2. The Doctor Gives Ace the Crystal
That afternoon, Ace returned to the Scala café with the Doctor and Delta. They met Tasha, Vladimir and Michael who were already there. The three youngsters were surprised by Ace, the Doctor and Delta’s entrance.
“Oh goodness!” Tasha exclaimed. “You three look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
“Is everything alright?” Vladimir asked coolly. “You’re not in trouble, are you?”
“Ace, you’ve come back!” Michael cheered.
“Hi Mike!” Ace greeted.
“Are you three Ace’s friends?” the Doctor interrupted. “The ones she met here in this café?”
“Of course,” Vladimir replied. “Who might you be, sir?”
“Not sir! Doctor,” the Doctor answered. “And we came to warn you! A Cybermen invasion force is on its way!”
“Cybermen what?” Tasha asked, credulous.
“It’s true,” Delta added. “We’ve seen them! They’ve been following us here! We must defend ourselves!”
“Stack up some chairs,” Ace demanded. “Pull up the tables! We’ve got to form a barricade!”
“Now just a minute, Ace,” Michael interrupted. “We’ve no idea what you’re talking about! Talking about cyber people…”
“Listen up!” Ace interrupted him. “Your lives are in danger if you don’t listen up! Help us or else die! Got it?”
“Ace is right,” the Doctor supported her. “We must form a barricade before…”
“You expect us to believe you, Doctor?” Tasha protested.
Vladimir added, “All this talk of aliens from outer space…”
The Doctor grew impatient. “I haven’t got time to explain it all to you! Just form a barricade and then we’ll…”
Just then, a massive explosion occurred. The doors are flung open.
“Everyone!” the Doctor cried out loud. “Duck for cover!”
The Doctor, Ace and their friends ducked down for cover. Once the explosion passed, a squad of Cybermen entered. They marched in and opened fire with their gun-like weapons. The Doctor, Ace and the others, still ducking for cover, went to hide behind a fallen table in the café. They were shielded from the Cybermen’s gunshots as they continued to march in. They knew they wouldn’t be safe for long.
The Doctor turned to Delta. “How many of them are there? Did you see?”
“Just a patrol of ten,” Delta answered. “They must’ve sent in the execution squad!”
“Ten,” Ace realised. “We can take them out surely!”
“Don’t be foolish, Ace,” the Doctor retorted. “Cybermen are not to be underestimated. You of all people should know that!”
“We’ll see about that!” Ace said with confidence as she took out two cans of Nitro-9 out from her rucksack.
The Doctor was appalled. “Ace, what are you doing?!”
“One might not take ten Cybermen out;” Ace said, emphasising one Nitro-9 can in her right hand. “But two might!” she emphasised with the other can in her left hand.
“Ace, it’s too risky!” the Doctor warned her.
“I trust this stuff with my life,” Ace said. “Bit dodgy on the timers I know, but…”
“Give them to me,” the Doctor insisted. “I’ll set them up to go off!”
“Hey no wait,” Ace protested. “This is my demolition stuff!”
“Just hand the stuff over to me, Ace!” the Doctor demanded, agitated.
“No!” Ace retorted. “Trust me! I can do this! I’m sure I’ve got the timers right. About 8 seconds I should think.”
The Doctor thought for a moment. Annoyed, he then said, “Oh very well. But be quick about it! And be careful!”
“No problem, Professor,” Ace answered.
With that, Ace went out and ducked past many pieces of furniture to avoid the Cybermen opening fire upon her.
Michael watched Ace go before turning to the Doctor. “Do you think she can do what’s doing? Setting up explosives?”
“I hope so,” the Doctor replied grimly. “I would like to see Ace in one piece after this.”
Meanwhile, Ace found a suitable place to position the Nitro-9 demolition cans from. The Cybermen were approaching left’ right and centre. Placing the cans carefully on the ground, she opened up one can and rolled it to the other side of the room. She then opened up the second can and gently rolled it to the centre of the room. Once she’d done that, Ace made her way back to join the others.
“1…2…3…4…5…6…”
As Ace timed the cans to detonate, the cans blew up instantly before she finished. Startled, Ace fell to the floor. The Cybermen juddered and shrivelled from the force of the explosions, getting killed instantly. Ace lay on the floor, unconscious.
The Doctor saw what happened and immediately ran over to Ace, getting out of cover.
“Ace!” he called. “Ace, are you alright?”
“Doctor!” Delta called out to him. “There could still be more Cybermen!”
Not adhering to Delta’s warning, the Doctor got to Ace and dragged her back to where he was with the others behind the fallen table. Once he and Ace were back under cover, the Doctor began to revive her, patting her on the face. The others watched with concern.
“Ace!” the Doctor called again. “Ace, wake up! Ace! ACE!!!”
Delta, Tasha, Michael and Vladimir became even more worried.
“Will she be alright?” Michael asked. “Will Ace live?”
“I hope she will,” Tasha said. “It’d be such a waste.”
“I hope those bombs didn’t damage her brain.” Vladimir added.
