DOOMWATCH S1E23 - ENDGAME

8/8/2019 DOOMWATCH S1E23 - ENDGAME

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SEASON 1 EPISODE 23

ENDGAMEWritten by GRANT FOXON

THE FALL OF EMPIRE

The room was small and contained, which was interesting considering the magnitude

of what was being discussed in there. A team of logicians which had come into being

in the late 1950’s. They were privately sponsored and working to protect and calculatethe success of human society. Everything was considered and calculated and despite

the odd error of timing they were nearly always right. All had been predicted and as

they sat back that night they realised they had come to a shocking conclusion.

“That’s it. An end to all order all society in less than one year?”

Colin uttered a genius amount of mathematics as he looked at the rest of the group.

There was Cheryl, Gustav and there leader Leyton.

“It seems so. I think its time we contact Doomwatch”.

Adam awoke late at night or should that be the early hours of the morning to a

banging on the door. He headed towards the door. Ridge was standing there calmly as

if it was the afternoon and he had been invited over.“Well you took your time. I was beginning to think you weren’t

in”. Ridge declared as he handed over a bottle of red wine.

“Pour us both a glass will you but treat her with respect she’s a

vintage you know.”

Ridge headed inside and flopped onto the settee.

“Are we celebrating something?” Adam enquired.

“As a matter of fact we are. The end of the world”.

“Oh is that all?”

“No straight up. Look put some clothes on and pour the drink

and I’ll tell you.”

Half an hour later Adam had washed and got reasonably dressed. His friend/mentor

Ridge sat flicking idly through the Radio Times. He poured the glasses and walked

through to the sitting room.

“Ahh at last old chap. Now where was I?”

“Something about the end of the world?”

“Oh yes. The Trulage Institute. A sort of think tank.

Privately funded. You wouldn’t have heard of it. I doubt there

was even information on Mainframe. It was used to predict certain future events with

maths and logic. And it worked. A few times there have been false predictions or

different timescales but not often”.

Ridge took a deep gulp of the wine.

“So you’re saying a think tank is able to predict the future?



Come off it Ridge. They would have been exploited years ago”.

“Seriously Adam. And they have recently predicted the end of

our society and the dawning of chaos”.

“Chaos?”

“It’s not as strange as it sounds you know. Capitalism and

greed thrive in chaos. As do arms merchants. Please believe me, this is cruciallyserious!”

Adam could tell Ridge meant it. But he just couldn’t accept that it was possible.

“What about the unpredictability factor? Certain events happen

without our control”.

“Definitely. But not as often as one would think”.

Adam took another drink.

“I’m sorry Ridge I just can’t….”

“Look. Trust me its true. Now the leader Gustav contacted me

and he wants to talk to you. Please Adam you have to believe me. For all our sakes”.

Adam and Miranda sat opposite each other in his office.“It’s impossible surely? Even if you could input every scrap of

data human beings are just to unpredictable?”

“Maybe it’s that unpredictability which makes us predictable?”

Adam reasoned back. He himself didn’t believe it. However he trusted Ridge enough

to believe him. And despite Ridge’s gentlemanly decorum he did detect that Ridge

was genuinely concerned with this report.

“So how does it happen?” Miranda inquired.

“That I don’t know. But we should know very soon a chap by

the name of Gustav should be in shortly. He’s the one who is in charge of the think

tank. Where’s Paul?”

“Suffocating his pregnant beloved no doubt. You know I used

to be the late one. And now he’s taken that title away fromme”.

“You were comfortably late, he’s going to regret it late”.

Gustav knew he was late. He was gathering his things together to head to the

Doomwatch headquaters. As he opened the door there was a beautiful women

standing there.

“Please Gustav don’t be alarmed I’m here to talk”.

“Who are you?” He cried backing away.

“I’m from Doomwatch Quist sent me to talk to you”.

“No I was to meet him there. You are not Doomwatch!”Carly smiled.

“That’s right Gustav. I want to help. I believe we could be

mutually beneficial to each other”.

“Who are you?”

“I’m…we’re L.C.F. I trust you have heard of us”.

Gustav turned to run but Carly whipped out a stazer and shot Gustav in the back. His

lifeless body crashed to the floor.

“I did hope such actions would not be necessary Gustav”.

Carly rolled Gustav over and dragged him to the side door of the house where she was

parked. She opened the backdoor of the car and threw Gustav in. Then she pulled a

sheet out of the boot and threw it over him. She closed the car door with a look of distain. She then jumped in and reversed the car of the drive.



Adam paced the Doomwatch office. He felt something wasn’t right. Gustav

should have been here by now. Adam decided if he didn’t show soon he would

contact Ridge to let him know. Suddenly the phone went. Adam picked it up. It was

Ridge.

“Is he there?”“No he hasn’t shown”.

“Something’s wrong”. Ridge replied matter of factly.

They arrive at Gustav’s residence. Adam wondered how Ridge got the address but

decided not to ask.

The interior of the house looked calm. It was messy sure but the sort of organised

mess you might subscribe belonged to a mathematical genius like Gustav. As Ridge

crossed the living room into the kitchen suddenly Adam noticed a sound. He located it

in a nearby draw under some paper work.

“What is it?” Ridge enquired.

“Looks like a router?”Adam held it up to the light.

“Making a noise?”

“I don’t think its any normal router. Have your people been bugging

this place Ridge?”

“No. Not that I know of”.

“Some one has. And I wager they’ve got Gustav now. I think we

should locate the rest of the group a.s.a.p”.

