The Captain's Blog
Sep. 5th, 2010 11:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
inthemoodnow[Compiled from material on the amazing ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
iantos_desktop -- which had been, in turn, compiled from the BBC website -- for my own reference. Mostly Captain's Blog entries, with a few relevant messenger transcripts and e-mails tossed in (more might be added as I go back and read through more carefully). For the unfamiliar and curious, each blog entry corresponds to an episode of the first two seasons of Torchwood; there was other supplementary material linked with the episodes as well.]
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 34
Capt. Jack Harness.
Alien activity: Eighteen confirmed Weevil sightings, one civilian death. Standard cleanup procedure, no complications. Aggressive behaviour and surface activity amongst Weevils continues to increase, still no plausible explanation.
Alien technology: Resurrection Glove research terminated. The glove takes a heavy toll on the user, causing psychosis and paranoiac incidents. Not to be used again.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Torchwood location revealed to "Jubilee Pizza" staff. Amnesia protocol to be followed. Food while working late is still an issue, Ianto exploring other options.
Other security issues: All class A alien artefacts are now to be kept locked in the office safe. Only to be used in extreme circumstances.
Staff: Recruited PC Gwen Cooper. Incredible resistance to the amnesia pill (as predicted, certain individuals can generate partial immunity) and amazing insight. We need her on the team. Gwen Cooper has suggested that we work closely with the police. Helping people, making a difference. She was persuasive and has led me to re-assess Torchwood's remit.
Will proceed with Gwen advising on the human angle for each case. Possible security issue with her partner, Rhys Williams. Will need to monitor phone calls and emails for trigger words or phrases - minimum of three months. Gwen not to be informed of this.
Other Staff issues: Sad to report Suzie Costello killed in action. Use of the Resurrection Glove severely damaged her, leading her to take her own life. On a personal note, this has affected me greatly. Since her recruitment we have worked closely, and her dedication and service were second to none. Unfortunately I was not sufficiently aware of the strain she was under, and underestimated the temptation of the Resurrection Glove. She will be sorely missed.
Upcoming issues: Will continue to monitor Weevil activity increases, and review internal security procedures. Hinges on pterodactyl cage failed again, will need to be welded properly this time – i.e. not by Ianto and Owen. Energy surges in the lower areas of the hub remain unexplained.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 35
Alien activity: Twelve confirmed Weevil sightings. Meteorite cleanup complicated when a gaseous alien being escaped from the stone, infecting a civilian, Carys Fletcher. Nine civilian deaths - standard cleanup, although the Conway Clinic required a more in-depth cover story. Infected civilian successfully purged of the gas (standard amnesia protocol to follow). Alien being terminated during capture.
Alien technology: Portable prison cell employed in capture of alien being. Performed well, but battery life almost entirely depleted. Researching ways to recharge cell, if at all possible.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Monitoring of Gwen Cooper's communication continues - no breaches yet, partner Rhys Williams still unaware of TW or Gwen's new role. Portable prison cell taken out of Hub despite strict instructions to the contrary.
Other security issues: Will need to replenish cryo-chamber, as we are running low on replacement corpses. Ianto to source some from the usual supplier.
Staff: In her first day on the job, Gwen Cooper's carelessness caused the escape of the gaseous alien, which led to many deaths across the city. In summary: perhaps not ideal. However, it was her focus on the human aspect of the case, and research into the civilian's background, that helped us track down the alien. She was prepared to offer her life to correct her mistake, and coped extremely well under pressure. She could prove to be a valuable member of the team.
Other staff issues: Owen Harper not to be left alone with female prisoners in future. Especially if they have ultra-powerful alien pheromones.
Upcoming issues: Gwen Cooper to receive advanced weapons training. Energy surges in the lower areas of the hub still unexplained.
Capt. Jack Harness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 36
Alien activity: Seventeen confirmed Weevil sightings.
Alien technology: Recovered a Quantum Transducer. This converts energy from excess human emotions during traumatic events, allowing glimpses of the past and/or future. Seems to compel people to operate it (much like the Resurrection Glove, though the effect is not quite as severe), and makes you experience the traumatic emotions of the event itself. Results too random to be helpful. Not to be used again. Sean "Bernie" Harris came into possession of the Quantum Transducer, and several other pieces of alien tech - all recovered. Once Harris has recovered from his injuries, standard amnesia protocol (Level Two) to follow.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances. Slight fluctuations, but all returned to normal soon after.
Security: Quantum Transducer taken out of Hub by Gwen Cooper, despite my instructions. Considering refresher course for all staff on the importance of security. Wonder if the threat of full searches when anyone leaves the premises may stop this. Owen Harper conducted his own investigation into a past crime shown by the Quantum Transducer, in direct violation of orders. However, I have taken into account the extreme impact of the device on his state of mind, and will not be disciplining him.
Other security issues: Edwin Morgan committed suicide during our investigation of his past crime - the murder of 17 year old Lizzie Lewis, on March 23, 1963 (as shown to Owen while operating the Quantum Transducer). Light cleanup to remove any trace of our involvement - but at Owen's insistence, we will arrange for "new" discovery of DNA evidence to prove that Morgan was Lewis' murderer. This will enable the police to close the case, and give the family closure.
Staff: Firearms training with Gwen Cooper went well. She proved to be extremely adept at handling and firing a weapon.
Other issues: According to Ianto, Splott is pronounced "Sploe". I think Ianto may have been lying.
Upcoming issues: Energy surges in the lower areas of the hub still unexplained; there have been several more in the past week. Ianto volunteered to investigate, but has not discovered an explanation yet.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 37
Alien activity: Nine confirmed Weevil sightings. Arkan Leisure Cruiser spotted in orbit; we politely requested that they leave. Tourists.
Alien technology: Fully operational Cyber-conversion unit, as well as partially converted human, Lisa Hallett (now deceased). ALL Cyber technology to be melted down and disposed of safely. Risk of reconstruction of the Cyber army is too great, and outweighs any potential knowledge that could be gained.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Torchwood location revealed to "Jubilee Pizza" staff. Again. Amnesia protocol to be followed. Code Zero Incursion involving the Cyber-conversion unit and partially converted human. Lockdown of Hub initiated to ensure containment.
Other security issues: Three civilian deaths - Lisa Hallett, Dr. Ryoichi Tanizaki, and Annie Bennett. Standard cleanup procedure for Tanizaki and Bennett, no outside cleanup necessary for Hallett - she was missing and presumed killed in the Torchwood 1 battle of Canary Wharf. Her body is to be disposed of with the Cyber technology (see above, Alien technology section).
Staff: Ianto Jones has been covertly keeping a Cyber-conversion unit and his half-converted girlfriend locked in a basement storage area. Apart from the betrayal of the team and obvious security issues, a Cyberwoman on the loose could have resulted in the Cyber army gaining a new foothold on this planet, using it as a base, and destroying/converting all life as we know it. Nice heels, though.
Other Staff issues: Ianto Jones temporarily suspended from active duty, to return at my discretion. His love for Lisa clouded his judgment, and he made some serious mistakes - but I have to wonder if I would have done the same thing in his situation. Ianto's personal needs and emotional state have been overlooked; I should not have missed something like this. During his suspension, I will try to spend more time with him. Hopefully we can establish a closer working relationship.
Upcoming issues: Energy surges in the lower areas of the hub no longer an issue, now the Cyber technology has been powered down and removed.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 41
Alien activity: Fourteen confirmed Weevil sightings. Another encounter with the creatures commonly referred to as "fairies", not technically aliens but they don't fit into any category. It's possible they are part-Mara, but at present there is no way of testing or proving this.
Alien technology: None used, no issues.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Civilian deaths: Mark Goodson, Estelle Cole, Roy Pierce. Jasmine Pierce is missing - not dead, but the record must state that she
is. We had to let her go with the creatures. We cannot track them, harm them, or fight them, and it would have meant the end of the world if we had tried to stop them. Need a Level Three cleanup at the Pierce house - Lynn Pierce will require a carefully targeted amnesia program with a cover story put in place (possibly with a body to be found), and the party guests will all need to be wiped (see attached for names and addresses). Will do the cleanup on Estelle's house myself; need to remove any photographic evidence of my "father".
Other security issues: No alien technology removed from the Hub, no breaches, no incursions. Frankly, I'm amazed. Looks like the security presentation did the trick, or at least bored everyone into compliance.
Staff: Ianto Jones' first week back after his suspension four weeks ago. I have tried to put him at ease, and have briefed the team to be as sympathetic as possible. Obviously there is a level of resentment remaining, but they are trying.
Other Staff issues: After what happened with Jasmine, nobody is talking to me (except Ianto). They'll come around. Everyone comes around.
Upcoming issues: Received message from Torchwood 2. Will read it next week. That guy gives me the creeps.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 42
Alien activity: Seven confirmed Weevil sightings. No other alien activity. I wish there had been.
Alien technology: None used.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances. But slowly spreading. Unsure what we can do about this, apart from monitor it.
Security: Civilian deaths: Ellie Johnson, and 16 reported others (see attached file). Found body parts for at least 23 people in the village (Brynblaidd), will begin testing to try and find out their identities. Entire village taken into custody, and handed over to local police - no alien involvement. Villagers have been killing for years, so we will never know how many people died in total. Personal addition: I've seen some terrible, horrifying things in my time, perpetrated by aliens. But they pale in comparison to what humans can do to each other. If I had been there by myself, I think I would have executed the lot of them. Still seriously considering taking them out in their jail cells. Some people are a stain on the world.
Other security issues: Team found an abandoned lunch van in the area. Awaiting test results on samples, but we suspect the villagers sold meat pies containing human flesh.
Staff: Brought Ianto Jones along to get him out of the Hub, out of the city, get some relaxing time in the country with the team. May not have been the best decision I made this year.
Other Staff issues: Gwen Cooper shot in abdomen, but will make a full recovery.
Upcoming issues: Equipment allocation request from Torchwood 2 denied. Not satisfied with reasons given for request, and cannot be assured that the equipment would be returned safely. Last loan agreed was six months ago, and the material has still not been returned.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 43
Alien activity: Thirteen confirmed Weevil sightings. Made contact with "Mary", real name unknown, now deceased. An escaped prisoner, she had been killing and feeding off humans for nearly two hundred years. I reprogrammed her transport so that it teleported her into the Sun.
Alien technology: A prisoner transport device, destroyed (see above). Pendant that allows the wearer to hear the thoughts of others, also destroyed. While the pendant helped Toshiko to prevent a crime, she felt that it was too unfocused to be of any use. Also, the thoughts heard by the wearer soon become overwhelming. I have to agree - there are some things that we're just not meant to know.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Unknown number of civilian deaths, but Owen found 98 related cases of unexplained deaths with similar trauma to the body found in the excavation. No cleanup necessary, the cases were already recorded in police files as unexplained.
Other security issues: After recent weeks of everyone following proper security procedures, a dangerous alien was brought into the Hub. This is less than ideal. Also, had an argument with the Prime Minister again, which is getting to be a regular occurrence. Fun, though.
Staff: Toshiko Sato caused a major security breach. Although she was being manipulated with the pendant by a clever alien, this is still disappointing. She should have come to me as soon as she was given the alien device. Thankfully Tosh is the worst liar in the world, and it was fairly obvious that something was wrong, which helped to avert the crisis. Still, things could have gone very badly for her, for all of us. It's difficult not being able to talk to anyone about our work, but we should be able to discuss it with each other, at the very least.
