"...and if he knew where they were going to be. He knew where they were headed. He knows where we are..."

"Wait Jack, he could just know we're around here somewhere, he might not know exactly where we are," Andy reasoned but even a stranger would have heard the uncertainty in Andy's voice.

"Tobias, bring up the CCTV footage from the Plass and the Tourist Office," Jack ordered, leaning over the man's shoulder as he quickly accessed the program.

The shocked and horrified gasps from around him told Jack that he wasn't the only one seeing what was gathering on their doorstep.

"Shut this place down!" Jack ordered raising his voice so everyone could hear him. "I don't want any alarms sounding that will give away that we know they're here. Pack up anything and everything you can, get it to the lower levels and make sure everyone is below. I'm sealing this place the minute they try to breach the base."

"Can they get in here?" Arabella asked, hand resting protectively over her belly.

"I don't know, but I'm not risking anyone while we wait to find out," Jack replied. "Everybody Move! Tobias I need you to keep monitoring them, let me know the minute something changes."

The main level became a whirl of panicked movement. Techies ripped cables out of systems, tucking hard drives and any important equipment under their arms and rushing it to the lower levels. Andy and Arabella headed to the greenhouses with a few other people grabbing herbs they knew were being used for medicines as well as whatever fresh produce they could carry or load onto a cart.

Jack dashed into his office, slamming the lid on their quarters closed and moving a heavy chest across it, making sure it looked like it belonged there. It was a piece He'd had made years ago that had a cut out piece in the middle so it could sit flat over the manhole and cover it. With any luck it would fool them and then he and Ianto might still have access to their room from the other entrance and alternative access to the main level of the hub should it become compromised.


Dexter and Charles slunk through the alleyways of the deserted and ruined city, eager to get back to the hub and see if any of the supply team had survived the attack.

They were almost at the Plass when the sound of approaching Toclafane had them ducking into a doorway. They could not see how many passed but there were easily six voices chanting together as they made their way towards the Plass. "Kill the traitors! Trash their base! Kill the traitors! Trash their base."

Dexter and Charles stared at each other in shock and the minute the Toclafane had passed they were on the move. As soon as they reached the Plass they knew that they were too late.

The Plass was covered in Toclafane; from above it would have looked like ants swarming across the ground and in the middle of the Plass was one human, her blonde hair a stark contrast against the darkness of everything around her.

"They know how we're getting in, that's going to complicate things. We're going to have to use one of the other entrances," Dexter muttered turning to leave when Charles' voice stopped him.

"Sophia's with them?" Charles asked in shock.

"I'm sorry Charles I thought you knew," Dexter said staring down at the woman in question as she danced across the Plass, Toclafane swirling around her.

"No," Charles responded quietly.

"Charles... She wasn't your responsibility..." Dexter sighed, knowing how much seeing her like this was troubling Charles.

"Dexter..."

"You can't help her Charles,"

"I know...what the…"

Dexter turned his attention back to the Plass as the Toclafane began to attack the pavement of the Plass trying to dig their way into the hub below. Dread cutting into him as he realized they weren't here to guard and lock them in, they were here to attack.

"Will they be able to get through?" Charles asked turning to Dexter

"We need to warn the others. Hopefully we can lockdown the lower levels and be safe in there," Dexter said and Charles had his answer.

Both men turned and ran, pushing themselves as fast as they could, the next closest entrance was a fair way away and they'd have to take an even longer route to make sure they weren't spotted or followed.
They both knew they wouldn't make it back before the Toclafane broke into the main area of the hub.


"Jack, sir!! They're starting to move!!" Tobias' worried voice pulled Jack back out of his office.

Jack burst back into the hub at the same time Ianto and Tom ran up from the lower levels.

"Thank god, we've got trouble. Saxon found us; Miss Dexter and a horde of Toclafane are banging on our door,"

"We have to secure the rift manipulator, if they get it we'll have no power," Ianto said moving towards the base of the water tower as he spoke.

"Tom, get Arabella, make sure she's safe below," Jack ordered before moving to help him mate.

"Tobias are they banging on our door yet?" Jack asked helping Ianto shift one of the panels into place over the manipulator.

"More like carving, I'm amazed we can't hear it," Tobias replied.

"You will soon," Ianto murmured, his silver eyes catching the light as he glanced worriedly towards his mate, he could already hear them trying to get in.

Jack scanned the hub, relieved to see Tom ushering Arabella down to the lower levels, she looked back, clearly wanting to stay and help but knowing she had to leave or she'd risk losing the baby.

"They're carving away the pavement above us; between their blades and lasers they're managing it. They're actually going to get in here," Tobias' voice held a note of panic which was echoed by the scared cries that were swelling in the hub.

"Everyone, get to the lower levels now!" Jack ordered watching as everyone grabbed the last things they could carry and fled to the lower levels, "That means you too Tobias, grab your system and go, we'll be right behind you."

"But Sirs!" Tobias went to argue as Jack dashed past him back into his office.

"Now Tobias... and take this with you," Jack said pushing the baby TARDIS from his office into Tobias' arms.

Tobias took one last look at the pair before pulling out his hard drive and running.

Ianto had finished replacing the panels covering the manipulator. It now just looked like the base of the water tower not a cover for one of the most powerful devices on the planet.

The only give away was the power cable leading from the base of the tower along the walkways where they eventually went into the lower levels.

"We need to hide these," Ianto said looking down at the cables.

Even Jack could hear the sounds of the Toclafane trying to break their way in now. The sound of metal carving into cement was enough to make his skin crawl.

"They're waterproof aren't they?" Jack asked staring down at the cables.

Ianto smirked, seeing where Jack was going with his thoughts; together they lifted the grating and kicked the cables into the stagnant water below. Now you couldn't see where the cables were connected to the water tower. Where they came out of the water and into the lower levels further across the hub it just looked like they were extra cabling not their main power supply so with any luck the Toclafane would overlook them.

There was a loud crash and the sound of tumbling stone followed by maniacal laughter from down the hallway beyond the cog door.

"They're in," Jack hissed.

"We still have to lock down mainframe, they can't have access to her," Ianto said moving towards the only remaining station, Tosh's.

"How long?" Jack asked as his mate began to type.

Ianto glanced towards the door where they could hear the Toclafane's approach, "Too long."

Jack glanced towards the door where the Toclafane were advancing; Ianto was working on the computer and the door to the lower which was still open. They'd run out of time.

Sensing what his mate was thinking Ianto looked up and met Jack's eyes.

"Do it," Ianto said.

Jack nodded turning he worked the controls watching as the large iron door that would seal off the lower levels moved into place. Pulling the perception filter from his pocket he hooked it on the door's locking mechanism. Once the door was closed it would be lodged there, unable to be knocked off. It would shield the door so the Toclafane wouldn't notice it, wouldn't know there was another level where they were hidden away, safe.

Just before the door sealed shut Jack heard the shocked cries from his friends and family on the other side as they realized what he had done. Smashing the controls with the butt of his gun, Jack knew it would take Toshiko's skills to get the door open in the future. Everyone in the lower levels was safe but he and Ianto were trapped with the enemy fast approaching.