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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:24:37 GMT
In the medical Centre, the Doctor stood, still holding Toms’ wrist.
“A Time lord?” Edwards asked.
“Yes,” The Doctor replied. “Without a shadow of a doubt. It explains everything.”
“Does it?” Edwards asked.
“It explains how he knew what TARDIS meant and why the Cybermen seemed so interested in him.”
“How so?” Anderson asked.
“Most Gallifreyans have some detailed knowledge of time travel and temporal mechanics, not to mention the understanding of dimensional transcendentalism. Some Time lords specialise in one subject or the other, but all have the knowledge and that will be what the Cybermen were after, Time technology!” The Doctor said. “That means that after they captured us and started to process Mr Rowan here they would have started to gain some knowledge of time mechanics, that’s why the implants weren’t so deeply embedded and that’s how we were able to remove them so easily.”
“So, what does this all mean then, Doctor?” The Trishean asked.
“We’re in bigger trouble than I thought.” The Doctor replied. “But there is one hope. It seems Mr Rowan has had a block put on his mind, no doubt by the Time lords. It’s possible he’s in exile, therefore it is likely he may not realise who he really is and therefore also possible that the Cybermen may not have been able to gain a total knowledge of time.”
“But what about the implants?” Anderson asked. “Why weren’t they fully integrated?”
“It’s possible that they wanted to get full access to his mind and temporal knowledge, that’s something I wont be sure about until Mr Rowan regains consciousness. Although, it would have been much easier to spot that he was a Time lord if we had to remove things from his chest.”
Edwards looked down at Tom. The regenerator was working on his head, repairing the damage that the implantation had caused. Where the head plates had been, the hair was starting to grow back and the scarring was slowly disappearing.
“How long will this thing take?” Edwards asked.
“About thirty more minutes.” The Trishean replied.
“There’s nothing we can do for him any more until he’s fully regained consciousness.” The Doctor replied. “The ocular implant may well just be attached to the surface of the skin. Although as Mr Rowan is a time lord his biological defences may be fighting the implants and may help to reject it. He managed to overcome the conditioning temporarily in the Cyber ship, so with the aid of this regenerator it may be able to be gently removed. Give it an hour and I’ll return. Would you keep an eye on him?” The Doctor asked the Trishean.
The Trishean nodded, “For one of your race; it would be honourable.”
The Doctor smiled and walked out of the surgical section of the medical Centre.
“Honourable and noble fellows, the Trishean.” The Doctor said to Edwards. “Where’s Jess?” he asked looking round.
“Erm, Doctor…” Edwards began.
“We believe that there hasss been a great misssfortune.” Szyrst hissed
“Well?” The Doctor asked. “Where is she?”
“She’s disappeared Doctor.” Edwards said in a forlorn tone.
“What?!” The Doctor started off.
“Where are you going?” Edwards shouted after him.
“The Command Centre.” The Doctor shouted back.
Starting after him, Edwards started shouting back. “Slow down Doctor, we know where she’s heading.” Szyrst set off after Edwards as he disappeared after the Doctor.
“Our forces are being driven back.” Ford said.
“Casualties?” Sanders asked.
“Unreported yet.” Ford replied. “The security monitors are going down in the concourses; I can’t get any images of what’s happening down there.”
“There’s a security craft arriving. I’m directing the captain to send all forces straight to the concourses.” Bradbury said.
“I’ve got a report coming through.” Ford said. “I’ll put it through the command deck systems.”
A panicked voice came through the command deck speakers, shouting over the sound of weapons fire. “We’ve sustained severe casualties. We’ve managed to fight the Cybermen back to sector 556 but they’ve set up a defensive situation they’re holding. We can’t break through it, from either side.”
“Report on casualties.” Ford said.
“We’ve suffered heavy losses.” The voice reported. “we’ve broken through the Cybermen positions several times and picked up their weapons. There are more than we originally thought.”
“How many?” Sanders asked.
“At least twenty.” The voice replied.
“We’re working on trying to get a more powerful EMP localised in the concourses to confuse the Cybermen, it should help you break through.” Bradbury said.
“Keep holding them in that location. Report any changes.” Ford said before switching off the link.
“What’s in that area?” Sanders asked.
“The root system for the whole concourse.” Bradbury said. “We need a miracle, very soon.”
“They can hack into the main computer systems from there can’t they?” Sanders asked.
“I’m afraid so.” Bradbury replied looking up. “I’m doing my best to block their access. I’m not sure what they can get access to now though considering they have the encryption codes now. I’m trying to implement more.”
“Have Earth security council sent heavy weapons with the extra guard details?” Ford asked “We’re going to need them.”
“I believe so.” Bradbury replied. “They’re being directed straight to sector 556. they’ve got some of the Federations new weapon systems.”
The Cyberleader walked onto the Cyber command and went up to the Co-ordinator.
<REPORT> The Co-ordinator ordered.
<OUR SURFACE CRAFT HAS RETURNED FROM MARS. THE DOCTORS COMPANION IS OUR PRISONER. THE MARTIAN INFILTRATION UNIT WILL SOON HAVE THE DOCTOR> The Cyberleader reported.
<WAS DAMAGED SUSTAINED TO THE SURFACE CRAFT?>
<NEGATIVE>
<KEEP THE SURFACE CRAFT IN VORTEX. THE DOCTOR IS TO BE TRANSPORTED HERE AS SOON AS HE IS CAPTURED. THEN WE CAN TRANSPORT HIS TARDIS HERE>
<CONFIRMED>
An alarm sounded at one console.
<CO-ORDINATOR. INCOMMING REPORT FROM EARTH SECTOR> A Cyberman reported. <THE EARTH STATION PATROL HAVE COMPLETED THEIR TASK>
<CONTACT THE SURFACE CRAFT. IT WILL RETIREVE THEM> The Co-ordinator said.
<CONFIRMED> The Cyberman turned back to its’ console.
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:25:05 GMT
“I think I’ve blocked them out!” Bradbury said to the command deck. “They aren’t getting into any more of the systems.”
“Which systems have they accessed?” Sanders asked.
“They’ve got communications, internal and external, and ventilation.”
“Ventilation?”
“I managed to block them out of life support, I hope.” Bradbury added.
“What are they going to do with those systems?” Ford asked.
“You’re guess is as good as mine, Jim.” Bradbury said. “At least they’ve not got into life support. Although without communication, we’re on our own.”
“Not quite,” Sander said. “I can still receive contact signals and send them, we’ve still got communications. I don’t understand it.”
“They must have put a listening device of some kind in then.” Ford suggested. “To listen in on our communications.”
“It’s highly probable, Jim.” Sanders said. “I’ll let Earth know and that we’re engaging emergency code seven-alpha.”
“I’m trying to work back into our systems and figure out what limitations, if any, we’ve got, and attempt to re-work them.”
“Security patrols enclosing on the cyber positions.” Ford reported. “They seem to be retreating!” he added, astounded.
Bradbury looked up, also seeming shocked. “What?”
“We’ve got a spatial disturbance occurring, there’s a portal opening.” Sanders said.
“Anything coming out?” Bradbury asked.
“One small craft; it’s heading straight towards us.”
The command deck braced for the on coming onslaught of a Cyber ship. The attack they expected never came.
“Spatial disturbance; sector 556!” Sanders said “Looks like they’ve called up reinforcements!”
A bleep sounded at Fords console. “Sir, the Cybermen! They’ve gone!” Came the astonished report.
Ford stopped and did a double take.
“Repeat previous report.” He said.
“The Cybermen. The voice replied. “They’ve all just disappeared, like a teleport beam.”
“The Cyber ship is retreating also.” Sanders said. “They’ve gone!” She looked round astonished. “Haven’t they?”
Bradbury checked the reports coming in at his station.
“We’ll, I can’t find any traces of Cyber activity on the station, either Cyberman or Cybermat. I do believe you’re right. They’ve gone!”
Ford turned to his console and reactivated the comm. link to the security patrols.
“Keep patrolling, guard for any other Cyber activity on the station.”
“Understood.” Came the reply.
“So, that’s it, is it?” Bradbury said.
“I doubt it Dave, the Cybermen taking one patrol off a station is hardly the end of the war.” Sanders said.
“I don’t mean the war, I mean the shift.” Bradbury replied “Time for the night shift to come on.”
Spinning her chair round, Sanders breathed a sigh of relief and stretched, yawning.
“About time!” She said, reaching behind her head and undid the clip holding back her hair. “When are they up?”
“Five minutes.” Bradbury replied undoing the top button of his uniform. “You should take a break too Jim.” He said addressing the acting security commander. “You can’t do a 36 hour shift. Give yourself a break; we’re back on tomorrow noon.”
“Okay, I really could do with a bit of a break in all honesty.” Ford said.
“Yeah, don’t be a spoilsport Jim,” Sanders said, teasingly. “Do you want to join me and Dave for a drink? We’ve got twelve hours and I doubt the Cybermen will be back any time soon.”
The lift doors slid open and the first technicians from the night shift walked onto the Command Deck. Logging their access off their consoles, Bradbury, Sanders and Ford left their stations and headed to the lift, being replaced by their corresponding night shift personnel.
The Command Centre in Federation HQ was a bustle of activity. Technicians and federal workers of a variety of different races were working at many stations for many different tasks. The Doctor was stood on a raised observation platform flanked by Commander Daniel Edwards of Earth station EST3 and Captain Jane Horrack of the Odysseus of the Earth fleet. The Doctor was resting his hands on the railing, impatiently drumming his fingers on the top bar.
“What’s the delay? You said you know where she was heading.” The Doctor impatiently shouted down to Szyrst who was in the main control.
“She was moving, Doctor.” Edwards said defending their position. “It’s very likely that she is no longer where she was when we first detected her.”
“Why didn’t you keep a trace on her?” The Doctor asked.
“She was in the Martian sector Doctor, it’s not that easy to get a trace on earth technology in there. That’s why we’ve got Szyrst here helping us.”
“Have you tried calling her?” The Doctor said.
Edwards sighed and looked at the Time lord. “That thought had occurred to me Doctor, there was no recognition signal, it’s highly possible that there’s some kind of shielding in the area she’s in.”
The Doctor sighed as there was a bleep from Captain Horracks’ wrist communicator. Turning away she answered the call. Turning back, she addressed the Doctor and Edwards.
“I don’t know if this has anything to do with what is happening, but I’ve just received a call saying that my Lieutenant, Mr Cauldhame has vanished. One of concourse shop owners saw him approach your companion and leave with her.”
Inside the chamber where Jess was being held, one of the Martian warriors was sat at a console monitoring the local transmissions.
“The message hasss been sssent to the human captain about Cauldhame.” It reported in hissed tones.
The Cyberman turned to Jess.
<REMOVE THAT COMMUNICATION DEVICE> It ordered pointing at the wrist communicator that Jess was wearing. Obediently, Jess did as she was told and placed the device in the Cybermans outstretched hand. <YOYU WILL PREPARE TO ANSWER THIS DEVICE> The Cyberman ordered. <DEACTIVATE THE FIELD> It said turning to the Martian.
In the Command Centre, a tone sounded from a Trishean console.
“Marshal, we’ve got a signal from the Earth communication device.” The operator reported.
Call it.” The Doctor said before anyone could say anything.
