Fallen Soldiers [Complete story]

[Tumble Lord]

'Prisoner escort wishes entry into Transmitter compound' replied the leader as he strode to the front of vast metal gates, from around these stood seven foot high metal fencing surrounded by a low trench.
'I require authorisation codes to permit you entry into this compound' came a buzzing reply across a speaker mounted in the wall of the gate.
The leader merely typed in a sequence on a control pad beneath the speaker, a light glowed and the speaker replied.
'Authorisation codes confirmed, you have entry' and with that the huge gates slid back to reveal to the eyes of Emily and the Doctor a vast white conical building.
Within the compound there sat many military canvas tents while a few solid buildings surrounded the transmitter tower.
Stepping into the compound, the soldiers immediately parted, they walked off towards a larger tent and immediately another group appeared by their sides.
'Prisoner escort attention. You will be taken to interrogation room one; there you will await central interrogation and torture supervised by the WarGeneral. Do you understand?' the new leader asked.
'Yes, I believe we both do, though torture won't be necessary, we'll both speak freely' the Doctor replied.
'We shall see. You will tell us everything, when we are satisfied with what you have told us, any wounds you have sustained will be bandaged and you will remain in your allotted cells' retorted the leader.
Turning back towards the compound he carried on.
'Quick march!' he ordered and immediately they were forced once more but at a gentler pace and as they walked into a smaller, white blockhouse.
High above them on the balcony of the transmitter cone there stood Phillips watching them.
'Interesting that, quite unlike who I had expected. Oh well time to put in an appearance Doctor or sometime perhaps?' He said and glanced around at the rest of the compound.
'Ah. Soon I shall re-write this canvas before me? How about an hour? Yes, the last hour before the end. Then cry havoc!' Philanimous purred and then he quickly returned back into the tower.

The Doctor was finally allowed to sit in a chair. His aching body slumped forward briefly as he took in a slight breath then suddenly a bright light shone in his face, intense- catching at his swollen dust-filled eyes.
Raising a hand to shelter his eyes he could make out a figure sitting behind the lamp at a desk.
'You are a prisoner of the STORE system. You were captured within enemy held territory in the company of a Genesis agent. A severely wounded prisoner was located in your proximity. How do you plead to the charges?' a cold toned middle-aged man with greasy black hair asked.
'Charges? How long am I going to have to play Piggy in the middle? I am innocent against all evidence on display. That is only considered by your sadistic lackeys' the Doctor replied.
'How do you plead the charges, guilty or innocent?' retorted the officer.
The Doctor sighed as he squinted towards the light and shrugged, rubbing at the many bruises across his body.
'I plead innocent. I have nothing to worry about except for these injuries' the Doctor replied wearily.
'Your wounds will be taken care of after interrogation. We will begin: Your full name for the record is required' the officer ordered, flicking the top of his pen he waited.
'I am the Doctor' he said but the Officer shook his head, clicking his fingers, two soldiers appeared by either side of the Doctor.
'Titles and professions are of secondary importance, persuasion may be required if your are reluctant to divulge the answers! Your name and planet of origin' the Officer snapped.
'John Smith, Gallifrey. Is that all right?' the Doctor replied.
'Perfectly. However if you are lying, you will suffer. We will continue. Into which service are you employed?' the Officer asked.
'None' the Doctor said but with a click of the man's fingers the Doctor received a massive punch to the chest.
'I warned you. You will tell us which service corporation you serve. Since you are a double agent. You will tell us everything you know, your secrets, contacts names, everything or the punishment will continue!' the Officer said quickly and coldly.
'I am telling you the truth! I am an off worlder and I serve no one!' the Doctor replied but again the Officer clicked his fingers...

'Name?' asked a tall, attractive woman with bleach-blonde hair dressed in a tall black plastic uniform.
'Emily Durant' she said as she sat within a sturdy metal chair, bands closed around her wrists.
'Your official position with the Genesis Incorporated Military Task force?' the captor snapped, her dark eyes falling over Emily shivering form.
'Group leader, Green Star Squad' she replied and as finished, the woman crossed over to dial on the wall. The thermostat and immediately a jet of hot air flew at her face making Emily flinch.
'Explain your purpose as to why you were present within the Genesis camp?' ordered the interrogator.
'My team, my team was taken out by a sniper. I requested reinforcements to complete my mission. I presumed they were them but they were re-called to investigate the number of missing casualties' Emily replied and the woman smiled.
'Explain the position of your fellow prisoner? Were you a contact of his? Did you know he was a double agent?' the woman spat but Emily did her best to answer but the woman turned on the thermostat quickly.
'Look, the Doctor is a scientist and that's all I know. He's a medic lost from his team' she replied but flinched greatly as the hot air cut into her.
'I'm telling you the truth!' she yelled as sweat gleamed across her face and exposed hands and for a terrible moment the woman picked up a glass of sparkling water and took a sip and then threw the remains to the floor.
'I am. Why won't you listen to me?' Emily cried but instead the woman turned on the dial and crossed over to the door, pulling it open she came across a tall, dark, greasy haired man in a similar dark uniform.
'She still claims that her accomplice is nothing more than a medic suffering, probably from shell shock?' the woman said.
'Whereas he believes himself to be an off worlder. Interesting use of covers. One of them must be lying to us. We will find out which one. It is our duty' replied the cold voiced man.
The woman saluted him and re-entered the interrogation room to see Emily almost slumped in her chair. Reaching out to the dial, she turned it off.
Crossing over to Emily, she suddenly slapped her into consciousness and smiled.
'Now we shall start again...' she replied.

[Tumble Lord]

It was some hours later when Emily had finally been released from her torment. She sat on a crude bed looking about her rough, dank cell. She favoured dank now, it wonderful to sit in somewhere so cool.
Though what she had said had been of little value towards her mission and various tasks. More towards the Doctor and who he was?
She then wondered what he was going through. What they might do to him?
It was then that booted footsteps echoed along the corridor and as Emily stood up, readying herself for whatever torture they were going to throw at her, the cell door was unlocked and framed within stood an armed soldier holding a lamp and a grey-haired woman dressed in white carrying a case of some sort.
'The prisoner will remain standing while the medical officer will tend to your wounds' bellowed the guard.
'Medical? Why are you doing this? What's happened to the Doctor?' she asked but instead she became a subject of scrutiny as the woman glanced over her.
'Will you please remove your armour and point out areas that require treatment?' the woman said in clipped precise tone.
'The back of my neck for one thing, a few bruises along my body and that's it' Emily replied as she started to slip off her shoulder protection pads and dropped them onto the bed.
As she started to unzip her tunic, the soldier by the door started to giggle but received only two looks of annoyance.
'Would you mind please? This is serious work I have to attend to' the Medic replied and immediately the soldier fell silent.
'Why are you doing this to me? One second it's torture and the next...?' Emily found herself asking.
'Orders from the WarGeneral himself. That you are to be removed from interrogation and to be healed and fed. The majority here would rather see you beaten to a pulp. You are the patient, I am a medic' the woman said as she pulled down the back of Emily's collar to see the twin scarlet punctures.
'Interesting. How did you acquire these wounds?' she asked.
Emily almost chuckled as she replied disguising it as a cough.
'You'd never believe if I told you. I was bitten by a bug!' she said but the Medic simply shook her head.
'No need for sarcasm, if I wasn't tending them now then they could turn septic' the Medic warned and Emily sighed slowly.

'For the last time. What are the full positioning codes of all Genesis Inc military personnel on this planet' the officer shouted towards the Doctor's form.
The Doctor should have been slumped in the chair from the various beatings he had taken but defiant as ever he leaned forward into the light, coughing as he did so.
'I am not part of any corporation; I am not working for anyone other than myself and even then on choice of will. I am not your enemy!' the Doctor snapped but then as he squinted, he could see the officer raising his hand so quickly the Doctor objected.
'Very well I will tell you of the enemy. Their positions are masked by a different radio frequency, their numbers are many, perhaps more so your entire force stationed on this world and that of Genesis put together' the Doctor replied and the officer looked up at him.
'Not Genesis? You are a double agent working for Genesis, you are a traitor and there's no good resorting to lies to cover your tracks!' snapped the officer coldly.
'Then how will it work? You want to hear things that I don't know? How can I possibly know them then?' the Doctor retorted loudly, forcing himself to stand.
Behind dark glass, behind the interrogating officer sat a few clerks typing notes on typewriters when in strode Philanimous.
Immediately everyone rose to attention, to which he motioned for them to remain.
'How goes the interrogation?' he asked.
'He is resisting all attempts to inform us of the relevant information' replied a clerk.
Philanimous stared in a mixture of amazement and horror at the Doctor's condition. He had wanted the Doctor to suffer but not this harshly but as two burly soldiers advanced on the Doctor, Phillips believed it was time to act.
'Activate the microphone to the room' he ordered and as there came a burst of static Philanimous leant in.
'This is the WarGeneral. All interrogation is to be suspended immediately. Both prisoners are to be seen by medical officers and to be fed properly. Any attempt to disrupt those orders will be met with termination by firing squad!' Philanimous barked.
The Doctor weakly raised his head as the light before faded, that voice, so familiar to his ears but then, the room when dark as he collapsed to the ground.