Other Staff issues: Ianto is still suffering, but putting on a brave face. Will try talking to him over dinner, outside the Hub, see if there's anything more I can do for him.
Upcoming issues: Considering organizing some sort of regular social outing for everyone, to raise morale, enable us to talk about work safely. Will have to tread carefully, these things can end in karaoke.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
INSTANT MESSENGER TRANSCRIPT
Jack: Ianto?
Ianto: Captain
Jack: The others have gone. I thought you were coming up? :-)
Jack: God, did I just use a smiley? I really am going native.
Ianto: LOL. B wid u in 5mins, m8. Lking 4wrd 2 it.
Jack: Haha.
Jack: Ianto?
Ianto: Yes Captain?
Jack: How are you feeling?
Ianto: Fine. Any reason I shouldn't be?
Jack: The glove. It brought Suzie back.
Ianto: Yeah.
Jack: And?
Ianto: And?
Jack: And? you know we could have used it to on Lisa. Is that what you meant about there being a second glove?
Ianto: You think I've got the second glove?
Jack: No! No, I don't. But if you did?
Ianto: Would you let me bring her back?
Jack: You've not asked us to.
Ianto: You haven't offered.
Jack: You don't want us to?
Ianto: Lisa's dead, sir.
Jack: I know.
Ianto: And I miss her. Every day. But I don't want her back like that. Not like how she was in the end. Not like Suzie.
Jack: Good. See you in a minute?
Ianto: On my way.
Jack: Oh yeah, forgot to say. Loving you in that suit. The Cute Suit.
Ianto: Thank you sir but it's probably best if I do the rhymes.
[ conversation ends ]
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 46
Alien activity: Seventeen confirmed Weevil sightings.
Alien technology: A murder investigation led to Suzie Costello, so despite misgivings, we used the Resurrection Glove on her. Gwen successfully revived her, but somehow the Glove kept a continuous flow of energy going between them, keeping Suzie alive. I was forced to kill Suzie again to save Gwen's life. Resurrection Glove was destroyed.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Suzie left a verbal Trojan horse in our security system which caused a lockdown. We were able to get up and running again in a very short time - that 48 hour overhaul of the systems last week came in handy. Civilian deaths: Suzie Costello (again). Chandra Costello. Alex Arwyn, Mark Briscoe, Sarah Briscoe. Level Three cleanup required; Max Edwards was not responsible for the murders, as he was following post-hypnotic suggestions planted by Suzie. His deprogramming is almost complete, Toshiko and Owen are confident he will fully recover within a week. Standard amnesia protocol to follow. Have checked other members of the Pilgrim support group, and found two more people programmed by Suzie in case her plan didn't work - one to go on a killing spree after six months, one after twelve months. Both are being deprogrammed now.
Other security issues: Had to seek help from Detective Kathy Swanson. I'll never hear the end of that one.
Staff: Somehow I knew we had unfinished business with Suzie. Bringing her back showed her true nature. The first time she died, I was willing to blame it all on the Glove getting into her head. But this plan is something else entirely. The roots of this go too far back. She must have been damaged for a long time.
Other Staff issues: Ianto and I stayed back to go over the case files and reorganize the safe. Internal security cameras were temporarily shut down to run diagnostic tests, so there was no monitoring of the Hub for approximately four hours - but there were no security breaches to report. Everything went very smoothly.
Upcoming issues: Need to requisition a new stopwatch. Old one damaged while moving a desk.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 47
Alien activity: Twenty six confirmed Weevil sightings. Still on the increase, and still no clue as to why.
Alien technology: A Dogon Sixth Eye, a device that allows the person holding it to see events with an enhanced perspective. Research suggests that swallowing the Eye enables you to look back on your life, as if from the outside. Eugene Jones swallowed it, but was killed just as this self-examination began, so the Eye kept his mind active until the process was complete. This resulted in a physical manifestation of his own self-image, just before the Eye completed its cycle.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances. Fluctuations seem to indicate a possible small opening in a week or so; these are usually uneventful, but must be monitored in case anything comes out.
Security: One civilian death, Eugene Jones, hit and run. Driver has been found, will arrange for evidence to be handed over to police. Eugene's friends were also partially responsible; statements and files will be passed on as well. No cleanup necessary, we have retained the Eye for analysis - as far as the police are concerned, this was an argument about fake alien artifacts that got out of control.
Other security issues: It has now been over three months since Gwen Cooper joined Torchwood. Have discontinued phone and email surveillance, as there are no signs of a breach, or of her partner finding out what she does. Am confident that she is fully committed to the team.
Staff: Things seem to be calming down with everyone. Ianto is coping well; I'm pleased with his progress.
Upcoming issues: We will all take shifts watching for the upcoming rift opening. We should get a few hours' warning when it's about to open.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
INSTANT MESSENGER TRANSCRIPT
JACK: Hey!
IANTO: Hello.
JACK: I'm worried about John.
IANTO: Me too. I've just tried giving him a driving lesson.
JACK: He's completely lost. He's trying to cope but he's not.
IANTO: What happened?
JACK: It was the money.
IANTO: He did so well on our shopping trip.
JACK: Not on the bus back. We'd gone to visit his son.
IANTO: I'm guessing it didn't go well.
JACK: No. I offered to get a cab, but he insisted on getting the bus.
JACK: The ticket was £2.80
JACK: He tried getting together the money from his pockets. Real slow.
JACK: And it was old money. And he really didn't realise for a bit.
IANTO: Oh no.
JACK: So he just stood there, quiet for a bit. And then started again with new money.
IANTO: But the queue! They'd have killed him.
JACK: It gets worse. He gives up and hands the driver a tenner.
IANTO: No! It's exact change only.
JACK: Tell me about it. So he starts again. And gets to £2.70. With only 10 pence, he's on coppers...
IANTO: Oh god.
JACK: I know. He gets so close and then he just stops, gathers up all his money and gets off the bus.
IANTO: The poor man.
JACK: We walk home.
[ conversation ends ]
* * * * * *
INSTANT MESSENGER TRANSCRIPT
JACK: I've found your car.
IANTO: Righto.
JACK: Yeah.
IANTO: Is it in the garage?
JACK: Yeah.
IANTO: And John?
JACK: Yeah.
IANTO: Jack - are you okay?
JACK: You might want to
JACK: Get the car valet serviced.
IANTO: Okay. What's the problem?
JACK: It's John. John's dead. He died in your car. Exhaust fumes. I'm sorry.
IANTO: Oh.
IANTO: Jack, I'm sorry.
JACK: I was too late for him. And I'm really sorry about your car.
IANTO: No problem.
IANTO: Random question - was he in the driver's seat when he died?
JACK: Yes. Why? Does it make a difference?
IANTO: No. No. Not at all. No. Thanks.
[ conversation ends ]
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 48
Alien activity: Four confirmed Weevil sightings. After the steady increase of the past few months, I'm very concerned at this sudden drop. Things don't just disappear for no reason. Will investigate this thoroughly next week.
Alien technology: None used, no issues.
Rift activity: The projected opening of the rift turned out to be a transcendental portal, the same one responsible for the disappearance of the passenger plane "Sky Gypsy" on December 18th, 1953. Based on our analysis of the portal and a system flag recorded at the time of the disappearance, we were able to direct them to land at a secure airfield. Civilians Diane Holmes, Emma-Louise Cowell and John Ellis were on board, in good health, though understandably confused.
Security: Ianto provided new identities for all three of the new arrivals, including full backgrounds, work histories and references. Only Emma's will be used (see below). Will keep the ones created for John and Diane in reserve, for possible future use.
Other security issues: One civilian death, John Ellis, took his own life. There was nothing we could do to help him, his whole life had been taken away, and he was unable to deal with it. No cleanup necessary, other than body disposal. Diane Holmes is missing again - either dead, or has entered another rift portal. No portals were picked up on our systems after she left, but if one had opened for a very short time, it may have been missed. I hope she made it.
Staff: We've all been affected by what happened, but Owen has taken it extremely badly, and refuses to talk about it. Will see what I can do, if he'll let me - this may be something he needs to deal with by himself.
Upcoming issues: Will begin the Weevil investigation next week.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 49
Alien activity: Six confirmed Weevil sightings. Discovered the reason for the sudden drop in numbers, and increased aggression. The Lynch Frost Estate Agency had been using them in underground fights, in a misguided attempt to find some "meaning". More like a bunch of idiots seeking someone or something to dominate, and not in a good way. Had to use Janet as bait. Never thought Weevils could look betrayed, didn't think they had enough facial muscles. She managed it, though.
Alien technology: Anti-Weevil spray losing its effectiveness, the Weevils are building up a tolerance. Tosh and Ianto looking into alternative solutions. My suggestion that they try the perfume department at Howells was treated as a joke, but I stand by it.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Civilian deaths: Mark Lynch, Dan Hodges - standard cleanup for both, cover stories in place. Lynch Frost closed up shop and disappeared. We'll find them one day.
Other security issues: Two amnesia pills missing, when Gwen was alone in the Hub. She thinks I don't know, and I haven't said anything. Later that night, she seemed very troubled. Whatever she used them for, I'm guessing it didn't go well. I won't mention it to her; it looks like she learned her lesson.
Staff: Extremely worried about Owen. If we hadn't pulled him out of there, he would have let Janet kill him, he even said as much later. Not sure about the best way to deal with this. The only possible thing that will make him feel better is getting Diane back, and that's not in my power right now.
Other Staff issues: Ianto surprisingly proficient at the good cop/bad cop routine. Although obviously, he's the good cop. He's too cute to be the bad cop.
Other issues: Apparently, there are still people who pay money to have the Crazy Frog ringtone on their phone. And I thought I'd seen the worst the universe has to offer.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 50
Alien activity: Nine confirmed Weevil sightings.
Alien technology: Rift Manipulator used by Owen to open the Rift. Owen recovered the missing key to the manipulator, which was in the dance hall (see below).
Rift activity: Breach at an abandoned dance hall, causing a temporal shift. Myself and Toshiko were sent to 1941, and trapped there, where we met Captain Jack Harkness. The real one. The one whose name I took. Rift opened (see above), using the key and Tosh's equations, then closed again. Seems to be stable for now, but there's a high risk of fracture. Appreciate the rescue, but must have a word with Owen about not poking unpredictable wormholes with sticks.
Security: Civilian deaths: Captain Jack Harkness (the real one). Sure, he was already dead, but now it feels like it just happened. I never gave it much thought, other than finding a handy identity to steal. Now I've met him, I'm glad that I can continue to do good work in his name. Such bravery, I'm in awe. What if Owen hadn't opened the rift, and we'd been stuck there? Would I have let history carry on, let Jack die? That would be the right thing, the best thing to do. Saving him might have completely messed up the course of history. But sometimes you don't care, you want to break the rules of time and space, throw everything into chaos and to hell with the consequences, just to save someone you love. It's a good thing Owen opened that rift, because right now I couldn't care less about the rules and preserving history.
Other security issues: Need to find Bilis Manger. I've got some questions for him. Questions and a nice metal chair in the interrogation room.
Staff: Owen claims he opened the Rift purely to rescue us. It's painfully obvious that it was also an attempt to try and find Diane again. The thing is, she left of her own accord, and I don't think she'd ever want to come back here. But I hope she does, before Owen self destructs.
Other Staff issues: Ianto tried to stop Owen opening the Rift, and actually shot him in the shoulder. Everyone except Owen is finding this very amusing.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
INSTANT MESSENGER TRANSCRIPT
Ianto: Captain! Gwen's on the phone.
