Cold as Ice  Writer...Patrick Sean Crossey

“Ice cold killer brings death’s sweet darkness,

Close my eyes, say my last farewell.

I’ll return by starlight...”  - Geezer Butler

Bison crawled desperately along the floor, a trail of blood following his battered body.  His rugged but ageing face was set into a wide eyed mask of terror as his wrinkled trembling hands slid and scraped along the smooth metal tiles of the control room.  Outside the observation windows the air was thick with whirling snowflakes.  Finally Bison reached the central computer.  He dragged himself up and desperately started tapping the keys.  His hands were shaking too much to type properly and the computer registered an error.

Access Denied

‘Damn it!’ cried Bison.  ‘Come on!  Come on!’

Access to communications set-up granted.  Please proceed, Doctor Bison

He had nearly done it!  A few more lines of programming and he could avenge the deaths of all who had fallen here.  Bison knew he was going to die.  He was badly injured.  At seventy six he knew he could not bounce back from this one, but he could take the attackers down with him.

‘Just find the correct frequency...’ he murmured.

Suddenly something slithered up Bison’s leg.  The old man grabbed the nearest available weapon, a sturdy wrench.  He rolled on the floor and flailed desperately at his body as something silver flashed over his torso.  There was a glow of cold blue and a whirring mechanical screech before blood sprayed from Bison’s neck and his head fell back at a crooked angle.  His leg twitched for a moment before he finally lay still, his hand clamped around the wrench as his killer slithered away quickly in a streak of shining silver.

Melanie had just settled down for the evening, writing her journal as she did each night.  She toyed with her pen for a while, a thoughtful look on her friendly, pleasant face.  Masses of vibrant red hair tumbled over her shoulders, spiral permed and bouncing.  She ponderously began to write, only illuminated by a small bedside lamp in her otherwise dark and plain quarters.

Life as a space traveller has seemed a little more complicated since I joined Hudson on the Scrapdog.  I think he was happy to pick me up after he lost his crew.  I don’t like to ask about them but I know that something terrible happened.  He sits in his quarters on his own when he’s thinking about them and drinks dangerously potent Martian whiskey.  I don’t agree with it but he has to cope with his past somehow.  It’s not really my place to interfere.  Perhaps when we meet up with Glitz at this Leonardo place we can get more out of him.  He knows Glitz quite well and he might open up to him.

Melanie looked up and gazed at the stars through her cabin window.

But it’s not all as grim as that.  Hudson is one of the few caring people I’ve met since I left the Doctor on Ice World.  He lives the same kind of life as Glitz used to but without that bad habit of selling you out or giving you away in card games.  We’ve taken a course change at any rate.  Glitz is dropping off a consignment of medical gear in return for getting his ship repaired.  At least he’s not stealing anymore, although I’m still not sure he didn’t get the merchandise in a poker game. 

Suddenly the communicator bleeped.  All of the Scrapdog’s cabins housed a small communicator built into the bedside table.  Melanie pulled the covers over herself before switching on the receiver button.  Hudson appeared on the screen.  He had a thin face with deep eyes and long black hair.  His chin was always slightly shaded by stubble, giving him a roguish look.

‘Hello.’ said Melanie.  ‘A little late isn’t it?’

‘Sorry, Mel.’ said Hudson.  ‘We’re getting near Leonardo 7 now.  I’ve picked up a blip on the scanner which is certainly a ship landing.’

‘That’ll be Glitz.’ said Melanie.  ‘Can’t we get a bit of rest before we land?’

‘We’ve got a few hours but we can’t risk missing Glitz.  We’d better go straight there. Try to get some sleep and I’ll call you just before we land.’

The screen went blank.  Melanie put her head on the pillow and tried to get herself to sleep by looking at the dull grey interior of her quarters.  At least when she got back to the Nosferatu she’d have her own room again.

It was about four o’clock in the morning when Melanie had been rudely awakened.  Hudson sat poised for action in the ship’s bridge.  The room was small and claustrophobic with only a few screens and panels to break up the gun grey interior.  Hudson wore his typical attire of dark work trousers and a black shirt along with his long leather coat.  Washed and dressed, Melanie stepped into the room wearing smart leather trousers and a sparkly purple blouse.  She stood still for a few moments, waiting for Hudson’s reaction.  He managed a very slight smile in the corner of his mouth.  Melanie urged him on.

‘Ta-da!’ she boasted, holding her arms out.  Hudson just smiled and shook his head.  ‘What?  I thought this was a splendid outfit for our reunion with Glitz.  It wouldn’t hurt you to liven up a little bit here and there, you know.’

‘Mel, you look great, okay?’ chuckled Hudson.

‘But?’

‘But Leonardo 7 is built on a freezing cold planet with nothing but snow and glaciers.’

‘Oh.’ sighed Melanie, her face sinking.

‘Here put this on.’ said Hudson, handing Melanie a drab winter coat.  ‘It’s not exactly high fashion but until we get inside the colony you’ll need something warm.’

Melanie pulled the coat on and sat in a chair next to Hudson.  A white and blue planet was approaching on the main view port, quite far away from the nearest sun.  Hudson tapped a few controls and pulled up a manual piloting set-up.  Melanie had seen these sorts of controls before but she still tittered when she saw Hudson or Glitz using one.  It looked like they were playing Star Wars in an amusement arcade.  The ship shook abruptly as Hudson steered it down into the atmosphere.  Whispy layers of cloud drifted over the ship as it descended onto the sheer white landscape.  Melanie held onto the armrests of her seat as the landing thrusters suddenly kicked in with a fierce rumble.  Touching down in a ship as old as the Scrapdog was a terrifying experience indeed.  With a last thump the ship finally landed and the noise died away.  Melanie sighed with relief as her heart finally started to slow down.

The wind howled relentlessly over the white snowy wasteland as Melanie paced up and down outside the ship.  She gave the vessel a quick look as Hudson stepped out.  It was an ugly piece of work.  The hull was made up of segmented plates, dull coloured.  It looked like a gigantic metal cockroach.

‘Haven’t you ever thought of getting a better ship, Hudson?’ asked Melanie.

‘I’d love to get a better ship.’ said Hudson.  ‘But I know I couldn’t afford one.  Perhaps if I get a lucky break I’ll sell the old thing and get a better model.  You’ve definitely got everything?’

