Captain's Blog: Jack
The best Jack bits from the BBC America Captain's Blog.
I will be updating as the blog updates, so keep on the look out. Links to other team members here and at end of post. If you feel like I've missed anything out, let me know and I'll add it in. My thanks to
theonides for the icon.
Series 1:
Entry 1:
"She [Gwen]...has led me to re-assess Torchwood's remit."
"On a personal note, this [Suzie's death] 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."
Entry 3:
"Security: Quantum Transducer taken out of Hub..., 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 issues: According to Ianto, Splott is pronounced "Sploe". I think Ianto may have been lying."
Entry 4:
"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."
Entry 5:
"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."
"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."
Entry 6:
"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."
"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."
Entry 7:
"I reprogrammed her [Mary's] transport so that it teleported her into the Sun."
"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."
"Also, had an argument with the Prime Minister again, which is getting to be a regular occurrence. Fun, though."
"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."
Entry 8:
"I was forced to kill Suzie again to save Gwen's life."
"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."
"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."
Entry 9:
"Staff: Things seem to be calming down with everyone. Ianto is coping well; I'm pleased with his progress."
Entry 11:
"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."
"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."
Entry 12:
"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."
"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."
Entry 13:
"Alien technology: Rift Manipulator used again to open the Rift. I would have stopped this happening, but was dead at the time."
"It [Abaddon] fed off life energy - so I gave him a taste of the Captain, and he overdosed. Kaboom...I'm losing count how many times I've died now."
"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."
Series 2:
Entry 14:
"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."
"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... 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."
Entry 15:
"Alien activity: Cell 114. I knew I’d have to face them one day. Was hoping they’d overlook this little planet though."
"Security: Will be having words with the military about them storing nuclear warheads on my turf without letting me know... 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."
Entry 16:
"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."
Entry 17:
"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."
"If he’d [Rhys] 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."
Entry 18:
"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."
"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."
Entry 19:
"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...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."
Entry 20:
"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"
"Rift activity: Jittery. I’ve spent several hours trying to think of the right word, and that one just about works."
"It’s not easy, knowing that you can’t die, not the fun time it sounds like. But I’m going to help him [Owen] through it."
"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."
Entry 22:
"Alien activity: Ah, Cardiff weddings. I’ve been to ones where shape shifting aliens weren’t the weirdest thing to happen."
"Alien technology: The Singularity Scalpel...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."
"Female Nostrovite proved to be extremely resilient to bullets, so I had to get my massive weapon out and take care of business."
"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."
"I can’t lie though - rushing in and shouting ‘’stop the wedding’’ was enormous fun."
Entry 23:
"Alien activity: The Night Travellers... I let them slip through my fingers way back then... I’m assuming they were aliens, I can’t be sure... I can still see the faces of the people we lost."
"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."
"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."
Entry 24:
"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."
"I should have trusted her [Gwen] with the information, but I knew what it would do to her."
"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."
Entry 25:
"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."
"If he’d [John] killed anyone - if he had hurt Ianto - I would have slowly ripped him limb from limb."
Entry 26:
"How easily I believed that he [John] 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... it was all my fault."
"So I had to neutralise him [Gray]. 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."
"Ianto, I know you’re reading this... So get over here and take me out somewhere."
Myfanwy, Gwen, Ianto, Tosh, Owen, Non-Team, Other