A Galaxy Apart

Dirty Harry's Corner

Jack almost spits out his drink
"Did I hear that right? Captain. John. Hart?"
"Do you maybe want to speak up a bit so that the whole pub can hear it?"
"Sorry. But that's...that's..."
"So I guess you know him."
"Of course I do. We used to be partners."
"I bet in every way" says the older man in a monotonous tone while he takes another sip of his drink.
"Indeed. And we had a great time..." a little smirk appears on Jack's face as he gets lost in thoughts for a moment.
"I know who you are, boy"
"Oh do you?"
"Yes, Captain."
"Always love it when people call me that" he smirks
"God, you are a really hopeless case"
"Maybe, but I'm fun. A lot of fun actually"
"And the worst"
"Of course I am. And proud of it. I mean... I'm Captain Jack Harkness. What did you expect?"
"Nothing less to be honest"
"Well. Now you know who I am. And you are?"
"Your current employer"
Jack rolls his eyes and sighs "You really don't trust me do you?"
"Oh I trust in your talents and capabilities, but this is a line of business where names are better not said."
"Maybe better that way. And now tell me about the object you want back"
Jack drowns his drink while he leans on his forearms resting on the counter.
"It's a piece of jewelry" the man keeps quiet for a moment.
"Mhm...a bit more details, please."
"Well, it is a necklace. Whoever wears it gains the ability to read the emotions of everyone around him"
"Interesting. But why do I think there's even more to it than that?"
The man nods and smiles faintly
"You're good"
"Kinda psychic and believe me.. I am good" Jack winks.
"And kinda the worst. Anyways...whoever wears it also gains the ability, if the person is mentally strong enough, to control everyone around him psychically."
"So...you say that whoever wears it has telepathic powers? And could force me only through his mind to make me do things I don't want to?"
The man nods in agreement "Bingo"
Jack looks into his drink and sighs. Wow, he didn't see that coming. John Hart having the power to control someone's mind...and soon his. As he closes his eyes for a moment he sees him right in front in the dark. John. With his mischievous smirk and...sexy outfit. Jack sits abruptly up shuddering a bit under the thought meeting his ex again.
"And you really think that I am the right man for this job? He's my ex"
"Oh, I know. It was my luck that I met you because you seem to be the only one who knows him good enough to predict any move he might make. You are the one who can handle him. I've heard the stories...about you two in the agency."
"These times are long ago."
"But still... I know that some things will never change...just like the fact that Hart will surely get emotional around you. And get weak. Distracted. And he will let you close to him. So that you..." he moves his hand explanatory..
"Can steal it. Got it"
"Exactly. You think you can handle that?"
"Well I guess I have to, don't I? It's my job now."
"Right. So you have any idea where you will find this man?"
Jack smirks a bit and looks at his VM.
He presses a few buttons on it and swipes along it.
"I have sort of an idea..."

One week later the the cruise ship makes a stop at a well known space station almost at the other end of the galaxy called Alpha Andromeda Four...well, nice name isn't it? But in the common language it's name was 'Dirty Harry's Corner'. And yes, there's a good reason why it has earned its name...all the smut and scum of the galaxy shows up here. Almost each and everyone around here committed at least five or more crimes in their life. Thieves, fraudsters, hackers, drug sellers...and those are the harmless ones.

Jack walks through the entrance which reminds to the corridors connecting planes and airports from the 21st century on Earth. Alone. His employer left the ship a few days ago at a diffrent space station. But this place is something special for Jack as he wasn't here for many mayn years and lived through a lot at this spot. Entering the space station he closes his eyes for a moment standing in the middle of the red-lighted room. Once again decontamination steam runs all over him and makes his coat flatter a bit in the cool air. And yes, Jack is aware of the jealous and desiring looks he gets from the others around him. With a deep breath he leaves the room as the light turns green. Yeah, he is ready. Ready for a new mission. And a new life. After a minute the tall man ends up in front of the immense number of the elevators where each of them leads through the whole station. Jack takes one of them and presses a button so that the the doors close and the life makes it way down. Stuck in the lift with a handful of others our Captain gets lost in a little daydream. If people could see it the space station from space, if Ianto could have seen this place...it has a rather cylindrical form at all and had about two hundred decks. He has landed here so many times with his ships or teleported to the docks that he knew this place almost by heart. Except that he never really visited the lower decks. No one is really keen on going to the floors at the bottom of the station as it is the very spot of crime. People were barely safe down there among all the scum of criminals, murderers and worse...

The doors open at the 147th deck and there it is...the sweet smell of alcohol and drugs in the air. The many voices shouting and babbling through the space station. He made a few steps forward and leans against the railing which offered him a view on the incredible room right bellow him. It was a big hall with a high ceiling, hundreds of people walked down there like ants. The mass of people makes Jack smile, all these aliens, so many people he didn't knew. Or somehow hoping he might know them. What if he met some old friends, some famous criminals, or hopefully John.
Yes, this was the deck he was looking for. The one place the Captain loved to visit and had missed it way too much over the last years. Jack takes the stairs but keeps his hands in his pockets to make sure no boy might come around and steal his VM, purse or psychic paper. Down there it was like a basar. Aliens, robots, Androids walk along him, brush against his arms and sides and not bothering about him at all. With a little smile Jack walks around heading to the one spot he knew way too well...the one spot he hoped to meet his old partner.

The letters shine down at him in their glimmering colours showing the bars name: Captain Henry Morgan's Bar.
With a slim smirk on his lips Jack walks into the slightly darker room and looks around for a minute with a searching, almost preying glance seeking for this one man.
And there he was...at the bar of course and a bottle of whiskey right next to him. Sitting there in his red jacket with the stripes and the dirty grey shirt he looked as like he hadn't aged a day. Captain John Hart...staring in his half empty glass and chatting with a bored smile to a girl right next to him. Jack watches while he can feel how his heart starts to pace faster, how the adrenaline comes up and the blood rushes through his veins as he walks slowly up to the captain....