Jack: She'd better be alive.
Ianto: Screaming. She wants a favour.
Jack: Shoot.
Ianto: I'm not certain how to explain this.
Jack: No, go on.
Ianto: She wants to bring her boyfriend to the hub.
Jack: What? As if we haven't got enough on, it's suddenly Bring Your Boyfriend to work day.
Ianto: She says she wants to put him somewhere safe.
Jack: She thinks here's safe?
Ianto: Yes, Captain. She sounds really worried.
Jack: Hell, tell her to stick him in a taxi and come over. Bring pizza.
Ianto: It's not that easy. He's unconscious.
Jack: What happened? Is he okay?
Ianto: It's Gwen. She says she stunned him.
Jack: Bring the SUV round. Sounds like he needs our help.
[ Ends ]
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 51
Alien activity: Six confirmed Weevil sightings.
Alien technology: Rift Manipulator used again to open the Rift. I would have stopped this happening, but was dead at the time.
Rift activity: Major Rift breach, causing it to expand, and create an increasing amount of temporal displacements. Rift sealed up again (see below) but will be more unstable in future.
Security: Bilis Manger manipulated the team to get them to open the Rift. This released a creature called "Abaddon", which had been sealed up beneath the Rift. It fed off life energy - so I gave him a taste of the Captain, and he overdosed. Kaboom. Civilian deaths: Oh, lots. And I'm losing count how many times I've died now. All deaths caused by the Rift were undone once Abaddon was killed. Except Abaddon's death. Which is lucky, or we'd have just been going around in circles all day.
Other security issues: Bilis Manger still missing. We'll find him. Tosh and Ianto are working up some theories, places to look. We have a few leads, so he can't hide forever.
Staff: The entire team turned on me, and opened the Rift. In their defense, they genuinely believed it would stop the time displacement and save everyone's lives. But still. Killing your boss is not the best way to foster a good working relationship. Having spoken with the others about what they saw, I wonder why I wasn't shown a vision - I've lost people, many people that I cared about. But only one person would have made me crack, and I know he's safe. And if he ever passes by, I have a bag all packed and ready. For now, the team has been through a lot. We all said and did things we regret. But we've come closer as a result. Hopefully we'll never be divided like this again.
Other Staff issues: (to be completed)
***ARCHIVE UNFINISHED***
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 1
Alien activity: Blowfish in a sports car. There's a sentence you don't see every day.
Other activity: Captain John Hart for the purposes of this archive, we'll pretend that's his real name (separate file with full details to follow). He came through the Rift, still as sociopathic as ever. And tried to kill us all. But come on, check out those cheekbones.
Alien technology: "Radiation cluster bombs", which, surprise, surprise, turned out to be something else. A DNA-seeking bomb, which attached itself to John. We all had a pretty good laugh about that.
Rift activity: Pretty active this week, two major breaches in one day. John arrived, and left, although he went back through the first opening, not the second - we went back in time to the first one after the explosion in the second one. This is the trouble with rifts and time loops; your sentence structure goes to pieces. Had to spend the day avoiding ourselves, so I sprang for a five-star hotel and we had every spa treatment in the book, including some I made up.
Security: Let John into the Hub twice, and he nearly killed us all. I actually did get killed, but there was a surprising lack of sympathy from everyone. Must remind Owen to check the pockets of any bodies we bring inside, in future.
Staff: Very impressed with how everyone coped while I was away. When I got back, they were all out somewhere, so I spent a few hours going through the mission logs. And emails (couldn't help myself). Naturally they're upset with me for leaving. But I had to go while I had the chance. And I was always going to come back. I need them, all of them.
Other Staff issues: Gwen is now engaged. I'm happy for her, but I'm concerned about what it might mean - can she stay here, still keeping everything from Rhys? I worry that we're going to lose her. And I worry about Ianto. I think he took it harder than anyone when I ran off. It's going to take me a while to make things up to him. He is a decent, good man, and I'm lucky I met him.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 2
Alien activity: Cell 114. I knew I’d have to face them one day. Was hoping they’d overlook this little planet though. Four sleeper agents in the Cardiff cell, they activated early but we shut them down. Barely. If they’d managed to signal the other cells with the nukes, then it’d be all over now, and there’d be nobody here to write this.
Alien technology: Full set of diagnostic images and scans in the attached file. Will have to run continuous scans for their signals. Toshiko is working on a larger scale device for disabling their forcefields and transmitters, in the event of a full scale attack. Owen is analysing the composition of the alien bio-weaponry, to see if we can defend against it. Hopefully this will give us the advantage we need.
Rift activity: Seems to have settled down this week, let’s hope it stays that way.
Security: Will be having words with the military about them storing nuclear warheads on my turf without letting me know. Tosh found all the other “hide in plain sight” secret storage locations across the country, so if I don’t get a VERY sincere apology, then somebody’s getting spanked. And not in a good way.
Other security issues: Gwen taken hostage again. I’m beginning to think she’s jinxed. And why am I never taken hostage? I could be a good hostage. I never get any of that Stockholm Syndrome action. And according to Ianto, my bad cop routine needs some work.
Staff: I got stabbed through the chest. Just missed my heart, but injured me enough so that I slowly died on the drive back to the Hub. It’s never pleasant dying and coming back, but the slow deaths are the worst. Maybe I deserved it for what I put Beth through – what if I’d been wrong about her? I was so focused on keeping the planet safe, I let some of the old Jack through.
Other Staff issues: I’m in trouble with Ianto for duct-taping a CB aerial to the SUV. Apparently the tape made the wing mirror “disconcertingly sticky”. Still, nothing a bit of warm, soapy water can’t fix.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 3
Alien activity: Thankfully, none. Must be an alien public holiday.
Alien technology: The alien cryogenics. It was that time of year again, to defrost Tommy Brockless and make sure all his bits and pieces still worked. Unfortunately, it was also time to send him off on his mission. We’d all convinced ourselves that it was way off in the future, hoping we wouldn’t have to be the ones to send him to his fate.
Rift activity: Hole in time opened up, and 1918 and the present day started overlapping. Sending Tommy back with the Rift Manipulator closed everything up again. Rift now seems fairly stable.
Security: No security issues to report. In many ways, it was a quiet week – when it looked like Tommy wasn’t going to use the Rift Manipulator, things got a bit hairy, but mostly it was quiet. Odd, how the quiet, calm moments can be the most devastating sometimes.
Staff: Toshiko became very close to Tommy on his final day, especially when we found out he was going back the next morning. It’s not always a good idea to do that, when you know it’s only for a day, and the other person is due to die, but I can’t exactly pretend to be the sensible one here. Tosh saw what happened with the real Captain Jack, so there was no way I could – or would – try and stop her. I know exactly how she feels.
Other Staff issues: Ianto and I made some progress, talked things through. What happened with Tommy got to us all. I know it got to Gerald and Harriet, too, back then, considering what they went through to try and make up for it – but that’s another story for another day.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 4
Alien activity: Massive space whale, which fell through the Rift some time ago. A bunch of scumbags found it, unfortunately, and were using it as an unlimited supply of meat. We couldn’t save it, and Owen had to euthanize it. We dosed up the men with amnesia pills, and dumped them somewhere out of the way. The others worried that this wasn’t enough of a punishment. I didn’t tell them exactly how many pills I gave the crooks - you want punishment, try going through puberty again, as an adult.
Alien technology: Nothing this week, apart from the usual cataloguing of some vault items.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels.
Security: Ah, security. We laugh at the word. To be fair, Rhys was going to discover us sooner or later, he’s not stupid. It turned out to be helpful, as he was our way into the warehouse, and proved himself to be brave and resourceful. Thankfully. If he’d got killed, I think Gwen would have grabbed a knife and made me go through eternity without the use of my mini Captain and his two lieutenants
Other security issues: After much discussion, and some colorful metaphors from Gwen, we agreed (sort of) not to give Rhys the amnesia pill. He’s been through enough, and won’t give anything away - he knows that if he does, he’ll be putting Gwen’s life in danger. It was pretty much an ultimatum from Gwen, and we can’t afford to lose her over this. If she says Rhys will keep quiet, then that’s good enough for me. Although it wouldn’t hurt to monitor the phone lines again, just for a month. Maybe two.
Staff: Ianto turned into a fighting, kicking, stun-gun machine, it was very exciting. I must get put in danger more often.
Other Staff issues: For future reference - do not sneak up on Tosh wearing a clown mask, for a laugh. She does NOT find this amusing.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 5
Alien activity: Nothing recorded, that we know of.
Alien technology: Again, nothing we know of.
Rift activity: Several small spikes were recorded, none of which resulted in any through traffic.
Security: So... we’re not sure. We seem to have lost a couple of days, and nobody can figure out why. Security feeds are wiped, nothing is recorded anywhere. Nothing was broken, taken, we’re not injured. There are traces of the amnesia drug in our systems, but obviously we have no idea what happened. Apparently we were called out to a disturbance during this time, but it was a false alarm. Have checked with police in the area, and they claim to have seen ‘those poncey special ops Muppets, stomping around and acting like they own the place’, so it probably was us. Nothing else unusual to report there, though. We’ll keep investigating, but if we don’t find out anything else, we’ll eventually have to let it go, frustrating as that is.
Other security issues: The only thing out of place was Ianto’s diary, which I found in my office. Naturally, I gave it back to him immediately after reading through it. Several interesting factual errors in there - and I thought he would know how to convert inches to centimetres. You think you know someone...
Staff: Someone sent Toshiko a huge bunch of flowers. Nobody’s admitting to it, but we’re all convinced it was Owen - he protests too much. I never get flowers. I’m considering sending myself some, and pretending I don’t know who they’re from.
Other Staff issues: Have been falling behind with these archive notes. I’m sure I had more stuff written down, guess it’s all lost inside the two days we’re missing. If I’d known that was coming, I’d have got drunk the night before, so I could skip the hangover.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
From: Harkness, Jack
To: Ianto
Subject: Visitor
Date: Wednesday 20th February 2008
Hey
I've got a friend coming into town tonight, a VIP from UNIT. She's gonna be working with us on this spate of toxic shock deaths. Could you book a hotel for her please? Someplace nice, with round-the-clock room service, close to the Hub. Dunno how many nights for. Make it two. Ideally I'd like to take her for a meal, but you just know something will come up and there won't be time. Book something anyway though, tomorrow night.
Don't get jealous! She's an old friend. Her name's Martha Jones. Maybe she's a relative of yours? :)
Jack
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 6
Alien activity: Alien parasites called Mayflies. A medical research centre, The Pharm, had been conducting trials using a drug containing these parasites. Good news: they cure all known diseases. Bad news: the Mayflies then hatch and eat you from the inside out. And not in a good way.
Alien technology: The ‘’singularity scalpel’’, which Owen used twice to remove a Mayfly from its host body. The first removal involved some slight exploding. Thankfully the second worked perfectly, and he was able to save Martha’s life. If we’d let anything happen to her... oh, that would have been bad. We quite literally owe her the world.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels.
Security: Must speak to Ianto about using names from ‘’Sex and the City’’ on fake IDs. Last week he sent me into an alien smuggling operation as ‘’Mr Big’’, without telling me. Wish I knew how he kept a straight face. I’d give him a stern talking-to, but I think he enjoys that too much.
