Dangerous Dimension

by Pippa Le Quesne

  ‘That’s a good idea,’ Cutter replied quickly. ‘Try them.’

  Stephen nodded briefly and hurried off.

  The professor turned to look at Claudia. She had been acting strangely since they’d left Lester’s office. Now she wouldn’t meet his eyes.

  ‘Helen wouldn’t do this to us,’ he implored. ‘I know she wouldn’t.’

  Claudia simply raised her eyebrows.

  Carefully, Abby laid the dodo on the metal slab.

  She’d set up a sterile area in Cutter’s lab by partitioning off a section of the room with thick plastic sheeting. She sighed heavily as she began lining up the instruments she would need for the procedure. She was about to perform her second autopsy of the day.

  Suddenly, Abby became aware of an ominous presence in the room.

  ‘Hello,’ she called out bravely. ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘They’re after me…’ came a weak voice, a shadow falling across her. ‘I need… proof. I… need help.’

  With her heart in her mouth, Abby pulled aside the sheeting and gulped.

  Standing in front of her was a tall young man in dark glasses. Everything about him was edgy. He was wearing a grey sweatshirt with the hood pulled up to obscure his face and he was holding his right arm awkwardly as if it were injured.

  ‘Aren’t you…?’ she said slowly, the pieces falling into place.

  ‘I’m Tom,’ he mumbled.

  Abby’s stomach clenched with fear as Tom pushed aside the plastic sheeting and pointed accusingly at her. ‘Are they watching us now?’

  ‘No one’s watching,’ Abby said earnestly, shaking her head.

  Tom pushed past her roughly but then began pacing up and down.

  Abby remained rigid, her breaths shallow as she waited for his next move.

  She heard the light switch click and turned to see Tom push his hood back and remove his glasses. Despite the gloom, she could make out his face properly for the first time. Before her stood an ordinary young man, full of fear.

  He motioned towards the dodo. ‘So, what’s really going on with these things? Hmm?’ He winced and closed his eyes, then shouted at her. ‘Tell me!’

  Abby backed away in fear.

  But Tom didn’t try to approach her. Doubling over in agony, he held up a hand in a passive gesture. ‘I don’t feel very well. OK?’

  Abby’s heart went out to him. It wasn’t his fault that all of this was happening. She rushed over to help him.

  ‘Wait!’ he cried, straightening up and putting out a hand to stop her. ‘Don’t come near me, because I don’t want to hurt you. And… er… I-I,’ he stuttered, ‘I will.’ Tom looked Abby in the eye. His pale face was covered with a sheen of sweat. ‘It’s not my fault,’ he went on, shaking his head and looking down.

  Abby relaxed a little and leant against the table. He seemed in control. Everything was OK. She could help him.

  But when he glanced up again, he was shaking and his teeth were bared. His eyes were an unnaturally bright blue and he spoke in a strangled, subhuman voice. ‘What have you done to me?’ he growled, gnashing his teeth.

  Abby screamed.

  ‘OK,’ said Cutter, examining his hands, ‘when Tom’s in trouble, what’s his first reaction?’ He glanced up at Connor who stood across the table from him, too restless to sit down.

  ‘Tom doesn’t get into trouble,’ Connor replied insistently.

  ‘He’s not that kind of bloke,’ Duncan added, wringing his hands.

  ‘Put yourself in his shoes,’ Cutter continued patiently. ‘What will he be thinking? Where will he go?’

  Duncan stared at the table. ‘He’ll be trying to find out what this whole conspiracy’s about.’

  ‘There is no conspiracy,’ Stephen said impatiently.

  ‘So, what’s all this?’ remarked Duncan, looking around the Home Office interrogation room. ‘A meeting of the local Women’s Institute?’ He paused, taking in the camera, the two-way mirror, the armed guards. ‘The CIA, the Freemasons, the Illuminati…’ he went on. ‘You people are always hiding the truth.’

  He was angry now. ‘Tom was right about everything,’ he said accusingly. Then he turned to Connor. ‘That’s why we put the transmitter on you.’

  For a moment, they all stared at the hapless student in amazement, then Connor spoke. ‘What? You bugged me?’ He glared at his friend, lifting his hands and then dropping them at his sides in exasperation. ‘Course you did. That’s how you found the dodo.’

