'It's almost complete,' she reported to Sir Manning. 'The last data is being programmed into the new Krillitane creatures even as we speak.'

'Then gather the brothers and sisters,' Sir Manning said.

'This is an historic moment. They should witness it.'

Miss Sark turned away, her claws clicking on the concrete floor.

Sir Manning turned to the Doctor and Henry. 'You will witness it too. The final triumph of the Krillitanes. The beginning of a whole new race of creatures that will conquer all before them.'

The Doctor sighed. 'Yawn,' he said.

The tank containing the creatures shuddered under an impact from inside.

'How will they get out?' Henry wondered.

Sir Manning's alien features twisted into a smile. 'Oh, they'll find a way.'

The other Krillitanes arrived. There were about a dozen of them. They gathered round Sir Manning and Miss Sark.

The Krillitane that had disguised himself as Clive gave a hiss of amus.e.m.e.nt when he saw the Doctor and Henry.

The sounds from inside the tank got louder. A dent appeared in the side of the tank, close to the Doctor and Henry.

'The creation fluids and liquids are being pumped out,'

one of the Krillitanes reported.

'The process is complete,' another added. 'All personality and character details have been fed into the creatures.'

'Not just creatures,' Sir Manning said proudly. 'Krillitanes.

Super-Krillitanes.'

Another dent appeared in the tank. The metal began to split. With a wrenching, tearing sound, a hole appeared.

Ma.s.sive claws reached out, ripping the metal aside like paper.

Henry watched in horror. The whole building echoed with the screeching sound of tearing metal.

'I'm not sure I like the look of that,' the Doctor said.

'Behold our future!' exclaimed Sir Manning.

As he spoke, a whole section of the tank was forced aside. A ma.s.sive creature stepped out. It stood, breathing deeply and looking around. Behind it two more of the huge creatures forced their way out of the tank.

They did not look very much like the other Krillitanes.

These creatures were about three metres tall and deep red in colour. Their bodies were wet with the remains of the fluids from the tank. Their wings seemed more sleek and elegant.

Their faces were the most different. They were rounder, with less gaunt features. They looked almost human, like innocent children. Stubby horns stuck up from the tops of their heads, and they had long, sharp claws.

'They're like angels,' Henry gasped. 'OK, red angels.

With horns and claws.'

'Angels,' the Doctor murmured. He looked at the original Krillitanes. 'And demons. But you're right, there is a family likeness.'

'They might look different, but they are so much stronger,' Miss Sark said.

'And far more clever,' Sir Manning added.

The Doctor sniffed. 'Well, that wouldn't be so hard, would it?'

Sir Manning's stony lips curled in anger. 'For all their differences, they are still Krillitanes. You will be the first to witness their strength and power. Their ferocity, lack of mercy, and single-minded killer instincts.'

'And all that comes from their character programming?'

the Doctor said. 'The last part of the data that you got from the puzzles and tests on the Brainy_Crisps website, yes?'

'Of course,' Miss Sark said.

'The website that Henry here has been in charge of?'

'Yes,' Sir Manning said. There was a hint of uncertainty in his voice now.

'And the personality and instinct all comes from the tests that cover intelligence and reason, don't they? And the ones that asked about war and anger? About fighting and hatred?'

'The best way to get the data we needed.'

'Yes, I thought so.' The Doctor stuffed his hands in his pockets.

There was silence for several moments. Sir Manning and the other Krillitanes looked at each other confused. The three new Super-Krillitane creatures stood watching silently. Their eyes glinted as they caught the light.

'Is there some point you are trying to make, Doctor?' Sir Manning asked. 'Before you die, that is.'

The Doctor shrugged. 'Not really.' He turned to Henry.

'Anything you wanted to add?'

'Um...' Henry said. He sounded nervous. He glanced up at the glistening, red creature standing right beside him. The talons at the ends of its fingers were as long as Henry's own fingers. 'Not really,' he decided. 'Except that I guess the way these beasts behave is very much to do with what data was fed in. It depends on the results of the tests.'

'Of course,' Sir Manning said. 'And now we shall have one final test. We shall see how quickly our new brothers can rip you to shreds.' He looked up at the three ma.s.sive creatures. 'The time has come, my brothers. Kill these two.'

He pointed at the Doctor and Henry.

The three creatures turned towards the Doctor and Henry. One of the huge new These beasts reached out its clawed hand towards the Doctor. Henry and the Doctor backed away as the creatures advanced.

Chapter Thirteen.

Henry looked scared, but the Doctor seemed completely at ease.

'This will be interesting,' the Doctor said loudly. 'Have you any idea what would happen if the wrong data got fed in?