‘Yes.’ said Melanie, slinging a large bag onto her back.  ‘How far is it to the colony?’

‘Just over the next rise.’ said Hudson, walking forward against the wind.  ‘I’d say it’s more of a research post than a colony.’

‘Research post?’

‘Pretty good one too.  Some of the advances made here have helped people all over the galaxy.  It’s a shame I probably won’t be allowed to speak to any of the scientists.’

‘Any life on this planet apart from the settlers?’ asked Melanie.

‘Only on this side of the planet, the rest of this world is too cold.  Most of the local creatures are like polar bears from Earth, only a bit larger and less aggressive.  I’m not sure what else lives here.’

As the two travellers climbed over the snow dune the gleaming structure of the complex appeared through the blizzard.  It was a magnificent sight, with a tall observation tower and a large satellite dish for communications.  A large fence surrounded the colony and a variety of strange vehicles were parked outside.  Some were tracked with ploughs on the front.  A few of them had thick metal legs with large flat feet for striding on the snow.  Melanie stopped and nodded.

‘Impressive!’ she said.  ‘I bet it’s even more incredible inside.’

‘Wait!’ said Hudson, holding Melanie back.  ‘Look at the main gate.’

Melanie balked as she noticed the main entrance gate had been forced open.  There were burn marks on the steel surface and chunks of mangled metal scattered over the ground.

‘What should we do?’ whispered Melanie.

‘Come on.’ said Hudson, pulling out a small blaster pistol from his coat.

As Melanie and Hudson drew closer they noticed several sets of footprints leading both in and out of the base.  Hudson paused near the doorway.  Melanie had a frightening thought.

‘You don’t suppose this base was evacuated?’ she asked, her teeth beginning to chatter in the cold.  ‘I was just thinking that something very dangerous could have... sort of leaked out.’

‘A virus or something?’

‘Or something.’ said Melanie.  ‘Should we go inside?’

‘I doubt we’ve got much choice.’ sighed Hudson.  ‘It’s getting colder by the second.  Besides that, we’ve got find out what happened to Glitz if he ever turned up.’

Melanie strolled slowly towards the large doorway that appeared to be the main entrance.  There was a small keypad at the side of the door, sheltered by a slide away cover.  Melanie slid the keypad open and took a look at the controls.

‘Still intact by the looks of it.’ she said, pushing a few buttons.

The door slid open.  Another lay just behind it, built like an airlock.  A sign was set up, reading in several different languages, including Terran.  Melanie had learned Terran rather well as it was similar to English with traces of other old Earth languages. 

‘It’s a decontamination chamber.’ said Melanie as Hudson stepped in after her.  ‘Get ready.’

As Melanie pushed the access button the outer door slammed shut and a thin spray of odourless gas filled the room briefly before suddenly clearing.  The inner door slid open to reveal some kind of reception room.  Hudson led the way in, keeping his blaster ready.  There was a desk covered in papers and an office style chair lay broken next to it .  The whole place was deadly silent.  The wind howled faintly from outside in a chilling and ghostly wail.  There was a terrible musty smell inside the complex too.  Whatever happened had been at least a few days ago, perhaps much longer.  Hudson was about to make a suggestion when Melanie quickly put her hand over his lips.

‘Listen.’ she whispered.  ‘Through there.’

Very faint careful footsteps were creeping up from one of the many doorways in the room.  Hudson put his hand up, signalling for Melanie to keep still, as he slowly crept towards the doorway.  He held his blaster up and quietly approached.  Suddenly there was movement!  A black clad figure quickly grabbed Hudson, whirling around him like lightning.  Hudson’s gun slid across the floor.  He tried to fight back but the attacker was too agile for him.  In one swift movement Hudson was kicked across the room, landing with a grunt as his body crashed through the reception desk.  Melanie sneaked to the side as a woman strode out of the doorway, dressed in a sleek black uniform.  She had dark hair cut fairly close to the head.  She was strikingly pretty but her grey eyes held no trace of sentiment or warmth.  Melanie took her chance and made a grab for Hudson’s blaster.  Before she could hold it up the woman flew into a spinning kick and knocked the weapon from Melanie’s grasp.  Melanie cradled her battered fingers.

‘Stay right where you are.’ said the woman, pulling out an advanced looking gun and training it on Melanie.  ‘Don’t move!’

‘Please let me help my friend!’ urged Melanie.  ‘He could be badly hurt.’

‘I said don’t move!’ snapped the woman.  Melanie felt cold metal on the back of her neck.  Someone else had crept up behind her during the fight.

‘Okay!’ cried Melanie, putting her hands up.  ‘I’m not moving, just make sure Hudson’s all right.’

The woman nodded to the figure behind Melanie.  This agent was a tall black man with a rough, rugged face and slightly greying dark hair.

‘He’s all right, Ma’am.’ said the man.  ‘Just winded and a little shocked.’

Hudson staggered to his feet and coughed.  He rubbed his head and looked at his captors with deeply concerned eyes.

‘Space Security agents.’ he sighed, shuffling towards Melanie.

‘That’s far enough.’ snorted the woman.  ‘You’re both under arrest on suspicion of terrorism and espionage.  You have no rights whatsoever and I assure you I will kill you both if you don’t co-operate.’

‘I don’t doubt it.’ sneered Hudson, looking into the woman’s heartless eyes.  ‘May I ask your name?’

‘Sara Kingdom.  A name you should learn well.  This man is my deputy, Giles Manning.  Now who are you two?’

‘I’m Chris Hudson, this is Melanie Bush.’

‘What are we supposed to have done?’ demanded Melanie.  ‘We’ve literally just walked through the door.  We couldn’t have possibly...’ she was cut off.

‘Perhaps you came back to finish the job.’ said Giles, blankly.

‘What do we have to say to make you believe us?’ asked Hudson.  ‘We’re not guilty of terrorism or espionage.  I only see two armed terrorists around here anyway!’

Sara’s nostrils flared for a second.  She strode quickly up to Hudson, holstering her gun.  Hudson stood his ground and glared straight back at her.

‘I see we have a trouble maker here.’ she said coldly.

Before Hudson could say a word Sara viciously struck him with her knee.  Hudson crumpled to the ground, huddled up in pain.  Sara looked sadistically triumphant as she gave Hudson a swift kick to emphasise her authority.

