Thirteen

Jack looked across the room to see Ianto had wrapped his arms around his legs and placed his head on his knees. He recognised this from the journal and knew that Ianto had retreated deep within himself.

Jack felt a pain deep in his chest as the hope he had held onto began to be replaced a fragment at time with the reality of the truth. All this time he had held on the hope that if he could demonstrate to Ianto how much he had changed and apologise, Ianto might grant him the peace that had eluded him since the moment he had found Ianto in the holo-suite.

Jack's mind went back the day of his sentencing. On that day he had been prepared to take what he considered the just punishment he was due. Had the penalty been spacing he would have willingly walked into the nearest airlock and thrown the switch himself. For a split second he felt intense hatred to the man who had thrown him this life line. How could he ever redeem himself if the man he had hurt would never see the man who had risen out of the ashes of who he was?

And the man has saved his life. Taken enormous risk, put aside his hatred and distrust of him as a human being and saved him. What had he got to offer this man now all was lost? Nothing. 'Not nothing you have one thing of any value,' he told himself.

Maybe that was it. Jack felt a determination grow. Ianto would return home safe and unharmed even if he, Jack, had to die to achieve it. Maybe that was the end play in this terrible tragedy. If he died saving Ianto maybe he would finally find redemption in his own eyes.

Ianto felt like he was in free fall as everything he knew and felt about what happened, the players and the aftermath, continued to shatter into millions of pieces.

Tosh and Jack knew! All this time and he had never questioned how his image pouch containing the brooch had been found or who had handed it to his father.

Against what felt like a tide of emotion he tried to think back to those final desperate days on the Diligence. Had he left his journal open after he had made his last message? Maybe they found the brooch first then used it to access his journal. Would the Tosh he knew countenance such an act? No, it was too well hidden; the only logical explanation was that either Jack or Tosh had found the journal already open. The only conclusion that made any sense was that the brooch and his image pouch were discovered because he, Ianto, had described how and where he had hidden said pouch.

Thoughts and questions crowded in one after another. If Jack knew about the brooch and had used it to blackmail his father then why give it back? And why just demand one thing, why not also demand for money to start a new life? And it begged the question: if Jack knew what the brooch could do why not keep it for himself? Blackmail by its very nature is a dirty nasty business and requires a level of secrecy, but according to Jack, Tosh knew.

Another thought now crowded him and a realisation grew that the reason the report was so detailed and comprehensive. The report was far more it indicated a concerted effort to dig out the truth and expose the innocent as well as the guilty.

Ianto turned and glanced at Jack through the gap in his arms and saw the man had retreated to his own corner. Ianto admitted he had thrown every last ounce of bitter vitriol he had at him and Jack had never once defended or tried to justify himself. Yet when Ianto had accused the man of blackmail Jack had reacted with outrage at the very suggestion.

Blackmail only worked if Jack was the only one who knew of the brooch's existence.

Jack admitted he had listened from first to last word and knew just what Ianto thought about him…knew and seen his pain.

For five long years he had held such a hatred for the man across from him. Ianto had come to envisage Jack as someone without honour and who would sacrifice anything and anyone to advance himself. Harkness the bully had come to represent every vile horrible event that had happened on the Diligence. Even now he didn't feel for same hatred for sad and mad Susie as he did for Harkness. His hatred was directed at the smirking, sarcastic, implacable man who had refused him and then remained blind to his distress who had become the very symbol representative of each and every act perpetrated against him…

The clocked ticked down; two hours to go. 'It's time,' Jack spoke up and Ianto forced his focus back to the here and now.

Jack watched as Ianto stood and began to check over himself and the equipment he would be taking.

'Change of plan.' Jack reached out for the backpack. 'I'm going to retrieve the other set of anti-grav boots.'

Ianto looked up. 'Jack, the whole reason I'm going is because we can't swap boots. Your feet are two sizes larger than mine.' Ianto put his foot beside Jack's as a measure. 'If I'm caught in a gravity free zone I have an edge I can use to my advantage.'

'It's better I go,' Jack reiterated stubbornly.

'After everything I've done you still don't trust me.' Ianto looked at Jack trying hiding the sharp pain he felt at Jack's words

'That's not it.' Jack held out his hand then took it back, an edge of desperation in his voice 'I would trust you with my life, I already have. My going has nothing to do with trust. It has to do with risk.'

