Doctor Who - The 8th Doctor - 14 - Vanderdeken

by Christopher Bulis (pdf)

  ***

  Whentheywerebackintheliftdescendingtowardsthehold,Samlookedatthe

  Doctorcuriously.'LookslikeLysetWynter'sgoingtohaveherdestinyfulfilled

  likeyousaid.Didyouthinkouttheargumentfortakingheralongassoonasshe asked?AndwereyoureadytospeakupforDelrayaswell?'

  'Itdidoccurtomethattheirproposedparticipationmightinfluencematters

  somewhat,'theDoctoradmitted.'CaptainLanchardwasobviouslythinkingalong

  thesamelines,soIthinkitwasinevitable.Anyway,Rexton'sresponsesuggests

  heknowsmorethanhe'slettingonaboutthederelict.

  He'sactingonmorethanmerespeculation.'

  'Yeah,heknowssomethingallright,'Samagreed.'ActuallyI'msurprisedhe

  letustagalongsoeasily.'

  'Probably because he realised our presence, as Moderators, might dissuade theNimosiansfromtakingdrasticactionagainsttheboardingparty,'theDoctor

  explainedmatter-of-factly.

  Sam found that her mouth had gone curiously dry. 'So we're a sort of

  insurancepolicy?'

  'Somethinglikethat.Ihopeourpremiumsarefullypaid.'

  ***

  Vegahadtheboardingparty-exceptReng,whowasstillworkingontheshuttle

  modifications-assembleinthebriefingroom.Onthebigscreencoveringmost

  ofonewallwerepicturesofthealienshiptakenfromeveryangle.Foranhour

  theyhadanalyseditseverydetailandplottedlikelypointsofaccess,referringto the enlarged views showing what they tentatively assumed were hatchways,

  almosthiddenamidthecomplextopographyofitshull.

  AstheyconferredVegaexaminedtheteamwithacriticaleye.

  Lieutenant Matt Tane, third in command and the Indomitable's armaments

  specialist, would lead the party. Exhibiting his usual external coolness, he was making careful notes on his personal datapad. First Pilot Del Argen was half smiling,hiseyesflickingacrosstheimagesasthoughitwasanewlandhewas

  about to conquer. In contrast Second Tech Render, Reng's assistant for the mission,lookedquietlyresignedtohisduty.

  Seated behind them were the six marines who would provide their escort, appearing professionally alert and easily concealing any anxiety they might be feeling.Afterall,thiswaswhattheyweretrainedfor.Alittleapartfromthemwas thesolidformofSquadleaderHarrenSho.Asalwayshisfacewasunreadable.If

  hehadeverexhibitedanysignoftheslightestoutwardanxietyinanysituation,

  Vegahadneverheardofit.Hewasnotacomfortablepersontohavearound.His

  men respected but did not like him, and as far as Vega knew he had no close friends.Butifyouneededsomebodytorelyonabsolutelytogetajobdone,no

  matterwhatthecost,hewasyourman.

  Whenthebriefingwasconcluded,Vegaaddressedthem.'Althoughwestill

  believe the vessel is empty, after what happened to Kerven we can't take any chances. The energy discharge and gravity shift may have been a routine functionorsomedefencemechanism.Beextremelycautiousbeforecommitting

  yourself.Rememberthismaybeafirstcontactsituation.

  Makeitpeacefulifyoucan-we'renotlookingtomakeanynewenemies.

  Butdon'thesitatetodefendyourselvesifitbecomesnecessary.Aliensmust

  learntotreatNimosianswithrespect.

  'We'venoideawhytheEmindiansaresointerestedinthealiencraft,butif

  they're willing to risk facing us down with a civilian ship carrying Federation passengersthen,intheopinionoftheIntelligenceanalystsbackhome,itmustbe something important. A task force will be dispatched from the Fourth Fleet to reinforceus,butevenattopspeedthey'reoveradayaway.

  Meanwhile the Emindians may try to land a party on the alien craft with a viewtooccupyingit.Hopefullywewillboardfirst,inwhichcaseyourmission

  istodiscoverwhatevertheEmindiansareafterandrecoveritforouruse.Thisis yourprimeobjective.Ifthatisnotpossibleand,inyourjudgement,theitemor

  knowledge could pose any possible threat to Nimos, then at the very least you will deny it to the Emindians.That'll be your decision, Matt, if there's no opportunitytoconferwithme.'