‘Leave him alone!’ shrieked Melanie.  Sara glanced back at her.

‘Well, I might do.  It depends on how much you decide to tell us’

‘Just stop hurting him.’ breathed Melanie, trying to keep calm.  ‘We’re not responsible for whatever’s happened here.  If you tell us what’s wrong we might be able to help you.’

Sara looked into Melanie’s eyes.  Melanie tried to fathom out why this woman was so detached and merciless.  She certainly had the kind of stare that was made for interrogation.  There was a long silence before Sara’s eyes finally softened.

‘Contact was lost with this research post about a week ago.’ she said.  ‘We picked up a very faint distress call from the emergency transmitter but when we got here we found the whole place deserted.’

‘Nobody at all?’ gasped Melanie.

‘We presumed the staff were taken hostage by terrorists.  There are conspirators everywhere trying to depose the Solar System’s guardian in favour of the newest candidate, Mavec Chen.’

‘I’m not at all shocked to hear it.’ croaked Hudson.  ‘Commander Phoenix is a ruthless dictator with about as much decency as a bloody Dalek.’

‘Nevertheless she is the guardian and my orders are to crush the conspirators.’ said Sara.

‘Well, haven’t you managed to get a trace on where all these hostages could have gone?’ asked Melanie.  ‘Haven’t any space ships left here in a hurry?’

‘Not that we know of.  I believe they are being held somewhere on this planet.’

‘Can’t you do a planetary sweep?’ asked Hudson, still clutching his ribs.  ‘I thought with all the snazzy gear at your disposal...’

‘Our sensor systems are not working properly.’ said Sara, agitated.  ‘We believe someone is using a blocking device.  Giles, search these two before we check out the control tower.’

Giles took Melanie's bag and started to go through the contents.  There were many clothes, a small diary and a few photographs.  He gave Sara a nod to imply she was unarmed.

‘If that ship we spotted on the radar was yours then what happened to Glitz?’ said Hudson.

‘I almost forgot about that!’ gasped Melanie.  ‘We were due to meet a friend here.  What if something happened to him?’

‘I cannot help you with that, Miss Bush.’ said Sara.  ‘My job is to find the terrorists and put them to justice.’

‘Not to protect and serve then?’ spat Hudson. 

Melanie tried to grab Sara’s arm and hold her back as soon as she heard Hudson speak.  Sara pushed her away and approached.

‘You’ve had one warning about your insolence.’ she said.  ‘You know full well I’d love to give you another.’  She whipped out her blaster and pushed it up under Hudson’s chin.  ‘Don’t make it any easier for me.’

‘Shall I tie them up, Ma’am?’ asked Giles.  ‘We still haven’t searched the control room.’

‘It’s okay, Giles.’ said Sara.  ‘We’ll take them with us.  I doubt they’d try anything.’  She turned to Hudson again.  ‘Isn’t that right?’

Hudson sighed and nodded, putting his hands up briefly in a gesture of surrender.  Melanie raced over to him, ignoring Sara as she shook her gun towards her. 

‘Are you okay?’ she said softly. 

'I’ll live.’ said Hudson.  ‘We’d better do as they say.'

***

The walk through the complex was gloomy and unnerving as Melanie and Hudson were prodded along at gun point.  The corridors were dim from the damaged lighting.  Flickering strobe lights blinked wildly and jets of steam occasionally gushed out from broken piping.  Melanie didn’t like this one bit.  There were half open doors and dark alcoves round every corner, as well as service hatches and cupboards.  In the darkness it felt like something could spring out from anywhere!

‘Whoever did this really didn’t care about messing the place up.’ said Hudson.  ‘Perhaps it was sabotage.’ he added.

‘Wait!’ said Melanie.  Giles tried to prod her forward but Sara held her hand up.

‘What is it?’ she said.

‘Look.’ said Melanie.  ‘Isn’t that one of the laboratories?’  She pointed through an open doorway to a large white room where assorted scientific equipment was neatly set out.  ‘You mentioned espionage didn’t you?’

‘Yes.’ said Sara.  ‘I don’t believe that even terrorists would interfere with the research posts.  For that reason, I believe there must be some sort of rivalry, perhaps linked to Phoenix’s own science department.  Her and Mavec Chen are rivals in military science.  For peacekeeping purposes.’

‘Peacekeeping... yeah right!’ said Hudson.  ‘But I do see the point here.  Nothing’s broken at all, nor stolen by the looks of it.’

‘You think there’d be at least something missing or ransacked.’ agreed Melanie.  ‘Even a group of terrorists would see the value of all this stuff.’

Before further speculation could be made the light fell suddenly.  For a few seconds the whole corridor was pitch black before the droning of the power generator suddenly kicked in and the lights flickered back on.  The computer system made an announcement and the base hummed back into life.

Warning!  Power failure in all areas.  Compensating... Compensating...  Power restored.

‘A brown out!’ gasped Giles.  ‘We’d better get to the control room quickly.  If life support fails we’ll freeze to death in here.’

‘I don’t like the idea of groping around here in the darkness.’ added Melanie.

Sara and Giles ushered their captives into a small lift and pushed the control button.  The lift hummed softly as it rose up into the tall control tower.  Walking out of the lift the party found themselves in a large room, well lit by both strobe lights and vast observation windows.  Melanie gasped and gripped Hudson’s arm as she saw a crooked body on the floor near a large bank of computers.  It was an elderly man in a white lab coat.  Blood was congealed over his neck and a foul smell filled the stuffy air like rotten meat.  Sara kept her blank determination about her, but her face grew pale as she stooped over the body and examined it.

‘Chief Scientist Bison.’ she read from his uniform.  ‘Killed by some kind of sharp piercing attack to the base of the neck.’  She examined his body further.  ‘Poor man.  He has many other wounds here too.  Bludgeoning by the looks of it.’

Hudson raced over and examined the terrible bruises that Sara had discovered under Bison’s coat.  Sara looked infuriated as he took over the inspection, but didn’t interfere.  Hudson obviously knew what he was doing.

‘If you feel along here you’ll notice his ribs are shattered.’ he said.  ‘Severely.’

‘He’s holding a wrench.’ added Melanie.  ‘It could have been a very desperate stand-off.  Considering the kind of weapons people around here would have it’s strange to see a man bludgeoned and stabbed to death.’

