Knight Progenitor

by Sharon L Reddy

  Chapter Five

  "Account balance zero."

  "Good. We have a lot of work to do. Data, how long til we reach Athera?"

  "Nineteen days, two hours, four minutes from liftoff at median cruising speed."

  "Too long. Do the engine modifications first. I want the ship there in about five days. Those colonists need help fast. I'm going in first in the TARDIS."

  "Dad, keep your head down."

  "I'll take that as a sound warning, Tech. Anything else I should know?"

  "Yes, several things, but all I can say is that it's an inside job."

  "Noted. Get as much done as you can. I'll see you in about five days."

  As the Doctor headed for the TARDIS, Tech said, "Data, we need to move fast. He'll need us in four. At that, we'll be almost too late. Give me the engine specs. Diz, we need you. You're going to have to adapt some equipment. This ship is going to have to move faster than possible. Doc, grab us all the FTL drive info on the net before we get out of range."

  "We don't have any credit."

  "Yes we do. You'll find it under miscellaneous expenses. It'll be exactly enough."

  "Tech, why didn't you tell him?"

  "Doc, why didn't you tell him that doctor will never marry because, she's so in love with him, no one else will ever interest her?"

  "Yeah, I guess I see what you mean."

  "Mister Chairman, I head the mercenary group that accepted your contract."

  "You mean somebody took it?!"

  "Yes, I did. I have a rather soft spot for underdogs and horses."

  "I beg your pardon?"

  "It's a bit of a family joke. Now, I need a thorough briefing on the situation here. Who's the best person?"

  "Well, I'm not sure who's available right now. I think we can probably find someone tomorrow morning."

  "I did not ASK who was AVAILABLE! I asked who was BEST! And they will SEE ME NOW!"

  The Chairman was not accustomed to being shouted at. He was about to state so in no uncertain terms, then he looked in the Doctor's eyes, gulped and reached for the communicator. "Miss Swarn, get Joff Silden here immediately."

  The Doctor smiled. "I'll wait for Mr. Silden in the outer office."

  As soon as he'd left, the chairman put through a call to the contracting agent. The agent confirmed the contract had been taken. The signer was Captain Knight. He added he felt sorry for the mining company. They were in big trouble.

  The chairman smiled. He'd been against the idea. Maybe he'd been wrong. This particular mercenary seemed to have quite a reputation. He wondered how he'd gotten to Athera. He called his secretary and told her to make sure Captain Knight was offered refreshment and access to any person or information he wanted to see.

  Miss Swarn had already done that. And invited him for a home cooked meal, asked him if he was married and made an appointment with her hairdresser. He'd said; time permitting, not currently and smiled.

  "Captain Knight, I'm Joff Silden. I head up what passes for law enforcement on this world. We don't really have police or military."

  "District agents and park rangers?"

  Silden laughed. "Pretty accurate. My office is down the hall. I've got some pretty good maps and such there."

  "Good. That's what I need. Just a moment please." He turned to the very plain, middle-aged Miss Swarn. "Miriam, I shall contact you if I can't make dinner. If you don't hear from me, expect me around seven." He winked at her and followed Joff through the door.

  The chairman just didn't understand what had happened to his secretary. He'd always bragged she was the most efficient in the world, maybe the cluster. That afternoon she cut off calls, lost files, forgot to remind him of appointments and took a two hour refreshment break. He wondered if she was ill.

  The Doctor was disgusted. It was another IMC. In this case, he'd learned it was ICMC, Indus Cluster Mining Corporation, but they were operating about the same way. They wanted to mine a large chunk of an agricultural world. They'd taken the case to the cluster high court. They cited need for the minerals and more valuable use of the land. They didn't mention the fifty-six families they had burned out so the land wasn't occupied. Or the nineteen people who died. Including six children.

  Miss Swarn didn't quite know what to think of the multi-colored clothes he was wearing, but was delighted with the flower he gave her. The Doctor enjoyed himself. Miriam was witty, intelligent, and a very good cook. She was also middle-aged, lonely and terribly infatuated by the end of the evening. He realized it, but Miriam deserved an evening of romance in her dull life. He bowed over her hand and kissed her fingertips. The gesture saved his life and nearly cost hers.

  The Doctor dove on top of her as more bullets sprayed across the front of her house. He heard the whine of an overworked antigrav unit turning the corner. He rolled off her and began the race to save her life. Her neighbor ran in and called the medics. The Doctor couldn't wait. "Get a vehicle! Meet me out front! I'll take her to my ship! DO IT NOW!"

  Priscilla Beswith was Miriam's best friend and her opposite. Beautiful, outgoing, with more gentlemen admirers than she wanted and a real good friend. She did exactly as the Doctor told her and broke every traffic law on the books getting to the TARDIS.

