THE HIVE
Chapter Twenty Seven The Queen was angry beyond belief. Just when she had the Doctor's mind fully in her grasp, he managed to find a way to defy her once again. And now she couldn't feel him at all, which led her to believe he had either been killed or was unconscious. She couldn't reach the mind of his friends or his lover, sensing the block he had put around their minds to keep her out of their heads. That made her even more angry and she was determined to put a stop to them once and for all. She summoned four of her children to accompany her as she rose up from her rock. This time she was going herself to find her consort and stop his friends and there would be no mistakes. It took about a half hour but they managed to secure the Doctor to the roof as tightly as they could. He was lying on his stomach, still unconscious with ropes around his thorax and abdomen. They drove around a few times to make sure he wouldn't fall off and then Ianto took the wheel as they headed for home. Jack sat in the front with Rose in between them and the others sat in the back. The women on the outside and Owen in the middle of them. While they drove, Jack noticed Rose kept glancing up at the roof of the car with a worried look on her face. He put a hand on her shoulder. "He'll be alright, Rose. Hell, he's lasted much longer than all the others. Everyone else lost their minds to the hive collective long ago." "It's because he's not human, Jack," Rose murmured. "That's why the Queen wants him so badly." Jack nodded as he pulled out his mobile. "Well, that's why I'm going to put phase one of our plan into action. I said I know someone who might be able to help us locate a geneticist. I know the biology professor at Cambridge University. He's an old friend of mine…" ___________________ Louis Meyers finished brushing his teeth and spat out the last of the foam in his mouth as he ran the toothbrush under the warm water. He had spent most of the day talking to various people who were concerned about the wasps and wanted to know their biology, habits and where they might build hives or strike next. He had provided any information he knew but the constant barrage of questions left him exhausted. Even though the wasps were striking all over southern England and heading into Wales, they hadn't attacked very many in the cities, including Cambridge, so Louis wasn't that concerned about becoming a wasp like so many others. At forty eight, Louis was beginning to feel his age. His light brown hair was showing telltale signs of grey in it and he spent some of his nightly ritual finding what hairs he could and plucking them out. Still, he could see that he was fighting a losing battle, not only with the hair but also with his waist which was slowly beginning to get the middle age spread. His eyes were hazel, green with gold flecks in them and he was tall and lean, despite the aforementioned middle aged spread. All in all, he considered himself to be in pretty good shape. He jogged every day, didn't smoke or use drunks and seldom drank to excess. He had changed out of the brown suit, white shirt and black tie he had used for his visits with the military and various members of parliament and donned a pair of light blue pajamas. He smoothed back his short hair and gave himself another once over before stepping outside into his bedroom. His flat was small but comfortable since he made a very modest salary at the university. His bedroom had white walls, a small twin bed with no headboard, an oak bedside table with a brass lamp, digital alarm clock, a few books and a glass of water sitting on top of it. A chest of drawers across from it with a few family photos and a clock hanging above it. To his right was his cupboard and to his left a large window that had sheer navy blue curtains hanging in front of it. Louis walked over to his bed, got in and grabbed a book from the table. He lay there reading quietly when he heard his mobile ringing. Sighing, he put his bookmark in his book, closed it and went out into the darkened living room to retrieve it from the table beside his favorite chair. "Hello?" he said. "Louis?" Louis's eyes widened. "Jack? Is that you?" he said. "Yeah, it's me." "Blimey, I haven't seen you for donkey's years," he said as he wandered back into his bedroom with the mobile. "You still in Cardiff then?" "Oh yeah," Jack replied. Louis sank down onto his bed. "How bad is it out there?" he asked, dreading the answer. "They're starting to infest southeast Wales and moving west and north even as we speak," Jack said grimly. "That's why I'm calling you." "Jack, I have no way to stop them, I'm not a scientist," he said to him. "I know that, Buddy, but do you have colleagues or contacts who are? Specifically geneticists. I have a very brilliant friend that was working on a cure, something that would reverse the mutation but unfortunately he himself got mutated and can't work on it any longer." "Oh God," Louis said, shaking his head. "Yeah, I have his notes and some samples he was using but I can't make any antidotes from them and neither can my teammates. I need someone with