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By Root 758 0

regarding the alien creatures in the cubicles. Something like regret flickered over his features, but in a moment it was gone.' The Waro augmented the sensors on your probe and turned part of it into a neural amplifier. When I transmitted my own electrocorticogram they were able to place their pictures and images directly into my mind. A painful process, but they can't communicate verbally. I've been in constant contact with the Waro ever since.'

Trainor closed his eyes and shook his head as Rose continued.

'One thing has been clear since they approached the Earth - the Waro know these spineless Nedenah are here, and they want them destroyed.'

'Why?'

'They're old enemies. The Nedenah might be tempted to interfere in our plans.'

'Our plans?' Trainor laughed. Just listen to yourself, Peter! The Waro have been using you.'

'Nonsense. They respect my contribution. They know that this hunker might prove beyond even their abilities. And titimis of the essence.' Rose smiled, his eyes now as cold and dark as the empty void of space. 'Soon they will wipe the Earth clean. Just as I always wanted.'

'I won't participate in this slaughter!' exclaimed Trainor.

Rose pointed his gun at the professor. 'Open those cells, or I'll shoot you, too.'

The Brigadier coughed, not used to being on the sidelines. 'Gentlemen, I congratulate you on getting this far.

But the moment you open one of those cubicles, you'll have a hundred well-armed CIA agents to contend with. You'll never escape.'

'I didn't ask for your input.' snapped Rose angrily.

'My men have this base surrounded.' bluffed the Brigadier. 'Soon the entire complex will be under the UN's jurisdiction.'

'I don't believe you.' said Rose. 'Your pathetic UNIT thugs were reasonable flunkies at the professor's press luncheon.

But ththins.' He indicated the vast room with the wave of a manicured hand. "this is beyond you!

'Maybe so.' said the Brigadier. 'But unaccountable projects such

as -'

'For the last time.' said Rose, 'shut up, or I'll shoot you.

Now, Professor, open the cells.'

Although the gun remained trained on the Brigadier, Trainor clearly didn't want to provoke Rose further. He worked at the keypad with a small boxlike device that he had pulled from a dusty rucksack. Eventually the door to the first isolation chamber opened with a hiss of compressed air.

Rose, mindful of the Brigadier, swung his gun quickly in the direction of the alien inside, and fired a rapid burst of fire.

'The alien's head exploded, showering the cubicle with brown and yellow blood.

Immediately Rose turned the gun back on the Brigadier, and indicated that Trainor should open the next cell.

The professor was motionless, tears streaming down his face. 'Come on, man,' snapped Rose.

Trainor opened his mouth to say something, but had seen enough evidence to realise that further argument was pointless. When Rose wasn't looking, he shot a quick glance at the Brigadier. The meaning was clear enough. 'I'm going to try something. Be ready.’

The Brigadier nodded slowly.

'Ah, slight problem.' said Trainor. 'This cell works on a different principle. The correct number needs to be entered into both keypads simultaneously. Rose, you'll have to stand over there, and enter in the numbers just as I say them.'

Rose seemed so high on destruction that he didn't recognise the professor's desperate bluff. As Rose turned to the keypad closest to him, the Brigadier began to inch forward. The moment the gun dipped slightly, Lethbridge-Stewart launched himself at the man. Rose turned, instinctively swung the gun upward - but too high, as if shooting grouse or clay pigeons. The bullets skimmed the Brigadier's head, impacting into the thick concrete ceiling, by which time the Brigadier was on him. A swift rabbit punch laid Rose out cold. The Brigadier snorted. An in-bred Old Etonian, no doubt.

'I seem to be showing an alarming aptitude for strong-arm exploits, Professor,' said the Brigadier with a smile, picking up Rose's gun. 'Now, I suggest that you open the rest of the cells. We need the help of these aliens.