Upon arriving at the plastic factory, I couldn't help but feel an eery vibe coming from the place. We walked in and were greeted by a woman who had been expecting us, then she led us through the factory. I watched her suspiciously as we passed by large machinery that creaked and hissed, the machines radiated heat but I still shivered by the creepiness of it all.
Then the woman walked up a set of stairs at the back of the factory and we followed her as she went down a hall on the second floor then stopped at a door. The woman walked in as Brigadier looked through a foggy see through door that was across the hall.
"Something the matter", I asked and the Brigadier shook his head as the woman came out again.
She walked away and we looked at her questioningly as she left the door open, we figured it was okay to go in…so we did closing the door behind us. When we did, we saw a man sitting behind a desk at he watched us intently as we all stood in front of his desk. The man stood and shook our hands as he told us his name was Mr. Hibbert, then asked us why we were in his factory. After Brigadier, had explained to what had happened, and why we needed to investigate the plastic factory; Mr. Hibbert narrowed his brows at us and smiled like we were crazy.
"What an extraordinary story", Mr. Hibbert told Brigadier, leaning back in his chair, "What would make the man say such a thing."
"We have to check in on it, no matter how extraordinary it may be", Brigadier told Mr. Hibbert.
"I'd would like to have him tell me that instead", the other man said amused, "He was coming with us, but unfortunately…he disappeared", Liz told Mr. Hibbert.
I stood there, hands on my hips and remained silent, as I looked suspiciously at Mr. Hibbert and then he sighed.
"He was a brillant man in many ways", he told us, "Then why did you dismiss him", Liz asked.
"He had some…scheme…for making electronic dolls. The design was quite impractical", Mr. Hibbert told us, I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms…I had to remember this was a different time…probably where electronic dolls were of heard of, at least not yet.
"He was very unpleasant when I turned him down", Mr. Hibbert told us, that was strange…from what I saw he seemed a bit nervous, but all in all quite polite.
"So, you feel he told us this story just to cause you trouble", Brigadier asked, "I'm afraid so", the man replied, "It must have been praying on his mind."
"What exactly are you making here", the Doctor asked, "Plastic dolls of course", Mr. Hibbert answered, "But our new line is display…mannequins for shops. We send them all over the country."
"And can these mannequins actually move", the Doctor asked, "Well, they're flexible…of course. That's why we've captured the market, but I can assure you, they can't move on their own", Mr. Hibbert said amused.
"So Ransome may have been simply causing trouble", Brigadier asked, "I can't think of another explanation", Mr. Hibbert said sheepishly and I narrowed my eyes, he was lying.
"Yes well, I think we've got seen all we can possibly see here", the Doctor said glancing around the room and at the rest of us.
"I'm sorry we've been a nuisance", the Doctor told the man, "Not at all. I'll see you out", Mr. Hibbert told him.
We left the building and headed straight back to the Unit Headquarters as Brigadier told Liz how he saw a man behind a window, someone of which he recognized from a photograph. Back in the laboratory, the Doctor was connecting cords and wires to the sphere we had found, to try and get readings off of it.
I overheard Brigadier telling Liz, if he could get permission, that if he could a whole squad out there they could surround and raid the factory.
My brows raised at the thought, that could end disastrous if not handled properly, "Seems like they're getting along", the Doctor told me and I hummed as he called them over.
"Look at this", Doctor said as he showed us the readings to the sphere that had printed out, "Have you found something", Liz asked, "What does it do", Brigadier asked as well.
"It measures brain activity", the Doctor told us, "It's alive", I asked, "Yes…well the subconscious inside, "What about the outer shell", I asked the Doctor, "Just an outer shell to protect it", he told me.
"I wonder whether we can communicate with it", the Doctor thought out loud, then the intercom on nearby desk buzzed.
Brigadier pressed the button on the machine and answered it, "Yes", he said, the released it to let the other person speak.
