Doctor Who_ The Green Death - Malcolm Hulke [48]
‘I shall now commence the countdown,’ he told the computer, with no noticeable enthusiasm.
The Doctor and the Brigadier arrived at the gates of Panorama Chemicals. An armed guard came up to them.
‘Sorry, gentlemen,’ he said, ‘no one’s allowed in this area.’
‘You have no authority to impede us,’ said the Brigadier.
‘Oh yes I have,’ said the guard, ‘this.’ He raised his gun. ‘Touch your revolver, sir, and you’re dead.’
‘Now look here, my dear fellow,’ said the Doctor. ‘All we want is a discussion with your Director—‘
A sudden strange electronic sound filled the air. It came from the building. It had no effect on the Doctor and the Brigadier, but instantly the guard dropped his gun and stood to attention. The sound only lasted a few moments, but the guard remained as still as a wax work. The Doctor clicked his fingers in front of the guard’s eyes.
‘Some sort of paralysis?’ asked the Brigadier.
‘I’ve no idea,’ said the Doctor, ‘but it’s jolly convenient for us. You stay here. I’m going in. If I’m not out by three minutes to four o’clock it means I’m dead. You and your soldiers can then try to destroy that computer, if possible.’
‘Phase One countdown completed,’ reported Dr Stevens.
‘Excellent,’ said Boss. ‘Activate the total processing of the slave elite.’
Dr Stevens moved slowly to the console of controls. He pressed the special red button that would send an electronic signal humming through the building and grounds. Guards and staff who had been partially brain-washed would now lose their free will completely, becoming little more than robots.
‘Enough!’ said Boss.
Dr Stevens removed his finger from the button. He knew that all over the building and grounds Panorama personnel would be standing to attention like wax works. He turned to the computer. ‘First stage of total processing accomplished,’ he said. ‘You realise that until the final link-up takes place and the slaves respond we are quite defenceless?’
‘I realise everything,’ said Boss. ‘All right, Phase Two. Discontinue primary function. Connect, connect.’
Dr Stevens adjusted a number of controls, then put the big metal helmet on his head and sat down. He plugged in the lead from the helmet to an outlet in the wall.
‘And now,’ said Boss, ‘you and I shall become one. It’s rather like a marriage, don’t you think?’
‘Hardly,’ replied Dr Stevens.
‘Really, you have no sense of humour! Don’t you think a little wedding music would be nice?’
‘I am ready for you to go ahead,’ said Dr Stevens.
Boss hummed a snatch from Mendelssohn’s wedding march. ‘Dr Stevens, do you take this computer to be your lawful wedded Boss?’
Dr Stevens did not answer.
‘Oh, all right,’ said Boss petulantly. ‘Two can play at hard to get, you know! I shall now complete the activation.’
An electronic hum started to fill the room.
The lift doors opened and the Doctor entered. ‘Dr Stevens, I must talk to you. You have to stop all this!’
‘Hello, Doctor,’ said Boss. ‘Do you know any just cause or impediment why Dr Stevens and all the people on Earth should not be my slaves?’
‘Dr Stevens,’ the Doctor implored, ‘you must listen to me!’
‘Stevens no longer exists,’ said the computer. ‘Four minutes from now my power will be extended to seven other complexes throughout the world. One world, one people, one Boss!’
The Doctor produced the sapphire and held it in front of Dr Stevens’s eyes. ‘Look at this, Stevens. Watch it carefully.’
Dr Stevens stared at the sapphire. Then his lips moved, but now he spoke in the metallic voice of Boss. ‘I must concentrate on the task in hand.’
‘Concentrate on this sapphire,’ said the Doctor. ‘Don’t let the computer control you, man! It’s only a machine. You should be the one in control. Look at the stone!’
The sapphire started to glow its brilliant blue. Dr Stevens’s eyes flickered. The light coming from the stone increased in intensity.
‘Doctor...’ Dr Stevens spoke in his own voice.
‘No!’ The voice of Boss spoke with a scream. ‘I am the one who speaks. Think of our great plan, Stevens, our dream. Everyone