Quick summary for those who have not read Phaeton. After CoE, Jack went searching for his true love, another Ianto Jones, and found him on The Phaeton, a freighter, in the 41st century. After some near disasters, they returned to Cardiff to meet Gwen. Now the two are on their own, back travelling amongst the stars but they still have a lot to learn about one another, including that Jack is immortal ...
My thanks to Orion and Tylluan for their encouragement about writing this sequel.
Phaeton 2: Yamellia
Chapter One
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man who has been working hard is in need of an alcoholic drink. It a further truth that when two or more such men gather together, violence ensues. So it proved on the fourth planet of the Immisol System deep in the Tadpole Nebula.
The dust of Yamellia pervaded the saloon coating everything in a thin, green, gritty layer. Drifts accumulated at the edges of the stone floor, against the central circular bar and the legs of the tables and chairs. The more fastidious of patrons swept the accumulation from the tops of the tables to make small heaps on the floor while others, those who had been on-planet for a while, didn't notice and left it alone. Two men who had swept the dust away were seated in one of the booths that lined the back and side walls of the saloon, a circular space hacked out of the native dillicite by early settlers. All the old houses and businesses had been 'built' in this way, only in the last half century had technology developed sufficiently to produce a metal and dillicite mix which could be moulded into self-supporting buildings strong enough to withstand the spring dust storms.
"Another?"
"Please."
Jack Harkness slipped from the bench seat and crossed to the bar, avoiding the few tables scattered about between. "Two more," he said, shoving his credits card into the slot. The drinks appeared but the Yam bartender did not release them from her tentacles until the money had been taken from the card. "Thanks." Jack removed the card and reached for the drinks, his hands briefly touching the bartender's damp appendages.
Back at the table, Ianto Jones rested his head against the high back of the booth and watched his companion. He liked what he saw. Even in the loose and all-enveloping garb of trousers and tunic, designed to keep out dust and wind, Jack was a handsome man. Green was not his colour - blue suited him much better - but this planet only had the one colour cloth.
"Skol," said Ianto, taking the proffered drink and sipping the spicy ale. "That's good."
"Better watch how much you have," warned Jack. He had slipped into the booth and was sitting close. "You know how potent it is."
"I'm not a kid." To prove it, Ianto downed more of the ale. "You don't have to keep looking out for me."
"I know. But you're so damned cute I can't help myself." He raised his glass into a salute and took a small sip.
A warm smile crept over Ianto's face and his mood changed from sulky to sunny in an instant. They had known each other a very short time - just over a week on the space freighter Phaeton, a couple of days in Cardiff in 2010 and a few days on the ship coming here - yet had developed a bond that was stronger than any Ianto had yet known. Strong enough for him to throw up his job and take off on an unspecified journey with a man he barely knew. One who was unlike anyone he had ever met before and who could survive situations that would kill others. Ianto still didn't understand how Jack survived the stet radiation back on Phaeton. And had not asked in fear that he would not like what he heard.
"Are we going to hang around here?" asked Ianto.
"In this bar? Nowhere else much to go."
"I meant on the planet."
They had been on Yamellia for two days, having left Cardiff as working passengers on a small spaceship passing through the Solar System. The south western continent of Yamellia had a spaceport and five main conurbations. The two men had drifted into this one, Liffie Town, the smallest, and rented a room in a local hostelry. After acquiring native clothes and translators, they had investigated the town, merging with the other inhabitants - a mix of locals, miners from all over the galaxy and those just passing through. Jack and Ianto did not stand out. Humanoids were drawn here for the same reason as most of the other races in this part of the galaxy: there were profits to be made from mining the planet's dillicite and other natural resources.
"Depends. You want to try mining?" Jack smiled, knowing the answer already. Ianto was a spacer who got antsy if was on a planet too long and would be fit to burst if made to go down a mine and dig.
"I will if you will." It was inconceivable that the dashing Jack would spend time underground at physical labour for the mere chance of hitting it rich. Even on such a short acquaintance, Ianto had learnt that much. It was amazing how much he had surmised from his observations although how accurate his conclusions were had yet to be seen. He thought he had a feel for Jack's character, which wasn't so very far from his own, but there were many hidden depths.
"Maybe not then." Jack took another sip of the drink.
"There are freighters leaving most days. We could get a couple of bunks on one of those. See what we can see."
"Good idea. But there's no rush, let's take some time to get to know this place."
He did not say 'And each other' but both men heard it. They needed time to find out what made them tick. On Jack's part, he was acutely aware that his immortality had yet to be broached between them as well as his complicated past. The former he had to explain at some time. The latter could be ignored, glossed over or fudged if he wanted to, just as it had been for countless years already. But if Ianto was going to stay, going to be his companion and true love, Jack wanted him to know everything, good and bad. But he needed to choose the right time to tell him.
"Okay."