"Your call from general Scobie, Sir", a man said, "Good", Brigadier replied and went picked up the phone that sat next to the intercom.
The Doctor then began examining the sphere even closer and when the Brigadier was done talking on the phone, he walked over and asked what the Doctor was doing.
The Doctor narrowed his eyes, "What is it", I asked, "Well, it appears that in there we have what one might loosely call a brain. Fifty megacycles, Liz", the Doctor said and Liz sent an electrical current through the sphere.
"If we can establish a frequency on which it operates", the Doctor said and the machine that Liz was working on gave a light explosion.
I jumped back in surprise, then we all came forward to take a closer look at the machine, "We overloaded the circuits, I think" the Doctor told us, and I lifted a brow at him.
"Doctor, you were saying this is some kind of brain", Brigadier asked, "Yeah, or part of a brain…an intelligence? Yes, that's probably hitting the mark", the Doctor told us", Sending signals.
"Where to", Brigadier asked, "The rest of itself, surely", Doctor answered, "The other globes that came down", Liz asked.
"All part of one brain…or intelligence as the Doctor said", I commented and the Doctor nodded, "They're…all part of one entity", Liz asked shaking her head unsure.
"Can it see us", Brigadier asked a little uncomfortable, "My dear fellow, it's not sentient", the Doctor told him, "No, our measurements prove there's no physical substance inside it", Liz told the Brigadier.
"But, if it has no physical form…- ", "No, once here it can presumably create a…suitable shell for itself. Otherwise there would be no point in coming", the Doctor told us, cutting off the Brigadier.
"The mannequins", I said, "There ones at the plastic factory", Liz added, "Yes", the Doctor agreed looking between us both.
Then the intercom buzzed, the call was from General Scobie again; which confused me, but why? Brigadier was telling the General, once he had the authority he would send his men in, however I overheard the General disagreeing with the plan and then hung up. Brigadier seemed confused as well, as he hung up.
"What are you going to do now", Liz asked, "There's not much I can do, except go over his head…yes, I'll get on to the Home Security and if I don't get him to revoke the order; I'll go to Unit Headquarters in Geneva", Brigadier told us and my eyes widened, as I smiled in disbelief.
"That's going to take some time", the Doctor told him, "Time we probably don't have", I added, "Is there any time, you don't agree with the Doctor", Brigadier asked me. I lifted a brow at him, obviously, he was referring to a future me, which I did not appreciate in the slightest.
"I "agree", when he's right", I told the Brigadier crossed and he just sighed at me.
"The old fool", Brigadier said and I raised my eyebrows, placing my hands on my hips, he's unbelievable I thought.
"I beg your pardon", the Doctor said, "Not you…I mean the General, just because he feels flattered they made him facsimile of him", Brigadier said.
"Facsimile", I heard the Doctor whisper and looked over at him, "Of General Scobie", the Doctor asked the Brigadier.
"A plastic replica, yes", Brigadier confirmed, "Apparently, they make these things for Madame Tussouds. It's one of their sidelines."
"Oh, my goodness", the Doctor said and looked at all of us, "The Wax Works", my eyes widened as it clicked.
The Doctor took Liz and I to the Wax Works, where wax and plastic figures of celebrities where set up for people to view. We walked into one of the rooms as the Doctor told us, that he thought we were in the right room.
"Liz do you recognize any of these people", the Doctor asked her, "Yes of course", she replied.
"I think all of that group are civil servants…that's odd..." she said as she walked up to them, "They're all government types…"
"All of them", I asked her as I looked around, "Yes, there are no astronauts, famous personalities, you know people like that…" Liz commented.
"Yeah…excuse me" the Doctor asked an older man just as he was passing by, "Yes, sir", the man replied.
"Am I right to assume these figures are wax, correct", the Doctor asked him. "Yes, that's correct, sir", the man told him, "These are plastic, an entirely new process."
My eyes widened at that, "Are they supplying anymore or is the tableau complete now", the Doctor asked the man.