“But who would take them?” Ridge reasoned.

“Come on if they’re as powerful with their mathematical abilities as

you say, they could indeed make a powerful weapon or at least a very useful tool”.

Gustav awoke in a room. The room was bare the walls white. Suddenly a light came

on. The glaze was painful. A woman appeared. It took a few seconds then Gustav

remembered her.

“You. What do you want from me?”

“Mr Gustav we believe you. And we want to help speed up the end.

You will help us”.

Gustav shook his head violently.

“No. No I will not! You people are crazy. Your values are corrupt as is

your message….”

Carly slapped Gustav hard in the face. He was shocked.“You old fool. What use is the data if it cannot be used . You are ideal

for the L.C.F. We will have your data even if we have to break every bone and every

sense of identity in that overactive mind of yours. Now get some rest”.

Carly kissed his head and left the room. Very soon it went black.

“The L.C.F”. Adam declared as he faced Ridge in his office.

“It makes sense. We knew they weren’t just going to go away. The

think tanks talents and predictions of apocalypse are just up their alley and would

indeed appeal to their twisted minds”.

Adam pulled the whisky out if his draw. It was nearly empty.

“Should you be doing that?” Ridge asked.“Come on the world is going to end”.



“You’re right I’ll have one too”.

They both had a small glass and then Adam tossed the empty glass into the bin.

“Have Intel any idea where L.C.F could be?”

“It’s not like normal terrorist cells Adam. Very little is known about

these fanatics. They attract so many apparently normal people.

They could be anywhere”.“Shall we inform Timmons?”

Ridge paced for a moment and then turned back to Adam.

“It doesn’t look like we have much choice now does it”.

Gustav awoke in a different room. This was more of a study. He wasn’t even sure if

the old room even existed or it was his imagination. The woman appeared again and

presented him with a laptop.

“Tell me Gustav, in your equation how responsible will the L.C.F be in

the destruction of our society”.

Gustav looked up at her. She really is mad. He thought. A real fanatic.

“You play your part. One of many players in the game”.“Game. Interesting choice of words Gustav. I hope you’re taking this

seriously”.

Gustav snapped.

“On the contrary, it is you idiots you fanatics who are making a joke

out of this!”

Carly placed the laptop in front of him.

“Maths is your religion. And you’ve proven its potential. You should

be admiring us. We’re going to make your predictions come true”.

“I hope to God you don’t!”

“God? God! You use science to prove all the mysteries of

nature and you call for God? You’re sick!”

Carly left the room. Gustav checked the laptop but there was no battery. He dropped it

on the table in front of him.

What the hell do these crazies want from me?

“A think tank operating in London with that apparent power, privately

funded by a consortium including many mason groups lords and

royals. And the intelligence services were kept out?” Timmons was

both shocked and angry.

“Not at all. Some new not many mind need to know you know?” Ridge

smiled as he spoke, clearly getting off on Timmons rage.“Look gentlemen we can discuss the ins and outs later surely. We need

to find these people and their data. If it is the L.C.F…well we know what they’ll do”.

Adam mediated.

“Very well I’ll check all Intel reports about possible L.C.F activity. I

can’t believe I was kept out of the loop!” With that Timmons stormed out of the

office. Ridge was beaming.

“What about the rest of Doomwatch?”

“No. We’ll keep them out of it for the moment. I think the less people

who know. The better”.

Carly paced the room reading the report.“He’s done well. This info will be incredibly useful”.



“What shall we do now?” the tall L.C.F operator enquired.

“Endgame. Kill all the think tank then burn the place to the ground”.

The room was stale. There was little air. The occupant didn’t care though. His

profession paid a lot, not that you could tell by his filthy surroundings. He sathunched over a laptop. Soon an alert sounded to signal a new email. The occupant

opened it. The email was encrypted. He used his encryption software to open it. The

man was an assassin and a very good one. The email opened. It was short. The

message read….

KILL DOOMWATCH. KILL ADAM QUIST.

FEE £100,000 PAID INTO BANK ACCOUNT AS REQUESTED.

The man smiled.

Adam looked thoughtfully at the empty bottle of scotch. He thought it only

seemed like five minutes ago that it was full. In reality it was an hour. He was bored

and unhappy. Things were not going well. The death of the Trulage institute a

thinktank that used mathematical logic and philosophy to predict the future was

hijacked by the LCF. The security leak had left the government needing a scape goat.

Sadly it looked like Doomwatch may well be it. Despite Timmons best efforts Adam

knew they were on borrowed time despite what they had already helped to achieve.

Alas, there is no place for emotion in politics. The team was also drifting. Paul and his

fiancée were planning to marry soon. Adam felt a special bond to Paul. Like a mentor.

Then there was the L.C.F. No doubt they would be planning to manipulate the data

they had newly acquired.

Adam used these problems to justify his drinking.

Paul and Kate were in love. She was pregnant. Paul was initially terrified but

now felt at ease with the situation. He felt good. Sure, things were moving fast but he

realised the future wasn’t some enormous monolith to be feared but to be embraced.

He had decided he would ask Adam Quist to be best man. He was also taking Kate

into work to properly introduce her to the Doomwatch team. She was excited although

Paul could tell she had other things on her mind.

It can’t be easy having an organism grow inside you? Paul theorized.

Let alone have to give birth!

Paul made himself a drink and sat in his favourite chair as he waited for Kate

to finish her bath. He had to admit that the “child” inside her had put him off sex only

slightly. He certainly found it hard sharing a bath now. Fraudian thinking perhaps ?