‘Even with a sturdy club or iron bar a normal man couldn’t do this kind of damage.’ said Hudson, pressing down on Bison’s soft brittle ribcage.  ‘Whoever... or whatever did this must have been very large and very powerful.’

‘And quite possibly deranged.’ added Sara.  ‘Giles, give Hudson back his weapon.’

‘What?’ gasped Giles.  ‘I mean.. Ma’am?’

‘I don’t understand.’ said Hudson as his blaster was handed back to him.

‘I don’t know what we’re dealing with exactly but I’m certain you couldn’t have done this.  You also seem to show initiative.’  Sara paused and gave Hudson a stern look.  ‘As well as bravery, if not slightly foolish bravery.  I’m enlisting you as of now.’

‘You’re enlisting him?’ gasped Melanie.  ‘You can’t just do that!’

‘Actually, Mel, she can.’ sighed Hudson.  ‘She has the right to enlist the help of anyone.  Civilian or military.  At least we’re not being accused anymore.’

Melanie shrugged and took a look at the computer system.  It was slightly more advanced that she was used to, but the principles were clear to her.  She swiftly set about gaining access to the system by using a few logic gates and demanded an immediate report on the status of the colony.  What she read out was not very inspiring.

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’ she said, turning back to the others.  ‘Over half of the systems are out, just disconnected somehow.  Security monitors have been rendered useless, so we’ll never see what happened, communications have been cut and somehow all the power that was supposed to work these things has been, well, sort of siphoned somehow.

‘What about life support?’ said Sara, walking closer.

‘No, that’s been left untouched.  Oxygen is still within optimum ratio.  Heat and light has been left fairly stable, as if they wanted the inhabitants crippled but alive.  I presume you couldn’t survive out in the snow for very long.’

‘Not more than a few hours.’ said Giles.  ‘Certainly not overnight.’

‘Where could that power have gone?’ demanded Sara.  ‘Try to find out.’

‘Could it have been transmitted?’ offered Hudson.

‘Don’t be foolish.’ snapped Giles.  ‘You can’t just transmit power!’

‘Why not?’ said Hudson.  ‘It is possible.  I’ve seen it done.’

‘I’m still worried about this body.’ said Melanie.  ‘If these attackers were advanced enough to transmit half the base’s power supply then why did they smash this poor man to pieces?  Surely they’d have... I don’t know, laser guns or something.’

‘I don’t know.’ said Hudson.  ‘It really doesn’t make any sense to me.’

‘Can you look into the transactions?’ started Sara.  She was suddenly cut off by a shrill scream from Melanie.

‘Something touched me!’ she yelled.

‘Don’t look at me!’ urged Hudson. 

Melanie jumped back from the console.  She put her hands over her mouth, suppressing a further scream into a terrified gasp.  Something was crawling up the side of the computer bank.  It was small and metallic, like a silver worm or grub.  Two glowing blue lights shone from the head section like eyes.  It had a sharp sting at the tip of what would be a tail.  It paused as Sara pointed her gun at it, poising itself ready to move.

‘It’s intelligent!’ gasped Giles.  ‘Is it dangerous?’

Melanie looked at the creature’s sting, then back to Bison’s pierced throat.  She slowly backed away and stood next to Hudson.

‘I think that’s what killed the scientist.’ she said, quietly.

‘Oh no!  No, it couldn’t be!’ said Hudson.  ‘It’s a Cybermat!  Shoot it now!’

‘A what?’ demanded Sara.

‘Kill it!’ yelled Hudson, firing at the creature.

The silver grub leaped away from the console as Hudson’s shot lanced into the metalwork.  It slithered quickly along the floor towards the wall.

‘You fool!  Don’t fire at the computers!’ screamed Sara.

The Cybermat slithered up the wall and onto the ceiling.  Sara fired three shots as the creature snaked and weaved through the beams of light, dodging with alarming agility.  Giles joined in the firing, peppering the room with blue beams of laser fire.  Melanie backed away as hot sparks showered down from above.  The Cybermat had been hit at least twice, but it’s segmented body seemed too tough to damage with normal blasters.  Finally, Sara took aim while the others had it pinned.  She shot straight into the tiny blue eyes and it fell, smoking and twitching.  Dark viscous black fluid leaked from between the segments as it writhed and wailed.  Finally it lay still.

‘What was that?’ cried Melanie.  ‘It’s bleeding!  How can it be bleeding?’

‘It’s a Cybermat.’ sighed Hudson.  ‘Half machine, half organic.  I’ve had a very bad idea.’

Hudson prised open the service panels on the computer bank.  Melanie stooped down next to him and peered inside.  Wires and circuits had been precisely cut away, even re-routed in some cases.  Hudson slammed his fist down on the console and stood back up.

‘It couldn’t have done that.’ gasped Melanie.  ‘It’s just a little worm thing.  You’d have to be an electrical genius to tamper with the computers on that level.’

‘That’s not the worst of it.’ continued Hudson.  ‘Miss Kingdom, I suggest you check your space craft right away.  I think we’ve been outwitted.’

‘Giles, go and check.’ ordered Sara.

‘He can’t go alone!’ urged Hudson.

‘I’m not letting you two out of my sight.’ said Sara.  ‘If you’re right, we may need your vessel.’

‘I’ll go.’ said Melanie firmly.

‘Mel, you can’t go out there.’ said Hudson.  ‘Let me or Sara go.’

‘I can take care of myself.’ said Melanie.  ‘Besides, Sara must have a radio.’  Sara nodded.  ‘We’ll stay in touch.’

‘Okay, just take care.’ said Hudson.  ‘And don’t take any silly risks.  If something’s waiting out there you get straight back.  Don’t try to take it on yourself.  When you get back I’d like to share a theory.’

The blizzard had grown fiercer and even more chilling outside.  Even under the winter coat, Melanie was shivering.  Giles helped her up the slippery ladder that lead to the landing platform.  A sleek black rocket ship stood in the centre of the pad, bearing little in the way of insignia.  Giles tapped a code into the door panel and lead Melanie inside.  He pulled a tiny torch from his pocket and started to flip open service hatches and computer panels.  The interior of the ship was sterile, but not gloomy like the Scrapdog.  The Space Security Services obviously had the pick of new technology and hardware.  Even their clothes must have been special.  Giles had barely shivered outside, even though his suit was light and unpadded.  Melanie imagined herself as an agent for a moment.  She’d certainly be nicer than that Sara, and she'd put her efforts into training the new recruits too.  Perhaps she’d finally found someone who’d appreciate her fitness programmes! 

