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

The TARDIS has brought a world weary Doctor to the battle-scarred planet of Ovarge IV. A corporate conflict has escalated and casulaties are rising on each side.

However something is very wrong, with a peaceful world transformed into a bleak lanscape phantom interference is eclipsing all communications on the battlefield.

The members of Genesis Inc believe it to be the work of STORE Corp, attempting to make a counterstrike but the Doctor isn't so sure because bodies are vanishing... fallen soldiers from either side are being taken away into the darkness!

With little hope of survival on the frontline things are getting worse as more bodies are taken, being harvested by a new breed of ghoul...

.....................Cold Warfare

Episode one

The Sky was screaming once again. Hellish cries of pain echoed around the bleak, grey rubble-strewn ground. He lay in the dirt watching. A slit projected from the hide, his rifle extended before him while the rest of him remained perfectly still.
He rested the rifle against his cheek, the infra red sightings picked through the vast curtain of darkness across the sky enshrouding everything.
He focussed on a thin veil of wire then slowly he glanced across, spying movement. Three of them.
They were soldiers, not wearing his regiment's uniform, though it was impossible to tell from this angle and the red hue surrounding them didn't help either.
He then glanced harder at their breast pockets, no gleaming registration plate shone back. It was them, his targets.
He licked his dry lips and ignored the trail of sweat that emerged from under his hot tin helmet and started to course down his face. He felt uncomfortable lying there for God knows how many hours.
They were on the move now and now their fate was in his hands, he had to do it. They were the enemy; this was an important junction in the Corp lines. As they hurried onwards, guns at the ready, gas-asks covering their faces, the lead tripped the wire.
There was a brief flash and jet of black smoke erupted, he could hear from his place brief cries, see bodies twisting in confusion when he pulled the trigger.
BANG! One soldier fell to the hard ground and quickly he fired again, spying another fall backwards clutching at its chest, the smoke omitting his view.
He waited patiently for what must have been a lifetime while behind him loud footsteps were heard. His relief, he though as he scanned the area thoroughly. No sign of the third.
Suddenly the hide he was in started to shake violently, dust fell from the grass-covered roof as it fell apart.
Glancing up, he pulled at his rifle but stopped, his eyes widening at the terror above him, he fired point blank, the round hit the tall figure over him squarely in the chest.
It could have been charred but the figure simply bent the rifle as though it were string and flung it aside to the dirt beside the wrecked hide roof.
The huge figure reached for the sniper, who cowered back, fingers digging into mud as the figure pulled him free and in the Sniper's ears, distantly he could hear the sky screaming again.

The lone soldier pulled itself free from the cloud of smoke, digging deep gloves into the thick clay bank; it moved swiftly, no longer caring for its colleagues.
Pulling itself up behind a low bank, it was panting hard through its gas mask. No it was panicking so much that it failed to notice the eerily close screams of terror.
Tearing off grey covered black rubber gloves to reveal, pale slim hands. These were shaking slowly as they reached up to the helmet and then finally the mask.
She was breathing deep, breathing fast as she glanced around at the darkness around her. Bleak, dark landscape surrounded her.
Reaching down to her inner pocket, she plucked free a small black radio with miniature antennae. Pressing the control at the side, she brought it cautiously to the side of her face and talked quickly and quietly.
'Control-COM, Control-Com, this is Green star to base. Green star has fallen, strong Sniper position, the area is wired. Do you connect?' she said in a panicky voice. Across the radio there came a busy sounding pompous voice.
'Control-Com to Green Star. Report your status? Over' the superior replied.
'My Force is down, both troopers down. I am caged in by Sniper fire; repeat caged in by Sniper fire. I require reinforcements' the woman said.
'Green Star, you will hold your position. We are attempting to mid-flank the Sniper section now, a squad will attempt to recover your person' the Commander replied.
'Well hurry it up then? Corp agents must be everywhere by now, I have low ammunition and need help?' she said quickly.
'Hold your position Green Star. Soon we shall annex this region. A Cease-fire will be declared when that has occurred. Control-Com, over and out' reported the Commander.
'Great!' she spat and lowered her radio but as she did there came a strange warbling distortion across the radio, quickly she flicked off the machine and tucked it into her jacket.
Flattening herself against the mud she could just make out a tall, powerful figure stalk out of the darkness, dragging someone with them. It silently, relentlessly carried on, fading from sight.
Deep footsteps echoed loudly across the landscape, slowly they faded away to nothing.

As the TARDIS rumbled into existence, the Doctor gave a well rested yawn, stretching him arms and for a brief moment he considered walking to the console to check the co-ordinates but instead he remembered that he had wanted for adventure and intrigue in his lives.
'Now then TARDIS where have you brought me? Somewhere quiet perhaps out of the way of death, destruction, decay and doom?' he asked as he pulled himself free from the armchair, putting down the book he was reading onto the side table.
Since no one answered him, he crossed over towards the well-lit door and breathed deep, before grasping the door and stepping out.
'Ah, I was wrong. Up to your old tricks eh old girl? I know I said I was being more cautious but to dump me here in this bleak place?' the Doctor retorted as he gazed out across the grey landscape before him.
It was dark but above him there sat a solitary moon shining down at him but before he could acknowledge it with a smile he was suddenly knocked to the ground by someone.
'Get down you fool!' replied a tough-sounding voice of a woman.
'Hello there, there was no real need for this?' the Doctor replied when suddenly a heavy blast impacted hard with the side of the TARDIS.
'Well apparently there was and I seem to be in the middle of trouble yet again and in a pile of mud?' he said looking down at the mess beneath him but still the woman clung on to him.
'Keep your head down and your mouth shut! There are Sniper's everywhere!' she snapped.
'Oh I see and we are pegged down by them, well now you see this Blue Box that I stepped out of, if we get into this we'll be quite safe?' he said but she shook her head.
'Are you mad? That's what they're aiming at! We'll be cut down in seconds! Who are you? Your clothes?' she said and the Doctor smiled.
'Yes they are and were quite fashionable before being covered in mud. I'm the Doctor... Miss?' he said and for once could see her face, she was no more than a teenager?
'I'm Green Star and you say you're a medic? Good, we need plenty of those, now keep low, see that mound over there, crawl for it, I'll cover you!' the woman ordered as another round hit the TARDIS loudly.
'Now look I'm really not that sort of....?' he tried but seeing her going for a pistol he started to crawl hand and knees towards the low dune ahead of him.

As bullets and explosives of all shapes and sizes whizzed over his head the Doctor crawled there muttering to himself, trying very hard not to spread the mud further along his clothes.
'Always the same. No matter where I go in all the universe within minutes of arriving there's always someone shooting at me! I wonder if I carry some sort of curse or magnet for trouble on me?' he pondered and cautiously turned to see the woman firing her gun into the darkness.
'Impossible, how can she see where she's firing that? I bet the enemy can't?' he added when a chunk of mud exploded to the right of him just inches from his body.
'All right Doctor, you are going to crawl very slowly towards that dune and to shelter provided that no one is behind that dune I'll be just fine?' he muttered to himself through gritted teeth.
Pulling himself over the lip of the dune, he almost tumbled over the lip and into a shallow crater full of ammunition deposits and a man with a high-powered rifle.
'Oh, good evening there?' the Doctor exclaimed and quickly the Sniper looked to his right to see the Doctor mud stained sitting there grinning back at him.
With one fluid movement he went for his rifle and found also the Doctor sitting in the same crater facing him.
'Don't mind me but I'm pretty sure that you need to take the safety catch off before you fire that?' the Doctor said quite calmly and swiftly the Sniper pressed the switch and the Doctor smiled more so.
'Were you the one aiming at that blue box over there with, high explosive rounds?' the Doctor asked noting the grenades sitting exposed in the crates beside him.
'Shut up! Who are you?' the Sniper snapped coldly.
'I'm the MO, a neutral member in this war and as you can see quite harmless' the Doctor said quickly.
'MO eh? You dress like a colonist- who do you support?' the man snapped.
'Your side of course, STORE corp?' he said noting the badge on the Sniper's uniform.
'Good, cause I can see quite a few Gens out there now' the Sniper hissed.
'Gens?' the Doctor asked looking confused.
'Gens, Genesis Inc. I'll get them! Get them all!' he laughed and the Doctor nodded slowly not having a clue what the man was on about?

'Quite. So do you require any medical attention, any at all. I have a degree in psychology I think?' the Doctor said quickly and almost instantly the man stopped laughing.
'How do I know you're a STORE supporter or even an MO for that matter?' he snapped, his finger tightened on the trigger.
'Well I... I am the Doctor and I got ambushed by a few Genesis supporters, they killed my team and I alone managed to escape' the Doctor said quickly and noted the Sniper's tin hat, reminiscent of the first world war. Even the rifle he held was very old looking but the camouflage material he was wearing was definitely new.
'Sounds too convenient for you, Doctor! How about you show me some ID- now!' the Sniper yelled and shoved the rifle muzzle hard against the Doctor's cheek.
'All right, no need to get so excited. I'm just going to reach inside my jacket pocket for my identification papers' the Doctor answered and noted that the man was shaking, he was nervous, malnourished, very agitated. This was war; he also appeared to be quite young too, in his early twenties.
'Look here, I'm not your enemy. I'm just an off-worlder. I mean you little/ no harm at all' the Doctor said quickly and raised his hands.
The Sniper grinned a crazed smile showing all his teeth to the air.
'So no ID then. You could be a spy or a colonist or an MO but you don't fool me- Gen! You've lost the right to this world, it's ours! At last I have the pleasure of looking you lot in the eye- a big-shot watching your terror as I pull this trigger!' the Sniper hissed coldly and pulled the trigger.
A sharp click rang out but no bang!
'What have you done? Sabotage!' the Sniper snapped then suddenly he fell forward, his rifle travelling before him as he hit the mud hard.
'Are you all right?' the woman hissed as she crept over the lip of the crater.
'Very much thank you, only you needn't have bothered, he'd flicked on the safety- which means he wasn't very experienced with rifles, just out of college by the look of him?' the Doctor retorted.
'College? No, a STORE education facility. Him and his lot are responsible for many innocent deaths, well now it's payback!' the woman said as she raised her pistol towards his body.

'What on Earth do you think you're doing? Put that gun down!' the Doctor snapped but the women's gun remained stationary on his body.
'This man is a killer. You don't know how many innocents have dies by his hand?' the Woman snapped.
'True, I don't but that gives you no reason to kill him, look at him. He's nothing more than a young man, a whole life ahead of him, it's not his fault that he's been brain-washed into serving a rival faction/ cult or whatever!' the Doctor retorted.
'You don't understand do you? Unless you're one of them?' the Woman said and raised her pistol until was level with the Doctor's forehead.
'Are you serious? He was about to shoot me dead because he believed that I was the enemy, on your side and now you're wondering if I was on his side? Do you know how silly that sounds?' the Doctor asked and noted the woman's hands shaking.
'Who are you? An off-worlder or a spy?' she snapped and the Doctor shook his head.
'Shall we restart this conversation, I'm the Doctor and you are a Genesis Incorporated employed soldier serving them?' the Doctor replied.
'I am Group leader Emily Durrant of the Special Green Star Squad, they are dead now killed by him or his kind!' she snapped pointing to the unmoving Sniper at her feet.
'Genesis Incorporated. So this is a Corporate War caused by further aggravated debate. How's Technical Co-ordinator Mandrake these days?' the Doctor asked and recognised the glint in her eyes.
'How could you know his position, it's only just been given to him?' Emily snapped.
'Ah, well just forget the bit about- these days. I'm an old acquaintance of his and I've known how open the STORE Corporation is. Might I inquire as to what this debate was about?' the Doctor asked.
'Everyone knows that answer, the cost in telecommunication across the Galnet. Genesis believes it can be done cheaper while STORE wants it to remain here. This world is a marking beacon of the old frequency, we have to change it' Emily replied.
'Is that all? A war, the most dreadful action any race can bestow, countless sufferings on either side, death, decay and depression and all because you want to twiddle a control on a radio set?' the Doctor retorted trying not to smirk but Emily's face was grim.
'It's nothing to joke about. I've lost too many good people to these STORE supporters. They just won't stop following orders, so much more easier if they just give up?' Emily hissed looking at the man's body.

'That does not give you the right to condone this man's murder. He made a choice in life to follow the other side either through force or because he didn't expect his world to be under attack?' the Doctor almost yelled.
Close by there came an explosion at the other side of the dune.
'They're getting closer, these trigger-happy troops. Are they on your side or his?' the Doctor asked crouching down as another volley of mortars impacted close by.
'I don't know but we are exposed here. We should try and get under cover; there's a trench not far from here, just over that rise. We'll be safe there' Emily ordered and made a move but stopped as she saw the Doctor grasping at the man's shoulders.
'What the hell do you think you're doing?' she squawked.
'I won't leave this man, he may be guilty in your eyes but that's no excuse to leave here to die. Consider him a POW if you like?' the Doctor replied as he heaved the man to his feet and started to haul him along.
Emily stared down at the Doctor but then realised that a prisoner could aid them? When the cease-fire would be drawn he would answer her questions!
'All right Doctor, hurry it up!' she ordered and turned and hurried on, the Doctor behind her squinted through the darkness looking for a sign of her but nothing met his eyes.
A mortar exploded out behind them and another hit the crater casting a great explosion into his ears sending him down onto the hard ground.
The Sniper started cough and moan and as the Doctor climbed to his feet the man snapped into attention, grappling with the Doctor.
'This way! Come on, I'm getting you to safety' the Doctor cried as he fought off the man's hands.
Without warning, he lashed out, catching the man's cheek and the man fell back. Hurriedly the Doctor grabbed him by the arms and dragged him on.
'Sorry about that?' he said quickly as he dashed on and finally he fell, tired as a hail of machine gun bullets swam overhead.
Suddenly a hand appeared out of nowhere and dragged him over the edge into a deep trench about five feet deep.
'Sorry, got lost up there' the Doctor replied as he pulled himself to his feet.

'Get your head down!' Emily cried and yanked the Doctor into a crouching position.
'Sorry, I keep doing that. I really should give up before it becomes a habit? So this is the trench you spoke of? Excellent or is it?' the Doctor asked.
'It will have to do for our sake. Those are STORE Snipers gunning at us now. They got us trapped in here, perhaps if we used him as bait, they might consider letting us go?' she said.
The Doctor looked horrified and then at her face, he felt like smacking her. Someone who revelled in carnage and death. War meant suffering.
'No, I very much doubt that would work. They're more than likely to shoot him to stop information getting out!' the Doctor retorted.
'Pity' Emily said looking down at the unconscious man.
'What are you doing here then? I've explained my predicament but you've left out certain details. A special squad with special privileges no doubt?' the Doctor asked.
Emily eyed him carefully, he wasn't a spy not by the way he acted, very compassionate about everyone. Had he seen war before, was this an off worlder who knew the futility of war?
'That information is classified to everyone outside Control-Command' she snapped.
'What about friends to your great employer?' the Doctor asked quickly.
Rats! Emily thought and drew her gun on him.
'I am from Green Star Squad, an elite investigations unit deployed out here to study interference blockades' she said.
'Radio interference?' the Doctor asked.
'Phantom signals blocking communication, threatening our every move, the work of STORE sabotage. It's like a blanket, blocks out everything for hours at a time' Emily replied.
'Interesting. How long have these patches been occurring for, do they follow a random pattern?' the Doctor asked.
'Are you a scientist as well as a War futiliser?' Emily asked.
'Futiliser? What sort of a word is that? English is a perfectly good language and there's no need to invent words for things- the word exists, you just have to look it up' the Doctor replied politely.
That settles it, he is a futiliser and a scientist as well. Would he prove a danger to her? Or would she have to kill him now?

'What happened?' the Sniper asked as he came to in a dark gleaming room. He tried to move but around his midriff he could feel a thick metallic band. It was smooth but also sharp.
Trying to raise his hands to pull the band free, he found that he was fixed down lying vertical. Unable to move he resorted to a panicky action.
'Hello? Hello who's there?' he cried but he was surprised when he heard his voice echo around him then a chill drove through him as multiple replies answered him.
Horrible moans and groans, some whimpered while others gasped. Both men and women he guessed?
'Hello? Who's there? Please answer me?' he cried again but yet again the moan, the tortured cried answered him.
Stretching his eyes to the side he glanced to see someone else lying not to far away in a similar band-like construct while a desperate moan echoed from his right, turning he gasped as his eyes met horror.
A woman, or what had been a woman lay there in metallic bands, her face, fractured. Beauty corrupted into yellowing gangrenous wounds. Her battle-dress was torn and bloodied and what horrible moans erupted from the gaping hole of her mouth.
A stream of light suddenly slid into the room catching at something suspended above his head, a collection of sharp blades.
At his ears, he could hear the dull echoing of the conflict outside and then hear the heavy thud of footsteps, so familiar to his mind.
'No, please? Release me? Please, I am Group Commander Seng of the STORE imperial Sniper division' the man cried but the footsteps ignored him.
The room lit up, vast and circular but then the footsteps were coming closer to him, at last his words were bringing sense to his captor but the figure stepped from the shadows and Seng looking up screamed, his eyes widened in horror.
'Oh, no not you! Not you!' he screamed as the blades above him and the others started to revolve, going faster and faster.
Seng was almost out of breath when the blades started to descend... The figure remained.... watching this.

