Cathexis

Chapter 9

Ianto's head throbbed painfully as he felt the strange, golden connection between himself and Cathexis build. It felt like he was sharing a piece of himself with the girl, his memories and emotions, but not willingly or intentionally. He couldn't control what she was getting, and for him, that was particularly frustrating. But Ianto could also feel that Cathexis was a much stronger presence beside him, so he told himself he did not mind the invasion ad allowed it to happen, trying not to fight it.

"Cathy?"

It was Jack, and although it was in Ianto's head too, he knew that that was just a side effect of the strange connection between himself, Jack and Cathy. "Yes Jack?" Ianto was encouraged to hear that her voice was much stronger now, less tiny and less vacant-sounding than it had been. "We need to sever the connection you have with the Atama'co Igntiacus"

"Is that what it's called?"

"Yes." Jack continued as if she hadn't spoken, "...but as we sever the connection, it's gonna be even more determined to hold on- like a second nature. These creatures aren't too nice to people- But that's where Tosh and Gwen can help us..."

Back at the house Gwen watched in trepidation as gradually the eyes of the Atama'co Igntiacus started to glow a fiery red, the once flickering flame within them flaring up and burning brightly. The creature no longer looked human, a picture which was further alienated by the simmering lines, rising from it in visible heat waves. Despite all their experience of aliens, the two women found the creature very intimidating in its new state and both of them gripped their weapons more firmly, preparing to fire if they had to.

Jack and Ianto tried their best to protect Cathy, working together to create a strong enough shield. The matter was made more difficult by the fact that Cathexis was still, inexorably connected to the creature standing, in a foreign living room several miles away. Still, the pair of them began to force the creature to retreat from Cathy's mind, shutting doors in its face each time it tried to access a part of Cathy's mind and energy, as the girl herself slowly shrank the water shield she had created, leaving nowhere for the creature to escape. It was tiring work for all of them, but for Ianto who had never done anything like this before, it was especially exhausting, but it was still very satisfying when he constantly slammed doors in the creature's face. At one particularly difficult door, which Jack had helped Ianto to build, it took all the strength the two of them could muster to close. Eventually, it closed with a resounding bang and they breathed a relieved sigh, before bracing themselves and preparing for the after effects of forcing the creature into as small a space as they had managed between them.

With a feral roar the creature swung round to face Tosh and Gwen, who had been anxiously watching as the thing seemed to be in a silent struggle with itself, cowering slightly in the strangely shrinking bubble of water. Both women glanced quickly at one another, before with a firm nod from Gwen, they simultaneously fired their water pistols directly at the creatures terrifying, smouldering red orbs. The creature collapsed to its knees with a screeching howl of pain, arms covering it's eyes, both Gwen and Tosh felt the screech keenly.

At the same time, back at the Hub, Cathy burst into screams, her body writhing in a burning agony. Her head felt like it was on fire and the backs of her eyes burned a blinding golden-yellow. The tears streaming from them did nothing to ease the constant, searing pain and fire. Ianto could feel her pain too, though it was muffled considerably through Jack, who was in the middle of the chain. He suspected Jack was working to hold it back, absorbing it himself instead, because Ianto could only feel a constant, dull ache coming from both of them, but even that hurt his head; so he was silently grateful that that was all he could feel. He made a mental note to thank Jack later.

Owen cursed and rushed towards the autopsy bay as Cathy's screams echoed through the hub. Every monitor in front of him had suddenly gone haywire, streaming impossible figures. By rights Cathy should be dead by now, if the figures were accurate. Running over to his patient, Owen failed to notice Jack and Ianto's agonised faces, and giving Cathexis an infusion of a powerful painkiller and a strong enough sedative, he knocked her out completely. He was relieved as her screams died instantly. Jack however, gave a loud yell of pain, as an unexpected flare of energy flew up his arm. Before he could act to stop the string of energy, pert of it continued it's course from his head, down his other arm to Ianto, who was still grasping his hand. Both of them gasped.

Hey all, sorry this has taken a while, But the Good news is: the end is in sight! I have spent this entire week meticulously brainstorming and planning for the rest of this, so that I have the rest of it planned, and not just the final chapter. Hope you'll stick with it to the end ; )

Carrie

03/2009