THE
PLAGUE
OF
TERMINAL
CITY
By
X5R-731
Disclaimer: Cameron and company owns Dark Angel, while Doctor Who is the property of the BBC. Please, please, please don't sue me.
CATALYSTSSergeants Connor and Gibbons were on duty when the ambulance pulled up to the main entrance of Terminal City. A handsome paramedic leaned out of the window when Connor approached the ambulance.
"Afternoon officer."
"What'd you got?"
"Couple more sick transies. Collapsed outside Jam Pony of all places."
Connor didn't care much for transgenics. They were arrogant, irresponsible and violent (and the fact that his daughter had been dating an X7 didn't help). But the law was the law and it was his job to make sure it was properly enforced. While some of his colleagues may choose to be a law unto themselves or ignore it completely, he was a servant of the public trust and had sworn an oath to protect the citizens of Seattle. And unfortunately that included the transgenics. He opened the roadblock and waved the ambulance through.
LAB
When Max returned to the lab, she found the Doctor leaning back on his stole, arms folded, glaring accusingly at the biological data. It was like he was demanding it give him the answers he was looking for.
Lydecker had passed out after working almost thirty hours straight and Max had supervised Lane and Keema carrying him back to his cell before they returned to their room. Max didn't like spending too much time with Lane and Keema. It wasn't any fault of theirs, they were Zack and Brin's clone twins and seeing them only brought up painful memories of her lost siblings. The fact that they were and item and shacked up together, did nothing to ease her psyche.
"How's it coming," she asked.
"I'm finished," he replied.
"What!"
"I discovered the antidote to this appalling disease. Well technically, your doctors were on the right track, I just filled in the blanks. It will even go so far as to reverse the early effects of progenia."
"I sense a 'but' coming."
"There's more to this virus than meets the eye, a hidden code buried beneath the obvious contagion. I'm positive this virus was designed to do a great deal more than destroy genetically engineered cells."
Before Max could ask what he meant she received a call that an ambulance had arrived with more plague victims. She left the Doctor to his work as she went to oversee the new arrivals. What greeted wasn't what she expected.
"Rafer!"
"Hey Max." the paramedic greeted warmly as he jumped out of his ambulance.
Initially Rafer had been just another heat induced one night stand, an embarrassing mistake best forgotten. He'd turned out to be a cut above the usual loser, actually apologizing afterward thinking what had happened was his fault. When transgenics became chic, he was the only heat-induced mistake who hadn't sold his encounter to the tabloid rags, saying what a tigress she was in the sack. It had quite possibly been the most humiliating year of her life. The intimate details of her sex life out in the open for everyone (especially Logan) to read. She'd pretty much been a hermit for weeks when the first stories began to circulate. The fact that Rafer had not told about their night together, earned him a place of respect in her affections. He'd told her his love life was no one's business (and he didn't want to ruin things with his new girlfriend).
"So what you got for me?"
Rafer simply smiled and banged on the ambulance door.
"Hey boo," Original Cindy said, jumping out of the emergency vehicle, followed by another girl.
The two friends embraced, grateful to see each other again. Max had missed Cindy so much, many a time she'd ached for her best friend's sage, down to earth advice, but crackdowns and the disease had made any visits impossible.
When they eventually broke apart Original Cindy said, "Damn girl, I can barely get my arms around you. When's he due?"
"Months to go yet," she grinned. " 'He' huh? You think its gonna be another boy?"
"Original Cindy knows these things. You got another Logan, jr. simmering in your oven."
"Ever thought about having one of your own?"
Original Cindy made a face. "Only one way Original Cindy knows how to make a baby and no way Original Cindy gonna do that."
Max's grin got wider. God, it was good to have Cindy back. "So, as much as I'd love to think you've gone to all this trouble to just see me and discuss maternity, what brings you here?"
"My new lickety-boo needed to get in touch with some friends of hers who just moved to TC," Original Cindy said indicating the other girl.
"You must be Izzy," Max stated.
"Is the Doctor alright," she asked, exposing her North English accent.
"He's fine, I'll take you to him. Thanks again Rafer."
"No problem Max."
"By the way, how's what's her name?"
"Pregnant," he beamed. "And believe it or not, I'm the father!"
Max's hand instinctively went to her own slightly protruding abdomen. "Congratulations. I wish the two of you the best."
"Thanks Max," Rafer said as he climbed back into his ambulance. "See you around."
As the girls made their way to the lab, Izzy thought she saw Kroton lurking in the corners. Before she could call out, he disappeared.
