Prologue
Unauthorised hands worked quickly at a control panel. Complex codes and figures raced across a computer screen above the panel and it flashed from green to red. The hands stopped typing as a sharp beeping sound started from a nearby terminal. The figure quickly crossed from his panel to the terminal and hit a key to stop the beeping sound before someone heard it. The figure paused and listened, but no-one seemed to have noticed. The only sound was the reassuring throb of the Eclipse's engines. But that was about to change.
The figure crossed the engineering bay, checked the readings on some more dials and then attached a small device underneath a panel. On the device was a small timer that had a digital display that read '300'. The figure produced a similar device, entered a code sequence and then pressed a button. The reading on the timer started counting down. The saboteur pocketed the control device and the slipped away into the shadows.
*******************
Cal awoke with a start as the ship gave a massive lurch. He looked around in alarm and pushed back the tarpaulin that covered his little hideaway. But Cargo Hold 4, his regular haunt when skiving off duty, was empty apart from the cargo pallets themselves, all neatly aligned in rows. He rubbed his eyes and looked blearily down at his watch; he must have been asleep for nearly two hours. Cal scratched the stubble on his chin and then stretched. His coveralls weren't exactly comfortable for sleeping in but then he smiled to himself; another shift missed. Not that Daniels would even notice!
Cal suddenly noticed the silence. It was quiet down in the cargo hold; that's why it was ideal for 'naps', but there was always the relentless throb of the engines. Now the engines were silent. He got to his feet and then reached out for support as the ship gave another lurch. Something had definitely hit it. Were they being attacked? He walked across the hold to one of the hatches and pressed the control panel. With a mechanical shudder, the hatch opened slowly.
That's when Cal heard the screams.
1.
The flashing lamp on top of the TARDIS as it materialised was the only light in the metal chamber. Similarly, the strange wheezing, groaning sound of the TARDIS as it left the mysterious Time Vortex, was the only sound. The noise of the TARDIS engines reverberated around the chamber before it stopped and the door opened.
The Doctor stepped out, putting on his usual long brown coat over his dark blue jacket. "Blimey Megan," he exclaimed, "you gave that Helmic Regulator quite a push! I don't know where you've brought us!"
Megan Williams followed the Doctor out, biting her lip in embarrassment. "Sorry, but I didn't know where to lean! You could've warned me!"
Katherine de Gallois laughed at Megan's faux pas and closed the door to the TARDIS behind her. "First rule," she admonished Megan, trying – and failing – to impersonate the Doctor. "Only do what I say!"
The Doctor grinned, showing Megan that he wasn't really angry. "Oh, this is how it's going to be is it, two against one?" He raised his eyebrows at Katherine who nodded with an impish smile on her face.
Megan pulled her denim jacket around her and shivered. "It's cold wherever we are!" Her footsteps echoed on the metal floor as she took a few steps. "Any idea at all Doctor?"
The Doctor pushed his hands into his pockets and took a deep breath. Much to Megan and Katherine's amazement he then bounced up and down and then put his ear to the metal floor. "Ah, thought so," he muttered.
The girls exchanged a look. "Well?" asked Katherine, rolling her eyes at the Doctor's showing off.
The Doctor grinned and walked across to a small, rectangular hatch in the dark metal wall. He pressed a button underneath it and with a groan of old machinery, the hatch juddered open. Diffuse light filtered into the chamber. The Doctor peered through the hatch. "Come and take a look!"
Megan walked across to the Doctor and peered through the hatch. What she saw made her gasp in amazement and a broad smile spread quickly across her face.
She was looking out onto the inky vastness of space.
2.
Katherine joined her friends to look out of the hatch and onto the breathtaking vista that was filed with twinkling stars and the light from distant galaxies.
Megan squealed with utter delight. "We're on a spaceship! You said we could go anywhere, but I never…." She trailed off and gazed in wonder at the star-scape before her. This was her first trip in the TARDIS and the magical view of space from the hatch window would stay with her forever.
The Doctor smiled at his new companion. He never failed to feel so much pride in showing them the amazing sights of the universe. Now that the little light from the stars outside had illuminated the room, the Doctor noticed a hatchway in the opposite wall. "It looks like we're in some kind of cargo hold. No cargo though. I wonder what's outside." He walked across to it and pressed the control panel on the wall. Nothing happened. The Doctor clicked his tongue with irritation and pulled out his sonic screwdriver. There was a brief hum as the end glowed bright blue and the door juddered open with a tiny whine of power.
