We followed Brigadier back to his makeshift H.Q. to find some of the men of the department arguing, arguing about what was really going on inside of the Manor.
"I tell you gentlemen", that the interference is definitely coming from the caves", the Doctor told the men.
"Exactly Doctor", Major Baker said as he walked into the room, "The center is being sabotaged."
I narrowed my eyes at Major as Brigadier said, "Major Baker, you are supposed to be in the sick bay", "I'm perfectly alright, thank you", the Major retorted as he entered the room.
"I propose we move down there in force", the Major told the Brigadier, "That, Major Baker, is precisely why we must not at the present time", the Doctor told him.
"I insist you take some positive action", the Major insisted.
"You want to attack them", I asked the man, "They attacked us", the Major argued back, "And you invaded", I said and then narrowed my eyes in confusion, was this place influencing my mind and I looked at the Doctor he seemed to know exactly what was going on.
"I don't know what's gotten into you Miss, but I insist we take action! As a solider- ", "I should decide what action to take and you, Major Baker, will return to sickbay and remain there 'til I send off you", Brigadier told him.
Suddenly the Major shouted in anger, "I will not", "That will be all, Major Baker. Captain Hawkins", Brigadier said as a young man with blonde hair approached.
"You will take Major Baker to the sick bay, and see that he remains there", Brigadier ordered sternly, "Sir", Captain Hawkins said as he saluted Brigadier and then proceeded to escort the Major out of the room.
"Do I now take it that you have arrested my security officer", the Director said as he entered the room just as the Captain and the Major had left.
"Major Baker isn't himself", Brigadier said, "I must say, Brigadier, that I am delighted that you didn't agree with him", the Doctor told him.
Just as the Doctor and I sighed in relief, Brigadier said, "But I do", and I sighed in frustration, Lethbridge-Stewart glanced between the two of us before continuing, "I attend to send more men in a full-scale search into those caves."
"Look if you give us more time- ", "I'm sorry Acacia, my mind is made up", Brigadier told me as he cut me off.
"I advise you to do your best to achieve some kind of results in the time available to you", the Director told Brigadier.
"So", Brigadier asked, "Monsters…the permanent Under Secretary is coming down here to conduct a personal investigation. Unless you can impress him more than you impressed me; you may find yourself transferred to some simpler duties, more within your scope", the Director told us.
I sat there angrily as Brigadier replied with," Director Lawrence, as I believe I have told you before- "he said as he dragged the Director out of the room and down the hall, well out of hearing range.
The Doctor stood there annoyed and adjusted his jacket, "Stupid bumbling idiots, the pair of them. Come on", the Doctor told me as I stood and followed him.
"Hopefully they'll change their mind", I said, "Yeah", the Doctor agreed just as we were stopped by Liz.
"Now where are the pair of you off to", Liz asked, "To see Doctor Quinn, we need to persuade them to trust us, before it is too late", the Doctor told her.
"Why her? She's eighteen Doctor, what if- ", "You worry too much my dear", the Doctor told her as he pulled me down the hall, as I gave Liz an apologetic look.
It was late at night when we walked up to the front door to Dr. Quinn's cottage, the Doctor didn't even knock when he opened the door.
"We're trespassing", I whispered alarmed and he hushed me as we ventured further in. "Doctor Quinn", I called, but there was still no answer; then we walked into his living room, sitting in a chair with his back towards us.
"Quinn", Doctor said much more calmly as he went around the chair to look at Dr. Quinn who appeared to be resting.
There was no answer, then the Doctor pressed two fingers against the man's neck to check his pulse; he then closed his eyes and lowered his hand…Doctor Quinn was dead.
My eyes widened in shock as the Doctor removed some sort of remote from Quinn's hand, but that couldn't be it…" What is that", I asked as I approached the Doctor.
He answered by pressing a button on the remote which then proceeded to make a beeping noise, "Some sort of signal device", he finally told me.
"A signal to what", I asked as I looked around cautiously, then I turned around and saw an alien standing right behind us.
