A/N: This chapter went through a bit of a re-write, which is why it was a bit longer in coming. Kinda getting towards the end now. I must say, the next episode is completely different to this one. Anyway, read on.

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. But I do....no, actually, no I don't. Damn.


CHAPTER NINE: RACE AGAINST TIME

Breaths coming hard and fast from exertion, Brittany pounded up the stairs, her feet making a rhythmic clang-clang on the metal steps. Concrete wall to one side, a quite fatal drop on the other she ran, keeping one hand on the railing for support.

"T minus four minutes," the computerised voice announced. "Clear the silo. Repeat: clear the silo."

"We're not going to make it," Ben panted, not far behind Brittany.

"Yes we are," she hissed, more to convince herself than anything. "No more deaths, not tonight. We are going to make it."

"T minus three minutes, thirty seconds."

Down below, the machinery retracted into recessed in the wall and floor, presenting an unbroken surface of heat resistant metal and concrete. External openings, including doors and ventilation shafts were sealed over, and a low rumble started up as the missile's engines began to build power.

"T minus three minutes. Area secure. Blast doors sealing."

Wasn't far to go now, only a few metres, but the door to the control room was sealing itself, metal blast doors cutting it off from the silo. The staircase began to slide back into the wall, making it harder and harder to run.

"T minus two minutes, forty seconds."

"Come on!" Brittany roared, grabbing Ben by the arm and dragging him up the last two metres; diving through the door just before it slammed shut with a resounding boom.

"Okay," she said breathlessly, "now what?"

The control room was just a mass of flashing lights, switches and buttons galore. Everything in the room was blinking, a mess to the untrained eye.

Ben moved her out of the way and sat down in front of a terminal overlooking the entire silo. "Let's have a look," he said, sweat beading on his brow as he drew a large folder out of a desk draw.

"T minus two minutes. Launch procedures initiated."

An electronic counter on the wall clicked down, accompanied by a stereotypical beep each time the number changed. Ben tapped in a command, but it didn't appear to do anything. His brow furrowed as he tried command after command, but nothing was working.

"T minus one minute."

"Can't we just pull the plug?" Brittany suggested in desperation, ripping the folder from Ben's hands and rifling through it. "Cut the electricity?"

Ben shook his head and covered his mouth with his hand, obviously stressed. "I can't stop it," he said as the countdown ticked over. "I can't stop the missile!"

"T minus thirty seconds."

"I don't know what to do," he muttered, helmet flopping down over his eyes. "I can't do this!"

"T minus twenty seconds."

Brittany jabbed a finger at the controls. "There, that button there!"

"What?"

"That big yellow button, press it!"

"T minus ten seconds … nine … eight … seven …"

Ben took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and slammed his hand down on the button Brittany had indicated.

Silence.

Both Brittany and Ben turned to the counter on the wall, but the number had stopped changing. It was a single, unmoving six.

"Countdown terminated. Launch aborted," the computer announced, before falling silent.

"Emergency stop, every system has one!" Brittany cried, enveloping Ben in a hug, but the relief was short-lived, when the face of General Miller appeared on one of the screens, scowling heavily.

"Harvey and Mitchell," he growled, "you are choosing a course with very dire consequences…"

"Miller, you can stuff your consequences where the sun doth not shine, thank you very much," Brittany spat, checking a piece of information from the folder before pressing a couple of discreet buttons. "We're locking you out of the system."

The General gaped at her. "Mitchells," he spluttered, "stop her!"

Ben shrugged, and tore the insignia off of his already frayed uniform. "Sorry sir, but I'm going AWOL at the moment. Don't expect me to come back any time soon."

Miller turned to look at the soldiers behind him. "Do something!" he cried, desperate for any leverage, now that his power was slipping away. "Override their commands! Just bloody do something!"

The soldiers just stepped aside to let through a single figure, who folded his arms and locked Miller with a steely glare. "I'm relieving you of your duty, general," Sergeant Jake Sampson stated, with a tone that said that he wasn't going to take no for an answer. "Now, step aside, and we might actually get something done here."

Brittany half expected Miller to leap at Jake, but the older man just stepped aside meekly, all the fight gone out of him. No one had stood up to him before, and he obviously couldn't handle it.

Jake gave the two in the missile silo a wink. "Good work," he said. "You've done Messaline a great service. If there is anything you need, I give my word that Messaline will give whatever aid it can."

Ben just shook his head. "I just want to go home."

Brittany, however, had bigger things on her mind. "You wouldn't happen to have an EMP lying around anywhere, would you? It's just that the only way to take care of the Sky Riders is to knock out their mind control, and the only way to do that from here is with and electromagnetic pulse." Seeing Jake's blank look, she added, "Trust me, it makes sense."

"That's a big ask…"

"You gave your word," Brittany pointed out. "Please, everyone's life depends on this. If the Sky Riders aren't taken care of, they could still destroy this world, Miller or no."

Jake sighed. "As much as I hate to do this, you're right. It's in silo 3. Though you probably would have worked that out for yourself if I hadn't told you."

Brittany turned to Ben. "Let's fire that missile."