The Doctor was tending to Prion, peering into an eye socket with the aid of a pencil torch. ‘I think he can be fixed up without too much trouble,’ he said at last.
‘Good.’ Rutger joined the Doctor. ‘If we can access his secondary program, that will give us enough evidence to move against Mathesohn at last.’ He paused, thoughtful, then asked quietly, ‘Why didn’t he kill me, Doctor? He was programmed to kill Kesar, probably on first contact.’
It was Prion who answered. His voice was quiet, slurred, almost inaudible. ‘I nev-er met Ke-s-ar,’ he said haltingly. ‘D-N-A scans all neg-at-ive.’
‘I imagine his orders were to kill Kesar and whoever else was behind the build-up of support for him back on Haddron,’ Trayx said. He broke into a smile. ‘I look forward to seeing Mathesohn’s face when he discovers that he saved our lives.’
‘But not Kesar’s life, I fancy.’
‘What do you mean, Doctor?’ Victoria asked.
The Doctor nodded to Rutger. ‘I rather think our friend here has finished playing that particular role.’
‘It was always the intention to let Kesar die eventually,’ Rutger said. ‘Once his memory had faded and popular support dwindled. Now we can pre-empt that.’
Trayx nodded. ‘Kesar dies a hero, battling against the corrupt plans of General Cruger,’ he said. ‘To the last he was loyal to his own vision of Haddron. And we must build now on that vision. On his dreams of empire.’
‘But without the imperialism, eh?’
‘That’s right, Doctor,’ Trayx said. ‘There may be some dissent, especially from Mathesohn, Frehlich and their colleagues. But Rutger has played his part for long enough. And if it comes to the choice between betraying the Republic or my friend, God give me the courage to betray the Republic.’ He exhaled, long and slow. ‘Now, Doctor, you said you had some ideas. I should like to hear them.’
The Doctor beamed. ‘That’s very magnanimous of you. There are several possible paths forward for you. Now, heard of the concept of a commonwealth, for instance?’
It was hard to believe that so much had happened since they last ate at the same table. The VETACs were back on their ship, and power had been restored so that the room was no longer bathed in red. The bodies and debris had been cleared away, and a semblance of a victory feast assembled from cold odds and ends found in the kitchens.
The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria sat together. Opposite them the soldiers, Sanjak, Lanphier and Felda, joked and talked of other battles and fallen comrades. Helana Trayx sat beside her husband as before, rarely letting go of his hand, rarely looking away from his face. Beside Trayx, Rutger seemed withdrawn and quiet. The other side of Rutger, Prion sat stiffly in his chair. Devoid of artificial skin and armour, his VETAC heritage was apparent. His movements were still hesitant stutterings, far removed from the finesse and precision when they had first sat at this same table together.
The Doctor pushed his plate away with an embarrassed belch of satisfaction. His hand flew to his mouth. ‘Manners,’ he quipped. ‘Well, now,’ he went on quickly, ‘I think it’s time we looked for our, er, our transport. Just to check everything is in order, you understand.’
‘Oh Doctor,’ Victoria said. ‘Everything’s so peaceful here now. Can’t we –’
He held up a finger to stop her. ‘I like to leave everything tidy, Victoria,’ he said. ‘Everything put away in its proper place. No mess.’
‘Oh yes?’ Jamie did not sound convinced.
‘Come along.’ The Doctor was already on his way towards the door. He turned on his heel. ‘Well, goodbye, everyone. It’s been such fun.’
Trayx frowned. ‘Indeed, Doctor. But we shall see you again as soon as you have checked on your ship. You will need help with the repairs, and we have much to talk about.’
‘Yes,’ the Doctor said. There was still a trace of embarrassment in his voice. ‘Yes, of course. Now come along you two.’
When they had gone, Rutger leaned close to Trayx. ‘A word,’ he said quietly. ‘In private, if I may.’
‘Soon,’ Trayx promised.
‘It is important.’ Rutger was looking at Helana as he spoke. She was still watching the door, looking after the Doctor and his friends.
‘I know,’ Trayx told his friend. He turned to look at his wife, then back to Rutger. He was smiling slightly. ‘I have always known,’ he murmured, just loud enough for Rutger to hear.
‘Then why?’
Trayx did not answer. He stood up, pulling his wife to her feet as well. They stood facing each other for a moment. Then he leaned forward and kissed her.
Rutger watched, frowning. He had his answer, and it was no real surprise. But it did prompt another question. Had it really been the loss of the Fifth Legion that had turned Trayx against his childhood friend, which had motivated him to bring the might and power of Haddron crashing down on Hans Kesar?
‘Tidy?’ Jamie said to Victoria. ‘I’m surprised he knows what the word means.’
‘Now, I heard that, Jamie.’ The Doctor unlocked the TARDIS door and pushed it open. ‘After you, my dear.’ He stepped politely aside to let Victoria enter.
‘Thank you.’ She smiled at him as she went past.
The Doctor smiled back, stepping smartly between Victoria and Jamie as the boy made to follow. His smile became a glare as he turned back to Jamie. Then he grunted and followed Victoria inside.
‘Yes,’ the Doctor said as he operated the door control. ‘Tidiness is very important in these matters.’
Jamie leapt away from the closing doors with a yelp. ‘Steady, Doctor.’
‘Always leave things as you would hope and expect to find them,’ the Doctor went on as he adjusted and set the controls. ‘Isn’t that right, Victoria?’
‘Yes, Doctor,’ she said meekly.
He was making his way from panel to panel on a circuit round the central TARDIS console. The familiar scraping rasp of dematerialisation underpinned the Doctor’s words: ‘Never leave business unfinished or loose ends dangling. Always clear away properly and make good after –’ The Doctor stopped in mid-sentence, staring in horror at the console in front of him. ‘Now who left that half-eaten sandwich there?’ he demanded.
Next in the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Collection:
LAST OF THE GADERENE
MARK GATISS
ISBN 978 1 849 90597 8
The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Collection
Eleven classic adventures
Eleven brilliant writers
One incredible Doctor
The aerodrome in Culverton has new owners, and they promise an era of prosperity for the idyllic village. But former Spitfire pilot Alex Whistler is suspicious – when black-shirted troops appear on the streets, he contacts his old friend Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart at UNIT. The Third Doctor is sent to investigate – and soon uncovers a sinister plot to colonise the Earth. The Gaderene are on their way…
An adventure featuring the Third Doctor, as played by Jon Pertwee, and his companion Jo Grant.
Gary Russell
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First published in 1998 by BBC Worldwide Ltd.
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Doctor Who: Dreams of Empire: 50th Anniversary Edition Page 27
