Part 14
Hetty's head felt like it was spinning so fast it was going to spin off into oblivion. What had they given her? All she remembered was the look of malice on the doctors face when he saw their antagonist. The floor beneath her was cold; she didn't want to move in case she was not alone. Listening for a clue to where she might be, she let out a breath that she seemed to have been holding for an eternity. The smell of the room was almost clinical. Had they started experiments on her whilst she was still unconscious? She slowly moved her hand along her body to make sure she was still dressed. Sighing with relief she discovered she was. Where was the doctor? He was unusually quiet. Deciding that she was alone after all she opened her eyes. Above her was a strip light that emitted a painful fluorescent light. Shielding her eyes she sat up and immediately wished she hadn't. A wave of nausea hit her, bile forming in the back of her throat. She choked it back and let her eyes become accustomed to the light.
Hetty sat crossed legged, letting her senses return to normal. She very gingerly stood up, still feeling dizzy she tried to stop herself from passing out again. Looking around her, the walls were white which reflected the bulbs glare. The floors seemed to be some sort of stone, at one end of the room there seemed to be a heavy metal door at the other the end it seemed to be made of glass or Perspex because she could see a corridor beyond. She stumbled over to the door and tried to open it but it was shut fast. She rested her head against the cold metal it felt good. Turning around was difficult it sent another wave of nausea through her body. Regaining her composure she stumbled to the other end of the room to look into the corridor beyond.
Cupping her hands on the glass she strained to see into the darkness. She was starting to know how a goldfish felt. She managed to make out what seemed to be chairs of some sort facing her. Just behind them she could see other rooms like the one she was in. What was this place? Something on the other side of the glass moved. Hetty was taken aback. Again she tried to see what it was, but it was too dark out there. She very slowly turned and put her back to the glass and slid to the floor exhausted. Bringing her knees up to her chest she rested her head on them.
A noise woke her up. How long had she been asleep? The light seemed to dim, but the lights outside her room got brighter. She pulled herself up and looked out once more. She gasped as she saw rows and rows of rooms like hers all occupied by very frightened people. They all seemed to be banging on the glass and begging someone or something to let them go. Hetty scanned their faces as many as she could see to find the doctor. She couldn't see him. This was worrying she thought. The man who had taken them captive….. What did the doctor call him? Tanok? Talok? That was it Talok! He had recognised him, had he taken him straight to Manevor? Was he safe? She didn't have to wait long to find out.
The doctor woke up to someone slapping his face.
"Jackie what was that for?" he said groggily.
"Leave us!" the doctor heard through the ringing in his ears. He seemed to be sitting on a crude wooden chair. His vision hadn't quite cleared when he heard the footsteps retreating and the figure in black come to stand in front of him. There was an uneasy silence.
"What are you doing here doctor?"
"You brought me here!" the doctor was slowly regaining his focus.
"Don't play the idiot with me, you know me better than that!"
"I thought I did Talok!" the doctor said staring at his old friend.
"We all change, a lots changed since you've been away."
"Oh I don't know, there is still a maniacal tyrant lording it over all the little people I see!" the doctor said through gritted teeth.
"You would be as wise to hold your tongue, I haven't told my master who you are yet but push me and I will!"
"How do you know who I am anyway I've certainly changed a bit since I saw you last. I was all frock coats and cravats. I do miss the shoes though!" Talok brought the sonic screwdriver from under his cloak.
"You never did travel without this!"
"Ahh that is a bit of a giveaway."
"Where is she?"
"Where's who?"
"Derra's child!"
"Safe!"
"Don't try my patience doctor; I can be very persuasive when I want to be." Talok threatened.
"What happened to you? You were never like this."
"As I said doctor people change, it's the way we have to live." the doctor looked at Talok; he was hiding something but he wasn't quite sure what.
"Why have you returned?"
"I found one of your master's toys and wondered what he was up to now? Why is he sending guards to earth?" Talok did not reply he had turned away. "Come on old friend you can tell me!" With one swift movement Talok had turned around and grabbed the doctor's hair and was pulling his head back. The doctor grimaced and tried to wriggle free but it was to no avail. Talok's face was bearing down on him. Talok came level with the doctor's ear and whispered. The doctor listened intently eyes widening with every word. Eventually Talok released his grip on the doctor's hair and stood back.
"Where is my friend, is she safe if she is harmed in anyway I will……"
"You will what? Guards!" Talok shouted. Two of the guards entered the room.
"Take the stranger back to his cell, I will inform the master he is resisting!"
"You can tell your master that I will stop him…. Stop him doing. What is he doing exactly?" the guards grabbed the doctor by the arms and marched him out of the door.
Talok shook his head. This was not going to be easy.
He found Manevore in his lab as he always was. He seemed to be mixing liquids.
"Well what have you ascertained from our new arrivals?" Manevore did not even turn around from the bench. Talok descended the last few steps and came to stand directly behind him.
"The man was very uncooperative my lord, I haven't been able to question the girl yet as she seemed to have a reaction to the sedative."
"A reaction; in what way?"
"She seemed to remain unconscious for longer than the others!" Manevore stopped tinkering and placed the beakers on the bench and turned around. Talok looked at the man before him. He was younger than him, his face smooth and youthful. His green eyes seemed to rage with anger and passion. His long brown hair only tinged with the slightest hint of grey. Even when he was in the lab he was always impeccably dressed. The outfit of choice today was a blood red tails suit with an open black shirt.
"We shall have to monitor this one closely Talok!" he said with a childish grin.
"My lord, will that be all?"
"I need the viewing corridor clear and cell 13... Yes 13 ready. I need to test this latest batch of formula." he said moving further into the lab. Talok followed him.
In a recess at the back of the lab there was a man strapped to a metal table. He was barely conscious. Various machines beside him beeped. Talok guessed they were monitoring his vital signs.
"This is my next test subject in the Imperian programme. My last attempt to send a guard to find Derra failed. They still seem to be afflicted with a conscience, a sense of morality. I need that to be eradicated!"
"My lord that would take away any remains of humanity they had." Talok said trying to hide his revulsion.
"Not all my guard are as reliable as you Talok." Manevore menacingly placed a hand on Talok's shoulder.
"No my lord." Talok hung his head.
"I need to know what this stranger knows and why he is here. After the test bring the strangers to me."
"My lord!" Talok stood watching his master for a moment. He moved around the unmoving subject with all the excitement of a child with a new toy. This chilled him to the bone.
Frog marched by two guards the doctor tried to take in his surroundings. He hoped that Hetty was unharmed. All the corridors looked the same, white and almost hospital like. It was like a maze. How many people did he have down here anyway?
He was brought to an abrupt halt in front of a metal door.
"Oh parting so soon guys, that is a shame!" one of the guards opened the door. "Let's get together and do lunch, ok." the doctor remarked as he was pushed into the cell and the door slammed in his face. He turned around and sighed, that was when he heard the noise in the corner.
"Hetty?" he whispered walking towards the huddled figure in the corner. The person didn't respond. He walked over and knelt down. He moved the red hair from the woman's face.
"There you are see!" he said soothingly. Hetty lifted her head. The doctor stumbled backwards. "What have they done to you?" Hetty's eyes glowed with a golden light.
"I'm sorry Hetty's not here right now. There is only Calla!" Hetty said with a maniacal smile.