‘How did you become an agent, Giles?’ she casually asked.

‘Well I was a soldier.’ he replied, still poking around in the ship’s computer banks.  ‘I was always in trouble for cutting corners and doing things my own way.’

‘A hero trying to get out?’ suggested Melanie.

‘Nothing so romantic.’ chuckled Giles.  ‘I just had a problem with authority.  I got draughted to the Space Security Service because they thought I showed too much initiative.  I saw a picture of my new boss, and to be honest I laughed at first.’

‘Because it was a woman?’ snorted Melanie.

‘Well, perhaps.’ laughed Giles.  ‘I thought she’d be some dolly from intelligence or something.  It came as a shock when I found out how tough she was.  Sara’s hard, but she is fair if you get on with the job.  Why do you ask?  Where you thinking of signing up?’

‘I don’t know.’ said Melanie, shaking her head.  ‘I’m just beginning to face the idea that I might not see Glitz again.’

‘Wait!’ said Giles.  ‘I think I’ve found something...’

Sara listened carefully to the communicator radio, her face sinking as she did so.  Hudson paced up and down nervously, knowing what was coming.  As Sara put down the communicator he picked up the dormant Cybermat and looked out across the snowy wastes.  He could barely make out the shape of the Scrapdog in the distance.

‘Your ship?’ asked Sara.

‘Yes.’ said Hudson.  ‘I presume we’ll be needing it after all.’

‘It looks that way.  Giles and Melanie are on the way back now.  My ship’s been totally crippled.  As before, life support is fine.  Hudson, you know something.  What is happening.  Who could have done this and why?’

‘I’ll tell you my theory when the others get back.’ he sighed.  ‘You’re not going to like it.’

‘Can’t we make a dash for your ship?’ offered Sara.  ‘We can come back with reinforcements and put this whole operation to and end.’

‘We can’t.’ said Hudson.  ‘For one thing, we’d probably get lost in that storm now.  Nightfall’s approaching and we’d freeze to death outside.  Furthermore, I think we’re being watched.’

‘Watched?’ gasped Sara.  ‘How?’

‘Look carefully at the computer circuits.’  Hudson pointed to a series of yellow and blue chips, now rewired and redirected.  ‘They didn’t cut off the security systems.  They simply tapped into them.’

‘Oh no.’ breathed Sara.  ‘No, that can’t be right.’

The lift doors opened and Sara whirled round with her blaster ready.  A defeated Giles and a worried looking Melanie filed into the room.  Sara sighed and put her gun back.

‘Well, you were right about the ship, Hudson.’ said Giles.

‘What was your other theory?’ asked Melanie.

Hudson was still fixed on the snowy horizon and the blurred black patch that was his ship.  He turned to face the others, scratching his chin.  He looked worried indeed.

‘Tonight, we shall be attacked.’ he said firmly.  ‘I don’t know exactly how long we have left but I know one thing.  This is a fight we can’t win.’

‘How could you possibly know that?’ demanded Melanie.  ‘There’s always a way to win!’

‘Have you two checked the armoury?’ said Hudson to Sara and Giles.  Sara nodded.  ‘And I’m presuming that nothing was missing.’

‘A few of the guns were found scattered around the base but most of the weapons are accounted for.’ said Sara.  ‘Now you mention it, why didn’t that creature attempt to destroy them?’

‘Because whoever was controlling that creature knew it would do no good.’ replied Hudson, glumly. 

‘No good?’ gasped Sara.  ‘What’s coming for us, the living dead?’

‘An interesting choice of words.’ said Hudson.  ‘They have no souls.  Now they’ve come for ours’

‘Who?’ yelled Sara.  ‘Tell us!’

‘The Cybermen.’

There was a deadly silence in the room, broken only by the ghostly howling of the wind outside.  Melanie looked around, quite confused, but everybody else in the room looked as if they had just gazed upon their own tombstones.  Sara’s eyes were lost somewhere in the distance.  Her mouth twitched nervously at the edges.  Giles looked like he was ready to bust out in tears.  He was shaking terribly and his eyes were hollow.  After an eternity of quiet, Melanie broke the ice.

‘Who are they?’ she meekly voiced.

‘They were like us once.’ said Hudson.  His voice was soft with sorrow.  ‘They inhabited a planet in Earth’s solar system.  When Earth’s moon forced it out of orbit the people of the planet had to survive in vast underground cities.  Their world grew colder and more dangerous as they drifted away from the heat of the sun.  The only way they could think of surviving was by gradually replacing vulnerable organs with metal and plastic.  Eventually they were encased fully in their cybernetic suits.  They had the strength of ten men and they were practically immortal.’

‘So what went wrong?’ asked Melanie.

‘It drove them insane.’ said Hudson.  ‘Walking forever among their frozen cities while their world died around them pushed their humanity too far, so they removed their emotions, letting their brains be controlled by computers.’

‘That’s horrible!’ cried Melanie.  ‘But what could they want with us?’

‘Sara.’ said Hudson.  ‘I believe you know why they need us.’

‘Because the only way for them to survive and multiply is to capture human beings and transform them into newly born Cybermen!’ shrieked Sara. 

‘There must be a way to stop them!’ shouted Melanie.  ‘There must be!’

‘We could put together a barricade in the entrance hall.’ said Sara.  ‘Our blasters won’t do very much to them but we have six grenades between us.  We might be able to hold them off until the storm dies away.’

‘We’re dead.’ said Giles.  His hands were shaking uncontrollably.  ‘We’re all dead!’

‘Giles, snap out of it!’ bellowed Sara.

‘Face it, we’re as good as dead!’

‘Attention!’ snapped Sara.  Even Melanie jumped at her voice.  Giles froze upright.  ‘Get this into your head, Agent Manning!  We are going to hold them off and your orders are to fight and survive.’

‘Yes, Ma’am’ sighed Giles.

‘Now who are you more scared of?’ asked Sara, leaning uncomfortably close to Giles.  ‘Them or me?’

‘I await your orders.’ he said, firmly.

