Doctor Who - The 8th Doctor - 14 - Vanderdeken

by Christopher Bulis (pdf)

'There is a small object approaching us. A one-man shuttle or a spying device,perhaps?'

  'I don't know what you're talking about...' She glanced aside for a moment andspoketosomebodyoutofshot,thenturnedbacktothecamera.'Apparently

  wehaveitonourscreensaswellnow,butI'venoideawhatitis.'

  'Itstrajectorywilltakeitbetweenourselvesandthederelict,'Vegasaid.'Have

  youmodifiedaprobetoovercometheinterference?'

  'We'reworkingontheinterferenceproblem-justasyouare,Iimagine,'

  Lanchardadmitted.'Butnoneofourshuttlesorprobeshavebeendeployed.'

  Vegawasreceivingmorewhisperedinformation.'Itappearstobeunmanned,

  withanunfamiliarenergysignature.'Hefrowned.'Itwillpassclosebyus.Asit

  is not displaying a standard navigation beacon I could consider that a hostile act.'

  'Perhapsitcamefromthealiencraft,'Lanchardsuggested.

  'Impossible. We would have observed anything leaving the craft. And we

  detect no other vessel in the vicinity but your own. What are you trying to do, Captain?'

  Lanchardsighed.'Nothing!You'reactinglikeatypicalparanoidNimosian.'

  'AndperhapsyouarebeingatypicallydeviousEmindian.Recalltheprobe.'

  'HowcanI?It'snotours.'

  'Then you will not object to its destruction - since it is clearly a hazard to navigation.'

  'Goahead.Butifyouthinkashowofforceisgoingtomakemeabandonmy

  position,you'resadlymistaken.'

  'Weshallsee,Captain.'Vegaturnedaside:'Mainbattery,targetunidentified object...'

  The Doctor frowned.'What are they talking about?There's no other ship

  aroundhere.'

  'Besidesus,'Samremarkedidly.

  Nodding solemnly, the Doctor cut the visual element of the intercepted

  conversationandanimageoftheNimosianwarshipfilledthescreen.Samsaw

  thatanotheroftheteardropblistersontheforwardsectionhadopenedtoreveala turretbearingacomplex-lookingcoiledbarrel.Itliftedandswungabouttopoint directlyatthem.

  'Fire!'saidVegaoverthesoundchannel.

  'Doctor!'Samshouted.

  The screen filled with searing light as an incandescent plasma pulse

  envelopedtheTARDIS.

  Chapter2

  TheDiplomat

  Acurioussoundechoedalongthenarrow,dimlylitaislesbetweenthestacksof

  cargocontainers.

  Itwasaraspingsigh,risingandfallingrhythmicallyandsteadilydeepening

  in pitch. A flashing light appeared, hovering in midair like a will-o'-the-wisp.Thenaghostlyobjectmaterialisedunderitandtookonasolidform.

  The sound became a harsh throaty whir, then ceased abruptly with a final dullreverberatingthud.ExternallythenewarrivalresembledabatteredBritish

  policepubliccallbox-adevicemadeobsoletebyadvancesincommunications

  technologyoverathousandyearsbeforethecurrenttime.

  Thelanternonitsroofceasedtoflash.Anarrowdoorinitssideopenedand

  the Doctor and Sam stepped out. For a moment the console room was visible behindthem,itsspaciousnesssomehowcontainedwithinanobjectnomorethan

  twometreswideandthreehigh.ThentheDoctorclosedthedooronthepocket

  universe of folded time and space, leaving only its incongruous exterior on show.

  'What do you know,' said Sam.'A narrow escape. Haven't had one of those forhours.'

  The Doctor was looking about him with satisfaction. 'Right on target: the liner'scargohold.TheTARDISseemstohaveanaffinityforsuchplaces.Ifeel

  quiteathome.Many'stheeventfulhourI'vespentinthemhiding,beingarrested

  asastowawayorevadingtheclutchesofsomeshamblingmonstrositywithbad

  breath.Actually,cargoholdsaretheidealspotforaclandestinearrival.Nobody abouttoaskyouawkwardquestions.Atleastnotusually...'

