[Sarah Jane Adventures 02] - Revenge of the Slitheen

by RUPERT LAIGHT

  ‘Daddy,’ moaned the child in a frightened tone.

  Kist put an arm around the lad. ‘Everything’s going to be all right,’ he said.

  A strange light filled the room, as a large group of Slitheen, concealed inside the skins of overweight people, materialised out of thin air.

  There was one from each operation around the world, including Florm, now back inside Janine’s outer layer. They had teleported here to join their brother and eliminate the threat.

  Just then, the secret entrance to the room slid slowly open and in the doorway stood Sarah Jane and Luke. They were outnumbered and immediately grabbed by Janine and another Slitheen - and separated.

  Sarah Jane stared over at Luke and gave him a sad, apologetic smile. She watched him try to smile back, but his expression struggled to lift from a frightened frown.

  Had she really dragged the innocent boy into this, only for them to die here together in this horrible alien room?

  Sarah had never felt so utterly without hope in her life…

  Chapter Twelve

  ‘It’s them or us!’

  ‘Behold!’ boomed Kist. ‘The capacitor!’

  Sarah Jane looked up at the vast ' torpedo-shaped structures that dominated the room.

  ‘We drain the energy into these and store it,’ he continued. ‘In ten minutes this planet’s atmosphere gets snatched away.’ He grinned. ‘But well be safe and warm in here.’

  Janine loomed into view. ‘Then a spacecraft comes to pick us up. And we sell what we’ve collected.’

  The Slitheen family had always traded in illegal energy of one sort or another. This was how they made their living, and the reason they had fled their home planet as condemned criminals.

  ‘Janine the Slitheen,’ mused Sarah Jane, regaining her composure, ‘why are you doing this?’

  ‘The family came to this planet once before,’ she replied. ‘A straightforward job. But they never came back.’

  ‘I think I might know what happened… who happened.’

  ‘This planet will pay - in blood!’ crowed Kist. ‘They were our family!’

  ‘And Luke is mine,’ snapped back Sarah.

  The Slitheen laughed.

  ‘I’ve checked up on you,’ said Janine. ‘You’re not even his real mother.’

  ‘Oh, I am,’ said Sarah, through gritted teeth.

  ‘Your stupid son gave us what we needed,’ Kist laughed.

  ‘I didn’t!’ protested Luke.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I thought I did. But I didn’t.’ He smiled smugly.

  Sarah Jane looked as confused as the aliens. What could Luke mean?

  ‘You made the mistake. You showed me the diagram, but you didn’t say you were going to steal power from the sun.’ He stared defiantly at his captor. ‘It’ll explode!’

  The room fell silent. The Slitheen looked from one to the other. Was he telling the truth?

  ‘It’s a bluff!’ called Janine, finally.

  ‘What’s a… bluff?’ asked Luke. He didn’t even know what the word meant, let alone how to pull one off.

  ‘Florm?’ Kist called Janine by her real name. He wanted an opinion on the boy’s story.

  ‘Well,’ she replied, ‘he might be right. But only Glune knew the ins and outs - and he’s been destroyed.’

  Sarah Jane noticed the capacitor was sending terrifying bolts of yellow light arcing across the room. ‘Look, it’s happening!’ she yelled. ‘Turn it off!’

  Just then, Clyde swooped into the room brandishing his bottle with a menacing look. He hoped the look would make up for the lack of vinegar inside. ‘You heard her - turn it off! There’s vinegar in this!’

  ‘Water!’ laughed Janine, and knocked the squeezy from Clyde’s hand and grabbed him tightly. ‘That was a bluff,’ she explained to Luke.

  Maria ran into the room, but before she could do anything, she was grabbed by a Slitheen. ‘I knew that wouldn’t work,’ she said to Clyde, who shrugged resignedly.

  ‘If I reset the system, can you cancel the overload - make it safe?’ Kist asked Luke.

  There was a moment of silence as Luke slyly glanced over at Clyde, then at the bottle filled with nothing but water lying on the floor. Now he understood how to bluff…

  ‘Yes,’ he said, carefully.

  ‘Good.’ Kist turned to his son. ‘Reset the system!’

  Korst snarled as he passed Luke, who was trying not to breathe in case he gave the game away. The Slitheen child threw back the lever and the machine started to slow down.