  "Put your thumb here. Maintain the pressure. I'll carry her. Don't let anything surprise you enough to make you let go." He carried Miriam down into the building basement, laid her on the floor, opened the TARDIS doors, carried her in, laid her on the console room floor and closed the doors. As he ran for the med-kit, he smiled. Miriam's neighbor had gulped when they entered the TARDIS, but she hadn't let go. He knew the deep healing beam would be there. Tech would have known he'd need it.

  It could have been worse. The severed artery could have been a bullet in the brain. He'd been on the step below her. They'd been aiming for his head. He completed the surgery, used the beam to heal the deep tissue damage, sat back and smiled. "She'll be all right."

  "You're Captain Knight."

  "I have answered to that name."

  "I don't think I'll ask for an explanation for that. Or this." She waved a hand around to indicate the TARDIS.

  "That would be appreciated. I thought she deserved a little romance in her life. I'd forgotten how dangerous my company could be."

  "Captain, you have a gift for understatement. Your company can be deadly. She'll dream and talk about this evening for the rest of her life. Thank you. I'm Priscilla Beswith and you just saved the best friend I ever had."

  "After almost getting her killed."

  "That too." She smiled. "I'll give you odds she'll think it was worth it. Now what?"

  "I think we should take her home. Will you stay with her, please?"

  "I don't think it would be a good idea if you did." She grinned and he smiled. He liked them both. He could see why they were friends.

  He carried Miriam in and laid her on her bed, pulled a perfect rose from the air, laid it on her pillow, smiled at Priscilla and left. She shook her head and sighed. Why weren't any of the men in her life like that? She thought about the bullet sprayed house and shivered. Perhaps it was just as well.

  Tech had said it was an inside job. He'd been on the planet nine hours and someone had tried to kill him. He didn't believe it was the chairman and his instincts told him it wasn't Joff. He needed more information. He needed to meet more people on the 'inside'. He headed for the hospital with the deep healing beam in his pocket. Joff had told him about a little boy who might not make it. He probably shouldn't. In fact he knew he shouldn't. He mentally added a half credit to his contract bill for 'medical services' and smiled.

  The nurse looked at the face of the man standing over her very small patient and closed the door. Whoever he was, he was there to help. She saw him leave and checked her patient. She was a deeply religious woman. She sank to her knees and thanked her god for the angel he had sent.
<
br />   The Doctor picked the lock on the government building and slipped in. He read all the personnel files in Miriam's office and came up with nothing. He'd have to look for more files later. He was sitting at her desk when she walked in wearing a bandage, a smile and carrying a red rose. He put a finger to his lips and left. He was sitting at Joff Silden's desk when he walked in.

  "Captain, you're out early."

  "Or late. I want to know about the council."

  "The council?"

  "Yes, I've met the chairman. Who are the others?"

  "Well, there are usually six, but right now there are only four."

  "Why?"

  "I beg your pardon?"

  "Joff, I don't think you're awake. Pay attention. Why only four?"

  "Oh. Two died recently and the election isn't for three months."

  "Three months! Isn't that a bit unusual? Isn't someone usually appointed in the interim?"

  "It's never happened before."

  "No one has ever died in office before and suddenly there have been two. Their positions haven't been filled and the election is three months away. Doesn't that strike you as a bit strange? How did the councilors die?"

  "They were in an accident."

  "One accident?"

  "Yes. They were attending a mid-summer festival about three hundred kilometers from here and their aircraft crashed."

  "In a storm? High wind?"

  "Captain, you're beginning to make me very nervous."

  "Joff, you've had families burned out, people killed, two councilors are dead in what would seem to be strange circumstances and you are BEGINNING to be nervous. You are a VERY calm man."

  "We just don't think that way. Trouble on this world is one farmer complaining another is taking too much water from a stream, or pigs loose in a cornfield. That's why Councilors Datis and Anber recommended we hire someone to help."

  "Let me guess. The two who died in the 'accident'. Here, sit down. You look like you need this chair more than I do."

  "Captain, I'm a farmer. My family have been farmers for generations. I just didn't see it. I see a mining company trying to destroy good crop land and hurting people if they can't scare them off, but you're talking conspiracy and cold-blooded murder. It's a very alien concept."

  "You've led a very sheltered existence, Joff. This must be a wonderful place to live in other times. I have one more shoe to drop. Last night someone tried to kill me and very nearly succeeded. Miss Swarn has a house full of holes and a bandage over a wound meant for me."

  "Miriam?! Is she all right?!"

  The Doctor smiled. Joff's reaction hadn't been that of a coworker. "Yes, Joff, she is, but a bit of gentlemanly concern wouldn't be amiss. I'm going to see the chairman. Why don't you come with me?"

  "Well, I've got a lot of important work and I'm behind... "

  "JOFF! There is NOTHING on this PLANET more IMPORTANT than THIS."

  "I...You're right. Old habits die hard. Life changes slowly here."

