„I really think we should just take a look, Ianto," Since they'd left the observation deck, Jack had tried to talk sense into his new friend.
„If the nightmares happen in these rooms, there must be a way to turn them off," Ianto said dismissively.
Only emergency lights illuminated the walls as they stood in a dark corridor. There were doors on both sides, stretching into the shadows. A small panel was next to each steel door. Some were dark and offline, but the majority had rows of blinking lights, indicating that they were occupied.
Ianto took a deep breath and positioned himself in front of the nearest door. "How do I get the door open?"
Jack just stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out what to do. He eventually gave up and sighed. He pressed a few buttons, and the door swung open with a whoosh.
When he heard automatic weapons fire and the whistling sounds of bombs falling from the sky, Ianto instinctively took a step back. They had a direct view of one of World War I's trenches. Soldiers held out in the pouring rain, desperately trying to aim their weapons over the top edge while others lay wounded or dead around them. With their dirty faces, all the soldiers looked the same at first, but then a familiar voice rose above the deafening noise of the battlefield. Ianto's gaze was drawn to one of the soldiers wearing a helmet and a heavy water-soaked coat. It was Jack. He was heaving one of the fallen out of the way while barking orders to those still holding the line.
"When is this?" Jack enquired. He'd raised his voice to be heard above the din of the room.
"World War I on earth," Ianto retorted. "I believe you've been in several wars, but you never mention any of them." He stood there for a while longer, watching the horrifying scene unfold in front of his eyes. "Can we go in?"
Jack just stood there staring at him. „What, inside? No way!"
"We need to find a way to stop these nightmares!" Ianto hissed angrily.
„But not by going in there, that's just plain stupid," Jack shot back.
They both glared at each other.
„Anyway. I can't go in there, I tried before," Jack finally admitted grudgingly.
„You did?"
„Of course I did. When I discovered these rooms, I looked into several of them. Do you really think I would just watch myself in these nightmares and not try to do something about it?" Jack replied, irritated. „Whenever I try to step in, I vanish. See?" When Jack extended his arm into the room, it disappeared as soon as it passed beyond the door frame.
„Nightmares cannot merge," Ianto pondered.
„Seems like it."
Ianto tentatively reached out with his hand and easily crossed the invisible barrier.
„I can!" he realised excitedly. When he attempted to move forward, he felt Jack pulling him back with one hand while the other hit the panel and the door shut with a loud clang.
"Are you insane?" Jack yelled more fearfully than angrily.
Ianto glared at him.
„Never run into danger without a plan!" Jack chastised him. "I'll kick myself in the arse if I didn't teach you that at Torchwood!"
Ianto's anger drained from his body, and he leaned back against the wall, shoulders slumped.
"You're right," he admitted, his eyes wide with concern, "I'm... I just can't stand seeing you suffer."
While their turmoiled emotions settled, Jack couldn't help but smile, „It's actually nice knowing someone cares this much."
Ianto looked up and smiled back shyly.
„Please don't try to walk into these rooms, we don't know what might happen. After passing through, the door could vanish, leaving you trapped inside. This is not how we should do this, we need to stick together!" Jack pleaded, trying to make Ianto understand. „I believe the station is more important than these rooms!"
Ianto agreed that sticking together was important, but he wasn't convinced the nightmares were not the key to their problems. He needed to see more.
„I know you don't want me to, but I need to look into more rooms," he said quietly, his eyes determined. If the parasite was feeding on negative emotions, there had to be a way to stop it. The least he could do was try.
Jack considered the young man for a moment before making his decision. „Fine. But don't do anything stupid."
Several doors down, a wave of searing hot air blew in Ianto's direction. Out of reflex, he was about to close the door again when he realised while the air was hot, it wouldn't affect him as long as he didn't walk through.
„Terrifying to think all of these nightmares are put on constant replay," Jack said, standing next to Ianto. He hadn't recognised any of the nightmares they had seen so far. „Reminds me of the game shows that were made on this station for the human population. Endless entertainment for the parasite."
