CODE: S2/S6
Episode Six
Niall Turner
Black Sun Rising
They appeared to have materialised in a boot cupboard, having winked out of existence from the holding cell without warning.
A tracery of alien symbols played across a panel directly in front of them.
Then a single word, in stark red.
‘UNAUTHORISED’.
“What is it?!”
Nick felt his heart beating faster. Instinctively he gripped the boy’s hand.
“Dunno’ mate but it ain’t good.”
A door slid back in front of them, a display panel retracting sideways with it.
Cold air washed over them as a group of unfamiliar figures clustered before them in the dim light. Most were clad in antique black and silver Draconian battle armour, stylised masks staring anonymously.
At their head was a figure Nick recognised. He felt Falex go rigid beside him.
“That’s the bad man! That’s him!”
A smile of contempt.
“I am Abraxaarr, High Priest of The Order of the Black Pearl and Inheritor of all Draconia in perpetuity!”
* * *
The figure on the monitor screen was very small. Unmoving and concealed beneath a heavy swathe of blankets it was pathetic and anonymous. The scanner seemed to jump for a moment before resolving into the familiar sharp image again.
Jaahkathna sighed. She felt Vorkuuthh shift uncomfortably beside her. How could they have been so deluded?
“Can I get you anything my lady?” The Supreme Admiral was bearing his wounds well. He had certainly saved Jaahkathna from more serious injury. She gave a tired smile.
“No, Vorkuuthh, I am all right. I just wish…” She frowned in annoyance. The picture had dulled along with the lighting in the room. The bomb in Karnalis’s chambers had been one of several, all primed to go off at the exact same moment. Damage to the palace and administrative buildings had been extensive. Other areas, such as the priest quarters, had survived relatively intact. Communications and security had been hit especially hard.
“My lady?” Vorkuuthh was looking at her in expectance.
Jaahkathna smiled. “I do not know, admiral, I really do not know. I just wish I had some of my father’s experience in government…” She pulled a face. “The enemy will move fast now won’t they?”
Vorkuuthh considered. “I do not know. They have struck this blow against us but nothing further.” He glanced at the monitoring device on his wrist. “Four segments since the attack. No,” he shook his head. “This smacks of a delaying tactic.”
“And my husband?” Jaahkathna’s voice was a soulless whisper.
“Prince Karnalis is under constant watch in maximum security. He still protests his innocence in these matters my lady.” Vorkuuthh gave her a searching look.
Jaahkathna shook her head, idly studying the ornamental rings on her fingers, each of them worth an Empress’ ransom in itself. “Another trick? A lie within a lie?” Her tone was perfunctory. “I have no taste for this!”
Vorkuuthh leant forward from his chair beside her in the darkened observation chamber, lightly touching her arm. “Then you will have to acquire one fast my lady! Your people need you.”
Before Jaahkathna could reply, Akrulan’s bandaged features appeared on the monitor screen. Besides the Doctor, he had been worst hit by the explosion in Karnalis’s chambers.
“My lady! There are developments!”
***
“So this is where it’s all going to happen, eh?” Nick was doing his damndest to sound nonchalant. Wasn’t quite sure how it was coming across but there was no harm in trying. Attempting to ignore the petrified form of Falex at his side he moved towards the figure of Abraxaarr, studying the shape of Draconia below them on the bridge (he presumed) of this whatever it was.
Two of the elite guard flanking the high priest turned towards him, energy weapons levelled.
“That’s right,” said Nick, “We’re going to jump you. You only outnumber us ten to one!” He patted his pockets. “Plus, oh I forgot, we have absolutely bugger all in the way of weaponry! Looks like you’re in trouble…” He tailed off forlornly.
Away to the left the weird mantis statue thing hovered in the shadows at the side of the darkened bridge. It turned its head at an angle, giving Nick and Falex just about the most malevolent smile imaginable.
“Yeah,” muttered Nick, “You’re bad. No quibbles there.”
“Let them approach.” Abraxaarr’s voice was disinterested. The guards moved aside.
Carefully Nick stepped closer, giving Falex’s hand a squeeze.