"They're coming in with them all the time, sir. They brought that fellow in just this morning", the man told the Doctor, pointing to one of the figures on the stage.
When I looked at the figure, it felt like I was struck in the head, I winced and placed a hand on my forehead as my head ached. Then I felt liquid run down my nose and tried to quickly cover it, before anyone saw.
Apparently, I was quick enough as the Doctor gave me a handkerchief from his pocket, "General Scobie", Liz exclaimed once she saw the figure as well, as I pretended to be sick wiping my nose.
The Doctor reached out his hand and I assumed he wanted the handkerchief as I folded it and placed it in his hand. He glanced at his hand before sighing and pocketed it, then gently grabbed my wrist to check my pulse, "That was quick, when did he visit the factory", the Doctor asked the man, as he gave us a puzzled look.
"Yesterday afternoon", Liz replied and the Doctor patted my hand before he released it to go examine the plastic figure on stage.
I lifted a brow as he glanced around at the figure, then turned his ear towards it as if listening for something, "What are you doing", Liz asked and the Doctor shushed her. It wasn't until I saw the General's watch around his wrist, that I heard the ticking and everything drowned out as the ticking got louder and louder.
"Look", the Doctor said and I shook my head, shaking off the feeling, as I glanced at the Doctor. Liz gave me a confused glance and I pointed at the General's wrist with my eyes and then looked directly at it, before she followed my line of sight.
I heard a light gasp as she saw it, when the Doctor lifted the plastic General's sleeve to reveal that he wore a working wrist watch.
The Doctor pulled the sleeve back down and walked over to us, "If you were making a model of someone, would you put a real wristwatch on it", the Doctor asked us.
"Well, I might do it if it had to look authentic", Liz told him, "Yes, but would you go to the trouble of winding it up, keeping it at the correct time", the Doctor asked her.
"We may need to speak to the Brigadier about this", I said, "Agreed", the Doctor said as we walked into the hall, so he could call Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart.
However, as it turned out he wasn't there, "Trying to see the Home Security, I gather", the Doctor said as he spoke to someone else, "Well, when he comes in. tell him I'll call him later, will you? Goodbye", the Doctor said and then hung up.
I sighed, "Now what do we do", Liz asked, "Well, there's only one thing we can do…we wait", the Doctor told her, "Wait for what", I asked, "Closing time", he told me, with a smile.
One by one, we took turns to hide behind a curtain inside of the room with all the plastic government officials. Then at closing time, the guard came in and turned off all the lights and I was glad we found some flashlights in a nearby storage closet. Liz and I followed the Doctor out from behind the curtain, if there was someone watching us…they probably would've thought it was kind of strange if they saw us duck in behind the curtain.
I blushed at the embarrassing thought as I looked around with my flashlight, "I don't like this", I heard Liz say and looked over at her, before looking around again.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, they're only dummies…I think", the Doctor told us, "Oh well, that makes us feel a whole lot better", I said sarcastically as my hands shook, looking at the different realistic looking plastic figures.
"It's funny how they're eyes seem to follow you", the Doctor added and I glared at him, before looking back at a statue flashing a light in its face.
I felt my blood run cold and quickly looked away, "Yeah", I said quietly, before I quickly walked closer to the pair.
"Doctor", Liz said quietly, but he ignored her as we stepped up to the plastic government official's stage.
After a moment, I said, "Doctor", confused at what he was looking at, then Liz backed up into us as she glanced around frantically.
"Doctor, Acacia", she said frightened, "What is it", "Hmm", the Doctor and I said at the same time.
"I thought I heard something", she said, turning around to face us, "No, it's only your imagination", the Doctor told her as I scanned the room to make sure.
"Are they plastic", Liz asked, "Yes, yes, I'm sure they are", the Doctor replied, "What about the watch", I asked, "Yes, when you talked about the watch. You meant this is the real General Scobie", Liz added.
