the beginning

It’s all of sudden when the screens in Torchwood Cardiff hub turn to black, then splashes of white appear and, finally, the senseless mosaic becomes one dim image, bathed in blue. And that image is enough to keep their gazes fixed, breaths held.
“Hello, Captain.”
The voice they hear is not just powerful – there is something else about it that almost forces them to listen. As if it didn’t belong to that thin man, shivering in soaking clothes. He would have been just plain, if not for his bruises, dripping water and the haunting, yet tired look in his double-colored eyes.
"I came here to destroy it all. All that you did, all that you do. As you can see, it's no longer necessary." The dim blue light draws out outlines of what might have been Institute’s fittings and what now is smashed, burnt, cracked and broken beyond recognition, in a nearly impossible way. A landscape of destruction, providing an ominously matching scenery for that man. A proof of his madness – if it’s madness that’s dwelling at the bottom of his irides – perhaps?
"Now you look like you thought I did it after all and I'm crazy enough to deny it, for whatever reason. But, no. I changed my mind, but it was...already too late."
For a moment, he turns away, as if… there are numerous “as ifs”; and it’s not a wise thing to do, trust a madman. But, as for now, there is no fury nor hysteria of any kind, just sadness, more striking than the remains he must be looking at. And so, they believe him, though it doesn’t bring relief. They still lean back instinctively when he looks at the screen again, directly at them. One eye as blue as the surrounding light, another one brownish-green.
"From that moment I take command of Torchwood Two." That’s a statement, clearly not a question. And, surprisingly enough, even Captain is too startled to undermine it. "I will make my own rules, but I won't break any of yours if it's not absolutely necessary.” That tone, strong, but only seemingly confident, makes them lean back again, wary of his madness. “We both know and you know even better than I do what can happen when just one man makes all decisions and has enough knowledge to think that he's able to do that. This time I won't take a chance. I will just take some of the responsibility. I will fix it. Make it work. You can try to stop me, you are very welcome, but as you can see, I'm the only one left here and I still...have the key. I will report you on the progress as soon as I take care of this mess. Whisper out" He looks away again, focusing on something they can’t see. "Who's there?"
Before they get a chance to know the answer, screens turn to velvet black again. The connection has ended, but the silence – fractured only by echoing sounds of dripping water – still keeps ringing in their ears.