h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

CYBER-RACE.

ADJUSTING TIMES

EPISODE ONE:

He sat alone in his room on the soft bed. However he wasn't aware of it. His new regeneration should have filled him with vitality and energy but this time it was different.
He lay there staring blankly at the ceiling, he wanted to sleep, to forget everything that had happened to him but he could neither of those things. He was now unlike any other Time Lord, no need for clothes or the food machine or even a bed, he might as well jettison the whole room.
He sat up quickly but as he did he caught sight of his features, his very blank features. Would he have smiled or bared his teeth, had he possessed them? Pulling himself effortlessly off the grand four poster he marched heavily through the TARDIS corridors and eventually came to the wardrobe.
Were all of these clothes now immaterial to his new body, so shiny and powerful. Artrem tried to sigh but he couldn't, he didn't even breathe. His body simply pumped oxygenated fluid into his mind.
A Cybermen in clothing, was it necessary? A thought had occurred to him that people would take offence but then he noticed something- A blue thick cape and hood. Although he could only see it as dark, he knew its colour.
Picking it up, he wrapped it on but he felt nothing by it, not warm or rough or anything. Draping the hood over his metallic horns and hurried out of the room. Perhaps this would make him feel better knowing that no one could see his form?
As he walked he heard the distant warbling. 'I hear you?' he replied in a mechanised voice and hurried into the console room.
'We are materialising? But where?' he asked and slowly the TARDIS ground to a halt. Making sure his cloak was secured tight; he operated the door control.

Outside the green box Artrem stepped unsure. He was standing in the ruins of a building. It was a bricked building, possibly late twentieth century?
As he looked around him he could make out several other buildings. Advancing out of the ruin he surveyed the rubble-strewn streets and the vast city beyond.
He had set the TARDIS to locate any potential Cyber movements in the galaxy.
Was this world plagued by the same creatures as him? Vicious, cold machines.
Crossing the road carefully he looked around the buildings for any potential sign of life? His advanced hearing could reveal nothing- wait! There!
He turned and gazed out of his hood towards the upper storey of a large house, half its roof was missing and its surface was degraded and blackened.
There was a scuffling upstairs and as he looked, his sightless eyes could see someone at the window. Carefully he reached the front door and extended one of his hands to the doorknob and gently turned it.
But he turned it too fast and the portion of the handle came away with it.
Managing the cybernetic equivalent of a shrug he carried on, looking through the various room before climbing the stairs steadily.
'Excuse me? Is someone here?' he asked. 'Hello?' he tried again but as he entered the landing he glanced around he caught sight of someone sheltering in the shadows.
Taking a steady step towards her, he could see the girl clearly. She was a young teenager of fourteen or fifteen. 'Stay, stay away from me!' she sobbed and pulled herself further into a ball.
'It's all right, I don't mean you any harm?' Artrem replied and raised his shining gauntlets before him.
'No, get back. They'll come for me!' the girl cried and hugged the corner more so. 'They won't come back, I promise you that? Now please relax, you are quite safe' Artrem replied slowly.
But as he walked forward his hood flew back to reveal his silver face, the girl's eyes widened in horror as she stared at the cloaked Cyberman. 'No! No! Get back, stay away from me!' she screamed.

He covered his face quickly with his hood and stepped back.
'I am sorry. I mean you no harm but I won't come any closer?' Artrem replied and raised his hands slowly.
The girl on seeing this swallowed nervously and slowly uncurled.
'What? You are like them but you don't take people away!' she cried.
Artrem shook his head slowly still holding his arms out before him. 'No I'm not like them. I had an accidental run in with them before and this is the result' Artrem replied.
The Girl slowly, tentatively crawled forward and reached up to the hood, pulling it back she stopped and stared.
'You, you are not like them yet you are Silver. Who are you?' she asked looking still in shock.
'My name is Artrem, what happened to your city?' he rasped. 'This city, this world and paradise tainted by them. They attacked our world before, drove us into hiding. My mother hid me as best as she could but they broke in, took her away!' the girl babbled nervously.
'It's all right now. No one was outside now. You are safe' he replied. 'My people aren't safe they've gone... the priesthood declared that this was our God's wrath for deserting him' the girl replied.
'This was no divine act. The creatures that took your mother and your world were never messengers from any God' Artrem retorted.
'Then what is to happen to me? They are bound to return?' she moaned. 'Perhaps it would be best if you were to stay around me? I will know if they come back Miss...?' he replied politely.
The girl looked at him, this Silver thing in its robe. It looked so similar to the others yet it was being polite; it had not come in to drag her out as they had done before with her mother, with her people.
'Nicole, are you sure there were none of them outside. They wait in the darkness for us!' she cried but Artrem shook his head.
'Believe me, Nicole I can tell if such creatures are around, please come with me?' he said and extended an augmented gauntlet towards her.
'Worryingly she looked to the alternative, how long before her rations ended? Reluctantly she grasped his cold hand.