I gasped, which the Doctor heard, glanced at me and then at the alien behind us; the Doctor tried to greet said alien but it just stood there glancing between the Doctor and I.
"Hello", the Doctor greeted and it said nothing, "Are you a Silurian", the Doctor asked and still it said nothing, the Silurian wore some sort of helmet so we couldn't exactly see what they looked like.
"Do you understand me", the Doctor asked and it they nodded, "Well, what do your people want", the Doctor asked.
"H-how can we help you", I hesitantly asked somewhat frightened, "How many are there of you", the Doctor asked and they didn't answer.
"Tell us what we can do", the Doctor asked as he tried reaching out to the Silurian, but as he did so the Silurian pushed the Doctor away and ran out of the house.
"No! Wait, wait", the Doctor yelled as the Silurian ran out, "Unless you Silurians tell us what you want, the humans will destroy you", the Doctor yelled towards the alien at the entrance of the house.
"They were frightened and so will the rest of them, when they find out", I said quietly and I heard the Doctor Sigh, "Did the Silurian frighten you", he asked as he turned around to face me, "Yes", I said honestly.
"It's a normal reaction to things you don't understand. I just hope either side doesn't act out aggressively", he told me, before he walked over to give me a hug which took me by surprise but I returned it.
The Doctor and I returned to H.Q. back at the manor, "Hello", Liz greeted us happily alongside the Brigadier, "Was Quinn of any help", she asked us.
Both she and the Brigadier noticed my solemn expression, "No, no I'm afraid not", the Doctor told her sadly.
"What's Doctor Quinn got to do with it", Brigadier asked, "Acacia what's wrong", Liz asked me quietly, but I remained silent, "Well, he was…well…is very interested in potholing, I thought his experience with caves might have been useful", the Doctor told them.
The Brigadier sighed in annoyance, "May I remind you Doctor, that your business here is to investigate power failures. Not to take Miss Wood here on field trips! Now, do you have any suggestions to make", Brigadier asked the Doctor angrily, as I looked at the Brigadier offended.
"Oh yes. That this establishment should be closed down completely", the Doctor told the Brigadier, "Not much chance of Director Lawrence agreeing to that, and a planned, cautious, scientific investigation of those caves. Not an invasion by a lot of big-booted soldiers."
"There are times, Doctor, when you sorely try my patience", the Brigadier told the Doctor before he left as I narrowed my brows, "And he sorely tries mine", I whispered annoyed.
Liz noticed something was wrong as both the Doctor and I remained silent, "What's wrong? Why are you both acting so strange? What happened when you saw Quinn", Liz asked us.
"Come and sit down", the Doctor said as both we all sat down around a desk. The Doctor sighed before telling Liz that Quinn was dead and had been murdered, "And you took Acacia with you", Liz asked the Doctor upset and sighed again as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"He was killed by a Silurian", I told her and Liz's eyes widened in shock, "A Silurian", she asked and the Doctor nodded.
"Probably the same creature that attacked you", the Doctor told her.
"You two saw it", she asked the Doctor and I, "I spoke to it and it understood me", the Doctor told her, "What was it like", she asked.
"Reptilian Biped, a completely alien species", the Doctor told her.
"And it didn't attack you? Either of you", Liz asked, "Liz, these creatures aren't just animals. They're an alien life form, as intelligent as we are", the Doctor said, "Why didn't you tell the Brigadier", Liz asked.
"Because we need to find out more about them", I told her, "And they're not really "hostile"."
"Acacia…it attacked me", Liz told me, "Yes, but only so it could escape, it didn't kill you", the Doctor told her, "It didn't attack us when we were in Quinn's cottage. Don't you see? They only attack for survival. Human beings behave in very much the same way", the Doctor told her before glancing at me, then looked back to Liz.
"What do we do now", Liz asked, "Well, I'm going back into those caves; to see what I can find out", the Doctor told us.
"We're not coming with you", I asked him, "No, it's too dangerous. I'll return", the Doctor said before he left. I scoffed and followed after him and Liz followed after me.
