Doctor Who: Plague of the Cybermen

by Justin Richards

  The Doctor took hold of Olga’s shoulders, moving her back from the vast wall of sleeping figures. It was clearly visible now as the lights came up.

  ‘We need somewhere to hide.’ The Doctor let go of her shoulders, took her hand instead, and pulled Olga after him to a large metal box jutting out from the side wall. The surface of it was covered with levers and buttons, dials and gauges.

  ‘But – aren’t you going to stop them? Cut off the power?’

  The Doctor shook his head. ‘Too late for that. They’re using the power already.’

  ‘For the lights?’

  ‘And the temperature. After all these years they finally have enough power to wake the other Cybermen.’ His face was deathly pale. ‘I’m sorry Olga – but we’re too late.’

  Chapter 12

  The lights continued to brighten. The faint pattering of falling water became steadier and more insistent. The mist rolling off the wall thinned so that the Doctor and Olga could see the front of the hibernation cells. It looked like a giant honeycomb, each cell tessellated with the next in a vast array.

  At first, Olga could see nothing through the fading mist. Then she made out the water dripping from the membranes that covered the cells. Beneath, embossed on each cell, was a symbol – a stylised head of a Cyberman, black against the translucent sheen of the covering. The water running from the symbols made it look like the faces were crying.

  Inside each of the cells, a darker patch became distinct within the light. Moving – unfolding. Like a child curled up into a ball slowly uncurling and flexing its muscles. Except these were too large to be children – giants, like the Plague Warrior Cybermen Olga had already seen.

  As she watched in horrified fascination, the first of the Cybermen began to break out of its cell. A fist punched through the membrane, silver fingers in a tight fist, then opening like a flower sensing the sun. The metal arm thrust after it, tearing through the material, ripping downwards to make a gap large enough for the Cyberman’s head. The creature’s shoulders ripped aside what was left of the membrane as the Cyberman stepped out through the shredded material.

  It emerged onto a narrow walkway outside the cell. For a moment the blank skull-metal face seemed to stare directly at Olga. Then the figure straightened up.

  Above, below and beside it, other Cybermen mirrored the first in out-of-step, time-lapsed movements. Olga could not count how many there were. The whole wall of cells was writhing with metallic life. Fists – arms – heads – Cybermen forcing their way out of their icy tomb and moving inexorably to the huge ladders cut into the wall at either side. A vast army descending to the floor of the chamber …

  ‘You know,’ the Doctor said quietly to Olga, ‘this is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to avoid.’

  ‘What do we do now?’ she whispered back.

  ‘Well …’ He tapped his sonic screwdriver against his front teeth as he considered. ‘I’ve found that in these sorts of situations the best thing, usually, is to make a run for it.’

  Olga was horrified. ‘But they’ll see us as soon as we move.’

  ‘If we don’t move they’ll see us soon enough anyway. That’s the danger with the run-for-it plan, though – there’s always a chance you’ll get caught and killed.’

  ‘Does that ever happen?’

  ‘Been caught lots of times,’ the Doctor admitted. ‘Killed? Well, not so often. You coming?’ He grabbed Olga’s hand and leaped to his feet.

  ‘Once would be enough for me,’ she said. ‘More than enough.’

  But he probably didn’t hear her as they raced for the steps up to the gantry. Olga did not dare to look back until she got there. Then she risked a glance over her shoulder.

  As she had feared, the Cybermen were coming after them. But the silver giants seemed sluggish – as if they hadn’t properly woken up yet.

  ‘Power levels still a bit low,’ the Doctor told her. ‘Every cloud has a silver lining. Come on.’

  It was a repeat of the nightmare journey Olga had made with the Doctor earlier. Except that this time it was the sounds from ahead that spurred her on rather than the threat behind. They could hear the sounds of the battle outside the ship. What was happening – were Klaus and the others all right? Olga was desperate to know.

  ‘We have to help them,’ she gasped as she ran.

  ‘We have to warn them,’ the Doctor said.

  ‘Warn them?’

  ‘There are a hundred hairy Cybermen coming after us, probably heading for Klaus and the others. Well,’ he clarified, ‘not a hundred exactly. And not hairy as such. But lots, and nasty.’

