XVIII
Finding the beast
The Island
Outside the Heat Miles base
Rose, Sarah-Jane and Ireen feel disappointed by the architecture of the Heat Miles base to say the least. Compared to Rodger Barratt's mansion, they are expecting something extravagant. Instead they are just met with a large, four storey, grey block, with small white windows. Further behind the base is a smaller looking factory with two high concrete chimneys. No smoke erupts from the chimneys.
The base seems to be situated in the centre of some large crater in the ground, completely concealed by the hills of Ebernie. The air around them is still.
The moment everyone left Jack Grunter's house to go to the volunteer injured from a fight, Jack pulled Sarah-Jane, Rose and Ireen back.
They are to break into the Heat Miles base and to save Monroe.
"Why are we to save Monroe?" Sarah-Jane said when he told them. "He caused us enough havoc."
"Because he is Heat Miles' biggest weapon in this battle. All I know is that he has been incarcerated in a completely soundless cell for many years. I fear what that has already done to him."
Rose frowned at Jack's explanation. "You were the one who suggested that Monroe was to be sent to Heat Miles in the first place."
"That was when I thought Heat Miles could be trusted. When I thought we would be able to get them on our side," Jack stared at Rose. "I always explained that this is the first time I cannot see what is to happen exactly."
Jack then gave them a map of the base and gave them instructions on where the best places to go and not get caught.
The three now walk through the darkness. The Heat Miles base is completely hidden behind the tall hills of Ebernie. It feels like the village is completely shut away from the other side of the hills. Any sounds from the village can no longer be heard.
Their first obstacle to pass to reach the base are the three watch towers.
All three watch towers have blindingly white searchlights that scoop the large field between the hills and the base entrance. The three searchlights scoop around the whole field sporadically, making it almost impossible for them to try and pass through the field without being lit.
One of the searchlights roams over their next obstacle, which is a high barbed wire fence that surrounds the base. This is one of the many things that Jack Gruntler has chosen not to mention about their mission.
"So what do we do?" Rose whispers as she puffs out some air heavily. "We're all armed. Shall we shoot one spotlight each?"
"No that will only draw their attention," Ireen replies. "It's best to just avoid them."
Ireen purses her lips as she observes the field and the circuits each searchlight takes. It only takes her a minute or so to figure out a way to go without being caught, but even so it is risky. There is a minor pause of darkness right by the watch tower to their left that they can try to pass through. But it means that they will have to break out in a run without any hesitation.
Heat Miles are clever, Ireen gives them that. But what choice do they have?
She turns to Sarah-Jane and Rose. "Follow me."
Ducking ever so slightly, Ireen starts to run to their left, heading towards the wall to the crater. Sarah-Jane follows pursuit. She remembers the amount of times they have had to follow Ireen when trying to dodge watch towers in the past. Ireen was always the best when it came to camouflaging oneself. Rose, however, having not experienced this, is suddenly full of dread. She cannot even imagine how quickly her death will be if she is caught in the light. But she can trust Ireen.
They stop at the crater wall and wait for the small gap the lights will create.
Twice Ireen makes a move to run when she is sure the gap appears but something holds her back. Fear possibly, because she knows that she has only got one chance to get herself and her friends across safely.
However the third time she is ready for that small gap between the light. She runs, and Sarah-Jane and Rose follow. They speed across the field, narrowly missing the lights as they stop just under the watch tower. They hide in the shadows of one of the wooden balustrades to catch their breaths.
To their luck the searchlights do not scoop the short area between the watch towers at the wired fence. Rose examines the fences and then groans.
"Fantastic, the last thing we need is an electric fence," Rose breathes out heavily. "Heat Miles are really into keeping enemies out, aren't they."
There is a hint of sarcasm to Rose's voice, but Sarah-Jane smiles as she pulls out three sets of black gloves from her backpack.
"Well it's lucky that Declan Hollerford invented clothes that will stop us from becoming electrocuted," Sarah-Jane says casually. She pulls out three black overalls and passes one each to Martha and Rose. "We can easily climb that fence without being killed or even caught along the way."
