After leaving you on tenterhooks, it's time for some more action. Expect a few more cliffhangers :-)

Five Go Mad in 1969

Chapter Fourteen

The metal men were in control all over the world. People huddled in their homes, be they mansions or mud huts, and waited. No one was sure what they were waiting for but most assumed that there was a reason for their detention and that when the time came life would become even more unpleasant. One or two of the braver souls tried to engage their captors in conversation but soon gave up. The world's population was cowed into submission.

London, capital of the United Kingdom, was the centre of the metal men's activities although most of the inhabitants were unaware of it, trapped in their homes or workplaces like everyone else with no outside communication. In one building, on one of many wharves and docks on the Isle of Dogs, the metal men's plan to assimilate the human population, to transform them into soldiers like themselves, was underway. Groups of Torchwood personnel were taken to the seventh floor of their own building at Canary Wharf and upgraded. The painful, bloody process converted humans into emotionless metal men. Even with another race of aliens fighting the metal men, the conversion process continued remorselessly.

Trapped in the building at the centre of all this activity, Ianto Jones had no more idea of what was going on than remote tribes in the Amazon. He knew there were two races of aliens – the metal men and the pepper pots – terrorising his colleagues. He knew Torchwood personnel were being taken to the seventh floor - Samantha Cottam among them - and not coming back. He knew something incredibly bad was happening on that floor but had given up trying to find out what. He knew he had to get away. But how? Scuttling from one broom cupboard to another he had stayed free so far but it was only a matter of time before he was caught and taken to the seventh floor too. He was scared and wished for someone to talk to, someone who knew what was going on and who would help devise a plan to escape. Given the choice, he wanted Jack beside him. Jack was resourceful, brave and full of ideas. And, if the worst came to the worst, at least they would die together.

Ianto looked out into the corridor. Nothing. He ran towards the next cupboard but heard the thud-thud of an approaching metal man. He wasn't going to make it. The door of an office opened beside him and he was pulled inside.

-ooOoo-

On the Sir Robert McLeish, the crew and Jack were having lunch, a thick beef stew hot from the stove with chunks of bread. They sat on deck wherever a convenient protrusion offered itself, metal plates on their knees. Jack was on his second helping when the radio operator, a lad called Jason, returned from below deck.

"Can't raise base, Cap'n."

"Having lunch, like us. Try again in a bit." Captain Waites puffed contentedly on his pipe.

"There should be someone there all the time." Jason stood not far from Jack, a puzzled frown on his boyish face. He was twenty three but looked no more than fifteen.

"There'll be a reason, no doubt. No need to fret about it."

Jack put aside his plate. "This is the life. Fresh air and good food."

The Ship's Mate and cook, George, grunted agreement. "And well away from those interfering desk-johnnies."

"That's right," agreed the captain. "I think we'll make this little job last all day." His rumble of laughter was infectious and they all joined in.

Jack leant back and sighed contentedly. The unexpected jaunt had been pure pleasure from the start. A simple trip downriver on a sunny day. If this was being kept out of the way by the powers-that-be, he was all for it. He wished Ianto had been sent with him, the Welshman would have enjoyed it too, but no doubt he was having fun delving in the archives.

-ooOoo-

When the metal man appeared so suddenly from the lower levels of the Hub, Mac and Suzie were the first to react. They ran down the steps, firing as soon as they were within range. The bullets ricocheted dangerously off the metal chest plate. Suzie crouched down and ran to the armoury; they needed the heavy weapons stored there. Mac held his ground and provided covering fire, keeping the alien's attention on him. It worked. The metal man stepped forward and raised a hand. The Scotsman did not move, he had to buy Suzie the time she needed. He tried hitting the alien with the butt of his pistol but it just clanged harmlessly. A large metal hand landed on Mac's shoulder releasing a bolt of electricity. Mac shuddered and fell backwards into the shallow pool of dirty water.

In the work area, Mr Sato took charge. Dragging Toshiko away from the monitors, he pushed her and Sandra into the office. He opened the round hatch in the corner. "Down here. Quickly," he said.

Sandra went down first, climbing the metal ladder with difficulty. She was past the first flush of youth and her health was not good but necessity got her down. Toshiko was right behind her, climbing with ease.

"Catch." Mr Sato leant in and threw two torches to Toshiko. The old bunker was dark with no natural lighting.

Toshiko realised what he intended too late to stop him. "No! Dad, no!" she cried helplessly as Mr Sato secured the hatch above her head.