  Not surprisingly, Caplan and his two guards made the most impact. They hacked and jabbed with their swords at the advancing Plague Warriors. The other villagers thrust burning torches at them, or tried to get in close enough to use a shovel or axe.

  Kris was wounded – his arm burned by a bolt of lightning that shot from one of the Plague Warriors’ arms. As soon as it fired, before the creature could lower its metal arm, Caplan stepped forward and thrust his sword into the tube that had spat fire across the cavern. He twisted the blade, and there was no more lightning, so his efforts had an effect.

  But even so, the Plague Warriors showed inhuman strength and determination. They advanced step by step, parrying swords and shovels with their arms. The human arm of one of them was shredded. But the creature showed no pain or anxiety.

  A blow from one Plague Warrior sent Old Nicolai sprawling backwards. Klaus caught him, and saw the fear and confusion in the old man’s eyes.

  ‘You and Kris take Drettle’s body and get back to the village,’ Klaus told him.

  It was a measure of how serious the situation was that Nicolai did not argue. Instead, he staggered over to where Kris sat with his back to the rock wall, nursing his wounded arm and looking pale as death.

  Caplan was also backing away, motioning for his guards and the other villagers to follow.

  ‘They’re coming after us,’ he said to Klaus. ‘That’s good.’

  ‘Good?’

  ‘Keeps them away from the Doctor and the schoolteacher.’

  He was right – it was good for Olga. Not so good for Klaus and the villagers who had to defend themselves every step of the way. Turn and run, and the Plague Warriors would be on them in an instant. There seemed to be no way to stop them. But they were holding their own – the villagers had taken on the Plague Warriors and they were still alive.

  ‘So what’s the plan?’ Caplan asked.

  ‘You’re asking me?’ Klaus was surprised.

  The big guard commander paused to slice a blow across the closest Plague Warrior’s chest. It tore into the flesh grafted into the metal, and the creature staggered back a pace.

  ‘You’re in charge,’ Caplan said.

  ‘Doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing.’ He thrust his shovel forwards, butting the other Plague Warrior with a clang of metal on metal.

  ‘Often the way,’ Caplan said with a wry smile.

  ‘What would you suggest?’

  ‘Retreat, carefully. As far as the church.’

  ‘And then?’

  ‘Try to shut these creatures out. Barricade the crypt door. Might give us time to get back to the village.’

  It was as good a plan as any. Better than anything Klaus had thought of. So he nodded his agreement. Then he heard the sound from behind them.

  ‘Ah,’ Caplan said, his smile fading as he too heard the noise, echoing along the tunnel. ‘We were forgetting the wolves.’

  Klaus saw their eyes before anything else – glowing in the darkness of the tunnel. The animals bounded towards the villagers, gradually taking form as they were lit by the firebrands some of the villagers held. The firelight glittered on the metal grafted into their fur.

  The first wolf leapt before it reached the cavern. It snarled in mid air, teeth snapping and oily viscous liquid dripping from its metal jaws. Klaus stood frozen to the spot as the mass of fur, metal and death hurt
led towards him.

  Then Caplan stepped in front, slicing sideways with his sword. He timed it perfectly, the blade meeting the animal while it was still in the air and biting deep. The second wolf skidded to a wary halt at the end of the tunnel. Its head swayed back and forth as it regarded the shattered, dying remains of its fellow.

  Finding his courage again, Klaus ran forwards, swinging his shovel. He caught the wolf a heavy blow on the snout. The beast was knocked sideways, whimpering in pain. But at once it was turning back, snarling, leaping.

  This time it was one of the other villagers that came to Klaus’s aid. The man thrust his burning torch into the animal’s jaws. The wolf howled angrily, but it was distracted enough for Caplan to step forward and stab downwards hard with his sword.

  A third wolf bounded out of the tunnel – and ran straight onto the sword of one of the other soldiers. It whimpered, and fell sideways.

  Behind the distraction of the wolves, the two Plague Warriors still advanced. Other villagers were trying desperately to hold them back, but with little success. One of Caplan’s guards got too close and was dealt a savage blow from a metal fist. He crashed into the wall of the cavern, head snapping back. Unconscious or dead, the Plague Warriors were already past him and there was no way to get to the man.