'Interesting. Ten minutes we've been here and they haven't stopped firing their guns at us?' the Doctor noted.
'Of course they haven't. They're trying to hit at us-remember that we are the enemy' Emily retorted.
'Then why haven't they tried to use any high explosive on us? And why fire rather pointlessly on this trench rather then wait for us to make an appearance?' the Doctor asked.
'How should I know? Perhaps it's a bluff? Using blanks against us to lull us out?' Emily retorted.
'Well if that's the case why not feign silence or a few rounds of 'We Surrender? No this is not aimed at us but rather aimed at someone else?' the Doctor replied and slowly he rose up much to Emily's annoyance.
Was he brave or an idiot? Oh well time would tell as his corpse would crash down into the mud, a few well placed bullet holes in his body and head.
'Nothing to worry about Miss Emily, it's all quiet and clear. Gives me a chance to stretch my legs' the Doctor replied and slowly Emily rose to her feet, gun raised as she slowly appeared to see a brigade of men and woman in a temporary bunker. Dressed in Camouflage fatigues and gas-masks.
'There you are' the Doctor replied and immediately a man whirled round on them, rifle in hands.
'Raise your hands! Move!' he cried and as this alerted his colleagues the Doctor raised his hands and climbed free of the trench.
'No, need for that old chap unless of course you're on STORE's side then what can I say?' he replied.
'STORE? Then you're not on their side?' the soldier asked pausing with his rifle.
'No and neither are you lot I take it? I'm the Doctor and this is Group leader Emily' the Doctor replied.
As Emily came free from the trench she dropped her pistol onto the ground and flicked out her ID to the soldier.
'I am Group Leader Emily Durrant of Green Star Squad, are you the reinforcements I requested from Control-Command?' she asked in an authoritative tone.
'Major?' called the soldier and immediately a tall, thin man in his thirties walked forward to address them.
'I am Major Roderick Wills, your report was received on time and this region has been annexed. Who is this?' he asked.
'How do you do? I'm the Doctor' the Doctor replied offering his hand.

Commander Hel sat in the deep trench surveying the atmosphere around her. Her Infra-green binocular cut through the vast mass of darkness.
Alerted to the mass loss of communications from all trooper units in this sector, Hel had been dispatched to investigate this region. This path through the minefield, the only safe path unguarded.
Hel knelt by the remains of the hide, now lying by the side of a few pieces of rubble and then a shining silver lance poked out from the curtain of shadows.
Crawling slowly and almost silently down the slope she paused as a few pebbles came loose.
If this sector had been annexed then it would be crawling with Gens. This made her spine chill to the marrow. To be caught like this, in the open would not only prove embarrassing but also to be caught, she would be easy pickings!
She pulled free the lance, it was Sniper Seng's rifle, still loaded but of Seng, there was no sign?
Pulling free her radio, she pressed the call button and waited.
'Go ahead?' came the reply.
'This is Commander Hel, Investigation Service. I am at co-ordinates nine-four. Safe pass to mine-crossover' she said in a tough-sounding voice.
'Store central standing by?' came the reply and Hel continued.
'Sniper Seng’s rifle is present but he is not present, his hide has been wrecked. Suspected capture. awaiting further instructions?' Hel reported and there was a pause...
Across the radio there seemed to come a strange rattling, it was getting louder and louder so quickly she turned down the volume. Through the audible snow came the reply.
'Seng to be terminated on sight, information too important to fall into enemy hands' came the reply.
'Orders received, Hel over and out' she replied as there came deep plodding footsteps through the darkness.
Suddenly a powerful gleaming arm struck Hel to the ground, she gripped her arm sensing it was broken but another blow knocked her out to the ground.
Seng surveyed her for a moment then he reached down and pulled Hel up to his waist and advanced into the darkness.
This was no act of vengeance. This was duty. Seng was no longer human; he was better than humans. Much better!

'A medic? I thought you said that all members of your team had been taken out for STORE forces?' Wills asked.
'He isn't part of my team. I found him wandering around in a war-zone, I think he's a futiliser?' Emily retorted staring at the Doctor.
'Again you use that word? Might I be privileged to know what I am being accused of in good old-fashioned English?' the Doctor asked looking from both Wills to Emily, their expressions were similar.
Wills started to stalk around the Doctor but as he tried to turn Emily suddenly moved, distracting his attention long enough to let Wills snap out his combat pistol and bring it to bear on the Doctor's neck.
'Who do you work for? What faction?' Wills demanded gruffly shoving the pistol muzzle deeply against the Doctor's neck.
'Faction? Oh you mean Genesis or STORE? Well I'm on the side lines there' the Doctor replied but then he heard Wills click the barrel back.
'Futiliser!' he spat but the Doctor just looked confused.
'Is there something wrong about being on the side lines in war? You want to help but if you get mixed up they can't tell you from opposition or support?' the Doctor said quickly.
'No, you are a futiliser. A group of pacifists that realise that the Corporate destiny of Genesis is pathetic and doesn't want more to suffer so make sabotage to stop us dead in our tracks' Emily explained.
'Oh. Well that's a new one on me but I'm not one of those? I mean search me if you have to but you'll find no such weapon on me?' the Doctor said and immediately he was pitched forward, his face hitting the rough ground.
Emily grabbed his arms while Wills applied a search of his pockets, after a moment he stood up.
'He's clean. So, not a futiliser then?' he said scratching his head.
Suddenly across the speaker of a nearby com-link came a vicious warbling, distorting everything into a deafening howl. As everyone gripped their ears, the Doctor climbed to his feet and hurried over to the speakers.
Pulling free the partially discarded headphones he started to listen.
Only then when the sound faded he became aware of how many rifles were aimed at him!

Two figures partly distant from the group stood there on a ridge overseeing the camp below them. They did not fear exposing themselves like this weapons fire, their vision cut through the darkness easily pin-pointing everyone in that trench.
'Estimated subject material compatible with our systems. Seventy-three percent' said the first figure.
'What of the remainder present?' asked the second.
'They are not required. They will be terminated' the first figure replied.
'There is one among them. Its bioscan does not register in the life form matrix' the second replied.
'Secondary cardio-vascular system, carbon-based biped, Caucasian male. Analysis complete. This being is unknown to us. It is not human and therefore a possible danger' the first reported.
'What action should be taken?' the second asked.
'Deploy a Spikter. We will learn everything about the unknown. These beings are not aware of our presence on this world' the first one replied.
'Understood' the second one said and raised a hand to a strange metal orb along its chest. Pulling it free, it was the size of a cricket ball and suddenly without notice the figure threw the 'ball' down into the trench.
That done, the two figures stalked off in different directions into the darkness.
The 'ball bounced once, twice before landing with a heavy thump in a pool of light. There it lay before there came a click and in the light it started to unfold.
As its transformation completed it sensed that its presence was in close detection, like a crab it scuttled quickly to the side, darting this way and that around the tent and into careful shadows.
It settled on the image of a man sitting at a communications console, twin red eyes glinted at this figure.
It understood its orders and started its recording. As the Doctor turned he raised his hands slowly in a gesture of good faith.
'Major, I'm not armed?' he said but the rifles remained.
'Get away from our COMS, trying to stop us receiving info. Is that how you futilisers act?' Wills demanded.
'On the contrary, how could I? It started when I was still on the ground. I was trying to triangulate its position?' the Doctor replied but Wills raised his gun.
'Move away from there, slowly!' he barked and slowly the Doctor rose, hands raised.

'You there, check the equipment over. Now you Doctor over there. I want answers from you and they better be good ones?' Wills ordered and slowly the Doctor stepped aside to allow the operator to check the machinery over.
'Very well Major, I am the Doctor, an off worlder and arrived here very recently and was saved from being seriously hurt by your ally Miss Durrant' the Doctor replied, his hands still raised.
'Is that the best you can come up with?' Wills demanded, clicking back the barrel but the Doctor was not perturbed by this.
'It's the truth Major, hard as close minds will accept it. I am no one's enemy. That interference affected you all but not me. It was triggered at the frequencies that all humans hear by' the Doctor replied.
'Then why weren't you affected?' Emily asked and the Doctor simply gave her a look of bemusement.
'Probably because I'm not of human origin or aside from external appearances I'm quite different from humans. Whoever triggered off that device obviously meant that it should affect humans only. Incapacitating the subjects for thirty seconds?' the Doctor replied.
Wills lowered his pistol and placed back in its holster.
'Fascinating, then you're a scientist?' he asked and the Doctor nodded.
'Of a sort and interested in helping you. I am not an enemy agent though, believe me, you've searched me for weapons and found nothing!' the Doctor replied.
'Very well, resume normal operations' Wills ordered and immediately the soldiers around him stood down, relaxing now.
'But Sir he stopped me from executing a sniper?' Emily said quickly.
'Is this true Doctor?' Wills asked, his hand moving to his holster.
'Yes it's true, not for Miss Durrant to murder him in cold blood rather than take prisoner. I'm sure he would stand in a proper trial then allow for Miss Durrant's trigger-happy enthusiasm?' the Doctor countered.
'Where is he then?' Wills asked.
'Probably still in the trench where we were, though I did restrain him, slightly?' the Doctor replied and immediately Emily hurried over looking down over the ridge.
'He's gone! He's not there anymore' she said.
'Only slightly? Great! He knows our position and now he's going to crawl out there and tell his friends!' Wills snapped loudly.

'Ah. Well don't blame me? A moment ago you were threatening me? Or will your paranoid ego suggest that I allowed for him to escape which is quite impossible since I was being interrogated by you people here' the Doctor said quickly.
'You do talk a lot, don't you?' Wills hissed angrily.
'Yes I do, only when I'm nervous. Though relax Major, I do believe that he will remain here, so just wait and then he'll come' the Doctor replied.
Wills fixed him with a vicious frown.
'Are you mad? He's gone and soon we'll all be taken out by rapid sniper fire!' Wills yelled.
'No, Major. You shouting like that will attract them. He has abandoned his post. His side will no longer acknowledge him. They'll kill him to stop him talking. He'll come back to us; he has no other choice' the Doctor said politely and calmly returning Wills' stare.
'He's right Sir, I'd hate to say it but that's what he'll do' Emily added.
'And if this area is free from STORE forces then no Snipers will be around either. Sound logic, never fails' the Doctor replied.
Wills sighed before turning and clicking his fingers.
'All right everyone, we have an escaped prisoner in this region. He is not armed but vital to the success of this mission. If you have visual wing him!' Wills barked and immediately six soldiers scattered in all directions.
'Sir, I've checked the Com thoroughly, there's nothing wrong with it. He hasn't affected it' the operator called.
'Now do you believe me Major?' the Doctor asked and slowly almost reluctantly Wills nodded.
'Yes Doctor I do but with a prisoner on the run, it isn't good for us' he retorted.
'What's our next stratagem?' Emily asked as she walked forward to him.
'We move on in three hours to the co-ordinates. Control-Command has received reports about loss of figures' Wills replied and quickly the Doctor raised a hand.
'Figures? Forgive me Major but are figures?' he asked.
'Casualties of war, all Gen. Reports of Store agents abducting still living casualties. Interrogating them!' Wills retorted grimly.
'Body-snatching and interference fields. Why does that feel so familiar to me?' the Doctor muttered out of earshot.
Behind him, at ground level something scuttled into the shadows. Red Eyes burning.

The former Sniper was crawling slowly through the darkness; not caring as the mud dragged itself over his dark clothes.
He stopped, freezing in mid crawl as he saw a torch-beam hover over the area before him before going away with its owner.
Hurriedly he crawled on; ridge over ridge until he breathed a sigh that he had shaken them. It was then that he caught sight of a figure standing in the darkness close by.
'What are you? Friend or foe?' he gasped with breath but the figure only looked at him. Analysing his form but then the man was up walking over to this silent figure.
'They're looking for me, hunting me! I have vital info on their position and strength. Can you hear me?' he asked but as the figure stepped into the light, the Man stared in horror.
The ghastly blank face stared back at him, he tried to say something but the figure gripped his arm. Bones cracked as the pressure increased, the man cried out pulling himself out of its grip.
He tumbled back over a ridge and kept rolling, his screams cut across the bleak landscape.
'What the hell was that?' Wills asked looking over his shoulder.
'Trouble, come on!' the Doctor cried and without warning he hurried off followed by Emily and Wills.
The man lay there in the dirt cradling his arm; he was breathing deep when the Doctor reached him.
'Easy old chap, no need to move?' he said and noted the man appeared to be in agony, his arm was the cause?
'Don't move! You try that again and you're dead!' Emily snapped levelling her gun at him.
'Creature! Creature!' the man moaned.
'He's delirious. It won't work!' Emily yelled.
'His arm's broken. Did you see what did this to you?' the Doctor asked and the man nodded.
'Creature! Evil thing, it did this to me!' he yelled.
'So what? He got it from the fall I bet' Emily snapped.
'No, the bone is broken, splintered as much as I can make out? Whatever did that was very strong, very determined and clearly not human!' the Doctor retorted.
'They come for us.... Silver devil, burning eyes!' the man babbled.
'Silver devil?' the Doctor found himself saying.

'Get him down to the camp and have him watched, Durrant!' Wills ordered and saluted, she returned the salute and hauled him to his feet and shoved him on.
'Be careful with him, I might have to ask him a few questions later?' the Doctor called.
'Get in line with everyone else Doctor, I have other questions I'd like to put to him myself?' Wills snapped but the noticed the Doctor staring into space.
'Tell me a few things, if you could Major. Firstly what is this planet's name?' the Doctor asked.
'Ovarge Four. Why what's the matter?' Wills asked.
'Tell me about these interference blocks, when they first occurred?' the Doctor asked.
***
Hel struggled into consciousness, her eyes hurt from the bright light shining down on her. She was no longer clothed but naked and metallic bands were stretched over her body.
She was trapped where she was and unable to move.
'Hey? What is this? What's going on here?' she called but was surprised to hear her voice echoing around the room.
As an eerie hum filled her ears she looked up to see a vast array of sharp blades and surgical instruments descend towards her.
'What's going on here? What is this? I order you to release me at once!' she yelled but instead the hum increased in pitch and volume filling her ears.
Finally there came two sets of footsteps towards her 'bed' and for a moment she felt relieved until the two figures stepped into the light.
'Begin the process' ordered the first 'creature' tall powerful machine-like and silver.
'What's going on here? What is this?' Hel cried and watched as one of the silver creatures crossed over to behind her frame.
Immediately the blades above her started to spin, Hel was panicking now, breathing quickly, her body sweating as the one figure remained.
Those burning red eyes fixed on her; it was then she could see other people strapped to similar frames either side of her.
The 'bed' suddenly rose from horizontal to vertical as the blades descended, she was screaming.
Powerful, silver creatures, humanoid burning red eyes staring back.
'God! Oh God! What are you?' she screamed.
'We are the future. You will be like us' replied the figure in a metallic rasp and with that the blades suddenly dropped, plummeted into her...

'Report your progress?' asked a tall, powerful man dressed in a long, dark army coat, despite it keeping him warm it wasn't cold around him in the shadows of the tent.
'We have captured and contained many live subjects, they are being altered now' came a metallic rasp across the air.
The man smiled, his face charming to behold glanced at the holo-dish in his left-gloved hand and at the green swirling image of his 'ally'.
'Excellent. You have done well. However your movements have attracted unwanted notice of the investigation units. They will report their findings if you continue to take live hosts' the man retorted.
'These beings are irrelevant. One outpost of viable subject has been contained, analysis remains unclear but we will take it. One subject will remain under our control and returned to their sections' came the reply.
'Analysis unclear? Please clarify your statement?' the man asked and immediately the reply came.
'The biological data within one of the life forms is alien to our recognition parameters' came the reply.
The man smiled, across his shoulder he bore the symbols of three stars- a general.
'One who is immune to your scanning, I find that hard to believe?' the General replied.
'Transferring visual data record from Spikter unit' came the reply and immediately the image changed to a man dressed in strange clothes but the face was all too familiar to him.
'Ah... him. Yes I know him. He will be trouble, he must be taken care of or else everything will be wasted. You must kill this man, he is an enemy to us both!' the General retorted and he looked away briefly.
'I must go now. We will discuss matters later' he said and closed the holo-disc and placed into the thick coat as a soldier approached him and saluted.
'Sir, all checks have been completed, we have located the source of transmissions within held territory, we await the order to strike?' the soldier replied but the General shook his head.
'No, cancel the order. I have.... I am sure that that matter will be taken care of? I am after all the WarGeneral. Carry out your orders!' he replied.
'Yes WarGeneral Phillips' the soldier replied, saluting before he marched off.
Phillips smiled, looking out towards the darkness.
'Too late Doctor, time for you has finally run out!' he murmured.

………………………………………Cold Warfare

Episode Two

The Doctor stood by a table, a lamp glowing down onto a map as Major Wills stood opposite him, pointing out the various positions marked with green icons.
'Green Star was stationed to enter this region, to cut across this large scattered minefield. We've made many attempts in our time between these two ridge but the area is full' Wills replied.
The Doctor scratched his chin as he reached out his hand to a black mass to the left of him on the edges of the map.
'What's this area? I notice that you have no icons anywhere near it?' he asked and Wills paused before answering.
'Off limits. They're the wreck yards. When we started to take this world there were battles above, most of the ships crashed in that region. We don't go near them' Wills replied.
'Any particular reason? Bad memories?' the Doctor hazarded but Wills' face was grim.
'Cracked, unexploded reactor drives. The area is flooded with gamma-five radiation. A death trap and the perfect cover these STORE agents use against us' Wills replied.
'Oh, sorry' the Doctor said and pointed to several red icons in a line.
'Are these sniper positions?' he asked and Wills nodded.
'They were but they have fallen since then. Beyond the minefield is a short ridge from there are three fortified bases and beyond those is the transmitter!' Wills replied and the Doctor nodded.
'Ah, so close but also so far away? And these radio interference fields started in which areas?' the Doctor asked.
'The blue icons, the first was one hundred and seventy metres to us to the North. The next appeared eight-six metres to the East, this one lasted for thirty-four days and the recent one, less than five hours ago happened twenty-five metres from here' Wills replied.
'Interesting. And how long did this recent one last for?' the Doctor asked.
'A minute, Durrant was the one to come into contact and now recently that blip on the speakers' Wills added.
'Yes, yes very interesting. I think it's time I spoke with that prisoner of yours? He could be quite helpful I imagine?' the Doctor said walking away from the table and out of the tent followed shortly after by Wills.

