Iggy, Angel, Gasman and Fang sat in the shade of the trees. Fang had decided not to return to the cave. It was better to be in an open space, where they could take off if they needed to. They didn't want to be trapped in the cave. They sat a little way off. He could still make out the entrance through the gloom.

"Where the hell is Max?" Iggy cried, frustrated.

"Yeah. This waiting thing is really cheesing me off," The Gasman mumbled.

Fang couldn't help grinning. Well? They were funny! Even when they didn't mean to be. Especially, when they didn't mean to be.

"Just sit tight guys," he said.

"Are you laughing?" Iggy asked suspiciously.

"No," he said quickly. A twig snapped and the flock stiffened.


Jack opened the large oak door and let himself into a spacious hall. There was an impressive, solid looking staircase in the middle of the hall and a boy was leaning casually on the banister.

Jack hesitated. "Where's Mr Granson?" he asked.

"Why do you care?" The boy muttered sulkily. Jack was surprised to hear he had a shadow of an American accent.

The boy looked about fifteen. He had light brown, floppy hair which fell over his eyes. He was wearing jeans, a checked shirt over a t-shirt and an expression of annoyance.

For some reason Jack felt drawn to the boy. There was something about him. Some sort of underlying sense of sadness that made Jack want to reach out to him.

"Are you his...Grandson?" Jack hazarded. The boy looked up sharply. "He's my great uncle," he replied. "Who are you?" the boy asked. Jack marveled at how his expression transformed into

one of curiousity. It was like the boy had no mask. Like he was experiencing each emotion for the first time. All the things he was feeling showed instantly on his face.

He came slowly down the steps. "Who are you?" he asked again, because Jack hadn't answered. "Captain Jack Harkness," he said proudly "Torchwood,"

"Really?" the boy said. "Cool!" excitement lighting his face. "I'm here to see Mr Granson," Jack prompted. He was being unusually polite, but the way the boy's manner kept changing so

quickly was starting to make him uneasy.

He had a feeling he should get this boy on his side.

"Okay. He's in his study. C'mon," the boy said and with that he sprinted down the corridor. Jack followed. Catching up to him at the end of the corridor.

"What's your name?" Jack asked, curious himself. "Micheal," he said, smiling briefly, before opening another immense door. "In here," he gestured.


Gwen and Owen were having a whispered argument as they explored the cellers. "Owen!" Gwen hissed, only just managing not to raise her voice.

But this time it was Gwen contemplating the unthinkable, with her usual motives.

"We can't leave them here. We have to help them," she whispered.

"I know. I know!" Owen replied, glancing quickly towards the metal door at the end of the corridor, "But exactly what are you planning. What can we do?"

"Release them?" Gwen said, with just a hint of a question. Owen gave her a look. "We don't even know what they are. They could be dangerous,"

"Okay," she said quietly, "We wait for Jack," Owen nodded. "Can i just have another look?"

"You sure you can handle it?" Owen asked with concern. Gwen chose to answer this question by turning smartly and walking towards the metal door.

"Be careful," Owen whispered after her. She slipped through the door onto the other side.


The flock sat still trying not to breathe or make even the tiniest sound.

"Max?" Fang mouthed and Iggy nodded. The flock gave a collective sigh of relief as Max rounded the corner.

"Who's Hungry!" she said triumphantly "I got us bread, and pop and loads of other stuff..." her voice trailed off when she looked at Fang.

"Where's Nudge?" she asked in a hollow voice.

Fang could see her brain working. He could see her starting to collapse inside. Just like with Angel.

"Taken," he managed to reply. She dropped the shopping bags and the contents spilled to the floor.

I looked at Fang. I could see it in his eyes. No. It started as a whisper.

nonononoNoNoNoNoNONONO NO!

I was shouting inside my head.

'No!' was the main theme. Then came 'Why!'

I looked at Angels tear stained face and almost started to weep myself.

"Who?" I managed to ask through clenched teeth.

Fang shook his head.

I know i shouldn't have, but I felt so helpless. I needed someone else to tell me what to do, so i said "What now?"

I saw each of them crumble.

Then came the rage. My hands became fists. They will burn for making me feel this again. For doing this to us again.

They will burn in hell.


Jack and Micheal entered the room. There was a red plush carpet on the floor and a large mahogany desk in front of the window.

A man was stood with his back to them looking out of the window. His hair was white and his posture was definitely in trouble, yet he had the feel of power about him.

When he spoke his voice was strong and authoritative. Without turning round, he said "Thank you for bringing me Mr Harkness, Micheal, you may leave,"

"Um...Okay," Micheal said, giving Jack a worried look, before leaving.

The old man seemed engrossed in watching the work of his gardeners from the window,.

No one spoke for a while.

"I assume you've been expecting me," Jack finally said into the silence.

"Yes," Mr Granson said, turning round. Jack was getting annoyed. He couldn't be bothered with all these ceremonious silences, so decided to get straight to the point.

"I have reason to believe you have a or a number of Aliens or Alien Artifacts," Jack said matter of factly.

"Indeed i do," Mr Granson replied. Jack was surprised he admitted it so readily. Mr Granson gave a smirk.

"Just because you think it is, let us say, Impolite-"

"Disgustingly horrific," Jack supplied.

Granson continued, appearing not to hear him, "-to keep Aliens for scientific research-"

"-Mutilation," Jack interrupted. Both men were shouting now.

"-does not mean everyone does!" Mr Granson finished. "I am an old man Mr Harkness and i have seen things i never dreamed of. Let me explore it in my own way,"

"Did you really think that would work?" Jack asked.

"No," Granson said simply, pulling out a gun, "Which is why i have this. Can you die, Mr Harkness?"

"No," Jack said, giving the man one of his own smirks, beginning to enjoy himself now.

Mr Granson pulled the trigger.


Nudge opened her eyes. The world slowly came fuzzily back into focus, but she couldn't see much through the gloom anyway and the room was lit by a weird green light.

She was in a fairly large wire mesh cage. She wondered if she was back at the school. And where were Max and the flock?

Her thoughts were simple and they arrived slowly. Moving across her brain like treacle. Her head hurt.

She realised she was shivering. It was freezing in here and she still hadn't had anything to eat. She gave a quiet groan.

She heard a scuffle. It took her a while to realise it was coming from the cage opposite her. Slowly and very painfully, she shuffled to her knees and peered through the darkness

trying to see what was in the cage opposite. What she saw terrified her.

There was a..a a Thing! Nudge was used to the experiments of the school, but this was unlike anything she'd ever seen.