Faster and harder than he had ever run in his entire life.
He wanted to live to see his sixth birthday.
Lungs fit to burst, he carried on running. Glancing behind him he saw the nightmare. The sound they made filling his ears. Straining his little legs he put on a burst of speed. Stevie knew the layout of the colony like the back of his hand. Around the next corner lay refuge; he was nearly at the village hall. The rest of the colonists, including his parents were hiding in there from the nasty creatures.
Whizzing around the corner he saw the corrugated iron exterior of the cargo pod that served as the village hall. The way was clear. The monsters were still behind him, he couldn't see them, but could pick up their movement.
He ran faster. The muddied ground churned under his feet, splashing it on to his trousers. His Mum would kill him.
More of them appeared in front. Coming out of nowhere. His path to safety was blocked. Their shapes blotted out the bright sun above in the clear blue sky. Stevie ground to a halt. Looking behind he saw they were still following.
One of the doors of the village hall slid open, Mike Dorsey stepped out, laser rifle in his hands. Aiming his sights at the creatures he let off a volley of shots. While firing into the air he shouted, "Come on, Stevie. Quickly!"
Stevie was rooted to the spot with fear. The body of a giant bee landed at his feet with a loud plop as it hit the mud. He jumped back in surprise.
Suddenly he felt something grab him from behind (he'd forgotten about the ones behind him), and began to lift him off the ground. Mike had noticed this and was staring in horror in Stevie's direction. He fired off more shots at the bees.
Turning to see what had lifted him up (as if he couldn't guess), Stevie saw that it was a man with the brightest smile he had ever seen. Long curly hair fell to either side of his face. His eyes were the bluest blue that Stevie had ever seen.
Before he knew it, Stevie was being carried under the man's arm as he ran quickly towards the village hall. Mike was now giving covering fire. Stevie noticed that two other adults seemed to be running with them, a man and a woman.
Somehow they avoided the insects that seemed to be on them from all directions. Mike got lucky with a few more shots, but more and more seemed to appear.
They reached the village hall, and went inside. Mike closing the door firmly shut behind them.
***
The bees had been banging against the reinforced glass windows of the village hall, it reminded Fitz Kreiner of the regular sized ones back home on Earth. Except that they were two-foot long, with mandibles six inches long. Their multi-surfaced eyes horrifying to look at. Insects always gave him the creeps. Thankfully, they'd now flown back to their lair.
Fitz slouched back against the plastic walls. His chest heaving, trying to get his breath back. "Bloody hell!" he said in between breaths, "I think we might have beaten Bannister's record there," he said to himself. He reached for the non-existent packet of fags in the pocket of his black leather trenchcoat.
His companion, the Doctor, was talking to the colonists. The tall, dark-haired, military looking man with the laser gun, Mike he said his name was, and a few older looking men and women. Anji was off to the side with the sandie-haired young lad, Stevie, re-united with his parents, both looking relieved.
The part of the village hall they were in was a twenty by twenty-foot area, with a bulkhead door leading to other compartments presumably. Around this area were dotted old wooden chairs and tables. Other people filled this area, old and young alike taking shelter from the insects that had invaded their colony.
He bolted upright as he noticed a strikingly good looking, long blonde-haired woman enter from the bulkhead entrance. Like the rest of the colonists she was dressed in loose fitting woollen jumper and canvas trousers that had both seen better days. But on this beauty they looked like they belonged on the Paris catwalks. Her petite build complemented the outfit perfectly. Fitz wondered if they could be introduced. Tell her how brave he was when rescuing Stevie? Before he could move towards her, she went over to the group with the Doctor. Her face lit up as she saw Mike, he returned the smile. They embraced each other and kissed. Oh well, Fitz: You win some you lose some.
Anji was stood next to him, he hadn't noticed her arrival. "I'd be careful if I were you. That's his wife." A look of disapproval crossed her dark-skinned face.
Fitz tried not to look embarrassed. "Never crossed my mind, Anj." He rapidly changed the subject, "How's Stevie?"
She brushed back a lock of black hair from her face. "He's okay. A little scared. Who wouldn't be? I'm glad we got to him in time."
"The Doctor got them eating out of his hand yet?" he asked, with a nod towards the colonists.