The Trishean looked at Szyrst for confirmation. The Martian lord nodded in agreement.
“Let me talk to her.” The Doctor said.
“Very well.” Szyrst said “Await the connection.”
The connection tone sounded.
“Hello?” Jess’ voice came through the speakers. The Doctor breathed a sigh of relief.
“Jess, are you okay?” He asked.
“Oh, Hi Doctor.” Jess replied.
“Jess, where are you, are you ok?” The Doctor asked, the tone of his voice edged with concern.
“Oh, I’m fine; I’m having a nice time. I’m just enjoying Mars and sectors of the place with nice views.”
“Can you find your way back okay, or do you need anyone to come and help you?” the Doctor asked after raising an eyebrow to her previous statement.
“Yes, I’m err, fine. I’ll talk to you later Doctor, I’m going to have to go. Bye.”
Before the Doctor had a chance to reply the communications link switched off.
“How worrying.” He mused.
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:25:36 GMT
The Cyberman closed down the communications link.
“You think the Doctor will fall for that, he’ll know it’s a trap.”
<HE WILL COME> The Cyberman said <THE DOCTOR IS EMOTIONAL AND IRRATIONAL. HE WILL COME FOR YOU> The Cyberman closed its fist around the wrist communicator; crushing it. Opening its fist, the creature let the now twisted piece of technology fall to the floor.
Jess looked up at the silver giant. “So why isn’t your leader here to collect the Doctor then?” She asked. “I’m sure he’s very important to you.”
<THAT IS OF NO CONCERN TO YOU> The Cyberman replied.
“He’s my friend, I’m his companion. Doesn’t that make me important to you too? You are using me to get to him.” She replied. The Cyberman just stared at her. “You could have controlled me like you did Cauldhame.” She started again, “But you didn’t, there must be a reason for that, you need me like I am, don’t you?”
The Cyberman turned away from here.
Walking round to face the creature again, jess shouted at the silver giant. “Answer me, will you?”
<YOU ARE CORRECT> The Cyberman replied <UNCONTROLLED, THE HUMAN BEING IS STILL IRRATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL. IF YOU WERE CONTROLLED THE DOCTOR WOULD NOTICE. YOU ARE DRAWING HIM HERE>
“We’ll, at least you know she’s safe now.” Horrack said. “What about my officer?”
“No, there’s something funny going on, that message didn’t ring true to me.” The Doctor replied.
“What do you mean?” Horrack asked. “She’s just wandering around.”
“No, there wasn’t any background noise when she was talking.” The Doctor paused, thinking. “Can we get a playback of Jess’ side of the conversation?” He asked.
Szyrst pointed to a technician, “Can it be done?” he hissed.
“Yes marshal.” The officer replied. Jess’ voice came through the speakers as the Doctor listened closely holding a pencil and pad of paper he removed from one of he many pockets.
“Oh, Hi Doctor. Oh, I’m fine; I’m having a nice time. I’m just enjoying Mars and sectors of the place with nice views. Yes, I’m err, fine. I’ll talk to you later Doctor, I’m going to have to go. Bye.”
“It all sounds normal to me.” Edwards said. “Although she does sound a bit strange.”
“That’s because she’s being forced to say that.” The Doctor replied. “It’s a trap at the expense of capturing me. And I think she’s trying to leave us a message.” The Doctor was musing, checking his notepad and scribbles he’d jotted down. “Can you play it again?” he asked the technician.
The recording of Jess’ transmission was played again.
“Yes, there’s definitely some message there.” The Doctor said. “For instance, where she said ‘I’m having a nice time’, she didn’t say that exactly. What she actually said was ‘I’m having an ice time’.”
“Surely that’s just supposition, Doctor.” Edwards said.
“Play that part of the message a bit slower, you’ll hear a slight gap distinguishing the two words. She’s trying to tell us where she is; the Martian sector of Federation HQ, where she was last tracked too maybe?”
“Itsss highly probably.” Szyrst hissed. “There have been no other recordsss of the communicationsss device tracked beyond that point.”
“Is that all she said?” Edwards asked.
“There is also this: she said she was ‘enjoying Mars and sectors of the place’ which was actually ‘Martian sectors’. And can you just play the last line of her message for me?” The Doctor asked.
Jess voice could be heard once again;
“Yes, I’m err, fine. I’ll talk to you later Doctor, I’m going to have to go. Bye.”
“The first part of that sentence.” The Doctor said. “It wasn’t ‘Yes, I’m, err’, it was ‘Cyber’. That’s the message.”
“What was it?” Horrack asked. “It doesn’t make much sense to me.”
“I like humans, but sometimes they can’t see what’s under their noses. Jess is a remarkably intelligent young woman. Her message was; she’s a prisoner of the Cybermen in the Martian sectors of the Control.”
“Well, then, hadn’t we better get after her?” Edwards asked.
“It’s a trap remember.” The Doctor said. “But you’re quite right. Marshal Szyrst, Commander, would you come with me, I may need your help.”
“If the Cybermen are involved Doctor, then I thing it might be prudent to be armed.” Edwards said.
“I’ve already told you Commander, I don’t carry weapons.” The Doctor protested.
“I wasn’t thinking of you Doctor!” Edwards replied. “I’ve got some wounds to repay.” He added rubbing his shoulder.
“Sssome warriorsss sshall accompany usss.” Szyrst hissed walking to where the Doctor and Edwards stood.
The trio left the command centre heading past the armoury, where Edwards picked up a one of the newer Federation hand held weapons. Proceeding they were met bay a trio of Martian security warriors at the entrance to the Martian sector where Jess’ communicator had last been detected.
The orbiting stations around Mars and the Federation HQ had detected an unidentified object, heading towards mars at great speed. As the object got closer, it was recognised as the Cyber ship that left Mars earlier that night. All stations were immediately on Red Alert, reports flooding through to Martian control. Martian and Federal warships were prepared for the arrival of the craft. Ground based defences were prepared, missiles were armed and prepared to be aimed and surface strike craft mobilised.
In the federation command centre, technicians and officers were busying themselves at defence and operational systems. Throughout the HQ complex security teams and troops moved to prepare for possible invasion.
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:26:26 GMT
In the federation command centre, technicians and officers were busying themselves at defence and operational systems. Throughout the HQ complex security teams and troops moved to prepare for possible invasion. As the Cyber ship approached the outer orbital path of Mars it was met with the small, but building, fleet of warships. The Cyber ship showed no intention of stopping for the blockade and was soon met with a barrage of fire from all ships. Despite its superior fire power and armour, the Cyber ship was vastly out sized; out numbered and faced a fleet with a combined greater firepower. Despite the federations advantage, the battle was not one sided. Evading the majority of the fire shot towards it, the Cyber ship released it deadly load of fire onto the waiting ships. Explosions racked the Federation lines as missiles impacted on ships, causing considerable damage. One of the smaller Federation ships was hit in the engines. With engines failing, the ship started to lose altitude and its orbital path broke. The ship started to plummet towards the Martian surface. Life pods jettisoned as the crew escaped to safety leaving the crippled ship to career to the planets surface, where it erupted into a huge ball of flame as its engines exploded. The preliminary barrage of fire had little effect on the Cyber ship as it turned round and released another barrage of missiles. Laser beams shot from the weapon emplacements on the crafts hull, smashing their bolts of powerful energy on the federation and Martian ships. The federation ships broke their formation in the wake of the second assault from the Cyber ship. The single Cyber ship had already destroyed two ships and crippled tree others. The fleet commander quickly surveyed the readings being fed into his personal station. Their attacks had caused little Damage to the Cyber ship, which was still fighting. The fleet had received a lot of damage. He opened the communications channel to the whole fleet. “Concentrate all fire power on the following target co-ordinates,” he ordered, tapping in his panel to find the location that had received the most damage. “Target section 14.6/8. It’s the most damaged sector, concentrated fire may get through.” The ships of the fleet sent signals of acknowledgement. Several of the ships moved round and released missiles. The concentrated onslaught knocked the Cyber ship from its flight path. There was a small, silent explosion on the hull of the Cyber ship as two of the weapons batteries were destroyed. A wave of Martian war ships moved in firing their forward batteries at the damaged sector of the Cyber ship. This wave of attack was met with increased fire from the Cyber ship, catching three of the Martian ships. The lead ship of the final wave was slightly damaged. The two backing craft caught the full brunt of the attack; one of them having the bridge completely destroyed causing if to collide with the third. The two ships exploded in a large fireball, the debris burning up in the atmosphere as they fell towards the planets surface. Regrouping, the federation ships formed another attack on the Cyber ship, turning the tables on the attacker. A further bout of concentrated fire on the damaged sections of the Cyber ship caused it to start to career towards the surface of Mars. Leaking vapour from the engines, the Cyber ship entered the Martian atmosphere, clearly out of control being battered by its entry path. The federation and Martian ships entered the Atmosphere after the Cyber ship, tracking it, as ground to air missiles from Federation bases slammed into the belly of the Cyber ship. Streaking flame across the Martian sky, the out of control Cyber ship clipped the peak of a small mountain range before finally crashing in a shallow valley. Flying past the crash site, the remaining ships of the fleet flew round before turning back firing all missiles and batteries at the crashed Cyber ship. The barrage of fire impacted on the ship buckling and crashing the already damaged hull. The first explosion at the engines of the ship spread throughout the body of the craft. The fireball blossomed a fiery orange and rose high into the night sky leaving a smoking fiery crater. Pieces of wreckage rained down from the explosion covering a large area. Reporting back to Federation HQ, the fleet commander informed the Control that the Cyber ship had been destroyed. After circling round to make sure the craft was destroyed, the remaining ships headed back up to orbit. Despite hearing of the ensuing battle raging above him, the Doctor was determined not to let anything halt him in his personal mission. He’d already got five followers; Commander Edwards, Marshall Szyrst and three Martian security warriors. Upon arriving at the entrance to the supposed closed Martian sector, the small group found their way blocked by two Martian Warriors. “Thisss accesss isss ressstricted.” One of them hissed at the approaching group. “I am Marshall Szyrst.” The Martian Lord hissed angrily at the two warriors. “You shall let usss passst at once.” “You cannot enter thisss area.” The Warrior repeated. “What have the Cybermen promised you?” The Doctor asked pushing his way past Szyrst. “Command of Mars? You know they won’t convert you. What will happen when your usefulness runs out? You’ve betrayed your kin; you will be destroyed without honour.” The Doctor stared intently at the silent Warriors, whose arms lowered, pointing their sonic weapons towards the floor. “Take them away.” Szyrst hissed to the security warriors. The three security warriors moved forwards and took hold of the traitors, escorting them to the penal sector of the Headquarters. “What will happen to them?” The Doctor asked Szyrst. “They will be tried and possibly executed for their crimesss.” Szyrst replied. “Treachery to the Federation and to Marsss will not be tolerated.” “I’m sorry to hear that.” The Doctor said shaking his head. “They don’t deserve death and I certainly didn’t want to be the one to send them to it.” “You did not,” Szyrst said. “They did themssselvesss when they betrayed Marsss.” “Shall we get going and save the moral discussion for later?” Edwards said moving forward. “Or are you forgetting your friend, Doctor?” “Not at all Commander, not at all.” The Doctor said striding off down the corridor, pausing a few yards in and looking back. “I may not be able to manage this myself; I will probably need your help. It’s up to you; you don’t have to come with me.” He said to Edwards and Szyrst. “I’m sticking with you, Doctor.” Edwards said “You’ve done me well up to now.” “It isss my duty to Marsss.” Szyrst hissed. “I would alssso regard it asss an honour.” The Doctor clapped his hands together, “Thank you.” He said. The Cyberleader strode into Cyber Command. <THE SURFACE CRAFT HAS BEEN DESTROYED> The Co-ordinator said. <AFFIRMATIVE> The Cyberleader confirmed. <HAS THE DOCTOR BEEN SECURED?> <THERE HAS BEEN NO CONFIRMATION. IT IS IMMINENT> <THE DOCTOR IS RESOURSEFUL. PREPARE BOTH FOR HIS ARRIVAL AND THE CONTINGENCY PLAN> |
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:28:28 GMT
<I UNDERSTAND>
The Cyberleader turned and left the room as the Co-ordinator turned back to survey the screens.