  ‘You were the one with all the secrets,’ Duncan retorted. ‘SWAT teams, girlfriends –’

  ‘Do us a favour,’ Connor interrupted, rifling through his pockets as he spoke. ‘Tell us where it is.’

  ‘It’s, it’s on your bag,’ Duncan faltered. ‘Inside Roswell.’

  Connor was enraged. ‘You sneaky little –’

  ‘Wait!’ Cutter interjected. ‘How did you track it?’

  ‘Tom modified the satnav…’ Duncan paused, visibly squirming, ‘… on his palmtop.’

  The professor sprang to his feet. ‘Then he’ll come here, won’t he?’ He sounded almost jubilant. ‘If he wants answers, Tom’s going to follow the transmitter.’ He patted Connor on the shoulder. ‘He’s coming to you.’

  ‘No, not quite,’ Duncan said uneasily, suddenly realizing what must have happened. ‘The dodo swallowed it.’

  ‘The transmitter is inside the dodo…’ Stephen said slowly, piecing things together.

  ‘Yeah,’ Duncan cut in.

  ‘And the dodo is with Abby…’ Stephen looked angrily at Duncan. ‘You idiots. You’ve turned her into bait!’

  Not waiting for instructions from Cutter, Stephen leapt to his feet and rushed for the door. Abby was in serious danger and he had to find her.

  ‘Tom…’ Abby struggled to keep her voice level. Her scream seemed to have momentarily brought him to his senses and he hadn’t attacked her. Now he was standing on the other side of the dissection table, shaking. He appeared to be lost in troublesome thoughts.

  Abby knew from her experience of dealing with wild animals that it was important not to show one’s fear. She swallowed. ‘I’m not going to hurt you – but you’ve really got to calm down.’

  ‘Am I going to die?’ Tom asked pathetically, as if the fight had suddenly drained out of him.

  ‘No,’ Abby reassured him. ‘We won’t let that happen.’

  ‘Who’s “we”?’ Tom looked at her in alarm. Then he flinched. ‘What are they growing inside me?’

  Abby shifted uncomfortably. He was beginning to creep towards her and she felt uneasy about his proximity, but knew she mustn’t do anything hasty. ‘When the dodo bit you,’ she said quietly, her eyes full of sympathy, ‘it gave you an illness.’

  Tom laughed. ‘Do you think I’m an idiot?’ he replied, flaring up again. ‘Dodos are extinct!’ He held his head in his hands, images of everything he’d experienced flashing through his mind – the bite on his arm, the creature he’d seen moving under his skin in the hospital, the searing pain brought on by light, the crushing waves of paranoia…

  ‘Just tell me the truth,’ he implored, gazing into Abby’s eyes. ‘What are they really doing?’

  ‘Come on, let me get you to the hospital,’ Abby suggested gently.

  ‘So you can put another thing inside me?’ Tom asked wryly.

  Abby shot him a look of compassion but, out of nowhere, anger welled up inside Tom and he scrambled round the table, catching Abby by the wrists and shaking her. ‘You people are evil,’ he growled, his eyes clouding over as the malevolence bubbled up inside him. They struggled for a moment and then, just as suddenly as it had come, the anger faded away again and Tom got a hold of himself. He let go of Abby and pointed at the dodo.

  ‘See, that’s proof…’ he said. ‘When I’m better I’ll need proof.’ His voice was tinged with paranoia but he was in control. ‘You people will try to discredit me, but I’m cleverer than you.’

  ‘Tom,’ Abby said calmly, drawing
on all her inner resources. ‘You’ve been infected by a parasite.’ Tom flinched again. ‘Let me call someone. Let us get rid of it for you.’

  Once again, the parasite’s survival instinct kicked in and Tom sprang at Abby, knocking her to the floor. He pinned her down and loomed over her menacingly. ‘Share and share alike, Abby,’ Tom said darkly, lifting her wrist to his mouth.

  ‘Wait!’ Abby cried in desperation. ‘OK, if you want the truth…’ She paused, her mind racing. ‘I’ll tell you… the whole story.’ Tom’s grip on her wrist loosened. She paused. His eyes were still cloudy but he had released her arms. She tried again. ‘That’s what you want, isn’t it?’

  He nodded slowly. Realizing that she was managing to appeal to his human side, Abby spoke gently, ‘I can show you where this thing really came from…’

  Tom didn’t speak, but his expression had cleared now and he gazed at her with a deep sadness in his eyes.

