I was about to attach the last electrode of my diagnostic scanner when my visiphone trilled. I leaned over and punched it on. The face of my friend and commanding officer Joel Shaw appeared on the screen, a grim expression across his usually cheerful features.
"Hello Mark, sorry to disturb you so soon after your last mission - great work, by the way; the council were very pleased - but we have an emergency on our hands. Take a look at this."
His face was replaced by a view of a swirling ocean beneath a grey rainy sky. The picture zoomed in closer to show a number of craft laden with people bobbing around on the choppy surface. There were more people drifting in the water. The craft were moving between what looked like ... spires?
"This was taken three hours ago on the Planet Triton. That's the Capitol City, San Juan."
I shook my head in disbelief. "Wait a minute, Triton isn't a water-world. It's a tropical paradise, one of the Federation's most popular vacation planets."
Joel nodded. "That was yesterday. Seven, San Juans' swimming under several hundred metres of water, as is most of the main continent. Water levels on the planet have risen dramatically over the last 24 hours, and are continuing to rise. Thousands have been feared lost. A planetary disaster has been announced."
"But why? How?" Before the question had even left my lips I already knew the answer. Joel spat the single word I'd come to hate.
"Daleks!"
En route to Triton aboard a fast interceptor I played back Joel's words in my head.
"They're using a Neutronic Power Unit to the melt the polar ice caps to drastically rise the planet's ocean levels. At the rate it's going, the entire planet will be submerged within 72 hours.
"The Triton economy is geared towards tourism and hospitality, not security. The limited military forces they have have thus far proved unable to deal with the Daleks. The neighbouring planets have sent what help they can, but with little success. The Galactic Eighth Fleet is on its way, but we estimate that it will be another 24 to 48 hours before they can arrive. By then, most of the planet's surface will be completely submerged.
"Strategically, Triton is of little value. Its system is well behind established battle lines. But its loss would be a huge blow to morale and could have terrible implications for our relations with some of our shakier allies - many of whom have citizens holidaying on Triton!
"Seven, the council have requested that I send you and Reb Shavron in, especially as you're both so close by. You've both done this kind of thing before - I'm sorry I can't be there with you."
The ADF - Anti-Dalek Force - operated in this way. Small teams - or even individuals sometimes - of trained people striking fast and hard at the Daleks. With a great deal of success, up until now.
I reassured Joel that we would complete the mission successfully. "You can rely on us, Joel."
He smiled. "I know. Reb will rendezvous with you on Triton. The military commander, Jall Tarrant, will lend you all her support. Best of luck Mark!"
"Thanks, Joel. And if I don't get the chance before ... happy Christmas."
"You too Mark. And if you wanted to give me a present ..."
I grinned and nodded. "I know ... that Dalek base! Count on it, Joel."
***
The Dalek base had been spotted by recon rockets several hours before we arrived and now, under cover of a missile bombardment, Reb and I dropped into the camp with jet-packs and crouched among the ice and snow, closely observing the massive steel & plastic structure before us. I finished burying the packs as Reb lowered her binoculars and brushed a strand of dark hair from her face.
"Not much activity outside ... looks like Tarrant's attack is keeping them busy inside. This is our best chance to get in, while the patrols are under cover."
I nodded. The tall, striking girl from one of the Martian colonies impressed me more and more each mission... and not simply for her cool professionalism. After the recent upgrade to my emotional circuits I lately found that she caused their power levels to spike and flutter dramatically, and I was frequently possessed by an irrational desire to be with her even after our missions were finished. Evidently some fault attached to the upgrade. It could wait. I cleared these thoughts from my mind and pointed over to a network of pipes leading down into the ice. "We should find a way in through those - a duct or something similar."
We moved rapidly across the ice, keeping low to avoid the Dalek surveillance. We had jamming devices at our belts, but Dalek technology advanced so far so quickly in comparison with ours that we were never sure if our equipment had become obsolete. But we made it to the pipes unchallenged and, cutting our way through, descended cautiously into the base ...
We crawled through the maze of ducting, the throbbing sound of machinery filling our ears. Suddenly my nasal sensors detected a strange odour from close by.
"Gas!" I yelled. Reb groped for her respirator but too late ... the invisible tide of vapour swept over us and Reb collapsed. Not needing to breath air I was unaffected, but as I bent to help her I heard a scurrying further down the pipe and my long-range visual sensors detected a multitude of spider-like Dalek security-bots homing in on us. I made to turn back and a shutter slammed down behind us. Pure Dalekanium - I'd never cut through in time!
Pulling my blaster I prepared to defend us against the almost certainly overwhelming horde when a panel slid open beside me and a voice hissed:
"Quick! Through here!"
Not stopping to find out who our benefactor was I shoved Reb through and dived after her into a small access tunnel. The panel was zipped shut to the sound of steel claws scrabbling against its surface.
"Follow me!" the voice hissed. I hesitated. It chuckled. "Come on, do I sound like a Dalek?" The figure moved off and, hefting Reb to my shoulder, I followed ...
He led us to a small storage room and I got my first proper look at the man. He was a small humanoid of apparently middle age, wearing baggy brown checked trousers, a cream-coloured jacket and paisley scarf, with a battered straw hat perched on a mop of dark hair. He held an old umbrella with a distinctive question mark handle. His face was kindly and his eyes radiated immense intelligence and power. He shook my hand.
