"Those creatures out there have been designed using DNA fragments from different terrestrial animals. Look here? That is from a komodo dragon," the Doctor informed Josh. "I suppose that might explain their general body shape, but this section of DNA? It's from some sort of annelid."
"A worm?" Josh checked.
"Yes, it's a worm. Why would they include worm DNA?"
"Don't worms grow fast? And they can regenerate. Maybe that's what it's for so they grow quickly and have good regenerative powers."
"Perhaps, it's certainly possible, but you do know that it's a myth that if you cut a worm in half that you get two worms."
"Yeah, I know that, but if you cut a worm in half and you don't damage the heart then the end that the heart is in can regrow a tail, and, some lizards can regrow their tails can't they? They actually break them off deliberately if they're under attack so their attacker eats their tail and they can run away, and zebra fish, they have regenerative properties too. They have looked at their DNA to see if they can use it to help in medicine," Josh told the Doctor.
"Whoever created these animals seems to have known at least some of that," the Doctor commented. "There is canine DNA here, not your usual dog, but hyena? It's like a Frankenstein's monster made with different segments of DNA all stitched together, but look at this?" The Doctor pointed out a section of the DNA where the codes were jumbled and there were gaps. "This is all jumbled up and there are sections missing and it looks like there are repeats in here too. It doesn't correspond to any known animal on Earth. It is likely that this egg wouldn't have been able to develop and if it had that the animal would have been a genetic mess. One of the men at the slaughterhouse said that the most recent batch of animals were different. He said they were bigger and meaner and a bit madder. Maybe they are? Maybe something is going wrong in the lab, or, maybe it's because they are breeding. I don't suppose they ever expected them to be able to reproduce. All the codes for these different animals glued together? It won't take long for their DNA to destabilise completely. One or two generations at the most," the Doctor stated.
"So, they're going to die out anyway?" Josh asked.
"Probably, yes, unless they are refreshing their stock from a laboratory as well as the animals that are breeding. We need to put a stop to this. We need to figure out how to contain the animals that are in there. Get to the bottom of where they are being created and stop that. Find out how they have gotten hold of the technology to create such genetic anomalies in the first place, and find out who it is that is coordinating and managing the illegal disposal of animal waste."
"You're going to do all of that on your own?" Josh checked with him.
"Me? No," the Doctor stated. "They're not alien. I can't take them anywhere and they're not biologically valid. They're even more dangerous than we realised because they've got all those competing instincts raging within them. They've survived so far, but if this egg is anything to go by, they're not going to for long and they're probably suffering. I'm going to call UNIT in. I'll help if they need me to, but it's humans doing this using alien technologies and that is UNIT's domain."
"And you reckon you can just phone them and they will believe you?"
"Yep."
"I bet they won't even talk to you," Josh challenged and the Doctor laughed.
"I've got my own direct line straight through," the Doctor boasted slightly. "I'll prove it to you. Have you got a phone? You're 14. You must have a phone."
"I have a phone but I took the battery out of it in case they tried to track me with it," Josh told the Doctor.
"They won't be able to trace you in here," the Doctor assured him. He handed Josh his rucksack and the Doctor sunk into the chair for a while. He watched as Josh lifted a piece of tape that was across the top of the zips. It showed him that no one had opened it. The Doctor was relieved he'd not gone through his bag while he was under sedation because he'd not noticed it before. The boy was protective and the Doctor understood that, but he worried he was bordering on being paranoid about everything. Josh got his phone out. It was sealed in a zip-lock plastic bag. He took it out and put the battery back in it and then turned it on.
"Okay, I want you to dial this number," the Doctor informed him. "Then you're going to get through to a series of voice message options. Each time one starts press the hash key and say Code 9 out loud into the phone at the same time," the Doctor instructed.
"Um, the battery has only got 5% charge," Josh admitted when he looked at his phone. "Do you have a charger?" The Doctor got his sonic screwdriver. He used it on the phone and the battery was immediately at 100%. Josh looked at him surprised that he could do that and the Doctor winked.
"Ready?" he checked with the teenager. "Dial this number then. 009009009."
"That's not a phone number."