  Outside on the street, people stared up in amazement as the sun returned to its normal colour. Car engines roared into life again, stereos began to play and mobile phones rang insistently. As a warm breeze blew across London, complete strangers hugged one another in joy and relief.

  Luke stared at the bank of controls before him and steeled himself - he knew what he had to do next. ‘It’s reset. The system’s off.’ This was more for the benefit of his friends than his captors. He wanted them to know that order had been restored and the world was safe - for the moment.

  While all Slitheen eyes were firmly focused on Luke, Sarah Jane carefully slipped her hand into her back pocket. She didn’t want anyone to see. She pulled out the sonic lipstick and turned it on. It was working again.

  ‘I’ll just have to synchronise the mega-wattage.’ Luke’s hands hovered over the panel. He gave a sly look to Sarah Jane.

  A moment of silence… then… Sarah aimed the sonic lipstick at the capacitor. But she was too late. Korst had spotted her. ‘Daddy!’ he called.

  ‘Mum!’ yelled Luke.

  A dozen Slitheen lumbered towards Sarah Jane. Maria and Clyde stepped in their path, in a desperate attempt to stop them.

  Quickly, Sarah Jane threw the device to Luke. He caught it.

  Ducking the grasping claws and diving between the gangly legs of his captors, Luke made his way speedily to his goal - the capacitor.

  He aimed the sonic lipstick at the inner area of the torpedoes. And… Vreeeee! A beam of light ripped into the machine’s vulnerable centre.

  The capacitor began to judder and shake. Sparks flew from it. Braaaaaooow! The noise was almost unbearable.

  Slitheen bounded back and forth across the room, trying to reverse the damage.

  ‘It’s going to blow up!’ screeched Janine.

  ‘Synchronise the mega-wattage!’ Kist howled, his plan collapsing around him.

  Sarah Jane, Luke, Maria and Clyde raced for the door.

  Some of the Slitheen were teleporting themselves away. Others weren’t so lucky.

  A great streak of electrical energy leapt from the machine and struck Janine, like lightning hitting a tree. She was instantly turned to cinders.

  ‘Quickly!’ Kist turned to his son. ‘We’ve got to get out of here!’

  They dashed for the door which was closing behind Sarah Jane and her friends. But they couldn’t get through in time. They just gripped at it with their claws and tried desperately to prevent it from shutting.

  Behind them, the room was burning, explosions blossoming all along the huge capacitor…

  ‘You can’t leave us in here! ’ pleaded Kist, through the tiny gap. ‘Use the sonic device! Open the door! Open the door!’

  ‘I’m only twelve!’ Korst appealed.

  ‘He’s my son! Please let him live!’

  Sarah Jane chewed her lip. She couldn’t stand by and let any living creature, however wicked they might be, suffer unduly. She raised the lipstick, ready to reverse the door mechanism and release the Slitheen.

  ‘You can’t let them out!’ shouted Clyde.

  But before Sarah Jane had time to do anything, a bolt of electricity from the capacitor hit Kist and Korst, there was an agonising screech, they lost their grip, and the door closed tight.

  After all the noise and panic, the explosions, the screams, the smoke and flames, an appalling silence reigned throughout the school.

  It was over.


  The lights in the corridor came back on.

  ‘It’s burnt itself out,’ said Luke, relieved.

  Clyde raced around, his arms in the air. ‘We did it!’

  But the others didn’t share his joy. They were too shocked and shaken.

  ‘He was only a child,’ said a tearful Sarah Jane, quietly. Twelve years old.’

  ‘It was them or us,’ replied Clyde.

  Sarah Jane looked at him sadly, then she hung her head.

  Chapter Thirteen

  One of the gang

  ‘Some of the Slitheen got away,’ said Clyde, as he walked down Bannerman Road with Maria and Luke either side of him. ‘I saw them vanish.’

  Their machine’s useless now,’ explained Luke. ‘We broke the chain.’

  Maria frowned. ‘Except there’re buildings round the world with secret rooms. And all that alien machinery inside.’

  Sarah Jane was walking a few paces behind them, talking into her mobile. ‘Bye then,’ she said. ‘And give my love to the Brig.’

  Flipping the phone shut, she jogged ahead to catch up with the kids. ‘Just sorted that out. Some friends of mine are going to clear it all up.’

  ‘Friends from UNIT?’ asked Maria, cautiously. Sarah nodded, but said nothing. There were still some things best kept to herself.