Staff: Owen Harper was killed in the line of duty. He saved Martha’s life, and sacrificed his own. That’s the Owen I know, the Owen I recruited, the Owen who would scream right in the face of the universe if it meant he could save a few more people. We had our difficult moments - he did kill me once, after all, although I probably deserved it a bit - but through it all, I knew that he always did what he believed was right. I love his fire, his passion, his sheer, infuriating bloody stubbornness... I’m sorry Owen, I let you down. But I’m not going to let this go. We didn’t get to say goodbye, and that just doesn’t work for me. This is NOT the end. I don’t care about the rules, what might happen, what might go wrong. You’re on my team. And nobody gets to take you away without my say-so. So hang in there. The Captain’s coming to get you.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
From: Harkness, Jack
To: Ianto
Subject: Hotel
Date: Wednesday 27th February 2008
Hey
Could you call Martha's hotel and book her in for a couple extra nights?
I have a feeling we're going to need her a little longer, don't you?
Jack
* * * * * *
From: Jones, Ianto
To: Jack
Subject: Re: Hotel
Date: Wednesday 27th February 2008
Funny, I was just thinking 'Why don't those two get a room'...
Only kidding. In fact, it's already done. You underestimate me, as ever. Incidentally, I think you could probably do with some R&R yourself. Let me know if you'd like my hands to work their magic, or if you'd just like a massage.
Ianto
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 7
Alien activity: Weevils. Lots and lots of Weevils. It was like someone threw a Weevil party and forgot to let us know.
Alien technology: I found the other glove. The resurrection glove. I called in a favor (a HUGE favor) and managed to get hold of it, so we could say our goodbyes to Owen. This plan... backfired, somewhat. Although in fairness, we did get to say goodbye. It’s just that now Owen seems to be undead. Something then got inside him, something ancient, we’re still not quite sure what it was, but for all intents and purposes, it was the living embodiment of Death. If Death were a real person, so to speak. And it exerted some sort of low level telepathic control over the Weevils, which meant they treated Owen as some sort of Weevil deity. Oh, you had to be there. It was all very confusing at the time; we were just trying to keep up.
Rift activity: Jittery. I’ve spent several hours trying to think of the right word, and that one just about works.
Security: When trying to destroy the other glove, it sucked the life force out of Martha, and aged her. Things got put right in the hospital later on, after Owen basically shouted down Death. He managed to consume the energy and destroy it. Again, if we’d let anything happen to Martha, we would have been in serious trouble.
Staff: Whatever is keeping Owen alive, whatever energy went into him, it’s slowly dissipating. We don’t know how long it’ll last, but it looks like he’s got a second chance. It’s not easy, knowing that you can’t die, not the fun time it sounds like. But I’m going to help him through it. And it’s good to have him back, in any condition.
Other Staff issues: In big trouble with Ianto for risking everything to go and get the second glove. I should have told him before I went, but he’d probably have cuffed me to the chair to stop me. And I’ve fallen for that one way too many times.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 8
Alien activity: None to report.
Alien technology: A treasure trove of items recovered from Henry Parker’s collection. Some harmless (like the alien message he thought was keeping him alive), others incredibly dangerous (but shoved on a shelf, gathering dust). Two square objects he was using as bookends turned out to be warheads for a W’narian battle cruiser - they failed to detonate in orbit and fell to Earth. If they had gone off, then my current job would be guiding tourists around the glass desert that used to be Wales.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels.
Security: Still trying to figure out just how Parker knew so much about us, and how he amassed such a large collection of alien devices without our knowledge. Obviously, he’s not talking anymore, so we may never know. He had a whole stash of interesting files though, which he had left unlocked with a note: ‘’To Torchwood, have fun with these...’’ Without going into too much detail, let’s just say that if we ever need a favor from certain high ranking officials, we will merely need to mention a certain brand of fetish clothing.
Staff: Owen has settled back into his former role, and seems to be more at ease with himself.
Still undead, but there seems to be nothing we can do about that, apart from keep an eye on him, and make sure he doesn’t get put in harm’s way. More worrying though, is that his Tintin-phobia seems to have taken a turn for the worse. Martha has gone back to her day job, and we’ll all miss her.
Other Staff issues: Now that we have all tried, it is clear that only Ianto knows how to operate that damn coffee maker. I suspect it contains alien technology.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 9
Alien activity: Ah, Cardiff weddings. I’ve been to ones where shape shifting aliens weren’t the weirdest thing to happen. Must be something in the air here. Our old friends the Nostrovites showed up, and used Gwen as an incubator for their eggs. Gwen was understandably not pleased.
Alien technology: The Singularity Scalpel was used to remove the eggs from Gwen, and worked perfectly. It still terrifies me, that thing, seems to only work when it feels like it. If they ever need to use it on me, they’ll have to catch me first.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels.
Security: The situation got a bit out of hand before we were able to contain it. Had to use amnesia pills on all the guests, and spend all night clearing up. Female Nostrovite proved to be extremely resilient to bullets, so I had to get my massive weapon out and take care of business. Ianto is still quietly chuckling about that now, days later. Gwen’s mother taken hostage. Must run in the family.
Other security issues: Reminder to self - double check that someone’s mother is actually an alien before calling them an ‘’ugly bitch’’. Although it’s not a proper wedding if someone hasn’t been punched in the face. Just wish it didn’t have to be my face.
Staff: Despite the alien’s - and our - stomping around and breaking stuff, Gwen and Rhys managed to get married in the end. We’re all happy for them. Maybe it is possible to have a life outside Torchwood. I can’t lie though - rushing in and shouting ‘’stop the wedding’’ was enormous fun. I’m sure Gwen and Rhys will be able to laugh about that, one day. Years, decades from now, maybe.
Other Staff issues: Toshiko caught the bouquet when Gwen threw it. Naturally we will never let her hear the end of this.
Capt. Jack Harkness
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 10
Alien activity: The Night Travellers. An old group of performers, or at least, that’s what they were disguised as. I let them slip through my fingers way back then. Nobody knows where they came from, but they found a way to survive in old film strips. I’m assuming they were aliens, I can’t be sure. Maybe they found some alien friends to help them. Took the life out of several people, their last breath, left them in a sort of living death. We only managed to save one of them, but that’s better than nothing. Sometimes in this job, one is enough. I can still see the faces of the people we lost - they weren’t part of this, they were just living their lives, until they were taken. Ianto took it badly, this one really got to him.
Alien technology: Just the flask they used to collect the breaths. Nothing else that we could salvage.
Rift activity: Several spikes in the region of the Electro cinema. This is probably what enabled them to get through.
Security: It’s not the alien invasions or attacks that worry me. Although they’re bad enough. It’s the things like this, that we just can’t explain. Were they aliens? Humans using alien technology? Something else? I’m not saying it’s magic or anything supernatural. Just that there’s a hell of a lot out there we still don’t understand, can’t even begin to understand. And that terrifies me. Give me an alien I can punch or shoot any day.
Other security issues: They very nearly managed to bring all their friends through, before we stopped them. There are a hell of a lot of old film cans out there, lying in lofts, basements, garages. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of these things.
Staff: Have convinced Ianto to take me to a normal cinema, to see an actual movie. He’s also curious to know if I still have my old circus outfit. If I can find it, I think a private show is in order.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 11
Alien activity: None.
Alien technology: None.
Rift activity: While she and Gwen investigated a missing persons case, Toshiko figured out that sometimes there are negative Rift spikes, ones that take things away. I didn’t think anyone would put the two together, I’ve kept it well hidden. I knew Tosh was a genius when I hired her, guess I forgot just how good she is. Should have known something was up when I saw that adorable little ‘’aha’’ smile that she gets when she’s been particularly clever.
Security: The whole team now knows about the medical facility for victims of the Rift. Tosh and Owen don’t know all the details, we spared them that. We offered Nikki, Jonah’s mother, amnesia pills, but she refused them. She said she didn’t want to go back to constantly hoping in vain. As much as it damaged her, at least she was now able to let go. She asked about giving the pills to the the victims, but they’re so badly damaged, the amnesia drug doesn’t work on them. That was the first thing I tried, when the first of them came through.
Staff: Gwen would never have found the facility if Ianto hadn’t helped her. He was wrong to do that. But, of course, he was actually right in the end. There’s no way Gwen would have let it go. I should have trusted her with the information, but I knew what it would do to her. Sometimes, the only way to realise that you shouldn’t look behind that door is to actually go and look. Gwen learned that. Nikki learned that. We all did.
Other Staff issues: Seeing Gwen experience it for the first time took me right back to when I first heard that terrible scream. After Gwen had gone home, I just held on to Ianto for a couple of hours, as tightly as I could.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
From: Harkness, Jack
To: Gwen
Subject: GO HOME!
Date: Friday 28th March 2008
It's 5pm. I am hereby ordering you to GO HOME like a normal person and enjoy your night with Rhys. Without wishing to tempt fate, it looks quiet. I promise that, unless it's life-or-death stuff, we won't call you out again until tomorrow morning. And we'll all go for a drink tomorrow night or the first quiet night we get.
Don't forget your champagne!
Jack
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 12
Alien activity: None this week.
Alien technology: Four devices, giving off an unusual signal that we couldn’t quite figure out. We thought they were creatures at first, but they turned out to be bombs. Big, nasty ones.
Rift activity: Several spikes and lots of interference, which is probably why we didn’t pick up on John coming through. Or his passenger.
Security: ‘’John Hart’’ came back, and ran rings around us. Didn’t see it coming at all. He laid the groundwork well, had us all fooled. A series of disturbances across the city, all with alien traces, all leading back to this one building in the middle of nowhere.
Other security issues: John has Gray. He has my brother. I haven’t seen him since I lost him, all those years ago. And now I finally get the chance to see him again, he’s in the hands of a sociopath. Whatever John wants, I’ll have to do it, I can’t risk anything happening to Gray. He’s the only family I have left, and the only chance I have of forgiving myself for letting him go.
Staff: Everyone came out of the explosion pretty beaten up, but no major damage. We got lucky. And so did John. Because if he’d killed anyone - if he had hurt Ianto - I would have slowly ripped him limb from limb.
Other Staff issues: Although I have to say, Ianto does look good all messed up and dirty.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Entry 26
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 13
Alien activity: Weevils, and a Hoix. Luckily, they’re easy enough to deal with. Wish they’d been our only problem.
Rift activity: Oh, all kinds of activity. Fluctuations, jitters, cracks, and massive holes.
Security: It wasn’t John after all. But how easily I believed that he was capable of that. It was Gray. My own brother. I wasn’t expecting him to forgive me. I didn’t deserve forgiveness. I deserved punishment. But it went a whole lot further than that. Despite everything, I still can’t blame him for what he did. I forgave him. His mind was gone. Ravaged. Nothing left but hatred. Those creatures took away everything that he was. And it was all my fault.
Other security issues: Gray was incapable of forgiveness, of healing. All he would have done was commit more atrocities. So I had to neutralise him. Couldn’t kill him. Don’t think I ever will be able to.
Staff: Toshiko Sato and Owen Harper died in the line of duty. I lost them. I failed them. It feels like a piece of me has been cut out. And while I can’t die, losing people I love is much, much worse. Every time, you think this one won’t hurt as much as the last, but it does, it gets harder every time.
Owen, Tosh - you were the best. I miss you.
