Doctor Who: Code of the Krillitanes

by Richards, Justin

  A group of four of the creatures stood by one of the massive tanks. The Doctor guessed they were waiting for the process to finish. It probably wouldn’t be long now. When all the Krillitanes were looking the other way, he ran to the next of the tanks.

  One of the Krillitanes turned as the Doctor hurried past. Perhaps it caught sight of a blur of movement, a shadow moving across the floor. The Doctor took shelter behind the tank. It was an enormous steel drum.

  The Doctor put his ear to the metal. Deep inside he could hear something moving. He could imagine the new breed of Krillitane creature thrashing in the liquids that gave it energy and life. The fluids that kept it fed and healthy as it grew.

  He wondered what it would look like. Would it be like the Krillitanes now patrolling the factory? Or would it be very different? He knew that, unless he acted now, he would soon find out.

  The Doctor found the main control valve. This was what fed Krillitane Oil and other nutrients into the tanks. He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and aimed it at the valve.

  A clawed hand clamped down on the Doctor’s shoulder. It dug in, sharp and painful. Another claw knocked his sonic screwdriver aside.

  The Krillitanes all looked very similar. But there was enough difference in their features and colour for the Doctor to recognise Sir Manning. Behind him, the Doctor could see Stella Sark and Gabby, watching him with hungry eyes.

  ‘You really thought you could defeat us, Doctor?’ Sir Manning said.

  The Doctor pulled himself free of the painful grasp. He rubbed at his shoulder and stretched. ‘Careful, that hurt.’

  ‘I’m so pleased.’

  ‘Kill him,’ Stella Sark said.

  ‘Oh, don’t I get to see the final product?’ the Doctor complained. ‘You said yourself, I can’t defeat you now. Why don’t you let me live a bit longer. At least then you can have a decent gloat. How did you find me, anyway?’

  ‘We guessed you would come,’ Gabby said.

  ‘You see, Doctor,’ Sir Manning added, ‘you are so very predictable. In a few moments you will indeed witness our victory. Before you die.’

  Chapter Eleven

  ‘WELL, I HOPE it’s worth it all,’ the Doctor said. ‘I mean, hijacking the internet and making all those crisps.’ He could see patches of dark, burned skin on Sir Manning and Miss Sark. ‘I hope there’s no lasting damage, by the way.’

  Miss Sark hissed with anger. ‘We should kill you now. Why wait?’

  ‘Well, that’s right,’ the Doctor agreed. ‘You’re keeping me alive so I can witness your big success. Only, what if it isn’t such a big success? What if it all turns out to be a bit rubbish? That would be such a waste of effort. Not to say embarrassing.’

  The Krillitane that was Gabby stepped forward. Her claws clicked on the concrete floor, sending up sparks. ‘Why did he come here?’ she asked. ‘What was his plan? He still seems very sure of himself. What can he have done?’

  The Sir Manning Krillitane hurried over to the valves and pipes where the Doctor had been working.

  ‘It seems we found you just in time. You were going to open the main flow valve from the oil feed,’ he guessed.

  ‘Oh, someone’s getting clever. Been at those Brainy Crisps, have we?’

  ‘If he had opened this main valve,’ Sir Manning explained to the other Krillitanes, ‘the oil would have gushed out of its tank. It would have spread through the whole place.’

  ‘Highly inflammable cooking oil flooding the building.’ The Doctor smiled. ‘Sounds like a recipe for disaster, if you ask me.’

  ‘You should show some respect,’ Miss Sark snapped. ‘Your only hope is gone. What is it they say? You win some, you lose some.’

  ‘No,’ the Doctor replied. ‘Well, yes, they do say that. But it’s not true. Not in my case. You see, I win them all.’

  ‘It’s over, Doctor,’ Sir Manning said. ‘You and your stupid friend…’ His voice tailed off and the creature swung round. ‘Where’s Henry?’ he demanded.

  ‘Ah, sorry. He had to go home. Wasn’t feeling too good.’ The Doctor patted his pockets. ‘I’ve got a sick note somewhere…’

  ‘He’s here,’ Gabby realised. ‘Henry is still hiding here in the factory.’

  ‘Find him!’ Sir Manning ordered.

  Gabby hurried away, her wings beating urgently. Sir Manning turned back to the Doctor. ‘Where is Henry? What is he doing?’