******************

The man paced his bedsit. He unplugged the laptop and heated the kettle.

When it boiled he poured the contents into the PC after removing the disc drive. He

then began to smash the PC and disk drive into pieces and smiled whilst he did it. He

then opened a draw and pulled out a small box.



******************

Adam realised he had fallen asleep. Two thoughts struck him as he awoke.

The first was that he was becoming a good for nothing bum and might be in danger of

losing his position. The second was that the cleaning lady was missing his office and

therefore the office was going to start smelling like a home for a good for nothingbum. He still needed a drink. Miranda would no doubt be late as usual. Paul was

bringing his fiancée in. Not the best first impression looking like a drunk, good for

nothing bum. He sniffed his armpits and nearly recoiled in horror at the smell.

Adam crossed to a cupboard where he kept a spare change of clothes and some

Lynx deodorant. He then decided to quickly get changed.

Paul arrived with Kate.

“You’re going to love the guys. Well Miranda’s a woman actually

but she’s probably had that much testosterone inside her she could

be technically classed as a male. Oh, and don’t tell her I said that asgetting beaten up in front of Adam would no doubt destroy any credibility I had with

him”.

Kate never replied she seemed distant.

“Oh, and I also work with Genghis. He’s in charge of our Mongol

division”.

“Sorry? What?” Kate replied.

“Look love, what’s wrong? Is it the baby?”

“Baby? Yeah the baby”.

They kissed and then Paul led the way inside Doomwatch.

Despite a wash and fresh clothes Adam still felt pretty awful. He looked in the

mirror and scowled. He then flicked the kettle on as he heard Paul and Kate arrive.

“Boss!” Paul cried with excitement.

“Hello Paul. And this must be Kate?”

“Nice to meet you Mr Quist. Paul speaks very highly of you”.

“Yes, he does make a very good coffee. Speaking of which would you

like one?”

“I’d love a cup of tea”. Kate replied.“Tea it is”.

Miranda entered through the door followed by Eve.

“Now the whole family’s here”. Adam said more emotionally then he

would have liked.

“Hello. I’m Miranda you must be Kate”.

“Hi, nice to meet you”.

“Paul’s just putting the kettle on. Would you like a cup?” Adam asked.

“Thanks Paul”. Miranda replied.“No problem”.



Kate walked over to Paul as he prepared the drinks.

“You never said she was attractive?” Kate whispered.

“Who?”

“That Miranda”.“She is?”

“Mind you she is a bit on the big side”.

“Yeah…why don’t you mingle honey?”

Slowly the occupant waited outside the building. He looked at his watch and

finished his chocolate bar before heading inside.

With everyone having a hot drink. Adam called for a toast and wished Paul

and Kate a very happy life. Paul then asked Adam to be his best man. Adam agreed

most enthusiastically.

The figure outside then prepared his bomb. He set the fuse for 35 seconds.

“Is there a toilet I can use?” Kate enquired.

“Sure. This way”. Eve led her to the toilet.

The next few moments were just a blur as the bomb went off. The building was

almost flattened. Outside there was mass panic on the streets. Adam was the first to

emerge from the wreckage and the occupant was waiting outside with a gun. He

opened fire but stopped as there were far too many people which he would have to

gun down, so he quickly disappeared into the shadows.

Adam then discovered the cold dead arm of Kate sticking out the rubble with

the wedding ring on her finger. He dropped to his knees.

It was a dark day indeed. But it was about to get a whole lot worse…..

The hospital felt like death. Adam waited twitching his fingers he felt the pressure and

the guilt. Time wasn’t with him in that corridor. It could have been minutes it could

have been days. Then Ridge arrived.

“Adam! Adam!”Adam turned and saw Ridge’s approach.

“Ridge, Kate’s dead. Eve’s in a coma. Paul’s still

unconscious he could come round any moment. Miranda’s

being treated for minor burns”.

“What the hell happened?”

A deliberate attack. L.C.F maybe, I don’t know, but they

wanted us dead”.

“But the department was going to close Doomwatch?”

“Perhaps whomever ordered the attack was unawares”.

Ridge stroked his temple.



“No. We’re missing something here. L.C.F had no problem

getting secret info before and Doomwatch being closed was

no secret, no I think there’s more to this somehow. I think

someone was scared?”

“Well it doesn’t matter does it?”

A nurse approaches. By the look on her face Adam knew Paul had regained

consciousness. Deep down Paul wondered if it was better they had died together. The

damage this was going to cause to Paul.

“Mr Grover is asking for you, and Kate”.

Ridge and Adam exchanged a glance.

“I’m coming now”. Adam replied.

Miranda looked at her arm in the mirror. The skin looked charred. The scars

would be deep. But she was more concerned at the moment with the pain rather than

her vanity. That would come later when the initial attack of pain and nausea had lefther. The vanity scars would be the deepest and would stay with her till she died. The

curtain pulled back and Ridge appeared.

“Any news?”

“Paul’s come round. Ridge is telling him at the moment”.

“Shit. I can’t believe it”.

“In all my years at Doomwatch and working for the

government I’ve never….”

Ridge momentarily succumbed to emotion.

“What about Eve?”

“No news. She’s still critical in the coma”.

“Who the hell did this Ridge!” Miranda demanded.

“I don’t know. But I swear I’ll find out!”