Other Staff issues: The one glimmer of hope in all this? I still have Ianto and Gwen. Whatever the future throws at us, whatever madness the Rift vomits out next, whatever we have to face - Torchwood will be ready.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ianto, I know you’re reading this over my shoulder, pretending to fix that damn shelf. So get over here and take me out somewhere.
iantos_desktop -- which had been, in turn, compiled from the BBC website -- for my own reference. Mostly Captain's Blog entries, with a few relevant messenger transcripts and e-mails tossed in (more might be added as I go back and read through more carefully). For the unfamiliar and curious, each blog entry corresponds to an episode of the first two seasons of Torchwood; there was other supplementary material linked with the episodes as well.]Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 34
Capt. Jack Harness.
Alien activity: Eighteen confirmed Weevil sightings, one civilian death. Standard cleanup procedure, no complications. Aggressive behaviour and surface activity amongst Weevils continues to increase, still no plausible explanation.
Alien technology: Resurrection Glove research terminated. The glove takes a heavy toll on the user, causing psychosis and paranoiac incidents. Not to be used again.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Torchwood location revealed to "Jubilee Pizza" staff. Amnesia protocol to be followed. Food while working late is still an issue, Ianto exploring other options.
Other security issues: All class A alien artefacts are now to be kept locked in the office safe. Only to be used in extreme circumstances.
Staff: Recruited PC Gwen Cooper. Incredible resistance to the amnesia pill (as predicted, certain individuals can generate partial immunity) and amazing insight. We need her on the team. Gwen Cooper has suggested that we work closely with the police. Helping people, making a difference. She was persuasive and has led me to re-assess Torchwood's remit.
Will proceed with Gwen advising on the human angle for each case. Possible security issue with her partner, Rhys Williams. Will need to monitor phone calls and emails for trigger words or phrases - minimum of three months. Gwen not to be informed of this.
Other Staff issues: Sad to report Suzie Costello killed in action. Use of the Resurrection Glove severely damaged her, leading her to take her own life. On a personal note, this has affected me greatly. Since her recruitment we have worked closely, and her dedication and service were second to none. Unfortunately I was not sufficiently aware of the strain she was under, and underestimated the temptation of the Resurrection Glove. She will be sorely missed.
Upcoming issues: Will continue to monitor Weevil activity increases, and review internal security procedures. Hinges on pterodactyl cage failed again, will need to be welded properly this time – i.e. not by Ianto and Owen. Energy surges in the lower areas of the hub remain unexplained.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 35
Alien activity: Twelve confirmed Weevil sightings. Meteorite cleanup complicated when a gaseous alien being escaped from the stone, infecting a civilian, Carys Fletcher. Nine civilian deaths - standard cleanup, although the Conway Clinic required a more in-depth cover story. Infected civilian successfully purged of the gas (standard amnesia protocol to follow). Alien being terminated during capture.
Alien technology: Portable prison cell employed in capture of alien being. Performed well, but battery life almost entirely depleted. Researching ways to recharge cell, if at all possible.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Monitoring of Gwen Cooper's communication continues - no breaches yet, partner Rhys Williams still unaware of TW or Gwen's new role. Portable prison cell taken out of Hub despite strict instructions to the contrary.
Other security issues: Will need to replenish cryo-chamber, as we are running low on replacement corpses. Ianto to source some from the usual supplier.
Staff: In her first day on the job, Gwen Cooper's carelessness caused the escape of the gaseous alien, which led to many deaths across the city. In summary: perhaps not ideal. However, it was her focus on the human aspect of the case, and research into the civilian's background, that helped us track down the alien. She was prepared to offer her life to correct her mistake, and coped extremely well under pressure. She could prove to be a valuable member of the team.
Other staff issues: Owen Harper not to be left alone with female prisoners in future. Especially if they have ultra-powerful alien pheromones.
Upcoming issues: Gwen Cooper to receive advanced weapons training. Energy surges in the lower areas of the hub still unexplained.
Capt. Jack Harness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 36
Alien activity: Seventeen confirmed Weevil sightings.
Alien technology: Recovered a Quantum Transducer. This converts energy from excess human emotions during traumatic events, allowing glimpses of the past and/or future. Seems to compel people to operate it (much like the Resurrection Glove, though the effect is not quite as severe), and makes you experience the traumatic emotions of the event itself. Results too random to be helpful. Not to be used again. Sean "Bernie" Harris came into possession of the Quantum Transducer, and several other pieces of alien tech - all recovered. Once Harris has recovered from his injuries, standard amnesia protocol (Level Two) to follow.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances. Slight fluctuations, but all returned to normal soon after.
Security: Quantum Transducer taken out of Hub by Gwen Cooper, despite my instructions. Considering refresher course for all staff on the importance of security. Wonder if the threat of full searches when anyone leaves the premises may stop this. Owen Harper conducted his own investigation into a past crime shown by the Quantum Transducer, in direct violation of orders. However, I have taken into account the extreme impact of the device on his state of mind, and will not be disciplining him.
Other security issues: Edwin Morgan committed suicide during our investigation of his past crime - the murder of 17 year old Lizzie Lewis, on March 23, 1963 (as shown to Owen while operating the Quantum Transducer). Light cleanup to remove any trace of our involvement - but at Owen's insistence, we will arrange for "new" discovery of DNA evidence to prove that Morgan was Lewis' murderer. This will enable the police to close the case, and give the family closure.
Staff: Firearms training with Gwen Cooper went well. She proved to be extremely adept at handling and firing a weapon.
Other issues: According to Ianto, Splott is pronounced "Sploe". I think Ianto may have been lying.
Upcoming issues: Energy surges in the lower areas of the hub still unexplained; there have been several more in the past week. Ianto volunteered to investigate, but has not discovered an explanation yet.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 37
Alien activity: Nine confirmed Weevil sightings. Arkan Leisure Cruiser spotted in orbit; we politely requested that they leave. Tourists.
Alien technology: Fully operational Cyber-conversion unit, as well as partially converted human, Lisa Hallett (now deceased). ALL Cyber technology to be melted down and disposed of safely. Risk of reconstruction of the Cyber army is too great, and outweighs any potential knowledge that could be gained.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Torchwood location revealed to "Jubilee Pizza" staff. Again. Amnesia protocol to be followed. Code Zero Incursion involving the Cyber-conversion unit and partially converted human. Lockdown of Hub initiated to ensure containment.
Other security issues: Three civilian deaths - Lisa Hallett, Dr. Ryoichi Tanizaki, and Annie Bennett. Standard cleanup procedure for Tanizaki and Bennett, no outside cleanup necessary for Hallett - she was missing and presumed killed in the Torchwood 1 battle of Canary Wharf. Her body is to be disposed of with the Cyber technology (see above, Alien technology section).
Staff: Ianto Jones has been covertly keeping a Cyber-conversion unit and his half-converted girlfriend locked in a basement storage area. Apart from the betrayal of the team and obvious security issues, a Cyberwoman on the loose could have resulted in the Cyber army gaining a new foothold on this planet, using it as a base, and destroying/converting all life as we know it. Nice heels, though.
Other Staff issues: Ianto Jones temporarily suspended from active duty, to return at my discretion. His love for Lisa clouded his judgment, and he made some serious mistakes - but I have to wonder if I would have done the same thing in his situation. Ianto's personal needs and emotional state have been overlooked; I should not have missed something like this. During his suspension, I will try to spend more time with him. Hopefully we can establish a closer working relationship.
Upcoming issues: Energy surges in the lower areas of the hub no longer an issue, now the Cyber technology has been powered down and removed.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 41
Alien activity: Fourteen confirmed Weevil sightings. Another encounter with the creatures commonly referred to as "fairies", not technically aliens but they don't fit into any category. It's possible they are part-Mara, but at present there is no way of testing or proving this.
Alien technology: None used, no issues.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Civilian deaths: Mark Goodson, Estelle Cole, Roy Pierce. Jasmine Pierce is missing - not dead, but the record must state that she
is. We had to let her go with the creatures. We cannot track them, harm them, or fight them, and it would have meant the end of the world if we had tried to stop them. Need a Level Three cleanup at the Pierce house - Lynn Pierce will require a carefully targeted amnesia program with a cover story put in place (possibly with a body to be found), and the party guests will all need to be wiped (see attached for names and addresses). Will do the cleanup on Estelle's house myself; need to remove any photographic evidence of my "father".
Other security issues: No alien technology removed from the Hub, no breaches, no incursions. Frankly, I'm amazed. Looks like the security presentation did the trick, or at least bored everyone into compliance.
Staff: Ianto Jones' first week back after his suspension four weeks ago. I have tried to put him at ease, and have briefed the team to be as sympathetic as possible. Obviously there is a level of resentment remaining, but they are trying.
Other Staff issues: After what happened with Jasmine, nobody is talking to me (except Ianto). They'll come around. Everyone comes around.
Upcoming issues: Received message from Torchwood 2. Will read it next week. That guy gives me the creeps.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 42
Alien activity: Seven confirmed Weevil sightings. No other alien activity. I wish there had been.
Alien technology: None used.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances. But slowly spreading. Unsure what we can do about this, apart from monitor it.
Security: Civilian deaths: Ellie Johnson, and 16 reported others (see attached file). Found body parts for at least 23 people in the village (Brynblaidd), will begin testing to try and find out their identities. Entire village taken into custody, and handed over to local police - no alien involvement. Villagers have been killing for years, so we will never know how many people died in total. Personal addition: I've seen some terrible, horrifying things in my time, perpetrated by aliens. But they pale in comparison to what humans can do to each other. If I had been there by myself, I think I would have executed the lot of them. Still seriously considering taking them out in their jail cells. Some people are a stain on the world.
Other security issues: Team found an abandoned lunch van in the area. Awaiting test results on samples, but we suspect the villagers sold meat pies containing human flesh.
Staff: Brought Ianto Jones along to get him out of the Hub, out of the city, get some relaxing time in the country with the team. May not have been the best decision I made this year.
Other Staff issues: Gwen Cooper shot in abdomen, but will make a full recovery.
Upcoming issues: Equipment allocation request from Torchwood 2 denied. Not satisfied with reasons given for request, and cannot be assured that the equipment would be returned safely. Last loan agreed was six months ago, and the material has still not been returned.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 43
Alien activity: Thirteen confirmed Weevil sightings. Made contact with "Mary", real name unknown, now deceased. An escaped prisoner, she had been killing and feeding off humans for nearly two hundred years. I reprogrammed her transport so that it teleported her into the Sun.
Alien technology: A prisoner transport device, destroyed (see above). Pendant that allows the wearer to hear the thoughts of others, also destroyed. While the pendant helped Toshiko to prevent a crime, she felt that it was too unfocused to be of any use. Also, the thoughts heard by the wearer soon become overwhelming. I have to agree - there are some things that we're just not meant to know.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Unknown number of civilian deaths, but Owen found 98 related cases of unexplained deaths with similar trauma to the body found in the excavation. No cleanup necessary, the cases were already recorded in police files as unexplained.
Other security issues: After recent weeks of everyone following proper security procedures, a dangerous alien was brought into the Hub. This is less than ideal. Also, had an argument with the Prime Minister again, which is getting to be a regular occurrence. Fun, though.
Staff: Toshiko Sato caused a major security breach. Although she was being manipulated with the pendant by a clever alien, this is still disappointing. She should have come to me as soon as she was given the alien device. Thankfully Tosh is the worst liar in the world, and it was fairly obvious that something was wrong, which helped to avert the crisis. Still, things could have gone very badly for her, for all of us. It's difficult not being able to talk to anyone about our work, but we should be able to discuss it with each other, at the very least.
Other Staff issues: Ianto is still suffering, but putting on a brave face. Will try talking to him over dinner, outside the Hub, see if there's anything more I can do for him.
