Episode 8: Black and Gold Part 2

“Well I’m going out fighting,” Triss said.
“Me too,” Steve said.
“Well of course I will too, but we have lost the war. I dunno what we’re gonna do,” Larry said.
“What planet were we on?” the Doctor said. “Where were your bases?”
“We were on a special Out Region above the Earth,” Triss said. “Like an artificial mini-planet.”
“But dealing with signals and tactics,” the Doctor said. “Like a satellite. So what’s going to happen to the Earth now?”
“One of the remaining Human groups on the Out Region will have to try and inform the planet so they can start evacuating the Earth,” Steve replied.
“Let’s hope they manage it,” Larry said grimly. “With us losing the war, the Kritzanthians will kill all of the Humans on the Out Region. And when they own the Out Region, they basically control the Earth. They can send signals and messages to the planet below. They could even blow it out of the sky.”
“Ah, so it’s bad then,” the Doctor said.
“Pretty bad, yeah.”

The Shadowy Man walked down the corridor. He heard Matron Readington wheel into the ward which contained an unconscious Carlisle, and a very worried Becky, Jeremy, Pippa and Georgia.

“Hello,” Georgia said. “I’m the new Nurse, Georgia Bell.”
“Welcome to the team,” Matron Readington said, wheeling past her.
“She’s always like that,” Pippa whispered.
“And how is Dr Welsby?” Matron Readington asked.
“He’s gonna be fine,” Becky said, patting Carlisle’s face with a damp cloth.
“He’ll be up on his feet in no time at all,” Jeremy said.
“Nurse Stevens can look after Dr Welsby when you have patients,” Matron Readington said. “I’ve gotten the other teams to cover for your shifts tonight, however.”
“Thank you,” Becky said. “Georgia, can you get me a fresh bowl of water for Carlisle?”
“Sure,” Georgia said, walking towards the door.

She walked over to the door, and grasped the handle. The door was locked.

“Pippa?” Georgia called. “Did you lock the door to the ward?”
“No,” Pippa replied. “Becky? Matron?”
“I haven’t touched the door,” Becky said.
“I was the last to use it and I can assure you it’s not locked,” Matron Readington said sternly.
“Well it is,” Georgia said.

She gave one last tug on the door, when suddenly the lights went out, plunging the group into darkness. Conner was led into Mrs Macready’s room once again held by Peter. Dorris entered behind him, being held by Susan. Lucy, Edward and Wendy stood by the door in case they made another bid for freedom. Mrs Macready clicked her fingers, and the wall slid open.

“That’s a bit posh,” Conner said. “What’s that hole there?”
“That is a chute, Mr Bennet,” Mrs Macready said. “It leads to the processor, where you will be made perfect.”

She waved a hand to the wall, and Dorris and Conner were dragged towards the chute. Susan pushed Dorris into the chute, and she slid out of sight. Susan stood up and walked over to Wendy.

“Go and patrol the corridors,” Wendy told Susan.
“Yes Wendy,” Susan said, leaving the room.
“You too, Edward,” Mrs Macready said. “Wendy, you will take Lucy to her room and join Edward in the corridors.”
“Okay,” Wendy said, leading the others out.

Peter shoved Conner forwards roughly, and he fell to the floor. Mrs Macready pointed to the chute.

“Off you go,” she said.

Conner sighed and lowered himself into the chute. Looking once more at Peter, he slid out of sight.

“I expect the Kritzanthians will have killed all the humans by now,” Triss said.
“But why are they keeping us alive?” the Doctor asked.
“Probably need proof,” Larry said.
“They’ll be making the broadcast soon,” Steve said.
“Broadcast?” the Doctor asked.
“To Earth,” Steve said. “Telling the population they won.”
“When everyone’s lost, the Kritzanthian’s battle is won,” the Doctor quoted. “With all these things that I have done.”
“What’s that from?” Triss asked.
“It’s a Killers song,” the Doctor said, slumped against the wall.

Georgia walked along the ward, her arm stretched forwards. She headed to where she thought the lights were. As she walked through the dark, a hand grabbed her shoulder.

“Georgia Bell,” the voice said. “Don’t turn on the lights.”
“Who is that?” Georgia asked nervously.
“You call me the Shadowy Man, but that’s not my name,” the Shadowy Man said.
“Then what is your name?” Georgia whispered, as she turned on the lights.

As the lights flickered and came on, Georgia span around. The Shadowy Man was gone.

“Dorris, is that you?” Conner asked the dark.
“Yeah,” Dorris replied. “Where are we?”
“In the processing bit,” Conner said. “We’re moving!”

The floor underneath Conner jolted, and began to move, knocking him and Dorris off their feet. Dorris screamed as she fell further down. Light suddenly filled the room, and she realised she was in a large pot, heading along the room. Conner had scrambled into the second pot, and was attempting to reach her.

“Dorris! You’ve got to jump!” Conner cried.
“What? I can’t!” Dorris replied.
“Trust me! That pot is gonna fall, and you’re gonna be perfect! With no emotion – you won’t like jumping on beds or leaping about the house, and you definitely won’t like wrestling!” Conner cried, reaching out a hand.
“But…!” Dorris cried. “I don’t even like wrestling!”

