Youth is Wasted on the Young p.25
Rory slid the hoverbike to a stop in the wheat beside the camouflage netting over the substation. Wheat stuck out of the netting at odd angles enhancing the camouflage. But he ignored it as Amy engulfed him in a hug.
"You idiot!" she swore at him while squeezing the breath out of him. "Are you all right?" she pulled back to look him over. He was dotted with wheat chaff, and covered with scratches, he probably looked worse than he felt. Although he wouldn't bet on what he'd feel like once the adrenaline wore off.
"Good job, Rory!" the Doctor said, and pounded him on the back. Rory felt an odd lump form in his throat, there was something unbelievably comforting in seeing that floppy haired, smiling figure in his bowtie.
"Yeah, thanks."
"Are you okay, Rory?" Jeff said, doffing his helmet and pushing his way through the chest-high wheat, his racing hoverbike parked behind him. "I thought for sure that last Wirrn had you!"
"So did I," Rory admitted. "If you hadn't yelled..."
Amy was patting at the back of his jacket. "Rory, turn around," she ordered.
"What?" She stepped behind him, he felt her hands on his shoulders, yanking his vest down his arms. "What are you doing?" he asked irritably, scowling. That last yank had proved he was going to have a bruise on his shoulder.
She stepped in front of him and held up his jacket. He frowned and rotated his shoulder. She turned the jacket around. There was a long slash across the back, puffy stuffing leaked out of the dark material.
He felt his legs turn to jelly.
"Whoa! Here you go." The Doctor grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side so he landed on a supply crate. His vision was suddenly blurry.
"How did that happen?" he asked weakly.
"A Wirrn hit the back of your bike just as you left the hive, didn't you know?" Jeff asked.
Rory shook his head.
The air compressed around them and flattened a large circle of wheat. Rory squinted his eyes against blowing chaff, and Colonel Tildaith and his ever-present tech walked out of nothing. The air compressed again and the invisible chopper lifted off.
"Are you all right, Rory?" Tildaith asked as he joined them.
"Yeah," Rory said, shaking his head in disbelief at his own stupidity. "Through no fault of my own. If I hadn't started shooting..."
The colonel laid a hand on his shoulder. "There's nothing else you could have done."
"I'm glad you were there," Rory said, looking up at that mature young face. "I didn't expect you."
Tildaith grinned, an unexpectedly charming grin. "What, you thought we'd just leave you out to dry?" He shook the large young man's shoulder companionably. He turned to the other two bike riders. "Jeff, Corporal, good job. Any damage?"
"No sir, thank you, sir," Jeff said, running a hand through his sweaty hair. Peterson saluted. Tildaith saluted back.
"I could use something to drink right about now though," the normally silent corporal said, revealing an unexpected country drawl.
"Good idea," Amy said. "This way, they've set up a canteen." She led the two off to a supply ATV tucked under one corner of the tent, a table had been set in front of it with water jugs and cups.
"So did it work?" Tildaith asked, turning to the Doctor who had already turned away and was surveying the hive through a pair of binoculars.
"Not sure yet," the Time Lord drawled.
Janet joined them, hearing the colonel's question. "They apparently got the induction loop set up all right. I don't know what it's doing, but it's drawing power."
-----
The camouflage net fluttered over their heads, occasional bits of wheat chaff fluttered down from the stalks weaved into the web. It was slightly cooler out of the direct sun, and the banks of electrical equipment formed an open air room on one side. Machine gun nests built of sandbags sat at each corner, covered by the edges of the camouflage nets, and manned by kevlar-clad and helmeted soldiers. Tall stands of wheat came right up to the net on all sides. It was a small, tense camp of soldiers and technicians. The hum of the wind and the power equipment were the only sounds.
They watched the hive for two hours before they had any confirmation. They scanned the area with binoculars, searching for any returning Wirrn. The Colonel had pulled the choppers back out of range, stealth shielded, and stationed far enough apart not to alert any returning Wirrn.
They watched through binoculars from the safety of the camouflage net covering the substation, as a Wirrn flew up out of the hive, hit the invisible forcefield with a crack of white light and fell back inside, stunned.