Ianto continued to ready himself. 'Risk is a matter of perspective. My going to the storage deck is less risky than hanging by a thread over a two hundred meter drop. The point is I'm dispensable. If anything happens to me you can use the diversion to take command as we planned.'

'I'm the Captain,' Jack said bluntly.

Ianto pointed at Jack's chest 'And as the only other officer on board I need to point out that as Captain your duty is not to take any undue risks. Simply stated: in terms of this current situation your value is higher than mine. Regulations state the Captain has a duty to pass any undue risk to another officer,' Ianto pronounced stubbornly.

'This is not up for debate. I'll give you my codes and I order you to take any means to take the ship back if I'm captured.' Jack reached again for the bag.

'Like hell. If I'm captured I can't tell them something I don't know.' Ianto pulled the back pack away from Jack's hand.

'That's a risk we will have to take. The codes are…'

'Stop!' Ianto shouted at him and put his fingers in his ears. 'If I'm caught I can act as a decoy and you do what you have to do to take the bastards down. Then move the ship out of the system and report the situation. It's unconscionable that you would jeopardise our one and only true advantage.'

'And if they are waiting for you then you will be sacrificed!' Jack pointed out, a waver in his voice.

'So be it and dare I point out 'Sir' every moment we stand here arguing is eating into the time margin that could be critical to this operation. It's now or never.'

Jack let it go unable to counter Ianto's logic. Jack stood back and watched as Ianto began to cut their way out.

Making his way through the ship Ianto found two tunnels away from the main computer core where the gravity was off. He made good time by switching off the boots and almost flew though the tunnels and junctions. If he wasn't so worried that gravity might turn on again at any moment he might have enjoyed it.

He stopped only once to adjust the gravity on the storage decks. Much to his dismay he found it was impossible. It would appear 'Operation Chaos' had worked too well. Ianto knew he could restore gravity on that deck but he needed time. Time he didn't have to get to the storage deck, find what he needed, and make his way back. 'Maybe they should have done this run earlier? No,' Ianto argued with himself. 'Timing was everything.If he got caught now it would give Jack time to act. Act to open every airlock door and flush the bastards into space.'

Reaching the storeroom level he turned his anti-grav boots back on and placed his ear against the panel and listened. All he could hear was the shrill of alarms. Right now the crew were being warned of a hull breach. He stood back and listened into the radio slaver channel to discern if he could hear any chatter but they were silent.

It was worrying because the slavers had been silent for several hours. It could indicate the slavers were maintaining radio silence for the first time or their system had broken down. This silence could mean the slavers had anticipated this very move and he was walking into a trap. There was only one way to find out, Ianto reasoned.

Releasing the catches and opening the panel, within seconds it became clear the corridor was free of any slavers.

Pulling out a small box with a red button on it Ianto pressed it twice, alerting Jack he had arrived on the storage deck and was moving to stage two.

Standing before the store room door Ianto keyed in his override code into the door. The door slid open and Ianto saw boxes, tools and larger equipment floating around in one jumbled, scattered mass.

Ianto braced himself, turned off his boots and leaped through the door. It was like swimming through a huge floating three-D maze. In a sense this should be easy, Ianto told himself as he made his way up and over the biggest objects when his stomach lurched. Instantly he found himself trying to aim feet first towards the floor. Landing awkwardly it seemed the entire contents of the room crash-landed around him. Sliding down the pile he had landed on Ianto felt his stomach twist and found himself floating again.

This time Ianto used the huge floating boxes like stepping stones and made his way through the top layer. With caution, ever mindful he could be heading towards the floor at any given moment, he travelled across the cavernous room.

The next time gravity returned Ianto was near a set of floor to ceiling shelves. Reaching out he grabbed for the top shelf and hung on as what seemed every object stored there whistled and brushed past him on their way to the floor.

He looked down at the seeming mountain range of boxes and assorted equipment. It was like some giant had turned the storage bay upside down, giving everything a good shake then tipped the contents back onto the floor.

