The Oncoming Storm ²

The Rebel Flesh

"Intruder alert. Intruder alert."

"There are people coming. Well, almost" I say.

"Almost coming?" Amy asks.

"Almost people," the Doctor says.

"I think we should really be going," Rory says.

"Come on!" Amy says.

"I'm telling you. When something runs towards you, it is never for a nice reason" Rory says as Amy drags him behind her, people are reclining in harnesses in the alcoves, as we run through.

"What are all these harnesses for?" Amy asks.

"The almost people?" Rory says.

"What are they, prisoners, or are they meditating, or what?"

"Well, at the moment they fall into the 'or what' category" I say.

"Halt and remain calm."

"Well, we've halted. How are we all doing on the calm front?" the Doctor asks.

"Don't move!"

"Stay back, Jen. We don't know who they are."

"So, let's ask them. Who the hell are you?" Amy looks around at the same people in the harnesses.

"Well, I'm the Doctor, she's the Seer, and this is Amy and Rory, and it's all very nice, isn't it?"

"Hold up. You're all. What are you all? Like identical twins?" Amy asks, two more people walk in wearing acid suits. The woman seems to be in charge.

"This is an Alpha Grade industrial facility. Unless you work for the military or for Morpeth Jetson, you are in big trouble."

"Actually, you're in big trouble" the Doctor gets out the psychic paper.

"Meteorological Department? Since when?"

"Since you were hit by a solar wave" I say.

"Which we survived."

"Just, by the look of it. And there's a bigger one on the way" I say.

"Which we'll also survive. Dicken, scan for bugs."

"Backs against the wall. Now" Dicken says.

"You're not a monastery, you're a factory. Twenty-second century army-owned factory" the Doctor says.

"You're army?" Amy asks.

"No, love. We're contractors, and you're trespassers."

"It's clear, boss."

"All right, weatherman, your ID checks out. If there's another solar storm, what are you going to do about it? Hand out sunblock?"

"We need to see your critical systems" I say.

"Which one?"

"You know which one."

*Time skip*

"And there you are," the Doctor says pointing to the bubbling milky liquid.

"Meet the government's worst kept secret. The Flesh. It's fully programmable matter. In fact, it's even learning to replicate itself at the cellular level" Cleaves says.

"Right. Brilliant. Lost" Amy says.

"Ok. Once a reading's been taken, we can manipulate its molecular structure into anything. Replicate a living organism down to the hairs on its chinny chin chin. Even clothes. And everything's identical. Eyes, voice..."