The hum of the alteration process finally faded away into silence as the last of the banks opened and from what had once been a human now stepped something else in its place. Cold, silver, metallic coated figure. A face crude in construction but its style denoted their race.
The blank round sockets from which glowed red eyes, the face flat, no sign of bumps or hair or a nose or ears. A slit served as a mouth while two strange inverted horns met at the forehead, projecting from the place of the ears.
A Cyberman stood there, awaiting orders.
Around it stood other identical creatures, awaiting their task. Their cause to be put into action.
'All units have been successfully processed leader. The conversion decks await further subjects for alteration' reported the Cybernetic technician.
'Reports from the field?' the Black helmeted Cyberleader asked.
'Negative leader. Humanoids are not present. They have retreated towards the secondary human control site' reported the technician.
'Deploy Spikter units into the site. Our troops will advance towards the control site. All compatible humans will be captured alive for alteration. If resistance is met then you will kill them' the leader ordered.
In such a confined space, the noise would have proven deafening but not to these creatures.
'Understood leader' they all replied in unison.
With the control to the door activated it slid up and out poured the hundred Cyber-troops onto the surface and away into the darkness.
'The unknown life form designated 'Doctor' will be prepared upon return to this site. He has access to temporal technology. We will survive. We will exist' reported the leader.
'The order is being transmitted to all units. Spikter divisions are moving in to the area. Warning, they report massive electrical defence grid surrounding the site's perimeter' reported the technician.
'They will penetrate below the defence grid. They will survey the defences. We will enter. We will take them all. We will survive' replied the Cyberleader.
'Spikter units have penetrated human defence screen. Their presence has remained undetected' reported the technician.

[Tumble Lord]

Vision slowly started to filter through to the Doctor's eyes. He was lying on a bed somewhere, breathing oxygen and something else- anaesthetic! Glancing around him he could see people in masks, not again he thought.
'Goodness me, that isn't right?' cried a surgeon.
'It's all right. Perfectly normal for him, he isn't human despite his appearance' replied a strangely familiar voice but then it went dark again for him.
It must have been some time later when he finally opened his eyes again and became aware that he was lying on a rough bed, his clothing laid out upon the end of the bed.
Sitting up, he noticed the chill and pulled on his clothes quickly, as he buttoned his shirt he noticed that it like his trousers and socks were clean and slightly warm.
Looking down at his palms he could see surgical scars, now almost healed over.
Pulling on his shoes and coat he walked towards a door and pushing it open, he found no guards. Instead there stood a vast winding circular corridor.
Pulling on his tie he started down the corridor and trying the many doors that he could see but they were all locked.
Finally a pair of double door stood before him, a sign above them read: Secondary Monitoring Room.
'Now that looks interesting? Why give a rat the full reign of the maze if only to trap it? This makes this the trap by entering this room. Though I could remain outside but with nothing to do here, perhaps I should find out why I am here?' the Doctor replied and walked forward pushing open the doors.
Immediately as he stepped inside he glanced around at bright lights over head as well-lit console stood vacant, awaiting use by technicians.
'So this is the transmitter everyone's talking about? Incredible! The source of this corporate war, all this suffering results from this solitary installation' the Doctor breathed.
'Indeed Doctor, quite an interesting place and also the site of my re-direction' replied a voice to his left and as the Doctor turned there appeared a man he knew well dressed in a black army overcoat.
'Ah. Of course, who else would intervene at my torture if only to annoy me further, Phillips!' the Doctor said grimly, staring him down.
'Philanimous, if you please. On the contrary, I saved you, again. I could have let you rot with them in torture, remember my version of London? Twice I've saved you and twice you owe me Doctor' Philanimous retorted.

'Somehow now, I would have preferred torture then confront you Phillips. This is getting tiresome these days. Haven't you ever considered of taking up a hobby like stamp collecting?' the Doctor countered.
'Hobby? Hobby?! Doctor, have you forgotten so easily, you know my pain, have the implanted memories finally faded from your mind. You share my pain now. Being tortured by these creatures about us but what would you know, arriving back to find your home planet is a burnt out cinder, caused by that filth outside! Do you honestly think that I consider anything aside from retrieving my people?' Philanimous snapped.
'The thought had crossed my mind, rather than waste my time and yours by creating these pointless attacks at history like this. What do you want here on this world?' the Doctor finally answered in a calmer tone.
'Well Doctor, I rescued you and before you ask. Your friend is being looked after well and will continue to unless you prove to be too much of an inconvenience' Phillips retorted.
'Like I was on Karr Tem?' the Doctor asked but then he saw the right side of Phillips face. It looked like burnt skin, slight deformities present.
'No Doctor. Back then, you were unforeseen, here I knew in advance that you were present, I ordered your capture' Phillips replied turning away back towards the balcony.
'But how could you know I was... the Cybermen? You are in league with them aren't you? What have they promised?' the Doctor snapped but instead Phillips looked out onto the compound before him.
'Promised Doctor? 'Promises serve no value to our cause' Phillips replied in a mock cyber-voice. 'You know the drill more than I do; besides I am their “honorary” controller. It is what I have promised them. Much has happened Doctor'
'I know. I've seen it out there. Was this world ever so green once? People lived lives in cities, animals lived here, rich and fulfilling lives until their peace was corrupted by you and this war!' the Doctor countered as he stepped towards his foe.
'No Doctor, this corporate escapade was all ready progressing; it is part of the continuity of set events. My contribution to it has been very small but here is the decision, the crossroads to destiny!' Philanimous said patting the balcony steadily.
'I think you'd better explain yourself. Why are you doing this? WarGeneral indeed, Cybermen. Why all this?' the Doctor asked but Phillips just looked over his shoulder at the time lord.
'It happened for me two years ago but for you Doctor it occurs within your future...' Phillips replied viciously.

They moved slowly through the long shadows that were cast thickly along the ground. As soldiers on parade stomped down their drill something crawled free and scuttled across the flat ground towards the first blockhouse.
It understood its instructions as it suddenly leapt four feet to the wall and quickly it hurried up the wall as though it were the ground.
It was one of many, allotted to many tasks. It was assigned to locate the defence controls. To analyse its systems and take control.
Crawling as it did, it reached the edge and slid onto the roof. Fear was an aberration to it its newly controlled mind, logic overran its need to think and feel. All it needed was to: Know its orders.
A skylight remained open, beneath there was a monitoring room of some sort. Its sensors detected an energy discharge. As a human leaned forward, pressing a control, the gates slid open.
This was it; however there were two humanoids present. Detection would be certain. It waited patiently then as one of them moved towards the doors, the spikter hurriedly scuttled over the edge of the skylight and onto the ceiling.
One of the operators, a female said something, a moment later it left the room. The spikter knew its task.
'This is control, your authorisation code has been recognised and access has been granted' the young operator said.
'Look, just cut the machine yack out of it. Lighten up Jack?' came the reply and the operator smiled slowly.
'All right, I will. Must be the hours getting to me. As soon as I'm off this shift I think I could sleep for a week. Any trouble out there?' he asked.
'A little cloudy still but nothing else' came the reply.
The Spikter had reached the floor, scuttling silently to the chair. Suddenly it launched itself at his neck. Its legs wrapped themselves around his neck as twin spikes drilled into the neck.
Caught unaware, the Operator squealed before slumping forward. A moment later he lifted his head, his eyes were blank.
The task had been completed. Control of defences had been attained. It signalled its triumph to control.

[Tumble Lord]

’You want to know, don’t you? That temptation struggling to draw power, understanding the one thing you deny yourself the right to see. Your future, but you’d be breaking one of your precious “laws of time”. Would you like to know anyway?' Phillips taunted but the Doctor remained unmoved.
'Give me the abridged version Phillips, and be brief on the details!' the Doctor retorted and Philanimous smiled.
'Of course I will, the last thing I would want to do is give you a possible paradox to mull over? Around twenty-one years prior to this event I will attempt a coup to bring my people back into being, I am thwarted. Now I have appeared here, two years after my people have died out. This transmitter will determine a happy future, if it is destroyed by Genesis, they will re-build another, thus STORE will vanish into the ether and Genesis will expand, alliances grow and it culminates into the galactic federation' Phillips replied.
'Diverting the crossroads then? Like swapping the signs about. You have removed the Genesis agents from the equation?' the Doctor replied.
'Exactly Doctor and time will be diverted down the other channel, the war will escalate and by the time of the federation the Earth Empire will be burnt out. No one will dare trust them again' Phillips replied.
'Dishonour? I assume you intend to change history warping it so madly that your world, your people will return intact? All this death and suffering! You've outdone yourself this time Phillips!' the Doctor snapped.
'Thank you; it is a precautionary measure if my crusade collapses. As for the Cybermen, I found them amongst the wreckyards; a single ship. Quite a sophisticated one at that. Discovering a few intact sleepers, I reactivated them, promised them humans, casualties of war for their cause!' Phillips replied sounding quite polite but the Doctor was gritting his teeth as he lashed out at Philanimous.
Forcing him against the bars and trying to hold him over, as Phillips struggled to gain purchase the Doctor pushed further.
'How many people have died because of them? How many have you sentenced to death with your tricks, WarGeneral?' the Doctor snapped but then Phillips side-stepped and the Doctor almost fell over the edge had someone not gripped his shoulder in time.
'Easy now Doctor, we wouldn't want any accidents to happen. Saved you three times now, you owe or you will owe a race you have almost doomed to genocide!' Phillips replied coldly but the Doctor lashed out again.
'No, No Phillips! I won't let you do this!' he cried angrily.
'Too late Doctor, it's all ready happening. History set in motion ready for a devastating de-railing!' Phillips replied as the Doctor threw another punch but again Phillips dodged.