As they left the safety of her sanctuary Nicole looked from time to time at her new acquaintance.
He didn't act human yet he didn't act like the others? His grip on her hand was so extreme, just a gentle grasp and he didn't force her, she noticed he made half steps as she walked.
'So you are like them because...?' she suddenly said.
'I had an accident, they took me away for this. I managed to escape, my mind free of their conditioning' Artrem replied.
He led her over to the ruins of a building and through the old archway.
As Nicole entered the room, that had once stood as Mrs Winters' kitchen now faded brick dust.
Within its centre stood a strange green box, Nicole had no idea what it was but knew that it did not belong there.
'What is this thing?' she asked. 'Sanctuary, I can promise you that you will be quite safe in here' he replied and pushed open the door.
Immediately a shaft of gold light poured out into the desolate ruin and Nicole had to squint as he stepped inside.
'Please do not be frightened?' Artrem replied and gestured for her to step through.
As Nicole did, she looked around her in wonder at such a place. A golden hue filled the room, so bright and warm. Bigger than its outside, yet it did not matter to her, she knew she was safe.
'Where is this place?' she asked as Artrem removed his hood.
'This is my TARDIS- my ship and you, Nicole need to rest and eat and judging by your appearance need to wash and have new clothes' Artrem replied and pressed down a red panel and immediately the doors closed.
'Will you please follow me, Nicole?' he asked and Nicole merely half nodded. 'You have so many wonders here' she said to his silver face and took his hand gently.
'Not wonders Nicole, science. After you're done I will try and help to the best degree' he replied as he escorted her through a pair of double doors and off down the corridor.

A vast golden statue sat in the vast temple. Its white marble pillars supporting the roof, some eight on each side while smothering the wall were strange hieroglyphics.
A sinister looking man approached the platform rising a stone stairs. It bowed towards a sinister looking mechanism.
It was a strange looking frame supporting a mass of box-like structures while a its centre there glowed a humming centre.
Arranged around this frame were complex circuit banks with long tendril-like cables linking directly into the wall.
The man approaching it bowed respectfully.
'My gracious God, the infidels have all been captured. Every city has now been cleansed of their filth!' he replied in a strange singsong tone.
The centre of the machine glowed as it responded in a harsh metallic tone. 'All units must be contained. City numbers are not completed. One unit remains!'
'That is not possible great Lord? I have brought you everything you need? One person, one such infidel is not required?' the man babbled.
'All units will be processed. No one is exempt' the creature buzzed.
'Now listen to me great Lord of the stars, I your most faithful high priest have taken your teachings and now these people, your servants have been freed from evil!' the high priest retorted loudly.
'You will find this unit. All humans must be accounted for. The city of Aenralas will be searched. The unit will be contained!' replied the buzzing machine.
'Yes my Lord it will be done. The infidel will be purged from the hell of sin and brought to light!' the High Priest replied before bowing respectfully and withdrawing from the room.

The city stood silent and dead, nothing moved, not even the wind. Then they came. Walking in two straight lines, orderly, clinical precision.
They looked humanoid but were not human. Their exosuits lined with complex hydraulic muscle lines. A thick, block like unit covered their fronts while a plastic veil-like mask covered their faces. Twin metal horn gleamed from the sides of their heads. The only thing remotely human about them were their naked human hands.
The lead suddenly turned towards the others.
'This city must be searched for the human survivor' it commanded in a metallic sing song voice.
Immediately the figures broke free from their lines and advanced towards the many buildings. Some savagely knocked aside walls and ruins but found nothing.
The leader approached one such figure. 'Do not damage the human it is required for alteration!' 'Yes Leader' the Cyberman replied.
From out of the dust and grilles in the ground came a quick metallic rustling and suddenly there swarmed into the street many strange metallic creatures, rather like caterpillars.
The leader approached these creatures, as he spoke his mouth dropped open to exhale words as though it were yawning.
'Cybermats will investigate areas that we cannot locate. The human is not to be damaged!'
With a low warbling rattle the Cybermats wriggled off in all directions of the street, while others invaded walls, climbing vertically and invading ruins.
As more Cybermen advanced into the city it became clear that they were not going to give up!

Within the TARDIS Nicole sat on the bed eating her third helping of 'rice pudding' that had been what Artrem had called it. Since she had entered the TARDIS he had explained it technologies, a back-story as to who he was and he in turn had learnt from her.
Now Nicole was dressed in newer clothes, borrowed from a vast clothes shop inside one of the many rooms.
Artrem by this time was working in the console room, he felt sure of the cyber activity was being directed by someone other than Cybermen.
From what he had gathered from Nicole, the Priesthood was an old religious cast off and some years ago other cities were attacked, people went missing and were found dead, horrifically scarred days later.
Returning to the room, he found Nicole adopting a heavy jacket that looked far too big for her and with her red hair tied back she did look attractive, he noted.
'What are you doing?' he asked. 'I have to find my mother and my people?' Nicole replied but he barred the way. 'I'm afraid I would advise against that? Your people are already lost, I'm sorry but those are the facts' he said suddenly and then knocked the side of his head.
Infernal logic systems. 'I mean to say that it would be foolhardy to throw your life away. You must stay here where it is safe!' he added.
'Safe? My people died because of them! My mother!' Nicole snarled. 'I know your loss, I lost my humanity too. I hate Cybermen for making me like this but you can be hurt by them. Your life, any life is so fragile' Artrem replied and reluctantly Nicole nodded.
'Okay but I can tell you this- watch out for the bugs!' she said simply.
'Bugs?' he asked sounding confused when suddenly there came a heavy banging to the side of the TARDIS!