“But why control them?” Jess asked the Cyberman again. “Do you do that to everyone; is that what you did to Admiral Russell?”
<WEAK MINDED HUMANS ARE WILLING TO OBEY. GREED BUYS US THEIR CO-OPERATION> The Silver giant replied.
“You mean you offer them power? Or rather more power than they already have?”
<THEY BELIEVE THE CYBER RACE WILL AID THEM. THEY ARE NO LONGER NEEDED WHEN THEIR USEFULNESS IS AT AN END>
“You mean you just kill them?”
<THEY BELONG TO US. THEY WILL BECOME LIKE US> The Cyberman coldly replied.
Jess could feel herself becoming bolder. She’d been told she wouldn’t be harmed and it was now just her and the Cyberman and the adrenaline through the fear had been egging her on. She was determined not to give in to the Cybermen, the Doctor had to be on his way and aware of the trap, so she had taken it upon herself to try to extract as much information from this Cyberman as possible. It had surprisingly been talkative, well, the odd sentence and if it didn’t answer at first, she just repeated the question and walked round to stare it in the faceplate. Confrontational. Sometimes it would spiel out propaganda, but others it would give useful information, mainly titbits.
“What about Cauldhame?” Jess replied. “You just killed him in cold bloody. You just picked him up by the neck and throttled him!”
<HIS MIND HAD BROKEN. HE WAS OF NO USE>
“You mean he broke free of your conditioning?”
<HIS FEAR BROKE HIS MIND. HIS EMOTIONS CAUSED HIS DEATH>
“No that was you. His emotions made him human, something you aren’t. Maybe you were once but now you’re just a walking surgical nightmare!” Jess shouted at the Cyberman.
<WE ARE CONDITIONED TO SURVIVE>
“You’re conditioned to kill!” Jess screamed at the creature. Turning away, she took a deep breath to calm herself before turning back to try again. “What about the humans you haven’t got under mind control? How many of them are there? What do they tell you?” Jess stopped herself, had she been over obvious?
<THEY ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE FEDERATION>
An ambivalent answer. At least it had replied.
“But who else is there apart from Admiral Russell?” She asked. “I’m sure you didn’t just stop there. How did you get in and corrupt them?”
<THE CYBER-RACE HAS HISTORY WITH EARTH. WE HAVE INFUENCED MANY. THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW>
Jess sighed. She wasn’t getting very far. She’d hoped to get some names of traitors. The Guardian! A title Edwards had used when they were on their way to Mars.
“What about the Guardian?” She asked the Cyberman.
The creature didn’t reply. Jess was about to ask the question again when she saw a silhouette on the frosted door. The unmistakeable outline of the mop of hair and frock coat told Jess instantly that the Doctor had found them. However the position the Cyberman was standing, it would see him very soon. Jess stood up and walked round to face the Cyberman.
“I asked what about the guardian?” she shouted at the creatures’ faceplate.
<HE BELONGS TO US> The Cyberman replied.
“What have you promised him?” Jess asked the Cyberman walking round it so she now faced the door. “Come on, tell me?”
The Cyberman turned to face her.
<YOU WILL BE SILENT. YOU HAVE SPOKEN LONG ENOUGH>
Jess looked behind the Cyberman. A further two silhouettes had joined the Doctors. One was distinguishable as a Martian Lord. She could only see the Doctors’ back now. No doubt he was trying to open the lock. She felt a relief to see the other human figure was carrying what appeared by a large weapon. Jess spotted the Cyberman was about to turn to face the door, which would leave the Doctor and whoever was out there with him in a direct line of fire. Thinking quickly Jess hurriedly scrambled past the Cyberman to the other door to the chamber, leading away from the entrance.
<HALT!>
She heard the Cyberman snap the order to her. As long as it focussed on her, it wouldn’t notice the Doctor.
<HALT OF I FIRE>
Hurry Doctor, she though, as she felt as if someone had knocked her in her back and she found herself falling forwards. Trying to get up, she found she couldn’t move. The Cyberman had fired its paralyzing beam at her. At least she was still not to be harmed. She found that she was unable to turn around to see where the Cyberman was, but the shadow that fell over her told her she didn’t need to.
“Get away from her this instant!”
Jess smiled. Never before had she been so relieved to hear the Doctors voice.
The Cyberman turned to face Edwards, pointing his weapon at the creatures’ chest unit, Szyrst holding up his sonic weapon and the Doctor, brandishing his sonic screwdriver.
<RESISTANCE IS USELESS> The Cyberman began.
“Spare us the crap!” Edwards spat at the Cyberman. “You’re out numbered and out gunned.”
Edwards fired at the top of the Cybermans’ head, aiming for the inbuilt weapon. The Cyberman staggered back and Szyrst moved forwards; his weapon raised. The Cyberman came round and swung its arm at the Martians’ head. The blow connected with a sharp cracking sound, sending the Martian Lord flying across the chamber, hitting the wall; he slid down, a large crack in the side of his helmet. A trickle of green blood ran down the side of his face and from the corner of his mouth. Edwards moved towards Szyrst, but the Doctor held him back.
“Cybermen are even more dangerous when cornered” he warned Edwards. The Doctor looked aver at Jess’ prone form. “Is she harmed?” he asked the Cyberman.
<HER LIFE IS DEPENDANT UPON YOUR CO-OPERATION> The Cyberman replied.
“I’ll take it that’s a yes.” The Doctor translated. “You know, you have done nothing but annoy me today, and kidnapping Jess, again, and now shooting at her has just topped my list.”
The Cyberman suddenly staggered back under the influence of intense sonic waves.
“What the…?” The Doctor started.
“Szyrst!” Edwards said.
The Martian Lord had raised his arm and was firing his sonic weapon. The Martian Lords’ breathing was heavily laboured and he was hissing in anger through clenched, pointed teeth.
“Commander, now!”
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:29:53 GMT
“Commander, now!” The Doctor shouted running over to Jess.
Edwards raised his weapon and fired at the Cybermans chest unit. The creature screamed an electronic howl as its chest unit burst sparks and flames under the dual assault and the creature staggered and collapsed, smoke pouring from its chest unit. The Doctor turned round to see Edwards still firing.
“Commander,” He said. “I think its dead. You can stop shooting now.”
“Sorry Doctor. I don’t know what came over me.” Edwards replied.
“Fear and anger are two of the most powerful of human emotions, and as long as they are channelled safely will not result in any psychosis or madness. I know a couple of people who that’s happened too. You managed to control yours for the most part, and if the rest of the Federation can do that, you’ll eventually beat the Cybermen, as long as you don’t give in to your fear.”
Edwards sighed and nodded, looking down at the floor.
“What about Szyrst?” The Doctor asked.
“I’ll check.” Edwards said.
The Doctor walked over to Jess.
“What kept you?” she smiled.
“That was appallingly dangerous; attempting to run from a Cyberman, it could have killed you.” The Doctor replied.
“No, it said it wasn’t going to hurt me.” She smiled again. “And besides, I didn’t want you coming face to face with it when you opened the door. Better you surprised him.”
“It was still quite a dangerous thing to do. But you’re ok that’s the main thing, come on.”
“Erm, one problem, I can’t move. The Cyberman shot me with his stun ray.”
“We’ll, I’ll just have to carry you then.” The Doctor said bending down and picking Jess up in his arms. “Are you ok?”
“I would be if you could support my head a bit.” She replied her head lolling back a bit. “I feel like an old rag doll!”
“Commander, how is Mr Szyrst?” The Doctor said.
Edwards was crouched down next to the prone form of the Martian Lord.
“He’s alive, just. He’s unconscious. He must have received quite a severe blow.”
“Martians are incredibly resilient, but I think you’re right. Can you manage him on your own?”
“Yes,” Edwards grunted, struggling to pick up the Martians body. He put his arm round the Martians body and held the Lords arm round his neck, supporting his weight. “Shall we, Doctor?” he said gesturing to the door, “he’s quite heavy!”
“We’d better get these two to the medical centre right away then.” The Doctor confirmed.
The darkened control room was silent apart from the faint hum of the consoles. The three figures were still keeping silent vigil over the instruments. A small orange light started blinking on the console.
“There seems to be some trouble with our unit.” The seated figure replied
“Report.” The second figure said.
“There is no information.” The first replied. “Temporal image is changing.”
“Are his actions suitable?” the third figure asked
“It cannot be determined at this stage.” The First said.
“His involvement will cause difficulties for me.” The Third replied
“It will not for long, we shall succeed with this. As I said, I know of his history.” The second said.
“That’s all very well, but how much of this should I include in my report? What you are doing is contravening several laws, you cannot continue much longer.”
“We don’t need much longer.” Came the second figures reply. “The mission is hanging delicately. Either way, it will all be over soon.”
“I hope so, for your sake!” the third said before turning and leaving the room.
The seated figure waited until the third had left then turned round. “I didn’t want to mention it earlier, but we’re having contact problems with our unit.”
“Explain.”
“I can’t. Something is going on beyond our control.”
“How is she, Doctor?” Edwards asked walking up to the Doctor.
The Doctor was stood by a bed in which Jess lay. He was checking the screens displaying her details.
“She was shot with a neural stun beam. It’s temporarily paralyzed her from the neck down. The effect should wear off fully within another hour.” The Time lord replied. “You might feel a sensation like pins and needles throughout your body soon. That means the paralysis beam is wearing off. You might be a bit shaky for a bit.” He added looking down at Jess
“Oh, it’s fine, I can have a good rest.” She smiled back at the Time lord “Although I’ll tell you this Doctor; I got quite a bit of information out of that Cyberman!”
“Go on.” The Doctor urged.
“It said something about this Guardian person that the Commander mentioned when we were coming to Mars.”
“What!?” Edwards looked up quickly. “The Guardian of the solar system?”
“Whichever one you meant I asked about.” Jess replied, looking across at Edwards. “I was trying to find out about people they’ve got control of and traitors and stuff.”
“Good girl!” The Doctor beamed. “I did say she was very intelligent.”
Jess blushed furiously. “Well, this Cyberman said that he belongs to them. Or something like that.”
“Belongs to them? What does that mean exactly?” Edwards queried.
“I assume it means that he’s relaying information to the Cybermen.” The Doctor said. “Still, we can discuss that later, I need to check on Mr Rowan.”