"Lucky you've come prepared." Rose says as she zips herself into the black overall.
"Lucky we have Declan alive for this kind of thing." Ireen replies.
When the three of them are fully protected, they sneak out from under the watch tower and make their way to the fence. And then simultaneously, they start climbing the fence, all holding their breaths, silently praying that these suits really work their magic.
And luckily they do, as Ireen, Sarah-Jane and Rose land safely back on the gravel on the other side of the fence.
For a moment the three stand there and stare up at the large square building of the base. Most of the small windows are dark, but shivers run down their spins, not being able to shake off the feeling that they are still being watched.
However it is not the main base that Jack Gruntler wants them to break into, it is the factory.
Rose takes a sniff of the air but then suddenly starts to choke as her nose is burnt by the pungent fumes coming from the factory. They all cover their noses with the neckline to their black overalls just as they notice the smoke coming from the two chimneys.
And they know what this particular smell is.
The smell is of burning corpses.
Not wanting to think too much of it, Ireen starts making her way forward. "Come on," she grumbles. "We better get a move on."
To their luck, the neckline to their overalls can easily sit over their noses, trying to block out as much of the horrible stench as it can. They take out their guns and carry them in both hands as they walk towards the factory.
"I really hope you won't have to use your gun, Rose. But just shoot if anything tries to get to you." Sarah-Jane says.
They follow the route Jack Gruntler advised them, and enter the factory through the back way. The back door is only used to take out the rubbish, so it is easy for them to sneak in.
Ireen opens the door, surveys the small, damp corridor and steps in first. Rose follows and Sarah-Jane enters last, closing the door behind her. This room is filled with junk and they have a hard time trying to scramble over everything laying on the floor.
They eventually reach an iron door which Ireen pulls open with difficulty. The door swings open heavily, with a loud creak and they are met with a rush of hot air. They pull down their overalls from their faces, already feeling the sweat form on their skin. Again, Ireen leads them into a long corridor, spanning both ways to her left and right. The flooring under her feet is rusty metal and the walls are of the same iron as the door. Then holding her gun firmly in both hands, Ireen decides to take a left down the corridor.
They follow the corridor and carefully glance behind corners, just to make sure that there is no one in their way. To their luck, they pass no one. The corridor leads them out to what looks like a large boiler room. They step out onto the top balcony, over-looking the drop below. There are a couple of balconies underneath them, leading off to different corridors. But right on the bottom floor, in the centre of this room is a large furnace.
Standing around the furnace is Lucien and about three other Heat Miles workers, all in white lab coats. Apart from Lucien who is sporting a long, thick black coat.
Immediately, Rose, Sarah-Jane and Ireen crouch down for cover and listen to the voices below.
"Sir," one of the workers calls. "We have already started the burn. If we overpower it too much the rest of the village will be able to smell it. We cannot afford to be caught. Not when everything is causing chaos."
Lucien folds his arms and taps his foot on the ground in an agitated manner. "The Major is trying to prepare us for when UNIT or the Doctor decides the break into our base. Jack Gruntler has already said that they will."
Rose, Sarah-Jane and Martha exchange cautious and yet angry glances.
"Yes, sir, we know that." The man replies.
"I don't think UNIT will try and kill us. But if they discover what we have done to the villagers-"
"They are not going to find out." The man says calmly, cutting across Lucien.
"They will if we don't burn the corpses quick enough!"
They are correct. Heat Miles are burning corpses here. But what for? And who are they burning?
"Does Mr Lustworve know?"
"Of course he doesn't," Lucien scoffs. "He will be the first to die on the Day of Destruction. We are not going to sort that out until he is dead."
"I understand, sir."
"Oh you understand, do you?" Lucien raises his voice so that it echoes loudly around the boiler room. "Well then just shut up and do your job and shove another fifty corpses into the bloody furnace! The Major is going to send the citizens to their shelters this evening, so we can try and get the aliens on our side. They won't be able to smell from underground."
"Yes, sir."
"And make it quick!" Lucien hisses. "I'm having a hard enough time as it is to stop the beast from leaving his cell." With that Lucien turns on his heels and storms out of the boiler room, his long black coat flaying behind him. The other workers look at each other before they turn their separate ways.
