 he truck moved quickly on towards marker fifty-one, it's caterpillar tracks making movement over the rocky landscape relatively easy. 'Okay, everyone listen up!' Harry said to the other nine occupants of the transport, 'Sam Davis was patrolling out here a short while ago when he called in to say that he'd spotted a ship of some kind. We haven't heard from him since and control haven't been able to get an answer from him.
Now, you've all been trained in procedures involved in dealing with hostile aliens but I want you all to remember that there's no need for heroics, okay? The base is equipped with a more than adequate defence shield to keep any unwanted visitors out, so make sure that no-one gets hurt. Just find out what the hell's up with Sam and we'll get some photos and then we'll all go home.'
The squad all replied with an affirmative in their own way. 'Okay, check your weapons and prepare to move out in pairs.'
Looking out of the front window, Harry could see the rock wall ahead. These strange formations just sprang up all over the planet, just standing there for no apparent reason. The truck stopped a mile short, no point in taking chances, and the squad leapt out dispersing into pairs and moving slowly they continued carefully onwards.
'So, remind me, why didn't we land inside the base?' Ace asked really wanting to moan about the amount of unnecessary walking they always seemed to do.
'Well, I didn't want to startle anyone by popping up in front of them. Ah look, here's a door.' He said, pulling it open.
They both entered into what appeared to be an airlock, strange lights flashed around them. 'Decontamination process.' the Doctor explained as he pulled off the breathing apparatus he'd insisted that they both wore on the walk to the base.
They stepped through a second door into a corridor bumping into a hurrying medic who said: 'Who the hell are you?'
'No need to be startled. I'm the Doctor and this is Ace. Jane will be expecting us.'
'Oh,' replied the medic obviously shocked at the sudden appearance of two off-worlders. 'You'd best follow me then.'
They followed the medic down a maze of corridors before they reached what Ace concluded was obviously the colony's infirmary due to the fact that the word "Infirmary" was printed on the door in bright and cheery letters. Ace also noted the door across the corridor had the word "Control" printed on it.
They entered a room to find what appeared to be the remnants of a party. The medic asked them to wait by the door while he walked over to a senior looking doctor working at a computer terminal. The man turned when the medic was part way through his tale. He stood and strode over to the Doctor looking at him curiously.
'Bates,' the Doctor cried and grabbed his arm and pumping it furiously. 'This is the doctor who diagnosed Jane's pregnancy, Ace. Oh don't look so surprised old chap, I thought I'd explained last time that I'm an alien and Jane told you that I'd changed my appearance since first meeting her. Well, I've done it again!'
The poor man looked genuinely baffled, Ace thought, but he rallied marvellously and said, 'Doctor, it's good to see you. I presume you're here to see Jane, I'll just go and make sure she's up to seeing visitors.' He hurried off into an adjourning room.
He reappeared a moment later and asked them to enter. Ace followed the Doctor into the room and then spent the next few minutes trying to inconspicuously sit in the corner of the room whilst the Doctor and Jane reminisced rather excitedly about old times and the Doctor made silly cooing noises. Ace had never understood people's fascination with small children. After a while, Bates walked back into the room with a man she hadn't seen before.
'Doctor?' the man asked obviously puzzled.
'Ah, Commander Dwight. Ace, meet the Commander of the Minardi colony. How are things, Dwight?'
The Commander looked puzzled questioningly at Jane who nodded and said, 'Yes, Dwight, it really is the Doctor.'
Dwight looked only a little suspicious as he went on to ask, 'When did you arrive, Doctor? You could have signalled ahead and we would have prepared a proper welcome.'
'Ah, Commander, surely you're not suspicious of me? We only arrived a few moments ago. My ship wouldn't have shown up on your scanners and if you remember our last encounter it doesn't exactly travel in a conventional way so we didn't have the time to radio on ahead.'
'Okay, Doctor. I'll accept that you are the same man I met six months ago if Jane is so sure of your identity. Besides, I've never known anyone else to be as persuasive as she or you anyway.'
'Ah, delightful. Well in that case, perhaps a cup of tea could be found.' the Doctor replied with a big grin on his face.
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everyones bad day page3
