Sixteen.

His arms locked around Gwen, Rhys braced them both for the shock of landing. Crammed within the metal cell on the transport with other crew members, they were desperate for this to be over but terrified at what awaited them. Denying them water or food for god knows how long seemed deliberate. Rhys had to admit he was so dry all he could think of was taking a drink let alone escaping or what might happen next.

Feeling a like they were in free fall he braced himself and saw others do the same. Gwen and others cried out as they landed with a jolt. Listening they could hear the commotion the clearance of each cell caused. The door opened and they were dragged out with shouts, kicks, and shock sticks. They watched as two of the crew in front of them began to fight with their captors only to end up writhing on the ground as the slave collars they were wearing were activated.

Gwen screamed as one of the slavers tried to pull her away from Rhys. 'You touch her you'll have me to deal with, slave collar or not slave collar,' Rhys warned holding on to her more tightly.

Pursing his lips, he was about to continue when another slaver slapped the aggressive slaver on the shoulder and growled something menacing. The slaver shrugged then, using the shock stick he hurried them down a long corridor that led to a dark opening. Expecting to find themselves in the open they found themselves in an ill-lit corridor. Considering the bright lights of the transport they became momentarily disorientated by the seeming twists and turns. It wasn't until they were deep into the complex that their eyes adjusted. He and Gwen could hear the slamming of doors; shouts and screams echo then cut off as heavy doors crashed open then shut behind them just as they passed. Rhys wondered if this nightmare journey would ever end a door slid open.

A hand connected with Rhys's back and shoved him forward. Stumbling he found himself inside a windowless stone cell already occupied with four others. Down each wall were some sort of plastic benches only large long enough for perhaps one of their number to lie down on along each. The benches were broken in one corner. Here there was a drain of some kind with two footprints on either side and a dripping tap.

As Rhys took in the details he recognised Martha Jones and two others he didn't know. Standing on the bench examining the door mechanism was Toshiko Sato.

'That hit the spot,' Rhys said after he had gulped down the third container of water he had been handed. 'I suppose it goes without saying there's no room service.'

'No and don't start about the hole in the corner,' Bonnie spoke up.

'What? That's first class that is,' Rhys spoke up as Martha handed him a food bar.

'What!' Bonnie burst out.

'Listen: hole in the floor, food and water somewhere to sit, Toshiko Sato,' Rhys pulled his hand from his pocket holding what looked like a long shank of metal. Twisting it they saw it was a multi-headed universal screwdriver. 'And this.' Tosh's face broke into a huge smile and took the instrument and went back to examining the door control.

'This is terrible,' Gwen spoke out then sniffed. 'What's going to happen to us? I thought being crammed on that transport was bad enough but this waiting is terrible. Each day that passes I just get more and more scared of what's going to happen.'

Rhys put her arm around her. 'You stick with me. I'll make sure nothing horrible happens. First they have to get past me.'

'How can you bear me? I stink,' Gwen looked up at him. She had never given him a second thought now he was her hero. 'It's been five days without a wash and we were squashed on that ship then marched in here. And we haven't seen neither hide nor hair of anyone except someone throws in some food bars through the slot in the door.'

Martha looked across at Gwen as Tosh worked on her slave collar with a tiny sliver of metal she had somehow fashioned into a tool. As useful as the universal screwdriver was the collars needed something far more delicate.

Fear did different things to people Gwen couldn't stop talking it was as if she kept repeating how terrible things were somehow their conditions might improve.

'Almost there,' Tosh said biting her lip as she worked at the delicate junction with the piece of metal. She sat back and with a flourish removed the collar. Martha rubbed her neck. Tosh sat back and did some adjustments; she pulled out a wire and concentrated using the sliver of metal with all the skill of a surgeon with a micro-scalpel. Within seconds the circle began to glow and she placed it back around Martha's neck. Now a cursory glance would suggest the collars were still working instead of being nullified.

'Rhys you're next, then you can do me,' Tosh commanded. Rhys moved forward and sat on the floor.

'I can't wait to fight back,' Gwen said.

'First things first,' Tosh said biting her lip as she worked. 'It's reasonable to assume we are not the first people they've taken. I imagine they have contingency plans for a slave revolt. This whole place feels laid out like a series of interlocking boxes; that's what I would do anyway. Even if someone does escape they just end up in another sealed box. The biggest problem is I have no way of knowing if the slavers can tell if the doors have been opened. Or once we have this one open if it leads to sealed box or an open corridor.'

'I say we open the next box, free the next lot, deactivate their collars, strength in numbers and all that,' Daniela said.