Using the shelves he travelled over, under and around to the general area he had found the pair of boots he was wearing. The boots should be easy to spot because they came in hexagonal boxes which were a peculiarity of the manufacturer. Reaching the area he found yet another pyramid pile of containers, none from the outside were the boxes he was looking for. Maybe they were buried and that meant clearing the nearest pile so he stepped onto the top of the pile.

'What if the slavers had found them and were using them to move about the ship?' The thought made him pause and fear began to build in his chest. The pile shifted and his feet slipped from under him and he fell onto his backside. Now on the floor he pulled himself to standing and turned. To his right, peeking out was a familiar shaped box just meters away, embedded as part of another pile of debris. Sliding and crawling he reached the pile of boxes. He pulled open the first box and found a pair of boots. He checked the size and threw them away and began to tear open every box before him.

With impeccable timing the gravity went off just as he stuffed the boots he needed into his backpack. Floating up he moved again to the top layer and swam his way across.

Reaching the door he turned his boots back on. Now there would be no danger of being crushed by the objects above him if the gravity failed.

As he reached out to enter his code the door slid open and the frame filled with a huge brutish looking man who looked startled.

Ianto staggered backwards and took off at a run trying to keep aware of what was above him. Brushing the top of his head was a whole galaxy of large objects that could head his way any moment. He turned but the man was still blocking his way. He was trapped. The man moved forward and taking the nearest object hefted it Ianto's way. It collided with several objects that took off in different directions. There was a now very familiar twisting sensation and Ianto tried to dodge the rain of equipment. One sharp-angled container hit his shoulder and another racked down his back. The brute, seeing his chance, roared into the room.

Not looking back Ianto took off, trying to keep his footing but it was hard going. From the crashing behind him the man was edging closer. A large wrench clipped Ianto's ear. Glancing over his shoulder he saw the brute toss something else his way. It caught his back; reaching down he turned off his boots. He was no match for this man on the ground; zero-g was an advantage he could use now. Cursing Ianto scrambled over piles of equipment, this was a losing gamble. Soon he would be up against a wall or dead end and this chase would be done.

Within moments he found himself floating with his back against one of the bigger pieces of equipment. Ianto pulled himself over then kicked it towards the brute. Any hope its momentum would stop his purser ended when the brute caught the object and tossed it back.

The effort caused both Ianto and the man to head off in opposite directions. Clawing his way through the debris Ianto used his momentum to keep moving forward. He had an advantage; a small one now the gravity remained off; the man could not use his bulk as an advantage.

The game was an even match. Ianto threw boxes to keep at himself at least three body lengths away. The man was red-faced and out of breath. His size and fitness level suggested he was used to overcoming his victims quickly and never had to endure a prolonged fight. None of which would matter if the brute got his hands on him, Ianto reasoned.

Keeping an eye to where he was and trying to disguise his actions Ianto hoped the man had not realised they were moving in a circuit back towards the door. If he could get close enough Ianto could turn his boots back on and make his exit. Then he could lock the door with his override code.

'Arse wipe. I'm going to kill you with my bare hands,' the brute lipped abuse at him.

'Gotta catch me first.' Ianto tossed the nearest large object towards the man. Ianto cursed; the man was not as stupid as he looked as the brute batted the missile away with his fist instead of throwing it back.

The man suddenly launched himself towards Ianto like some anti-super hero. Ianto turned and pushed himself away, instead of moving forward he found he was falling.

Twisting Ianto tried to right himself and fell hip-first into a pile of boxes. He floundered around fighting to catch his breath as the wind had been knocked out of him. Movement caught in the corner of his eye and he moved his head just in time as a fist crashed into the box next to his left ear.

A second fist headed towards his face. Ianto lifted his forearm to ward off the blow. The blunt force jarred his arm and it went numb. Ianto braced himself for another blow but the man lost his footing and slid backwards. Rolling twice Ianto felt himself sliding towards the floor down the opposite site of the pile.

Roaring, the man hurled himself at Ianto. Moving as fast as he could Ianto vaulted over as many of the shorter piles as he could without losing his footing. He heard a crash and glanced backwards to see the man ploughing through the piles, smashing his way forward.

To his right Ianto thought he saw the door. Slipping, sliding and throwing himself forward he tried to keep ahead. To his dismay the man behind seemed have gotten his second wind. Something grasped his left ankle so leaping out of the man's range Ianto began to climb up the large pile to his left while kicking backwards. His breath was ragged as he reached the top and slid down the other side but the man had anticipated his move and gone sideways.