The Doctor stepped through the door, Katherine a few steps behind him. Tearing herself away from the incredible starry vista, Megan followed them through the doorway.
The Doctor looked up and down the corridor, wrinkling his nose in disappointment. "Dear me, there's been some damage here!"
Megan was more forthright. "What a dump!"
Cables trailed along the dusty corridor floor, snaking between open panels and ducts. A computer terminal was close to the door, but its' panels were smashed and the screen dark. Wires poured uselessly from innards behind it. The Doctor ran a finger along the panel and held it up, now covered with muck and dust. "Best sack the cleaning lady!" he mused.
Suddenly, they heard a steady hum of something coming from up the corridor towards them. Hovering a metre or so above the metal floor were two robots. Shaped like two spheres, one on top of the other, and covered with various appendages and mechanical tools, the robots clicked and whirred as they approached.
3.
The Doctor smiled winningly at the robots. "Hello guys? What are you then?"
The hum of the two floating robots suddenly increased in pitch as they approached. Despite the Doctor's cheery greeting, their speed did not decrease and Katherine had to take a step backwards to avoid being knocked over by them as they hovered past.
"Charming," muttered the Doctor indignantly. "Was it something I said?"
The robots continued to float down the corridor until they turned a corner and vanished from sight.
"What now?" asked Katherine, somewhat amused by the Doctor's frustration as she caught Megan's eye.
The Doctor regarded her suspiciously as he saw the familiar smile on her face. "Let's just look around!"
The Doctor, Katherine and Megan walked up the corridor in the same direction as the robots. As they turned the same corner, there was no sign of them. The corridor continued but there was another hatch in the wall with a control panel next to it that had a dim light illuminated above it."
"Looks like this is working," commented the Doctor cheerfully as he pressed the button. With an electronic groan, the door juddered open and the Doctor stepped through. He coughed. "Well, just about anyway!"
Katherine and Megan went to follow him but the Doctor's voice rang out from inside. "Stop, don't come in here!" he ordered them, his voice suddenly cold.
But it was too late. Megan and Katherine both stepped inside and saw what was in the dimly illuminated room. It was a sight that neither would forget in a very long time. The room was about the same shape and size as the one the TARDIS had landed in, but this was far from empty. Bodies of men and women, all dressed in simple coveralls of various colours lay dead on the floor. There must have been at least a dozen, all with the fatal burn marks and scorches of energy weapons on their chests and heads.
"Oh my God, it's a massacre!" whispered Megan and put a hand to her mouth. "I think I'm going to be sick!" She turned away and leant on the wall for support, retching uncontrollably.
4.
The Doctor turned and quickly escorted a horrified Katherine back into the corridor. He then reached inside and gently pulled Megan outside as well. She was breathing deeply and deathly pale.
"Doctor, what happened?" whispered Katherine. "Did all those poor souls die in there?"
The Doctor shook his head. "They were brought there. There were drag marks on the floor."
"Why bring dead bodies here?"
The Doctor looked away, his tongue in his cheek. "Keeping things neat? A larder perhaps?" he ventured softly.
Megan swallowed hard, trying to regain her composure. "Let's get out of here!"
"No," the Doctor's voice was firm. "Let's find out what's going on."
They travelled further into the ship, but only a few minutes later, they heard the familiar hum of the robots they had encountered previously. This time the hum was louder and around the corner floated five of them. The Doctor was determined to be acknowledged this time and stood in the middle of the corridor, his hands held up. "Alright, alright, let's talk about this shall we?"
As before, the floating robots showed no sign of slowing as they approached, but this time, their hum was definitely much higher in pitch, almost like that of an angry bee or wasp. These models were also slightly larger than those they had encountered earlier and had metallic blue insignia.
Katherine clutched at the Doctor's arm with concern. "Doctor?" she warned.
Suddenly, the robots raised their mechanical arms. Rather than tools, they ended in sharp pincers that clicked and snapped viciously.
The Doctor's expression changed as he realised the robots were hostile, but it was too late.