"Well," Destrii said, blowing out a bored breath. "I don't know about you, croc-o-dork, but I don't fancy hanging around all day looking at your ugly face."
"It hasn't exactly been a stag flick from my end!" Mole snarled.
"Oh puh-leez," Destrii said, rolling her eyes. "I'm the best looking female you've laid eyes on since you hatched from whatever rotten egg your pitiful excuse for a matriarch farted you out."
As she spoke, Destrii shifted and twisted inside her bonds, stretching and constricting her muscles until she slipped effortlessly out of the steel girder.
"How'd you do that?"
"Unlike you, Gorn guts, I'm not made up of overly dense bone and muscle. All this," she said running her hands suggestively down her torso. "Is all cartilage, baby, tough but flexible. Later gator."
Destrii strutted out giving Mole a swat on his ass on her way out.
"I'll kill her," Mole seethed, doubling his efforts to break free. "I'll kill her!"
EYES ONLY TERMINAL CITY OUTPOST
Logan stared at his computer screen, desperately searching for the source of this disease. The only organizations Logan knew about that had that kind of know how and resources were Manticore, Synthodyne and maybe the Conclave. But they were all no longer a threat. Even Sebastian didn't know who could've developed such a designer virus. Logan's concentration was only distracted when a metal hand grasped his shoulder. He looked up into the empty black eyes of a true Cyberman.
"Kroton?"
"You belong to us. You will be like us."
LABORATORY
The Doctor was still staring at the biological sample when Max, Izzy and Original Cindy entered. He looked up briefly before turning back to the dish.
"Hello Izzy," he mumbled distractedly. "Whose your new friend?"
Izzy made quick introductions then asked, "What have you gotten us involved with this time?"
A high pitched electronic wail burst from Izzy's coat pocket. Scarper jumped out of Izzy's pocket, spun around wildly on the floor, and then dashed madly out the door.
"Now where's he off to," the Doctor wondered. The problem with the virus solved, the Doctor decided to investigate the Cybermat's odd behaviour.
The Doctor, Izzy, Max and Original Cindy followed Scarper to Logan's Terminal City base. Along the way they met up with a groggy and sore Joshua and Francie. They told Max what had happened in the sewers as the followed Scarper.
Inside they found Kroton sitting in Logan's chair, physically interphasing with his computer. Wires extended from his wrists directly into the hard drive. Kroton didn't acknowledge their presence, staring intently at the computer screen. Logan, meanwhile, was lying face down on the floor.
"Logan!" Max cried, rushing up to her fallen paramour.
The Doctor approaching Kroton slowly to see what he was doing. Kroton didn't react when the Doctor looked over his shoulder at the monitor. He could see that Kroton had tapped into Eyes Only's satellite hook up and was beaming a signal out into space.
"Kroton," the Doctor asked calmly. "What are you doing?"
Kroton finally turned to look at the Doctor. When he spoke, it was in a deep flat monotone – the voice of a Cyberman. "Doc-tor. You are the Doctor." Kroton stood disentangling himself from the electronic equipment. "You are an enemy of the Cyber-race. You shall be neutralized." He grabbed the Doctor by the shoulder in a vice-like grip. "You will give us the secret of time travel. After we harvest this world, we will claim the system. We will survive."
"Oh no." the Doctor had often worried about Kroton's Cyber conditioning reasserting itself – and now it had.
"Kroton," Izzy said. "What are you doing?"
He regarded her coldly. "Immature human female. Hold in cryo-suspension until suitable for conversion."
"Take your filthy gloves off her," Original Cindy growled.
Kroton backhanded Original Cindy, sending her flying across the room. "All resistance will be crushed."
Max launched herself at the Junior Cyber Leader with cold fury, heedless of her own safety (and her pulse one). This thing had brutalized the two people who meant the most to her and threatened her family. She delivered a stunning flying kick to his chest causing him to stagger back a pace and a half, releasing the Doctor and Izzy. Forgetting she was fighting a machine creature, she delivered a series of blows to his head and abdomen, succeeding in only hurting her hands. Kroton grabbed her wrists and lifted her off the ground.
Scanning her, he reported, "Mature human female. Evidence of genetic manipulation, but more than suitable for conversion. Secondary heartbeat indicates extra life form. The fetus will be removed and held for further study."
"Like Hell," Max screamed. She kicked upwards with both feet catching him on the chin. Kroton staggered, releasing one wrist but holding firmly to the other.