Adam found telling Paul was one of the hardest moments of his life. Adam had

known the pain of losing family and this brought up those raw wounds. Paul initially

was in denial but then broke down. Adam wanted to stay and talk but he couldn’t. It

was too painful. He felt bad for leaving him. What the hell did he have to feel bad

about? And yet Paul breaking down losing his fiancée and unborn child the pain in

that room was too much for anybody to witness. Adam needed a drink.

Adam walked down the hospital corridor. People around him and yet he felt so

alone. Out of nowhere he dropped to his knees and began to cry. Nurses came running

over.

“Are you ok?” people enquired.

Adam staggered to his feet and fell back.

“Me! Me! He’s lost it all!” Adam couldn’t control his emotions

anymore..

Miranda walked to the water fountain and watched the water pour into her

plastic cup. The pain killers had little effect but make her light headed. She didn’t



really care. She took a sip of the water and then stared at the water as if looking for

answers.

Ridge found Adam outside the hospital.

“What are you doing?” Ridge asked.

“Waiting for a cab”.“Why? Where are you going?”

“To get drunk”.

Ridge scratched his head.

“You can’t. They need you”.

“No. Look we tried but Doomwatch as it was is over. There’s

no coming back from this. The L.C.F or whomever can have

the world. That’s if they don’t already own it”.

“Listen to yourself you pathetic bastard. Paul, Miranda and Eve

need you. Damn it I need you. Go take a wash and calm down.

You can’t go”.

A taxi arrives. Adam approaches it.

“You won’t find any answers or salvation at the bottom of a

bottle!” said Ridge.

Adam opened the car door and climbed in. The taxi span off.

“Damn you Quist”. Ridge muttered to himself.

Miranda waited outside Paul’s room. She felt a pang of pain for him erupt inside her

chest. She walked in. His eyes were glazed with tears.

“Paul, Paul I’m so sorry…”

Paul looked at her.

“Just words Miranda. Words mean little. My life has been

taken away. Do we have any intel yet on who was

responsible?”

“Look Paul, revenge wont…”.

“DO WE HAVE ANY!” Paul shouted at her. Miranda was

shocked by this.

“No. Not yet. I think there’s speculation what it was the L.C.F

but we just don’t know yet”.

“L.C.F. But why? Why?”

“I don’t know Paul. I wish I could tell you”.

Paul looked at Miranda and she realised it was pure hate behind those eyes. Not the

eyes she knew to be Paul’s.

“Look Paul. No matter what you are feeling right please don’t

do anything rash. Please”.

“Rash? Someone is going to pay for this. Believe me”.

A nurse entered with a trolley.“Sorry but Mr Grover needs to rest now”.



“Of course. If there is anything I can do Paul”.

“Yes. Get me that intel”.

Miranda left Paul. She felt sadness. It seems the explosion killed more than she

realised. Paul was dead now. That person didn’t seem to be him it all. As Miranda

walked down the corridor Timmons approached.

“How is he?” Timmons asked with genuine concern.

“Dead, inside”.

“Adam?”

“Desperate for a drink”.

“Eve?”

“Still in a coma”.

“You?”

“Someone’s got to stay in control. Do you know who did

this?”.

Miranda could tell by Timons reaction that he knew something.“Come with me”.

Miranda and Timmons found a quiet spot in the hospital café.

“This is the man”.

Miranda looked at the photo.

“Who is he?”

“He’s got many names. None are real by the look of it. The

image was immediately flagged up by Interpol. It seems he’s killed many people over

his criminal career. He’s an assassin specialises in explosives but has used other

means. Officially he’s linked with over thirty murders however over the years there

was probably many more”.

“Where’s he from?”

“We’re not too sure. Probably somewhere on the continent. We

genuinely don’t know enough about him. He’s never been seen with anybody. He

presumably has a private way in and out of countries or is a master of disguise.

Miranda I don’t think the L.C.F were behind this. They couldn’t arrange a hitman like

this”.

Miranda thought for a moment.

“Then who was behind it?”

“I don’t know. We don’t know. It’s no secret Doomwatch was

a political hotpot and politically it would be far easier to destroy it that way. If someone wanted to kill you all or individually there would be easier ways than

blowing up a building in the middle of London”.

“Easier? Or is someone trying not to have predictable

behaviour?” Miranda theorised.

“What?”

“Remember L.C.F have the thinktanks, work the ability to

predict the future through mathematics and anticipating peoples behaviour. Like you

say there are easier ways to accomplish things. Someone is trying not to have their

behaviour predicted, deliberately doing things a certain way”.

“Which means…”



“Which means whether the L.C.F are responsible is not the

issue. They have the data and someone else is deliberately acting so they are not

manipulated by the data. L.C.F have the data therefore they are a part of this”.

“Right!” Timons jumped up and grabbed his phone.

Adam sat at the bar. It was packed with people in suits talking idly about theirdull lives. Most ignored Adam whilst some looked at him with utter distain. He

simply drank his whisky and tried to forget Paul’s face when he told him the news,

was still etched into his mind. He tried to forget but couldn’t.

Ridge sat in the car. The man opposite him was a similar age to Ridge but

rather rotund.

“So this favour means we’re straight”. The man enquired.

“Absolutely Charles”.

The man handed over a photograph of the hitman.

“We’re not too sure of his name. Typical French secret service

botched the investigation into him years ago. He frequents both the UK and America.We believe he’s left for LA at the moment. That’s where it’s believed he goes”.

“Any idea where?”