“Bad man, bad man, bad man.” Falex was mumbling repeatedly to himself.
Nick looked at Abraxaarr in profile, features illuminated by the soft light of the planet below, twin suns burning in the distance of deep space. The Draconian’s features were weathered, the mouth and nose cruelly aristocratic, the eyes thin slits of madness.
“It’s always the same with you lot isn’t it?” began Nick. “Draconia now, the universe for breakfast, is that it?” He attempted to take in some of the instrumentation before him as he spoke. Nope, not a clue.
“You cannot hope to understand it. Neither can you hope to understand what it is I do.” Abraxaarr sounded bored but continued none the less. “Once Draconia was a great and mighty power, a power to be feared.” He paused. “Fear breeds respect.”
“Yeah, right, whatever,” muttered Nick. “My old man’s a dustman? Did you know that psycho bonce?”
Falex was still mumbling repetitively at his side.
“Take that away.” Abraxaarr clicked a finger.
The mantis statue darted forward, snaring the hapless Falex in a nightmare embrace. A hatch slid open behind it and it disappeared from view.
“Nick!” came Falex’s despairing cry.
The hatch slid shut.
Nick swallowed. “What the hell is that thing anyway?”
“The Garrak? Merely a servitor. One of many, once my allies and I have restored the Black Pearl to it’s rightful place. Together we shall rule supreme!”
Several things now occurred to Nick but he bit his lip following the priest’s next statement.
“Come! I shall show you the source of our salvation!”
“You, my son, are straight out of ‘Evil Bad Guys R Us’, you know that?”
“Silence!”
There was a sharp prod in the back from one of the guardsmen.
Nope, thought Nick, you haven’t got a clue…
***
Akrulan led Jaahkathna and Vorkuuthh through the dim light of the med ward to the still figure of the Doctor, just one of many wounded. Akrulan took a clip chart from a Draconian med tech tending the Doctor, compared it with the readings on an auto monitor.
“He is recovering remarkably quickly.”
“We know very little about his biology,” said Vorkuuthh.
“Then we should be doubly careful,” observed Jaahkathna.
Akrulan smiled. “Speaking of double, his vital signs are interesting.”
“Fascinating.” Vorkuuthh noted the figures on the monitor, leaning closer to the Doctor.
“I am glad he recovers,” said Jaahkathna, “But this is not the only reason you summoned us Senator Akrulan.”
Akrulan smiled, shook his head, studied his sandals. “No my lady, no it is not…”
“Well?” interrupted Vorkuuthh.
Akrulan spread his hands. “There have been, as I say, developments.” He paused. “Concerning the deep orbit station.”
Vorkuuthh looked apoplectic. “It should have been dismantled! I always said so!”
Akrulan nodded, sitting down beside the unconscious Doctor. “I know, I know…And I agree. But it wasn’t, was it?”
There was a brief silence.
Remembering his etiquette Vorkuuthh turned to Jaahkathna. “My lady, forgive me, you cannot know of what we talk.”
Jaahkathna’s tone was harsh. “On the contrary Admiral Vorkuuthh, I know exactly of what you speak. My father did also. The only difference being that we both thought it dismantled.” She stepped closer. “This is insanity! Another secret held on to by the military?! And for what end? Our own destruction it seems!”
“My lady,” Akrulan’s voice was a whisper, “None could have predicted the events of these last days.”
“Prophecies and portents…Yes, yes, very likely… Jamie? No, Brad… I don’t think…” The Doctor’s voice surprised them all. He had turned heavily on one side, then abruptly rolled back to the other, leaning forward in the same movement and tearing a tube from his arm. “Ah, capital!” He blinked, looking around.
The Draconian med tech stepped back in astonishment.
“Doctor!” Vorkuuthh offered him his hand, grinning in delight.
The Doctor laughed uproariously. “Supreme Admiral! It is good to see you, it really is! And my lady!” He clambered from the bed, dragging wires and toppling a drip.
As the med tech fussed around him, the Doctor greeted the Draconians like long lost friends. Eventually he seemed to calm down and they were able to update him on events. With this done, Akrulan gave them the latest details. Following these, the collective silence hung heavy.
