by John Peel
Steven stared at her in astonishment. ‘You think I’d stay here otherwise? I’m just like you—we’re all prisoners.’
The concern that the four travellers had felt now solidified. They exchanged glances.
‘I see,’ the Doctor said, quietly. ‘It may sound rather foolish, but we hadn’t realized our position.’
‘So you don’t know what all this is about?’ Steven asked.
‘Do you?’
Bitterly, the young pilot laughed. ‘I’ve had five years to find out.’
‘Then tell us!’ the Doctor snapped. After a second, he added: ‘Please?’
‘Well, as you know, Earth had an expansionist phase a couple of hundred years ago.’ Steven assumed that his listeners were from his time period, not realizing that they were travellers in more than the dimensions of space. ‘The Government decided to open up this arm of the Galaxy, and sent out a fleet of ships to terraform any marginal planets. This place was one of them, and the shipful of colonizing robots came down to clear the landing sites, start building and generally make things as perfect as they could for the colonists.’
‘Didn’t they arrive?’ Vicki asked, unable to stay quiet too long.
The Doctor glared down his nose at her. ‘If you give the young man a chance, I expect he’ll tell us.’
Steve winked at Vicki. ‘No, they didn’t come. Earth got into the Draconian conflict, then the Third Dalek War. That ended the population expansions problem pretty drastically, and this arm of the Galaxy was promptly forgotten. I guess everyone figured that the robots—the Mechonoids—would run down, or wear out or something. No one was really all that bothered.’
‘But they didn’t run down,’ Barbara realized.
‘No. When one of them ever shows signs of mechanical failure, the others repair it. This world has terrific metal deposits, which the Mechonoids have mined. They’re programmed to repair one another. Now they live here, just like a race of people. They built the city, and tend it carefully. They even water the flowers and weed them, you know. They’re waiting for the immigrants to arrive—colonists who will never come.’
Ian thought a moment. ‘But why did they take us prisoners, then?’
‘Yes,’ Vicki added. ‘For all they know, we might be the first of the colonists.’
‘No, you don’t understand.’ He led them to the screens on the left wall. One was a computer screen that he powered up. Hitting the keyboard, he fed in a string of commands. After a second, the screen lit up redly. It then said, in large letters: ‘Password needed.’
‘That happens all of the time,’ he told them. ‘The Mechonoids would be formidable foes if some alien race landed here before the humans. So they have some inner code that Space Central must have known two hundred years ago...’
‘But which neither you nor we know now,’ the Doctor finished. ‘Of course, of course. So if anyone else were to land who did not know the right codes, the robots would treat them as hostiles and lock them up.’
‘Exactly,’ Steven finished, bitterly. ‘Just as long as we’re friendly, they keep us here. Perhaps we’re specimens for the colonists to interrogate. I think it’s just because I’ve given them some form of purpose they were lacking. They give me everything I want—except the only thing I really desire: my freedom.’
‘And if we try to fight our way out?’ Ian asked.
Steven looked at him in pity. ‘At the first signs of violence towards them, the Mechonoids were programmed to destroy their attackers...’
‘Sorry I asked.’
Two Daleks entered the cave. Between their arm grips, they carried a large ball-like apparatus. This had several projections and a stand. The Daleks positioned the device so that the largest array of levers was pointing at the hidden lift shaft.
‘Electrode unit prepared,’ one of them announced.
‘Operate,’ the Patrol Leader ordered.
The two Daleks began to work the device. Studying the small read-out screen, they manipulated the various projections, setting up an intense, directional electron beam. The idea was to cut down through the Mechonoids’ control of the lift, and then use the over-ride device to bring the lift down the shaft. The electrode unit began to hum, and as the Daleks tuned it, the whine increased in frequency. After a few moments, the Daleks could hear the sound of the lift descending.
The Patrol Leader turned to the Daleks that remained. With the destruction of the four during the chase, there were now an even dozen. ‘By taking the humans,’ the Leader stated, ‘the Mechonoids have forced us to take action against them. We will invade their city.’
