate continued on.
"That's the thing.  Its taken our teams a year to finally get to one before it disappeared with the items it had been collecting from ....  the operatives" she said doing her best not to mention section 13.  
"A year...." Gibbs said noticing Kate correcting her self, but he didn't push it for the moment.

"The Seekers despite their full appearance are quite stealthy and have the ability to blend in with out to much trouble with most humanoid races when need be.  The are quite and as you have seen quite dangerous when backed into a corner.  They work in pairs which made tracking them on earth all the harder."

"So there are two of those things?" Ziva asked.

"I don't believe so.  There was only one in the warehouse when that thing went off."  Kate said.

"What thing?" Gibbs said moving closer.
Jack eyed Gibbs before answering.  "We aren't sure.  This was our first glimpse at what they were taking off the bodies, but what ever it was.... its what brought us here."

Gibbs thought for a moment but before he could say anything it was McGee who spoke up.
"If this artifact is what brought you here, wouldn't it make sense that it could send you back?"

"Its a possibility." Jack said.  "We would have to find it first to see what IT is, unfortunately the creature took it when it fled the warehouse.  That does present a big problem..." He said trailing off on a thought.

The only response to Jacks sudden silence was Gibbs.... "Ya think...."
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It had been sleeping most of the day, however as the sun began its descent in the sky into twilight the Seeker roused its self.  It hummed several short bursts into the still air, and waited.  Soon it got a response.  It was the same creature who had responded to it before it had slept.   Its body twisted and popped as it compacted its damaged frame down as much as it could in order to blend in with the humanoids that lived upon this world.
It crawled from its hiding place leaving what was left of the body it had taken from the warehouse behind.  It donned its victims clothing and made sure the artifact was tucked safely up against its  body under its coat before moving silently in the shadows along the water way.

The sun had just touched the horizon when it came to some old dilapidated buildings that had started to become over grown.  There were few human here, most of them were homeless and paid it no mind as it move though the structures.  Finally it came to a central room with a hole in the floor.  In the room was a lone figure dressed in black.  He was thin and wore dark glasses.  His skin was pail yet had almost a green look to it, as did his hair.  As he tilted down his glasses green reptilian eyes peered out at the new comer.

It sniffed the air for a moment before a hiss escaped what passed for lips
<" Lykaran.....">  it was more of a question than a statement in its own language, a question that was answered.

<"Yes Seeker, I am.  We have been waiting a long time for one like yourself to find your way to this world.">

<"Explain."> it said.
<"In time.  She wishes to see you."> he replied.  He did not wait for an answer.  He took a step forward and dropped into the dark abyss.
It did not like this.... something was off.... something was wrong.... but it followed.  The Lykaran's had been loyal allies in the glory days of the empire, and were even more valuable now that their race was dying out.  Their fates were entwined.  It had no reason not to trust the creature... but in the back of its mind... doubt lingered.  It took dropped into the darkness.
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Abby had been talking to Jack about the Anubrakin for some time now as Gibbs got a call.  He spoke into the phone softly then hung it up.  He placed his hand on Abby's shoulder to silence her questions.

"The Director has converted one of the smaller conference rooms for the two of you for the night.  He thought it would be more... comfortable than the interrogation room.   Ziva,  DiNozzo is waiting down in the decontamination showers with some new clothing for our... guests. " he said.

"The decon showers?" Kate asked.
"Directors orders.  He  felt you may want to clean up....." He said but stopped as he noticed Abby twitching beside him.  He turned and looked at her and said   "What Abby....?"
She looked to Kate, then to McGee then back to Kate with a huge smile.

Jack remembered how Abby was... at least how their worlds Abby was, this one didn't seem to far off from theirs.  He smiled as he leaned into Kate and whispered.  
"I think she knows." he said.
She looked at him for a moment, then came to the realization of what Jack meant.

Gibbs was getting tired of this.  He turned to Abby and gave her a look.  "What did you find out...." he said.
She smiled at Kate in a way only Abby could and then turned and clicked on the keyboard brining up a new screen.  "I found out who Luna is..." She said unable to hide the excitement in her voice.

