Nineteen

Jack closed his eyes as he rode the lift to the bridge. The door slid open and the terrible ache in his feet reminded him that the last time he was here he had been blind, the flesh from his feet hanging off in great strips and felt like they were on fire. Confused and bewildered; a single kind voice offered rescue.

The memory caused an involuntary shiver and he tried to stop the trembling that had taken control of his hands. Taking a breath he stepped on the bridge.

'Captain on the bridge.' He heard a voice call out and to his surprise the entire crew stood and gave him a formal salute.

He looked around at the strained faces of the bridge crew and saluted them back.

'Sir, there are no words to thank you for what you've done,' Olivia, the navigation officer, said, speaking for all of them.

Jack moved to stand beside the Captain's chair. 'The person you should be thanking is Commander Jones. This moment is only possible because of his outstanding courage and bravery.'

'Oh we will, Sir,' another voice popped up and Jack recognised Lieutenant Jaqueline Worth who was standing by the Propulsion station.

Jack noted their faces carried the traces of the trauma they had endured. He was so proud of all of them. After all they had been put through they were still here performing their duties to the best of their abilities.

'I think it's time we got the hell out here. Any objections?' Jack asked.

'Course for safe corridor laid in,' Olivia reported.

Jack found the communicator on the arm of the captain's chair and pressed it. 'Engineering, report. What's the status of the engines?'

'The engine core is operating at 60% efficiency,' John Hart replied in disgust.

'Will that cause any problems?' Jack checked.

'Shouldn't do long as you don't expect full space drive beyond Mach three. I ran a level one structural integrity diagnostic. The interior structure of the ship has been stressed. I've managed to increase the integrity field to compensate but I wouldn't recommend any fancy moves.'

'Can the ship handle straight flight?' Jack asked and there was a slight pause.

'Never thought I would hear myself say this but straight and narrow is the way to go. In other words straight to a space dock with no sudden course changes,' John replied seriously.

Jack looked up at the main screen currently indicating the nearest projected space hazards the ship needed to avoid to make their out of the Perdian System. 'Once we enter the safe corridor there is a gravity field to the right and just to the left there is an area of null space emitting neutrinos which means a creep by down the centre of the safe corridor. Once we pass those we hit comet central,' Jack told him.

'One last thing,' John said. 'Just in case we meet any more of their ships and they try their takedown manoeuvre against us Ensign Evrim has come up with a way to reconfigure the shields to act as an dispersion field around the ship Now if they try that trick again the energy will be channelled around into space.'

'Excellent work,' Jack said then turned to navigation. 'Lieutenant Barnett, break orbit and lay a course for the centre of the safe corridor at sub-light two.'

'Yes sir,' Olivia replied.

On the main screen Jack watched as the Torchwood left orbit and began to track its course towards the centre of the safe corridor.

'I calculate it will take us seventy-six hours to escape the system,' Alex Lam, who was manning the science station, called out.

'Seventy-six hours.' Jack felt a pressure in his stomach and immediately damped it down. He looked at the tense look on all bridge crew's faces and knew they were feeling the same. They were so close to escaping they could taste it. But true freedom would only come once there was a large distance between them and this system. Only then could they dream of safety and home.

'Let's deal with one hazard at a time,' Jack said firmly.

'Sir, unidentified ship approaching in orbit vector,' Lt Alex Lam called out.

'On screen,' Jack ordered. On the main screen the navigation lines highlighted a large grey vessel half the size of the Torchwood. From the angle Jack guessed it had remained hidden due to their respective orbits.

'We are being scanned,' Lieutenant Lam told them. A second passed then a ball of blue energy raced towards them and enveloped the ship.

Lieutenant Lam along with two other officers screamed and jumped back as their panels at seemed spark and sizzle.

'Hart?' Jack shouted into his communicator.

'They get that one for free,' John replied.

'Everyone okay?' Jack asked as the crew moved back at their stations and heard a combined 'Aye Sir,' in reply as each member returned to their stations.

The main screen indicated another bolt was headed their way. This time the shield indicators dissipated the energy into heat.

'Damage?' Jack shouted out.

'A few fried boards but nothing we can't handle,' the bridge heard Hart reply.

'Let's see confirm what we're facing. Alex, scan them,' Jack requested.

'Modified Dreadnaught class engines are over-powered and they have all the standard armaments.' Lieutenant Lam answered as the scan reported its findings.

'What are we facing?' Hart broke in.

