Текст книги "Doctor Who- Legacy of the Daleks"

Автор книги: John Peel

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10

The Trap

As the Master strode away down the corridor, Donna glared at the Doctor, her expression half pleading, half accusing. ‘You promised,’ she whispered.

Somehow he heard her, or simply understood her ‘I always keep my promises,’ he said. Glancing at David, he added, ‘Eventually.’ He cleared his throat and stepped forward. ’Really, there’s no need for any violence,’ he said, smiling. ‘I’m quite willing to tell you anything I know.’

‘Really?’ Downs asked, smiling back. ‘And who are you?’

‘I’m the Doctor.’ He held out his hand, which Downs ignored. ‘So, where shall we start?’ He moved to put his arm around Downs’s shoulder. Angrily, the soldier slapped it off.

‘We start with you all screaming a lot,’ Downs snapped. ‘Do you think I’d trust anything you said unless it was dragged out of you?’

The Doctor sighed and shook his head. ‘You’re determined to have your sick fun, aren’t you?’ he said mildly. ‘I’m afraid I can’t allow that. You see, I promised Donna that she wouldn’t be hurt again, and you wouldn’t want to make me a liar, would you?’

‘I’ll make you a dead man – eventually,’ Downs vowed. He gestured to the two guards. ‘Escort them to the dungeon.’

‘Sorry,’ the Doctor said, shaking his head. ‘I have a prior engagement.’ He tipped a nonexistent hat, and started to turn his back on Downs. Furious, Downs grabbed his arm and spun him around, lashing out with his fist. The blow caught the Doctor on the right cheek, and sent him stumbling back with a cry. He collided with one of the two guards, and both of them crumpled in a heap on the floor.

The next few seconds were very confused. The second guard turned to where the Doctor was struggling to get back to his feet, and David took his opportunity. He leapt for the distracted soldier, and slammed him against the wall. Downs snarled again, clutching for the holster and his revolver. Which, somehow, wasn’t there.

He didn’t have time to figure out what had happened before something flew through the air from the Doctor towards Donna. She grabbed it automatically, and realised that it was Downs’s missing weapon. The Doctor must have lifted it when he was greeting the maniac. Donna spun the gun to hold it correctly, but in the moment that took, Downs launched himself at the Doctor, a knife in his hand.

Donna didn’t need to think. All of her fear and rage welled up inside her and exploded as she pulled the trigger. The shot caught Downs in the back of the neck, exploding through his face. He didn’t even have time to scream before he collapsed, dead, across the Doctor.

Pushing the body away, the Doctor managed to stand up. The guard he’d ‘accidentally’ collided with was unconscious. David had managed to subdue the one he’d jumped, and he, too, was out cold on the floor.

The Doctor glanced down at Downs’s still form, blood puddling beneath it. ‘Did you have to kill him?’

‘No, Doctor,’ Donna said, her voice steady at last. Seeing the bastard die had managed to exorcise some of her demons. ‘I could have let him kill you instead.’ She bent and wrenched the knife from the corpse’s hand.

The Doctor said nothing, and David looked up from the guard he’d felled. ‘Now what, Doctor? How do we get out of here?’

‘We don’t,’ Donna said firmly, before the Doctor could reply. ‘We’ve got work to do here. Haldoran has more of those Dalek guns the Master gave him.’

The Doctor looked at her with sympathy. ‘Donna, there’s trouble at DA‐17. I hate to say it, but I suspect it must be Daleks. And they’re more important than anything else right now.’

‘Maybe to you,’ Donna growled. ‘But those guns are going to be used against my family and my one‐time friends. They may all despise me, but I can’t let Haldoran murder them. We have to destroy the guns.’

The Doctor was obviously torn. His fingers twitched, and he blinked rapidly. ‘The Daleks are the most urgent,’ he insisted. ‘Haldoran may kill a few people, but the Daleks will wipe out the human race. They lost the last battle, and they’re unlikely to be calling it a day.’

‘They’re also stuck down a sodding pit!’ Donna yelled ‘Go after them if you must, but I’m going to destroy those weapons first. If you won’t come with me, then fine. I’ll do it alone.’ She started to brush past him, but he grabbed her arm.

