INTERVIEWS - FICTION - ARTICLES - NEWS + MUSICAL TALE!

Issue Five “I die from an alien fart”

? CALM BEFORE TH We take a look at the gap between the S2 Earth...

PLUS! EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH RAY HOLMAN AND RICHARD STOKES!

1 Editorial The nickname for this issue is “better late than never” I suppose. But it’s been an interesting period of Torch- wood’s time in the world at the moment. Fandom is arguably starting to fade…

Now don’t start shouting yet: there is still us, cosplay, twitter, audios are working however I personally see that the flame is slowly flickering away. We can’t help it though: with Russell’s partner under serious health problems it’s impossi- ble at this stage for us to obtain new Torchwood. But as I have said, we’re keeping fandom strong. A sheer amount of motivation was needed for this fanzine and I’ve managed to gain the time and put in the ef- fort to finally give this to you! And this is my prom- ise to you: we are keeping The Hub going on even if we do not see it return at any point in the future (we The Hub Issue Five will see it again- someday…) As I write this, we’ve Editor: Matt Powell just scored something HUGE for a future issue Assistant Producers: Louise Mills, and already a large amount of amazing writers are Debs Forrest 3: Editorial working hard to bring you some amazing features Copy Editor: Lisa Moran for future issues (and I’m editing!) 4-5: Inside the Hub Article Writers: Matt Powell, Louise This month specialises in the gap between the Mills, Laura Carroll, Johhanne 6-9: Torchwood Tales: Ray Holman epic Series Two finale, Exit Wounds, and the start Holland, Lillian Wolf 10-13: Torchwood Tales: Richard Stokes of Children of Earth. Now you’re probably wondering “Really Matt? There’s nothing there!” Well you are wrong! There is over 18 months of time in that time span- but you’ll read that Interviewees: Ray Holman, Richard 14-17: Episode Guide- Exit Wounds later on… It gave me such a headache writing it! Building up to that we have an array of content relating to Stokes 18-19: Fiction: “Terrorism hits Cardiff in the end of Series Two! Fiction: Louise Mills a Series of Attacks” But before all of that we have two AMAZING interviews with RAY HOLMAN (Costume Designer) and RICHARD STOKES (S1-2 Producer!) Learn about what life was like on Torchwood, memories and experi- 20-23: Calm Before the Storm: A look at ences and more in our new series of interviews, (we’ve got a lot more planned!) The Hub would like to thank... DWImage2005, John Barrowman, the gap between the Series Two Finale and I hope you enjoy this! I promise the next issue will be out in around two-three months as we have some huge Richard Stokes, Ray Holman, things planned for it! Torchwood4Fans, the BBC, Children of Earth Showmasters/Massive Events, The 24-27: Radio GA GA Part One Best wishes, contributors to this issue, Russell T Davies, Mr Google and YOU! 28-29: Morality in Torchwood

COPYRIGHT DETAILS 30-33: Radio GA GA Part Two “The Hub” is a non profit, Torchwood Fanzine. Matt No Copyright Infringement intended. Torch- 34-39: Fiction: A Tale of Alien V Alien wood (C) Russell T Davies, BBC and Starz. The Captain of this fair maiden Images used without permission. No money is 40: Twenty Teriffic Torchwood Tweeters! made from the release of this fanzine. 41: A Salute to the Hub Conventions 42-44: Fiction: The Musical Tale Part Three 45: Next Time

2 3 plained events. Earth tremors across the globe. People being driven insane by their heightened and scrambled senses. And the world is starting to notice – the number one Twitter trend is #TheLoco. Governments and scientists are bewildered and silent. The world needs Torchwood, but there’s not much of Torch- wood left. Captain Jack has tracked the problem to its source: a village in Peru, where he’s uncovered evidence of alien involvement. Back in Cardiff, Gwen Cooper has discovered something lurking inside the Torchwood software – All the latest TORCHWOOD news in one something alien and somehow connected to Jack. place! If the world is to be restored, she has to warn him – but she’s quickly becoming a victim of the madness, too!” “OI! COOPER! WHAT’S OCCURIN’?” CONVENTION REPORT: Collectormania: Meeting BARROWMAN!

Since we were last here, there all the time. They are our sion: 10 Episodes or Less hasn’t been too much going partners on DaVinci’s Demons - Best Actress In Television: Eve on in the world of Torchwood. and Harem. We told them, we Miles With no show in production stand by ready for any news, - Best Supporting Actor in Tel- due to Russell T Davies’ per- but I think it would be a while evision: Bill Pullman sonal life. However- Torchwood before Russell came back - Best Supporting Actress in never dies and in fact there to Torchwood.” Barrowman Television: Lauren Ambrose have been one or two interest- commented last year that the June 2nd 2012: it’s a Saturday and I’ve been awake since 5am… But it’s all worth it as I was ing developments in the world season is “In Limbo” however The results are announced invited to go to Collectormania: the epic signing show at Milton Keynes Stadium. You can read more about the day of Torchwood... do bare in mind gaps emerged June 20th 2012- we wish them as a whole on my personal blog (http://teenagenerdbag.wordpress.com) however for those who do not know, this between COE and S2 so this is all good luck! event had the heart and soul of Torchwood attending. Mr. John Barrowman. And this was my amazing story of meet- Torchwood Revival common. However the story ing him… has continued in Audio form… Exodus Code! “Still Possible” I did not go to the panel, which I am kicking myself about as I eventually learnt I would have got in for free as press! The good old Barrowman is The first meeting with him was the photoshoot. I was one of the first few due to the Hunger Games panel I attended With Russell currently busy Award making sure we’re getting our being at the same time. So, me and others in this short “fast-track” queue got to see him enter. He entered with a with personal problems and Nominations! Torchwood! Him and his sister hilariously over the top shiver as the arena was frozen! He greeted all having the photo with a smile and warm wel- his latest new show “Wizards are writing a brand new Torch- come embracing all that came. Despite it was a very quick he made good use of that time. My only complaint is that V Aliens”, a Torchwood return Torchwood sadly lost out at wood novel called “Exodus it looks like we’ve merged into one body due to us both wearing black shirts! is unlikely for 2012 however the NTA’s to Matt Smith and Code” after being revealed on Starz CEO Chris Albrecht in an Karen Gillan. However Miracle The Graham Norton Show. Due Later in the day I went to his signing, which was slightly rushed due to the huge amount wanting his autograph. interview with Multichanel Day has scored FOUR NOMINA- this fall, the current synopsis However he again made time for all- and for me this was my time to tell him about The Hub! He had not heard of it News commented: “You know, TIONS in the following catego- states: however he said he will check it out so who knows what may come of it in the future? John: If you’re reading this you Russell is so busy....Obviously, ries: were one of the nicest guests I’ve ever met and I can’t wait to hear from you in the future! Overall the event was a we’re in touch with the BBC - Best Presentation on Televi- “It starts with a series of unex- fun day out with some great friends and amazing guests. I highly recommend Showmasters’ events!

4 5 How much did you know about What was the biggest challenge than they have on Who and time the Torchwood season before you whilst working on Torchwood? goes very quickly. Everything had began designing the costumes? to be appropriate to the scripts. I Getting things ready to shoot on wanted a modern edgy feel. The TORCHWOOD Originally we had the first 2 time. We had less time to shoot other challenging thing was the episodes of series 1. We were Torchwood constant night shoots, they get guided through tone meet- very tiring ings and design updates Tales: Ray Holman throughout the series by Russell T Davies. We didn’t know the plan for the whole “Let’s hope we get more series or the different things series and that it comes we needed to design until each script came out. home to Cardiff What do you use as sometime. Torchwood inspiration for costumes? has had a bumpy and Writing. Research. The strange history having performers and a little to move from channel imagination. to channel and growing How did you create the key looks for the Torchwood with each series. Keep team?

