Doctor Who_ Remembrance of the Daleks - Ben Aaronovitch [5]
Figures moved in and out of perspective, and as activity increased, the manner in which they moved became decisive. Fast motions activated subroutines which awoke dormant systems and made demands on the warrior’s central power reserve – demands that were met.
The focus of the warrior’s attention sharpened, shooting into the infra-red spectrum. The figures became luminous, shifting patches of red; they carried hard metal objects which in a nanosecond the battle computer identified as weapons.
Tracking systems warmed up and the warrior shifted power to its blaster.
Mike caught the flash of light in the periphery of his vision. His mind still registered it as a muzzle flash even as his eyes showed it moving. One of the soldiers with him was caught as he stooped over Matthews’ body, caught and whirled backwards to sprawl brokenly in the dust. The air carried the sharp tang of ozone.
A man was down, provoking Gilmore to shout for covering fire. Around Rachel soldiers scrambled into position while others opened up with their rifles. She had seen it: her eyes had been looking at the lean-to when the bolt of energy had shot out. It was like a bolt of lightning, but...
Ace could hear screams from the crowd at the gate over the sound of the gunfire. Puffs of dust peppered the walls around the lean-to as the bullets left saucer-shaped depressions in the brick. She saw the Doctor crouched behind an old boiler. She tried to make out his expression; Ace thought she saw self-disgust for a moment before the Doctor’s face became grim, his eyes flat.
Group Captain Gilmore, unable to see a target, ordered his men to cease firing. In the sudden quiet he could hear the muted roar of traffic. To the left of Matthews another man lay dead. It looked like MacBrewer: Catholic, married, four children, career soldier, dead in the dust of an east London junkyard. A sudden debilitating rage filled Gilmore and with it foreboding.
‘What was it?’ Professor Jensen demanded behind him.
A second voice, the Doctor who had arrived with her.
‘That was your death ray.’
‘I know that, but how?’ Jensen’s voice was sharp. ‘To transmit focused energy at that level, it’s incredible, it’s...’
her voice trailed off.
Gilmore turned to face them. Jensen looked uncertain, as if she were struggling with something unacceptable.
‘Yes?’ asked the Doctor, his eyes bright.
‘It’s beyond the realm of current technology.’ Jensen had to force the words out.
Enough of this, Gilmore thought angrily. ‘We can save the science lecture for a less precipitous moment. Now, Doctor, if you can just tell me what’s going on?’
‘You must pull your men back,’ he said quickly. ‘Now.
It’s their only chance.’
‘Preposterous, we can’t disengage now. Whatever is in there, these men can deal with it.’ But he was uncertain even as he spoke. Who is this man and what does he know?
he asked himself. He heard the Doctor speaking even as he made his decision.
‘Nothing you have will be effective against what’s in there.’
We’ll see about that, thought Gilmore. He summoned Sergeant Embery and told him to fire three rifle grenades on even spread directly into the lean-to. Let’s see what this damned sniper makes of that, he thought.
Why does he refer to the sniper as an it? Rachel pondered as she watched the Doctor rally his arguments one more time. Who or what could wield such an energy weapon?
‘Group Captain,’ pleaded the Doctor, ‘you are not dealing with human beings here.’
‘What am I dealing with – little green men?’
‘No,’ answered the Doctor. ‘Little green blobs in bonded polycarbide armour.’
Embery reported that the grenades were ready.
‘Fire!’ ordered Gilmore.
Rachel watched as the Doctor turned away. ‘Humans,’
he said disgustedly.
Abbot felt the kick as the grenade was knocked forward by the rifle round. He watched with a practised eye the blurred trajectory of the grenade which hit the entrance