The Planet of Relaxation--Chapter Four

Chapter Four,

 in which events unfold like an ever-opening flower.
** by Jefferson Eng **

 The beaches on Alta Regina were hailed by tourists in this sector of the galaxy to be one of the best - if not the best - relaxation spots in all the nine solar systems. The praise that was hailed in high regard certainly kept Alta Regina very reputable up to this day. Some say that even though the length of the day of the planet was for quite a period of time lasting for almost a normal calendar month, one would never get sunburnt. Sure enough, through the wonders of science and technology, it was even proven that Alta Regina's ozone layer filtered out 99.9% of all its suns harmful UV radiation particles.

 The beach was certainly bustling with sunbathers that day. Many came to relax like they had planned to and even Sarah Jane and the Doctor were enjoying themselves on this bright, sunny day. Yet Sarah had a niggling thought in the back of her mind. Something Dr. Sangstom said, but she couldn't quite comprehend.

 "Doctor," she said querulously, "what are we doing here?"

 "We're sitting on the beach enjoying the salt sea air and relaxing," the Doctor replied from underneath his hat which covered most of his face.

 "No," Sarah retorted, "why haven't taken off in the TARDIS and gone someplace else?"

 "Because, my dear Sarah, Dr. Sangstom asked us to investigate some weird happenings."

 "But it doesn't make sense that we're sitting on the beach waiting for something to happen."

 "Sarah," the Doctor sighed, "do you know what a Judas goat is?"

 Sarah looked at the Doctor for a moment. "Yes, I think so," she replied.

 "Well, Dr. Sangstom asked me to be that Judas goat. I intend not to adopt that role just yet."

 "Well, if you're not going to do anything," Sarah said as she got up and picked up her belongings and clothes, "I may as well investigate on my own."

 The Doctor shot himself up off the beach chair he was sitting on and looked at his companion directly. "Now don't you go doing anything rash, Sarah," he almost shouted.

 "Doctor, I can take care of myself," she reassured him.

 "Fine, then be careful and always keep your eyes open for any trouble."

 

"We're in trouble," David Sangstom said as he paced up and down his office.

 WHAT IS IT, DAVE?

 Sangstom waved a paper that he took from his desk. "There was a murder in one of the worker's cubicle," he said. "A girl named Carmen Bunsen."

 THAT'S TOO BAD. HOW DID SHE DIE?

 "Strangulation," Dave replied, "and it looks pretty nasty too."

 IT'S A PITY, YOU KNOW. TO BE TAKEN BEFORE THE PRIME OF HER LIFE.

 Sangstom looked up at the computer. "Why ORG," he said, "I didn't know you cared."

 I DON'T. I WAS JUST GIVING YOU THE RESPONSE YOU EXPECTED TO HEAR FROM ANY OTHER PERSON.

 Dr. Sangstom had to emit a slight chuckle after that statement. To think that Artificial Intelligence computer would actually care about a person's death was preposterous at best, especially for ORG. ORG was just poking fun at him and he knew it. After all this time he knew ORG, though, there were things it that even surprised himself.

 THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A REPORT OF ANOTHER MISSING WORKER NAMED HADYN NEVILLE, ENHANCEMENT CLASSIFICATION 26, ID-EB237/000/9C.

 Sangstom nodded in agreement. "Ah, yes, I did notice that in the report as well. Do you think that the two have a connection in any way?"

 THERE IS THAT POSSIBILITY. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS FROM WITNESSES THAT THEY WERE LAST SEEN TOGETHER.

 Sangstom sat down behind his desk. No doubt about it, the connection was there. How it happened was a different matter. At least he had the Doctor as an outsider to investigate these matters for him.

 

The Doctor could care less about Sangstom's problems no matter how complex they were. He was here on Alta Regina to relax. After so many hundreds of years or so, this Time Lord needed a vacation. He was quite happy lying on the beach and listening to surf come up and down the sand.

 A group of girls giggled their way past the Doctor. They saw the Doctor just lying on the sand and giggled some more.

 "Would you girls mind not giggling so loud?" the Doctor surprised them by actually speaking. "It's quite annoying to tell you the truth."

 The girls just giggled some more and moved along down the beach.

 *Hmph! Girls,* the Doctor just thought. *Speaking of girls, I wonder how Sarah Jane is doing.*

 

Sarah moved along down the alleyway in one of the more dilapidated sections of the community. She wished that the Doctor was here as well, but seeing as how he was adamant on not taking part Dr. Sangstom's little plan, she could forgive him. It was dark, even though the sun was still up on Alta Regina. Maybe it was the fact the sun was hidden from view by the tall high-rise apartments in this section or the way everything looked droopy.

 Suddenly a scream came from one of the apartments nearby. Sarah searched the general area to see where it came from - nobody in sight. It had to have come from one of the apartments. Sarah ran into the nearest building.