If, instead of all that hate and anger, the data came from a different website? Say, one where people talked about manners and how to be polite.'

'You mean, discussions about what cutlery to use at a dinner party, and how to talk to a bishop or the Queen?'

Henry asked.

'That sort of thing,' the Doctor agreed.

The nearest of the Super-Krillitanes loomed over the Doctor.

'You talk such nonsense, Doctor,' Sir Manning said. 'That nonsense stops now. Kill him. Kill them both!'

The first of the huge creatures was almost treading on the Doctor's toes. Fluid dripped from the tip of one of its talons, and splashed to the floor.

The Doctor reached out and grabbed the clawed hand that was coming towards him. With a huge grin, the Doctor shook the new Super-Krillitane's hand.

'So, how's it going, big fellow? I'm the Doctor, and this is my friend Henry.'

The Super-Krillitane's voice was a surprise. It was refined and cultured. 'Delighted to meet you both. I don't think we have names as such.' It turned its ma.s.sive head towards the two other huge creatures. 'Do we?'

'I don't think we do,' one of the others agreed.

'Pretty sure we don't,' the third one said, 'Something we need to sort out.'

'Well, this is all a bit confusing and new, isn't it, Henry?'

the Super-Krillitane said to Henry. 'If I may call you Henry?'

Henry nodded weakly.

'Thank you so much. Feeling a bit peckish, actually. You don't happen to have a cuc.u.mber sandwich or something of the sort about your person, do you?'

'Perhaps the Doctor and Henry will be free to come out and play later,' one of the other Super-Krillitanes said.

'That would be nice,' the Doctor said. 'Wouldn't that be nice, Henry?'

'Very nice,' Henry agreed.

The original Krillitanes watched this exchange with rising disbelief.

'What is going on?' Gabby asked.

'Something's wrong,' Miss Sark said coldly.

'Kill them!' Sir Manning shouted. 'Kill them now, you fools!'

The three new creatures looked at each other.

'We can't do that,' one of them said.

'They want to come out and play. You can't go round killing your friends, you know.'

'What sort of society would that lead to?' asked the Super-Krillitane that had shaken the Doctor's hand. 'You're a bit strange, you are.'

Sir Manning was hopping from clawed foot to clawed foot. 'What have you done, Doctor?'

The Doctor smiled. 'I've done nothing. But Henry you remember Henry, who you thought was a bit stupid? Well, he's not stupid at all, is he? Because he changed the data coming into your new Super-Krillitane brothers. Yes,' he said sounding pleased with himself, 'a great success, don't you think?' He caught sight of the Sir Manning Krillitane's angry face. 'Oh, you don't think so. That's a shame.'

'Shame,' echoed one of the new Super-Krillitanes.

Sir Manning and Miss Sark looked at each other. 'If you won't kill them,' Sir Manning said, 'then we will. Then we shall start this whole project again.'

'No, no, no,' the Doctor said. 'It's over. Can't you see that? Just put it down to experience and leave this planet.'

Sir Manning and the other original Krillitanes did not listen. They hurled themselves at the Doctor and Henry. Their wings flapped as they launched forwards, snarling in anger.

The three new Super-Krillitanes at once stepped in the way.

'You're not hurting our friends,' one of them said.

'We've only just met them,' another pointed out.

For a moment, the savage Krillitanes paused. Only for a moment, though. Then Miss Sark gave a cry of rage and leaped forward again.

'You are a disgrace to the name of Krillitane,' she shouted.

The nearest of the new Super-Krillitanes swatted her aside as if she were a fly. Miss Sark clanged into the side of a metal tank. At once she was up again, wings beating as she flew back towards the Super-Krillitanes.

The fight was becoming a battle between the two types of Krillitane. The Doctor and Henry watched as the smaller, more vicious original Krillitanes attacked the larger ones. A huge clawed foot stamped down, just missing Henry. Sparks flew from the claw as it cracked into the concrete floor. The Doctor pulled Henry back out of the way.

'This is not what we planned,' Sir Manning yelled. 'These vile creatures are not worthy of us. They must be destroyed.'

He swept into the attack again.

It was all rather one-sided. The new creatures were larger, but didn't have the anger or savage nature of the original Krillitanes. Soon, one of the ma.s.sive creatures was lying dead on the ground.

Sir Manning's group also had wounded and dead, but they drove the two larger creatures back. Several Krillitanes attacked one of the Super-Krillitanes at once. They flew into it, and knocked it flying backwards into one of the metal tanks. The creature tried to fight back, but it was overwhelmed.

In its dying moments, the enormous creature lashed out.