Emily finished dining off her rationed meal, not much to it but a nutrient bar and a glass of water, it wasn't much but it was more than she'd hoped for.
The medic had completed her work with patching her up and although he was coated in a few bandages she still ached all over.
She reached up to feel the scar tissue on the back of her neck.
'Easy there. The surgery is recent, be careful you don't open those wounds' the medic warned.
'Thanks. So what do I do now?' she asked.
'The WarGeneral has ordered that you will remain here, if he proves uncooperative then he has ordered that are to be harmed' the medic replied.
'Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll go with option two?' Emily said but immediately the guard raised his gun.
'There is no option two except for this!' he prompted.
'Oh dear, well in that case you have me?' Emily said but suddenly there came a curious rattling, attracting all their attentions.
It was from the small air vent in the ceiling; suddenly it fell open, hanging there on its hinges.
As the Medic reached up to close it, glancing up, something suddenly pounced out onto her arm. Screaming with shock she tried to shake it free but instead the strange spider-like creature advanced down her arm an onto her shoulders.
'And with that I was gone' Emily replied and make a dodge for the door but the guard torn between duty and rescue raised his gun.
'You're not going to move! You will stay here!' he yelled but then as the creature reached its target there came an audible whirr as twin spikes drilled into the Medic neck. She thrashed viciously and taking her chance Emily snatched the rifle free from the guard's hand and knocked him aside.
'Thanks but no thanks. I've got other things to do!' she said almost feeling concerned for the medic but she knew it was far too late for her.
Hurrying out into the corridor, she pulled at the keys locking the door tight and chucking keys into another cell.
The medic stood up, her eyes blank glancing around her and then at the locked door.
'This'll put a spanner in the works!' Emily said as she smashed the glass panel in the wall and immediately a wailing klaxon echoed throughout the corridors.

'Why do you need me then? Why did you save me only for this?' the Doctor demanded.
Phillips looked blank at him, then an almost bemused grin spread across his face and the truth dawned in the Doctor's mind.
'You don't need me at all? If you planned to kill me you would have left me to interrogation?' the Doctor replied and Phillips raised his hands in a mock applause.
'Well done Doctor, eventually you get it. That's the interesting thing about this incarnation of yours. You can hold a descent conversation unlike your successor who keeps rabbiting on without seeing the bigger picture!' Phillips retorted.
The Doctor looked down at the compound beneath him and then at the land surrounding it, so dark and bleak.
'Then the Cybermen are coming here, for me?' he asked.
'And for the STORE personnel. Their ranks will grow. The Cyber-race these days is virtually extinct, no home world to return to, so what better place to take then this war zone' Phillips replied.
'You're enjoying this aren't you? You really are a sadist aren't you?' the Doctor cried.
'You have seen my life Doctor, felt my pain. I am not a selfish, self-centred ego-maniac with foolish beliefs about conquering the universe. I want my life restored to me. I was once a teacher, an explorer like yourself' Phillips replied and pulled free the flat disc from his coat pocket.
'And soon I will have that all again!' he said but on spying this device the Doctor seized it, examining it quickly.
'Cyber-communications device, long range and the means to bring your tin soldiers to you? Well they won't need your services anymore' the Doctor replied as Phillips struggled, the device fell from his hand down the tower to the ground.
'There now. I think that's the end of your crusade. Things going well?' the Doctor asked but Phillips just shrugged it off.
'They will come Doctor, Cybermen do not respond like dogs to a whistle. They are a rogue concept. They will come for you, it is inevitable!' Phillips countered but only then did the alarm start to ring around the compound.
'Ah, right on time!' Phillips added and smiled but the Doctor looked grave, staring into the darkness beneath them.

[Tumble Lord]

Outside the compound they stood in the darkness. Blank inhuman creatures awaiting the signal. Finally one of their number transmitted the signal to the spikter in control of the defence grid.
The spikter acknowledged its new orders and sent the signal through its 'new' frame. The brain held little important information but instead it operated the door release system.
As the system started a door opened and with stood the other operator.
'Jack? What are you doing? Fire sirens ringing. We have to get out here and assemble in the compound now!' she said but 'Jack' remained where he was.
She hurried over to him, tapping him on the shoulder but it felt damp, red faint liquid reflected on her hand.
'Jack?' she cried and turned him about but stared in horror of his dull, blank stare.
It was then that she saw the strange bands around his neck. The spikter was instructed to disable her for collection.
He suddenly stood up and walked towards her and without warning he knocked to the hard ground and she lay still. Having completed its task, it retracted the spikes and released its grip.
The former control subject collapsed to the ground beside his colleague. The spikter seized its chance and scuttled away into the darkness and awaited its next orders.
They came quickly and immediately it acted, scuttling out into the corridor while above it the siren screeched.
As someone approached from a room the Spikter charged its weapons. A man hurried out of the door but suddenly he collapsed forwards as the spikter triggered its weapons.
As the man collapsed soundlessly to the ground the spikter pounced on him glancing this way and that then as it wheeled around it caught sight of someone else.
Its front spines crackled with energy but a second later it exploded under a hail of bullets.
'I think not! I've still got a headache from the last time we met!' Emily cried and a second later the spikter exploded under another shot.
'God I hate spiders!' she cried as she hurried on, stopping briefly to feel for a pulse on the man's neck before hurrying on.
She had to find the Doctor, it was then she could hear heavy footsteps and the rattle of machine gun fire.

Hell was breaking out within the compound as soldiers pumped full of adrenaline hurried this way and that to assembly points but it was then that the vast gates slid back and immediately the attention of all was captured.
The Cybermen stepped free from the darkness, line after line filed forwards towards the soldiers, their heavy footsteps echoing loudly as they advanced.
'What the hell?' cried one of the soldiers.
'They must be with Genesis? Shoot them!' cried an off-duty corporal and immediately a lot of weapons were brought to bear.
Immediately the compound's siren was drowned out by the heavy barrage of gunfire but as the weapons sprayed bullets the opposition advanced quickly.
From the arms of the silver giants shot blue sparks of energy striking at each one of the soldiers, who collapsed into the waiting grasp.
Immediately these creatures retreated to the darkness with their prey.
A few soldiers had reached the ammunitions tent and were helping themselves to larger arms but as the wave of Cybermen advanced further, one of them triggered its head mounted weapons and immediately the tent was alight and as the flames reached the explosives the tent, the weapons and the soldiers exploded into a fiery inferno!
Heavy footsteps echoed behind the Doctor and Phillips and turning they saw three Cybermen standing there.
'You are unknown life forms. Which of you is the Doctor?' asked the lead.
'Him, I revived your kind in the first place' Phillips replied.
'You will both come with us. You will be required for interrogation and then alteration. You will be like us' replied the Cyberman and immediately the three Cybermen advanced on.
Phillips did nothing but as the Doctor struggled hard against their hydraulic grip; his face met the impassive Cyberman's.
'You will come with us Doctor. Resistance is useless. Failure to comply with our instructions and you will be damaged' the Cybermen rasped.
'Nothing to say Doctor?' Phillips asked from the grip of his guard.
'Nothing that would make any impact on these tin creatures!' he muttered.
'You will come with us. Resistance will not be tolerated' the creature rasped and immediately he was forced towards the door.

As the last of the resistance was disposed of the Doctor and Phillips were forced from the tower and across the flat tarmac with the other Cybermen.
As they reached the gate a shot rang out and suddenly the Cybermen paused, glancing over his shoulder at such an angle he could see Emily, rifle in hand pointing it towards them.
'No, you'll release the Doctor now or I'll shoot you where you stand!' Emily cried.
'It won't do them any good I'm afraid? Cybermen are immune to all projectile weapons and with no emotions they aren't the slightest bit scared' the Doctor replied.
'Surrender immediate. Resistance is useless' ordered a Cyberman, its horrible blank stare freaked Emily out. Those horrible burning red eyes staring at her.
'You must surrender Miss Emily, That Cyberman wants you alive, they haven't killed those soldiers just stunned them. Just drop your rifle and go with him' the Doctor called.
'Very noble work, Doctor' Phillips replied but the Doctor did his best to shrug in the tight grip of the Cyberman.
Emily dropped the gun, hearing its clattering echo noisily around but the Cyberman did not flinch. Instead she raised her hand but immediately the creature gripped them and forced them behind her back.
'Resistance is useless' it rasped before shoving her forward to join the Doctor and Phillips and immediately they set off.
'Excellent work, these creatures are performing wouldn't you say Doctor?' Phillips replied and strangely enough he smiled as they left the remnants of the compound behind them.
'Nothing to say? Oh well you best prepare your speech Doctor, I believe that you have quite an audience awaiting?' Phillips added and then he received a cold hearted stare from the Doctor.
'I don't know how Phillips but I will stop you from creating this travesty' he muttered.
'Charges are set, we no longer require the transmitter array' replied the Cybermen holding Phillips.
'Charges? You mean you're going to...? No, no you can't do this to me!' Phillips cried but as he struggled to argue the Cyberman held him tightly.
'No, no you can't do this to me!' he cried frantically.
'Resistance is useless. You will be like us' retorted his guard.
'Well now, that was unexpected? The Cybermen are for once doing something right' the Doctor added as they were forced along but then he noticed something, something important.

