TTV Series Episode 6: The Auton Army

The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS, and headed towards the crowded shopping centre, a hairdryer in his hand. Various shoppers shot confused looks at him as he raced through the entrance and past them. He had mere minutes to get to the source – and to stop the Autons from awakening. He stopped to gather his bearings, trying to read the confusing signs overhead.

“Excuse me, but could you tell me where the toilets are?” a woman asked.
“Oh, over there,” the Doctor smiled, pointing.
“Thanks,” the woman replied. “You know, you’re the first to tell me where they are. Everyone else just gaped at me with a confused expression! I don’t know how bad they are, but I really need to go, my husband’s waiting at the car.”
“What did you say?” the Doctor frowned.
“The toilets,” the woman repeated. “Nobody knew where they were…”

The Doctor thought for a second, before gasping.

“Follow me!” he cried.

He took the woman’s hand, and pulled her off in the direction of the toilets. They stopped outside the door, and the Doctor pointed at them.

“Here,” he said. “There’s a perception filter on these toilets – that’s why no one knew where they were. This must be where the Auton Source is – I think you’d better leave.”
“Not a chance,” the woman replied. “I’m desperate for the toilet. My name’s Shelly by the way, Shelly Thwaites.”
“Nice to meet you, Shelly,” the Doctor grinned. “I’m the Doctor.”

He reached out, and pushed open the door. The pair entered the room, to find it was not a toilet, but in fact a large room filled with cables and computers. A glowing sphere was held at the centre, wired up to the largest data bank.

“Is that the Auto Source?” Shelly asked in amazement.
“Auton,” the Doctor corrected. “Mannequins, living plastic, but yes, that’s the source.”
“It’s very shiny,” Shelly noted. “But I still can’t help wonder if they have a toilet somewhere, I really am desperate.”
“I’d say not,” the Doctor shrugged. “There might be one in one of the restaurants.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Shelly said quietly.

The Doctor slipped on his brainy specs, and examined the Auton Source.

“What does it do?” Shelly asked. “How did it get here?”
“It activates the Autons,” the Doctor explained. “And nobody put it here. The Nestene Consciousness regularly ejects them from passing ships in the hope of killing the population, so it can stuff its fat, greedy face. There’s a whole Auton Army out there.”
“I take it that countdown there tells us when they’ll activate,” Shelly said, pointing at a clock on the wall.
“Oh, I hadn’t seen that,” the Doctor frowned. “But there’s only 20 seconds left…”

He pulled the Sonic Screwdriver from his pocket, quickly flicking through the settings. Once he had found one suitable for smashing glass, he raised it, but before he could strike, the countdown reached zero, and the Autons activated. Before he could react to the sudden screams outside the bathroom, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, and flew through the air. When he recovered himself, he saw the plastic wiring that was all over the room had grabbed him, and that the Sonic Screwdriver was several feet away.

“Shelly, duck!” he cried.

Shelly dropped to the floor, and hid behind the Auton Source. The wiring didn’t attack for fear of hitting the Source, so Shelly was safe.

“Now what do I do?” she asked.
“The Sonic Screwdriver – over there!” the Doctor pointed. “Get it, and press the button!”

Shelly reached over, but one of the wires flicked the Sonic Screwdriver across the room. Shelly darted after it, and as she seized it, the wiring grabbed her too.

“Press the button!” the Doctor cried once more.

Shelly looked down, and pressed the small button on the slim device. At once, the Auton Source smashed into a thousand pieces, and the various computer screens went red. The wiring dropped the Doctor and Shelly, but the computers continued to flash.

“What does it mean?” Shelly asked.
“There’s gonna be a massive explosion,” the Doctor said, running a hand through his hair.
“The whole shopping centre, gone…” Shelly muttered. “We’d better run!”

She took his hand, and ran from the room. Various plastic Autons were staggering around, losing their power and becoming inanimate once more. Whenever one got too close, the Doctor was used the hairdryer to ward it off, threatening to melt it with the heat.

“Wait!” Shelly cried, pulling the Doctor to a halt.

She ran over to a fire alarm, and broke the glass with her elbow. The Doctor grinned, and led the way out. When they were at a safe distance, they covered their ears, and waited for the deafening explosion, but it never came.

“It should have gone off by now,” the Doctor frowned.
“Maybe it was the small noise I heard when we left through the doors?” Shelly suggested. “It wasn’t a very big explosion if it was.”
“It must’ve been,” the Doctor sighed. “I’m a little disappointed now.”

Shelly laughed, before gasping.

“I’ve forgotten about my husband! He’s probably wondering where I am!”

The Doctor laughed as she ran off. She had almost reached the shopping centre, when she turned and waved. Smiling, the Doctor headed into the TARDIS, and continued with his mission.

The End