Sara stepped back and pushed her fingers through her dark hair.  Her mouth was still twitching a little, but her eyes were alert and the power rush had given her an air of authority once again.  She turned to Melanie.

‘Do you think you can cut off the security network?  Hudson believes the Cybermen are using it to observe us.’

‘I’ll try my best.’ breathed Melanie.  She looked at Bison’s body again.  ‘Hudson, do the Cybermen reject the elderly or sick?’

‘Usually.’ Hudson replied.  ‘The process to too traumatic for some to survive.’

‘I see, but what was he doing here?’

‘Perhaps it was a last stand.’ sighed Sara. 

Melanie looked at the body for a while, pondering this.  As the others raced off to set up the barricades she tried to fathom out what he was doing.  There were drag marks all the way from the lift doorway.  He’d been desperate enough to drag himself up to the control tower with broken bones and severe concussion.

‘There must be a reason.’ she said to herself.  ‘I’m sorry Hudson, but you’re wrong.  Nothing is invulnerable.  I’m not giving up hope.’

It was almost nightfall by the time the barricade had been set up.  Steel tables and assorted furniture wouldn’t hold out very long, but at least there was some cover.  Sara had opted to use four of the grenades as tripwire traps.  Between her and Giles they had trapped two corridors.  Melanie had found it simple enough to cut security off and she was now attempting to create a pass-code system for the doors so they could close them on the Cybermen.  Hudson had raided the armoury and found a blaster for Melanie to use.  It wasn’t going to be much, but at least she had some means of defence.  After all had been prepared, the party returned to the control room and waited.  They stood facing the observation windows, staring out across the darkness.

‘Presuming they’re coming through the main gate we’ll see them easily in the floodlights.’ said Hudson.  ‘That’s where the footprints lead.’

‘Presuming they are coming.’ said Giles.

‘Believe me, they’re coming.  That creature we killed was unmistakably a Cybermat.  Where there are Cybermats there are Cybermen.’

‘Couldn’t it have been left here alone?  Perhaps the colonists caught it and were testing it in one of the laboratories.’

‘And I suppose it dragged all of the colonists away one by one!’ snapped Hudson.

‘Come on, keep your cool.’ said Melanie. 

The wind calmly whistled outside as the group fell silent again.  Snowflakes whirled in the white glare of the floodlights.  Melanie clung on to it.  It was like Christmas.  A lone reminder of home on a deathly alien world.  Would she ever see Christmas again?  If the Cybermen transformed her would she even care?  Then she saw them!  She yelped at first.  Three cold blue lights appeared on the horizon.  Where the snow dunes met the sky she thought she saw several more, or were they just the stars?  Moving closer to the colony the lights became three tall silver figures.  They must have been huge!  Melanie balked as she saw them stooping to get through the gateway.  They marched in unison, unaffected by the howling blizzard outside.  Their faces were blank impassive masks with soulless black eye holes and harsh slits for mouths.  Their hands were huge metal gauntlets and their feet were heavy boots.  Each one had a sleek carapace plate that covered the chest, and strange antennae where their ears should be, running from the temple to the top of the head where a small light was fitted.  More figures marched from the horizon.

‘They’re coming for us, Sara.’ said Hudson.  ‘They’ve come to take our souls.’

‘We’d better get to the entrance hall.’ said Sara.  ‘Come on!’

The party lined up behind the barricade.  Giles grabbed a second blaster and got ready with both barrels.  Sara got her grenades close to hand.  Melanie stayed next to Hudson, desperately thinking of another way out of this.  Suddenly there was a clash of metal on metal.  The sound was terrible as the monster outside furiously pounded at the outer door.  Melanie winced as she heard the steel being ripped apart.  It screeched and complained as the door was torn from it’s faring.

‘They’re through the outer door!’ yelled Hudson.  ‘They’ll be in the decontamination chamber now!’

The inner door shook with a clang, a great fist mark appearing in the centre.  The intruder struck again and again, making Melanie’s heart jump with each furious strike.  Finally the door gave way, a huge silver arm tearing through the metal as if it were paper.  The mangled door was pushed aside as a terrifying figure strode into the room, raising to full height as it cleared the doorway.  Everyone knew they should be firing by now, but a lethal cocktail of awe and terror held their attack.  Hudson noted that the antennae on this Cyberman were black.  It was a leader.  The Cyberman glared blankly at the defenders, pointing with a silver finger as it announced their fate in a flat electronic voice.

‘You belong to us... you shall be like us!’

‘Open fire!’ yelled Sara.

The room was filled with a dazzling cascade of blue beams.  Laser fire struck the silver giant across the body harmlessly as it started to step forward.  Melanie had never felt like this before.  She had fought evils on her journey over and over again, but this was different.  This was front line combat, this was a straight out fire fight.  Her finger pumped the trigger over and over again and she yelled wildly. 

‘The gun's no good, it’s like a toy!’ she screamed as her firepower uselessly fizzed over the gleaming monster.  ‘We can’t kill them!’

Sara tried to keep her cool.  She aimed at a small grille on the Cyberman’s chest unit and fired.  The shot was precise and sparks fizzed over the grille.  The attacker stepped back, a hideous gurgling sound coming from somewhere inside of it.  It was phased, but it still kept coming.

‘Aim at the chest panel!’ exclaimed Sara.

Another Cyberman came striding through the doorway.  Apart from the silver antennae it looked identical to the first one.  Melanie took a chance and rose up to get a clear shot.  She fired at the already damaged Cyberleader, managing to hit the chest grille.  The monster fell backwards with a pained metallic groaning, but the second Cyberman was already drawing close.  It reached out for Sara, who rolled back quickly and shot at the black eye holes.  It recoiled for a moment, blinded.  Melanie decided to take her chances again.  She slammed the barrel of her pistol into the Cyberman’s chest.  There was a flash of silver.  Melanie screamed.  With lightning reflexes the creature’s gauntlet grabbed her wrist and turned the weapon away from itself.  It pulled Melanie up and over the barricade with a single arm.  Hudson yelled out loud and waved his arm.

‘Don’t fire!  Don’t fire!  You might hit her!’

