torchwoodinstitute | (no subject)

"So... Okay, Sy? Next time you have an escape plan, how about you don't go for it before dinner?" Shit. They had been working their abilities non-stop all day and while Sylar had a lot better grip on what he could do, Luke got hungry and fast.

Sylar had been staring at everything around them. This place was interesting, to say the least. Getting here was also not at all what he'd been trying to do.

"Noted," he said, without looking at Luke. And then he smirked. "So does that mean you want me to take you back? Maybe they'd give us pizza for being good boys."

He found some stairs and hopped up them, suddenly more energetic. Training had been taking it out of him, not that he'd admit that, but being out of the building was just too exciting. "I'm sure there's something to eat around here. This place looks lived in." Old, but obviously not abandoned. There had to at least be some donuts in what passed for a break room or something.

Luke did not so much as grumble, though he probably would have heated up the metal railing just a little to let Sylar know that he wasn't that amused if he hadn't been so stupidly tired. It did make him wonder what Bennet was going through right now. They had been working with him in pairs, training together with some of Sylar's newly acquired abilities and zap!

"Who cares about this place, let's just find a way out before they can find us. We could just be in the basement." Wouldn't that be irony? Whatever look Noah had when they popped out of existence would be on theirs the moment they opened a door to find him.

Even if this place looked deep...really deep.. Kinda creepy too. Like a weapon's silo...

"Neither one of us are just going to eat laid out shit, dude. Who the fuck knows how long it might be left out." Man. Sometimes Sylar was so dumb. Luke went up the stairs after him anyway.

"This isn't Primatech, Luke. Not at all." He'd gotten a little more serious, so that Luke knew he wasn't kidding. Sometimes he just knew things, and this was one of those things. Sylar actually wouldn't have been adverse to going back, honestly, but like hell were they going to believe he left on accident. "Think we're far, far away from them now."

And then he smiled again- this one just looked pleased. "And of course we're going to look for a way out. But we can look for food on the way. I'm not turning down Hostess cupcakes if I find them, man." Or whatever might be there, really. He'd been using his powers all day, and he was hungry.

So far, though, he was just seeing weird desks and old architecture, the shiny metal clashing with the old bricks. It was a very large interior space, for not having any windows.

And over there was a couch. Bingo. That had to be a break area. He headed in that direction, keeping an eye and ear out for anyone else that might be there. This was a weird place, but if they had to force their way out, they probably could.

Luke took twice as long to get to where Sylar was than his friend, and he didn't look too pleased about all the stairs either. A glance up partway through left him feeling sick to his stomach. He couldn't even see the top. There was just an encroaching darkness fifteen or so floors up.

That didn't sit well with him.

Where the hell were they? And what happened if they actually ran into someone? The first question was at least answered by Sylar's triumphant finding of snack cakes. They weren't Hostess though, this was Wales and the UK had their own set of sweets.

Luke might have been puffing a little when he got to him. "What's a sick-own?" he asked, mispronouncing scone.

"I dunno," was Sylar's honest answer. They looked kind of boring. He was not going to let that stop him from eating one, though, and he had already ripped into the plastic. After taking a bite, he was rather surprised- they tasted a lot like the sweet buns his mother used to make. He raised an eyebrow at Luke. "They're good. Try one." Luke may or may not have been in as dire straits as Sylar had been, but it was obvious he was hungry. Sylar might even try and leave him half the package.

Sylar had noticed the place was even bigger than he'd originally thought. After offering Luke a scone, he sat down on the couch, looking over the package. "Looks like it's from the UK? So maybe we're in England." He laughed a bit. "Who knew I could teleport?"

It was that unexpected surprise that had gotten him in such a good mood. Things like that just didn't sneak up on him. He'd been trying something unusual, and poof- here they were. Now they just had to figure out where 'here' was. "If we see anyone, let me talk, okay? I mean, unless they pull guns on us or something. I can get us out of here if I have to." He would be dead to the world afterwards, but he was pretty sure he could pull off one more disappearing act right now.

Luke didn't like it when Sylar took charge and they weren't just out having fun. He wasn't too fond of having orders given to him but Sylar was right to say that he should be the one to do the talking. Luke hadn't really perfected the art of pretending he was a real, live, caring person. He could act in spats but speaking usually got them both in trouble.

