Post by Fitz Kreiner on Apr 20, 2009 16:38:06 GMT
Corporal Loding jumped to her feet at the sound of the alarm. It seemed to be reverberating around the now almost empty HQ. As far as she knew, there was just her, the Doctor’s two friends and a few privates milling about. It took her several long seconds to realise that this particular alarm was the fire alarm. A drill hadn’t been organised, of that she was sure.
Being the only duty officer in the operations room, Loding kicked back against the floor and her chair scooted across the floor on its casters. Stopping herself at the desk edge, Loding looked at the screen that told her where the alarm had been triggered; it was one of the labs, the one where the Doctors TARDIS stood. Flicking on the CCTV monitor she was perplexed to be met by a picture of static. The camera was out.
Getting to her feet, Loding ran from the room, flinging open the doors, not hearing their loud crashing against the walls as she sprinted down the corridor. Had she not been in such a hurry, she would probably have spotted the figure stood in a shadow, seemingly oblivious to the sound of the alarm.
Watching until Loding had turned the corner; Private Baxter moved out of the shadows and entered the operations room, making sure that the doors were firmly closed behind him.
Jess started at the sound of the alarm. She’d only just turned her attention back to the computer. As of yet, she hadn’t been able to find anything out about the Rutilus Allec plastics factory. As far as the internet, and several online directories, was concerned; the company didn’t exist. Looking round, panicked, at the door, Jess half expected Tom to burst back in telling her that Autons had broken into UNIT HQ.
Getting to her feet, Jess cautiously crept to the door and opened it. As soon as she did, the acrid and pungent smell of something burning hit her. It seemed to be coming from down the corridor, and her curiosity peaked, she followed it.
Loding skidded round the corner as she approached the corridor that lead to the labs. The smell of burning was much stronger here. At the far end of the corridor, she saw the girl, Jess, emerge from the lab where she and Tom had been working. Her wrinkled nose and the look on her face told that she could smell it as well.
Smoke was billowing out of an open door just down the corridor. The sound of a fire extinguisher sounded over the alarm and Loding saw someone moving in the smoky room, through the windows. The smoke was dying down to mere wisps now. The figure had opened a window and was trying to wave the smoke away.
Realising that she’d been stood watching the drama, Loding walked towards the doorway, Jess, she saw, was doing the same from the opposite end of the corridor. The two women reached the door at the same time. The smoke had almost dissipated now, although the shrill alarm was still sounding. Looking through the door, Loding saw the Doctors’ other companion, Tom, inside. He held a fire extinguisher loosely in one hand and was looking at a blackened, molten and twisted mass on the desk. Shards of broken glass were scattered about the mess. It was then Loding realised what the mass was; the calling device that Morris had used to bring the Doctor here.
“So much for a non smoking building.” Tom shouted over the sound of the alarm.
“What happened?” Loding asked, almost choking on the fumes that still hung heavy in the room.
“I was on my way to contact the Doctor, we’ve found something rather disturbing about this factory that he and Morris have gone off to.” Tom started, putting the fire extinguisher onto the floor with a clang. “I saw someone going round the corner at the end of the corridor.”
“You think they did this?” Loding asked, looking at the expression on Toms face. “Did you see who it was?”
“No,” Tom replied, shaking his head. “Although he was a he, and he was a private. Surely there can’t be that many left in the building, what with this raid going on.” Tom paused and hit himself in the forehead with the palm of his hand. “The raid.”
Jess’s eyes widened as she realised at the same time as Tom. “The Doctor and Captain Morris are walking into a trap.”
Loding looked from Jess to Tom, not sure what the two were talking about. “What do you mean?”
“We looked up that factory that they’ve gone to raid online,” Jess explained to Loding. “The company doesn’t exist, and the name is Latin for ‘Red Herring’. We think that the Master has set this all up.”
All sound of the alarm seemed to fade from Lodings’ hearing as what Jess had said sunk in. Turning, Loding made for the door, turning back to the two travellers. “With me, quick,” she said running back down the corridor towards the operations room.