"Yes, and his plastic facsimile is walking around somewhere. Now just-", "Someone's coming", Liz said suddenly, cutting off the Doctor, sounding alarmed.
"Quick! Back behind the curtain", the Doctor told us and we did just that, turning off our flashlight just as we heard a door open.
"What's wrong", we heard Mr. Hibbert say, "There is an alien…or two lifeforms somewhere near. I can sense it", we heard another man say. The Doctor glanced at me, before looking away…alien…was he talking about me?
"There's only you and me here, and the facsimiles…and Scobie", Mr. Hibbert told the other man, "Scobie, yes…but who is the other one", the other man asked and the Doctor was quick to grab my hand, then he closed his eyes.
"…It's gone…it's faded…", the other man said sounding confused and I narrowed my eyes in confusion as I looked at the Doctor.
"What do you have to do to activate them", Mr. Hibbert asked suddenly, "Nothing, they know it's time", the other man said and then we heard multiple footsteps walk away. The figures, quite literally, came to life and walked away I thought as my heartbeat quickened in fear. The Doctor began rubbing his thumb against my knuckles trying to calm me down, was my heart beating that loud I wondered.
"Where are they going", Mr. Hibbert asked, "To take their places. It is timefor them to begin their work", the other man replied, then we heard the door closed and we could only assume they had left. Walking out from behind the curtain, we noticed the entire stage that was filled with government officials were completely gone, save for the General.
"What are you doing here", we heard Mr. Hibbert ask from behind us, and I jumped in fright, "You shouldn't…Channing will…" Mr Hibbert began to say before the Doctor shushed him, letting go of my hand, and walked up to him.
Mr. Hibbert's voice slowed until it completely stopped, "If you tell Channing we're here, the Autons will kill us, as I think your friend Ransom", the Doctor told him quietly.
Mr. Hibbert began to rub the back of his neck as the Doctor said that, he continued to do so as he said, "Ransom? I had to dismiss him…because Channing…Channing said- ", "Channing is controlling your mind. You must resist him", the Doctor told him, cutting him off.
"Channing is your enemy, the enemy to the entire human race", the Doctor told him and Mr. Hibbert seemed like he was not quite listening. Whatever control Channing had on Mr. Hibbert seemed to have affected his mind severely, where he couldn't think for himself.
"Channing is my partner…new policy..." Mr. Hibbert said and then trailed off as I slowly walked up next to the Doctor, worried for Mr. Hibbert.
"Now, listen to me Mr. Hibbert, you've got to get away from Channing. Get away and think. Now come to Unit, we can help you", the Doctor told the man, and the man just shook his head.
"Mr. Hibbert...Channing is using you, manipulating you, he's making you think how he wants you to. He's a bad man and you need to get away from him", I told Mr. Hibbert and he seemed to be somewhat listening now, at least until we heard Channing call for Mr. Hibbert out in the hall.
The three of us were quick to go and hide behind the curtain, just as Channing walked in, "What are you doing", Channing asked Mr. Hibbert, "I was just checking", Mr. Hibbert replied and the Doctor held my hand, for whatever reason…this seemed to make Channing sense that I wasn't there.
"Hmm…there's nothing to check. We are finished here", Channing said and they left.
It was late at night when we got back to the Unit Base, and we went straight to Brigadiers office, "It's the facsimiles Brigadier, their moving", the Doctor told him outright as soon as we walked into his office.
"They've just let the Wax Works", I added, "You've got to act quickly, Brigadier, or else by tomorrow- ", "By tomorrow, they will have taken over the key positions in the entire country. You've got to move against the factory now", the Doctor told the Brigadier, cutting off Liz.
"Alright…but I have one question", Brigadier asked, "What is it", the Doctor asked impatiently, "Why are your hands joined", the Brigadier as the Doctor and I, we immediately released our hands.
I crossed my arms and blushed embarrassed, "I can't explain right now", the Doctor told the Brigadier, "Can't? Or won't", the other man asked the Doctor.