"Well, it works," Rory said, lowering his field glasses.
"Yep. Tell me again, Rory," the Doctor ordered as he peered through his binoculars.
"It was all ripped, torn, like it had grown too big and split its skin. Pieces were tearing off, it was really gross."
"So that's why they've been so quiescent," the Doctor said almost to himself.
"Quiescent? That thing was flipping insane!" Rory protested.
"Well, yes, but if he was molting you probably woke him up. Bound to be a bit cranky," the Doctor said, giving Rory an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
"Huh!" Rory grunted.
"Molting?" Amy asked.
"Shedding their skin, becoming larger. That fits in with what Gandhi told you, Amy. They come to a planet to breed, build a hive, lay their eggs, feed, and grow."
"Just what we need," Dutch said. "Bigger wasps."
-----
"Wait a minute," Amy said. "I thought you said the chemicals here wouldn't let things grow."
The Doctor simply nodded his head subtly at Peterson, who was talking with Janet over by the power converters. Amy rolled her eyes, but nodded.
"It does explain why we've seen so few Wirrn in the past 24 hours," the Doctor continued. "If they've been molting they're probably all in the hive."
"Why am I hearing a "But," in that?" Tildaith asked.
The Doctor scratched his chin, "But, it means when they're done molting they're going to be bigger, fiercer, and probably hungry."
"They've been quite enough trouble already," Tildaith said, staring out at the hive with speculative grey eyes. "You think that shield will hold them?"
The Doctor shrugged. "Should do, can't say."
"Then we'll take advantage of the time we have." He turned back to the Time Lord. "Now what?"
"Now what what?" the Doctor asked.
Tildaith gave him a gimlet look. "You said 'First we have to get the Wirrn contained.' We have them contained. I assume you have a second stage to your plan.
"Not that it matters," the short colonel shrugged and crossed his arms, giving the Doctor an assessing look. "I went along with you because it was the logical choice. If you don't have a second phase I can always firebomb them. It will be even easier, since they're in a contained space which we can lob missiles into but which they can't get out of." He watched the Doctor.
The Doctor scowled. "You can't just firebomb them. That electrical field will stop any living thing getting out, but it won't stop fire. You'll set the wheat fields ablaze!"
"Which is why I'm waiting to hear the next phase of your plan," the colonel said calmly, piercing grey eyes intent.
"Simple," the Doctor said, straightening his jacket. "You want the Wirrn off your planet, they want a world where they can breed in peace. I say we give them one."
"How?" Tildaith asked.
"I'll just surround the hive with my ship and take them elsewhere. Quick and clean as pulling a tooth, no firebombing required."
"And they're just going to let you?" Dutch said.
"I hadn't actually intended to ask."
"Hang on, what do you mean 'surround them with your ship?' The whole hive? What kind of ship do you have?" Dutch asked.
"Ah, you'd have to see it to understand," the Doctor said.
"He can do it," Rory chimed in. He nodded when Dutch and Tildaith looked at him. Amy raise her eyebrows at them and smiled.
"Perhaps I'd better see this ship of yours," Tildaith said.
"Me too," Dutch said.
The Doctor clapped his hands and twirled. "I'd be delighted!" He strode off through the tent for the sheriff's ATV. "We'll take your vehicle, shall we sheriff?" he called jovially.
Amy and Rory grinned and ran to catch up.
-----
"Your ship is an old crate in an alley?" Dutch said in disbelief.
Brick buildings rose on either side. Paper and a light scattering of trash whirled in the dustdevils as the wind freshened. A thick layer of storm clouds muffled the early afternoon light. The air was heavy with the smell of damp earth and rain.
The Doctor patted the Tardis panels. "Don't pay any attention to him," he muttered affectionately. He fished out his key and opened the door with a flourish. "In you get!" Fat raindrops started pattering down. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
Amy and Rory bounced in, relieved to be home. Dutch and Tildaith followed more slowly.
"In, in, in," the Doctor herded them with shooing motions.
The two twelve year old officers stopped just inside the doors. The Doctor dodged past them and hopped up the stairs to the console.
"I'm off to change!" Amy said. She waved gaily behind her and started up the stairs.