Thankfully however, Ace came to as she coughed out loud. She caught her breath and soon recovered. She looked up to see the Doctor who looked down at her.
Ace smiled cheerfully. “Hey Professor! Did I show the Cybermen what I’ve got?”
“Yes,” the Doctor said relieved. “You showed them what you got.”
“She’s alive!” Michael exclaimed.
“Yes,” the Doctor said happily.
“Ace has managed to solve our problem,” Delta said pleased. “No more Cybermen are coming. It must’ve been the whole scout force that came to attack us.”
“Yes! I’m pleased that it gives us time,” the Doctor declared.
“Time for what?” Vladimir asked.
The Doctor became thoughtful for a moment before he answered. “Time to plan ahead.” A moment of tension ensued before he greeted Ace’s friends. “Hello, I’m the Doctor! Nice to meet you!” He doffed his hat. They were pleased to meet him.
“Nice to meet you too, Doctor,” Michael said. “I’m Michael. This is Tasha and this is Vladimir.”
“Hello,” Tasha said cheerfully.
“Hello,” added Vladimir.
“Splendid,” the Doctor acknowledged everyone. “Well, since we’ve all got to be such good friends, we might as well have a cup of tea, shall we?”
“Provided we can enjoy the open air,” Delta commented.
“Yeah,” Vladimir concurred, looking accusingly at Ace. “You Ace blew a hole in the roof!”
Everyone looked to see that part of the roof had fallen in. All thanks to Ace’s two Nitro-9 cans going off. The Doctor looked at Ace with a frown. Ace sunk from his glare.
“Nobody’s perfect, Professor,” she said sheepishly. “Anyone can make a mistake with the timers.”
The Doctor boiled. “Next time Ace, we really need to have a talk about your dodgy demolition tactics. You’re very careless with your Nitro-9.”
Getting up from the floor and dropping Ace to it, the Doctor walked off. Ace didn’t say much. She just sulked whilst on the floor.
A while later in another café on Angola Avenue called the Polana, the Doctor; Ace and the others were sitting around tables. Tasha, Vladimir, Michael and Delta were sitting around one table whilst the Doctor and Ace were sitting around another. The Doctor was deep in thought.
Ace tried to break him out of it. “What are you thinking about, Professor?”
“I’m thinking, Ace,” the Doctor told her.
Gradually, Ace asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Yes there is,” the Doctor muttered irritably.
Ace could sense the Doctor didn’t want to be disturbed. She soon got out of her chair and began to go over to Delta and the others. She turned back to the Doctor one last time. “Are you sure you’ll be alright with me going over to my friends?”
“Yes I will,” the Doctor answered, preoccupied. “Do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
As the Doctor went back into his thoughts, Ace joined Delta and the others as he pulled up a chair; sat down and folded her arms sulkily. Delta noticed Ace being annoyed.
“Have you got through to him?” she asked.
“He’s always blocking me out,” Ace said. “Never lets me on his secret agenda.” She paused before looking to Delta. “Was it always like this with you when you met him?”
“Not really,” Delta replied. “But then I was concerned about protecting my child from the Bannermen. The Doctor was keen to help to. He was always cheery and delightful.”
“Yeah well, now he’s gone all broody and mysterious,” Ace moaned. “He’s always going on about this big plan of his. It’s like he’s going to put me in the Gallifrey Academy and make me one of his Time Lord bunch.”
“Is that going to happen?” Delta asked, credulous.
Ace laughed and scoffed, “Fat chance of that. I haven’t past my O Levels in Chemistry.”
Looking back to see the Doctor, Ace could see him still deep in thought. She turned away, becoming sulky again before she saw Michael looking at her. She beamed with delight once she saw him.
“Still looking forward to the clubbing tonight, Ace?” Michael asked cheerily.
“You bet I am,” Ace cheered. “I can’t wait to get into that dancing and feeling good.”
“Are you coming along too, Delta?” Tasha asked her.
Delta thought for a moment. “I might. Is it like rock and roll?”
“Rock and roll?” Vladimir scoffed. “That’s so 1959. We’re in the age of hard metal.”
“Hard metal?” Delta asked, confused.
“I’m sure Delta will enjoy it,” Ace said. “Won’t you, Delta?”
“I still have my game with the Cybermen to play with,” Delta said, uncertain.
At that moment, the Doctor came out of his reverie. He got up from his seat and quickly went over to Ace, Delta and the others.
“Ace; Delta, I think I have an answer to hurry my plans along and put the game forward into action,” the Doctor said.
“You think or you know, Professor?” Ace challenged him.
“Quiet Ace!” the Doctor retorted as he turned to Delta. “Delta, can you sense the Cybermen’s movements from here?”
Delta checked the grey patches behind her ears. This lasted for a while.
“I can sense their trail, Doctor,” she eventually said.
“Good!” the Doctor said pleased. “Where are they heading?”
“Into the inner city of Maputo,” she answered. “There is something else though. Something to do with the power supplies in the city. The Cybermen are applying some technology to drain them.”
“Hey, how do you know all this?” Tasha asked, being sceptical.
