Free Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen by Malcolm Kohll Page B

already turned away. ‘I won’t waste good ammunition on these fools,’ he said. ‘I will lead the main party. You two remain here to protect the vessel and guard these incompetents!’ He motioned to two of his men who nodded in reply. ‘Come!’ Gavrok strode away down the valley followed by his henchmen.
    ‘Boy! These guys really mean business,’ whispered Weismuller.
    ‘Weismuller, I think I get it. The Chimeron Queen –
    that must be the satellite.’
    ‘And if the enemy get their mitts on it we’re both sunk,’
    Weismuller replied gloomily. They were both under the impression that the Bannermen were agents from some other world power. The true reality of the situation was totally beyond their comprehension. Before Hawk and Weismuller had a chance to draw any more conclusions the two Bannermen sentries advanced on the trembling Americans.
    The Nostalgia Trips cruiser was ready to fly. All the Navarinos were aboard, except for Murray who was talking to Mel. He scuffed his feet in the dirt, saying, ‘Well, we’re all gassed up and ready to go.’
    ‘Then you must leave at once, Murray,’ said Mel.
    ‘But the Doctor and Delta...’ he said.
    Mel smiled, ‘Wherever you go, we can find you in the TARDIS.’
    ‘I know, but I feel bad about leaving you here alone.
    This is your last chance to hitch a ride,’ Murray pleaded.
    From inside the bus came the sound of Murray’s name being called repeatedly. The space passengers were very nervous by this time and wanted to leave as soon as possible.
    Mel glanced up the valley. She didn’t relish the idea of being left alone but she had made a promise. ‘No, Murray, I’ve made up my mind. When the Doctor and I agree on something we always stick to it, come what may. Thanks anyway,’ she said.
    ‘Okay,’ said Murray, resigned to her decision. ‘It’s time we got this show on the road. As they say around here – see you later, alligator!’
    Mel grinned and replied, ‘In a while, crocodile.’
    Murray climbed aboard and fired up the engines. He turned the bus to face the open road and the afterburners covered Mel in exhaust fumes.
    The exhaust noise rose to a shriek as Murray revved up the power and the bus started lumbering away down the road. Murray’s hand appeared through the window, waving at Mel.
    ‘BYE!’ shouted Mel, relieved that the bus was at last underway. Her smile froze in horror as the bus was engulfed in a massive orange fireball. The force of the blast threw Mel onto the ground, temporarily blinding her.
    Moments later the blast debris rained down all around her.
    Fifties clothing, memorabilia purchased in the camp shop and pieces of food covered the tarmac for a hundred yards in every direction. There was more food than anything else
    – in fact enough to feed a bus-full of hungry Navarinos. A large chunk of the cruiser fell only inches from Mel’s head.
    Although some of the letters were missing she could clearly read the words ‘Nostalgia Trips’. In the centre of the debris was a patch of blackened earth, to show where there had once been a bus loaded with holiday-makers.
    Mel groaned as she slowly started to recover her senses.
    She became aware that something was moving through the heavy pall of smoke hanging over the scene. Straining her eyes to see, Mel started to rise, desperately hoping that someone may have survived. But she sank back to the ground when she recognized the red and black fluttering insignia of the dreaded Bannermen.
    A lump rose in her throat. ‘No! No!’ she said as the realization dawned. She tried to rise but a large booted foot kicked her back. She was looking up into the ugly face of Gavrok. Standing behind him was a Bannerman with a smoking bazooka. He did nothing to hide the look of satisfaction on his face.
    ‘So, one of them escaped,’ Gavrok growled.
    ‘You... you killed all those innocent people...’ said Mel in a small voice, her face streaked with dirt and tears.
    ‘Was the Chimeron Queen