The Prisoner sat against the communications; he nursed his broken arm while Emily stood defiant before him, her pistol drawn.
'You can't do this to me! Gen, you have to give me medic attention. It's in the war constituent' the man cried but Emily just shook her head.
'You should have thought about that when you joined Store's ranks? You and your kind have killed too many of my friends, why shouldn't you feel some of my pain?' she snapped coldly.
'Probably because he needs the medication or else this wound will turn septic' the Doctor replied as he emerged from the tent.
'I wondered if you might turn up again Doctor? Had any more crazy theories?' Emily asked the Doctor knelt down by the side of the prisoner.
'I'm just as anxious as you Miss Durrant to discover what is the source of these problems? After all, all you have to do is get to that transmitter, the thing that crushed his arm is out there still' the Doctor replied.
The Prisoner stared the Doctor in the eye, vicious, cold bordering on something else?
'You think you've got a chance? You Gens are finished here! We'll stop you all!' the man snapped.
'Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that' Emily snapped but then there came a low cough.
'Excuse me Miss Durrant, if I may? Now then, perhaps you could help answer some questions?' the Doctor said but received nothing but an ugly spit in the face.
'As I said you'll get nothing from me!' the prisoner hissed but the Doctor simply wiped the mess from his face and continued.
'No, this is not about your war but tell me about this creature that you saw? The creature that did this to you?' the Doctor asked.
'You mean the silver devil? Burning eyes staring at me in that darkness, it broke my arm!' the Prisoner mumbled.
'Silver devil, you mentioned that before? This thing what did it look like?' he asked.
'Is this important? He's a STORE agent, probably got his brain hooked on their drugs, that's what makes them mad' Emily hissed but the Doctor shot her a look for silence.
'Please? Go on' the Doctor said and slowly the Prisoner started to talk.

There came a low rapping in the side of the tightly drawn tent and immediately the attention of the General was alerted.
Flicking through the various papers and maps. He dropped them on to desk and called: 'Come'
A young solder entered the tent and saluted the man sitting down at the collapsible desk; the lamp's light glowing brightly.
'Message from the front Sir' the soldier said passing a faded white scroll from her tunic. The General in turn returned the salute and rose from the table.
'Thank you. Have there been any further reports from units around the transmitter array?' the General asked.
'Negative General, parameter reports no external movement beyond sensor grid' replied the soldier politely.
'Excellent, inform all units to be on the constant look out enemy troops' the General ordered.
'Yes Sir' the Soldier replied and saluted.
'No what does the front have to say? This scroll bears the seal of Special Investigation...' the General replied as he opened the scroll up and looked hard at the writing before him, his eyes moving quickly across them.
'Ah. It seems that Gen agents have brought down a sniper outpost guarding the way. We will use this against them. They will come down the pass and we will be there to stop them!' the General replied.
'Yes Sir but forgive me Sir, shall I send a letter to his family?' she asked but cruelly the General shook his head.
'This is War, casualties are expected, he knew the risks when he signed, that will be all' he said and slowly the soldier saluted and left the tent.
The General looked down at the collection of paper that lay on the desk and at the map that appeared from beneath the reports.
Pulling it free, he scrutinised the map greatly and smiled.
'That's the way to London town. Across the ridge and down the slope and the plain. This is the way to London town! Doctor, you will fall and in such a way too!' Phillips replied and stabbed a gloved finger at a region.
'There you Doctor and there you will die, a common casualty, after all. War is hell!' Phillips added staring to the spot on the map.

'It was dark up there then this man or whatever it was suddenly there. I called out to it, tried to make it listen to me but then it just stepped out into the light...' the Prisoner replied.
'He's babbling, shock from the wound. Must have torn up his mind?' Wills muttered.
'I'm serious Gen scum!' the Prisoner hissed and spat a trail of white saliva at Wills catching his left army boot.
'Why you!' Wills cried but Emily restrained him.
'No Sir, let the Doctor to his work then, remember. It's our turn!' she whispered and immediately Wills stopped struggling and smiled.
'This figure. Can you try and describe it to me?' the Doctor asked.
'Course I can... it wasn't human. It was like a ghost!' the Prisoner snapped.
'Ghost my eye, he's crazy!' Emily hissed but the Doctor shook his head.
'No. No he isn't. In shock perhaps but he's not babbling' the Doctor retorted.
'The voice of experience no doubt?' Emily murmured sarcastically.
'As a matter of fact yes. I've met many madmen in my time, probably more than you've had drinks of water. Now this figure what did it look like?' the Doctor asked.
From under the edge of the tent there it scuttled, glancing across the large clearing, it estimated the probability of it being sighted was very high.
Glancing up to the side of the tent, it suddenly pounced some six foot into the air and grasped the edges of the tent.
Pulling itself up to the top of the tent, it focussed its red eyes on its target.
'Tall, strong and powerful. Silent and cold' the Prisoner began.
'Cold, icy cold when it touched your arm... When it broke your arm?' the Doctor asked.
'Yes. Burning eyes, red eyes burning into mine. Hate. What was it? Do you know?' the Prisoner asked, eyes staring wildly at the Doctor.
'I'm not sure but it could be one of many possibilities? Thank you Major Wills but leave him alone, I may have to talk with him again?' the Doctor said as he stood up.
'Doctor, where are you going?' Emily asked.
'For a walk, can I do that?' he asked looking quizzically.

'You go with him Durrant, watch him. He may know more then he's letting on, watching that performance back there that he gave' Wills muttered and Emily slowly nodded.
'Not to worry Sir, I've got my gun. If he tries anything I'll wing him and find out the answers we need!' she retorted carefully before walking towards the Doctor.
'I'll escort you Doctor, there are still active mines in this area' she said quickly.
'Really? As well as snipers and creatures stronger than humans who can crush a man's arm as though it were balsa wood. Let us not forget those either?' he said and gestured for her to go on but Emily just stood there looking confused.
'After you' he said but Emily drew her pistol from her holster.
'Oh no Doctor I've seen that trick too many times, you're walking first! Walk!' she ordered and the Doctor sighed before raising his hands and off they walked.
The moment they turned away from the camp Wills savagely kicked the Prisoner in the chest, knocking the wind out of him before pulling him to his feet.
Before the Prisoner knew what was happening, he was suddenly punched savagely in the chest, again and again and then slowly the blows travelled upwards.
'You'll tell me everything I need to know! Their security codes, their infantry numbers. Everything I need to take the transmitter!' Wills hissed and threw the Prisoner to the grey, dry ground.
'Genesis scum! I'll never talk!' the Prisoner spat, blood trickling from the corner of his lips but then Wills raised his boot and pressed it down onto the man's arm and immediately the man screamed.
'Think you can last long? Pain will get to you or did they burn out such a concept? Well permit me to introduce you to the concept of pain!' Wills spat and he shuffled his boot deeper across the man's arm.
'Talk! You know you have to? If not I can make it much worse for you and see these people about me? They lost family and friends to you and your kind- I could take off the leash, watch them tear you apart! No tell me!' Wills hissed and spat onto the man's face.
'No, no I won't!' cried the man through gritted teeth as the pain lanced viciously through his body!
'Talk!' barked Wills, his eyes burning as he stared down the crying dog by his feet.
'Sergeant, get the platoon? Let the Dogs have their rabbit!' Wills hissed.

'I thought this was supposed to be a casual stroll, not a prisoner escort. What do you think I'm going to do to you?' the Doctor replied as he quickened his pace.
'Don't move! You will slow down Doctor or I will shoot you, mark my words!' Emily retorted.
'Oh I'm sure you will Miss Durrant, sorry Group leader Durrant of Green Star. But you are forgetting something. I am not part of your team and I'm no traitor or indeed the enemy' he replied and made a move to lower his hands but Emily clicked the gun once more.
'You know this is get tiresome. How long before you realise that I am no harm to you, that I couldn't inflict harm on you even if I wanted to, which I cannot?' the Doctor replied.
'Just keep walking Doctor. You are an unwanted element in this. You claim not to be in league with STORE agents yet you defend one? You claim to know our chairman yet you know the futility of war? That spell trouble in my book!' Emily snapped.
They had reached the edge of a ridge, behind them light poured out onto the little outpost while the wind's howls were blotted out by the distant screams of agony.
'Trouble? You think that I'm trouble aimed squarely at your contingent? Merely because I follow my beliefs? The Major mentioned something about brainwashing? It's what all corporations do to the populace of ant country or planet! Genesis has corrupted your mind just as much as that Prisoner of yours!' the Doctor retorted.
Emily raised her pistol, flicking on the laser sightings until a red dot flickered over the back of the Doctor's head.
'Only a traitor would say such things about something he does not readily know? I'm going to give you five seconds to retract those words or I shoot you down for treason!' she yelled.
The Doctor simply turned around, facing her, looking her in the eye.
'You might as well get on with it then because what I have said is the truth! War means suffering and death and people are the corporations' instruments! Genesis is nothing more than a re-vamp of an old idea. Apocalypse Incorporated, they made weapons, horrible weapons, polluting worlds, killing thousands of innocents and then- they re-modelled themselves into Genesis- terraforming the future: All of it a pack of lies!' the Doctor retorted.
Emily stared coldly at him, pressing free the safety.
'One last chance Doctor!' she warned.

The Prisoner coughed up blood as he crashed forward to the ground but no sooner had he landed then a strong pair of hands pulled him free from its embrace and back up to face his captors.
'Enough. He will talk! He has to or else it will just get worse for him! Now tell us everything!' Wills snapped towards the Prisoner.
The Prisoner coughed, gagging something before spurting a mixture of blood and dirt across the front of Wills' uniform, whether it was intentional or not was besides the point.
Wills roughly and viciously kicked him in the chest and the Prisoner toppled to the ground.
'Sir, perhaps we should...?' one of the soldiers started to say but he received only an angry look from his commander.
'Get him up off the ground, get a syringe of morphine and plug him with it. The injuries we'll give him will be so severe that the pain will drive the truth to his lips!' Wills snapped.
Unable to argue with him, the other soldiers pulled the coughing man to his weak battered legs. Holding him there, they gripped his broken arm that hung viciously distorted.
'This is your last chance STORE scum, tell us now and you'll live out the war in a cell rotting away before your trial and eventual execution! Now speak!' Wills yelled to his face, which was cut and bloodied coated in dirt, his eyes spun in their sockets.
'Sir, I think we've damaged his teeth? It might be hard for him to talk?' the soldier said again.
'Then he'll have to speak to stop us from hurting him further. Don't get cold feet yet lads, this pile of filth is holding all the keys. We want to go home don't we?' Wills asked looking around his colleagues to see them nodding.
'This thing has killed too many of our folks and he's not going to get away with it! Now tell us, you worm! Tell us!' Wills yelled but the Prisoner's head swung drunkenly back and forth.
The hidden observer noted a humanoid approaching carrying a tool containing an unknown chemical.
These humanoids were compatible with all systems. It glanced around them all and transmitted the signal for recovery.

'What's the matter Miss Emily? Are you going to shoot me or not? I have spoken treason against a conglomerate, who has stolen away, who you are. Look into yourself and see that you're not truly like this?' the Doctor tried but instead Emily smirked.
'You're not just a fool you're crazy as well! Genesis is the way forward and STORE scum get in the way of progress. Will you retract your words Doctor or do I have to keep shooting you until you comply?' Emily retorted fiercely.
The Doctor shrugged but did nothing else, it wasn't his answer.
'What will happen when this corporate war is over and you have won? What will you do?' the Doctor asked.
'Shut up!' Emily spat but the Doctor continued.
'Will you remain in the forces serving your beloved corporation while there is no one to fight or will Genesis declare war on some other business and force them into another war? War for all its negativity is the best commercial place to gain wealth out of human suffering! Will you become nothing more than a puppet or will you look me in the eye and tell me that this isn't you but a heartless corporation lackey?' the Doctor tried.
Emily smiled weakly before it fell away, her finger pressed tightly on the trigger but then she stopped and nodded.
'I can see what you're trying to do? You're trying to break my pledge to Genesis to join your futiiser quest! But it won't wash with me!' Emily snapped bringing her gun to bear.
'Then tell me this, before you shoot me: Where did you grow up?' he suddenly said confusing Emily.
'What?' she spat and the Doctor smiled.
'Where were you brought up? You see if I'm not much mistaken your name Durrant has always served in the military and in science on the colony world of Arzen. Am I right?' the Doctor asked and slowly Emily nodded.
'How did you know that?' she demanded.
'I've been there many times, the serpent grass grows thick, the Blande trees rock slowly in the wind while golden rays of sun warm the golden seas' the Doctor replied noting the look across Emily's face.
'It's a very nice world, a nice home to live in. I've met Admiral and Brigadier Durrants and they all come from that world, this isn't like you follow a corporation blindly?' the Doctor breathed.
The General emerged from his tent breathing deep the cool night air and immediately became set upon a series of soldiers saluting him.
Returning their salutes he marched past them and onwards towards the vast conical structure of the transmitter.
Along either side of the building there stood two armed guards covered in the toughest body armour and wearing gas-masks.
As soon as he approached the door they both stood to attention, he smiled grimly feeling both enthralled but also annoyed by this constant charade of honour.
Pushing open the door he stepped inside into a well-lit control centre, admiring the many consoles on display to him and immediately he was set upon by another.
Here stood a woman dressed in a white smock of a scientist, her dark hair was tied back with a single red bow.
'Good evening WarGeneral' she said in a clean, precise voice and immediately he bowed.
'Good evening Director Vorden, I trust all is well?' he asked politely.
'Everything is working perfectly, thank you General as long as you can keep these Gens from the tower it will continue to function properly' Vorden replied.
'Excellent. I have received word that another noble supporter has met with a tragic accident created by them. We will be perhaps expecting visitors? A warning to you Director' he said and she bowed.
'Thank you General. I trust though that you will be able to prevent them?' Voden asked.
'Be assured as you are beautiful that we will triumph, that these fools that dare challenge STORE's authority will be punished' Phillips replied.
'I feel better, hearing it from you WarGeneral. I have faith now that we will succeed. However across the range of sensors we have here I detected a strange energy fluctuation lasting for up to thirty seconds?' Vorden replied and Phillips noticeably looked worried before shrugging it off.
'It is I believe a weapon that Genesis has been toying with, as you have seen it is not very effective. Nothing for you to concern yourself with Director?' Phillips replied and smiled.
'Good for a moment or so I had believed it be coming from the Wreckyards? I was considering dispatching a drone to investigate?' Vorden added.
'No need Director, the problem is being sorted out as we speak!' Phillips purred, his eyes forever changing colour in the warm glow of the room.

The gun in Emily's grasp shook gently as the Doctor stepped towards her, his eyes still fixed on hers.
'You don't have to kill me if you don't want to, you could- say knock me to ground or shout at me? I'm trying to go so fast that your conditioning will take over, just being ever so relaxing towards you?' the Doctor replied.
'What do you know of Arzen? And the world I left behind? Trying to get under my skin. Trying to find a weak point in my psychological structure so you can strike? Well it won't wash with me!' Emily snapped but the Doctor seemed unconcerned by her outburst.
'You've used that phrase a lot, you know. Can it be something you picked up from home? Home life before Genesis burrowed its roots into your brain. Think clearer and deeper onto something important to you, something that they have not managed to purge from your mind?' the Doctor tried and saw the gun waver violently in her hand.
This was more dangerous, he realised, trying to stop her from shooting him and the conditioning could just as viciously force her to do it and at such a range could mean certain death to him. No regenerations could repair the damage made to him!
'I remember life at the ranch, life walking through the fields of barley and corn. No, I remember what they said about telepaths trying to get inside my head? Is that you? Is that why you're making my head hurt?' she replied weakly.
'Not at all Miss Emily, that's your own brain attempting to free itself from the confines of Genesis conditioning. Fight it! Fight that barrier and free yourself, war makes dark characters of us all but there's no reason to become exactly that?' the Doctor cried.
Finally the gun fell from Emily's hand to fall onto the hard ground as she gripped her head tightly, her face creased with anger as she tried to fight the feel of irritation.
'My head! My head, it hurts so much!' she cried weakly and almost fell to the ground had the Doctor not caught her in time.
'Easy there, easy. Now close your eyes and sleep' he said soothingly but a second later there came a vast explosion from close by.
'What a way to get a wake up call!' the Doctor breathed as he glanced down the ridge to spy great flames dancing around the perimeter of the camp!

'What's going on?' Wills roared as he glanced away from the Prisoner towards the edges of the camp where fire had now appeared, sprouting like grass through the soil, flames that grew from the tents.
'Don't just stand there you fools! Get something to put those flames out!' Wills snapped and immediately the soldiers broke formation and started to stamp out the fire with their foots, pulling their jackets free and swatting at the flames.
'Stop that you fools! It's STORE attacking. Get your guns ready!' Wills bawled and immediately the soldiers left the barrier of the fire and picked free their rifles.
Desperately Wills plucked free his gun from its holster and levelled it towards the flames.
Suddenly from the mass of flames there walked figures, shining silver figures. Not the mask wearing body armour clad soldiers they had expected.
'Everybody fire!' Wills yelled and immediately a hail of bullets echoed across the outpost but the figures advanced relentlessly towards the soldiers.
Neither the bullets nor indeed were the flames surrounding them seemed to be stopping them? Instead one of them raised its powerful metal arm and blue spark shot from its tip towards the nearest soldier.
He crumpled hard to the ground and as Wills turned at the sound of deep footsteps, metallic rasps behind him he could see further figures stepping out of the shadows.
'In God's name! What are you freaks?' Wills yelled as he pressed the trigger but the bullets rebounded off the nearest creature's silver form.
It stared down at him, its red eyes seemed to burn as it ran an analysis scan on him but Wills quickly reacted and raised a hand but the creature effortlessly crushed Wills' gun and hand forcing him to the ground, screaming.
As his body fell with the others, the silver creatures observed the bodies for a moment.
'All humanoids will be used. Take them to control for alteration' ordered the leader.
'Understood' echoed the others, who picked free the fallen bodies and carried them off into the shadows.
'Leader, one humanoid subject detected. Its injuries are extreme. Predicted life span will cease within five minutes' replied one of them.
'It is unimportant to our cause. Terminate it' ordered the leader and the Prisoner could only pant as the towering creature released it from its torture!