“It’s what the bees tell me,” Delta explained.
“The bees?” Michael enquired.
“You’ve got bees in Africa, haven’t you?” Delta checked.
Michael, Tasha and Vladimir said nothing.
Ace turned to Delta. “Will they be scouting across the city? The bees, I mean?”
“I believe so,” Delta said.
“Then that’s what we shall do,” the Doctor announced. “We’ll be waiting somewhere in the city where the Cybermen will least expect us.”
“The nightclub,” Michael suggested. “There’s always the nightclub.”
“Excellent,” the Doctor said pleased. “You know where it is, Michael?”
“Of course,” Michael replied.
“Good, good,” said the Doctor as he addressed Ace and Delta. “Ace; Delta, you go with Michael and the others to this nightclub. Who knows, Delta. You may enjoy the music of this particular Earth time period.”
“Professor, we were already planning to go to the nightclub this evening,” Ace said.
“Were you?” the Doctor enquired.
“Yes Professor,” Ace answered, stressing her words. “Obviously you haven’t been listening.”
That evening at the Djamba House, a popular local nightclub – hard to find, but worth finding – Ace, Delta, Tasha, Michael and Vladimir were ready to get into the music. The musicians were on stage practising with their instruments with fans watching them.
“I’m getting excited about this!” Tasha said. “Are you Vladimir?”
“Yes Tasha,” Vladimir replied. “Very much indeed.”
“I can’t wait to feel the music entering into my soul,” Michael said. “You like dancing don’t you, Ace?”
“I love to dance to any music,” Ace replied. “You like dancing, Delta?”
“I never find the time to do so,” Delta said. “The dance place I attended at the camp in Wales was tranquil and restful. It wasn’t like this.”
At that moment, a familiar voice echoed on the sound speakers. Everyone turned to see the Doctor tune-playing on the microphone.
“Hello, hello, is this thing on?” he asked. “Testing, testing. One, two, three. Testing. Hmm. Yes! That seems to be working fine.”
One of the musicians told him to get off the stage.
The Doctor retorted indignantly, “Oh I’m doing no harm. I just wanted to talk to Ace.” He then called out, “Ace? Where are you, Ace?”
“I’m over here, Doctor!” Ace called back.
“Ah there you are!” the Doctor spotted her. “Come into the back room. I’ve got something to show you.”
With that, the Doctor went off stage and headed for the back room. Ace was puzzled.
Delta noticed. “Are you alright, Ace? You seem worried.”
“It’s just,” Ace began to reply, “when the Doctor wants to show me something…I suspect it’s going to be bad.”
“It may not be, Ace,” Michael said. “Why don’t you go and find out?”
“Yeah, go on and find out, Ace,” Tasha encouraged her.
“It can’t do any harm to see and check,” Vladimir added.
“This could be important in what we’re dealing with here, Ace,” Delta said.
Ace knew Delta could be right. It could be important in what they were dealing with. That’s what she was afraid of. Eventually, Ace sighed and said, “Alright. Let’s get it over with.”
With that, Ace headed off for the backroom to join the Doctor.
In the backroom, Ace confronted the Doctor. “Alright! Just what is going on here, Doctor? I demand to know! Tell me!”
“Ace, I don’t know what you’re getting so worked up about,” the Doctor said.
“Don’t play the innocent with me,” Ace retorted. “This isn’t Delta’s game, it’s yours! You’re using Delta as a pawn and you’re using me too!”
“Ace, please listen to me!” the Doctor pleaded. “I’ll do my best to explain to you what’s going on.”
Ace fumed for a bit before she eventually agreed. “Alright. What is it you’ve got to show me?”
The Doctor searched through his coat pockets. For a moment. he almost thought he had lost what he wanted to search for. Eventually, the Doctor was relieved as he took out a shiny star-like crystal in his hands. He showed it to Ace. “Well? What do you think?”
Ace became in awe of it. “Gordon Bennett!”
“See? I knew you’d be impressed,” the Doctor said. “I reconstructed it recently. All before we encountered the Zorbius entity in its fragmented state within the Cybermen.”
“And this is what the Cybermen are after,” Ace took the crystal in her hands to examine it. She was careful not to drop it. “The Zorbius crystal. The fragments of that crystal energy are what’s driving the Cybermen to acquire it.”
“Yes Ace,” the Doctor confirmed. “And it’s very dangerous, so don’t drop it.”
“I’m not going to drop it,” Ace protested. “Anyway what do you mean I don’t drop it? It’s your crystal, isn’t it?”
“I’m leaving the crystal in your capable hands, Ace,” the Doctor told her.
“What?!” Ace said, surprised. “You’re leaving the crystal with me?”
“I thought you’d be pleased,” the Doctor grinned.
“Why give it to me?” Ace asked. “Why have I got to look after it? Why can’t it be you?”
“Ace, there are some things in the universe which can never be explained,” the Doctor said. “Certain events which must be held back on certain viewers watching these events unfold. This is one of these certain events.”
“You sound as if you’re protecting me from something I shouldn’t know about,” Ace said. “About my own future.”