"Almost. Seems these giant bees just came out of nowhere three days ago. They radioed for help to the nearest military base - in the next star-system they said. He hasn't bothered to set them straight." With that she grinned.
"Yeah, that's just like him. Come on, let's give him a hand, shall we?"
They moved over and joined the group. The Doctor was holding court; all eyes and ears were on him. "I have a few ideas about how we can rid you of these insects," he said.
"Yeah, Doctor," said Fitz, barging into the conversation. "Have we still got that giant fly-swatter in the TARDIS?" He grinned. Only the blonde smiled with him.
"No no no, Fitz," said the Doctor seriously, as if he hadn't taken Fitz's comment for a joke. "Something appears to have attracted them to this area. Laura here," He nodded towards the blonde. "Says that the planetary survey carried out before the colonists came here found no native life."
"That's right, Doctor," Laura said.
Mike interrupted, "I have a solution. Something tucked away that might be of use."
"Oh?" asked Laura, with a perfect raised eyebrow.
"You'll see," her husband replied. "All of you, stay here. I won't be long." Before anyone could reply he moved towards the door, looked out of the window to check the coast was clear.
Laura followed him to the door. They exchanged a few heated words, which Fitz couldn't make out clearly, but both of them had dark looks across their faces. She folded her arms and turned her back on him.
He then pressed the green button by the door making it slide open.
The Doctor leaned towards Anji and whispered something to her. She nodded in understanding and began to follow Mike out of the village hall. He seemed to protest at her accompanying him. She still went with him though. The door slid shut behind them.
"Will they be alright?" asked Fitz.
"They should be. If any of those insects turn up, they've got the laser rifle with them," answered the Doctor.
"The colony's only weapon," said Laura.
"Don't worry. I never liked guns anyway," said the Doctor. He tapped a nearby wall. "Besides, I don't think they'll get through this in a hurry." He smiled.
Somehow, this didn't make Fitz feel any more reassured.
***
Anji and Mike made their steady way across the colony's compound. She was glad she'd decided to wear flat shoes, heels would have stuck in this mud.
The colony was made up of pre-fabricated huts of various colours and sizes. The area was only that of a small village. So far they'd seen no sign or heard the giant bees.
Mike didn't talk much, but Anji needed to talk. To keep calm. "Things okay with you and Laura?"
"Fine," came his short reply.
"So, how long have you been married?"
Without breaking step, he replied, "Three years. We're expecting our first child."
"Congratulations. Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Dunno. We thought we'd wait and see. How about you and the Doctor, or Fitz?"
She tried to suppress the memory of her boyfriend Dave who'd died saving her from aliens when she'd first met the Doctor. She shook, held back the tears. "Oh no. It's not like that. We just travel together." She changed the subject: "Where are we going, anyway?"
"To my home. Just at the edge of the colony. We're going to retrieve a souvenir of my military days."
Anji heard something buzzing at the back of her head. She thought she was beginning to get a headache. Then Mike grabbed her arm and shouted, "They've seen us. Come on!" They began to run. She turned back and saw at least twenty of the giant bees following them.
***
They were gathered around the colony's only communications system, which looked like a cross between the TARDIS console and something from Buck Rogers. Little lights flashed on and off. Screens with waveforms, and other assorted computer displays filled one of the large consoles.
The system was located in a tiny compartment in the village hall, Fitz wondered how they'd all got inside. There was himself, the Doctor, Laura and Stevie, who had tagged along.
Right now the Doctor was sat hunched at the controls, playing with switches and knobs like a schoolboy with a new toy. As he hit various buttons lights came on, which made him smile.
Fitz hated to interrupt things: "Doctor, is this going to tell us anything?"
Without stopping the Doctor replied, "I'm trying to locate a signal that I believe is attracting the bees."
"Signal?" Last he heard bees didn't have the radio. Or maybe these were alien bees who did?
"Yes, Fitz, signal. Bees are like dogs, hearing things beyond human ability. Like a dog whistle."
"You're not going to find much, Doctor," said Laura. "If there was any signal we would have found it."
"There must be something new around here," he said, whilst stretching his fingers to hold down several buttons simultaneously.
Stevie stood up on his tip-toes at the back of the room to get a better view of the Doctor operating the system. He seemed to notice this and turned to lift Stevie onto his knee. He went back to work on the controls as if nothing had happened.