"How do you? I'm the Doctor, and sleeping beauty over there ..." he pointed to a woman in a blue jumpsuit slumped unconscious in one corner - "is Bernice." He examined Reb. "Looks like your friend got a dose of the same gas my friend did. I wouldn't worry - it's only a mild tranquilliser. Should wear off in an hour or so." He peered intently at me. "You're an android, aren't you? Wondered why you weren't affected. I just altered the flow of air to my respiratory system and filtered it out." He poked his tongue out. "Still left a tasty taste though. I've eaten a whole pack of polos and still can't shift it."
The Doctor? That name itched at my memory circuits, but neither his face not his voice registered. I carefully laid Reb down beside the Doctor's companion and turned to face him.
"I'm Mark Seven and that's Reb Shavron. We're both agents with the ADF and -"
The Doctor positively clapped with delight. "Oh, the ADF! One of my favourite organisations, after the RSPCA and the GCPL."
"GCPL?"
"Gallifreyan Cat Protection League. Marvellous annual dinner, if you like fried mice that is."
He told me of how he and Bernice had arrived on Triton hoping for a nice little Christmas break, and had got caught up in all the chaos. They'd tracked down the Dalek base and made straight for it. They'd only just entered the base when Bernice was overcome by the gas. I filled him in on our mission and our orders and he nodded.
"Excellent. Well, together we should teach these tin-pot terrors a thing or two. I've wanted to work with the ADF for ages!"
I looked him up and down. I doubted seriously that he would be much of a match for the Daleks, and he obviously read this in my expression as he patted my shoulder.
"Don't worry ... I've had more than a little experience in fighting Daleks. I don't think you'll find me too much of a hindrance! Let's go - our friends will be safe here. And if we don't succeed ... maybe they will!"
***
The base still rocked occasionally under Tarrant's missile bombardment, though I doubted it was causing any serious damage. But it was helping to tie up the Daleks, as the corridors were quiet and deserted. Not the case, unfortunately, in the main command area. At least a dozen Daleks were monitoring the controls. This wasn't going to be straightforward ...
The Doctor tugged my arm and pointed to a hatch in the ceiling. "We can get in through that ... make our way to the auxiliary controls along the maintenance gangway and throw a spanner in the works!"
We crept along the catwalk above the Dalek's very heads, and I pondered on how the Doctor knew so much about Dalek operations. With my help he pulled open an inspection panel and bent inside.
"Here we are - auxiliary pump controls ... splendid! Mr Seven, keep an eye out while I see to this!"
He started working on the controls when an alarm suddenly blared. The Doctor swore loudly. He must have triggered some kind of hidden alarm. Every Dalek eyestalk in the room swung in our direction. I pulled out my blaster, setting the dial to maximum.
"Keep working Doctor! I'll keep them busy!"
I vaulted over the guard rail and landed in their midst, blasting the closest Dalek to smithereens. A Dalek fired back, narrowly missing me but atomising a control panel. The lead Dalek immediately squawked for them not to fire indiscriminately, and the Daleks began jockeying for a clear shot at me. I dodged from cover to cover, firing as I went, but there was little to hide behind and the Daleks began closing in, suction cups whipping out to pin me down. It was only a matter of time ...
With a mighty roar the massive pipe running along one wall burst open with a surging torrent of freezing water, rapidly filling the room and bursting out through the door into the corridors beyond. Using a nearby Dalek as a springboard I leapt back up to the safety of the catwalk as the Daleks below were skittled by the rushing waters.
"Surfs up!" yelled the Doctor delightedly. We turned to leave when I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye and I shoved us flat to the floor as an energy blast sailed over our heads. Looking up, I saw a Dalek coming down the catwalk towards us, gunstick re-aiming to blast us to pieces ...
With a flash and a bang it erupted in a sheet of flame. When the smoke cleared I saw Reb and Bernice standing behind it, guns raised. Reb smiled and waved at me. Bernice cupped her hands to her mouth and yelled:
"Great swimming baths you got here Doctor, but where would you be without your friendly neighbourhood lifeguards?"
***
We stood on the tundra outside watching the flooded Dalek base sinking slowly beneath the ice. At the last minute the surviving Daleks had fled in their saucer, hopefully to run into the approaching Galactic Eighth Fleet. The Doctor dusted his hands and beamed happily.
"That's that. Now we can really enjoy our Christmas."
Bernice shook her head. "Not here, I hope ... I've never really cared for sea food!"
He turned to me. "I'm sure your people have equipment that can help decrease the tides ... if not, think of the advantages of having a whole new ocean to play with!"
He and Bernice turned to go. Reb stepped forward. "Wait, Doctor! Don't you want to come back with us? The people of Triton and our government owe you a great deal for your help ..."
He smiled. "Oh no, the credit is all yours. You're professional Dalek hunters - I'm merely a keen amateur." He pointed his umbrella to the sky and frowned darkly. "I have bigger, nastier fish out there to fry, some more so than even the Daleks." His face brightened. "But after Christmas dinner! Bernice, I know a nice little bistro on the Algarve ..." He strode away into the snow.
Bernice muttered: "Knowing our luck, we'll arrive there with the Nazis in charge." She came up to me and kissed me on the cheek. She grinned. "I can see why Reb fancies you!" she whispered, and winked at me. The Doctor's voice called impatiently back to her and, with a final wave to us both, she trotted after him. Reb came over to me and I slipped my arm around her. She looked up at me and smiled brilliantly. My emotion circuit spiked again, and I felt a sudden wave of ... joy?
"Happy Christmas!" drifted back the Doctor's voice.
I looked down at Reb and smiled too. Maybe it would be after all.