  ‘What’s UNIT?’ Clyde gawped at her for an answer. ‘A furniture shop?’

  Just then, Chrissie and Alan came running down the drive of number thirteen. They had been ringing Sarah Jane’s bell.

  ‘Come here!’ exclaimed Chrissie, as she hugged Maria to her. ‘Where’ve you been?’

  Maria smiled up at her mum. How was she going to explain this one? ‘We just went into town,’ she said, trying to sound innocent. ‘Grabbed some burgers.’

  ‘All the power went off,’ said Chrissie. ‘I was so worried!’

  ‘And now it’s back on,’ added Alan.

  Chrissie let her daughter go, and turned to Sarah Jane, whom she too pulled into an embrace. ‘Oh, Sally Anne, bless you for looking after my Maria!’ she crooned. ‘My head was full of terrible things that could’ve happened to her!’

  Over Chrissie’s shoulder, Sarah Jane’s raised her eyebrows and shook her head. The woman didn’t know the half of it!

  ‘And where have you really been?’ Alan quietly asked Maria.

  ‘What d’ya mean?’ she replied, feigning ignorance.

  He shook his head and smiled. ‘Such a useless liar.’

  Maria wanted to tell her dad everything, but she couldn’t. Not yet. He’d never believe her.

  ‘Did you see the sun?’ Chrissie was asking. ‘It went blue! I mean, I’ve heard of a blue moon. I thought it sounded quite romantic, actually. But it was terrifying!’

  Sarah Jane looked at the Jacksons. Dysfunctional they might be, she thought, but even a dysfunctional family is better than none…

  Alan strolled back into the kitchen of number twelve with Chrissie and Maria trailing behind.

  ‘I was just gonna make tea,’ he said. ‘You staying?’

  Chrissie thought for a second. ‘Don’t tell me… it’s Tuesday - that means Spanish omelette.’

  ‘As it happens - yes,’ admitted Alan, defensively.

  ‘So predictable,’ sighed Chrissie. ‘Go on then, twist my arm. Just for once I’ll suffer your cooking.’

  Same old Chrissie, thought Alan.

  ‘That’s brilliant!’ said Maria, delighted her mum was stopping. She gave her a big hug.

  ‘Sweetheart!’ laughed Chrissie. ‘I might not be living here, but I’m still looking after you.’

  ‘Cos I’m so useless?’ suggested Alan, in an amused tone.

  ‘Well, you are!’ sighed his ex-wife. ‘The sun went out and you’d lost her! She was off gallivanting with Suzie Belle!’

  ‘Sarah Jane,’ corrected Alan, for the umpteenth time. ‘Her name’s Sarah Jane.’

  ‘All right then, Sarah Jane,’ admitted Chrissie. ‘But you know what? Funny things have been happening ever since you moved in here. I’m beginning to get suspicious.’

  Maria worried her mum would guess the truth - that Sarah Jane Smith was at the centre of all the mayhem. ‘Suspicious of what?’ she asked, cautiously.

  ‘Well, think about it. The day you move in, opposite Sarah Jane, everyone turns into zombies. Then you’re with Sarah Jane and that pop factory blows up. Then you go running off with Sarah Jane and the sun goes out. Just ask yourself - what have all these things got in common? Who have they got in common?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Maria, nervously.

  ‘I’ll tell you who.’ Her mum paused. ‘Me!’

  Maria breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

  Alan couldn’t help chuckling - same old Chrissie!

  ‘It all happens to me!’ she went on. ‘I can’t move for disaster. It’s like I’m cursed.’

  Maria laughed and gave her mum another hug.

  ‘What’s that for?’ she asked.

  ‘Cos you’re cursed,’ replied Maria, with a massive grin.

  Sarah Jane’s living room was old-fashioned but comfortable, with a huge fireplace, an antique bureau, well-stuffed leather armchairs, and shelves stacked with books and mementos from her travels.

  Clyde was examining one of these keepsakes - a small alabaster statue - as Sarah entered with a mug of tea.

  ‘Here’s your reward - a nice cuppa.’ She noticed what he was doing. ‘Just make sure you put that back where it belongs.’

  ‘Is this from outer space?’ he asked.

  ‘Venezuela. You ask too many questions.’

  ‘Bit too late to stop me now.’