  "Not anymore. Not since ICMC decided they wanted what you had. Come on."

  Joff nodded and followed the Doctor to the chairman's office. The Doctor made a quick excuse and asked Joff to wait for a moment in the outer office. He stepped in the chairman's office, put a finger to his lips, and peeked out the door. The chairman joined him to see what he was looking at. Joff was sitting on the edge of Miriam's desk holding one of her hands and she was telling him about the holes in her house. The chairman gave the Doctor a delighted smile and they closed the door.

  "Captain, you truly do work miracles. I've been trying to figure out a way to accomplish that for six years."

  "Mr. Chairman, you wouldn't have wanted to do it the way I did."

  "Call me Toby."

  "Toby?"

  "Tobias Pearl. I think my mother hated me."

  "Some women really do dislike childbirth."

  Toby laughed, then the Doctor told him what had happened. "Captain, we're in over our heads. I've known most of the council for twenty-odd years. One of them my whole life. I don't want to believe any of them are involved."

  "Tell me about them."

  "Justin Bether is eighty-six. He was my father's best friend. I had to stop him going after ICMC with a pitchfork when they dug up a prime melon patch. Martha Korbath is the finest agronomist on the planet. She's verbal, bossy and has the softest heart in existence. Her son's family was burned out. Her two-year-old grandson may not live."

  "He will. I understand he's much improved. Go on."

  "Derik Cercasi is a top notch lawyer. He's kept ICMC from getting permission to mine. Long hours and out of pocket expenses."

  "That's three. Who's the fourth?"

  "I'm the fourth."

  "I must be slipping, Toby. Joff said four council members and I didn't even count the chairman. Why haven't you appointed someone to fill the vacancies?"

  "It's harvest time and the council doesn't reconvene until after the election. It just didn't seem necessary."

  "Do you have the power to call an emergency session?"

  "I don't know. I suppose I do. It won't take long to check." He pulled a slim pamphlet from his desk and leafed through it. "Yes. In 'dire need'."

  "Is that a synopsis of your duties?"

  "What?"

  "The pamphlet. Does it describe your duties?"

  "Well, of course. Mine and everyone else's."

  "Now I'm lost. May I see it."

  "Certainly. We give one to everyone on the planet when they turn nineteen and register to vote. We believe people should know all about their government."

  "Toby, you have the most unique world I have ever encountered. Most worlds have rooms full of books devoted to the running of the government. You have one slim pamphlet which anyone can understand."

  "I didn't realize we were that unusual. It always seemed like a pretty straightforward process."

  "How many full time employees does the government have?"

  "Three full time, but we have about thirty part time."

  "And no taxes, welfare judges, clerks, assistants, receptionists... "

  "We have a tax. We have a small tariff on every item exported. It supports the government. I'm not sure what you mean by welfare, but we have judges. Every district chooses one every six years. If two people can't agree on something they take it to their district judge. The judge listens to both sides and judges."

  "Toby, you live in the Garden of Eden. It's too bad there's a serpent in it."

  "You mean ICMC?"

  "No, I mean the person working for them. Call an emergency session. You are in 'dire need'. Someone is kicking you out of paradise."

  They were just a nice group of people. Earnest, caring, hard working and totally incapable of the kind of vicious attack that had nearly killed Miriam Swarn. Even Derek Cercasi the 'top notch' lawyer was a farmer. He'd been interested, so the people of Athera took up a collection and sent him off-world to study. They'd needed someone who could understand their trade contracts.

  The Doctor decided it was time to pay a visit to ICMC. Toby loaned him his antigrav car. There was no such thing as an 'official' vehicle. He landed in front of the hangar-like structure housing the exploration and sampling equipment and started looking for someone to talk to. He found a small set of offices, mostly empty, in one corner of the building, but no people. He was about to give up when a voice called out, "Over here."

  He followed the voice to a mobile core sampler. "Hand me that torque wrench, will you?" The Doctor put the wrench in the very greasy, very feminine hand that went with the very feminine voice. "Damn, that ham-handed Buck has got thirty kilos too much on it at least. I can't even break it loose."

  He couldn't resist any longer. He laid down on a work scoot and rolled under the sampler. "Here, let me try. You're right. Too much torque. It would shear before it got ten meters down. There. Recommended is about forty-five
. That should do it." He rolled out and waited for her.

  "Who the heck are you?"

  "Several people. All confused. Who are you?"

  She laughed, stood and tossed him a shop towel she pulled from her back pocket. "G. Roberta Fale, Bobby, chief engineer." She stuck out her hand.

  He smiled, wiped it off, and shook it. "What does the G stand for?"

  "I don't usually answer that. Genevieve. I don't like it or Jenny. Make me think of donkeys." She grinned.

  "Just as long as it isn't Guinevere. I've had rather more than my share of those."

  "All right, who are you?"