"What are you doing", the Doctor asked us, "What? No-", "Look either we come with you or…I'll go straight to the Brigadier", Liz told the Doctor, cutting him off. He then gave me a "you can't be serious expression", I shrugged before he sighed and agreed.
"Alright, you two, have your own way, but the fate be on your hands", he told us.
I just shook my head and placed my hands on my hips and Liz crossed her arms, "Here take a look at this", the Doctor told us, before showing us a map. "This is a map of the caves that Acacia and I found in Quinn's office", the Doctor told Liz and I narrowed my eyes at him, I don't remember seeing a map.
"And look here", the Doctor said as he placed the map down on the table so we could have a better look; he pointed to a traced route on the map. "He's marked a special route to the caves", the Doctor told us, "Where they are located", I asked, "Precisely", he answered.
After dressing ourselves in our potholing outfits, we made our way to the ladder, climbed down, and ventured back into the caves; following the map as we did so. It led us to an open area, "I think this is it, but I'm not sure", Doctor told us.
"Well, what about this way then", Liz asked pointing towards a tunnel that had a strange looking puddle.
"No…Quinn's marked a completely different route, look", the Doctor told her while showing Liz the map.
"Yes, but look", Liz told him pointing to a different entrance on the map, "That's far more direct."
"Yes…alright", the Doctor eventually agreed until my arms suddenly lifted on their own accord and I grabbed them both and they stopped in their tracks.
They looked back questioningly, then in concern as I wiped my nose as it bled; I noticed Liz's eyes had widened in fear as the Doctor picked up something.
"Look at that…a cartridge", the Doctor said and then sniffed it, "It's just been fired too." Liz walked over to a rock curiously and then picked up something that I couldn't see; when it was revealed it looked like a note pad and after opening it, she gave us a long sigh, "It's Baker's", she told us.
"We've got to find him", she told us suddenly before rushing towards the tunnel, before I grabbed her in alarm, "Liz, wait", I warned. She stopped to look at me, before the Doctor picked up a rock and tossed into the mysterious puddle; which turned out to be much deeper than we originally thought, and the rock was quickly dissolved.
"Oh no", Liz said sadly, "Yes, well…from now on I think we better stick rigidly to Quinn's route", the Doctor told us.
"Yes", "Okay", Liz and I said at the same time. "Come on", he told us, and we followed behind him.
The cave was so hot, Liz and I sighed, "What's the matter", the Doctor asked alarmed, "It's the heat", Liz told him.
"Yes, it's very odd", the Doctor told us seemingly unfazed by the rising temperature.
"I see you're unfazed", I told him bluntly, "Hm? Yes…well, I can tolerate more extreme temperatures then most", he told me as Liz and I continued to sweat, while he…did not.
It was getting hard to walk and Liz had wrapped her arm around me to keep me up, but even she struggled as well as I got more and more tired.
"Here, allow me", the Doctor said, before she handed me over to him; we walked towards a door as he held his hand at my hip and arm wrapped around his shoulders, much like how Liz was doing before, to keep me steadily walking. I cursed myself for being so weak and helpless…somehow the heat was making everything worse.
"Doctor look", Liz exclaimed, and he looked up at her as he sat me down, "It's a doorway", she told us finally noticing the door that I had already saw…or seen? Liz walked closer to the door to examine it.
"Yes, well anyone can see that; the question is: How do we open it", the Doctor asked.
"Doctor…a Silurian", I said almost delirious and my nose bled again as we all hid behind a rock. I wiped my nose of the blood and by now my sleeve was stained red…it looked pretty gross.
"You need to stop doing that", the Doctor warned me angrily, "Stop doing what", I asked confused and sleepily. He just shook his head and then we heard a beeping noise…like a signal. The door opened, and the Silurian went inside; we quickly walked towards the door.
"I can't understand why it didn't see us", the Doctor asked and gently shook me awake, "I'm up, I'm up", I said tired as I struggled to keep my eyes open.
Liz then tried touching the door, before she cried out in pain and pulled it away, "What's the matter", the Doctor asked, "Why is it so hot", Liz asked.