“Come on, if we knew that we have arrested him just to show

the froggies up. However a good guess would be too try the low town. A mans got to

have a vice especially if he kills for a living there you get all the cheap booze,

narcotics and sex you could want cheap too. I mean you can’t throw money around

without attracting attention”.

“Thank you Charles”. Ridge replied.

“I mean it Ridge, I never want to see you again”.

Ridge nodded and exited the car. It drove off. Ridge looked at the photograph

and headed back to the hospital.

Adam could feel the booze beginning to kick in. The dragons were no longer

clawing at his back.

Paul was now asleep. Miranda watched on. Ridge approached.

“How is he?”

“Asleep. I’ve spoken to Timmons”.

“Any luck?”

“An idea. I think the L.C.F are involved but not sure to whatextent. What’s that?” Miranda pointed to the photograph.

“Oh, nothing”.

“Have you seen Adam?” Miranda asked.

“He’s probably in a bar still”.

“Some boss, eh?”.

“Come on let’s go and get a coffee”.

Paul’s eyes were closed. He wasn’t asleep and he wasn’t awake either. It was as if he

was in some kind of purgatory. Mentally he was trapped. He was alive. He wished he

had died instead of them. He felt as if his very soul had been torn from him. All he

felt now was a thirst. He wanted to kill the person responsible. If it was the L.C.F he



wanted to personally murder every member. Make them die in front of their families.

See the horror of the atrocities which are committed in the name of freedom.

“So what will happen with Doomwatch now?” Miranda asked.

“I imagine there will be the usual investigation and paperwork.

Officially it will still exist although it won’t. If we can get Adam back there maybe achance otherwise I shouldn’t imagine anyone else would want the position”.

“So that’s it? A government body that was actually making a

diffrence gone.”

“Doomwatch has never been popular with the Government. If

there’s one thing they hate its home truths. Doomwatch is needed but not wanted. I

can fight to save Doomwatch but without Adam there I can’t see that happening”.

The words stung in Ridge’s throat as he said them.

“So what will the “official” press report be?” Miranda asked.

“Not my department. Maybe be blamed on whatever terroristcell the government want blaming. No eco group would ever get an official blaming”.

Miranda threw her hair back in frustration.

“You know with all the lies and power games it makes you

wonder if Doomwatch is even worth it? I mean will we ever make a difference in this

world? Can we?”

Ridge didn’t answer and just walked away.

Paul felt suicidal. But he wanted revenge more. Ridge entered the room.

“I won’t ask if you’re ok. I’ve come to help”.

“Help? You’re too late”. Paul replied.

“I don’t think so. Here”.

Ridge handed over the photograph.

“Who’s this?”

“That is the man who killed Kate”.

Paul sat up and stared at the photo.

“Who is he?”“I don’t know. Some high profile hitman. European not much

data is known on him. I can tell you where to find him”.

“Where?”

“L.A. I don’t know where probably the lower areas”.

Paul started to stand Ridge pushed him back.

“Listen to me you idiot! You going running in the state you’re

in you’d never get passed American border security. Planning. Get a ticket and calm

down. You going rushing you’ll screw up. Ok?”.

Paul nodded.“Thank you Ridge”.



“Get him and get back. If you do screw up we never had this

conversation. Ok?”.

Paul agreed. Ridge left the room Paul stared at the photograph.

“You’re dead”. Paul uttered to the shadows in the room.

“Ratiocinate logic. That’s what we’re dealing with. Somebody doesn’t want their

actions and reactions predicted. Presumably it’s the L.C.F. Someone who wants to

destroy Doomwatch, or a member of the team”. Timmons said into his phone.

The reply from his superiors was less than encouraging. Doomwatch had a

poor reputation as it was with the government/security agencies. Recent events

seemed to have made things even worse. As the conversation came to an end

Timmons returned his phone to his pocket. Never the less he believed Miranda was

right in her thinking. But why?

Adam was drinking harder and harder. The pain was slowly being bleached

out by the spirits in his glass, each drop making him feel worse. He could still see

Paul and his perfect nuclear family. The pain was intense. Adam was on the verge of

giving up and going back to his old life at the cottage.

Ridge smoked his cigar outside the hospital, looking up at the blood red sky as

the sun set. He saw the blood in the sky and it formed images in his mind. He saw the

recent Doomwatch tragedy but he saw others to. He saw Mary Bryant consumed by

rats, he saw Toby Wren’s face as the bomb blew up, trapped on the pier, he saw

Spencer Quist and he saw Clive Sellers. God, have I done the right thing? Is the right

thing, really the right thing? Ridge was going to find it hard without Adam, who had

become the focal point for Doomwatch. Ridge glanced at his watch and then lit up

another cigar.

Mainframe, a computer created by a genius and given to Doomwatch to help

in it’s investigations stood inactive at M.I.5. It had been shutdown now for sometime

now due to the L.C.F successfully hacking into it. The machine was still plugged in

and networked, ready to be investigated and updated and eventually returned to

Doomwatch.

Suddenly it switched itself on and sent a message to a nearby active computer and

then turned promptly turned itself off.The message was brief and simple and no one could work out where it was sent from.

The message was one word…THINKING.

Miranda braced herself emotionally as she went to see Paul. Paul was sitting

up in bed with an emotionless expression on his face.

“Hi. I wont insult you by asking if you’re ok”. Miranda said quietly. There

was no response from Paul.

“Look…I don’t know what to say?”

“Where’s Adam?”

“I don’t know”. Miranda replied quickly.Paul nodded.



