Doctor Who - [083] - [Target Novel 09] -The Android Invasion

by Terrance Dicks

  The Doctor reached out and took a red-braided Army officer's cap from the top of a filing cabinet. "I just wondered. You're in someone else's office. It says Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart on the door."

  "You know the Brigadier?"

  "Known him for years. As a matter of fact, I'm his acting unpaid Scientific Adviser."

  "The Doctor," said Crayford slowly. "Yes, I've heard about you."

  "Good. And you are?"

  "Guy Crayford. I'm Senior Astronaut here."

  "How do you do?" said the Doctor politely.

  He held out his hand, but Crayford stepped back, raising the revolver. "Let's have those hands up, Doctor—if you are the Doctor. You could still be an imposter."

  The Doctor raised his hands, studying Crayford thoughtfully. "You're very nervous, aren't you? I think something very strange must be going on here."

  Crayford frowned. "You've come to that conclusion, have you, Doctor? Interesting. I think we'd better have you taken care of."

  "Look," said the Doctor patiently. "I've a suggestion to make. Call the Brigadier and get him to identify me. My arms are beginning to ache."

  "Lethbridge-Stewart's away in Geneva. Colonel Faraday's in charge at the moment." Crayford moved behind the desk and touched a button.

  "If you're ringing for the butler," said the Doctor hopefully, "I'm very partial to tea and muffins." He moved closer to the desk.

  "You'll be held in detention until your identity has been verified," said Crayford curtly.

  The Doctor didn't care for being locked up at the best of times, and he was particularly set against being locked up by people he didn't know or trust. He had an uncomfortable feeling that Crayford already knew he was really the Doctor. That was why he wanted to lock him up.

  "Detention!" said the Doctor indignantly. "Not detention. I can't bear being detained." With that, he tipped the desk on top of Crayford and shot out of the room.

  Crayford fired automatically, but the shots went harmlessly into the ceiling. He began struggling out from under the desk.

  The Doctor dashed along the corridor, and saw the soldier who'd come back to life marching towards him, rifle in hand. He turned and ran back the way he'd come—just as Crayford lurched out of his office doorway and took another shot at him. The Doctor ducked down a side corridor. Unfortunately, it was a dead end—but there was a ladder bolted to the wall, and a hatch in the roof. He swarmed up the ladder, shoved open the hatch and climbed through. Adams and Crayford arrived at the end of the little corridor just in time to see his legs disappear.

  "Get after him," snapped Crayford, Hampered by his rifle, Adams started to climb the ladder.

  The Doctor came out onto the flat roof of one of the long low buildings that made up the complex. He ran to the edge of the roof and looked over—and jumped back as bullets whined about his head. A little group of soldiers stood on the path below, and they seemed to be using him for target practice.

  Sarah was climbing the rear wall of the complex when she heard the sound of shooting. Since the TARDIS had disappeared and she didn't fancy going back to the village, she'd decided to go to the Space Research Center and look for some answers there.

  She struggled to the top of the high wall, and got a grandstand view of the entire proceedings. She saw the Doctor running along the roof, and the soldiers firing from below. As she watched another soldier appeared through a hatch in the roof and knelt down, rifle at his shoulder, taking aim at the Doctor...

  The Doctor saw his danger, and dealt with it in the only way possible. There was no cover on the flat roof and at this range the Corporal could scarcely miss. The Doctor ran to the far edge of the roof on the other side from the firing squad below, and took a flying leap into space. He made a soft landing in a flower bed, Jumped to his feet and ran along the path-straight into the middle of a group of white-overalled helmeted mechanics who'd appeared round the corner of a building. The mechanics raised their fingers in that strange, pointing gesture. The Doctor remembered the way those fingers could spit bullets, and raised his hands. The mechanics surrounded him and led him away.

  Sarah watched from the top of the wall as the Doctor was led along the path alongside the building. When the Doctor and his captors were far enough away, she jumped down from the wall, and began trailing after them.

  The mechanics led the Doctor to the far side of the complex. They took him through a side entrance and down a long corridor lined with metal doors. They opened one apparently at random, thrust him inside, and slammed the door behind. He heard the rattle of bars and bolts, and then footsteps moving away.