  Tanenoddedslightly.'Understood,sir.'

  'IftheEmindianseffectentryandestablishabridgeheadonthecraftbefore

  we do, then they must be removed, peacefully if possible. But if it becomes necessary, you are authorised to use whatever force necessary to achieve your objective.'

  ***

  Thebriefmessage,relayedviashipphonetotheirsuite,statingthatCouncillor

  Rexton would be honoured if Ms Lyset Wynter and Mr Don Delray would

  accompany the craft soon to be dispatched to explore the derelict, was greeted withunalloyeddelightbyLyset.

  'TheDoctorcamethrough!'sheexclaimed.'Hemusthavesomepull.'

  'Sohemust,'Delrayadmitted.

  Lyset had already turned out her camera case and was sorting its

  contents.'Whatdidhesayhewasagain?'

  'Just a functionary,' Delray said glumly. 'Apparently civil servants stick together.'

  Lysetpausedinherworktoreachoutahandtobrushhischeek.'Don'tfeel bad about it, Don. Just because this time you couldn't swing it for me.' She turned back to her case again before he could take her hand, half talking to herself:'Betterusefilmwiththatinterference...nofancycircuitry.WishI'dhad the Hamnex vacuum-proofed. Have to take the Scintar with the booster tube...

  andthemini-floods.Maybeaninfraredconverteraswell.

  Delray watched in silence for a minute as she checked over the equipment with her quick, practised hands, then asked, 'Are you sure you want to go throughwiththis?Itcouldbedangerous.'

  Shelookedupathimwithfrankpuzzlementshowingplainlyacrossherface.

  "That's never stopped me before, you know that. What's different about this time?'

  'Because I'm actually here and 1 couldn't stand seeing anything...' He

  fumbledforwords.'Triteasitsounds,meetingyouwasthebestthingthatever

  happenedtome.'

  'That romantic encounter in Evan's waiting room,' she said with a

  reminiscentsmile.'Ialwayswonderedifheplannedthat.'

  Delraymanagedaweaksmile.'Agoodagentcanarrangeanything.'

  'True. Hey, hadn't you better let him know what's happened, and get ready yourself?'Sheturnedtoherwardrobe.'Now,where'smyfieldkit?'

  ***

  'Theinsurerswillneverstandforit,Don!'EvanArcoviansaidfiveminuteslater astheystoodintheloungeofhisowncabin."Theywerestickyenoughoveryou doing that dive for real in your last picture.' He threw his hands up in the air.'This'llkill'em,Iswearitwill.'

  'Well they're going to have to live with it, Evan. I'll sign a waiver or somethingifnecessary,butifLyset'sgoingthenI'vegottoaswell.Nochoice.

  CanyouimaginewhatthenewsslotswouldsayifIdidn't?Anyway,thinkofthe

  bonusside:publicity.I'llbepartofarealadventureforonceinmylife...'Hesaw the little man's face fall and added hastily, 'There's probably nothing to worry about.Thething'sjustanoldhulkwithsomebadpowercells.'

  'Don - you felt the kick that thing gave us earlier. What if it does it again whileyou'reonboard?'

  'Look,Rexton'sleadingthisjaunt.Warheroornot,Idon't
thinkhe'driskhis

  skin unless he thought he had a pretty fair chance of making it through safely.

  He wants the top job, remember? Anyway, Evan, just fix it. Earn that ten per cent.'

  'Don'tIalways,Don?'

  Delraysmiled.'Fine.NowI'vegottogetready.'

  He turned about and left the cabin quickly. He didn't see the expression on Arcovian's face as he went, or hear the quiet:'Take care, Don', spoken to his retreatingback.

  Chapter6

  AMeetingattheRail

  LesterPlechtwaswokenbyhiswife'selbowdiggingintothesmallofhisback.

  Years of habit caused the words, 'What's wrong, dear?' to issue from his lips evenbeforehewasfullyawake.

  'Doyouhearthat?'RhondaPlechtsaidindignantly.

  Lester raised his head from the pillow and listened. The distant shuffle of feetandraisedvoiceswerefilteringthroughfromthecorridorsideofthecabin.

  'Justsomepeopleoutside,dear,'hesaiddrowsily."They'renotveryloudand I'msurethey'llgoawaysoon.'