Ignoring the offered food, Luke grabbed the rest of the box and carted it over to the couch to flop down next to Sylar. They were out in the open. They were exposed. It made him nervous, though he didn't pause for even a moment to do anything but rip open his own packet of rolls.

Not bad. Not great. He liked things a lot sweeter than this but beggars can't be choosers. He didn't waste the energy hearing his scones up and didn't offer to do it for Sylar either.

"Who just puts a couch here?"

Another voice answered: "People that don't feel the need to explain decorating choices to kidS?"

Aw, damn. Someone showed up while Sylar was eating. The guy sounded American, so maybe someone here just liked scones? Sylar turned to look at the source of the voice and gave him a sheepish sort of smile. "Oh, hi. Um, sorry for eating your food." He looked rather despondently at the package, but didn't grab another one. Returning his gaze to the man, he added, "Can I ask you where we are?"

He'd see what sort of reaction politeness got, whether it was worth trying to talk this out.

Jim didn't have anything in particular against kids so long as they were quiet and didn't get in his way. He glanced at the pair, one looking sheepish and the other still shoving food into his face. That wasn't the problem.

Having been on lockdown for the last few days, it was impossible to think that they were another set of victims from the Rift when it was closed to everything except transdimensional data streams. Here was no room for people sized objects or even transporter beams to make it through.

So did they show up before lockdown? Nah. Someone would have run into them, theoretically, before now. And the kids might even look upset.

They didn't. That was strange.

"You're trespassing," Jim said, arms folded over his chest. "How'd you get in?"

That wasn't bad. This guy wasn't as much of a suit as Noah was, at the very least. Sylar licked his lips and thought about the best approach.

"I- well...you're not gonna believe me if I tell you," he promised, looking around. "We can get out of your hair right away. We were both really hungry." As if that explained why they were in this area, or maybe why they were in the building, or any number of things.

Jim was unimpressed. There was literally no way for humans to enter lockdown which meant only one thing: these boys, including the dour looking one on his third package of scones, weren't human. Or not entirely human. Could they not have a break even on lockdown?

Jim actually groaned and rocked back on his heels. "You'd be surprised what I might believe. Fine. You're hungry? We have a kitchen. Try not to melt the place down?" Jim turned and Luke shot daggers at Sylar with a rather amusing, but sort of freaked out 'what the fuck?!' look to his face.

Sylar bit his lip. This guy might be pretty laid back, but not that laid back. He wasn't just going to let them roam. This was clearly a place that wasn't meant to be accessed by common people, what with the lack of windows and the strange spaces. And this guy talking about not 'melting'...maybe he just meant when using the microwave, but Sylar couldn't know.

"I can teleport!" he blurted out, sounding a lot less calculated and more spontaneous than it actually was. "I mean, I think that's what it was. I didn't mean to come here- I didn't even know I could do that." Even the truth needed to be 'sold' somewhat, because otherwise they weren't going to be believed. All they needed was for this guy to trust them enough to show them the exit...and maybe not even that, after Sylar had a little time to rest. "But sure. Yeah, kitchen," he repeated rather awkwardly. "Thanks."

Jim wasn't surprised. He didn't act surprised. Or look surprised. He shrugged. SHRUGGED! "Figured it had to be something like that," was all he said before he paused at the top of the stairwell. It was only then that he had turned, glancing at the boys. He noted the one the mute one was suddenly holding the speaker's shirt as if to yell at him or denote some sort of wariness.

He addressed the other instead.

"I'm Jim. Just about everyone here has something weird about them so don't sweat it. C'mon with me." He'd just come from the kitchen and he really hoped Jack and Sasan were still sitting down there, being as flirty as they had been when Jim left to 'go for a walk.'

If these boys were alien, he was going to need some help.

This was why Sylar was the one to talk. He didn't mind Luke grabbing him, because the close proximity would just make it quicker to get out of there, if they had to. It was a little annoying that their new friend didn't even look impressed with Sylar's confession. Even in Primatech, that'd usually get some reaction. Oh well. It meant they probably weren't going to get experimented on, at least.

He smiled a little at Luke- yes, despite how freaked out the other looked. He was sort of hoping he could help calm Luke down a little. They were so close to being free. He moved to follow Jim up the stairs, but he'd stop if Luke stopped him.