the faith and wish it back The characters were very to our screens sometime.” well defined in the script through their dialogue and the descriptions Russell wrote for them, couple this with the What is the most important variety of broadcasters and shows How did you become a Costume actors that are cast in thing in terms of a show? After including Doctor Who, Torch- Designer in general? What were the roles and the looks actors, writers, directors etc wood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, your inspirations? came together. Captain Jack had a history from comes the Costume Designer. Law and Order UK to name but a Doctor Who, so we This man/woman has to design few. His most iconic work for us I became a costume designer after played with that, tried countless outfits for the actors to is designing the costumes we see doing a theatre design course at him as a completely don whilst acting their hearts out. in the first three seasons of Torch- the Royal Welsh College of Mu- contemporary look, Not only that, they have to make wood, (which was the area he sic and Drama. I went to work at but in the end, the sure everything looks the part, won his BAFTA.) Not only has he the BBC and they trained me as a very designed version suits the actor and presents what created the iconic looks that many dresser, then I became an assistant of the WW2 RAF the writer wants in the correct fans Cosplay today, he worked on costume designer until I was asked coat and the nod to way: this is what Ray Holman did the fifth season of Doctor Who to design my own drama series at the period worked for three seasons of Torchwood. creating even more iconic looks BBC Pebble Mill when I was 29. such as the Doctor’s outfit which My inspirations ranged from films well for him and gave him his mys- Ray is an award winning cos- he still wears today. Ray was lovely through to a love of research and tique. tume designer who has worked to talk to and has a lot of back- history, coupled with an urge to all around the world. A graduate ground with the show: this is what make drama with a social con- from the College of Music and he had to say... science. Drama, Ray has worked for a wide *** 6 7 TORCHWOOD many people have a say and that’s Tales: Ray Holman what tended to happen in series How much involvement do you 5. (Ed. You can read more about especially when you are trying to costume for James Marsters. to a brilliant, clever woman. We have in the monster outfit designs? Ray’s work on Doctor Who in our prepare future episodes. In design saw her wedding and her home upcoming Doctor Who Fanzine: terms one of the biggest challenges Talk us through the process of life so her looks varied hugely and We work all that out in tone “Eleventh Hour.”) was making the 1940 s episode designing a costume such as Jack or I always work very closely with meetings, sometimes it’s all down while also filming another episode Gwen the actors, but the main idea was to costume but most times it’s a If you could work on any other at the same time with 2 different to keep them looking like heroes collaboration between prosthetics show what would it be and why? costume teams but one designer, Jack’s costumes were all designed even in their most afflicted hour. and costume and make up. it’s called double banking. and built to give that special It varies with each creature. Some- Oddly, I love American drama, I period feel based on the 1940s. On average, how many variations of times it’s a complete prosthetic but love all the work I do but if it was Who is your favourite character to The coat was just a great exag- costumes are made? most on Torchwood were both science fiction it would be Bat- design costumes for? geration of an original and made and my main concerns were the tlestar (I got to work with Jamie from Moleskin rather than wool Jack had 3 coats for series 1, 5 by joins at the neck and cuffs and Bamber on Law and Order UK) In Torchwood there were many, I because John has an allergy to series 2 and 7 by series 3, but some things like hands and fingers. and if it was drama it would be constantly love designing for them wool, his shirts were modelled on of them got destroyed by bullets Boardwalk Empire or Madmen. I all, Jack had loads of looks and so RAF shirts with spear point collars and burials etc. Other characters wish ! did Gwen, but I’m fond of Pearl from the 1940s and his trousers always had double costumes, How much does Russell or the Writ- from series 2, I don’t know why, were slightly high, wide cut to sometimes up to 5 copies of them ers have a say in what you produce? I just loved the actress for being reflect the period feel as well. depending on the storyline. Did you watch the latest season a great sport and wearing that Gwen evolved and I loved her by Gwen had 4 wedding dressed in Russell has a huge say, I would of Miracle Day and what did you costume mainly in the rain and series 3, I thought she looked like total. I think most costumes I never want to do something that think of the costumes? at night. I also loved doing Jacks a true action hero, but her char- chose had a double or more Russell doesn’t like or approve home planet and the Captain John acter evolved from policewoman copies. of and I always send him images I did watch it, of course, I wouldn’t of what we are proposing before miss it. It would be silly to com- we shoot on it. Russell loves this ment on someone else’s costumes, process and it varies on each pro- I didn’t have to do that series, but I duction. Some writers get more did enjoy it. involved than others, but it is mainly a two way process. Finally- any final comments for all of the Torchwood fans? You also worked on the fifth season of Doctor Who- what was it like Let’s hope we get more series and to create the iconic looks of Matt that it comes home to Cardiff Smith, Karen Gillan, Alex Kingston sometime. Torchwood has had a and Arthur Darvill’s looks? bumpy and strange history having to move from channel to chan- It was great to create those looks. nel and growing with each series. Matt had a huge say in his cos- Keep the faith and wish it back to tume and that was wonderful our screens sometime. because he’s is still wearing the same basic style. Sometimes it We would like to thank Ray for tak- was difficult to decide on certain ing time out of his busy things, but ultimately it was lovely. schedule from working on Silk to I can’t pretend it wasn’t stressful answer our questions. You can find at times, it was, but that’s because Ray on twitter: @HolmanRay or I love to collaborate with writers you can check out his website at and actors and Doctor Who is www.costume-designer.co.uk now such a big brand. Sometimes it’s difficult to make a decision about how a character looks if too 8 9 shoot FX shots or stunts). You need to ensure your lead actors are TORCHWOOD happy and there’s always daily problem-solv- ing; the known Tales: Richard Stokes unknowns - the predictably unpredictable - “I had a ball doing Torchwood and which we have have huge respect for all the key to prepare for. A producer’s creative personnel involved but I’ve job is not just to come up moved on to do other shows and with a great found equal professional pride and plan ‘A’ but to think through need plans B, C, D, E and F so when satisfaction in each job. It was great to check that). It had ver- problems hit you squarely in the 19.25m viewers. watching Children of Earth and sity doing Drama at face you already have a back-up Bristol. I loved it and enjoyed the thought through. Then in post- Miracle Day as a fan. I did re- What does being the Producer of sense of having a view over every production it’s sitting with the Torchwood involve? What was a aspect of the show. The same is director and editor, making sure turn briefly to the world last year “days work” like? true of television, the producer the *story* works and is clear and when I wrote a short story for is one of the only roles that goes is exciting. This, for me, is the What’s great about producing is from the very beginning to the most fun - adding the layers of ‘Torchwood’ magazine. Maybe no two days are the same. You very end of a show - particularly polish which just make it better get into a pattern but your priori- in series - along with the exec and and better; the digital CG effects, that was the final farewell ...” ties are different at different times the showrunner. You’re part of the music, the grading, the sound of the production. In prep it’s all every decision made from story mix. On a thirteen part series you through scripts to choosing key about script work. Casting good actors/writer and directors but I’d at the time thought it was great can often be doing all of these on a Finding pictures of Richard is personnel like the director and leads (only John and Eve were argue not. Showrunners Russell and then told me that Russell T single day; prepping one block of the hardest thing in the world Cinematographer, casting, edit- on board when I started series T Davies and Julie Gardner are Davies was also developing the episodes, shooting another block despite his importance in the ing and marketing/publicity. 1), looking for locations, build- the only thing higher than Rich- idea and it would go into produc- and editing an earlier block. It gets world of Torchwood! Richard It’s all consuming but when you ing sets, discussing the budget. ard- his responsibility is huge. We tion soon. I felt a little gutted at pretty intense. Stokes is one of the many people watch something you’ve been a Putting all the Heads of Depart- grabbed Richard on Twitter who the time but the document found behind the first two seasons of part of it leaves you with a real ment in place - the line producer, was more than happy to do an its way to Julie Gardner’s desk and What was the most interesting part Torchwood. He was the producer sense of pride in the achievement. production managers, director interview on his time on Torch- that got me an interview to pro- of being the Torchwood of the first two seasons of Torch- I worked my way up from 3rd of photography and, of course, wood. And this is what he had to duce Who. So I’d met with Russell Producer? wood and didn’t he do well? The Assistant director to 2nd assistant choosing your lead (and subse- say. and Julie. I didn’t get that gig but first two seasons, (the only “main- on corporate shorts and entertain- quent) directors. But always the cut to a year later and Julie rang The stories and scripts were always ly” set completely in Cardiff,) gave ment shows (like the National most important thing is the script. How did you become the producer me to ask if I wanted to produce exciting. Working in a genre of us a fast paced, adult themed sci-fi Lottery), then joined the BBC as a Then when filming happens it’s of Torchwood? the spin-off show, ‘Torchwood.’ I which I’d always been a fan was a every week with original ideas, researcher on EastEnders. Moved ensuring the performances are jumped at the chance. real treat but the best part of the scary monsters and powerful char- to script editor, series editor then working, the schedule is being A: I was in development at BBC job - like any producing job - is acters. And Richard is an obivious producer. The first episode to have completed with enough coverage Drama and wanted to do sci-fi as What inspired you to become a you are across *everything*. Every part of this. my name on as producer was the for the edit (this was singularly I’d always loved the genre. I wrote producer and how did you go about decision passes my way - either episode after Tiffany had been the hardest thing to control on a pitch treatment about bring- making that happen? from above (by Julie or Russell Despite you may argue that the killed which aired on New Year’s Torchwood - *no-one* takes into ing back Doctor Who to BBC 1 or Chris) or from the produc- most important people are the Day, 1999 (think it was ‘99 - may account just how hard it is to (called “it’s about time”). My boss I produced theatre when at uni- tion floor or in the edit. 10 11 TORCHWOOD production - the ep 1 screening Tales: Richard Stokes at the St David’s hotel when the audience reacted with such a buzz, You have to give a large part visiting Neil Gorton’s workshop, of yourself to these produc- the email from James Marsters’ tions so when it’s all done agent saying he wanted to work it’s a proud feeling to see it with Russell, blowing up a street in as a success. The opening central Cardiff (for ‘Sleeper’), the episode on BBC3 got 2.4m trip to Comic-Con. They were all viewers - HUGE for a digital great memories which I look back channel (even now, five on with huge fondness. years later) and we won a clutch of BAFTA Cymru What was it like working with the awards for the show which team (both cast and crew,) was a great night. And being a sci-fi show I was Big question. There was a *lot* of able to do things other cast and crew across the first 26 series can’t offer - a trip to episodes. It was a fantastic team. Comic-Con to launch the Many of the directors and writers show on BBC America I’ve worked with again on sub- was a real highlight - I sequent productions and a lot of was in San Diego for 36 the key heads of department have hours; but I did get Peter remained friends. Mayhew’s signature. the Finally, would you like to return to Which episode is your favourite? first time I met James Marst- had Torchwood and if yes- what ers at the St. David’s hotel in to shoot the scene with three would you do? - A tough question and I genuine- Cardiff. Being fans of Buffy Rus- actors and three stand-ins at a ly like them all for different rea- sell and I sat there, chatting away, time. You would never know but I would preface this by saying nev- sons but to watch and watch again trying to be cool - when Kylie watch that scene again, every time er say never but productions I’ve I’d narrow it down to the following walks past (as she was shooting you see a couple of key actors and done in the past have their place - The very first ep - ‘Everything the Who Christmas special at the a pair of legs/shoulders in the in the memory, not in the future. Changes’ which I thought worked time). Russell introduced us all back of shot - that’s a stand-in, It was great watching Children of really well and we did a great job and to this day it’s still my best not the real actor. And then we Earth and Miracle Day as a fan. I of producing the script Russell name-dropping story. shot all the reverses. It was bizarre had a ball doing Torchwood and had written. In the second series I and surreal to do but in the edit have huge respect for all the key loved Chris Chibnall’s ‘Fragments’ Burn got an eye infection late you’d never tell. I love that kind of creative personnel involved but which was just a brilliantly written on in series 2 - we’d been shoot- problem-solving in filming - it’s all I’ve moved on to do other shows episode, very revealing about all ing nights for about three weeks smoke and mirrors. and found equal professional pride our lead characters and beauti- across summer - everyone was and satisfaction in each job. I did fully performed by our regs. And, exhausted and Burn suffered. We Was there ever a moment where return briefly to the world last ‘cause I remember the original were half-way through shooting you stepped back and thought year when I wrote a short story script scaring the hell out of me, the scene in ‘Dead Man Walk- “how am I here?” A guest cast for ‘Torchwood’ magazine. Maybe ‘Countrycide’ - another Chibnall ing’ when the whole team are in member signing on prehaps? that was the final farewell ... classic. And every ep featuring the med-lab and the metal glove James Marsters ... escapes. All six key cast are in Not really a moment when I asked Many thanks to Richard for par- that scene (as Freema had joined “How?” As a producer I’ve always taking in this interview! Any funny/interesting stories you us from Who) but Burn’s eye worked extremely hard and been can tell us about the production of infection meant we had to delay proud of what I’ve achieved. I Torchwood? shooting and then pick that scene earned my place in the team. But up whilst filming other episodes. yes, there were stand-out mo- So many! I remember Andy Goddard, brilliant director, ments you don’t get on every 12 13 signal that should be transmitted by a ring Meanwhile, Tosh lies bleeding, but Episode that John dropped has managed to locate the ma- into the grave. But no chinery she needs to help Owen. signal can be found. Back in communication with him, They are interrupted she promises him she is not hurt, Guide: by Gray, who man- and helps him set up a programme ages to trap them, to save the power station. An along with the newly- unexpected power surge, however, arrived Ianto, in the triggers an automatic shutdown, EXIT Hub’s own cells. and Owen is not fast enough to get out. The doors lock, sealing him in Upstairs in the Hub, to the room where the irradiated Tosh arrives and coolant will flow – one of the few finds that Cardiff’s ways, perhaps, that the undead WOUNDS nuclear power sta- Owen could really die. Owen rants Writer: Laura Carroll tion is going into and raves, but Tosh’s gentle words meltdown thanks to calm him, and he accepts his fate. “…this is gonna get nasty.” PLOT the explosions. It has Only moments later, Tosh too to be stopped, but passes away, just as Jack finds her. Everyone has their own favour- Exit Wounds picks the roads there are Her last words take the form of a ite season of Torchwood. Some up where Frag- filled with rampant video that plays after Ianto com- people adore Season 1’s manic ments left off, with is oddly quiet, and does not seem the men approach each other, the Weevils released by pletes her final logout procedure, energy and its sense of discovery. the team reeling from the past like the out-and-out villain we scene is intercut with shimmering Gray. Thankfully, Owen comes to in which she professes her love Some viewers prefer Children episode’s explosions and the shock might expect from his actions so images of the young boys spinning the rescue, his King of the Weevils for Owen, her gratitude to Jack of Earth’s rapid pace and gut- of Captain John’s call. Soon they far. Some of this ambiguity is lost, each other around. Jack and Gray crown finally of use. He heads to for showing her so many amazing wrenching moral dilemmas. And have even more to worry about, however, when he machine guns hug tightly, a beautiful reunion. the power station, and Tosh’s face things, and her hope that she died still others love Miracle Day, even with rift flares detected across the Jack to death. Later, Jack awak- A reunion which is somewhat lights up as she checks the com- a heroic death. The episode ends if only because they lust after Jilly city, and a panicked call from PC ens, wet from falling and chained tarnished by Gray stabbing Jack puters. She can tell him how to as Jack holds Ianto and Gwen and and/or Jilly’s outfits. But when Andy. Gwen heads to the police to the wall (causing one or two through the stomach. stop the meltdown. But her glee determines that they will carry on; the question of favourite season station, where she subdues some fangirl hearts to skip a beat). He’s is short-lived; Gray arrives and the end is where they start from. arises on the internet forums, the locked-up Weevils after learning just in time to watch John setting Gray is consumed with hatred shoots her through the stomach. most frequent answer seems to that the four most senior police up the rift manipulator to cause for Jack, furious that he let go of be Season 2. This season showed officers have been mauled to some sort of havoc – the results of his hand when they were flee- Gray is distracted by a banging RATING: 10/10 the Torchwood team as solid and death. Elsewhere, Owen confronts which are revealed seconds later as ing the invading aliens. Having sound emanating from the vaults. established, and facing threats far a Hoix and manages to pacify Cardiff goes up in flames. Gwen, undergone years of torture, Gray’s He discovers Jack, and we flash- Exit Wounds is Torchwood at its greater than before. It gave us a it using a packet of cigarettes, a Owen, Ianto and Tosh watch help- only wish is to inflict the same on back to 1901 to find that Jack was best. It is consistently tense, but sense of how each character came tranquiliser and a spot of mock- lessly as explosions blast across the his brother. He buries him alive, dug up by a previous Torchwood there are still numerous moments to join up, and a much-longed-for ery, and Tosh and Ianto face a trio city, whilst Jack is dragged back sentencing Jack to an eternity of team who detected the signal of comedy, particularly from Rhys, glimpse into Jack’s past. It pro- of hyper-religious cloaked aliens through time by John. reviving and dying under Cardiff. from John’s ring. He asked them Andy and Owen. There is a real vided a brilliantly original central who do some impressively sinister John can only stand and watch. to cryogenically freeze him for sense of the team functioning storyline featuring the afterlife of chanting but are shot down in a Cardiff, 27 AD. John has used the 107 years, allowing him to wake brilliantly as individuals but also Owen Harper. But its crowning comically easy fashion. So far, so rift flare not only to set up explo- Back in the present day, Gwen ar- up just in time to save the day. His caring deeply about each other, achievement was the edge-of-the- good (or, not too bad), as the team sions, but also to enable him and rives at the Hub looking for Jack, first words to Gray are ‘I forgive and even the new relationships seat finale which pulled together deal with John’s diversions rela- Jack to travel back far enough to and finds John instead. Gray has you’, but though Jack begs for are beautifully portrayed, with all the threads of the season, gave tively well. hopefully escape the signal that released him from his duty (and to absolution in return, Gray cannot Jack and John’s being intriguingly the team their hardest fight yet could trigger his death. John prove it, we see him tear the trans- give it. He has been swallowed ambiguous and oddly bittersweet, and left us all in mourning for two Back at the Hub, Jack has returned explains he is a walking bomb, mitter from his skin in an unpleas- up by his hatred, and Jack has no and Jack and Gray’s scenes togeth- of Torchwood’s best. to face John, with Hot Gossip’s being controlled by someone ant-looking manner). In an unu- choice but to chloroform him. er being heartbreaking, particu- I Lost My Heart to a Starship else, but before he can say who, a sually selfless move, John chose Later he freezes Gray’s body, hop- larly their last. The plot is tight Trooper providing some unlikely figure appears. It is Jack’s younger to return in an attempt to save ing that someday things will be and clever, and there are moments background music. Captain John brother walking towards him. As Jack. He tells Gwen to search for a different. of real shock – when that 14 15 bullet hits Tosh’s belly, it’s heart- Exit Wounds runs pretty low on once per hour, the enormity of cousin who died in the battle of we see them at their best. Gwen stopping. What really lifts this the ‘cool alien technology’ front, that number is horrifying and Canary Wharf’ explanation! asks ‘Will you marry me again?’, episode, however, is the level of though there is one important unimaginable. The Hoix species that Owen deals SHIPPING showing how much she still needs performance from the cast. Burn item: the ring. Without it, Jack with was first seen in the DW epi- Rhys. Rhys may just be an ordi- Gorman and Naoko Mori steal could never have been found. sode ‘Love and Monsters’, where FORECAST: nary guy, but he gives Gwen the the show with jaw-dropping final John tells Gwen that the technol- DOCTOR WHO Rose and Ten chased it around Relationship development strength to be extraordinary. performances; Owen’s crazed and ogy, which transmits an ‘etheric CONNECTIONS an abandoned warehouse. Both defiant ranting contrasts beauti- particle signal at 200 betacycles’ programmes portray the Hoix as Owen/Tosh: As Owen puts it, these fully with Tosh’s quiet acceptance is guaranteed for ‘five millennia both stupid and incredibly hungry, two just ‘missed each Jack/Ianto: This epi- In her final conversation with and grief. through three ecological perma- with Torchwood even citing an other’. It was only sode is sadly lacking Owen, Tosh finally reveals to us layers’, making PC World’s stand- occasion where one enjoyed seven since death that in Jack/Ianto mo- the reason why she spent part of The episode is not without weak ard warranties look a little poor in doner kebab sticks in twenty min- Owen began to ments, though the DW episode ‘Aliens of London’ points; Gray is perhaps not the comparison. utes – a disturbing thought. realise there may Ianto’s anger at chasing a space pig around in the strongest or most convincing of be something John for ab- role of Dr Sato. Evidently Owen villains, and his reason for seeking between them, ducting Jack had been hung over and unreach- eternal revenge – ‘Because you let DEATH TOLL MOST but at first he indicates able in his second week and Tosh go of my hand’ – may well qualify was too busy the depth of had stepped in to cover for him. for the pettiest vendetta ever. Still, Unlike some episodes, the known ADORABLY mourning his life his feelings. For It’s possible the writers had been it does show us how even the death count for individuals in to pursue it. In this those who like trying to shoehorn that fact in for BIZARRE smallest of actions can have devas- Exit Wounds is actually quite low episode we see what their relationships the last 26 episodes to excuse the tating consequences. Overall, this – though the impact two of them might have been, as more unconventional anomaly, but it actually fits quite PLOT POINT is a fantastic finale, arguably the make is huge. We know of four in Owen’s comfort and and ship Jack/Ianto/ police officers killed, plus Tosh nicely here in Exit Wounds, giving best of the four season endings, Most of our favourite Torchwood reassurance to Tosh as he awaits Gwen, there’s a lovely tableau of and Owen. We also have Jack’s us an insight into the start of the and it makes a fitting tribute to episodes have at least one endear- his death, we see glimmers of the the three in the closing shot. highest ever death count, with an Tosh/Owen dynamic, and show- two much-loved cast members. ingly odd moment that makes man he used to be, the man we immeasurable number of deaths ing that Tosh has always been some viewers blink in disbelief. saw in Fragments. These two were taking place over around 1900 willing to give Owen whatever BEST QUOTES In Exit Wounds, the award goes so close to becoming a couple, years, a time period containing he needs. Plus, it’s a considerably to the moment where we realise but they are left with just one on- ALIEN TECH 693,500 days or 16,644,000 hours. better reason for repeated casting RHYS: Did you just say Time that Jack has spent two millennia screen kiss and one joint death Even if Jack revived and died only than Martha’s ‘I had an identical Agency? Don’t tell me that’s based buried alive, repeatedly suffocat- scene to their names. Ironically, even though they are dying at the in Cardiff too?! Captain John consistently wins to like Gray as a character, he does ing to death in one of the most GUEST STARS extreme methods of torture ever, same time, they still cannot truly polls for favourite TW villain. help to increase our sympathy for be together – not only are they JOHN: It’s always the same, no- Both Russell T Davies and Julie Jack. It seems likely that Gray’s and yet has emerged remarkably James Marsters makes a welcome physically separated, but Tosh body cares until you tie them up. Gardner have spoken about James frozen body was destroyed in the unscathed mentally, without any return to the role of Captain John never lets on her own situation for in glowing terms, so a return for explosion of Children of Earth: obvious trauma. In fact, he is able Hart and brings added depth to fear of increasing Owen’s agony. OWEN: Why? Give me one good him to the currently-hypothetical Day One, though some fan fic- to quickly construct a plan to the character this time around. A true union remains just out of bloody reason why - one good future seasons of Torchwood is tions have created sinister alter- have himself frozen. Any normal His encounter with Jack in Kiss reach. reason why I shouldn’t keep possible. Since Torchwood, James natives to this idea, showing that person would have been driven in- Kiss Bang Bang seems to have screaming. has guest-starred in Smallville, although a return to the show for sane centuries ago, but Jack’s pow- ignited a spark of humanity within Gwen/Rhys: Exit Wounds con- TOSH: Because you’re breaking Caprica and a recent episode of Gray seems unlikely, in Torch- ers of renewal apparently extend him, as despite being willing to tains one of Gwen and Rhys’ most my heart. Supernatural, remaining faithful wood nothing is impossible. beyond a physically invincible destroy Cardiff to save his own telling moments. Rhys discovers to the genre, but arguably never body to ‘invincible sanity’. That’s a skin, John does redeem himself a Gwen cowering at the police sta- looking as good as he did in Cap- Lachlan recently guested in nice skill to have. little by returning to the Hub and tion, panicked and despondent, tain John’s uniform. Downton Abbey and stars in the endangering himself to save Jack. and somehow finds the words 2012 Norwegian film Into the His condolences at the end of the to make her realise that she can Lachlan Nieboer makes his Torch- White opposite Rupert Grint. He episode seem genuine and his handle the situation. The couple’s wood debut as Jack’s brother, and remains a much-requested con- decision to stay on earth may be relationship has been rocky since helpfully bears a striking resem- vention guest on The Hub forums. his way of leaving the door open the beginning of Torchwood, and blance to a young John Barrow- for a reunion with the man he still even their wedding was marred man. He portrays Gray as empty professes to love. by trauma and by Gwen’s attach- and soulless, but although it’s hard ment to Jack, but in this episode 16 17 Grim Reapers Found Dead in Central Server Stacks by IT Tech