A familiar bellowing roar filled the air just before a shaggy form collided into Kroton. Max felt the steel grip on her wrist disappeared as the two behemoths grappled. Joshua, a.k.a. Dog Boy, the first transgenic, a beastly appearance hid an artistic soul. But his gentle nature could be overcome with an uncontrollable animal rage when his loved ones were threatened. While Kroton, the by-product of alien technology, ruthlessly logical and equally ruthless when set to a task. Both were creatures of immense power and strength, but when it came down to it, Joshua was still flesh and blood and it was only a matter of time until Kroton's hydraulic muscles overpowered the giant.
The Doctor, meanwhile, had made his way back to Logan's computer. The signal Kroton had sent was heading for the nearest Cyberman outpost. He had to stop it, the Cybermen weren't scheduled to return to this Solar System for another forty-five years. In the time he had left, the Doctor surmised there was no time for fancy computer skills, so instead he grabbed the modem's cord and yanked it out of the hard drive. A shower of sparks and a small explosion later, the signal ceased. However, the Doctor was certain Mr. Cale would not be pleased about what had happened to his equipment.
Joshua continued to pummel Kroton with blows. His fists were bruised and bleeding and he was getting tired but he continued to attack. The silver man had to be stopped, just like Kelpy had had to be stopped … just like Isaac …
Kroton punched Joshua in the chest breaking several ribs. Staggering, Joshua gasped for breath. Everyone watched in disbelief as Kroton picked Joshua up and brought him down across his knee. The room filled with a very loud crack as the Dog Man's spine broke in half. Joshua howled in agony as he rolled onto the floor. Kroton grabbed a handful of Joshua's hair and yanked him to his knees.
"Humanoid canine male," Kroton droned. "Unsuitable for conversion. Eradicate."
"Kroton, no," Izzy yelled.
"Kroton!" the Doctor shouted.
"No," Max screamed. "Joshua!"
"Max," the gentle giant said in a soft, scared voice just before Kroton gave his head a violent twist. There was a small snap and the Cyberman let the lifeless body drop with a thud.
Francie leapt across the room and dropkicked Kroton in the head. When he refused to go down, she went airborne, hitting him from every angle, keeping him disorientated but couldn't take him down. Eventually as she zipped past him, he caught her by her ankle and flung her into a wall. He then grabbed her by her throat and lifted her off the ground.
"Amphibious humanoid female. Unsuitable for conversion. Eradicate."
He drew back a silver fist and prepared to slam it through her face into the wall.
"Damn lights," Julia groused when they flickered again as Robert led her fellow conspirators into their secondary headquarters.
"That's what you get," Robert said. "When you subsidize."
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Julia Tarrison gave her loyal aide a withering look before addressing her fellow conspirators – Professor George Ferrara and Reverend Obadiah Torrance. Professor Ferrara was one of the scientists who'd worked on the Manticore Project before its destruction. This base doubled as his research facility.
"Gentleman," she said. "I'll try to make this brief, my daughter's recital is in under an hour. So far everything is going according to plan. Professor."
"The transgenics are proving more resilient than we thought, but that's to be expected. I see no reason why we can't move to the next stage."
"Finally," Torrance grumbled. "My followers have been waiting to cleans this city for years."
"Yes," Robert said dryly. "Who knew genocide could take so long."
Julia suppressed a smile as Torrance simmered. It was times like these she remembered why she kept Robert around. He was a great tension breaker and had a habit of saying things that were on her mind. She didn't particularly care for Reverend Torrance. She considered him a glory-seeking, self-righteous hypocrite. He was a fundamentalist bigot who hated the transgenics simply because they didn't fit into his tiny view of the universe. Her dislike for the transgenics stemmed from that she understood the threat they represented to public safety. Anyway, her husband was waiting for her, so it was time to wrap this up.
Kroton stood there ready to drive his fist through Francie for about sixty-seven seconds. The Doctor cautiously stepped up to Kroton and waved his hand in front of his blank eyes. Eventually Francie managed to wriggle out of Kroton's grasp, but Kroton held his pose.
"What happened," Izzy asked.
The Doctor shrugged. "I think he's suffered some kind of stroke. His true nature and the Cyber conditioning colliding when forced beyond breaking point." He glanced at Francie. "He must think very much of you."
Francie's throat bulged, emitting a croaking sound. "Excuse me."
Logan came to, to find Max sobbing with Joshua's head on her lap. It was obvious that he was dead. "Max," he said gently. "I'm so sorry."