The scientist commented: ‘Skaro reports that they have many powerful weapons.’
‘The orders of the Supreme Dalek are that the humans are to be pursued and exterminated.’ The Leader surveyed the group. ‘The Mechonoids must not be permitted to stand in our way. We will attack!’
At that moment, the hidden lift door opened, revealing the gleaming white room. One by one, the Daleks filed into it. All had their weapons primed and ready for whatever might await them.
In the room where the travellers and Steven were being kept, the five of them were getting nervous. From time to time, the shutters at the end of the room would swish open, to reveal a corridor, and two Mechonoids. It was impossible to be certain, but it appeared as though they were examining their captives. Since the Mechonoids all looked alike, they could never be sure whether it was the same pair, or different ones each time the shutters opened. After the fifth time, Barbara lost her composure.
‘Why do they keep staring at us like this?’ she yelled. ‘Watching everything we do!’ She rushed to the window, and pounded on it. ‘Go away! Leave us alone! Why won’t you leave us alone?’
Steven crossed to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. ‘Take it easy,’ he advised. ‘You’ll get used to it. I have.’
Barbara turned her back on the window, trying to blot the sight of the sentient spheres from her mind... ‘I’ll never get used to those things standing and staring...’
‘Why don’t you go into the sleeping quarters?’ he suggested, pointing to the door. ‘They can’t watch you there. You know, for the first month, I didn’t come out. Eventually I got so bored that I actually welcomed them watchimg me—at least it gave me something to do.’
Dully, Barbara nodded, and crossed to the door. Ian caught Vicki’s eye, and nodded for her to follow Barbara. Vicki understood, and did so.
When the three men were alone, Ian turned to the Doctor. ‘Barbara’s still shaken from that meeting with the robot duplicate of you,’ he said, in her defence.
‘Duplicate?’ Steven asked. ‘Just how did you four get here anyhow?’
‘No time for that now, young man,’ the Doctor said, briskly. He had been fiddling with the computers, but his knowledge of breaking binary codes was not what it used to be. He was getting very tired of demands for passwords that he couldn’t supply. ‘We’ve got to think of a way of escape.’
‘That’s not too difficult,’ Steven answered, casually.
‘We can get out of here?’ Ian asked, pleased.
‘We can get out.’ Steven’s face showed no enthusiasm for the idea. ‘But out to what? I spent two nights in that jungle. Never again. I’d sooner stay here for the rest of my life. There are worse things than captivity.’
‘We wouldn’t have to stay in the jungle,’ the Doctor told him. ‘There are two time machines out there. One is mine, the other belongs to the Daleks. If we could reach either of them, we’d be safe.’
‘ Time machines?’ Steven asked, incredulously. ‘Oh, come on! I can’t believe that!’
‘Young man,’ the Doctor said, irritated, ‘I really don’t care what you can or cannot believe right now.’
Steven examined him for a moment, and then shrugged. ‘Well, if there really is a chance of getting off this planet, I’ll try anything. Even a... time machine.’
‘Then you know a way out?’ the Doctor persisted. ‘You s
ee that ladder over there?’
Ian crossed to it, and stared upwards. ‘Where does it lead?’
‘Up on to the roof of the city. I’m — we’re —allowed up there any time. For light and for exercise. There are no guards up there, and nothing to hold us back.’
There had to be a catch. ‘Aren’t they worried about our escaping?’
‘No. That roof is half a mile above the ground. Why don’t you go up and have a look?’
‘I think I will.’ Ian gripped the rungs, then looked back. ‘Coming, Doctor?’
‘Yes, of course, of course. If you’ll just lead the way.’
As Ian started up the ladder, Steven called: ‘See if you can figure a way down. If you can’t, I’ll be happy to tell you how.’
‘Thanks,’ Ian said, dryly. It looked like the young man was attempting to prove he was still the one with the experience here. Ian pushed aside the roof hatch, and clambered out.
The roof was flat at this point, leading to blank metal walls in three directions. The fourth opened up to the sky. There was a bit of a wind, whipping at Ian’s hair as he crossed the roof.
