Chapter Nineteen
On Skaro, the commlock in Bettan's hand sprang to life. Everyone around her jumped as a voice came over the device she was holding. "Moonbase Alpha to Commander Koenig, Moonbase Alpha to Commander Koenig. Commander, your commlock was activated. Can you hear us?"
"Moonbase Alpha, that's what I heard in Davros' office. That's where the Alphans come from." Bosh said with great enthusiasm.
"How do I talk to them?" Bettan asked to no one in particular.
"Hello. If you turn the screen towards your face, we can see as well as hear you." Maya said to the woman. Maya exchanged looks of wonderment from everyone gathered around her desk, which included most of the Command Center staff.
Bettan turned the device in her hand and pointed the screen to her face. "You are the Alphans?" she asked.
Maya relinquished her seat to Tony. "Hello, my name is Tony Verdeschi." Tony began diplomatically. "We're trying to reach the owner of this commlock. His name is John Koenig. Can we speak to him?"
Bettan looked to the others before returning her attention to the screen. "My name is Bettan. We believe he is one of the Alphans that the Daleks have captured. We found this…" she was searching for the word the man had just used.
"Commlock." Tony said.
"Yes, commlock. The Daleks captured your people and they dropped this commlock on the ground. One of my people found it and brought it to me." Bettan smiled at Jembra who returned the smile. "We were trying to work out a way to activate it when it came to life." Off in the back of the cavern, near the opening Bettan could hear a commotion. As one the group turned to see one of the camp's outskirt scouts arrive with two men dressed in the Kaled science corps uniform. Bettan looked from the commlock to the new arrivals conflicted as both warranted her attention.
Tony was familiar with the look on Bettan's face as it was one he recognized in his own life. "Bettan, we can wait if you need to attend to something." he suggested with a smile much to the chagrin of those around him. But this was the first hopeful contact with the planet and he wasn't about to make demands of this woman and ruin things.
Bettan with the commlock still active in her hand walked over to the trio. "Tabbit report."
Tabbit who was all of four and a half feet tall pulled himself to his full height and stood at attention. He may be young he told himself, but he would prove his worth to Bettan and the others. This group had taken him in and protected him and for that he owed them his allegiance. "Ma'am." he saluted.
Bettan inwardly smiled but made sure her face never betrayed her thoughts. "Who are they and why have you brought them here?" If Tabbit had misjudged the pair of Kaled scientists, they could all be at risk.
"They were found hiding among the rocks. I was on patrol when a great explosion could be heard in the bunker. It wasn't long after that I witnessed them run from the great cavern and they attempted to hide. They said they were escaping the Daleks. I believe them Ma'am." Tabbit finished, out of breath.
Brextin raised his right hand and began, "If I might…" which earned him an aggravated look from Thonton.
Bettan caught the look between the pair and asked, "Well, get on with it. Is there a problem between you two?"
"No, no problem." Thonton quickly replied. There were more of the resistance than he'd been led to believe existed and where he or Brextin fit in was still a mystery to him.
"You see we were the last, or at least the last that we're aware of, of the Kaled Elite Scientists. One by one the Daleks were picking us off and I knew it was just a matter of time before they killed us. So once I found out the Doctor and the others were captured, I knew he was the best chance to stop the Daleks and Davros." Brextin took in the look on all their faces. They were so hungry for any sign of hope.
"Go on." Bettan implored.
"I collected the materials I would need to set up an explosion and arranged for it to look as if I died in the explosion. Then I climbed through the old ventilation system to reach his lab," he hesitated and pointed to Thonton, "and talked my friend into going with me. But before that, I managed to get a disruptor I made into the cell with the Doctor and the others. It's programmed with all the door security codes. But in order to use it. They'll need to get rid of the Daleks guarding them. I was hoping the explosion would have sent them running but it may have been too much to hope for." Brextin bowed his head.
Bettan asked excitedly, "You saw the Doctor?"
"There was a man I exchanged a quick look with and I believe he knew that something was on the tray. He didn't look like a Thal or a Kaled."
"Did he have curly hair and wear a long coat and a very long scarf?" Bettan asked as she remembered the Doctor's ridiculous looking outfit. But maybe it wasn't ridiculous where he came from, Bettan reminded herself.
"No. This man had dark short hair and wore a dark jacket and pants. I saw no one like you described." Bettan hung her head.
On Alpha, Maya couldn't remain quiet any longer. Looking to Tony, she said, "Tony please."
