Hehehe I know what's happening in the next story… Just thought I'd throw that in

Hehehe I know what's happening in the next story… Just thought I'd throw that in. but you won't be reading it for a while, since I have to finish this first.

Got a bit stuck with what to put in this chapter, especially the start, so I just used it as an excuse to write 'black mood'. Also I wanted to set fire to the hub.

Anyone else watch Jericho? I just saw the first episode of the second season on ITV4 on Wednesday. It was SO COOL!!

Again, sorry for the wait but I've had school, homework and writers' block all at the same time. On the plus side for anyone who likes Gwen, she makes her first first-person appearance in this chapter. Just cause I wanted to include her a bit more. For those of you who don't like Gwen, we also have a Rift first-person debut. It's all in italics because that is my rift-writing. It's not a formatting error.

Disclaimer: No faces in an art lesson.

Fire

Tia (Dragon)

Gone. Empty. Filled with otherness. Can't sense her; not now. She's gone.

Left me. Alone. Lost here.

Alone. Taken.

Revenge.

Ianto

Rift had been taken to one of the interrogation rooms to be, well, interrogated. The dragon seemed to be to be getting restless. Probably she could sense the black mood that had settled everywhere. She was stamping, which was making Myfanwy squawk. It would have been a great time to have had Jess around to calm her down, but obviously that was impossible. I went to see if there was anything I could do, and reached the main hub just in time to see a plume of flame spout from where the dragon had been perching. It didn't hit anything, but the ait got a couple of degrees hotter.

Clearly the dragon was not in a good mood. Gwen must have heard the noise as she left the interrogation room to see what was going on. The dragon flamed again and we both looked at each other and shared the same thought.

"Jack!"

"What?"

"Got a problem with the dragon!"

"I'm a little busy right now!"

Then the dragon's fire reached a wooden strut – why the hub is made of wood I have no idea – and it caught on fire. And the sprinkler system went off.

Gwen

I wasn't aware that Torchwood had a sprinkler system. But clearly we do, because there was suddenly water everywhere. Mind you, it does explain why the computers are made to be waterproof. After the sprinklers started, several things happened at once.

Jack came out of the interrogation room, dragging Rift with him and followed by John, the dragon made a sort of roaring sighing sound and tried to hide from the deluge, and Ianto seemed to remember something and started dragging me towards the exit.

"When there's a fire alarm in the hub it goes into lockdown after two minutes to prevent the fire from spreading. We have to leave now."

"Is it safe to take her out of here?"

Jack was the one who answered me. "We don't have a choice. If the fire does spread at all the smoke in here will get unbearable."

"What about the animals?"

Ianto answered this time. "The Weevil cells are on a separate ventilation system; they'll be okay. Myfanwy's sat through one fire alarm before; she knows to fly high. And the dragon should be immune to smoke and flames."

So we left the hub as quickly as possible, locking doors behind us.

………………

Rift

I know the dragon wished to harm me, but in truth she helped me get what I wanted. You see, I want to experience the sensation I have been devoid of for so long. I want to see this earth like I have never been able to before. The little people seem so insignificant. Fading so quickly in comparison to the countless ages I have spent stretched across the universe.

I have suffered for some of those ages. This 'Torchwood' caused some of that suffering. Dragging me open, tearing me apart. The other Torchwood, pulling open the void. The slitheen female, who tried to pull me open with my cousin, the Tardis. The Gelf. So many beings, forcing me open. And it hurts, it always hurts. Now they will suffer. Every last one of them. But this human form is too weak. It was useful, but now I think I will create my own form. A stronger form.

Third person

Jess – or at least Jess's body – crumpled to the floor. The air was filled with a howling sound, and a strange glow rose in the sky. The rift had been unleashed.

"Gwen, take Jess back to Torchwood. Then get back here, we'll need you help." Jack was switching into the leader. But leading the team through this was going to be harder than anyone thought.

Sorry this chapter's a bit short, but I wanted to finish this chapter here before the next event in the next chapter. Now, review? Pretty please?