The tiny room was filled with a deafening high-pitched sound. The Doctor reached to a volume control and turned it down. He smiled an apology at the others in the room. "Bingo!" he shouted. He began to bounce Stevie on his knee, the child smiling and enjoying the experience.
"What?" asked Laura.
"That, my dear, is the signal drawing the bees to your colony. Now, has anything changed recently, before they arrived?"
Laura looked thoughtful, little furrows of thought crossed that pretty forehead of hers. "Well... there is the power generator."
"What sort of generator?"
***
Anji dived headfirst to the muddy ground, Mike following seconds later. She felt the rush of wind as the bees flew over them.
Before they could fly back, Mike was raised on one knee, taking aim with his rifle and firing into the group. He seemed to hit a couple which fell to the ground.
"See that hut on the left?" he shouted.
She looked at the hut in question, it was ten metres away. She could make it if she really ran.
Mike fired another barrage of shots as the swarm got closer. "Go!"
She got to her feet and ran like her life depended on it, which it did. Anji hadn't run like this since the sports day at Junior School where Claire Townend had beaten her in the running race.
Before she knew it, she'd reached the hut in question, and fell gratefully inside the open door. Mike quickly fell in behind her and hit the switch to close it. It closed shut, with a heavy thud. Then more thuds followed it as the bees tried to follow them.
"Don't worry, Anji. They won't get through there." He tried to smile reassuringly, but it didn't work, it came out more as a grimace.
***
The Doctor stood and stared up at the device dominating the colony's skyline. The sunlight reflected off the three thirty-metre wide blades of the wind turbine. They spun slowly in the light breeze.
A few giant bees flew lazily around the forty-three metre high tower. More of them flew back and forth from the building housing the generator at its base.
He was acting as if the threat of the bees didn't exist, pausing to admire the technology.
"Of course, it's only a small example of its type. Only produces enough power for a small colony such as ours."
"You built it yourselves?" asked the Doctor.
"I designed it. My pride and joy." Laura looked down at the growing swell of her stomach. "Except you my darling." she thought.
"How are we going to get in there anyway?"
"I have an idea," he replied. He took out a small metal tool from a pocket of his black velvet jacket. It had a small cone mounted on one end, and switches around the base. He noticed her quizzical look. "Sonic screwdriver. I'm going to use it to disorientate the bees. Don't worry, it won't do any permanent harm. Just enough to get them out of our way." He twirled the thing round in his hand like a gunslinger from an ancient cowboy film.
A boyish grin crossed his face. His blue eyes sparkled. He was actually enjoying this.
As they began walking towards the generator building, she was asking herself why was she doing this? Heading towards certain death with a lunatic. However, being with him gave her strength and confidence that they would get through this.
Then she thought of Mike, hoping that he was okay. Anji too. The Doctor must be worried about her. She was safe with Mike. He could take care of himself. She wondered where he'd got to? Just before he went off on his heroics, she'd tried to ask him what he had in mind. Instead of answering he'd ordered, ordered her to stay in the village hall where it was safe. Who did he think she was? A little wifey to stay at home? She was this colony's Engineer.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a couple of bees breaking away from the group by the wind turbine and heading their way.
The Doctor had noticed them too, and was making adjustments to the controls of his sonic screwdriver.
The bees were getting nearer. Only a couple of hundred metres away now. Laura stared at them. Her body not moving.
He seemed unhurried with his handling of the controls. When he had finished, he looked up, surprise momentarily crossed his face, as if he'd expected the bees to be further away. Raising the device into the air, facing away from himself he depressed a switch on its side.
A shrill scream filled the air. It began to give Laura a slight headache. That was nothing compared to its effect on the bees. They became disorientated, began flying into each other. Some fell to the ground; stunned.
"Don't just stand there, Laura. Come on, we've got an appointment to keep!" The Doctor grabbed hold of her hand and began running towards the building, his wild hair and coat-tails flying behind him. More and more bees began pouring out of the building, attracted and disorientated by the Doctor's device.
***
Anji and Mike were sat on the floor of his home. It was larger inside than Anji expected. It was made up of various rooms, all open plan. In the room they were currently in there was an old looking wooden table and chairs. Some alien looking fruit sat in a bowl on the table, sunlight streamed in from the large window at the front onto it. Abstract paintings hung from the walls.