Conner sighed. Dorris climbed to the edge of the pot, and jumped. Naomi Green ran down the corridor, raising her gun. A Kritzanthian burst through the double doors at the end, so she shot it dead. Everyone else in the base was dead. Kritzanthian soldiers had invaded at least two of the other bases, and Naomi had seen a report informing the bases of the captures of Triss Crask, Steve Rollins, Larry Roux, and, more importantly – the Doctor.

“Hello? Can anyone hear me out there?” Naomi asked into her communications device. “I need to know, am I the only one left in the base?”

She heard a rumble from above, and ran to the nearest window. Naomi saw the Kritzanthian spaceship flying overhead. That must mean the enemy were planning to destroy the base. She punched in the code to the outside, and ran onto the bridge, her hair flying around her in the wind.

“Doctor!” Naomi cried. “Can you hear me? Doctor! I need you!”

Commander Snappy of the Kritzanthians stomped into the room containing the prisoners. The Doctor looked up as Snappy pointed at him.

“We have communication,” Snappy told him. “Human female from fallen base has called out for you.”
“Georgia?” the Doctor asked. “Take me with you.”
“You will follow me to the Observation Deck,” Snappy said, leading him out of the room.
“Yes sir,” the Doctor said, winking at Triss as he left.

Triss heard a clatter as the Doctor and Snappy left the room. She saw his Sonic Screwdriver on the floor. She grinned and picked it up.

“We’re getting out of here,” she said.

The Doctor placed his brainy specs on the end of his nose and peered at the screen. On the screen was an unfamiliar woman, with her arms out, looking up into the sky. The wind from the Kritzanthian spaceship made her dark hair fly around.

“Doctor!” Naomi cried on the screen. “Can you hear me? Doctor! I need you!”

Commander Snappy switched off the screen and turned to the Doctor.

“She addresses you,” he said.
“Well… I suppose she might have,” the Doctor said. “It could be any doctor.”
“We have captured her, and all she talks of is you,” Snappy said.
“Ohh, couldn’t you leave her alone?” the Doctor sighed.
“That is not our method,” Snappy replied coldly. “You will see her now.”

Conner grabbed Dorris’ hand as they ran along the moving floor. Dorris fell over, and Conner helped her to her feet.

“We haven’t escaped yet,” Conner cried. “We need to get out of here.”
“But then what will we do?” Dorris asked as they ran.
“I’ve got a plan,” Conner said, as they jumped over machinery.
“Watch out!” Dorris screamed.

She let go of Conner’s hand as the floor jolted, and a pot rolled towards them. Dorris fell over and Conner was knocked into the pot.

“Conner!” Dorris screamed. “I’m moving backwards!”
“I’ll save you!” Conner cried. “Give me a second!”

He scrambled at the side of the pot, trying to climb out. He grabbed the ledge and pulled himself out. Somewhere to the right he could hear Dorris scream. He only had a minute before she was perfected. He jumped from the pot, smashing into the moving floor. Dorris screamed once more.

“Bleurgh,” Conner groaned, winded.

He pushed himself up off the floor, and turned around. Dorris had gone.

“Dorris!”

Triss eventually managed to work the Sonic Screwdriver. She opened the door, and checked the corridor was empty. It was, so she, Steve and Larry hurried out into the corridor.

“Now what do we do?” Steve asked.
“The Doctor was taken to the Communications Room,” Triss said. “We need to rescue him.”
“No,” Larry said. “It’s every man or woman for themselves.”
“But we can’t just leave him!” Triss cried. “I’ve seen what he can do – we need him in the fight against the Kritzanthians.”
“Fine,” Larry said. “But we can’t walk around the ship, we’ll be discovered. Plus, we need to sabotage the ship. Get it to blow up. That sort of thing.”
“You make it all sounds so easy,” Triss laughed.
“It is, when you put your mind to it,” Larry chuckled.

Triss looked up at the ceiling and raised the Sonic Screwdriver. A panel fell out, and Larry grinned. He jumped up and grabbed the ceiling, pulling himself into the ventilation shafts.

“We’ll have to take the air vents to avoid detection,” Larry called down.

Suddenly there was a noise further down the corridor. Three Kritzanthians were coming towards Triss and Steve. Triss raised the Sonic Screwdriver, but nothing happened.

“Why isn’t this working?” Triss asked.
“They haven’t seen us,” Steve said. “Don’t hurt them, climb!”

Triss cried out and raised her arms. Larry leaned down grabbed her arms. Triss screamed as she was lifted off her feet.

“Watch it!” she yelled.
“Sorry!” Larry laughed.
“Hurry up!” Triss said.

Larry pulled Triss into the ventilation shaft, and reached down for Steve. Triss climbed behind Larry and used the Sonic Screwdriver to light the small shaft. It was empty, allowing them to climb through without difficulty.

“Oh my God!” Steve cried. “They’re coming! They’ve seen me!”
“No, come on!” Larry cried.
“Help him!” Triss screamed.
“Leave me, it’s too late,” Steve said.
“I’m not leaving you!” Larry cried.
“You have to!” Steve said. “Leave me. It’s too late for me now. I’m sorry. Thanks Triss, for keeping us all together. Oh God, they’re here.”

Larry placed the panel back into the ceiling, and Triss used the Sonic Screwdriver to lock it into place. Steve turned around to face the three Kritzanthians, who were all carrying guns.

“To use the old Earth expression,” Steve said, knowing the end was coming. “I did my duty – for King and Country.”

The Kritzanthians raised their guns in unison, and fired – pzoom! – and Steve Rollins sighed his last.

To be continued…