‘Careful, Chesterton,’ the Doctor warned, poking his head out of the hole like a jack in the box.
Ian nodded, and dropped to his hands and knees. Carefully, he crawled to the edge and looked down. Talking about half a mile made it sound so simple. Looking down the two thousand odd feet was another matter entirely. Ian felt giddy just staring down the drop. In the far distance, the tops of the jungle growths could be seen. Ian surveyed the scene. The closest of the legs was a good five hundred feet off in one direction, and at least a thousand feet in the other. The wall down seemed to be smooth for about thirty feet, and then there was nothing till the tops of the trees. He could see absolutely no way to get down, short of jumping—and then the problem would be stopping...
Backing away from the edge, Ian shuddered at the thought. ‘I can see why the Mechonoids aren’t worried about us coming up here,’ he commented to the Doctor, who was leaning on his stick and peering over the edge.
‘And yet that young man—Steven, is it? thinks he knows how we can get down.’ The Doctor straightened and backed away from the edge with Ian.
‘I wish I did.’
‘You might,’ the Doctor smiled, ‘if you had five years to work it out.’
‘I can think of a quicker way,’ Ian replied, not relishing the idea. ‘Let’s go back and ask him...’
Down below, Steven was lost in his thoughts. He was still having difficulty adjusting to there being other humans on this planet with him. The possibility of escaping from the Mechonoids had tormented him, day and night, for five years. Yet now it was here, he was suddenly afraid. What did he know, after all, of these four new arrivals? They seemed nice enough, and genuine. Yet, if they really did have a time machine—absurd as it sounded—how come they were trapped here with him?
Could he trust them? He had no doubt that they were genuinely what they claimed to be, but just how reliable would they be in a tight situation? An old man, two women and that cynical younger man? Dare he place his future in their hands? On the other hand—could he just stay here and let them attempt an escape without him?
As these thoughts passed through his mind, he was suddenly aware that he was being watched. He glanced up, and saw Barbara and Vicki emerging from the other rooms. ‘Feeling any better?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’ Barbara smiled at him. ‘I’m sorry I acted the way I did.’
‘Well, it was pretty unnerving for me at first,’ Steven confessed.
Vicki looked about. ‘Where are the others?’
‘They went up to—’ Steven began, looking at the ladder. As he spoke, Ian reappeared, and dropped to the floor. ‘They’re back.’ The Doctor took the rungs down more sedately.
Ian looked over at Steven, then shrugged. ‘It looks pretty escape-proof to me,’ he confessed.
Nodding, Steven felt more relaxed. These four worked like a team, each complementing the weaknesses of the others. He had felt rather useless at first. Now, certain that he had an advantage over them, he was happier. ‘The first thing you have to realize is that this whole city is run on electrical power. They generate it from vast solar panels on the highest buildings. This operates everything.’
‘Like the lights we saw in the jungle?’ Vicki suggested.
‘Yes,’ Steven agreed. ‘Well, after I’d been here about a year, I found that one of the main supply cables leads along the edge of the roof. It goes all the way around, so there’s miles of it. Every time I went up top for exercise, I would loosen the brackets that held it just under the rim. Just a couple a day, so the Mechonoids wouldn’t get suspicious, you see.’
‘Where’s all this leading?’ Ian wanted to know.
Steven grinned widely. ‘Down to the ground, if you want to risk it. The cable could be pulled free in a couple of minutes. It’s more than long enough to reach the ground by now.’ He looked at their faces, and saw the looks of horror that first crossed them at the thought of it.
‘Climb down nearly half a mile of wire!’ Ian exclaimed, voicing all of their thoughts.
‘It’s the only way out that I know,’ Steven said, simply.
‘It’s a chance to get away from here,’ Barbara commented. ‘We should take it.’
Thinking of the drop that he had seen, the Doctor shook his head firmly. ‘No, Barbara, we couldn’t. The risk is too great.’
Vicki shrank back against Barbara. Looking up, she whispered: ‘I’m terrified of heights.’