The bees had got bored and gone away. Mike suggested that they wait a minute to regain their breath.
"You okay?" he asked her.
"Give me a minute," she said between breaths.
Mike laid down his rifle, stood up and disappeared into the next room. She saw him through the doorway kneel down and roll back a faded rug that in a previous life had been bright red. He lifted out a large metal trunk that made a satisfying clunking sound as it hit the metal floor. His fingers began dancing on a keypad built into the box's lid.
"What you got there?" As Anji spoke she stood up and moved towards Mike.
From his kneeling position he turned towards her and grinned. "Something that will effectively deal with the bees." He turned back to the keypad.
She peered over his shoulder at the little numbers running across the green LCD display. It reminded her of watching the share prices coming in back when she worked in the City.
"So, you used to be in the army?"
"Yeah," he said without turning. "I was a Captain in the Colonial Marines. Until I met Laura. It was a chance meeting really. Her family's big in industry. They didn't approve of course. Disowned her. All she wanted to do was make a difference. So we gave up our careers to come here and make something new. You know how bad Earth is now? Can't even leave your house without a breather."
Anji nodded in response. Realised he couldn't see her. "Uh huh." She pretended she knew what he was talking about.
"You wouldn't want to bring up a kid in that would you?"
"No, not at all."
There was pneumatic hiss, as the box lid opened, as if the thing had been sealed airtight.
Inside she saw a short stubby weapon that resembled a rocket launcher. A blinking red LED flashed malevolently at her.
***
Fitz remembered the last words the Doctor had spoken to him: "Take care of them for me, Fitz." And given him one of his characteristic smiles. Sometimes he felt like hitting him.
Of course that was after the blazing row that the Doctor had had with Laura. When the Doctor had realised that the colony's only power source was attracting the bees. Not having anyone who knew about insects in the colony they'd assumed the bees had nested there because of the warmth. He'd fiddled a bit more with the computer and found a very similar signal, much fainter nearby.
"There!" he exclaimed. "A naturally occurring waveform at exactly the same frequency as that of the generator connected to your wind turbine."
"Impossible!" Laura replied. She examined the read-outs. "It's coming from the mountain range nearly two hundred kilometres away. We surveyed the area when we first arrived. There wasn't anything there that could cause this."
"Has there been a season change since you arrived?"
"Yes there has. Why?"
"A change in the climate could make certain rocks sing out, a harmonic resonance. You can get stones like that on Earth."
"I've heard of them. You think that these bees are migrating?"
"Yes, that's it exactly!" said the Doctor. He lifted Laura in the air by her elbows. He spun her round in a circle. He laughed. That grin crossing his face. She smiled back.
"Doctor?"
"Yes, Laura?"
"You can put me down now."
He did so. "Thank you." She swept back a stray lock of hair. "Now we know what brought them here, how do we get rid of them?"
"It's obvious." the Doctor said, a note of gravitas in his voice. A bit of the old Doctor coming through.
"But we can't close down the generator. It's our only power source," she said with anger in her voice.
"Laura, Laura. I know. You designed it to be environmentally friendly. Unfortunately it's not friendly to this environment. I'm sorry."
At this she calmed a little. "I suppose you're right, Doctor. We'll find another way." She smiled at that.
"Now that we've got that sorted out. If you could just tell me how to shut down the generator I'll be on my way."
"Wait a minute. I'm going with you. No one knows that system better than I do," said Laura, determination in her voice. "Besides, with all those bees about you're going to need someone to watch your back."
That's my job, thought Fitz. Even if there are giant man-eating bees out there. Before he could voice this, the Doctor had told him to stay here and take care of things.
So here he was, playing cards with young Stevie. He'd found the pack in the lining of his coat, slipped through a hole made during some recent near-death adventure. At the moment he was teaching him Poker, which he seemed a natural at. Having beaten Fitz at every hand so far.
"I give in," said Fitz.
Stevie grinned up at him. "Oh, come on. I'm having fun. There's nothing else to do."
Fitz shuffled the cards again and began to deal.
***
The giant insects had all deserted the generator building, which was odd. Laura didn't know much about xenobiology but she knew that bees never left their nest or queen unguarded. Except in this case they had been driven away by the Doctor's sonic screwdriver.