‘You’ll never manage it alone,’ the Doctor said gently. ‘So I suppose I’ll have to come with you.’ He shook his head. ‘What we need is a plan.’

‘Doctor, Donna,’ David said urgently. ‘What about Susan? You said she was down DA‐17.’

The Doctor nodded. ‘She is. But there’s nothing we can do to help her for the moment. Courage. David. Perhaps Donna’s right, and those guns are the most important thing.’

Donna saw David agonising over the decision. ‘You’re a Peace Officer,’ she said softly. ‘I know you’re scared about your wife. But wouldn’t she want you to save as many lives as possible, and not just one?’

‘That’s easy for you to say,’ David complained.

‘No,’ she answered. ‘It isn’t. I know you must be hurting. But, please…’

Swallowing, David nodded at last.

‘A plan…’ the Doctor mused. ‘The Master said he’d just handed over the latest consignment. Haldoran will have those guns wherever he is; he won’t trust anyone else with them yet.’

‘His war room,’ Donna said firmly. ‘He’s been planning this takeover for a long time. That’s where he and they will be.’

‘Marvellous,’ David said. ‘Right in the heart of his castle. And how are we supposed to get there? Everybody here seems to know what you look like.’

Donna’s stomach churned again. ‘Then let’s make the most use of it,’ she suggested, hating herself as she said it. ‘You two can be guards bringing me back for Haldoran to play with.’ She was deathly pale as she said this. It would be the hardest thing she could ever do in her life.

The Doctor gave her a sharp stare.’ Are you sure you can do this?’ he asked.

‘Yes,’ she insisted. ‘And I won’t have to fake the fear, either. That should greatly amuse him. But how do we destroy the Dalek guns when we’re there?’

‘Leave that to me,’ the Doctor answered.

‘And what about getting out again afterwards?’ David asked, checking the rifle he’d taken from the fallen guard.

‘Let’s improvise,’ the Doctor suggested. ‘Overplanning never works. Trust me, I’ve been there, done that.’

‘And does improvising work?’ David insisted.

‘Mostly,’ the Doctor assured him. ‘Come on, let’s get moving before we come to our senses.’

Susan stood shivering in the centre of the Dalek control room. It was some twenty feet long and ten high and wide. Computer banks and monitors lined both walls. There were doors in both end walls, both with Daleks on guard. In the room, most of the Daleks were operating the control systems. Only two were paying attention to her. The deep, metallic throbbing in the complex sounded like a vast electronic heartbeat, the pulse of the Daleks.

‘What is happening?’ she asked the Black Dalek that surveyed her. ‘How is it possible that you’re still alive?’

‘You do not need to know,’ the Dalek replied. ‘You are here to answer questions.’

‘It would help if I understood what was happening!’ Susan insisted. ‘My information would be useless to you if I’m ignorant.’

The Dalek considered the point. ‘You do not know why the humans are here?’

‘No,’ Susan admitted. ‘I was not one of them. I came here to try to stop them.’

‘If she does not know,’ the second Dalek stated, ‘then she is of no value to us and should be exterminated.’

‘No!’ Susan said, hastily. ‘I am of a faction opposing them! We are trying to stop them, so we know many of their plans.’

The Black Dalek regarded her. ‘Do not attempt to deceive us,’ it warned her.

‘Of course I won’t,’ Susan promised. ‘I want to live.’

The second Dalek turned slightly away. ‘Humans are weak creatures,’ it decided.

Keep on thinking that, Susan said to herself She had to discover what was happening, in order to halt it before any greater damage was done.

The Black Dalek finally spoke. ‘Very well,’ it agreed. ‘Then you will tell us what you know.’

‘Of course,’ Susan lied. ‘Now… how is it that you are alive? All of the Daleks were destroyed thirty‐odd years ago.’

‘That eventuality was prepared for,’ the Black Dalek answered. ‘There was always a small chance that the humans would defeat us temporarily. This unit was created as a secondary measure.’

‘A backup plan,’ Susan realised. ‘In case the primary one was defeated.’

‘Yes,’ the Dalek confirmed. ‘Information was placed in data banks that this was a research facility, and that a powerful weapon had been tested here.’