“I was starting my shift monitoring the IT servers when the explosions went off. The building I was in wasn’t hit but we lost power. I tried calling home but my mobile was down; Western Mail figured the cell tower was damaged in the explosions. Couldn’t call anyone and there was nothing I could there, so I found an emer- gency torch and was heading downstairs to exit the building and go home to check on my TERRORISM family. As I passed one row of servers some- thing caught my eye. Pointed the torch down the row and found these people. They were dead and the weird part was they were all HITS dressed like those grim reapers you see in old books. Nuclear Power Plant Worker’s Tale: Un- The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up known Hero Prevents Total Meltdown at and I can tell you I got the hell out of there as quick Turnmill Plant as I could.” CARDIFF IN “We’d just evacuated the plant, well everyone except University Student Witnesses Attack on Millie, the senior person on duty during our shift. Police Headquarters She was trying to prevent meltdown. I thought this is it - we’re all dead. I’m tried to call my wife but I A SERIES OF “It was a targeted attack; there’s no other explana- couldn’t get a signal. Next thing I see is Millie run- tion possible. I was there to report my motorbike ning out of the building. ‘Did you stop it?’ I asked. stolen and was filling out all these forms when these Millie told me she hadn’t but this man had rushed bizarre creatures came in through the front doors. in and told her to get out. She saw he was obviously ATTACKS They were like some scientific experiment gone talking to someone on his Bluetooth. Millie thought the phone was dead. Even my mobile wasn’t work- wrong. I mean, come on – boiler suits, big, bald he was a troubleshooter the head office had sent in, ing and then the power went out. I didn’t know what heads, long canine teeth and hands with claws? so she did as she was told and left. Search and rescue efforts are over now. Emergency else to do, so I bolted my front door, took my dog They kind of attacked the coppers where I was, but services and local authorities are concentrating on upstairs to my bedroom and we huddled together on a group of them ran right up the stairs and then we Found out today the head office had sent a special- re-establishing all basic services to Cardiff. The in- the bed all night.” heard screaming upstairs. I hid behind a wall and ist to us, but he didn’t arrive until yesterday. No one vestigations into what precisely happened will take it seemed like the attack went on forever. Finally knows who this man was. No way of ever finding months. We can only provide sketchy reports based 35-year old man sees his best mate killed it sounded like it was over and when I looked over out either. If it wasn’t for his actions and whoever on eyewitness accounts we’ve been able to gather the wall there was blood splattered on the walls and was helping him over his Bluetooth, Cardiff would from survivors. The names of these eyewitnesses are “I don’t know what this world is coming to . . . my floors and some dead bodies and wounded people. be a radioactive wasteland. Now he’s entombed in- withheld for their protection. Unfortunately we can- best mate and me were just coming home from the I just wanted to leave; sod the motorbike, ya know? side of that building forever. Bless him, poor sod.” not verify their stories at this time. local pub when all these explosions happened. But But the coppers wouldn’t let me leave. Said I had to that wasn’t the worst of it, I tell you. These, I don’t stay until they’d done all their CSI stuff. I’d heard Angels Battled Over Cardiff According to Old 40-year old teacher describes the explosions know, bald, mutants in boiler suits come up out of all the dead were high ranking officers. Then this Woman the sewer. We weren’t sure what the hell they were, girl in leather comes in and one of the coppers starts “I’d got up in the middle of the night because my but we ran. They chased us and they got Jim. Oh telling her what happened. I didn’t hear anymore black Labrador dog was scratching at the front “I am over a hundred years old now and I saw it with god, he screamed and I’ll never forget his scream for though, because another copper comes over and door wanting to go outside, you know, to have a my very own eyes, so I know what happened. Two as long as I live. There was nothing I could do; they takes me into another room to take my statement wee. Well, I put his lead on and was walking him angels battled on top of Cardiff Castle; they were ripped him open and there was blood everywhere. about what I saw. Didn’t get out of there until almost up the street to his favorite tree when a huge explo- dressed as ancient soldiers and one struck the other They would have got me too if this driver hadn’t noon the next day; by then Cardiff looked like a war sion shook the ground. I held on to my dog so he down with lightening. Then the angel in red blew up ploughed into these creatures with his lorry and then zone.” wouldn’t run away and there was explosion after the city and summoned creatures up from the sewers pulled me into his cab. Saved my life he did.” explosion! I’d never been so terrified in all my life I to attack our people. The red angel grabbed the other tell you. Once the explosions stopped, I hurried back angel and took him away in a blaze of light. inside my flat and went to the phone to call 999, but Cardiff is paying for its sins.” 18 19 The team in tears removed the files, the belongings, the images and those precious artifacts of the CALM BEFORE loved but gone Toshiko Sato and Owen Harper. As Ianto pressed the final log out button, a video sprang to life: Toshiko Sato’s Final THE STORM Message… Examining the gap between “Exit Wounds” “OK. So...if you’re seeing this, I and “Day One” guess it means, I’m.... well, dead. Written by Matt Powell Hope it was impressive! Not cross- ing the road or an incident with a toaster.” The team smiled through tear filled eyes. “I just wanted to say... it’s OK. It really is. Jack, you saved me. You showed me all the wonders of the universe and... All those possibilities. And I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Thank you. And Owen, you never knew.” The three’s emotions sank to a new low.” “I love you. All of you. And... I hope I did good.”

Gwen smiled through her tears and Toshiko vanished from the screen. Jack announced: “Now we carry on.”

Gwen, in tears, responded: “I don’t think I can, not after this.

The Captain hugged the final soldiers: “You can. We all can. The end is where we start from.” The team stood together, small in the vast scale of The Hub… Only in time their lives would change, but for now the storm was calm…