She and the Doctor had slid shut the heavily shielded outer doors. She wasn't sure if they were locking themselves inside with some greater nightmare than that going on outside. The Doctor seemed to notice her unease and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze of encouragement. A smile crossed his handsome face. "We'll get through this, Laura. All three of us."
Before she could ask how he knew she was pregnant he'd turned away and began walking down the access corridor. He reached the corner where it went either left or right. He took the right-hand turning. "We need to take the left, Doctor." Laura said with a smug grin on her face. He turned back, and shrugged.
She caught up with him and they walked through to the main generator chamber.
***
"Mini-nuke with a low-yield," Mike said appreciatively as he lifted the weapon out of its case. "Should take care of those damn insects easily enough. Then the colony will be safe."
Anji looked on worriedly. As far as she was concerned there was no such thing as safe when it came to nuclear anything. She thought of those people who lived by Sellafield.
Mike noticed her look. "Trust me. It's perfectly safe," he said. "Though to be honest, I shouldn't really have this. But you never know when you'll need something like it. Let's go get those things." He moved towards the door, leaving his laser rifle where he'd put it down on the floor.
A very loud buzzing filled the room, and a bee came swooping down from the ceiling and landed on Mike's back. He was struggling with the thing, she could see it's stinger trying to get at Mike. But somehow he managed to hold it back. He'd dropped his rocket launcher.
She looked on helplessly. Then before shock took over completely she noticed the abandoned rifle. Dodging round the struggling figures she picked it up. She looked uselessly at the weapon. She didn't even know how to use a real gun.
Taking the rifle by the barrel she used it like a club, swinging it into the giant creature. Hitting it's wings. The buzzing stopped as it's wings became damaged. She must have hurt it, Mike seemed to be winning the fight. He threw it off his back. While it lay dazed on it's back on the floor he reached down to his boot and drew out a mean looking knife.
He took the knife and brought it straight into one of the creature's multi-faceted eyes. Blood or some kind of bodily fluid began leaking out of the wound. Mike continued to stab until it's legs, and remains of it's wings stopped moving. He remained kneeling by the body while he regained his breath.
"Thanks," he said eventually. "You may have used that thing," indicating the rifle, "the wrong way, but you did all right. You'd better keep it with you." He picked up the rocket launcher. Went over to the door, took a quick glance through the window to check the coast was clear, then opened it and stepped outside.
Anji took a deep breath, clutched the rifle to her chest and followed.
***
The pipes and cables that covered the walls of the generator room were now covered in giant honeycombs. Laura shivered at the thought that each of those contained another bee ready to hatch and wreak havoc on the colony.
The Doctor reached out and took hold of her hand. She was glad of the reassuring feel of another human being. She'd never been squeamish about insects. Until now.
Taking a step forward towards the generator itself, it's massive metal bulk taking up the majority of the space in the large room, she found that her feet had been stuck to the floor by some half-liquid looking material similar in nature to the honeycombs.
Glancing around she could see that the place was deserted by the bees. The only sound in the place was the steady hum of power coming from the generator and it's surrounding network of cables. The very thing that had brought all this on them.
"There's something over here I think you should see," the Doctor said. He dragged her over to a maintenance console. She peered over the edge and saw a dead bee. It was beginning to decompose, the smell hitting her immediately. "The Queen," said the Doctor with a note of regret. He pointed to burns on the insect's furry hide. "Made by a laser."
Laura tried not to look hurt by the remark. "Mike must have got lucky when they first arrived."
"But not before..." the Doctor trailed off as something to the side of the generator caught his attention. He pointed straight at it.
She turned to see what it was. Attached to the side of the generator was another honeycomb, she had failed to notice it when they arrived. A shadowy form moved about behind the semitransparent cover of the honeycomb.
"The Queen lays eggs for another queen," finished Laura.
"Precisely," he said.
"What can we do?" she asked.
"I have an idea." He took out the sonic screwdriver from his jacket. He loosened the silk cravat slightly at his neck. She suddenly realised how warm it was in here.
***
Once again, Anji walked the colony's deserted streets. Scanning the horizon for signs of the bees. Mike was doing the same, the rocket launcher ready for use.
"The bees are nested in the generator building," said Mike.
"Don't you need that to power the colony?" she asked. Dumb question.
"Not if there isn't a colony left to use it," he said with a grim look on his face.
