Chapter 18: Theories
"So, you were all teleported here, from the Hub, in response to a signal sent by my wrist controls. That control, however, is supposed to teleport me to safety. Why did it bring all of you here?" Jack looked round the table for suggestions.
There was silence. "Could it have been affected by the burn-out back when we arrived on Earth?" asked Jack 2 eventually. "The controls could have been fused in some way or just reacted to the specific type of energy given off by the Oretullic grenade."
"Not very likely," put in Jack 5. "I've been around exploding Oretullic ordnance and nothing like that's happened before." He paused and then went on, "Could it be the particular circumstances? The fact we were all in the Hub and that Jack was protecting Ianto here. If he'd been teleported out, Ianto would have been killed." Jack 5 put a reassuring hand on Ianto's arm; he was a tactile kind of guy.
"You mean I somehow affected the controls? Some kind of telepathy or empathy?" Jack was not convinced and it showed in his voice. He looked to Jack 4, "Any ideas?"
"It's not the blast or the controls, that's just not scientifically possible. The fact we were all in the Hub may have decided that only we were brought here and not any others. If you think about it, there could have been dozens, even hundreds of us here."
"God forbid!" interjected Owen.
Jack 4 smiled. "Perhaps," he said non-committedly, before continuing. "While I dislike the idea, telepathy and your particular concern for Ianto, could be a factor. We do have a latent telepathic ability though not all of you may yet be aware of it." He paused, "I don't think it matters too much how or why we got here. The fact is we are here. There doesn't appear anything we're needed for but we're crossing timelines in so many ways the universe – or we – should have exploded by now. Why are we able to sit in the same room together?" He threw the question out to the group.
Toshiko spoke up, "I've run scans on all of you. You share the same DNA and are all therefore the same man, Jack Harkness. The chronometric scans are consistent with your own times. Bringing you together should have created a time paradox."
"Is this base sealed in anyway? Anything that could create a time bubble that means we can co-exist?" This came from Jack 3, who was looking more interested than he had since he'd arrived.
"Not that I'm aware but, Tosh, have you been experimenting?" asked Jack with a smile.
Toshiko smiled back, "No, I've done nothing. Though that's a great idea."
Owen cleared his throat, "Could it be anything to do with the Rift?"
"Anything's possible where's that's concerned," said Jack 2, leaning back in his chair. "Any Rift activity that might help us?"
Toshiko was using her hand-held computer to run some checks. "There is something I've not seen before. There are heightened Z-neutrino levels in an unusual oscillating pattern. They started around the time of the explosion."
"Put it on the screen, Tosh, let's take a look," said Jack 4. The screen lit up with various patterns and graphs which seemed intelligible to all the Jacks. "I think we may have the answer, gentlemen. And ladies," he amended.