  The Doctor was in a standard prison-type cell, just a bare metal room furnished only with a built-in bunk. To his utter astonishment, he heard a familiar voice whisper. "Doctor? Are you in there? Can you hear me?"

  He went to the cell door and peered through the spy-grille. Sarah was in the corridor. "What on earth are you doing here?" he whispered.

  Sarah grinned, "Rescuing you, for a change." She began wrestling with the heavy bolts.

  In the wall just behind her a little metal panel slid back. It was about the size of a mail box, and through it two deep-set alien eyes were staring unblinkingly at her. They were the eyes of Styggron, Chief Scientist of the Kraals.

  Hunted

  The bolts drew back at last, and Sarah pulled open the cell door. (Behind her the metal panel slid back into place, and the watching eyes disappeared.) Sarah sensed a flicker of movement and swung round but there was nothing to be seen. The Doctor shot out into the corridor, and saw Sarah peering over her shoulder. "What is it?"

  "I thought I saw something. What have you been up to, Doctor?"

  "Tell you later," said the Doctor briefly. "Come on, let's get out of here."

  * * *

  Like a spider at the center of its web, Styggron crouched over an instrument console in the secret Kraal control room below the Space Research Center. He touched a control and Crayford appeared on a monitor screen, "Yes, Styggron?"

  "I have just observed a second random unit in the cell area. It has released the first, What has gone wrong?"

  "A second unit?"

  "These patterns were not programmed," growled Styggron. "Explain!"

  "Was this second unit a female?"

  "Yes, one of the village section by the looks of her. Check the control directives, a fault must have developed."

  "It's not a random unit at all, Styggron—and neither was the first. Something quite extraordinary has happened."

  "If they are not random units—then what are they?"

  "Space travelers! The male is known as the Doctor. He advises the humans on defense. The female is his companion. They have arrived in the biomagnetron by error."

  There was a moment's pause, then the alien voice said suspiciously, "By error? Or by design? If this Doctor advises the humans on defense―" He was interrupted by the howl of the alarm siren.

  "The guards have spotted them," said Crayford eagerly.

  "After them, Crayford, after them! They must not escape!"

  * * *

  As the sound of the alarm siren died away, a squad of rifle-carrying soldiers came clattering down the corridor and disappeared through the doors at the far end. Once they were gone, a closet door opened, and the Doctor and Sarah slipped cautiously out.

  "That was a near one," whispered Sarah. "What on earth did you do?"

  "Do?"

  "To stir them all up like this. I mean, they seem to be taking you very seriously."

  "I didn't do anything. Finding me on the premises was enough to upset Crayford."

  Sarah stared at him. "Did you say Crayford?"

  The Doctor nodded. "Chap called Guy Crayford. Said he was Senior Astronaut,"

  "But that's impossible. You remember I told you I came here on a story, about two years ago? That's when Guy Crayford was killed."

  "How?"

  "It was the first test of the new XK5 scout ship. They sent him out into deep space,
then they lost him. The ship just vanished. They thought he must have hit an asteroid or something. Take it from me, Doctor, Guy Crayford is dead."

  * * *

  Crayford sat at his desk, looking up at the tiny monitor lens concealed high in the opposite wall, "I assure you, there is no cause for alarm, Styggron. The complex is being thoroughly searched, section by section. All exits have been covered and the guards have been ordered to shoot on sight."

  "Countermand that order," said the alien voice. "They must be kept alive for pattern analysis."

  "We already have a complete pattern analysis for both the village and the defense complex," protested Crayford.

  "Do as I say. The Doctor may have learned of the Kraal plan. He may be here to spy on us. It is essential for us to know."

  Crayford shook his head. "No, Styggron. While they live they are a danger to all of us. They must be destroyed."

  * * *

  The Doctor and Sarah hurried along yet another corridor. Behind them they could hear distant sounds of pursuit: the clatter of booted feet, shouted orders, the braying of the alarm sirens. For the moment at least, their pursuers seemed to be heading in the wrong direction. The sprawling layout of the research center was working to their advantage.