  "I'm the one trying to stop you burning down people's houses and killing them."

  "Now, hold it! I'm not doing that! I heard about it, but I'm not doing it!"

  "I really didn't think you were." He smiled. "But I think we should talk about it."

  "Come on. They've got a pretty nice plant they use for tea on this world. I've got some in my office." She yanked her greasy cap off and a mass of auburn hair tumbled down. Nearly to her very narrow waist.

  She led him back to the suite of offices and dropped an immersion coil in a teapot of water, pulled it out, measured in herb and pushed a rolling chair in his direction with her foot. "Look, I don't know what's going on here. I came, took samples, sent them in and was told to wait. I've been waiting. That's all I know."

  "I believe you. What did the samples show?"

  "Lots. It's a very metal rich planet. You name it. It's here. Bauxite, iron, vanadium, molybdenum, nickel, silver, magnesium, every metal in the periodic table. Most of the rare earths. Everything."

  "That's rich."

  "Richest I've ever seen. Good crop land too. About fifty inches of top soil in this area. High organic content."

  "What were your recommendations?"

  "Area top soil removal, localized pit mining, land reconstruction, soil replacement. As little damage as possible. We need the minerals, but we need the food too"

  "What did ICMC ask for?"

  "Strip mining, reconstruction to follow completion, time estimate twenty-two years per zone. Ninety-five zones. Standard. Ask for the mountain and hope you get a hill. The courts are pretty sympathetic to the farmers overall. There are lots of worlds. The minerals are just much cheaper to get on some than on others."

  "That isn't what I expected to hear. I wondered how a farmer, part-time lawyer, part-time councilor, had kept ICMC at a standstill. You know, this begins to sound as if both the farmers and ICMC are being used."

  "I don't think I understand that statement."

  "Bobby, I've got a mercenary contract to stop ICMC from burning farmers out and taking over this world. Someone killed the two councilors who suggested hiring someone. They tried to kill me the night before last. Who else wants this world?"

  "Everybody."

  "Could you be a little more specific?"

  "Athera is rich in more ways than minerals. Its one continent is totally in the temperate zone. Beautiful forests, beaches, countryside. Rich land, mineral resources, a healthy, intelligent, population. They've got a huge planetary credit balance, and--"

  "WHAT?!"

  "Ow. Please, it's been pretty quiet around here lately and this is a small room. You had to know that. How else could they afford a mercenary force?"

  "They couldn't. They're paying in grain and other agricultural products. I took the contract because I have a use for it."

  "A couple hungry kids to feed?" She grinned.

  "Several thousand, actually." He smiled at her expression. "I also hate bullies. I thought ICMC was the bully. You were expressing your displeasure at a person named Buck. Ham-handed was the term you used I believe. Who is he?"

  "He and Alec are my sampling team. Buck's the geologist, Alec the mineralogist. They're due back soon. I sent them out on a feasibility study. I thought, if we could present a minimal ecological damage proposal with a tidy profit for Athera, we could end the stalemate. I was going to take the proposal to the chairman myself. I'm not supposed to jump the piles of red tape, but I've been sitting here for nearly a year. As a matter of fact they're late."

  "Who did you tell you were planning on doing this?"

  "I sent the standard initiative forms to the company headquarters, I expected a reply before this. My boss is as tired of sitting on his thumbs as I am."

  "Come on! Get in the car! We've got to find your men!" She watched him run out of her office, then ran after him. She jumped in the already hovering car and he said, "Where?"

  "Southeast. Thirty K max. Ten K loop. A set of rocky hills. What's wrong?"

  "You were just about to mess up someone's tidy little scheme. No one on this world knows they're rich. At least no one on the council. They also don't know you want to do a careful operation and share the profits. Why?"

  "Well, we'd set up a meeting with a couple of the councilors to try and straighten things out, but they were killed in an accident. The council recessed and things stalled."

  "Did these councilors know what you wanted to do?"

  "Yes. I screened the info to them myself. Had to track them down. They were stumping the festivals."

  "And someone murdered them because they found out what was going on."

  "MURDERED?!"

  "OW." He smiled. "You're about as naive as the atherans. Someone has kept ICMC and the people of this world carefully separated. You were about to change that. You're about to try again. You are in real danger and so are your men. This time the blame would be laid on the atherans."

  There was a tremendous explosion and the Doctor fought the controls of the grav car as the shock wave hit them. "I believe that was your office, Bobby."

  "Do you think we could stop a minute? I think I'm going to be sick."

  "No you aren't. You haven't got time. Pull yourself together. If that's the closest you come to being killed before this is over, you'll be very lucky. Let's hope your men weren't a target too."

