Automan and all character names therein are owned by the American Broadcasting Company. Doctor Who is owned by the British Broadcasting Company. All characters are fictional and resemblance to any persons living or dead is coincidental. No copyright infringement is intended.
Automan: Re-Resolution
by Sailor Chronos
Chapter 10
Lina returned at the Doctor's shout. "What bait? Your Ship?"
"Exactly! The TARDIS emits a lot of energy. Park it near a ready source of electricity, and wait."
"Hold on!" Lina protested. "You're luring that Zibeni creature here to destroy another electrical facility so that you can satisfy some bizarre liking for pyrotechnics? There has to be a better way!"
"It will need to be done soon," added Automan. "I calculate its arrival to be in-"
"Ten minutes," said the Doctor at the same time.
"That long? Doesn't electricity travel at high speeds?" Lina asked, looking up at the power lines overhead.
"Yes, but it's limited to the capacity of the transmission medium," explained the Doctor. "In this case, the wires. They had to be careful to not overload the system, or risk detection."
"Then the alien might be subject to the same physical rules as electricity," theorized Lina.
The Doctor grinned at her. "Trap it in a battery, or ground it, or both!" he said. "Zinc oxide, manganese dioxide..." he started to rattle off the components of a standard battery.
"Disconnect one of the storage batteries in the compound and ground it to a metallic fence," suggested Automan, indicating a long section of chain-link fence that bordered the nearby road.
His brown eyes practically sparkling with excitement, the Doctor whipped out the pen-like device that he had used earlier. "Sonic screwdriver," he explained. "It's the ultimate lock-pick, among other things." Running up to the station, he opened the padlocked gate and the main bunker with ease.
Once inside, Automan made a request to the attending computer to isolate one of the batteries and reroute the current. That enabled the Doctor to disconnect it without the risk of a lethal shock, and the two of them carried the unit outside. From there, it was simple enough to wire it into the end of the fence. Lina was impressed at how they could work together so well, not to mention the superhuman strength they both possessed: the large battery unit would most likely have required a forklift to move.
"One last question, how to get it over here?" asked Lina. "If it's after the electricity, there's no reason to come this way."
The Doctor said, "A few well-placed words and annoying frequencies from this," he brandished the screwdriver. "It's trying to survive. If it sees a threat to its survival, it will try to eliminate that first."
"You'd risk your life?" she exclaimed.
He gazed solemnly at her. "You're a police officer. You risk your life every day. Fighting aliens is no different." A low crackling sound began to emanate from the overhead lines. "It's coming. You and your friend had better leave!"
Lina turned and ran, with Automan beside her.
The crackling increased in volume until it became thunderous. A large amorphous shape coalesced near where the Doctor stood. At twice his height with purple jags of energy arcing inside it, it certainly appeared otherworldly. "Doc-tor," it rasped in a voice that sounded like modulated static.
"I offer you one last chance," said the Doctor. "I can take you home. Stop feeding on this planet's electricity."
The Zibeni's form undulated as if it were laughing. "The people of this planet have many ways to provide themselves with power. Why would I leave a place where I can feed indefinitely?"
The Doctor switched on his screwdriver, and Lina swore that the alien recoiled for an instant. "This planet belongs to the humans!"
"Indeed," said the alien, and for a terrifying moment Lina realized that it was now looking directly at her. "The humans and their power needs increase daily, but the supply does not. Fewer humans would mean more feasting!"
Too fast for her human eyes to follow, the Zibeni lashed out, sending a purple lightning bolt in her direction. But Automan was there, standing in front of her with his arms outstretched and one heel dug into the soil in an attempt to either deflect or ground the electric charge. He only managed it partially, screaming in agony before falling to the ground covered in purple sparks that quickly dissipated to the air.