'What was that?' Nicole asked but Artrem simply hurried down towards the console room.
Switching on the scanner, the picture fuzzed into life and as Nicole finally emerged she stared in horror at what now stood before her.
On the screen stood a Cyberman, it was raising its hands gently then bring them down hard.
'No! Not them! Not them again!' Nicole cried. 'It's all right Nicole, it cannot get in. We're safe' he replied trying to reassure her.
As he looked, he was amazed at how primitive the creature looked, nothing like the creatures that had captured him. Whereas he looked suitably different almost alien, these were very human.
As they watched, another Cyberman appeared, its helmet was black. 'Make your report?' it asked.
'This unknown structure defies our strength' replied the Cyberman.
'It is valueless, an artefact of the humans continue the search' ordered the Cyberleader. 'Yes Leader' the Cyberman replied and marched on, the leader stood there momentarily before following the other.
'So close, they were so close!' Nicole babbled. Was the girl so traumatised? She had been through so much yet she knew the area? Where had these Cybermen come from?
'Where did they come from?' he found himself asking. 'The temples beyond the city, Vels, my brother said he saw lights in them but they were deserted for years then he went missing...' Nicole replied in a hoarse whisper.
Pressing the control for the door Artrem turned to Nicole, I'm going out now, stay here I will return!' he simply said and adjusted his hood before leaving.
Hurriedly Nicole rushed to console and pressed the control but as it closed something wriggled through.
Collapsing in deep breaths she completely lost the sight of a strange metal creature clinging to the ceiling!

The High priest wandered through the various chambers. He smiled with sadistic satisfaction as he glowered over the hideous torture-taking place.
In each of the alcoves there stood a hideous frame and at it centre was a human being. Already the clothing had been cut off and the intricate devices were weaving quickly over their forms.
The screams were deafening in that corridor as death roe upon death roe hit hard followed by the hissing of released machinery and from where a human had once stood, there now stood a Cyberman.
The ground beneath his feet was discoloured, once golden brown now thick burgundy as blood dripped free from the awaiting frame.
A large man, kicking and struggling was forced in there by a Cyberman and immediately he started screaming as the blades descended.
Just as he turned a Cyberman came up to him and made a report. Nodding, he waved the creature away. Turning back on his heel he crossed the 'alteration' room and hurried through the temple.
He stopped as he reached the stone steps and mercifully approached the gleaming creature.
'My Lord, I have a report from the Sector Leader Yanse. Your forces have combed the first section of the city. They have found nothing' he replied.
'The human must be contained. The search will continue' the creature buzzed.
'My Lord, why do we waste time on one being. Your forces are strong and can never be destroyed' the High Priest replied.
'All units must be accounted for. All units will undergo alteration. You will capture it' the creature responded.
'And then my Lord?' the High Priest asked tentatively.
'All repairs will be made on this facility' the creature replied.
The High Priest grinned hard in his plastic face, the horns were missing from his head but the rest of his body gleamed in the light.
'Yes my Lord, your chariot will be ready to take you back to the stars!' he cried exaltedly.
'Find the human, all units be accounted for!' the creature replied.

As Artrem crept out of the ruin, he gazed around his TARDIS for any sign of Cybermen.
Then he tugged at his robe and pulled it free. Much better to travel without it weighing him down.
He hurried unseen through the streets; his hydraulic muscles giving him an edge as he suddenly stopped as a Cyberman appeared out of a house.
Quickly he flattened himself against a wall.
'This area is clear' reported the Cyberman.
'Continue the search' replied another.
As Artrem poked his head out he became aware of a strange warbling sound, looking at his shoulder there appeared to be a strange caterpillar creeping over it. Brushing it off quickly the creature produced a strange frustrated squeaking.
Instantly a Cyberman appeared and hauled Artrem into the light of the street.
'Leader?' the Cyberman called.
The black headed Cyberleader pushed forward and gazed at the strange silver figure before it.
'What is this?' it asked. 'I... I am from Telos. Advance scout of new Cyber Race' Artrem said quickly.
'Telos? We are Mondas where is Telos?' the Cyberleader demanded.
'It is a far distant world. Mondas is dead, we are the future!' Artrem replied quoting Cyber rhetoric.
'Mondas, dead? That is not possible? I am Cyberleader Yanse. I must report to the CyberPlanner' Yanse replied.
'It is a fact. Mondas perished centuries ago. My force investigated Cyber activity here?' Artrem bluffed.
'Where is this Cyber force? You will take me there, I must see it?' Yanse instructed.
'No, I must see your CyberPlanner, the details are extreme. I must see it?' Artrem insisted.
'Very well, squad will continue to search this city. The human must be located' Yanse ordered.
'Understood Leader' the Cybermen chorused.
'This way!' Yanse indicated and led Artrem off towards the City boundaries.
What however seemed amazing to Artrem's mind was that these Cybermen were from Mondas. How did they come to be here now?