”Tom? How is he?” Jess asked from her bed.
“He should be fine.” The Doctor replied. “We should be ready to move him back to the station soon.”
The Doctor turned and headed towards the bay where Tom was lying.
“What else did the Cybermen say about the Guardian?” He asked Jess.
“Not much. They said that they have influenced many in the federation. That’s about it. They don’t give much away!” Jess replied.
“Well, when we get back to the station I’m going to have to make a full report to the Security Council, and I will need your testimony.”
“I don’t know what else I can tell them, that’s all I know.”
“As long as you can vouch that what you say is the truth.” Edwards said. “Now, if you will excuse me, I think I should go and Check on Tom and Marshal Szyrst.”
“Ok, see you later.” Jess smiled.
Edwards walked across the room, towards the Doctor.
“Well?” He asked. “How is he?”
“Almost recovered Commander.” The Doctor said. “This ocular implant should come away easily now.” The Doctor pointed at the sensor placed over Toms’ right eye.
“Will the regenerator have helped with that?” Edwards said looking down. The scarring on Toms face had gone and his hair had almost fully grown back.
“Yes, now I know some more about his physiology.” The Doctor said. “It should only be a simple operation.”
“I’ll let you get on with it then Doctor.” Edwards said.
The Trishean medical officer walked out of the operating bay towards Edwards.
“How is Marshal Szyrst?” Edwards asked.
“The Lord Marshal has received some very severe injuries to his face. His jaw was broken in three places and he had some fracturing to the side of his face. There were also the injuries caused by the breaking of his helmet.” The Trishean said.
“How severe are they?” Edwards asked.
“There have been lacerations to his face and unfortunately some fragments of his right visor panel have become embedded deep within his eye and skull, causing irreparable damage to both his eye and optic nerve.”
“He’s blind?” Edwards was shocked.
“Not as such, we can manufacture him a new helmet, with a visor that links directly to the visual sector of his brain, it will relay the images direct via a sensor.” The Trishean explained. “Sensor receptors shall be placed around the eye socket and the eye replaced. Now if you will excuse me, I shall continue the operation.”
Edwards nodded as the Trishean turned and walked away. Stifling a yawn, it dawned on Edwards that he hadn’t slept for quite some time. Gently stretching he decided to get himself a small room for what remained of the night. Looking round he could see the Doctor busy at work on Tom, obviously he wasn’t ready to sleep. Walking towards the door to the medical bay Edwards paused and shot a look at Jess. The girl was breathing gently, now asleep. Edwards gently smiled. The girl certainly had spirit. He couldn’t begin to imagine how she must feel, suddenly finding herself in the middle of a war, two thousand years in her future. Yawning again, Edwards turned and walked out of the medical centre.
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:30:12 GMT
Commander Daniel Edwards was awoken with a start. The communications link was buzzing. Cursing under his breath, Edwards got up. Rubbing his eyes and muttering to himself he sat down at the small communications panel.
“Commander Edwards? You’ve got an incoming transmission from EST3.” The voice said.
Edwards sighed. “Relay.” He said.
A picture of EST3s Command Deck flicked up on the screen.
“Commander.” Bradbury said.
“Dave!” Edwards rubbed his eyes again. “Have you any idea what time it is?”
“13:37 hours, Commander!” Bradbury said slightly puzzled.
Edwards blinked and shook his head slightly.
”Sorry Dave, I must have over slept. What is it?”
“We’ve been trying to get through to you for a while sir. The quick update is that we seem to have got rid of all the Cybermen and all traces of Cyber influence on the station. At least we’ve had no trouble since yesterday.”
”Well?” Edwards said.
“Well, we’ve had some problems with some of the stations systems, communications has been one. We’ve also had temporary problems with some minor systems.”
“How so?”
“They start giving us trouble, and then fix themselves before we’ve isolated the problem. We think the Cybermen may have done something to the station.”
“Ok Dave. Well, don’t transmit further; the comms system may be being monitored. I’ll head back with the…” Edwards paused. “The rest of the team.” Edwards finished.
“Ok sir. Out.” The Comms link switched off.
Edwards Got up and stretched. May as well go for a shower, then head back to the Station, he thought.
Edwards walked into the Medical Centre and looked around. He couldn’t see the Doctor or Jess, or any medical staff. He walked into the bay where Tom was lying. He was no longer attached to any machinery and his skin had fully regenerated. All traces of Cyber implants had been removed and his hair had fully grown back.
“Good afternoon Commander. I trust you slept well.”
Edwards turned round to see the Doctor walking into the Medical centre.
“Tom?” Edwards asked.
“Should be fine Commander.” The Doctor walked into the bay and looked down at Tom. “I have several questions I have to put to him, although I’m not too sure what he will be able to remember.”
“About the Cybermen?”
“That’s one of the things I want to ask him.” The Doctor paused. “The other is about his origins. Either he was putting up a very good front and cover story, or.”
“Or what?”
“I know the Timelords can be devious, but placing a young Timelord in a planets time stream to become involved in getting information. It breaks countless laws of Gallifrey.”
“I’ll have to trust you on that one Doctor.” Edwards said. “Where’s Jess?”
“She’s having something for lunch.”
“And John?”
“John?”
“Sorry, Doctor Anderson.” Edwards corrected himself.
“Doctors staff room, I think.” The doctor said perching himself on the edge of some equipment.
“We’re going to have to head back to the station very soon. I had a message from Dave Bradbury. Apparently the Cybermen have done something to some of the systems.”
“Hmm,” The Doctor mused. “The fact that I’m not able to do much until Mr Rowan regains consciousness worries me quite a bit! I feel like I should be out there stopping the Cybermen, but then I can’t do that until I have my TARDIS.”
“Well then,” Edwards clapped his hands together. “Shall we start to head off then? We can get a transport ship ready; I don’t think the Odysseus is prepared yet.”
“Certainly Commander.” The Doctor smiled. “The sooner I know what the Cybermen are up to; the happier I’ll be. I hope.” The Timelord added.
The scene in Cyber Command was almost one of ceremony. All Cybermen in the Command chamber were stood, right fists raised to their chests. The Cyber Co-ordinator moved back and adopted the salute as the newly resurrected Cyber Controller walked into the room flanked by the Cyberleader and another Cyberman who stopped at the door.
The Cyberman walked to the centre of the room and stood to its full height. Lacking the antennae on the helmet, the Cyber Controllers head instead had a large domed ‘brain’ section which glowed with a hint of soft reddish light.
<REPORT> Its deep mechanical voice boomed out
The Cyber Co-ordinator stepped forward.
<OUR ATTACKS ARE ENCROUACHING THE MAJOR POWERS OF THE GLAXY. MANY HAVE FALLEN. MANY ARE POISED TO FALL> The Co-ordinators cold report came. <THERE IS A SYSTEM FOR YOU TO CONNECT TO>
The Co-ordinator pointed to a Cyberman who touched a control. A dais and complex electronic chair rose from the floor, with wires, tubing and more machinery descended from the ceiling. The Controller walked to the arrangement and positioned himself on the chair.
<CONNECT> Ordered the Co-ordinator.
The Controller stiffened as the connectors arranged themselves onto him flooding his mind with the collected knowledge and information.
<CONTINUE THE OPERATION> The Controller said. <THE DOCTOR HAS LEFT MARS AND IS HEADING TO THE EARTH STATION. HE MUST BE CAPTURED. BRING THE PLAN FORWARD. THE DOCTOR MUST BE BROUGHT TO US>
The lift door to the Command Deck slid open and Edwards, the Doctor and Jess walked out into the Command Deck.
“Welcome back sir” Bradbury said.
“How’s Tom?” Sanders asked, turning round.
“Yes,” Edwards paused. “I’m holding a briefing meeting very shortly to discuss that and other things.”
“Where have these system problems been occurring?” the Doctor asked stepping forwards.
Bradbury pulled up a schematic outline of the stations systems for the Doctor to look at.
“Mainly the communication systems.” Bradbury brought up another screen. “This was the readings we took this morning; and this.” He brought up another screen, “Was the reading two days ago, before the Cybermen hacked into our systems.”
The Doctor studied the readings closely, muttering quietly to himself.
“Of course!” he smiled. “They’re not only monitoring the station systems, they’re also monitoring Earth from here. All sorts of things on Earth in fact. No doubt they can even tell whether it’s sunny or not in Brighton from the Control on Telos.”
“Is there any way we can cut them out of the systems.” Bradbury asked.
”According to this, no!” The Doctor said. “It’s almost like a computer program, feeding information direct to Telos. There is one way however, and I’m working my way towards that, there’s only one person who can help me there and he’s unconscious in the Medical bay.”
“Tom?” Edwards asked. “How so?”
“It’s one of the things I mentioned earlier Commander. He’s the key.”
“Very well Doctor, but first I’d like you to attend the briefing, and Jess as well.” Edwards responded.
“A pleasure.” The Doctor smiled holding his hand out towards Jess. “Shall we?” he smiled at her.
“Why me this time?” Jess asked the Doctor. “They gonna make me an honorary crewmember?” she smiled.
“It’ll be about your conversation with the Cyberman about the Guardian and other humans the Cybermen have corrupted.” The Doctor replied. “I get the feeling you’re going to become very important to a lot of people here.”
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:30:33 GMT
“Keep him under observation. He should be coming round very soon. He needs to stay here and have some rest.” Doctor Anderson told his nurse, looking down at Tom.
“Yes Doctor.” The Nurse replied, checking the monitor readings. “These aren’t normal!” She said standing up.
“Not for what you’re used to, nor me for that matter.” Anderson replied. “But take it from me, I have it on good authority that he is doing well, just make sure these readings stay at this level.”
“Yes Doctor.” The Nurse replied.
“Good. Now I’ve got to get up to the Command Deck, I’m needed for this briefing. If there are any problems, call me.”
The Medical bay doors opened and Doctor Anderson walked out, heading up to the Command Deck for the briefing. The nurse looked at the readings again and turned away shaking her head. Any normal human being with life readings like that would be dead, or near to death. She turned away to carry on with her normal tasks when she suddenly heard a groan from behind her. Turning round, she saw that Tom was starting to stir, groaning gently as he moved his head.
“Mr Rowan?” She asked walking over to the bed. “Can you hear me?”
“Where..? Doctor!” Tom Rowan opened his eyes and saw normally for what felt like an age. No nightmarish voices or visions in his head. “Where’s the Doctor?” He asked sitting up.
“Doctor Anderson has gone to the Command Deck. Can I help, unless it’s very urgent?” The Nurse asked helpfully.
“No, not a Doctor, The Doctor.” Tom replied
“I’m the senior nurse on this shift, I’m sure I can help you.”
“No, no you can’t, you don’t understand.” Tom said struggling to his feet.
“Mr Rowan!” The nurse almost snapped.
“Tom grabbed at a robe to put round the medical gown he was wearing, seemingly ignoring the nurse until he turned round to be face to face with her.
“Mr Rowan, will you get back in your bed this instant! You’re to stay here until you’re rested.”
“I don’t have the time for that.” Tom said making to walk round the nurse.
The Nurse moved to block him. “Mr Rowan. I may not be Doctor Anderson, but I am the most senior medical staff on at present, therefore, you will listen to me and go back to bed. That is a medical order.” She said very sternly.