Ianto shuddered and focused his attention on the scene in front of him. He couldn't see much because smoke obscured what was happening in front of him. When the smoke cleared for a moment, he realised the room was on fire.
And there were people. Burning people. Agonising screams of terror everywhere. Ianto clutched his hand over his mouth in shock, his gaze fixed on the unfolding situation in front of him. He could make out another door on the other side of the room. A coughing figure desperately hammering his fists against it, pleading with anyone outside to open the door. The figure was wearing a familiar great coat, and Ianto's heart sank when he recognised Jack. He guessed correctly what was about to happen.
The fire spread rapidly throughout the room, and eventually, Jack's coat caught fire, like everything else in the room. The fabric burned quickly, and the fire engulfed Jack's body with a ferocity that left Ianto gasping. Jack's piercing screams were heartbreaking. He couldn't take his gaze away from his lover as he burned.
Ianto felt the Jack next to him stiffen as he equally watched in disbelief. Ianto wrapped his hand around the other's waist and pulled him closer. They were both standing close to each other, taking solace in each other's company. When the fire died down, and there was nothing left but smouldering corpses, Jack reached for the panel, and the automatic door closed without saying anything.
"You need to stop, Ianto. Maybe you enjoy torturing yourself, but what about me? These aren't memories from the past. That is my damn future, and I'm not sure I can handle much more of it. I'm starting to think I would rather rot here forever than facing... all of this!" Jack desperately waved his hand around.
„The future is not just pain and suffering. There are moments worth living for. But even if... you know staying here isn't an option," Ianto said quietly. "These are all nightmares born from past experiences. The game station is not an exception. And none of them will end unless we find a way to stop this."
Jack silently nodded.
„Strange how the game station appears to be the only nightmare that isn't on repeat or in one of these rooms. It's actually not half bad here," Jack wondered as he looked around.
„If you call a zombie invasion not half bad..."
„All you have to do is learn to avoid being eaten and it's an easy living," Jack joked.
"What's more interesting is that I don't think the walking dead were ever really a part of this specific nightmare," Ianto pondered.
„That's a relief to hear," Jack said, having assumed that was what the nightmare had been about.
„It was more the sense of loneliness. Of being left behind," Ianto continued, attempting to recall what Jack had told him about his dreams. „The voice appears to not be able to put this nightmare on repeat because he would lose control over the station. So this dream is fixed and he fills it with lame terror to keep it exciting. Or to keep you occupied because he can't get rid of you."
„And it works," Jack concurred.
Ianto nodded, lost in thought. „Just a few more rooms, and we're done." He knew they should stop there, but deep in his heart, he knew he needed to see more. When else would he be able to find out more about Jack? He never told him anything.
The next door Ianto chose opened up into a greasy hot metallic room. In the back, he could hear boilers hissing and an engine thumping. The yellow glow of some lightbulbs bathed the scene in front of him in a feverish light. Ianto could see Jack in shackles hanging from the ceiling, his shirt unbuttoned, wearing dirty pants but no shoes. A man in a black suit stood in front of Jack, his back to Ianto. He seemed familiar, but he only realised who it was when he recognised the voice that had now started to speak.
„Oh dear, Jack. It's always such a pleasure to come down here after a busy day to spend some time with you."
Harold Saxon! No! He knew what this nightmare was.
Ianto watched in horror as Saxon stood very close in Jack's personal space, cupping his chin with one hand, whispering derogatory insults. His other hand was holding a knife that rammed deeply into Jack's upper chest. While he moved the knife down, blood flowed freely, leaving a deep cut in Jack's flesh. Jack hung in his shackles, his teeth clenched. Only a pained grunt could be heard. He didn't want to give Saxon the pleasure of hearing his plight.
Ianto stood in the doorway, staring at the scene before him. Jack had told him about his nightmares from his time on the Valiant, but seeing Saxon in action chilled his blood.
"Jack," he whispered as he stepped forward, throwing caution to the wind.