Shrugging to Tom, Jess turned and ran after Loding, Tom following close behind. Jess wasn’t even sure whether the building was large enough to enable someone to run in, but there always seemed to be running, more often than not, down corridors. At least the run was a short one, Jess thought as she almost collided with the back of Loding. The Corporal was holding the handle to the door, but had paused, as if listening.
“What is it?” Jess whispered, as best as she could over the sound of the alarm, which was still ringing.
“Smell,” Loding said, sniffing the air.
Sniffing, Jess wrinkled her nose in disgust. There was still a strong acrid smell of burning hanging in the air. She wasn’t sure whether the smell was stuck in her nostrils or whether it was coming from a new source. Looking at Loding, she shrugged.
Indicating for Jess and Tom to stand back, Loding removed the pistol from the holster on her hip and kicked open the door to the operations room before recoiling as smoke billowed out. “What the hell?” She choked before turning to Jess and Tom. “Those fire extinguishers, quick!”
Turning, Jess grabbed a fire extinguisher hanging from the wall, spotting Tom grabbing one from farther down the corridor. Pulling off the plastic protective tag, Jess pointed the extinguisher to where she could see a flickering orange flame through the smoke and activated it with a whoosh of carbon dioxide. She was aware of the sound of two more extinguishers and turned to see Loding and Tom beside her, pointing them into the room.
After what seemed like an age, Jess put the now empty extinguisher down on the floor and glanced at Tom, who was spraying brief bursts at small explosions of sparks. Coughing and waving away the smoke that still remained, she looked back at Loding, who was stood with her extinguisher resting on a chair, rubbing the back of her neck and surveying the damage.
“What do you think happened?” She asked.
“I don’t think an overload would have caused this.” Tom said from the other side of the room.
“Sabotage,” Loding agreed. “But the question is, who?”
“One way of finding out,” Tom said, placing his fire extinguisher on the floor. “Lock down the building, the saboteur has to still be here. Then we have the difficult task of questioning everyone to find out who it was.”
“What about the Doctor?” Jess asked. “How are we going to let him know what we’ve found out?”
“I don’t know,” Tom admitted. “I think we have our own trouble here.”
Jess opened her mouth to argue as the room was plunged into darkness, the lights flicking off both inside and down the corridor outside as well. The sound of the fire alarm died away, leaving an echoing ring.
“What the-?” she started, looking round the gloom, the room dimly lit by the fast fading daylight outside.
“The fuse box,” Loding gasped, looking round at Jess and Tom.
“Where is it?” Tom asked, starting to bounce on his feet.
“The cellar,” Loding replied, watching as Tom turned and ran from the room. “But its security coded, you won’t get in.” She shouted after him.
Pausing, Tom turned and shouted back. “Unless it escaped your attention, someone already has. And if they’re after sabotage, I can imagine it would be easy to get back in.” Tom turned to run back down the corridor before looking back into the operations room. “Besides, I know a thing or two,” he added before running off.
“What do you think we should do?” Jess asked, looking at Loding.
“See what the damage is. We can’t do anything here until we get the power back.” Loding said looking around the carnage of the operations room and then making for the door. “Besides, your friend might need some help with the security codes and fuse box.”
The Land Rover skidded to a halt outside the gates of Rutilus Allec, Captain Morris jumping out before the vehicle came to a full stop. Stepping out of the small gatehouse, the security guard looked bemused at the three army vehicles now stopping before him.
“What’s all this then?” he asked as Morris approached him.
Reaching into his pocket, Morris produced his identity card and flashed it at the guard. “Captain William Morris, UNIT. This area is now a military operation and off limits to civilians. I’m going to have to ask you to vacate the area.”
“Sorry mate, can’t do that,” the guard said, pulling himself up. “I’m gonna need to see official notes. Never heard of you UNIT lot.”
“Never the less, this area is now off limits to civilians. We’ve reason to believe that the area is under command of hostile forces.” Morris said looking over the guards shoulder and seeing Jason Stretham crossing the grounds from the reception. “We’ve had confirmation from our agent.”