  The Doctor sighed, and made a point of brushing dust off his lapel. ‘You made the same mistake as Gabby.’

  ‘What mistake is that?’ Miss Sark asked.

  ‘You undervalued Henry. Just like you’ve undervalued all the humans on this planet. You’re going to pay for that. Unless you leave now.’ The Doctor’s eyes were hard, his face grave. ‘I don’t usually give another last chance. You don’t know how lucky you are. Leave now, while you can.’

  They did not laugh at the Doctor’s words this time. Sir Manning turned his large head towards Miss Sark. ‘Find Henry. Get all the brothers and sisters to search. We are so close, we cannot be denied our destiny now.’

  Henry was feeling pleased with himself. He had at last managed to log into the factory systems. They were messed up by the problems with the internet, but he thought he could find a way to do what the Doctor wanted.

  His biggest challenge was to stay safe. More than once, Krillitanes walked past the office and he had to duck down out of sight, but he was soon absorbed in his task.

  In fact, he was so absorbed that he didn’t notice the door swing open. A shadow fell across the desk.

  ‘Be with you in a minute,’ Henry said, out of habit. He was used to people waiting to talk to him while he worked in his office.

  Except he wasn’t in his office, he remembered. Nervously, Henry looked up.

  A Krillitane was looming over him. With a snarl of rage, it reached over the top of the desk. It grabbed Henry’s shoulders. He felt the claws pierce his jacket and his shirt. Then the Krillitane hauled him up from the chair.

  Clamped hard against the creature’s bony chest, Henry could not move. The creature snarled with glee, and dragged him away.

  Sir Manning’s alien eyes narrowed as he watched the Doctor. There were just the two of them now, standing between the giant metal tanks.

  ‘You’re too clever to be caught so easily,’ said Sir Manning.

  The Doctor grinned at him. ‘You’re so kind. But no, you caught me fair and square, so well done, you.’

  ‘You came here on purpose. You knew that the most obvious action you could take against us would involve the oil.’ Sir Manning looked up at one of the huge metal tanks beside them. ‘There is enough Krillitane Oil in that tank to destroy this whole factory. Because of the way the process works, it has to be right next to the birth-tank. That is where the new Krillitanes are being created.’ He turned to gesture at the tank on the other side of them. ‘As I say, it was an obvious target.’

  ‘There you are, then.’

  ‘Too obvious. You were certain to fail, and you knew that.’

  ‘Perhaps I’m not as clever as you look.’

  ‘Or perhaps that was not really your plan at all. You lured us here while Henry did the real work. Tell me, Doctor – what has he been doing? Where is he?’

  The Doctor met Sir Manning’s gaze. ‘Henry will stop you. Be sure of it.’

  There was a cackle of alien laughter from behind him. The Doctor spun round, and saw Krillitane Gabby drag Henry round from the other side of the tank.

  ‘Not so clever after all,’ she said. She pushed Henry away from her, and he stumbled and fell.

  The Doctor helped Henry to his feet. ‘Did you do it?’ he whispered urgently.

  Before Henry could answer, Sir Manning pulled the Doctor away.

  ‘You see, Doctor, you simply cannot win. Your friend failed. In moments now the final data will finish flowing into the new Krillitanes. A race will be born. A new race of Krillitanes that will conquer the universe. We have won!’

>   From the huge metal drum that Sir Manning had called the birth-tank came a sound. It was a scraping, scratching sound. Then a muffled boom.

  It was the sound of the creatures inside trying to get out.

  Chapter Twelve

  HENRY AND THE Doctor stood next to the birth-tank. Stella Sark checked the gauges and read-outs.

  ‘It’s almost complete,’ she reported to Sir Manning. ‘The last data is being programmed into the new Krillitane creatures even as we speak.’

  ‘Then gather the brothers and sisters,’ Sir Manning said. ‘This is an historic moment. They should witness it.’

  Miss Sark hurried away, her claws clicking on the concrete floor.

  Sir Manning turned to the Doctor and Henry. ‘You will witness it too. The final triumph of the Krillitanes. The beginning of a whole new race of creatures that will conquer all before them.’

  The Doctor sighed. ‘Yawn,’ he said.

  The tank containing the creatures shuddered under an impact from inside.

  ‘How will they get out?’ Henry wondered.