“Well,” the Doctor pondered. “Still no sign of Nick or Falex and you think your secret weapon’s fallen into enemy hands.”
“It was never intended as a weapon,” muttered Akrulan.
“Maybe,” rumbled Vorkuuthh, “But closed down should have meant disabled. Permanently disabled. I see the folly of this now!”
The Doctor was frowning to himself. “Somebody’s missing. Where’s Abraxaarr? Is he all right?”
“I do not know,” said Jaahkathna.
No one else seemed to either.
“Strange,” said the Doctor. “He was falling over himself to be helpful earlier on. You’ve not seen him since he asked you to release me, my lady?”
Jaahkathna stared. “High Priest Abraxaarr did no such thing Doctor. I gave the order myself.”
“Ah.” The Doctor studied his feet.
“My lady,” Vorkuuthh stepped forward.
“I know.” Jaahkathna took command of the situation. “Akrulan, go to the priest quarters immediately.”
“My lady.” Akrulan bowed and left the chamber.
Jaahkathna turned to the Doctor and Vorkuuthh. “I think we need to speak with my fool of a husband. Admiral, give the order to activate the deep space mines. Have the flagship Draconia and the destroyer Imperium moved into geo stationary orbit from dry dock. Put the first and second fleets on full alert.” She paused. “This information to be copied to Alpha Centauri, Peladon, New Mars, Ossobos, Taureas, Omnisci and Qux Prime.”
Vorkuuthh was solemn. “Then we are at war.”
Jaahkathna nodded. “We are at war.”
They hurried from the ward, the Doctor trailing after them, struggling to disentangle himself from the drip.
“Fiddly thing! I say,” he looked hopefully at the bemused Draconian med tech. “No chance of something to eat is there?”
***
Nick felt Abraxaarr had taken him deeper into the, well, whatever it was. Draconia had been clearly in view from the bridge area, along with the twin suns but he suspected they were some distance out. Deep space. Nice. Whatever this place was, it was functional, no doubt about that. Great buttressed bulkheads of black metal and alarming neon red warning signs. Many areas seemed closed off, dust heavy on the floor. As they tramped through the corridors with the booted accompaniment of the guards, Nick realised they were halfway through completing a circle. Space donut? Some sort of deep orbital station perhaps… A prod from the guard indicated he should turn right. They were definitely heading deeper inwards now, the metal grill of the floor heading steeply downwards. At length Abraxaarr halted before a huge doorway of burnished metal, looking more suited to a dungeon than deep space.
“Behold!” The High Priest held his arms aloft, as if in prayer.
“I am beholden mate,” muttered Nick.
Abraxaarr’s arms dropped and he punched a sequence into a wall panel at shoulder height.
The panel retracted abruptly upwards.
Nick was prodded forward, following Abraxaarr into the chamber beyond.
Now what the hell was he seeing?
The chamber was ovoid, a rugby ball stood on end. Rugby? What the?… never mind. In its centre a massive column of, what, black light? burned from floor to ceiling, disappearing into searing white vortices at either end. Everything was cast in deep, negative shadow, an insane disco strobe. From all around came a hollow electric thrumming, somehow heard and not heard.
Nick felt his body begin to shake uncontrollably.
Abraxaarr gestured with a disinterested hand. “Equip the worm, he may be of some use yet.”
Something was clamped abruptly around Nick’s wrist from behind. He blinked downwards, feeling nauseous. His head was splitting. Some sort of heavy duty bracelet. Neon red letters winked grey in the negative light:
‘RAD ZONE MAX-AUTO DETOX-RAD ZONE MAX’
“Great!” said Nick weakly. His ears were popping and he couldn’t hear himself speak. Dimly he wondered about Falex. Abraxaarr was having another rant. That was nice. Gradually the words became discernable and things seemed to stabilise. The insistent thrumming faded a little.
“…for hundreds of years! Wasted years!” Abraxaarr glared at Nick, as though whatever he was raving about was somehow Nick’s fault. “But now the means for our salvation is at hand! For the salvation and ultimate triumph of the Black Pearl and all Draconia!”