"Well, the Silurian's are reptilian you see; they've presumably created an environment inside that suits them", the Doctor told Liz, "I wonder how many there are", Liz asked.
"Shouldn't we find a way inside, instead of standing here in speculation", I questioned annoyed, "Right and there's only one way to find out, that's to go in there and see", the Doctor told us.
"Is that all", I said slightly amused and breathless.
I was about to sense the area, before the Doctor poked me on the forehead, I narrowed my eyes at him, before looking at him questioningly as he was narrowing his at me.
"What", I asked before Liz looked back at us confused and then after a long pause and no answer, Liz said, "We need one of those things to get in there and Doctor…she's turning pale", she told him.
"I know…and it's a good thing I have one right here", the Doctor said pulling out the same signaling device that the Silurian had.
"You just so happen to have one in your pocket", Liz asked him, "Just so happens I do, Quinn's", the Doctor said, then pointed it towards the door.
We quickly got up, went through the door, and walked down the hall, "Since you say the Silurian's are as intellectual as we are. Do you think they'll have medicine to help Acacia", Liz asked him.
"I hope so", the Doctor said worried. We glanced around a corner to see a couple of Silurian's working on some kind of…computer?
We hid, not wanting to alarm them as a Silurian exited the room rounded a corner and we were so lucky that it didn't see us. I breathed a sigh of relief as we ventured further down the hall. For a couple of rooms, we had to walk by it one at a time as to not alert the unsuspecting Silurian's.
"How long are you going to keep me in here", we heard a man yell, "They'll be coming after me you know!" As we took a closer look we found that the yelling man was Major Baker locked behind a force field.
"Baker", the Doctor exclaimed quietly and the Major silently ran over.
"How did you get in here? Where're the troops? And…what's wrong with her", Major Baker asked, saying the last question more pointing towards me.
"I'm sorry, but we're alone and... she's sick, we need to find some medicine", the Doctor told him.
"Well you've got to go back and tell the Brigadier", Major Baker told us.
"We can't, not without the medicine", the Doctor told him again, "Can we get you out of here", Liz asked Baker, "No, there's not a chance", Major told us as pointed towards the doorway, "There's some kind of electronic lock."
"Have they harmed you at all", the Doctor asked him, "No, they've just been asking a lot of questions", the Major replied.
"They can talk to you", the Doctor asked "Yes", Baker replied, "What did they ask", the Doctor asked, "The…population of the earth, what weapons we use, what food we eat…don't you see? They're gathering information for an invasion", Baker told us and I scoffed weakly.
"Do you think differently", Baker asked me, "I think they're just gathering information out of curiosity", I said and looked up to glare at Major Baker. Major Baker looked like he was thinking about it for a moment, before finally settling on glaring at me.
"Look, if they speak to you again co-operate with them a little, find out all you can about them", the Doctor told Baker. Then, all around us, we could hear a slow vibration and we hid as we watched a Silurian awake from a sleeping pod.
"What are they doing", Liz asked, "They're trying to revive a Silurian from some sort of deep hibernation. Maybe that explains the power losses in the research center…and a way to help Acacia", the Doctor told Liz, as we both stared wide eyed at him.
"How is that supposed to help", Liz asked, and the Doctor kept silent as he handed me over to Liz; he then snuck in and grabbed some sort of liquid and quietly snuck out again.
After pocketing the vial Liz handed me back to the Doctor, "Doctor", Baker whispered urgently and we all walked towards the force field again.
"Look, this is your chance to get moving", Baker told us, "We can't just leave you here", Liz whispered upset.
"Go on! Get out of here will you…you have your medicine. Go! Or we'll all be their prisoners", Baker whispered urgently.
"Alright, we'll come back for you as soon as we can", the Doctor told him.
"Fine", the Major said, "Good luck", the Doctor told him before we began walking back, but we stopped as Liz glanced inside of the computer room.