"I thought you said you couldn't find a match..." Gibbs began.
"On her prints no.... but then I ran her blood while we were waiting on maspec there..." she began to ramble.
"Abby." Gibbs said.
"Right... I got a close match for family.... a half sister." she said turning to Kate with a smile.
Gibbs and Ziva both looked at Abby and Kate for a moment unsure of what Abby was saying until Abby said
"Go ahead... tell me im wrong."
Kate just smiled.  "Your not.  She is my half sister...."
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Gibbs had left instructions for there to be 2 agents out side the conference room until morning when they would be relived by Tony and Ziva who them selves were ordered to go home and rest after their guests had showered and been shown to the room.

He on the other hand had returned to autopsy.  Ducky had gone home for some rest and Mr. Palmer was due in to relieve Gibbs in a few hours.  As he turned the lights out and went to sit at Duckys desk, he stopped.  He slowly moved over to the girl still sleeping surprisingly soundly upon the autopsy table.  He knelt down and looked at her face for a moment then he whispered to her....
"So your Kate's sister.... What other secrets are you keeping...."
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Tony and Ziva stood in the decontamination showers waiting for Jack and Kate.  They both were taking their good time in there.  Tony was tired and they both had to be back soon.  Ziva however had finally moved into the stalls to check on the duo.
Kate was just stepping out of the stall when a large towel was handed to her by Ziva.  She smiled at the woman as she wrapped it around her self.  She wasn't sure what to say to her, but when Zivas face suddenly turned a shade of red she realized the other shower was no longer running.  Before she could turn around Jack walked by both woman buck naked with a smile on his face.
"Ladies." he said as he walked out the door to were DiNozzo was waiting.   
After a moment they both heard Tony yelling angrily then darting into the shower room.
"Gawd....." Tony exclaimed dancing around.  He turned to Ziva and Kate and then said.
"Why do I have a feeling Im not going to like this guy...."
Ziva giggled while Kate just rolled her eyes.

Once they had dressed, Ziva and Tony left them in the smallest conference room the building had to offer.  There were some blankets and pillows, water and a TV.  Two agents were left outside at the door to watch them.   

Kate was exhausted but Jack, he sat there with the TV on quietly working the vortex manipulator with Luna's knife.  As the news played on in the back ground she noticed he was still smirking.
Kate moved over to him and put her hand on his shoulder and started to talk.
"Jack what you did in the showers...." she started but he cut her off.
"You know... you were right.  DiNozzo does scream like a girl...." he said with a big smile.
She just shook her head and started to laugh.
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It had followed the Lykaran for some time now.  The tunnels beneath the crumbling  structure were not man made, they were old, and strangely they smelled... of home.  They eventually came to a set of doors that to any one who had happened to stumble into the place would have seemed like a dead end.  

The Lykaran waved his pale hand over a spot and the wall parted for them, and closed back up just as quickly as they entered.  Inside the walls glowed green, vines ran along the walls weaving in and out of metalic conduits.  This place was old indeed, built from human material, but changed.

As it stopped so did the Lykaran.  The man in black turned to say something but it would have none of it.  In one swift movement it pined the Lykaran to the wall and growled at him.
<"Enough.  What place this be.  Why on this planet... is there a hive..."> it hissed.   

<"Because Seeker, our sleeping queen wished it so."> Came a new voice, a female voice.

As it turned its head it was faced with a human looking woman.  She looked old yet young at the same time, her hair dark, and her eyes dancing with colors.  It only took it a moment to recognize what the woman was by her scent.  It released the other Lykaran and dropped to its knee in a sign of apology.  
<"High Priestess.... "> it said in utter confusion.

<"Your markings are unknown to me... I was under the assumption the last Seekers from our raiding party died out years ago."> she said moving towards the creature.

<"It was as the sleeping one said..."> Came the other man  <"The rift has reopened, and from it our Seeker has come.">

<"This one... is confused..."> it said making a motion with its hands.