"We don't have time for you two to spat, we need to get going", I told them and Brigadier sighed, then nodded.
Before we left, Brigadier had told me he had forgiven me about taking the key without his permission and somehow, he seemed sad while telling me this. I didn't want to read much into it, so I simply nodded my head and walked away. I wondering what happened to cause the Brigadier to act this way…I mean I had an idea, but it hard to imagine.
"You'll figure it out later", the Doctor answered my unspoken question and I raised my brows at him, "Did you just- ", "You're easy to read", the Doctor said, cutting me off and then smiled, before walking away…that's strange…for a moment I thought he read my mind. Liz, the Doctor, and I walked down the hall and then entered the laboratory only to find out that the sphere had been stolen. We all sighed and then went straight to work.
It was about five-thirty in the morning and we were working on a machine, that took all night to build, now we just had to connect a couple of wires to it.
"It's half past five…can't we take a break. I can hardly keep my eyes open", Liz complained, "And…a red…here it is", the Doctor said, reaching beneath the desk to pull one out and showed it us.
The he handed the red wire to Liz and then handed us some more, "Hold these for a moment, will you", the Doctor told us.
"Just think the rest of the world is fast asleep", Liz said and yawned, "When was the last time you slept", she asked me, "A couple of days ago", I told her, as I was a little more awake then she was.
"Really? Do you drink coffee", she asked me. "No…I just haven't been that tired recently and…I don't like coffee", I said glancing over at her, then back at the wires in my hands before I dropped them.
Brigadier came into the room and then the phone rang, he answered and there was a lot of screaming going on the other end.
"Did you call the policeman? The military? Well keep trying", Brigadier said over the phone and then hung up.
"It's started hasn't it", the Doctor asked, "Yes…all over the country, window dummies coming alive, attacking police stations, communication centers…", Brigadier told him as he was stressing out.
Then Liz started banging on the radio and I looked over at her questioningly, "The radio is dead too", she told us, "And banging on it…will make it work", I asked sarcastically.
"It does sometimes", she told me, "Now look, we haven't got much time", the Doctor said, grabbing the wires out of my hands so he could put it in the machine.
"Well, now that the globe has gone, we can't be sure if this is going to work", Liz told him, "Of course it will work", the Doctor retorted.
"What is it", Brigadier asked confused, "It's a weapon", I told him.
"Yes, well…I'm trying to devise a weapon that we can use against them. Well, it's not very efficient…I know, but it's the best that I can do. And then you've got to take me to the security area of the factory", the Doctor told him.
"I'm coming with you", I told the Doctor, "No", both Brigadier and the Doctor shouted and I was stunned as I glanced between the two of them.
"Look…if it's going to be dangerous I….I want to help", I said, "It's going to be dangerous, which is why I'm going in alone and that's final", the Doctor told me before I could say anything.
"How am I supposed to get you inside? I can't even contact my support platoons", Brigadier said to the Doctor.
"Well, how many can you raise", the Doctor asked him, "Just my quarter staff", Brigadier replied.
The Doctor sighed at that, "Well then…that'll have to do, won't it", the Doctor said, then he took his machine as the Brigadier called his men forward.
"Doctor", I called as I ran up to them as they were getting their stuff ready outside, he turned around to look at me.
"Why can't I go", I asked as I watched Liz get into the van, I supposed they needed her help because she was a scientist. The Doctor was silent for a moment before he sighed and hugged me, which confused me. Before I could contemplate he was soon gone with Liz, Brigadier, and the soldiers that were in Unit base.
Once they were gone, it wasn't long before I stole a vehicle and left for the factory, I was going to make sure nobody died. I snuck to the back entrance until I fell on my knees, feeling something invisible strangle me. I tried pulling at whatever what was on my neck, only to find out nothing was actually there. Suddenly, whatever held my throat released me and I held it as I massaged it; I was coughing and gasping for air.