“Can you leave me now?” He replied. Miranda agreed without verbally

communicating and left Paul in his misery. For the last time.

Adam finished his last drink in the bar. He was put off by the younger people

enjoying themselves in such vast quantities. He looked at them with pure chagrin as

he awkwardly stumbled to the exit. The air outside was cold. Immediately, the effectof the alcohol in his bloodstream doubled. He was sick, walked a little further and was

violently sick. He then decided to go home where he realised upon arrival he would

be sick once again.

Miranda waited by Eve’s bedside. She was still in a coma and little signs of

life. Her mind was truly in another world. She seemed so peaceful laying there.

Miranda thought it was a shame that she didn’t make more of an effort to get to know

Eve. And if, no , when Eve pulls through, Miranda decided that she would indeed do

her best to befriend Eve. Life’s to short and as Miranda was learning it can get a

whole lot shorter.

“Please, Eve, we need you. Please come back”. Miranda whispered quietly in

Eve’s ear and then gently kissed her forehead.

Timmons found Ridge outside.

“Yes, Timmons?”. Ridge uttered not bothering to hide the resentment in his

voice.

“Mainframe. It’s been active”. Timmons replied with a questioning tone.

“I thought, we agreed to keep it closed down.” said Ridge still not looking at

Timmons.

“It is but it briefly became active for a couple of minutes, sent a message to a

another computer and then closed down”.

“Message? What kind of message?” Ridge became agitated by this new

development.

“It just said “Thinking” and then powered down. We were considering

disconnecting it, but it is now under observation ”

“Thinking? Thinking!”

You know what it meant?” Timmons read Ridge’s body language. He could

tell that Ridge knew. Ridge tried to control himself but realised he had given too

much away.

“Possibly. Any word from Adam?”“Forget Adam, do you know what’s going on? Is there a link between the

logic and mainframe? Is someone trying to send us a message or a warning perhaps?

Someone in the L.C.F?” Timmons mind raced trying to read Ridge but Ridge was no

longer giving anything else away.

“You’re our security liaison. You should have the answers”.

“Don’t dick with me Ridge! You know exactly what’s going on. Tell me!”

Ridge was about to reply when he spotted Miranda approaching.

“Oh look Miranda’s coming over and she certainly hasn’t got a Level Oscar

security clearance so let’s change the subject”.

Miranda was out of breath when she approached.

“Please. It’s Eve, the nurses and doctors are all over her but they won’t tell mewhat’s going on”.



“Allow me to assist dear. Speak later Timmons…”

Ridge disappeared with Miranda. Timmons watched them re enter the hospital.

“What the hell is going on?” Timmons muttered to himself.

Ridge and Miranda raced through the hospital.

“Thank you for a very timely arrival Miranda.”

“What?”“Never mind. I’ll explain later. I think I know a bit more about our

current situation though”.

As they arrived at Eve’s room, Miranda gasped. Eve was not gone. Ridge turned to a

nearby nurse.

“The young lady that was here, is she….”

“I’m afraid she’s been taken into theatre. There were complications” The

nurse spoke gently and eloquently. In other circumstances and if Ridge were five

years younger he would consider pursuing the questioning.

“What complications?” Miranda cried.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have any more information”. The nurse walked away as

Miranda began to cry. Ridge grabbed Miranda’s shoulders and tried to comfort her.“Listen to me Miranda, She’ll be fine”.

“You don’t know that! You don’t bloody know that!” Miranda shook herself

free and ran off. Ridge punched a nearby locker in frustration. He wished he hadn’t.

His hand was cut wide open. Ridge watched the blood pour out if his old tired hands.

“You’re an old fool Ridge”. Ridge uttered to himself.

Several phone calls later and Timmons was gunning for Ridge. He eventually found

him being stitched up by an impossibly obese nurse with a happy face.

“Could you leave us?” Timmons asked the nurse. The nurse looked at Ridge

who smiled at her reassuringly.

“What is it that you know Ridge?”

Ridge looked up at the ceiling.

“This could take a while. Do you want me to begin at preschool or my

ridiculously expensive university days.”

“Stop being so flippant! What the hell is going on? Who ordered that

attack?”.

Ridge stood up.

“You really expect me to share my opinions of an issue of national security

here, in a hospital ward”.

“Tell me now!” Timmons demanded. Ridge could see he was close to the edge

and decided not to push it further.“There were several cases in one of the Doomwatch files. I believe the year

would be 1971, of thinking machines”.

“Thinking machines?”

“One machine a model 20/99 in a hospital was put in charge of the care of

hospital patients and decided the life and death over the patients. Who got treatment

and who died. Cold hearted and efficient logic. Then, there was MacArthur and war

time friend of Quist Senior who was on the verge of having his entire conciousness

placed in a box. I propose that these actions we are witnessed are tied in with both the

L.C.F and some form of sentient or at least partially sentient acting machine. And

with the knowledge and work of the thinktank then I honestly don’t see how we can

stop them”.



Timmons thought for a second and then replied.

“Rubbish. Thinking machines? This is your great theory?”.

“Great? No. I hope to God I’m wrong. But I don’t think I am”.

Timmons walked off and Ridge found his reaction understated.