Starting to comprehend, Susan nodded. ‘So that some humans would find the information, come looking for the device and be forced to introduce power to your systems to access the device. Your computers then siphoned off the power to other uses.’

‘Correct,’ the Black Dalek said. ‘The device was a trap. This unit is a factory.’

‘Factory…’ Susan realised what it meant. ‘Where fresh Daleks would be created for a second attempt to conquer Earth.’

‘Embryos were frozen, awaiting revival,’ the Dalek informed her. ‘The assembly line was prepared. All that was required was power.’

Susan was cold with terror. ‘And the device? Is it real?’

The Dalek regarded her. ‘The device is real, but untested. That is all the knowledge you require.’ It turned to face the closest control panel. ‘Report.’

The Dalek at the panel swivelled at what should have been its waist. ‘The device is powered up,’ it reported. ‘Testing can begin within five time units.’

‘The target will be the city the humans call London,’ the Black Dalek announced. ‘Set the device accordingly.’ It turned back to Susan. ‘Now – you will tell us what we need to know.’

Susan nodded bitterly, trying to get her thoughts in order. She had to lie successfully about plans she couldn’t know to stay alive. And then she had to escape and somehow stop the Daleks before they wiped out London – and everyone that she knew and loved.

Tomlin powered down the runabout, and parked it inside Castle Haldoran. The gate guards had seemed surprised to see him back, but not suspicious. Naturally, they wouldn’t have a clue about Haldoran’s plans. They had allowed him through, and Tomlin had smiled and moved on. Now he exited the vehicle, tapping his revolver, absolutely certain that what he was doing was the right thing.

It was time to set things straight…

As the runabout came to a halt, Barlow hopped out, eager for what was to come. More Dalek guns… With them, his troops would be invincible. And, naturally, loyal to him rather than to Haldoran. With Craddock at his side, Barlow could take London and then between them they could decide what was to be done with the rest of the country. Haldoran had proven himself unfit to rule, and had to be eliminated.

And that thought stopped him dead in his tracks. Barlow had been certain that he was the one pulling the strings here, that everything was proceeding according to his plans. But what if Haldoran suspected? He already had attempted to split Craddock from him; was that simply suspicion, or more? Was this recall really to hand over more Dalek guns… or was it to get Barlow alone, and then kill him?

That was the trouble, of course, with plotting: you never knew how much your enemy knew, or simply suspected. Was it a wise move, going alone into the castle now? But what excuse did he have to take a bodyguard with him? Barlow hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Was this what it appeared to be – or was it a trap?

All right,’ hissed the Doctor to Donna. ‘We’re getting to the hard part. Eyes front, and try to look like a scared prisoner.’

They were approaching the war room. Only a few moments away from meeting Haldoran again. Donna didn’t need to pretend to look terrified.

The Doctor took a deep breath. ‘It’s show time…’

They marched towards the guarded doors.

The Black Dalek watched over the activity in the control room, noting with satisfaction that the power levels were still rising. The production of new Daleks was continuing at an increased rate.

A Red Dalek glided into the room, moving to report. This could, of course, have been done through their inbuilt communications, but being physically present to make a report stressed the Black Dalek’s importance. ‘Strike unit is prepared,’ the newcomer reported. ‘Internal packs are working at optimum.’

‘Noted,’ the Black Dalek replied with satisfaction. ‘Strike unit is to engage immediately.’

‘I obey.’ The Red Dalek sent its command.

The guard captain checked his instruments again, and then shook his head. Maybe they were malfunctioning. They were insisting that there was movement, and yet the perimeter alarms were registering nothing at all.

’There’s no sign of intruders,’ his second in command said, just as puzzled. ‘All guard stations report absolutely no activity.’

‘It doesn’t make sense,’ the captain complained. ‘These instruments have never given us any trouble before. I think I’d better call in to Estro and let him know there’s a problem. Take charge here and stay alert. I’ll be back shortly.’ He turned to head down towards the communications array, which was established close to the pit of DA‐17, and then spat out a curse.

There was movement, but not from outside the perimeter.

Something had risen up the shaft, and was emerging from DA‐17. It reflected light from the arcs set up around the pit, as if it were covered in metal. Or made of metal…

The captain realised what he was looking at the same second the Dalek opened fire. The blast took down two unprepared guards, and then the Dalek moved out. Behind it, a second rose in the shaft.