“That’s right, Ace,” the Doctor answered.
“It won’t bother me,” Ace persisted. “Whatever happens in my future, I’ll be fine with it.”
“No Ace,” the Doctor shook his head. “The crystal and me have a history that goes far back. It’s best it’s left with you than it is with me.”
“So that I can get off killed by Cybermen instead of you,” Ace retorted.
“I wouldn’t let that happen to you, Ace,” the Doctor told her. “Never! I won’t let any of my friends be killed in that way!”
Ace wasn’t sure if the Doctor was going to add the word ‘again’ to what he said. He didn’t in the end.
“How can I be sure of that?” Ace asked.
“Trust me!” the Doctor prompted.
“But you never tell me anything!”
“I won’t be questioned this manner!” the Doctor thundered.
A moment of tension ensued. Eventually, Ace sulked and looked away from the Doctor.
“Alright then, you win,” she said. “I’ll do this thing for you. I’ll look after the crystal.”
“Thank you, Ace,” the Doctor patted Ace on the shoulder. “I really appreciate it.”
“But once this is over,” Ace went on, “I’ll never trust you again. I’ll never go travelling in the TARDIS with you ever again. I’ll leave you if I have to.”
“Ace!” the Doctor exclaimed, astonished.
“I mean it, Doctor,” Ace persisted. “There’s a lot going on for me here. There’s Michael, Tasha and Vladimir. They’re very good to me. And if you think you can keep using me in your grand scheme of things, tough. I won’t be a party to it anymore.”
With that, Ace went off in a huff. She stormed back into the club hall to rejoin her friends.
“Ace, wait!” the Doctor called to her.
But Ace was already gone. Becoming moody and sad, the Doctor soon went out of the nightclub with the umbrella in his hand.
It was now night-time. Ace was enjoying themselves. Less so was Delta. They clubbed on with Tasha, Vladimir and Michael as the music was loud, blaring out from the sound speakers. Crowds of people filled the hall. They were enjoying themselves to the full. Drinks and light snacks were served at the bar.
“This is so wicked!” Ace cheered. “I’m so glad we came!”
“Yeah!” Tasha agreed. “I can’t believe it was going to be full as this!”
“This is the place to club, Tasha!” Michael declared. “Hard to find but really worth it!”
“What did the Doctor want to speak to you about, Ace?” Vladimir asked.
Ace became hesitant. “Oh…nothing much. Just checking on me as usual.”
As she danced, Ace checked the crystal was still safely tucked inside her jacket pocket. She thought about putting it in her rucksack instead. The adrenalin ran through her. It was so intense and she felt so hot.
“Shouldn’t we be worrying about the Cybermen, Ace?” Delta asked. “They’ll be here at any moment.”
“You go on and check,” Ace suggested. “I’ll keep an eye on things here. I can tell this isn’t your thing.”
“It’s just noise,” Delta stated. “It hurts my antennae.”
Delta headed off to leave the club as she went out to look for Cybermen. Ace shrugged as she continued with the dancing. Eventually, she bumped into Michael who smiled at her.
“Enjoying the dance, Ace?” he asked.
“Absolutely!” Ace replied. “I never felt so alive in my life!”
“Fancy a drink?” he then asked. “It’s on me.”
Ace said yes before she followed Michael to the bar. Once they approached the bar, Michael ordered drinks from the barkeep. After Michael checked what Ace wanted to drink, the barkeep went to see to their drinks. Michael and Ace stood at the bar, grinning at each other.
“So if you’re not from Mozambique, where are you from?” Ace asked.
“I’m a student studying in Maputo from Central London,” Michael replied. “I came here to study etymology for three years.”
“Crikey,” Ace proclaimed. “You must be pretty brainy.”
“Not really,” Michael shrugged. “Etymology might be my strong point, but I’m not good on other things. Like…girls for example.”
“Oh I think you’re a charmer,” Ace said.
Michael didn’t answer, but he glowed at Ace for a moment.
Snapping out of it, he said, “And you Ace. Where are you from? You’re obviously a Londoner, aren’t you?”
“I’m from Perivale,” Ace replied. “It’s not an exciting place. Your average dump really.”
“Oh I went to Perivale once,” Michael said. “Back in 1997. I thought it was quite nice.”
Ace mildly scoffed, “You must’ve gone on a sparkly sunny day when you went there instead of a dreary one.”
“How long has it been since you were last in Perivale then?” he asked.
Ace smirked at Michael. She didn’t want to reveal too many details about who she was and that she was a time-traveller. But she found it amusing.
“Ace! Ace!”
Ace turned to see Delta coming towards her. She could Delta was in such a panic as cold sweat poured down the sides of her face.
“Ace, they’re coming!” Delta told her.
“Who’s coming?” Ace asked. “What are you on about, Delta?”
“The Cybermen of course,” Delta answered. “They’re on their way here!”
“You’ve seen them then.”
“No! They’ve seen me! I shouldn’t have exposed myself so openly!”
“Oh great,” Ace groaned. “That’s all we need.”
