9.
Like the other pair, the Doctor and Jo had spread apart, her covering the area nearest the building while he scanned over the assorted small sheds, boxes and piles of whatnot that were along the back wall.
They met one sentry near the munitions storage, who gave a greeting but hadn't seen anything unusual, then moved on around the corner towards the mechanics' sheds. There was nothing moving to be seen, only a small aircraft that droned overhead on its way to the airport. Nearing the end of the stretch, Jo signalled all clear from her half and the Doctor responded in like. Up ahead they could just make out the other night sentry, who seemed to be looking the other way.
He gestured to her and together they slipped into the sheds, though he briefly extended an arm back out and pointed his 'alien detecting' device towards the sentry. Nothing.
"He doesn't look like he's hurt anyway," Jo whispered.
"True." He went deeper into the mechanic's shed, holding the tiny yellow light out in front of him like an ineffective torch. After a pause to listen, he began to quietly work his way around the back of the assorted vehicles.
She tip-toed after him. "You know, I never thought I'd say it, but I'm really glad Benton shot you. It makes finding this thing easier."
"You could have put that differently."
They finished the main bay and slipped through the door that separated it from the smaller one. This one they knew well as it included Bessie. The Doctor held up a hand and Jo froze. The light had changed to green. He panned around, then indicated the back wall of the building. It had to be on the other side.
Jo gave an inquisitive look and walked her fingers in the air to indicate their going around. The Doctor considered it, then shook his head and mimed something else.
---
"If you weren't such a good officer, I'd boot you out for being a damn fool," the Brigadier grumbled to Yates as they walked. "At least Benton had the good sense to shoot the blasted thing, even if it did look like the Doctor. Not that there aren't times I haven't wanted to shoot him myself…" he paused to peer more closely at a person-sized lump, but it was only a gas meter. Yates, feeling thoroughly chagrined and humiliated, had already known it was the meter, but had the good sense not to point this out..
"Pull up your shirt," Benton ordered the sentry he'd encountered. The man gave him a strange look, but in the face of the Sergeant's no-nonsense tone, he obediently pulled his jacket aside, untucking his shirt. The Sergeant prodded his ribs suspiciously, then let him go.
"You're to stop anyone who seems even remotely wounded. Anyone, I don't care if it's the Brigadier, the milk-man or the Queen. You understand? Good man." He stalked off into the darkness, leaving the baffled sentry behind.
They finished the car park and the side of the main building. The Brigadier signalled to Benton, who came over to join them. "We should've met up with the Doctor by now," he noted. "Could be something's gone wrong. Be on the alert."
"Yes sir," Benton agreed. "Do you think that thing could've turned into something that climbs walls?"
Yates shook his head. "If it could climb walls or just fly off, wouldn't it have done that in the first place?"
There was a burst of noise around the corner. They all immediately ran, automatically checking their fire-arms, though only the Brigadier had one.
"Ah!" he said as they rounded the corner. "Well done."
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