"Sure." He pulled his chair aside allowing Maya access to the screen at her desk.
"Bettan." Maya called. The commlock turned to reveal Bettan's crestfallen face. "Bettan, the man he just described is the Doctor."
"But, I've met the Doctor and that's not him." Bettan protested.
"The Doctor's race has a very long lifespan. When they are very nearly destroyed, their body transforms into a completely new body. I know it's difficult to understand, but the man in that cell is the Doctor. The Doctor is there with many of our people. We need to find a way to rescue them." Maya's plea was impassioned.
"Agreed but how?" Bettan replied.
"The Daleks are still in their infancy in many ways." Thonton spoke up. "Soon after Dalek Jast arrived, he began to add genetic coding to the Dalek database that I am unfamiliar with. I assumed it was to give the Daleks the same abilities that he has."
"You never told me this." Brextin complained.
"We are constantly watched." he explained to everyone. "Besides, what could we have done? We are only two against many."
"Wrong," Bettan began, "you have us now. Hopefully with the Doctor's help, we will be free once again."
Thonton cupped his mouth with his hands before tenting his fingertips together. "The thing is, this morning the Dalek database was changed again. The code was entered through a channel I didn't recognize so I did some background tracing. The new genetic coding entered this morning came straight from Davros. The section of the genetic code that was added concerned emotion. I can't tell you what kind of emotion was being reintroduced into the Dalek line but it appeared that was exactly what he was initiating."
Over the commlock Tony stated, "The Doctor said all emotions except hate had been removed from the Daleks. He said that Davros had done this, so why would he add another emotion?"
Maya could be heard with a possible answer, "Maybe he's trying to control them." She started pacing back and forth in Command Center.
Bettan added, "According to one of my soldiers Bosh, he overheard Davros and Dalek Jast. Apparently Dalek Jast is not happy with Davros. Davros tried to keep the capture of the Alphans secret from Dalek Jast at least that was what was assumed."
"So there's dissention in the ranks." Tony smiled. "Maybe Davros wants to slow the Daleks down and regain some control."
"How does this help us get John and the others back?" Helena asked worriedly.
Tony reached up and squeezed Helena's arm in support. "I don't know but every piece of information will help." He turned back at the screen. "Bettan, we can't get down there because of the forcefield. Any ideas on taking it down?"
Bettan had been listening intently at the exchange between the Alphans. In her summation, they were good people who only wanted to help and get their people back. Looking around her, it seemed that everyone wanted the answer to that question.
Brextin raised his finger in the air, trying to draw Bettan's attention. Bettan nodded her head for him to go on. He leaned over to peer at the small screen in Bettan's hand. "I don't know if this would be helpful or not but I have the security camera codes, door codes and a few of the overall bunker security codes."
Maya's face lit up. "You have these memorized?" she asked.
"Some, yes. But how would I transfer them to you? There are no computer terminals here." He looked to Bettan who shook her head no.
"Not a problem. It will take a little time but I think you can relate them to me over the commlock. Once we set up an equivalency parameter between our systems, we should be able to do it. Once I'm in their computer system, I may be able to order them to lower their forcefield." Maya smiled up at Tony as well as everyone else that was now crowded around the desk.
Tony decided that if Maya said she could do it, then she could. "How much time?" he asked her.
"Oh, I'd say a couple of hours." Maya replied.
On Skaro, Bettan handed the commlock to Brextin. "Good luck." She led the group away so they wouldn't be in the way. Her mind was running faster than she thought possible. She wished she could coordinate something with the Doctor but right now she had no idea what was happening in the Dalek bunker. She decided her best bet was to coordinate something with the Alphans and hopefully meet up with the Doctor, Sarah Jane, Sevrin and the captured Alphans later.
In the new holding cell, the Doctor walked forward and carefully picked up the tray, delivering it to the back of the cell. Looking at his fellow prisoners, he quietly said, "Circle around me. I need cover because I think we have a special delivery from a friend."
The Alphans did as they were instructed. "Did you know that person Doctor?" John Koenig asked.
"Not that particular individual. In fact I'm shocked the Daleks left any of the Kaled scientists alive. Believe me when I say the Kaled people were not pleased with Davros and his plans. But by the time they figured out what was really going on, it was too late." He was carefully removing the bread like substance from the tray when he found the small casing. It was about six inches long with a few symbols etched on the side that the Doctor recognized as open, down and confuse. He had a feeling about the meaning of the first two but confuse…what could that mean? On the end was a crystal like point that he assumed was the focus of the small instrument.