Luke wasn't going to hold Sylar back but he had to wonder if this dude was like them. He didn't seen afraid, just tired. And maybe stupid. But he didn't have the ability to discern the things his friend could.

So, shaking his head, he let go of Sylar and followed him as he followed this Jim guy.

"So do you two have names? I gave you mine."

All right. They'd get something to eat, head out of here, then decide what they want to do from there. Sylar wasn't too concerned about Jim- there wasn't anyone who could take them down when they were together, other than Noah and that power-sapping dude. And he's pretty sure Jim here hasn't been secretly trailing them for days.

Things were looking up here. As much as Sylar had been integrating into the Company, he still had hated not having control over his life. Not that Mohinder would've said that. But when other people made your daily schedule, it was hard to argue.

"I'm Sylar," he said. He'd let Luke introduce himself this time. "Can you tell us where we are, now? Or is it a secret? I want to know how far I went."

Jim paused at the name. He knew it. He'd read it. Where did he know it from? It was a Codename for something. From one of his missions. He did not equate Sylar with Gabriel right away. He'd seen the name written in his file but like anyone reading a new hire file, he glosses over most of it. He knew Gabriel had a past. He knew Gabriel had killed people. But he did not remember the name he killed people under.

"That sounds so familiar," Jim said. He'd been on hundreds of missions though. That could mean anything, though the name wasn't one he'd consider anything less than unique. Maybe it was a brand of electronics? Well whatever. It didn't matter. Luke didn't answer and so Jim continued on, down three levels and around the curve of the now missing Rift from the center of the silo. "Friend doesn't talk much, huh? Well doesn't matter. And yes. This place is secret. Sorry, kid. I'll let me boss know you're here and he'll help you get back to where you accidentally came here from."

He pushed open the door to the kitchen, set up more like the kitchen in a school cafeteria than anything else with a lot of industrial microwaves and a fryer. There were some tables too, but the kitchen wasn't usually used. It was a good thing they did keep it stocked though.

Oh, that was not good. Sylar was able to school his features and merely look curious and a little confused as they continued. "Really? Weird." But no one should know that name, not unless they were watch enthusiast. This guy was not a timepiece fanatic.

And of course, Jim wasn't going to tell them where they were. That would be way too easy. "Okay. Thanks."

He stepped into the kitchen and waited to see if Jim was going to stay with them or not. Either way, as soon as that door closed he'd be trying to teleport (or whatever it was he did- that power was supposed to be gravitational manipulation) him and Luke out of there. This had become very much not worth the risk.

The kitchen wasn't exactly empty. Jack wasn't currently flirting with Sasan (it was only funny when Jim was there) but he was playing cards, some sort of weird version of solitaire that he had this far been able to properly convey the rules to anyone on how to play.

The swish of the door did cause him to look up, one strangely shaped card in hand, and his eyes drifted from Jim to the two shorter boys.

He knew one of them. He'd followed Gabriel for years (well, a week or so for himself but years for Gabriel) since the boy was ten while he was vetting him for Torchwold. He kept that to himself. This might not be Gabriel after all, but any one of his doppelgängers.

"What did I say about guests?"

"Don't look at me, Captain," Jim muttered.

Well, damn. This was not ideal. Apparently, this was where people were hanging out. Sasan had looked up from a magazine he'd read once already and frowned slightly when he saw Sylar. This was sort of freaky- why did everyone here seem to recognize him?

He glanced at Luke, hoping the warning got across. "Yeah, sorry about that. It was an accident. We'll leave you alone."

He held his hand out, fingers spread, and a small vortex appeared. Sylar's fingers twitched as he worked to manipulate it correctly, tweaking the same thing he did last time. But it felt unstable, like the little tunnel he was making kept getting pulled in another direction and twisted around into a knot. He kept trying to straighten it out, but his head was killing him. He wasn't going to manage it before he passed out, so he reluctantly shut it down.

"....or not." He sighed heavily. Time to see if they pulled weapons on him now. At least telekinesis he could manage.