“We need to get these people out of here,” Delta said. “It’s not safe…”
At that moment, the lights suddenly went out. The music soon stopped. A long silence ensued. Everyone became anxious. Eventually, the lights were back on. Everyone screamed, except for Ace and Delta, as they saw the Cybermen in the club room. They were surrounding the clubbers in attendance. Advancing closer, the Cybermen stomped to trap the clubbers in.
“Ace, we’re trapped!” Delta exclaimed. “The Cybermen have got us!”
“Yeah! The Cyber in-crowd has commenced,” Ace quipped.
Delta then whispered, “You’ve still got the crystal, haven’t you?”
“Yes I have,” Ace whispered back. “It’s in my…” Ace then realised. “How did you know I had the crystal, Delta?”
“The Doctor told me,” Delta whispered. “He told me he would give you the crystal before tonight.”
“Great,” Ace whispered, annoyed. “Seems like the Doctor never lets me in on anything these days.”
Making sure they weren’t overheard, Ace and Delta continued to be caught in the crowd surrounded by Cybermen at the night-club. The leader of the Cybermen stepped forward and addressed the clubbers.
“You will all be converted,” it said. “Resistance is useless.”
Ace then saw a man stand out amongst the clubbers to join the Cybermen. She recognised who he was.
“I should listen to these guys, everyone. Resistance is useless. They don’t make warnings very lightly.”
Everyone was astonished and horrified. They couldn’t believe it.
“Vladimir!” Michael cried. “What’s all this? Why are you joining them?”
“Don’t say that you’re working for them, Vladimir,” Tasha cried. “I don’t believe it!”
Ace scolded bitterly towards Vladimir, “I should’ve guessed. I knew there was something about you I didn’t like.”
Vladimir looked at Ace. He smiled smugly before he laughed out loud, standing beside his Cybermen allies.
Across Maputo, the Cybermen invasion was underway. Crowds of screaming people fled all over Maputo. They tried to avoid getting killed or assimilated by the Cybermen. The Cybermen opened fire with their weapons, gunning people down. Some Cybermen managed to grab fleeing people and inject them with cyber implants into their necks. They paralysed them before they were completely converted. It was a scene of mayhem and chaos. Groups of Cyberman marched into the city, terrifying the living daylights out of people. People screamed once they were converted in the city. The Cybermen advanced forward with their invasion as they uttered their terrifying statement. “You will become like us!”
A new Cyber Control base had been set up at the Xenon Cinema in Maputo. The Cyber Leader observed everything with Cybermen conducting tasks and operations at the base. Joaquim stood beside the Cyber Leader, watching everything taking place.
“You must be very proud of your work here,” Joaquim remarked.
The Cyber Leader didn’t respond. Just then, another Cyberman approached and addressed its leader.
“Report,” the Cyber Leader demanded.
“The continent of Mozambique has been invaded,” the Cyberman said. “Conversion units have been initiated. The inhabitants of this settlement are in the process of conversion.”
“Accepted,” the Cyber Leader said. “The Cyber Hive shall grow. All units will be provided with enhancements of technology.”
“Affirmative,” the Cyberman acknowledged.
“Has the Queen of the Chimeron species been located?” the Cyber Leader enquired.
“Affirmative,” answered the Cyberman. “She was found at Djamba House. Coordinates D4-8H. Location: Avenue Julius Nyerere.”
“See to it that the third Cyber patrol has the potential units at the clubhouse converted immediately,” the Cyber Leader ordered. “The Chimeron Queen will be brought here to submit.”
“Understood.” With that, the Cyberman went off to carry out the Cyber Leader’s instructions.
The Cyber Leader then turned to Joaquim. “We have a swift method of converting the Earth population to be like us. It will start with Mozambique.”
“Perhaps I should give the Maputo city dwellers a warning,” Joaquim suggested. “About what will happen if they rebel against us”
“There will be no rebellion,” the Cyber Leader said. “No resistance. Humans cannot resist Cyber control.”
“Very well. Inform them,” Joaquim suggested further. “Let the Maputo population know what is happening. Tell them there is nothing to fear.”
The Cyber Leader considered this for a moment. “Agreed. You will speak for us. Speak into the microphone for the Maputo population to hear.”
Startled at having received such an honour, Joaquim went over to the microphone connected to a radio system at a table. He sat down behind the table and switched on the microphone. He began to speak into it and addressed the Maputo population.
“Attention everybody,” he said. “Listen up! Maputo is being invaded. How real is that?! The Cybermen are taking control! Not just of your city; but also of your bodies! The Cybermen wish to demonstrate what will happen when you’re being converted into like one of them.”
Joaquim turned to the Cyber Leader. The Cyber Leader sent a signal via his robotic-like arm, pressing a button on it.
In the city, the Cybermen began shooting in the air. This time however, it wasn’t fire or energy bolts coming out from their gun-like weapons. Once they’d fired, rain started to fall onto the heads of those running about in the city. As soon as the rain hit people, they fell to the floor and went unconscious. Very soon, the Cybermen advanced and began to pick up the fallen bodies off from the ground one by one. Joaquim’s voice via the sound speakers could be heard echoing across the city as well as his laughter.