  Sarah Jane smiled at the lad. He had been invaluable in defeating the Slitheen, she thought. Even if he was a pain in the bum sometimes.

  ‘I suppose so,’ she smiled. ‘That’s how I got started - asking questions.’

  ‘But you never told me, how did you first discover all this stuff - aliens and things?’

  ‘A long time ago I met this… man.’ Sarah’s mind span back through the years and she could picture her old friend, her best friend. In all his different guises. ‘He was called the Doctor. He was an alien, too.’

  ‘What - like a big, green thing?’

  Sarah laughed. ‘He looked just like you and me.’ She paused, a tender smile appearing. ‘Except he was nothing like you and me. And he took me out - into space. Far away from Earth.’

  ‘You’ve travelled in space?’ asked Luke, amazed.

  ‘And time,’ added Sarah. ‘I saw planets and galaxies and all sorts of creatures. Things you could never imagine.’

  ‘Where is he then? Where’s this Doctor now?’

  ‘Still out there.’ Sarah recalled her most recent meeting with him, when he had given her a new K-9. ‘Still wandering. Still wonderful. He left me behind with… with his legacy, I suppose. To help and to protect. To make a stand. And never give up’

  ‘He sounds cool,’ said Clyde.

  ‘Oh, he’s cool all right.’

  ‘You ever gonna see him again?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ She paused. ‘I hope so,’ she said finally. ‘But the thing is, Clyde, you can’t ever tell anyone about all these things. It’s got to be our secret. Can I trust you?’

  ‘Yes - promise.’ For once Clyde was totally serious.

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘But you’re not getting rid of me either,’ he said, making sure he’d be around for more adventures in the future.

  ‘I thought not,’ Sarah Jane laughed.

  Just then, Luke, who was in the kitchen, called her name.

  ‘Coming!’ she replied, and headed for the door.

  ‘He’s back to calling you Sarah Jane. You should be Mum.’

  ‘Do you think?’ She sounded worried.

  Tell him,’ ordered Clyde.

  ‘I don’t know how to…’

  Sarah Jane left the room.

  Clyde finished his tea in one big gulp and followed.

&
nbsp; In the hall, he checked the coast was clear, then quietly climbed the stairs to the attic.

  On Mr Smith’s screen an American newsreader was speaking to the camera. ‘Scientists are still struggling to explain the phenomena,’ she said, ‘that saw the entire world blacked out for a total of thirty-seven minutes - ’

  The screen suddenly returned to the revolving crystal.

  ‘Diagnostic checks complete,’ said the computer. ‘All systems functioning normally.’

  Clyde frowned, cross that Mr Smith had turned off the news. ‘I was watching that!’ He paused. ‘Okay, while they’re downstairs - where are you from?’ he demanded.

  ‘All systems functioning normally,’ was Mr Smith’s evasive answer.

  ‘Who built you?’

  ‘All systems functioning normally,’ he repeated. A pause. ‘Beware your curiosity, boy,’ he warned, finally.

  Before Clyde could say anything more, Maria, Luke and Sarah Jane entered the attic.

  ‘Freak weather conditions?’ asked Maria.

  ‘Temporary reversal of the Earth’s magnetic poles?’ added Luke.

  They were coming up with ways of explaining away the Slitheen plan to drain the planet of power - so as not to alarm everyone.

  ‘That’s the one,’ said Sarah Jane, with a grin. ‘Mr Smith, start a rumour. Insert the words “temporary reversal of the Earth’s magnetic poles” into media reports.’

  ‘Confirmed,’ said Mr Smith.

  ‘Why can’t we tell anyone?’ sulked Clyde. ‘I should get millions for what I did today.’

  ‘We all did it,’ corrected Maria.

  ‘Who worked out the vinegar thing?’ he bragged. ‘Thank you, Clyde Langer!’

  ‘You told your mum you’d be home by eight,’ said Maria. ‘I’ll walk you to the bus.’ She headed for the door.

  Clyde hung back. ‘You’re right - this is great. Weird. But great. And you lot need me,’ he added, with no modesty. ‘Can’t believe you were gonna save those creatures. They tried to destroy the entire planet - billions of people. What was the big dilemma?’

  ‘Bus stop!’ ordered Maria, before he could say anything else.

  Clyde nodded in Luke’s direction. ‘You were good,’ he grinned. ‘And if anyone says you’re not cool, I’ll set ’em straight.’