Chapter Fifteen
The main science bay was a scene of total chaos. Technicians and scientist were fighting to keep control of their computers which flashed and flickered as if they had a mind of their own. "It's X10" The Doctor said "It's beginning to take over all the products created by 'Skylight Electronics'"
"But they made everything" Lyons replied
"That's what I mean." The Doctor explained "By collapsing all major computer systems the entire country is vulnerable. The worst part is that all the major secrets of Whitehall are now accessible by X10"
Lyons went pale and The Doctor lowered him into a chair. "What other things did Skylight make?" The Doctor asked
"As we said earlier everything from toasters and microphones to computers and computer programs." Miss Barrett said
"And if X10 has access to all of Britain's national defences, and nuclear weapons." The Doctor added
"Why would it do that?" The Skymaster asked "I thought computers were designed to help humans?"
"I don't know why" The Doctor responded "But X10 hates the human race and will wipe them from the face of the Earth."
He looked at the screen which were flickering and flashing, then they went black for a moment and the demonic skull of X10 appeared "Let a new age of technology dawn with me leading" it rasped. "Phase one complete, now begin phase two"
A look of concern crossed Miss Barrett's face and she pulled her Smartphone from her pocket it was crackling with electricity, she exclaimed and dropped it to the floor. The Doctor took a handkerchief from his trouser pocket he bent down and picked it up. "Smartphones aren't suppose to do that?" The Skymaster asked
"They do when a maniacal Supercomputer tries to take over" The Doctor said "X10 mentioned 'phase two' what does that mean?"
"Doctor" Miss Barrett said "I think I know. Has X10 now taken over my phone". Once The Doctor had nodded she added "Skylight electronics didn't make mobiles"
"Didn't they?" The Doctor responded "nothing at all mobile phones no SIM cards then I believe phase two must mean taking over all main electrical devices that weren't made by 'Skylight Electronics' that means that the whole country would have no electrical devices, and X10 has complete control of everything television channels, aeroplanes flight paths, Satellites everything. Hang On!" his eyes widened in concern "this is bad, this is bad, this is really, really, really bad!"
At the Tenworth Factory an android approached the X10 screen "Large craft hovering above the atmosphere. Appears to be futuristic with technology far superior to what was used to create us."
"Was it build by humans?" X10 hissed
"Yes" the robot replied
"The include it into phase two and bring it down" X10 finished with a horrible laugh that sounded more like a metallic hiss.
"What do you mean?" Commander Lyons asked
"I mean that all technology built by humans will be under X10's control. Even The Skybase."
Just then there came a bleep from a pocket on the Skymaster's uniform and he pulled a small two-way radio and spoke into it "Skymaster here" he said then he looked worried "Doctor, that was Skylieutenant Harker, it appears X10 has taken over the Skybase and the engines are failing"
"Quick" The Doctor said "Everyone. You, me, Becky, Jemima and you Commander Lyons into the Tardis now."
They all hurried over and scrabbled inside "Tell the Skybase to beam us up and place us in the engine room" The Doctor said
With a bright light the Tardis disappeared again.
On board the Skybase The Tardis appeared in the engine room. A large dark room with a massive control console and six large dials in front them. A bunch of men in Skybase uniforms with the letters 'SM' written on their jackets were trying to re-activate the engines just then to their amazement as a blue police box suddenly appeared
The Doors opened and The Doctor hurried out "Skymaster you take Commander Lyons and get to the bridge, Becky and Jemima you two are with me."
One of the men walked forward "Doctor" the Skymaster introduced "This is our chief Skymechanic, he is in charge of the maintenance of the engines. "What is happening."
"All the engines are dead, Sir" the Skymechanic said "We are going to crash into the Earth."
"A ship this size would create an explosion bigger than the one that wiped out the dinosaurs." The Doctor said "But I'm going to stop it, excuse me?" he said to the Skymechanic "Do you have any power reserves at all?"
The Skymechanic shook his head "We use our last pieces of power beaming that box on board."
The Doctor nodded "Can you find an automotive cable socket in the console, Now Jemima you contrite on that I'd say we have less than an hour."
The Doctor went into the Tardis and pulled out a long cable as thick as a man's arm and nearly fifty feet long. This he attached to the console then ran it out through the doors and with the help of the Skymechanics he attached the other end into the console "How much energy do the engines need?" The Doctor asked
"At least 10,000 kilowatts" the Skymechanic replied
"Right" The Doctor replied he hurried to the console and began pressing buttons and flicking switches.
"What on earth are you doing?" asked Becky
"I'm using the Tardis as a compressing unit and channelling it's own power to fuel the Skybase. I mean what the point of a time machine if it won't travel in time."
Just then the Skymechanic poked his head through the Tardis doors "cable fixed Doctor" he said
"Right power on" The Doctor said, there was a buzzing noise and the Time Column began to pulse with a bright light outside the six dials began to twitch and flicker
"Power building" the Skymechanic said
"Won't X10 be able to take control of The Tardis?" Becky asked
"No it's strong enough to take over only computers built by humans, this was built by my people, The Timelords. Now we can use this excess power to climb higher."
Slowly the Skybase began to ascend through the atmosphere "There we are, whilst the Tardis is attached The Skybase will remain in permanent orbit."
Back at the Tenworth factory. Another android had approached the main screen "Alien ship has ceased descending it said unable to hack into mainframe computers."
"There was someone who escaped when McKenzie died, he called himself The Doctor. I think he's not a human he has the intelligence and competence far more than and member of the putrid planet, Get me a link, and commence phase three tell all main android unit to home in on all products of Skylight Electronics, the invasion must begin."