In Cyber Control, Joaquim continued to laugh as he went on with his message. “You see! There’s nowhere to run! If the Cybermen can’t stop you, then the rain will!”
Joaquim kept laughing as he switched off the microphone. He turned to his allies, grinning delightedly. “See! That wasn’t so difficult, was it?”
Another Cyberman approached the Cyber Leader to give a report. “New information, Leader.”
“Report,” the Cyber Leader demanded.
“Cyber Patrol #3 has captured the Doctor’s companion and the Chimeron Queen,” it said. “Units confirm.”
“Acceptable,” the Cyber Leader said before turning to Joaquim. “Give a warning to the Doctor. Tell him not to interfere.”
“Right you are, Cyber Leader,” Joaquim said as he switched on the microphone to speak into it again for everyone to hear via the radio system. His voice could be heard on all sound speakers.
“Hey Doctor!” he began. “If you’re out there, just thought you’d like to know that your young friend is a prisoner of the Cybermen. If you want to see her again, you’d be wise not to interfere. Trust me, the Cybermen won’t like it. Over and out.”
With that, Joaquin switched off the radio system once more, ending the message. He laughed delightedly as he turned to the Cyber Leader.
“Have I served you well, Cyber Leader?” he asked.
“Affirmative,” the Cyber Leader said. “Your performance has been exemplary.”
“Excellent!” Joaquim said, pleased. “Now do I get paid in silver? For all the hard work I’ve done?”
“You will be paid…in silver,” the Cyber Leader emphasised the last word as it turned to the first Cyberman nearby. “Take him.”
As soon as the Cyber Leader said it, Joaquin reacted surprised. He got up and backed away from the first Cyberman approaching him.
“Hey, wait a minute!” Joaquim protested. “What’s the meaning of this?! I helped you, didn’t I?! I got you this cinema place as a hideout, didn’t it? I own it! If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t…”
“This is your payment,” the Cyber Leader declared. “You will be paid in silver. You will become like us. You will become…a silver being.”
The Cyber Leader emphasised the word ‘silver’ again as Joaquim panicked, backing away and saying, “No! Please! Stay away! Keep away from me! KEEP AWAY!!!!!”
Joaquim climbed up onto the radio system table just as two more Cybermen accompanied the first one to apprehend their former ally.
“Scumbag!” spat Ace. “Traitor!”
In the Djamba House’s clubbing hall, Ace; Delta; Michael and Tasha confronted Vladimir siding alongside the Cybermen.
“You would sacrifice our lives knowing they’ll take control of you?” Delta enquired, surprised.
“You are needed,” Vladimir said. “The Cybermen want you for their plans. It’s their turn to play this game of yours, Delta.”
“How long have you been working for them, Vladimir?” Tasha asked.
“Long enough,” Vladimir replied. “And the rewards are very illuminating.”
“You trust these monsters, you jerk!” Michael said accusingly.
“They’re not monsters, Michael,” Vladimir retorted. “They’re like you and me.”
“They were once like us, Vladimir,” Ace stressed. “The Doctor told me they were once human beings who rejected their emotions and became metal monsters. They keep you alive so long as you become one of them. They have cold hearts!”
“If you expect us to help them, you’re very much mistaken,” Delta said. “The things they’ve done! My own people are dead because of the Cybermen!”
“Perhaps once you’ve become like one of them,” Vladimir elaborated, “you shall see things from a completely new perspective.”
“You haven’t become a Cyberman yet, Vladimir,” Ace told him.
Vladimir flinched at Ace’s remark. At that moment, a Cyberman appeared and addressed Vladimir, pointing directly at Delta.
“This one is required,” it said. “Take her to Cyber Control.”
A few more Cybermen appeared and advanced on Delta. Ace and the others tried to block their path.
“No!” Ace cried. “We won’t let you take her!”
But Delta gently pushed Ace; Michael and Tasha aside as she obliged to go with the Cybermen.
“It’s alright,” Delta told Ace. “I’ll go. I won’t have anyone else killed for my sake.”
“No Delta,” Ace said. “There has to be another way.”
“Look after yourself,” Delta whispered to Ace. “And give my thanks to the Doctor.” After one last long look at Ace, Delta stepped forward and faced the Cybermen. “Lead the way then.”
“Units #5 and #6 will escort you,” the first Cybermen said to Delta before it addressed the others. “Take her!”
With that, the Cybermen complied as they escorted Delta out of the nightclub. Once Delta had been taken away, the rest of the Cybermen turned to Ace, Michael and Tasha.
“Commence conversion of these three,” the first Cyberman said. “They will make exemplary units. Escort them.”
Ace, Michael and Tasha backed away as the Cybermen advanced upon them. Vladimir laughed once he saw them back away.
“Hope you three have a lucky time,” Vladimir laughed. “You might find becoming a Cybermen quite invigorating.”