The two women were in complete darkness until Toshiko switched on one of the torches and started back up the ladder. The handle was awkwardly placed above her head but she yanked on it with all her weight. It didn't budge. Her father had locked them in. She swore under her breath. If she couldn't get out that way, she decided, she'd find another. Sliding down the ladder she swung the light around revealing a couple of broken chairs and a camp bed. And Sandra. The older woman was bent over holding her chest and breathing with great difficulty.

"Sandra!" Toshiko helped her to the bed, a manky affair with a very dusty blanket over a thin mattress.

"Not lie … down. Better … sitting … up."

Toshiko propped her up on the bed as best she could. Her plans to escape were put on hold; Sandra couldn't move and Toshiko would not leave her.

Gwen was by the Rift Manipulator firing at the metal monster that had killed Mac. Suzie was trying to open the armoury door – it had stuck again – and Gwen had to keep the alien's attention away from her. The pistol clicked on an empty chamber as the metal man started walking towards her, his deliberate tread echoing around the Hub.

"Come on!" Owen was behind Gwen, tugging at her arm. There was no need for her to go the same way as Mac who was floating face up in the pool.

She went with Owen, following him into the medical bay before stopping suddenly. "There's no way out of here!"

"We can hide." He dragged her down the steps and opened one of the drawers that acted as blind waiters to the morgue on the floor beneath. "Bloody hell!" he said. The drawer was occupied by Toshiko.

"It's the Nostrovite." She realised what he intended now and opened the drawer beside it; it was empty.

Owen slammed the first drawer shut quickly. "Me first." He made sure the cooling element was deactivated and climbed into the coffin-shaped drawer feet first. "Come on."

She hesitated not wanting to lie on top of him, it brought back too many painful memories. The sound of approaching footsteps, however, impelled her forward and she climbed in. Owen pulled the door to but did not close it; there weren't any handles on the inside.

"Lie still," he hissed.

"You're all knobbly." She shuffled around some more.

"I've also got two broken ribs. Move your knee!"

The stomping footsteps rang out loudly as the metal man entered the medical bay. Gwen lay still at last, too frightened to move.

-ooOoo-

The hand that had saved Ianto belonged to a bearded man he didn't recognise. There were three of them in the small manager's office. Ianto vaguely knew the sole woman – Betty? Debbie? Mary? he wasn't sure - but not the two men. No one introduced themselves. Everyone was too scared to bother with social niceties especially as they could hear the screams of their colleagues from the floor above. More of the metal men's heavy footsteps passed the door and there was an explosion on one of the lower floors.

"We've got to get to the armoury. The stuff down there would take these guys out easily." The bearded man had assumed leadership of the group. "With them we can fight our way out."

"Basement then. We need the stairs." This came from the other man, a white-blond Swede with a pock-marked face.

"We should just get out," said Ianto. "The front door's our best bet." He saw no hope of the four of them stopping the numerous metal men let alone the pepper pots with their energy weapons.

"They're not going to let us go," said the bearded man. "We have to fight."

"Don't see why. I'm with him." Betty/Debbie/Mary gestured to Ianto with her thumb. "I want out."

"The front door is on the way to the basement," said the Swede soothingly. "We all need to go the same way, at least for now."

"Okay, but the aliens are using the stairs," said Ianto.

"Lifts have stopped. It's the stairs or nothing."

The bearded man said, "They're across the corridor. I'll go first."

He opened the door a crack and looked out. The corridor was clear and he gave the thumbs up before leaving in a crouching run. The Swede kept watch. When the leader had reached the stairs, Betty/Debbie/Mary went next followed by Ianto. He ran quickly across the ten yards reaching the safety of the recessed stair door. The Swede joined them.

"We take it one floor at a time," said the bearded man. "Stick close."

They were halfway down the double flight of twenty stairs when a metal man appeared on the landing above them and started down. At the same time a pepper pot came out onto the lower landing. The top part of its body, its 'head', swivelled and looked in their direction then it gracefully floated up to meet them.

-ooOoo-

At Davies Motors, Rhys was sitting on the floor with his back to the wall of the office. Next to him was Banana, quiet for the moment, with Mr Davies and Ruth sitting on the hard couch opposite. They had been there for ages, guarded by a metal man who hadn't moved since putting them there. It didn't seem to mind if they spoke but refused to let them leave the area. Leaning his head back, Rhys closed his eyes. Where was Gwen? Was she out fighting the aliens? He hoped not. He wanted her well away from the danger, safe inside that big hole in the ground that was Torchwood's base.

