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Doctor Who_ Illegal Alien - Mike Tucker [97]

By Root 288 0
what appeared to be a whistle. He raised it to his mouth and blew.

No sound emerged.

'A dog whistle.' he said. 'Inaudible to the human ear.

Although in your case, Captain Hartmann, being one of the master race and so on...'

'Do not try to make a fool of me, Doctor. Carry on with your work.'

'I've done all I can.' said the Doctor. 'You see, these are sleeper Cybermen. They are on shutdown. In order to revive them you need one

of ' The double doors at the far end of the room crashed suddenly open. In waddled the little Cybercommand unit.

'Those.' finished the Doctor. 'Here, boy! Good boy!' And, like an obedient dog, the lethal console trotted across the room and stood attentively at the feet of its new master. 'Stage One revival,' said the Doctor. 'Initiate.' The console chittered and burbled electronically for a few moments. Lights on its flat surface winked in sequence.

The whole, huge room, scientists and guards, and prisoners, felt the thrill of energy which rippled across the walls, through the tubes and wires that linked the Cybermen together. The blaze of light, the throb of power.

'Well, Dr Frankenstein,' the Doctor quipped to Limb,

'impressed?'

George Limb smiled and nodded gently in assent.

There was a crackling, tearing sound from the Cyberleader's alcove. Its giant arms twitched and jerked for a few moments. It slowly moved its head from side to side, taking in its surroundings. Steam billowed around it as the newborn colossus stepped forward into life.

'Morning...' chirped the Doctor. 'Sleep well?' The Cyberleader scanned the little figure standing in front of it.

'WHERE IS WALL>' the Cyberleader grated. 'Wall is dead,'

the Doctor replied matteroffactly. 'WHO REVIVED ME>' 'I did.' said the Doctor. Hartmann stepped forward. 'Welcome, my friend. I am Captain Hartmann of the Third Reich. It was I who ordered your revival.' With a low electronic hum the Cyberleader scanned the cluster of

people in front of him. Hartmann, Limb, Ace.

'HUMANS> YOU WILL BE CONVERTED> YOU WILL

BE LIKE US>,

'We of the Third Reich are more than human,' said Hartmann. Together, your race and my race, we have a mighty destiny.'

The Cyberleader scanned the Aryan officer again.

'YOU ARE HUMAN>' it droned. 'YOU WILL BE

CONVERTED> YOU WILL BE LIKE US>'

It stepped towards the Cybercommand unit. Hartmann laid a hand on its huge arm. With a hydraulic hiss the arm swung backward, throwing the astonished captain across the room.

'A useful lesson in eugenics.' murmured the Doctor.

'Now, on with the show.'

The Cyberleader stood before the squat consoleonlegs, and extended a hand. There was a crackle of power from the little unit and the

Cyberleader staggered backward. It attempted to approach the unit again. Another crackle.

'I'm afraid I've taught it to bite,' said the Doctor.

'Command override program, authorisation Theta Sigma.'

There was a whirring from inside the head of the Cyberleader. For a moment it seemed off balance, disorientated, flailing and struggling to remain on its feet.

Then its arms fell to its sides.

'Good,' said the Doctor. 'Raise your right arm'

There was an electronic burble from the Cybercommand unit. The Cyberleader raised its right arm.

'Down,' said the Doctor.

The arm fell to its side.

Around the room the cocoonlike alcoves were glowing with life. Everywhere the sleepers were waking up.

Cybermen stepped from the walls into the room, on to gantries, down ladders, down into the centre of the room.

It took Captain Hartmann a moment to register that his great plan had gone badly wrong. Recovering himself he scrambled to his feet and ran for the door.

'Guards!' he yelled. 'Kill them!'

Of the few guards who had been milling about the room, some raised their rifles and fired upon the silver giants. The Cybermen ignored the gunshots. Other guards followed the lead of their captain, who was tearing down a nearby corridor.

'Checkmate,' said the Doctor.

Hartmann reached the guardroom in moments. Half a dozen soldiers sat around in shirtsleeves, reading or playing cards.

'Get up!' the captain

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