Resigning, Tom went back to the bed. The Nurse satisfied was about to turn away when she saw Tom jump over the bed and make for the door.
“Lock!” She shouted at the doors, just as Tom got to them, barring his exit again.
“Look,” Tom started turning round. “The fate of the whole galaxy, maybe even the Universe itself is hanging by a thread. I know what’s going to happen; if you don’t let me out of here we’re all dead!”
”Aren’t we being rather melodramatic Mr Rowan?” The Nurse asked.
Tom glared at the Nurse, she suddenly saw his eyes in a way she had never seen the eyes of anyone before, they seemed to sparkle and burn in an almost fiery blue, standing out even more with the young officers’ dark fair falling round them. She seemed almost hypnotised by them.
“I know what the Cybermen are planning. I am leaving this place to tell those who can act about it. That is why I must see the Doctor.” Tom said gently. “Now, open those doors!” he barked the last bit, making the nurse jump.
Reluctantly she did as she was told and opened the doors letting Tom out. Once he had left the Medical Bay she made her way to a communications panel and informed Doctor Anderson about what had just happened.
“Understood.” Doctor Anderson said into his wrist comm. “It’s Tom,” he said looking up at the rest of the briefing “He’s just pretty much forced his way out of the Medical Bay, demanding to see you Doctor.”
“Well, that saves me having to go down to him. He’ll probably be on his way up here, that’s what I would do.” The Doctor smiled.
“What do you mean?” Bradbury asked.
“Because we’re more alike than you’d think.” The Doctor smiled, enjoying the look of confusion on the faces that looked back at him.
Jess, Sanders, Bradbury and Ford all looked back at the Doctor confused.
“That’s why I called you all here.” Edwards said. “When we were on Mars, The Doctor and John got to work on removing the Cyber implants and they…” Edwards paused. He’d been trying not to think about it too hard. “Well, they found something out that may very well shock you.”
“What’s wrong?” Jess asked looking round at the Doctor.
“Is Tom ok?” Sanders asked.
“Yes, absolutely fine.” Anderson said. “apparently.” He added.
“What do you mean?” Bradbury asked. “Can people stop talking in riddles here?”
Edwards stood up. “Tom, isn’t exactly as we all thought he was. Like the Doctor said yesterday; didn’t we wonder why he was so young?”
“He’d been promoted in the ranks; it was all in Rolsteins’ file when he assigned Tom here.” Ford said.
“So, he’s an alien?” Sanders asked. “One of a race that ages slowly?”
“Not just any race.” The Doctor cut in “He’s a Timelord; one of my own race.”
“So that’s how he know what TARDIS mean, and about it being bigger inside than out.” Jess said.
“Exactly.” The Doctor replied “And why the Cybermen were so interested in him. They wanted his knowledge of time mechanics.”
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:30:51 GMT
There was silence throughout the conference room.
“But that’s not all, is it Doctor?” Jess asked, seeing the expression on the Timelords face.
“He’s had a block put on his mind, so there’s a very strong chance he doesn’t know who he really is. Not only that, but it’s very strange for the Timelords to put a young Timelord like him, in a planets time stream where he will become involved.”
“Why’s that?” Bradbury asked.
“Because the Timelords have, are meant to have, a policy of strict neutrality and non-intervention. By having Mr Rowan here, they are breaking several of their own laws.”
"Yet you’re here and getting involved.” Sanders said to the Doctor.
“I do tend to get involved with things, yes.” The Doctor said. “They’ve put me on trial for that before. But sometimes my freedom is utilised by the Timelords to do things that they want changing, that is how I suspect Jess and I came to be here.”
“This is rather a lot to take in.” ford said.
“Yes, I’m sorry about that.” The Doctor apologised. “But these are facts that need to be told. And now I need to talk to Mr Rowan about the Cybermen and his being a Timelord. It could be quite a shock for him.”
”These Timelords, Doctor?” Sanders asked. “Why would they want him here?”
“I don’t know.” The Doctor admitted. “He could be a political activist from the academy and have been exiled here as punishment for something, I just don’t know, there are many possibilities.”
“No, sir, you can’t go in there!” the voice shouted from outside the door, stopping the Doctor before he could begin to start talking again.
“Let me through! That’s an order!” Tom’s voice shouted.
The door opened and Tom was framed in the doorway.
“Doctor, I must…” he stopped looking round at the silent faces. “What is it?”
“Tom, I think you’d better come in.” Edwards said.
Confused, Tom slowly walked into the conference room to the seat that Edwards had pulled out for him.
“Please, sit down.” Edwards said.
Tom looked round, nearly everyone was staring at him; the Doctor was staring down and Jess was giving a sympathetic look. Jess tried to give him a supporting smile as he took the seat.
“Do you remember your family?” The Doctor asked looking up at Tom.
Tom opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. Taken aback, he tried again.
“No. It… its all confusion.” He stammered “It’s like it was a dream.”
“What was a dream?” Edwards asked.
“My family, my life. It feels like its fading.” He replied, a tear forming in his eye. “All I have is nightmare and confusion.”
“Please tell me about it. I know it can’t be easy.” The Doctor asked gently and sincerely.
“I knew my family, I knew my life. Yesterday it was clear as anything. But since the Cybermen, things have changed. Memories have gone; some I don’t recognise are there instead.”
“Does this mean anything to you?” The Doctor held up the thing Jess had found in Toms room.
Jess looked at it, she’d forgotten about that.
Tom stared at it hard. “It’s an alarm clock.” He said. “Or is there some trick behind it all?”
“Your memory of what it is and what it does has been blocked.” The Doctor replied. “This is far from an alarm clock. Can you read the writing on the side of it for me?” The Timelord passed the device to Tom.
Taking hold of it Tom read the writing. “Uphold the word of thy Lord Rassilon, Acknowledge thy Lord Omega. Take your powers that are, share you wisdom throughout…”
“Thank you,” The Doctor cut in. “Could you pass in along please?”
Tom passed the device to Sanders.
“Could you carry on reading it please?” The Doctor asked her.
“Erm, I would if there was anything here to read, there are just these strange symbols.”
”Exactly,” The Doctor smiled. “Do you know what the inscription is?” The Doctor asked the bemused Tom.
“I just assumed it to be an ancient nursery Rhyme.” Tom Replied
“It’s the Gallifreyan pledge of allegiance one takes when entering the Timelord academy. Every academy student has one of these. It’s a data storage unit. I’m afraid there is no easy way to say this Mr Rowan, but you are not human; you’re a Timelord, one of my own race. The memories you thought you had were implanted in you. The Déjà vu you felt about the word TARDIS was traces of your real life coming through.”
Jess looked from the Doctor to Tom; he was having trouble assimilating the information.
“But…” he started. “Do you think that’s what the Cybermen were doing? Trying to get those old memories?”
“I think it’s highly probable.” The Doctor replied. “But your Gallifreyan memories will have to wait; I get the feeling that’s not what you burst in here to tell me.” He smiled.
Tom was still puzzling over what the Doctor had said about his past and completely missed the Doctors question.
“Tom?” Edwards said.
“What? Oh err, the Cybermen?”
“Yes please.” The Doctor smiled.
“You’re not going to believe this, but this whole plan is almost thousands of years old. When Mondas broke from its orbit and the people started to become Cybermen, small factions would be sent to colonise worlds as the Planet wove its way through space. This left Cybermen throughout the galaxy. Then Mondas returned to Earth to plunder it, but was destroyed, but that wasn’t the end of the Cybermen, obviously. Other Cyber factions merged and waged war with humanity for centuries, and then they seemingly disappeared. They’ve been out there, plotting and evolving, becoming more advanced.”
“This is history.” Bradbury said.
Tom Held up his hand cutting him off. “These Cyber factions merge with one another when they meet; purging any weakness that one may have that the other doesn’t, getting stronger and stronger.”
“So, that’s how they overcame the Gold thing?” Jess asked.
“Quite.” Tom Replied. “Upon discovering the devastation on Telos the Cyberfleet made the logical assumption that they were believed extinct and therefore any subsequent sightings of their race may very well be deemed to be refutable. There, they built up, rebuilding the planet, sending out a signal that only Cybermen could pick up, to bring other factions to Telos to become stronger. When other craft arrived on the planet, to keep up the pretence the cyber race was extinct, these ships would be destroyed by atmospheric interference. That’s how the Cybermen were forgotten.”
”Yes, but what are they doing?” The Doctor pressed Tom.
“They started to strike out at small ships, building up their numbers. There are thousands of Millions of them! They’ve even held slave worlds where when a slave passes their prime they’re converted. New slaves are born there, that’s how they kept their numbers up, breeding humans!”
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:31:08 GMT
Tom stopped and looked at the Doctor. The Timelord, his fellow Timelord apparently, was talking it all in with both horror and fascination.
“They’ve been rebuilding their strength for 1300 years. They’ve added all different kinds of technology they’ve stolen to their own, biological, technological, they’ve even used some cloning technology to build up their numbers, trying to survive. They’ve adapted biological technology to convert non-human humanoid species to their number without tissue rejection. They’ve spread like a Cancer through the sector of Space that contains Telos. They’re still spreading. To survive, all threats must be destroyed; Daleks, Sontaran, the Federation. All humanoid threats will either be rounded up and converted or destroyed. Once these major obstacles are out of their way, the remaining smaller will fall, then they will have the forces to move in on…on…” Tom paused. Realisation flooding through him as if someone had opened a slues gate of knowledge. “Gallifrey, that’s who I am!” He gasped.
“On to where, Tom tell me please?!” The Doctor urged.
“Their forces are formidable in size, they could easily sweep away Sontar, Skaro and the Federation, and then they will be free to go for the one prize, which will ensure their survival throughout time.”
The Doctor stood up, his hands firmly gripping the table. “Go on…” he said a slight tremble in his voice.
“They’ll take it all. Destroy everyone, take control of time; they’ll be able to take whole galaxies within years with that power.”
“Tom, are you saying what I think you’re saying?” The Doctor asked.
“Gallifrey.” Was Toms only answer. “They’ll destroy the Timelords and take all power over time, striking out at the other galaxies at all times. Their numbers will increase exponentially. They’ll be the only dominant life form in the universe.” Tom stopped looking round at the stunned faces looking back at him. The Doctors’ face was fixed in pure horror.
“What?”
“From their strength and numbers and with any knowledge about time they’ve gained from me I can’t see how they will fail.” Tom said.
“They hadn’t counted my involvement.” The Doctor said with a grim tone to his voice that Jess had never heard in his voice before.
“Main crew, back to the duties.” Edwards said observing the look on the Doctors face.
Sanders, Bradbury, Ford and Anderson walked out of the conference room.
“What are you going to do?” Jess asked.
“I don’t know yet. But I have to get to Telos as soon as possible.” The Doctor said his face grim. The Doctor stood up to his full height and clutched his lapels. “Commander,” he said, “I have to get to Telos, and I need Mr Rowan to accompany me.”
“What about me?” Jess asked.
“No.” The Doctor said simply. “This is going to be potentially incredibly dangerous, and I don’t want you to get caught by the Cybermen, and I can’t have them threatening you again.”
