Chapter 4 (Attack of the Moon Men)
“I don’t understand,” said Holly, as the Doctor sat, looking perplexed, his shoes and socks at the side whilst his feet dangled into the warm swimming pool. The work crew had turned up and were busy trying to filter the grey dust out of the water. “You said we were in an alternate universe.”
“You don’t understand, Holly,” said the Doctor. “I travelled with Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, but they were different to these two. They looked different.”
“So they’re not alternate versions of your Ian and Barbara?”
“No,” said the Doctor, “which makes it all the more fascinating.” He smiled. “The universe has a funny way of bringing people together. A totally different Ian Chesterton and a totally different Barbara Wright are brought together and end up travelling with an alternate version of me. It’s almost like the universe knows how my mind works.”
“So if they’re here then your alternate self must be around somewhere,” said Holly, glancing around the poolside.
“Not here though,” said the Doctor. “But if I know myself then I’ll be somewhere investigating the same creature we chased.”
The Doctor pulled out a syringe and aimed it towards some of the remains of the creature. He sucked up some of the grey liquid and then looked at it through the glass syringe. “We need to head up to central command and speak to Commander Borshack.”
Borshack was getting on – a man in his late 60’s with thinning white hair and a pencil-thin moustache. His face wore deep lines that looked like they hid away the darkest secrets that came with working for the Earth Space Force. He had done 44 years service and was planning on retiring in the next few years. He liked living and working on the Moon, but he missed his wife, Matilda and his two dogs back at their cottage on Earth. He managed to get back every few weeks, but the more times he went back, the more homesick he became.
He was deep in thought behind his glass desk, staring down at a blank computer monitor when the door opened. A young, Asian man – Lieutenant Kelly – entered with an old man with grey, bouffant hair and wearing the oddest, old fashioned brown jacket and chequered trousers he’d ever seen. He was accompanied by a small, dark-haired girl in a blue dress.
“Sir, this man says he needs to speak to you about the power outages and the problems with the vents.”
“What?” said Borshack, looking at the old man and feeling confused.
“My granddaughter and I were in the market area when we witnessed the power outage.”
“Ah, yes. It’s a mystery I’m afraid,” said Borshack realising what they were talking about.
“And how long has it been going on?” asked the old man, stopping slightly and smiling at Borshack.
Borshack frowned. “Excuse me, but who are you? We don’t usually admit civilians in here.”
“That’s because we’re not civilians,” said the old man. He extended his hand. “My name is Dr. Who, and this is my granddaughter, Susan.”
Borshack shook his hand, but continued to frown. Did the old man think that that was meant to mean something to him?
“We’re travellers,” said the young girl, also reaching up to shake the old commander’s hand.
“We still don’t tend to get travellers in here,” said Borshack.
Dr. Who crossed over to a control panel on the office wall and began tapping away at the touch screen. “Oh, do you mind?”
Borshack felt himself being overwhelmed by these people. He made a mental note to tighten up security in the command centre. “It depends what you’re looking for.”
“A schematic of your pipe works and vents,” said Dr. Who. “Dear me, this is most confusing.”
“Here,” said Borshack, gently shifting Dr. Who out of his way. He was no closer to finding out what was happening and he was open to any help he could get. He tapped in a few commands and an image of the base came up. A few more taps and it zoomed into a schematic of the pipes. They looked like noodles snaking around and around underneath the city.
“They pump the waste water out of people’s homes and recycle it to drinking water. The air vents make sure the oxygen is continually circulated.”
“Hmmm,” said Dr. Who, putting his glasses on and peering up at the plans, “it’s not really the pipes that I’m interested in.”
“Then what are you interested in?” asked Borshack, becoming more and more frustrated.
“I’m interested in what is under the pipes,” said Dr. Who, turning to look at the old man.
Before Borshack was able to reply the comm signal beeped that a call was coming in. Borshack snapped out of his gaze at Dr. Who and hurried over to his desk. He tapped on the “receive” button. “Yes, what is it Kelly?”
“Sir, we’re picking up a strange reading. I think you better come out here and give it a look.”
The command centre was a hustle and bustle of activity. Like most things in Luna City Alpha, it was dome shaped with a walkway around what would be considered as the second level and steps down to the large central area where technicians and officers worked at control panels.
In the centre of the command area was a large control console with a rectangular, glass screen suspended on just slightly above everyone’s heads.
“What kind of signal is it?” asked Borshack as he headed into the lower section, followed by Dr. Who and Susan.
“It’s a bit too faint to make out, but it’s repeating over and over again.”