  'What'sthetime?'

  Hesquintedattheilluminatedbedsidedisplay.

  'Uh,halfpastone,dear.'

  Rhondasniffed.'Ithoughtso:themiddleofthenight.Somewildparty,no

  doubt.Iassumedwewouldonlyhavepeopleonthisvoyagewhoshowedproper

  considerationforothers.Findoutwhotheyareandtellthemtostop.'

  'Rightnow,dear?

  'Ofcourse.'

  'Can'twejustcallthesteward-'

  'They never do anything. Remember how unhelpful they were last time I

  complained.Nowgooutthereandstopthem.'

  'Yesdear,'Lestersaidresignedly,throwingbackthecoversandsearchingfor

  hisslippers.

  ***

  Lesterdidnotfindthedrunkenmerrymakinghiswifehadassumedwastaking

  place, when he cautiously emerged from his compartment. Instead, a steady streamofpeople,manystillintheirnightclothes,ashewas,weremakingtheir

  way to the promenade deck. Most were carrying cameras and several had

  childrenwiththem;somewerebeingdraggedalongbytheiroffspring.

  Puzzled, Lester joined the flow. On reaching the promenade he found the railsalreadywellcrowded.Pushingforwardasvigorouslyashisnatureallowed,

  hemanagedtosqueezehimselfintoanarrowgapandpeeroutintospace.There

  wastherathersinister-lookingbulkofthealienvessel,andtoonesideofitthe smallerformoftheNimosianwarship.Nothingseemedtohavechanged.Yetall

  around him people were talking and pointing and holding their cameras ready.

  Whatwasgoingon?Therewasabulkyblue-skinnedYevronmaletohisleft,but hewasalwaysnervousabouttalkingtoaliensforfearhemightunwittinglysay

  somethingrude.

  'Excuseme,butwhat'shappening?'heaskedthepersononhisleft,realising

  onlyashedidsothatitwasayoungandratherattractivewoman.

  Sheturnedabrightfacetohimandgaveacarefreesmile.

  'Anyminutenowthey'resendingashuttleovertoexplorethederelict.Lyset

  WynterandDonDelrayaregoingwiththem.'

  She was tall and lithe, rising half a head over his small and slightly portly figure. He realised she was quite unselfconsciously dressed in a very brief nightshirtwhich,hecouldn'thelpnoticing,washeronlygarment.Thecrushof

  bodiespressedthemtogether,butitdidn'tseemtobotherher.Hewassuddenly

  acutelyawareofherwarmthandthescentofherbody.

  'Really,'hesaid,graspingforwords.'How...exciting.'

  Shefavouredhimwithanothersmileandhebaskedinitsinnocentwarmth.

  'Delraymustbedoingitforthepublicity,ofcourse,butIwonderwhatsort

  ofpicturesWynterwillbringback?Haveyouseenmuchofherwork?'

  Beforehecouldreplyanall-too-familiarvoicecutthroughthebabbleabout

  him.

  'Lester!Wherehaveyoubeen?'

  Hespunaboutguiltily.Rhonda,wearingherfulllengthdressinggownpulled

  tightlyacrossherfront,wasglaringathim.Aspacerapidlyopenedupbetween

  them, as it tended to before the force of her glare, leaving him feeling terribly isolated.

  'Justtryingtofindoutwhatwasgoingonasyouasked,dear,'heexplained

  rapidly.'It wasn't a party after all.They're sending a shuttle over to the alien ship.'

  Rhondawaseyeinghiscompanion.'Well,ifwearegoingtobewokeninthe

  middleofthenightbyhordesofcuriosityseekersmarchingpastourdoor,they

  might at least dress correctly. There are certain standards of decency, you know.'

  Theyoungwomanglanceddownathercostumeinmildsurprise,thenather

  accuser. 'You're lucky I stopped to put it on,' she replied simply. 'Sorry if it bothersyou.'

  InadesperateattempttodivertRhonda'sscorn,Lestersaid,'Apparentlythat

  actor,DonDelray,andLysetWynterwillbeontheshuttle,dear.'

  'Lysetwho?'

  'The photographer, dear. Remember those striking pictures of the Tor-zak

  war-'

  'Thosepictureswerequiterevolting,'Rhondasaid.