20 21 Between the tragic ending of Exit as being exactly 50 Years before Martha and Jack in which they Torchwood is shown to be rela- With this gap significantly shorter, Wounds and the start of the action 2059.) “Children of Earth” takes discuss this. Joseph Lidster does tively “working” now at this point. we can presume that the events packed Children of Earth, a gap place around September 2009. an amazing job of radio play. Despite the scar still partially the novels Risk Assessment, The presents itself. Between the two Therefore if we assume that Exit lingers around the team, (“Like Undertakers Gift and the three mentioned stories a vast range of Wounds takes place probably The next main broadcasted step Owen, Like Tosh”,) there is defi- short stories from Consequences: adventures must have occurred, between April-June due to the in this gap takes the form of the nitely a real sense of carrying on: The Wrong Hands, Virus and and in fact, did. However there events of Adrift being relatively Torchwood appearance in the epic Ianto taking a more practical role; Consequences, and two audio- has never been a full telling on long. This means there are around finale The Stolen Earth/Journey’s Gwen still staying strong as the books Ghost Train and Depart- television of this gap without seventeen to nineteen months of End. However enter even more gun welding Welsh woman and ment X take place in this period Toshiko and Owen. But the BBC purely Jack, Ianto and Gwen! So debate. This story, as mentioned, Jack… Well Jack’s Jack: flirting of time, (as surely it makes logical and the team are not stupid: fans for the benefit of my sanity this is takes place eight months after with men, dying and just being sense that if it’s released after TSE/ have been given this gap through written as if these events occurred the events of Lost Souls despite Jack… JE then it goes after?) But then we a wide range of books, audio ad- in the real world. in terms of broadcast it was only get the audio plays that we delve ventures, a cameo appearance in four or five months after. So what In my honest opinion isn’t this into much deeper analysis in a few Doctor Who and more. Over the 9th September 2008: Lost happens in these eight months? everybody’s dream? Having three minutes. next few pages, we take a look at Souls The books carefully cover this amazing universes collide together the gap including a deep analysis telling only tales that feature into one story, which was mad, And then: COE. After two series of the audio plays… The first area for discussion is the Jack, Ianto and Gwen, (we’ll call amusing and just great? On a of “monster of the week” stories radio play: “Lost Souls” released them JIG for ease,) which help small aside, it was also amazing to and the bigger team, some would When I came to writing this in conjunction with the activa- expand the Torchwood universe. see Lis back in Doctor Who along- argue Torchwood has finally article I struggled to think about tion of the CERN, (or as Frankie Stories released that fit into this side Luke and Mr. Smith. I would arrived with Children of Earth: how to do it because, in terms of Boyle likes to put it- the big black bracket include Almost Perfect, love to have seen her meet Torch- found its feet. But for me it’s not the time line it’s complicated. The hole machine.) Being as the story The Sin Eaters, Into the Silence, wood properly. The conversations about Cardiff or Tosh and Owen events of Season Two take place relates to a real life event it makes Bay of the Dead and the House would be hilarious! Getting back or Ianto: it’s all about having it in 2008, (the finale around 21+ logical sense to believe that this that Jack Built. Fans have also onto topic: Torchwood’s amazing on our screens. And as you will months after Doctor Who’s S2 happened on the same day as invented their own viewpoints on little cameo in Doctor Who was a notice from my editorial I think finale Doomsday.) This is when the big black hole machine was what happens during this season lovely additional treat for fandom, that Torchwood is slowly fad- things get even more complex: we launched. This story intrigues through fan fiction. Whilst we being this is all we would see of ing away. That’s why people who have to assume, (ignoring all other me: you can obviously tell that cannot call it cannon, it’s always the team for another year… moan about Miracle Day annoy Doctor who events) that Torch- there is still a scar on the team interesting to read what fans me. Sure there were boring bits wood then fight against the Daleks with the loss of Owen and To- believe has happened during this We then enter “limbo” again: after but it was Torchwood. It’s bet- in late May 2009, (we know this shiko. I distinctively remember a long gap. TSE/JE in May 2009, the events ter than none… The fact that so from Tennant’s Penultimate story very interesting moment between still await the team of COE in much exists in between these gaps “The Waters of Mars” as these Late May 2009: Daleks, Plan- September 2009. is amazing: here’s hoping more events are described ets and Time Locks emerges this year… When I read the very small amount I read in Doctor Who Magazine back in 2009, I practi- cally exploded with delight learn- ing that all of the characters I’d watched and enjoyed all coming together to fight the Daleks WITH DAVROS it sounded amazing! Now I look back and whilst it’s a great Bank Holiday Story it can be a bit “OTT.” But that’s the Russell T Davies Era for you. But we’re not discussing Doctor Who: we’re talking about Torchwood, (if you haven’t already gathered…) 22 23 earth after their planet became un- future knowledge. Gwen seems to a tour of the building with her as- inhabitable. She tells them that she look down at Andy for his attitude sistant, Gissing, while she and Jack was saved by a man who opened towards the girl but even when she catch up. It’s revealed she is an old RADIO GA GA! up a hole in the sky and sent her tells him the truth about aliens it flame of Jack’s. She avoids many A Guide to the Radio Plays by Louise Mills (Part One) through only saying one thing; doesn’t shake his thinking. He still of his questions about the energy that he was Torchwood. Gwen believes in innocent until proven field, and instead moans about the thinks that the future Torchwood guilty. By the end the team are loss of Torchwood India’s alien ASYLUM BY ANITA at the press of a button and make of what she is, that in the future sent her to them as a message that more willing to except his way of artefacts. In the gardens, Gwen SULLIVAN all CCTV cameras point to the her family and others like her are her race was not a threat. She is thinking and agree to treat her discovers the crates with Jack’s sky. Andy confronts Gwen about persecuted because of what they offered Retcon but refuses saying and Andy as not just problems address on and finds an advanced the way Freda is being treated. are. She breaks down and reveals OVERVIEW OF STORY she wants to know who and what to be solved. Jack makes threats wireless transmitter in the garden. Gwen tells him that the girl is an that the fire she remembers killed she is, that it’s all she has. Jack throughout the play to Retcon Gissing tells her and Ianto that an PC Andy calls in Torchwood alien. As the two argue about her, her mum and that people set the when a confused teenage girl is reluctantly sets up a new identity Andy but never does so, a marked energy field allows him and others Freda makes a run for it through house on fire because they knew for her for the current time. Gwen change in the man who tried to to live as long they don’t leave the caught shop lifting with a futuris- a closed window. Gwen and Andy what they were. Jack and Ianto tic-looking gun. They run tests on seems pleased that they can help force Gwen to Retcon Rhys in the club. By the building is a mast that follow her to the address she gave arrive on a stolen motorbike after her and not just lock her up. Andy S2 episode Meat. Aside from the he hopes will boost the energy the girl whose name turns out to earlier. When they arrive, a fright- Jack finds out what her gun does, be Freda. They take her to a safe- is not retconned and learns the ethics, one of the strong points fields further. He manages to ened Freda reveals she is in fact causing the traffic to block up the true value of what Torchwood do. is that of a world-building. Freda capture Gwen and Ianto by knock- house, where she starts to recall a half alien, half human, known in roads. Jack takes his normal stance fire at a Cardiff address. The test sounds convincingly out of place ing them out. The Duchess tells her own time of 2069 as a ‘ghostie.’ and demands Freda give herself ANALYSIS AND as she struggles to be understood, Jack that the energy field is cre- results show that Freda has come The house she ran to belongs to up. She runs again, escaping on through the rift and her immune UNDERSTANDING she speaks a mixture of English ated by a ‘time store’ a bit of alien her grandmother in the future. the same bike Ianto and Jack ar- and Scandinavian, yet at the same technology she kept. The device is system is not human. While the She reveals that the future she rived on. Andy, Gwen, Ianto and As Gwen points out to Jack at one time sounds Welsh. Above all the cause for the deaths of thou- gun she was found with is in fact lives in is bleak, one with power Jack give chase Andy’s police car. point, it isn’t just bad things that Asylum reflects the real-world sands of people in order for it to an futuristic mobile device that is outages to save power, water and As Jack and Gwen coldly discuss arrive through The Rift, but good concerns about how those who keep running. She is planning to used for paying for goods in shops food rationing. She explains she how they could stop Freda, Andy things too. However, even good protect us risk losing what we are extend it further, to turn the whole as well as being able to do things ran from Andy and Gwen because is horrified by the way they are things can pose a threat, as we and who we are. world back to 1924! With the mast like turn all the traffic lights red talking and points out that the see in Freda. She may only be a now set up, Ianto and Gwen wake only reason she ran is because she scared teenage girl but she poses up and find they are in the time is scared. Jack agrees to let Andy questions just as important as a store, they shout out but can’t find try to speak to her before Torch- GOLDEN AGE BY full scale alien invasion. Like what each other. Gwen describes how wood do anything more drastic to JAMES GOSS rights do people who have come she can feel it tugging at her, Ianto stop her. Jack is worried that be- through the rift have? And what agrees. They both scared of what cause she’ll have future knowledge responsibilities do Torchwood OVERVIEW OF STORY may happen if they sucked into that she is a danger. They arrive Torchwood travel to Delhi on the have? If this had been a series one the device. The Duchess leaves at the same location where she trail of some mysterious energy Torchwood episode we would Jack and her henchmen to be ab- earlier appeared, a river where she readings. Once there they see have heard Gwen asking these sorbed by the growing energy field explains she fell from the sky in to crates being taken from a train ad- questions, but two years into her but Jack escapes to find and rescue the water after being saved from dressed to Captain Jack Harkness job at Torchwood and after the Ianto and Gwen. The man who the fire. She is upset and thinks and witness the disappearance of deaths of Owen and Tosh, she is helped build the mast explains that she’s better off if she jumps hundreds of people in an energy no longer the innocent copper that the device feeds off any life from the bridge but Andy per- field. They track the energy to she once was, happily discussing that it absorbs. Jack is able to keep suades her not to. He shows a soft somewhere Jack thought he had with Jack ways of taking Freda the now unstable device at bay by and understanding side not unlike closed down in 1924, the Royal down and what sort of weapons letting it feed off his surplus life what Gwen would have done Connaught Club, headquarters they could use. Instead it’s left energy, allowing the man enough when she was first in Torchwood. of Torchwood India! Once inside to Andy to make the team see time to go destroy the mast. With After a while she comes down Jack finds the club is just as he left sense and ask the questions. It’s the mast now not working, the from the bridge and they return it, right down to the staff, who Andy who feels compassion for time store now feeds off the club to The Hub. Freda reveals to them haven’t aged a day since the 1920’s. Freda and her situation, whereas instead. The Duchess and her staff that her grandmother came from a Heading up the team is The Duch- Torchwood tend to look down on refuse to leave. Scared of the world race of refugee aliens who came to ess, who sends Gwen and Ianto on her and see her a threat with her outside their bubble, they 24 25 all die in the club while Jack, Ianto ess is focused on the past itself, her hospital where Jack is in a coma. ing home, where another group of of both and Gwen escape to safety. dream of a Golden Age exagger- She tells Ianto and Gwen that she people are all in the same state as worlds. ated into the madness by the years knows cannot die, but Gwen says Jack and others. He explains that With Jack ANALYSIS AND of distance and isolation. It makes Jack’s condition is worse than one day in 1976, lightning struck in a muted, UNDERSTANDING a very strong contrast to the way death. He has been in a coma- the building and all the phones it falls to Jack has coped with his immor- like state ever since he received a started to ring, those that picked Ianto to The speech at the start of each epi- tality. He has lost so many loves, mysterious phone call. Gwen and up the phones fell into a trance fill the sode voiced by Jack, tells us that and yet he forces himself to keep Ianto reveal that there are 20 other and have been the same ever since. silence the 21st century is when every- looking forward, he embraces patients in the hospital with the He explains that all the cabling between thing changes. Golden Age, how- what he has now, knowing it can’t same symptoms. Gwen visited the and old phones where stripped out them, ever finds Jack and the team com- last forever. He does not like to be home of the first victim, who also and sold on when the old build- and ing up against an opponent who reminded of his past lives, (even collapsed after he got a strange ing in Cardiff shut down. Back more doesn’t want anything to change, going as far as pretending to be his phone call in the middle of the at the hospital Ianto checks the as a and doesn’t care about who gets own son in Small Worlds to avoid night. After she finds residual rift records of rift activity for that year, result hurt in pursuit of this goal. It’s an confronting the issue.) His meet- energy on the phone he answered, he finds that it was a rift storm of the unusual experience for Jack to ing with The Duchess is clearly the team collected the phones of that day. As the monitors on the situ- come up across anyone else who is not an easy experience for him. all the victims. They discovered patients start to set off alarms, all ation immortal (of sorts) but as he states Equally uncomfortable is the very that they are all 1970’s models, the phones in Cardiff start to ring. than he didn’t seek his own immortality concept of Torchwood India itself. and all were called from the same Stella thinks that if they sent an intent, he finds himself able While and it doesn’t come at the cost to The stripping of alien technology number: Cardiff 2059. Jack dialled electromagnetic pulse through one to open up to Jack like never he was loyal to others. The youthfulness exposed so beloved by Torchwood isn’t so the number, but it is a dead line. of the phones it will neutralise the before. The result is Ianto’s longest Jack before this story, it is only this by The Duchess comes with a sick- very different to what the British But when the number called back, danger. Gwen’s not sure but trusts ever speech in the whole of Torch- realization here that elevates him eningly high cost to human life, Empire did to India and it’s other Jack made the mistake of picking what Stella tells them. Ianto uses wood; it’s an chance to explore to true selflessness. In the grand her willingness to kill is brought colonies under Queen Victoria it up and fell into a trance. At the his Torchwood PDA and attaches the character of Ianto that the fast scheme of things, everyone is just about by an idea of her sense of (Empress of India and founder of hospital, Gwen and Ianto find that it to the old phone sending the paced TV show just doesn’t allow ‘a blip in time’ but some blips echo superiority and bred by Britain’s Torchwood!) asserting its supe- the victims life signs are all sync, pulse. It works and they all start to for. Ianto is well aware that Jack’s more than others. By coming to shameful colonial past, (with her rior right to possess anything of and Stella realises that whatever awake from the comas. Jack recov- immortality creates a distance terms with his own mortality, upperclass attitude she’d no doubt value from ‘alien’ lands. Under put the victims in their trances ers, thanks Stella and then tells between them, and it’s ironic that Ianto is able to surrender his life be appalled if all her hundreds of Capitan Jack’s guide Torchwood it needs them alive. With Jack Ianto that for him, he will never it takes this brush with death on bravely when the time comes. Un- victims had been middle-class and has become much less exploitative, out of action, Rhys offers to help just be a blip in time. Jack’s part to bring them closer. til then, Jack and Ianto are togeth- white. She sees Gwen as beneath while The Duchess and her cro- Gwen with the case, and together With Jack’s dominant presence er, as are Gwen and Rhys (the later her and remarks on her cloth- nies have taken the opposite path they break into the long deserted ANALYSIS AND now in the background, Ianto can increasingly becoming a bigger ing, the reverse for Ianto who she and refused to accept change. In offices of Cardiff and West Build- UNDERSTANDING express his fear that he is just a part of the story and action.) compliments on being so well the end, Jack is able to defeat The ing Society, the building where “blip in time” for his partner (a turned out however she still sends Duchess for precisely this reason: the dead line is registered too. This radio play continues the feeling that is made stronger by them off to be entrapped.) There he wins because he knows what it Inside they find a phone ring- theme touched in the first one: the presence of Stella another of (This article continues on Page 32) are echoes of Torchwood One in is to lose. ing, even though all the cables Mortality and how to face it. The Jack’s old flames that he hasn’t the whole set up, with its outdated are ripped out, it’s another 1970’s story foreshadows Children of seen or spoke of in 30 years.) Ianto pride of the Empire, expressed model. Next to the phone is a rot- Earth, just as Lost Souls echoes’ doesn’t realize that Jack can hear through a strident and well-spo- THE DEAD LINE BY ted corpse. This doesn’t seem to Exit Wounds as Ianto comes to all of what he is saying, reach- ken woman, willing to do what- PHIL FORD bother Gwen too much but makes terms with the fact that, unlike his ing out to him, overcoming the ever it takes to keep Britain Great. Rhys feel sick. Gwen guesses that lover, he cannot live forever. Such barrier of the coma as such. We This is echoed within the whole all the victims phones originated an introspection, which would be realise they are not quite as distant club set up, only well-to-do people OVERVIEW OF STORY from the building, while back at hard to convey in a TV episode, as Ianto may have thought. And would have joined in the 1920’s, the hospital Ianto opens his heart comes about as a result of Captain yet, Ianto will die. By the reaffirm- Neuroscientist Stella Courtney is so when Ianto and Gwen along to the comatose Jack. In Swansea, Jack’s coma, a sort of living death ing the bond between Jack and surprised to get a call from Ianto with Jack turn up, Gwen is looked the current head of the Building with all the finality that Jack has Ianto, The Dead Line serves not to Jones about a friend she hasn’t down upon for her dress and man- Society, first reluctant to say any- been looking for but without any extend their time together, but to seen in 30 years. His name is ner. But whereas Torchwood One thing, finally admits to Gwen and of the release. For a man whose prepare the character for the sac- Captain Jack Harkness, and he’s looked to the future to recapture Rhys that he knows more victims own prison is his immortality, it’s a rifice he will make alongside Jack dying. Stella makes her way to the past glories, The Duch- and takes them to a private nurs- cruel mockery of death, the worst in Day Four of Children of Earth. 26 27 paradigms do not work for an pared when the Daleks surfaced it did in “Doomsday”) but it organization like Torchwood. in The Stolen Earth. Unlike the still needs a leader with the will Morality and Torchwood (or organization with the firepower (tempered, not dominated by, A constant in Doctor Who (at and the will to shoot a depart- with foresight enough to look at least in its most modern itera- ing enemy warship from the sky, consequences) to make the tough “Why it Doesn’t Always Pay to tion) is the Doctor’s policy to kill Torchwood found itself helpless decisions. Unfortunately although only as a last resort, and only and its leader literally cowered Jack is capable of ruthlessness, after giving an adversary (even in despair and fear at the sure the toll ruthlessness takes on him Play Doctor”) Writer: Lillian Wolf (@badwolflil) the Daleks) a chance to surren- destruction the presence of the arguably seriously undermines der or back down. Torchwood at Daleks meant. him. Witness the resolution of its most powerful (and effective) Torchwood: Children of Earth In order to examine the “ethics” saved Queen Victoria from death and feeling helpless against aliens. knew that humans didn’t have the Until Harriet Jones (now the where, faced with the awful choice of Torchwood, it is important to by space werewolf, saw the Queen During all this time, Jack had no luxury of treating extra-terrestrial former Prime Minister) inter- of sacrificing his own grandson revisit its history. First, there was establish the Torchwood Institute idea why he couldn’t die and felt threats with that kind of patience. vened. SHE, not Torchwood, or letting the 456 take millions of Captain Jack Harkness, introduced as a response to aliens and other abandoned by the Doctor. In no episode is this more clearly rallied what remained of Earth’s children and destroy civilization by Steven Moffatt in “The Empty phantasmagoria which (along Captain Jack didn’t come face demonstrated than in Christmas defences together and rallied them on Earth, Jack makes the tough Child” (during the Ninth Doctor’s with the Doctor), she considered to face with the Doctor again Invasion. Harriet Jones’ point was so they could bring the Doctor to choice—the one he HAS to make. tenure). Jack was a grafter hail- a threat to British security. In (though he had his hand) until that it’s very easy when you’re an them. She was the one who told And because he is the man he is, ing from the Time Agency who “Army of Ghosts” and “Dooms- the final three episodes of sea- immortal Time Lord feared by Jack to snap out of it. She was that choice destroys him. More ran scams using his Chula War- day”, Torchwood is prosperous son three, “Utopia” “The Sound everyone and in possession of a the one who got Sarah Jane Smith importantly, it brings home to him ship as bait. Enter the Doctor and (not at all very secret if the T of Drums” and “The Last of The T.A.R.D.I.S. to be merciful. It’s a and Martha Jones primed. But the fact that he really is the wrong Rose Tyler and by the end of two shaped building is any indica- Time Lords”, which apparently lot harder when you’re merely hu- for Harriet Jones Earth and quite man for the job because it hurts episodes, Jack had become (or re- tion), ambitious and still ruthless occurred right after the end of man. The Doctor was not always possibly the entire universe would too much, which is why he runs verted to) a man with a conscience organization. It ends up destroy- Torchwood Season 1. The Captain going to be around (and in fact have been destroyed. Perhaps it away. Of course, some might say who kept the Doctor company ing itself when it goes too far and Jack of Torchwood was a far cry had very nearly not woken up in was Harriet’s bravery