'Dreadnaught class battle ship,' Jack said his eyes fixed on the battleship, his heart pounding.

'A Dreadnaught. How the fuck did they get their hands on a Dreadnaught?' John cursed.

'We can't outrun them can we sir?' Jaqueline asked, speaking for everyone there.

'We've already faced down the impossible. Navigation, move to sub-light eight. Let's get as much distance as we can before they realise their primary takedown move has failed and move to intercept,' Jack said, putting his hand gently on her shoulder. 'Engineering, put everything we have into moving forward and rear shields.' Jack saw the battleship was sending another bolt their way.

The bolt hit filling the bridge with a strange eerie glow but then dissipated with a snap.

'They are scanning,' Alex reported.

'Torchwood entering safe corridor,' Olivia informed them all.

'Dreadnaught now powering main engines,' Alex said.

'Sound general alarm,' Jack ordered his communications officer, 'then turn on the main communication system.'

'This is acting Captain Harkness. The ship is under attack. All commanding officers please enact level one emergency protocols.'

'Lock down all secondary bulkheads and seal inner sections,' Jack told Lieutenant Worth.

'Aye Sir. Locked down.'

'Battleship arming,' Alex said a few seconds later.

'Can we manoeuvre?' Jack asked Olivia.

'The corridor is too narrow. If we move to the right we hit a gravity well. If we move left there an area of null space emitting neutrinos,' Olivia repeated what they already knew.

'Battleship targeting engines. Projected firing strength 1%.'

Jack turned on the main ship's com. 'Incoming; brace yourselves.' A heartbeat seemed to pass and the ship shuddered and to his relief he found himself still standing.

'Damage?' Jack asked.

'Rear shields strength down to 70%.'

'Dreadnaught increasing speed to sub-light four'

'They are firing. Projected firing strength 2% again. Targeting engines.'

'What are they waiting for? A single salvo at full strength and they could destroy us,' Olivia exclaimed, her voice betrayed her indignity over this final attempt to stop them escaping.

'These people are pirates; they want the ship intact,' Jack told them as he braced himself for impact.

'Shields down to 35%.'

'They are increasing speed to sub-light eight,' Lieutenant Worth reported.

'Increase to sub-light ten,' Jack said.

'They are firing. Projected strength 3%. Targeting engines.'

This time the Torchwood rocked violently. 'Shields on point of failure,' Jack heard as he got off his knees.

'Engineering. All possible power to rear shields,' Jack shouted into the comm.

'If I was holding anything back I would have let you know,' John Hart replied back with equal force.

''They are firing. Projected firing strength 4%. Targeting engines,' Alex Lam reported.

'Sir, the last blast moved us dangerously close towards the gravity well,' Olivia called out.

'Correct course back towards the centre of the safe corridor and when you've done that track all projected comets within 3000 parsecs,' Jack instructed.

'Aye Sir.'

'Commander Hart. Prepare for light speed Mach two.' Jack saw every face of his bridge crew turn towards him disbelief.

'Sir, you can't jump to light speed in a planetary system,' Peri Marquis the communications officer said.

'Rock…hard place,' Jack stated outlining their only options. 'It's not something they will expect and will get us out of range of their armaments. Olivia, I really need those comet plotting vectors,' Jack said through his teeth as he watched the battleship edging closer.

'Yes Sir,' Olivia recovered from the shock of his order and began to work.

Moving to the main viewer Jack watched as the comets in this region of the system were plotted and he marked two points. 'Lay in a course from here to here.'

'They are gaining, Sir. Within 800 parsecs. Firing at 5%. Targeting engines,' Alex reported.

Dazed, Jack found himself on his back, his ears ringing. His lungs filled with smoke.

Coughing, he pulled himself up. Damage?'

'Propulsion out,' Olivia replied. 'We're dead in the water.'

'Never say die.' Jack checked the incoming information.

'We are being hailed,' Peri Marquis reported.

'On screen.' Jack turned to face the main screen as a green, deep veined face filled the screen.

'Captain, you are to be congratulated.'

'And you are?' Jack coughed out, dusting himself off.

'Names are not important. What is important is this is over. Our vessel outmatches yours by a factor of one thousand. You have put up a valiant effort, taking back your ship and against all the odds rescuing your crew. But now it's time to face reality.'

'Reality is an interesting concept,' Jack said. 'I'm curious. That is one fine ship.'

'Is this the time for curiosity?' the being asked.

'I wouldn't want to die with my curiosity unsatisfied,' Jack added.

