Menagerie - Martin Day [87]
Zoe glanced at the image. 'Yes, that's the right room. The units exactly match the one I saw in the freak show.'
'Good,' said the Doctor. He pressed a few keys and the image began to expand, showing more detail of one particular casket. Many of the electrodes had been ripped from the side of the machine, and a huge hole had appeared in the plastiglass covering. A severed tube poured white fluid on to the floor. 'Well,' said the Doctor, 'I'm not sure whether that's good news or not. The Taculbain were clearly instructed to attack the machinery rather than switch the whole lot off. I'm not sure that even with the large number of backup systems built into cryogenic units we can do much from this end.'
'I'm boosting input and output to maximum,' said Zoe. 'In some cases the field generated might be enough to encapsulate even a broken unit.'
'Good,' said the Doctor. 'If we can avoid going to the units in person then I'm —'
There was a sudden rending sound from the doorway.
The Doctor and the others turned to see the impression of a claw moving down the closed metal shutter. The material warped and bent and finally gave way to admit a huge four-pronged claw. In a blur a viciously hooked arm came through. The creature was straining against the door.
'Oh dear,' said the Doctor, his voice barely carrying above the animal cries from the corridor. His face was gaunt in the harsh neon light. 'The Mecrim know we're here.'
Seventeen
A small number of the ape-like Rocarbies could hold back their frustration no longer. Enraged, they rushed at Defrabax, knocking him to the floor. They began to pummel his head and chest with their fists.
Jamie ran forward to help, but was pushed aside. The massed Rocarbies were beginning to scream and shake their heads in delight.
An unexpected voice from the direction of the stairs cut through even the hollering of the apes. 'Stop!' The Rocarbies turned to see three of the moth-creatures stepping on to the concrete expanse, their wings unfolded, their hands outstretched. Jamie noticed that the head of one of the creatures was armoured, terminating in huge jaws like a man-trap. Perhaps this was one of the soldiers that the Dugraq had mentioned.
'Stop,' said the leading Taculbain again. 'This is not the way forward.'
The Rocarbies threw themselves to the ground and averted their gaze. 'It is the gods-among-us,' whispered one.
'They have a message for us.'
The Taculbain stepped through the crowd, brushing past Jamie, the Dugraq and the semi-conscious Defrabax. They came to a halt before the Rocarby leader, who risked a quick upward glance. 'Do not punish us,' he said. 'We have never heard your words before. We will do anything that you want.'
'We have been sent by our Queen,' said the Taculbain.
'We need your help. There is an enemy, a race of destroyers, that will soon move across our world. These creatures will kill all our peoples. Only if we unite will we stand a chance.'
'Of course,' said the Rocarby. 'What we have is yours. But this human . . .'
'For the moment he is of no consequence. Such matters can wait. These are the orders of our Queen.' The Taculbain turned to address the little Dugraq, who bowed respectfully.
'Your plan was to warn your people also?'
The scout nodded. 'That is correct.'
'Then we are of one mind. We will leave the soldier here to help organize defences against the Mecrim. We will accompany you.'
'Your help would be gratefully received,' said the Dugraq.
'And the man?'
'Oh, I think he'll survive,' said the scout, bending down to examine Defrabax's wounds. The mage smiled at the little creature weakly.
'Then let us go,' said the Taculbain. 'There is only small time before the beasts attack us.'
The Doctor, Zoe and the twins ran across the room to the only door that they could