  Lester seemed to shrink a little.'Yes, dear. But I only meant that... they broughthometherealityofthesuffering.'

  Hefelthimselfbegintosweat.Outofthecornerofhiseyehesawthatthe

  youngwomanwasstillwatchinghim.Whyshouldsomebodysoattractivehave

  tostartpayingattentiontohimnowofalltimes?

  'Wedonotneedtobeexposedtothenauseatingdetails,'RhondaPlechtsaid

  flatly.'Everybodyknowswarsareunpleasant.'

  'Yes,dear,'Lesteragreedmeekly.

  'But perhaps some people need to be reminded from time to time?' the girl said, unexpectedly standing her ground against Rhonda in a way Lester hadn't donefortwentyyears.

  Rhonda Plecht sniffed again, as though to indicate that respectable people knewwhatshouldbeseenandwhatshouldbeleftwellalone.

  'I must say it is a little inconsiderate of the company to send a party over thereafterwhathappenedtotheNimosians,'Lestercontinued,tryingdesperately

  todivertRhonda'sattentionfromthegirl,whowasstillstandingreallytooclose tohim.'Itmightbedangerous.'

  'Mightit?'cameanexcitedvoice.

  Dan Engers had joined the growing crowd at the rail with his slightly

  embarrassedfatherintow.

  'That child ought to be in bed,' Rhonda Plecht told Engers Senior. 'Let him have his fun,' the young woman said before the man could respond. Lester cringedandtookasurreptitiousstepawayfromher.Shewasactuallygoingto

  arguewithRhonda!

  However,Danspokeupforhimself.'I'mallowedtostayupwhenwe'reon

  holidayifthere'ssomethingspecial.DonDelraymightbechasingaliensoutof

  thereanyminutenow.'Hehadclearlycomepreparedtodobattleinsupportof

  hishero,armedashewaswithatoyraygun.

  'They won't be doing anything of the sort, young man,' Rhonda Plecht said censoriously.'Really!Allthisfussaboutanoldwreck.Still,anythingtoprevent thosedreadfulNimosiansfromgettingtheirhandsonit,Isuppose.'

  'Yes,dear,'LesterPlechtsaidwithrelief.

  'Well,ifyou'vesatisfiedyourcuriosity,weshallreturntoourcompartment

  andtrytogetalittlesleep.'

  With a last disapproving glance th
at took in the gathering crowd on the promenade, she swept away, Lester trailing meekly behind her.As he rounded the corner he glanced back wistfully at the sight of people innocently enjoying themselves. He caught the eye of the young woman again, and she gave him

  another of those wonderful smiles, tinged with sympathy. He was sure she understoodhissituationandfeltsorryforhim.

  He felt his hand begin to lift in an acknowledging wave, but then came a shoutof,'Theretheyare!'andsheturnedherattentionbacktothestars.

  Chapter7

  OutoftheShadows?

  Kale Rexton stared intently at the image of the derelict as it filled the monitor screenthatextendedfromthearmofhisseat.

  He felt that familiar heightening of the senses he associated with going out onpatrolinthedayswhenhe'dbeenflyingfromthegoodoldGriffon,blessher

  creakinglaunchramps.Itmadeeverydayexistenceseempallidbycomparison,

  merelyapreludetotherealpurposeoflife.Itwasafeelinghethoughthehad

  lostforever.Butnowfetehaddealthimonemorehand.Atlast,afterallthese

  years,theyoughthavetheanswerstheywanted.Byourresolveweshallprevail,

  heremindedhimselfsilently.

  HeglancedaroundhimatthecrewoftheshuttleDoria.

  The Doctor and his assistant were currently examining the image of the

  derelict on their own screens and exchanging murmured words. He'd have to keep an eye on them, especially the Doctor. He was harder than he looked.

  Rextonresentedtheirpresence,ofcourse,butmilitarytraininghadtaughthimto turn circumstances to his advantage.The pair might yet have other uses before themissionwasover.

  ThesamecouldprobablynotbesaidaboutDelrayandWynter.Hecouldjust

  abouttoleratethephotographer,butanactor!Still,theirpresencehadundeniably improved morale on the Cirrandaria .The rails had been lined by waving

  passengerswhentheysetoff.Hejusthopedthepairwouldstayoutofhisway.

  Theprofessionalshuttlepersonnel,hedecided,probablyrepresentedthebest