The Man Of The Sonic Drumsticks

Masters Of Disguise

ONE MONTH EARLIER

 The pyramid-shaped ship managed to make a safe landing on a lone field near the outskirts of London. Two, bundled-up figures emerge from there and make their way outside. They walk stealthy through the field in hopes that they are not seen. They soon arrive to a old, abandoned building not far from the ship and find a strange man, standing by the entrance. He was a tall, skinny, old-looking fellow, probably in his sixties. He was dressed very simply: a regular suit-and-tie and a lab-coat. A wide grin spread on his face as he saw the two people approaching him in his direction.

 "Hiding from enemies again, my dear Master," he spoke in a deep, croaky voice. 

 The taller figure chuckled, "Actually I was doing some negotiations along with my partner. Rani, this is my old business partner and long-time friend, Charbrax Rotigarnixus. He was in the Academy with us, and was a companion of mine during my early travels, though he left to Nexus Prime afterwards." 

 "Charmed," she shook the hand of the old man in front of her.

 "It's has been quite a while since we last worked together, old friend. I'm glad you recruited me for this project. I certainly can't wait to put my skills to the test." 

 "Well, you came to the right person."

 The three went and entered the old building. The old, dodgy look of the outside of the building was nothing compared to what it looked like on the inside. Old, crusty paint peeled off the walls like hangnails, showing off the different paint jobs that have been done throughout the years. The droning, buzzing sound of the flickering lights filled in the silence of the deserted hallway. A pungent, decaying odor permeated through the air.

 "I can't believe you chose this putrid place to do our experiment," The Rani uttered in disgust. 

 "Get used to it, Rani," The Master replied bitterly. "We'll be working here for the next few weeks, whether you like it or not." He began to grow tired of the Rani's constant complaining. He regretted bringing her along.

 "I mean, look at this place! It's dingy and run-down! Everything is decaying before our very eyes!

 "Well, this dingy, run-down place used to be an mental institution during the 1920's," Rotigarnixus said. "After the Second World War, they turned it into a sanatorium."

 "Sanatorium?"

 "It's a place where they keep the sick and dying, Rani," the Master spoke. "It's like a hospital."

  The trio entered into one of the many rooms of the building. Excluding the rusty, old cot in the back corner, and the mold seeping in the walls, the room was practically bare. There wasn't even a window there.

  "This used to be a solitary confinement cell, hence to why this room and many others here in this building don't have any windows. Later on, this is where they put the dying patients."

  The Rani only but cringed at the strong, foul odor coming from the room.

  "What a dark, horrid place to spend your last days," she said.

  "Sadly yes," Rotigarnixus said. "Also, after someone died, they would dispose the body by burying them in the property, whether it was outside or inside. And yes, I said inside." He turned to the Rani. "That odor is the remnant smell of piles of people, rotting inside these hollow walls for many years."

  The Rani's face turned a dull-green upon hearing his words.

  "The morgue down at the basement simply could not hold anymore bodies. Their numbers just piled up to the point that it just got out of control. That's why this place is abandoned now. It's been like this for nearly five years."