“But if it’s going to be dangerous, you’ll need me to look out for you.” Jess said, touched by the Doctors compassion. “Besides, they said they wouldn’t harm me when they last had me prisoner.”
“That was then, this is now.” The Doctor said. “And besides, I believe that the Commander may well require your help.”
“Yes,” Edwards Said. “Do you mind if I borrow Jess for security reasons, traitors and sabotage?”
“You’ll have to ask her, Commander!” The Doctor smiled.
“Yes, of course.” Jess smiled. “if we’re talking about what the Cyberman said about the Guardian?”
“Commander, I think Mr Rowan and I had better be going.” The Doctor said. “We have a great deal to do.”
“First, I need to get back into some proper clothes.” Tom said looking down at the medical attire he was wearing.
“No time like the present then!” The Doctor said; a smile back on his face. He turned and strode from the room, with Tom walking after.
In the darkened control room the two remaining figures were both working at the consoles.
“Sir, I’ve regained full signal.” The First said.
“Are there any faults or damage?” The Second replied.
“I’m afraid so sir. Look.” The figure gestured to a screen. “It’s failing.”
“We need that information, and soon, before.” The Figure was cut off as the third re-entered the room. “Sir?!”
“You have been keeping information from us, Terrin.” The Third said.
“No, no sir; it’s just.” Terrin Started.
“Oh, be quiet. We’ve run another scan and simulation. Independent to this one and nothing has changed. Yes he’s acted and still is, but it is not going to change the outcome.” The third figure paused as two other figures entered the room. “Terrin, you’ve lied to the Supreme Council, guards.”
The two new figures, guards, moved forward and took hold of Terrin.
“You are under arrest. The Supreme Council have taken a vote and it is time to act. A force has been assembled and we are leaving.” He turned to the first figure. “Dorlin, you will accompany me.”
“Yes sir.” Dorlin said getting to his feet.
“Bring him, we are leaving this station.” The figure said, turning and leaving the room.
“Please hurry Mr Rowan.” The Doctor called through the door.
“I’m on my way, don’t worry.” Tom said walking to the door of his quarters, doing up the last few buttons of a clean new uniform.
“Good, come on, there’s no more time to lose. Hopefully the atmosphere inside the TARDIS will help you regain some more of your old memories.” The Doctor said as the two approached the lift.
“I hope so.” Tom said as they entered the lift and made their way to the Medical Bay, where the TARDIS was still stood. “It’s a bit tricky having gaping holes in your memory.”
“I know how you feel.” The Doctor said, thinking back to his exile on Earth. “And I would prepare yourself, as I doubt that you name really is Tom Rowan.”
“Funny that.” Tom said stepping out of the lift. “But it still feels like my name.”
“It is a possibility, some Timelords do have human names, but it’s rare.”
The two walked in silence the rest of the way to the medical bay. As the Doctor walked over to the TARDIS and unlocked the door, Tom walked up to the Nurse and handed her the gowns.
“Sorry about that little outburst earlier.” He smiled as he turned, walking towards the TARDIS.
Closing the door behind him, Tom walked over to the Console where the doctor was stood checking panels.
“We’re going to have to arrive at Telos via the Vortex. I don’t want them to know we’ve arrived. The last thing I want is Cybermen getting their hands on Gallifreyan technology.”
The Doctor said. “So, there is a chance this could be a bumpy ride.”
“I’m ready Doctor, I’ve flown a shuttle through severe turbulence in an asteroid field, and you’ve got to keep your wits about you there!” Tom smiled at the Doctor.
The Doctor smiled and set the controls and the time rotor started its rhythmic rise and fall as the picture of the medical bay on the scanner changed to that of the Vortex.
“Ok, we’re in flight.” The Doctor said, to himself more than Tom. “Co-ordinates.” He looked up at the young Timelord. “It’s been a while since I was last at Telos. Can’t say I’m excited about this return trip.”
“Can’t say I’m too thrilled about the prospect either Doctor!” Tom replied. “Still, a Timelord’s gotta do what a Timelord’s gotta do.” He added smiling grimly.
“You’re starting to accept it more then?” The Doctor enquired.
“It’s starting to make sense.” Tom replied. “I know how I can remember Venus being terraformed now. That was a good 25 years ago and going by my physical age, I shouldn’t really be able to remember that.”
“They’ve terraformed Venus?” The Doctor asked. “Philistines!” he muttered under his breath.
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:31:25 GMT
“There’s no time to refer it to anyone.” Edwards shouted at the communication screen. “I need the Security council, now; it’s a matter of utmost urgency.”
Edwards turned to Jess.
“Sometimes, the internal affairs really try my patience. You can’t do anything unless you’ve signed the right forms or spoken to the right people. They can’t stand it if it’s too urgent for that!” He said to her.
Jess smiled. “It’s like telesales back in my time. Always trying to sell you something. Or when you ring up a help desk and you just have to press buttons to choose options, never speaking to a person until you’re really frustrated.”
“Oh, before I forget. Security Council will want to check your federation identity to back up your story to make sure you’re trustworthy, and as you don’t have one, there will be quite an investigation. I think it would be best to avoid that trouble by saying you cant give your name for security reasons. When they ask you for your name, say you can’t give it for security reasons; code Alpha 77T4.” Edwards said.
“What does that mean?” Jess asked.
It’s a code for the special branch of the Special Space Security. Internal affairs. They don’t have to give a name.” Edwards replied. “I shouldn’t know it, let alone tell you, but it will save a lot of trouble.”
Jess smiled. “Alpha 77T4.” She repeated.
“Just speak in an official tone, as if you’re a VIP.” Edwards said.
“Oh, I’m sure I can manage that!” Jess smiled mischievously.
The screen flicked back to life, showing a large chamber with a long bench at one wall, with the seal of the Security Council both on the front of the bench and the wall behind. Three people were sat at the bench; a rather plump woman, clearly in her fifties, was sat in the middle. To her left was a younger woman, she had a stern face and a mean looking demeanour. To the right sat a man about Edwards’ age, early forties, with short blond hair and neatly trimmed beard.
“Commander Edwards; this is extremely irregular to call the Security Council without prior appointment.” The woman in the middle said.
“I understand Ma’am.” Edwards replied, “But I’ve been brought information that is of vital importance.”
“Very well.” The woman replied. “Speak.”
“It’s not me who has the full knowledge.” Edwards said stepping aside and letting Jess walk towards the screen.
“And who are you?” The woman demanded.
Straightening herself up, Jess adopted what he dad had called her ‘little madam’, snooty tone.
“I am not at liberty to give you my name for security reasons code ‘Alpha 77T4.” She replied, pleased with the way she had spoken. “Who am I addressing?”
The woman sighed. “Internal affairs.” She said looking at her two companions. “Many apologies Miss.” She said addressing Jess once more. “I am Vice Chancellor Ashe of the Security council. This is Clarke” Ashe pointed to the woman on her left. “Chairman of the council; and this is Morton,” Gesturing to the bearded man on her left, “Honorary master of the council.”
Morton and Clarke both bowed their heads to Jess in a manner of respectful greeting.
“May I ask if you have a codename we may address you by?” Ashe asked.
Names flooded through Jess’ head. Xena. Buffy. Janeway. Uhura.
“Officially, I don’t exist.” Jess finally decided on saying.
“Of course.” Ashe smiled back.
Jess breathed out, relieved. She’d given an answer that was true and yet acceptable.
“What is your report?” Morton asked. He seemed almost bored.
“An immediate enquiry has to be conducted into the Guardian of the Solar System. I have strong evidence that suggests he is working for the Cybermen, feeding them information and carrying out acts of sabotage. At least if not him then there are others whom the Cybermen have corrupted.” Jess breathed in. she’d rehearsed that speech on the journey back to the station, refining it to use the longest words and most formal tone she could
“What is your evidence?” Clarke asked.
“It was told to me by a Cyberman whilst I was its prisoner.” Jess replied.
“An obvious attempt to drive a wedge into earth.” Morton said looking at Ashe. “I’d have thought even a young agent would have realised that.” He added almost dismissively.
That addition made Jess see red.
“Listen to me, Morton is it?” She snapped. “You just be grateful I’m not in that chamber with you! The Cybermen don’t tell lies, it’s not in them, they’re logical. They deal with facts not fiction. These attacks are more than enough to bring earth onto its knees, and they can do it. They will do it. Unless you stop the problems that are caused by people like the Guardian who are in league with the Cybermen.”
Edwards stared at Jess. She was doing incredibly well for herself. She’d changed quickly over the day or two she’d been on the station. She’d grown stronger and she was incredibly resourceful and showed lots of initiative.
“Very well.” Ashe was saying. “We will launch an immediate enquiry. “We have already started investigations into Admiral Russells’ past. Hopefully now we can expose more traitors. Thank you.” The screen went blank.
“Well done!” Edwards beamed at Jess. “I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of you.” He said.
Jess smiled. “Thanks. That Morton bloke just made me so angry that’s all.” She said sitting down and rubbing her eyes.
“The security council are usually very quick with serious issues.” Edwards replied. “Are you ok?”
“Yeah,” Jess replied. “I think I’ll give it a bit before I do anything else.”
“The Doctor has faith in you.” Edwards said to her.
Jess smiled back at Edwards. She was beginning to really like this man. He reminded her of her father in some ways, and in others, more like an Uncle.
“I think I’ll just wait up on the Command Deck for a while first.” Jess said.
“We can always find you some quarters if you like.” Edwards said. “Some first class accommodation?”
“I’m fine thanks.” Jess said, wondering what 41st century first class accommodation might be like. “I had plenty of sleep on Mars.”
The TARDIS was trembling, a vibration that both the Doctor and Tom could feel right down, deep inside them. The tremors were coming from the vortex itself, channelling themselves through the TARDIS and through the two Timelords themselves. The trembling had been slight since the TARDIS had departed from EST3 and had been steadily building as the ship made its journey to Telos. The Trembling suddenly gave way to a violent lurch that sent the two Timelords stumbling. The TARDIS lighting system flickered and there were several explosions on the console and the walls, as sparks erupted from them. Several of the roundels clattered to the floor of the console room.
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:31:47 GMT
The Doctor scrambled to his feet. “Mr. Rowan!” He shouted. “Can you tell me the reading on the Bocca Scale on the screen directly in front of you?”
Tom grabbed hold of the edge of the consol and pulled himself to his feet.
“This small screen?” He shouted back.
“That’s the one.” The Doctor said before shielding his eyes as there was an explosion of sparks before him.
“It’s going wild!” Tom shouted back. “Reading 6.78, 8.93, 9.99!” Tom looked up at the Doctor.
“It’s off the scale!”
The Doctor muttered something to himself and dashed to another panel. “That row of switches there.” He shouted to Tom, pointing. “Press them all down!”
“What was that Bocca Scale?” Tom asked back.
“Distortions and ripples in the Time Vortex caused by dangerous time experimentation. I’m trying to trace the source, but I get the feeling I needn’t bother” The Doctor shouted back quickly, still flicking switches whilst grabbing hold of the console for dear life.
The TARDIS shook violently again, throwing Tom back to the floor.
“Telos?” Tom asked scrambling back to his feet.
The Doctor looked up, through the smoke and sparks and nodded gravely. “They’re using what little knowledge they obtained from you.” The Doctor looked down, and then looked up straight away. “And you shouldn’t be feeling guilty; it’s not your fault, more the High Council, or Celestial Intervention Agency.”