  "Oh, please, not Buck. He's got three kids. He's only here because one of them needs cosmetic reconstruction. Burned in the fire that killed his wife. He wasn't working for ICMC then. The boss has been trying to help. Found them a good place to stay and sent him here for the 'hardship' bonus. Even set up a 'mercy flight' to get Joey to the best surgeon. They're just waiting for him to get back. Joey's only four. They thought Buck should be there."

  "You work for a very unusual company."

  "It's the boss. He'd have paid for it out of his pocket if Buck hadn't said no. He's a jewel. He's got the rights to one of the biggest hetaxite lodes ever found and won't mine it. The inhabitants of the place are primitives and they don't want anyone on the planet. He's spent a fortune making sure nobody is."

  "This planet wouldn't be named Mirra by any chance, would it?"

  "How did you know?"

  "Your boss and I have a friend in common, a tax man named Mike."

  "Holy crackers! You're the Doctor!"

  "How did you know that?!"

  "Mike Winn is my brother-in-law."

  "This is getting to be a VERY SMALL UNIVERSE!" She put her hands over her ears and laughed. "Bobby, I'm trying to find out who tried to murder or enslave two races of telepaths. The mercenary business is a cover for the investigation. I haven't told anyone on this world I'm the Doctor. I'd appreciate it if you didn't."

  "All right, but you'd better give me your alias. Hey you is a bit generic."

  "I've been answering to Captain lately. I'm actually getting used to it. Bobby, I'm going to land. Stay in the car. I've found your men. You don't want to see them."

  They'd been brutally murdered. The pitchfork pinning one to the ground was a deliberate ploy to implicate the farmers. He wondered who was supposed to report it to ICMC. Not Bobby. She'd been scheduled for removal. He climbed back in the car and reached for the communicator.

  "THAT'S
IT! Bobby, who handles interplanetary communications on Athera? Come on, Bobby. Snap out of it. Let's find out who did it, then you can mourn them."

  "Geral Plad, an off-worlder. He's under contract with the trade consortium."

  "Why doesn't an atheran do it? It must pay well."

  "It does, but nobody wanted it. They're outdoor types and it's an inside job."

  He started to laugh. Tech had given him the literal answer and he'd misunderstood it. He'd been looking for a serpent in the grass and it had been wrapped around the tree. Plad could change contracts; prevent information exchange, even falsify credit balances. "Do you know how long he's held the position?"

  "Fourteen years. I don't know how you can laugh at a time like this. How can you be so cold?"

  "Bobby, I've seen thousands of people die. I was laughing at myself. I've had the answer. I just didn't know that's what it was. I wish I had seen it soon enough to save your friends, but I didn't. Maybe I have become distanced from the people around me, but I don't think I'm cold."

  "I'm sorry, Doctor." She'd hurt him. She could see it. Could hear it in his quiet words.

  "Don't apologize. I've been thinking in terms of the life and death of worlds. I needed to be reminded those worlds are comprised of unique individuals and each and every death diminishes the universe."

  "You're wrong. You didn't need the reminder. You've had to distance yourself. Otherwise, you couldn't live with it. You care. Too much. The apology stands."

  "I think you'll be safe here. Don't call anyone. Plad thinks you're dead. He's got to be working for or with someone else. I need to find out who. He's got on-planet help as well. I hope she's home. Stay here until I find out."

  The Doctor knocked on the front door and heard her shout "A minute!" He motioned Bobby to join him. She reached the porch just as the door started to open. He pushed through it, pulling Bobby behind him. Every second she was in the open increased the danger. He smiled. She was frantically trying to reposition the towel she had almost wrapped around her. He'd quite obviously gotten her out of the bath.

  "Priscilla, this is Bobby. She needs a place to stay. Someone just tried to kill her. We don't want them to know they failed."

  "Captain, you are seriously changing my lifestyle. The longer you're around, the more nervous I get. Hi, Bobby. I'd invite you in, but I've been pre-empted. Hang on while I cover. Teapot's in the kitchen."

  "Bobby, I'm leaving. Make sure Priscilla understands no one, including Miriam, is to know you're here. She doesn't have a house guest. If she makes a comm call, don't be heard. She's not even to shop for two."

  "Doctor, be careful. And change clothes. You stand out like a sore thumb."

  "Why does everyone always want me to wear something else?"

  "Not everyone. You make a nice bright target."

  "Another beautiful woman once told me that."

  She watched him leave and smiled. Being beautiful had a tendency to be a handicap in her profession, but she was pleased he'd noticed. She went to find the teapot. She and Priscilla were going to get along just fine.

  He ducked and rolled. They'd been waiting for him when he parked the car. They had nice quiet stunners. His left hand was numb. The first shot had taken him by surprise. They were lousy shots, but they had him cornered in the garage.

  He wondered why they had changed tactics. Projectile weapons made a nice bloody corpse. Something gory to blame on ICMC. Now they'd decided they wanted him alive. Experience had taught him when people wanted him alive they intended it to be a temporary condition. He set himself and made a break for the door.