  As they approached a corridor junction, the Doctor paused and held up his hand for silence. Someone was walking up and down not far away. The Doctor glanced round. They were in a stretch of bare corridor, no handy offices or closets to duck into. The Doctor peered cautiously around the corner, then straightened up with a smile on his face. "Well, well; well!" He motioned Sarah forward. The corridor led to a reception area, and a familiar figure stood guarding the doors.

  "Small world, isn't it?" said the Doctor delightedly.

  Sarah hurried forward. "Hello, Mr. Benton!"

  The tall uniformed figure of Company Sergeant-Major Benton swung round to face them, a submachine gun cradled in his arms. But there was no sign of the welcome grin that Sarah had expected. The big soldier's face was cold and hard. The machine-gun swung up to cover them.

  Sarah stared unbelievingly at him. Benton was an old friend, a loyal companion in many a dangerous adventure. Now he didn't even seem to recognize them. "Mr. Benton," she called. "It's us!"

  The machine-gun was trained on them now, rock-steady in Benton's big hands. There was a click as he thumbed back the safety-catch.

  "No, Benton," shouted the Doctor. "Don't!"

  * * *

  Styggron wasn't used to opposition, and he didn't care for it. "Enough, Crayford," he roared. "You shall do as I say."

  Crayford wilted beneath the blast of anger. "Very well." He spoke into his communicator. "All units. The order to kill is cancelled. I repeat. Cancelled!"

  * * *

  Helplessly the Doctor watched Benton's finger tighten on the trigger. Then, miraculously, the finger relaxed. Benton lowered the gun and stood as if waiting, his face blank.

  The Doctor sprang forward, gave Benton a shove that sent him reeling back, grabbed Sarah by the hand and hauled her through the doors.

  Benton staggered against the wall, recovered, and ran around the corner to a phone set into the wall. Immediately, the main doors opened again, and the Doctor tiptoed back through them, pulling an astonished Sarah. They ducked down behind the central reception desk, which was big enough to hide them both completely.

  Benton was still talking into the phone. "That's right, the entrance to B Block. They've just escaped." Minutes later a squad of armed soldiers came thundering through the main doors. Immediately Benton took charge. "Corporal—with me. Well alert the other patrols. The rest of you, after them. Spread out!"

  Benton and the Corporal hurried off down the corridor, while the rest of the soldiers dashed away. Cautiously the Doctor raised his head.

  From somewhere below him a muffled voice said, "Why did we come back? We should have hoofed it while we had the chance. We're bound to be caught now."

  The Doctor shook his head, listening as the sounds of pursuit moved away from the building. "On the contrary, we've got them going in the wrong direction. The farther they spread out searching for us, the better our chances of getting away."

  They heard the sound of running feet and ducked down. The Doctor risked a quick look and saw yet another squad of soldiers, this time led by Crayford himself. With them was a handsome broad-shouldered young man with curly hair, immaculate in the uniform of a naval lieutenant.

  The Doctor heard Crayford say, "Sullivan!"

  "Yes, sir?"

  "Take a mobile troop, and put a cordon on the perimeter road."

  "Very good, sir. I'll get on to it right away."

  At the sound of the answering voice, Sarah almost popped up again, but the Doctor's hand held her down. The footsteps moved away, and after a moment the Doctor released his hold. Sarah shot up like a jack-in-the-box. "That was Harry, Doctor!" Harry Sullivan was UNIT's medical officer and another old friend. "What does he think he's up to? He's not even a soldier."

  The Doctor grinned. "Well, that should improve our chances a bit."

  Baffled, Sarah shook her head. "All our old friends are turning against us … hunting for us."

  "Led by a dead man," said the Doctor. "Fascinating, isn't it?"

  Sarah shivered. "Doctor, what is going on here?"

  "I think Crayford didn't die in space after all. And when he finally came back to Earth, he wasn't alone. Something came with him. Something that is controlling every human being for miles around."

  "Including Harry and Benton." Sarah sighed. "Where to now, Doctor?"

  "Back to the village, I think. Somehow we've got to tell London what's going on!"