“That’s absolutely great mate,” said Nick, his voice suddenly loud in his ears. “What the Tooting Beck are you talking about?!” He was vaguely aware of an armoured figure moving on a platform high above the priest. Another was now at his side. Draconian armour but sleeker, moulded to the wearer’s body.
Abraxaarr stared the stare of the truly mad, dangerously lucid. “Know, worm, that once Draconia had three suns and not two!” He gestured to the softly rippling column of black light. “Know that we have all the harnessed power and fury of the Black Pearl at our disposal!”
“The Black Pearl?” wondered Nick.
Abraxaarr stepped closer, his features seeming to shimmer in the weird light. “You do not understand. We are standing at the heart of a dead star! It is hungry to be reborn!”
Nick felt some of Abraxaarr’s madness creep into him, infecting him.
He wanted to scream.
Very badly.
Abraxaarr smiled.
***
Prince Karnalis glowered at his interrogators.
Nobody seemed particularly impressed and he glowered at the floor instead, tracing an idle pattern with a sandaled foot.
“This is ridiculous!”
Akrulan leant forward from his desk. The Doctor’s party had gathered in the senator’s private suite for this difficult meeting.
Karnalis, embarrassingly, didn’t appear to realise that he was a free man.
“You have no legal right to hold me here! I am a nobleman of Draconia!”
“You are also a free man, moron!” hissed Jaahkathna.
There was an awkward silence.
Akrulan intervened. “We merely wish to understand how Abraxaarr may have accomplished his ends. We know it was not your voice on the communication’s recording now. The Doctor’s analysis was very thorough. But Abraxaarr may have let something slip, even inadvertently.”
Silence.
“Anything may be of help,” pressed Akrulan.
“I told you,” said Karnalis, his voice a whisper, “I am merely the ‘dupe’ in this affair.” He scowled at the Doctor, in conference with Vorkuuthh and Ultarch at another table, scanning astral charts and inner system maps.
Jaahkathna gave her husband a contemptuous look.
The prince’s lower lip appeared to be trembling.
“I told you! Even the statues were that damn priest’s suggestion! He said they had a lasting beauty,” concluded Karnalis bathetically.
In the absence of a response Karnalis continued to sulk at the floor, twisting a ring on his finger.
Akrulan sighed and turned away, even his consummate political skills exhausted by Prince Karnalis.
“Doctor? Supreme Admiral?”
The Doctor looked up. “Senator? Ah, yes!” He nodded. “I think our path is very clear.” He stepped into the centre of the room, the grey light of early morning making his bearded features stone. “Although I must say your artificer’s have surprised me yet again.”
Akrulan gave a wry shrug. “The Black Sun Station should never have been built.”
Vorkuuthh nodded his agreement, absently fingering his beard. “I would never give the order to use it in offence or defence. It’s destructive capability is too great.”
Akrulan was shaking his head. “Abraxaarr should not have the knowledge though…”
“So he was helped!” Jaahkathna was impatient. “We know this! Now is the time to strike first!”
Nobody appeared to disagree with that.
The twin suns were dim on the horizon now, floating above blue grey mountains through the windows.
“Yes,” said the Doctor. “He was helped. But by who?” He sighed. “Bad things are coming I fear.”
***
Far above and beyond the orbit of Draconia, Falex stirred in his containment cell. The boy’s lips moved, unconsciously echoing the Doctor.
“Bad things! Bad things coming!”
Falex shivered and cried out in his sleep.
***
In a similar cell nearby, Nick heard the cry and bit his lip in frustration. Somebody was going to be having it large for this one. And the safe bet said that somebody was Abraxaarr. Nick wasn’t violent by nature, hell he wasn’t even approaching mildly annoyed. But Abraxaarr had scared him and he was majorly pissed off with the overly familiar song the priest was singing. Far as he could suss it this Order of The Black Pearl worshipped Draconia’s defunct third sun as some kind of god. God alone knows what they intended to do with it as well but it obviously functioned as some sort of mega weapon. How the hell had Abraxaarr got access to it though?