'It matters not Doctor, soon I will attain a greater victory!' Phillips breathed as they continued their pace.
'Who are you? Do you know the Doctor or something?' Emily asked and Phillips managed a stiff but restricted nod.
'That I do Miss...?' Phillips replied politely and waited for Emily to reply.
'Durant, Emily Durant, Mr...?' she answered awaiting his response.
'Phillips, well Miss Durant, the Doctor and I go back for sometime. Nice however to see a familiar face through all this agony' he said but the Doctor sighed.
'He's no friend of mine; he is responsible for our current position. A misguided time travelling miscreant with a penchant for causing trouble against humanity!' the Doctor retorted.
'Alas, the Doctor is correct as always and I am the villain present but you Doctor are every bit as misguided as me. Our last encounter left me severely crippled, I had to use my energy reserves to effect immediate healing regeneration, aside from my right eye I am healed' Phillips retorted.
'So that's why you haven't teleported away yet?' the Doctor asked as they began down a harsh slope.
'Even if I could I would not miss this for anything. To see your fate, everything you have felt now has been nothing compared to what's coming up!' Phillips replied as they reached the bottom and continued.
'Thanks for the warning. I hope we don't tread on any mines? It would be such a waste to see you Phillips having to use your energy once again?' the Doctor countered and suppressed a smile.
All around them the sky was still black and cloudy while distant weapons fire could be heard.
'What's going to happen to us? What are they going to do with us?' Emily asked suddenly feeling panicky.
'Well Miss Durant, you've heard their rhetoric enough times. We will be like them; they will turn you into a Cyberman and the Doctor being a special case- he is worth over a galaxy of conversion subjects to them! I wonder what they will do.' Phillips murmured.
'Indeed. What does the future hold?' the Doctor replied staring at the silver creatures holding them.

[Tumble Lord]

The Cyber-ship was cold. Like the creatures who inhabited it, they were living, walking, talking cold.
As they were forced inside a vast hold awaited their eyes, around them along the walls imprisoned within cracked and damaged frames crouched figures. Silver figures.
'Good Grief! There must be hundreds of them' cried Emily as she looked around her.
'More like thousands and they're all dead too. What a shame' the Doctor retorted.
'Some of them are damaged Doctor but you are quite correct. I only managed to revive five of them, their leader amongst them, thankfully though the conversion chamber was quite unaffected' Phillips replied.
'Why are these three beings unaffected like the others?' asked a Cyberman facing them.
'These two beings register unknown in the life form matrix, this female is human' replied the section leader.
'The female will be taken for alteration, these two will come with me' replied the Cyberman before them.
'No, no Doctor?!' Emily cried as she struggled hard in its grip and quickly the Doctor dug his heels down.
'Listen to me! I am the Doctor and I will do everything your leader demands as long as she remains alive and with me' the Doctor yelled.
'Emotional weakness. Bring the female to the control chamber' ordered the Cyberman.
'Understood' came the reply and immediately Emily's escort turned away marching after them.
Stepping through a vast polished metal door they were stopped before the Cyberleader, who turned to address them.
'You are recognised. You will wait. You are the Doctor' he replied loudly.
'Yes I am, what do you want with me, Cyberleader?' the Doctor asked and watched as he stepped aside to reveal a strange chair-like frame raised on a dais.
'Place the Doctor within the control unit. You belong to us now, Doctor' the Cyberleader instructed immediately he was forced upwards and into the frame, bands fastened over his wrists and feet.
'Now what?' the Doctor sighed.

'Release spikter control device!' ordered the Cyberleader and immediately one of the Cybermen produced a spikter, coloured black instead of silver.
Immediately as it was set down upon the ground did it scurry up the dais and onto the frame. The Doctor did his best to try and kick out at the creature but he was fixed tight and like a ladder the creature scaled it quickly.
'If this is one of your new games? If you creatures have discovered such a concept then I am not amused' the Doctor cried.
Suddenly it was on his shoulders, and then on his neck.
'You will aid the Cyber-race. Your knowledge over temporal travel will enable us to re-correct our history. We will survive' replied the Cyberleader.
The Doctor started to laugh, to laugh hard but seconds’ later laughter to screams as the spikter drilled its control spikes into his neck.
'What are you doing to me? What is this?!' he cried and Emily flinched as she could hear bone being scraped in the process, immediately a vast screen glowed into action displaying him or rather the screen he was looking at.
'Interesting wouldn't you say Doctor? They and we are viewing everything from your ocular senses' Phillips replied.
'They're called eyes Phillips and you should open them now because if I'm not much mistaken things are going to...' he snapped quickly before trailing away.
'Gateline to cerebrum now established leader' reported a technician.
'Activate the device. You will tell everything concerning temporal technology. You will assist the Cyber-race; you will part of the Cyber-race. You will be like us' replied the Cyberleader and immediately from a console a technician keyed a sequence.
Immediately the Doctor started convulse violently, his fevered cries echoing around the room while before the screen came many images, constantly flickering in an out of focus, altering subjects quickly.
'No, get out of my head!' the Doctor screamed but then the room faded away to somewhere else, another world...

He knew where he was the first moment he drew in air. The dead, stale air.
Mondas.
A world so young, so unprepared and yet from what he could see, a city surrounded by lush green fields, people walking, talking, loving caring then suddenly there was a vast explosion in the sky overhead.
A dark stain smothered the city in an instant, the people becoming old and disease ridden, shining plastic and metallic components forming.
'I know this. I saw this, Mondas, your home world now look at it!' he cried feeling slight pain and immediately the world changed to a rotting ball in space.
'We will be supreme. You will help us. We require your assistance to correcting or future' came a roaring buzz of a Cyber-voice in his head.
'You'll never get help from me! How did it feel to loose your humanity, to become faceless scavengers preying on humanity! You are a disease, a virus and a blight upon existence!' the Doctor cried.
'We are the future. We will survive. You will show us the universe. You help us. You will be like us!' droned the voice.
'No I won't! You can rot in hell parasite! Get out of my head, I will not give you time travel! I will not!' he screamed as the pain became unbearable.
In the frame, his head slumped forward.
'You will give the secret. We will be like us. You will be like us. We are the future!' droned the Cyber-voice.
'You're no future of mine!' the Doctor angrily yelled staring at the many Cyber-images filling the area around him, he screamed as the pain cut deeper.
Suddenly the screen came alive with the swirling vortex's image, a series of mathematical equations appeared across it.
The Doctor started to mutter something, his eyes suddenly flicked open, staring straight ahead.
'No... No... I... am in control. I am in control of the Cyber-race. You will be like me. I will be like you. We are the future. We are future of existence! We possess time. We are the future!' the Doctor droned, his voice was deep and hollow and his eyes were burning red like the Cybermen he now served!

[Tumble Lord]

Episode Four

'Bravo Doctor! Bravo, I knew you'd make a unique contribution to the dying Cyber-race but never quite like this?' Phillips cried exaltedly and smiled at the scene before him.
'What? How can you be so inhuman? Look what they've done to him!' Emily cried bur Phillips merely turned to her, expressing a look of concern.
'Well the Gallifreyan touch is lost but on the whole it's a much greater improvement on him. As for me being, inhuman, I take that as a complement young lady because I am' Phillips replied.
'What have they done to him? What is that machine doing to him?' Emily cried as she stared almost unblinking at the horrifying frame that the Doctor sat slumped into.
'He's been partially processed into their race; his mind is now made up of files ready to download into their history computers. The Doctor you knew is far from alive now. Roll on the future, their future!' Phillips replied.
The Cyberleader turned away from the screen standing there, towering and impassive before the others.
'Now that the Doctor has given up temporal travel, we no longer require you. Take them to the alteration chamber' he ordered and immediately they were forced towards the door but Phillips quickly shoved down his heels.
'Leader? Leader please wait? There are other matters that we need to discuss?' he cried but the Cybermen continued their advance. 'Leader? It refers to obtaining more for your conversion process' Phillips hissed desperately and immediately the Cyberleader responded.
'Stop' he said and crossed over to the door before facing Phillips. 'Explain yourself' he rasped.
'If you destroy the transmitter tower then humanity will shell this planet destroying you all, if you permit me to return to the tower, I can impersonate a distress call that will bring more subjects to you. Think about it Leader. More humans equals more Cybermen!' Phillips replied.
'I will consider the matter, you will remain here. Take the girl to alteration. She will be like us' the Cyberleader answered.
But then the lights within the chamber started to fade, the imagery across the screen was blurring.
'Report status?' Cyberleader demanded.
'The error is being detected within the Doctor's psyche. He is attempting to resist control' reported a technician.
'Increase the power' ordered the Cyberleader.

