𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒔 ☆ The Glorious Series ｟ BOOK 1 ｠

The Hungry Earth [Part 4 - FINAL]

A little bit later in the graveyard...

Lexi and Rory were sitting back to back on a toppled grave marker as The Doctor came around from the front of the church.

"I've met these creatures before, different branch of the species, but all the same..." The Doctor entered the basement door as Rory helped Lexi stand up so they could follow him. "Let's see if our friend's thawed out!"

Church basement...

"Are you sure? By yourself?" Lexi asked concerned.

The creature was sitting on the floor in the shadows.

"Very sure."

"But the sting..." Rory tried to say.

"Venom gland takes at least 24 hours to recharge." The Doctor turned to the creature. "Am I right?" He turned back to Rory and Lexi. "I know what I'm doing."

Rory and Lexi walked back up the basement stairs and left. The Doctor walked down the remaining steps to the floor. The creature was definitely reptilian with large dark eyes. It was wearing some sort of chainmail. With bound hands, it moved forward along the floor towards The Doctor.

The Doctor held up his hands. "I'm The Doctor. I've come to talk. I'm going to remove your mask." The Doctor squatted down and gently removed the creature's mask, revealing a humanoid face. "You are beautiful. Remnant of a bygone age on planet Earth. And by the way, lovely mode of travel! Geothermal currents, projecting you up through a network of tunnels. Gorgeous! Mind if I sit?" The Doctor stood up. "Now." He placed a folding chair in front of the creature and sat. "Your people have a friend of mine. I want her back. Why did you come to the surface? What do you want? Oh, I do hate a monologue. Give us a bit back. How many are you?"

"I'm the last of my species."

"Really? No. 'Last of the species', the Klempari Defense. As an interrogation defense, it's a bit old hat, I'm afraid."

"I'm the last of my species."

"No. You're really not. Because I'm the last of my species and I know how it sits in s heart, so don't insult me. Let's start again. Tell me your name."

"Alaya."

"How long has your tribe been sleeping under the Earth, Alaya? It's not difficult to work out. You're 300 million years out of your comfort zone. Question is, what woke you now?"

"We were attacked."

"The drill."

"Our sensors detected a threat to our life support systems. The warrior class was activated to prevent the assault. We will wipe the vermin from the surface and reclaim our planet,"

"Do you have to say vermin? They're really very nice."

"Primitive apes."

"Extraordinary species. You attack them, they'll fight back. But, there's a peace to be brokered here. I can help you with that."

"This land is ours. We lived here long before the apes."

"Doesn't give you automatic rights to it now, I'm afraid. Humans won't give up the planet."

"So we destroy them."

"You underestimate them."

"You underestimate us."

"One tribe of homo reptilia against six billion humans, you've got your work cut out."

Alaya stood up. "We did not initiate combat. But we can still win."