  For the moment, at least, Abby had bought herself some time.

  Abby’s black Mini sped into the stadium car park. She cut the engine and glanced across at Tom.

  His eyes were hidden by his shades, but his face still looked forlorn. He had swivelled round to stroke the dodo which was laid out on the back seat.

  ‘Poor thing,’ he muttered. Then he turned to Abby. ‘You killed it.’

  ‘We didn’t kill anything, Tom,’ she said confidently.

  ‘Don’t lie to me again.’ His voice quivered. ‘Things don’t just happen! It’s all connected.’ He reached out and grabbed her wrist.

  Frightened, Abby tried to pacify him. ‘I’m on your side, remember?’ she said soothingly. ‘You can trust me.’

  Tom hesitated, then let go of her arm and held up a hand apologetically.

  Abby smiled and slowly reached to open the door.

  He let her.

  Cutter rushed down the steps to his lab. Stephen, Claudia, Connor, Duncan and Ryan were all with him.

  His eyes roved around the room, but he knew already that they were too late. Wearily, he leant on the dissection table. ‘The dodo’s gone,’ he sighed. ‘He must have taken it.’

  ‘And Abby,’ Stephen added.

  ‘We can track the transmitter,’ Cutter informed them, moving towards the exit. ‘But we have to get to him fast,’ he called, breaking into a run.

  Abby flashed her ID card at the SAS soldier standing guard at the end of the corridor. He inspected it and then nodded inquiringly at Tom.

  ‘He’s a Home Office scientist.’ Abby tried to sound convincing. ‘He hasn’t got his accreditation yet.’

  The soldier stepped aside to let them through, and Abby hurried ahead. Tom followed her, clutching his injured arm.

  She led him into the kitchen and strode purposefully over to the freezer, flinging the doors open. Her heart sank. There was no sign of the anomaly.

  ‘This is where the anomaly was.’ She swung round to face Tom. ‘I swear,’ she said emphatically.

  Tom walked into the abandoned freezer room and stood still, his back to her.

  ‘We don’t know why they come and go… but this is where the dodo came through,’ Abby gabbled, trying to keep calm. She felt as if she was dealing with some kind of wild predator who could attack at any moment.

  Slowly, Tom turned round. He hung his shrouded head. With his eyes covered, it was difficult for Abby to read his expression.

  ‘It’s a trap,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s a trap.’ He removed his glasses and talked more vehemently this time. ‘They’re coming here to kill me, aren’t they? You told them!’

  Abby shook her head, but she knew it was no good. Her heart pounding in her chest, she began to edge away but, almost immediately, she felt her back brush up against one of the food trolleys.

  Then just as Tom made a lunge for her, she leapt back, pulling the trolley between them, and pushed it over on top of him.

  He fell to the floor and she ran. But when she glanced back, she saw that he was up within seconds. Spotting a couple of nearby chairs, she threw them in his path, hoping to slow him down. But, fuelled with rage, he was quick and the obstacles didn’t deter him. Desperately, Abby jumped up and grabbed one of the sturdy metal kitchen pipes that ran along the ceiling. Drawing her leg up, she planted a hard kick in the centre of his chest.

  Tom fell to the ground again, giving her the opportunity she needed to get away. She sprinted out of the kitchen and down the corridor, glancing over her shoulder as she ran. There was no sign of him yet and frantically she yanked on the handle of a closed door, but it wouldn’t give way. Then she heard footsteps behind her and looked round to see Tom’s threatening silhouette rounding the corner. He was walking, but when he caught sight of her he quickened his pace. ‘Abby!’ he shouted as she hurtled down the corridor, panting with fear.

  He was gaining ground, but Abby just had the edge and suddenly she saw an open doorway.

  She hurled herself through it and scanned the room quickly.

  Just a heartbeat or so later, Tom rushed into the room. He looked frantically around. It was a changing room lined with tall lockers and there was no sign of Abby. ‘Where are you?’ he cried out in frustration, kicking a nearby wall.

  From behind him, he heard the squeak of hinges and he spun round to see Abby slipping out of one of the lockers. But she had caught him off guard and she flew at him, kneeing him in the stomach and pushing him against the row of lockers. Before he could get to his feet, she had fled from the room, slamming the door in his face.

  Abby careered into the stands and rushed down the steps, conscious of Tom only a metre behind her. She reached the open pitch before him, but, with superhuman energy, Tom launched himself through the air and knocked her off her feet.

