Chapter 2: Dreamland
"Sir!" Larry, a tech, raised a hand for the senior analyst. "Ground sensors have gone off in sector C18."
"Human?" Stevens asked.
"Side by side, walking in a straight line, so it's likely, but sir, the outer sectors didn't report anything. I've checked, it's not an error. Perimeter sensors are in perfect working order. It's like they just fell out of the sky."
"Air traffic?" The senior analyst asked, figuring they could have parachuted in – crazier things had happened. The nutcases were creative if nothing else.
"Nothing bigger than a hawk overhead, sir." Larry defended.
Stevens picked up the phone. "General? Intruders in Sector C."
"Send the boys out and bring them in this time – I want to know how they got past our perimeter sensors."
The General sipped his coffee in his office and waited. His position on the base was an envious one. Still, he couldn't help feeling bored now and again. The most action he got was chasing off harmless trespassers. His three permanent guests' novelty faded faster than his tan trapped here in this basement.
Thirty minutes later, his new guests were brought in. "The trespassers, General."
He turned. If he was an effusive man, he might have smiled – for the change of pace if nothing else. Instead, he stood and looked them over. "Let them go, Sanderson."
"Sir?"
"The Doctor is a freelance agent of Britain's UNIT task force and is a welcome advisor, free to drop in any time." He saluted.
"Don't."
"And Miss Savvides… don't bother uncuffing her. Surrender really isn't in her nature."
"Savvides?" A thin, rather geeky man perked up. "As in Megara Savvides?"'
The General ignored him.
"They know you?" the Doctor asked.
The General held out his hand and waited.
She used her teeth to tighten the binding around her wrists, then with a shout, flung her arms back against her hips. The plastic snapped. She dropped the broken zip tie into his hand. "Got another star, general, congrats."
"Wow." The General's aide said as Sanderson cut the Doctor free with a knife.
The General couldn't help a ghost of a proud smile. "Let me guess. Since my men had the Doctor secure, and they were moving you here, you figured you'd go along until you met someone in charge, take them hostage, steal a jeep, and ride off into the sunset, you, me and the Doctor."
"You'd be dumped on the side of the road at the first available opportunity… no offense."
"None taken. You're looking well." The general paused for a 'nice to see you too,' but Meg didn't respond. "Sorry about the rough treatment, you two. The boys don't get out much except to shoo away the crackpots. I'm General Lynch." He introduced himself to the Doctor. "Welcome to Area 51: codename Dreamland."
"Wow. This place really exists?" Meg said.
"It's always existed; it's what we have in the basement that's up for debate."
The thin man behind the general was fidgeting, looking for an opening to speak.
"And this is your fan club, Greg Mash. Greg, Miss Savvides."
"Call me Meg."
"It's an honor." the man smiled broadly. "I was sixteen when I heard your story, and I couldn't believe it. You must be the luckiest person on the planet."
"Or the unluckiest," Meg said, shaking his hand. "I haven't figured it out yet."
"I'm lost." The Doctor said.
"You don't know who you're traveling with?" Greg asked. "This girl, right? Alone, injured, and delirious with malaria survives three weeks in the Brazilian rainforest after - "
"You know this really isn't important." Meg interrupted with a broad, completely false smile. "I'm really interested in this base, General. Do you mind if we have a tour?"
The General thought about it. "Well, you're the Doctor's companion now, so I don't see why not. We're on a skeleton crew today, and the loonies are quiet."
"'Loonies'? Does that mean you don't have aliens on this base?" Meg asked, disappointed.
"You mean present company excluded? Our main purpose is testing classified aircraft …And sort of as a side project we research alien activity." The General chuckled.
The lights blinked out.
"Stay calm. The lights will come back in a second; we have emergency generators for this." The General said.
True to his word, the lights flickered back on.
"Check on the lab, I know they were planning on moving the creatures today. I don't want to be held responsible for any damage."
"No response sir." Sanderson reported a moment later.
The General turned to the soldiers who recently captured Meg and the Doctor. "Go check on them."
"These creatures, General…" the Doctor began.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about them, Doctor."
"I'm rather bad luck when it comes to things like this."
"If only that were true, it'd be tremendous luck for everyone here – they've been dead for nearly fifty years."