'It was acquired,' the being replied after a moment of reflection.

'Did you buy it or steal it?'

The being smiled. 'Let's just say it was gained due to an episode that allowed the redistribution of resources. It is a necessary tool for traversing the inner system which favours a ship with raw power.'

'In other words you stole it.'

The being's smile grew bigger, exposing rows of razor teeth. 'Trying to gain time by keeping me talking will not help you. I have demonstrated the power of this ship. You are being faced with destruction. A ship and crew that could be used to an advantage in the negotiation.'

'It was worth a try,' Jack said as an aside then furrowed his brow. 'Negotiation for what?'

'Captain, you only have two options: destruction or surrender. At first glance it would appear you have nothing to offer but you have something we want and as such that puts you into a position where you can use that value as part of a negotiation.'

'Okay.' Jack indicated the being to continue.

'I represent the Cartel. The Cartel is an organisation of individuals who are realists. And being a realist you do recognise how hopeless your situation is? You should also know we are in need of people who can lead, and take the initiative.'

'I'll take that as a genuine complement,' Jack replied then lifted a finger and shook it at the being. 'However if I was a true realist then you and I wouldn't be having this conversation.'

'Ah, brave words, Captain. In the full spirit of Space Command.'

Jack let out a false laugh.

'As one realist to another let us be frank. You have no chance of escape, one more salvo and all of you will be dead. I have another suggestion; an offer but it is for your ears only.'

Jack smiled. 'No need. I can most likely work out what you have to say. Your offer comes due to how badly you want this ship and the worth of each crewmember as tech slaves. You would like to point out that where there is life there is hope and life as a slave is at least life. Do I understand you correctly?'

'Yes,' the being snapped, not happy Jack was not open to a more closed deal.

'I personally should see this as a career opportunity. A once in a lifetime offer that will come with all manner of inducements. Not least of all opportunities, wealth and career pathways denied to me until you good people came along.'

'There would be certain advantages given in this circumstance to a certain acting Captain.' The being said slowly so Jack didn't miss the intent of its words.

Any further conversation was interrupted as the door of the lift opened. Ianto burst out, accompanied by Eugene Jones. Ianto bounded forward and held out a pad. 'Sir, the report you requested.' Ianto saluted.

Jack looked between the being and Ianto. 'Thank you, Commander Jones,' taking the pad Jack saw the screen held a simple message:

'Keep him talking as long as you can.'

'The problem is,' Jack turned his attention back to the being. 'I am not the captain of this ship. I am only the acting captain. On a personal note you can take your suggestion and shove it.' Jack saw the being bristle. 'However in light of your sincere gesture I will put your offer to the crew.'

'You have five minutes,' the being said and the screen went blank. Jack turned to see Ianto and Eugene working furiously between the science and engineering panels.

'You heard the man,' Jack told the pair.

'I said keep the man talking,' Ianto said as he worked.

'I gave you five minutes.'

'Talking Jack, you could persuade pearls out of oysters.'

'Never mind me. What the hell are you doing?'

Ianto glanced up. 'I may not look it but I'm all for surprises and don't you have to ask the crew something?'

Jack looked away to see Peri by his side.

'I would rather die a Space Command officer and free than live as a slave.'

'I'm with Peri,' Olivia added her own voice.

'Me to,' Alex said.

'Jack,' Ianto interrupted. 'Tell Mr Green nasty teeth, if he doesn't surrender we will destroy his ship.'

Jack stared at Ianto not sure he heard him correctly.

'Tell him he has two choices: surrender or destruction,' Ianto repeated.

The screen filled with the being's face. 'Your five minutes are up. What is your decision?'

Jack hesitated. 'We have overcome the inherent intrinsic energy problem. The E=Mc2 issue, we- don't –need- any- discs,' Ianto spelt it out.

Looking down at the instrument panel Jack blinked as he saw the sensor array was holding a phenomenal amount of power. If he gauged the information correctly it was every available ounce of power outside of life support.

'No wanting to separate the innocent from the guilty?'

'This is self-defence,' Ianto replied looking Jack in the eye.

Turning to face the being Jack smiled. 'It's to be surrender.'

'Excellent,' the being clapped. 'I knew you would see sense. There is little point in the unseemly destruction of you and your crew.'

'As the highest ranking Space Command officer I accept your surrender,' Jack corrected the being.

The being erupted into what appeared to be mirth. Jack waited for the being to regain the ability to speak.

'High amusing,' the being coughed out a reply. 'Now this is over.'