Nicole slumped hard against the doors to the bedroom. She had to do something; she couldn't just sit here while he went off to deal with those things?
Her mind dwelt on her mother and Vels, at how life had been as she had worked at Rusilk's Labour shop. At how her mother used to sing that special song before bedtime. Vels would often joke loudly before arguing with mother and then going out with the boys.
Then that night, the night it went silent through the city, the lights faded and then they came.
As she sat there came a strange flickering out in the corridor. The briefest flash of silver- rising from the side she peered out into the corridor.
There was no one there.
As she walked back inside something dropped onto her. Looking around, she could feel something on her back, something clinging!
Tearing off her baggy jacket she threw it onto the bed and backed away slowly.
There came a low warbling from the bedclothes and as Nicole watched a snake-like creature rear up from edges and suddenly it launched itself at her. A slim, silver caterpillar slithered across the ground but NIcole had other ideas.
She took to her heels and ran- she had seen these things before, hundreds of them and she was stuck in this place with it!
As she hurried into the console room, she stopped; hoping it wouldn't find her?
Just then it launched itself at the console and coiled around it. Nicole unable to conceal her terror anymore panicked and pressed the switch.
Immediately the doors opened and she hurried out of the TARDIS and out onto to the street.
Panting as she went she was unaware of the danger until grabbed her savagely.
'You will surrender immediately!' the Cyberman ordered as it gripped her.
'No, let me go!' she squealed.
'Take this human to Alteration!' commanded another Cyberman.
'Alteration! No! No! Please?' Nicole screamed as she struggled so but she couldn't get free!

CYBER-RACE

ADJUSTING TIMES

EPISODE TWO.

Nicole was dragged far from the bounds of the city down beyond the thick, glutinous swamps and through the thick marshes.
Every time she twisted to free herself her guard increased its grip on her wrists.
'Do not resist' replied 'her' guard.
'No, I will resist! I will, you can't do this to me?' she cried loudly but her sobs had no effect on him.
'We are the future, you will be like us. Resistance is not an option' the guard retorted as Nicole followed after him.
His cold hand was digging deeper into her wrists.
Before them past the trees was a vast gate set deep into rock of the hillside.
It was here that Nicole started to weep, her brother had seen this place a lit before he too was gone and now she was going to join him.
'Wait! I know where there are others?' she said quickly but the guard dragged her through the gates.
'Did you hear me?' she yelled hard but the Cyberman continued, leading her down a coiled, broken staircase.
'There are no other escapees, you are the last!' the guard replied.
As Nicole was dragged down the ancient steps, her feet slipped on the surface and she fell hard only for her to be jerked into life, once more.
'Ow! My legs!' she moaned as she winced with pain.
'That is weakness. You will become like us' the Cyberman replied but as they rounded a corner Nicole's feet spun off the edge.
'Oh God! Help? Help me?' she cried, the Cyberman was holding her tightly had he decided to release her then she would fallen to her death.
'Remain still' the guard responded as it pulled Nicole easily up. When it released her hand briefly Nicole saw her chance and pushed the creature towards the edge. Weighed down as it was the Cyberman hopelessly toppled over the edge, twisting down into the darkness.
'For Vels!' she spat and hurried back up the steps towards the gate but stopped as another Cyberman appeared.
'Remain still. Resistance is useless!' it decreed.

Artrem was led along a large corridor covered in strange writings; most of it was scribbled on in ink, no doubt by the priesthood he deduced.
Yanse gestured for him to follow and as Artrem followed he could hear distant screams. 'What is that noise?' Artrem asked and Yanse merely looked at him. 'It is the Alteration room, the CyberPlanner is this way!' Yanse replied.
Following down a metal stairs Artrem entered a vast room, the size of an aircraft hangar. Stacked in alcoves everywhere, there stood Cybermen. There must have been hundreds, as Artrem looked about him his logic systems informed him of the purpose. Cryostasis Chamber, known as Tombs.
'How many Cybermen are here?' Artrem asked in the best blank emotionless voice he could muster.
'Estimated nine hundred and fifty Cybermen' Yanse replied.
As Artrem passed by the room he could see Cybermen operating various consoles.
If they were damaged severely then these Cybermen would never become active but as he pondered this he left the vast tombs and passed into a larger room.
The ground was covered by stone discs and discoloured while through the metal alcoves were hundreds of people encased in grotesque web-like cocoons while automated machinery harvested the humans within.
Artrem may have been Cybernetic but he could feel something within him rise, like bile. If he had been organic now, he could not have contained himself, it was horrible to see these people like this!
As he left the room, he noted the consoles at the end monitored by operators. All of this would have to go! These people would have to be purged. It was a horrific thought but the only thing he could think of.