The Doctor glanced down, squinting through the darkness to spy fire spreading; all ready it had claimed many of the tents. Soon it would burn itself out of fuel but distant forms passing out of the inferno filled him with relief however as he looked closer, the figures were not hurrying. They were walking calmly, devoid of any signs of panic?
'Well, well they finally show their true colours' the Doctor breathed as he crouched over the ridge.
Behind him, lying on the rough hard ground, Emily's eyelids fluttered open. On the sound of further explosions, she sat up quickly and silently and with one glance she saw the Doctor crouching away from her.
'What's going on here? What's up?' she asked no longer in a tough, cold tone.
'You're awake are you? I apologise for pre-awakening you? Right now your headache must be great? I'd offer you an aspirin but I never carry any' the Doctor replied not looking at her but at the figures as they turned away into the shadows.
'That's all right. What's been going on? Those explosions?' Emily asked.
'They're from your base camp I believe? Something has just raided it' the Doctor replied and quickly Emily crawled to the edge looking down.
'Are you sure it wasn't STORE agents?' she asked and the Doctor shook his head.
'No, it's not them but something else. I've just seen them go off and they were human, even from this distance you can tell. Anyone seeing a fire, panics and runs. These people I saw walked away casually and calmly as though the fire wasn't there?' the Doctor replied.
'You saw them? Then we should get after them! Stop them!' Emily retorted started to crawl over the edge but the Doctor stopped her.
'And what will exposing yourself do? Whatever went out of that camp is still around, I have a feeling in my hearts!' the Doctor replied.
'Hearts? You're not human then?' she asked and he nodded.
'I told you I was an off worlder. We'll go down there in a moment or so, when the light is at its brightest. If they track by thermal then it will be harder to identify us' the Doctor replied.
'Them?' Emily asked and the Doctor nodded.
'Yes, best if you bring your gun. We should prepare ourselves for anything' the Doctor added as he glanced at the fire.

As the flames licked higher, this gave the signal towards the Doctor, who started down the slope quickly.
Hunching down as he went he reached the bottom of a trench and glanced up to Emily, who came after him.
'Flatten yourself against the slope, we don't want them picking us up as a random image' the Doctor called and immediately Emily dropped down.
'Sorry. Didn't know we were being watched?' she said as she joined him.
'We might not be but it pays to be cautious. Come on!' he said, still hunched over as he hurried down another ridge to the ground level with the camp, turning around he gestured for her to hurry down.
Pushing a mixture of dirt and stones from her boots down the slope she joined him.
Walking upright, the Doctor approaches the outskirts of the camp and immediately crouched down examining something. Footprints, large and powerful pressed deep into the ground.
'Found anything?' Emily asked as she arrived, gun in hand.
'A few things, be careful though? There might still be trouble around so stay inside the ring of flames. It will shield you from their monitoring' the Doctor replied as he felt the footprint.
Emily nodded, wondering who or what could have done this? Why was this Doctor obscuring the facts from her?
Looking about her, feeling the hot, vicious heat against her face. She glanced around trying not to faint from the heat wash around her but it became all too apparent. There was no one remaining!
'Doctor? My platoon, they've gone!' she cried and the Doctor simply nodded, almost callously.
'I know. They came for them, the same force that has been collecting your dead has now acquired a taste for living prey' the Doctor replied and then raised a hand to his nose and sniffed.
'Cobalt emissions, the result of be spiked. It was them then!' the Doctor said in a grim tone.
'Doctor, over here I found someone?' Emily called and immediately the Doctor hurried over to her. She stood over the now bloodied and battered body of the prisoner, who head lay at an unnatural angle.
'Too extensive, these injuries. No doubt the work of trigger-happy Wills, too badly hurt for use. They killed him' the Doctor replied gravely.
'Yes but who?' Emily asked.

The huge silver, curved door slid open in the side of the ruined craft. Its size and shape were greatly uncharacteristic of conventional human ships, too dark and streamlined with a very cold feeling.
Into the 'hull' stepped a series of silver figures, each carrying a person; one powerful arm locked around the waist while the figure unconcerned about the weight still walked upright.
Before them was a vast chamber containing over a hundred frames and selecting the nearest vacant ones the creatures dumped their 'cargo' into these frames. Immediately the tight metallic bands locked tightly and figures stepped to the side awaiting further orders.
A creature came forward carrying the unconscious figure of Wills and noting all frames were full it waited patiently. Noting this another creature approached it.
'Bas-relief seventy-one will be complete within two minutes. You will proceed there and await completion of alteration process' ordered the newcomer.
'Understood Leader' replied the silver creature and suddenly it walked off towards a distant looking bas-relief.
It was different somehow, like a some great silver sarcophagus but the creature halted awaiting its use.
'Leader. We have received confirmation from Spikter survey unit. The human military post has been invaded. Two humanoid life signs detected' reported another silver creature from the side of a console that covered quarter of the room, here other creatures were observing and activating processes.
'Report conversion scan from Spikter unit?' the leader replied.
'Reading indicate one human, Caucasian female. Bioscan reveals compatibility. Other life sign does not register as compatible. Readings irregulars' reported the other creature.
'Order the spikter to continue monitoring, this life form is known to us. We should know its strengths and weaknesses before we contain it' the leader replied.
Wills' eyes fluttered open as he could hear screams racking his ears, an eerie hum, no many hums of machinery and as the machine finished, a new silver creature stepped free.
'Bas-relief seventy-one clear' 'his' captor replied and all of a sudden he was thrust hard against the frame, metal bands clicking over his form.
'What?' he managed but that was all as he stared in horror at the scene before him and then he knew no more. As a human that is.

Phillips smiled as he glanced around the chamber; he had a feeling that things were improving. He had slipped into a mental wander, allowing an aspect of his mind to investigate the Doctor's predicament further. He was alone now and easy pickings for his allies!
Almost by fate's touch, the control disc in his pockets started to warble and quickly he snatched it free.
'Report your progress?' he ordered and immediately a holographic simulation of the leader's face appeared before him.
'The human offensive has fallen. They are now being altered' it said in its metallic rasp.
'Good, no trouble?' Phillips asked but the answer was as much irrelevant as was the question.
'What of the unknown life form?' Phillips asked knowing perfectly well what it was going to say.
'We have detected its bioscan within the remains of the human base. It was not present when we contained the others for alteration' replied the leader.
'You are an idiot leader, that man is as much a danger to you so far away as he is close up. He'll work it out and when he does he'll know what to do, how to act against you!' Phillips retorted angrily.
'This life form will be stopped. Our race will survive. We are superior to them. We will survive' the leader replied but Phillips merely smirked.
'Do you forget yourself leader? Your race is dead and is dying out fast. This is your chance to seize control of this world. Instead you consider this man to be just a man, if you held emotion you would be frightened of his very name: Doctor!' Phillips snapped.
'The life form 'Doctor' is recorded in our history files. He is a known factor against our cause' the leader replied in its emotionless rasp.
'Now you know what you're dealing with, deal with him I cannot allow him to stop this conflict. I won't allow him!' Phillips snapped.
With that Phillips pressed the control and the image faded away, stuffing the disc back into his pocket he crossed to the communications desk and pressed the control.
'Now hear this, this is WarGeneral Phillips to all units. The Genesis faction has fallen in the captured the sector but a dangerous double-agent remains. I am ordering sections one to six to recover this man and return him to this station for interrogation. That is all' Phillips replied and switched the machine off.

'You know what did this didn't you? Then why do you hide it from me?' Emily demanded but the Doctor looked sheepish.
'I'm not sure if it is them, that's why? There are a few races that uses use technology like this, who might act like this- Purge, Wirrin among them' the Doctor replied.
Behind him something scuttled across the gravel and quickly the Doctor turned to see but nothing remained.
'Did you hear that?' he said and knelt down examining the area before him.
'I heard nothing. But looking at this place now, would STORE agents really do this? No they wouldn't so tell me Doctor what did this?' Emily asked.
'You have an inquisitive mind Miss Emily? Good but for the moment I can be only brief as to my suspicions. Tall and powerful, strong against all conventional weapons, ruthless, emotionless creatures' the Doctor replied.
The Spikter glanced up at the Doctor from its hiding place and then looked to the female. Direct action would have to be taken if it was to discover what this being was.
Beneath its belly there now slid free twin gleaming spikes, quickly it hurried silently away into the shadows.
'Please Doctor? I need to know what took away my... colleagues. What has been taking ove... ' she stopped feeling something hit her back.
'Are you all right?' the Doctor asked still rooting about in the shadows.
On Emily's back the Spikter crawled, its sensors focussing on the clean, exposed piece of flesh of her neck.
'I'm fine Doctor just....Aaarrgghhh!' she suddenly screamed as the Spikter leapt upon her neck, the spikes started to cut the through the flesh!
The Doctor turned, spying the culprit, it looked like some sort of spider on her neck but then noticed metal gleams. Grabbing old of it he tugged hard on it but its legs rolled around Emily's neck.
He tugged harder and harder, knowing that it had to come free. It had to. The creature warbled as it came free and with a great throw he chucked it to the ground.
But the moment it landed, it reared up at him, scuttling about like a crab, red eyes burning!

As Emily collapsed to her knees, the Doctor froze; his eyes fixed on those of the metallic spider in his midst.
Then slowly strafing this way and that the creature followed his movements.
'So you're the reason they came here. Something your Masters dropped off did they?' the Doctor breathed when suddenly the creature sprang forth, a jump of about four feet into the air, such was it such a surprise, the Doctor fell back and hurriedly the thing advanced.
'A bit of help please? Miss Emily?' the Doctor cried as with another pounce it landed on his chest, burning eyes fixed on his.
'Miss Emily?' he cried but Emily was still grasping at her neck, feeling the scythe-like pain present from the wounds.
As the sharp legs advanced further, the Doctor grappled with its body but the creature's determination pushed it on.
Emily finally clearing her eyes glanced over to see something... something definitely not right. A metal spider on the Doctor's chest.
'Hold still' she replied but the Doctor was shaking this way and that.
'I'm afraid that would be out of the question? If I stop it will I imagine kill me?' the Doctor cried.
Raising her pistol, she steadied her aim and fired, bullets shot through the air cutting at the creature.
Finally a bullet impacted with one of its 'eyes and there the damage was done, it warbled and fell over, giving the Doctor time to back away but instead he picked up the creature.
'Are you mad? That thing tried to kill me!' Emily cried.
'Yes but what was it doing here? This creature was sent by them. Obviously on some kind of investigation task... hello there?' the Doctor replied.
'What is it?' Emily asked and the Doctor pointed to the holes present in the shell, through the twisted holes present there seemed to be a mass of wires and some sort of fluid but closer still Emily could make out what looked like feathers...

'Leader. Signals from the spikter have ceased' reported the first creature and immediately the leader strode over to the communications section.
'This being known as Doctor has incapacitated its function. He is dangerous and hostile. Continue full alteration of all units' the leader ordered.
'Understood' replied the first creature.
The leader turned towards the communications screen.
'Activate the screen' the leader ordered.
'Understood leader' replied the nearest technician and the screen flickered into action as the face of the man half in shadow from a lamp by his side replied.
'Yes, what progress have you made now?' Phillips asked.
'We require more information about humanoid positions. We need more conversion subjects' replied the leader and Phillips smiled.
'You are nothing more than a spoilt child, leader. I have given you many sector co-ordinates and yet you want more? You will have to wait then. As for this Doctor, you will recall your troops from the field. I will deal with the Doctor' Phillips retorted.
'You will surrender the Doctor to us and the humans stationed with you' the leader ordered.
'You are definitely getting above your position. What will you do if I refuse, march right in here and take them off me? Try to convert me? No! You will wait unless of course you want me to signal the Human fleet. They can destroy you from orbit, if I so wish!' Phillips countered.
'This is my War not yours, my game and I roll the dice. You do not. You will wait until I give you confirmation to attack. You will have this base and the Doctor but only when I am finished!' Phillips snapped and immediately the screen fizzled away to static.
'Continue alteration process. Order all scouts to advance further but remain concealed. They will not act yet. Anyone they locate will be returned here for full alteration' the leader replied.
'Understood leader' replied the other creatures in unison while behind them hideous screams of strangled agony became drowned out by the eerie hum of the alteration process.
The leader surveyed these weak creatures. Soon they would be superior like him, like the others. They were the future. It was certain of this.

'It's a bird. That thing was a bird?' Emily breathed.
'I imagine that here on Ovarge Four, a colony world there are crows and other carrion feeders about? This was simply adapted but it remains the same. Scavengers!' the Doctor said grimly.
'But why? What is this thing?' Emily asked and the Doctor continued to poked about inside before there came a hiss and the creature split apart.
'This is a second generation Cybermat, look here I was right' the Doctor replied gesturing to a grey looking creature sitting in a nest of cables, a once moving beak now grey like its body was smothered in wires, disappearing into the skin.
Emily felt sick by the sight of and sensing this the Doctor closed the shell.
'A cybermat? What's that?' she asked trying keep the bile down in her stomach.
'A creature augmented with cybernetics, a computer subverting instinct into blind obedience. And these spikes suggest direct brain control' the Doctor replied pointing to the points below its belly.
'You mean it was trying to drill into my brain?' Emily asked looking suitably horrified.
'No, I imagine it was trying to hijack the nerves to your brain via the spinal cord. If it had succeeded your mind would be a book to them, capable of downloading anything! They have come along way!' the Doctor hissed with anger.
'What did this Doctor?' Emily cried impatiently and turned to look at her.
'Cybermen. This world is at war, the perfect cover. After all who is going to miss a few hundred casualties?' the Doctor replied coldly.
The word hit Emily like a sharp knife into her heart; she remembered that name, ancient history.
'Cybermen but they're dead aren't they?' she asked.
'You've heard of them? No they're not dead. They made this and others like it and they are here on this world, somewhere!' the Doctor replied.
Suddenly a shot rang out and as they looked around, through the remains of the dying out flames black clad soldiers appeared, rifles bearing down on them!
'Halt! You are our prisoners, you will comply with our orders or you will be shot!' barked the leader.
'Oh no. I take these are STORE agents?' the Doctor muttered but as the Leader caught sight of the battered body and the uniform he rounded on the Doctor.
'You genesis scum!' he roared and raised his rifle, the laser sight pointing at the Doctor's head!

Cold Warfare

Episode Three


'Now look here, I had nothing to do with that man's death' the Doctor replied.
'It's true. He's telling you the truth!' Emily added but she received nothing more than a cold stare from the leader.
'Shut up Gen! Your word's as good as a dogs!' he spat viciously from behind the gas-mask.
'But dogs can speak, well the ones I've met can speak but I believe you were talking about conventional ones?' The Doctor asked when suddenly he clubbed to the ground.
'Prisoners of war will remain silent unless answering direct questions supervised by the WarGeneral!' the leader bellowed.
The Doctor rubbed the side of his head, the pain he felt still throbbed across the skin.
'Oh I see? Your word is the law I take it?' the Doctor muttered but received a savage kick to the ribs.
'I said silence! You will obey my orders Genesis scum! You have tortured and killed a noble crusader against your force. That will go on your record. When we have ascertained the truth, you will be shot. To determine the truth, you better have loose lips or else see that body. That will be normality compared to what you will be like. Do I make myself clear?' the leader yelled.
'Perfectly' the Doctor coughed as he slowly climbed to his feet.
Emily became surrounded by soldiers, forced to drop her gun she raised her hands slowly.
'You will keep within the escort section. Failure to comply with orders will mean immediate discipline and punishment will be given. Do you understand?' the leader bawled.
'Again, I do, perfectly' the Doctor coughed and a second later he was shoved forward into a block next to Emily.
The leader glanced about him, looking at the remaining pieces of technology unaffected. Raising his rifle he fired a few clips and the radio exploded.
'Prisoner escort, attention! Quick March' he yelled and immediately the black clad guard forced them on into the darkness beyond.
The remains of the cybermat/ spikter lay there amidst the burning ash. The wind toppled it over once and there it lay, silent.

'Are you all right Doctor?' Emily whispered and saw the Doctor managing a weak nod as the soldiers forced them along the ground. Though they were being forced along, the ground beneath them was dark and they tripped or stumbled as they were marched steadily unable to rest or recuperate.
'I'm just a little battered but I'll mend' the Doctor replied as he scanned the horizon about him.
'Looking for something Doctor? Cybermen?' she whispered but he shook his head.
'No, they won't attack yet but they might still be around?' the Doctor replied but unfortunately he was heard and knocked savagely to the ground by a soldier.
As the Doctor crashed to the hard ground, he felt more pain enter his head, something trickled down the side of his head.
'Get up you or I'll shoot you where you lie!' bellowed the soldier, clicking off the safety-catch, aiming the gun at the Doctor he moved the aim to an inch away and fired.
'Get up genesis scum!' roared the soldier and the Doctor slowly, weakly climbed to his knees but then again he received another hefty club.
'And that is for talking, now get up and move!' yelled the leader and reluctantly the Doctor climbed to weak feet and carried on.
Emily, spying this tried to help him but she received a hard slap across her face.
'You'll get another if you try to help him!' the leader hissed and spat in her face before pushing her on.
The Doctor glanced down at his hands, bloodied with cuts, his body wracked with many bruises as he carried on weak, tired feet.
He looked onward through a blurred vision knowing all too well that when they arrived at wherever that was, the real interrogation would begin and these lackeys were doing nothing to him.
They were victims of the Corporations, he coughed hard tasting blood on his lips but still they advanced further across the bleak no man's land.
From behind them up a high ridge there stood a single silver figure looking down on the procession. Its conversion net analysed each of the beings in turn. Noting the unknown readings it transmitted the details back to the ship.
It received its instruction to remain where it was. The time would soon come.

