Falling through time was getting to be a bit of a habit for Dorph Malcasaro. He'd been chased several blocks from one part of Pasadena to the railway station, now they were close on his heels. He'd been hungry and a couple of packets of beef jerky and a few bottles of water seemed little compared to what he could have taken, but they gave chase, along with the regular hoods who were up for a run. He saw the same shimmering light he'd seen when he entered Pasadena on the 15th, taking it as the only other option, he held his breath and ran through it. He was still running when he opened his eyes and found he was falling. He landed on a dumpster in a back alley of somewhere on Earth. It had to be Earth, no matter whether it were Pasadena, Mondas or the outer reaches of Mongolia, it was Earth. Mondas he hated, from the moment he fell through the shimmering light he was looking for an escape. Metal creatures with minds of only dominating planets and upgrading humans to fit into metal casing was not his idea of a holiday destination. But the shimmering light never gave destination choices, it just appeared and he ran to it, almost like a sanctuary.
It had been two years, or was it three, he forgot now as he sat beside the dumpster and ripped open the packet of beef jerky and ate the contents with a voracious appetite. He heard cats yowling close by and drunken men staggering back after a lary night at the pub. He smelt strange creatures not far off, but he was hungry, and although he was capable of defending himself, he needed sustainance before he did much else.
As the hullaballoo died down and the street lights switched themselves on, Dorph wandered along the empty streets of the Plass. Vivid images sprang into his mind, the red building by the Bay, the tall lights and the water tower rang familiar, although it seemed different somehow to the last time he saw it. He walked along and was sure he recognised the man in the period military coat several hundred yards ahead of him. He was about to shout "Jack" when another man met him and both walked arm in arm along the promenade. He stopped and slunk back into the shadows. Perhaps time had moved on for both of them.
He itched his left arm and stared at the Vortex Manipulator strap on his arm and frowned, it was bleeping. Last time it had bleeped, Santos Vitaron had arrived and was looking for his team. He felt the incoming message and pressed the hologram image and saw the man himself Santos.
"If you're getting this, then you'll know why I'm calling. I've located the Rhinestone diamond and I need the team in position. Meet up at the rendezvous point located on your map. I want no slip ups this time. I don't want Torchwood getting their hands on it." He saw the map of the location before the hologram faded and plunged him back into semi darkness.
Dorph knew cities like the back of his hand, although the back of his hand did have the template of a city blue print incorporated into the fabric of his skin. He followed the location and came out at the Queens Arcade. He saw Phifer and another Time Agent leaning up against the wall, his hands thrust in his pocket. "It must be a big heist if he's called in all of us." The nameless agent muttered.
Within the hour Santos arrived, he beamed in just as the team became listless and strode over to them. "Good to see we're all here. Time is of the essence. The jeweller who received the Rhinestone has no idea of its power. We have to steal it back before it falls into the wrong hands. The vaults are secured beneath the store, but we need access into the store. Unfortunately for us, we'll have to do it during trading hours. He's on the second level of this arcade, which means we need every possible exit to aid our escape. Do not let me down. I can deal with the jeweller, Dorph I need you as look out. Whoever tries to stop us, you deal with it."
Dorph nodded. He was always the lookout, never the carrier, never the one with all the glory. But he was never caught, he was never arrested and tried for acts against the State, he was never sent to Murder Rehab, unlike Santos. Maybe that was why he was never put on lookout!
As the team knew, the Arcade would be busy, Xmas decorations were beginning to fill the large building and although to Dorph and the team who never celebrated this Christian event, it didn't stop them feeling a little bit homesick, knowing it was another year or two before any of them enjoyed the home comforts, the hugs and embraces of their family life, if indeed any of them had the family they talked about when they sat talking around the camp fires.
Dorph had never had that luxury, never had that moment of enjoying a family. All he remembered was Jack Harkness and the one person who he'd seen locked inside a Hub cell while Jack had determined what danger he was to the world. He'd seen the wanted posters in his travels and saved a copy, hoping to cash it in, maybe there was money to be had as a bounty hunter. It might give him more than a Look out for Santos!!
The following afternoon, while the Arcade was a sea of customers, Santos and his team secured the second floor and took control of Reuben Vostock's Jewellery store.....
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