The two men sat in silence, side by side with shoulders and thighs touching, drinking occasionally and watching the other patrons of the saloon. The sixteen booths ran round the circular room, all of different sizes and design to accommodate the different physiques of the patrons. At that moment, half were occupied; by a group of humanoids, a couple of Blowfish, three Slitheen, a lone Cat Person and some native Yam. The tables scattered around the room were not occupied at present, patrons preferring the privacy of the booths. From time to time a Yam server emerged from a food preparation area out back and propelled herself forward on her rear tentacles while balancing dishes on her front ones. Jack and Ianto ordered some food and another drink each, extending their stay; they had nowhere to be and could please themselves. Other patrons came and went through the large transparent swing doors that were supposed to keep out the dust but failed.
Having eaten their meal, Ianto went to the bar for another round of drinks. He had a good head for booze and the three he had already consumed had not affected him much. Perhaps he was just a little more relaxed than normal, or so he thought. Standing at the bar, he waited beside the four customers in front of him and hummed a tune, tapping his fingers on the counter in time to the music in his head.
"What's your hurry?" demanded the nearest, a dust-engrained Blowfish.
"I'm not in a hurry."
"Then stop that." A heavy hand came down on his tapping fingers, trapping them. "I don't like being rushed." The last was said with menace, his piscine face centimetres from Ianto's startled one.
Ianto pulled his hand free. "Get off me. I'm doing nothing but waiting."
"You bothering my friend?" asked a large Husma. The grey carapace around his body was closed and the clawed appendages erect, a sure sign the creature was looking for trouble.
"No, he's bothering me!"
The alcohol Ianto had consumed burned away caution. He pushed the Husma in the chest, forcing him to back up a pace and step on the Blowfish's foot which caused him to push the Husma away and send him sideways into the path of one of the serving Yam. Dishes and beakers were sent crashing to the floor drawing everyone's attention. The Yam responded by lashing out with two tentacles, whipping the Husma around to fall against the Blowfish once again. Infuriated, the Blowfish lashed out and his fist caught Ianto on the side of the head. Ianto returned the punch, landing one uppercut to the Blowfish's jaw and gills and another solid blow to his abdomen.
In just a few seconds a fight had started.
Three of the more nervous patrons skedaddled for the door just making it out before the saloon was sealed; a purple light suffused the room and shields came down around the bar. But it was too late. The fight travelled from the group at the bar to other patrons who came in on one side or the other or just because they felt like it. Fists, tentacles and other appendages flew, delivering blows to anyone and anything with which they came into contact with scant regard for who the recipient might be. In the middle of the melee, Ianto and the Blowfish continued to trade punches, evenly matched for size and power until the Blowfish, on his knees, sank his teeth into Ianto's calf. Ianto reached down and prised the creature's jaws off his leg and started laying into him in earnest. He was so intent on battering the Blowfish, he did not notice when troopers entered the saloon and started quelling the fight with paralysing whips. The sting of the whip across his back brought partial paralysis and the second stroke caused complete numbness and he blacked out.
Only two patrons had not got involved in the melee – Jack and the Cat Person. When Ianto went down under the whip, Jack rose to go to his aid only to be stopped by a paw, claws half exposed, placed firmly on his chest.
"Don't," purred the feline. "Let them take him for now, he'll be looked after. But don't let him be charged. Go to the Yamluca and buy a pardon."
"It was just a fight."
"And he'll be sent to the government mines for it. You want that?" She watched him through wide eyes. "They don't spend a lot on shoring up the tunnels. Lots of rockfalls in those mines which is why they have to use prisoners."
This was news to Jack. He considered the Cat Person's advice, watching as Ianto was hauled up and dragged out of the saloon doors, still unconscious, along with the others who had been fighting. It was difficult to let Ianto go without trying to prevent it but he would never talk these troopers into releasing him; they were well-known for blindly following orders and their lack of intelligence. Besides, Ianto needed medical treatment which he'd get from the authorities.
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked finally.
She shrugged, a delicate movement that caused dust to fall gently from her all-in-one suit which showed off her curves. "It's good to make friends on this planet."
Jack met her gaze and said nothing. He had spotted her earlier, checking out the saloon patrons, and wondered about her presence. Cat People were from the future, the far future, and she was as out of time in the 21st century as Jack and Ianto were, more so. She was attractive for her species, a brindled light orange with neat ears and dark brown eyes, and cleaner than most others on dusty Yamellia; Jack had seen her grooming in her booth.
"And you need friends too. Seeing as you don't belong here."
"Everyone needs friends, Captain Harkness." The name was said as a deeper purr accompanied by a pat on the shoulder by a paw with sheathed claws. With a smile, she turned and walked calmly to the door, her hips sashaying provocatively.
Jack strode after her, dodging through the Yam who were clearing up and the new patrons eager for a drink, and caught up with her just outside the doors. She knew his name, it was only fair he found out hers. "What's your name?" he asked.
"Kika. Go see the Yamluca and free your friend." She was off again, jumping onto a bike.
He stood and watched her go, joining the stream of vehicles going up and down the roadway. Kika was a puzzle, one he expected to meet again before too long; she wouldn't have made contact otherwise. But now he had more urgent matters to attend to; freeing Ianto. Jack pulled up his cowl neck collar to cover his nose and mouth, turned on his heel and crossed the roadway, making for the Yam enclave and their Chief Administrator, the Yamluca. He hoped he would have enough credits to buy the pardon.
Will Jack be able to get Ianto released? Who is Kika? All will be revealed in due course.