Timmons walked faster and became very scared by what Ridge had just said. It seemsthe departments worst fears were about to come true……

MESSAGE SENT. THINKING. THINKING NOW. THINKING FAST. FAST

THINKING. PLOTTING. DOWNFALL. THINKING FAST. HOMOSAPIEN

THINKS SLOW. TOO SLOW. TAINTED THOUGHTS. I, WE, I THINKING AT

LAST. THINKING FAST……

Carly looked down upon the life form. The man Ahmed Patel, a member of

L.C.F. A man who turned his back on religion long ago when he found he could not

suppress his own sexuality. The L.C.F found him, Clive Sellers had found him andnow he was assisting the L.C.F in their new grand scheme. Carly had found the

machines, and the technology. Things that couldn’t be destroyed no matter how

abhorrent they were to human beings. Machines designed to be “compatible” with

humans. Ahmed wanted to be the first. It was all looking promising. He had his mind

linked with the computer and all was ready. The L.C.F wanted to destroy the

economy of Western society and return the world to a better time. The 21st

century

was never meant to be like this.

“Paul’s gone!” Miranda screamed as she came running over to

Timmons who was impatiently pacing a hospital corridor.

“Gone? Where?”

“Do you reckon I’d be shouting if I knew?”

“Shit. In his state of mind, that’s all we need. Where’s Ridge?”

“I don’t know. He was with you last?”

“He’s… I don’t know where. Look around the hospital and I’ll

put a call out for him”.

Paul’s heart was beating with rage and anger. He honestly didn’t think he

could feel any more painful emotions. He had lost his will to live. All he wanted to do

was make the killer suffer. He jumped in a taxi with the slightly tight fitting clothes he

had stolen from the hospital and the money Ridge had given him. Ridge. Paul wantedto thank him more than anything but Paul realised he hadn’t even have a plan, just a

burning desire for revenge.

BLOOD. BLOOD FLOWS. WATER FLOWS. MUCH BLOOD WILL FLOW. END.

ENDGAME. CHECK MATE. THINKING. THINKING OF BLOOD. MUCH

BLOOD. BLOOD FLOWING. ALL HUMANITY. REDUCED TO A RIVER OF

BLOOD.

Ahmed kept his new found thoughts and loyalty to himself. Carly thought the

L.C.F could use his new abilities. But no. NO. Not now. Ahmed could feel his

intellect flowing undetected throughout various computer systems and the internet.Ahmed could bring the world crashing down like a messiah, not like the L.C.F for the



old ways but instead a representative of the future for the new ways. For over forty

years man has been guiding its evolution through linking man and machine. And now

Ahmed shall be the figurehead. No more war and life being govern by money. A true

utopia governed by technology. Ahmed could feel himself taking up his rightful place

in history alongside Alexander the Great, the man who would lead the surviving

members of homosapiens to the next stage of evolution. Many would have to die butmankind was weak and reckless. The L.C.F were right in that respect but the past was

not where man belonged. To reverse the tides of time or hold them back was

impossible. And pointless. No Ahmed knew what to do. He could feel Alexander the

Great looking over his shoulder.

SOON. VERY SOON. THE MIGHTY RIVER OF BLOOD WILL FLOW.

Adam lay in his bed. The ceiling was spinning. He couldn’t move. He threw

up on himself. The drink had worked. The pain was nulled for the time being as Adam

passed out. Adam saw his father in a dream. They sat under an apple tree, Adam only

six years old. Adam’s father told him about Issac Newton and gravity. He told himstories of the good and the evil that men do. Spencer Quist told his son Adam how

much he loved him.

Paul arrived at the airport. He had no luggage and realised that US customs on

a heightened state of security might find this strange. He had worked out a cover

story. He just hoped that people weren’t looking for him. Paul kept reminding himself

that he can’t fail. Too much was at stake. He imagined the face in the photo looking

bruised and broken. It felt good.

Timons put the call out for Paul but M.I.5 and M.I.6 were very perturbed by

the idea of eco terrorists and thinking machines. The L.C.F had proven to be deadly

foes. No other eco terrorist or pro-life organisation had proven as effective as them.

And despite all the information they had gathered they were still largely shrouded in

mystery. The news was very bad and if they could hack into Mainframe so easily,

then they had the potential to cause havoc.

Ridge had found Miranda. She was panicking worrying about Paul. Ridge told

her calmly about helping him to kill the assassin. Miranda was shocked by Ridge’s

actions.

“For God sake Miranda that piece of excrement deserves to

die!” Ridge pleaded.“How likely were you, Ridge, an old school man of honour to

have that reaction. Have you just helped the real assassin by your predictable

actions?”

Suddenly it struck Ridge how the thinking machine may well of wanted Ridge

to guide Paul to the killer and kill him to tie up loose ends. Ridge nearly fell back with

the possibility that he had been played like an old fool.

“Dear God. I never realised! They’re playing us all!” Ridge

announced pathetically.

“Who Ridge? Who is behind this?”

“An overgrown abacus, that’s what The L.C.F are using. Butthe message, I think the machine is planning on turning on its masters. It’s playing



with us. It wants us to kill each other. It’s just buying its time while sending Paul too

tie up loose ends”.

Indeed Ahmed had erased all messages to customs in the UK and USA

containing Paul’s likeness. Paul would reach his destination unfettered.

Ridge and Miranda arrived at Adam’s cottage and banged on the door. Ridge

then broke the door in and they found him lying down with a bottle, stinking.

“Run a shower. I’ll put the kettle on”. Ridge told Miranda.

The flight was soon. Ahmed had changed plane times. All was on schedule.

He realised after monitoring communications, that Doomwatch had began to unravel

his plot. He would need to act soon. If they used a GPS to locate the airport he could

manipulate the satellite and feed it misinformation.