‘Oh my God…’ the captain gasped. He’d been a little worried when Estro had announced his plan to ravage the Dalek installation – but this. The Daleks were dead, for God’s sake!

Two Dalek guns fired on the guards now, their bright flashes illuminating the night. The captain could hear their screams and his shocked mind was brought back to Earth.

‘Emergency!’ he announced. All guards, targets at ground centre. Immediate firing!’ He quickly opened fire himself. But at extreme range, there was no visible effect on the two Daleks.

A third rose from the shaft. How many of them were there?

‘Get closer,’ he ordered his men. ‘Hold your fire until it will do some good.’ He dashed forward, keeping low, and seeking every last scant bit of cover he could. The humans had only one small advantage – the heavy rain had turned a lot of the ground to mud. The Daleks seemed to be moving on some kind of wheels, and the mud slowed them down. But it didn’t stop them. Guns blazing, there were now five Daleks spreading out from the shaft.

The captain threw himself to the ground, close enough now for accurate fire. He aimed his machine gun, and let loose a burst. The closest Dalek swung its eyestalk to look at him, and the human could see that the bullets were bouncing off the Dalek casing without effect.

‘Small‐arms fire is useless,’ he reported to his men. ‘Fall back until we can bring in something heavier.’

‘That’ll take too long!’ his second in command yelled. ‘These things will have seized the area by then.’

‘Fall back!’ the captain repeated, knowing what the man had said was true. But they couldn’t stand against Daleks with nothing better than rifles and pistols. They were too well armoured. He rose to a crouch, ready to run, when the Dalek he’d targeted fired.

His body was filled with agony, and he screamed as he collapsed to the ground. To his surprise, he wasn’t dead, but he discovered that his legs were paralysed and his spine was on fire with pain. The Dalek rumbled forward, spared a quick glance down at him, and then moved on, looking for further targets.

The captain groaned in agony and fear. It had deliberately left him alive. But why?

‘We’re losing ground,’ McAndrew reported, as Lord London stared at his display board. London’s lips were dry, and his stomach hurt. That damned ulcer again, and there was little enough he could do about it. New London might be the most renovated city in England, but it still had shortages of certain medicines, and ulcers were considered a low priority. At least by anyone who didn’t have one. He winced as he examined the map.

He’d been outmanoeuvred, he realised. Haldoran had deliberately tempted him by sacrificing Tomlin’s men. Then two other forces had struck, shattering his main attack. Worse, one of the forces was using some new weapon that McAndrew was convinced were salvaged Dalek guns. They had greater range that any automatic weapon, and any kind of a hit was lethal. His men, demoralised, were in full retreat. Haldoran’s soldiers pressed forward, heading slowly but implacably towards London.

‘I can see that,’ London snarled. ‘We need to be able to wipe out those enemy with the new guns. Isn’t there any way to get at them?’

‘With the weaponry at our disposal?’ Durgan asked. ‘Not a chance. We d need tanks, or field guns, or bazookas or –’

‘I get the picture, you imbecile!’ London snarled. The man was a jackass, braying on and on. He needed time to think. There had to be some way to strike back at Haldoran’s troops, to regain the initiative in this battle. But how?

Broadhurst looked up from his tactical table. ‘We’re estimating two hours before they reach the outer walls,’ he reported. ‘There’s already panic in the city. Rumours are flying about their new weapons, and there’s already call for surrender.’

‘Surrender?’ London glared at his underling. ‘Surrender is not an option. Haldoran isn’t likely to grant any of us terms. The man’s a sadist, and he’s got a long memory and a lousy temper. If we try and surrender, we’re all of us in here dead men. And our families, too – if they’re lucky. We fight on, no matter what. It’s better than the alternative.’

‘We can’t win,’ Durgan complained, pale.

‘Then we lose, but we lose on our feet, our guns in our hands,’ London told him coldly. ‘We won’t be led to our own executions.’ He glared at the men about him. ‘I don’t want to hear any more defeatist talk. There’s a way to win this – them must be. I’m not going to let everything I’ve struggled for fall apart because of the actions of one monster. We fight on!’