Ianto tried to twist out the way as the brute swung out both fists. Ianto dipped then cupped each hand and slammed them over his attacker's ears.

The man howled in rage. Turning Ianto scrambled over the pile of boxes in front of him in a desperate effort to reach the door which was feet away. This time he was not so lucky and his foot caught in an open tool chest and he tripped. Landing on his hands and knees he crawled forward to find his way blocked. Instead of the door he was in a dead end. Standing, a box whistled past his ear followed by three others in rapid succession.

'You've caused us hell. Nothing to eat or drink and you killed the Commander. The Gaffer reckons you must be worth a small fortune but I'm going to finish you right here with my bare hands, just for the sheer pleasure of it.' The man growled out each word. Ianto turned side on and lashed out straight legged with his foot aimed at the man's knee. The man grunted and fell back one step. 'That all you got?'

Ianto backed up and found his back against a wall of debris with the man's fist lashing out left then right. Tooth, nail, fist, foot, struggle, and blood, Ianto fought back using every move he had but it was not enough to save him and within minutes the man locked his hands around Ianto's throat.

Now Ianto's fight was for breath. Ianto twisted his whole body one side then the next. He scrabbled with his fingers against the man's fingers, scratched his attackers face, punched, kicked. He brought up with his feet and tried to prise the man away but nothing loosened the iron-fisted grip.

The man grimaced, grinding his teeth and chin wet with saliva from the effort. Ianto felt his eyes bulging out of the sockets and black spots danced before his eyes as the cage of flesh closed around his throat and squeezed the life out of him.

Ianto heard a cry followed by a flash of something metal and the iron grip around his throat loosened. A hot spray splashed across Ianto's face and the hands were gone.

A roaring in his ears, Ianto couched and spluttered as he took in great whoops of life-giving air. His vision red with effort began to clear when blood-covered hand swum in front of Ianto's eyes. Ianto saw it was an open hand; looking up he saw Jack.

'You okay?' Jack said in gasps and helped Ianto to stand.

Ianto spoke through coughs, massaging his own throat. Seeing the downed man he gave the brute a savage kick.

'We need him secured,' Ianto croaked.

Jack touched Ianto's arm. 'He won't need that.'

'But what if he comes to?' Ianto said trembling from his ordeal.

Jack pulled Ianto away from the gruesome scene. 'Two down.'

Ianto now saw for the first time the weapon Jack held in his other hand. The sharp shards of metal were covered in pieces of skull, blood and flecks of brain.

Ianto's mind made a connection and he rubbed his hand frantically across his face and his hand came away bloody. He used his cuff to try and clean his face.

'Two down,' Ianto repeated feeling sick and Jack gently led him away towards the door.

'You followed me?' Ianto pointed out, confused, as they reached the entrance of the maintenance tunnel, still shaking.

"Yes I did,' Jack agreed. 'You forgot essential equipment. As the only other officer on board you are setting a bad example.' Jack waggled a finger at Ianto and attempted a smile. 'Don't let it happen again.'

'You're the Captain,' Ianto said taking a tentative swallow and found it still felt like glass.

'Yes I am,' Jack said handing Ianto a bottle of water.

Standing three decks up Ianto opened his backpack and handed the boots he had acquired to Jack. Jack put them on and they both waited a moment while the boots went through their customisation process.

'Comfy?' Ianto asked, amused, as Jack tested them out.

'Feet still a bit tender,' Jack told him as he wiggled his toes.

'Of course Sorry,' Ianto said mortified.

Jack put his hand on Ianto's arm. 'Ianto, it's okay.'

'Sir, I need to report there appears to be several pairs of boots missing,' Ianto warned.

'We'll deal with that if we have to,' Jack said, flexing his feet. 'For all we know they had no idea what they do and wanted slippers or something.'

'Slippers?' Ianto raised his eyebrows.

'Why not? They are very comfy,' Jack added.

'I can see the advertising now: 'Anti grav slippers; pirate approved',' Ianto added.

'Reach your inner pirate.' Jack wiggled his toes.

'Would they come with a free promotional parrot?' Ianto asked.

'A real one?' Jack asked, double-checking the boot settings.