The High Priest smiled as he inhaled the feted scent of blood, oil and other fluids.
He stood before a mirror-like shininess and gazed back at his wonderful image. The Mask-like face and metal band around his head. Already he could feel nothing with his human hands. Though they looked normal, they had been enhanced with microsurgery. He was supreme now!
How his place in community had fallen, as more scientists had risen up to question the divine teachings.
Even when his wife had fled his side claiming that he was mad, when others like him had disbanded to join the farmers. He was better than them; he had saved his God well in this ancient place. On a stormy night he had uncovered a hatch beneath the central statue and it led down into all of this. He found the creatures sleeping still and then he found his God.
It needed power, connecting the creature to the city's power was simple then as he watched, the creature came to life!
He had brought a God to life, to let it teach these sinners not to betray their heritage!
He sighed at the thought, there was no need to do so, he didn't breathe any more anyway.
Turning, he saw a Cyberman awaiting him. 'Yes?' he asked.
'The human has been located, it has been taken to Alteration' it reported.
'Good! Now the real work will begin' the Priest replied but the Cyberman remained.
'Was there something else?' he asked.
'We have located an unknown structure within City, we are bringing it here for analysis!' the Cyberman replied.
'Unknown structure?' the Priest asked sounding unsure.
'It resists our strength, it is not of this world' the creature replied.
'I see, then other Gods have arrived!' the Priest hissed agitatedly.

Finally after some time of walking through a dark hall, for which Artrem could see perfectly he emerged into a vast room. It looked more like a temple then anything else, vast pillars supporting a high roof while three sets of steps met at the top.
Following Yanse up the stairs, Artrem looked to see the vast CyberPlanner or at least he hoped this was it?
'Section leader Yanse, make your report?' the Planner buzzed.
'This Cyberman was found in the city. He claims to be from another Cyber faction, he hold knowledge of Mondas' Yanse replied.
'Step forward!' the Planner ordered. Artrem assumed it was talking to him and boldly stepped forward and begin.
'I am a Scout leader dispatched this sector. Our ship discovered signs of Cyber activity occurring on this world. Our faction is from a world called Telos' Artrem explained hoping that his details were correct.
'Why are you on this planet-Telos?' the Planner buzzed.
'Our planet suffered a catastrophic disaster. Mondas was destroyed, our faction were.... Colonists to Telos' Artrem replied quickly.
'Where are the rest of the Cyber race?' the Planner demanded.
'All dead. We are scattered far across the galaxy' Artrem replied.
A Cyberman stepped forward to greet the CyberPlanner. 'The rogue unit has been located, it has been taken to Alteration' it reported.
'All Cybermen will return here to begin preparations for departure. The repairs to this ship must be completed' the Planner decreed.
Artrem's thoughts grew deeper on the 'rogue unit' and then a thought occurred to him: Nicole!
Had he been organic then he could slipped away but the CyberPlanner was present.
'You will go with Cyberleader Yanse, you will compute the co-ordinates for this new world Telos' the Planner decreed.
'The Cyber Race will never die!' the Planner added.

Nicole struggled so hard in the Cybermen's arms as it forced her along.
Seeing so many of these living nightmare wandering along, she closed her eyes tightly but bumped into something. The wall as she emerged into a vast room and then she could hear screams intermingled with the whirring of machinery.
A thick pungent scent entered her nose. Never before had she smelt such a disgusting thing and opening her eyes, she gagged as she saw the source in all its horrible glory.
'No, no!' she screamed as the Cyberman forced her forward into one of the alcoves.
The inhabitant was an old woman, already her hair was gone and in its place was a shining dome while her aged body had been stripped out.
Passing down the line there appeared to be a fat bloated man just resting there.
Nicole's eyes widened as she could see why, his throat was slit! With a savage blow the Cyberman knocked the body aside to fall flat to the ground.
'No, No! You can't do this to me! Please? Somebody?' she squealed as she was lowered into the frame and thick grips slid across her body holding her tight.
She was sobbing, crying and panicking as she looked around her at the hell that she was in. Just then a figure stepped from the shadows.
'So, this is her!' he growled and Nicole flinched as she caught sight of his face.
'What? What are you? Why are you doing this?' she screamed.
'Because they have their orders and you will become like us, the servants of a God! To live forever and never fall!' the Priest revealed.
'I don't want that? Let me go? Please? Nicole begged.
'You are a sinner after all- these beings can save us!, to make immortal and to serve a God! You thought to hide but no one escapes his eyes!' the Priest cackled.
'You did this to my Mother, to my family! You Sick freak!' she hissed and spat to his face.
'You do not recognise me then, Nicole I know you and your family!' the Priest managed a cybernetic grin as he looked to her.