The guard turned to see Stretham walk up to the gate and salute to Morris. “Sir, target sighted in the main reception heading down to the factory floor.”
“Thank you Private.” Morris said, returning the salute. “Report to Sergeant Lovatt and get kitted out.”
“Sir,” Stretham saluted again and ducked under the gate barrier and jogged over to where Lovatt was now standing beside one of the vehicles.
“Now, if you don’t mind, sir?” Morris asked, gesturing for the guard to move away from the gates. “One of my men will tell you where to keep out of the way.”
Watching the guard slowly walk off, Morris crossed back to the jeep and flung open the passenger door. The Doctor was sat in the passenger seat, Jess’ CD player sat on his lap, the backing removed. He was holding a piece of equipment between his teeth and humming to himself as he twisted two wires together and pulled his sonic screwdriver out of his coat breast pocket and held it close to the wires. Morris watched in amazement as the two wires soldered together.
“What is that thing you’re making?” He asked.
“Hopefully, something that will deal with any auton we may come across.” The Doctor replied removing the circuit from his teeth and soldering some more wiring to it. “Could I borrow your radio?” he added looking up at Morris and smiling.
“Oh, uhm, yes,” Morris stammered, unclipping his radio from his belt and passing it to the Doctor. He opened his mouth to say something when the Doctor removed the back cover of the radio and started to fiddle with the workings inside. Thinking better of it, he closed his mouth. He was starting to get used to the reactions that he got from the Doctor and the insane amount of techno babble that the Time Lord spouted.
“Is the Master inside?” The Doctor asked, looking up again.
“He was spotted heading to the factory.” Morris said, beckoning Lovatt and Stretham over.
The Doctor looked up at Stretham in his guards’ uniform and smiled. “Ah, the Myrmidon. Tell me, did the Master come through the main doors?”
“No,” Stretham reported. “He and a blonde woman seemed to come out of a vending machine. It was damned weird. I dunno if they were already hiding in there?”
“A vending machine?” the Doctor asked, fixing Stretham with a piercing stare. “Was it there earlier in the night?”
“I don’t remember, sir.” Stretham said.
“He came by TARDIS,” the Doctor mused before jumping out of the land rover and gripping Morris by the upper arms. “Will, I want four of your best chaps to come with me; we’ve got a Vending machine to confiscate.” Not waiting for a reply, the Doctor made off towards the reception, his coat tails flapping behind him.
The Master stood staring at a small monitor screen, his arms folded, chuckling to himself. The black and white image showed the Doctor and four UNIT troops entering the reception of the factory. He turned to where Andrea was working and walked over.
“Activate the building defences, my dear, and then I think it’s time we were off.”
Nodding and smiling, Andrea flicked a switch and got to her feet. “Back to the TARDIS?”
“No, the UNIT forces will no doubt have got it. But don’t worry my dear, we’ll get it back alright.” He smiled. “We’ll head back to the distribution centre in London.”
The Doctor ran his hand over the front of the vending machine near the reception desk. Pulling the TARDIS key out of his pocket, he slipped it into the coin slot and twisted. Reaching out, he opened the front and peered into the blackness within.
“Yes, I thought as much.” He nodded, closing the front and turning to the four troops. “I need you chaps to help get it on the trolley.”
Nodding, three of the troops grabbed the machine and tilted it as Stretham kicked the square wooden trolled underneath the vending machine. Reaching up to the top, he helped pull it onto the trolley. Making sure it was secure; the four men slowly wheeled it back to the main doors.
“Oh dear,” the Doctor muttered, rattling the main doors. Turning, he glanced around the reception and saw a small red sensor flashing in the corner. “I think we’ve been spotted, they’ve activated security alert.” He called out to the troops.
A rustling sound soon filled the quiet of the reception, causing the five men inside to look around. A motion beside the Doctor’s face caused him to turn round slowly to look at the plant.
“I don’t suppose any of you noticed whether these plants were real or not, did you?” He asked slowly.
“I thought they were an example of what they make here,” Stretham replied. “Plastic aren’t they?”
“Plastic!” the Doctor cried.
