10

Two sleek warships glide silently in the black, followed by a third, bigger ship. This is The Agent's vessel, and it is everything Torchwood is not: sleek, predatory, icy cool.

The Agent is looking at the Maidenhead security feed -and Ianto is staring right at him.

"Hello again. Yes, it's me. I'm glad you've finally asked for me." The Agent says softly to the frozen frame of Ianto's pale face.

An Ensign is revealed looking at a separate monitor:

"We got a pos on a retinal" an ensign calls out nervously "the man carrying him out is Jaxton Harkness, captains a Firefly-class transport ship, "Torchwood". Bound by law five times, smuggling, tariff dodge... not convicted. Nothing here that would –"

"The ship. The name of the ship."

"Crossref. Jaxton Harkness." The ensign repeats, "Torchwood."

He looks over at the Ensign with a small, strange smile on his lips.

"Sir?"

"Torchwood Valley. Bloodiest battle of the entire war. The Independents held the valley for seven weeks, two of them after their high command had surrendered. 68% casualty rate."

"Of course, Sir, I just didn't…"

"There." The agent stops scrolling and Jax's military file opens, a picture of Jax."If the feds ever bothered to crossref justice files with war records... Yes. Our Mr. Harkness was a real Captain, 57th Overlanders. Volunteer. Fought at Torchwood till the very last. This man is an issue. This man hates us."

"First Mate Martha Harper, formerly Corporal Martha Freeman, also in the 57th. Career army, looks like." The Ensign reads from another screen.

"She's followed him far... Give me the crew, registered passengers - Our Captain is a passionate man, no room there for subtlety. He's bound to have some very obvious…" he pauses as a picture of Rose appears on the screen and he smiles as he finishes the sentence, "weakness"

.

.

.

.

.

Ianto is still asleep, Jax finishing chaining his wrists.

He lies on his side, breathing evenly.

Jax stares at him a moment as his hand stroked his hair, then he exits to find the whole group waiting for him, sans Mickey.

"May I see him?" Owen pleads.

"He's still napping just now. And I believe you've got some storytelling to do." Jax demands.

"We're out of atmo, plotted for Haven. No one following as of yet." Mickey states as he enters to sit at the table.

"Haven? We're gonna see Doctor?" Toshiko asks with surprise.

"We got to lay low. And I could fair use some spiritual guidance right about now." Jax replies, then turns to Owen, "I am a lost lamb; what in hell happened back there?"

"Start with the part where Rhys gets knocked out by a ninety pound boy. 'Cause I don't think that's ever getting old." Mickey asks with his hands clasped.

"Do we know if anyone was killed?" Martha asks.

"It's likely. I know he meant to kill me 'fore the Doc put him to sleep, which how exactly does that work anyhow?" Jax has not forgotten that part.

"Safeword." Owen replies and then sighs as Jax continues to stare at him. "The people who helped me break Ianto out - they had intel that Ianto and the other subjects were being embedded with behavioural conditioning. They taught me a safeword, in case... something happened."

"Not sure I get it." Rhys admits.

"A phrase that's encoded in his brain, that makes him fall asleep." Owen says slowly to the big man. "If I speak the words, "Eta …"

"Well don't say it!" Rhys cries and they sort at him.

"It only works on him, Rhys." Martha sighs.

"Oh. Well, now I know that." Rhys frowns.

"In case something happened." Jax repeats.

"What?" Owen sees that something is annoying Jax about the statement.

"You feel to elaborate on what that something might be? I mean they taught you that fancy safeword, they must've figured he was gonna, what - start

Uncontrollably crocheting?" Jax asks with wonder.

"They never said what.." Owen stutters.

"And you never did ask." Jax grabs him and throws him against the wall, in his face. "Eight months. Eight months you had him on my boat knowing full

well he might go monkey shit at the wrong word and you never said a thing"

"I brought him out here so they couldn't get to him, I don't even know how they …" Owen is still in shock at what had happened.

"My ship. My crew. You had a goddamn time bomb living with us!" Jax roars as his temper flares again.

Ianto's eyes open.

"What if he went off in the middle of dinner, or in bunk with Toshiko the way the cuddle like babes, did that give you a moment's pause?" Jax demands and Owen looks at Toshiko, the truth of Jax's words hitting him.

"I thought he was getting better."

"And I thought they was gettin' off!" Rhys whines. "Didn't we have a intricate plan how they was gonna be not here anymore?"

"We couldn't leave them now..." Tosh realises they are not out of the woods just yet.

"No, now that he's a... killer man we ought be bringin' 'em tea and dumplings!" Rhys scoffs then turns to Jax, "In earnest, Jax: why'd you bring him back on?"

Jax looks at Rhys, at all of them.

Doesn't have an answer.

Not one he can voice.

"May I see him." Owen begs again.

Jax nods and then steps aside. Owen is able to flee their company and enter the locker bay.

"He goes woolly again, we're gonna have to put a bullet to him." Rhys tells after him, his anger thrumming.

Ianto mouths the next words right along with Jax: "It's crossed my mind."

"Can I make a suggestion that doesn't involve violence, or is this the wrong crowd?" Mickey asks calmly.

"Honey..." Martha tries to quiet him down but he leans forward.

"Andy and Pandy might be coming hard down on us, or the laws... or maybe nobody could be bunged about a little social brawl. We need to get our bearings." Mickey declares.

"I think we need to talk to Mr. Universe."