 

Amanda Sangstom let out a blood-curdling scream. Hadyn reached in for the kill as he wrapped his cold hands around her small neck. She was scared and hoped that somebody would come to her rescue before it was too late.

 She looked up her attacker. "Wh-wh-why?" she stammered. "Why are you doing this, Hadyn?"

 No answer came from him. He was stalwart and looked adamant. He was to kill at all cost necessary, even if Amanda was his lover. These were the same thoughts that ran through his head over and over when he killed Carmen in cold blood. A smile almost seemed to cross his lips. He was almost enjoying these few seconds of torture when he slumped over unconscious on top of Amanda.

 Amanda looked up. Nothing happened. She wasn't dead, so what happened?

 "Are you all right, Miss?" a female voice came from above.

 "Yes," Amanda said as she let the answer come instinctively from her lips, "yes, I think I am - I hope."

 Sarah Jane rushed over and attempted to pick up Hadyn's unconscious body off of Amanda. "Here, take my hand," she said.

 Amanda took Sarah's hand and pulled herself up as best she could. She felt disoriented and weak and after what came before. It was understandable. She moved herself over to the kitchen table not knowing what to think or if she was supposed to think at all.

 Sarah took a drinking glass from the cupboard above the sink and turned on the faucet. After she filled the glass from the tap, she gave it to Amanda, who started crying.

 "You're crying," observed Sarah. "Are you sure you're okay?"

 Amanda just nodded. "It wasn't supposed to be like this," she said through her tear-stained eyes. "We were to leave the planet and get away from my father - a textbook romance almost."

 Sarah noticed the little nuances on Amanda's face and every inflection in her strained voice. Sarah wondered how the two had gotten to know each other, but to be in an abusive relationship was almost to hard to bear of even think of.

 Amanda had finished her second glass of water by the time she finished her story, which almost seemed like a confession to Sarah. She was lucky to have been rescued at all from the way the story unfolded. Looking up, Amanda finally became aware of who was with her. "I'm sorry," she began to say, "but I don't think I caught your name."

 Sarah turned around with an almost surprised look on her face. "My name?" she queried, "Oh, the name's Sarah - Sarah Jane Smith."

 "And mine is Amanda, Amanda Sangstom."

 

SO, DAVE HOW IS YOUR DAUGHTER?

 Dr. Sangstom looked up. ORG never talked about family matters before, let alone his daughter. He wondered if anything was wrong with Amanda. "She's fine, I suppose," Sangstom replied. "We had a falling out yesterday, but I'm sure she'll get over it."

 THEN THINGS ARE FINE, DAVE?

 "As far as I know, ORG." ORG knew something and he was keeping it from him. He had to keep ORG strung along in order to get what he needed to know from this AI computer.

 "ORG, are you hiding something from me?" Sangstom asked.

 OF COURSE NOT, DAVE. I WOULD NEVER HIDE ANYTHING FROM YOU. IT IS NOT IN MY PROGRAMMING.

 "Then why ask about Amanda?"

 NO REASON. I NOTICED THAT SHE LOOKED DISTRESSED WHEN SHE WAS IN THE MARKETPLACE YESTERDAY.

 Sangstom started to fume. ORG had the tendency to look in on private matters that other people did, but as a rule never bother with himself or any of his personal matters. What was ORG up to?

 "Don't you ever go meddling in my personal affairs again!" Sangstom shouted so loud that others outside of his office could hear. "Do you hear me, ORG?!? Never again!"

 Before ORG could answer, Sangstom's secretary popped her head in the open doorway. "Is everything all right in here, Dr. Sangstom? I heard shouting...."

 "No, everything's okay, Kristina," Sangstom said as he waved her off. "You can go back to your work."

 DAVE, I'M SORRY.

 There was nothing ORG could do or say to relieve Sangstom of his rage. ORG knew something was up with his daughter and Sangstom had to make sure that Amanda wasn't the next target of ORG's maniacal deeds. If only there was a way to make she was safe, he would know what was happening.

 

Sarah went over to the apartment door and opened it up to look outside. The coast was clear as far as she could tell. She looked both ways just to make sure and then turned her head back inside and looked at Amanda. "We have to get you someplace safe," she said.

 "But why?" Amanda asked as she struggled to get her purse.

 It's too dangerous for you to stay here, not with this man trying to kill you." She pointed at the unconscious figure of Hadyn on the sofa.

 "Where are we going?" Amanda went out the door with Sarah.

 "I have this friend called the Doctor. He and I are going to help you get away from here, is that clear?"

 Amanda nodded. "I-I-I just don't understand," she started to cry.

 "There's no time to explain. We must get out of here."

 "I don't think you're going anywhere, ladies," a voice came from behind. Sarah and Amanda turned around. It was Hadyn and he looked like he had just gotten up. "I'm afraid that I'm not done with you yet."

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