Chapter 17 – The Final Battle.
The Scutters finished burning away the smallest parts of the polymorph nest but found that it was so extensive that, if they burnt it where it was, they risked a fire that would engulf Red Dwarf. As they pulled a particularly stubborn part of the nest away a body fell towards them and, as they moved the body three starving baby polymorphs fell from it. Seeing the scutters the baby's tried to feed but the scutters had no emotion circuits and they were unharmed. The Scutters rounded up and burned the baby's and then continued with the destruction of the nest, they came across six other body's, all prisoners who had been held on deck thirteen and had been used by the polymorphs as the first incubators for their baby's. There was evidence that, after the prisoners, other polymorphs had been used for breeding. None of this mattered to the scutters who continued with the destruction of the nest.
Red Floof, Dex-Starr and the Dwarfers were outnumbered, weapons of different colours flashed but the polymorphs just changed shape to cope with them. The gun bot encountered the same problem, it had managed to take out a few of the monsters but then they had realised what was happening and adapted their forms to cope with the new attack. Emma was having more luck, changing herself to forms more suited to fight her brethren. Kryten spent most of his time refilling the power rings of Talky's group but the polymorphs kept coming, the cave walls pulsed and throbbed and more of the monsters peeled themselves from them and soon the team was overwhelmed. The polymorphs surrounded the group, many of them already had their feeding tubes extended. A polymorph advancing on Red Floof took on the form of her hair dresser, Red Floof growled with rage and shredded the beast with her claws only to find two more creatures replacing it, each in the form of people who had tormented her.
Lister found himself surrounded by all manner of Gelf, Simulant and creature, all of whom he'd encountered in the past and Cat and the Toaster were confronted by their worst nightmares. The circle of polymorphs closed on the group, teeth, claws and hair dressing implements waving inwards. A sudden blast of red ring energy carved a passage through the polymorphism revealing a figure in the door.
"Hello boys."
"Krissy." Lister said
The polymorph dropped Rimmer in a large cavern then landed next to him, it's feeding tube shot out then went limp. The polymorph whimpered in pain. Stalking forward the creature changed into a pile of coins which began to roll and slide over each other to move towards the orange hologram.
"Those are mine." Rimmer dashed forward reaching down to grab the coins, as his face got close some of the coins parted and the feeding tube shot out, again drooping before it could reach its prey. A grunt came from the coins and a clawed hand pushed out from the side and smashed into Rimmer's face knocking him back into a wall. A number of shapes moved into the centre of the of the room all becoming shiny, valuable looking items. Rimmer picked himself up and looked around.
"All these are mine." He said, running around the room. As he picked up a shiny foil rose a feeding tube shot out of the centre, Rimmer snapped his head back, narrowing avoiding the tube. With a snarl Rimmer closed his hand crushing the polymorph before it had time to change into anything bigger.
"Worthless fake." He muttered. "Oh shinny, mine." He said, chasing after another polymorph.
Lister and the others raced through the gap Kochanski had made.
"Hey Krissy, welcome back." Lister said
"Shut up and load up." Snapped Kochanski, cocking a red light bazookoid.
Mimicking Kochanski, Lister formed a green and opened fire on the regrouping monsters. It soon became apparent that the polymorphs could be killed if they were taken from behind. The group moved around the cave, keeping behind the shape changing monsters, the polymorphs numbers soon began to thin and a feeling of relief began to wash over the powered group.
A loud growl rumbled through the cavern, the polymorphs fell back against the cavern walls, changing shapes to hide in the shadows. The group formed a circle, weapons facing out.
"What's happening?" Lister asked.
Another growl rang out, the floor of the cavern shook from the sound and whimpers rang out from the walls.
"It's coming from outside." Red Floof shouted.
The group turned to the cavern entrance just in time to see a giant shape emerge into the cave. The giant polymorph flicked its tail, bring the opening down, as it advanced the walls began to chitter and chirp.