He wrapped his arms around, burying her face in his chest. She hugged him tightly sobbing and shaking uncontrollably with Joshua's head resting on her lap. Another brother dead. But she was still alive. How many of her family was she going to watch die?
Everyone was so caught up in the after affects of the titanic brawl, no one noticed that Kroton began to move. Lowering his arms, he turned around and gazed down at Joshua's broken body. Kneeling, he gently lifted Joshua up and carried him outside. Curious, the Doctor and company followed, the distraught Max partially supported by Logan. As Kroton carried Joshua's lifeless corpse through the streets of Terminal City the procession grew to encompass most of its citizens, all of them in shocked disbelief. Kroton brought Joshua to his quarters, placed him in his bed and tucked him in, as if trying to make him comfortable. Kroton stepped back and gazed down curious at Joshua – before collapsing onto the floor, his head propped up against the wall.
Max, Logan, Original Cindy and Francie gathered around the bed while the Doctor and Izzy knelt by Kroton. The Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver and began to remove the bonds on Kroton's faceplate.
"What're you doing," Izzy asked.
"I want to see how badly his neural pathways have been corrupted. And the only way I can determine that is to take a look at them."
When the Doctor removed Kroton's faceplate, Izzy almost threw up at what she saw. A human skull enmeshed in a myriad amalgamation of wires and techno-organic compounds pumping nutrients to parts that still needed it.
"This is incredible. Parts of his neural pathways have been rewired manually and quite sloppily too. No wonder his processors almost burnt out. But who did this, who'd have the rudimentary knowledge to rewire a Cyberman's brain?"
Scarper wriggled out of Izzy's pocket and scuttled up to Kroton's hand. He nudged it, like a cat trying to coax a pet but got no response.
"Hey, what's going on?" Destrii said pushing her way through the crowd outside Joshua's quarters, followed by Mole. "What's all the hullabaloo? Who died?" – seeing Joshua she added – "Oh."
Addressing the Doctor and Izzy, she asked, "What happened?"
"Kroton went berserk," Francie said dully. "Killed Joshua. Shockers do that to you. It happened to Isaac … and Kelpy."
"What was that my dear," the Doctor said.
Francie told him what happened in the sewers.
"Could you take me there?"
"What are you thinking," Max demanded.
"I'm thinking of finding what turned my friend here into a weapon responsible for this poor man's death."
Max softened a fraction at the Doctor referring to Joshua as a man. "What did you have in mind?"
"I want to investigate the sight of Kroton's mystery energy signal."
"I'm coming with you."
"I don't think-"
"Don't bother," Logan said. "If she wants to do something she will, especially where threats to her family are considered."
"You gotta be kidding," Mole said. "You're going to trust him!"
"You want to find out who killed Joshua?"
"We know who's responsible. I say we turn Robbie the Robot into scrap iron."
"Back off, scaly buns," Destrii snarled. "Don't make me throw you threw another wall."
"Just for that," the Doctor said. "The two of you are coming with us."
"Huh?" Max said quizzically.
"Would you rather leave them alone, unsupervised, to run around Terminal City?"
"Right," Max conceded. "Francie lead the way."
"I'll be right with you." The Doctor took Izzy aside and handed her a small velvet pouch.
"What's this?"
"A failsafe. In case what wakes up isn't the Kroton we all know and love."
She looked at the contents of the bag and looked at the Doctor in horror. "Doctor, no."
"Yes."
"We can't."
"After what happened here, we have no choice. I trust you to do what's necessary should the situation call for it."
Izzy lowered her eyes. "Alright."
The Doctor squeezed her shoulder sympathetically, then walked off.
Izzy poured some of the pouches glittering contents onto her hand. Gold dust – the perfect non-corrodible metal. Toss a handful of this into a Cyberman's chest unit and it would suffocate. Izzy looked back at Kroton. He looked like a broken toy, lying there all loose and twisted, the lights on his head and chest pack were out. Would she have the strength to do what was necessary if what woke up was not her friend?
Before joining the others, the Doctors had a quick word with Logan, handing him a piece of paper. "Mr. Cale, despite the unfortunate destruction of your equipment, I believe you are still capable of getting a message out. I'd like you to send this to the nearest FHD offices. Inform them this is a Code 7 and sign it J. Smith."
"What's this for?"
"This is just in case anything – odd should happen."
"Like what?"
"I don't know, I just like to be thorough."
They stopped off at one of the watchtowers where Max told Krit he would be in charge until she got back.