Not being able to take the heat in the boiler room any longer, Ireen starts to walk swiftly along the balcony, still crouching. Sarah-Jane and Rose follow. They descend the metal stairs until they reach the bottom floor.
At a quick pace they march across the bottom of the boiler room, passing the furnace and heading towards the corridor Lucien disappeared through. However, just as they reach the other side to the furnace, one of the Heat Miles workers returns, carrying a large black body bag. He halts mid-step as he registers the intruders.
"Hey!" He yells, but Ireen shoots him dead before he can do anything.
However it is too late for them and his yell has been heard. About five or so more Heat Miles workers come running out to get them. Ireen, Sarah-Jane and Rose do their best to defend themselves. Currently it is a matter of life or death because they know that if they surrender, they will be shot dead.
It is a case of to shoot or to be shot, Rose thinks.
They fight off the workers with ease and as soon as they think they are safe, they start to run towards the corridor. But that is when the intruder alarm is set off. Yet the alarm sends cold shivers down Rose's back for it is no ordinary alarm that rings out. It is the chilling siren that has been heard through history across all worlds. The siren used to announce an oncoming air raid during the Second World War and to announce a nuclear bomb threat.
The alarm is so loud, Rose, Sarah-Jane and Ireen cry out in pain, trying to cover their ears from the ear shattering, high-pitched alarm. Sarah-Jane, however, manages to shoot the man who set off the alarm, before pushing Ireen and Rose down the corridor. The alarm is still loud in the corridor, but not as painful as it is back in the boiler room. Aware that there are many Heat Miles workers running after them, they continue to run as fast as they can down the corridor. Despite the fact that this corridor seems cooler, sweat still pours down their faces.
Eventually they reach a large office where there are about ten workers, manically working at their computers. There are screens all over the walls, showing readings of their weapon: their beast.
And there it is. At the far end of the office, is a large door, leading into the cell. The cell door is completely barred off and locked with a million locks and keypad combinations.
"How are we to save him?" Rose asks just before someone grabs her from behind. Rose screams as she is suddenly pulled back but then manages to attack the man to free herself.
And the fight breaks out. They shoot in every direction, killing off the workers that come their way. They have no choice.
Suddenly Lucien runs towards them with fear and panic written across his face. He yanks Ireen's gun out of her hands and throws it away to the side.
"Stop, stop, STOP!" He yells. "He is trying to set off a bomb!"
Sarah-Jane, Rose and Ireen only look at Lucien, completely baffled. But then they notice the panicked voices in the office. Is Monroe building a bomb from inside his cell to escape? Has he really been overcome with madness?
"You do not understand the trouble this will cause if he gets out! He isn't supposed to be ready!"
Ireen grabs hold of Lucien's collar and bring him close to her so that they are face-to-face. "Why are you burning corpses? Who are those people?" She shouts at him.
Sarah-Jane watches one of the workers who is at the cell door, trying to increase the security on the cell.
But then there is a loud beep coming from the door.
And the bomb goes off before Sarah-Jane can cry for warning.
Everyone is thrown of their feet and fall down onto the cold stone flooring. The ringing in Sarah-Jane's, Ireen's and Rose's ears seem so familiar for this is not the first time they have been caught near an explosion.
Rose is the first to come to her senses. White smoke fills the air around her and she chokes. She weakly scrambles back onto her feet and makes her way towards the cell door, hoping that perhaps Monroe will emerge from the cell.
But he does not.
Rose tries her best to inhale as little of the smoke around her as she can, and she cannot seem to stop the flow of the tears pouring out of her eyes. Her knees tremble under her weight as she steps closer to the cell.
Sarah-Jane weakly calls her name from behind.
But Rose stares in shock horror at the body of one of the Heat Miles workers. Both his legs have been completely blown off and he is missing an arm. The man croaks for help as he tries to crawl his way across the office floor like some sort of alien mutant.
And that is when Rose sees the remains of the man's arm lying on the ground just below her feet.
There is no sign of Monroe for he has escaped.
