Post by Cushing4eva on Sept 29, 2016 13:59:20 GMT
With apologies for venturing outside of canon here... I hope that is permitted and that the linkage becomes clear!
Rediscovering Humanity
Lights slowly blinked back to life and a low, deep hum began as the life support systems reinitialized. The boy opened his eyes, relaxed his grip on the sash he held in his hands and was astonished to find that he was still alive.
He had been flung against the rear wall of the bridge so clearly there had been an impact and, as he surveyed the damage on one of the internal systems monitors he realized that huge chunks of the freighter were completely destroyed. He tried calling out for the Doctor but heard no response. He was alone. Utterly alone on this strange, primitive world.
Then he heard the deep, raspy groan.
He rushed over to the Cyberman, the one who had been the architect of his brush with death. The one who had kept him from finding out if he had been wrong. He heard the mechanical systems within his armored suit pushing vital fluids around, working hard to revive what little remained of its biological matter. He noticed the hand stretch out towards him and instinctively he jumped back.
“You are a monster!” He told the Cyberman, “I won’t help you.”
The Cyberman let out a small, tinny wheeze and nodded. Adric retreated back behind the Captain’s chair and watched as the creature slowly pulled itself upright, setting down its gun. It tilted its head, looking confused.
“Cannot achieve contact,” it said after several minutes had passed, “Conjecture: this unit is the only Cyber-Unit left. It is alone.”
The unit stood absolutely still for what seemed like an eternity, then it turned and began to shift debris, clearing a path to leave the vessel. Adric crouched down, keeping a close watch as the Cyberman continued its work. In spite of its considerable injuries, this Cyberman still seemed to be able to shift girders many times its weight and pull off steel paneling with seemingly little effort.
Eventually Adric saw the Cyberman’s silhouette illuminated in streaks of natural light and then it was gone. In that moment he decided to follow, to see what the creature would do next. Like it or not, the Cyberman was the only company he had right now.
As he made his way outside he noticed the Cyberman ascending a nearby hill, seemingly looking for something. He kept pace, sticking to areas of undergrowth and other natural coverings. The Cyberman continued to walk with what seemed like a sense of purpose and showed little sign of slowing down. Just when Adric felt that his legs could hardly continue to walk the Cyberman stopped abruptly, making a sharp turn off to walk down towards a thin, bubbling brook.
Upon reaching the brook, the Cyberman sat down letting its feet dangle in the gently flowing water. It reached out a hand towards a yellow flower, petals streaked with vivid pinks and oranges, and lifted it towards its head. After a moment it placed the flower down and began to work at the rivets on the sides of its face, loosening screws and bolts until the face plate could be removed and its atrophied flesh had been exposed. He lifted the flower once again and Adric could hear it struggle to take a deep breath in, the systems in its suit groaning to inflate and deflate its lungs. He tried to move closer to get a better look, to try to see what the creature was doing, but a branch broke under his feet, immediately drawing the Cyberman’s attention to him.
“You – are – welcome,” it said after a moment had passed, “This unit does not wish – to be alone.”
Adric felt frozen in place with fear and was contemplating retreat when the Cyberman turned to face him.
“This unit,” it began, “has been – contemplating your companion’s words. This unit may not survive long. Its biological components require maintenance by its mechanical parts. Many of these were damaged in the crash. In the fight. This unit… will cease.”
Adric nodded and ventured closer, looking carefully at the creature. He observed some of the damage, much of it to the back of the Cyberman’s suit, trying to understand how it all worked.
“What if I was to help?” He asked eventually.
“You would do that?”
“As you said,” Adric sniffed, venturing nearing and wiping the redness away from his eyes, “the alternative is being alone. This isn’t my world but if we are to wait for intelligent life to emerge here we will be waiting a long time.”
At this he thought of the Earth girl he knew best. The one he had travelled with. He added:
“Not that I am sure there’ll be all the much of it in the future either.”
The Cyberman nodded its understanding and the pair sat in silence. Eventually Adric stood up and offered the Cyberman his hand to rise. The pair ambled slowly back towards the ruins of the freighter, determined to find the materials Adric would need to repair it.
As they walked they noticed the sun beginning to make its descent, flooding the sky with a gorgeous array of deep colors. Adric was aware that the Cyberman seemed to be drinking in all of the rich details as if it was seeing them for the first time. Eventually he noticed a single tear had streaked down the Cyberman’s cheek.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Adric asked.
“This unit – missed so much. There was great truth in the Doctor’s words.”
Adric nodded. There usually was. While he had struggled to adjust to the Doctor’s new incarnation at first, he had come to respect his thoughtfulness and sense of deep conviction. He marveled at the progress he had made in talking with this Cyberman and realized that he had projected a monstrous aspect onto its cold, metal form. There could be progress here and he would help the Cyberman to rediscover its humanity. He could have a friend.
“You must be feeling hungry by now, I expect,” he began, “I know I am.”
The Cyberman nodded, “This unit lacks the nutritional fluids it uses to fulfil those needs. The Doctor – mentioned that eating a well-prepared meal was pleasurable. He described it – as a small, beautiful event, did he not?”
In the distance, back near the wreckage of the crashed freighter, Adric noticed movement. Perhaps it was some prehistoric creature, he thought, that they could cook and consume. He felt his stomach rumble and encouraged the Cyberman to keep up with him as they investigated.
***
The sun had set completely as the Cyberman finished off its meal. It sighed deeply and put its heavy gloved hands on the impromptu table it had constructed.
“How did you find your meal?”
“It was,” it said, “most excellent.”
“This unit is pleased to find you concur and do not regret the loss of the boy.”
Slowly it tilted its head to consider the thought,
“This unit does regret that the boy is gone.”
The other Cyberman turned its head quizzically.
