The Incorrect Art of War [Episode 33] – The Terminal Phase
3.
"We should go right, definitely right" you suggest, although the entire base is probably a deathtrap right about now.
"Okey-dokey" replies Doctor Sinister, cheerfully, and he grasps the right hand door with both hands and heaves it open. There is another length of corridor beyond, less ruined than the one in which you stand and curving to the right.
"Aha! I know where this will take us!" exclaims the Doctor, and he gleefully runs off around the corner.
"My Lord, wait! We don’t know…oh…hell.." You rush after the Doctor, spinning around as the metal door slams shut behind you with a grim finality, causing rubble to cascade from the ceiling, encasing the door permanently. Whatever happens now, you’re stuck going forward.
{default}As you round the corridor, you see the Doctor stood stock still by a huge crack in the floor. Next to his feet is a very familiar metal container.
"We’ve found your cats my Lord!" Despite yourself, you can’t help but feel elated that one of your goals has been reached but as you reach Doctor Sinister, you realise something is terribly wrong. Doctor Sinister appears to be crying as he stands staring down into the case which has been torn open by a falling breezeblock from above…and as you look inside yourself, you suddenly realise why you haven’t heard the cats howling for the last few minutes.
"My Lord…I’m…I’m sorry".
Doctor Sinister merely shrugs but visibly bites his bottom lip. You instinctively reach inside the container to check for signs of life, even though you know it is hopeless. "Maybe we can…you know…hang on a minute…what the…?" Something is very odd about these cats – the fur comes away in your hand to reveal a metal exo-skeleton beneath. As you probe further inside the crate you find metal limbs and electronic eyes.
"I always meant to tell you one day General. Suffice it to say, it’s sad that they’ve gone, again, but this isn’t the last you’ve heard of Fox and Dana".
But…hang on…gone…again? They are coming back? Surely…but…"
Doctor Sinister gives you a brief smile as realisation dawns on you. At least now you know why the cats were so damned heavy…
"Come on General, we’ve got to get moving"
You nod in agreement as the Doctor takes the lead to the far end of the curving corridor whereupon you reach another set of doors behind which you know there to be a staircase.
"Up or down my Lord?"
"Well, realistically we ought to be heading for H.A.T.E.’s central processing bank, so we should go down, but given the level of destruction in this sector, it might be quicker to head up, and find another way down there."
If you decide to go up the stairs, go to page 4.
If you decide to go down the stairs, go to page 5.
[continued on next page]