  ‘Don’t do it. Tom!’ Abby screamed. ‘No!’ She struggled but it was no good. He seemed monstrously strong now and his eyes flared with a paranormal luminosity. Her breath caught in her throat as he leaned towards her, his teeth bared, ready to bite. She closed her eyes.

  In the same second, Cutter and the others rushed on to the terraces, led by a group of armed soldiers. Hearing the noise, Abby opened her eyes to find that she and Tom were covered in hovering red dots from the laser sights of the soldiers’ guns. She looked up at Tom. It had been enough to distract him from his task.

  ‘I’ve got a shot. I can take him out!’ Ryan yelled, awaiting Claudia’s instruction.

  Claudia hesitated and, in that moment of indecision, Connor swiftly manoeuvred himself into the line of fire, shielding Tom.

  ‘What is he doing?’ cried Claudia as Connor vaulted the boards.

  ‘Let him try,’ Cutter said gently, coming forward and putting a hand on her arm.

  Slowly, Connor approached his friend.

  ‘Tom…’ he said softly. ‘It’s me.’

  Tom gazed up at him.

  Connor saw how confused Tom was. It was as though he wasn’t really there any more. ‘Let her go, mate,’ he said amiably, motioning with his eyes at Abby spreadeagled on the ground. Then, seeing a glimmer of recognition on his friend’s face, he edged a little closer. ‘Easy… easy…’ he murmured, holding his hands high.

  Behind him, on the terraces, Cutter, Claudia and Stephen stood together, positioned between the SAS men, each of them scarcely daring to draw breath. Only Duncan was on his own, a little way off, staring at his two friends intently.

  Connor took his chance. ‘You remember Thursday nights, don’t you?’ he said brightly. ‘Battlestar Galactica… Space: 1999… Blake’s 7… pepperoni pizza?’ He didn’t take his eyes off Tom’s, searching desperately for a way in. At first, nothing. Then…

  ‘Connor…?’ Tom said in a small voice.

  ‘They were good times, weren’t they?’ Connor responded, his voice breaking and a single tear sliding down his cheek.

  Tom nodded slowly and Connor smiled reassuringly back at him. ‘You can fight the Dark Side, mate. You really can,’ he said encouragingly. Then his heart leapt as, slowly, Tom raise
d his hands from Abby’s shoulders.

  Seeing her window, Abby rolled away. She got to her feet and ran as fast as she could up to the terraces, into Stephen’s strong arms.

  Connor kept his gaze on his friend.

  There was a shout from behind him.

  ‘You too, Connor. Move away! He will kill you.’

  It was Ryan.

  Connor heard him but he didn’t move. There was no way he was abandoning Tom. ‘No, he won’t,’ he said quietly. ‘He’s my friend.’

  With red dots still floating across his face, Tom stared back at Connor with watery, bloodshot eyes.

  ‘Come with me,’ Connor said warmly. ‘We can help you.’

  Tom winced, evidently battling with his inner turmoil. ‘It was a conspiracy, wasn’t it, Con?’ he whispered.

  ‘Big time,’ Connor replied, fighting back his emotions. He had to stay level. ‘Right to the top,’ he concurred.

  ‘Was it alien mind control?’ his friend asked weakly.

  ‘Yeah.’ Connor sniggered conspiratorially.

  ‘Brilliant.’ Tom uttered the words and then his eyes became dark and his face clouded over. He lurched towards Connor.

  ‘Connor, back away!’ shouted Stephen.

  But Connor stood his ground and, instead of biting him, Tom fell forward, collapsing into his arms. ‘It’s OK. You’re OK,’ Connor said gently, cradling his friend’s head against his chest.

  ‘I wouldn’t let them take me over, Con,’ Tom croaked, sinking to his knees. He was becoming weaker rapidly. ‘I fought them,’ he added, smiling to himself.

  ‘You did a great job.’ Connor beamed back at him.

  Tom nodded slowly. ‘I’m a hero!’ he said triumphantly.

  Connor squeezed his friend’s shoulders. Clinging to him for dear life.

  Then Tom flinched and closed his eyes. He had gone.

  Carefully, Connor laid him on the ground.

  Unable to process what had just happened, Connor rose to his feet and walked slowly away from his friend. Then he realized – Tom was dead.

  Cutter was walking towards him, his face etched with concern.