Immediately the lights became restored, the screen cleared but the Doctor convulsed momentarily.
'Control has re-accepted. The information is ready for downloading. We are the future. The Doctor's time craft, his TARDIS has been located. With this information, we will be the future' droned the Doctor's voice.
'Initiate sequence. We will survive everything. We are the future' replied the Cyberleader and the technician activated the controls.
'Leader? Have you considered the possibility that the Doctor might still be resisting? He favours all life and when you ordered Miss Durant forced evolution upon her he fought back' Phillips called.
'In that case, the female will remain until complete download of necessary information has occurred. The Alteration banks will be re-programmed with new information and the Doctor will become the new Cyber-Controller' replied the Cyberleader.
Phillips bowed slowly before turning towards Emily and smiled.
'There you are Miss Durant, the Doctor is still clinging on but eventually he'll fall and complete Cyber control of his mind will be attained. Feel privileged that you are still alive' Phillips replied.
'What do you care anyway? You hate humans, you brought all of this into being, look what you've done to the Doctor!' Emily cried.
'Cybermen have a right to exist as much as anyone else. Annihilate them completely and you would be committing genocide and they do have their limitation, no emotions, no motivations outside their cause. Nothing but robots with an organic mind however they are your future' Phillips replied pleasantly. 'Their race is almost dead, the Doctor is now the core of a new Cyber-race. He will give them time travel and the universe. As for my own home, we will be immune, tucked away behind a time barrier somewhere' Phillips added staring towards the Doctor's form. 'There it goes, the known Gallifreyan theory of time travel in all its glory. This time the Cybermen will win. It is their destiny!' Phillips replied, his voice echoing around the vast dark chamber.
'Oh Doctor. Poor Doctor' was all Emily could manage as she stared at the Doctor's motionless form, unable act for the Cybermen holding her and around her.
What could be happening in there, in his mind?

[Tumble Lord]

The Doctor stood staring up at the great metallic titans that barred his way. Huge Cybermen about twenty feet high stood around the vast door to his mind.
All around him he could see conversion decks being prepared, in reality his mind was breaking down under Cyber-influence. He was loosing a battle and so he had to concentrate.
'This area is restricted' buzzed one of the towering Cybermen.
'You're right there but not to me. I own this mind, I am this body and you have no right trespass in it!' the Doctor retorted.
The Cybermen remained silent but the Doctor unperturbed suddenly shoulder-charged the great door bearing the great seal of Rassilon.
Surprisingly as he shoved through it, its bent and distorted out of shape as though it were rubber? The Cybermen tried to stop him by barring his way with their hands but the Doctor was too quick.
He landed on his feet staring down at brown healthy earth but as he straightened up he could see a world in torment, twisted hulks of metal protruded from grey ash.
A once clean blue sky now blackened by choking fumes from many fires that burned on the horizon.
'Is this your future? Look around you at this place, you call that progress?!' the Doctor yelled to the sky.
As he walked the landscape changed constantly, planet to planet but the scenes were the same. Carnage and destruction met his eyes then suddenly he was on a healthy living world. People talking and walking and enjoying life.
Then he stopped looking towards a piece of blurring air then there came a vicious beating of metal and a grotesque silver capsule emerged.
From it and others appearing all around the area walked long files of Cybermen, there must of been thousands and as people ran, Cybermats leapt at people.
They fell to the ground and as the Doctor hurried to help them there came a vast wave of blackness. He was standing amongst the wreckage once more.
'Is this your future? Answer me! I can feel you in my mind, an unwanted presence so show yourselves!' the Doctor cried angrily to the sky.
'This is the only future. Resistance Denied, we are your future!' came a buzzing monotone voice and with a vast rumble from the wreckage the Doctor turned to see six figures rising out of the metal.
They were identical in every way- they were Cyber-Controllers!
'Get out of my head! You're not wanted here! Get out!' the Doctor yelled but instead they advanced closer...

'You are the Doctor' buzzed the first Controller.
'You are the future' added the second creature.
'You will be like us' finished the third.
The others remained silent and still, now enclosing the Doctor in a tight circle.
'You're wrong. Dead wrong! This is a what if moment. If I give you time travel then this, all this around us will become a reality. There will only be two races in the universe. One, people who rebel against you and yourselves!' the Doctor snapped harshly.
'Humanity is a backward concept. We are progress to all life forms. We are the future' buzzed another Controller.
'Then what about the human loss? Everything your people hated to be you became. I met your people, the Mondasians had so much to live for but instead you arose to take their place!' the Doctor snapped. 'You're nothing more than an evil parasitic race of vampires, preying off humanity, turning them into faceless clones to go out and copy your work! You're all victims here! The scientists aren’t to blame; they were following orders sent by your leaders! They robbed you of your lives with their power-hungry minds!' the Doctor snapped as he turned on a silent Controller.
'What did you want to be when you were a child? Can you remember that because I doubt that you ever wanted to be a Cyberman? No one does, we have a choice and as augmented giants go, what do you provide the universe with?' the Doctor snapped.
'Organic life wastes away, it decays. We are the future, we last forever, we are immortal. We are progress' droned the creature before him.
'To me, you're nothing more than control signals from that Cybermat digging its way into my mind. You're nothing, unwanted thoughts in my mind and I can easily forget!' the Doctor replied closing his eyes, his brow creased and immediately three Controllers vanished.
'You see, you are nothing. You contribute nothing by your pointless cause. You were all doomed the moment your leaders made that decision, to augment to survive. You're living someone else's dream or is it a nightmare!' the Doctor added.
'We will survive. You will no longer be capable of resisting our control. You will be like us. We are your future' the Controllers buzzed in unison.
'Never! I will fight you if it takes a life time! I will never give to you control!' the Doctor hissed through gritted teeth, his hands became fists, the knuckles whitening as the Controllers started to grow around him, blotting out all light around him.
'No…. I will not give in!' he cried desperately but he knew that the end would soon be coming.

[Tumble Lord]

'Download continuing Leader' reported the technician and immediately the Leader resumed his attention towards Phillips.
'You have a proposition that interests us' it said and Phillips smiled briefly, locking eyes with the burning sockets in its immobile face.
'Interest? An emotional choice of word for you creatures? Yes I have been told that you intend to destroy the communications transmitter?' Phillips asked.
'It no longer is of our concern' the Cyberleader retorted.
'As I have said, they will destroy this place from orbit, burn the atmosphere and everything off the surface including yourselves' Phillips countered and smiled.
'What do suggest?' it asked and Phillips simply nodded towards the screen.
'The Doctor might be an interesting acquisition but if you allow me to return to the tower, signal a general alarm to either side, then reinforcements will arrive and you simply have to collect them' he said.
'You will return with this being to ensure that the transmission is made. If he attempts deception, terminate him' the Cyberleader replied.
'Yes leader' rasped Phillips' guard and quickly, awkwardly he was shoved forward towards the open doorway.
'Farewell Miss Durant, I do hope we meet again' Phillips called but Emily was even looking at him but at the Doctor.
'What are you going to do with me, you stupid tin robot?' Emily finally snapped tearing her view away from the Doctor and towards the black helmeted Cyberleader.
'You will remain here. When the sequences are complete, you will be taken to alteration. You will like us. All of you will become like us' the Cyberleader replied.
'Why? Why should I become like you?' Emily cried toward the creature.
'We are superior. You are inferior, weak and emotional. We are progress, humanity will be like us. We survive all obstacles while you fall and decay. Soon time itself will be ours' replied the Cyberleader.
'You're nothing! We'll fight you and win!' Emily hissed.
The Cyberleader stepped closer until he was less that an inch away from her, it felt cold to look at him.
'You are mistaken. We will survive and you will fall!' he stated.

As the blanket of metallic darkness threatened to smother all, the Doctor suddenly stabbed back at it and stepped into a meditating phase.
The darkness retreated becoming transparent and eventually it faded away to a green hill, trees and man sitting beneath a tree.
'Isaac Newton, of course I remember this. My TARDIS came down not far from where he would work and there he sits. We talked long about the physic of the Earth after that apple fell on his head. Human determination to discover the truth' the Doctor breathed.
'This place is irrelevant to us' buzzed a Controller's voice and turning briefly the Doctor spotted the three Controllers standing incongruously on the grass.
'Ah, I see to have picked hitch hikers? No matter. You will remain here and watch what you could have had?' the Doctor instructed and without a further word he walked over to the man.
'Good afternoon Isaac? How are you today?' he asked and swiftly the man looked up from his reading straight to the Doctor before him.
'Doctor, what an expected pleasure. Excuse me a moment' Isaac said as he started to stand up by hit a tree branch with his head and immediately an apple from the branch's tip hit the ground hard.
'Are you all right Isaac?' the Doctor asked but Isaac was more concerned over the apple before him, kneeling down, he prodded it slowly.
'Incredible. Did you see that Doctor Smith? An attraction of the apple when I bumped my head. The apple fell but why did it fall?' Isaac asked.
The Doctor in turn crouched down and smiled, he remember this moment. He remembered his words well.
'Some sort of attraction? After all a consequence occurred with you hitting your head, I hope you're all right? This results with a reaction from the apple' the Doctor said.
'Yes but why did it fall, straight down, I have noticed that if a ball is dropped it bounces but eventually remains still. However if I place something on the ground it remains still. Now why should that happen?' Isaac asked.
The Doctor smiled at this happy memory and then glanced over at the three statue-like creatures present. Nothing.
'Incredible, you are right in some sort of attraction but we stay close to the ground why do we not bounce?' Isaac continued.