“I’m not worried about that,” Tom replied. “I just want the Cybermen stopped.”
The TARDIS gave another sudden and violent lurch as a loud whining filled the air and the console room was plunged into darkness. With a loud sigh, the central column began to rise and fall again and light slowly came back to the console room.
“What the hell was that?” Tom asked, the whine still ringing in his ears.
“I don’t know.” The Doctor said, rushing to the console.
Tom picked himself up again. “Is it safe, or should I just stay on the floor?” He asked. “Wait a minute, the screen, look.” He said pointing.
The Doctor turned round. The image of the time vortex had gone; instead the screen was showing the outer reaches of a solar system. A planet was visible on the screen, yet some distance off. Yet at the distance, space stations and several large fleets of space craft could be seen.
“Telos?” Tom asked.
“No, no!” The Doctor said. “This is the outer most planet of the Telos system; Klathac. We’ve been knocked out of the vortex by the time experiments the Cybermen are doing.”
“That bad? Will it cause much damage to the vortex?”
“The Vortex, not as much, but to the web of time, they could cause irreparable damage.” The Doctor said gravely. “We may be able to get back into the Vortex, but it won’t be an easy ride.”
“I think we’d better hurry about it though.” Tom said, “They’re sending someone to see what we are.”
The Doctor looked back at the screen; a small space ship was heading directly towards them.
“They may well have detected the time disturbance.” The Doctor said. “Dematerialize,” He shouted to Tom, “Now!”
Without thinking, Tom worked his hands at the controls. The battered Police Box that was hung unusually in space slowly disappeared.
The Doctor looked up, “Well done!” He smiled. “For a second, I forgot that you’d never done that before.”
“You think my memory’s coming back then?” Tom replied.
“I said the atmosphere in the TARDIS may help.” The Doctor smiled. “Your knowledge of temporal mechanics must slowly be reasserting itself in your mind.”
The TARDIS gave another lurch as the Doctor finished his sentence, before starting to shake rather violently.
“Here comes the tricky part.” The Doctor said, “We’re going to be materialising close to the source of the disturbance.”
“The Cybermens’ time chamber? Wont that be heavily guarded?” Tom asked.
“Hopefully not!” The Doctor said. “I’ll to put us somewhere safe, well, as safe as I can find on Telos! Somewhere dark and quiet.”
The pitch darkness and silence of the small chamber was disrupted as a gradual flashing, followed by a wheezing, groaning sound filled the air. The chamber returned to darkness and silence once the TARDISs’ materialisation completed. A faint chink of light appeared, slowly getting wider as the TARDIS door opened.
“It’s a bit dark.” Tom said stepping out of the TARDIS into the blackness.
“I did say I was aiming for somewhere dark and quiet.” The Doctor retorted.
“Oh, very good. Have you any idea where the door is?”
“Hang on,” The Doctor replied. “I put that torch somewhere.” He muttered fumbling about his person. “Ah, here we are!” he said, a beam of light illuminating the small room. “You know what you’re looking for?”
“It’s there.” Tom said, pointing so a doorway beside the TARDIS.
The Doctor reached in his pocket and picked out his sonic screwdriver.
“We’ve got to be careful.” He said, “We want to try to remain unnoticed for as long as possible.”
Tom nodded in response as the Doctor turned to look at the small panel to unlock the door. Tom turned to peer into the gloom of the room.
“I wonder what they used this for?” he said
“Possibly a cell?” The Doctor muttered from the lock.
“Good luck opening the door if it is then!” Tom smiled back. “Could be storage?” He added.
“Possibly.”
“If we’re close to the time chamber, then it may be related to that somehow.”
“Hmm” The Doctor agreed, concentrating on his work.
Taking a few steps into the gloom, Tom stepped on something. Bending down to examine it, he recoiled almost immediately, bumping into the Doctor.
“Careful!” The Doctor warned, “I don’t want to trip the wrong code.”
“I don’t want you to either Doctor. I figured out what this room is used for.” Tom replied.
The Doctor turned round, swinging the torch in the direction Tom was facing. Rows of shelving filled the wall behind them; each shelf was full of Cybermats.
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:32:35 GMT
They were lying dormant, stored. Some lay on the floor awaiting the activation signal. “I think you’d better be very careful.” Tom said. “I agree, and quick as well, just in case!” The Doctor said. “I don’t like the idea of those things coming alive while we’re in here.” “Messy!” Tom agreed, staring at the Cybermats through the gloom. The Doctor worked in a tense silence on the lock, a few beads of sweat glistening on his brow. “The airs getting stale, have you noticed?” He asked Tom. “You’re noticing it too? I thought it was just me.” “Small chamber; two people breathing the air.” “Shall I open the TARDIS doors; get some air from there out here?” “No, I don’t want one of those things getting in there.” The Doctor said referring to the Cybermats. The Doctor turned back to the lock, and worked for what seemed like minutes. “Ah!” He said proudly stepping back from the door as it slip open. “You are aware we’re unarmed in the heart of the Cyber Empire?” Tom asked, quietly slipping out of the door. “We don’t really need guns, besides I never carry them.” The Doctor wondered how many more times he’d have to say that today. “The Cybermen won’t kill us, and I feel confident that if we’re captured we can use our minds to beat them. We’re Timelords and they want our knowledge. Fight with your mind. Have you ever heard the old Earth saying; Brains not brawn?” “It rings a bell.” Tom replied. “I know what you mean.” The Doctor smiled a nod to the young Timelord pocketing the torch. He pulled a small tracer out of another pocket and cautiously made his way down a corridor, Tom close behind. The Cyber Controller turned to the Coordinator. <IS ALL PREPARED?> It boomed. <YES CONTROLLER. ALL CYBERMEN ARE STATIONED AND READY> <PREPARE. INFORM THE CYBERLEADER> The Coordinator pointed to a Cyberman who activated a communications link. <CONTROLLER> The Cyberleader said. <ARE ALL UNIT STATIONED?> <AFFIRMATIVE. WE ARE AWAITING ARRIVAL. THE PLAN IS ALMOST COMPLETE> <AS SOON AS IT IS; YOU WILL RETURN TO CONTROL> “WE WILL SUCCEED> The communications link turned off. <WE PROCEED WITH THE INVASION OF THE SONTARAN EMPIRE> The Controller said. <THEIR DEFENCES ARE WEAKENING. THEIR NUMBERS ARE FEW> The Coordinator replied. <ORDER THE INVASION. THEY WILL FALL BEFORE OUR MIGHT> <INFORMATION> A Cyberman reported. <THE SUBJECTS HAVE ARRIVED CONTROLLER> <COMMENCE THE TRAP> The Controller ordered turning to the larger screen. The screen was split into sections, one showed the TARDIS sitting in the Cybermat store; the others images of the Doctor and Tom making their way along a corridor towards the time chamber. “I’ve not got a very good feeling about this Doctor!” Tom whispered. “What is it?” The Doctor asked, pausing to peer though an access panel in a door. “This is it!” “It’s an obvious feeling, but I don’t feel safe.” “We are in the heart of Cybercontrol.” The Doctor replied. “Maybe I’m being paranoid.” Tom muttered following the Doctor into the room. The Doctor walked towards the large structure in the middle of the room. “They’re attempting to recreate Gallifreyan technology.” The Doctor said, astounded. “The fools.” He said, pocketing the tracer. “That looks like…” Tom started staring at the structure in the centre of the room. “Yes, like a TARDIS console. A very large TARDIS console. Time rotor going into the ceiling, all interconnected. It’s a bungled hotchpotch.” “Will it actually work?” Tom asked “It will cause enough damage to time to destroy billions of lives and planets throughout the universe.” “No, there’s something else. I can feel it.” Tom said. “Us! It’ll work with us!” “Us?” “The Cybermen were getting the knowledge from me, right? So they’ll want us to get the rest of the knowledge to make a fully functioning time and space machine.” “Yes,” The Doctor agreed “and what’s more; they’ve constructed a very advanced fluid link.” He added, picking up an elongated semi-transparent tube, a silver liquid could be seen inside. Tom peered closely at it. “Mercury?” “Yes.” The Doctor confirmed. “This link is incredibly advanced. A successful amalgamation of Cyber and Gallifreyan technology.” “But with us, would it work?” Tom repeated his question. “Without a shadow of a doubt.” The Doctor said gravely. “They’ve done very well; very well indeed.” <THANK YOU DOCTOR> The Two Timelords spun round to see the Cyberleader stood behind them, two other Cybermen flanking it. Each of the three doors to the chamber had Cybermen stood in the frames. <YOU ADMIRATION OF OUR TECHNOLOGY IS UNDERSTANDABLE. WE WILL TRIUMPH> “How are you feeling?” “Fine, thank you.” Jess said looking back at Sanders and smiling. “Better now I’m back here, and to be honest I’ll be even better once the Doctor is back with the TARDIS.” Jess stood by the lieutenants’ station. She felt comfortable around Sanders. Sanders looked up at the young woman. “You’re not,” She started in a low voice. “You and him?” she asked. “What about me and the Doctor?” Jess asked. “You’re not, together are you?” Sanders said, rather bluntly. “Oh, no. No, no.” Jess said smiling. “Bit too much of an age gap, you wouldn’t believe it!” Jess turned away, “I still hardly can.” She added quietly. “No,” She said turning back, “I’m a poor, single 20th century student girl.” She smiled. “And that’s how I like it. I’m me!” Sanders smiled back up at Jess, then turned back to her work station. Jess stood and looked around the Command Deck. With all the commotion that had been going on, this was the first time she’d actually stopped to take in the surroundings. Sanders was sat at her console, in front of the large view screen. Bradbury was walking about the rear consoles, checking readings and ensuring technicians were carrying out their set tasks. Commander Edwards was stood talking to Jim Ford at what was Toms, console. Jess looked back at Bradbury; he was starting to move amongst the technicians quicker, checking readings against those from his own console. “Sir.” He said. “We’re picking up some strange readings here.” Edwards turned round. “Can you specify, Dave?” “No sir. There are just some,” Bradbury faltered, looking for the right word, “Well, bizarre readings coming though.” “Cybermen?” “I don’t think so sir. There have been no special disturbances and no ships sighted in the vicinity. It also doesn’t seem like the same signals that the Cybermen were sending out.” “Are you sure of that?” ”Yes, the Doctor managed to isolate that. I’ve been able to almost filter it out and stop it. This is something new. Something different.” “I’m not detecting any anomalous readings.” Ford said. “Me neither.” Sanders added, checking the consoles. “Well, someone’s wrong!” The crew of the command deck stopped and looked round. “Well, I mean, you can’t all be right. Either there are some dodgy readings, or there aren’t.” Jess said. “Well?” Edwards asked. “She’s right. Verify for me, now.” |
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:32:50 GMT
“I told you I didn’t have a very good feeling about this Doctor.” Tom said.
“Yes, you did.” The Doctor sighed.
“It was too quiet.”
<SILENCE> The Cyberleader cut in.
“Yes, I thought you’d have something to say.” The Doctor muttered.
<YOU WILL ACCOMPANY US>
“Where to?” Tom asked.