“Unfortunately we shall have to find other sustenance tomorrow.”
Rediscovering Humanity
Lights slowly blinked back to life and a low, deep hum began as the life support systems reinitialized. The boy opened his eyes, relaxed his grip on the sash he held in his hands and was astonished to find that he was still alive.
He had been flung against the rear wall of the bridge so clearly there had been an impact and, as he surveyed the damage on one of the internal systems monitors he realized that huge chunks of the freighter were completely destroyed. He tried calling out for the Doctor but heard no response. He was alone. Utterly alone on this strange, primitive world.
Then he heard the deep, raspy groan.
He rushed over to the Cyberman, the one who had been the architect of his brush with death. The one who had kept him from finding out if he had been wrong. He heard the mechanical systems within his armored suit pushing vital fluids around, working hard to revive what little remained of its biological matter. He noticed the hand stretch out towards him and instinctively he jumped back.
“You are a monster!” He told the Cyberman, “I won’t help you.”
The Cyberman let out a small, tinny wheeze and nodded. Adric retreated back behind the Captain’s chair and watched as the creature slowly pulled itself upright, setting down its gun. It tilted its head, looking confused.
“Cannot achieve contact,” it said after several minutes had passed, “Conjecture: this unit is the only Cyber-Unit left. It is alone.”
The unit stood absolutely still for what seemed like an eternity, then it turned and began to shift debris, clearing a path to leave the vessel. Adric crouched down, keeping a close watch as the Cyberman continued its work. In spite of its considerable injuries, this Cyberman still seemed to be able to shift girders many times its weight and pull off steel paneling with seemingly little effort.
Eventually Adric saw the Cyberman’s silhouette illuminated in streaks of natural light and then it was gone. In that moment he decided to follow, to see what the creature would do next. Like it or not, the Cyberman was the only company he had right now.
As he made his way outside he noticed the Cyberman ascending a nearby hill, seemingly looking for something. He kept pace, sticking to areas of undergrowth and other natural coverings. The Cyberman continued to walk with what seemed like a sense of purpose and showed little sign of slowing down. Just when Adric felt that his legs could hardly continue to walk the Cyberman stopped abruptly, making a sharp turn off to walk down towards a thin, bubbling brook.
Upon reaching the brook, the Cyberman sat down letting its feet dangle in the gently flowing water. It reached out a hand towards a yellow flower, petals streaked with vivid pinks and oranges, and lifted it towards its head. After a moment it placed the flower down and began to work at the rivets on the sides of its face, loosening screws and bolts until the face plate could be removed and its atrophied flesh had been exposed. He lifted the flower once again and Adric could hear it struggle to take a deep breath in, the systems in its suit groaning to inflate and deflate its lungs. He tried to move closer to get a better look, to try to see what the creature was doing, but a branch broke under his feet, immediately drawing the Cyberman’s attention to him.
“You – are – welcome,” it said after a moment had passed, “This unit does not wish – to be alone.”
Adric felt frozen in place with fear and was contemplating retreat when the Cyberman turned to face him.
“This unit,” it began, “has been – contemplating your companion’s words. This unit may not survive long. Its biological components require maintenance by its mechanical parts. Many of these were damaged in the crash. In the fight. This unit… will cease.”
Adric nodded and ventured closer, looking carefully at the creature. He observed some of the damage, much of it to the back of the Cyberman’s suit, trying to understand how it all worked.
“What if I was to help?” He asked eventually.
“You would do that?”
“As you said,” Adric sniffed, venturing nearing and wiping the redness away from his eyes, “the alternative is being alone. This isn’t my world but if we are to wait for intelligent life to emerge here we will be waiting a long time.”
At this he thought of the Earth girl he knew best. The one he had travelled with. He added:
“Not that I am sure there’ll be all the much of it in the future either.”
The Cyberman nodded its understanding and the pair sat in silence. Eventually Adric stood up and offered the Cyberman his hand to rise. The pair ambled slowly back towards the ruins of the freighter, determined to find the materials Adric would need to repair it.
As they walked they noticed the sun beginning to make its descent, flooding the sky with a gorgeous array of deep colors. Adric was aware that the Cyberman seemed to be drinking in all of the rich details as if it was seeing them for the first time. Eventually he noticed a single tear had streaked down the Cyberman’s cheek.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Adric asked.
“This unit – missed so much. There was great truth in the Doctor’s words.”
Adric nodded. There usually was. While he had struggled to adjust to the Doctor’s new incarnation at first, he had come to respect his thoughtfulness and sense of deep conviction. He marveled at the progress he had made in talking with this Cyberman and realized that he had projected a monstrous aspect onto its cold, metal form. There could be progress here and he would help the Cyberman to rediscover its humanity. He could have a friend.
“You must be feeling hungry by now, I expect,” he began, “I know I am.”
The Cyberman nodded, “This unit lacks the nutritional fluids it uses to fulfil those needs. The Doctor – mentioned that eating a well-prepared meal was pleasurable. He described it – as a small, beautiful event, did he not?”
In the distance, back near the wreckage of the crashed freighter, Adric noticed movement. Perhaps it was some prehistoric creature, he thought, that they could cook and consume. He felt his stomach rumble and encouraged the Cyberman to keep up with him as they investigated.
***
The sun had set completely as the Cyberman finished off its meal. It sighed deeply and put its heavy gloved hands on the impromptu table it had constructed.
“How did you find your meal?”
“It was,” it said, “most excellent.”
“This unit is pleased to find you concur and do not regret the loss of the boy.”
Slowly it tilted its head to consider the thought,
“This unit does regret that the boy is gone.”
The other Cyberman turned its head quizzically.
“Unfortunately we shall have to find other sustenance tomorrow.”