'What about an attraction caused because the speed of the ball defies the attraction but as it slows the attraction takes over?' the Doctor said and saw a look spread across Isaac's face.
'Yes, yes that would explain it. Since say this book is not moving, I place it upon the ground like so and it remains because the speed is not present but something keeps it held down?' he said.
It was then that the three Controllers advanced closer and almost sensing this action the Doctor turned.
'Oh no. Oh have you come to have a look for yourselves?' he asked but silence met him.
'If we stand, sit, kneel or lie we remain because we are not moving and this can happen anywhere which would mean that this force of attraction occurs here in the ground' Isaac replied and lifted free the apple and dropped it again.
'Incredible, a force emanating from the ground causes us to remain but because our speed it considerably slower we remain still' Isaac said but then he looked up to spy the three looming figures.
'Good day gentlemen, have you had the pleasure of witnessing this remarkable discovery?' Isaac asked but they remained silent.
'On the contrary Isaac, these gentlemen are all ready aware of such concept but consider them irrelevant' the Doctor replied.
'You are not required' buzzed a controller, who lashed out knocking Isaac to the ground but in his place appeared a similar being with a blank immobile face.
'A gravitational influence of the core of this planet has created a magnetic field all object alive inanimate' droned the dull metallic tones of the Cyber-Isaac.
'I don’t believe you just did that! You've ruined it! You've just corrupted a vital piece of human history through my mind! That memory has gone. Newton went on to discover gravity but that has gone now, it would affect the whole of human science from geology to space flight, you've just grounded humanity! I hope you're happy?' the Doctor snapped.
'This false image is irrelevant. Resistance is useless to us. You will surrender' buzzed the Controller.
'Have you not considered the human loss? I will surrender to you but only when I've met your hosts? Seen your faces, known your names! Lets have a look at somewhere familiar… recognise this?' the Doctor retorted.
Around him the hill changed into the dark, cold tombs of Telos.

[Tumble Lord]

The gates of the compound stood open, vacant like some evil jaws of some monstrous creature of hell. Flames still burnt in patches while piles of broken wood and twisted metal lay in scattered patches as Phillips was forced forward by his sole guard.
'All right. I can walk myself from now on' he said.
'You will accompany me to the explosive charges, they must be deactivated before the transmission is made' rasped the Cyberman.
'Of course but can't you do that on your own? Do you think I would honestly escape, where could I go?' Phillips retorted but instead the Cyberman advanced on him grabbing at his wrist.
'You will not resist. Failure to comply with my instructions and you will receive severe damage' warned the guard.
The Cyberman propelled Phillips towards the side of the base. Here lay a complicated looking framework supporting a humming cylinder.
'This is your explosive? Rather compact, almost expected something grander from cyber-technology' Phillips replied.
'The device is primed. I will deactivate it, you will not attempt to escape' warned the Cyberman as it release his wrist and knelt down to press a few controls on the side of the device.
'How quickly you forget or just press on for rhetoric's state. Why should I escape? I have a message to deliver, remember?' Phillips said.
The humming cylinder's pitch slowly dropped to nothing. The silver creature climbed to its feet to face him.
'You will make the transmission, failure to complete the action and you will be terminated' it warned.
'Of course I will' Phillips said bowing slowly to the creature and then he was off in a quick run into the building, the echoing accompaniment of his escort followed him as he carried on up the stairs before arriving in the transmitter room.
Huge banks of glittering consoles met his eyes then quickly he strode towards the communications desk.
It looked important; there were two switches, red and green. Phillips reached out and pressed the red one and a microphone slid up from the console.
'You will begin' ordered the Cyberman now appearing in the doorway.
'Of course I will, now be quiet!' Phillips replied before leaning forward and he started to speak...

'The gate line is behaving erratically. Probable cause- the Time Lord psyche is attempting to block the information' the technician reported as the screen suddenly froze up.
'This technical error must be removed. Increase power to full. The Doctor will submit to our control' ordered the Cyberleader.
'But if you do that you could burn out his mind. It's like a mains socket, if you turn up the power fully you'll destroy the Doctor!' Emily cried.
The Cyberleader turned on Emily once more; he took her free from her guard and dragged her towards the dais.
'The Doctor will not resist. He will comply with our orders. If he continues then I will damage you' the Cyberleader replied.
Around them the pitch of power increased drastically and Emily would have covered her ears had the leader not held her so tightly.
'Where are you getting your power from? How can you operate like this without the power-spike appearing on our scanners?' Emily asked trying to take her mind off the pitch ringing in her ears.
'This ship was modified, a radiation powered drive unit is present, it is still active. The ships surrounding ours have fed it raw power. We are in control' the Cyberleader retorted.
Of course, that was why she was still conscious, no radiation present meant these creatures were operating greatly and these creatures must have been contaminated with it. The radio interference blocks.
'Then without this drive you're helpless. Is that it?' Emily yelled towards the impassive leader who held her hard.
'You are incorrect, this unit has absorbed radiation to power our systems but we still possess auxiliary power cells. No act of sabotage can prevent our actions' the Cyberleader countered.
'Then it's your machinery, this machine that has been blocking our communications on the field. Allowing us to fall into your traps?' Emily snapped.
'Correct. We have been capable of intersecting your remaining communications satellites and detected your positions' the Cyberleader explained.
'Using our technology against us, no wonder we kept receiving transmission failing the whole time. It was you focussing on us!' Emily yelled, her voice echoing hard around the room.
'Correct. You and the others have and will help the Cyber-race return to existence' the Cyberleader stated.

[Tumble Lord]

'Why are we here?' asked a Controller and immediately the Doctor grinned as he walked to the centre of the room and then gestured with both hands but he knew the action would be lost on them.
'To get the right information I'm going right to the horse's mouth or more precisely the source of your bleak course. These are your cryogenic tombs on Telos, all of them full of your kind' the Doctor explained.
'You are incorrect. The Conversion decks are vacant, they await conversion entrants' retorted another Controller.
'Are they? Or is the only thing you represent- nothing! You are these machines and the people you claim to be are not present. This is where it begins. You aren't people or a race, you're a virus, so tell me outside the confines of torture, logic and deceit: Who are you?' the Doctor asked looking to the three Cyber Controllers before him.
'You are delaying time, Doctor. Your mental reserves will diminish, resistance will fall and we will have control over time' buzzed one of the Controllers.
'Wrong. I asked you for your identities but this mind and my rules and have no body to hide within. Tell me then, who were you? A man or a women, young or old, human or otherwise?' the Doctor retorted.
'Irrelevant information Doctor. All organic knowledge was purged from our minds' the second Controller replied.
'How very convenient, yet you just showed a vital flaw. You sounded concerned to make sure I understood that your minds were gone. Why not just say the first sentence unless you have something to say?' the Doctor asked stepping closer towards the creatures and uncharacteristically the creatures retreated from him.
'What's the matter? Did I touch at a nerve? I do believe you're scared of me?' the Doctor teased and then the first remained still.
'Fear is an emotional response Doctor. You will not resist us. You will tell us everything or you will destroyed' it said but the Doctor advanced closer.
'Playing that song again are we? No I will continue to resist. You're worried, trying to show a brave face on things' he said but suddenly it raised its fist threateningly.
'I am not....!' it began but the Doctor simply laughed.
'Getting hot under the collar Controller? No emotions? You have them, you're more human then you're letting on' the Doctor snapped.
Around them, there in the hollow shells people started whispering, talking, their noise getting louder and louder echoing all around them.
'Listen to that Controllers, the cries of your victims. Which ones are yours? Your true voices?' the Doctor challenged defiantly.

The first Cyber-Controller stood there impassive while the other two started to cower as the cries, screams, whispers grew louder all around.
'Did I hit a note with you? So many voices, some so familiar to you. Were they friends or family or both that you brought here to forge them in your own image?' the Doctor snapped and quickly jumped aside as the Controller knocked its augmented fist at him.
Its voice started to buckle as did its knees and it collapsed to the floor, its initial armour fading becoming less sophisticated.
'Doctor, please?! This is... torture' cried the creature as its body re-formed becoming like that of the first Cyberman, more organic than the others.
'Torture?! You talk to me of torture?! This nothing but an echo of what you have done to others, thousands gone, their lives prematurely ended to make room for your Cybermen!' the Doctor cried staring as the plastic mask, chest unit and other implants finally faded away leaving an old man kneeling there sobbing.
'It was not my choice Doctor. None of this was my choice, it was decreed that we should survive under any circumstance. How was not important but when we should start was' the man murmured.
The Doctor approached the man, noting he wore light green clothes, a metal band covered his head but that was all.
'You mean, you were given a choice. To live or die but look at this place around you, at your colleagues. Is this what you wanted, to live- if that word means merit with them?' the Doctor asked.
The man looked up, his ancient skin in wrinkles; his green eyes were wet with tears.
'No Doctor we didn't want any of this. We were afraid of dying out, we had to preserve our race but we knew nothing of its cost. I am free, finally I can die' the man said aloud.
'Not yet, Cybermen are still doing this to people, innocents like you. I have to stop them' the Doctor said but the man shook his head.
'It's too late for that. A diversion to gain your attention, please forgive me?' the man said offering a hand to the Doctor who took it but then the man keeled to side and lay still.
Immediately a vast flash of pain cut through the Doctor, clutching at his temples he screamed in agony. While around him the conversion decks were full of humans, screaming as the conversion process started...