Upcoming issues: Considering organizing some sort of regular social outing for everyone, to raise morale, enable us to talk about work safely. Will have to tread carefully, these things can end in karaoke.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
INSTANT MESSENGER TRANSCRIPT
Jack: Ianto?
Ianto: Captain
Jack: The others have gone. I thought you were coming up? :-)
Jack: God, did I just use a smiley? I really am going native.
Ianto: LOL. B wid u in 5mins, m8. Lking 4wrd 2 it.
Jack: Haha.
Jack: Ianto?
Ianto: Yes Captain?
Jack: How are you feeling?
Ianto: Fine. Any reason I shouldn't be?
Jack: The glove. It brought Suzie back.
Ianto: Yeah.
Jack: And?
Ianto: And?
Jack: And? you know we could have used it to on Lisa. Is that what you meant about there being a second glove?
Ianto: You think I've got the second glove?
Jack: No! No, I don't. But if you did?
Ianto: Would you let me bring her back?
Jack: You've not asked us to.
Ianto: You haven't offered.
Jack: You don't want us to?
Ianto: Lisa's dead, sir.
Jack: I know.
Ianto: And I miss her. Every day. But I don't want her back like that. Not like how she was in the end. Not like Suzie.
Jack: Good. See you in a minute?
Ianto: On my way.
Jack: Oh yeah, forgot to say. Loving you in that suit. The Cute Suit.
Ianto: Thank you sir but it's probably best if I do the rhymes.
[ conversation ends ]
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 46
Alien activity: Seventeen confirmed Weevil sightings.
Alien technology: A murder investigation led to Suzie Costello, so despite misgivings, we used the Resurrection Glove on her. Gwen successfully revived her, but somehow the Glove kept a continuous flow of energy going between them, keeping Suzie alive. I was forced to kill Suzie again to save Gwen's life. Resurrection Glove was destroyed.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Suzie left a verbal Trojan horse in our security system which caused a lockdown. We were able to get up and running again in a very short time - that 48 hour overhaul of the systems last week came in handy. Civilian deaths: Suzie Costello (again). Chandra Costello. Alex Arwyn, Mark Briscoe, Sarah Briscoe. Level Three cleanup required; Max Edwards was not responsible for the murders, as he was following post-hypnotic suggestions planted by Suzie. His deprogramming is almost complete, Toshiko and Owen are confident he will fully recover within a week. Standard amnesia protocol to follow. Have checked other members of the Pilgrim support group, and found two more people programmed by Suzie in case her plan didn't work - one to go on a killing spree after six months, one after twelve months. Both are being deprogrammed now.
Other security issues: Had to seek help from Detective Kathy Swanson. I'll never hear the end of that one.
Staff: Somehow I knew we had unfinished business with Suzie. Bringing her back showed her true nature. The first time she died, I was willing to blame it all on the Glove getting into her head. But this plan is something else entirely. The roots of this go too far back. She must have been damaged for a long time.
Other Staff issues: Ianto and I stayed back to go over the case files and reorganize the safe. Internal security cameras were temporarily shut down to run diagnostic tests, so there was no monitoring of the Hub for approximately four hours - but there were no security breaches to report. Everything went very smoothly.
Upcoming issues: Need to requisition a new stopwatch. Old one damaged while moving a desk.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 47
Alien activity: Twenty six confirmed Weevil sightings. Still on the increase, and still no clue as to why.
Alien technology: A Dogon Sixth Eye, a device that allows the person holding it to see events with an enhanced perspective. Research suggests that swallowing the Eye enables you to look back on your life, as if from the outside. Eugene Jones swallowed it, but was killed just as this self-examination began, so the Eye kept his mind active until the process was complete. This resulted in a physical manifestation of his own self-image, just before the Eye completed its cycle.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances. Fluctuations seem to indicate a possible small opening in a week or so; these are usually uneventful, but must be monitored in case anything comes out.
Security: One civilian death, Eugene Jones, hit and run. Driver has been found, will arrange for evidence to be handed over to police. Eugene's friends were also partially responsible; statements and files will be passed on as well. No cleanup necessary, we have retained the Eye for analysis - as far as the police are concerned, this was an argument about fake alien artifacts that got out of control.
Other security issues: It has now been over three months since Gwen Cooper joined Torchwood. Have discontinued phone and email surveillance, as there are no signs of a breach, or of her partner finding out what she does. Am confident that she is fully committed to the team.
Staff: Things seem to be calming down with everyone. Ianto is coping well; I'm pleased with his progress.
Upcoming issues: We will all take shifts watching for the upcoming rift opening. We should get a few hours' warning when it's about to open.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
INSTANT MESSENGER TRANSCRIPT
JACK: Hey!
IANTO: Hello.
JACK: I'm worried about John.
IANTO: Me too. I've just tried giving him a driving lesson.
JACK: He's completely lost. He's trying to cope but he's not.
IANTO: What happened?
JACK: It was the money.
IANTO: He did so well on our shopping trip.
JACK: Not on the bus back. We'd gone to visit his son.
IANTO: I'm guessing it didn't go well.
JACK: No. I offered to get a cab, but he insisted on getting the bus.
JACK: The ticket was £2.80
JACK: He tried getting together the money from his pockets. Real slow.
JACK: And it was old money. And he really didn't realise for a bit.
IANTO: Oh no.
JACK: So he just stood there, quiet for a bit. And then started again with new money.
IANTO: But the queue! They'd have killed him.
JACK: It gets worse. He gives up and hands the driver a tenner.
IANTO: No! It's exact change only.
JACK: Tell me about it. So he starts again. And gets to £2.70. With only 10 pence, he's on coppers...
IANTO: Oh god.
JACK: I know. He gets so close and then he just stops, gathers up all his money and gets off the bus.
IANTO: The poor man.
JACK: We walk home.
[ conversation ends ]
* * * * * *
INSTANT MESSENGER TRANSCRIPT
JACK: I've found your car.
IANTO: Righto.
JACK: Yeah.
IANTO: Is it in the garage?
JACK: Yeah.
IANTO: And John?
JACK: Yeah.
IANTO: Jack - are you okay?
JACK: You might want to
JACK: Get the car valet serviced.
IANTO: Okay. What's the problem?
JACK: It's John. John's dead. He died in your car. Exhaust fumes. I'm sorry.
IANTO: Oh.
IANTO: Jack, I'm sorry.
JACK: I was too late for him. And I'm really sorry about your car.
IANTO: No problem.
IANTO: Random question - was he in the driver's seat when he died?
JACK: Yes. Why? Does it make a difference?
IANTO: No. No. Not at all. No. Thanks.
[ conversation ends ]
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 48
Alien activity: Four confirmed Weevil sightings. After the steady increase of the past few months, I'm very concerned at this sudden drop. Things don't just disappear for no reason. Will investigate this thoroughly next week.
Alien technology: None used, no issues.
Rift activity: The projected opening of the rift turned out to be a transcendental portal, the same one responsible for the disappearance of the passenger plane "Sky Gypsy" on December 18th, 1953. Based on our analysis of the portal and a system flag recorded at the time of the disappearance, we were able to direct them to land at a secure airfield. Civilians Diane Holmes, Emma-Louise Cowell and John Ellis were on board, in good health, though understandably confused.
Security: Ianto provided new identities for all three of the new arrivals, including full backgrounds, work histories and references. Only Emma's will be used (see below). Will keep the ones created for John and Diane in reserve, for possible future use.
Other security issues: One civilian death, John Ellis, took his own life. There was nothing we could do to help him, his whole life had been taken away, and he was unable to deal with it. No cleanup necessary, other than body disposal. Diane Holmes is missing again - either dead, or has entered another rift portal. No portals were picked up on our systems after she left, but if one had opened for a very short time, it may have been missed. I hope she made it.
Staff: We've all been affected by what happened, but Owen has taken it extremely badly, and refuses to talk about it. Will see what I can do, if he'll let me - this may be something he needs to deal with by himself.
Upcoming issues: Will begin the Weevil investigation next week.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 49
Alien activity: Six confirmed Weevil sightings. Discovered the reason for the sudden drop in numbers, and increased aggression. The Lynch Frost Estate Agency had been using them in underground fights, in a misguided attempt to find some "meaning". More like a bunch of idiots seeking someone or something to dominate, and not in a good way. Had to use Janet as bait. Never thought Weevils could look betrayed, didn't think they had enough facial muscles. She managed it, though.
Alien technology: Anti-Weevil spray losing its effectiveness, the Weevils are building up a tolerance. Tosh and Ianto looking into alternative solutions. My suggestion that they try the perfume department at Howells was treated as a joke, but I stand by it.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels and tolerances.
Security: Civilian deaths: Mark Lynch, Dan Hodges - standard cleanup for both, cover stories in place. Lynch Frost closed up shop and disappeared. We'll find them one day.
Other security issues: Two amnesia pills missing, when Gwen was alone in the Hub. She thinks I don't know, and I haven't said anything. Later that night, she seemed very troubled. Whatever she used them for, I'm guessing it didn't go well. I won't mention it to her; it looks like she learned her lesson.
Staff: Extremely worried about Owen. If we hadn't pulled him out of there, he would have let Janet kill him, he even said as much later. Not sure about the best way to deal with this. The only possible thing that will make him feel better is getting Diane back, and that's not in my power right now.
Other Staff issues: Ianto surprisingly proficient at the good cop/bad cop routine. Although obviously, he's the good cop. He's too cute to be the bad cop.
Other issues: Apparently, there are still people who pay money to have the Crazy Frog ringtone on their phone. And I thought I'd seen the worst the universe has to offer.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 50
Alien activity: Nine confirmed Weevil sightings.
Alien technology: Rift Manipulator used by Owen to open the Rift. Owen recovered the missing key to the manipulator, which was in the dance hall (see below).
Rift activity: Breach at an abandoned dance hall, causing a temporal shift. Myself and Toshiko were sent to 1941, and trapped there, where we met Captain Jack Harkness. The real one. The one whose name I took. Rift opened (see above), using the key and Tosh's equations, then closed again. Seems to be stable for now, but there's a high risk of fracture. Appreciate the rescue, but must have a word with Owen about not poking unpredictable wormholes with sticks.
Security: Civilian deaths: Captain Jack Harkness (the real one). Sure, he was already dead, but now it feels like it just happened. I never gave it much thought, other than finding a handy identity to steal. Now I've met him, I'm glad that I can continue to do good work in his name. Such bravery, I'm in awe. What if Owen hadn't opened the rift, and we'd been stuck there? Would I have let history carry on, let Jack die? That would be the right thing, the best thing to do. Saving him might have completely messed up the course of history. But sometimes you don't care, you want to break the rules of time and space, throw everything into chaos and to hell with the consequences, just to save someone you love. It's a good thing Owen opened that rift, because right now I couldn't care less about the rules and preserving history.
Other security issues: Need to find Bilis Manger. I've got some questions for him. Questions and a nice metal chair in the interrogation room.
Staff: Owen claims he opened the Rift purely to rescue us. It's painfully obvious that it was also an attempt to try and find Diane again. The thing is, she left of her own accord, and I don't think she'd ever want to come back here. But I hope she does, before Owen self destructs.
Other Staff issues: Ianto tried to stop Owen opening the Rift, and actually shot him in the shoulder. Everyone except Owen is finding this very amusing.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
INSTANT MESSENGER TRANSCRIPT
Ianto: Captain! Gwen's on the phone.
Jack: She'd better be alive.
Ianto: Screaming. She wants a favour.
Jack: Shoot.