At that moment, swinging through the air with his umbrella – the question mark handle was caught on a cord line from a ceiling – the Doctor came to the rescue. He jumped down in front of Ace, Michael and Tasha in the clubbing hall. The Cybermen saw him land once he came down from the ceiling.
“Hello there!” he cheered at them. “Have some of this!”
The Doctor then took out some radiation-filled coins and threw them at the Cybermen, hitting their chest units. The Cybermen gasped and coughed, suffocating as they fell to the ground in an instant.
The first Cybermen hissed through its mouth piece before it commanded, “Apprehend him! He must not be allowed to escape!”
“Where have you been, Professor?” Ace demanded, relieved to see him.
“Thank you, Ace,” the Doctor doffed his hat to her. “Nice to see you too.”
“Come on,” Michael said urgently. “We’ve to get out of here!”
“There’s a back door this way!” Tasha pointed. “Come on!”
With that, the Doctor, Ace, Michael and Tasha ran for it, heading for the back door.
“Stop them!” Vladimir shouted. “Stop them, you fools!”
The first Cyberman in command gave its instructions to its minions. “Capture the fugitives. Initiate precipitation program.”
The surviving Cybermen complied as they fired their weapons at the fleeing group. Tasha got hit as she fell to the floor.
“Tasha!” Michael cried. “No! They’ve killed her!”
Michael ran back for Tasha on the floor before the Doctor and Ace stopped him.
“Wait Michael,” the Doctor said. “It’s too late! You can’t do anything to save her!”
Ace then noticed something. “Rain! Look Doctor, there’s rain falling on Tasha!”
The Doctor and Ace held Michael back as they watched to see a rain cloud form over Tasha’s body on the floor. It rained heavily down upon her as she lay there.
“What did they just do?” Michael wanted to know. “What have those Cybermen done to Tasha?”
“She’s asleep,” the Doctor said. “That raincloud promotes a deepening sleep on its victims.”
“We must get her out of here,” Ace suggested.
“No Ace,” the Doctor said.
“But if we can just try…” Ace began to protest.
“I told Michael and I’m telling you! It’s too late! Look!” the Doctor pointed. “The Cybermen are already converting her! Through the rain, the Cybermen can convert anyone into one of them.”
“They use rain to convert their victims into Cybermen?” Michael realised. “That’s crazy!”
“Serious hardware,” Ace said impressed. “I’ve never known Cybermen to do that before.”
“These aren’t your ordinary Cybermen, Ace,” the Doctor reiterated.
“Look!” Michael pointed out to the Doctor and Ace. “The Cybermen! They’re coming towards us! They’re going to kill us! They’ll do to us what they did to Tasha!”
“We must make a break for it,” Ace insisted. “Let’s split up!”
“No wait!” the Doctor cried. “Ace, don’t!”
But it was too late. Ace ran and headed off out of the clubhouse. The Cybermen chased after her whilst the Doctor and Michael were held prisoners.
The first Cyberman addressed the Doctor and Michael, “You will accompany us back to Cyber Control.”
“I’ll see to it that the girl doesn’t escape,” Vladimir announced as he went off in search for Ace.
The Doctor and Michael didn’t like the current situation they were in with the Cybermen.
Outside in an alleyway, Ace fled from the Cybermen, hiding behind walls. On the march, the Cybermen continued to pursue her. They passed by her current hiding place, not even knowing where she was. Taking a look around the corner, Ace saw more Cybermen approaching. They were coming non-stop by the second.
“How am I going to get away from here?” she asked herself. “There are too many of these creeps.”
Ace then realised. The Doctor trusted her to defend herself. Though she had doubts in handling things her own way, Ace wasn’t one to back out of anything.
“Alright Professor,” she said. “You want me to work things out, I can do that. I can do it the hard way.”
Ace then saw Vladimir who was accompanied by Cybermen. He was clearly looking for her.
“Ace!” he called out. “Ace, my dear! Where are you? Come out; come out wherever you are, dear girl!”
Ace kept silent, refusing to answer.
“You’re making this very difficult you know,” he went on. “Surrender or else you know what.”
Eventually, Vladimir and the Cybermen walked on through the streets. They didn’t see her in her hiding place as they walked past. Once they’d gone, Ace sighed with relief.
“Thank goodness,” she said. “I thought they’d never get away. Especially that two-faced Vladimir git!”
Ace then checked to see whether the Zorbius crystal was still safe inside her jacket pocket. Thankfully it was. She took it out and looked at it carefully. She’d never seen anything so beautiful and clear a crystal like it before.
“Safe and sound,” she said. “If only I knew where to go.”
Placing the crystal back inside her jacket pocket again, Ace looked around at every corner to see where she could go. At that moment, bees buzzed by where she was. She shooed them off.
“Go away, will you!” she said annoyed. “Buzz off! Go and annoy someone else! Bees! I hate ’em!”
But the bees wouldn’t budge. They were constantly buzzing around her as she kept shaking them off.
“Look! If you don’t shift it, I’ll…”
Ace then stopped herself as she thought she could see strange rhythmic patterns echoing from the bees. It was like the bees were persistent and urgent over something.
