Post by Oldmankrondas on Aug 23, 2005 10:08:29 GMT
PERFECTION
EPISODE 4
By Mark Donaldson
EPISODE 4
By Mark Donaldson
Doctor Sturgeon grabbed the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding the truck, swerving it back on to the right side of the road. The truck driver blasted his horn angrily and kept going, Sturgeon cursed, hoping he might have seen the struggle and stopped to help. As she kept ducking out of the way of the flailing arms as the reanimated corpse tried to clamber into the front of the van. She turned the steering wheel sharply, sending the van swerving until the back of the van went crashing into one of the concrete bollards that lined the road. She forced the door open, and was about to make a run for it, but she stopped, grabbing the map from the dashboard, and scrawling down their co-ordinates. She checked her mobile, a couple of bars indicating there was still some reception. Thanking her lucky stars, she made a run for it, hammering up the wide road that cut through the woods, hoping to catch someones attention as she dialled Captain Baxters number on her mobile.
*
When the Doctor awoke, he was strapped down to a table in what looked like a large old fashioned lounge, which had been converted into a laboratory. He looked around, noticing syringes, phials, test tubes, all sorts of chemistry paraphernalia. ‘Tell me, when were the Cybermen interested in chemistry? It’s all slice slice slice, rearrange this, rearrange that, insert this…’ The Doctor tried to see if there was actually anyone with him, but he couldn’t look any further than left to right, and at the ceiling. ‘…let me guess, you’ve turned over a new leaf, you’re creating a cure for Alzheimers? Cancer? Type 2 Diabetes?’
‘SILENCE!’ Barked a disembodied voice.
‘You haven’t heard that voice for a couple of years…but here he is tonight! The Cyber-Controller!’ The Doctor mocked, as the table began to raise to come face to face with the large silver, domed head of the Cyber-Controller, connected to tubes, his body looking broken, was also connected to a number of tubes and support systems. ‘Oh dear, you’re not looking your best are you? I trust you didn’t wear your seatbelt…clunk click every…’
‘SILENCE! THIS INSUBORDINATION WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!’ The Cyber-Controller cried, before breaking into coughs, gasping for air.
The Doctors face became instantly serious, joking time was over. ‘What are you doing here?’ He demanded.
‘I was…attempting to trial a new form of cyber-conversion.’ The Cyber-Controller began. ‘The ship hit some sort of rift in the time-space vortex before reaching its destination, we were ripped apart.’
‘So I see…’ the Doctor replied, eyeing up the wreckage of the Cyber-Controller.
‘The trials are not yet complete, you, Doctor. You will finish the trials, perfect our new way of cyber-conversion. And then…you will take my place.’
*
‘Where’s the Doctor?’ Lethbridge-Stewart asked, seeing the look of fear in the young girls face. ‘Captain Baxter, Brigadier Harchester, take this woman back to the Land Rover, make her a sweet tea. Young Todd and I have a lot to discuss.’
Baxter nodded and led the girl gingerly away, Harchester lingered a little longer, but after realising no more would be said until he was gone, left.
‘The Doctor, he went to confront the people who were after Anna.’
‘Who were they?’
‘I’m not sure, she said something about a TV host, Dawkins? thingyinson? Dawson! That was it, Dawson. Said her sister had been a contestant on his show, she’d won, got her surgery then one day she just disappeared. She confronted the guy last night, his two metal henchmen tried to kill her but she escaped. The Doctor seemed to know what was going on…but god only knows what’s happened to him.’
Lethbridge-Stewart nodded. ‘We can only assume the Doctor’s been captured. Our only lead would be this Dawson chap. Do you remember the name of his show?’
*
‘Not exactly the greatest publicity for “Make Me Perfect!” is it David? Allegations that our winners are being bumped off by some serial killer!’ The Executive Producer, a short, balding man called George Hammond followed Dawson through the corridors of the LWTV studios to his office.
‘You know what the press are like George, always looking for a scandal. Anyway, the idea someone’s bumping off contestants will surely boost the ratings!’
‘Boost the ratings?’ cried Hammond, incredulous. ‘That may be so my friend, but the number of contestants will be dwindling! We wont have a bloody show!’
Dawson spun round, fixing Hammonds beady eyes with a stare. ‘I think you better calm down Hammond. You know how your heart gets.’ He threatened, coolly, before patting him on the shoulder. ‘Now, you continue to get the money for the show and do your executive producer bit, and I’ll deal with the press!’
Hammond nodded uneasily. ‘Y..yes. I’ll do just that…’
Dawson breezed past his secretarys empty post. It was to be expected of course, 7 o’clock in the morning was no time to be starting work…however, it was exactly the time to be starting his type of work. He slipped inside his office and pulled down the blinds, locked the door and went for his bottom drawer. He produced a light pink sphere and placed it on the desk. It lit up in his hands. ‘Dawson to Cyber-Controller…’
*
The Doctor was alone again, the Cyber-Controller, he assumed, had been taken elsewhere for a private conference with whomever had contacted him. He thought over the facts presented to him. The Cyber-Controller, wounded in the crash, experimenting with a new form of Cyber-Conversion. If only he could break free, find out a little more. However, there was only one real way to do it, he just hoped that after all he had been through, he could lie to the Cybermen convincingly. ‘Alright!’ he yelled, hearing footsteps approach. ‘I’ll do it, I’ll help you!’
‘EXCELLENT’
*
After a few minutes, the Doctor had been released from the operating table he had been strapped to, and was being led down a hall adorned with various animal heads and trophies. ‘Not your choice of décor I imagine?’ The Cyberman did not respond, it just reached for a door, which slid open to reveal a large laboratory, the décor of which did not match the rest of the house. The walls were made of metal, with various attachments, which instantly reminded the Doctor of the many Cybermen crafts he had encountered over the years. ‘How did you…’
‘Nano-technology.’ Cut in a tall greying man in a long white coat. ‘They were imprinted with the designs of the Cybermens ships, and did a little redecoration job on my laboratory.’
The Doctor nodded. ‘Very clever. Now let me guess, you’re working on using the nano-technology as a form of converting human beings into Cybermen in a quick easy surgery free way. How very clean, how very convenient.’
‘Correct Doctor’ replied the Cyber-Controller who was wheeled into the room. ‘Only, it isn’t working as we predicted. The Cybermen the nano-technology creates have a very short lifespan, their support systems are…useless.’
The Doctor put his hands in his pockets, knowing full well the reason but not wanting to let on to his audience. ‘I see, well that certainly seems to be a bit of a problem. Well, good luck with it and all, it’s been very nice to see you all again. Next time you must really come to us!’ The Doctor gave a cheery wave and made for the door. However, an iron grip clamped around his shoulder keeping him in place as another hand rammed a syringe into his neck and pushed down the plunger. The Doctor slumped to the floor, clutching at his wound.
‘We have just injected you with the solution that contains our nano-bots. Our research shows that it takes an hour or two to fully kick in.’ Whispered the scientist in the Doctors ear. ‘You have around two hours to help us fix the nano-bots, and find yourself a cure.’
