Post by Oldmankrondas on Feb 21, 2011 15:36:01 GMT
The Doctor gripped the sides of the doorframe as the two cadavers gripped him by an arm each and tried to force him out onto the road outside. Digging his heels into the floor, the Doctor struggled to keep his balance. 'This is a mistake Professor!' he cried over the noise of the wheels rattling over the cobbles.
He could feel his heels slipping and found himself falling backwards, quickly throwing his arms out he grabbed hold of the roof and gripped on to it. He could see the burlier of the cadavers ready himself to take him out with a shoulder tackle, as the cadaver approached, the Doctor lifted his legs and hoisted himself up on to the roof, sending the cadaver crashing onto the cobbles below, the belljar smashing open as it hit the ground.
The Doctor peered down to see the corpse lying lifeless, its connection to whatever had it been keeping it moving now severed. 'One down....' he muttered, sliding a hand into the pocket of his raincoat and producing his sonic screwdriver. Hugging the roof of the carriage, he clamped the screwdriver between his teeth and edged his way towards the driver.
Major McCallum had taken Anna, Norrie and some of his men down into the Castle vaults, deciding, quite rightly, that it was best not to draw the Cybermen into a firefight in the Chapel or Royal Palace. The Castle had not held prisoners for a decade or so now, since the mass prison break of 1814. Still, the cramped conditions were ideal for Anna's plan.
'The Cybermen will be here any minute, we'll need to take our positions.' Anna said, readying her musket.
'I recommend remaining in the shadows, thankfully the lack of light here will be in our favour.'
'As long as we don't end up shooting each other.' Anna muttered.
The sound of the Cybermen marching was becoming louder and louder, two of McCallum's men were barricading the doors to slow them down slightly whilst the others prepared their positions.
'Okay gentlemen, madam, for King and Country!' McCallum roared as the door burst open, sending the two young soldiers crashing backwards under splinters of wood and the marching feet of advancing Cybermen. 'Hold....' whispered McCallum as the rising sun streamed in through the shattered doorway, reflecting on the Cybermen's armour. They slowed their pace now, guns readied, scouting around in the darkness. 'Hold....' McCallum whispered as the Cybermen entered the circle of soldiers he had positioned around the Vaults. 'FIRE!'
Musket fire erupted throughout the Vaults, the noise was deafening as McCallum's men, Norrie and Anna fired on the Cybermen again and again, smoke and gold dust hanging in the air as more and more Cybermen collapsed to the ground clutching their chestplates.
The Doctor could see Holyrood Palace growing larger in the distance as he reached the driver's seat. The driver was like the cadavers inside the carriage, dressed in a long black shawl so his grotesque parody of a human face was hidden from view. The Doctor removed the sonic from between his teeth and aimed it at the back of the drivers head and pushed the button, emitting its sonic whirr. The driver began twitching, the sonic screwdriver jamming the control signal from Fairfax. Eventually the connection shorted out and the driver slumped forward, no longer in control of the carriage.
Dropping down into the drivers seat, the Doctor seized control of the reins and tugged on them, turning the horses in the opposite direction.
Something was wrong, the carriage was turning around. Fairfax glanced out of the window and saw Holyrood Palace on the opposite side of where it should have been at this stage in the journey. He banged his cane on the floor of the carriage in frustration, before sticking his head out of the window and seeing the grinning face of the Doctor looking back at him from the drivers seat. 'You idiot! What on Earth are you playing at?' Fairfax roared. 'Stop this coach at once!'
The Doctor shrugged. 'Fair enough!' he pulled back on the reins, bringing the carriage to a screeching halt. Fairfax pushed open the door and stepped outside, notes in hand, his last remaining cadaver following close behind. The Doctor stepped down and approached them both. Fairfax pushed him aside and began walking towards the Palace, his pace slowing as he had another violent coughing fit. The Doctor placed a hand on the man's shoulder. 'Professor, you're dying. Don't be remembered for being the man that handed the human race over to the Cybermen....'
Fairfax turned to the Doctor, handkerchief dabbing at the corners of his mouth. 'My technology is merely a means to prolong the lives of those who are dying. The Cybermen have just facilitated that.'
'Professor Fairfax, that's exactly how the Cybermen started out, technological advancements to improve their lives. And now look at them, ruthless machines storming through the universe processing, converting and removing anything that makes a society unique.'
'Poppycock! You talk of the universe, of different civilsations. How can you have seen such things Doctor?'
The Doctor sighed. 'I didn't want to do this Professor, you have to believe that, I wish there was some other way but....' The Doctor outstretched his hands and placed them on Fairfax's head, pulling it towards his.