that woke that the combination of Jack’s abil- until the end of that season, when gives both Cybermen and Daleks from the Captain Jack seen with time in that episode) to save hu- Jack up for long enough for him ity to be ruthless and the depth of he was killed by Daleks in “Part- access to Earth. While the Doc- the Ninth Doctor. He was more manity and Earth needed a Plan B to threaten to destroy Earth rather his guilt over it actually make him ing of the Ways”, brought back to tor is able to clean up the mess, it moral but he was also probably for those times. than let the Daleks use it to un- the perfect man for the job. But life by Rose, then abandoned far in costs him Rose Tyler, who ends up the loneliest creature on Earth. He make reality. I certainly don’t that’s a story for a different day. the future by a newly regenerated permanently trapped in an alter- had no idea why he couldn’t die The problem with Jack Harkness’ think it’s anything he would have Doctor. nate universe. and he’d had a century of watching Torchwood is that Jack was try- done before that. the toll Torchwood took on life, ing to play Doctor. He as much Torchwood the institute first Jack’s whereabouts in all is not observing its often ruthless means, as admitted it in “The Sound of The divide between the morality, formally (I say formally because revealed until near the end of and seeing his friends die. In some Drums” when he told the Doctor if you will, of Torchwood and the I believe the lock on the hospital Torchwood season two in “Frag- ways his psyche was just as dam- he had cut ties to London after human interests it protects, and in The Empty Child/The Doc- ments”, where we learn that Jack aged as that of his boss back in Canary Wharf and was remak- that of the Doctor was once more tor Dances had a big T on it and used his Time Agency magic wrist 1999 only there was no way out ing Torchwood in The Doctor’s starkly reflected in the horror the because a bit of retconning placed band to travel to the past, only for him. honour. In short, Jack was trying Doctor felt when Jack, Martha Toshiko Sato at the scene in the he ended up one century early. It to apply the lofty standards of The and even Sarah Jane Smith, were first Slitheen episode) appeared in was then that he also realized that In Utopia/The Sound of Drums Doctor to situations where the hu- willing to kill the Earth to save “Christmas Invasion”, the Tenth he couldn’t die. The Torchwood Jack discovered he wanted to live man condition and the limitations reality. In the end, the Doctor isn’t Doctor’s first full episode, when Institute, which by the mid to late and why he was immortal and also on humanity to respond to threats human. In the end, Jack is human. then Prime Minister Harriet Jones 1800s had branches in London revealed that since the downfall of required ruthlessness of the kind In the end Torchwood is a human ordered it to destroy an Atraxi and Wales (and maybe elsewhere Torchwood London, Torchwood abhorred by the Doctor. Season organization. And it sometimes warship as it was fleeing after the in the UK), caught up with Jack was a very different organization, Two of Torchwood ended in fire has to engage in ruthless means Doctor defeated then killed its and after torturing him a bit, fi- still concerned with protecting and death and what had once been for the greater good. leader. The Doctor was so angry nally hired him. By 1999 he was a Earth but run by Jack based on a force to be reckoned with was he set in motion Harriet’s downfall well-established member of Torch- the paradigms learned from the reduced to a group of three people Torchwood is the right organiza- with just six words (“Don’t you wood Cardiff, which he ended up Doctor. He and the Doctor parted living under a fountain in Cardiff. tion for this job. But I question think she looks tired.”) taking over after his boss killed on friendly terms and Torchwood whether Jack Harkness has ever “Tooth and Claw”, in which the everyone else on the team and Cardiff continued. And failed. It is therefore no surprise that been the right man for it. Yes Tenth Doctor and Rose then himself in a fit of depression Why? Because the Doctor’s Moral Torchwood was woefully unpre- Torchwood could go too far (as 28 29 threats can be seen and the fact submarine that was used to first get back to the surface, Gwen asks that Fitzroy hadn’t even managed explore the trench in the 1950’s. Jack if that’s what he is looking to get to Earth, but was still able Carly realises that they can use it for; his final act. Jack laughs it off RADIO GA GA! to interfere. The Torchwood team to escape if the can just get access and says he’d have to be mortal for A Guide to the Radio Plays by Louise Mills (Part Two) have to work in two teams without to it. Gwen and Jack put on the that. being able to communicate due dive suits and swim out it. The to the power-cuts. The fact it even man in the water, who was part THE DEVIL AND MISS her extra strength and is able to devil aka Fitzroy is offering the affects The Hub shows that Torch- of the team in the 1950’s calls to ANALYSIS AND tie Gwen up. Rhys tracks Gwen old people a second chance at CAREW. BY RUPERT wood isn’t as impenetrable as they Gwen and tells her that he needs UNDERSTANDING LAIGHT. down, unties her and informs her life, but at the cost to the world. may like to think. help and that he has to save his that a woman is on the roof. Jack They may be given the new life mate. She stops to try and work The theme is mortality again and and Ianto find a metal door in but it’s only as long as they help out what he needs, the man tells how Jack handles it. Another OVERVIEW OF STORY the side of mountain, which they him. Those that refuse like Rhys’s SUBMISSION: BY RYAN her that one of the team could give theme that runs though the plays When Rhys elderly Uncle Bryn manage to break down. Inside Uncle Bryn, die a painful death. themselves to him, but Jack calls is Ianto and Jack’s relationship. has a heart attack while listening they find that it has been set up Gwen shows how proud she is of SCOTT her back and she leaves him. Jack This one reveals more about to the shipping forecast, it seems for the arrival of something. Ianto Torchwood, her immense pride in works out that it’s an alien keeping Ianto than Jack. Mainly, that he like another routine death at Ivy switches on a radio and Fitzroy’s telling Miss Carew that nothing is OVERVIEW OF STORY the man alive, that it’s using his was romantically involved but he Day Nursing Home. But when voice tells them that to come to classified, it shadows nicely how As Torchwood chase a group of al- memories, that for over 50 years it chose Lisa over Carly. She appears Rhys and Gwen go to collect the earth he needs it void of all elec- hard Gwen falls when Torchwood iens down the M4, arguing about has been trying to trap someone quite bitter about it all, making old man’s effects, Gwen’s suspi- tricity and that the power cuts is destroyed. Rhys hates that she how they handled the case, Jack down there to use their minds. comments about how she knows cions are aroused by another el- where tests. Ianto tells him that loves it so much and can’t let it go. uses a plasma cannon to shoot Back in the Sub, Ianto and Carly Jack and Ianto are now together. derly resident. The conversation is if the power grids fail the world He knows deep down that he will out the wheels of the minivan and talk while they try and dock the Ianto reveals that he loves Jack cut short by the fire alarm caused would be in danger of power sta- never get her fully to himself. This blows a hole in the Severn Bridge. broken Sub to the other one. She and is sorry for the way he treated by one of the mysterious power tions going into meltdown and touches on real life issues such as This causes them and the aliens tells Ianto she knows him and Jack her. The one thing about the cuts that are sweeping the land. that the planet would fail. Fitzroy if the power grids and power sta- to fall into the river. Whilst under are a couple. Ianto tells her that he radio is that it gives time to dia- Gwen has a hunch that something informs Jack and Ianto that he tions would cope if they were ever the water they all hear a scream. loved her and is sorry for the way logue that wouldn’t have such an is wrong, Her search leads her to offered people another lease of compromised, something that Back at The Hub they run tests on he treated her in the past. As the impact if it were on TV. Ianto Miss Carew, a suspiciously fit and life for their returned help, that is picked up on in Asylum when the sound and find out that it is board the old Sub, the alien takes says that although he knows Jack strong octogenarian who despite if they refused they died painful they are informed that the power an SOS call. Jack tracks down the Carly and attacks Gwen. Jack tells loves him, he also knows that he having terminal heart disease has deaths. Back at the computer firm in 2069 is rationed. Jack and Ianto signal to the deepest part of the the alien to take him instead, that will never be truly his, that one become well enough to leave Ivy Gwen and Rhys rush to the roof working as team is a nice touch. ocean, the Marina Trench. Ianto it’d take him thousands of years day Jack will leave him. He ac- Day and go back to work at the to try and stop Miss Carew from Ianto seems confident with what says he knows someone that can to get through his memoires but cepts this and seems to be level computer firm that she used to sending the virus. Gwen tries to they have now and this tidies up help them, an old collage of Torch- the alien tells Jack he is too full of headed about the fact and mak- run. Miss Carew reveals that she stop her but before she has chance, the loose ends from series 3 and wood One, Carly Roberts. Jack regrets and that Gwen’s mind is in- ing the most of it. Whereas in the was offered the chance by Fitzroy. Miss Carew slips and falls from how Jack treated Ianto in that. pulls some strings with the US nocent and sweet. Ianto and Jack past Ianto may have been jealous Jack and Ianto work out the power the roof. With the dish now out of These radio plays demonstrate government to get them on board try to get Gwen away but the alien of the way Gwen and Jack feels cuts are linked to rift activity and action Fitzroy can no longer get nicely on the complex relationship the USS Calvin, an Arleigh Burke tells Ianto through Carly that Jack for each other, he now seems to drive to the mountains to locate through and has no choice but ad- the two shares. The main thing Class Destroyer which is head- is all over Gwen’s mind, that he know how he stands with Jack the exact spot. Gwen confronts mit defeat. Gwen and Rhys rush to that is story highlights is that it’s ing to the trench. From there they should be worried that Jack feels and informs the alien possess- Miss Carew about who Fitzroy the ground to help Miss Carew but no longer just a threat to Cardiff board the Octopus Rock, the only more for Gwen than Ianto. Gwen ing Carly that she isn’t right. This is and Miss Carew, shocked that she has returned to the state that but to the whole world, foreshad- submarine built to withstand the fights back and gets free of the again shows us that Ianto and Jack Gwen knows so much about her. was in at the nursing home and owing The 456 in COE and of pressure at the depth. Jack pilots alien, as they manage to get the are not as far apart as you’d think; Gwen politely informs her that dies moments later. Jack and Ianto course the Miracle in MD! This is the sub and locates the scream’s Sub to work. As they move away, that they are a couple, that Ianto to Torchwood, nothing is classi- seal the door in the mountain and the first mention of The Doctor in source. On hearing a bang on the the alien starts to die. As they regardless of being told Jack is fied. Miss Carew tells Gwen that leave returning to Gwen and Rhys. the radio plays when Jack jokes to outside of the Sub Carly tries to move further away, it begs Jack to all over Gwen’s mind he doesn’t she intends to release a computer Ianto about wishing he’d stolen the reassure them that it’s just the hull tell him that there is something care. This is classic Gwack vs. virus that will take down the en- sonic screwdriver to get the door settling but Ianto sees a human ANALYSIS AND after death but Jack informs him Janto; Ianto knows Jack has feel- tire power network. Gwen tries to open. This is also the first involve- being outside. The man admits a UNDERSTANDING that there is nothing but darkness. ings for both but after the events talk her out of it, telling her that ment of any of Rhys’s relatives cry that fries the electrics, as they it’d plunge the earth into the dark The price of immortality means of Gwen’s wedding nothing would This radio play picks up nicely aside from those at the wedding. try to escape they crash. Stuck on ages. They end up fighting where no forgiveness, no final act. Carly ever happen. Jack is committed to on the whole good vs. bad, the This highlights that not all alien the trench floor they see an old Miss Carew shows survives the events and when they Ianto and only him. Even 30 31 though there are places on Earth to pub to see the people that they for breakfast. Jack is understand- he wanted to ring but didn’t know that are unexplored, and the fact loved and miss the most. She uses ably emotional and tells him that what to say. This is mainly a Ianto Jack has travelled the universe he their memories to recreate these he didn’t think that he would look and Jack story arc that ties up the says it’s the most alien place he’d loved ones, killing the people in so real. Serieth had used Jack’s loose ends from COE and that even seen! This is third time in the the end to feed off them. Ianto grief to make him real then she out of all the people Jack has lost, radio plays the team have travelled and Jack spilt up to try and stop recreated him to draw Jack in it was Ianto he wanted to see the to another part of the world, fore- the event. Ianto sees the ghost of because of all the people Jack has most. I felt that it captured the shadowing the move to America his father, who informs him that lost it was Ianto that he wanted ‘voice’ (heart) of Ianto. I loved the for MD! he will betray his loved one. Ianto to see one last time. Ianto, still acknowledgement from Jack that, becomes upset as Jack re-enters holding the box tells him to leave. of all the people he’d lost, he came the room and tells him things Jack doesn’t belong in the House to the House of the Dead to see THE HOUSE OF THE will be okay. They make their way of the Dead but Ianto does. Jack Ianto. I appreciated that he was DEAD. BY JAMES GOSS back into the main bar area where refused to leave saying he will seal portrayed as so despairing that they find it is too late and that the The Rift shut with Ianto, that he he was willing to go to oblivion; I gateway is open. The ghosts have doesn’t want to live without him. loved that he was prepared to walk OVERVIEW OF STORY started to attack their loved ones, Ianto tells Jack that maybe they away if he could walk away with Ianto waits in the most haunted the energy used to feed Serieth. can leave and start again, since he Ianto; it was fantastic that Ianto pub in Wales, The House of the Gwen, still on comms, demands was alive again. Maybe they could had the courage to do the right Dead. As a celebration for the last that Ianto not trust Jack, but Jack just walk out. Jack agrees and for thing; I adored the declaration. night the landlord is putting on a points out that his comms set isn’t once he does what he knows is séance with a powerful medium, on and that he’s not been talk- wrong. He leaves the collapsing Torchwood is and always will be Mrs Wintergreen. Ianto calls Jack ing to Gwen at all. He reveals a pub, begging Ianto to follow him, a gritty, hard hitting programme, and Gwen over the comms but small box of explosives which he but Ianto refuses, betraying Jack as fighting the good fight against can’t contact either of them. Jack chucks to Ianto telling him that his father predicted because he no aliens, phones, fake ghosts, other arrives and tries to put a stop to he has always trusted him. As the longer belongs in the world. It is worldly beings and mad old wom- the séance. Ianto is relieved to pub starts to fall into The Rift, Ianto, not Jack who is going to seal en in India, this is Classic Torch- see Jack as Gwen tells him over Jack explains to Ianto that the box The Rift and defeat Serieth. Jack wood at its best and an important comms she is suspicions of what contains rocks from the hills and shouts to Ianto what he should series in its own right. Jack is up to. Jack tries to talk the coal from the cellar. Wales is like a have said before, that he was sorry landlord out of continuing with huge battery of stored rift energy, for the way he was treated and the event, but he knocks Jack out. harmless unless it’s released as one that he loves him. Ianto tells Jack With Jack out cold Ianto fails to world falls into another. With the that he loves him too then deto- stop the dead from arriving. All pub falling further, he tells Ianto nates the box, sealing himself in hell breaks loose when the dead that he will set it off as Serieth and closing The Rift forever. Jack, start to attack the ones they came arrives, sealing himself and her emotionally broken, walks away as back to say a goodbye too. Ianto inside and closing The Rift forever. the pub collapses. finds Jack and tells him that he Ianto becomes emotional as his fa- couldn’t stop it. Jack explains that ther’s ghost appears again and tells under The Rift is a secret, a shad- ANALYSIS AND Jack that he should leave now with ow from the oldest universe of all, UNDERSTANDING Ianto because if they don’t leave he Serieth, The Death Feeder. She has will kill Ianto all over again. Jack been trapped since before time. This radio play reveals so much tells Ianto’s father that he should Ianto works out that she is using more than just the fact that Jack be proud of his son, that he’d have Mrs Wintergreen and the power of loves Ianto! It shows how things no one else but Ianto at his side the loved ones, that if the séance were with Ianto’s father, how even when he seals the rift for good. is allowed to continue further that when he was dying Ianto couldn’t He tells a confused and desperate Serieth will break through. Jack face up to calling his Dad. In an Ianto that 6 months ago he died in continues to explain that the pub emotional dialogue with his fa- Jack’s arms and that he knew when is built on a crack in The Rift, a ther’s ghost he reveals that he had he came to the House of the Dead weak point that Serieth will use, a mobile phone in the hospital but he’d find him here. Ianto refuses to that Serieth can manipulate the that Ianto didn’t call. Ianto breaks believe it, saying he had porridge people who have gone down in the tears and reveals that 32 33 fights, only an increase in trips to room with the main ring in it, that’s smack him on the arm, “Don’t be A&E, and more recently an increase where the weevil vs. idiot happens. such an idiot Owen.” Owen rubbed A Tale of Alien VS Alien in dead weevils being found… Jack Now if you can ignore the scantily his arm, “Hey!” Gwen turned the has been following this ring for a clad young women taking bets and mobile phone over and over in her An original fiction by Louise Mills few months now, trying to get to the selling all manner of food items, you fingers, “Thank you Tosh, but don’t bottom of where they hold the fights, will see the state of the weevils they worry. He’s only jealous because his and who is who.” keep.” Gwen sucked in a breath as only chances of getting a date fail.” another image took the place of the Ianto coughed interrupting Gwen Jack smiled as he patted her on the last. A series of cages in a dark room, and Owen’s war of words, “Gwen, shoulder, “Good work Tosh.” Owen all with weevils in, all in varying your phone’s ringing.” Gwen looked voiced his annoyance, “Hold up a states, some barely alive. “That is confused for a second, “Oh shit,” minute, you’ve known for months barbaric. What on earth drives people she looked up as Jack lent over her and you’re only just telling us?” Jack to want to do that?” Gwen shook her shoulder, took the phone from her cut across him. “Now hold your head. Owen was studying the im- fingers and answered the call. She horses Owen, I’ve been monitoring ages, “I’ll tell you what drives men swung around to try to make a grab the situation, most of the time the to do that Gwen -greed, stupidity for it but failed. “This is Gwen’s phone Weevils were in the cages ready to and the need to prove themselves. I but she’s too busy arguing with her fight but not many would step up to mean we’re in the middle of a social co-worker to notice her phone going the plate and pay out to go up against decline, the government are all over off in the middle of a meeting, so one in the ring so to speak. No, they the shop and stuff like this makes I am sorry but she can’t take your were more than happy to watch the them feel like they are worth some- phone call right now and she’ll be at weevils fight each other… you see you thing. Stupid or not, we know why work for the rest of the night.” Gwen missed the point. This wasn’t man these kind of things can’t be left. It’s cringed, Owen smirked. Jack cut the vs. alien. It’s alien vs. alien. Of course not right. Sooner or later someone call and handed her back her phone, Gwen sat in the small lounge area of happy in a way and she was better at can tell you know, it’s gonna go down they don’t know what or who they will get killed or so badly injured that “That will teach you two to fight like the caravan that her and Rhys where that then reeling off fairy stories. She like a lead balloon.” Gwen was al- are, all they know is that when put people will star asking questions - kids. This isn’t a play park. We’re camped out in the tiny Welsh village loaded another spoonful of food as ready scanning a leaflet for the high- in the right conditions they will fight ones we really don’t want them to.” walking into but a serious situation, of Rawbone. The caravan site now she started the next tale... lights as Jack rolled his eyes at Owen’s each other. It wasn’t until they were Gwen sighed; to her it was just crazy so if anyone here thinks they can’t rundown and desolate, they were the comment. “Read the whole thing turning up dead that it warranted us to think that anyone could want to do keep cope with that, you know what only ones in residence aside from the It was late afternoon when the whole Owen.” Owen muttered and looked stepping in, because now it is a case that. She knew the last time was bad you can do.” handful of villagers down in the main team sat around the boardroom table, back down at leaflet. Tosh smiled as for Torchwood. The fights are ever enough, “These seem more organ- village. Gwen tapped the spoon on Toshiko at the head end with her lap- she brought up the information on to more popular with people and they ized Jack, I mean, they are billed as Owen looked down at the table the side of the bowl removing access top, Gwen and Ianto sat to one side the screens in the room, she delighted get big crowds. Legal or not, it doesn’t normal cage fights but only those that started playing with the corner of the food as she waved it through the air, and Owen sat by himself opposite to in this part of any task, it was evident stop the odd bloodthirsty working go would know there is something flyer. Gwen sighed and put her phone aiming for Anwen’s open mouth. The Gwen. Jack stood at the opposite end in her face as she did a small cough man wanting to take his chance now different about them.” Jack grinned; away, “Sorry won’t happen again.” fair-haired baby girl happily ate what to Tosh. He had his sleeves rolled up. to draw their attention to her. “If I against something that they know he liked that Gwen was switched on Jack smiled, “You’re damn right it Gwen was feeding her. Gwen smiled Gwen sighed she knew they’d likely can have your attention, what Jack can kill them, it’s now the ultimate to this, “Owen is right, people want won’t, now where was I? Oh yeah, at the baby, at her baby. The caravan be getting information on a new job. has given you to look at is the flyers adrenalin rush!” Gwen puffed out to feel like they are getting something - tonight…” He clapped his hands wasn’t ideal but it was safe enough for Tosh was sat up straight in her chair for a new cage fighting experience, her cheeks, she’d seen first-hand just for their money. The men behind this together, “Now the men that are be- now. She grinned as Anwen’s arms with the air of eagerness that she al- billed to be one of the best adrenalin what weevils could do to a human. have been very organized but they’ve hind this; one is always at the fights, and legs moved frantically in