Near Hughes Flats; Cardiff, Wales

Hours of reviewing news reports and puzzling over the water contamination at Anwen's school left John Hart tired and weary. Large amounts of stress and no downtime weren't healthy. John checked his watch. He needed to call Ken. Having someone was definitely healthier than spending all of his time alone. He hesitated, knowing he needed to explain the demons he was fighting. Ken knew he was a recovering addict, and had asked about the ring. Telling him the truth while omitting time travel and Torchwood was complicated.

I miss you, he thought, touching the ring through his shirt. Guilt and regret were almost foreign to him previously. It made him wonder about karma at times.

"Hello?" Ken answered on the third ring sounding tired.

"Forgive me?"

"Maybe."

"Interested in going out tonight?"

"What did you have in mind?"

John struggled to remember the name of the club where they met. "Mirage. Meet around seven?"

"Yeah."

When the call ended, John looked around the lifeless house. Ken had commented on it. He had no interest in decorating. He could afford nicer furnishings. Improving the place might help him and the relationship.

Fellowship of Inner Peace; Nigeria, Africa

Aman Oliveira walked through Torchwood Nigeria, its familiar walls and floors helped. Everything he'd built and accomplished were lost in time. Anwen Williams' ignorance and self-righteousness cost him everything. The Fellowship was not the same. He'd taken a page from her playbook and surrounded himself with psychics, determined Torchwood would not blindside him again.

He accepted the message at his desk.

Chas appeared on-screen. "I confirmed John Hart is in Wales. I tracked his movements back to St. David's mall with security cameras." Chas sounded puzzled.

"Why was he there?"

"He bought a present for a child. A toy horse and a video."

Which more than suggested Ms. Williams sent her attack dog back to protect her younger self. There were rumors she'd been romantically involved with Hart. He could see the appeal. From what Jack had said about him, though, he couldn't imagine Hart functioning off his leash for long.

"Get rid of him. Bribing him is easier than killing him."

Aman sat back in his chair and rubbed his temples. Puzzo's report was equally puzzling. He'd been checking out a possible drug producer when he spotted Hart. He had no idea how the drug had reached Wales already. From his previous experience, it should have been a minor problem in Africa in 2019. He'd destroyed local production, intending to prevent it from spreading.

Idrissa stepped into the doorway. "Tasi is convinced you're needed in Wales. Her team is confident you need to approach Captain Harkness. The Moss-Probert situation is escalating."

"I will be all right." Aman motioned him into the office.

"I can't lose you."

"Take my hand."

Idrissa did, looking upset.

"There are no guarantees in life. We can only do what needs to be done." He gently squeezed his hand. "If something goes wrong, there are hidden accounts and a safe house in Brazil."

"We could walk away. Torchwood betrayed you."

Aman stood. "Without this network, without this army, the world will burn. If I thought of no one but myself, I would be no better than my father."

Idrissa touched his face. "Torchwood will be your death."

"Yes."

Mirage; Cardiff, Wales

Sitting in Mirage with a cola and his back to the wall told John Hart more about himself than he wanted to know. The colorful lights and beautiful people should have appealed. Dancing and drinking stopped feeling normal at some point. The desire was there.

As was the guilt. He touched the ring under his shirt. If his life had stayed on track, he'd have been playing a wedding or already married. While she hadn't outright said it, she'd talked about the world orphan. His wedding fantasy involved adoption. Somewhere in the five years they'd been together, his entire world view changed.

His thoughts were interrupted by a man moving through the crowd toward him. The man's body language contrasted his surroundings, making him stand out.

"Captain Hart." He stopped at the bar. "I'm Chas. Torchwood Nigeria." The dark-skinned man had an unfamiliar accent.

"And?"

"Oliveira has an offer. A casino, resort, brothel or combination in South America or Asia. You could own it. Or just live there. Your choice."

"Why would Oliveira care? I burned my bridges with Torchwood here."

Chas looked less than convinced. "Then why are you in Cardiff?"

"Step 9. Make amends." John sipped his drink.

"Rehab? You're an alcoholic in a bar."

"I'm a recovering alcoholic in a club. Five years." He held up his drink. "No alcohol."

"Oliveira doesn't want problems."

"Then he needs to talk to Jack. This is Jack's territory."

"I'm trying to do this the easy way." Chas paused. "We know about Russia."

"That's one of us."

Chas considered him. "Percy Heitt?"

"Of Moss-Probert?" General Thomas took out Heitt somewhere in Asia.

"Percy Heitt was executed last month in Russia."

"Wasn't me." Which made him wonder if Jack did it. Threatening Ianto and Gwen's kids were enough to make him that mad.

After Chas left, he considered sending Ken a message and meeting somewhere else. It was pointless. If Aman Oliveira wanted to track him, he could. It didn't matter where he met Ken. Anything he did to protect either of them wouldn't guarantee anything.

Fellowship of Inner Peace; Liverpool, England

Agitated, Chas drove back to the facility to determine the next course of action. Bribing Hart should have been simple. The story about rehab was ridiculous, but sounded true. The psychopath might be trying for redemption.

"All demons inside," the computer system said.

"Computer, run diagnostic."

"Authorization fail." He heard a confusing sound. The facility was going into lock down. "Fellowship of Inner Peace," Colin's voice came from the computer speakers, "I learned the truth. The Prophet is a liar, manipulator and fiend." A beat. "Aman Oliveira, a self-proclaimed savior enslaving souls and devouring the righteous."

Some type of countdown started.

"By killing me, you set in motion what cannot be undone. I came to the Fellowship a deluded, but honest acolyte. I took my vows seriously. To protect the angel, the divine being for whom I am scribe, I will be faithful and loyal in death. And in his name I smite thee."

The explosion leveled the Fellowship facility and the abandoned buildings around it, destroying a city block.