some expertise. Someone who's trustworthy and I was hoping you'd know someone, Louis." Louis racked his brain, thinking through his friends and contacts. "I do have a friend that's a geneticist. He's not super brilliant but he's very capable and trustworthy and might be able to help figure out your friend's notes and develop the antidote we need." "Great, can you call him? It's vitally important. Wherever he is, I'll be willing to pay for any expense to bring him to Cardiff." "Well, he's in Glasgow but I can ring him for you and ask and then call you back." "Please do, call me on my mobile, do you need the number?" "No, it's on my screen." "Okay, thanks a million for this, Louis, I owe you one," Jack said. _________________ "Well," Jack said as he put his mobile back in his pocket, "let's hope that does the trick." "Yeah, but wouldn't you think the geneticists are already working on this problem?" Owen asked him. "Maybe but I'm willing to bet the Doctor got further than any human," Jack said. "Which is why we need one to come and take a look at his findings. I'm sure that he was on the verge of finding a cure before that damned mutation took over his body." "Do you think he's still unconscious up there?" Tosh said worriedly. "I mean, if he was able to fight the Queen's control over him, do you think he'll be able to wake up sooner than a normal human?" "Good point. Yan, pull over for a minute so we can check him," Jack said. The Doctor remained sedated all the way back to the Hub. Once they got there, everyone except Jack took the ropes off, eased him off the roof and carried him to the front door while Jack followed in front of them with his gun drawn. He noticed the door was left hanging open and he signaled for the others to wait while he went in alone to investigate. They stayed in the shadows while Jack searched, scanning the skies and keeping themselves aware of any sound, especially buzzing noises. After fifteen minutes, Jack returned and gave the all clear and they quickly carried the Doctor inside while Jack slammed the door shut, locked it and barricaded it with furniture. They carried him to the cells and Owen let out a groan when they got there and saw Janet cowering in her cell, whimpering softly. "Damn them, the bloody wasps scared her half to death," Owen said as they opened the cell next to her. "Is that…is she…a mutant like the Doctor?" Rose said, staring at her as they gently laid the Doctor down on the floor of the cell. "You mean was she human once? Nah, love, she's a weevil, they always look like that," Owen said with a smile. "We captured Janet and she's become a sort of pet for us. That's why I'm a bit cheesed off that the wasps came in here and scared her. I'll be glad when this whole ruddy mess is sorted out for good and all. D'ya want a little time with him?" Rose nodded and Owen beckoned to the others to follow him outside. "Just let us know when you're through so we can lock the door," Owen said over his shoulder as they walked out. Rose waited till they were out of sight before she lay down beside the unconscious Doctor. She stared at him quietly while she stroked his cheek. "I know you wouldn't like to hear me say this but I wish it were me that got stung inside of you," she said softly as she ran her hand over his head and thorax. "You don't deserve this. You're far more important than I am, Doctor. The whole universe needs you and it's not right that you're this big bleedin' insect now instead of the wonderful man you once were." She scooted closer to him and laid her nose against his hardened cheek. "I would stay in here with ya but I know they'd drag me out, kickin' and screamin'," she whispered. "But I trust you completely, Doctor. I know no matter what happens, you'll never hurt me or Jack or anyone else because I know you could never live with yourself if you did." She laid her hand against his cheek and then rubbed his right antennae gently with her thumb and forefinger. "No matter what happens to you, Doctor. If they don't find a cure for this, I won't leave ya. I'll stay with you, wasp or no wasp until I die. I swear that to you." She kissed his cheek and put her forehead against the cold, hard exoskeleton. The Doctor normally had cold skin but the exoskeleton felt like ice to the touch and she had to fight to keep from crying. After a few more minutes, she gave him one more kiss on the cheek, whispered her love for him and got up from the floor. She was about to go out when she stopped and gazed at Janet who was now sitting in the corner with her arms around her legs, still whimpering pitifully. Rose walked over to the Perspex wall that divided the cells. "Heya," she said softly to her as she whimpered. "It'll be alright, Janet. This is the Doctor. He won't hurt ya. He's not like the other wasps. Don't be afraid, yeah?" Her heart went out to Janet as she lowered her head and whimpered. Rose, not knowing what to do and feeling completely helpless and frustrated, pulled herself away from the wall and called out to the others that she was ready to leave the cell.
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