  He awoke with a headache. He hated stunners. He wasn't pleased with being manacled to a very thick pipe either. He recognized the basement. The TARDIS was a few meters away. He really was in trouble. They'd made a clean sweep. They had him, the TARDIS, and the key.

  "Good morning, Captain Knight. And Doctor."

  "Geral Plad, I presume."

  "You really are quite good. But not good enough. I was very upset when you arrived. I had ICMC and the atherans ready for all out war. A few more weeks and my associates could have petitioned to move in and restore order. ICMC would have been told to move out and Athera would have been under martial law. I would have retired a very wealthy man. I'm not too unhappy about things though. You and that blue box seem to be worth a great deal of money."

  "Who are you working for?"

  "My employers of record, of course. They've grown tired of dealing with the clods on this planet. It could produce far more as a mechanized collective, especially if the help didn't have to be paid. And then there are the rich ore deposits. You were a bonus."

  "How did you know who I was?"

  "I have a transmitter in the chairman's car. Your ICMC friend told me. I ran an identity check and found out someone wants you very badly. They've offered a planetary ransom for you. Alive."

  "Twenty-third century. Daleks."

  "Very good. I'm not sure I understand the reference to the century. It sounds like the old Earth system. I'm surprised you use it. Even humans don't use it very often."

  "I have a lot of old fashioned human friends. So you told the daleks you had the Doctor alias Captain Knight and they're on their way to collect me."

  "Oh no, Doctor. I told my employers I had Captain Knight and the daleks I had the Doctor. My employers are interested in your corpse. I shall find something suitable to give them. Joff Silden is my first choice. He's gotten rather nosy and he's the right size. You, I will give to the daleks."

  "I don't think you should really plan on a long retirement. Daleks have a habit of paying people off permanently."

  "I believe I've arranged that satisfactorily. When I'm ready to leave this planet, I will signal my employers. Once off-planet, I'll give the daleks my cred account number. When they have deposited the reward, I will tell them where you are. I plan on being several systems away by then."

  "It sounds like a rather complicated endeavor. How do you plan on explaining your failure to get ICMC and the farmers at each other's throats?"

  "That won't be necessary. A nice bloody battle between Silden and a certain mining engineer and the poor chairman just happens to get caught in the middle. All die and my employers move in to save the day. The food this planet produces is vital to the health of this cluster. Now, why don't you be delightfully cooperative and tell me where she is?"

  "Where who is?"

  "ICMC engineer Fale, your lovely lady friend."

  "You don't know where she is."

  "You neglected to mention that in your conversation with her."

  "Plad, there is a rather lovely shaped hole in your plan." He smiled.

  "Do you know any peldarans, Doctor? They come from a high-gravity, semi-habitable, world. They try very hard to get off that world. They are very grateful to people who assist them. My employers staff most shipment points with peldaran stevedores. They pay them well. Tell me where the woman is. You don't want to meet my staff. They will be very displeased if I am disappointed."

  "All right, Miriam, what's wrong?"

  "I think something's happened to Captain Knight. Oh, Priscilla, I don't know what to do. Joff's trying to find out if anyone's seen him. He's put an information request on the net. Captain Knight borrowed the chairman's car. It was in the garage with the door open and the keys in it this morning."

  "Oh, terrific. Hi, Miriam, I'm Bobby. Look, the D... Captain thinks Plad is behind everything going on. The burnings, the murder of my two men, the councilors' deaths, everything. If he's right, your friend Joff is in real danger. So are you. Grab him and get out of town. Don't discuss it, tell anyone, make reservations, just go. Do it now!"

  Miriam ran out and Priscilla said, "Now what? You're in at least as much danger as she is. Probably lots more. If the Captain's dead, you're next target."

  "I don't think
he's dead. If he was, he'd have been left someplace obvious so ICMC would be blamed. Plad must have him."

  "He might just have gone back to his ship."

  "Do you know where it is?"

  "Yes, and it's not far. Let's get you something in the way of a disguise. If we hide your hair and get you out of that ICMC work suit, nobody should know who you are."

  "Let's do it. At least we'll know if he's in trouble or just sleeping in."

  "You change. I'll get the car."

  "Duck! That's Plad! He just came out of the building the captain's ship is in. Damn! I'm not the heroic type, but I've got to know what's going on."

  "I'm with you. Park in back, Pris. Let's see if there's a back door."

  They parked the car and found the door. It was locked. Bobby looked at it for a moment, then pulled out one of the pins holding her hair and went to work on it. She'd never picked a lock before, but she knew how they were built. It didn't take her long. They found the stairs, the basement, and the Doctor. The peldarans hadn't been happy with him.

  "Pris, there are three big uglies on the other side of the basement. What do we do now?"

  "Those are the port stevedores. They really worked him over. He's unconscious. I'll bet Plad was looking for you. I'd lay odds he didn't tell him where you were. I wonder why he left."