“Do you really need to ask?” The Doctor said to the younger Timelord.
“I guess not.” Tom replied as the Cyberleader confirmed the prisoners’ destination.
<YOU ARE TO BE TAKEN BEFORE THE CONTROLLER>
“How does it feel to be demoted down to third place then?” The Doctor said to the Cyberleader.
< UNIMPORTANT. MY POSITION IS DETERMINED BY MY PROGRAMMING>
Two Cybermen walked over to the Doctor and Tom, each carrying a pair of metal restraints. Grabbing hold of the Timelords wrists, the Cybermen fastened their captives into the manacles.
“How quaint, Cyber handcuffs” The Doctor smiled, holding his hands up. “Aren’t you supposed to be reading us our rights?”
<YOU WILL BE SILENT DOCTOR>
“Close, but I think we’ll accept that, hmm, Mr. Rowan?”
“Who am I to argue?” Tom replied.
“The time will come.” The Doctor whispered to Tom as the Cybermen herded them to the door.
Commander Edwards stood in the middle of the Command Deck, his arms folded. Jess was stood nearby, watching the crew busy themselves over the consoles.
“I think Dave’s right.” Sanders said from her seat. “I’m certainly starting to detect some discrepancies here.”
“Are we being hacked by someone?”
“Systems are all secure, sir.” Ford said.
“I’ve contacted Earth and EST1. They’re scanning for special anomalies, so far, none have been found. It can’t be the Cybermen, unless they’ve implemented some secondary sabotage that’s affecting our systems.” Bradbury said.
“Sanders, Contact the Odysseus, we’d best warn them.”
“Sir.”
“I’ve run a complete diagnostic of the stations systems, sir.” Ford said. “We’ve not been hacked, there is no detectable sabotage and neither is there something draining off our power or feeding off our systems.”
“Anyone else got any ideas?” Jess feebly suggested.
“Sir, the Odysseus is on call.” Sanders reported.
“Main screen.” Edwards ordered.
The screen flicked onto the image of the Odysseus’ bridge. Jess looked up at the now familiar sight, almost getting accustomed to images of spaceships, something that three days ago she never believed existed, until she stepped into that Police Box in the park.
“Captain Horrack.”
“Hello again, Daniel.” Captain Horrack said
“We need your help ma’am.” Edwards said. “We’re getting some very strange readings here. Can you make sure that there have been no reported sightings of Cyber activities in the vicinity in the past two hours?”
“We’ve been monitoring sectors of the solar system since the emergency began, the Achilles and Agamemnon are both in the solar system and neither of them has recorded any Cyber activity.”
Subtly at first, but then becoming more noticeable, the volume on the communications system slowly died. Edwards turned round looking at the screen. Captain Horrack was still talking, unaware of the problem.
“Jakki, get sound back.” He ordered.
“It’s there.” She said sounding confused. “Instruments say that the audio is on.”
Slowly the screen started to fade and the Red Alert sounded.
“Jim?” Edwards asked turning to Ford.
“I’ve done nothing!” Jim said. “Red Alert has just initiated itself.”
“I’m seeing some failures in all systems.” Bradbury said. “They’re going down but readings are saying that they’re functioning properly.”
“Can you explain it?” Edwards asked.
“No, sir. All systems are dying”
“It’s all very samey. The décor I mean.” Tom smiled to the Doctor as the two were herded by the Cyberleader and escort to the command chamber.
The Doctor smiled back at him “You should know. Anyway, it looks like there’s light at the end of the corridor.”
The two Timelords followed the Cyberleader into the nerve centre of Cyber Command. The impassive figure of the Cyber Coordinator stood in the centre of the room, next to a technological array, centralised in the room. The Cyberleader strode over to the other side of the array. Two Cybermen guarded the Doctor and Tom.
“So, where is he then?” The Doctor asked. “I assume we’re to meet the Controller and he’s to tell us our fate personally and explain your plan”.
<CORRECT DOCTOR>
The Controllers voice seemed to come from everywhere. The array spun on its axis; the Cyber controller plugged directly into the heart of control on what was like a throne.
<THIS TIME YOU ARE TOO LATE. YOU HAVE SUPPLIED THE KEY TO OUR VICTORY. OUR PLANS CANNOT BE HALTED AT THIS STAGE. WE SHALL SURVIVE. WE SHALL CONQUER. >
“There’s absolutely no explanation for it, sir.” Bradbury said, clearly confused. “All systems are fully operational, yet they’re failing.”
“I can’t raise security sir. I can’t raise any other deck on the station.” Ford reported.
“All external communications are offline too sir. Even though they’re stating that they’re fully functional.” Sanders said.
Through all the confusion, Jess felt something. Something vaguely familiar. She felt her hair move, as though there were a light breeze on the command deck.
“Is the air conditioning or whatever it is working?” She asked. “I’m sure I can feel a breeze.”
“That’s not possible.” Bradbury said, turning back to his console.
The command deck quietened down as the crew worked to trace the cause of the faults. That’s when Jess heard it.
“Listen.” She said.
“What?” Edwards asked.
Jess held up her hand silencing him. A faint mechanical wheezing sound could be heard, gently reverberating about the Command Deck.
“What’s making that noise?” Edwards asked.
“Shh!” Jess scorned.
The volume of the noise started to increase to a groaning sound.”
“It’s like an engine.” Sanders whispered.
“I’ve heard that noise before.” Jess whispered. “Look!” She pointed towards the door to the conference room. The wheezing groaning noise increased in pitch and something slowly materialized into existence on the Command Deck.
A large green box.
A TARDIS.
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Post by Fitz Kreiner on Mar 20, 2006 15:33:24 GMT
Part four
“Too late?” The Doctor asked the Cyber controller. “If you could remember anything about your human life you would remember the saying, that it’s never too late. Not only that, I’d have thought you would have known me better than that anyway.”
The Doctor was stood in the Cyber command centre in Cyber control on Telos; the heart of the Cyber Empire. He, along with Tom Rowan, were prisoners deep within the Cyber Empire, their hands bound in restraints before them.
“It’s not looking too good, Doctor.” Tom whispered. “I hope you’ve got something clever up your sleeve!”
“Time will tell.” The Doctor whispered back. “Now Controller, I just have one question; why?”
<EXPLAIN> The Controller boomed.
“Why go to all the deception? Why the war on several fronts? Why the necessity on time technology? Why the need to destroy all life? You aren’t Daleks!” The Doctor said.
“That’s four questions, Doctor!” Tom pointed out.
“Don’t be pedantic.” The Doctor hissed back.
<WE WILL SURVIVE. WE SHALL ENSURE OUR SURVIVAL> The Controller said.
“What a wonderfully predictable response Controller!” The Doctor said, throwing his manacled hands in the air; then wincing at the pain of the metal straps. “You went to a bit of trouble to convince humanity and myself that the Daleks were the aggressors in this war. Would you be as good to explain why?”
<CONFUSION, DOCTOR> The Controller said flatly.
“Yes, I could have taken a wild guess at that.” The Doctor sighed rolling his eyes. “Bit too much trouble though, isn’t it? You were causing enough confusion with your attacks and plagues.” The Doctor was pacing up and down the control. He suddenly paused and held up a finger as if he had a sudden revelation. “Unless,” He said. “Unless you wanted to start a war between the major powers of the Galaxy in order to weaken them so you could take over, conquer and convert.” The Doctor paused, thinking. “But no, that may decimate the humanoid populace of the galaxy, wouldn’t leave you many to convert to your own race. And besides, the Sontarans and Rutans have been fighting for millennia already, but you’ve now ended that by destroying the Rutans. That could cause trouble”
<SILENCE> The Controllers voice was now almost deafening. <YOU SHALL BE SILENT DOCTOR. WE DO NOT NEED TO REASSURE OURSELVES LIKE THE SONTARAN ARMY. THEY BELIEVE THE RUTAN HOST DESTROYED BECAUSE IT SUITS THEIR PROPAGANDA. AS YOU WILL SOON LEARN WHEN YOU BECOME AS WE HAVE BECOME, THE RUTAN HOST SURVIVES ON THE OUTER FRINGES OF THE GALAXY. THEIR END IS NEAR>
“I see.” The Doctor mused.
“So, we’re to become like you, yet you seem to enjoy telling us stories, don’t you?” Tom said to the Controller. “Although I get the feeling you’re only telling us this so we can experience the emotions that will come with the revelations of your plans, hmm?”
<YOU ARE CORRECT.>
“Isn’t that an emotional drive to do that?” The Doctor mocked.
<EMOTIONS ARE A WEAKNESS DOCTOR. FEAR; HATRED; TERROR. THEY WARP AND BREAK THE MIND. LEAVE HUMANOID RACES WEAKER. WE MAKE THEM STRONGER; REMOVE THESE WEAKNESSES>
“This is old, Controller. I’ve had this argument with your race many times.” The Doctor said, turning away. The Controllers next word made the Doctor turn back, a serious look on his face.
<GALLIFREY>
“Yes, we know.” Tom said, staring at the Controller in disgust.
<YOU KNOW WHAT WE WANTED YOU TO KNOW> The Co-ordinator said. <YOUR ESCAPE FROM OUR SHIP WAS ENGINEERED. WE USED YOU AS AN INSTRUMENT IN THE GRAND PLAN>
This revelation made both the Doctor and Tom stop; slack jawed, in both horror and shock.
“What?” The Doctor turned to face the trio of the Controller, Co-ordinator and Cyberleader.
“How?” Tom asked. “There was no way you could manipulate events to that extent, surely?”
“How did you know that Mr. Rowan here was a Time Lord, he didn’t know himself. Therefore you couldn’t have known until you scanned his mind prior to attempting the conversion process on him.
<CORRECT DOCTOR> The Cyberleader confirmed. <WHEN THE SCAN OF THE YOUNG TIMELORDS MIND SHOWED US WHAT HE WAS; OUR PLANS CHANGED ACCORDINGLY. THE SUBJECT TOMROWAN WAS USED AS BAIT; TO BRING YOU TO US: BOTH OF YOU>
“The ‘subject Tom Rowan’ is right here. Kindly refer to me as a person, otherwise I shall become very hostile to your cause and make it my personal mission to ensure that you do not survive.” Tom almost snarled
The Doctor put a hand on Toms shoulder. “Steady, Tom.” He said. “Don’t let your emotions get the better of you, not here; we don’t want to give them fuel to fire their emotional argument again. They used us both.”
<CORRECT DOCTOR.> The Cyber Controller said. <WE HAVE OUTWITTED YOU. WE ARE NOW THE SUPERIOR SPECIES. THAT IS WHY WE SHALL RULE; WE SHALL SURVIVE; WE SHALL GROW STRONGER>
“Not if we have anything to do with it.” The Doctor muttered quietly to Tom. “So,” The Doctor said, addressing the controller. “You implant false information in Toms mind in order to bring me here and him. So are you telling me now that you aren’t going to invade Gallifrey?”
<NO DOCTOR> The Controller said, <YOU WILL>
The Doctor stared at the Controller. “If you think that either Tom or I will take a Cyber patrol to Gallifrey for you, then you’re gravely mistaken.”
<NO. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO IS MISTAKEN DOCTOR. EVERYTHING WE DESIGN IS CARRIED OUT. YOU BELONG TO US>
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