Title: Bonderasian Changing Hut
Fandom: Torchwood
Rating: G
Length: 450 words
Summary: The latest arrival through the rift resembles a garden shed.

The items which fell through the Rift were of all descriptions, many were inanimate, some were animate to an extent and some, fortunately relatively few, were sentient.  The current item was, basically, inanimate, but, apparently, was under some form of programming.

Outwardly it resembled a purple garden shed.  Jack and Ianto had brought it back to the Hub for Tosh to investigate.  Unfortunately, as they had set it down on the floor, the door had flown open, Ianto had been sucked inside, and the door had slammed shut again.

Initially, Jack had tried to force his way in, whilst Ianto had tried to push open the door from his side, but to no avail.  There was a window on one side of the shed-like structure, and they were doing their best to communicate using signs because the shed appeared completely sound-proof.

Tosh spotted something resembling a keypad to one side of the door and pointed it out to Jack.

“Maybe you can change the configuration,” Jack said, “so we can get this thing open again.  I don’t want to risk using tools at this stage when we don’t know whether it has a defensive mechanism, not while Ianto’s stuck inside.”

“I’ll work on it as fast as I can,” Tosh replied.  “At least he’s able to breathe in there.”

Jack returned to making signs to Ianto and then suddenly gave a yelp.  The previously clear window had now changed to black, and he could no longer see inside.

He was running through in his mind the best tool he could use to break into the shed, when the door flew open again and Ianto was launched out.  He was encased in what could best be described as a hazmat suit.

Jack hurried to help Ianto back onto his feet.  “Are you okay?” he asked.

Ianto removed his helmet.  “Basically, yes.  I’m not injured, whatever it is in there is actually quite gentle, although it’s not something I’d wish to repeat.”

“Why, what happened?” Tosh asked.

“I’ve just had all my clothes removed and replaced with this suit.  And I mean all.”

Tosh tried not to laugh.

Jack didn’t even bother trying.  He laughed loudly and said, “It’s a Bonderasian changing hut.  I’ve heard about them, but never seen one in practice.  They’re designed to protect the Bonderasians when they visit planets with hostile environments.  The hut calculates precisely what’s needed to ensure the crew are safe and then manufacturers a made-to-measure suit.  I think it must have malfunctioned slightly.”

“Well, I’m not going near it again,” Ianto said.  “I suppose I should be grateful the window changed colour while I was being dressed.”

“Oh, yes,” Jack said.  “They’re really well designed.”