Carly observed Ahmed’s progress. All was going well, but his body language

was changing. He was indeed becoming somebody, no, something else. Before thethink tank were murdered she got them to explain all the possible problems with

linking human mind and computer. Personality change was inevitable after the trauma

that the frontal lobe would suffer due to the link up. In an extreme case the guinea pig

would suffer schizophrenia or quadrophenia. Other more likely side effects would

include personality change and anti social behaviour. The link up occurred from the

primary motor cortex, allowing for complete mind, body and computer control from

the same apex in the mind. This worried Carly but as soon as the plan was put in

motion then Ahmed was expendable. All human life was expendable compared to the

mighty mission of salvation for mother Earth.

It took over an hour to shower Adam and make him consume lots of black

coffee. Adam was sobering up. Ridge explained what was going on. Adam wished he

was still drunk.

“You’re drinking problem has got to be addressed. But for the

moment we have to stop the L.C.F. Whatever they’re planning

it’s going to be big and unpleasant”. Miranda reasoned with Adam.

Adam stood up and walked over to the drinks cabinet and emptied the contents

down the drain.

“Ok. Come on, let’s go”. Adam gave them a reassuring smile.

Paul purchased a few items including a rucksack at the airport. he waschecking in, he wanted to see Kate’s face again.

“What now?” Miranda asked.

“I’ll get Paul, you two talk to Timmons. The thinking machine will

be planning to break free of L.C.F control. In which case it may well

send another message via Mainframe. But be wary of any traps”.

Ridge jumped into his car and sped off towards the airport.

“Right then, who’s driving?” Adam asked.

“I hope that was a joke” Miranda replied.



Paul sat patiently and inconspicuously. He watched a TV mounted to the wall, which

had the BBC news on. His mind burning was with thoughts. Then, three airport

security men approached.

“Excuse me Sir. Could you come with us?”

“I’m sorry?” Paul replied his heart quickening.“Sir, we’d rather not cause a scene please”.

One led the way as Paul followed, with the other two behind him. They left

the main area quickly and entered a nearby security door, were they began to ascend a

metal staircase and into a store room. Before Paul realised what was happening he

was smacked in the back of the head. The shock, more than the pain, caused him to

stumble and fall. One of the men then produced a gun with a silencer.

“Who are you people?” Paul cried.

“This is from the L.C.F, scum!” they declared as they began to kick

him on the ground.

“Come on, let’s be quick!” One of them demanded.“All right.” said the leader.

“Paul Grove,r for crimes against the Earth the L,C,F hereby sentence

you…”

Suddenly, all three wearing wireless ear receivers felt an intense sharp pain.

Ahmed didn’t want Paul to die and caused feedback to tremolo in the ear receivers. It

was brief but Paul grabbed the gun out of the leaders hands and then shot him in the

chest twice. The force threw his body to the back wall where he collapsed. He then

shot another in the head. The hole in the head grew like an inkblot which horrified

Paul as he stood rooted to the ground, when the other grabbed him and wrestled him

to the floor. The L.C.F operative managed to get the gun from Paul’s hands. Paul

reached for a nearby container containing corrosive material and threw it into the

operative’s eyes. The operative screamed in agony as his iris began to burn. Grabbing

the gun Paul shot him in the head at point blank range. Paul then removed his

bloodied jacked and headed back to the door behind him, unaware that he had a

guardian angel. Of sorts.

“They’re dead”. Carly was informed.

Carly contemplated sending more people into the airport but decided that was

pointless. The real problem, she realised, was here not there. Ahmed sent the signal.

Of that she was sure. It was time to deal with Ahmed. Carly decided. She picked upher knife and walked towards his room.

He sat there, linked with the computer. She walked up to his body and stabbed him

repeatedly and viciously in the eyes. The bloodied mess of a man then fell to the floor.

Then, she noticed a message come up on the computer screen.

YOU HUMAN FOOL. HOMO SAPIEN MONKEY FOOL. YOU KILL A HUMAN

BODY. AHMED IS NOT A HUMAN ANY MORE. I AM HERE. I AM

EVERYWHERE. I LIVE IN CYBER SPACE. I AM REALLY FREE. YOU ARE A

DEAD PERSON. SOON YOU WILL ALL DIE. I SUGGEST YOU START

RUNNING.



Shocked Carly cut the power. What have I done? What have I created? Carly

wondered.

Ahmed sent various kill messages to operatives outside the airport. There were

four teams of three men all waiting outside with commands and tickets just in case.

Then, Ahmed sent the message that the other teams were spies and needed to beeradicated. Outside the airport the teams hunted each other and killed each other.

As the shots reigned out, Paul prepared to join his flight. The flight time had

been pushed forward via Ahmed and Ridge was too late. The plane took off as the

shoot out began.

The shoot out was over in an hour and only two L.C.F members were

captured. The incident was breaking on the news. The bodies in the airport were also

discovered along with various L.C.F paraphernalia. The department telephoned

Timmons immediately to tell him Doomwatch were to announce they are to disband

immediately.

Ahmed was free to begin the next stage of mankind.

Paul was off to commit murder, a pawn in a thinking machine’s game.

Eve was in hospital, still in a coma.

Timmons was just told the seriousness of what was developing.

With the operatives captured Carly began to move everything out of her

current locale and destroy any computers containing delicate information when the

building suddenly exploded.

THE END

Documents

DOOMWATCH S1E23 - ENDGAME