[Tumble Lord]

'Temporal theory has been downloaded and stored awaiting examination Leader' reported the technician.
'Excellent. Locate further files of relevance towards the Cyber-race' ordered the Cyberleader and immediately the Doctor's mouth opened, almost as if he were a ventriloquist's dummy.
'Understood Leader' came the dull, lifeless voice and seeing this Emily glanced away, it was too horrifying to see the Doctor in such a way.
She had to do something, to stop them, get him out of that machine.
The Cyberleader strode over to where Emily stood watching her impassively for a moment when there came strange warbled alarm inside the ship, the alarm was almost ultra sonic but it cut fiercely at her ears.
'Report status of alarm?' demanded the Cyberleader.
The Technician flicked through the various controls before an error sign appeared.
'The source of the disturbance is located within the alteration chamber. Further reports are irregular and missing' it reported.
The Cyberleader swung about to face the doors.
'I will investigate this action, this female will remain here. If she attempts anything, terminate her' ordered the Cyberleader.
'Understood leader' the technician replied as the Cyberleader advanced on heavy steps out of the chamber and out into the Cyber-ship.
Leaving Emily alone, she glanced up to spy only one Cyberman remaining and from that advantage she saw what she had to do.
Crossing over towards the dais she suddenly kicked at the band holding the Doctor's feet, the technician on seeing this strode over from its console.
It could not use its weapons for risk of damaging its equipment but then Emily darted around the side of dais.
'You will not resist. Surrender immediate' it ordered but Emily thought she was too quick by the Cyberman was much stronger, grasping her wrist tightly.
Well that worked well, she thought and then suddenly she received another idea.

Grasping the Cyberman's hand tightly with her other hand she tried to spin hard but it was no good as he held her tightly.
'You will surrender immediate. You will be taken for alteration when the emergency has been concluded' it warned in its metallic rasp.
'Thanks but no thanks. I've just had my mind cleared of conditioning, the last thing I need is more and besides, I like my body as it is and not how it will be' she retorted.
'You will be like us or die' it warned.
'Then fine kill... hey what's going on with the Doctor?' she asked suddenly looking away but the Cyberman was not taken in.
'You are mistaken. The Doctor is part of our race; he is the core of our existence. He is now like us' countered the Cyberman.
'Has anyone ever told you, you talk too much?' she said and without warning he charged with all her might at her captor knocking him in the direction of the screen.
Desperately she struggled to free her hand; her glove was torn away as the momentum carried the creature straight into the screen. Covering her face with her back from flying glass, Emily could only hear the Cyberman's fevered attempts to cry out.
As electrical sparks impacted with the foreign body there was a vast explosion as the glass shards rained down to the ground. The console lights flickered and the dead Cyberman toppled forward to the ground, hard.
Grasping her chance, Emily pulled free her radio from her inner pocket and without stopping to clear her throat, she began.
'This is Green Star Squad, Group leader Emily Durant to Control-Command. I require immediate... hostile fire run on the following co-ordinates, do you connect?' she cried and by much surprise the reply came through.
'Go ahead Green Star Squad. Have you eliminated the opposition?' came the reply.
'Negative Control-Command. Have secondary plan, have too much opposition present, you must destroy their fortress- located within the wreckyards' Emily cried.
'Wreckyards? It will be done' came the reply sounding confused.
'Also, this might sound insane but we must destroy the transmitter tower. We can re-build it within our sector' Emily said knowing that she was stretching things a bit to believability.
'Request permitted. You have seven minutes to clear the area, Control-Command out' buzzed the reply and finally Emily breathed a sigh but then she noticed the Doctor...

'No, I hear you all. I hear you all' the Doctor shouted aloud, his voice carrying into the mass of hysterics and becoming drowned.
'Listen to me! Listen to me? This is not real. This is nothing but a nightmare and I am the one in the driving seat. A fabrication, a deception created by the cyber-control plug in my brain to keep me busy while they removed the relevant information' the Doctor said aloud and immediately the screams died away and there was silence.
'I do not know who you are but you are innocents, you are all innocents here and by not resisting, you throw away your humanity into their grasp!' the Doctor yelled pointing to the now impassive two Controllers standing not far away.
'Resist them, no matter what they do. You are still human, you have a choice. They would steal away life, to talk and chat and love and know and cry and be alive! Resist their control!' the Doctor ordered.
'I don't know how far this influence comes from but I can use their technology, direct my thoughts at the conversion chambers. Do you hear me in there? Human beings being taken apart, turned into something else. Cybermen are evil and you have a choice in life, whether to become like them or not?' the Doctor cried towards the vast domed ceiling that was starting to open up.
The two Controllers advanced closer but the Doctor just turned round at them, fixing them with a stare.
'Do you forget? This is my world and mind and you're not wanted here! Get out of mind!' the Doctor yelled and immediately the two Controllers became one but then started to fade out.
Their agonised metallic howls echoed as they faded out of existence, the Doctor smiled and raised his hands towards the glowing hole in the ceiling.
'I am free of it. And that means that you too can fight it and be successful. Free your minds from Cyber-control and remember who you are!' the Doctor cried and immediately he became aware of sitting down.
His eyes flickered slowly when a devastating explosion echoed throughout the room, it was at this point that the strange, disjointed buzzing in his skull ceased.
The spikter's claws retracted from his neck and the creature fell free, clattering to the ground loudly.
As he flicked open his eyes, a blur met them but slowly it formed into a room in darkness. Though he suddenly received a great headache and pain to his neck, he was remarkably well.
'Doctor?' Emily cried looking to him and he managed a slight smile.

[Tumble Lord]

'Where's the party? I must have drank too much again' he said uneasily and the shook at his head slowly.

'But how can you be conscious? That thing was drilling into your head?' Emily replied.

'I know, I can still feel it but given time it will heal completely. In fact I can already feel it happening now, if you wouldn't mind releasing me from this chair?' he asked wearily.

'Of course, Doctor we have to get out of here. I've just radioed in to control, they're going to fire run the area in six minutes' Emily said as she started to pull free the bands around his arms.

'Ah I see. Then we are in a pickle. Oh, you've been busy? Saved me a job indeed' he said as he looked down at the dead Cyberman and the fractured screen.

'Ah, much better now' he exclaimed as his hands came free and immediately he clicked open the band to his feet.

Helping him down and out of the chair he rested briefly before looking back at his torture chair and sighed.

'Pity that, I was just starting to get comfortable?' he said but was seized by the wrist and dragged on and out of the room by Emily.

'Come on Doctor, we have to get out of here before the Cybermen discover us' Emily said but the Doctor shook his head and released himself from her grip.

'Not to worry about them, they're going to have their hands full for a bit until we get clear of this place. Where's Phillips?' the Doctor replied.

'He went to try and attract enemy attention at the tower but don't worry, that's going to be destroyed as well, like us if we don't get a move on?' Emily retorted and continued down the black metal corridor.

'Miss Emily, there is no need to panic. The Cybermen are busy dealing with a delicate problem. There are none around here, they are all coping with the emergency' the Doctor replied then suddenly he cried out as a powerful silver hand gripped his shoulder forcing him down to the ground.

'Doctor. You are responsible for this insurrection, you will cancel this action immediate' ordered the Cyberleader, who then increased his grip.

'No I won't Cyberleader, you'll just have to deal with it yourself. What's the matter? I thought you were superior to us the weaker organics?' the Doctor retorted through gritted teeth as pain gripped his shoulder.

'What insurrection? What have you done?' Emily cried.

'Behind you!' the Doctor replied almost warning her and turning, she gasped at another figure. Something not quite human!

A figure walked into view, it was man or something that had once been a man, now it was half finished, partially altered, implants shining from exposed cuts and scars but the face was more haunting.
It was the interrogation officer who had almost cooked Emily now partially cybernetic but instead, across her face there was emotion present.
'Get your hands off him!' she said, her voice was slipping this way and that out of human and into Cyberman as she advanced past Emily.
The Cyberleader threw the Doctor aside and met the weak convert with fully augmented strength.
Grasping his shoulder weakly he motioned Emily onwards, as they hurried through the dark corridors they could see more horrifically scarred humans, victims of conversion, pulling Cybermen apart, wrestling them to the ground.
'What did you do to them?' Emily cried as she ran on.
'I gave them back their lives, they can see the world around them again, allow them their revenge. Come on, they're after Cybermen, not us!' the Doctor breathed.
The Cyberleader far behind them, lashed out, tearing the chest unit from her torso, she choked coughing and spluttering before she crashed to the ground and lay still, while a mixture of blood and hydraulic fluid gurgled from open wounds.
The Cyberleader advanced realising the futility of continuing this fight. The Doctor was the way forward, with him in his control, he could return to the past.
At last the Doctor and Emily reached the open door of the spaceship, they were tired and panting heavily both suffering mixed effects.
'Come on, I think we've got two minutes or so?' Emily cried.
'What's the range of these bombing?' he asked and Emily took the lead.
'I'll tell you when we can stop running, you can run can't you?' she asked, the Doctor nodded immediately.
'Of course I can, in my youth I came 2nd in the Rassilon biath...' he said but stopped as Emily hurried on and shrugging he too chased after her.
The Cyberleader reached the threshold, looking out, his scanners centred on the two life forms present and then on a fast moving craft approaching.
Using his hydraulic muscles the Cyberleader ran calmly, swiftly after them unaware of what was to happen next.

