January 3rd 2011

The team spread out, searching frantically, torch beams lighting the pelting rain like strobes. Straker motioned to his friend, 'Stay there, Alec, watch for any scavengers will you.'

Alec felt grey, tired and old and grey. His face lined with pain and worry. Ed had tried to persuade him to remain below, instead of coming up here, but Alec, stubborn as ever, had refused. So, he was here, and the pain in his chest was finally easing. He clenched his fist, counting the seconds as the tightness slowly unclamped until he felt that he could actually breath at last. He wondered if Ed suspected anything. Alec knew that he had been a fool, a bloody fool to think he could get away with it, to think that nothing was the matter, when all the time he had known that a thorough medical examination would have revealed… whatever it was. But the thought of being medically retired from SHADO had been horrendous and so he had kept it hidden, hoping, stupidly, that it would all go away.

Damn that Laura. If she hadn't gone completely berserk and decided to go home, home being a neat two-bedroomed flat about five miles away from the studio, they wouldn't be out here, in the foul rain hoping to find her before any wandering aliens got lucky.

Thank God they had realised that she was gone, that the tunnel doors were open, before anyone or anything had managed to find the way down to their shelter. Though what the hell they were going to do with Laura once they found her, Alec had no idea.

It was not as if they could sedate her, or treat her paranoia, if that was what it was. It was probably just old-fashioned insanity. Her mind had finally gone. And so had she, out into this vile landscape where her friends were risking their lives to try to save her.

For what ? A future in which she would be locked up, out of harm's way. But they were still looking for her.

Even Ayshea and Christine were out here, searching, calling quietly. They all kept as low as possible and skirted around the area where the nearest dome was gleaming like phosphorously luminous slime.

Aliens wandered around the devastated landscape with the confidence of invaders who knew that they were in charge. There were no humans to be seen, other than the desperate few of their little group trying to find their lost companion before it was too late, before they aliens found her first. Alec watched from his hideout as one of the group of red-suited aliens turned and pointed at something. Someone.

And then, ahead, they saw her, wandering like a lost child. Heading for disaster. For death.

Personal Journal; Christine

January 6th 2011

Ed asked me to say something at the memorial service today. I don't think I can. I will break down. I don't know if anyone knew that Dave and I were lovers, had been lovers since before Day One. I suspect that Ed knew. He tends to know everything that goes on. We were discreet of course. SHADO didn't really approve of relationships between operatives, unless approved by higher authorities.

I loved Dave so much. He was the one good thing left to me in this crazy nightmare world and I don't see how I can survive without him. But I will have to.

If only Laura hadn't lost her mind. If she had only talked to us, told us how she felt, we could have helped her, maybe. Instead she risked all our lives. And Dave and Ryan lost theirs. We don't even have their bodies to bury. Just the vision of them being captured and slaughtered as they tried to get Laura back to us. And Laura? I don't know what happened to her.

But Ryan and Dave, my Dave. I had to stand there and watch. Ed wouldn't let me help. I wanted to help, but I know there was nothing that I could have done, nothing.

You had to be brave didn't you. Had to try to rescue her. Even when she walked straight up to that bloody monstrosity and virtually surrendered to it. Dave. Why didn't you let her go? She was as good as dead anyway. You left me behind. And now I have no one. And we are down to ten.