'Prisoner escort wishes entry into Transmitter compound' replied the leader as he strode to the front of vast metal gates, from around these stood seven foot high metal fencing surrounded by a low trench.
'I require authorisation codes to permit you entry into this compound' came a buzzing reply across a speaker mounted in the wall of the gate.
The leader merely typed in a sequence on a control pad beneath the speaker, a light glowed and the speaker replied.
'Authorisation codes confirmed, you have entry' and with that the huge gates slid back to reveal to the eyes of Emily and the Doctor a vast white conical building.
Within the compound there sat many military canvas tents while a few solid buildings surrounded the transmitter tower.
Stepping into the compound, the soldiers immediately parted, they walked off towards a larger tent and immediately another group appeared by their sides.
'Prisoner escort attention. You will be taken to interrogation room one, there you will await central interrogation and torture supervised by the WarGeneral. Do you understand?' the new leader asked.
'Yes, I believe we both do, though torture won't be necessary, we'll both speak freely' the Doctor replied.
'We shall see. You will tell us everything, when we are satisfied with what you have told us, any wounds you have sustained will be bandaged and you will remain your allotted cells' retorted the leader.
Turning back towards the compound he carried on.
'Quick march!' he ordered and immediately they were forced once more but at a gentler pace and as they walked into a smaller, white blockhouse.
High above them on the balcony of the transmitter cone there stood Phillips watching them.
'Interesting that, quite unlike who I had expected. Oh well time to put in an appearance Doctor or sometime perhaps?' He said and glanced around at the rest of the compound.
'Ah. Soon I shall re-write this canvas before me? How about an hour? Yes, the last hour before the end. Then cry havoc!' Phillips purred and then he quickly returned back into the tower.

The Doctor finally sat in a chair. His aching body slumped forward briefly as he took in a slight breath then suddenly a bright light shone in his face, intense catching at his swollen eyes.
Raising a hand to shelter his eyes he could make out a figure sitting behind the lamp at a desk.
'You are a prisoner of the STORE system. You were captured within enemy held territory in the company of a Genesis agent. A severely wounded prisoner was located in your proximity. How do you plead to the charges?' a cold toned middle-aged man with greasy black hair asked.
'Charges? How long am I going to have to play Piggy in the middle? I am innocent against all evidence on display. That is only considered by your sadistic lackeys' the Doctor replied.
'How do you plead the charges, guilty or innocent?' retorted the officer.
The Doctor sighed as he squinted towards the light and shrugged, rubbing at the many bruises across his body.
'I plead innocent. I have nothing to worry about except for these injuries' the Doctor replied wearily.
'Your wounds will be taken care of after interrogation. We will begin: Your full name for the record is required' the officer ordered, flicking the top of his pen he waited.
'I am the Doctor' he said but the Officer shook his head, clicking his fingers two soldiers appeared by either side of the Doctor.
'Titles and professions are of secondary importance, persuasion may be required if your are reluctant to divulge the answers! Your name and planet of origin' the Officer snapped.
'John Smith, Gallifrey. Is that all right?' the Doctor replied.
'Perfectly. However if you are lying, you will suffer. We will continue. Into what service are you employed?' the Officer asked.
'None' the Doctor said but with a click of the man's fingers the Doctor received a massive punch to the chest.
'I warned you. You tell us which service corporation you serve. Since you are a double agent. You will tell us everything you know, your secrets, contacts names, everything or the punishment will continue!' the Officer said quickly and coldly.
'I am telling you the truth! I am an off worlder and serve no one!' the Doctor replied but again the Officer clicked his fingers...

'Name?' asked a tall, attractive woman with bleach-blonde hair dressed in a tall black plastic uniform.
'Emily Durrant' she said as she sat within a sturdy metal chair, bands closed around her wrists.
'Your official position with the Genesis Incorporated Military Task force?' the captor snapped, her dark eyes falling over Emily shivering form.
'Group leader, Green Star Squad' she replied and as finished, the woman crossed over to dial on the wall. The thermostat and immediately a jet of hot air flew at her face making Emily flinch.
'Explain your purpose as to why you were present within the Genesis camp?' ordered the interrogator.
'My team, my team was taken out by a sniper. I requested reinforcements to complete my mission. I presumed they were them but they were re-called to investigate the number of missing casualties' Emily replied and the woman smiled.
'Explain the position of your fellow prisoner? Were you a contact of his? Did you know he was a double agent?' the woman spat but Emily did her best to answer but the woman turned on the thermostat quickly.
'Look, the Doctor is a scientist and that's all I know. He's a medic lost from his team' she replied but flinched greatly as the hot air cut into her.
'I'm telling you the truth!' she yelled as sweat gleamed across her face and exposed hands and for a terrible moment the woman picked up a glass of sparkling water and took a sip and then threw the remains to the floor.
'I am. Why won't you listen to me?' Emily cried but instead the woman turned on the dial and crossed over to the door, pulling it open she came across a tall, dark, greasy haired man in a similar dark uniform.
'She still claims that her accomplice is nothing more than a medic suffering, probably from shell shock?' the woman said.
'Whereas he believes himself to be an off worlder. Interesting use of covers. One of them must be lying to us. We will find out which one. It is our duty' replied the cold voiced man.
The woman saluted him and re-entered the interrogation room to see Emily almost slumped in her chair. Reaching out to the dial, she turned it off.
Crossing over to Emily, she suddenly slapped her into consciousness and smiled.
'Now we shall start again...' she replied.

It was some hours later when Emily had finally been released from her torment. She sat on a crude bed looking about her rough, dank cell. She favoured dank now, it wonderful to sit in somewhere so cool.
Though what she had said had been of little value towards her mission and various tasks. More towards the Doctor and who he was?
She then wondered what he was going through. What they might do to him?
It was then that booted footsteps echoed along the corridor and as Emily stood up, readying herself for whatever torture they were going to throw at her, the cell door was unlocked and framed within stood an armed soldier holding a lamp and a grey-haired woman dressed in white carrying a case of some sort.
'The prisoner will remain standing while the medical officer will tend to your wounds' bellowed the guard.
'Medical? Why are you doing this? What's happened to the Doctor?' she asked but instead she became a subject of scrutiny as the woman glanced over her.
'Will you please remove your armour and point out areas that require treatment?' the woman said in clipped precise tone.
'The back of my neck for one thing, a few bruises along my body and that's it' Emily replied as she started to slip off her shoulder protection pads and dropped them onto the bed.
As she started to unzip her tunic, the soldier by the door started to giggle but received only two looks of annoyance.
'Would you mind please? This is serious work I have to attend to?' the Medic replied and immediately the soldier fell silent.
'Why are you doing this to me? One second it's torture and the next...?' Emily found herself asking.
'Orders from the WarGeneral himself. That you are to be removed from interrogation and to be healed and fed. The majority here would rather see you beaten to a pulp. You are the patient, I am a medic' the woman said as she pulled down the back of Emily's collar to see the twin scarlet punctures.
'Interesting. How did you acquire these?' she asked.
Emily almost chuckled as she replied disguising it as a cough.
'You'd never believe if I told you. I was bitten by a bug!' she said but the Medic simply shook her head.
'No need for sarcasm, if I wasn't tending them now then they could turn septic' the Medic warned and Emily sighed slowly.

'For the last time. What are the full positioning codes of all Genesis Inc military personnel on this planet' the officer shouted towards the Doctor's form.
The Doctor should have been slumped in the chair from the various beatings he had taken but defiant as ever he leaned forward into the light, coughing as he did so.
'I am not part of any corporation, I am not working for anyone other than myself and even then on choice of will. I am not your enemy!' the Doctor snapped but then as he squinted, he could see the officer raising his hand so quickly the Doctor objected.
'Very well I will tell you of the enemy. Their positions are masked by a different radio frequency, their numbers are many, perhaps more so your entire force stationed on this world and that of Genesis put together' the Doctor replied and the officer looked up at him.
'Not Genesis? You are a double agent working for Genesis, you are a traitor and there's no good resorting to lies to cover your tracks!' snapped the officer coldly.
'Then how will it work? You want to hear things that I don't know? How can I possibly know them?' the Doctor retorted loudly, forcing himself to stand.
Behind dark glass, behind the interrogating officer sat a few clerks typing notes on typewriters when in strode Phillips.
Immediately everyone rose to attention, to which he motioned for them to remain.
'How goes the interrogation?' he asked.
'He is resisting all attempts to inform us of the relevant information' replied a clerk.
Phillips stared in a mixture of amazement and horror at the Doctor's condition. He had wanted the Doctor to suffer but not this harshly but as two burly soldiers advanced on the Doctor, Phillips believed it was time to act.
'Activate the microphone to the room' he ordered and as there came a burst of static Phillips leant in.
'This is the WarGeneral. All interrogation is to be suspended immediately. Both prisoners are to be seen by medical officers and to be fed properly. Any attempt to disrupt those orders will be met with termination by firing squad!' Phillips barked.
The Doctor weakly raised his head as the light before faded, that voice, so familiar to his ears but then, the room when dark as he collapsed to the ground.

The hum of the alteration process finally faded away into silence as the last of the banks opened and from what had once been a human now stepped something else in its place. Cold, silver, metallic coated figure. A face crude in construction but its style denoted their race.
The blank round sockets from which glowed red eyes, the face flat, no sign of bumps or hair or a nose or ears. A slit served as a mouth while two strange inverted horns met at the forehead, projecting from the place of the ears.
A Cyberman stood there, awaiting orders.
Around it stood other identical creatures, awaiting their task. Their cause to be put into action.
'All units have been successfully processed leader. The conversion decks await further subjects for alteration' reported the Cybernetic technician.
'Reports from the field?' the Black helmeted Cyberleader asked.
'Negative leader. Humanoids are not present. They have retreated towards the secondary human control site' reported the technician.
'Deploy Spikter units into the site. These troops will advance towards the control site. All compatible human be captured alive for alteration. If resistance is met then you will kill them' the leader ordered.
In such a confined space, the noise would have proven deafening but not to these creatures.
'Understood leader' they all replied in unison.
With the control to the door activated it slid up and out poured the hundred Cyber-troops onto the surface and away into the darkness.
'The unknown life form designated 'Doctor' will be prepared upon return to this site. He has access to temporal technology. We will survive. We will exist' reported the leader.
'The order is being transmitted to all units. Spikter divisions are moving in to the area. Warning, they report massive electrical defence grid surrounding the site's perimeter' reported the technician.
'They will penetrate below the defence grid. They will survey the defences. We will enter. We will take them all. We will survive' replied the Cyberleader.
'Spikter units have penetrated human defence screen. Their presence has remained undetected' reported the technician.

Vision slowly started to filter through to the Doctor's eyes. He was lying on a bed somewhere, breathing oxygen and something else- anaesthetic! Glancing around him he could see people in masks, not again he thought.
'Goodness me, that isn't right?' cried a surgeon.
'It's all right. Perfectly normal for him, he isn't human despite his appearance' replied a strangely familiar voice but then it went dark again for him.
It must have been some time later when he finally opened his eyes again and became aware that he was lying on a rough bed, his clothing laid out upon the end of the bed.
Sitting up, he noticed the chill and pulled on his clothes quickly, as he buttoned his shirt he noticed that it like his trousers and socks were clean and slightly warm.
Looking down at his palms he could see surgical scars, now almost healed over.
Pulling on his shoes and coat he walked towards a door and pushing it open, he found no guards. Instead there stood a vast winding circular corridor.
Pulling on his tie he started down the corridor and trying the many doors that he could see but they were all locked.
Finally a pair of double door stood before him, a sign above them read: Secondary Monitoring Room.
'Now that looks interesting? Why give a rat the full reign of the maze if only to trap it? Which makes this the trap by entering this room. Though I could remain outside but with nothing to do here, perhaps I should find out why I am here?' the Doctor replied and walked forward pushing open the doors.
Immediately as he stepped inside he glanced around at bright lights over head as well-lit console stood vacant, awaiting use by technicians.
'So this the transmitter everyone's talking about? The source of this corporate war, all this suffering results from this solitary installation' the Doctor breathed.
'Indeed Doctor, quite an interesting place and also the site of my re-direction' replied a voice to his left and as the Doctor turned there appeared a man he knew well dressed in a black army overcoat.
'Ah. Of course, who else would intervene at my torture if only to annoy me further, Phillips!' the Doctor said grimly, staring him down.
'On the contrary, I saved you, again. I could have let you rot with them in torture, remember my London? Twice I've saved you, twice you owe me Doctor' Phillips retorted.

'Somehow now, I would have preferred torture then confront you Phillips. This is getting tiresome these days. Haven't you ever considered of a hobby like stamp collecting?' the Doctor countered.
'Hobby? Doctor, you know my pain, have the implanted memories finally faded from your mind. You share my pain now. Being tortured by these creatures and discovering your home gone by them. Do you honestly think that I consider anything aside from retrieving my people?' Phillips snapped.
'The thought had crossed my mind, rather than waste my time and yours by creating this pointless attacks at history like this? What do you want here?' the Doctor finally answered in a calmer tone.
'Well Doctor, I rescued you and before you ask. Your friend is being looked after well and will continue to unless you prove to be too much of an inconvenience?' Phillips retorted.
'Like I was on Karr Tem?' the Doctor asked but saw the right side of Phillips face. It looked like burnt skin, slight deformities present.
'No Doctor. Back then, you were unforeseen to my affairs here I knew you were present, I ordered your capture' Phillips replied turning away back towards the balcony.
'But how could you know I was... the Cybermen? You are in league with them aren't you? What have they promised?' the Doctor snapped but instead Phillips looked out onto the compound before him.
'Promised Doctor? 'Promises serve no value to our cause' Phillips replied in a mock cyber-voice.
'You know the drill however I am the controller, not them. It is what I have promised them. Much has happened Doctor' Phillips replied.
'I know. I've seen it out there. Was this world ever so green once? People, animals lived in peace corrupted by you and this war!' the Doctor countered as he stepped towards his foe.
'No Doctor, this corporate escapade was all ready progressing, it is part of the continuity of set events. My contribution to it has been very small but here is the decision, the crossroads to destiny!' Phillips said patting the balcony steadily.
'I think you'd better explain yourself. Why are you doing this? WarGeneral indeed, Cybermen. Why all this?' the Doctor asked but Phillips just looked over his shoulder at the time lord.
'It happened for me two years ago but for you Doctor it occurs within your future...' Phillips replied viciously.

They moved slowly through the long shadows that were cast thickly along the ground. As soldiers on parade stomped down their drill something crawled free and scuttled across the flat ground towards the first blockhouse.
It understood its instructions as it suddenly leapt four feet to the wall and quickly it hurried up the wall as though it were the ground.
It was one of many, allotted to many tasks. It was assigned to locate the defence controls. To analyse its systems and take control.
Crawling as it did, it reached the edge and slid onto the roof. Fear was an aberration to it its newly controlled mind, logic overran its need to think and feel. All it needed was to: Know its orders.
A skylight remained open, beneath there was a monitoring room of some sort. Its sensors detected an energy discharge. As a human leaned forward, pressing a control, the gates slid open.
This was it, however there were two humanoids present. Detection would be certain. It waited patiently then as one of them moved towards the doors, the spikter hurriedly scuttled over the edge of the skylight and onto the ceiling.
One of the operators, a female said something, a moment later it left the room. The spikter knew its task.
'This control, your authorisation code has been recognised and access has been granted' the young operator said.
'Look, just cut the machine yack out of it. Lighten up Jack?' came the reply and the operator smiled slowly.
'All right, I will. Must be the hours getting to me? As soon as I'm off this shift I think I could sleep for a week. Any trouble out there?' he asked.
'A little cloudy still but nothing else' came the reply.
The Spikter had reached the floor, scuttling silently to the chair. Suddenly it launched itself at his neck. Its legs wrapped themselves around his neck as twin spikes drilled into the neck.
Caught unaware, the Operator squealed before slumping forward. A moment later he lifted his head, his eyes were blank.
The task had been completed. Control of defences had been attained. It signalled its triumph to control.

'Would you dare ask me now Doctor? Your future, by breaking one of your great laws of time. Would you like to know?' Phillips taunted but the Doctor remained unmoved.
'Give me the abridged version Phillips, and be brief on the details!' the Doctor retorted and Phillips smiled.
'Of course the last thing I would want to do is give you a possible paradox to mull over? Around twenty-one years prior to this event I will attempt a coup to return my people back, I am thwarted. Now I have appeared here, two years after my people have died. This transmitter will determine a happy future, if it is destroyed by Genesis, they will re-build another, thus STORE will vanish into the ether and Genesis will expand, alliances grow and it culminates in the galactic federation' Phillips replied.
'Diverting the crossroads then? Like swapping the signs about. You have removed the Genesis agents from the equation?' the Doctor replied.
'Exactly Doctor and time will be diverted down the other channel, the war will escalate and by the time of the federation the Earth empire will be burnt out. No one will dare trust them again' Phillips replied.
'Dishonour? I assume you intend to chance history more so top return your world to normal? All this death and suffering? You've outdone yourself this time Phillips!' the Doctor snapped.
'Thank you, it is a precautionary measure if my crusade collapses. As for the Cybermen, I found amongst the wreckyard a ship. Quite a sophisticated one at that. Discovering a few sleepers, I reactivated them, promised them humans, casualties of war for their cause!' Phillips replied sounding quite polite but the Doctor was gritting his teeth as he lashed out at Phillips!
Forcing him against the bars and trying to hold him over, as Phillips struggled to gain purchase the Doctor pushed further.
'How many people have died because of them? How many have you sentenced to death with your tricks WarGeneral?' the Doctor snapped but then Phillips faded and the Doctor almost fell over the edge had someone not gripped his shoulder in time.
'Easy now Doctor, we wouldn't want any accidents to happen? Saved you three times now, you owe or you will owe a race you have almost doomed to genocide!' Phillips replied coldly but the Doctor lashed out again.
'No, No Phillips! I won't let you do this?' he cried angrily.
'Too late Doctor, it's all ready happening. History set in motion ready for a devastating de-railing!' Phillips replied as the Doctor threw another punch but again Phillips dodged.