At the last second, Jack from the game station grabbed him around the waist and held him in place.
"Don't do it," he said quietly.
Ianto struggled but was unable to free himself. He eventually came to a halt but couldn't take his gaze away from the scene in front of him.
Due to the noise they'd made, Harold Saxon noticed he wasn't alone with his prisoner anymore. He turned around and looked quite irritated.
"Ianto Jones? Didn't I just kill you a few days ago?"
Ianto's eyes widened. Jack had never told him this detail before.
The Valiant's Jack was only half-conscious, but he looked up when Saxon spoke. When he realised Ianto was standing in the doorway, his surprised expression quickly turned to happiness. He looked like he saw an angel. "Ianto..." he breathed.
Saxon sighed and rolled his eyes. "Quit talking, you worthless piece of meat." With these words, he plunged the long knife into his victim's heart.
The game station's Jack had had enough. He drew Ianto back and shut the door.
"How dare you...," Ianto was enraged, but Jack stared at him defiantly.
"We agreed that walking into the nightmares is dangerous. That the doors could close behind you. However, with the slightest sign of distress, you are ready to walk right through."
"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do," snarled Ianto.
"Well, Ianto Jones, I think I can," Jack refused to back down. He couldn't understand why anyone would be so devoted to someone else.
„One last room, and then we go back to my quarters. Enough is enough," Jack groaned. They'd spent the whole day on this level, and he was exhausted.
Ianto nodded reluctantly and hit the button. When the door opened, the scenery looked peaceful. A sandy beach and the ocean as far as the eye could see. Families playing various games. Having a picnic. Some kind of festive social event. Jack stared at the scenery in front of him. Suddenly a roar high above and a nerve-shattering shriek. People looking up, panic spreading through the crowd.
Jack's breath came in short bursts, a panicked look in his eyes.
„Close the door," he whispered frantically, taking a step back.
„What?" Ianto asked, confused.
"Close the door!" Jack screamed, his eyes wide with fear.
Ianto hit the button and turned to see Jack stumbling backwards until his back made contact with the wall behind him. He slid down, hiding his face behind crossed arms wrapped around his pulled-up legs.
„Jack," Ianto crouched close, trying to calm him down. „Was this something you know? You're having a panic attack, so try to slow your breathing. Ianto placed a gentle hand on Jack's shoulders, but he flinched back when he felt the touch.
Ianto looked around, unsure of what he should do. He desperately wanted to hug and comfort Jack, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. He had to wait for him to calm down on his own. While looking around, his eyes fell on the door they had opened earlier.
The door to the Valiant.
He'd spent the entire afternoon looking into rooms but done nothing to stop the nightmares. He hadn't even tried because Jack wouldn't let him. Perhaps this was a defensive mechanism, and Jack held him back without realising he was being manipulated.
If he didn't at least give it a shot, he'd always wonder if he'd blown their only chance. When Ianto made his decision, his eyes hardened. He knelt down and whispered to Jack. „I'm sorry, Jack, but I have to try this. I'll be right back."
He stood up, gathered his weapons, and braced himself. Then he opened the Valiant's door and stepped inside.
As soon as Ianto had stepped through, the door slammed shut. When he turned around, the door had vanished, leaving only a blank metal wall. Not a good start, he thought and returned his attention to the scene in front of him, reaching for his sword.
It was the same boiler room, with Jack shackled and Saxon in front of him. However, the scene had changed. Saxon had not stabbed Jack with the knife this time but had decided to strip him down to his boxers. Ianto saw deep cuts in the veins of his arms and legs, leaving Jack bleeding heavily. Saxon's plan for today was to sit back and watch him bleed out.
The sound of the closing door had not gone unnoticed, and Saxon turned around to see where the noise came from. He looked irritated. "Ianto Jones? Didn't I kill you just a couple of days ago?"