Melanie writhed and flailed she was taken towards the freezing cold outside.  Her hands clawed hopelessly at her captor.  Her face screwed up as she smelt a ghastly odour like antiseptic and preservative fluid.  Giles swallowed hard as the Cyberman dragged Melanie towards the door.  He bit his lip and looked at the others who stood sill.  With a final yell he leapt over the barricade with both guns ready and darted at the Cyberman.  He took aim and shot upwards into the creature’s eyes.  It dropped Melanie and flailed about, disorientated.  Melanie scurried back to the barricade while Giles shot repeatedly into the Cyberman’s chest grille.  Finally the creature fell with a last gurgle, sickly white fluid bubbling from the scorched chest unit.

Suddenly the Cyberleader sat up.  It’s head turned to face Giles.  Giles turned around as it rose to it’s feet.  A further Cyberman strode through the doorway and quickly lashed out, grabbing Giles by the wrist.  Giles yelled as he was easily wrestled to the ground. 

‘No!’ screamed Melanie.

There was a vicious crack and Giles burst out in a cry of agony.  He was then carelessly thrown aside.  The Cyberleader picked up one of the dropped pistols, holding the blaster up to show the human defenders and crushing it slowly.  The weapon crumpled and fizzed in the Cyberleader’s gauntlet.

‘Resistance is useless.’ it droned. 

Melanie suddenly noticed something as it looked to the Cyberleader and paused.  The Cybermen would obviously have a military command system, and this leader was some kind of squad commander.  It said nothing, but simply made a quick gesture with it’s hand.  The obeying Cyberman turned to Giles, a crackling electronic charge flashing from the end of it’s fingers.  Giles’ body rocked and jerked before he fell still.  There was another gesture from the Cyberleader and Giles was dragged out into the snow.  Sara yelled out loud and pulled a grenade out.  Two more Cybermen marched through the doorway.  Sara threw.  There was a flash of light and a fierce explosion.  The approaching Cybermen fell backwards. 

‘One of them is still alive!’ shouted Hudson, pointing to one of the silver figures as it clambered back up.  Melanie concentrated her fire on the leader while Sara threw a second grenade into the entrance chamber.  In another explosion a dented metal head rolled out from the smoke, wires trailing from the torn neck as well as dripping veins. 

‘That got them!’ gloated Sara.

‘What about Giles?’ cried Melanie.  ‘They’ll turn him into one of them!’

More metal figures started appearing in the doorway, stepping over the remains of their fallen comrades.  Sara looked back to Melanie and gestured towards the exit behind the barricade.

‘We’ll mourn him later.’ she said.  ‘We can’t help him now.  Come on, we must fall back!’

As the party fell back Melanie stopped and observed the Cybermen gathering in the entrance hall.  Not a word was said as the leader gestured silently.

‘They’re using a command network.’ she gasped.  ‘So we can’t hear their intentions.’

Hudson ran back and grabbed Melanie.

‘We must leave!’ he urged.  ‘They’ll be on us in no time!’

‘That’s it!’ shrieked Melanie, her face lit up with inspiration.  ‘I’ve got to get to the control room!’

She slipped out of Hudson’s grasp and hurried down the corridor.  Sara frantically beckoned with her arm as Hudson watched Melanie tear off towards the lift.

‘Where’s she going?’ asked Sara.  ‘I’ve got to arm the traps!’

‘The control tower.’ panted Hudson.  ‘I’ve got to stay with her.’

Sara grabbed Hudson and dragged him along with her.  Hudson gave up his protests as Sara connected her tripwire to the grenades and lead him through the next doorway, locking it.

‘You’ll lock Mel out!’ roared Hudson. 

‘We’ve got to survive!’ snapped Sara.  ‘If Mel has a plan then fair play to her, but we can’t leave the Cybermen a clear path.’

As the two of them hurried away a loud explosion erupted from behind the door.  Distorted mechanical screaming followed the explosion as Sara’s trap did it’s work.  Sara stopped to prime her next trap... the last trap.

Melanie’s brow was dripping with sweat as she sat crouched, leaning into the computer banks and furiously working on the circuits. 

‘Come on!  You can do it, Mel!’ she said out loud as she tinkered with the systems.  She looked back at the crumpled body of Bison.  ‘Don’t worry, old timer.  I’ll finish the job for you.’

The howling of the wind picked up and Melanie shuddered.  Feeling uneasy she crept back to the lift and took a look at the control panels.  She pulled a large power lever, shutting the lift down, before going back to the computer bank and continuing her work.

The Cyberleader strode over the charred body of the dead Cyberman, who had sprung Sara’s trap.  The others followed behind it and paused.  The second-in-command stood by the leader’s side and gestured to the twisted silver body at it’s feet.

‘The humans possess advanced explosives, Leader.’ it droned.  ‘We did not expect casualties on this expedition.’

‘Their supply of explosives is limited.’ announced the leader.  ‘Why has the Cybermat not disarmed the traps?’

‘We have lost contact with the Cybermat, Leader.  It was destroyed.’

‘Our function must not be compromised.’ said the Cyberleader.  ‘We cannot sustain heavy losses.  Proceed with caution.’

‘Understood.’

The Cyberleader punched effortlessly through the locked door and strode forward.  It paused for a second before firing a thin, concentrated beam from the light on it’s head.  The second trap exploded harmlessly.

‘Me must divide ourselves.’ ordered the Cyberleader.  ‘Send a patrol to guard the humans’ ship.  I will pursue the humans along with my personal guard section.  All survivors must be taken to our ship and cyber-converted.  Our army must be complete for the invasion...’

Sara cursed in frustration as she and Hudson raced into a dead end.  They had reached a common room of some kind.  Chairs and tables were set out in rows and smashed crockery littered the floor.  There was one exit which lead to nothing more than a series of cupboards.  Sara grabbed Hudson’s arm and started to head back out towards the labyrinth of corridors.

‘We must find another way to the control tower!’ she exclaimed.  ‘Perhaps we can help Mel with whatever plan she has in mind.’  Then she froze.

‘Unfortunately,’ said the Cyberleader, striding through the doorway, ‘that will not be possible.’

Hudson and Sara stepped slowly back as four guards accompanied their leader into the room.  The gleaming silver figures approached slowly and carefully.  Sara held up her blaster.

‘You’re weapons are not effective.’ said the Cyberleader.  ‘Resistance is useless.’

‘Why are you doing this?’ screamed Sara.  ‘Why?’

‘Survival.’ droned the Cyberleader.  ‘Perfection.’

