Mr Invincible (audio story)

Mr Invincible was the tenth and final release of the BBC Torchwood audio stories.

Publisher's summary
Ross Chapman is one of life's losers. So when he survives a point-blank shooting, dons a superhero costume and becomes a crime-busting vigilante, something strange is clearly going on.

And Ross's transformation isn't the only odd thing happening in Cardiff. Time is distorting—around the city, some people are ageing, dying and decomposing in a matter of minutes, while others are reverting to childhood.

Sgt Andy Davidson knows he's out of his depth—so when Jack Harkness sweeps into the police station, he's glad of the help that only Torchwood can provide. But for Jack, the stakes are higher than ever. He's seen a vision of Gwen, dead, murdered by an unknown gunman. And if he can't solve the mystery of Mr Invincible, he can't save her...

Plot
Jack visits Andy to investigate Gwen's death after the vision he had on Cotter Paluni's World, but he calls Mary's house when Andy seems oblivious and learns from Rhys that Gwen is alive and well and living in Swansea. Believing the vision to instead be a premonition, he and Andy look into the case of Ross Chapman, an invincible superhero who seems to have been aware of crimes before they happen and who might be connected to Gwen's future shooting. Jack learns from Ross's wife, Meredith, that she too is developing superpowers and that Ross somehow receives notice of crimes two days in advance.

Andy hears reports of a vicar transforming into a baby, a teacher transforming into a boy and two workmen and a woman dying and decomposing over the course of several minutes and calls Jack, who is investigating the notepaper that Ross wrote the date and location of a crime on before it occurred. Dr Reynolds at the Dellmore Institute confirms that it is from the psychiatric rehabilitation centre and gives Jack access to the records, allowing him to learn of the elderly Mr Baverstock and the dates and locations that voices in his head have been giving him to pass onto a man who visits him. Mr Baverstock confirms that a photograph of Ross is that man.

Jack returns to the Chapmans' house, now inside a time whirlpool, and discovers that Ross's daughter Jodie is behind the time distortion and Ross getting his powers. She hoped to make her father respected by making him a superhero, using Mr Baverstock as a conduit to prevent him from learning of her involvement, and transports herself and Jack to a street where a gunman shoots at Gwen. Jack takes the bullets for her, however, and Jodie transports him back to her house where Meredith admits that Ross is not her biological father; she had an affair with Belfagor, an Arqualian with powers over time, fifteen years ago and he gave her a necklace to give to Jodie when she was older. Jack puts it around Jodie's neck and her powers stabilise.

Andy calls Jack and tells him that Ross has died after being stabbed by a mugger. They go to the hospital with Meredith and Jodie, the latter of whom blames herself for her father's death and those who were aged to death. Andy points out that he is unable to charge her with anything and he and Jack leave, giving the Chapmans privacy to mourn Ross and start a new chapter in their lives.

Characters

 * Jack Harkness
 * Andy Davidson
 * Rhys Williams
 * Ross Chapman
 * Tez Bradley
 * Dai
 * Stevo
 * Meredith Chapman
 * Jodie Chapman
 * Margaret Jones
 * Jacqueline Reynolds
 * Henry Baverstock
 * Anton
 * Tania Monroe

Worldbuilding

 * The Chapmans live in Splott.
 * Gwen bathes Anwen.
 * Margaret Jones is the wife of Robert Jones, the vicar of the Church of St Emmanuelle on Gadalfa Street.
 * The Delmore Institute is a psychiatric rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of Dinas Powys was built in the 1760s.

Continuity

 * The events of Red Skies are mentioned.