Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

The taxi pulled up outside a rather tall and grand looking hotel. Barbara stepped out to stare upwards. There were tall buildings in London but there was something about being in a different city which made the buildings unique and fascinating. Despite how tired she felt after such a long flight, she could almost go for a walk to see some more but there would be time for that later.

A finely dressed man dashed toward the from where he had been standing next tot he doors. "Shall I take your luggage?" he asked Ian and Barbara once the cabbie, or taxi driver, had hauled it out of the boot.

"Yes, thank you," Barbara replied. She reached out. For Ian's hand and offered him a smile before they walked into the hotel lobby together.

Once they had signed in at what appeared to be a marble desk, taken the lift up to near the very top, and stepped into their room, Barbara turned to thank the man for bringing their luggage. She gave him a small tip, since she didn't have a lot of money on her, and shut the door behind him.

"Would you look at this!" she said to Ian, gesturing to the entire room. "You must be valuable to have the board so generously pay for you to stay here!"

Barbara trotted over to the window to look out, passing a bottle of champagne and a note which wished them both a happy first anniversary.

Comments

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

"It is," she replied and offered him a warm smile. "I was thinking that I might go back to be for a little while after you go. Maybe I can squeeze in a little more sleep and be extra awake for this evening."

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

He smiled back as he picked it up and had a sip before sitting beside Barbara. "I wish I could go back to bed with you. Why did I agree to work on our anniversary?"

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

"Because it's a new and exciting step forward for science. You told me so yourself," Barbara wriggled closer to cuddle up to his side, "and I'm here to make you comfortable and relaxed after a long day of listening to boing old' men drone on and on. And to tell you about all the wonderful things America has to offer."

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

He chuckled and put an arm round her. "You do make me comfortable and relaxed." He kissed her cheek. "I'm sure it will be exciting, once we get started."

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

"For it to get started, you have to be in the room." She grinned up at him, pleased with her little dig at his (rare) lack of punctuality but she kissed it away before he could retaliate.

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

"I won't be late, I've got ages." He pushed up his shirt sleeve to look at his watch and then realised he wasn't wearing it. "Where did I leave my watch?" He stood up and wandered back into the bedroom to look for it.

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

Barbara followed but climbed back into bed and yawned. She watched Ian look for his watch until she spied it on the bedside table, partially under his wallet.

"Ian," she said and held it out for him.

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

"What would I do with you?" He took it, put it on and found it was later than he thought. "I should go." He finished his tea, then leaned down to kiss her. "I'll see you later."

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

"Enjoy your day as much as you can," she replied and called out: "I love you," as he went for he door.

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

He looked back over his shoulder and smiled as he said, "I love you too." And then he was gone to listen to old men talk about scientific discoveries. And find some toast.

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

Barbara managed to catch an hour more of sleep before she got up to shower and go in search of some breakfast. Downstairs there was a buffet in, what she thought, was a rather nice looking part of the restaurant. She grabbed what looked delicious and sat to eat.

A moment later, a gentleman asked if he could join her. He introduced himself as 'Hank' and sat before Barbara could protest. She didn't like the way he leered at her and spoke only of himself, so she excused herself and went back upstairs to her room where she could gather her things and head out for the day.

When she unlocked the door, however, A man who looked and spoke exactly like Hank was standing inside, waiting for her. Barbara was about to scream when she heard the click of something next to her ear.

"Don't move, don't scream. Just listen," the man even sounded like Hank, "we're going for a little walk and you're going to leave a note for your husband. Tell him that you bumped into an old friend or something." He tossed a hotel notepad and pen at her feet.

Barbara swallowed the urge to cry and bent down to pick them up. As she stood up straight again, she caught a glimpse of a revolver by her head and fumbled a little. Daleks and aliens were one thing but a gun? Heavens!

Quickly she scrawled out a note, hating herself for not being able to figure out some code she could hide in it to let Ian know it wasn't her - that she wouldn't do such a thing to him on their anniversary. Then she tossed it so that the pad landed between the two of them.

"Good girl," he said with a creepy grin and then every thing went black.

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

Ian was tired by the end of the day, but he was looking forward to dinner with Barbara. She wasn't in the room though - she didn't answer when he called out. He nearly stepped on the hotel notepad. When he saw Barbara's handwriting on it he first assumed it was just telling him she was going to be late. But no, she said she'd met an old friend and wouldn't be back for dinner at all.

Although he couldn't think of who she might know in America - especially someone she had to spend this evening with, of all evenings - he didn't begrudge her spending time with someone she'd hadn't seen for a while and might not see for a while longer.