'Okay, how should we do this? I suggest as an act of good faith it might be prudent if you come here,' Jack stated.

'This is not some game.' The being started to froth at the mouth. 'This is life and death. Captain, the offer was to take those crew who wanted a chance of life.'

'You gave us a chance,' Jack said with deadly calm. 'Now I give you a chance in return. Just so we understand ourselves I will offer this only once: withdraw. It's all over anyway. Space Command will be here in matter of weeks and will hunt you down. This way you get a chance to leave and slither back under whatever rock you spawned under.'

'So be it,' the being hissed and the screen returned to showing the dreadnaught.

'Building charge. Firing projected strength 100%,' Alex called out, not able to tear his eyes form the main screen.

The lights on the bridge flickered and then on the main screen a substantial section of the internal structure of the battleship appeared as if from nowhere.

Before any of the bridge crew could react an extreme flash of light filled the bridge with violent shadows until the filters cut in and muted the unfolding disaster that had befallen the dreadnaught. A wave of energy hit the Torchwood broadside like some giant had picked up the ship and thrown it like a flat pebble across a pond. Before any of them could recover a second wave hit which caused the Torchwood to fill with groaned shrieks as the structure reacted to the stresses forced upon it as it carried along with the force of the blast.

As the ship came to rest the Torchwood righted itself like some ocean liner in a storm, throwing everyone first to the left then right then forward and finally to rest. Pulling themselves to their feet the bridge crew saw what remained of the battleship spinning towards the area of null space. In an instant the dreadnaught appeared to fold in on itself to a single dot then disappear with a final flash.

Jack and the entire bridge crew turned to look at Ianto who for some inexplicable reason had managed to remain seated.

'What just happened? What did we see? I thought you were bluffing! The dreadnaught…it's gone,' Alex stuttered.

'I saw something appear something that then blew up. A bomb?' Jaqueline tried to describe what she had seen.

'But this is a training vessel we have no armaments,' Olivia replied to Jaqueline.

'I transported their main power core and a large chunk of their engineering deck into space,' Ianto said.

'That's impossible! Transportation is a dream; a fantasy!' Alex burst out.

Jaqueline looked at Eugene who was still staring at the screen in shock and made a connection. 'Your experiment! All those alerts and engineering failsafes…you!' She pointed at Eugene then Ianto. 'And you!'

'You transported their main power core into space just like that?' Olivia snapped her fingers.

Ianto looked uncomfortable. 'I was aiming for the core but…'

'But?' Jack repeated.

'We didn't have time to input all the co-ordinates so it wasn't as surgical as I hoped. We appeared to have liberated a large chunk of the superstructure around the core. By the looks of it their entire engineering section.'

'Ianto Jones, has anyone ever told you that you are a genius?' Jack said honestly then held up his hand as he could see the man was going to argue with him. 'And don't tell me some other person would have come up with the idea eventually.'

A small smile crept across Ianto's face at Jack's words as the bridge crew stood recovering from what they had just witnessed.

'Yes, this is for real then not some wild imaginings due to my dying?' Peri patted herself down to double-check then touched the panel in front of her.

'We did it!' Jaqueline burst out. 'We actually did it.'

Punching the com to engineering Jack tried to keep the jubilation of out his voice. 'John, how long before we can get moving?'

'The shock waves from the core explosion did a lot of damage. Our own core is fluctuating wildly but it remains functional, life support is on line. Structural integrity field is down to 15%. It's going to take ten minutes to get propulsion back on line.' John's voice was less all his usual cockiness.'

'And that's a problem. Take as much time as you like long as it's no longer than half an hour,' Jack joked.

'Check your navigation board,' John replied softly as if he didn't trust his voice.

They watched as Olivia scrambled back to her station. 'Sir, the two blast waves hit the Torchwood side on. It took the ship to the leading edge of the gravity well. In five minutes we won't have enough power to pull ourselves out.'

Jack went cold as he felt the joy from their miraculous escape turn to dismay. 'John, is there no way you can pull one of the hat?'

'It's the syonic circuits; the section has blown. They are working as fast as they can. Then I have to run the start procedure and get the engines back online. That takes eight minutes. There is no way we can do everything and get the engines back online. We need time and that's the one luxury we don't have.'

'Do what you can do, John. And for the record it's been an honour,' Jack said, speaking in the silence.

'You tell Ianto. I'm sorry he never made my list.'

'Me too,' Ianto said gently.