  "I've got an idea. You stay here. I'm going to make a call. Keep your fingers crossed this works."

  Plad breathed a sigh of relief. The ship asking clearance to land wasn't a dalek craft, just a trader in need of minor repairs and a planet to do them on. He was about to leave his office when Lady Luck smiled on him. The lady engineer was scared and yelling for help. He jotted down the location she'd left on the chairman's answerer, called his staff on the portable unit and told them to meet him there. The loose ends were wrapping up nicely.

  Bobby hung up the communicator, smiled, and slipped back into the building. She pulled Priscilla away from the door and they waited. The peldarans almost caught them. They ran up the stairs and hid. The peldarans had decided to leave by the back door.

  "Good thing you parked half a block down. They look pretty dim, but they'd have noticed a car right outside. Let's get him out of there, Pris."

  They made two mistakes. Not bad for first time heroes. Bobby had called from Priscilla's car and they didn't take the Doctor into the TARDIS. They took him back to Priscilla's house. They worked very hard to do it. He was a major load to carry up the stairs to the car.

  "She's not here. She's tricked us. She's smarter than I thought. You go back to the warehouse basement. I'm going to my office. I'm going to get the number she called from. It was a mobile unit. I'm going to see who owns it."

  Plad got the call saying the Doctor was gone, but the box wasn't, just as he got the number on the mobile comm. He told his staff to hold the line. He had to give landing approval to the trading ship. He calmed himself and offered a polite excuse. The kid on the ship comm wanted to chat. He wanted to know what the girls were like on the planet. He was looking forward to the ship's down time.

  The identity on the mobile unit didn't mean anything until he realized the address seemed familiar. It was next door to Miriam Swarn's house. He told his staff to pick up something loud and messy in the way of heavy artillery and meet him there. He'd decided to get rid of his problems. It would be nice if the Doctor lived through it, but he figured the daleks would pay for the blue box without him. They'd been real interested in it. He figured he'd find the keys to it on the Doctor's body. Alive or dead. He wished he'd thought to look for them earlier, but at the time he'd been more interested in finding the woman.

  "Grab the blue grav car, Diz. The keys are in it. Data, there's a comm on the post by the gate. Get the address for Priscilla Beswith. Diz will pick you up on the way out. Doc, we're going to need something to take these boys out. They're heavy worlders. Bring us six small metal pipes from that shed over there. They'll make good sticks. Wait. Pick me up by the taxi stand. I've got to check the street map."

  Tech ran for the gate. Both Miriam's and Priscilla's addresses were unlisted. It would take Data a few seconds extra to break into the system, but, by the time Diz got to him, he'd have it. He wished he could remember details like the address, but he couldn't. Unless he spent time memorizing them like he had the roulette numbers, he just remembered how to get them. He was standing in front of the map when they pulled up. Data said, "Two four one Petal Lane." He found it, jumped in the car and they raced across town. He knew they'd be in time, but he'd learned things could be changed.

  "What am I doing here?"

  "We couldn't think of anywhere else to take you."

  Why didn't you just carry me into the TARDIS? We'd have been safer there than here."

  "The TARDIS? Oh, your ship. I haven't got an answer, Captain. All we were thinking about was getting you out of that basement before they found out Bobby's call was a trick."

  "Where did she call from?"

  "My car."

  "Lock the doors and windows. Where's Bobby?"

  "In the kitchen. What's wrong?"

  "Plad will have your address by now. He'll have traced the call to your car. Forget me. Get Bobby and get the back door locked. Fast, Priscilla. I don't know how long we've been here, but they'll be here soon."

  He rolled off the couch. He got it pulled out a bit and used his body to make a space behind it. He smiled at the thought of the two of them carrying him up the stairs. One of them had picked the locks on the manacles. They were a very resourceful pair, but they were in real trouble.

  They dove behind the couch as the first bullets broke the windows. He shoved them between himself and the wall. He was a little rough and Priscilla squealed. He pulled them both against him and covered them with his body as well as he could. Priscilla started crying when she felt the bullets hit him. He shushed her. "I've had worse. We need help and I don't think there is any on this world. In a very short time they're going to quit shooting and come in. As soon as the firing stops, you two try to get out the side window in the bedroom. Run and don't look back."

  "They'll kill you."

  "No, Bobby, I'm worth a great deal more alive than dead. It must be paining Plad in the pocketbook to risk killing me to get you. Priscilla, pull the TARDIS key out of my vest pocket. Drop it somewhere it won't be found. That's it. Here they come. Run!"

  He let go of them and pushed the couch out. He saw them get through the bedroom door just as the front door crashed open. One of the peldarans dragged him from behind the couch by his feet.

  "Where's the woman?"

  "Not here. I'm alone."

  I don't believe you."