Ianto: I'm not certain how to explain this.
Jack: No, go on.
Ianto: She wants to bring her boyfriend to the hub.
Jack: What? As if we haven't got enough on, it's suddenly Bring Your Boyfriend to work day.
Ianto: She says she wants to put him somewhere safe.
Jack: She thinks here's safe?
Ianto: Yes, Captain. She sounds really worried.
Jack: Hell, tell her to stick him in a taxi and come over. Bring pizza.
Ianto: It's not that easy. He's unconscious.
Jack: What happened? Is he okay?
Ianto: It's Gwen. She says she stunned him.
Jack: Bring the SUV round. Sounds like he needs our help.
[ Ends ]
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 72, Week 51
Alien activity: Six confirmed Weevil sightings.
Alien technology: Rift Manipulator used again to open the Rift. I would have stopped this happening, but was dead at the time.
Rift activity: Major Rift breach, causing it to expand, and create an increasing amount of temporal displacements. Rift sealed up again (see below) but will be more unstable in future.
Security: Bilis Manger manipulated the team to get them to open the Rift. This released a creature called "Abaddon", which had been sealed up beneath the Rift. It fed off life energy - so I gave him a taste of the Captain, and he overdosed. Kaboom. Civilian deaths: Oh, lots. And I'm losing count how many times I've died now. All deaths caused by the Rift were undone once Abaddon was killed. Except Abaddon's death. Which is lucky, or we'd have just been going around in circles all day.
Other security issues: Bilis Manger still missing. We'll find him. Tosh and Ianto are working up some theories, places to look. We have a few leads, so he can't hide forever.
Staff: The entire team turned on me, and opened the Rift. In their defense, they genuinely believed it would stop the time displacement and save everyone's lives. But still. Killing your boss is not the best way to foster a good working relationship. Having spoken with the others about what they saw, I wonder why I wasn't shown a vision - I've lost people, many people that I cared about. But only one person would have made me crack, and I know he's safe. And if he ever passes by, I have a bag all packed and ready. For now, the team has been through a lot. We all said and did things we regret. But we've come closer as a result. Hopefully we'll never be divided like this again.
Other Staff issues: (to be completed)
***ARCHIVE UNFINISHED***
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 1
Alien activity: Blowfish in a sports car. There's a sentence you don't see every day.
Other activity: Captain John Hart for the purposes of this archive, we'll pretend that's his real name (separate file with full details to follow). He came through the Rift, still as sociopathic as ever. And tried to kill us all. But come on, check out those cheekbones.
Alien technology: "Radiation cluster bombs", which, surprise, surprise, turned out to be something else. A DNA-seeking bomb, which attached itself to John. We all had a pretty good laugh about that.
Rift activity: Pretty active this week, two major breaches in one day. John arrived, and left, although he went back through the first opening, not the second - we went back in time to the first one after the explosion in the second one. This is the trouble with rifts and time loops; your sentence structure goes to pieces. Had to spend the day avoiding ourselves, so I sprang for a five-star hotel and we had every spa treatment in the book, including some I made up.
Security: Let John into the Hub twice, and he nearly killed us all. I actually did get killed, but there was a surprising lack of sympathy from everyone. Must remind Owen to check the pockets of any bodies we bring inside, in future.
Staff: Very impressed with how everyone coped while I was away. When I got back, they were all out somewhere, so I spent a few hours going through the mission logs. And emails (couldn't help myself). Naturally they're upset with me for leaving. But I had to go while I had the chance. And I was always going to come back. I need them, all of them.
Other Staff issues: Gwen is now engaged. I'm happy for her, but I'm concerned about what it might mean - can she stay here, still keeping everything from Rhys? I worry that we're going to lose her. And I worry about Ianto. I think he took it harder than anyone when I ran off. It's going to take me a while to make things up to him. He is a decent, good man, and I'm lucky I met him.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 2
Alien activity: Cell 114. I knew I’d have to face them one day. Was hoping they’d overlook this little planet though. Four sleeper agents in the Cardiff cell, they activated early but we shut them down. Barely. If they’d managed to signal the other cells with the nukes, then it’d be all over now, and there’d be nobody here to write this.
Alien technology: Full set of diagnostic images and scans in the attached file. Will have to run continuous scans for their signals. Toshiko is working on a larger scale device for disabling their forcefields and transmitters, in the event of a full scale attack. Owen is analysing the composition of the alien bio-weaponry, to see if we can defend against it. Hopefully this will give us the advantage we need.
Rift activity: Seems to have settled down this week, let’s hope it stays that way.
Security: Will be having words with the military about them storing nuclear warheads on my turf without letting me know. Tosh found all the other “hide in plain sight” secret storage locations across the country, so if I don’t get a VERY sincere apology, then somebody’s getting spanked. And not in a good way.
Other security issues: Gwen taken hostage again. I’m beginning to think she’s jinxed. And why am I never taken hostage? I could be a good hostage. I never get any of that Stockholm Syndrome action. And according to Ianto, my bad cop routine needs some work.
Staff: I got stabbed through the chest. Just missed my heart, but injured me enough so that I slowly died on the drive back to the Hub. It’s never pleasant dying and coming back, but the slow deaths are the worst. Maybe I deserved it for what I put Beth through – what if I’d been wrong about her? I was so focused on keeping the planet safe, I let some of the old Jack through.
Other Staff issues: I’m in trouble with Ianto for duct-taping a CB aerial to the SUV. Apparently the tape made the wing mirror “disconcertingly sticky”. Still, nothing a bit of warm, soapy water can’t fix.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 3
Alien activity: Thankfully, none. Must be an alien public holiday.
Alien technology: The alien cryogenics. It was that time of year again, to defrost Tommy Brockless and make sure all his bits and pieces still worked. Unfortunately, it was also time to send him off on his mission. We’d all convinced ourselves that it was way off in the future, hoping we wouldn’t have to be the ones to send him to his fate.
Rift activity: Hole in time opened up, and 1918 and the present day started overlapping. Sending Tommy back with the Rift Manipulator closed everything up again. Rift now seems fairly stable.
Security: No security issues to report. In many ways, it was a quiet week – when it looked like Tommy wasn’t going to use the Rift Manipulator, things got a bit hairy, but mostly it was quiet. Odd, how the quiet, calm moments can be the most devastating sometimes.
Staff: Toshiko became very close to Tommy on his final day, especially when we found out he was going back the next morning. It’s not always a good idea to do that, when you know it’s only for a day, and the other person is due to die, but I can’t exactly pretend to be the sensible one here. Tosh saw what happened with the real Captain Jack, so there was no way I could – or would – try and stop her. I know exactly how she feels.
Other Staff issues: Ianto and I made some progress, talked things through. What happened with Tommy got to us all. I know it got to Gerald and Harriet, too, back then, considering what they went through to try and make up for it – but that’s another story for another day.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 4
Alien activity: Massive space whale, which fell through the Rift some time ago. A bunch of scumbags found it, unfortunately, and were using it as an unlimited supply of meat. We couldn’t save it, and Owen had to euthanize it. We dosed up the men with amnesia pills, and dumped them somewhere out of the way. The others worried that this wasn’t enough of a punishment. I didn’t tell them exactly how many pills I gave the crooks - you want punishment, try going through puberty again, as an adult.
Alien technology: Nothing this week, apart from the usual cataloguing of some vault items.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels.
Security: Ah, security. We laugh at the word. To be fair, Rhys was going to discover us sooner or later, he’s not stupid. It turned out to be helpful, as he was our way into the warehouse, and proved himself to be brave and resourceful. Thankfully. If he’d got killed, I think Gwen would have grabbed a knife and made me go through eternity without the use of my mini Captain and his two lieutenants
Other security issues: After much discussion, and some colorful metaphors from Gwen, we agreed (sort of) not to give Rhys the amnesia pill. He’s been through enough, and won’t give anything away - he knows that if he does, he’ll be putting Gwen’s life in danger. It was pretty much an ultimatum from Gwen, and we can’t afford to lose her over this. If she says Rhys will keep quiet, then that’s good enough for me. Although it wouldn’t hurt to monitor the phone lines again, just for a month. Maybe two.
Staff: Ianto turned into a fighting, kicking, stun-gun machine, it was very exciting. I must get put in danger more often.
Other Staff issues: For future reference - do not sneak up on Tosh wearing a clown mask, for a laugh. She does NOT find this amusing.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 5
Alien activity: Nothing recorded, that we know of.
Alien technology: Again, nothing we know of.
Rift activity: Several small spikes were recorded, none of which resulted in any through traffic.
Security: So... we’re not sure. We seem to have lost a couple of days, and nobody can figure out why. Security feeds are wiped, nothing is recorded anywhere. Nothing was broken, taken, we’re not injured. There are traces of the amnesia drug in our systems, but obviously we have no idea what happened. Apparently we were called out to a disturbance during this time, but it was a false alarm. Have checked with police in the area, and they claim to have seen ‘those poncey special ops Muppets, stomping around and acting like they own the place’, so it probably was us. Nothing else unusual to report there, though. We’ll keep investigating, but if we don’t find out anything else, we’ll eventually have to let it go, frustrating as that is.
Other security issues: The only thing out of place was Ianto’s diary, which I found in my office. Naturally, I gave it back to him immediately after reading through it. Several interesting factual errors in there - and I thought he would know how to convert inches to centimetres. You think you know someone...
Staff: Someone sent Toshiko a huge bunch of flowers. Nobody’s admitting to it, but we’re all convinced it was Owen - he protests too much. I never get flowers. I’m considering sending myself some, and pretending I don’t know who they’re from.
Other Staff issues: Have been falling behind with these archive notes. I’m sure I had more stuff written down, guess it’s all lost inside the two days we’re missing. If I’d known that was coming, I’d have got drunk the night before, so I could skip the hangover.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
From: Harkness, Jack
To: Ianto
Subject: Visitor
Date: Wednesday 20th February 2008
Hey
I've got a friend coming into town tonight, a VIP from UNIT. She's gonna be working with us on this spate of toxic shock deaths. Could you book a hotel for her please? Someplace nice, with round-the-clock room service, close to the Hub. Dunno how many nights for. Make it two. Ideally I'd like to take her for a meal, but you just know something will come up and there won't be time. Book something anyway though, tomorrow night.
Don't get jealous! She's an old friend. Her name's Martha Jones. Maybe she's a relative of yours? :)
Jack
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 6
Alien activity: Alien parasites called Mayflies. A medical research centre, The Pharm, had been conducting trials using a drug containing these parasites. Good news: they cure all known diseases. Bad news: the Mayflies then hatch and eat you from the inside out. And not in a good way.
Alien technology: The ‘’singularity scalpel’’, which Owen used twice to remove a Mayfly from its host body. The first removal involved some slight exploding. Thankfully the second worked perfectly, and he was able to save Martha’s life. If we’d let anything happen to her... oh, that would have been bad. We quite literally owe her the world.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels.
Security: Must speak to Ianto about using names from ‘’Sex and the City’’ on fake IDs. Last week he sent me into an alien smuggling operation as ‘’Mr Big’’, without telling me. Wish I knew how he kept a straight face. I’d give him a stern talking-to, but I think he enjoys that too much.