Jack looked at the bridge crew. 'There is no chance is there?' Alex spoke out what all of them were thinking.

Jack shook his head. 'I know all of you have people on board you care for. You have my permission to leave and be with them.' He moved aside as Olivia, Jaqueline, Peri and Alex rushed towards the lift.

As the lift door opened Olivia stepped forward and all of them saluted.

'Goodbye, Sir.'

Jack saluted then turned his back so they didn't see the distress on his face.

Ianto came and stood by Jack just a jolt let them know they were now entering the death spiral into the vortex.

'You should go too,' Jack said.

The lift had returned and Ianto looked at the open door then back at Jack who was now standing looking at the main screen. The image was beautiful: a flowing, swirling mass of matter streaming past the ship, lighting up the particles

Ianto felt something catch in his chest and he felt a profound sadness which, for some reason he couldn't explain, made it impossible for him to move.

'What makes this especially hard,' Jack said, 'is no-one will ever find out the truth of what happened here. It seems so unfair we should get so close and fail.'

'You can do everything right and still lose,' Ianto pointed out.

Wiping his hands over his face Jack looked at Ianto. 'You don't have to remain. Go be with Tosh and Owen.'

'As your acting first officer my duty is to stand by my captain,' Ianto said

Several moments passed in silence as the ship gained more and more velocity. Ianto always knew he could die while on active service; it was something he had prepared for. Death was something he had craved for, a way out that didn't involve his own hand. It was what he wanted, to join them, but instead there was a battle raging inside his head. Could he die with so much unsaid? Could he say those words he knew Jack had begged him for? Could he forgive the man and allow them to die in peace? The truth was he was not ready to forgive and any words he said would be insincere. But a part of him knew Jack had earned at least some kind of acknowledgement. But he couldn't. He looked up, his whole being trembling and saw that Jack appeared to be fighting some kind of inner battle of his own.

'Ianto, I have something to tell you.'

Ianto went to speak but Jack held up his hand.

'I'm not asking for forgiveness. You are right; I don't and never will deserve that honour.' They both felt another jolt which put more urgency into Jack's works. 'There is something else and as these are our last moments I have something to tell you. I have nothing to lose.' Jack swallowed. 'I want you to know,' Jack took Ianto's hand, 'when I listened to your journal something profound happened to me. It explains why I have been so desperate to earn your forgiveness, keep you safe and will shed light on my behaviour that moment just before you headed down to the planet.' Jack looked into his Ianto's eyes. 'Ianto, when I watched your journal I fell in…'

'Space Command Battle ship Zhukov to Space Command Vessel Torchwood.' The communicator sprang into life. 'Is there anyone on board left alive? If so please respond.'

Jack punched the communicator. 'This is acting Captain Jack Harkness to Space Command Vessel Zhukov.'

'Captain Irvine here. We have our tractor beam on five points. You may have felt it earlier. Sorry for the last moment arrival. We would have been here earlier but this system is the nastiest we have ever encountered.'

Jack punched the comm to enable the entire crew to hear the conversation between the two ships.

'We are grateful you got the message,' Jack said sincerely.

'We got the message loud and clear, several in fact. We were part of an escort showing our warring Vixeni neighbours a show of strength. Good excuse to see just how much speed we could get out of the engines. You should know we are just the first guard to arrive. Space Command has mobilised with several other vessels on their way. They are going to clean out this slavers' nest once and for all.'

'Captain Harkness,' John interrupted. "I have engines back on line. I'm not considered the best engineer in Space Command for nothing. You tell those space cowboys thanks for the tow but we can get ourselves out of here.'

Captain Irvine laughed. 'Space cowboys just saved your butt.'

'Really?' John retorted. 'Is that an offer?'

Smiling at the continued banter Jack turned to see Ianto sitting, his head in his hands.

'You okay?' Jack asked.

'No I'm not,' Ianto said sincerely.

'Is it something you want to talk about?'

'The last days…I think it's just a case of everything catching up with me.' Ianto tried to make sense of the whirl of feelings colliding in his chest. The battle that had raged in him those last moments was now joined with a profound disappointment in himself and only added to his feelings of bewilderment over how he felt about Jack.

'You were saying something about my journal and falling?' Ianto said in reply to Jack's question.

'Nothing, just crazy last moment of life speech,' Jack said.

'Sounded important?' Ianto added.

'It can wait. Looks like fate has granted me a second chance,' Jack said as the bridge crew returned and took their places.

Ianto watched as Jack turned away, trying to fathom what the hell was going on.