'How could you know me? You're a monster! A sick, twisted monster!' Nicole yelled.
'No, these humble beings are the saved, you and your kind turned their back on our God. I serve him- you are the monsters!' the Priest cackled.
'Who are you? Why?' was all Nicole could manage.
'I am the poor mad fool, you persecuted and humiliated, I am the one you beat and broke. I am Abden, high priest to the true one!' the Priest hissed savagely.
Nicole could vaguely remember the man, a firm believer in Gods. In school, she had learnt of religions but Abden had always tried to reassure everyone of the Gods presence. That was until he was beaten... to death.
'But you can't be? You're dead?' she mumbled.
Abden simply shook his head. 'Not at all I live, my God has granted to me immortality and you all will be saved from your sins!' Abden replied with satisfaction.
'Saved? You're killing these people! You killed my mother, I remember her screams as they broke in and dragged her out! You murdering monster!' Nicole shouted and spat trying to break loose.
'I understand why you fear because you fear the Lord's wrath. You will be saved and then you will see!' he said standing away and nodded to the Cyberman.
'Save this soul!' he hissed and pointed towards Nicole's frightened form. At the sound of power, the blades started to descend and no matter how hard Nicole tried, she couldn't break free!

Artrem stood at a console as Yanse stood next to him.
'The flight computer requires the correct location co-ordinates of this world Telos?' Yanse replied and motioned to Artrem to key in the sequence.
Artrem had no time to loose, the horror he had seen in the Alteration chamber. His deception had gone on far enough, he decided.
He pressed a few quick random numbers and turned to Yanse. 'The Telos co-ordinates are logged in. I must report to my Commander' he said quickly and walked out of the room.
Hurrying now he tore down the metal corridors looking for the Alteration section. Finally as he entered it his vision focussed on Nicole, bolted into the machine.
Acting quickly he focussed his head mounted weapon and fired. The bolt of light caught at the power console causing a slight explosion. Immediately the power cut off and the process stopped.
Whirling round the other Cybermen advanced on him but anticipating this he fired a steady bolt at each of the giants. Their chest units sparked and exploded toppling them all to the ground.
Hurrying over to Nicole, Artrem applied his hydraulic muscles to the bands and easily broke them free. Gasping, Nicole open her eyes and started hitting at him.
'Nicole, it's me!' Artrem replied and slowly she stopped. 'I told you to remain in the TARDIS' he added.
'Yeah, well you've got a bug problem in there!' she muttered and took an uncertain step.
'Are you all right?' he asked. 'I'll live!' she replied and looked around her for a sign of Abden.
'What's wrong? Have you lost something?' he asked. 'The man responsible for this- he was here! That Monster!' she hissed.
'Here, take this. There are other Cybermen around still' he said and passed her the strange round dish from beneath a chest unit.

'You demon!' Abden roared as he brought the iron bar down on Artrem but he felt nothing, much to Nicole's late warning.
Turning round to face the Cybernetic priest Artrem eyed the man. 'You... You destroyed the purification system!' he hissed.
'Purification? I was saving her life. She did not have to undergo the process, everyone has a choice!' retorted Artrem.
'No, her kind has no choice, our God rules supreme and you have destroyed the saved!' Abden shrieked.
'Saved?' Artrem repeated.
'He's crazy! He means theses things!' Nicole explained.
'Listen to me, Cybermen never promise, anything they have promised you is a lie. They care nothing for humans, nothing for anything but their own kind! These people had a choice not to become like them!' Artrem explained but Abden shook his head.
'You would deny supremeity from a God that can do this!' he said gesturing to his form.
'What power? Where are your dreams? You're no longer human; you're just like them! I bet you never wanted this? To be immortal but not like this? I am more like you because I still possess a self, emotions. They do not. They are not Gods- Gods cannot die' Artrem explained and indicated the dead Cybermen.
Abden's face twitched nervously. 'No, they gave me power, they showed me the way forward!' Abden babbled.
'Look at yourself, are you human? One more process and you'll become like them- like Yanse!' Artrem replied.
Slowly they left the room leaving Abden staring after the dead Cybermen.
They were dead. He had tried to save people, he sobbed now as he looked at the now dead inhabitants of the Alteration process and sobbed.
As they crossed another chamber Nicole looked around.
'Where are we going?' Nicole asked.
'To the Cryostasis chamber, we're going to stop the Cybermen from resurrection!' Artrem replied grimly.

As Yanse approached the powerful form of the CyberPlanner, it acknowledged him.
'Make your report?'
'The co-ordinates have been logged into flight computers. All Cybermen have returned to their stations' Yanse reported.
'Where is the Scout Leader?' the Planner buzzed.
'He has returned to his commander' Yanse replied
Suddenly a strange ringing siren blared out throughout the room.
'What is happening? What is the reason of emergency?' the Planner buzzed.
As to answer it, a Cyberman stepped calmly forward. 'The Alteration systems have been destroyed by unknown weaponry. The damage is extensive' it reported.
'There are intruders here, they must be found and eliminated!' ordered the Planner. The two Cybermen turned away walking towards the exits.
While in the Tombs Artrem triggered his weapon at the various consoles. Nicole had had trouble with her bulky weapon until she had seen the others triggering theirs.
She levelled her weapon and fired many times and within moments six Cybermen lay dead and the control consoles were a black, melted heaps.
'Bring it on, you freaks!' Nicole yelled.
'There, that should do it. The Cybermen will be unable to revive these creatures' Artrem replied.
'When do we leave this horrible place?' Nicole asked.
'Soon, we need to get back to Flight deck, put pay to their instruments!' Artrem decided but as he led her out he paused.
Walking towards the Planner's chamber were two Cybermen but between them was the green, familiar box.
'My TARDIS!' Artrem breathed.
'Where are they going with it?' Nicole asked.
'To the Planner, come on we have to deal with the flight deck!' Artrem replied and led her off in the other direction.