"You sure you want to leave now," Krit asked indicating the ugly looking crowd gathering outside Terminal City's perimeter.
Max sighed. It never ends. "Keep an eye on them and contact me if they make any sudden moves. Hold down the fort." Max hugged her brother and joined the others.
With Francie leading the way, Max, the Doctor, Destrii and Mole trudged through the sewers. When they reached the junction where Kroton had first traced the source of the alien energy signature, Francie asked, "Can I got back? Don't like it here. Makes my skin tingle."
"Yes of course," the Doctor said gently. "You've done more than enough. Thank you my dear."
Francie hopped away gratefully.
The Doctor pulled out a small hand held tracer from one of his many bottomless pockets and began sweeping the tunnel.
"What is that thing," Mole demanded.
"Its an electronic bloodhound," the Doctor replied before setting off after the spoor trail.
The electro-magnetic slime could be found on the walls and in the sewage, clearly leading somewhere. It looked vaguely familiar but one of the drawbacks of living nine-hundred and seventy-six years is that the details tended to get muddled. They followed the trail to a ladder and one by one they each climbed up.
They found themselves in a featureless office building and began to explore. Most of the rooms seemed empty until one door revealed several heavily armed guards in black and gold fatigues.
"Oh dear," the Doctor said. "How terribly embarrassing. So sorry."
Trying to shut the door, the guards kicked it down and swarmed around the intruders.
"Well," Mole groused. "Anybody got any ideas?"
the Doctor threw up his hands. "We surrender."
TERMINAL CITY
Sgt. Jack Connor looked at the oncoming mob, advancing menacingly, urged on by some hellfire preacher. Ashamedly, a part of Jack wanted to let them pass, let them run amuck through the toxic hole that was Terminal City. But that wasn't his decision to make, despite his colleagues, he didn't have the luxury of deciding which laws he could or could not enforce. To Serve & Protect – that's what it said on the badge and words he tried to live by.
He remembered the horror of mob rule following the pulse: bodies hanging from telephone polls, looting, fires, senseless destruction. Jack had lost a partner, a brother and his parents. When the chaos finally died down he swore he would not let it happen again.
Krit observed the two cops face down the mob from behind the fence. They won't last long, Krit thought. Glancing down at his hands he saw his skin discoloration and rash had spread. He hadn't been inoculated yet, the medics had been treating the more serious cases first. They were recuperating steadily but were in no shape for a battle.
Why had Max decided to disappear now? He hasn't cut out for command. Sure he was a fair deputy and better that average bodyguard, but he didn't have the originality or force of personality to lead. Fortunately battle situations were something he could handle.
"Zero," he called down to one of the sentries. Get anyone who can still fight to the front gate. Looks like what nobody wanted to happen is happening,"
Izzy continued her vigil over Kroton. Scarper had crawled into the Cyberman's mighty palm and chittered pathetically, as if begging for some attention from his master. Izzy held his other hand while at the same time fingering the gold dust in her pocket. She remembered reading somewhere that coma patients could still sense the world around them. She didn't know if this apply to Kroton's mostly mechanical body, but after everything they'd been through she'd like to think there was some sort of bond between then on a metaphysical level at least.
"How is he," Francie asked.
Izzy tried not to recoil at Francie's offensive smell. "No change."
"Trouble," Original Cindy announced.
Izzy could hear the sounds of fighting. Outside the X5's were holding their own against the invaders, but just barely. Normally an X5 was worth five ordinaries but many were either recuperating or still sick. The beast men on the other hand were fresh, healthy and angry, and had been itching for a chance to take it out on some one for a long time. Izzy, Original Cindy and Francie were witness to a full blown riot.
"Die freak," a rioter screamed charging Francie.
Francie jumped up and kicked him in the chest. Somersaulting in mid-air she kicked another attacker coming up behind her in the head. She locked her ankles around a third assailant's head and hurtled him through the air. During all this her feet never touched the ground.
While Original Cindy grappled with one female fanatic, Izzy and her opponent tumbled back into Joshua's room. They wrestled around the studio knocking over eisles and paints. He managed to get on top of her with his hands wrapped around her throat.
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The Doctor and Max were separated from Destrii and Mole and brought before the conspirators.
"Why am I not surprised to see you here," Max said sarcastically.
While Max addressed the Senator, the Doctor observed her aide. There was something decidedly off about the anemic looking young man.