And it was there, in the middle of Holyrood Park, underneath Arthur's Seat that Joseph Fairfax was shown the universe through the Doctor's eyes, in all its awe inspiring, terrifying glory.
He could feel his heels slipping and found himself falling backwards, quickly throwing his arms out he grabbed hold of the roof and gripped on to it. He could see the burlier of the cadavers ready himself to take him out with a shoulder tackle, as the cadaver approached, the Doctor lifted his legs and hoisted himself up on to the roof, sending the cadaver crashing onto the cobbles below, the belljar smashing open as it hit the ground.
The Doctor peered down to see the corpse lying lifeless, its connection to whatever had it been keeping it moving now severed. 'One down....' he muttered, sliding a hand into the pocket of his raincoat and producing his sonic screwdriver. Hugging the roof of the carriage, he clamped the screwdriver between his teeth and edged his way towards the driver.
*
Major McCallum had taken Anna, Norrie and some of his men down into the Castle vaults, deciding, quite rightly, that it was best not to draw the Cybermen into a firefight in the Chapel or Royal Palace. The Castle had not held prisoners for a decade or so now, since the mass prison break of 1814. Still, the cramped conditions were ideal for Anna's plan.
'The Cybermen will be here any minute, we'll need to take our positions.' Anna said, readying her musket.
'I recommend remaining in the shadows, thankfully the lack of light here will be in our favour.'
'As long as we don't end up shooting each other.' Anna muttered.
The sound of the Cybermen marching was becoming louder and louder, two of McCallum's men were barricading the doors to slow them down slightly whilst the others prepared their positions.
'Okay gentlemen, madam, for King and Country!' McCallum roared as the door burst open, sending the two young soldiers crashing backwards under splinters of wood and the marching feet of advancing Cybermen. 'Hold....' whispered McCallum as the rising sun streamed in through the shattered doorway, reflecting on the Cybermen's armour. They slowed their pace now, guns readied, scouting around in the darkness. 'Hold....' McCallum whispered as the Cybermen entered the circle of soldiers he had positioned around the Vaults. 'FIRE!'
Musket fire erupted throughout the Vaults, the noise was deafening as McCallum's men, Norrie and Anna fired on the Cybermen again and again, smoke and gold dust hanging in the air as more and more Cybermen collapsed to the ground clutching their chestplates.
*
The Doctor could see Holyrood Palace growing larger in the distance as he reached the driver's seat. The driver was like the cadavers inside the carriage, dressed in a long black shawl so his grotesque parody of a human face was hidden from view. The Doctor removed the sonic from between his teeth and aimed it at the back of the drivers head and pushed the button, emitting its sonic whirr. The driver began twitching, the sonic screwdriver jamming the control signal from Fairfax. Eventually the connection shorted out and the driver slumped forward, no longer in control of the carriage.
Dropping down into the drivers seat, the Doctor seized control of the reins and tugged on them, turning the horses in the opposite direction.
*
Something was wrong, the carriage was turning around. Fairfax glanced out of the window and saw Holyrood Palace on the opposite side of where it should have been at this stage in the journey. He banged his cane on the floor of the carriage in frustration, before sticking his head out of the window and seeing the grinning face of the Doctor looking back at him from the drivers seat. 'You idiot! What on Earth are you playing at?' Fairfax roared. 'Stop this coach at once!'
The Doctor shrugged. 'Fair enough!' he pulled back on the reins, bringing the carriage to a screeching halt. Fairfax pushed open the door and stepped outside, notes in hand, his last remaining cadaver following close behind. The Doctor stepped down and approached them both. Fairfax pushed him aside and began walking towards the Palace, his pace slowing as he had another violent coughing fit. The Doctor placed a hand on the man's shoulder. 'Professor, you're dying. Don't be remembered for being the man that handed the human race over to the Cybermen....'
Fairfax turned to the Doctor, handkerchief dabbing at the corners of his mouth. 'My technology is merely a means to prolong the lives of those who are dying. The Cybermen have just facilitated that.'
'Professor Fairfax, that's exactly how the Cybermen started out, technological advancements to improve their lives. And now look at them, ruthless machines storming through the universe processing, converting and removing anything that makes a society unique.'
'Poppycock! You talk of the universe, of different civilsations. How can you have seen such things Doctor?'
The Doctor sighed. 'I didn't want to do this Professor, you have to believe that, I wish there was some other way but....' The Doctor outstretched his hands and placed them on Fairfax's head, pulling it towards his.
And it was there, in the middle of Holyrood Park, underneath Arthur's Seat that Joseph Fairfax was shown the universe through the Doctor's eyes, in all its awe inspiring, terrifying glory.