  Sir Manning’s alien features twisted into a smile. ‘Oh, they’ll find a way.’

  The other Krillitanes arrived. There were about a dozen of them. They gathered round Sir Manning and Miss Sark. The Krillitane that had disguised himself as Clive gave a hiss of amusement when he saw the Doctor and Henry.

  The sounds from inside the tank got louder. A dent appeared in the side of the tank, close to the Doctor and Henry.

  ‘The creation fluids and liquids are being pumped out,’ one of the Krillitanes reported.

  ‘The process is complete,’ another added. ‘All personality and character details have been fed into the creatures.’

  ‘Not just creatures,’ Sir Manning said proudly. ‘Krillitanes. Super-Krillitanes.’

  Another dent appeared in the tank. The metal began to split. With a wrenching, tearing sound, a hole appeared. Massive claws reached out, ripping the metal aside like paper.

  Henry watched in horror. The whole building echoed with the screeching sound of tearing metal.

  ‘I’m not sure I like the look of that,’ the Doctor said.

  ‘Behold – our future!’ exclaimed Sir Manning.

  As he spoke, a whole section of the tank was forced aside. A massive creature stepped out. It stood, breathing deeply and looking around. Behind it two more of the huge creatures forced their way out of the tank.

  They did not look very much like the other Krillitanes. These creatures were about three metres tall and deep red in colour. Their bodies were wet with the remains of the fluids from the tank. Their wings seemed more sleek and elegant.

  Their faces were the most different. They were rounder, with less gaunt features. They looked almost human, like innocent children. Stubby horns stuck up from the tops of their heads, and they had long, sharp claws.

  ‘They’re like angels,’ Henry gasped. ‘OK, red angels. With horns and claws.’

  ‘Angels,’ the Doctor murmured. He looked at the original Krillitanes. ‘And demons. But you’re right, there is a family likeness.’

  ‘They might look different, but they are so much stronger,’ Miss Sark said.

  ‘And far more clever,’ Sir Manning added.

  The Doctor sniffed. ‘Well, that wouldn’t be so hard, would it?’

  Sir Manning’s stony lips curled in anger. ‘For all their differences, they are still Krillitanes. You will be the first to witness their strength and power. Their ferocity, lack of mercy, and single-minded killer instincts.’

  ‘And that all comes from their character programming?’ the Doctor said. ‘The last part of the data that you got from the puzzles and tests on the Brainy_Crisps website, yes?’

  ‘Of course,’ Miss Sark said.

  ‘The website that Henry here has been in charge of.’

  ‘Yes,’ Sir Manning said. There was a hint of uncertainty in his voice now.

  ‘And the personality and instinct all comes from the tests that cover intelligence and reason, don’t they? And the ones that asked about war and anger? About fighting and hatred?’

  ‘The best way to get the data we needed.’

  ‘Yes, I thought so.’ The Doctor stuffed his hands into his pockets.

  There was silence for several moments. Sir Manning and the other Krillitanes looked at each other confused. The three new Super-Krillitane creatures stood watching silently. Their eyes glinted as they caught the light.

  ‘Is there some point you are trying to make, Doctor?’ Sir Manning asked. ‘Before you die, that is.’

  The Doctor shrugged. ‘Not really.’ He turned to Henry. ‘Anything you wanted to add?’

  ‘Um…’ Henry said. He sounded nervous. He glanced up at the glistening, red creature standing right beside him. The talons at the ends of its fingers were as long as Henry’s own fingers. ‘Not really,’ he decided. ‘Except that I guess the way these beasts behave is very much to do with what data was fed in. It depends on the results of the tests.’

  ‘Of course,’ Sir Manning said. ‘And now we shall have one final test. We shall see how quickly our new brothers can rip you to shreds.’ He looked up at the three massive creatures. ‘The time has come, my brothers. Kill these two.’ He pointed at the Doctor and Henry.

  The three creatures turned towards the Doctor and Henry. One of the huge new Krillitanes reached out its clawed hand towards the Doctor. Henry and the Doctor backed away as the creatures advanced.

  Chapter Thirteen

  HENRY LOOKED SCARED, but the Doctor seemed completely at ease.

  ‘This will be interesting,’ the Doctor said loudly. ‘Have you any idea what would happen if the wrong data got fed in? If, instead of all that hate and anger, the data came from a different website? Say, one where people talked about manners and how to be polite.’

