The Beginning of the End (Doctor Who)

Chap. 43

The maintenance duo has taken you back to reception, observing a display case. It contains a dome-shaped device with three short legs and a camera lense.

"Kerblam Delivery Bot version 1.0. Also known as Twirly." Ryan observes.

"I don't think we should do this." Charlie warns, "If Mister Slade finds out-"

"Leave Slade to me." Judy dismisses, "Let's just hurry up before the TeamMates come on their patrol."

The Doctor sonics open the display case, turning Twirly on.

"Here we go, Twirly. Nice to meet you." She greets.

"Quite cute, isn't it?" Yaz suggests. You shrug.

"It's kind of retro." Ryan says.

You notice a Delivery Bot turning to watch you, though it's eyes aren't blue. It doesn't move, just observes.

"Well, he is getting on a bit. I love a bit of retro." The blonde smiles.

"Customers who selected these items also bought ear mufflers, pencil sharpeners and cola bottles. Say yes now to order these three for the price of the cheapest two." Twirly rambles.

"No." She clearly says.

"Thank you. I have stored your preferences. And remember, if you want it, Kerbla..." Twirly drawls out, the blinking purple lights fading out.

"It's run out of juice. It needs a big recharge before I can access the code." The Doctor looks to Graham.

"Maintenance store. There's everything in there." He suggests.

"That's not a good idea." Charlie warns. You give him both a curious and suspicious look.

"Doctor, I've just had a notification that one of the workers from Packing has gone missing. Her GroupLoop's disappeared right off the System. Name of Kira Arlo." Judy informs.

"What? Kira?" Charlie exclaims.

"You said the System didn't notify you." You remind her.

"Well, it didn't until now. It's like it's sending us a deliberate message." You give her a curious look. "I swear, I have nothing to do with these disappearances." She firmly says.

"We'll see, won't we?" You hum.

"Where was her signal last recorded?" Charlie asks.

"Er... Dispatch." Judy says.

"That's not possible. No people are allowed down there." He hurriedly says.

"Dispatch? Foundation levels, right? Where the power's drained down to." The Doctor recalls.

"How do we get to her?" Yaz asks.

"You can't. It's fully automated. There's not even a route down." Judy frowns.

"But she got down there somehow." Yaz points out.

"You get what you need from that robot. Yaz, Charlie, come with me. We'll find Kira." Ryan says.

"Hang on, how are you going to get down there?" Graham questions.

"I know how these places work." Ryan waves, leaving with the two.

The Doctor doesn't question him, running off with Twirly, you, and Graham to the maintenance room. There, Graham hands her a cable that she plugs him, slowly bringing back the purple lights. In the meantime, she fiddles with a computer.

"Right, Twirly, all charged up." She uses her sonic screwdriver, causing it to spin.

"Alert. You may also like to know we have a one-hour offer on cushions! Cushions liven up the grimmest workplace, like this one." It notifies. You snicker, and Judy looks quite offended.