Jack only sat back, hands crossed over trouser button, and watched the boy attempt to summon his vortex. That was certainly an ability that Gabriel didn’t have. In fact, Jack knew that Gabriel didn’t develop his ability until he was in adulthood, or at least had not been tempted by it to sneak out and find others like him to use their abilities for himself. And he didn’t recognize the boy with him at all, the one with eyes that could only be remarked upon as soulless. Jack might not believe nor disbelieve in souls (it didn’t matter to a man who couldn’t die), but he didn’t like the feeling the somewhat stockier kid gave off.

“That might be our fault,” Jack mused, which immediately made that dead-eyed kid step in front of the other boy. Protective. Interesting. He waited for any particular sign that he was going to attack, and when he didn’t, Jack simply stayed where he was and glanced up at Jim to stop him from freaking out. The man at the table next to him was someone Jim would very likely do the same thing for, after all.

That put Jack in a bad position.

“This facility is called the Torchwood Institute.” He was going to leave off the Time Agency bit. “We’re currently experiencing a lockdown. There’s a dampening field in the facility preventing comings and goings by vortex. I’m not really sure how you got here, but hey, it helps up with our troubleshooting later. So you’re hung—“

The other boy suddenly spoke up, interrupting. “What the fuck, man?! We didn’t ask to be here!” Sorry Sylar. Luke didn’t take threats well, even when there weren’t threats at all.

Hey, interrupting was way better for diplomacy than attempting to melt people. Since Sylar knew Luke was readily capable of that- although three people was a bit much at once, especially with two in opposite directions- he was actually rather glad that Luke was only complaining.

And hey, it was pretty unfortunate that they ended up in a place under lockdown after all the crap they'd just been through. "It was an accident," Sylar said, backing up Luke's statement. "I was just trying something and I guess it was a bigger deal than I thought."

His awkward kid demeanor had dropped entirely- there wasn't much point in keeping that up anymore if people knew him. Luke's outburst was likely to smooth over the change, anyway. But he hoped that by staying calm it would help keep the situation more manageable. Not that these guys seemed to spook. Geez, he just opened a freakin' black hole in their kitchen, why was the dark-haired guy the only one to look kind of freaked? "Did we cause the lockdown?" That seemed reasonable, although everything seemed pretty dead when they got there.

"Fraid not. Sasan's the lucky one for that." Jack thumbed towards Sasan with a grin and stood up, putting his cards on the desk and heading over to the refrigerator. Hm. Okay. So what did teenagers like? Chocolate milk?

He knew Sasan was going to scoff or protest. It amused him to do that. He really enjoyed the soft squeaks. He was pretty sure Jim would too if he lightened up a little to flirt with their PR director.

Luke had at least calmed down. Or backed off. His shoulders dropped a little and he watched Jack like a hawk as he poured their glasses.

And he got one for Jim too. Just because.

"Me?" Jack was right that Sasan was going to protest that, complete with little I-can't-believe-you-just-said-that squeaks. It was a good thing all around, really, because it kicked Sasan out of the scared little rabbit mode he'd gone into. That tended to happen when someone ripped a hole in the universe in front of him. "I didn't cause it, I just found it. You're welcome, by the way."

All the drama made Sylar raise an eyebrow at it. There was something weird about these two guys. One he just plain couldn't parse, and the other looked like a cousin of his or something. This was always so much easier when they had abilities.

Sylar was equally wary and eager for the chocolate milk. He didn't know about other teenagers, but he loved the stuff. He ultimately decided to go ahead and have some, taking the glass and gulping it down quickly. "Thanks. You guys seem pretty relaxed for being on lockdown, you know," he observed. It wasn't like a military, and it wasn't like Primatech, either.

"Some of us take to it better than others," Jsck laughed.

He took the other glasses he had poured and handed one to Luke, who looked wary, but took it anyway and openly gawked at Sylar. This guy! He was too trusting! Luke was going to have to really talk to him about this.

The other glass, Jack handed to Jim. The blond smirked, took the offered chocolate milk, and made a wide birth around the teenagers to sit in Jack's spot. He slid the glass to Sasan with a little half smile.

"I promise I didn't poison it. You watched me pour it," Jack told Luke, who still just stared at him. "Okay. Suit yourself. I'm Captain Jack Harkness. I run the place. And you two can stay with us until we get the issue here taken care of or we can figure out a way to get you home before you decide to black hole us to death."