Shake Rattle and Roll

"And just how do you plan to turn this place into a bug zapper?" Sadie asked, watching as the Doctor flew around the room, picking up little bits and bobs of trappings, wires and the like as he went.

"Oh that won't be hard at all. Zappers are fairly primitive, for the most part," he said, tucking a square piece of metal into his pocket. "Now, Princess, you said there was a room up above that has lots of windows?"

"Yes," Princess Ilona answered. "The room was built for observation purposes. It, like the rest of this garrison, is completely sealed off from the outside. I think it'll be perfect for what you have in mind."

"It's just straight up from here?"
"Yes. Go through that door and you'll find the staircase."

"Good. Sadie, you come with me," the Doctor said, heading for the door that the Princess had pointed out. Sadie followed, jogging to keep up with the Doctor's pace. The two of them headed up what, to Sadie, seemed like an endless flight of stairs. There was only one door at the top. The hinges were horribly rusted, and Sadie thought for a moment the door wouldn't open, but it did. She followed the Doctor inside. The Princess had been wrong about the room having lots of windows. The walls of the room were made entirely out of glass, so it was more of just one big window, rather than lots of smaller ones. The Doctor had left the doors behind them open, so light from the Princess had followed them. It wasn't as bright, but it was enough.

"Is it safe?" Sadie asked, stepping back towards the door. She could tell they were high up, and there was no chance of her coming near those windows if the glass wasn't sound.

"Completely safe," The Doctor replied, tapping his knuckles against the glass. "This glass is as thick as a wall."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Now come here and hold this for me."

"Okay then." Sadie stepped further inside the room and went over to the Doctor, taking the pieces of metal he was holding out to her. For several minutes, the room was relatively quiet, except for the Doctor's mutterings as he worked. Every so often he would ask Sadie to hand him some particular piece of machinery, metal or wiring, which she did.

Some time passed during which the Doctor didn't ask for anything, so Sadie's gaze wandered around the room. It really was an amazing place, and she figured the view would have been amazing, if there had been more light. But it seemed a little out of place, given the type of building they were in.

"Doctor, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, what is it?" The Doctor was using his sonic screwdriver to fuse some wires, and didn't look up.

"Gethin and the Princess said this was a garrison, so it's like a fortress. Fortresses are used in battles, and so one would assume that if you're in battle you're in danger. So why have a room like this where your enemy can get a clear view and line of fire at you?" The Doctor paused for a minute.

"I honestly have no idea," he said, looking up for a moment before turning back to the wires. "But the glass is thick enough that I doubt anything could get through."

"How much longer til the zapper's done?" The Doctor fiddled a bit more with a few of the wires, causing sparks to fly. Sadie heard a humming noise, and noticed blue streaks were now running along the glass.

"It's done. Don't touch the glass. It's electrified." The Doctor turned to Sadie. "Now, let's go get the Princess."

"Why do we need the Princess?" Sadie called, running after the Doctor.

"All zappers have a light in them Sadie, surely you know that!" The two of them burst into the room where everyone else had stayed a moment later.

"Well?" Gethin asked, arms folded over his chest.

"Well, it's finished, except for one key part," the Doctor replied. "Princess Ilona, the Lokeens are attracted to light, you know that. So in order for this to work, we need light. Your light."

"Okay. What do you want me to do?" The Princess asked calmly. Gethin stepped in front of her.

"Hold on a minute! You will not put her in danger!"

"I'm already in danger, Gethin," Princess Ilona replied. "I can't see how this is more dangerous. Besides, the Doctor won't be putting me into danger. It's my choice, so if anyone is to be blamed, it's me." And with that, she headed for the door, leaving Gethin standing where he was. The Doctor and Sadie followed her up the stairs into the now electrified observation room.

"What do I do now, Doctor?" she asked. The Doctor shrugged.

"Being in here is enough to attract them. Just don't touch anything."

"That's it?"

"Bit anti-climatic, I'll admit, but yes, that's it." Just then, something hit against the glass, thudding loudly. The room quivered as the electrical pulse increased for a moment, then faded away.

"What was that?!" Sadie exclaimed, moving closer to the Doctor, who was unmoved by the event.

"That was a Lokeen," The Doctor replied. "Get used to it, because I'm sure there will be a lot more coming."

"How many do you think there are, Doctor?"

"Hard to say."

"Then how will we know when they're all gone?"

"You won't," Gethin's voice broke in. He was standing in the doorway. "You may kill off some of them, but more will come."

"How do you know, Gethin?" Princess Ilona asked. Gethin strolled into the room, smirking.

"Because I can have it arranged, just like I did before, for the ones already here." The Princess' eyes widened.

"You…it was you that brought them here?" she asked. "How could you?"

"When the ambassadors came, they offered me a deal I couldn't refuse," Gethin explained. "It's as simple as that. I took the deal and they brought in the Lokeens."

"But wait," Sadie spoke up. "What are you getting out of this? You're just as likely to be attacked by a Lokeen as anyone else!"

"Wrong," Gethin answered. "The Lokeens have been trained to avoid me." The Doctor shook his head.

"Lokeens can't be trained, Gethin. You were lied to." Gethin snorted.

"I'm still here, aren't I?"

"Only because I helped you!" Princess Ilona exclaimed, trembling slightly. "I helped you to stay alive because I trusted you, Gethin. How could you do this to me? Not only to me, but my family…"

"Your family has been taking advantage of me for years, Princess," Gethin sneered. "They got what they deserved. You'd have gotten what you deserve too, if this Doctor character hadn't shown up and gotten involved. It's such a shame too. If you hadn't insisted they come along they might have had a chance to escape. But now they'll just be food for the Lokeens, just like you." Gethin pulled a gun from inside his coat, aimed for the glass, and pulled the trigger.

"No, don't!" The Doctor dove for Gethin's arm, trying to stop him, but it was too late. The shot ricocheted off the glass and hit Gethin, killing him instantly.

"I trusted him with my life," Princess Ilona said quietly, moving closer. "Why did he do this? How could he?" The Doctor moved to stand beside the Princess, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Princess. Gethin was a greedy man, and greed can be a powerful motivator."

"The good thing is that now you know," Sadie said quietly. "At least you know how this all happened, and it won't happen again now that he's dead." The Princess nodded slowly.

"I suppose you're right."


Notes: Only one more chapter to this one, I think. Hooray!