'We have to get out. I don't want to be stuck here or sold as a slave. I had plans; a life, we all do,' Gwen sniffled.

Rhys took her hand. 'Don't you worry my Gwennie. I'll look after you.'

'What would I do without you? You've been like a rock. How do you keep so calm?'

'Well, as I see it, we're Space Command. They have never had to deal with Space Command so every one of us will be working to escape. First step is to make sure the collars are deactivated then we can fight back. Give them a good run for the money.'

'You are so brave. Being part of security I never expected to face this kind of thing, checking people as they board, visitors, ensuring everyone's safe off station, investigating incidents on or off board that might happen.'

'Don't you worry you stick with me,' Rhys repeated and Gwen came and sat next to him and he put her arm around her.

'Done,' Tosh called out in triumph and removed Rhys's collar.

'My turn,' Tosh said and, turning around, lifted her hair and held out the small tool for Rhys.

'I hope Commander Jones is okay. I didn't see him brought to the cargo bay and he wasn't in the transport with us. I hope he's alright,' Bonnie piped up.

'Maybe he's in the next cell?' Martha said, smiling. Tosh rolled her eyes and worked at the exposed wires within the door control.

'If we can get out of here and you rescue him he might finally notice you are alive. Really notice you,' Daniela said doing air quotes around 'notice you'.

'Well he just might,' Bonnie said. 'And him and me…you just never know.'

'Oh give it over.' Daniella stood up.

'I was just saying I hadn't seen him and was hoping he was alright and it would be awesome if I just happen to be the one who rescued him.'

Danielle interrupted. 'Listen, we all know how you feel since you found out I was right.'

'I don't know what you are talking about,' Bonnie replied in complete innocence.

'I'm talking about your Commander Jones infatuation since you found out him and his family have more money than God.'

'That has nothing to do with anything,.' Bonnie replied indignantly.

'Oh please.' Daniela put on a fake sweet voice and fluttered her eyelashes. 'Commander, please I don't understand the figures, I need extra help but only from you. You have such a way of explaining so everything becomes clear. Can I get you a coffee sir or anything else you might need please Sir?' Daniela's voice became harsher. 'You even took up squash and joined the league in the hope you might end up playing him.'

'It's not true,' Bonnie pouted.

'Up until the point you found out you couldn't stand him. You ran him down to whoever would listen and called him 'donut boy',' Daniela added. 'And made a complaint to Sandra Zhang because you thought he was incompetent.'

Bonnie went to argue when she saw Martha looking at her, her eyebrows raised.

'Whatever.' Bonnie slammed back against the wall and crossed her arms.

'You know I was just thinking the man can't cut a break,' Martha said to Tosh after several awkward silent moments passed.

'First time in space for five years and the ship gets taken by pirates,' Tosh replied

'And I was hoping we could make his role on board as a permanent liaison. But by the time this is over I wouldn't blame him if will never wanted enter a Space Command vessel again,' Martha added.

'You are talking about Commander Jones?' Gwen checked not sure she understood. 'I heard talk he was recovering from some sort of trauma but I thought he must have gotten injured somehow no one ever said.'

'He was the officer from the Diligence,' Tosh said quietly, pulling out a wire.

'Are you saying he was the officer who was at the centre of the Diligence incident?' Rhys double-checked.

'Yeah, we found him injured on the holo-suite and then found we had the wrong John Jones,' Tosh said.

'You were there?' Gwen asked.

'To my shame.' Tosh spliced two wires together.

'Shit. I remember all the news items. And all the new regulations later,' Rhys said.

Bonnie looked between them wide-eyed.

'Then he saved all us. After what we had done he saved each and every one us,' Tosh said quietly.

'I have to say the one thing has been keeping me going,' Martha added. 'Once his father finds out we won't need Space Command. His father will be here and tear each and every slaver limb from limb.'

'The man's lovely really,' Tosh added. 'A real sweetie.'

'You didn't sit though the enquiry into Crew Resources where he argued the entire department should be disbanded. He only backed down when it was suggested Crew Resources lose command privilege for the life of every current member.'

'You've met him?' Bonnie asked.

'Who are you asking?' Martha indicated.

'Tosh,' Bonnie clarified.

'I was Commander Jones's advocate on the Diligence and along with Owen we went with him to the healing facility once the Diligence returned.' Tosh let out a long sigh.

'So Owen was the on-board Medic?' Gwen checked.

'I thought everyone on the Diligence was demoted or thrown out?' Rhys said.

'A third of the crew were not guilty of anything more than being on-board. The rest of us…' Tosh took a moment to take a breath. 'And for the rest of us... ' She did a final flick and the door opened. 'It's time for us to move to stage two and see we can fulfil Bonnie's wish and see if Commander Jones is in the next cell.'