Around the reception, branches and vines reached out like tentacles towards the troops. “Everyone away from the-” The Doctor didn’t finish his sentence as a thick plastic branch wrapped itself around his throat.
Being the only duty officer in the operations room, Loding kicked back against the floor and her chair scooted across the floor on its casters. Stopping herself at the desk edge, Loding looked at the screen that told her where the alarm had been triggered; it was one of the labs, the one where the Doctors TARDIS stood. Flicking on the CCTV monitor she was perplexed to be met by a picture of static. The camera was out.
Getting to her feet, Loding ran from the room, flinging open the doors, not hearing their loud crashing against the walls as she sprinted down the corridor. Had she not been in such a hurry, she would probably have spotted the figure stood in a shadow, seemingly oblivious to the sound of the alarm.
Watching until Loding had turned the corner; Private Baxter moved out of the shadows and entered the operations room, making sure that the doors were firmly closed behind him.
*
Jess started at the sound of the alarm. She’d only just turned her attention back to the computer. As of yet, she hadn’t been able to find anything out about the Rutilus Allec plastics factory. As far as the internet, and several online directories, was concerned; the company didn’t exist. Looking round, panicked, at the door, Jess half expected Tom to burst back in telling her that Autons had broken into UNIT HQ.
Getting to her feet, Jess cautiously crept to the door and opened it. As soon as she did, the acrid and pungent smell of something burning hit her. It seemed to be coming from down the corridor, and her curiosity peaked, she followed it.
*
Loding skidded round the corner as she approached the corridor that lead to the labs. The smell of burning was much stronger here. At the far end of the corridor, she saw the girl, Jess, emerge from the lab where she and Tom had been working. Her wrinkled nose and the look on her face told that she could smell it as well.
Smoke was billowing out of an open door just down the corridor. The sound of a fire extinguisher sounded over the alarm and Loding saw someone moving in the smoky room, through the windows. The smoke was dying down to mere wisps now. The figure had opened a window and was trying to wave the smoke away.
Realising that she’d been stood watching the drama, Loding walked towards the doorway, Jess, she saw, was doing the same from the opposite end of the corridor. The two women reached the door at the same time. The smoke had almost dissipated now, although the shrill alarm was still sounding. Looking through the door, Loding saw the Doctors’ other companion, Tom, inside. He held a fire extinguisher loosely in one hand and was looking at a blackened, molten and twisted mass on the desk. Shards of broken glass were scattered about the mess. It was then Loding realised what the mass was; the calling device that Morris had used to bring the Doctor here.
“So much for a non smoking building.” Tom shouted over the sound of the alarm.
“What happened?” Loding asked, almost choking on the fumes that still hung heavy in the room.
“I was on my way to contact the Doctor, we’ve found something rather disturbing about this factory that he and Morris have gone off to.” Tom started, putting the fire extinguisher onto the floor with a clang. “I saw someone going round the corner at the end of the corridor.”
“You think they did this?” Loding asked, looking at the expression on Toms face. “Did you see who it was?”
“No,” Tom replied, shaking his head. “Although he was a he, and he was a private. Surely there can’t be that many left in the building, what with this raid going on.” Tom paused and hit himself in the forehead with the palm of his hand. “The raid.”
Jess’s eyes widened as she realised at the same time as Tom. “The Doctor and Captain Morris are walking into a trap.”
Loding looked from Jess to Tom, not sure what the two were talking about. “What do you mean?”
“We looked up that factory that they’ve gone to raid online,” Jess explained to Loding. “The company doesn’t exist, and the name is Latin for ‘Red Herring’. We think that the Master has set this all up.”
All sound of the alarm seemed to fade from Lodings’ hearing as what Jess had said sunk in. Turning, Loding made for the door, turning back to the two travellers. “With me, quick,” she said running back down the corridor towards the operations room.
Shrugging to Tom, Jess turned and ran after Loding, Tom following close behind. Jess wasn’t even sure whether the building was large enough to enable someone to run in, but there always seemed to be running, more often than not, down corridors. At least the run was a short one, Jess thought as she almost collided with the back of Loding. The Corporal was holding the handle to the door, but had paused, as if listening.