Meanwhile, Professor Ferrara stare avariciously at Max's abdomen. "I've always wanted to get me hands on a developing fetus." The ethically challenged scientist said as he placed his hand on her swollen belly.
White hot anger flared through her being faster than a prairie bushfire in summer. How dare he touch her – especially there. Nobody placed their hands on her, the primal animal side of her mind raged. Only her mate had the right. Certainly not this bloodless piece of offal. Max grabbed Ferrara's hands and with one violent twist broke them in several different places. Ferrara screamed and dropped to his knees. Looking in horror at his mangled hands
The two guards rushed forward to subdue the X5. one of them swung his shock stick at her midsection. the Doctor put himself between her and the possibly lethal baton, absorbing most of the punishment.
"Enough," Senator Tarrison ordered.
"Oh good," the Doctor said massaging his ribs. "You have an aversion to scenes of violence. So do I. Especially when I'm on the receiving end."
"She'd responsible for the disease killing my people," Max said, understandably outraged.
"Yes, well, plotting and ordering the mass murder of an entire species is one thing. But actually doing it is another matter entirely."
"The transgenics are not a race," Tarrison argued defensively. "They were grown in a lab for one purpose – kill. I'm just doing my best to make this world safer for my children."
"By murdering ours!" Max countered.
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Suddenly Izzy's garrotter collapsed. After she pushed him off her she saw he was covered with the same lesions and skin discoloration the infected transgenics had. Getting up, she rushed outside to see everyone – ordinaries, trangenics, nomalies – all collapsing from the disease. Izzy's head suddenly began to spin and she looked down to see blotches appearing on her hands.
Back inside Joshua's studio, the lights slowly came on on Kroton's chest and head.
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"Now, now, now," the Doctor shushed. "The good senator is just scared. People do terrible things when there scared. I mean look how fast you've organized and established yourselves. In a few generations you could be the dominant life form on this planet. And we all know what power does to people. Not that there's really any difference between transgenics and ordinary humans, you're still both a very paranoid and primitive people."
Before Max and Tarrison could comment on that remark there was a loud banging on the door.
"Let me in! Let me in, damn you! Out of my way!" Torrance burst in frantically.
"Torrance, what's the meaning of this?"
"Dammit woman haven't you been paying attention to what's happening out there?"
He turned on the television on her wall.
" – casualty reports are still coming in but sources confirm that the 'Transgenic Plague' has begun infecting ordinary humans. The plague seems to be airborne spreading exponentially-" images of people with evidence of the infection littering the streets of Seattle.
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Logan had been in the middle of the chaos helping the residents of Terminal City defend their home when everyone started succumbing to the virus. This must be what the Doctor meant about something 'out of the ordinary' happening. He raced back to Max's Terminal City room. He kept a spare hook up there for emergencies. He suddenly felt dizzy, his legs began to feel like jelly. Looking down he could see the rash stating to form on his skin, but he pushed on. Too many lives were at stake.
In Max's digs he yanked the laptop out of the desk and booted up. He quickly typed up the message the Doctor had given him, but before he could hit SEND, his body went numb. The ground rushed up to meet him. He didn't know how long he lay there but it was too long. Protesting muscles moved with agonizing slowness as he pulled himself up and reached for the SEND button. It looked impossibly far away, but tried to press it.
A familiar cold hand touched his shoulder. Logan turned to once again find himself looking into the featureless face of the Junior Cyber Leader.
"Survive," Kroton slurred. "Must sur-vive."
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"Is this what you want," the Doctor demanded. "A dead world?"
Tarrison stared in disbelief at the scenes of disease and death. "Professor-"
"I don't know what's happening," Ferrara said panicking. "The virus wasn't designed to attack non-engineered DNA."
"Never mind that, can we stop it?"
The sound of the door shutting caused everyone to look up and see Robert Sanford locking the door.
"Robert," Julia demanded. "What're you doing?"
The aide didn't answer. He just stood there stonily.
"Bob, get out of the way."
Sanford didn't budge.
"Damn it Bob, we don't have time for this."
Sanford still didn't move.
They really didn't have time to deduce what had caused Sanford's unusual behaviour, so Tarrison ordered the two security men to remove him. When they were within arms reach, Sanford's arms morphed into tendrils and whipped out towards the guards. There was a crackle of energy, the guards screamed and dropped to the floor – dead. 'Robert Sanford' was now glowing bright green and his sallow complexion had become downright cadaverous – rotting flesh hanging off his cheeks.
"We are the Rutan Host. Your world is ended."
Next Episode: HOLOCAUST