I
originally intended for the weapons training scene to come at the end
of the previous episode, showing everyone coming to accept Alun in the
team. But it really would have unbalanced the story, so it became the
start of the new story, Baptism of Fire. We see that far from being good
at only filing, Alun is an exceptional crack shot. But he has never fired
a gun in anger, and doesn’t know if he is good enough.
The
issue of taking first Ianto and then Alun for granted is one I wanted
to explore. Jack saying “Thanks, Ianto” without looking up
to see that it was Alun threw that into focus. The crux of the story once
it unfolds is how much they NEED Alun and Ianto, the only two left outside
the Hub when it goes into lockdown. Ianto, even though he is full of flu,
manages to tell Alun how to get into the Hub through a back entrance only
he knows about. And then Alun finds out if he CAN fire a gun in anger
in order to save everyone.
Alun
has moved in with Ianto at this point. Their relationship is cemented,
even though they have that love scene where they won’t use the word
love. Later, when Ianto does admit to being in love with him a benchmark
in their relationship HAS been crossed.
The
Jec-Tet are in response to requests
for a good scary monster as some of the stories have been more psychological.
They are about as nasty as I can make them, although since they don’t
get to kill anyone they are a bit toothless. I used them again in a New
Lords of Time story “