"Just dial it," the Doctor instructed. Josh did. He put the phone to his ear. A recorded message started and Josh selected the hash key and said 'Code 9'. He had to do it five times before a person answered the phone.
"You are through to UNIT. This is Major Magumbo. You are reporting a Code 9 incursion. Is that correct?"
"Um? I'm not sure what a Code 9 is," Josh admitted and the Doctor took the phone from him. He put it on speaker so that Josh could still hear the conversation but put his finger to his lips indicating the boy should now stay quiet.
"This is the Code 9," the Doctor informed her. "To whom am I speaking?"
"Major Magumbo. Hello Doctor," Major Magumbo commented.
"Major. I am pleased to make your acquaintance," the Doctor stated formally.
"Understood," the Major acknowledged. Code 9 protocol was for the Doctor to introduce himself formally if he was not familiar with the person he was talking to. Major Magumbo would now know that he didn't know who she was so anything they had experienced together was later in the Doctor's time line than he was. "What can I do for you, Doctor? Are you on Earth?"
"I am," the Doctor confirmed. "I'm in Yorkshire."
"Yorkshire?"
"Yes, I know, I was surprised to find myself here too. I am going to forward you some coordinates. There is a population of genetically engineered creatures living in the storm drains and cave system in this entire area. They aren't alien, but the technology to create them is far too advanced to be contemporary. The creatures are a mix of terrestrial species and the DNA has been spliced. They have already killed several people and they are being utilised by a group operating some sort of illegal slaughterhouse. They are disposing of carcasses by feeding them to these animals. They are delivering pig carcasses infected with swine flu at some point tomorrow. I have the creatures contained underground at present so they pose less of a danger, but they need to be dealt with humanely, and you need to track down the slaughterhouse operation and the lab where the animals have been created," the Doctor informed her. "How soon can you get your teams here?"
"We have a satellite office in Leeds. They can be with you inside an hour. A full team can be with you within three hours."
"Excellent."
"You said people have been killed. Is anyone hurt? Do you need a medical team?" Major Magumbo asked. The Doctor looked at Josh but he shook his head.
"No one here needs any medical assistance at the moment," the Doctor informed her. "However, you need to be fully prepared. The creatures are widespread. They are fast and they attack with precision. You need to ensure your troops are fully equipped to deal with that and that you do have a fully equipped medical team available on site should anything happen. I have seen people ripped open and with their limbs ripped clean away from their bodies. This is not something that can be taken lightly. You need to ensure all your teams are equipped with body armour and stab vests at the very minimum and while we always hope that medical support will not be required, it would be remiss not to ensure you have a fully operational field base including full medical capabilities."
"Yes Sir."
"Will you be attending in person, Major?"
"I am responsible for all Code 9 interventions."
"In that case it will be nice to meet you, and, for you to see me again I'm sure."
"It will be, yes, Sir."
"And, don't call me Sir."
"Doctor, as I have told you before, I will mark my respect and continue to call you Sir and I will continue to salute you whether you like it or not."
"I see," the Doctor stated and then smiled. "See you soon Major."
"I look forward to it, Doctor." The Doctor ended the call and sent the coordinates through to her. He then tossed the phone back to Josh. "I told you they'd believe me."
"What's a Code 9?"
"I'm a Code 9," the Doctor stated. "I have a long history with UNIT. I used to work for them. Now our paths cross every now and then and we have an understanding. It's going to be an hour before the first UNIT team arrive and then it's probably going to be a busy day. Do you want something to eat or drink?"
"Could I have another one of those sandwiches?" Josh asked him. "I thought it would be disgusting but it was good."
"Banana and peanut butter?" the Doctor checked. "How could that possibly be disgusting? Are you sure you just want water to drink? I've got tea, hot chocolate, and probably some orange juice. When UNIT get here I can send one of them to stock up on fizzy pop if that is what you prefer."
"You can't send a soldier shopping for you!"
"Why not? I need to stock up and I hate shopping. Rose would normally go, but her mother is sick so she's looking after her. What do you say? If you don't like tea would you prefer hot chocolate or orange?"
"Can I have hot chocolate?"
"Of course."