“So someone in the City is making illegal broadcasts.”
“No, no,” said Kelly, “it’s not coming from the Moon.” He pointed at an image of the solar system on the screen. The furthest planet on the screen was Pluto, and just beyond that was a red, flashing dot. The source of the signal. “This signal is coming from space.”
The Doctor and Holly were almost at the control centre when the lights went out again. The Doctor reached out a hand and stopped Holly from going any further.
“It’s just another power loss, Doctor,” said Holly. “If those creatures are causing it then-”
“Quiet,” said the Doctor.
Holly could just make out the outline of his face. “The power’s not coming back on.”
“No,” said the Doctor. He reached down and took her hand. “Stay close to me.”
“Don’t worry, Doc, I’m not going anywhere.” She laughed nervously.
The corridor was still in darkness, but slowly the Doctor and Holly walked along it. The Doctor went into his pocket and pulled out the sonic screwdriver. The light on it didn’t brighten up everything, but it gave them enough light to be able to see where they were going.
“This reminds me of the time Lilly, Caleb and I were trapped in the Web of Wax,” said the Doctor, speaking in a whisper.
The mention of Lilly made Holly’s heart ache. “Web of Wax?”
“Mmm-hmm,” said the Doctor. “There were these giant, cat-like-spiders-”
“Cat-like-spiders?!” said Holly, horrified.
“The Waxians. Scary creatures. Anyway they tunnelled under the ground and we had to get through one of their wax webs to get back to the TARDIS.”
“Dare I ask how the TARDIS got inside their web in the first place?” asked Holly.
“Mis-adventure,” said the Doctor, sheepishly.
Holly laughed knowingly. “How’d you do it then? Get out of the web?”
“It was Lilly, actually. The creatures were deadly, but they weren’t very good with loud noises. They surrounded us and Lilly started shouting at them.”
“Sounds like our Lilly,” laughed Holly.
The Doctor stopped them in the corridor and turned to face Holly. “Thank you.”
“What for?” asked Holly, getting mental whiplash at the change in discussion.
“For being there for Lilly,” he said. He took her other hand and she could make out the smile on his face. “You brought her further in those last few months than I ever managed. You helped her to heal.”
Holly smiled. “She isn’t healed yet, Doctor.”
“No, but she’s nearly there. The wound is almost healed.”
“She still hasn’t told me everything that happened with Caleb.” Holly felt the Doctor tense up. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not that,” said the Doctor, his voice now barely audible. “Don’t make any sudden moves, but there’s something stood behind you.”
“What!” said Holly, jumping at the thought, doing the exact opposite of what he had said and spinning around to look at what it could be.
“Holly!” yelled the Doctor.
But it was too late. The sonic screwdriver was knocked out of the Doctor’s hand as the rest of the light was extinguished.
“Power’s back on in section 5,” said Lieutenant Kelly.
“And Earth Command are asking for an update on the signal,” said a blonde woman.
“Can we clear up the signal, Johnson?” asked Borshack.
The blonde woman, Johnson, tapped a few buttons on her console. “Not yet, but it is getting closer. It’s a message.”
Dr. Who glanced up at the screen. “It’s passed Neptune now.”
“What do you think it is, grandfather?” asked Susan.
“I don’t know, Susie, I just don’t know.”
“I’ve got something,” said Johnson. She put her hands over her communications headset and strained to listen. “It’s definitely a message.”
“Can you route it through the comm system?” asked Borshack.
“Yes, sir,” said Johnson.
The speakers high up in the ceiling began to broadcast static.
Dr. Who tapped on his chin curiously and looked down at Susan.
“Can you clear it up?” asked Borshack.
“Give me a second, sir,” said Johnson. “There, that should do it.”
From out of the static came a strange, sing-song, metallic-sounding voice. It kept repeating over and over and over again and it caused Borshack’s blood to run cold.
“WE ARE COMING. WE ARE COMING. WE ARE COMING.”
“Grandfather...?” said Susan, looking up at him.
“Sir, we’re getting a few more details about the origin of the signal,” said Lt. Kelly. “It’s not a spaceship.” He paused for dramatic effect.
Borshack sighed and thought of his house in the countryside. “Well get on with it, Kelly.”
“It’s not a spaceship. It’s a planet.”
“I beg your pardon?” said Borshack.
“A planet – a tenth planet – has somehow entered the solar system and is heading straight for us.”
“We are coming,” muttered Dr. Who under his breath.
“Lt. Kelly, put the city on lockdown. Everyone else, get to your battle stations.”
To be continued...
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