<"There is not much time, but I will explain as much as I can Seeker."> the female said turning her back to him her eyes squinting.  She motioned for them both to follow her.
As they walked she spoke.
<"Over a hundred of this worlds years ago the rift in this area opened up.  In our world we were chasing a small ship of renegade Time Lords.  They had artifacts and technology that we felt would aid our people.  They had no were to run, however stranded on this wretched world they opened a rift to try to escape us.... but their ship was damaged.... the results were ... unexpected.....">  

They stopped in a small laboratory as she turned to it.

<"The disparity caused by the rift separated us from them.  We have lived here..."> she said waving her hand about the caverns  
<" For the past 100 years, our fledgling queen sleeping as we watch over her until we are able to return home.  Our kind have infiltrated the government bodies of this region to make sure we are not discovered.">

<"And the ones you hunted...."> it asked

<"We have found traces of them though out this worlds history... the rift... it seems was much more unkind to them than it was to us.  Scattering them though out time on this planet, where all 37 of us.... were left together.  Our queen however before she slept said that the rift would re open, and that we would then have the means to return home.">

It pondered her story for a moment,  there were not 37 here... he could feel it, but if not all had slept the ages away... the Lykarans were like brethren to its race, beyond reproach especially a Lykaran high priestess... like this one... a Soul Binder.
It pulled from its stained military jacket the artifact it had been guarding, the thing it had been sent to collect... to rebuild... and it held it out to her.

<"Thiz is what opened rift..."> it said as she took it from her and examined it.

It was incomplete, and stained with blood.  The parts that had been assembled were smooth though the final shape of the object was undeterminable with out all the pieces.  She smiled none the less.
<"Do you know what this is..."> She asked it.

<"The onez who hired us told us it was a power supply... nothing more... they paid well."> it said.

She scrunched her face at this... had their empire fallen so far that they were nothing more than paid thieves and assigns now...  she shook her head at the thought.

<"This... is part of a Tardis Core... one of the compounds the Time Lords used to manipulate time and space.  Even incomplete it some how has the harmony to open the rift the binds our two worlds....">

<"There were others who came though as well my lady..."> spoke up the other Lykaran.
<"Who were they?" > She asked intrigued.
<"Torchwood..."> it growled.
<"Who is this.... Torchwood..."> she asked.

It took some time to explain but when the Seeker had finished the High Priestess was none to happy.  Things in their home dimension had changed.  These Torchwood humans were going to be a problem and needed to be dealt with however, they could also be the answer.

<"Which one of them carried the artifact that reacted with the core?"> She asked.
<"This one does not know."> it stated.
Her face contorted, the more she looked at the artifact the more she realized that what ever these Torchwood humans had was important in activating it.

<"Do you know were they are now?" she asked anger building in her voice.
<"No..."> it said, but before she could lash out at it, it raised its other hand, a mangled hand that had the dark stains of blood upon it.   It licked its hand and breathed deeply.
<"For the hive, this one will track and return."> it said to her, but she raised her hand to stop it.

<"Find them yes, but do not bring them here.  Ja'val will show you were to take them, to .... get answers from them before they come before me, and then our queen.   I need time to start the process of awakening ...."> she said with a wicked smile.

At it left, the Lykaran male known as Ja'val turned to the woman with concern.
<"The changelings body you inhabit now is failing my lady.  Are you sure capturing these humans and waking the queen before procuring your self a new form is wise?">

She understood his concern, he had been her lone companion for many years now, since most of their party had died out.  Out of 37 only 12 remained, counting her self, Ja'val and the sleeping queen.  Of that only the sleeping queen was Anubrakin, the rest had died out over the millennium, most of the Lykarans were either scientist or a few nobles who hid away, disguised as government officials on this world.  They were scattered now but soon that would change.

<"Do not worry for me Ja'val, for even if our new friend here fails, these new arrivals will be of much use to us.  Keep careful watch on the events about to unfold."> she said as she dismissed him.