They were moving closer to the giant wind turbine that was at the centre of the colony. It's giant form growing larger as they approached it.
"There don't seem to be any of them about," she observed.
"Good, that'll make it easier for us." Mike began making checks on the weapon.
***
A rhythmic tapping began against the outside of the village hall. Worried looks crossed the faces of the colonists. Only Fitz and Stevie seemed unconcerned. The latter had again beaten the former at cards.
Fitz looked round at the colonists. "Don't worry. It's only rain," he reassured them (and himself he hoped).
There was a ripping of metal nearby, and a droning filled the air. Fitz looked towards the sound and there, staring back at him was the ugly mush of a giant bee eating it's way through the wall.
Others had noticed this. One woman had fainted. Fitz got to his feet, Stevie following. Think fast, Kreiner, he thought. No weapons. Looking around for something to use he noticed one of the wooden tables. Small thing. He picked up the table and swung it experimentally. Yeah, that was fine.
Running over to where the wall had been breached, he saw that the bee had almost got it's head through the hole. He brought the table up into its head and heard a satisfying squelching as it hit its target.
***
The head of the new Queen burst through the membrane of the honeycomb cell. It's mandibles chewing at the gelatinous substance. Laura could see herself and the Doctor reflected off it's multi-surfaced eyes.
He was knelt in front of the new-born Queen's cell. The sonic screwdriver was in his hand. He activated the device, it gave out an ear shattering scream. Quickly deactivating it, he readjusted it and a gentle, calming hum seemed to fill the air. The Queen Bee seemed to like this and looked at the Doctor as if he were it's mid-wife. A broad smile broke out on the Doctor's face. Despite herself, Laura found she was smiling too.
Without warning the Queen let out a warbling scream. As soon as it had begun it abruptly ended.
***
The remaining colonist's had fled to a secure storage area as the bees had swarmed in, taking over their village hall.
Some of the others had taken Fitz's idea and had used tables and chairs to swat the things.
They could hear the buzzing of the creatures through the bulkheads, the scuttle of their feet across the metal flooring.
Stevie was stood near the door when a pair of giant mandibles burst through the sheet metal. The creature grabbed his ankle as he fell over and began to drag the kid back through the gap.
"Oh no you don't!" Fitz shouted. Using the surviving leg from the table he'd used earlier he began to beat at the insect's head.
***
Looking through the digital viewfinder of the mini-nuke launcher Mike could see no activity around the turbine or the generator building. Even at this distance, a hundred metres, he should be able to see the giant bees with the naked eye. He switched the display to thermal imaging. Still nothing. Damn! He'd forgotten the exterior of the building was insulated from radiation.
He lowered the weapon from his shoulder and turned to Anji. Sweat was slowly running down her forehead. "You okay?" he asked.
"Fine. Are you going to do it?"
"Uh huh," he replied. "I just wish I knew for certain that they're inside."
"You want to go and see?" she asked.
"I'd rather not, thank you."
***
The creature let go of Stevie and pulled its head back. Fitz lifted him up, checked that he was unharmed. He ruffled the kid's hair. Yeah, he's a survivor, he thought.
Sounds of the bees buzzing had disappeared.
Fitz and some of the colonists tentatively checked the village hall. They'd all gone, for no apparent reason. Perhaps the Doctor had succeeded in drawing them away. Nice one Doctor.
***
Mike raised the weapon's sight to his eye. The red targeting display gave him a pinpoint in the middle of the main side of the generator building.
His finger was poised on the trigger when the buzzing of the approaching bees filled the air. They were at least two hundred of them twice as many as there had been days before when they'd arrived.
As one they swarmed towards the generator building. He could see that the doors had been closed - perhaps they had their own way in. They began to chew away at the doors. Shortly after, the bees entered the building.
He waited until he'd seen them all go in.
"Is that all of them, you think?" he asked Anji.
"Yes, can't hear any more of them."
His sweaty finger tightened on the trigger.
***
After finding the village hall deserted of bees, Fitz and a couple of the colony's young men ventured outside to find where they'd mysteriously scarpered to. Brandishing a chair leg didn't make Fitz feel any braver, but he had to see that the Doctor or Anji weren't in serious trouble.
***
Laura keyed in the sequence that would shut down the generator into the master console. The turbine would keep turning, but the generator converting its motion into electricity would stop.