antici- ways had when she’d been told about rushes you’ll ever have,” she paused “So you’re telling me people are pay- made a mistake. They have no idea oversees the proceedings of the night pation of more mashed potato with something before the others had. while the team all looked at the flyer ing to be put in a ring with a weevil, what to do when the weevils get so and hands out the staff payments, gravy. “No Daddy to tell Mummy off Ianto had handed out coffees, now all on the overhead TV screen. “Now how the hell does that work?” Jack badly hurt they are no longer viable because as you saw, they know how for telling you stories, since Mummy were looking up at Jack. Gwen won- what they don’t tell you is that, the grinned, “Tosh, if you may, the pic- for the fights so they dump them, to get the punters in and how to keep sent him to the shop!” Gwen grinned, dered how long the next job may take reason the fight has bite, is because tures obtained from the last fight…” thinking they’ll just die and no one them interested.” He pointed to two she was convinced Anwen liked to them. She was meant to be going on a they are using Weevils as opponents.” Tosh smiled, “Jack went in with the will know… but we know and we will images up on the screen, “The guy on hear the stories of her days at Torch- date night with Rhys but now doubt- Owen raised an eyebrow, “What are contact lenses on, so we could get shut them down. We go in tonight, so the left is Lewis Day. He’s well known wood before they’d been hunted ed she’d make it. As Jack threw down they mad? They’d get their heads a better idea of how it worked, so any plans you had - cancel them, this to the police for illegal dog fighting down by the government and now a collection of coloured leaflets on to ripped off in a matter of seconds.” He we’d know how to shut it down.” She needs a full team, if we are going to and has a string of GBH charges to were on the run. No more was Gwen the table, he folded his arms waiting looked shocked. “I thought we shut pressed a series of keys on her laptop put a stop to this.” his name.” Gwen studied the image, the front line of resistance against without word for the team to pick up the last Weevil fight ring down?!” and the images popped up on the he looked like a thug with his shaven whatever may come knocking at the the new additions. Owen was first. Tosh smiled politely at Owen. “Yes screen. Ianto pulled a face. “Wow, Gwen sighed and looked at her head and cold eyes. She looked to door, she was now on the run with He frowned as he read it aloud, “Cage we did, but how long did you think you sure you know how to spend phone: a missed call from Rhys. the other image, another male but Rhys and a 6 month old baby. Gwen fighting with extra bite.” He looked it would be before someone else took your weekends.” Jack let the com- Owen smirked, “Oh what a shame with dark hair and soft blue eyes. found solace in telling Anwen her up from the leaflet, looking at Jack. advantage and made money? So far ment slide, “Now the first photo you you’ll have to cancel that date.” Tosh Jack seemed to shadow her thoughts. adventures. It made her “If this is a new team building thing, I we haven’t seen any deaths from the see the balcony that runs around the rolled her eyes and reached over to “The one on the right is Dale 34 35 Williams. Now he has a respectable ful leader do you expect us to get to the seemingly deserted warehouse, van, then all of you meet us back heard it too, “Do you think we should words, “How do I know you’re not day job, his own business, but he’s the the weevils out?” Owen had a point, but as they both rounded the corner here, if anything goes wrong do what go help?” Tosh eyed Jack with a wor- just after the creatures for yourself? money behind the operation. He may Gwen had no idea who they were Gwen gave Owen a sideways glance. you have to get out.” Gwen knew it ried face. “No, they have it covered, They left the last one for dead out by look like your average Joe but I’ve intending to do that task and live to There was quite the queue of people was a risk to be seen going through if they need us, they know what to the storm drains you know, so what seen him in action and he has a nasty tell the tale. Jack sighed. “These wee- waiting to be let in. Gwen came to the door, so she paused outside with do.” Jack turned back to where he had makes you any better than them?” temper. Word has it they will both vils they are chained up and beaten. standstill as they joined the end of Owen. “This music is crap” Owen been looking, Tosh followed his gaze, Ianto was stood outside listening be at the fight tonight at the location They are drugged to keep them docile the queue, just up ahead she spotted leaned in to speak, Gwen could “Is that who I think it is? One of the intently. “Is that a girl about 5ft with Tosh got for me.” He stood back and before the fight so it should be easy Jack and Tosh. Jack had on blue jeans hardly hear herself think let alone kids that hangs around whenever we messy dyed hair?” Gwen looked at let Tosh take the stage again, “You enough for you to locate them, put and black jacket, Tosh had her dark hear Owen. They caught each other’s go to an alien sight?!” Jack put his the girl, “Yes, why?” Ianto smiled to see, they don’t advertise the location, them into the back of the van that red leather jacket on and had gone for gaze for a second before looking away finger over his lips to hush her, “We’ll himself, “I’ve seen her before, hangs no, far too dangerous. But they do Ianto will drive down and hide up jeans too. Ianto’s voice came over the as she felt her phone vibrate in her deal with that if need be, for now, just around with another kid. They tend have a way of contacting those that before the fight.” Owen processed commlink, “I’m in position. Using the pocket but she didn’t have time to keep an eye on him.” Tosh sighed, to pop up when there had been an want to go. You email your interest, the information, “Ok then, I’ll make heat source scanner, I have located answer it. she wasn’t sure it was a good omen to alien sighting. Pain the arse, know either as a spectator or indeed to be sure I take some sedatives so they can the room with the weevils. The van see him. The kids meant no harm but far too much, but not enough to a fighter and they then text you the be kept calm while we move them.” is hidden not far from there. I’ve got Owen moved his hand from her they were loose cannons. She knew do harm.” Gwen licked her lips she location when they have it set up. The He was thinking sensibly now about the laptop up and running and I’m shoulder. “We’re good to go” they once the police came in, they’d arrest knew they didn’t have a lot of time. weevils are moved around in trucks. the task in hand. Ianto got up from sending you all the floor plan of this slipped through the door letting it anyone still stupid enough to hang “Thanks Ianto, I’ll deal with this.” She Mainly old run down warehouses are the table. “I’ll go and change outfits building to your PDAs. They should shut behind them, the dull lightings around. Jack steered Tosh by the arm lowered her gun. “Look, you can trust the sort of places they favour empty before driving the van down.” Jack help Owen and Gwen find the room. of the main area giving them cover to to another viewpoint. “Where’s the us, we’re Torchwood. We’re here to and easy to set up… Tonight’s fight smiled at him. “Keep on comms at all Once in, I’ll instruct further.” She not be seen. They stood in the semi skinny kid that’s always with him?” rescue them, not hurt them or take is located on the outskirts of Cardiff, times. Once you are at the location, couldn’t reply, nor could anyone. She darkness of the hallway, “Clearly Jack looked at the alternately dressed them to fight anywhere else.” The girl this is the closet to the city they have you will be our eyes and ears Ianto.” saw Tosh nod to Jack and Jack looked health and safety isn’t top of their boy no older than early 20’s with eyed Gwen, “I know who you are, I ever come, which is a reflection of Ianto nodded and walked from the back down the queue, pretending agenda, I could have broken my leg bleach blonde hair. Tosh shrugged. just wanted to make sure you were how confident they are becoming. room. The atmosphere in the room to be looking out for someone. He tripping over that damn box down “Wherever she is, let’s hope we don’t the on the level. My lookout clearly But tonight their location and the fact was different now. They knew they turned back around to face forward there,” muttered Owen. Gwen tried have to deal with that too.” sucks at his job,” she sighed, “I’ve they will be illegally cage fighting will had a job to. Gwen got up from the as the crowed started to move. Gwen not to laugh. Ianto laughed over the been planning on busting them out be leaked to the police. They will take table and followed Owen from the saw them head into the building, comms, “Care to hurry up and let me Owen walked around the room, for a whole week now, I didn’t really care of Day and Williams. Hopefully room. “I’ll grab our kits while you shortly after her and Owen paid the in, freezing my bits off out here. You studying the bright pink haired think you lot would care about this, we will be out of there by then. The get whatever you need. Your car or money on the door and headed in know... if you’re not too busy fall- young woman. “Now the way I see about these, whatever they are…” she hard part will be moving the weevils mine?” Owen smirked for a second, too. The warehouse had been set ing over.” Owen made a face into the this is that you have two options, made a realization, “The only time I that they keep caged up in the back, “ I don’t think there’s time, Gwen.” up so that the main ring was in the darkness and swore, “Which room is both of them amount to the same see Torchwood is when it’s something it’s those that we have to remove be- She rolled her eyes and hit him on the centre of the floor, with a few smaller it?” Gwen stood facing three doors, thing.” The girl looked up, her eyes alien. Don’t deny it, we all know we’re fore we can locate the main ring and arm, “Very funny, I meant whose car cages along the back wall, all with one right ahead of her, one to the wide, “I wasn’t doing nothing to not alone, but no one wants to see stop the main fight.” are we taking? I think mine would counters. Gwen swept the place with left and one to the right. She held hurt them. I’ve seen what they make the obvious, all too busy going about look less suspect, I mean yours be- her eyes and discreetly used the PDA out a small scanner and heat sources these creatures do, the people who their lives to notice.” Owen rolled his Jack stepped back up, “So the plan is, ing the sporty type without room to get the map up, “We need to head showed in room to their right. She run things. It’s not right you know, eyes. “Good one Gwen, just may as we all go in but not all at once and to swing a cat.” He sighed, “Yeah I over to the other side, that door there pointed it out to Owen, they weren’t what he makes them do. They don’t well enrol her now. Look kid, I’m not not all together, it would look too sus- suppose you’re right, your old banger leads to the rooms where the weevils alone because inside the room was a like it. They don’t want to fight, they about to lie to you, these creatures, picious. We all do our own bit in the won’t draw as much attention. I’ll are.” Owen nodded and putting his human heat source too. Owen looked only do it cause they get given drugs.” we don’t know what they are, but teams then we all meet up at the main meet you in the car park in 20 min- arm around Gwen’s shoulder, waited at the scanner, but it was Ianto who She stood with a determined look. they ain’t human. Well not in the way ring, so it’s casual wear for everyone.” utes.” Gwen shook her head as she till they could get a chance to head spoke. “There shouldn’t be anyone Gwen looked at her. She was dressed you know, but one thing I do know is Ianto was about to protest, “Yes Ianto, passed Jack and Tosh on her way to over. “What are you doing?!” Gwen else in that room aside from the in black skinny jeans and hooded that we will be doing what we came as much as I love you in a red tie, it’ll the kit store room. She took advan- hissed. “Looking the part. It’s meant weevils, go carefully, it’s probably be top, “So what did you intend to do? here to do. You should go now while be a lot better if you wear jeans and tage of the time alone on the walk to to look like we’re on a date, so put up a member of staff.” Gwen reached for Just let them out? Didn’t you think it you have the chance. We’re here to look like the rest of the punters. And the car park to check her phone. She with it until we can make it across the her gun, as did Owen. She held her might endanger the people out in the close the place down once and for yes even I will be going incognito.” sighed as she saw the angry text from room. I’ve spotted Jack and Tosh over hand over the handle then twisting main ring?” The girl eyed her gun, all.” Owen put his gun away as did Gwen smirked, she could just see Jack Rhys. Sliding the phone back into her at the bar, so let’s move now, while it, with one fluid motion she kicked “I’m not stupid. There is a door there Gwen, “Behind that door is another turning up in some flamboyant outfit. pocket, she unlocked the car, placed we can.” She sighed. She didn’t want open the door and they both burst that leads to outside. I was going to one of us, waiting to help us.” The She shook the images from her head the two bags in the back and sat in him that close to her. She could smell into the room, guns trained at the kick it in and let them out so they girl sighed, “I could help, four pairs as Jack continued, “Tosh and I will the driver’s seat waiting for Owen. his aftershave as they made their way source of the heat, “Stay calm and could run off. Then I was gonna go of hands are better than three. I’m be Team 1. Owen and Gwen, I want through the crowd. Jack smiled as we won’t hurt you.” Gwen said as she watch it all kick off.” Owen stepped helping you, I know stuff, you know” you to go in and meet Ianto, together Gwen had given Ianto enough time to they passed him and Tosh. They’d took in her surroundings. forward, “So you’re all for the animal Gwen walked forward, “Owen, we you will try to get the weevils out of drive up ahead of them in the rented now got drinks and were pretend- rights then huh? Well you know what, don’t have time to argue the toss with harm’s way without getting yourselves van. She and Owen had driven to the ing to be interested in the main ring. Jack pressed his finger to his ear and you don’t need to worry any more, a teenager so if she wants to help seen.” Owen sat forward in his chair, location of the fight event, it was only “Remember you need to let Ianto in turned to Tosh. “They have an issue, cause the professionals are here to do them I won’t stand in her way.” Owen “And how oh wonder- 5pm by the time they walked along so you can take the weevils to the someone else beat us to it.” Tosh had the job for you.” The girl scoffed at his shrugged, “Right kid, you 36 37 There was no way he was getting pub.” Tosh laughed lightly at Owen’s open that door. Ianto step back…” He could have sworn he saw her watched Owen and Ianto split from caught, not by the police and not by comment, “Jack’s round too.” Gwen The girl kicked at the fire exit bar and smile but she turned around, waved the two girls and take up their places bloody Torchwood but as he made it grinned. “Oh, I second that idea.” it burst open. and disappeared out of the door. “Oi! at the exits. to an exit he was confronted with the Where you going?!” Gwen called after young woman with pink hair. She had “We made our way out and the police Owen pressed his comms, “Jack, we her but she didn’t get a reply. When Jack flicked open his VM cover and seen Ianto try to grab him and she’d arrested the two bad guys who had had an issue but it’s fixed and we’re they finished putting the weevils pressed a sequence numbers and the seen him floored. “You’re not going been hurting the weevils. You see now going to get the weevils moving. safely into the van, Ianto locked it up, music stopped. He stepped up to the anywhere, what you did, what you Anwen, it doesn’t matter who you Have you seen a kid with bleached “I’ll take it back to where I parked it, small stage where the PA system was. made them creatures do, you’re sick.” are, if you do wrong, you get caught. hair, one of the kids that follows us see you all back in the main area in The crowd all turned in shock, not She drew a stun gun and with a single Torchwood always caught the bad around?” Jack smiled to himself. “Oh 10 minutes tops.” He jumped into the sure what was happening. Jack put his movement of her arm, he fell to the guys, well most the time. I don’t know yeah we’ve seen the other kid, he’s driver’s side and drove off. hands in the air, “Sorry to spoil the floor. “I hope the police lock you up who the girl was, Jack never did tell been distracted by the entertainment. fun folks but this night out is over. and lose the key.” Seeing Tosh run- me. You see Jack he’s a wonderful The first fight was two female fighters. Gwen and Owen went back the way There will be no fight, the creatures ning over, she made her exit as fast as man, a brave man but he’s not like It’s all for show, still it’s kept him busy. they had come, closing the fire exit they were using here to fight each she could, she didn’t need to see any us. He’s lived so many lives, seen so Just hurry up, you don’t have a great door behind them. They made their other for your entertainment is no more. Tosh grabbed up the elbow of many people. It’s like he’s seen all deal of time left.” Owen sighed, “Oh way back into the main room and longer on the bill and will no longer Williams now laying in a heap. “I’d of time and knows all of what will you have all the fun.” He turned back found Jack and Tosh. “They’re all in be a going concern. You see what they advise you to come with me Mr Wil- happen and all that won’t. But he’ll around to face the cages of weevils. the van, just waiting on Ianto.” Jack are doing here is not only illegal but liams.” She dragged him over where never share it with you, only what he “Right we have five weevils, I assume looked around, “The first weevil also cruel.” He saw Tosh and Gwen Owen now had Lewis Day, inside wants you to know and it’s because of they’d use two for the main fight and vs. weevil is up any time now, they open up the fire exits, “Now you can the ring, cuffed to one of the posts. him and the most wonderful job in keep the others for back up or other are about to find they have gone, exit via the open doors, and we will Owen looked over as Jack and Ianto the entire world that we are sat here fights. Right let’s get to work.” He so I need to act soon.” Tosh smiled say no more about, it.” Gwen watched appeared, blood pouring from Ianto’s today.” Gwen used a baby wipe to pulled his coat open and pulled out a at Gwen, “Did you have trouble from her exit, there was a mixed of nose and Gwen bobbed over, looking clean Anwen’s face. She jumped as she metal tin, “I have a tranquilliser gun, in there? It’s hard to hear over this reactions to the news the fight was worried. heard a cough from behind her. Rhys but instead of knocking them out, music.” Gwen understood what she off. Staff around the room looked was stood there holding a shopping it’ll just make them docile enough meant, the music was booming out bemused by the man on the stage. Jack stood with hands on his hips the bag and wearing a frown. “What have to move, but we’re still cuffing them, some random club beats, the kind she Some of the crowd left after the men- police sirens now close, “I’d say they’ll I told you about telling our baby sto- them hands are just as lethal as the couldn’t abide. “Just some kid want- tion of the word ‘illegal’ but those get a few minor arrests as well as ries about Torchwood? It’s not part of teeth. Ianto, go get the van. Bring it as ing the same thing as us. She ran off that had come to see a fight, wanted these two. Good work Owen. Good life any more Gwen, it’s over, it’s done. near as you can, without causing any after she knew they’d be safe.” Jack one and weren’t going to leave quietly. work Tosh.” He took Williams off her And he’s never coming back is he? notice. We don’t need any more de- shook his head, “Gwen if it’s the kid Jack stood his ground, “I’m not alone hands, dragging him over to another Not to mention the fact you’ll give lays.” Ianto nodded and took off. He I have in mind, she won’t have run here, TORCHWOOD are all over the post and cuffing him to it. Ianto took her nightmares.” Gwen sighed, the air drove back and parked it as near as he off, she’ll be here somewhere, watch- building, The police are on the way, the tissue away from his face. “I swear had been knocked out of her sails. “I could. Cutting the engine, he climbed ing and waiting. It’s not the time or so anybody stupid enough to be here I almost had him, he caught me off know love, but she’s only small. She out and got the back doors open. By place for me to explain who she is but when they arrive will be arrested.” guard.” Owen stepped back, tilted his doesn’t know what any of it means.” the time he’d got back inside, Gwen remind me sometime, I may just tell In the corner the mention of Torch- head to one side. “We got company But she gave in. She didn’t have the and Owen where cuffing the first pair you.” Gwen saw Ianto head in via the wood had got Lewis Day and Dale Jack, we need to move.” Jack saw energy to fight Rhys on the matter, of weevils while the others watched main door. He waited until they were Williams’ attention. They looked at the police now making their way in. “You have chocolate all over your trembling. The girl frowned as she all stood together, “Now we watch it each and in a panic, split and made “Right Ianto, you go out the back way face, I take it you didn’t buy me a bar.” looked at Ianto, “So after you have begin to unravel. You see over there, for the exits trying to blend in. Owen and take the weevils back to The Hub. Rhys’s face flushed red, he’d forgotten. them in the van, where are you tak- the two guys in leather jackets, stood was first to grab his target, his hand They’ll need medical treatment. We’ll “It’s all right, it doesn’t matter, let’s ing them?!” Ianto thought, “To a safe in the corner, with a hand held radio? closed over Day’s elbow. Day flinched head out the way we came in. Have just get this shopping away yeah?” place for them to recover, don’t worry Well they’ve just been told the weevils in shock and tried to shake Owen your I.D cards at the ready.” Gwen Gwen didn’t want to argue with Rhys, they won’t be hurt any more but are no longer there, we have to move off, but Owen twisted his arm up his rummaged in her pocket pulled not in such a small space, over some- you shouldn’t hang around after, the now. Tosh sent the alert to the police back. “I don’t think so mate, you’re out her Torchwood I.D card, as she thing that she knew she’d never win. police will come in and do a sweep, a few minutes ago. They will be on going nowhere. Cardiff CID want a watched Ianto run back into the One thing she did know was that he’d you don’t want to be caught up in the way, these two are on CID’s most chat to you.” He managed to cuff him corridor. “You here right about that never take her memories away and that.” Owen puffed his cheeks out as wanted list, got a list of offences as and dragged him over to the cage. kid still being here. She stopped him they were all that kept her going for he shoved a half asleep weevil along. long as my back catalogue of love Ianto grabbed the shoulder of Dale from getting out. She used a stun gun the most part. “Oi, Coffee boy, stop flirting with our interests.” Owen snorted, “Doesn’t Williams. He’d had a good grip, but Jack, one not dissimilar to the ones renegade alien hunter and help me surprise me.” Jack rolled his eyes. Dale was taller and stronger than we use.” Jack smiled “did she now? and Gwen with these.” Ianto mum- “Normal formation please, the aim Ianto. Hitting him in the face, Ianto You know what they’ve like, pain bled under his breath and took the is now to stop those two escaping. I went down. Jack saw it from the stage in the ass most the time. Let’s move other weevil leading it out to the van. don’t care a rat’s ass if anyone else gets and jumped down, pushing his way out, all back to The Hub to clean up.” He pulled a face at the stench as he out, but it’s those two guys we want through towards them. Dale smirked Owen looked over at Jack. “I reckon passed the young woman. to keep hold of, now go get ‘em.” Jack to himself as he made his escape. we could make last orders at the 38 39 TORCHWOOD Twenty Terrific A Salute to “The Hub” Conventions By Johhanne Holland