“What is it?” Jess whispered, as best as she could over the sound of the alarm, which was still ringing.
“Smell,” Loding said, sniffing the air.
Sniffing, Jess wrinkled her nose in disgust. There was still a strong acrid smell of burning hanging in the air. She wasn’t sure whether the smell was stuck in her nostrils or whether it was coming from a new source. Looking at Loding, she shrugged.
Indicating for Jess and Tom to stand back, Loding removed the pistol from the holster on her hip and kicked open the door to the operations room before recoiling as smoke billowed out. “What the hell?” She choked before turning to Jess and Tom. “Those fire extinguishers, quick!”
Turning, Jess grabbed a fire extinguisher hanging from the wall, spotting Tom grabbing one from farther down the corridor. Pulling off the plastic protective tag, Jess pointed the extinguisher to where she could see a flickering orange flame through the smoke and activated it with a whoosh of carbon dioxide. She was aware of the sound of two more extinguishers and turned to see Loding and Tom beside her, pointing them into the room.
After what seemed like an age, Jess put the now empty extinguisher down on the floor and glanced at Tom, who was spraying brief bursts at small explosions of sparks. Coughing and waving away the smoke that still remained, she looked back at Loding, who was stood with her extinguisher resting on a chair, rubbing the back of her neck and surveying the damage.
“What do you think happened?” She asked.
“I don’t think an overload would have caused this.” Tom said from the other side of the room.
“Sabotage,” Loding agreed. “But the question is, who?”
“One way of finding out,” Tom said, placing his fire extinguisher on the floor. “Lock down the building, the saboteur has to still be here. Then we have the difficult task of questioning everyone to find out who it was.”
“What about the Doctor?” Jess asked. “How are we going to let him know what we’ve found out?”
“I don’t know,” Tom admitted. “I think we have our own trouble here.”
Jess opened her mouth to argue as the room was plunged into darkness, the lights flicking off both inside and down the corridor outside as well. The sound of the fire alarm died away, leaving an echoing ring.
“What the-?” she started, looking round the gloom, the room dimly lit by the fast fading daylight outside.
“The fuse box,” Loding gasped, looking round at Jess and Tom.
“Where is it?” Tom asked, starting to bounce on his feet.
“The cellar,” Loding replied, watching as Tom turned and ran from the room. “But its security coded, you won’t get in.” She shouted after him.
Pausing, Tom turned and shouted back. “Unless it escaped your attention, someone already has. And if they’re after sabotage, I can imagine it would be easy to get back in.” Tom turned to run back down the corridor before looking back into the operations room. “Besides, I know a thing or two,” he added before running off.
“What do you think we should do?” Jess asked, looking at Loding.
“See what the damage is. We can’t do anything here until we get the power back.” Loding said looking around the carnage of the operations room and then making for the door. “Besides, your friend might need some help with the security codes and fuse box.”
*
The Land Rover skidded to a halt outside the gates of Rutilus Allec, Captain Morris jumping out before the vehicle came to a full stop. Stepping out of the small gatehouse, the security guard looked bemused at the three army vehicles now stopping before him.
“What’s all this then?” he asked as Morris approached him.
Reaching into his pocket, Morris produced his identity card and flashed it at the guard. “Captain William Morris, UNIT. This area is now a military operation and off limits to civilians. I’m going to have to ask you to vacate the area.”
“Sorry mate, can’t do that,” the guard said, pulling himself up. “I’m gonna need to see official notes. Never heard of you UNIT lot.”
“Never the less, this area is now off limits to civilians. We’ve reason to believe that the area is under command of hostile forces.” Morris said looking over the guards shoulder and seeing Jason Stretham crossing the grounds from the reception. “We’ve had confirmation from our agent.”
The guard turned to see Stretham walk up to the gate and salute to Morris. “Sir, target sighted in the main reception heading down to the factory floor.”
“Thank you Private.” Morris said, returning the salute. “Report to Sergeant Lovatt and get kitted out.”