“Hang on,” she realised. “Are you bees trying to talk to me?”
The bees buzzed again. They swirled around facing Ace. She couldn’t quite know what to make of them at first. Gradually, it then occurred to her.
“Hey! I know what you are,” she declared. “You’re Delta’s bees! The ones that keep in touch with her! I wonder how it is you’re talking to me.”
The bees’ buzzing was frequent and ever-changing. There was no distinction as to what Ace could ascertain in what they were trying to say. She moved a little closer to speak to them.
“Look!” she began. “I don’t speak bee language. But could you help me to find the Doctor? Where the Cybermen are taking him and Michael to? Do you know where?”
As the bees buzzed again, it sounded positive from where Ace was standing.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’,” she said. “Alright then. Lead the way.”
Eventually, Ace found herself following a group of bees that lead out of the alleyway. She couldn’t quite believe what she was doing. She’d been in strange situations before, but nothing as odd as this.
A while later, Ace found herself out of the alleyway and into Julius Nyerere avenue. The bees were still buzzing around her.
“I presume it was Delta who sent you bees to find me,” she said.
The bees didn’t respond. They didn’t need to. She was right anyway. Ace then saw the Doctor and Michael being escorted way into a large cinema building. The Cybermen were escorting them inside.
“That must be where they have their own Cyber base,” Ace said to herself. “Inside that cinema.” She turned to the bees. “Thanks, bees. I think I can take it from here.”
Ace slowly began to move out before she was spotted by Cybermen led by Vladimir.
“Halt,” one Cyberman commanded. “Do not move. You will be taken for conversion.”
“Think you can escape, Ace,” Vladimir taunted. “Well, tough luck, dear.”
“Oh great!” Ace muttered. “Just what I need.”
“Do not resist,” ordered the Cybermen that spoke to her. “Come with us!”
“Catch me if you can, Cyber-mates!” Ace said cheekily.
With that, Ace ran for it. She ducked as a few Cybermen fired upon on her with their gun-like weapons.
“Stop her!” Vladimir shouted. “She’s heading for the back of the cinema! Stop her!”
“Apprehend the female,” the Cyber group leader barked. “Do not let her escape. She must be converted. She must become like us.”
“Be warned, Ace,” Vladimir called out to her. “These Cyber buddies of mine are good shots!”
Ace ignored Vladimir as she continued to dodge the Cybermen trying to hit her with gunshots. She ran through the streets, getting undercover, heading for the back of the Xenon cinema. She hoped the Doctor, Michael and Delta were inside. The Cybermen and Vladimir chased after her.
Inside the cinema building, the Doctor and Michael waited.
One Cyberman addressed its main leader via intercom. “Leader. We have acquired the Doctor. The crystal is in our grasp.”
“Bring him to Cyber Control Command Level,” the Cyber Leader answered on the intercom. “His knowledge will be of value to us.”
“Understood.” The first Cyberman turned to the others. “Escort the Doctor and his associate to Cyber Control Command Level.”
The Cybermen complied as they escorted the Doctor and Michael forwards.
Michael whispered to the Doctor. “I think I saw Ace back there when we entered the building.”
“Yes,” the Doctor whispered back. “I hope she’s alright and doesn’t do anything foolish. It’d be good if she didn’t get caught.”
“I just don’t understand this, Doctor,” Michael said. “Why haven’t the Cybermen killed us? Or turned us into one of them?”
“They need something from me,” the Doctor told him. “An item they want for themselves.”
“What item is that then?”
“Best you don’t know. It’s rather delicate.”
“Alright, have it your own way,” Michael shrugged. “At least we’ve established why they want you. But me, I’m disposable.”
“Quite right, Michael,” the Doctor said. “They’ll use you to threaten me to get what they want. They know of my eagerness to protect lives.”
“Ah! I see,” Michael realised as he cleared his throat. “Well, nice knowing you.”
“The thing is,” the Doctor went on, “I haven’t got what they want from me. Ace has it.”
“What?!” Michael exclaimed, shocked. “Oh no! That means we’re both dead!”
“Delta was brought in here, wasn’t she?” the Doctor reminded him. “She was taken away before I came to rescue you, Ace and Tasha.”
“Yes, I suppose so,” Michael agreed. “If this is where these Cybermen live.”
“That means we can move forward in the next stage of our plans,” the Doctor said.
“Next stage?” Michael was confused. “I’m sorry I don’t…”
The Doctor went on, ignoring Michael. “Ace’s foolhardy decision to run away might not be as bad as I thought. Perhaps it was for the best after all.”
A thought then occurred to Michael. “That trick they’ve got with turning people into Cybermen by sending them off to sleep with rainclouds above their heads. Where did they get that from?”
Before the Doctor could answer, he and Michael were interrupted , prodded in the back by a Cyberman.
“Move. Move,” it said.
The Doctor and Michael found themselves forced into a lift by Cybermen. The lift door closed shut as it took them up to where the Cyber Control Command Level was.
© Tim Bradley, 2020
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