For me “The Hub” was one person – La Cage Aux Folles and that person was Kai Owen. commitments) and Writer: Matt Powell we arrived to find that Tweeters! At the Hub 7 Showmasters admitted James had injured that Kai might do them bodily harm himself and could not if they stopped running them. He attend. Twitter! The only social network didn’t miss one, and threw himself where we can stalk anyone in the into the spirit of the weekends unre- So it was safe to say world; learn about news and get servedly. some were feeling a annoyed by the 66% of tweets little downhearted. relating to “music sensations” such I had the good fortune to go to 7 out Saturday was fun but there was John may have set the Barrowman line – but as the “amazing” Justin Beiber, of the 8 Hub events run by Show- something missing. Until the party it was soon crashed through as talks One Direction, The Wanted and masters. I got to meet all of the main that evening…when Kai (who for Torchwood cast (including John once was not scheduled that week- got more and more risqué. After all, any of the other shit that emerges Barrowman on two memorable occa- end) strode in, singing. The room Torchwood is an adult show! out of a auto tuned computer. sions) as well as several who played screamed. ‘The Hub’ had begun. Kai Torchwood’s presence on this site more minor roles. Without excep- then proceeded to stay throughout But hilarity aside, what was most is relatively large with actors, writ- tion they were all very well run by Sunday, signing, doing photoshoots evident is that the guests without ers, fans and more all using the Showmasters/Massive Events. and taking part in panels. exception appreciate the fans. John site. So, here we present a list of Ianto reads the latest @MrsStephenFry tweets... in particular always made a point of twenty MUST FOLLOW Torch- But of all those involved it was Kai And it was Kai who broke the chair! thanking us and saying that without who was the heart and soul of “The During one early event Kai actually the fans they would not be where wood related people! keeping Torchwood alive day in, WRITERS: Writers are Hub”. Whether he was ‘crossing the succeeded in breaking a chair as he they are. That is something some so always tweeting humorous com- day out posting about anything to Barrowman line’ with risqué retorts sat down, and landed very sharply often forget, and I appreciate it when ACTORS ments and a few interesting facts do with the show! in panels, singing ‘Hymns and Arias’ on his behind! After that it became they don’t. John Barrowman: @Team_Bar- too. Here’s a list of some of my Torchwood for Fans: @Torch- to a roaring crowd or taking part in a ‘Hub’ running joke and Kai always rowman favorites! wood4Fans a play in the evening, he thoroughly evidenced suspicion of the chairs he And it was interesting in some of the later hubs to have episode screenings The lead of the show is a regular Jane Espenson @JaneEspenson Torchwood Alba: @TorchwoodAl- enjoyed himself, and helped the at- was given…. Although it never did tweeter posting some hilarious ba tendees to enjoy themselves too! happen again! with live commentary by the actors Noel Clarke @NoelClarke (and in some cases the writers as twitvids and giving us an insight RTPProductions: (You know, James Moran @jamesmoran well) giving us insight into how the into his life! those guys who post about fan- Perhaps my overriding memory of There are many other memories of Joseph Lidster @JoeLidster this is during one event in which the Hub – my ‘intimate encounter’ episode was made. Nicholas Briggs @BriggsNicholas Phil Ford @philfordesq zines and stuff…) @RTPProduc- tions both John Barrowman and James with Burn Gorman was a highlight, Rick Yates from COE tweets about Chris Chibnall @ChrisChibnall Masters had been booked to attend. in a group of only 12 as he chatted Of all the conventions that I have Big Finish and general other stuff! John had had to cancel a few weeks about his role in Oliver. – I never attended, the Hub was perhaps one Kai Owen @KaiKaiOwen before (due, I believe, to would have guessed that of the best run and with so many Without them, we The funniest Welshman I know. CREW: Rowan Atkinson was regular attenders it felt like a family Uses twitter to bully Tom Price (as wouldn’t have a show! From musi- shy! Similarly Naoko event. Thank you, Mark and Jason he admitted in a DWM interview) cians to costume designers: here’s was a particular delight and the rest of the Showmasters crew Mekhi Phifer @MekhiPhifer a small array of Torchwood Crew in a smaller group. for many years of these events – and I The now immortal Rex brings members! do hope you perhaps return to them at a later date. tweets from the USA mainly fo- Murary Gold @murraygold The panels were, cusing on his work. Ray Holman @HolmanRay almost without excep- tion, hilarious. If first And thank you, John, Eve, Naoko, Tom Price @pricetom Richard Stokes @RichardStokes7 Shawna Trpcic @trpcic timers (guests or at- Burn and all the rest who partici- Sergeant Andy: the second funni- tendees) didn’t know pated, entertained us and made these est Welshman alive… what they were letting events memorable. Gareth David Lloyd @GDL_Live FANS: Finally, the top three themselves in for Ianto’s official twitter! must follow fans! These guys are they soon found out. But most of all thank you Kai. 40 41 CHAPTER THREE WATERLOO In which things go from bad to worse, the Daily Mail are homophobic and they finally face their Waterloo...