“Sir,” Stretham saluted again and ducked under the gate barrier and jogged over to where Lovatt was now standing beside one of the vehicles.
“Now, if you don’t mind, sir?” Morris asked, gesturing for the guard to move away from the gates. “One of my men will tell you where to keep out of the way.”
Watching the guard slowly walk off, Morris crossed back to the jeep and flung open the passenger door. The Doctor was sat in the passenger seat, Jess’ CD player sat on his lap, the backing removed. He was holding a piece of equipment between his teeth and humming to himself as he twisted two wires together and pulled his sonic screwdriver out of his coat breast pocket and held it close to the wires. Morris watched in amazement as the two wires soldered together.
“What is that thing you’re making?” He asked.
“Hopefully, something that will deal with any auton we may come across.” The Doctor replied removing the circuit from his teeth and soldering some more wiring to it. “Could I borrow your radio?” he added looking up at Morris and smiling.
“Oh, uhm, yes,” Morris stammered, unclipping his radio from his belt and passing it to the Doctor. He opened his mouth to say something when the Doctor removed the back cover of the radio and started to fiddle with the workings inside. Thinking better of it, he closed his mouth. He was starting to get used to the reactions that he got from the Doctor and the insane amount of techno babble that the Time Lord spouted.
“Is the Master inside?” The Doctor asked, looking up again.
“He was spotted heading to the factory.” Morris said, beckoning Lovatt and Stretham over.
The Doctor looked up at Stretham in his guards’ uniform and smiled. “Ah, the Myrmidon. Tell me, did the Master come through the main doors?”
“No,” Stretham reported. “He and a blonde woman seemed to come out of a vending machine. It was damned weird. I dunno if they were already hiding in there?”
“A vending machine?” the Doctor asked, fixing Stretham with a piercing stare. “Was it there earlier in the night?”
“I don’t remember, sir.” Stretham said.
“He came by TARDIS,” the Doctor mused before jumping out of the land rover and gripping Morris by the upper arms. “Will, I want four of your best chaps to come with me; we’ve got a Vending machine to confiscate.” Not waiting for a reply, the Doctor made off towards the reception, his coat tails flapping behind him.
*
The Master stood staring at a small monitor screen, his arms folded, chuckling to himself. The black and white image showed the Doctor and four UNIT troops entering the reception of the factory. He turned to where Andrea was working and walked over.
“Activate the building defences, my dear, and then I think it’s time we were off.”
Nodding and smiling, Andrea flicked a switch and got to her feet. “Back to the TARDIS?”
“No, the UNIT forces will no doubt have got it. But don’t worry my dear, we’ll get it back alright.” He smiled. “We’ll head back to the distribution centre in London.”
*
The Doctor ran his hand over the front of the vending machine near the reception desk. Pulling the TARDIS key out of his pocket, he slipped it into the coin slot and twisted. Reaching out, he opened the front and peered into the blackness within.
“Yes, I thought as much.” He nodded, closing the front and turning to the four troops. “I need you chaps to help get it on the trolley.”
Nodding, three of the troops grabbed the machine and tilted it as Stretham kicked the square wooden trolled underneath the vending machine. Reaching up to the top, he helped pull it onto the trolley. Making sure it was secure; the four men slowly wheeled it back to the main doors.
“Oh dear,” the Doctor muttered, rattling the main doors. Turning, he glanced around the reception and saw a small red sensor flashing in the corner. “I think we’ve been spotted, they’ve activated security alert.” He called out to the troops.
A rustling sound soon filled the quiet of the reception, causing the five men inside to look around. A motion beside the Doctor’s face caused him to turn round slowly to look at the plant.
“I don’t suppose any of you noticed whether these plants were real or not, did you?” He asked slowly.
“I thought they were an example of what they make here,” Stretham replied. “Plastic aren’t they?”
“Plastic!” the Doctor cried.
Around the reception, branches and vines reached out like tentacles towards the troops. “Everyone away from the-” The Doctor didn’t finish his sentence as a thick plastic branch wrapped itself around his throat.