As he left she walked the dimly lit tunnels and smiled to her self as she came to a larger room.  Soon things would change.  She dusted off a console and typed in a command.  They had made sure the queens hiding place was far from this small hive like structure they had constructed though out the years.   She was far, yet close... and soon she would awaken... yes... things were going to change very quickly now.
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Mr. Palmer had relieve Agent Gibbs a few hours ago and was sitting in autopsy reading.  Abby had visited him about ten minuets ago with some clothing as well as the disappointing news that the samples he and Ducky had given her from the charred remains of the man in black were to damaged to yield any results, they would have to try to find her a better sample.

Luna's whole body hurt.  As she opened her eyes she tried to focus but the room was dark, and cold.  She forced her self to sit up as she tried to remember what had happened.  The sheet that had covered her slid to the floor with a soft crinkling sound.  She remembered Ducky pulling something out of her arm... then....

Suddenly the lights in autopsy turned on.  Luna flinched and some one spoke to her.

"Sorry... guess I should have given some warning first...." said Palmer.

She rubbed her eyes as he slowly moved towards her.  "What time is it?" she asked.
"A little after 6.  Doctor Mallard should be in soon." he said now standing beside her.  Before she could say anything else he handed her a bottle of water with a smile.
"Thirsty?" he asked.

She was.  It only took her a moment to finish off the bottle, but her stomach started to rumble.

"Im sure Dr. Mallard will bring something for you to eat.  While we wait do you want to clean up?  Abby left some things for you to change into and the decon showers are right this way." he said trying to be as nice as possible to her to hide his uncertainty of being left alone with her.

As she moved to get off the table she lost her footing but Palmer caught her under the arm.  He blushed for a moment before letting go.   "Um... "
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"Im really sorry about this..." Palmer said as he stood in the decon shower room with his back to Luna.  "Gibbs said not to leave you alone for a moment... and well..."

"I understand Jimmy...." she said as she let the hot water wash over her.

"So... did we.. you know... know each other?" he asked trying not to turn around.

"Yes,  you would join Ducky and myself on Thursdays some times for lunch.  Why do you ask?"

"Well its just... I didn't start working with Doctor Mallard until after Agent Todds death...." he said.

Luna turned off the water and moved behind Paler and took the towel from his out stretched hand.

"Well Jack did say there were bound to be a lot of differences in our two worlds.  You were the M. E. assistant when I started working at NCIS...." she said as she stopped her self from saying to much.
"So... you worked here long?" he asked
"For about a year.... then... well... things changed."  She said wrapping the towel about her.
"You can turn around now."
Palmer was still a bit red as he did so and stammered out... "I guess I should have brought Abby's cloths in too... they are in the other room ... he said moving away from her quickly.  She couldn't help but chuckle at his embarrassment.
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Dr.  Mallard entered autopsy holding a bag of some sort of fast food sandwich that DiNozzo had given him in the lobby for the girl... the girl Ducky was now noticing who was no longer sleeping on the table... in fact she was no longer anywhere nor was his assistant Mr. Palmer.  As Ducky set the bag down he noticed Mr. Palmer had left an email open from Abby.  As he read it he suddenly heard voices approaching.

"....and how many arms did they have...." He heard Palmer asking.  
He watched as Palmer rounded the corner with a young looking blond woman dressed in black pants, and a black tank top.  Her hair was still wet and she walked in bear feet.

"Oh... Doctor... I didn't realize we... she took so long... I ummmm" Palmer started as he saw Ducky reading the email he left up.

"Is there a reason she is not wearing any shoes Mr. Palmer?"  Ducky looked up with a smirk.

"I.. um... her shoes... they are..." he said looking around.... "Not here it seems..."
Ducky walked over to her and handed her a pair of slip on's as he gave Palmer a look.
"I will go and find them..." Palmer said moving backwards, then he paused as Ducky was handing Luna the half cold breakfast sandwich.
"Oh... Abby said that..." he started but Ducky cut him off.
"Yes Mr. Palmer I saw the email you left open.  Seems our mystery man here may remain a mystery." he said moving over to the cooler.

