Jack is still searching...finding the secrets of the 456, but where are the Doctor and Clara...

The description of the clone tank I liken in my head to Martha Jones in the episode The Sontaran Stratagem. She rises from the tank attached by an umbilical. It was a powerful image...

Scene 22

Jack thought he'd searched everywhere. He was sure The Doctor and Clara would be held in this building. It seemed to be the hub of everything.

All the labs were here, there must be another block, another door, somewhere.

Damn it all!

He must have missed it.

Activity appeared to step up. Comings and goings...

He was in constant danger of discovery.

Hiding himself quietly, he watched.

Then he noticed...it seemed to be one way traffic, the creatures passed by his hiding place, but didn't return.

He waited his chance. Then slipped from doorway to doorway...sure enough there was another entrance. Well hidden.

Barely noticeable.

It opened at a word of command.

He would have to wait his chance.

It came after several minutes.

A momentary distraction, and he was through.

The room was colossal.

Lofty ceiling, more stark whiteness, another laboratory, but this time nothing much seemed to be happening.

Down on his hands and knees.

He crawled to a place where he could conceal himself, yet see what was going on.

At the end of the room, furthest from him, was an enormous ring.

It resembled a Ferris wheel.

Lights blinked around the periphery, the centre looked hazy and indistinct.

He recognised it for what it was.

It was a time portal.

Stepping through the ring transported the person to pre-arranged coordinates. Almost anywhere in the universe.

This was highly advanced technology.

So, this was how the 456 transported themselves, to and from Earth, or wherever they wished to travel. It could also be used to manipulate time, change futures, alter the course of history.

A well positioned clone could create a whole new world.

But it would leave traces in the fabric of space, visible cracks, fractures that could be detected.

The Doctor had known it, had followed one such fissure, when he'd replaced Malcolm Tucker. The Tardis had shown him both future possibilities.

Highly advanced, yes, but if misused, it could rip open the fabric of The Universe.

To his left were several large vats. Filled with what appeared to be amniotic fluid.

Pulling himself to the nearest tank, he peered inside.

Although the liquid was slightly opaque, he could clearly see the contents.

It was a man.

Humanoid.

With The Doctor's face. A perfect copy.

Joined by an umbilical cord, which disappeared from view, connected to an artificial placenta.

Jack fought a rising nausea.

He retched a couple of times, until he managed to control, and push down the urge.

Voices sounded near him and he was forced to retreat, and hide again.

So, if the strategy had been unsuccessful, and The Doctor had not come here, this would be the next clone to be sent to Earth, then there would be another, and another...until they lured him here.

But for what? What could they possibly want with him?

Jack had the distinct impression it was not because they wanted to make him King!

Without a second thought, Harkness swung himself up, pulling himself onto girders that soared across the arc of the ceiling. He set more charges.

He'd bring down the whole fucking roof.

The timers were locked, and, as before, would be released on the signal from his palm pad.

Once he set the frequency, the charges would be primed, and the timer would begin to count down, when he activated it. He would allow fifteen minutes.

He slid noiselessly back to the floor, and out into the corridor once more...

Scene 23

Hour after hourexploring.

No rest. No sleep.

Now he more or less, knew his way around. STILL there was no sign of the Doctor or Clara.

Frustration. Anger.

Where the bloody hell were they?

The maze of passageways could still be confusing, but as he passed along, he still marked the walls, out of sight, but visible for him.

It was by accident that he found a Radio Frequency Room.

The 456 had broadcast a radio signal on the 456 wavelength, it earned them their name.

Jack knew all about this, had researched it from the Torchwood temporary hub.

Had used it against them, as a weapon, using Steven as a conduit, in 2009.

He could use it again.

If he could rig it to malfunction, no one would know it had been tampered with and it might cause a useful distraction.

A little jiggery-pokery with the wiring, and it was good to go.

He would just need to use his palm pilot to activate it.

Feeling very pleased with himself, he carried on his search for his friends.

He felt sure he was in the right area.

He'd looked almost everywhere else.

Then...a new corridor. No tally marks.

This had to be it.

It was then he came across the rows of metal doors.

Holding rooms with controllable environments.

At last he was getting warmer!

Punching his keycode, he activated his diversion.

Sirens wailed, the sound was deafening.

Then...bingo!

The Doctor's voice, accompanied by a hammering from the second door along.

Never had he been so relieved. He'd found them at last.

Breaking the heavy lock by firing his gun, the door swung slowly open, revealing the grim face of his friend...