Nick got up, pacing the confines of the cell. He thought he was still pretty close to the black light chamber.
Abraxaarr had said something about the sun dying, being crushed to a singularity. The goons with the moulded body armour. This was where they came in obviously… Abraxaarr’s ‘allies’.
To be honest Nick wondered about that. Nutters were always good for betraying. All amounted to the same thing mind. Arseing arse arse!
Nope, that wasn’t helping. He stepped to the containment cell door, squinting through the observation panel. Good thing he didn’t keep a diary: ‘This morning I was mainly held in another cell. This afternoon we plan to mainly be supporting the rebellion. The good rebellion as opposed to the bad rebellion.’ Yeah, right.
From somewhere there was a dull clang of metal on metal.
An automated voice-he couldn’t make anything out.
Was somebody docking?
The question seemed to be answered a few minutes later when there was a shadow of movement from the corridor outside.
Figures moved past in the corridor outside. More of the moulded body armour crew. Three of them.
Nick shook his head. Couldn’t put his finger on it but he was sure this lot weren’t Draconians. They moved differently.
Nick strained to follow their movement then abruptly jumped back.
One of them was right outside the door, Draconian mask staring blankly. Nick stepped back.
The figure continued to stare for a moment, then it was gone.
***
The approach was going to be difficult. Jaahkathna watched the Doctor and Vorkuuthh, deep in conversation on the forward deck of the Draconia. The flagship was still in geo stationary orbit; they had been aboard for some six segments. The Black Sun Station was under constant observation. In the last segment an unknown ship had been observed docking with the station. Vorkuuthh had given a general order to all active ships in the fleet-‘Observe but do not engage in or initiate any hostile action’.
The approach, as said, would be difficult in the extreme.
Jaahkathna rose from the Imperial Command Console as the Doctor now approached. From here she had contact with anywhere in the fleet, any agent of Draconia. Except for the Black Sun Station.
“Yes,” acknowledged the Doctor, as though reading her thoughts, “Communication has been deliberately blocked.”
“There were only automated systems running,” said Jaahkathna, “It would have been the work of a child to override them.”
The Doctor nodded. “No questions asked.” He paused. “Pretty impressive children none the less.” He frowned to himself. “Do you suspect the involvement of any one party my lady?”
Jaahkathna shrugged. “Terrorists. Whatever their race, whatever their creed, their message is the same. Hatred of the unlike. Destruction.”
The Doctor nodded slowly. “I do agree my lady, for the most part. But I wonder whether these particular terrorists are wearing more than one face. Anyway,” he grinned, “Enough philosophy! We need to discuss the approach.”
“Your plan is ready?”
The Doctor laughed, distracting most of the crew of the observation deck. They stared at the colourfully dressed off-worlder in bemusement.
“Yes we have a plan!” announced the Doctor, “A plan and a half I dare say! Supreme Admiral, if you please?”
Vorkuuthh looked up from the charts he was studying. “Yes, Doctor. We are ready to break orbit.” He turned to the waiting communications and navigation techs. Before he could speak there was a high pitched burst of static from the forward viewing and communication monitors, which resolved itself into a depressingly clear image.
All heads turned in the direction of the monitors.
Abraxaarr stood in the foreground, a dazed looking Nick and Falex just to one side and behind him, held fast by figures clad in lethal looking body armour, stylised Draconian masks concealing their features. Behind them all loomed a bizarre pillar of black light, casting the scene in sinister shadow.
“I have your attention? Good.” The high priest paused, savouring the moment.
“Oh dear, he’s going to brag,” murmured the Doctor. “Yes, well, I’ve heard it all before my friend! You’ve got a big gun or some such, I suspect, and it really is very much bigger than anybody elses? Is that it?” He laughed but his face was angry. “Major sublimated compensation issues I should suspect…” He waved a hand. “But of course, you’re doing what you’re doing for a reason, for the greater good, so who are we to argue?”
Abraxaarr didn’t react, merely indicated Nick and Falex. “We have your friends- we had hoped to have your company Empress Jaahkathna but sadly that did not work out as planned. However, any move against us and the Doctor’s companions die.” He paused. “Our terms are very simple. Surrender of hereditary power and all offices of Draconia to the Black Power. Our forces are massed and ready to strike. Total surrender is your only option. You have four segments.”
