Doctor Who_ Illegal Alien - Mike Tucker [88]
Mullen looked troubled. 'So how will we ever catch someone like that?' 'Oh, don't worry about Limb,' said the Doctor. 'I've an appointment with him on Jersey?' 'Jersey?'
McBride butted in. 'How in the hell d'you know he's on Jersey?' 'That's the trick with chess players,' said the Doctor.
'Once you work out their game you can generally predict their moves. That's all there is to toplevel chess. No one ever makes a move without knowing how their opponent will respond. Jersey is where Wall and his Cybermen came from.
It is where the main Cyberforce is based. George Limb knows this. I know George Limb is on Jersey, and he knows I know. He is waiting for me there.'
Mullen shook his head slowly, a smile of incredulity and admiration playing about his lips. 'We could use you on the force, Doctor. The criminals wouldn't stand a chance.' 'Yeah.'
said McBride, 'and I'd be out of a job. Get outa here, Doc.'
'Yes.' The Doctor smiled. 'It is time I was leaving. Goodbye, gentlemen.' 'Doctor,' Mullen cut in as the Time Lord was disappearing through the door, 'is there anything else we should do here? Any loose ends we should tidy up?'
Just keep your eyes open and your mouths closed,' the Doctor replied. 'This whole episode must remain our secret. It shouldn't be too difficult. Heaven knows, there's enough else happening. Oh, and take care of yourselves, gentlemen.
Don't forget, there's a war on.'
He turned and began descending the stairs.
'Ah,' said McBride, 'relax. The war's as good as won. The United States'll be in soon enough.' He reclined on his chair and put his feet on the desk.
'Ain't that right, Doc?' he called after the vanished Time Lord. 'Oh,' the Doctor's voice floated up the stairs, 'I really couldn't say...'
scanning> signal detected> activate> locate signal source> signal source located> scan for hostile life forms> negative> proceed> For three hours the Doctor had waited in the grey drizzle of the Southwark morning. He had begun the day by picking his way around the ruined shell of the Peddler factory, satisfying himself that no trace of Cybertechnology remained in the ruins. The TARDIS still sat in the shelter of the power station: the Doctor stood in its shadow, holding the head of the Cyberleader.
From the severed neck two wires now protruded, joining what was left of the inner workings of the head to what looked for all the world like a batterytester a small needle gauge and a pair of frequency dials set into a yellow plastic box.
It was worryingly crude, but in the time available...
The Doctor only hoped it would work.
Beyond the limit of the Doctor's hearing the head was transmitting a highfrequency signal. Every so often it would squawk electronically, the needle would dance wildly, and the Doctor would make swift, minute adjustments to the dials.
Gently...
scan signal source area>
alien life form detected>
analyse> humanoid> nonterrestrial> search data files>
subject identified> planet of origin Gallifiey> presume hostile> arm>
prepare to detonate> prepare>
prepare to det> prepare to>
prepprep>
preprrpreprprrr>>>
Time Lord and time bomb stood facing each other across the expanse of waste ground. Very slowly the rhythmic bleeping from the Cyberleader's head was dropping in pitch.
It was clearly, painfully audible now. The Doctor began to walk slowly towards his quarry, still making delicate adjustments to his lashup.
Carefully... The Doctor knew that a slip of the wrist now would obliterate him, the power station and much of Southwark. Only the TARDIS and the source of the explosion itself would be left standing.
By the time he stood over the machine the whistle from the Cyberleader's head had become a low hum. He looked at the thing in front of him. It stood about waist