Before the Doctor had the opportunity to ponder the instrument any further, a huge explosion was not only heard but felt. Alarms began going off everywhere. Outside in the corridor, several Daleks joined the two guarding the cell. "Explosion in corridor D, level two. You will assist! You will assist! You will assist!" the newly arrived Daleks yelled.
"We will obey!" the two guards replied and disappeared around the corner.
Inside the cell, the Doctor was grinning from ear to ear. He looked to Alan and winked, "Inspiration has just hit." He turned back to pick up Sarah.
Bill Frazer reached out and touched the Doctor's shoulder. "We haven't been formally introduced Doctor but I'm Bill Frazer. I have been Sarah Jane's copilot on quite a few missions and more importantly, I'm her friend. It would be an honor if you'd let me help by allowing me to carry her. You're the only one that knows your way around here and you know how to use that device." Bill pointed to the object in the Doctor's hand. "I'll guard her with my life." he said while meeting the Doctor's eyes with what he hoped was the empathy that he wanted someone to show for his wife, Annette.
After waiting so long it was difficult for the Doctor to give up any control of Sarah to anyone. But he could see it in their faces, these were her friends. They would protect her and he was right. The Doctor smiled at Bill and said, "Agreed."
Bill turned back and with Ed Spencer's help, carefully lifted Sarah Jane. "Now what?" Bill asked.
"Now we escape. Unless you hear something different, stay behind me." the Doctor told the group of men. The Doctor approached the forcefield and after peering both ways as much as was possible he tapped the button on the side of the device that was marked down and focused the beam it emitted to the control panel. The forcefield went down. The Doctor tried to reorient himself with the bunker's layout. For the Daleks hardly any time at all had passed but for him it had been hundreds of years. He reached inside his mind and attempted to calm it. His life, Sarah's life and all the Alphans' lives depended on him. He looked back to the Commander. "We go right."
Victor couldn't stop himself from commenting. "That's the direction of the cell we were first held in."
The Doctor smiled. "Thanks Professor." He looked back and met the Professor's eyes, "Between the two of us," he began quietly, "I was only guessing at the direction."
Alan Carter looked to his Commander and said, "Guessing, he was only guessing?"
The Doctor without skipping a beat admitted, "Well, it has been several hundred years since I've been here. Let's see what your memory is like at my age. Now let's quit talking and start moving."
All the Alphans looked to one another with the same understanding. The Doctor was still their best bet of survival on this planet.
After several minutes, the group hadn't run into any of the Daleks, though the further they travelled the thicker the smoke was getting. The Doctor looked back several times to check on Sarah and the Alphans who were doing a good job of keeping quiet and keeping up. After they'd rounded yet another corner they found one of the detention cells, the opening to the vent still open.
"How will we get Sarah Jane through?" Dimi asked as he scratched his dark hair. He'd been thinking about this since he'd found out their destination.
By now they were all at the vent opening and the Doctor looked the group over when his eyes landed on Sevrin. Sevrin had a long twisted rope around his coat that he was using as a belt. "Sevrin, I need your belt." The other Alphans were removing the few belts that the uniformed Alphans were wearing. The Doctor quickly made a makeshift harness and placed Sarah in it. Testing all the points where they met, he decided it was as secure as he could expect. "Not first class my girl, but it'll have to do." he said to Sarah's face. He could have sworn she gave him a slight smile.
"I'll go first since I know the way." The Commander and Alan exchanged a look the Doctor didn't miss. "I heard that. Sevrin, you bring up the rear. Let's go." The Doctor climbed inside the ventilation shaft and with the Alphans' help he secured the front part of the harness across his shoulders. He made the first pull on the harness and could feel Sarah's body being pulled behind him. He smiled and began the trek through the ductwork. He could hear the Alphans one by one, entering the duct. "Please be as quiet as you can." he whispered to the Commander behind himself and Sarah.
John Koenig nodded in understanding and whispered the order back. After five minutes, John decided that if he had to do this much longer they'd have to take a break. He could hear Victor struggling for breath behind him and with so many bodies and heavy breathing in the duct it was getting quite warm. Much to his relief he saw the Doctor turn his head back.
"We're almost clear. Just another twenty five feet and we'll be out." the Doctor said with relief on his part as well. The sooner he could get the Alphans into some form of hiding the better off they were. It was one thing to have himself and a companion or two to worry about, but it was quite another to have not only himself and Sarah but seven others to keep track of.