FROM: RUSSELL T DAVIES TO: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER Daily Mail: 6TH MARCH 2010 DATE: 4TH MARCH 2010 “BBC WASTES MONEY ON GAY, SUBJECT: Rehearsals start tomorrow… Hey! BORDER FEATURING MUSICAL Am I the only one shitting it for tomorrow? We’ve WHICH ENDED IN HORRIFIC DIS- got a Daily Mail reporter coming in to write about the show! Everyone must be on best behavior! By the ASTER!” way, how are you? You’ve been seeming a bit dis- tant… The greedy, license fee taking BBC have done it R again by funding millions into the biggest piece of X nonsense anyone could imagine! The openly gay and inappropriate Torchwood is to head to the stage in the biggest, most stupid musical based on Children FROM: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER of Earth with Andrew Lloyd Webber at the writing TO: RUSSELL T DAVIES hand and Russell T Davies at the healm. DATE: 4TH MARCH 2010 SUBJECT: R.E. Rehearsals start tomorrow… The rehearsals I attended were an appalling display. Hi Russ, Something had happened between Andrew and Rus- I’ll tell you tomorrow. Daily Mail? Really? For this sell about Andrew working with another writer! A sort of show? Damn… Erm. I’ll confiscate all the big hissy fit later, Barrowman demanded a sex scene booze. with Nick Jonas and Benjamin Cook! What are the Speak tomorrow. Beeb wasting our money on? Worst of all was that A they had a cast full of illegal immigrants as lighting X and being extras in the show! Thankfully, it all ended with Russell storming out and Andrew demanding What happened at the rehearsals was sadly the end this was the end. Thank god. The BEEB can make of the Torchwood Musical. The best way to explain it some much better content like family dramas and is by the brutal twitter conversation between Russell other such nonsense! and Andrew and two witnesses: Benjamin Cook, and TORCHWOOD Daily Mail reporter Mr. Hugh Arse. The Musical Tale THE ENDING... 42 43 Ben Cook: THE TRUTH NEXT ISSUE It’s really hard to tell the truth. But with this leaking to The Hub I take up the steady hand into writing this emotional piece. The truth of what really happened. So rehearsals began WALES! as normal until Andrew broke the news he The Hub celebrates the original home was working with Steven Moffat on Doctor Who Series Five: The Musical. Then they of Torchwood with a location guide, were at each other’s throats. I tried to split them, (Michael Ball helped me), but they a look back at Series One and just kept slapping each other. There was a lot Two and more! of abuse. Meanwhile, Barrowman was plan- ning a script change involving me and Nick Jonas: this caused the Daily Mail reporter to go mad not understanding that he wanted us PLUS! to eat a hot dog in Scene Two, not have sex. - Interviews Then it broke to Twitter causing the world to go crazy, but in all honesty it was a failure - Fiction from the start. We ended the day with a lot of drinks. Waterloo came on the karaoke- I - Features guess we all meet it in the end… - The Latest Torchwood News

Five months later...

FROM: RUSSELL T DAVIES TO: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER DATE: 4TH AUGUST 2010 THE HUB returns in July/August! SUBJECT: Sorry… Hi Andrew, I’m sorry: it would never have worked any- Fan of Doctor Who? Love Matt Smith? way. It wasn’t you, it was me. I got too carried away and I shouldn’t have over reacted. I really hope that we can one day make a new musical Then order our brand new fanzine: together: there’s so much we could expand on with this show! I can’t now: we’re working on Miracle Day now- if you want to help then do say. I love your work and ignore any of my past ELEVENTH HOUR! tweets or hate. Sorry again, Featuring... R xx - Interviews with the cast and crew of the era FROM: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER TO: RUSSELL T DAVIES - Features DATE: 4TH AUGUST 2010 SUBJECT: R.E. Sorry AND MORE! To order, visit our site today! Fuck off. http://reversethepolarityproductions. DISCLAMER: None of this is true. All of this is fiction! Do not believe for a minute any of this is real! I hope you’ve enjoyed it! More comedy next issue! wordpress.com 44 45