Abden rubbed his head slightly as he approached the chamber to the Planner, as he was about to enter it Yanse passed through.
'Cyberleader Yanse, there are intruders in the temple!' he reported.
'You have seen them?' the Cyberleader asked.
'Two of them. A sinner and another, he was different. Not human, or like us!' he replied.
'Where were they heading for?' the Cyberleader asked and as Abdan looked, he could see the blank mask of a face, the human-like hands and the body. Was that other being right? Was he becoming a monster?
'Where were they heading for?' Yanse repeated.
'Your sleeping chamber' Abden replied and Yanse nodded and carried on.
Watching him go Abden swallowed nervously before stepping through into the Planner's chamber.
'My Lord I have seen infidels breaking your humble temple. They claim that you are no God, they say that we are superior and can never die yet I have seen such things! Are they wrong?' he asked nervously.
'Why did you not stop these intruders?' the Planner buzzed.
'I asked you a question, My Lord? Are you a God? Are you immortal?' Abden yelled towards the glowing creature.
'You possess emotions. You are weak. You will be like us' the Planner replied.
'Are you a God?' Abden roared loud, his voice echoing into every dark corner.
'We are the future. You will be like us!' replied the Planner.
'No! You're not, I have wasted my life. Serving you piece of filth! I am a murderer! And you are not a God!' Abden roared and kicked hard at the gleaming creature.
'Resistance is useless. You will desist immediately!' the Planner buzzed harshly.
As Abden hit out at the frame work with an augmented fist the centre of the Planner glowed bright.
For the first time in so long, Abden felt pain, intense pain scalding his body as he continued on.
'You are no God of mine!' he roared and lashed out.
There was suddenly a flash and Abden cried out before crashing to the ground.
Cyberleader Yanse stepped from the shadows. 'The intruder is a rogue Cyberman, it has damaged the Cryostore irreparably' Yanse reported.
'Find it. It must be stopped!' buzzed the Planner agitatedly.
'I understand' replied Yanse and quickly he left.

'Stand there by the doorway, keep it covered while I deal with the navigation controls' Artrem replied and with a nod from Nicole he walked over to the large computer banks.
Raising his fists high, he brought the down into the panels.
The surface cracked and dented but as Artrem pushed further, the surface split open. Sparks flew as Artrem slid his augmented fist deeper into the controls splitting the cables and wires.
He fired his weapon at the other cables. Acting like a man possessed, these creatures were not going to get away!
'Artrem? Something's coming this way!' Nicole called and as Artrem finished his work he walked over just as a Cyberman appeared.
'Intruders located!' the Cyberman alerted and went for its weapon.
'No, you don't!' Nicole cried and fired quickly.
The Cyberman groaned at its chest unit burst into flames.
'Thank you Nicole' Artrem replied.
'Oh, it's nothing just as long as I get these freaks!' she said just as Artrem fired and behind Nicole another Cyberman fell.
'Thanks. They seem to have us trapped?' she grumbled.
'We're not done yet? They have the TARDIS and we have to get there!' Artrem replied and fired at another shadow. As the corridor fell into silence he motioned for Nicole to follow him.
Out into the corridor they walked, the ground was littered with dead Cybermen.
'Don't worry Nicole, it's safe!' Artrem replied.
'But where are we, what is this place?' she asked.
'This is not a temple. Your people found it abandoned and built murals and statues but this is a Cyber ship' Artrem explained.
'A spaceship?' she asked.
'Yes and it was scheduled to take off but it isn't going anywhere else now? Come on we have to get you to the TARDIS?' he said.
'Why? This is my home. Why should I want to leave it?' she yelled.
'I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. You have every right to stay here, your world' he replied lowly.
'No, it's dead. I know it is and it's all Abden's fault!' she said slowly.
'I'll help you get your ship back, this is for my people!' Nicole added and led the way.