Luna sat on the autopsy table with half the sandwich stuffed in her face.  She listened to the two of them and signed inwardly.  Jack was not going to like it if he knew she was helping them.... but he wasn't here at the....

"Dif do dek wif da b oh b tet?" she asked.
Both men stopped what they were doing and turned to look at her.  She put her hand over her mouth as she tried to swallow what was in her mouth quickly.
"Come again?" Asked Palmer.

"Did you check with the DoD yet?" she asked.
"Why would we check with the DoD?" Ducky asked
"Well.... in our world when we were investigating the warehouse the man in the black suite was a DoD agent." she answered back with a slight shiver.

Ducky thought on this for a moment.  He walked over to the girl on the table who was finishing off the last of the sandwich and handed her his white lab coat which she happily put it on over the tank top.

"So what else can you tell us..." Ducky asked.
"Not much, but...." she started.
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Kate wasn't sure that Jack had slept at all during the night.  She had awoken when Ziva had entered the room with something for them to eat.  She hadn't slept well herself, but Ziva had left the room again before she could ask about her sister.

"Did you get any sleep?" Kate asked Jack.  He just gave her a look.
"So how bad is it?" She asked referring to the vortex manipulator sitting in front of him.
He tapped it and it seemed to glow to life as Kate moved over besides him.
"You fixed it!" she exclaimed quietly.

"Not quite..." he said as he slipped it on over his wrist.  
Kate looked up at Jack.  She could see the frustration in his eyes.

"Im not sure what happened to it, but .... " he said clicking a button.  
Before Kate's eyes he vanished for a moment, then re appeared with in seconds across the room by the door.  ".... It only seems to displace time for short distances, more like a hop and a skip rather than ... well what it was doing before.... I cant fix this...." he said with a growl.

As he moved back over towards her what she saw in him unsettled her.  In all the time she had known Jack she had seen many things from him, silliness, happiness, anger, strength, command.  Now... now she was seeing a man who was lost... he was at a loss for what was happening to him, his team.... he was afraid.

As he sat next to her, she put her hand on his arm.  The look in his eyes was dark... but he put his hand over hers.  
"Jack...."
"I know... " He said cutting her off.... "Im worried too..." he however was much more worried than he let on.
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Ziva and Tony sat out side of the conference room.  It was now a little past 8.  Gibbs was on his way down from meeting with the director.  As Tony sipped from his coffee he pondered the two people locked away in the conference room.  The past 24 hours had been more than surreal... there just wasn't words to explain how he felt.

"Tony?" a voice next to him spoke....
"Yeah Ziva...." he said still lost in thought not turning to him.
"Are you ok?  You have not said more than two words to me this morning.... " she said looking at him
"Its... its Kate.... alive..." he said looking down.

Ziva had never seen Tony like this... well not in a long time.  He knew he cared about his former co worker, they all did and had taken her death rather hard, but now....  as she reached over to take Tony's hand he suddenly jumped to his feet.  As she looked up she saw Gibbs coming down the hall alone.

"Boss... " Said Tony.
"Were is the Director?" asked Ziva.

"He was unable to re arrange his  schedule...." He said as he flung the doors to the conference room open.
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As Kate began to say something to Jack the lights in the conference room flickered for a moment, then with out warning the doors were flung open and Gibbs, followed by Tony and Ziva entered the room.   Kate could feel Jack tense up as the both of them stood to face them.

"Good morning." Gibbs said setting down some coffee on the table.  The lights in the office flickered again, this time drawing the attention of Ziva and DiNozzo.

Jack nodded at Gibbs but before either of them could say another word Kate spoke up.

"How is my sister?" she asked quietly.

"DiNozzo." Gibbs said "Go to autopsy and check on Miss Voltair, and bring her up."

"Yes Boss..." DiNozzo said leaving the room quicky.  He hated to admit it but this was all a bit too much for him.  As he walked down the hall he could hear Gibbs speaking but little else.