The men all nodded, bending back to their tasks. They weren’t inspired, but at least they were willing to act as if they were. London winced at the pain in his stomach, and tuned back to the operations board. It might be a good idea to start thinking up some plan of retreat… Two of his sons were still in London, as well as Donna. She might be a terrible disappointment to him, but she was still his flesh and blood. He’d have to see about saving them and their families – as well as his own skin. If they could just get out before Haldoran’s men encircled the walls and made escape impossible…

Would this nightmare never end? Donna was breathing raggedly, her vision blurring slightly from the panic that had seized her. She was going where she had sincerely prayed she’d never have to step again – into Haldoran’s inner lair. The memories of all the disgusting things he’d ever done to her tried to overwhelm her, but she struggled to fight them off. It wouldn’t be the same this time. It wouldn’t! The Doctor had promised her, and she had to believe he would keep his word.

Besides, this was no longer simply her own life and dignity she was concerned with. If Haldoran had more of those Dalek guns, then London and her entire family were doomed. Despite everything, she had to be strong. Even if it killed her.

David rapped on the door, and then entered, saluting. The Doctor touched her elbow, and she almost shrieked. But she forced her feet to carry her inside the door.

He was there, along with other people she couldn’t even focus on. All her attention was on Haldoran’s back, as he crouched over the map table, gloating. The Doctor tapped her arm, and then gestured subtly. She followed his gaze, and saw a stack of crates against the wall. The Dalek weapons – it had to be. She felt a surge of hope that died the second Haldoran looked around.

‘Guard detail,’ David said crisply. ‘The captain thought you’d want to see this intruder yourself.’

‘Yes,’ Haldoran said, eagerness in his eyes, and a slight smile on his lips. ‘Yes, indeed I would.’ He moved across the room towards her, and reached up to grip her chin. ‘Donna, darling, it’s been so long… You’ve no idea how glad I am to see you.’

‘What’s the matter?’ she gasped, wincing at his touch. ‘Couldn’t find some other helpless woman to torture?’

‘There are plenty of other women,’ Haldoran answered. ‘But none as… interesting as you. Believe it or not, I’ve missed you. It’s so good having you back. I’m sure I can think of something special to celebrate tonight. After my men have taken New London and murdered your family, of course.’

Donna wished her mouth wasn’t so dry. She really wanted to spit in his face. She knew that the Doctor had to be up to something, but she couldn’t spare her attention. She was locked once more into this confrontation with this monster, and despite everything, it was all‐consuming. He was dominating her again, just as he always had. Making her quake as he dreamed up new ways to humiliate and hurt her. Hell was in session anew.

No! She was no longer that naive young girl he’d taken and abused. She was now a knight, a warrior in her own right. She’d faced danger and death before without this bowel‐churning fear. She wouldn’t allow him to intimidate and conquer her again. This time she was stronger. She could face him down, no matter what he threatened. He was not as strong as he thought he was.

Haldoran bent and gave her a kiss on the lips, which stunned her in a different way. It was unlike him to make even a single pleasant gesture. Then she yelped as he viciously bit her lower lip, drawing blood. He backed off, smiling, licking her blood from his lips. ‘Just a taste of what’s to come,’ he promised her. Then he pulled out a pistol and whipped around, holding the gun to the Doctor’s head. The Doctor had been edging towards the cases of Dalek guns, and was now caught in mid‐step.

‘I think not,’ Haldoran purred, his finger tight on the trigger. ‘I know all of my guards, and you two aren’t right.’ Another guard had moved in to disarm David, who stood silently. Did you think I’d be so distracted by the sight of my ex-wife that I wouldn’t think straight?’

‘Actually, yes,’ the Doctor admitted. ‘It was quite a touching reunion.’

Haldoran inclined his head slightly ‘It’s a shame you won’t live to see the rest of it. It’s going to be quite fun.’ His hand lashed out, clubbing the side of the Doctor’s head with his pistol. The Doctor gave a strangled cry, collapsing in pain to the floor. There was blood in his curly hair, and he reached up to touch the place where it hurt. Haldoran laughed at what he had done. He aimed the revolver at the Doctor and pulled back on the trigger.