Emily finished dining off her rationed meal, not much to it but a nutrient bar and a glass of water, it wasn't much but it was more than she'd hoped for.
The medic had completed her work with patching her up and although he was coated in a few bandages she still ached all over.
She reached up to feel the scar tissue on the back of her neck.
'Easy there. The surgery is recent, be careful you don't open those wounds' the medic warned.
'Thanks. So what do I do now?' she asked.
'The WarGeneral has ordered that you will remain here, if he proves uncooperative then he has ordered that are to be harmed' the medic replied.
'Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll go with option two?' Emily said but immediately the guard raised his gun.
'There is no option two except for this!' he prompted.
'Oh dear, well in that case you have me?' Emily said but suddenly there came a curious rattling, attracting all their attentions.
It was from the small air vent in the ceiling, suddenly it fell open, hanging there on its hinges.
As the Medic reached up to close it, glancing up, something suddenly pounced out onto her arm. Screaming with shock she tried to shake it free but instead the strange spider-like creature advanced down her arm an onto her shoulders.
'And with that I was gone' Emily replied and make a dodge for the door but the guard torn between duty and rescue raised his gun.
'You're not going to move! You will stay here!' he yelled but then as the creature reached its target there came an audible whirr as twin spikes drilled into the Medic neck. She thrashed viciously and taking her chance Emily snatched the rifle free from the guard's hand and knocked him aside.
'Thanks but no thanks. I've got other things to do!' she said almost feeling concerned for the medic but she knew it was far too late for her.
Hurrying out into the corridor, she pulled at the keys locking the door tight and chucking keys into another cell.
The medic stood up, her eyes blank glancing around her and then at the locked door.
'This'll put a spanner in the works!' Emily said as she smashed the glass panel in the wall and immediately a wailing klaxon echoed throughout the corridors.

'Why do you need me then? Why did you save me only for this?' the Doctor demanded.
Phillips looked blank at him, then an almost bemused grin spread across his face and the truth dawned in the Doctor's mind.
'You don't need me at all? If you planned to kill me you would have left me to interrogation?' the Doctor replied and Phillips raised his hands in a mock applause.
'Well done Doctor, eventually you get it. That's the interesting thing about this incarnation. You can hold a descent conversation unlike your successor who keeps rabbiting on!' Phillips retorted.
The Doctor looked down at the compound beneath him and then at the land surrounding it, so dark and bleak.
'Then the Cybermen are coming here, for me?' he asked.
'And for the STORE personnel. Their ranks will grow. The Cyber-race these days is virtually extinct, no home world to return to, so what better place to take then this war zone?' Phillips replied.
'You're enjoying this aren't you? You really are a sadist aren't you?' the Doctor cried.
'You have seen my life Doctor, felt my pain. I am not a selfish, self-centred ego-maniac with foolish beliefs about conquering the universe. I want my life restored to me. I was a teacher, an explorer like yourself' Phillips replied and pulled free the flat disc from his coat pocket.
'And soon I will have that all again!' he said but on spying this device the Doctor seized it, examining it quickly.
'Cyber-communications device, long range and the means to bring your tin soldiers to you? Well they won't need your services anymore' the Doctor replied as Phillips struggled, the device fell from his hand down the tower to the ground.
'There now. I think that's the end of your crusade? Things going well?' the Doctor asked but Phillips just shrugged it off.
'They will come Doctor, Cybermen do not respond like dog to a whistle. They are a rogue concept. They will come for you!' Phillips countered but only then did the alarm start to ring around the compound.
'Ah, right on time!' Phillips added and smiled but the Doctor looked grave, staring into the darkness beneath them.

Outside the compound they stood in the darkness. Blank inhuman creatures awaiting the signal. Finally one of their number transmitted the signal to the spikter in control of the defence grid.
The spikter acknowledged its new orders and sent the signal through its 'new' frame. The brain held little important information but instead it operated the door release system.
As the system started a door opened and with stood the other operator.
'Jack? What are you doing? Fire siren's ringing. We have to get out here and assemble in the compound now!' she said but 'Jack' remained where he was.
She hurried over to him, tapping him on the shoulder but it felt damp, red faint liquid reflected on her hand.
'Jack?' she cried and turned him about but stared in horror of his dull, blank stare.
It was then that she saw the strange bands around his neck. The spikter was instructed to disable her for collection.
He suddenly stood up and walked towards her and without warning he knocked to the hard ground and she lay still. Having completed its task, it retracted the spikes and released its grip.
The former control subject collapsed to the ground beside his colleague. The spikter seized its chance and scuttled away into the darkness and awaited its next orders.
They came quickly and immediately it acted, scuttling out into the corridor while above it the siren screeched.
As someone approached from a room the Spikter charged its weapons. A man hurried out of the door but suddenly he collapsed forwards as the spikter triggered its weapons.
As the man collapsed soundlessly to the ground the spikter pounced on him glancing this way and that then as it wheeled around it caught sight of someone else.
Its front spines crackled with energy but a second later it exploded under a hail of bullets.
'I think not? I've still got a headache from the last time we met!' Emily cried and a second later the spikter exploded under another shot.
'God I hate spiders!' she cried as she hurried on, stopping briefly to feel for a pulse on the man's neck before hurrying on.
She had to find the Doctor, it was then she could hear heavy footsteps and the rattle of machine gun fire.

Hell was breaking out within the compound as soldiers pumped full of adrenaline hurried this way and that to assembly points but it was then that the vast gates slid back and immediately the attention of all was captured.
The Cybermen stepped free from the darkness, line after line filed forwards towards the soldiers, their heavy footsteps echoing loudly as they advanced.
'What the hell?' cried one of the soldiers.
'They must be with genesis? Shoot them!' cried an off-duty corporal and immediately a lot of weapons were brought to bear.
Immediately the compound's siren was drowned out by the heavy barrage of gunfire but as the weapons sprayed bullets the opposition advanced quickly.
From the arms of the silver giants shot blue sparks of energy striking at each one of the soldiers, who collapsed into the waiting grasp.
Immediately these creatures retreated to the darkness with their prey.
A few soldiers had reached the ammunitions tent and were helping themselves to larger arms but as the wave of Cybermen advanced further, one of them triggered its head mounted weapons and immediately the tent was alight and as the flames reached the explosives the tent, the weapons and the soldiers exploded into a fiery inferno!
Heavy footsteps echoed behind the Doctor and Phillips and turning they saw three Cybermen standing there.
'You are unknown life forms. Which of you is the Doctor?' asked the lead.
'This one, I revived you in the first place' Phillips replied.
'You will both come with us. You will be required for interrogation and then alteration. You will be like us' replied the Cyberman and immediately the three Cybermen advanced on.
Phillips did nothing but as the Doctor struggled hard against their hydraulic grip, his face met the impassive Cyberman's.
'You will come with us Doctor. Resistance is useless. Failure to comply with our instructions and you will be damaged' the Cybermen rasped.
'Nothing to say Doctor?' Phillips asked from the grip of his guard.
'Nothing that would make any impact on these tin creatures!' he muttered.
'You will come with us. Resistance will not be tolerated' the creature rasped and immediately he was forced towards the door.

As the last of the resistance was disposed of the Doctor and Phillips were forced from the tower and across the flat tarmac with the other Cybermen.
As they reached the gate a shot rang out and suddenly the Cybermen paused, glancing over his shoulder at such an angle he could see Emily, rifle in hand pointing it towards them.
'No, you'll release the Doctor now or I'll shoot you where you stand!' Emily cried.
'It won't do them any good I'm afraid? Cybermen are immune to all projectile weapons and with no emotions they aren't the slightest bit scared?' the Doctor replied.
'Surrender immediate. Resistance is useless' ordered a Cyberman, its horrible blank stare freaked Emily out. Those horrible burning red eyes staring at her.
'You must surrender Miss Emily, That Cyberman wants you alive, they haven't killed those soldiers just stunned them. Just drop your rifle and go with him' the Doctor called.
'Very noble work Doctor' Phillips replied but the Doctor did his best to shrug in the tight grip of the Cyberman.
Emily dropped the gun, hearing its clattering echo noisily around but the Cyberman did not flinch. Instead she raised her hand but immediately the creature gripped them and forced them behind her back.
'Resistance is useless' it rasped before shoving her forward to join the Doctor and Phillips and immediately they set off.
'Excellent work, these creatures are performing wouldn't you say Doctor?' Phillips replied and strangely enough he smiled as they left the remnants of the compound behind them.
'Nothing to say? Oh well you best prepare your speech Doctor, I believe that you have quite an audience awaiting?' Phillips added and then he received a cold hearted stare from the Doctor.
'I don't know how Phillips but I will stop you from creating this travesty?' he muttered.
'Charges are set, we no longer require the transmitter array' replied the Cybermen holding Phillips.
'Charges? You mean you're going to...? No, no you can't do this to me?' Phillips cried but as he struggled to argue the Cyberman held him tightly.
'No, no you can't do this to me!' he cried frantically.
'Resistance is useless. You will be like us' retorted his guard.
'Well now, that was unexpected? The Cybermen are for once doing something right' the Doctor added as they were forced along but then he noticed something, something important.

'It matters not Doctor, soon I will attain a greater victory!' Phillips breathed as they continued their pace.
'Who are you? Do you know the Doctor or something?' Emily asked and Phillips managed a stiff but restricted nod.
'That I do Miss...?' Phillips replied politely and waited for Emily to reply.
'Durrant, Emily Durrant, Mr...?' she answered awaiting his response.
'Phillips, well Miss Durrant, the Doctor and I go back for sometime. Nice to see a familiar face through all this agony' he said but the Doctor sighed.
'He's no friend of mine, he is responsible for our current position. A misguided time travelling miscreant with a penchant for causing trouble against humanity!' the Doctor retorted.
'Alas, the Doctor is correct as always and I am the villain present but you Doctor are every bit as misguided as me. Our last encounter left me severely crippled, I had to use my energy reserves to effect immediate regeneration , aside from my right eye I am healed' Phillips retorted.
'So that's why you haven't warped away yet?' the Doctor asked as they began down a harsh slope.
'Even if I could I would not miss this for anything? To see your fate, everything you have felt now has been nothing compared to what's coming up!' Phillips replied as they reached the bottom and continued.
'Thanks for the warning. I hope we don't tread on any mines? It would be such a waste to see you Phillips having to use your energy once again?' the Doctor countered and suppressed a smile.
All around them the sky was still black and cloudy while distant weapons fire could be heard.
'What's going to happen to us? What are they going to do with us?' Emily asked suddenly feeling panicky.
'Well Miss Durrant, you've heard their rhetoric enough times. We will be like them, they will turn you into a Cyberman and the Doctor being a special case- he is worth over a galaxy of conversion subjects to them! I wonder what they will do?' Phillips murmured.
'Indeed. What does the future hold?' the Doctor replied staring at the silver creatures holding them.

The Cyber-ship was cold. Like the creatures who inhabited it, they were living, walking, talking cold.
As they were forced inside a vast hold awaited their eyes, around them along the walls imprisoned within cracked and damaged frames crouched figures. Silver figures.
'Good Grief! There must be hundreds of them?' cried Emily as she looked around her.
'More like thousands and they're all dead too. What a shame' the Doctor retorted.
'Some of them are damaged Doctor but you are quite correct. I only managed to revive five of them, their leader amongst them, thankfully though the conversion chamber was quite unaffected' Phillips replied.
'Why are three beings unaffected like the others?' asked a Cyberman facing them.
'These two beings register unknown in the life form matrix, this female is human' replied the section leader.
'The female will be taken for alteration, these two will come with me' replied the Cyberman before them.
'No, no Doctor?' Emily cried as she struggled hard in its grip and quickly the Doctor dug his heels down.
'Listen to me! I am the Doctor and I will do everything your leader demands as long as she remains alive and with me' the Doctor yelled.
'Emotional weakness. Bring the female to the control chamber' ordered the Cyberman.
'Understood' came the reply and immediately Emily's escort turned away marching after them.
Stepping through a vast polished metal door they were stopped before the Cyberleader, who turned to address them.
'You are recognised. You will wait. You are the Doctor' he replied loudly.
'Yes I am, what do you want with me Cyberleader?' the Doctor asked and watched as he stepped aside to reveal a strange chair-like frame raised on a dais.
'Place the Doctor within the control unit. You belong to us Doctor' the Cyberleader instructed immediately he was forced upwards and into the frame, bands fastened over his wrists and feet.
'Now what?' the Doctor sighed.

'Release spikter control device!' ordered the Cyberleader and immediately one of the Cybermen produced a spikter, coloured black instead of silver.
Immediately as it was set down upon the ground did it scurry up the dais and onto the frame. The Doctor did his best to try and kick out at the creature but he was fixed tight and like a ladder the creature scaled it quickly.
'If this is one of your new games? If you creatures have discovered such a concept then I am not amused' the Doctor cried.
Suddenly it was on his shoulders, and then on his neck.
'You will aid the Cyber-race. You knowledge over temporal travel will enable us to re-correct our history. We will survive' replied the Cyberleader.
The Doctor started to laugh, to laugh hard but seconds later laughter to to screams as the spikter drilled its control spikes into his neck.
'What are you doing to me? What is this?' he cried and Emily flinched as she could hear bone being scraped in the process, immediately a vast screen glowed into action displaying him or rather the screen he was looking at.
'Interesting wouldn't you say Doctor? They and we are viewing everything from your ocular senses' Phillips replied.
'They're called eyes Phillips and you should open them now because if I'm not much mistaken things are going to...' he snapped quickly before trailing away.
'Gateline to cerebrum now established leader' reported a technician.
'Activate the device. You will tell everything concerning temporal technology. You will assist the Cyber-race, you will part of the Cyber-race. You will be like us' replied the Cyberleader and immediately from a console a technician keyed a sequence.
Immediately the Doctor started convulse violently, his fevered cries echoing around the room while before the screen came many images, constantly flickering in an out of focus, altering subjects quickly.
'No, get out of my head!' the Doctor screamed but then the room faded away to somewhere else, another world...

He knew where he was the first moment he drew in air. The dead, stale air.
Mondas.
A world so young, so unprepared and yet from what he could see, a city surrounded by lush green fields, people walking, talking, loving caring then suddenly there was a vast explosion in the sky overhead.
A dark stain smothered the city in an instant, the people becoming old and disease ridden, shining plastic and metallic components forming.
'I know this. I saw this, Mondas, your home world now look at it!' he cried feeling slight pain and immediately the world changed to a rotting ball in space.
'We will be supreme. You will help us. We require your assistance to correcting or future' came a roaring buzz of a Cyber-voice in his head.
'You'll never get help from me! How did it feel to loose your humanity, to become faceless scavengers preying on humanity! You are a disease, a virus and a blight upon existence!' the Doctor cried.
'We are the future. We will survive. You will show us the universe. You help us. You will be like us!' droned the voice.
'No I won't! You can rot in hell parasite! Get out of my head, I will not give you time travel! I will not!' he screamed as the pain became unbearable.
In the frame, his head slumped forward.
'You will give the secret. We will be like us. You will be like us. We are the future!' droned the Cyber-voice.
'You're no future of mine!' the Doctor angrily yelled staring at the many Cyber-images filling the area around him, he screamed as the pain cut deeper.
Suddenly the screen came alive with the swirling vortex's image, a series of mathematical equations appeared across it.
The Doctor started to mutter something, his eyes suddenly flicked open, staring straight ahead.
'No... No... I... am in control. I am in control of the Cyber-race. You will be like me. I will be like you. We are the future. We are future of existence! We possess time. We are the future!' the Doctor droned, his voice was deep and hollow and his eyes were burning red like the Cybermen he now served!

.................Cold Warfare

Episode Four

'Bravo Doctor! Bravo, I knew you'd make a unique contribution to the dying Cyber-race but never quite like this?' Phillips cried exaltedly and smiled at the scene before him.
'What? How can you be so inhuman? Look what they've done to him!' Emily cried bur Phillips merely turned to her, expressing a look of concern.
'Well the Gallifreyan touch is lost but on the whole it's a much greater improvement on him. As for me inhuman, I take that as a complement young lady because I am' Phillips replied.
'What have they done to him? What is that machine doing to him?' Emily cried as she stared almost unblinking at the horrifying frame that the Doctor sat slumped into.
'He's been partially processed into their race, his mind is made up of files ready to download into their history computers. The Doctor you knew is far from alive now. Roll on the future, their future!' Phillips replied.
The Cyberleader turned away from the screen standing there, towering and impassive before the others.
'Now that the Doctor has given up temporal travel, we no longer require you. Take them to the alteration chamber' he ordered and immediately they were forced towards the door but Phillips quickly shoved down his heels.
'Leader? Leader please wait? There are other matters that we need to discuss?' he cried but the Cybermen continued their advance.
'Leader? It refers to obtaining more for your conversion process' Phillips hissed desperately and immediately the Cyberleader responded.
'Stop' he said and crossed over to the door before facing Phillips.
'Explain yourself' he rasped.
'If you destroy the transmitter tower then humanity will shell this planet destroying you all, if you permit me to return to the tower, I can impersonate a distress call that bring more subjects in? Think about it Leader. More humans equals more Cybermen!' Phillips replied.
'I will consider the matter, you will remain here. Take the girl to alteration. She will be like us' the Cyberleader answered.
But then the lights within the chamber started to fade, the imagery across the screen was blurring.
'Report status?' Cyberleader demanded.
'The error is being detected within the Doctor's psyche. He attempting to resist control' reported a technician.
'Increase the power' ordered the Cyberleader.