He made his way to the squad floor the lights flickered again.  He heard McGee cussing at his desk.
"Probie..." Tony said stopping at the desk.  "What's going on with the lights?"
"I have no idea Tony, but the power surges have been happening for the past fifteen minuets and I cant get anything done...."
Tony just rolled his eyes and made his way to the elevators.  As he made his way to autopsy he could see three figures, leaning over the burnt remains of the corpse from the night before.

"Did you get that Mr. Palmer?" he could hear Ducky asking.
"Yes Doctor....  Do you think Abby will be able to find something with this description?" he asked.
"Well with out being able to pull a proper sample it maybe all we have to go on to find out what who this man was..." Ducky

As the lights flickered again Tony made a noise to get their attention.

Three heads looked his way as he waved at them.

"Ahhh Anthony... what can we do for you this morning?" Ducky asked.

"Boss sent me down to collect our guest.  Her sister has been  asking for her." Tony said.

"Sister?" Ducky asked.

Tony had forgotten that Ducky had gone home before that little episode had come about last night.  He also noticed that the blonde woman Luna cocked her head slightly in surprise that he knew who she was.

"I can fill you in Doctor, if Agent DiNozzo needs to ...." Palmer said as the lights went out all together then came back on.  Palmer groaned as he slid over to the computer and restarted it once again.  

"Any idea what's up with the light Ducky?" Tony said as Ducky and the girl walked towards him.
"No..." Ducky said as he turned to the girl.

"Well my dear, if your arm starts to bother you again you know were to come for more bandages." he said with a smile.   She started to take off the white lab jacket but Ducky stopped her.
"You can keep that until we get you some more... proper clothing, and im sure Mr. Palmer will find your shoes..."  
Palmer just rolled his eyes, then hopped the doctor didn't notice.
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Luna left autopsy quietly with Tony.  He noticed other than her quite whispers with Ducky and Palmer she had not said much.   As he pressed the elevator button he turned to her.
"So... Your Kate's sister..." He said as the doors opened.
She steeped inside with him and smiled.   "Half sister technically... " she started to reply as the doors slid shut and the elevator started to move.
"On our fathers.... side..." she finished as she turned her head for a moment.

The lights in the elevator flickered, and Tony noticed that the girl suddenly looked adjusted.

"Are you ok Luna?" he said.
She looked at him and there was suddenly something in her eyes that put him on edge.

"Tony... do you have your gun?" she asked suddenly.

His hand went to his hip, however he had left it in his desk.  He looked up at her and opened his mouth to say something, but the elevator suddenly jerked rather violently and stopped, the emergency lighting coming on.  Tony barely had time to throw his arms out to catch Luna as she toppled on top on him.
"Its just a power surge..." he said, but even he was unsure of his own statement.  She looked at him and shook her head.

"What...." he started to say but a sudden loud thud over head caused him to stop.

As they both looked up there were several quick loud pounding sounds on the ceiling before the emergency lighting sparked and a section of the top of the elevator ceiling came crashing in.  Something above them howled.   Tony pushed Luna to the other side of the elevator against the doors as a monstrous claw reached into the cabin.
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The lights weren't only out in the conference room but they had gone out in the entire building and had yet to come back on.  It had been over 15 minuets now and Gibbs and the three in the room were very uncomfortable.   His phone had rang and as he spoke to McGee he stood up.

"That was McGee." he said looking at Jack and Kate.  "Apparently DiNozzo is stuck in the elevator with your sister Kate." he said with a smirk on his face.

Gibbs noticed that while they had been having a civil conversation earlier, the look on Jacks face changed.  He got the distinct impression that this man did not like DiNozzo.

"Then we should get them out..." Jack said standing up.

"There is no power.." Ziva said.

Gibbs studied the man.  He was much more than just adjusted, but there was something else about him he couldn't quite put his finger on yet.  He moved away from the table and to the door.   He stopped once he reached it and sighed.
"You both coming?" he said not turning to them as he walked out the door.

Kate was following him in an instant,  Jack shortly behind walking next to Ziva.