Within the ship, inside the alteration chamber the partially converted were winning, almost all Cybermen had fallen, meeting grisly ends in the process but as a calm, quiet atmosphere fell, they each glanced at one another.
Never mind their race, creed, colour or side they were fighting together for revenge. It was the only thing they could live for.
'Here, I have located another creature, another torturer' cried one of the converts pulling free a Cyberman from a darkened alcove, as it wrestled with the being, it broke off his unconverted hands.
Anger numbed the pain as it battered the silver giant with its blood stained stumps but the great titan sent it crashing to the ground with a cyber-chop to the neck.
A sickening crack met the ears of all as the body crashed to the ground, the Cyberman advanced on the others, triggering its weapon. Three converts crashed to the ground after their comrades.
While above them the ship commenced its bombing, as the first bombs fell, the explosions caught the creature off guard allowing for the others to strike!
They were pulling at its body still as the last of the bombs impacted, there was a brief pause before many explosions tore the wreckyards from existence!
'Get down now, here comes the heat blast!' Emily cried as the bombs impacted and quickly she tugged the Doctor down a low slope.
'All right, no need to be too forceful?' he said but Emily held him down as the great shock wave rang out, a wave of fire rocked over them for a few seconds before it faded away.
After a minute or two the Doctor raised his head, smelling the stench of burning and glanced up to see a great charred crater from around it twisted metal and plastic still alight remained but the spaceships were all but gone.
'Gone the way of all flesh back to the ether to rot and decay' he said calmly.
'Excellent. That's the end of the Cybermen, the raid will double around in a moment and strike at the tower' Emily replied.
'Good, then you can get started on making the repairs to the corporation' the Doctor replied.
'Doctor, who are you really? Where do you come from?' she asked and the Doctor sighed.
'Well that's going to take sometime, I'm afraid to say' the Doctor replied.
'Incorrect Doctor, you will take me to your TARDIS, resist and the female dies' boomed a cyber-voice and turning slowly the Doctor sighed when he spied the Cyberleader towering above them.

[Tumble Lord]

'What now? The message was delivered ten minutes ago to high command, they have acknowledged it. What more do you want from me?' Phillips asked looking to the Cyberman.
'You are no longer required. Your bio-signature is irrelevant to Cybernetic alteration' it said and the creature fired but not at him but the console, it exploded in a spark of light but then it turned to see no remaining target.
Suddenly a heavy coat was thrust over its head, obscuring is visual scanners, although this didn't last long as the garment was torn apart as the creature turned on Phillips wearing an officer's uniform, all the buttons shining as though they hadn't seen the light of day?
'I'm afraid I will have to leave you know, I have some important work to do, if you will excuse me?' Phillips replied but as he turned away he felt something happening to his right side.
His arm suddenly straightened in a vicious spasm, his side went into cramp and unable to move he rested on the door but as the Cyberman advanced Phillips turned, a strange golden hue was enveloping the right side of his face, blotting out everything.
The Cybermen stood, observing this irregular event and slowly Phillips smiled as the glow faded revealing his whole visage.
'At last, after all these years. Full healing regeneration has occurred, I can finally say good bye, farewell and give my regards to the Doctor, sorry Controller' he said but then across the remains of the radio came a message warped with distortion.
'This is an urgent announcement. The Genesis transmitter tower has fallen into enemy hands, it will be bombed by a fighter within two three minutes. For anyone still loyal to Genesis, we apologise but you are making the supreme sacrifice for the future'
Phillips laughed mockingly looking at the Cybermen, who started to advance on him so hurriedly he dashed out into the corridor and ascended the stairs quickly followed by his pursuer.
'You will surrender immediate. Resistance is useless' it warned as it cornered Phillips but instead he simply smiled.
'Sorry but I have a prior engagement elsewhere, give my regards to hell' Phillips replied as he faded from view just as the creature fired.
Then overhead came the roar of engines and glancing upwards the Cyberman knew no more as the bombs started to fall.

'You will transport me to Telos and then to Mondas. I will correct and prevent the catastrophes that have occurred to the Cyber-race. You will obey me' boomed the Cyberleader.
'And if I don't I imagine you'll threaten to kill, no to seriously harm Miss Emily until I agree to your terms?' the Doctor asked.
'Correct Doctor, you will take me to your TARDIS now' the Cyberleader ordered.
'Well, when you put it like that, all right. This way, come on Miss Emily' the Doctor replied and slowly he started up a low slope to his left but Emily ran on, trying to block his path.
'No Doctor that's the wrong way' she said but received a narrow wink in return before being forced on.
'Are you sure you want to see Telos first? After all with a time machine you could go absolutely anywhere in the universe?' the Doctor replied as he made his way along a slim plain.
'You will continue Doctor' the Cyberleader boomed.
'Ah yes of course and Miss Emily am I right in thinking that this area is full of fungi, toadstools and others?' he said slowly.
'Toadstools? Oh yes that plain is full of them, why do you ask?' Emily replied.
'No reason jellyfish brains I was just displaying my great intellect to such a primitive savage!' the Doctor snapped and winked at her.
'Primitive? What idiot comes into battle without a gun?' she cried but as the Cyberleader tried to stop them, they carried on.
'Stop! Surrender immediate. Resistance is useless' he stared when suddenly the Doctor nodded.
'Now!' he yelled and together they pushed the silver creature back over the slope and immediately Emily pulled him to the ground as multiple explosions resounded throughout the plain casting up thick dark smoke.
As it cleared, the Cyberleader crashed to the ground and lay still like its comrades.
'Ashes to ashes' Emily said as she climbed to her feet.
'Very well put' the Doctor added as he joined her, the creature at the bottom lay cracked and torn and utterly devoid of life.

'That's that Cyber-contingent ended as has your war. STORE will return to telecommunications while Genesis will going on and on for another four hundred or so years' the Doctor replied brushing himself down.
'How did you known where to go? The mines could have been anywhere?' Emily asked and the Doctor tapped his nose before leaning down and picking up a faded wooden sign: Beware-Mines.
'And there we have Miss Emily, no more sabotage needed and I'll dare say it gave the Cyberleader not as much as a headache as they gave me' he said and smiles.
'So could you tell me from a brief guess as to where I was when we first met, I must be on my way. A whole universe to explore and all that' he said quickly.
'Wait a moment? Back there you said a time machine. Is that true?' she asked the Doctor tried to disguise the truth but failed miserably.
'Yes, that blue box you knocked me out of was a highly sophisticated time machine. Something that Genesis would try and pay handsomely just to get their grubby, money hungry hands on' the Doctor replied.
'If you can travel anywhere? Do you mind if I came along?' Emily asked and the Doctor smiled.
'Interesting, it's been a long time since someone's asked me that? Well yes, yes I suppose so. As long as there's nothing keeping you here?' he said.
Emily gestured with her hands at the dark, rough bleak world they stood on.
'No, nothing holding me here. Not even genesis' she said and smiled.
'Ah now that is much better, a far cry from what you said to me before? Not that I'm complaining. Welcome on board the TARDIS, that is when we find her?' he said glancing around the area it was then there came a familiar groaning in the air and a strange blue box shimmered into view beside the rocky slope.
'Ah there you are old girl, I see the HADS is working perfectly well' he said and marched over to it, key in hand.
'But how did that get there? It wasn't there before?' she said and watched as the Doctor stepped in.
'Come inside and close the door, there's a draught inside' the Doctor called and as Emily walked through she gasped as the door closed.
'Oh my goodness' she cried glancing around at the vast space around her, the lights sparkled and gleamed like she was in some sort of magical cave?
There the Doctor stood working some very odd controls at a central console, as he finished he looked up to see her.
‘Not to worry Miss Emily, this is perfectly normal or as normality would clarify a police box being bigger on the inside than the outside absurd’ the Doctor replied.
‘Where are we? How can all this fit in here?’ she asked and he smiled before walking to a tea tray and pulled free a white plate of assorted biscuits.
‘Chocolate hobnob?’ he asked and tentatively Emily took one.
‘Thanks, look Doctor just call me Emily. It does sound rather formal’ she said and the Doctor bowed.
‘So be it Emily as for this place, this is the TARDIS and we can go anywhere in the universe of time, fancy a jaunt?’ he asked and walked to the console and selected a few controls.
Immediately the central rotor started to rise and fall and turning back to her, he gestured to a waiting armchair.
‘Please wont you sit down, help yourself to biscuits and I’ll go rustle up some tea’ he said placing the plate on the console and retreating to the far door.
As Emily crossed over to the console in search of the biscuits she glanced up at the powerful console, the flickering energy and she smiled.
While outside against the slope the battered looking frame of the TARDIS slowly faded away from sight.

[Slagathor]

Neat story.