Not wanting to spend the evening in, or have dinner with the same people he'd spent all day with, he went out and found somewhere for dinner. He chose somewhere cheap and close, but looked around for places where he and Barbara might be able to go tomorrow night instead.

He didn't stay out long, hoping she'd get back before it was too late, but she still wasn't there. He mooched around their suite for a while, discovered the champagne, which would have to keep until tomorrow too, and eventually went to bed.

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

It was a long while before it came to take Barbara's place. It entered the room, locked the door behind it and silently walked over to the bed, where it stripped off its day clothes and climbed in beside Ian without touching him. It was designed to look and sound exactly like Barbara but it lacked some of the fundamental things which made it Barbara.

It rolled onto its side, away from Ian, curled up and simulated sleep.

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

Ian hadn't woken up during the night and when he awoke in the morning, the first thing he did was to look over and reassure himself Barbara was there. He was relieved to see she was. Much as he was tempted to lean over and kiss her, he didn't want to wake her up again. So he settled for watching her sleep for a little while, before getting up to shower and get ready for another day.

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

The hotel lobby was a busy place that morning. Aside from the conference, there was a show in town and people were staying at the hotel. A tall, rich looking man strode past, his arm linked with that of his wife or mistress or who knew what. She had big sunglasses and an expensive suit. Funnily enough, she looked exactly like Barbara might if she ever wore large sunglasses...

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

Ian did a double take when he saw the woman, but realised it must just be someone who looked like Barbara. He'd have to remember to tell her later.

But then, at breakfast, the waitress who brought him a cup of tea also looked like Barbara. "Barbara?" he asked her, wondering if Barbara was playing a joke on him.

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

"Pardon, sir?" the woman asked. She even sounded like Barbara but her name tag read 'Sue'.

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

Ian hesitated briefly, before he said, "Sorry, you just reminded me of someone I knew." He couldn't stop watching her, though, wondering if Barbara had borrowed Sue's uniform, whoever Sue was. But he didn't think Barbara was that good an actress.

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

No matter how many times he did it, Hank was always amused at the reactions of humans. It seemed that he could dangle a sneaky invasion in the eyeline of any human and they wouldn't notice.

What idiots.

Once he'd finished chuckling over Ian Chesterton, he stepped forward and whispered something into 'Sue's' ear. She nodded then left. He turned toward Ian with a large grin and and a wink before following her out. Let's see how the human likes that!

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

Ian frowned. There was something going on, he just didn't know what. He finished his tea quickly and followed Sue and the unfamiliar man. He'd clearly known something and Ian was determined to find out what it was.

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

"Are you attending the second day of the scientists' conference?" asked another woman who looked and sounded exactly like Barbara. She wore a pleasant smile and dress which flared out at the bottom. Her hair was pinned back, unlike Barbara's, and she was pulling a tray of small bags to be handed out to each of the attendees. She had pulled up right in front of Ian, blocking his way.

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

He paused for a moment. "No, I'm not," he said gruffly. It was the truth - he wasn't going back to the conference before he'd found out what was going on. "Now get out of my way." Since she wasn't Barbara, he had no problems in putting his hands on her shoulders and moving her out of his way.

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

The woman stepped aside under his hands, a shocked look on her face. "You only had to say no," she replied. Sounding exactly like Barbara when she was completely and totally offended.

Re: Copy Cat

[splendid_roman]

"I'm sorry." He looked back apologetically, unable to carry on without apologising when she sounded like that. Maybe Sue was the only person who looked like Barbara to know what was going on. Or she didn't and it was just the man with her. Either way he had to find them.

Re: Copy Cat

[first_in_time]

A little ways ahead, Hank turned a corner. His hand was firmly clamped on the arm of the clone as though she might run at any moment, despite the smooth look on her face. He had that stupid human's attention now! All he had to do was draw him in a little closer for the taking.

Of course, it was always easy to point guns and order them about but sometimes the psychological affects of playing with them was all the more rewarding.

Hank opened the door of a cleaner's storeroom and roughly pulled her in. The door shut moments before there was a muffled cry and a delicate thump. Hank cleaned his blade with a handkerchief, watching with satisfaction as a crimson stain bloomed over her stomach. So many clones had been made over such a short time that the sacrifice of one would hardly be noticed. Besides, ending their lives was almost more fun than capturing humans. He felt like a god.

He flicked a hidden switch and the back of the cupboard rolled away, opening up an interdimensional doorway to his ship as it orbited the miserable Earth. Green flashing lights blinked at him in the semi-darkness of the cupboard. He gave the dying clone a smirk and stepped away, shutting the door behind him.