As the green box was righted by the two Cybermen. The CyberPlanner demanded an explanation.
'What is this object? Why have you brought it here?' it demanded.
'This unknown structure was discovered in the ruins of the city. It defies our strength, all scans cannot determine its origin?' Yanse replied.
'Report progress on the Rogue Cyberman?' it demanded.
'The Cryostasis unit and Alteration chambers are beyond repair. All Cybermen have been dispatched however we have lost all contact with them' Yanse replied.
'This is not possible? There must be more intruders? You two will proceed to the Cyber store, activate all Cybermats!' the Planner buzzed.
'We understand our tasks' the two Cybermen chorused.
'Cyberleader Yanse, go to the Flight deck. Prepare the craft for imminent departure!' the Planner buzzed.
'I understand' he chimed and walked off leaving the CyberPlanner alone.
As the two Cybermen left the room, Artrem and Nicole stood from behind them.
'Hey you freaks!' Nicole called and turning the two creatures stared in amazement as they both fired.
'You know, perhaps calling out like that wasn't the best thing?' Artrem replied.
'It did the job and I wanted to see their faces, see their pain- they gave my people!' Nicole retorted.
As Artrem led the way into the Planner's chamber Artrem hurried over to his TARDIS. As Nicole tentatively walked over to the TARDIS there came a 'Stop!'
Turning round they could see Cyberleader Yanse covering them. 'Lower your weapons, resistance is unacceptable!' he replied.
Slowly they both raised their hands. 'Surrender immediately' chimed the Planner.
'What do you want?' Nicole asked.
'You are responsible for the damage to our craft. You have destroyed all Cybermen. Why are you here?' the Planner demanded.
'We came back for this...' Artrem started to say. 'Revenge!' Nicole quickly said. 'Revenge, what does that word mean?' the Planner asked.
'They are emotionless creatures NIcole, all emotions are valueless. Revenge is an emotion human beings feel...' Artrem began but Nicole butted in again.
'I wanted to make you suffer for what you had done to my people!' she hissed.

'Suffer? You have crippled our ship, all Cybermen are dead, Mondas is gone, we are on the verge of extinction' the Planner buzzed.
'And what about my people? They're gone, all gone because of you! Everyone I ever loved is dead!' Nicole yelled hard, her eyes filling with tears.
'We must Survive, all humans must become like us. It is logical that humans will develop as we did in order to survive you must become like us!' the Planner simply said.
'This object. You returned for it. What is it?' Yanse asked.
'It is my ship, my TARDIS' Artrem replied.
'TARDIS? A space vessel capable of transporting us to Telos' the Planner retorted.
'No, No I won't do that! Whatever you say I won't let you in there!' Artrem retorted angrily.
'You will comply or I will destroy the female' Yanse replied from the top of the stairs.
'Yes, I'll go to him Artrem' Nicole say at last.
'No, Nicole, this isn't the way! Don't trust them!' Artrem argued but Nicole had already gone.
As Artrem watched Nicole passed the CyberPlanner and walked to Yanse. With quick ferocity she made a push at him and as Yanse tumbled Artrem fired.
Yanse groaned but continued forward. 'We are the future, you will be like us, you will be like us!'
There came a second flash from behind as Nicole fired Yanse's dropped gun. 'We are your future, we can never die!' was all Yanse could utter as he toppled forward before the CyberPlanner.
'There now! You're finished!' Nicole said and chucked her gun aside. 'The future, our future is no more!' the Planner buzzed.
'Precisely, you are no longer of any use. Let your race end, Mondas is dead and so should you be' Artrem replied and fired his weapon.
The power cables sparked as the rest of the instruments erupted into flame. 'Your time has come, consider your actions Planner?' Artrem finished.
'May I join you?' Nicole asked.
'Are you sure you want to?' he asked.
'There's nothing left for me here' Nicole replied.

As Artrem opened the door, a sudden thought occurred to Nicole!
'No, Artrem there's one of those things in there!' she cried but as Artrem opened the door he stopped, staring at the silver caterpillar curled around the console.
It's all right, I think?' he said and gestured for Nicole to enter but as she followed him, the creature reared up.
'Artrem!' Nicole called and as he looked the creature had unwrapped itself and was slithering towards her.
The Cybermat flew through the air but stopped mere inches from Nicole's face.
As she looked up, Artrem stood there holding the creature. It seemed to be warbling, like a panicking thing?
'As I thought, no lethal instructions implanted' Artem replied.
'It was coming straight at me!' Nicole moaned but Artrem shook his head.
'Because it was programmed to seek out other humans but not to do anything? It's harmless' he said.
'Shouldn't you get rid of it?' she asked.
'I don't see why? It has no problems slithering around here? It won't do any harm to anyone, here' he said and passed the Cybermat to Nicole.
At first she backed away but like a snake it crawled over her shoulders and sat there warbling gently.
'It seems you have a new friend?' he said.
'I already have' she said and nodded to Artrem, his powerful silver form that she had once feared.
Artrem exchanged a hand and took Nicole's. He performed a mock kiss, 'Welcome Nicole to the TARDIS, I hope you enjoy your stay?' he said.
'I'm sure I will, so where are we going?' she asked.
'Anywhere in particular you want to go?' Artrem rasped.
'Anywhere as long as it isn't here!' Nicole said.
Pressing the controls the door closed and Nicole stood back as Artrem activated the controls and soon the TARDIS warped out of existence leaving the chamber cold and dark.
'We are the future. We are... the... future' the Planner finally buzzed as the glowing centre finally went dark, silence filled the ruin. Silence.