He looked at her and she just shrugged.  She like Gibbs was having a hard time reading Jack, but she was sure of one thing this man was hiding much, but he seemed to be making an effort.
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They had only made it to the squad room floor when the power came back on.  The elevator made a grinding noise as it came back to life and continued its accent to its destination.  Gibbs stood in front of the elevator doors with Kate, Jack, Ziva and now McGee as the elevator creaked to a stop louder than normal.

As the doors jerked open the scene inside surprised them all.  Lights and twisted metal hung from ceiling, broken lights and wires were scattered along the floor, there was an acidic smell in the air.

Gibbs and Ziva turned to looked at Jack and Kate as McGee continued to look in the elevator.
"No..."  said Kate shaking her head at the accusatory stair Gibbs was giving her.  "No way my sister could do anything like... like this." She said in a quite voice motioning to the elevator.

As Gibbs opened his mouth to day something, another soft voice spoke up.
"Normally I would disagree with you under the current circumstances" came the voice of Director Vance as he was closing his phone while he walked up to them.  "However that was maintenance.  They informed me that it look like some one took a machete to one of our power junctions... sound familiar?" he said ushering the group  away from the elevators so they could talk more freely.

They were quite for a moment, then Jack spoke up
"It tracked her...." he said

"What do you mean tracked her?" Gibbs said moving closer to Jack, aggravation creeping into his voice.

Jack didn't like the way Gibbs was speaking to him.  Even though Kate was holding his arm he opened his mouth to snipe back at Gibbs but Ziva spoke.


"Her blood..." she said making a motion with her hands.
"Blood?" Asked the Director
"Luna's blood, that thing... had her by the arm her blood was on it so..." she said
"It tracked her by her blood... so why DiNozzo?" asked McGee.

"Because McGee he was in the elevator with her." Gibbs said
"And I doubt it took the time to distinguish between NCIS and Torchwood personnel..." said Kate trying to keep her calm as well as every one else's.

Gibbs opened his phone and dialed... and waited.
"Who are you calling?" asked McGee.
Gibbs gave him a look before saying  "Tony's phone is still on, and its not in the elevator."

They all listened for a moment, but there was no ringing... then McGee said
"If Tony still has his phone on him I can do a GPS trace on him..." he continued talking as he moved quickly to his desk followed by Ziva and Kate.   Gibbs on the other hand continued to stair down Jack who seemed un phased by the man.  Before anything could escalate the Director stepped between the two of them.

"Both of our Teams are in this now.  I believe Miss Todd can handle things with McGee.  The two of you come to my office now... there are a few things we need to know." he said looking directly at Jack.
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Tony wasn't sure how long he had been out but his aching head told him it had been a while.  Were ever he was it was fairly dark, and something soft and warm was besides him.  As he sat up he felt the cold concrete beneath him and on the wall next to him.  Above him there looked to be some sort of grate with something covering it.  He could hear his phone ringing up above, and the heavy click click click of something inhuman passing back and forth.

It was all coming back to him.  The elevator, that monster, the blonde girl trying to pull him from the creatures grasp only to get her self knocked out before it grabbed her as well...  The girl laying beside him was not moving at all, but she was breathing softly.

He shook her gently as he whispered to her.
"Hey...  hey ... wake up...Luna.... ahhh come on .... wake up Lulu...." he said leaning in closer.

The girls eyes batted opened she tried to move but DiNozzo put his hand on her stomach to keep her down.  She turned her head and squinted in the faint light...
"Tony?" she asked as he  held his finger to his lips.
"Shhhhhh" he whispered back.

"Where...." she said rolling her head to the side.

"I think... we are in some sort of work pit.  Its a bit dark but I can hear water and there is a grate above us and one over there." he said motioning with his hand to the far corner secluded by shadows.
"The Seeker..." she said as Tony pointed up.

She listened and could hear the click click click of something walking above, then a phone ringing.   It rang, and rang and then came the sound of the phone being smashed.

"Well that's not good..." he mumbled.  

Above them they could see light starting to flood in though the bars as what ever was coving them was being removed....

Tony grabbed the girls hand tightly as the bars were cleared and a monstrous face peered down into the pit at them and snarled.
"No..." Tony said... "This is definitely not good at all."