Immediately the lights became restored, the screen cleared but the Doctor convulsed momentarily.
'Control has re-accepted. The information is ready for downloading. We are the future. The Doctor's time craft, his TARDIS has been located. With this information, we will be the future' droned the Doctor's voice.
'Initiate sequence. We will survive everything. We are the future' replied the Cyberleader and the technician activated the controls.
'Leader? Have you considered the possibility that the Doctor might still be resisting? He favours all life and when you ordered Miss Durrant forced evolution upon her he fought back' Phillips called.
'The female will remain until complete download of necessary information has occurred. The Alteration banks will be re-programmed with new information and the Doctor will become the new Cyber-Controller' replied the Cyberleader.
Phillips bowed slowly before turning towards Emily and smiled.
'There you are Miss Durrant, the Doctor is still clinging on but eventually he'll fall and complete Cyber control of his mind will be attained. Feel privileged that you are still alive' Phillips replied.
'What do you care anyway? You hate humans, you brought all of this into being, look what you've done to the Doctor!' Emily cried.
'Cybermen have a right to exist as much as anyone else. Annihilate them completely, you would be committing genocide and they do have their limitation, no emotions, no motivations outside their cause. Nothing but robots with an organic mind however they are your future' Phillips replied pleasantly.
'Their race is almost dead, the Doctor is now the core of a new Cyber-race. He will give them time travel and the universe. As for my own home, we will be immune, tucked away behind a time barrier somewhere' Phillips added staring towards the Doctor's form.
'There it goes, the known Gallifreyan theory of time travel in all its glory. This time the Cybermen will win. It is their destiny!' Phillips replied, his voice echoing around the vast dark chamber.
'Oh Doctor. Poor Doctor' was all Emily could manage as she stared at the Doctor's motionless form, unable act for the Cybermen holding her and around her.
What could be happening in there, in his mind?

The Doctor stood staring up at the great metallic titans that barred his way. Huge Cybermen about twenty feet high stood around the vast door to his mind.
All around him he could see conversion decks being prepared, in reality his mind was breaking down under Cyber-influence. He was loosing a battle and so he had to concentrate.
'This area is restricted' buzzed one of the towering Cybermen.
'You're right there but not to me. I own this mind, I am this body and you have no right trespass in it!' the Doctor retorted.
The Cybermen remained silent but the Doctor unperturbed suddenly shoulder-charged the great door bearing the great seal of Rassilon.
Surprisingly as he shoved through it, its bent and distorted out of shape as though it were rubber? The Cybermen tried to stop him by barring his way with their hands but the Doctor was too quick.
He landed on his feet staring down at brown healthy earth but as he straightened up he could see a world in torment, twisted hulks of metal protruded from grey ash.
A once clean blue sky now blackened by choking fumes from many fires that burned on the horizon.
'Is this your future? Look around you at this place, you call that progress?' the Doctor yelled to the sky.
As he walked the landscape changed constantly, planet to planet but the scenes were the same. Carnage and destruction met his eyes then suddenly he was on a healthy living world. People talking and walking and enjoying life.
Then he stopped looking towards a piece of blurring air then there came a vicious beating of metal and a grotesque silver capsule emerged.
From it and others appearing all around the area walked long files of Cybermen, there must of been thousands and as people ran, Cybermats leapt at people.
They fell to the ground and as the Doctor hurried to help them there came a vast wave of blackness. He was standing amongst the wreckage once more.
'Is this your future? Answer me! I can feel you in my mind, an unwanted presence so show yourselves!' the Doctor cried angrily to the sky.
'This is the only future. Resistance Denied, we are your future!' came a buzzing monotone voice and with a vast rumble from the wreckage the Doctor turned to see six figures rising out of the metal.
They were identical in every way- they were Cyber-Controllers!
'Get out of my head! You're not wanted here!' the Doctor yelled but instead they advanced closer...

'You are the Doctor' buzzed the first Controller.
'You are the future' added the second creature.
'You will be like us' finished the third.
The others remained silent and still, now enclosing the Doctor in a tight circle.
'You're wrong. Dead wrong! This is a what if moment. If I give you time travel then this, all around us will be a reality. There only be two races in the universe. One, people who rebel against you and Yourselves!' the Doctor snapped harshly.
'Humanity is a backward concept. We are progress to all life forms. We are the future' buzzed another Controller.
'Then what about the human loss? Everything your people hated to be you became. I met your people, the Mondasians had so much to live for but instead you arose to take their place!' the Doctor snapped.
'You're nothing more than an evil parasitic race of vampires, preying off humanity, turning them into faceless clones to go out and copy your work! You're all victims here! The scientists are to blame but your leaders are/ were! They robbed you of your lives!' the Doctor snapped as he turned on a silent Controller.
'What did you want to be when you were a child? Can you remember that because I doubt that you wanted to be a Cyberman? No one does, we have a choice and as augmented giants go, what do you provide the universe with?' the Doctor snapped.
'Organic life wastes away, it decays. We are the future, we last forever, we are immortal. We are progress' droned the creature before him.
'To me, you're nothing more than control signals from that Cybermat digging its way into my mind. You're nothing, unwanted thoughts in my mind and I can easily forget!' the Doctor replied closing his eyes, his brow creased and immediately three Controllers vanished.
'You see, you are nothing. You contribute nothing by your pointless cause. You were all doomed the moment your leaders made that decision, to augment to survive. You're living someone else's dream or nightmare!' the Doctor added.
'We will survive. You will no longer be capable of resisting our control. You will be like us. We are your future' the Controllers buzzed in unison.
'Never! I will fight you if it takes a life time? I will never give to you control!' the Doctor hissed through gritted teeth, his hands became fists, the knuckles whitening as the Controllers started to grow around him, blotting out all light around him.
'No…. I will not give in!' he cried desperately but he knew that the end would soon be coming.

'Download continuing Leader' reported the technician and immediately the Leader resumed his attention towards Phillips.
'You have a proposition that interests us' it said and Phillips smiled briefly, locking eyes with the burning sockets in its immobile face.
'Interest? An emotional choice of word for you creatures? Yes I have been told that you intend to destroy the communications transmitter?' Phillips asked.
'It no longer is of our concern' the Cyberleader retorted.
'As I have said, they will destroy this place from orbit, burn the atmosphere and everything off the surface including yourselves' Phillips countered and smiled.
'What do suggest?' it asked and Phillips simply nodded towards the screen.
'The Doctor might be an interesting acquisition but if you allow me to return to the tower, signal a general alarm to either side, then reinforcements will arrive and you simply have to collect them' he said.
'You will return with this being to ensure that the transmission is made. If he attempts deception, terminate him' the Cyberleader replied.
'Yes leader' rasped Phillips' guard and quickly, awkwardly he was shoved forward towards the open doorway.
'Farewell Miss Durrant, I do hope we meet again?' Phillips called but Emily was even looking at him but at the Doctor.
'What are you going to do with me then you stupid tin robot?' Emily finally snapped tearing her view away from the Doctor and towards the black helmeted Cyberleader.
'You will remain here. When the sequences are complete will be taken to alteration. You will like us. All of you will be like us' the Cyberleader replied.
'Why? Why should I become like you?' Emily cried toward the creature.
'We are superior. You are inferior, weak and emotional. We are progress, humanity will like us. We survive all obstacles while you fall and decay. Soon time will be ours' replied the Cyberleader.
'You're nothing! We'll fight you and win!' Emily hissed.
The Cyberleader stepped closer until he was less that an inch away from her, it felt cold to look at him.
'You are mistaken. We will survive and you will fall!' he stated.

As the blanket of metallic darkness threatened to smother all the Doctor suddenly stabbed back at it stepped into a meditating phase.
The darkness retreated becoming transparent and eventually it faded away to a green hill, trees and man sitting beneath a tree.
'Isaac Newton, of course I remember this. My Tardis came down not far from where he would work and there he sits. We talked long about the physic of the Earth after that apple fell on his head. Human determination to discover the truth' the Doctor breathed.
'This place is irrelevant to us' buzzed a Controller's voice and turning briefly the Doctor spotted the three Controllers standing incongruously on the grass.
'Ah, I see to have picked hitch hikers? No matter. You will remain here and watch what you could have had?' the Doctor instructed and without a further word he walked over to the man.
'Good afternoon Isaac? How are you today?' he asked and swiftly the man looked up from his reading straight to the Doctor before him.
'Doctor, what an expected pleasure. Excuse me a moment' Issac said as he started to stand up up by hit a tree branch with his head and immediately an apple from the branch's tip hit the ground hard.
'Are you all right Isaac?' the Doctor asked but Isaac was more concerned over the apple before him, kneeling down, he prodded it slowly.
'Incredible. Did you see that Doctor Smith? An attraction of the apple when I bumped my head. The apple fell but why did it fall?' Isaac asked.
The Doctor in turn crouched down and smiled, he remember this moment. He remembered his words well.
'Some sort of attraction? After all a consequence occurred with you hitting your head, I hope you're all right? This results with a reaction from the apple' the Doctor said.
'Yes but why did it fall, straight down, I have noticed that if a ball is dropped it bounces but eventually remains still. However if I place something on the ground it remains still. Now why should that happen?' Isaac asked.
The Doctor smiled at this happy memory and then glanced over at the three statue-like creatures present. Nothing.
'Incredible, you are right in some sort of attraction but we stay close to the ground why do we not bounce?' Isaac continued.

'What about an attraction caused because the speed of the ball defies the attraction but as it slows the attraction takes over?' the Doctor said and saw a look spread across Isaac's face.
'Yes, yes that would explain it. Since say this book is not moving, I place it upon the ground like so and it remains because the speed is not present but something keeps held down?' he said.
It was then that the three Controllers advanced closer and almost sensing this action the Doctor turned.
'Oh no. Oh have you to have a look yourselves?' he asked but silence met him.
'If we stand, sit, kneel or lie we remain because we are not moving and this can happen anywhere which would mean that this force of attraction occurs here in the ground' Isaac replied and lifted free the apple and dropped it again.
'Incredible, a force emanating from the ground causes us to remain but because our speed it considerably slower we remain still' Isaac said but then he looked up to spy the three looming figures.
'Good day gentlemen, have you had the pleasure of witnessing this remarkable discovery?' Isaac asked but they remained silent.
'On the contrary Isaac, these gentlemen are all ready aware of such concept but consider them irrelevant' the Doctor replied.
'You are not required' buzzed a controller, who lashed out knocking Isaac to the ground but in his place appeared a similar being with a blank immobile face.
'A gravitational influence of core of this planet has created a magnetic field all object alive inanimate' droned the dull metallic tones of the Cyber-Isaac.
'You've ruined it! You've just corrupted a vital piece of human history through my mind! That memory has gone. Newton went on to discover gravity but that has gone now, it would affect the whole of human science from geology to space flight, you've just grounded humanity! I hope you're happy?' the Doctor snapped.
'This false image is irrelevant. Resistance is useless to us. You will surrender' buzzed the Controller.
'Have you considered the human loss? I will surrender to you but only when I've met your hosts? Seen your faces, know your names!' the Doctor retorted.
Around him the hill changed into the dark, cold tombs of Telos.

The gates of the compound stood open, vacant like some evil jaws of some monstrous creature of hell. Flames still burnt in patches while piles of broken wood and twisted metal lay in scattered patches as Phillips was forced forward by his sole guard.
'All right. I can walk myself from now on' he said.
'You will accompany me to the explosive charges, they must be deactivated before the transmission is made' rasped the Cyberman.
'Of course but can't you do that on your own? Do you think I could escape out here but where would I go?' Phillips retorted but instead the Cyberman advanced on him grabbing at his wrist.
'You will not resist. Failure to comply with my instructions and you will receive severe damage' warned the guard.
The Cyberman propelled Phillips towards the side of the base. Here lay a complicated looking framework supporting a humming cylinder.
'This is your weapon? Rather compact' Phillips replied.
'The device is primed. I will deactivate it, you will not attempt to escape' warned the Cyberman as it release his wrist and knelt down to press a few controls on the side of the device.
'How quickly you forget or just press on for rhetoric's state. Why should I escape? I have a message to deliver, remember?' Phillips said.
The humming cylinder's pitch slowly dropped to nothing. The silver creature climbed to its feet to face him.
'You will make the transmission, failure to complete the action and you will be terminated' it warned.
'Of course I won't' Phillips said bowing slowly to the creature and then he was off in a quick run into the building, the echoing accompaniment of his escort followed him as he carried on up the stairs before arriving in the transmitter room.
Huge banks of glittering consoles met his eyes then quickly he strode towards the communications desk.
It looked important, there were two switches, red and green. Phillips reached out and pressed the red one and a microphone slid up from the console.
'You will begin' ordered the Cyberman now appearing in the doorway.
'Of course I will, now quiet!' Phillips replied before leaning forward and he started to speak...

'The gate line is behaving erratically. Probable cause- the Time Lord pstche is attempting to block the information' the technician reported as the screen suddenly froze up.
'This technical error must be removed. Increase power to full. The Doctor will submit to our control' ordered the Cyberleader.
'But if you do that you could burn out his mind. It's like a mains socket, if you turn up the power fully you'll destroy the Doctor!' Emily cried.
The Cyberleader turned on Emily once more, he took her free from her guard and dragged her towards the dais.
'The Doctor will not resist. He will comply with our orders. If he continues then I will damage you' the Cyberleader replied.
Around them the pitch of power increased drastically and Emily would have covered her ears had the leader not held her so tightly.
'Where are you getting your power from? How can you operate like this without the power-spike appearing on our scanners?' Emily asked trying to take her mind off the pitch ringing in her ears.
'This ship was modified, a radiation powered drive unit is present, it is still active. The ships surrounding our have fed it it raw power. We are in control' the Cyberleader retorted.
Of course, that was why she was still conscious, no radiation present meant these creatures were operating greatly and these creatures must have been contaminated with it. The radio interference blocks.
'Then without this drive you're helpless. Is that it?' Emily yelled towards the impassive leader who held her hard.
'You are incorrect, this unit has absorbed radiation to power our systems but we still possess auxiliary power cells. No act of sabotage can prevent our actions' the Cyberleader countered.
'Then it's your machinery, this machine that has been blocking our communications on the field. Allowing us to fall into your traps?' Emily snapped.
'Correct. We have been capable of intersecting your remaining communications satellites and detected your positions' the Cyberleader explained.
'Our technology against us, no wonder we kept receiving transmission failing the whole time. It was you focussing on us!' Emily yelled, her voice echoing hard around the room.
'Correct. You and the others have and will help the Cyber-race return to existence' the Cyberleader stated.

'Why are we here?' asked a Controller and immediately the Doctor grinned as he walked to the centre of the room and then gestured with both hands but he knew the action would be lost on them.
'To get the right information I'm going right to the horse's mouth or more precisely the source of your bleak course. These are your cryogenic tombs on Telos, all of them full of your kind' the Doctor explained.
'You are incorrect. The Conversion decks are vacant, they await conversion entrants' retorted another Controller.
'Are they? Or is the only thing you represent- nothing! You are these machines and the people you claim to be are not present. This is where it begins. You aren't people or a race, you're a virus so tell me outside the confines of torture, logic and deceit: Who are you?' the Doctor asked looking to the three Cyber Controllers before him.
'You are delaying time Doctor. Your mental reserves will diminish, resistance will fall and we will have control over time' buzzed one of the Controllers.
'Wrong. I asked you for your identities but this mind and my rules and have no body to hide within. Tell me then, who were you? A man or a women, young or old, human or otherwise?' the Doctor retorted.
'Irrelevant information Doctor. All organic knowledge was purged from our minds' the second Controller replied.
'How very convenient, yet you just showed a vital flaw. You sounded concerned to make sure I understood that your minds were gone. Why not just say the first sentence unless you have something to say?' the Doctor asked stepping closer towards the creatures and uncharacteristically the creatures retreated from him.
'What's the matter? Did I touch at a nerve? I do believe you're scared of me?' the Doctor teased and then the first remained still.
'Fear is an emotional response Doctor. You will not resist us. You will tell us everything or you will destroyed' it said but the Doctor advanced closer.
'Playing that song again are we? No I will continue to resist. You're worried, trying to show a brave face on things' he said but suddenly it raised its fist threateningly.
'I am not....!' it began but the Doctor simply laughed.
'Getting hot under the collar Controller? No emotions? You have them, you're more human then you're letting on' the Doctor snapped.
Around them, there in the hollow shells people started whispering, talking, their noise getting louder and louder echoing all around them.
'Listen to that Controllers, the cries of your victims. Which ones are yours? Your true voices?' the Doctor challenged defiantly.

The first Cyber-Controller stood there impassive while other two started to cower as the cries, scream, whispers grew louder all around.
'Did I hit a note with you? So many voices, some so familiar to you. Were they friends or family or both that you brought here to forge them in your own image?' the Doctor snapped and quickly jumped aside as the Controller knocked its augmented fist at him.
Its voice started to buckle as did its knees and it collapsed to the floor, its initial armour fading becoming less sophisticated.
'Doctor, please? This is... torture' cried the creature as its form re-formed becoming like the first Cyberman, more organic than the others.
'Torture? You talk to me of torture? This nothing but an echo of what you have done to others, thousands gone, their lives prematurely ended to make room for your Cybermen!' the Doctor cried staring as the plastic mask, chest unit and other implants finally faded away leaving an old man kneeling there sobbing.
'It was not my choice Doctor. None of this was my choice, it was decreed that we should survive under any circumstance. How was not important but when we should start was' the man murmured.
The Doctor approached the man, noting he wore light green clothes, a metal band covered his head but that was all.
'You mean, you were given a choice. To live or die but look at this place around you, at your colleague. Is this what you wanted, to live- if that word means merit with them?' the Doctor asked.
The man looked up, his ancient skin in wrinkles, his green eyes were wet with tears.
'No Doctor we didn't want any of this. We were afraid of dying out, we had to preserve our race but we knew nothing of its cost. I am free, finally I can die' the man said aloud.
'Not yet, Cybermen are still doing this to people, innocents like you. I have to stop them' the Doctor said but the man shook his head.
'It's too late for that. A diversion to gain your attention, please forgive me?' the man said offering a hand to the Doctor who took it but then the man keeled to side and lay still.
Immediately a vast flash of pain cut through the Doctor, clutching at his temples he screamed in agony. While around him the conversion decks were full of humans, screaming as the conversion process started...