"Three of them are in there now, they're bound to see us", she told us. Then we walked back towards Baker's jail cell where he gave a confused look. The Doctor told the Major that our original exit was a no go with his hands and the Major thought for a moment before pointing towards another hallway. The Doctor pointed in that direction and looked at Baker in question, "Try", Baker whispered to him.
"Let's try this way", the Doctor said as he led us down another path, we made our way into the manor while passing a giant dinosaur along the way. Apparently, the Silurian's used it as some sort of watch dog, which was normal for them?
As we walked down the hall we could hear Dr. Lawrence yelling "His team?! What? You mean those two girls and that mad Doctor? The man's a raving lunatic and that girl that he's always keen to have with him is no better. They're insolent, they're impertinent, they show no respect for my authority!"
Gee I wonder why, I thought sarcastically as we walked back into the makeshift H.Q. room, "Dr. Lawrence, just the man I wanted to see", the Doctor said as he held me up.
Two men at the desk glanced up and looked at me in alarm, "Good lord, what happened to you", Dr. Lawrence asked, and I was too weak to sneer.
"Now tell me, have you had a power failure", the Doctor asked, and Dr. Lawrence nodded and said, "Yes, how did you know." "I see, thank you", the Doctor told him, before beginning to walk away.
"Just a minute, this is the permanent under-secretary", Dr. Lawrence told the Doctor, "Yes well, I've got no time to chat with Under-Secretaries, permanent or otherwise. I must find the Brigadier and take Miss Wood to the sick bay", the Doctor told him.
"May I ask who you are", the Under-Secretary asked, "You may ask", the Doctor told him cheekily and sarcastically with a bit of a smirk.
Suddenly Brigadier quickly walked into the room, "There you are", he told the Doctor and look worriedly at me, "Oh dear, what happened to you."
"I'm…sick", I told him groggily, "We need to get her to the sick bay", the Brigadier told the Doctor alarmed and then he noticed the Under-Secretary.
"I've been trying to get in contact with you sir. What's happening about my reinforcements", Brigadier asked the Under-Secretary, "That's one of the reasons why I'm here. I'm afraid I'm not going to send you any reinforcements", the man told the Brigadier whose eyes went wide in shock for a moment before he composed himself.
"Can I ask why not", Brigadier Lethbridge asked, "I can't go to the Minister of Defense and request a regular army support for you based on a wild tale about "monsters in caves"", the Under-Secretary told the Brigadier.
"Sir, we have overwhelming evidence that there is something in those caves", Brigadier tried to explain.
"Do you mean the "Saboteurs", the Under-Secretary asked with a lifted brow, "I don't know, but the caves are vast. To cover them properly…I need more men", Brigadier told him.
"I'm sorry, that is out of the question", the Under-Secretary told the Brigadier and I sighed.
"Then I'll have to go in with the troops that I have", the Brigadier said before walking away.
"Brigadier", the Doctor called, and he stopped to look back at the Doctor, "You are not to take your men into those caves...I've been down there, and I know what's happening", the Doctor told the Brigadier as I looked up at the Doctor in confusion.
"Well, if you do, perhaps you'd be good enough to tell us", the Under-Secretary asked as the Doctor handed me over to Liz as well as the vial he held in his pocket. He nodded towards Liz and she took me to the sick bay as an explanation of what was happening from the Doctor could be heard down the hall.
I laid on the bed and Liz covered me in a blanket before grabbing a shot from a drawer, she soaked up the liquid from the vial using the shot, and stuck the needle in my wrist before pushing the liquid in. I could fill the liquid running down my blood stream and my eyes slowly drifting close as I went to sleep.
After a while I could hear someone enter the room, the Doctor whispered in my ear that, "I will return", and he was gone.
"This planet is ours, always has been", "I just want to help!" I heard voices echo in my mind, but they seemed to be so far away. What is going on, I thought in confusion, what am I hearing…why am I hearing them?
A while later I could hear the Doctor's voice, "Have you seen the humans? Spoken to them?" "I have destroyed them and now I shall destroy you", was that a Silurian I wondered in panic.
I felt pain, "NO", I screamed in my mind, then the pain subsided. What the hell is going on?!