John walked behind the slaver. So far he had managed to work his way through the ranks.

It had taken five blow jobs and two cunnilingus followed by three hand jobs and one other request. It's not that he didn't enjoy water sports but some fetishes were best kept to the bedroom. As broad minded as he was it was impolite to just blurt out such a request in public. However the demand could have been a test. Considering the circumstances John was only too willing shower the man.

The good thing was all the activity and the demonstrations meant they seemed to be taking his request seriously. John stifled a smile as his escort led him towards the central control section and knew he was nearing his goal.

Broda Vengra watched as Nurmeen escorted a bound prisoner towards his command desk.

His head pounded, he cursed Sebol for the monumental disaster he was now being forced to contain.

Groups of up to ten, even twenty, they had handled with ease in the past. This time the sheer numbers created a whole host of difficulties. Even six to a cell meant each one was fit to bursting, logistics, keeping 298 bodies fed and keeping them contained was a nightmare considering the current state of the facilities.

Normally the units of merchandise were kept here in the centre facility, the most modern part of the base. They were close to medical, made each unit easy to oversee and assess for sale. Due to the sheer volume he had been forced to open up sections of the compound long sealed off and disused for good reason. Cells and corridors with spotty wiring, dodgy plumbing and surveillance that hadn't been run for fifty years; so out of date it couldn't hand shake with the current updated version. As a consequence they were using a system so primitive he couldn't tell him if a door in that part of the base was open or closed. All he had was grainy CCTV footage with half the cameras off line.

Compounding this was the nature of the crew that made up Torchwood. He felt the side of his eye twitch in frustration. In the past all the crews taken were made up of a leader, sometimes a second in command, and subordinates. Some very courageous but once the leadership was isolated the capacity to fight back for the remaining was limited especially when the realities of their situation was laid out to them in black and white. Most of those crews taken were either drones or independents out for themselves who could be persuaded to co-operate, or passengers removed from their normal comforts and easy to control.

Infuriatingly every one of the little bastards from the Torchwood seemed to be able to operate independent of any chain of command. So far there had been eleven break-outs, all contained and that was down to sheer luck. And one cell on inspection was empty. Empty! The occupants has scarpered and were now wandering free somewhere on the base. The only good thing was even if the worst happened and more of the units of merchandise managed to escape their current incarceration no matter how bloody inventive they may be, they were trapped. Outside the atmosphere was hostile and leaving the base was not an option. When news of the escape had been reported to him he had thrown up his hands in complete surrender, increased the patrols, and instructed food be thrown at the occupants and ordered back-up from the main command base. This would arrive in twelve hours. Then and only then could bring this situation back under control.

'This one says he wants to be sold as a sex slave. Claims he's half Aurelian and the more sex the better.' Trina Nurmeen, the slaver escorting, pushed John to stand before the desk.

Brogan Vengra looked John up and down and curled his lip. 'Too old.'

John put on his most charming smile. 'Sir, looks are not everything. The art of sex, of which I am a supreme aficionado, takes time to acquire. I have spent my life in the pursuit, of the arts of stroking the body into ecstasy.'

The supervisor stood and unbuckled his belt. 'Prove it.'

Fifteen minutes later John wiped his mouth.

'Sorry to interrupt you Gaffer,' Vengra spoke into his desk communicator still trying to catch his breath.

'What!' he heard gruff reply.

'I've got a nice surprise for you.'

'Has the backup arrived?'

'No, eleven hours to go. But I found an amusing distraction. I have here a part Aurelian who says he wants to be a sex slave. I can vouch for how skilled he is.'

'I didn't think Space Command kept any kind of slave?'

John replied raising his eyebrows up and down. 'I'm there as stress relief. My job is to take care of the crew's needs. It's a job I really enjoy. Wall to wall - or should I say bed to bed -sex with the odd orgy thrown in.'

'Very well,' the voice answered. 'But you had better be right.'

'Oh trust me he's very skilled.'

'So we are off to see the Gaffer then?' John checked as he followed his guard.

'You had better make her happy. She's got a sonic whip. Last slave died of whip burns,' Nurmeen said gleefully.

'Oh I love a good whipping,' John said as a door opened and he was pushed in.

Authors Note: Apologies for the short chapter and delay in posting. I've been slammed with a flare up of my fatigue disorder twice in a many weeks which left me unable to write. The good news is my thought process are now back in full force and I am on holiday for two weeks so can now complete this and work on several other projects. The next chapter will be much longer.