  Klaus gestured and shouted for everyone to fall back. As soon as they had enough distance between themselves and the lurching, nightmare figures, Caplan nodded to Klaus and he yelled for everyone to retreat.

  Not too fast, or the Plague Warriors might not follow. But too slowly, and the creatures would catch them. The villagers stumbled back along the narrow tunnel, waving firebrands, trying not to trip on the scattered bones and fallen rocks that littered the uneven floor.

  They were not all successful. One older man slipped, his foot shooting out from under him as he trod on a skull. The skull shattered to fragments, but the man was too slow getting up again. A metal hand closed round his ankle, squeezing tight, dragging him back.

  Klaus grabbed the man’s hand, desperately trying to pull him away from the Plague Warrior. But to no avail – the man disappeared back into the darkness with a scream that stopped all too abruptly.

  By the time they were back at the door to the crypt they had lost another villager. It could have been a lot worse, Klaus knew, but even so he felt sick with despair.

  ‘Something coming,’ Old Nicolai gasped as Klaus hauled open the crypt door.

  ‘Plague Warriors,’ Caplan said.

  Nicolai shook his head. ‘From that way.’ He pointed down another passageway that joined the main one just behind them.

  ‘More wolves?’ Klaus looked back, peering into the gloom. As he watched a faint light appeared, a tiny point in the darkness bobbing about in the air. It grew in size and intensity, until he could see the light came from a short rod the Doctor was holding. Klaus felt his heart lurch as he saw that Olga was beside the Doctor. She was safe.

  ‘Gangway!’ the Doctor yelled. ‘Coming through – get that door open!’

  As soon as they were all through, Klaus closed and bolted the door. Together with the Doctor, Caplan and the surviving guard, he hauled a stone table from the side wall across the front of the door.

  ‘The door opens inwards, so that should keep them out,’ Caplan said, gasping for breath.

  ‘Don’t you believe it,’ the Doctor told them. ‘It might slow them down a bit. Or else they’ll just find another way.’

  ‘Did you succeed?’ Klaus was keen to know. ‘Did your plan work?’

  ‘Not altogether,’ the Doctor admitted. ‘Not as such. Got a new plan, actually.’

  ‘Which is?’ Caplan asked.

  ‘A work in progress. I’ll let you know.’

  ‘And now there are dozens of Plague Warriors,’ Olga said. ‘They’ve all woken up.’

  ‘She’s exaggerating,’ the Doctor said reassuringly. ‘Tens, maybe. A few dozen at the most. Ish.’

  Klaus was horrified. ‘So they died for nothing – our friends died for nothing?!’ He looked down at the bodies of Drettle and the one other villager they had managed to bring back.

  ‘No, of course not,’ the Doctor objected. ‘We know what’s going on down there now.’

  ‘More Plague Warriors waking up,’ Caplan said. ‘That can’t be a good thing.’

  ‘It’s better to know,’ the Doctor told him. ‘And knowledge is the greatest weapon of all.’

  ‘So what will you do with the knowledge?’ Old Nicolai demanded. ‘Knowledge won’t bring these people back.’

  ‘Working on it, like I said.’

  ‘At least we know the Cybermen are coming,’ Olga pointed out.

  ‘Forewarned is forearmed,’ the Doctor agreed. ‘They’ll be desperate to restore power and to repair their ship. For that they need …’ His voice tailed off.

  At the same moment, there was a hammering on the crypt door. The wood cracked, but held.

  ‘They need – what?’ Klaus shouted above the sound. A splinter of wood flew past his face. ‘Doctor – what do they need?’

  The Doctor’s face seemed frozen and expressionless. ‘Spare parts,’ he said.

  A metal fist burst through the wooden door – reached through, feeling for the bolts and the obstruction.

  ‘First part of the plan,’ the Doctor announced.

  ‘Yes?’ Olga prompted.

  ‘Get out of here – come on, everyone!’

  The open grave was the most obvious route the Cybermen might use. The Doctor was convinced they would attack the village in their search for anything – and anyone – they could adapt to repair their ship.

