As the inhabitants of the small blue planet slept, a shadow, blacker than night crept towards them. It encroached, uninvited, into their space and settled itself into the silent, lifeless vacuum of a geo-stationary orbit.
Around this time some of the planet dwellers realised that they were being invaded, but it was too late, far too late to do anything that might have helped. Nothing would stop what was about to happen next.
***
On a hilltop far away from town the air stirred noisily as a type 40 travel machine, incongruously shaped like a police box, filled the air where before had stood empty space.
***
As the inhabitants of the small blue planet awoke the shadow was clearly visible in their sky. They felt great fear but they didn't panic, it wasn't in their nature. They waited.
***
The first of the small ships arrived mid-afternoon; others soon followed it. Dozens of black specks against the blue sky, falling to the ground noiselessly. If you closed your eyes you could believe nothing was happening, but it was, nothing could stop it now.
The shuttles landed and sat apparently lifeless as their inhabitants performed scans.
The people began to gather, anxious but curious to know what the sky had brought them.
***
As the sun fell from the sky, lighting up the horizon in a blaze of fire, the waiting ended. From the lead shuttle came a tall metallic figure. Black and shining, he stood motionless against the crimson of the evening sky. Having surveyed the crowds that stood awestruck before him, he stepped forwards and began to speak.
"People of this world," he grated electronically, "we are the Cybermen. We have come to your planet because we believe you can offer us least resistance of those we have examined. You are technologically inferior to us, you belong to us. You will be like us. If you refuse our terms we will ravage your planet and take what we want." The Cyber-controller paused and pointed to the sky. "When the sun falls again we will hear your answer. Go, make your decision."
At this the people left and retired to their dwelling place. Here they sat silently, each absorbed in his own thoughts.
The sun set.
***
As morning broke the people still sat. The night had brought heated discussion and a decision had been made. Now they waited patiently.
As they did so, a stranger approached the camp. Tall with blonde curly hair and dressed in garish, unpleasantly clashing clothes, he strode towards them. He grinned voluminously, an expression that suggested he was extremely pleased with himself over something, something only he knew about.
As he reached the encampment the people's leader stood and barred his way.
"Who are you?" he asked simply.
The grin grew wider still. "I, am the Doctor." The grin became painful to look at.
The leader scowled "What do you want of us?"
"I want nothing," the stranger replied "I've come to help you. That's what I do."
The leader laughed derisively "We need no help, especially not from someone with such poor comprehension of colour." Now the leader grinned, pleased by his wit.
He looked around and enjoyed the supportive murmuring of his people.
The Doctor looked slightly deflated at this but wasn't put off his objective. "I know you've been invaded." he exclaimed.
"What of it?" the leader growled.
"I know what the Cyber-controller asked of you!" he cried.
"And your point isà?" smirked the leader, now quite enjoying his obvious superiority to this ridiculous creature.
"I've come to help you! To save you from this terrible abomination! To rescue you!!" The Doctor threw his arms up in exasperation.
"We need no help, we've made our decision."
The Doctor sighed thankfully. "So you'll fight?"
"No we will not. We will not fight. We will agree to the Cyber-controller's demands. We will become like them." The Doctor opened his mouth but only air escaped his lips. "It is decided," intoned the leader.
"No! I will not allow this!" the Doctor almost screamed in frustration. "Then I will fight for you! I will save you from yourselves!"
"It is our choice, you will not take that away from us," the leader said with finality. He raised an arm. "Restrain him."
"NO!" the Doctor raged. But to no avail. Several of the men overpowered him, and by means which he didn't understand, rendered him unconscious.
***
The sun fell behind the hills surrounding the valley, casting the day's final rays of light into the clouds.
The Cyber-controller waited. Behind him stood an army of Cybermen. They all waited.
The leader and his people approached and with two softly spoken words the invasion ended. "We agree."
***
The sun was high into the sky again when the Doctor finally awoke. He rubbed his eyes and groaned rather theatrically. He stood up carefully and staggered back to the TARDIS.
Once there he activated the scanners. The Cyberfleet was still planet side but something was wrong. Something had changed.
Slowly it dawned on him. All life on the planet was now cybernetic. Tears filled his eyes.
***
The fleet of shuttles returned to that from which they had came, and the shadow silently slipped from the sky.
Around the same time, the TARDIS made it's way from the now empty planet.