Without wasting the moment of surprise, Ianto took a swing with his sword and plunged it deep into the other's chest, attempting to cause as much damage as possible. Saxon stared at him in shock, stunned by the unexpected turn of events, as he tried to grasp the blade embedded deep into his chest. He collapsed to the ground.
Ianto was trembling from the sudden adrenaline rush as he watched the man on the ground take his last breath. As he lay still, Ianto withdrew his sword and exhaled a shaky breath. He couldn't believe it had worked. His mind abruptly cleared when he heard a pained groan on the other side of the room.
„Jack!"
He dashed over to his lover hanging in his shackles, bleeding profusely. He cut the metal ropes with two swift strokes, embraced the injured man, and carefully lowered him to the blood-splattered floor. Jack had lost a lot of blood, and his skin had turned grey and unhealthy. Ianto realised all too well that it wouldn't be long before death claimed him. His intention in coming here was to save him, not to see him die!
„Ianto," he heard his lover whisper in a raspy voice. „You're here."
„Yes, Jack," Ianto choked out, tears welling up. „I'm so sorry I couldn't make it earlier."
„I've seen you die..." the frail voice faltered.
„Maybe Jack, maybe. But you must understand that no matter what you see or what happens, all you have to do is remain strong. You will get through this, and when you do, we will be back together. That is all that is important. I love you," Ianto stammered, clutching the body in his lap.
Jack looked up at him and smiled weakly. „I love you too."
Then his body went limp, and he was gone.
Ianto's tears streamed down his cheeks as he buried them in Jack's greasy, unwashed hair. His body shook from crying, but he refused to let go of the other.
The floor suddenly rumbled, and the walls began to shake. When Ianto looked up, he noticed that the door had reappeared. Jack from the game station stood in the doorway, his eyes wild. „Ianto! Get yourself out of there! Come on!" he exclaimed, frantically waving his hand. When the floor began to crack, Ianto realised he needed to leave immediately, and he reluctantly let go of the dead body. He grabbed his sword and bolted.
Jack slammed Ianto into the wall as soon as the door closed. Before Ianto could push back, Jack pressed his arm into the other's chest, pinning him against the cold metal.
„What the hell were you doing?" Jack's face became hot with anger as he leaned in closer to Ianto, their noses just inches apart.
„I had to try," Ianto shot back, his cheeks still wet from crying. „And I got a reaction! The nightmare began to crack!"
"It was too dangerous," Jack hissed, his teeth clenched.
Since seeing the Control Room during their kiss, Jack began believing Ianto could be a game changer in this strange situation. He realised his responsibility was to ensure they stayed on track on this rollercoaster ride. He needed to protect him. Jack couldn't keep having silly panic attacks over old memories as he had just done. He'd been distracted by memories of home and only realised Ianto was gone when it was too late.
Ianto, on the other hand, kept shaking his head. „No, I changed the nightmare, and it really worked. Let me show you."
Jack reluctantly let go of Ianto and allowed himself to be pushed away. Ianto eagerly returned to the door and rolled it open. It was difficult for Jack to see Ianto's hopeful expression crumble under the weight of disappointment when they both looked inside. The scene had been restored to its original state. Jack hanging in the boiler room, Saxon playing another round of his sadistic games.
„But... it worked...," Ianto murmured weakly.
Jack closed the door and pulled Ianto into a tight embrace to comfort him. „I'm so sorry, Ianto. Changing one nightmare is nothing more than a drop in the bucket. I'm sure there is a better way."
Suddenly the loud and arrogant sound of the voice boomed through the corridor.
„Jack, Jack, Jack... what are you doing on Floor 017? Didn't we have a talk about this not too long ago? That's not your level. Don't meddle with things that are none of your concern. Go upstairs, and have some fun! Better yet, let me have some fun!" The voice faded away with a gleeful laugh.
„Ianto," Jack tried to get the young man out of his dazed state, „We need to get to my quarters, right away. And we have to be careful. The parasite wants to be entertained and I fear things will get nasty."
Ianto gave him a blank stare before nodding. Jack grabbed his arm and led him back to the lift.