I had a bad feeling about this, so I ran through the factory and entered through the door that said, "No entry." Upon entering and going into the room, I saw the Doctor lying down next to a strange machine covered in ashes. The Doctor glanced over at me as I leaned against the wall, rubbing my throat and I was glad he was okay.
"You can switch it off now, I think Liz", the Doctor said, and I heard a switch, just as Liz appeared from behind another wall; he eyes widened in surprise as soon as she saw me.
I slowly walked in to see a mannequin oozing from the eyes on the floor, "Channing" Liz told me and glanced at her in surprise, before looking back at the mannequin. The Doctor got up, then walked up to me seemingly disappointed at me before he hugged me and…I was confused by this.
When we returned to Unit, the Brigadier lifted a brow knowingly once he saw me with the Doctor and Liz, "Why am I not surprised", he said and then walked up to the machine, the Doctor sat on the table. "So, what is this machine? Because whatever you did, destroyed those creatures", Brigadier told the Doctor.
"Basically it's the same as an ECT machine", Liz told him and he looked at her questioningly, "Electric Convulsion Therapy", she explained and I cringed at that.
"Only more powerful of course", the Doctor told him and I rubbed my arms uncomfortably, I had to keep reminding myself that it was a different time…I was glad electrical therapy was banned in my time, but the thought of it here and now…sort of here and now…I was not okay with tortuous methods of "therapy."
"Well, it worked Doctor, these Nestenes…will they try again", Brigadier asked the Doctor, "Possibly….they're telepathic, so they certainly know what happened", the Doctor told him and I sighed.
"So…there's a possibility that we might", I asked the Doctor who nodded.
"If they do decide to launch a second attack. I hope we can count on you again", Brigadier told the Doctor.
"Yes, well…before we go into that, Brigadier…I think we must discuss terms", the Doctor said, "Terms", Brigadier asked narrowing his eyebrows in confusion.
"Yes, after all you do want to take advantage of our services again, don't you", the Doctor asked him.
""Our"", Brigadier asked, quoting him, "Yes, "our"; now listen her you-", "I think you'll find the salary quite adequate", Brigadier said, cutting off the Doctor. I lifted a brow, everybody just loves cutting the other off around here don't they?
"Money? My dear chap, we don't need money. We've got no use for the stuff", the Doctor told him, "Then what do you want", Brigadier asked.
"Well, facilities to repair the Tardis, laboratory, equipment-", "Help from Liz, a place to sleep and relax", I added, cutting off the Doctor. "Ah, yes…help from Liz and.." the Doctor glanced over at me questioningly at the last part and I shrugged, I had no place to sleep and unlike the Doctor I actually needed to sleep.
"Very well, anything else you need, within reason of course", Brigadier asked us, "Is that all", and the Doctor shook his head somewhat amused.
"My goodness no, don't you realize that when we were stranded on this little planet of yours, we had these clothes that…oh, my goodness", the Doctor said and then covered his face.
I was confused at first, at least until I actually thought about where we actually got our clothes from and my eyes widened as I blushed at the prospect, "What is it", Liz asked us.
"I've just realized that we don't actually own these clothes, we've borrowed them from the hospital. And there's that car too", the Doctor told them.
"You mean we stole them", I said as I rubbed my forehead and the Doctor hushed me.
"You know, I took that car because it had character", the Doctor said quietly, "No, Doctor that car must be returned to its owner", Brigadier told him.
"Must it? Yes…yes, I suppose it must…still there's no reason why you couldn't find something similar is there? I mean...it could persuade me to stay you know", the Doctor said and I place my hands on my hips lifting a brow at the Doctor.
I shook my head and smiled amused as I watched the two of them, "Very well", Brigadier told him, "Good, when can we go get it", the Doctor asked impatiently.
"Not yet, I must arrange for a full set of paper work first. By the way, I've just realized, I don't even know your name", Brigadier said to the Doctor.
"Smith. Doctor John Smith and my associate Acacia Wood", the Doctor told him and then winked at me knowingly.