Rory sidled toward the stairs. He bobbed a clumsy bow at the visitors. He pointed over his shoulder after Amy, "I'd better go and see to her arm," he said, turning to the Doctor.
The Doctor waved nonchalantly, already absorbed in his controls. Rory sprinted up the stairs.
"Now!" the Doctor said, clapping his hands and turning to his Feyanoran visitors. "I assume you want to know how I can fit the whole hive in here." He grinned and waved his hands in a "Ta-Da!" motion. "As you can see, it's bigger on the inside."
"I can see you've been holding out on us, Doctor," Dutch said, climbing the stairs. He was still looking around, but assessing now, rather than awestruck. He noticed the multiple staircases and doors that hinted at more than they could see.
"Interesting decor," Tildaith said as he followed his fellow officer up the stairs. He was still dressed in black kevlar, Dutch still wore his tan sheriff's uniform, and both men sported sidearms, yet here in the grown-up proportions of the Tardis, their resemblance to children was more pronounced than ever.
The colonel stopped at the edge of the console, it came up to his ribcage.
"You fly in this? These controls are primitive!" Tildaith said.
"Appearances can be deceiving," the Doctor said. "Besides, who wants a control board of buttons? That's boring. This you can really fly hands on!" he said with relish -- playing his hands over his controls.
"So how would you fit the whole hive in here?" Tildaith asked.
"Transcendent dimensions -- it can be as big as I need and..." the Doctor worked the controls. The Tardis groaned with her dematerialization sound -- Tildaith looked up in alarm -- apparently thinking something was broken.
The colonel's Jeep and startled driver materialized in the console room.
"Sir?" the driver asked nervously.
The Doctor hit more controls and the Jeep faded away.
"Don't worry, he's just outside. So, see? I can do it."
"Surely you don't want angry Wirrn rampaging through your ship?" Dutch said.
"Oh, no problem. I can seal them in their own dimensional bubble until we find a suitable planet," the Doctor said. "I can talk to them by scanner as easily as face-to-face. This Methuselah might be a problem, but that Gandhi sounds like a reasonable bloke."
"Very well, Doctor," Tildaith said. "We'll try it your way."
-----
Amy and Rory returned looking much cleaner and refreshed. Amy had changed into a pair of jeans and Rory sported a new jacket. Amy displayed her mended arm to the Doctor and he gave it an approving pat. She held a basket of hot rolls in the other arm. Rory was carrying a large thermos and a stack of bowls.
He set down the thermos on the stairs and snapped out the portable table he'd been carrying under one arm. He set it before the stairs, laid out the bowls, and poured hot tomato soup in each.
"I was too nervous to eat earlier, so I thought some food now would be a good idea," he explained. Amy passed around the rolls.
"Quite right!" the Doctor said, taking a roll and tearing into it. "Can't stop an alien invasion on an empty stomach!"
They had a short companionable picnic in the console room, variously sitting on the chairs, the stairs, or leaning against the console. The soup was warm and savory, the rolls fluffy and crusty. The good food relaxed them and, between the Doctor and Amy, they got to chatting.
Amy and Rory confirmed they were engaged. Dutch admitted he was looking forward to the birth of his first grandbaby and sheepishly dug out a prenatal photo and passed it around. It wasn't a sonogram but an actual clear photograph. The baby was sucking her thumb. Amy cooed. Rory gave it a professional nod of approval, and the Doctor admitted she was gorgeous.
With much prying they even manage to get out of Tildaith that he was married, and had a four month old son at home.
-----
Outside the sky thickened. Black rainclouds smothered the light, bringing a premature twilight. Rain swept down in sheets soaking the Tardis and runnelling away down the washed alley. Lightning cracked loudly enough to rattle the shop windows.
The pole at the corner sparked. And the lights went out.
-----
At the substation Janet propped her cast up on a spare folding chair and sipped at her lemonade, massaging her aching thigh. The wind rustled the wheat, it looked like a storm was brewing to the north.
The high pitched hum of the transformers suddenly stopped. The backup generators didn't kick in. She spilled her lemonade as she jumped up. Soldiers swarmed around the machines anxiously examining controls. Janet pushed her way through to the main control board. All the indicators were at zero.