Two of the robots flew at the Doctor who through himself quickly against the corridor wall to avoid them. Katherine ducked as another two flew over her, missing her hair by inches. Megan however picked up a rusty piece of metal piping from the floor and threw it at the robot that attacked her. It connected with a heavy clang, throwing the robot off kilter and it collided into the corridor wall.
"Run!" shouted the Doctor as he grabbed Katherine's hand and started pelting up the corridor and back towards the TARDIS. Megan started running too, but misunderstood the Doctor's instruction and instead ran down the corridor, sprinting around the corner and deeper into the ship.
5.
The Doctor and Katherine sped around another corner and the Doctor risked a glance behind him. Much to his relief, they had lost the robots. He slowed to a halt, and took a few deep breaths. Katherine closed her eyes and leant against the corridor wall, panting with the exertion.
Suddenly the Doctor realised that Megan wasn't with them. "Where's Megan?" he asked Katherine who opened her eyes and looked around worriedly. "Terrific," he continued, first trip out and does she listen? It must be a characteristic of you lot!"
"We'll have to go back for her," gasped Katherine, worried about her friend. "She doesn't know how dangerous it can be!"
The Doctor nodded "And before she gets into more trouble."
*****************
Megan hurtled around the corner and skidded to a halt with a gasp. In front of her was a man holding up a large and heavy metal wrench. The man, who was in his mid twenties, handsome with greased back brown hair and a chin rough with stubble, wore dark red coveralls. He was sweating profusely and breathing hard as if he too had been running for his life. When he realised that it was just Megan, the aggressive glint went from his eyes, but he still held the wrench firmly. "Who the Hell are you?" he shouted.
"Megan, Megan Williams" Megan gasped, backing away slightly.
"How did you get on the Eclipse?"
"I'm here with friends. We're here to help. Who are you?"
The man, sensing that Megan was telling the truth, took a deep breath and lowered the wrench. "I'm Weaver; Cal Weaver."
"Look, we've got to get out of here," urged Megan. "There are some mean looking robots chasing me!"
Weaver shook his head. "They're just security 'bots trying to protect the ship. They'll attack anyone who isn't wearing one of these." He held up a round metallic badge that he wore on the chest of his coverall.
Megan started to breathe a little more easily. "Okay, remind me to get one! Look Cal, what happened here? Why does the ship need protecting anyway?"
Weaver wiped a hand across his brow. "We've been boarded by aliens!"
6.
Megan blinked slowly, stunned by Weaver's revelation. "Aliens, you're joking!" she spluttered.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" snarled Weaver angrily. "The ship was sabotaged and we lost power. Suddenly this great ruddy ship appears and locks on to us!"He looked away. "I reckon they've killed most of the crew by now" he said quietly. "I guess I was lucky!" His voice broke and Megan touched his arm sympathetically. She remembered that terrible scene in the cargo hold all too well.
"Come on," she said encouragingly, "let's find the Doctor; he'll know what to do."
***********************
The Doctor and Katherine were hurrying back down the corridor, when a sudden thought struck Katherine. "Doctor, why did the robots attack us this time? They just ignored us the first time."
The Doctor chewed his lip. "Good question Katherine." He thought for a moment. "Of course, did you notice that these ones were different? They had some kind of blue logo and were a different shape. The first ones were probably just maintenance workers, not programmed to deal with intruders." He started back up the corridor, Katherine behind him. "But the next lot – they were security!"
Suddenly the Doctor stopped and put his hand over Katherine's mouth. She looked at him in alarm, but then heard the noises and understood. Ahead of them, from around the corner, cam the unmistakeable noise of approaching heavy footsteps accompanied by low growls and panting breath.
The Doctor looked around desperately and luckily there was another hatch close by them. He whipped out his sonic screwdriver, gave the hatch a low burst, and tugged it manually sideways. It slid open as the Doctor quickly pulled Katherine through and pushed it closed again, just leaving a small crack from which to peer out.
Marching around the corner came four alien creatures. Standing upright at around six feet, they looked like hyenas with long black snouts, dark eyes and a bony ridge of muscle that ran from the end of their snout to the top of their head disappearing under a mass of dark, coarse and matted fur. They were dressed in heavy leather jerkins, belted at the waist, and that ended just above the knee to reveal muscular furred hind legs that ended with fearsome claws.
The creatures stopped near the hatch, growling and sniffing the air.