'Temporal theory has been downloaded and stored awaiting examination Leader' reported the technician.
'Excellent. Locate further files of relevance towards the Cyber-race' ordered the Cyberleader and immediately the Doctor's mouth opened, almost as if he were a ventriloquist's dummy.
'Understood Leader' came the dull, lifeless voice and seeing this Emily glanced away, it was too horrifying to see the Doctor in such a way.
She had to do something, to stop them, get him out of that machine.
The Cyberleader strode over to where Emily stood watching her impassively for a moment when there came strange warbled alarm inside the ship, the alarm was almost ultra sonic but it cut fiercely at her ears.
'Report status of alarm?' demanded the Cyberleader.
The Technician flicked through the various controls before an error sign appeared.
'The source of the disturbance is located within the alteration chamber. Further reports are irregular and missing' it reported.
The Cyberleader swung about to face the doors.
'I will investigate this action, this female will remain here. If she attempts anything, terminate her' ordered the Cyberleader.
'Understood leader' the technician replied as the Cyberleader advanced on heavy steps out of the chamber and out into the Cyber-ship.
Leaving Emily alone, she glanced up to spy only one Cyberman remaining and from that advantage she saw what she had to do.
Crossing over towards the dais she suddenly kicked at the band holding the Doctor's feet, the technician on seeing this strode over from its console.
It could not use its weapons for risk of damaging its equipment but then Emily darted around the side of dais.
'You will not resist. Surrender immediate' it ordered but Emily thought she was too quick by the Cyberman was much stronger, grasping her wrist tightly.
Well that worked well, she thought and then suddenly she received another idea.

Grasping the Cyberman's hand tightly with her other hand she tried to spin hard but it was no good as he held her tightly.
'You will surrender immediate. You will be taken for alteration when the emergency has been concluded' it warned in its metallic rasp.
'Thanks but no thanks. I've just had my mind cleared of conditioning, the last thing I need is more and besides, I like my body as it is and not how it will be' she retorted.
'You will be like us or die' it warned.
'Then fine kill... hey what's going on with the Doctor?' she asked suddenly looking away but the Cyberman was not taken in.
'You are mistaken. The Doctor is part of our race, he is the core of our existence. He is now like us' countered the Cyberman.
'Has anyone ever told you, you talk too much?' she said and without warning he charged with all her might at her captor knocking him in the direction of the screen.
Desperately she struggled to free her hand, her glove was torn away as the momentum carried the creature straight into the screen. Covering her face with her back from flying glass, Emily could only hear the Cyberman's fevered attempts to cry out.
As electrical sparks impacted with the foreign body there was a vast explosion as the glass shards rained down to the ground. The console lights flickered and the dead Cyberman toppled forward to the ground, hard.
Grasping her chance, Emily pulled free her radio from her inner pocket and without stopping to clear her throat, she began.
'This is Green Star Squad, Group leader Emily Durrant to Control-Command. I require immediate... hostile fire run on the following co-ordinates, do you connect?' she cried and by much surprise the reply came through.
'Go ahead Green Star Squad. Have you eliminated the opposition?' came the reply.
'Negative Control-Command. Have secondary plan, have too much opposition present, you must destroy their fortress- located within the wreckyards' Emily cried.
'Wreckyards? It will be done' came the reply sounding confused.
'Also, this might sound insane but we must destroy the transmitter tower. We can re-build it within our sector' Emily said knowing that she was stretching things a bit to believability.
'Request permitted. You have seven minutes to clear the area, Control-Command out' buzzed the reply and finally Emily breathed a sigh but then she noticed the Doctor...

'No, I hear you all. I hear you all' the Doctor shouted aloud, his voice carrying into the the mass of hysterics and becoming drowned.
'Listen to me! Listen to me? This is not real. This is nothing but a nightmare and I am the one in the driving seat. A fabrication, a deception created by the cyber-control plug in my brain to keep me busy while they removed the relevant information' the Doctor said aloud and immediately the screams died away and there was silence.
'I do not know who you are but you are innocents, you are all innocents here and by not resisting, you throw away your humanity into their grasp!' the Doctor yelled pointing to the now impassive two Controllers standing not far away.
'Resist them, no matter what they do. You are still human, you have a choice. They would steal away life, to talk and chat and love and know and cry be alive! Resist their control!' the Doctor ordered.
'I don't know how far this influence comes from but I can use their technology, direct my thought at the conversion chambers. Do you hear me in there? Human beings being taken apart, turned into something else. Cybermen are evil and you have a choice in life, whether to become like them or not?' the Doctor cried towards the vast domed ceiling that was starting to open up.
The two Controllers advanced closer but the Doctor just turned round at them, fixing them with a stare.
'Do you forget? This is my world and mind and you're not wanted here! Get out of mind!' the Doctor yelled and immediately the two Controllers became one but then started to fade out.
Their agonised metallic howls echoed as they faded out of existence, the Doctor smiled and raised his hands towards the glowing hole in the ceiling.
'I am free of it. And that means that you too can fight it and be successful. Free your minds from Cyber-control and remember who you are!' the Doctor cried and immediately he became aware of sitting down.
His eyes flickered slowly when a devastating explosion echoed throughout the room, it was at this point that the strange, disjointed buzzing in his skull ceased.
The spikter's claws retracted from his neck and the creature fell free, clattering to the ground loudly.
As he flicked open his eyes, a blur met them but slowly it formed into a room in darkness. Though he suddenly received a great headache and pain to his neck, he was remarkably well.
'Doctor?' Emily cried looking to him and he managed a slight smile.

'No, I hear you all. I hear you all' the Doctor shouted aloud, his voice carrying into the mass of hysterics and becoming drowned.
'Listen to me! Listen to me? This is not real. This is nothing but a nightmare and I am the one in the driving seat. A fabrication, a deception created by the cyber-control plug in my brain to keep me busy while they removed the relevant information' the Doctor said aloud and immediately the screams died away and there was silence.
'I do not know who you are but you are innocents, you are all innocents here and by not resisting, you throw away your humanity into their grasp!' the Doctor yelled pointing to the now impassive two Controllers standing not far away.
'Resist them, no matter what they do. You are still human, you have a choice. They would steal away life, to talk and chat and love and know and cry be alive! Resist their control!' the Doctor ordered.
'I don't know how far this influence comes from but I can use their technology, direct my thought at the conversion chambers. Do you hear me in there? Human beings being taken apart, turned into something else. Cybermen are evil and you have a choice in life, whether to become like them or not?' the Doctor cried towards the vast domed ceiling that was starting to open up.
The two Controllers advanced closer but the Doctor just turned round at them, fixing them with a stare.
'Do you forget? This is my world and mind and you're not wanted here! Get out of mind!' the Doctor yelled and immediately the two Controllers became one but then started to fade out.
Their agonised metallic howls echoed as they faded out of existence, the Doctor smiled and raised his hands towards the glowing hole in the ceiling.
'I am free of it. And that means that you too can fight it and be successful. Free your minds from Cyber-control and remember who you are!' the Doctor cried and immediately he became aware of sitting down.
His eyes flickered slowly when a devastating explosion echoed throughout the room, it was at this point that the strange, disjointed buzzing in his skull ceased.
The spikter's claws retracted from his neck and the creature fell free, clattering to the ground loudly.
As he flicked open his eyes, a blur met them but slowly it formed into a room in darkness. Though he suddenly received a great headache and pain to his neck, he was remarkably well.
'Doctor?' Emily cried looking to him and he managed a slight smile.

A figure walked into view, it was man or something that had once been a man, now it was half finished, partially altered, implants shining from exposed cuts and scars but the face was more haunting.
It was the interrogation officer who had almost cooked Emily now partially cybernetic but instead, across her face there was emotion present.
'Get your hands off him!' she said, her voice was slipping this way and that out of human and into Cyberman as she advanced past Emily.
The Cyberleader threw the Doctor aside and met the weak convert with fully augmented strength.
Grasping his shoulder weakly he motioned Emily onwards, as they hurried through the dark corridors they could see more horrifically scarred humans, victims of conversion, pulling Cybermen apart, wrestling them to the ground.
'What did you do to them?' Emily cried as she ran on.
'I gave them back their lives, they can see the world around them again, allow them their revenge. Come on, they're after Cybermen, not us!' the Doctor breathed.
The Cyberleader far behind them, lashed out, tearing the chest unit from her torso, she choked coughing and spluttering before she crashed to the ground and lay still, while a mixture of blood and hydraulic fluid gurgled from open wounds.
The Cyberleader advanced realising the futility of continuing this fight. The Doctor was the way forward, with him in his control, he could return to the past.
At last the Doctor and Emily reached the open door of the spaceship, they were tired and panting heavily both suffering mixed effects.
'Come on, I think we've got two minutes or so?' Emily cried.
'What's the range of these bombing?' he asked and Emily took the lead.
'I'll tell you when we can stop running, you can run can't you?' she asked, the Doctor nodded immediately.
'Of course I can, in my youth I came 2nd in the Rassilon biath...' he said but stopped as Emily hurried on and shrugging he too chased after her.
The Cyberleader reached the threshold, looking out, his scanners centred on the two life forms present and then on a fast moving craft approaching.
Using his hydraulic muscles the Cyberleader ran calmly, swiftly after them unaware of what was to happen next.

Within the ship, inside the alteration chamber the partially converted were winning, almost all Cybermen had fallen, meeting grisly ends in the process but as a calm, quiet atmosphere fell, they each glanced at one another.
Never mind their race, creed, colour or side they were fighting together for revenge. It was the only thing they could live for.
'Here, I have located another creature, another torturer' cried one of the converts pulling free a Cyberman from a darkened alcove, as it wrestled with the being, it broke off his unconverted hands.
Anger numbed the pain as it battered the silver giant with its blood stained stumps but the great titan sent it crashing to the ground with a cyber-chop to the neck.
A sickening crack met the ears of all as the body crashed to the ground, the Cyberman advanced on the others, triggering its weapon. Three converts crashed to the ground after their comrades.
While above them the ship commenced its bombing, as the first bombs fell, the explosions caught the creature off guard allowing for the others to strike!
They were pulling at its body still as the last of the bombs impacted, there was a brief pause before many explosions tore the wreckyards from existence!
'Get down now, here comes the heat blast!' Emily cried as the bombs impacted and quickly she tugged the Doctor down a low slope.
'All right, no need to be too forceful?' he said but Emily held him down as the great shock wave rang out, a wave of fire rocked over them for a few seconds before it faded away.
After a minute or two the Doctor raised his head, smelling the stench of burning and glanced up to see a great charred crater from around it twisted metal and plastic still alight remained but the spaceships were all but gone.
'Gone the way of all flesh back to the ether to rot and decay' he said calmly.
'Excellent. That's the end of the Cybermen, the raid will double around in a moment and strike at the tower' Emily replied.
'Good, then you can get started on making the repairs to the corporation' the Doctor replied.
'Doctor, who are you really? Where do you come from?' she asked and the Doctor sighed.
'Well that's going to take sometime, I'm afraid to say' the Doctor replied.
'Incorrect Doctor, you will take me to your TARDIS, resist and the female dies' boomed a cyber-voice and turning slowly the Doctor sighed when he spied the Cyberleader towering above them.

'What now? The message was delivered ten minutes ago is to high command, they have acknowledged it. What more do you want now?' Phillips asked looking to the Cyberman.
'You are no longer required. Your bio-signature is irrelevant to Cybernetic alteration' it said and the creature fired but not at him but the console, it exploded in a spark of light but then it turned to see no remaining target.
Suddenly a heavy coat was thrust over its head, obscuring is visual scanners, although this didn't last long as the garment was torn apart as the creature turned on Phillips wearing an officer's uniform, all the buttons shining as though they hadn't seen the light of day?
'I'm afraid I will have to leave you know, I have some important work to do, if you will excuse me?' Phillips replied but as he turned away he felt something happening to his right side.
His arm suddenly straightened in a vicious spasm, his side went into cramp and unable to move he rested on the door but as the Cyberman advanced Phillips turned, a strange golden hue was enveloping the right side of his face, blotting out everything.
The Cybermen stood, observing this irregular event and slowly Phillips smiled as the glow faded revealing his whole visage.
'At last, after all these years. Full regeneration has occurred, I can finally say good bye, farewell and give my regards to the Doctor, sorry Controller' he said but then across the remains of the radio came a message warped with distortion.
'This is an urgent announcement. The Genesis transmitter tower has fallen into enemy hands, it will be bombed by a fighter within two three minutes. For anyone still loyal to Genesis, we apologise but you are making the supreme sacrifice for the future'
Phillips laughed mockingly looking at the Cybermen, who started to advance on him so hurriedly he dashed out into the corridor and ascended the stairs quickly followed by his pursuer.
'You will surrender immediate. Resistance is useless' it warned as it cornered Phillips but instead he simply smiled.
'Sorry but I have a prior engagement elsewhere, give my regards to hell' Phillips replied as he faded from view just as the creature fired.
Then overhead came the roar of engines and glancing upwards the Cyberman knew no more as the bombs started to fall.

'You will transport me to Telos and then Mondas. I will correct and prevent the catastrophes that have occurred to the Cyber-race. You will obey me' boomed the Cyberleader.
'And if I don't I imagine you'll threaten to kill, no to serious harm Miss Emily until I agree to your terms?' the Doctor asked.
'Correct Doctor, you will take me to your TARDIS now' the Cyberleader ordered.
'Well, when you put it like that, all right. This way, come on Miss Emily' the Doctor replied and slowly he started up a low slope to his left but Emily ran on, trying to block his path.
'No Doctor that's the wrong way' she said but received a narrow wink in return before being forced on.
'Are you sure you want to see Telos first? After all with a time machine you could go absolutely anywhere in the universe?' the Doctor replied as he made his way along a slim plain.
'You will continue Doctor' the Cyberleader boomed.
'Ah yes of course and Miss Emily am I right in thinking that this area is full of fungi, toadstools and others?' he said slowly.
'Toadstools? Oh yes that plain is full of them, why do you ask?' Emily replied.
'No reason jellyfish brains I was just displaying my great intellect to such a primitive savage!' the Doctor snapped and winked at her.
'Primitive? What idiot comes into battle without a gun?' she cried but as the Cyberleader tried to stop them, they carried on.
'Stop! Surrender immediate. Resistance is useless' he stared when suddenly the Doctor nodded.
'Now!' he yelled and together they pushed the silver creature back over the slope and immediately Emily pulled him to the ground as multiple explosions resounded throughout the plain casting up thick dark smoke.
As it cleared, the Cyberleader crashed to the ground and lay still like its comrades.
'Ashes to ashes' Emily said as she climbed to her feet.
'Very well put' the Doctor added as he joined her, the creature at the bottom lay cracked and torn and utterly devoid of life.

'That's that Cyber-contingent ended as has your war. STORE will return to telecommunications while Genesis will going on and on for another four hundred or so years' the Doctor replied brushing himself down.
'How did you known where to go? The mines could have been anywhere?' Emily asked and the Doctor tapped his nose before leaning down and picking up a faded wooden sign: Beware-Mines.
'And there we have Miss Emily, no more sabotage needed and I'll dare say it gave the Cyberleader not as much as a headache as they gave me' he said and smiles.
'So could you tell me from a brief guess as to where I was when we first met, I must be on my way. A whole universe to explore and all that' he said quickly.
'Wait a moment? Back there you said a time machine. Is that true?' she asked the Doctor tried to disguise the truth but failed miserably.
'Yes, that blue box you knocked me out of was a highly sophisticated time machine. Something that Genesis would try and pay handsomely just to get their grubby, money hungry hands on' the Doctor replied.
'If you can travel anywhere? Do you mind if I came along?' Emily asked and the Doctor smiled.
'Interesting, it's been a long time since someone's asked me that? Well yes, yes I suppose so. As long as there's nothing keeping you here?' he said.
Emily gestured with her hands at the dark, rough bleak world they stood on.
'No, nothing holding me here. Not even genesis' she said and smiled.
'Ah now that is much better, a far cry from what you said to me before? Not that I'm complaining. Welcome on board the TARDIS, that is when we find her?' he said glancing around the area it was then there came a familiar groaning in the air and a strange blue box shimmered into view beside the rocky slope.
'Ah there you are old girl, I see the HADS is working perfectly well' he said and marched over to it, key in hand.
'But how did that get there? It wasn't there before?' she said and watched as the Doctor stepped in.
'Come inside and close the door, there's a draught inside' the Doctor called and as Emily walked through she gasped as the door closed.
'Oh my goodness' she cried glancing around at the vast space around her, the lights sparkled and gleamed like she was in some sort of magical cave?
There the Doctor stood working some very odd controls at a central console, as he finished he looked up to see her.
‘Not to worry Miss Emily, this is perfectly normal or as normality would clarify a police box being bigger on the inside than the outside absurd’ the Doctor replied.
‘Where are we? How can all this fit in here?’ she asked and he smiled before walking to a tea tray and pulled free a white plate of assorted biscuits.
‘Chocolate hobnob?’ he asked and tentatively Emily took one.
‘Thanks, look Doctor just call me Emily. It does sound rather formal’ she said and the Doctor bowed.
‘So be it Emily as for this place, this is the TARDIS and we can go anywhere in the universe of time, fancy a jaunt?’ he asked and walked to the console and selected a few controls.
Immediately the central rotor started to rise and fall and turning back to her, he gestured to a waiting armchair.
‘Please wont you sit down, help yourself to biscuits and I’ll go rustle up some tea’ he said placing the plate on the console and retreating to the far door.
As Emily crossed over to the console in search of the biscuits she glanced up at the powerful console, the flickering energy and she smiled.
While outside against the slope the battered looking frame of the TARDIS slowly faded away from sight.