  "Maybe they went shopping. Bobby lost her hat when you blew up her office. You lose, Plad. She's gone, I'm dying, and the TARDIS is no good without the key."

  "I don't think you're dying. Just carrying around a load of lead. That couch took most of the impact."

  "Priscilla, over here. Get down. You too, Bobby."

  "Who are you?"

  "The cavalry. They call me Tech. Stay here. We're going to take them when they bring him out. You forgot to drop the key, Priscilla." He was right! She had it clutched in her hand. "Don't worry, he won't be mad. Bobby, you're really going to like Leroy. Time for me to go."

  "Bobby, that's one very strange young man."

  "You're right. Who do you suppose Leroy is, Priscilla? They're bringing him out. He's alive! Wow! Who is that?! Nobody can move that fast!"

  "There are three of them! Who are they?!"

  "It seems to be over. Shall we find out?"

  They walked into the shattered house through the shattered front door. They stood and watched as Data wrapped the peldarans and Plad into a neat bundle, using the metal legs off Priscilla's kitchen table.

  "Data, we need you. He's got six slugs in him. They're not deep, but two are v
ery close to his spine."

  "Yes, Tech. I shall need a knife."

  "Doc's sterilizing one."

  "Hello, ladies, I'm Diz. Why don't we wait on the front porch? You don't want to watch this. Data is very precise, but it will be messy. Don't worry. We're not going to do anything to hurt him. He's in a trance state. He won't feel a thing. We'll have him fixed up in no time."

  "Who are you?"

  "I just told you, I'm Diz. Oh, you mean all of us. Bobby, look at me. It ought to be obvious. We all look a lot like Dad."

  "I have removed the bullets. The deep healing beam was in his pocket. Doc is using it on him now. He should regain consciousness a short time after his body reaches stability."

  Diz grinned. Priscilla was peering over his shoulder at Tech and Doc by the couch, but Bobby was staring at Data. "Engineer Genevieve Roberta Fale, I'd like you to meet Starfleet Lieutenant Commander Data, alias Leroy."

  "How do you do, Miss Fale?"

  "Bobby. Just fine, Commander. I do just fine. Why don't you and I find a nice place to sit and talk?"

  "I do not know why. I am not needed here currently."

  "Good. Come with me, Commander."

  "Please, call me Leroy. I have recently stored the name in my primary identity program. I have very interesting memories cataloged in that file."

  Diz sat down and watched them walk off. He patted the step beside him. "Sit down, Priscilla. Tech says he's got a few more interesting memories he'll be adding to his Leroy file today."

  "What is he? A robot?"

  "No, he's the most unique life form in at least two universes and several dimensions. He's really still a child, not much older than we are. He's the only sentient android in existence. And he's got something in common with the three of us. He wants to grow up to be just like Dad too."

  "Oh, no you don't. You stop right there."

  He sighed. "Hello, Bobby."

  "Doctor, there are two more things you have to do before you leave this world."

  "If you mean say good-by, I'd prefer not to."

  "No, that's not what I meant. Actually, it's say hello. Someone very special wants to meet you. He's on his way over. Meanwhile, there are two people waiting for you upstairs."

  "Bobby, I have to get the TARDIS to the ship before it leaves."

  "You know and I know they aren't going anywhere without you. I have some surprises for you. You'll like them. I'd have brought them down, but I hate this basement. Every time I look at that post, I get sick to my stomach."

  "It looked worse than it was."

  "Sure it did. Come on. This won't take long." She took his arm and tugged him toward the stairs. He sighed and let her pull him along.

  Priscilla was waiting for them at the top. "Captain Knight, I'd like you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Joff Silden."

  "Miriam, Joff! Congratulations."

  Joff grinned. "When she came in my office and dragged me out of it, I didn't know what was going on. She shoved me in a car and took me to her folks' place. I'm not quite sure how it all happened. Guess I'm still a bit dazed, but I wanted to say thank you. I'd probably never gotten up the nerve to ask her."

  "Add my thanks to his, Captain. You changed my life and it needed changing."

  "Miriam, I'm very happy for you both. Now, I really must leave."

  "Priscilla, may I borrow your car?"

  "Sure, Bobby. Here. Keys. See you at the reception."

  "Bobby, let go of me!"

  "Not yet. There they are."

  A dignified elderly man got out of the chairman's car. Toby waved at the Doctor and drove off. Bobby said, "Doctor, this is my boss, Albert D. Heart. Boss, this is the Doctor. I'm going to take a nap in the car. You two have things to talk about."

  They did. They talked for several hours. About a great many things. They parted very good friends. A few days later Dr. Jeanne Glace sat at her desk and held a large check from her new corporate sponsor and a manifest for foodstuffs delivered from Athera. She smiled as she held them, but she wasn't looking at them. She was looking at the carefully preserved rose in the frame on her office wall.