-ooOoo-

The secret room under the Satos' house in Sully was well provided, with a shower and toilet and basic cooking facilities. One wall was lined with open shelves containing bottled water and tinned foods. Mr Sato had built it shortly after moving in, determined to have a secure place for his family in case of emergencies. His wife, while not knowing the details of his job, understood enough to know that at such times her husband would be needed elsewhere. She was relieved that this time she was not alone; Mary and Geraint Cooper were on the couch with Enid Jones in the chair opposite.

All four adults were anxious for their families in the world outside and trying not to show it. Mr and Mrs Cooper believed Gwen was in London, the centre of the action. Mrs Jones knew Ianto was there but trusted that he and Jack would manage as they were together. She was more concerned for her daughter, Rhiannon, and grandson, David, at the flat in Cardiff. Mrs Sato was worried for Toshiko, who had taken Owen to the hospital instead of coming home, as well as for her husband.

Only seven-year old Bunmei was unconcerned. Being in the room was an adventure and he had four adults to keep him amused. At the moment he was sitting cross-legged on the floor staring at the glass door of the oven. Inside, the scones he had made with Mrs Jones were rising and turning a lovely golden brown. The smell was enticing and he couldn't wait for them to be ready.

-ooOoo-

George saw them first. He was on deck stowing ropes when he stood up to relieve aching back muscles. Looking upriver, he saw the sun glinting off something flying overhead. A long line of flying somethings. Shading his eyes, he tried to make out what they were but couldn't make head nor tail of it. They weren't birds, that was certain. Taking binoculars from the empty wheelhouse, he trained them on the objects.

"Cap'n, come look at these," he called.

Captain Waites strolled over. "What is it?"

"Somethin' really odd. Take a look." George handed over the binoculars.

Jack, coming up the companionway, saw the two older men in the stern and went to join them. "What's going on?" asked Jack.

"Something strange in the sky. Here. See what you make of it." Captain Waites passed the binoculars to him.

Jack adjusted the focus and watched the triangular objects for a moment. He could say what they weren't but had no idea what they were unless … He moved the binoculars until Canary Wharf was in view. "Bloody hell." The objects were flying out of the Torchwood building, hundreds, no thousands, of them.

"What?" asked Captain Waites.

"They're coming from Torchwood. We have to get back there." He passed the binoculars back. He hoped the captain would take swift action to get underway but Waites stood for long minutes studying the objects and the building. "We need to move, sir."

"Aye, I think we do. Cast off, George. Quick as you can. Jason!" he yelled, turning to enter the wheelhouse.

Scrabbling on the companionway heralded Jason's arrival. "Aye, Cap'n?"

"Anyone answered yet?" Jason had been on the radio for the past hour trying to raise base.

"No, sir. I can't get the BBC either. It's like we're being blocked."

"Mebbe it's not so strange after all. Help George."

Jack kept out of the way, watching the flying objects, as the boat came round and the engine coughed into life. Soon they were chugging towards the Isle of Dogs, the source of the flying aliens. They must be aliens, thought Jack. But where had they come from? Where were they going? What was happening at Canary Wharf? And, most important, was Ianto safe? He wished the boat would go faster but they were against the tide and even at full speed it was agonisingly slow progress. Torchwood kept the launch for routine duties and had not bothered to upgrade the engine.

Forced to wait, Jack had plenty of time to consider what was going on, to try and pull together a workable scenario. It kept his mind off his worries for Ianto, a least a little. The aliens were actually coming out of the building but it was inconceivable they had been invited in. Therefore they must have forced entry, but why? It didn't make sense to get into the building only to fly out again. Of course there were the rumours of something going on at Torchwood, some spatial anomaly. Had Mr Sato been right? Were these flying things the Ghosts? Possibly - if Torchwood had been interfering and let these things through into this world, this dimension. Yes, that made a lot more sense. Once here, the aliens had flown off to … wherever they were going. The question remained, had they merely used Torchwood for access and left the people alone, or had they harmed them?

Jack's attention was diverted by a shout from Jason. He was on the starboard side pointing at the embankment. Looking that way, Jack saw a large metal robot, or what looked like one. As he stared at it, the robot turned and walked along the path joining up with others of its kind. The boat pulled ahead but not before Jack had counted twenty-seven robots. What the heck was going on?

How are they going to get out of this predicament? Will they survive? Read the next chaper to find out ...