She heard the steady hum of power drain away slowly to silence.
Turning towards the Doctor and his new-found friend she watched as the Queen bee flexed her newly-formed wings. She began to hover experimentally, only a metre or so from the ground.
Laura was astounded that she was seeing this. A new-born life. She felt the baby turn inside her. It was a nice feeling.
The Doctor was communicating with the Queen through a mixture of putting his hands against his forehead and using his index fingers as antennae, his sonic screwdriver and dancing around in circles on the spot. She seemed to be doing the same. Laura wondered if the two of them understood each other.
A very loud buzzing erupted from nearby and grew nearer. Laura turned to see the full swarm enter the generator room. They flew over her head and towards the new Queen.
***
The rocket burst out of the launcher in a brilliant flash of light. Homing in on its static target it couldn't fail to hit.
***
The Queen suddenly let out another piercing scream. Something was wrong. Even Laura, who couldn't speak fluent Bee, could tell this.
The Doctor tried to calm her using his sonic screwdriver. But it didn't seem to work.
"Bees have a sixth sense it appears," said the Doctor. "Laura, is there another way out of here? Quickly!"
"There's the ducting. Under the floor." She walked through the mass of bees surrounding her, now as gentle as lambs.
"Where does it lead?" the Doctor asked.
"There's a vent just behind this building."
Reaching the metal service hatch in the floor she began to raise the cover.
***
On impact the chemicals inside the warhead did their job and exploded. The building went up in flames. Bits of masonry and the turbine flew into the air.
The flames suddenly engulfed the whole building, surrounding it in a wall of fire.
"Let's see them survive that," said Mike with satisfaction in his voice. He shared a smile with Anji.
He continued to watch the flames. He noticed Anji turn suddenly to look at something behind them. Not more bees? he thought. He only had the one mini-nuke.
It was the Doctor's other associate and a couple of others from the colony. They were running; when they reached Anji and himself they were out of breath.
"What have you done?" demanded the young man, Fitz. He had a look of anger on his face.
"Rid this colony of its blight," shouted Mike indignantly.
Fitz was shaking his head. "The Doctor and Laura were in there!"
Anji turned back to the blazing inferno. Her mouth dropped open.
"Are you sure?" Mike couldn't believe this was happening.
"Yes. They discovered that it was the generator attracting the bees. Had to shut it down."
His whole world came crashing down on him. The sacrifices they'd made to come here. Their unborn child, their future together: All gone.
Tears began to well in his eyes. He didn't notice as the rocket launcher fell to the ground from his limp fingers. Never registered Anji's hand resting consolingly on his shoulder.
This wasn't fair, he thought. Nature wasn't fair! If only she'd listened to him and stayed where it was safe. But that's why he'd been so attracted to her. She was independent. Didn't let anyone or anything get in the way of her ambitions. Goddess, he loved her!
The tears now freely rolled down his cheeks.
A commotion was going on in the background. Mike wasn't, couldn't pay attention to it. He was too busy letting oblivion sweep over him.
***
Fitz was pointing at the flames shouting something incoherent. He was like a kid sometimes, Anji thought. Couldn't he see this was a personal moment for Mike?
He grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her away from Mike.
"Look! Some of them survived!" he exclaimed.
Anji squinted through the flames. She could make out vague shapes of the bees rising from the building.
The buzzing of the bees reached her ears over the sound of the flames. It was growing louder.
Suddenly a bee slightly larger than those she'd seen before burst through the wall of flame. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Turning to her side, she saw that Fitz had a similar look of dismay on his face.
Riding bareback on this bee was the Doctor, with the woman, Laura behind him holding on tightly. The Doctor flew past them like an RAF pilot at an air show. He waved to them. She could see joyful exuberance on his face. Laura didn't quite look as happy, airsick perhaps?
Then just as suddenly the other bees in the swarm followed them through the flames, all following what Anji thought must be the Queen Bee.
As the swarm flew over them, Mike snapped out of his shock and looked up. A broad smile broke out on his face. He hugged Anji tightly. His tears now those of joy. Anji joined in, too.
They broke apart slightly awkwardly. He brushed away the tears with a manly hand.
Looking back up into the darkening sky and the perfect red orange sunset, they saw the silhouette of the Doctor and the swarm as he led them towards the distant mountain range.
