'Jack, we've got rift activity.'

Ianto's voice, although becoming the first thing he hears in the morning more and more often, did little to rouse Captain Jack Harkness from the uncharacteristically good sleep he had been experiencing moments before. Jack groaned and opened his eyes, reaching out for his lover only to find empty air.

'Jack, you're really going to want to see this!' Ianto called again and this time, Jack responded, identifying Ianto's voice as coming through the Hub Comms as he pulled on a discarded shirt from the floor.

This early in the morning (around 4 am according to the watch he was donning as he made his way to the main area of the Torchwood Hub) the entire complex was deserted, with Gwen - the only other employee at Torchwood 3 - spending her nights in her own home with her husband. As a result, the collection of monitors that displayed readings from the rift that ran its way through the city of Cardiff were usually unmanned at this hour.

'What's it say?' Jack asked as he approached, spying his lover at the computers wearing the suit trousers and shirt he had worn the previous day (unfortunately) minus the waistcoat and tie.

'Readings are off the scale,' Ianto reported, typing furiously. Jack sidled up behind him and watched the screens over Ianto's shoulder, resting his chin in the crook of his neck. 'That's not just rift activity,' Jack murmured. 'That's a rift carnival. Time-space readings like we haven't seen since...' Suddenly, Jack was wide awake. 'Grab your coat,' he ordered, leaping into action, tearing down the metal stairs to the giant cog-wheel door and plucking his favourite WWII coat off the hat stand as he went.

Ianto was right behind him. 'Do you want me to call Gwen, sir?' he asked, suddenly businesslike.

'No time!' Jack called back, leaping the last few feet and sprinting down the corridor.

'This way!' Jack announced, running down a side street. 'Why can't I hear it?' he muttered to himself quietly.

'But - sir! What are we looking for?' Ianto demanded, seconds behind. 'Jack?'

'Come on!'

Ianto huffed but followed the captain down an alleyway.

'There's nothing here,' Ianto observed with a sigh.

'Oh, you beauty!' Jack gushed, skidding to a halt and staring at something lying on the wet concrete. Upon closer inspection, Ianto realised it was a type of silver helmet that was definitely not of human origin.

'What is it?' Ianto asked.

'Its...' Jack began, crouching to get a better look at the thing. 'I've seen one before, I know I have,' he grumbled. 'Look at those markings on the cranium, see?' he instructed, pointing. 'That's Gallifreyan. It's Time Lord technology.'

'Time Lord?' Ianto repeated, eyes growing wide. 'As in...?'

'Yep,' Jack confirmed. 'It looks broken,' he observed, reaching out to it. 'Those wires are supposed to connect to something.' He grinned up at Ianto like a child who had just been presented with exactly what he'd wanted for Christmas. 'Lets get it back to the Hub.' He went to pick up the device.

'Wait!' Ianto threw out a hand. 'Are you sure it's safe?'

'What? Of course!' Jack answered. 'Besides, it's me. What's the worst that can- AAAAHHH!'

Jack, who had picked up the device, screamed and collapsed on the ground, racked with electric shocks and convulsing in pain.

'Jack!' Ianto yelled and ran towards him, but then he blinked and the screaming stopped abruptly. 'NO!' It was Ianto's turn to scream as he fell to his knees beside Jack's body, all rationality fleeing his brain but- His hand fell on Jack's coat and there was nothing.

In shock, he grabbed it and searched, but there was nothing there. All that was left of Jack was a pile of clothes and... eyes?

A pair of bright blue cat eyes blinked at him from Jack's collar and a furry black head emerged, complete with pointed ears and pink nose.

For a moment, Ianto and the cat stared at each other in utter surprise. Then the cat said, 'Meow?'