  * * *

  The Doctor and Sarah dropped down from the perimeter wall, and ran for the shelter of the woods. As the Doctor had hoped, their enemies were widely scattered and hunting in the wrong part of the complex, and they'd managed to get clear of the center unseen.

  Once inside the wood, they paused to regain their breath.

  "Well, so far so good," said the Doctor optimistically.

  "As the man said when he fell off the skyscraper/' added Sarah. She looked round the woods. It was gloomy in between the sheltering trees, and uncannily silent. "Have you noticed something, Doctor? There are no birds in these woods."

  The Doctor listened. "Well, now that you mention it ..,w

  "It's eerie. No birds, no animals of any kind."

  From somewhere behind them there came the sound of deep, full-throated baying. "Bloodhounds are animals," said the Doctor grimly. "I think we'd better get a move on."

  They hurried on through the forest, but it was difficult to move quickly over the soft leaf-covered ground, and the baying came closer and closer. The Doctor loped ahead, and Sarah did her best to keep up with him. Then her foot caught on a hidden root, and she tripped and fell. The Doctor helped her up. "All right?"

  "Yes, I think so."

  "Good girl. Come on then." The Doctor ran on, but when Sarah tried to follow, a stab of pain went through her leg. "It's no good, Doctor, I seem to have hurt my ankle."

  The savage baying rang out again, much closer now. The Doctor turned back. "Don't worry, Sarah, I'll carry you."

  "Oh no you won't," said Sarah determinedly. "I'd just slow you down and then we'd both be caught. You'll have to leave me."

  The Doctor thought hard. Unfortunately, Sarah was right. If he tried to carry her over this uneven ground the dogs would be up with them both in no time. He made a quick decision. "Give me your jacket then, Sarah, I'll try to draw them off. You can hide in a tree."

  Sarah took off her jacket, and the Doctor lifted her until she could grab a low-lying tree-branch. He boosted her up until she could haul herself higher into the tree and conceal herself amongst the leaves. The Doctor dragged Sarah's jacket across the ground, making a trail leading away from the tree. As he moved away he called, "You stay up there until they've gone by. I'll meet you back at the village inn. If I'm not there in ab
out an hour, head for the TARDIS."

  Trailing the jacket, the Doctor disappeared amongst the trees. "Doctor," called Sarah softly. 'There's something I forgot to tell you..." But the Doctor was already out of earshot, and Sarah didn't dare shout louder in case she alerted their pursuers.

  Clinging to the branch, Sarah listened as the barking dogs came nearer and nearer. So much had happened since her rescue of the Doctor... now she'd forgotten to tell him the TARDIS had mysteriously disappeared!

  Captured

  Dragging the coat behind him the Doctor ran through the forest at breakneck speed. Anyone who thought the fox actually enjoyed the hunt, should try being chased across country by dogs themselves, he thought grimly.

  Despite his speed, the hounds were getting steadily closer. The Doctor ran on. Soon he was out of the shelter of the trees and running across a patch of open country. The ground sloped downwards suddenly. The Doctor bounded to the bottom of the slope and found a huge lake barring his way. He paused for a moment, looking behind him. The country around the lake was bare and open. The barking dogs were very close now, and he'd run straight into his pursuers if he turned back. The lake was broad: if he swam across the soldiers might arrive while he was still in the water, an easy target for their rifles.

  The Doctor thought hard. The lake was bordered by several thick clumps of reeds. He plucked a reed and blew thoughtfully through the hollow tube. Quickly he stripped off his coat, and shoes, and bundling them together with Sarah's coat, thrust them into the middle of a nearby bush. He hurried back to the lake.

  Not long afterwards a squad of soldiers ran down to the lake. Corporal Adams was in command, and two of the soldiers held huge bloodhounds straining at the leash. The hunters stopped, and looked about them. There was open country all around, the lake lay placid and undisturbed, and there was more open country on the far side. But the Doctor was nowhere in sight.

  The baffled dogs cast up and down the bank, looking for a scent, and soon one of them unearthed the bundle of clothing.

  Adams turned it over with his foot. "They must have swum across to confuse the scent. Half of you go around that way, and the rest come with me. We'll try to cut them off," The group divided and set off in opposite directions around the lake.