  'You should write a book on them,' said Sam. 'Bestseller material, cargo holds.'TheDoctorlookedathersharplyfortracesofsarcasm,butherblueeyes

  were wide and innocent. 'So now we're free again with a single bound,' she continued,'whatdowedonext?'

  'First,findoutwhatcourseofactionthesepeopleintendtotakeregardingthe

  alien ship. I don't want them interfering with it until I've had a chance to examineitmorecloselymyself.There'sobviouslynolovelostbetweenthemand

  the crew of the warship.They mustn't goad each other into acting rashly.' He looked about him again. 'We might as well work from here; clearly drifting in freespaceclosetothederelictwillonlyincitemoremisunderstandings.'

  'Andyouthinkthey'lltakekindlytostowaways?'

  'They won't have to,' the Doctor said mildly. 'We'll establish ourselves

  legitimatelytoprevent awkwardquestionsbeing asked.Wemight havetostay for a while and somebody would inevitably notice if we kept popping down here. Yes. Let us be upwardly mobile and acquire some conventional lodgings moresuitedtoourstatus.'

  'Youmeanfindsomecabins.Andjustwhatstatusdoyouhaveinmind?'

  'Something appropriate to the circumstances which we may turn to our

  advantage should the need arise.' He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. 'Can we take advantage of our relative isolation? I wonder. What were Vega and

  LanchardsayingabouttheFederation?Ah,yes.Justaminute.'

  And he slipped back inside the TARDIS again, leaving Sam alone to

  contemplatethelimitedattractionsofthecargohold.Shekickedashelfbracket

  moodily.'Realbestsellermaterial.'

  BeingtheDoctor,heactuallydidrejoinheroneminutelater.

  He was carrying a coil of cargo binding tape identical to that securing the cartons around them. With Sam's help he wrapped several bands around the TARDIS,stillallowingroomforthemtoduckbetweenthemtousetheinward-openingdoor,andtiedareplicacargolabelinplace.Itboreonlytheirnames-

  theirroomnumbersanddestinationwereblank.

  'We'llfillinthedetailslater,'heexplained.'Nowyou'dbettertakethis.'

  Hefishedoutacoupleofthinrectanglesofplasticcardfromhispocketand

  handedonetoSam.

  'Ever thought of going into forgery in a big way, Doctor?' she said, as she examinedtheimpressiveidentitycardbearingherface,codedretinapatternand

  thumbprint.'Ifthisisme,whoareyou?'

  Heshowedherhiscard.Shewhistled.

  'Canevenyoucarrythatoff?'

  'Naturally,'heassuredherairily.'Ifoneisgoingtobeanimpostor,onemight

  aswellimpostinabigway.Now,shallweseeifwecanfindalift?'

  Thehold'screwdoorwaslocked,butafewseconds'workwiththeDoctor's

  sonic screwdriver persuaded it to open for them. At the end of the utilitarian corridor beyond was a lift. Several deck levels were listed beside the control panel, together with their amenities. Sam thought the Hydrosolaria and Games Courtssoundedinteresting,buttheDoctorchosePassengerDeck2:Library.The

  liftascendedsilently,andinafewsecondsthedoorshadopenedontoawide,

  thicklycarpetedcorridor.TheDoctorheldSambackforamomentuntilacouple

  ofpeople,casuallydressedinshortsandbrightlypatterned,looseshirts,walked past.Thentheyslippedout.AstheliftdoorsclosedbehindthemSamsawthey

  werelabelledCREWON
LY.

  Following the signs, they found the library with its banks of book disks,

  reader screens and computer stations.The room contained only a handful of peopleandtheDoctorrapidlyfoundafreeterminal.Heselected

  'keyboardfunctiononly',cuttingtheaudioresponses.

  'Justmakesurenobodylooksovermyshoulderforacoupleofminutes,'he

  saidquietly.

  As Sam kept watch his fingers flew across the keyboard faster than any human hands could move. His own eyes were wide, intense and unblinking, a slightsmileturningupthecornerofhismouth.Afewtimesthescreenflashedin protest at his delving into files he should not have accessed, but evidently whateverpasswordsandsecuritylocksthesystempossessedwerenomatchfor

  his hacking skills. He really looks like some wild musician, Sam thought, playingasymphonyofdeception.

