Friday Flash-- Forever versus Eternal

She felt him the moment he walked within five yards of her. Cyrena inhaled slowly, then exhaled, letting the power the man behind her exuded flow around her. Any other man, she might've taken up the offer and used it to benefit others, but this man, this man was dangerous to her well-being. Turning around slowly, her eyes lit upon the well-built, unusually dressed, dark haired man. His sudden smile lit up the room and she felt a flash of desire and need fill her. Damn, the Doctor was right. Dangerous and sexy as all get out. There is nothing ordinary about Captain Jack Harkness at all.

"Excuse me, miss." He brushed her arm casually with his hand. "I'm trying to find something."

Cyrene tilted her head to one side and grinned. "Searching for what caused the sudden flash of energy from the Rift, then suddenly disappeared as if the Rift never existed?"

Oh, the shock on his face was fantastic. If nothing else, when she met up with the Doctor again, she'd share the nuances of this moment. From the shock, to the narrowing of Jack's eyebrows, to the way he seemed to surround her with his personality and his body. She looked up into his dark eyes and continued smiling at him.

"What do you know about the Rift?" He placed his hand under her elbow, guiding her away from the crowd, as she knew he would. She watched as he depressed the button on his Bluetooth connection and spoke soft enough where even her enhanced talent couldn't easily pick up the words.

Once they were in a less crowded area of the nightclub, Jack stopped and turned towards Cyrena. "Who are you and what do you know about the Rift?"

She lifted one brow, knowing it'd annoy him. The Doctor had given her fair warning what would happen if she ever got pulled to Cardiff. She hadn't wanted to believe him, now, now it was too late. Things were in motion that not even she could stop, even if she wanted to. "My name is Cyrene. I know enough about the Rift, Captain Jack Harkness. Just as I know about Torchwood." She sighed softly and placed a hand on Jack's arm, sensing his emotions and the feel of strength from his body. "In fact, you and I have a friend in common. A friend through space and time, one might say."

He pulled her close against him, and she knew it was to prevent anyone near them from overhearing. "How do you know the Doctor? I thought only Martha and I were the only ones in this time--"

"Please," Cyrena drawled. "I met the Doctor a long time ago, though he and I reacquainted ourselves again just recently. When I told him about the growing power of the Rift and it's calling to me, he informed me about you and Torchwood."

"So you only know what the Doctor has told you." The look of relief on his face made him seem younger, slightly more relaxed. She hated to floor him, but if she wanted to keep control on anything that might happen from this moment on, she had to make sure that Jack completely understood who and what she was.

"I know more than that. I've been part of the original creation of Torchwood. In fact, you have me in your files somewhere, though we have never met." She stepped back, but reached out and caressed his cheek. With her free hand, she took out a small business card and put it in his shirt pocked. "My card with my information. Look me up if the Rift energy gets too high in any one area. You might find my skills handy."

Turning around, Cyrene walked towards the exit. This one moment turned out fairly well, though she underestimated the magnetism of Jack. His voice rang out. "What should I call you, Cyrene?"

"Call me, Phoenix. Everyone else did." She stopped and looked over her shoulder. Jack stood against the wall, eyeing her from head to toe. The look in his eyes made her feel alive as a woman and worried as the meta-human she was. "In fact, Jack, if you're smart, you'd access the locked personnel data from before you took over." After blowing him a kiss, Cyrene turned back towards the exit and sauntered out.

The only question she had left was the one she knew would haunt her for a while--

Do I really want Jack to come after me while I do this? Her path was set, but only time would tell if Jack called or if others would be killed before he did as she challenged him. Perhaps the others, like Toshiko or Ianto might help get him to call in a specialist, perhaps he'd be stubborn. Either way, her choice was clear-- bring a measure of peace to the Rift activity before it destroyed England.