Ianto began to laugh weakly.

'What?'

'Here we are, in maintenance tunnel three, attempting to take back our own ship in a fight for our lives and we're talking about parrots.'

'Parrots are delicious, there is nothing like a good parrot for breakfast, I like mine lightly toasted,' Jack said in all seriousness.

'Could be a new food bar flavour,' Ianto mulled over the thought.

'Em…toasted parrot,' Jack said in thought. 'As long as there were no bits of feathers I would give one a go.'

'Feathers actually might improve the flavour,' Ianto told him putting his foot on the bottom rung.

Jack watched as Ianto enacted the final programme changes that would allow them to hopefully take back the ship. After a final flourish Ianto looked up. 'Gravity has been restored to engineering and programme 'Chaos One' is set to deactivate on your command.'

Ianto looked down the tunnel that led to the central engineering junction. Here Jack would make his way down, entering the engineering via the panel Ianto had made his escape.

'Thank you,' Ianto said breaking the silence. 'Back there for saving my life.'

Jack lifted his chin in acknowledgement and nodded. 'Ianto, I'm not sure if I have enough words, a simple thank seems so little for what you've achieved. Thank you rescuing me and making any of this possible.'

It was Ianto's turn to smile meekly now.

A few more seconds passed when they both heard a low beep.

'Good luck,' Jack said, brushing Ianto's arm as he moved away.

'Good luck sir,' Ianto said and watched as Jack now descended the final two ladders.

Opening the panel Jack stepped out into engineering, looked around, sniffed and gagged at the strong eye watering odour which seemed to increase with every step.

The panel he needed was just to his left and just before that he saw a tall man and another in a grey uniform sporting a glowing blue collar.

'Hello, I'm Captain Jack Harkness,' he said to the startled look on the slaver's face who now turned to face him. 'What have you been doing?' Jack tutted and brushed his hand lightly across the panel in an arc in an apparent attempt to clean it. 'And it's going to take weeks to remove the stench of sweaty slaver out of the ship but I guess I should be grateful there are no parrot droppings and feathers. '

The slaver narrowed his eyes. 'Where's the other one? The one who rescued you and who's been playing merry hell with the ship?' The slaver edged towards Jack.

'He's out and about.' Jack spat on the cuff of his sleeve and tried to clean off a speck from the panel that appeared to be bothering him.

The slaver picked up his communicator. 'Get up here! The missing officer with the codes has turned up.' He looked at Jack up and down.

Jack smiled. 'Excellent! The more the merrier.'

Not sure how to react the slaver just stared at him, completed his command then snapped his communicator off. 'Good of you to surrender because now we have you the other will be so easy to catch.'

'Don't think so.' Jack shook his head.

'He rescued you before. This time we will have him.'

'True but at the time he didn't know it was me. You see, him and I have a history due to a mistaken identity. It appears to have happened again,' Jack told him.

'What are you talking about?' The slaver snapped.

'Mistaken identity,' Jack repeated and raised his eyebrows.

'Who gives a shit who the fuck you or he is?' Grogan replied.

'But you should,' Jack spoke out indignantly. 'His name is Ianto Erasmus Jones, his birthdate is 12.86.97 and he goes by the nickname Saucy-goose but only to his friends. A single fingernail is worth more than this entire ship.' Jack saw another speck and brushed it away, tutting.

The lift door opened and the slaver smiled and pointed towards Jack.

'Excellent.' Jack rubbed his hands together. 'You are all just in time for me introduce him. Everyone, meet Ianto Jones,' Jack said with a great deal of flourish.

The group of slavers looked around and then back at Jack as if he was mad.

'He's up there, see? Wave!' Jack pointed and waved. The slavers looked up.

Jack watched as the men around fell crumpled to the ground. Some appeared to be fighting to move but were struggling to lift a finger. With gravity now set for fifteen times earth normal lifting a finger was all they was going to be able to do.

'All set?' Jack asked as Ianto now joined him.

'Operating systems coming back online,' Ianto told him. 'As a precaution I've locked down all lift functions and sealed every floor so if any are wearing anti-grav boots it won't matter.'

Jack handed a bunch of cable ties to Ianto. 'Commander Jones, secure engineering.' Ianto saluted and headed towards the first group.