  ‘You mean, discussions about which cutlery to use at a dinner party, and how to talk to a bishop or the Queen?’ Henry asked.

  ‘That sort of thing,’ the Doctor agreed.

  The nearest of the Super-Krillitanes loomed over the Doctor.

  ‘You talk such nonsense, Doctor,’ Sir Manning said. ‘That nonsense stops now. Kill him. Kill them both!’

  The first of the huge creatures was almost treading on the Doctor’s toes. Fluid dripped from the tip of one of its talons, and splashed to the floor.

  The Doctor reached out and grabbed the clawed hand that was coming towards him. With a huge grin, the Doctor shook the new Super-Krillitane’s hand.

  ‘So, how’s it going, big fellow? I’m the Doctor, and this is my friend Henry.’

  The Super-Krillitane’s voice was a surprise. It was refined and cultured. ‘Delighted to meet you both. I don’t think we have names as such.’ It turned its massive head towards the two other huge creatures. ‘Do we?’

  ‘I don’t think we do,’ one of the others agreed.

  ‘Pretty sure we don’t,’ the third one said. ‘Something we need to sort out.’

  ‘Well, this is all a bit confusing and new, isn’t it, Henry?’ the Super-Krillitane said to Henry. ‘If I may call you Henry?’

  Henry nodded weakly.

  ‘Thank you so much. Feeling a bit peckish, actually. You don’t happen to have a cucumber sandwich or something of the sort about your person, do you?’

  ‘Perhaps the Doctor and Henry will be free to come out and play later,’ one of the other Super-Krillitanes said.

  ‘That would be nice,’ the Doctor said. ‘Wouldn’t that be nice, Henry?’

  ‘Very nice,’ Henry agreed.

  The original Krillitanes watched this exchange with rising disbelief.

  ‘What is going on?’ Gabby asked.

  ‘Something’s wrong,’ Miss Sark said coldly.

  ‘Kill them!’ Sir Manning shouted. ‘Kill them now, you fools!’

  The three new creatures looked at each other.

  ‘We can’t do that,’ one of them said.

  ‘They want to come out and p
lay. You can’t go round killing your friends, you know.’

  ‘What sort of society would that lead to?’ asked the Super-Krillitane that had shaken the Doctor’s hand. ‘You’re a bit strange, you are.’

  Sir Manning was hopping from clawed foot to clawed foot. ‘What have you done, Doctor?’

  The Doctor smiled. ‘I’ve done nothing. But Henry – you remember Henry, who you thought was a bit stupid? Well, he’s not stupid at all, is he? Because he changed the data coming into your new Super-Krillitane brothers. Yes,’ he said sounding pleased with himself, ‘a great success, don’t you think?’ He caught sight of the Sir Manning Krillitane’s angry face. ‘Oh, you don’t think so. That’s a shame.’

  ‘Shame,’ echoed one of the new Super-Krillitanes.

  Sir Manning and Miss Sark looked at each other. ‘If you won’t kill them,’ Sir Manning said, ‘then we will. Then we shall start this whole project again.’

  ‘No, no, no,’ the Doctor said. ‘It’s over. Can’t you see that? Just put it down to experience and leave this planet.’

  Sir Manning and the other original Krillitanes did not listen. They hurled themselves at the Doctor and Henry. Their wings flapped as they launched forwards, snarling in anger.

  The three new Super-Krillitanes at once stepped in the way.

  ‘You’re not hurting our friends,’ one of them said.

  ‘We’ve only just met them,’ another pointed out.

  For a moment, the savage Krillitanes paused. Only for a moment, though. Then Miss Sark gave a cry of rage and leaped forward again.

  ‘You are a disgrace to the name of Krillitane,’ she shouted.

  The nearest of the new Super-Krillitanes swatted her aside as if she were a fly. Miss Sark clanged into the side of a metal tank. At once she was up again, wings beating as she flew back towards the Super-Krillitanes.

  The fight was becoming a battle between the two types of Krillitane. The Doctor and Henry watched as the smaller, more vicious original Krillitanes attacked the larger ones. A huge clawed foot stamped down, just missing Henry. Sparks flew from the claw as it cracked into the concrete floor. The Doctor pulled Henry back out of the way.