The Wizard's Guide to Timelords and Other Demons Book 1: The Forgotten War

Through The Rift

Three soldiers marched by the open door to the morgue just as Rose, Jack and Alex backed up against the wall so as not to be seen. The soldiers continued to the main hall, where they spoke so loudly that it was easy to make out what was being said, even from the morgue.

"Report Sergeant Reynolds," said one of the soldiers that had already been in the room.

"Major Blake, sir!" the sergeant shouted back. "Colonel Mace has ordered all special forces to report to the plaza immediately, sir!"

"Very well, Sergeant," the Major replied." Owens, Yoshida, remain here with the young woman and begin the deployment on the General's orders. If she fails to comply with any of your orders, shoot her."

"Yes sir!" both men responded in unison.

Then, without prompting, all the soldiers shouted together, "Hail the Beast!"

The six soldiers that returned down the corridor were so focused that they did not even think to glance into the morgue along the way where Rose and her team stood in complete silence, waiting for the soldiers' footsteps to fade in the distance. Then Rose wasted no time, leading her team swiftly up the corridor where she immediately opened fire on the soldiers in the room, starting with the guard that was watching Toshiko. The stunned guard dropped instantly to the ground.

The soldier at the desk moved with lightning speed, firing off several rounds that struck the wall by the entrance as he ducked behind the table and reached for his radio.

"Command, this is Captain Yoshida in the manipulator room," he shouted into the microphone. "We are under attack, I repeat, we are under attack. Request assistance immediately!"

There was a brief pause, during which time he added four more holes to the wall as Rose peeked around the doorway and tried to fire back. A crackle of static came out of the radio's speaker, followed by a commanding voice.

"Captain Yoshida, this is Brigadier General Lethbridge-Stewart. You are ordered to begin deployment immediately! Again, you are to begin deployment immediately!"

Upon hearing that, Rose sprung quickly into action. Throwing caution to the wind, she bounded into the room, showering it with bolts of green lightning. One of the bolts struck the Captain, knocking him to the ground, but not before he managed to slam his hand down hard on a large blue button protruding from an alien-looking box on the floor. The box began to hum as it pulsated with a dim, blue glow.

"A teleport enhancer," Jack said as he entered the room. Then he tried pushing other buttons on the top of the control panel, "and it's fully active as well as locked."

Toshiko ran over to her computer and began punching keys as she stared into the monitor. The very sight of her once again churned emotions of grief that Jack quickly pushed away. Not now, he told himself.

Rose lifted the pulse rifle strap of her shoulder and placed the weapon on the table. Then she turned to Captain Jack and said, "What do you need us to do?"

"Turn on the rift manipulator," Jack said matter-of-factly. "It should be set to go right now."

Without removing her focus from the computer monitor in front of her, Toshiko lifted her hand into the air.

"On it," she said, and then resumed typing.

Rose raised her hand to her earpiece as she listened to another message coming in.

"Ok, I'll be right there," she responded to the inaudible voice. Then she turned to Jack and Alex. "I'll be back in a minute. You two stay here." she ordered, then looked sternly at Alex while gesturing at Jack. "Alex, you guard him with your life!"