  The Doctor tapped the last key with a flourish and sat back, flexing his fingers.

  'You can relax now. We are officially passengers of the G&C Lines Star CruiserCirrandaria,registeredonEmindar.Weonlyboardedtheshipatitsthird port of call, Renaris 5, two days ago, which explains why our faces will be unfamiliar to the other passengers and crew. We have two adjoining first-class cabins.Notetheirnumbersanddecklevelsincaseanybodyasks.We'llprobably

  be invited to sit at the Captain's table when the computer, belatedly, alerts the stewardtooureminence.'

  Samshookherheadinamuseddisbelief,andtheDoctorbeamedandflicked

  animaginaryspeckofdustfromhiscoatcollar.'Alittleluxuryonceinawhile

  neverhurtanyone,'heobserved.Thenwithasuddenrushofenergyhesprangto

  hisfeet.'Butthat'sforlater.Firstwemustfindoutexactlywhat'sgoingonhere.'

  Therewasafoldedpamphletlyingonasidetablebearingthelegend,'Guide

  to the SC Cirrandaria ' .The Doctor opened it to reveal a plan of the ship.

  Scanning it intently, he strode out of the library, turned sharply left and disappeared down the corridor. A moment later he reappeared heading in the oppositedirection,followedbySam,whowastryingtokeepastraightface.

  ***

  Captain Coryn Lanchard glared across at the distinguished personage sitting opposite, and wished once again that J. Kale Rexton, HC, had chosen another ship to grace with his presence; preferably one belonging to another shipping line.Therewasstillamilitaryedgetohismanner,thoughhe'dbeenaCouncillor

  fortenyearsandontheHighCouncilforthree.HewastippedasthenextFirst

  CouncillorwhenKapoursteppedaside,whichdidn'tmakethetaskoffacinghim

  down any easier. That was why she'd invited him to join her in her day cabin, wheretheycouldspeakinprivate.Therewasapossibilityshewouldhavetouse

  language unsuitable for the ears of junior officers, and of which G&C Lines'

  boardofdirectorsmightnotapprove.

  'I'm as much a patriot as you are, Councillor,' she assured him, as soon as theywereseated.'ButIhaveadutytomypassengersandcrewwhichmusttake

  priority. I have been as firm as I can with Vega, but at the first sign of any physicalthreateitherfromhimorthatalienship,Iwillhavetogiveway.'

  Rextonleanedforward,chinthrustoutintimidatinglyevenashisclearblue

  eyestransfixedher.

  'I don't doubt your patriotism, Captain, just your inexperience in situations like this. If you stand fast the Nimosians will not dare to use force against us.

  Theoffworldersaboardareaguaranteeofthat.'

  'AndyouheardmepointthatverythingouttoVega.Butsupposehedecides

  tocallmybluff?'

  Rexton made a dismissive gesture, as though brushing aside the lives of almostthreethousandpeopleasinconsequential.

  It is a calculated risk. All that matters is that the Nimosians must not be allowedtotakepossessionofthatcraftoutthere.'

  Lanchardslammedthearmofherchairwithherclenchedfist.'Butwhy?

  What'ssospecialaboutit?Givemesomereasonforallthis.'

  Rextondidnotrisetohershowofangerandhisfacemerelybecamestonier.

  'I'm afraid I cannot tell you anything more at this time. Just be assured it is a matterofthehighestpriority.ThesecurityofEmindaritselfmaybeatstakehere.

  Youmustholdthispositionuntilareliefforcearrives.'

  'Butwhenwillthatbe?We'realongwayfromthenearestnavalbase.'

  "They'llcomeatmaximumspeed,Iassureyou.Meanwhileyouwillremain

  onstationandmakeeveryefforttoboardthecraftbeforetheNimosians.'

  'You are aware,' she pointed out carefully, 'that this may be a first-contact situation - if there are any crew left on that ship. We are neither equipped nor trained for this sort of operation. Presumably the relief force will be.There are rulesabouthandlingsuchsituationswhich-'

  'Thereareguidelines',Rextoncorrectedher.'Andtheyaresubjecttochange

  dependingoncircumstance.YoucanbesuretheNimosianswon'tletthemselves

  behinderedbythemintheleast,sowecannotaffordtobeeither.Theevidence

  suggeststhevesselisabandoned,butshoulditproveotherwiseIknowallships'

  captains are briefed on the correct procedure. If you feel unequal to the task I will take full responsibility for the consequences and you may complain to the properauthoritiesinduecourse.ButmeanwhileyouwilldoasItellyou.'