  Klaus and old Nicolai set about shovelling the earth back into the grave. Caplan sent the other guard back to the castle to ask Lord Ernhardt for reinforcements.

  ‘We’ll need all the help we can get,’ the Doctor told him.

  ‘It won’t be much,’ Caplan said. ‘Half a dozen lads, if we’re lucky. Most have never used a sword in anger.’

  ‘They’ll need to get angry soon.’

  ‘You really think they’ll come at us through the church or the graveyard?’ Klaus asked.

  The Doctor nodded. ‘Quickest route. The only other way is out through the other side of their ship and up in the field and the woods.’ He pointed through the persistent rain to the small wood on the other side of the church.

  ‘Where you told us not to go,’ Olga said.

  ‘They won’t go in there for the same reason. Radiation – it affects the Cybermen too. Not in the same way as it does humans. But it upsets their systems, messes up the intra-cybernetic communication relays. So they sort of spasm and seize up.’

  ‘Can we use this radiation as a weapon against them?’ Caplan asked.

  ‘It’s just as deadly to us, so not really.’

  ‘But maybe we could lead them into a trap,’ Klaus suggested. ‘Send them into the field and the woods or something.’

  ‘It wouldn’t work. The radiation is at a dangerous level there, yes. But it won’t work instantly, and as soon as they realise what’s going on they’ll just get out of there fast.’

  ‘So what can we do?’ Old Nicolai demanded.

  ‘Not a lot, to be honest. Try to keep the Cybermen away from the village. Hold them back, as close to the church and their ship as we can.’

  ‘Is that all?’ Olga asked.

  ‘It may be enough. We’ve got rid of their power converter, so they’re back to just getting a trickle of energy from the storms. If we can hold them back long enough, make them use up enough power, then they’ll have to re-energise. If they can’t, then they’ll return to their tombs.’

  ‘Wear them out, and they’ll go back to sleep – is that what you’re saying, Doctor?’ Caplan asked.

  ‘Best I’ve got for the moment. But like I said, working on it.’

  ‘It’ll be dark soon,’ Klaus said, looking up at the cloud-heavy sky. ‘The men will need rest if they’re going to have to fight the Plague Warriors ag
ain.’

  ‘Someone needs to keep watch,’ Olga said. ‘You men get your beauty sleep. I’ll organise some of the women to help me.’

  ‘Help you?’ Klaus said. ‘You need rest too after today.’

  ‘Like I can sleep with all this going on. Go on – you need to tell everyone what’s happening and make sure they’re ready.’

  ‘They’ll come at night,’ the Doctor said.

  ‘Are they nocturnal creatures then?’ Old Nicolai asked.

  ‘No. But they’ll attack when you humans are at your lowest ebb, when you’re tired and your senses are at their weakest. Darkness and fatigue – that’s what they’ll count on.’

  ‘It’s good that the rain’s letting up a bit then.’ Nicolai pointed to the sky, where the clouds were clearing slightly. There were patches of pale blue breaking through. ‘It’s almost a full moon tonight. With luck it won’t get that dark.’

  The moonlight struggled weakly through the clouds. The rain had eased to a drizzle, but it seeped through Olga’s coat and into her clothing. She felt chilled to the bone. She was sitting on the stone wall surrounding the graveyard. It might as well have been carved from ice, the stone was so cold. But it was that or the muddy ground.

  Beside her, the Doctor had jumped down from the wall. He stamped his feet and blew dragon’s breath – as the village children called it – into the cold air. Olga had seen such things the last few days that she wondered if dragons were real too. The Doctor would know, but she didn’t dare to ask.

  She thought of Klaus snug and warm in bed. Though more likely he was sitting in the tavern, unable to sleep, as worried about Olga as she was about the Cybermen. No, that was silly – why would he be worried about her? Just because she worried about him didn’t mean it went both ways, did it? Or did it?

  ‘It’s starting,’ the Doctor whispered close to Olga’s ear. ‘You hear that?’

  She couldn’t hear anything except her own teeth chattering. Unless … No, he was right – there was something. Coming from beneath them. A rhythmic sound like someone brushing dust out of the door. She looked at the Doctor, but his attention was fixed on the graveyard in front of them.