"It is validated," the First Officer confirmed. "The interception of the Conservatory communiqué verifies that your daughter was born at term two days ago. The abomination that bore her had no affect on her health," he said smugly. "Pure Adyan."
The Commander's icy gaze swept over him. He looked down. "Of course she will thrive when she is reunited with her mother."
"I was hoping she would acquire some of his qualities," she snapped. "Especially his regenerative qualities."
The First Officer remained, awaiting the next directive.
The Commander returned her attention to the star chart in front of her. "Where are they holding her?"
"She is on a TARDIS in this area, unfortunately. There are two. She is on the one belonging to the abomination and his mate."
She straightened and turned towards the four officers around the conference table. "Time Lord technology. We cannot breach a TARDIS." She glanced up at the Communications Officer. "Where is the Doyenne and that traitor?"
"Same location, Commander."
"And our mother ship?"
"Orbiting the planet, under the control of the Conservancy...and the traitors."
She sighed, and stepped away from the table. The large monitor at the front of the bridge showed a slowly turning planet with its crimson swirl of toxic gases and rock. She thought for a moment, then turned back to her command team.
"Then we will wait here. This planet's atmosphere blocks their scanning devices, and we can spot their patrols far enough in advance to hide." She leaned down putting both hands firmly on the table. "The Doyenne will eventually leave the TARDIS with her niece. We will deal with my aunt at that time. Until then, we wait."
She signaled to the first officer to walk with her. "I want the Freak back. He has value to me… and to the Cartel. Prepare a contingency plan to take advantage of any opportunity to retrieve him." She settled back in the captain's chair. "We have unfinished business, he and I."
TWTWTWTW
"He is so cold," muttered Jens as he held Jack in his arms. "It breaks my heart, Ianto, seeing him this way."
"Patience," reassured the fylgia. "The damage done by the Commander is more savage than physical wounds. Healing is slow. How are you feeling?
"Off. Weaker," the young Time Lord replied. "Such a strange place."
"Keep your voice down," Ianto whispered. He shifted his position to form a tighter shield around Jack. As he touched the Captain's neck, he felt a quickening. "It's starting."
TWTWTW
The Doctor relieved Gray for the third time as Mara checked the vital signs of both Jack and the young Time Lord. He was surprised on how tender Gray was to his brother. Each time he had walked in, he observed the younger brother whispering memories from their childhood into Jack's ear, holding his hand, pushing the unruly hair from his eyes. Maybe he had changed.
He wondered what was in the box that Toshi brought when she relieved him, and took her turn at her father's side. He smiled when she took out the aging letters and photographs and placed them by Jack. Taking one at a time, she reached back into her memory to retell the stories the Captain had told her as she sat in his lap as a child.
He had been diligent too.. He spoke softly to the still man, recalling Jack securing the Chula bomb into his space craft with no expectation of rescue, and chuckled when he remembered their adventure with at the Slitheen. He spoke of Jack's resourcefulness when fighting the battles with the Daleks, and the transformation of Torchwood from am enemy to ally. It was difficult to apologize for his abandonment of Jack on Satellite 5, running is a coward's game, but he knew the Captain's heart. Whatever he may have thought of Jack's intentions, the man was forgiving and brave. And no one had a better friend.
"Doctor!"
The Time Lord jolted from his thoughts, and turned towards the Catkin Doctor.
"Something's happening," Mara said, stepping back from the bed. "Look!"
Jack's body was still without movement, but the monitors were registering a pulse, and a rush of air into the lungs.
"He's reviving?"
"Yes," she cried. "But look…look at Jens!"
His son still clung to the Captain, but a firey glow began to spread from his hearts into the rest of his body.
"No, no, no, no!" The Doctor leaped from his chair. "This can't be." He circled to the opposite side of the bed. "Hold Jack, we need to pull them apart!"
"Why?" she asked as she leaned in to stabilize the Captain.
"Jens has stayed in the void too long," cried the Doctor. "He's dying!"
"I don't understand."
"He's regenerating…the energy," he stopped. "We need to move Jens to another room. Now." He stood up. "No, I'll do it. You stay with Jack!"
TWTWTW
"Ianto, what's happening?" cried Jens. He looked in dismay as a soft fiery glow began to spread from his chest into the rest of his body.
"Jack is reviving," the fylgia tightened his grip on both Jack and the young Time Lord, but could feel Jens being pulled away. "Hold on…I'm losing you!"
"The void, something's happening. It's pulling me!" Jens tried to tightened his hold as panic set in. "Ianto, I can't hold on… Don't leave me!"
Ianto could feel the rush of air entering Jack's lungs. As the breath intensified, he felt Jens' grip slipping.
Ianto grabbed for the Time Lord's wrists, but felt the hands slip away as Jens was sucked into the void. Concentrating his strength on Jack, he tightened his embrace as he felt them moving forward through the edge of the void, like being dragged through shattered glass, until finally he could see the swirling landscape of Jack's mind.
TWTWTWTW
Jens did not respond to his father's touch. The Doctor carefully separated Jens arms from around Jack's body, gently leaving the Captain in the Doyenne's care. He lifted his son's body from the infirmary bed and placed it on a trolley, quickly bringing it to the heart of the TARDIS where he laid him down on the floor. Then he backed away. The glowing light around Jens' body began to intensify until the Doctor turned his eyes away. Jen's body grew brighter until it arced as the energy streamed out filling the room.
The Time Lord slowly removed his hand from his eyes as the light faded. He straightened and turned to look at the huddled form in the center of the room. The light had diminished, but the body still emitted energy. He came closer.
"Jens, can you hear me?"
Silence.
He carefully turned the body over, and stood in surprise. "Never seen that before," he frowned. Jens was still unconscious. Remembering a previous slow regeneration of his own, he picked up Jen's body and brought it to an empty room created by the TARDIS for the incoming wounded, and placed it on the bed. He took out his sonic screwdriver and scanned. The breath was shallow, but both hearts beat strong. He breathed a sigh of relief. Time was needed. Time and care. He felt the forehead detecting a fever as small waves of energy continued to evaporate off the body.
"We have to isolate Jens, old girl, for everyone's safety, for Jens and for the humans on board." he said to the TARDIS. "Time is needed to heal. You can take care of that, can't you?"
The TARDIS responded by creating room that only the Doctor could enter. The walls began to adjust to the fluctuating waves of energy still flowing from the regeneration.
"Jen, can you hear me?" No response. He tried again. "You'll be fine here, the TARDIS will take care of you. I need to see to Jack." No response. "I'll be back soon."
TWTWTW
As the Doctor entered the infirmary, he saw Toshi and Gray standing next the Doyenne and Chi as she examined the unconscious Captain. Mara stood by the monitors, checking the readings on blood pressure and other vital signs.
"He's breathing," whispered Toshi as she circled her father watching the rise and fall chest, "but why isn't he waking up? Should he be awake by now?"
"He is not healed," said Chi as he readjusted the quilt. "His physical body is healed, but the Commander shattered his mind." He frowned and looked around the room.
"The Time Agent boxes," said the Doyenne, "were not meant for an immortal. They made him vulnerable to her attack. He needs time. We must give him time."
"Where is Jens?" asked Gray. "I thought…"
"Jens is resting," interrupted the Doctor. "We need to focus on Jack."
"What do you want us to do?" asked Gray as turned back to the Doyenne.
"The same," said the Doyenne. "Stay with him, touch him, tell him shared memories. Help him rebuild."
"But Jack didn't talk much about his past," said Mara. "There will be gaps, years…"
Toshi looked at the old metal box in her hand. She lifted her head and looked at her grandfather. "I think I have something that will help."