  Hedidn'traisehisvoiceparticularly,butthentherewasnoneed.Shenoted thatRexton'shandsastheyrestedonhiskneeswereclenchedsothatthecorded

  tendons showed across their backs. His greying hair still bristled in a severe military cut, reminding her that he was still a general in the spacefleet reserve.

  Hiseyesweresteady,implacableanddetermined.

  Lanchard knew then that he was absolutely set on his course of action and that no arguments, reasoned or otherwise, were going to sway him. She could callinhermaster-at-armsandhavehimconfinedtohisquarters,ofcourse,but

  then her career would be over as soon as they reached home port. It would be shewhowouldhavetocompromise.

  'At least let me have the lifeboats readied in case some sort of emergency arises.Thatcan'tdoanyharm.'

  Rexton considered for a moment. 'Very well. But it must be done

  unobtrusively.'

  'Naturally,'Lanchardsaid.'Wedon'twanttoalarmthepassengers.'

  'Not them,' Rexton corrected her, 'the Nimosians. They mustn't detect any changeinoursituationortheymightinterpretitasasignofweakness.'

  Before Lanchard could respond he continued, 'Now, how are the

  modifications to that shuttle proceeding? Your engineer said she thought she couldshielditssystemsfromtheinterference.Thenyoumustcallforvolunteers

  to take possession of the alien vessel. The crew will understand when you tell themthefutureofEmindarmaybeatstake.'

  ***

  TheCirrandaria'sport-sideupperpromenadedeckwasthrongedwithpassengers

  looking through its multilaminated and screened observation windows at the alienvessel.Mostwerehuman,oratleasthumanoid,withonlyasprinklingof

  more exotic species. All were too intent to recognise Sam and the Doctor as newcomersastheymingledwiththem.

  Somesixtydegreestotheleftofthederelict,and
alsoreceivingitsshareof

  the passengers' attention, was the irregular speck of light that marked the positionoftheNimosianwarship.Samsawthatthestarsappearedtobeturning

  slowlypasttheothertwoships,eventhoughbothweremaintainingtheirrelative

  positions.

  'Areweinorbitaboutthatthing?'Samwondered,staringatthederelict.

  TheDoctorhaddrawnoutagoldhunterpocketwatchandwastimingtheir

  motion.

  'Apparently,'heconcludedafteraminute,snappingthelidofhiswatchshut

  again. 'It must mass at least as much as a small asteroid, which suggests it containsdegeneratematter.Stabilisedneutronium,perhaps.Thatmightgosome

  waytoexplainthedistortionit'scausinginhyperspace.'

  'But why would anybody want to stack a ship full of neutronium?' Sam

  wondered.

  'Ah,nowthat'saquestionforlater.Meanwhile,mouthshutandearsopen...'

  The air was full of the usual mixture of gossip and rumour - ten per cent reasonable, ninety per cent wildly ill-informed - that permeated all such gatherings, dominated by the voices of those self-opinionated few who always thoughttheycouldrunthingsbetterthantheprofessionals.Butgradually,froma scoreofeavesdroppedconversations,theyassembledapictureofrecentevents.

  TheCirrandariahaddetectedanenergydischargeofunknownoriginssome

  eight hours earlier. The Captain had announced they were dropping out of hyperspacetoinvestigate,astheywereobligedtodobyinterstellarconvention

  in case a vessel was in distress.They discovered the alien ship, but aborted a close approach when the erratic energy field it radiated began to disrupt the Cirrandaria's systems. At about this time one of the VIP passengers had been seenmakinghiswaytothebridge,anditwasassumedhewasnowadvisingthe

  Captain. Why the alien ship should be worth such attention nobody knew, but therewasnoshortageofspeculationonthepossibilities..

  There had been no reply to multichannel friendship messages or even the emergencysignallamp,sothenatureofitscrew,ifany,wasstillamystery.