Staff: Owen Harper was killed in the line of duty. He saved Martha’s life, and sacrificed his own. That’s the Owen I know, the Owen I recruited, the Owen who would scream right in the face of the universe if it meant he could save a few more people. We had our difficult moments - he did kill me once, after all, although I probably deserved it a bit - but through it all, I knew that he always did what he believed was right. I love his fire, his passion, his sheer, infuriating bloody stubbornness... I’m sorry Owen, I let you down. But I’m not going to let this go. We didn’t get to say goodbye, and that just doesn’t work for me. This is NOT the end. I don’t care about the rules, what might happen, what might go wrong. You’re on my team. And nobody gets to take you away without my say-so. So hang in there. The Captain’s coming to get you.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
From: Harkness, Jack
To: Ianto
Subject: Hotel
Date: Wednesday 27th February 2008
Hey
Could you call Martha's hotel and book her in for a couple extra nights?
I have a feeling we're going to need her a little longer, don't you?
Jack
* * * * * *
From: Jones, Ianto
To: Jack
Subject: Re: Hotel
Date: Wednesday 27th February 2008
Funny, I was just thinking 'Why don't those two get a room'...
Only kidding. In fact, it's already done. You underestimate me, as ever. Incidentally, I think you could probably do with some R&R yourself. Let me know if you'd like my hands to work their magic, or if you'd just like a massage.
Ianto
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 7
Alien activity: Weevils. Lots and lots of Weevils. It was like someone threw a Weevil party and forgot to let us know.
Alien technology: I found the other glove. The resurrection glove. I called in a favor (a HUGE favor) and managed to get hold of it, so we could say our goodbyes to Owen. This plan... backfired, somewhat. Although in fairness, we did get to say goodbye. It’s just that now Owen seems to be undead. Something then got inside him, something ancient, we’re still not quite sure what it was, but for all intents and purposes, it was the living embodiment of Death. If Death were a real person, so to speak. And it exerted some sort of low level telepathic control over the Weevils, which meant they treated Owen as some sort of Weevil deity. Oh, you had to be there. It was all very confusing at the time; we were just trying to keep up.
Rift activity: Jittery. I’ve spent several hours trying to think of the right word, and that one just about works.
Security: When trying to destroy the other glove, it sucked the life force out of Martha, and aged her. Things got put right in the hospital later on, after Owen basically shouted down Death. He managed to consume the energy and destroy it. Again, if we’d let anything happen to Martha, we would have been in serious trouble.
Staff: Whatever is keeping Owen alive, whatever energy went into him, it’s slowly dissipating. We don’t know how long it’ll last, but it looks like he’s got a second chance. It’s not easy, knowing that you can’t die, not the fun time it sounds like. But I’m going to help him through it. And it’s good to have him back, in any condition.
Other Staff issues: In big trouble with Ianto for risking everything to go and get the second glove. I should have told him before I went, but he’d probably have cuffed me to the chair to stop me. And I’ve fallen for that one way too many times.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 8
Alien activity: None to report.
Alien technology: A treasure trove of items recovered from Henry Parker’s collection. Some harmless (like the alien message he thought was keeping him alive), others incredibly dangerous (but shoved on a shelf, gathering dust). Two square objects he was using as bookends turned out to be warheads for a W’narian battle cruiser - they failed to detonate in orbit and fell to Earth. If they had gone off, then my current job would be guiding tourists around the glass desert that used to be Wales.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels.
Security: Still trying to figure out just how Parker knew so much about us, and how he amassed such a large collection of alien devices without our knowledge. Obviously, he’s not talking anymore, so we may never know. He had a whole stash of interesting files though, which he had left unlocked with a note: ‘’To Torchwood, have fun with these...’’ Without going into too much detail, let’s just say that if we ever need a favor from certain high ranking officials, we will merely need to mention a certain brand of fetish clothing.
Staff: Owen has settled back into his former role, and seems to be more at ease with himself.
Still undead, but there seems to be nothing we can do about that, apart from keep an eye on him, and make sure he doesn’t get put in harm’s way. More worrying though, is that his Tintin-phobia seems to have taken a turn for the worse. Martha has gone back to her day job, and we’ll all miss her.
Other Staff issues: Now that we have all tried, it is clear that only Ianto knows how to operate that damn coffee maker. I suspect it contains alien technology.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 9
Alien activity: Ah, Cardiff weddings. I’ve been to ones where shape shifting aliens weren’t the weirdest thing to happen. Must be something in the air here. Our old friends the Nostrovites showed up, and used Gwen as an incubator for their eggs. Gwen was understandably not pleased.
Alien technology: The Singularity Scalpel was used to remove the eggs from Gwen, and worked perfectly. It still terrifies me, that thing, seems to only work when it feels like it. If they ever need to use it on me, they’ll have to catch me first.
Rift activity: Within acceptable levels.
Security: The situation got a bit out of hand before we were able to contain it. Had to use amnesia pills on all the guests, and spend all night clearing up. Female Nostrovite proved to be extremely resilient to bullets, so I had to get my massive weapon out and take care of business. Ianto is still quietly chuckling about that now, days later. Gwen’s mother taken hostage. Must run in the family.
Other security issues: Reminder to self - double check that someone’s mother is actually an alien before calling them an ‘’ugly bitch’’. Although it’s not a proper wedding if someone hasn’t been punched in the face. Just wish it didn’t have to be my face.
Staff: Despite the alien’s - and our - stomping around and breaking stuff, Gwen and Rhys managed to get married in the end. We’re all happy for them. Maybe it is possible to have a life outside Torchwood. I can’t lie though - rushing in and shouting ‘’stop the wedding’’ was enormous fun. I’m sure Gwen and Rhys will be able to laugh about that, one day. Years, decades from now, maybe.
Other Staff issues: Toshiko caught the bouquet when Gwen threw it. Naturally we will never let her hear the end of this.
Capt. Jack Harkness
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 10
Alien activity: The Night Travellers. An old group of performers, or at least, that’s what they were disguised as. I let them slip through my fingers way back then. Nobody knows where they came from, but they found a way to survive in old film strips. I’m assuming they were aliens, I can’t be sure. Maybe they found some alien friends to help them. Took the life out of several people, their last breath, left them in a sort of living death. We only managed to save one of them, but that’s better than nothing. Sometimes in this job, one is enough. I can still see the faces of the people we lost - they weren’t part of this, they were just living their lives, until they were taken. Ianto took it badly, this one really got to him.
Alien technology: Just the flask they used to collect the breaths. Nothing else that we could salvage.
Rift activity: Several spikes in the region of the Electro cinema. This is probably what enabled them to get through.
Security: It’s not the alien invasions or attacks that worry me. Although they’re bad enough. It’s the things like this, that we just can’t explain. Were they aliens? Humans using alien technology? Something else? I’m not saying it’s magic or anything supernatural. Just that there’s a hell of a lot out there we still don’t understand, can’t even begin to understand. And that terrifies me. Give me an alien I can punch or shoot any day.
Other security issues: They very nearly managed to bring all their friends through, before we stopped them. There are a hell of a lot of old film cans out there, lying in lofts, basements, garages. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of these things.
Staff: Have convinced Ianto to take me to a normal cinema, to see an actual movie. He’s also curious to know if I still have my old circus outfit. If I can find it, I think a private show is in order.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 11
Alien activity: None.
Alien technology: None.
Rift activity: While she and Gwen investigated a missing persons case, Toshiko figured out that sometimes there are negative Rift spikes, ones that take things away. I didn’t think anyone would put the two together, I’ve kept it well hidden. I knew Tosh was a genius when I hired her, guess I forgot just how good she is. Should have known something was up when I saw that adorable little ‘’aha’’ smile that she gets when she’s been particularly clever.
Security: The whole team now knows about the medical facility for victims of the Rift. Tosh and Owen don’t know all the details, we spared them that. We offered Nikki, Jonah’s mother, amnesia pills, but she refused them. She said she didn’t want to go back to constantly hoping in vain. As much as it damaged her, at least she was now able to let go. She asked about giving the pills to the the victims, but they’re so badly damaged, the amnesia drug doesn’t work on them. That was the first thing I tried, when the first of them came through.
Staff: Gwen would never have found the facility if Ianto hadn’t helped her. He was wrong to do that. But, of course, he was actually right in the end. There’s no way Gwen would have let it go. I should have trusted her with the information, but I knew what it would do to her. Sometimes, the only way to realise that you shouldn’t look behind that door is to actually go and look. Gwen learned that. Nikki learned that. We all did.
Other Staff issues: Seeing Gwen experience it for the first time took me right back to when I first heard that terrible scream. After Gwen had gone home, I just held on to Ianto for a couple of hours, as tightly as I could.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
From: Harkness, Jack
To: Gwen
Subject: GO HOME!
Date: Friday 28th March 2008
It's 5pm. I am hereby ordering you to GO HOME like a normal person and enjoy your night with Rhys. Without wishing to tempt fate, it looks quiet. I promise that, unless it's life-or-death stuff, we won't call you out again until tomorrow morning. And we'll all go for a drink tomorrow night or the first quiet night we get.
Don't forget your champagne!
Jack
* * * * * *
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 12
Alien activity: None this week.
Alien technology: Four devices, giving off an unusual signal that we couldn’t quite figure out. We thought they were creatures at first, but they turned out to be bombs. Big, nasty ones.
Rift activity: Several spikes and lots of interference, which is probably why we didn’t pick up on John coming through. Or his passenger.
Security: ‘’John Hart’’ came back, and ran rings around us. Didn’t see it coming at all. He laid the groundwork well, had us all fooled. A series of disturbances across the city, all with alien traces, all leading back to this one building in the middle of nowhere.
Other security issues: John has Gray. He has my brother. I haven’t seen him since I lost him, all those years ago. And now I finally get the chance to see him again, he’s in the hands of a sociopath. Whatever John wants, I’ll have to do it, I can’t risk anything happening to Gray. He’s the only family I have left, and the only chance I have of forgiving myself for letting him go.
Staff: Everyone came out of the explosion pretty beaten up, but no major damage. We got lucky. And so did John. Because if he’d killed anyone - if he had hurt Ianto - I would have slowly ripped him limb from limb.
Other Staff issues: Although I have to say, Ianto does look good all messed up and dirty.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Entry 26
Ongoing Archive Notes
Torchwood 3
Volume 73, Week 13
Alien activity: Weevils, and a Hoix. Luckily, they’re easy enough to deal with. Wish they’d been our only problem.
Rift activity: Oh, all kinds of activity. Fluctuations, jitters, cracks, and massive holes.
Security: It wasn’t John after all. But how easily I believed that he was capable of that. It was Gray. My own brother. I wasn’t expecting him to forgive me. I didn’t deserve forgiveness. I deserved punishment. But it went a whole lot further than that. Despite everything, I still can’t blame him for what he did. I forgave him. His mind was gone. Ravaged. Nothing left but hatred. Those creatures took away everything that he was. And it was all my fault.
Other security issues: Gray was incapable of forgiveness, of healing. All he would have done was commit more atrocities. So I had to neutralise him. Couldn’t kill him. Don’t think I ever will be able to.
Staff: Toshiko Sato and Owen Harper died in the line of duty. I lost them. I failed them. It feels like a piece of me has been cut out. And while I can’t die, losing people I love is much, much worse. Every time, you think this one won’t hurt as much as the last, but it does, it gets harder every time.
Owen, Tosh - you were the best. I miss you.
Other Staff issues: The one glimmer of hope in all this? I still have Ianto and Gwen. Whatever the future throws at us, whatever madness the Rift vomits out next, whatever we have to face - Torchwood will be ready.
Capt. Jack Harkness.
Ianto, I know you’re reading this over my shoulder, pretending to fix that damn shelf. So get over here and take me out somewhere.