‘Can’t you see what you’re doing to us?’ she urged.  ‘You’re making us suffer.  Doesn’t that bother you?  Don’t you care?’

‘Suffer.’ said the Cyberleader, pondering Sara’s words.  ‘Care.’  It paused.  ‘Why should I care?  Your argument is not logical.  All over your galaxy people are now suffering and dying.  Do you care about them?  Do you feel emotional pain towards their suffering?’

‘That’s not the point!’ snapped Sara, backing off further. 

‘We free your people from the decay of old age.  We save them from the suffering of disease.’

‘You violate those you recruit!’ bellowed Hudson.

‘Are you frightened?’ asked the Cyberleader.  ‘Do you feel fear towards us?’

‘Of course we do!’ shrieked Sara.  ‘I can’t believe that your cold emotionless mind even understands the word fear.’

‘That is another weakness we shall remove from your mind.’ said the Cyberleader.  ‘You will be perfected.  You will become like us.’

‘No!’ yelled Hudson, firing in vain as the advancing Cybermen droned at him.

You will become like us...

Hudson fired more shots to no effect as Sara backed right away.  Her eyes darted back and forth for anything which could help them.  The silver giants strode steadily onwards.

You will become like us...

With astounding agility one of the Cybermen leapt over a nearby table, landing with an athletic crouch.  It rose back up and closed in on Sara while the others crept round to flank her.

You will become like us...

Hudson decided to go for broke.  The thought of abandoning Sara stabbed at his heart, but instinct was taking over.  He started to dash across the room, sprinting as quickly as he could.  Heavy footsteps were already pounding after him.  A thick pair of arms wrapped around him with superhuman strength.  Across the room, Sara was surrounded.  She held her gun up, pointing it randomly to and fro as the silver figures loomed in on her.  She wasn't sure whether to take a last defiant shot or to use the weapon on herself.

You will become like us...

Melanie stood up, mentally exhausted and grimy from the dusty computer hatch, but she had done what she needed.  She quickly set to work on the central computer, tapping directly into the communications relay.  There it was, the entire cyber-command network.  Booming through the computer’s speaker system were the force’s current commands, and streams of data were continuously sent around the ranks to keep track of their long term plans.  Melanie listened to the leader’s directions.

Power is low.  No response from Cybermat.  One human is now ready for conversion process.  Command squad have two more humans surrounded. 

Melanie felt a chill of dread inside her.  The Cyberleader’s command squad must have had Hudson and Sara cornered somewhere.  She listened on.

One human female is unaccounted for. Patrol nine has located humanoid life signs in central control tower.  There is a malfunction in the lift controls, presumed deliberate.  Patrol nine is requesting a replacement Cybermat to effect repairs and incapacitate the human female.

Melanie had to act now!  Somehow she needed to find out what the Cybermen were saying in those data streams, but she didn’t have time to sift through pages of binary, not right now.  She looked around the desk for some kind of storage unit.  She had to save this information before she completed her task.  Finding a compact data crystal she quickly downloaded the information.

‘I knew it!’ she cried in triumph.  ‘I knew I could do it!’

Satisfied with the stolen data she slipped the crystal into her pocket.  It was time for some swift justice now!  Melanie leant over the keyboard and tapped furiously at it, programming in a little something she had brewed up for just such an occasion.

You will become like us...

Suddenly the droning statement ceased.  Hudson was dropped to the ground.  Vile screams of agony echoed around the whole base as the Cybermen staggered, gripping at their antennae.  A shockwave of static and electronic distortion rippled through the air, apparently coming from the Cybermen themselves.  The Cyberleader stood rigid, groaning and gurgling as it’s troops collapsed to the floor.

‘She did it!’ cried Hudson, turning to face Sara, but Sara was slumped on the floor.  A pile of silver bodies twitched and quivered around her.  ‘Sara!’

Before Hudson could reach her the Cyberleader staggered towards him, arms outstretched.  He was overpowered by the monster as it pinned him to the floor and grasped his neck.

‘You will join us or die.’ gurgled the monster.  ‘You will become like us...’

Hudson desperately clawed and fumbled at the blank face of the dying cyborg as stinking green bile started to drip from it’s mouth.  Hudson felt his stomach heaving as droplets of decayed fluid spilled over his face.  Finally something gave way.  The blank face mask slipped off and landed on the floor.  Hudson suddenly yelled in sheer terror as a rotten and deathly face glared back through scorched black eyes.  Strips of raw skin hung from the creature and the odour was like a mixture of a hospital and a morgue.

‘Get this thing off of me!’ cried Hudson.  ‘Help!’

Suddenly there was a flash of light and the face exploded.  Chunks of rotten skin and shards of bone sprayed over the room as the Cyberman fell to the side with a last gurgle.  Hudson rolled over and looked up.  He briefly saw Sara, stood frozen, her blaster held tightly in a trembling hand.  Hudson closed his eyes and panted for a second before his body jerked violently and he was sick.  Sara knelt down next to him and helped him to sit up.  Hudson looked up with glazed eyes at the woman whom he hated so much before, then he threw his arms around her and collapsed into her shoulder.

Gathered at the bridge of Hudson’s ship the survivors were wrapped in blankets, sipping hot soup.  Sara had joined them for the time being.  Melanie was already at the computer, examining the data crystal she had taken.

‘I’m sorry for having to commandeer your ship Hudson.’ said Sara.  ‘But it is important that I return to Earth and tell them what happened.’

‘Perhaps after that we can try tracking down Glitz.’ said Hudson.  ‘Melanie?’

‘I don’t know.’ sighed Melanie.  ‘Here!’ she suddenly cried.  ‘Look at this data!’

As the three shocked faces peered over the screen, Melanie read out what she could understand.  Her mouth fell open as she discovered the truth.

‘Operation report ninety-one.  Successful recruitment raid on three outer planets has restored primary force to optimum number.  Strikes on four human research colonies are to commence immediately for the purpose of assimilating the knowledge of human scientists.  The last of these is to be colony 0117 known as Leonardo 7 to it’s human occupants.’  Melanie trailed away at the next part.  ‘This knowledge combined with the increases in our number will complete the requirements we need for ...’

‘The impending invasion of the human galaxy.’ continued Sara.

‘The Cybermen have rebuilt their army.’ gasped Hudson.  ‘They’re going to invade!’