Frantic, she stumped her way behind the banks of machines, "Check the linkages!" she yelled. Her trained crew scattered to check their work. She found the problem quickly enough. The generators hadn't been set up properly.
She turned and stared with dread toward the hive four miles away.
A single figure flew up out of the hive, up, up. There was no flash. No zap. No forcefield.
Suddenly a wave of Wirrn boiled up out of the hive, hundreds of them. A black mass. The power came back on and the field reengaged with a massive white zap that stunned the Wirrn still inside.
But it was already too late.
She barely had time to brace herself before the swarm descended.
-----
The first wave hit with a blur. The camouflage netting was ripped aside. The machine gun nests were overrun. Soldiers screamed. The air was a mass of whirring wings and darting bodies.
Janet was knocked over in the first rush. She crawled under the supply ATV that had been serving as a canteen. Her leg ached, her heart thundered, and her mouth tasted sour with fear.
Huge crashes came from outside as the Wirrn decimated the power equipment. One huge red transformer, weighing tons, suddenly dropped onto the fragile control systems, crushing them into a stinging explosion of parts. She ducked as a spring scratched past her ear.
The first wave passed and the few remaining Marines regrouped. Janet crawled to the outer edge of the ATV and peered out through the wheat at the hive. The forcefield was down, permanently this time. A seemingly endless stream of Wirrn were erupting from the hive.
Abruptly choppers decloaked, missiles fired, machine gun fire winnowed out the dense flight of wasps, until it broke apart, wasps scattering like a cloud, attacking the choppers, fighting back.
The insects were frantic, savage, fighting with a bloodlust Janet had never seen, far beyond what was needed.
The fight moved toward the substation as the choppers tried to defend the soldiers on the ground. Janet saw a wasp, near enough to see clearly, spin in the air and abruptly let something go.
A 50 lb. bag of fertilizer smashed into the chopper windshield, exploding into a cloud of gas. The chopper wobbled, gas leaking in through the broken glass. Wirrn swarmed it. It spun, tilting, and crashed into the wheat field. It exploded, flinging Wirrn and burning debris far and wide.
The fields caught fire.
-----
"Pleasant as this has been," Tildaith said, setting his bowl on the table. "I think we'd better get back to the farm."
Amy turned to look at the Tardis doorway. "But it's raining buckets out there. Wasn't the plan to wait three days to make sure all the Wirrn were back in the hive anyway? Surely we can wait until the storm's over."
-----
It only took minutes. That was the thing Janet would remember later. But now, as the fields burned around her, as more choppers went down and the sound of soldiers' screams diminished as they died, it seemed to take a forever of hell.
She crawled back to the inner edge of the ATV, eyes searching, hoping to find someone still alive.
Grover, her second in command, was crouched under the refreshment table, frantically reloading his magazine, a ragged red cut led up into his curly hairline, his helmet gone, her long-ago spilled glass of lemonade lying at his knee.
A giant Wirrn landed in front of him with a thump, it swept the table away with one foreleg and snatched Grover up by the throat with the other. He tried to bring up his machine gun, but the insect snatched it away and threw it like a matchstick.
The giant green wasp, the biggest she'd seen, shook the little man, hissing in his face with rage.
"You have destroyed our young, human, now we will destroy yours!"
He shook the man in fury, snapping his neck. He tossed the body aside.
Janet almost screamed when Grover landed right beside her, beside the ATV. He was dead, open eyes staring at her.
Gunfire, missile fire, and the chuff and whine of choppers and ATVs was drowned out by the buzzing of Wirrn wings.
Janet saw the giant Swarm Leader take to the skies. He followed the electrical lines north, toward the city. The swarm arrowed in his wake.
Janet fumbled out her phone, almost paralyzed with fear.
She hit speed dial.
"Daddy? Dad, the Wirrn, they broke out. They're on their way. They're going to kill the children!
"Oh my God!" she realized, she gripped the phone with both hands. "The creche! Dad, Amelia's creche -- it's on the south side of town -- the power lines lead right to it!"
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