‘The cable’s thick,’ Steven said, encouragingly. ‘It wouldn’t break.’
‘Let’s try it!’ Barbara exclaimed. She couldn’t bear the thought of staying here, constantly watched, whatever she did.
The Doctor glanced at her, then at Ian ‘Chesterton?’
Ian looked at Vicki, who was plainly terrified of the idea. ‘I don’t know,’ he said, slowly. ‘I don’t like it... but...’
Vicki tried to avoid his eyes, and stared through the shutters, which were open. She could see across the park, back towards the lift that had brought them into the city. As she watched, the doors opened.
What she saw sent chills down her spine. ‘Daleks!’
Chapter 13
The End of the Hunt
‘That settles it!’ Ian said firmly. With the Daleks in the city, they dared not delay. ‘Everyone on to the roof—quickly!’
Steven and the Doctor caught on, and hustled Barbara and Vicki towards the ladder. It was quite clear that they had little time to spare. Ian stared out of their prison as the Daleks began to spread out.
The interference with the lift had not gone unnoticed. The central computer of the city had noted it, and dispatched three Mechonoids to check the malfunction. The patrol arrived as the Daleks were examining the area where they had arrived.
The lead Mechonoid paused examining these new arrivals. ‘Stop,’ it ordered.
The Dalek Leader spun to face the alien robot. ‘Surrender the humans,’ it demanded.
This was one point that the Mechonoids hardly had to consider. ‘That decision is not open to modification,’ the first Mechonoid replied.
Ignoring this answer, the Leader turned to the Dalek with the sensors. ‘Have you determined the position of the humans?’
‘Affirmative. They are in the building directly ahead.’
The Leader turned back to the Mechonoid. ‘If you do not surrender the humans, then we shall take them.’
The Mechonoid sent this back to the central computer, which recognized the threat implied. The computer replied with instructions. One of the triangular panels on the upper surface of the Mechonoid slid aside. A small barrel protruded, and then spat a sheet of flame at the closest Dalek. The Dalek, caught by surprise, exploded, showering burning metal.
This was one answer that the Daleks were used to. The remaining eleven opened fire instantly. In the withering blasts, all three Mechonoids exploded.
Before the smoke and debris settled, the Leader ordered: ‘Section two: intercept the humans and annihilate. We will cover.’
Two Daleks moved off, through the cheery grounds of the park. The rest formed an escort, scanning the area as they moved forwards. There was no further sign of Mechonoids for the moment. The central computer was analysing this attack, and preparing a counter to the menace.
The Daleks arrived at the quarters assigned to the humans. One of them fired at the door controls, and the door slid open. Two Daleks glided in.
The room was empty. Scanning, the Daleks saw the open door to the roof. ‘The humans are on the outer surface of the city,’ they reported.
‘We must find a means of access to that area,’ the Leader ordered. Even as it spoke, several Mechonoids moved into view, their flame throwers at the ready.
The Daleks scattered, presenting less of a target. The two lines moved closer together, and then the fighting began in earnest.
On the roof, the sounds of the battle were clearly audible. Ian and Steven were at the edge, groping for the wire that was suspended just below. Gripping the thick cable, they began to drag it up, tearing it free from the brackets that Steven had weakened. The Doctor and Barbara took the loose lengths from them, and began to haul it in.
Vicki stood as close to the edge as she dared, her courage deserting her by the time she was five feet away. She could feel herself shaking at the thought of the drop. Her head started to spin, and her palms were sweating. She wiped them on her dress, and took a long, deep breath to try and steady her quivering nerves.
Without glancing up, Barbara called: ‘Vicki, come on! Help me with this!’
It took all of her willpower for Vicki to take the final steps to reach Barbara. She kept her eyes fixed firmly on the horizon, not daring to look down for a second. She fumbled, then caught the cable, and helped to reel it in. How Steven and Ian could dangle over the edge fishing for the wire was beyond her understanding.
‘Steven,’ Ian called. ‘Where’s the end?’
‘Junction box down to your right,’ Steve panted. ‘It’s loose—just give it a good pull.’