"Alright," said the Doctor enthusiastically. "Short hop first to the warehouse where you found the car, and we should be able to pick up the Vortex manipulator trail from there." He looked over at Jack, who stood on the other side of the console, tense with anticipation. "It might take me a little while to pick up the trail. Why don't you go get something to eat? I think you could use it."

Jack smirked. "You needn't talk, skinny!" He headed for the door. "You want anything?"

"Cup of tea would be nice," said the Doctor absently, intent on the controls.

Jack turned back at the door. "Doc?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't know how to thank …"

The Doctor shook his head. "No need. Go eat. It's fine."

They stood outside a house on Jethra. "The woman over the road knew the Master," said Jack, "but never saw anyone else. She did say, however, that the house was always shuttered like that. He hasn't lived here in at least three months, and only stayed for about two. It's still vacant."

"Lets go in," said the Doctor.

The sonic screwdriver made short work of the door, and soon they were standing in an empty house, musty smelling from lack of air. "So what do you think?" Jack asked. "Think he might have left a forwarding address?"

The Doctor smiled. "He's cocky enough to."

They spread out to look around, but the house was completely devoid of personal effects. It was a nice house, the Doctor thought, standing in an upstairs bedroom admiring the view from the window. Nothing but the best for him, of course.

He heard Jack calling from downstairs, sounding agitated, and went to join him. He found him at an interior door, which had a heavy duty lock. "Take a look at this," said Jack, and pushed the door open. Two further doors were revealed, at right angles to each other, one led to a small shower cubicle, basin and toilet. The other, which also could be locked from the outside, was a tiny room, without windows, only ventilation ducts to provide air. There was a single low-powered light overhead, and the only item in the room was a mat on the concrete floor.

A smell permeated the room, and the Doctor looked at Jack, still standing by the door, looking nauseous but also with a question on his face. He wants confirmation, the Doctor realised. He'd already identified the odour, but took out the sonic screwdriver and scanned. "Sweat, blood, vomit, urine, excrement … human."

Jack nodded, and turned away. The Doctor heard the outside door slam a moment later. He took a last look around. "So sorry, Ianto," he murmured, and left, closing the door behind him, frowning. What's the point, Master? he thought. I understand you want revenge on Jack, but why travel around dragging Ianto with you? Why not just kill him?

Jack turned his head as the Doctor approached, apparently in the process of pulling himself together. "He must have hated … he's such a neat freak." He took an unsteady breath, let it out slowly.

"We'll find him," said the Doctor. "Come on."

The third planet they visited was home to two sentient species, one of which had the other completely subjugated. It was here they first found someone who'd seen Ianto. "Damn stupid alien," said the fat purple local, sitting on the verandah of his house while one of his servants fanned him. He looked the Doctor up and down. "Your species, I see. Though you obviously have a bit more of an idea how to care for your livestock." He waved a splotched finger at Jack, who fought to keep a straight face as the Doctor looked around with a startled expression.

"I mean, it's not hard," said the alien. "You get more out of your livestock if they're well cared for." He gestured to the being who wielded the fan. "This one puts in a long day's productive work, and why? I feed it and give it medical attention. The livestock in that alien's house was so underweight and scarred. It's a disgrace. You don't beat livestock, you coax them. Everyone knows that."

The Doctor forced a smile. "How long since he left?"

"Oh, ages," said the alien. "Several weeks."

They headed back towards the TARDIS, walking in silence. "Moo," said Jack. The Doctor forced a smile, and Jack sighed. "You're right, it's not funny. Underweight and scarred, that fat bastard said."

The Doctor tried a reassuring smile. "It's confirmation he's still alive."

"Was alive several weeks ago," Jack corrected.

Planets later, Jack was wandering through a market area, the Doctor still on the TARDIS taking readings. While this was called a market, it was as much a business area as a retail one, as the custom on this world was that deals should be made in public. Of course that was something of a fiction in real terms, as people had a multitude of ways to keep their business private. Jack thought it might be a good spot to get information about the Master, but couldn't believe his luck when through the crowds he caught a glimpse of the face he was looking for. Jack knew that producing his gun in this place would only get him arrested, so warily headed in that direction.

The Master was talking to two other beings, neither of whom seemed particularly happy with what he was saying. But moments later Jack was distracted from that conversation by the sight of who was standing a few steps back from the Master.

Jack had really believed he had been prepared. After all, he remembered the Valiant. He remembered what he had experienced and how it nearly drove him mad. He remembered what had been done to the Doctor and how sick he'd been afterwards. Now he was suddenly very aware of how much worse it all seemed when it was someone he loved.

As he watched the gaunt black-clad figure standing subserviently behind the Master with bowed head and hunched shoulders, carrying a heavy-looking satchel and shivering slightly in the chill area, Jack felt ill, suddenly breathless. He had to quell the desire to start shooting and not to stop until the Master was definitely dead and definitely staying that way. He stared at Ianto's longer hair, down over the collar of the loose tunic he was wearing. I've never seen him with long hair, Jack thought irrelevantly. He wouldn't like that. He shook his head. Concentrate, Jack, he told himself firmly.

He watched the Master snap his fingers, and Ianto stepped forward and held up the satched so the Master could open it and extract some cash, which he handed to one of the two beings. They departed, and the Master turned away, snapping his fingers again, a signal to Ianto, who followed wearily.

Why doesn't he run? thought Jack. Don't be stupid, he told himself. Where's he going to run? On this planet if he was picked up by the authorities without proper identification he'd end up in a labour camp, a piece of information no doubt the Master had been happy to provide. He noticed a gleam of metal at Ianto's neck, and moved to get a better look, revolted when he finally realised he was looking at a metal collar with some kind of electronic device attached. Tracker, Jack assumed, and probably connected to the Master's Vortex manipulator, not to mention the symbolism of making Ianto wear a collar and respond to hand signals like a dog. Yes, the Master would enjoy that, Jack thought angrily, indulging himself in a daydream involving snapping the Master's snapping fingers for him.

He cautiously followed the retreating pair into a building that was empty except for a transmat booth, where they were apparently heading. No one else was in the vicinity, so Jack drew his gun. The Master turned, and met Jack's eyes. He smiled broadly. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Keep your hands where I can see them," ordered Jack, glancing towards Ianto, who had stopped but still had his back turned. The Master smiled again, and snapped his fingers.

Ianto turned around, still clutching the bag, his eyes still lowered. "Ianto!" called Jack. "Come to me."

Ianto didn't move. "Do you know who this is?" asked the Master, amused. Ianto mumbled something. "Speak up!" snapped the Master.

"The freak, Master." Jack's jaw dropped.

"What do you think of the freak?" the Master continued with a delighted chuckle.

"I hate the freak, Master."

"Who do you love?"

"I love you, Master."

"What have you done to him?" snarled Jack, dragging his eyes away from his obviously traumatised lover with an effort. He had a split second to register the laser screwdriver in the Master's hand, before the beam hit him in the chest. The last sound he heard before everything went dark was what sounded like a cry of anguish.

He gasped in air, to find himself on the floor in front of the Transmat booth, the Doctor crouched beside him, and a crowd of curious onlookers standing around. "There, you see?" the Doctor said cheerfully, looking around. "Told you he wasn't dead." He pulled Jack to his feet, and away from the group. "He's used the Vortex manipulator again. They've gone."

Jack stared around wildly. "Shit!" he yelled, getting more startled and curious looks.

The Doctor steered him out of the door. "Calm down, tell me what happened."

"I saw him," Jack said. "I lost him … stupid!"

"Let's go back to the TARDIS and pick up the trail," said the Doctor soothingly, and began to walk, forcing Jack to follow.