“Traitor!” began Vorkuuthh.
The screens had gone blank.
A massed babble of communication broke out from the assembled Draconians.
“Silence!” roared Vorkuuthh.
There was silence.
Somewhere, a metaphorical pin dropped.
Vorkuuthh sighed, turning to the Doctor.
The Doctor raised a hand. “I shouldn’t worry, admiral. The man’s utterly mad. I really should have seen it earlier. Far too friendly.”
The Empress interjected. “He spoke of massed forces, Doctor!”
“Yes but have we seen any sign of them?” asked the Doctor.
Vorkuuthh was tugging at his beard. “A bluff?”
The Doctor shook his head. “I don’t think so. I suspect our mad friend Abraxaarr is being promised the undeliverable by parties unknown. A few explosions and assassinations to keep him on side. No, the question is, what do they want, whoever they are?”
“The Black Light generators are power beyond imagining,” reminded Vorkuuthh.
“Yes,” said the Doctor, “But for who? Themselves? Nova Mondas?”
Vorkuuthh bristled. “We must fight! Now is the time for action not words!”
The Doctor didn’t respond, seeming lost in thought.
Jaahkathna stepped closer to him, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Your friends will live, Doctor.”
The Doctor’s face hardened. “Depend on it.”
***
Nick took a step back as Abraxaarr set about closing down the portable communication’s monitor and transmitter. Guy was a full on psycho nut job, no doubt about it. The Doctor had been bang on about the weaponry brag. Big issues there, definitely. Someone brushed past behind him and Nick froze. One of the new arrivals.
Falex was clutching at his hand.
Nick knew what the boy was feeling, empathy didn’t even come into it. This new lot were something else again. One woman, four blokes. Hadn’t had a gander at them since they’d arrived. Two of the men had arrived to escort him to the Black Light chamber for Abraxaarr’s barmy political broadcast. Hadn’t said a word. None of ‘em had. Seemed to know exactly what they were doing but hadn’t spoken a word or revealed a single face. Certainly weren’t Draconian though, despite the masks. No, the body armour was higher tech than the twenty or so goons Abraxaarr had running around.
Nick turned to trace the movement. It was the woman, she was… bloody hell! He hadn’t noticed that before. She’s stepped directly into the column of light and was climbing downwards…there was a ladder there? What the hell was going on? One of the men followed her. Perhaps this explained their different armour, fact they could pull this kind of stunt. Woman was quite a babe if the armour was a true reflection of… oh god, what the hell was he thinking of?
Falex was certainly giving him a strange look.
Nick smiled back. “All right, Falex? It’s good this, innit?”
“No,” said Falex. “These people are mad or evil and your thinking’s gone strange.”
“That, my son, is absolutely nothing new, “ muttered Nick. At this point he noted the packet of space dust in his pocket. And began to get the first bit of a particularly stupid idea.
One of the guys' in body armour had stepped forward. “The generators will soon be fully active. You shall have your power.” The voice was sibilant, accent less.
Nick physically jumped, losing his train of thought temporarily.
“I shall have my power! The Black Sun rises!” Abraxaarr was exultant.
“You shall have your power,” repeated the figure, toneless.
Nick frowned. Abraxaarr was almost deferring to this lot. He couldn’t explain it but it was like the priest was somehow hypnotised. Oh well, whatever. They were all loco. Carefully he withdrew the packet of space dust. Orange. Couldn’t stand it. Thought he’d chucked it come to think of it but hey… The mantis thing was on the far side of the room. Abraxaarr and the remaining body armour goons were staring downwards into the column of black light. Just two of the regular Draconian guardsmen by the doors. Which were open… If he could-
An automated voice boomed out abruptly, closely followed by alarm klaxons:
“HOSTILE SHIP INCOMING-HOSTILE SHIP INCOMING’
Abraxaarr turned, shouting something to the guardsmen who moved towards Nick and Falex.
“Is it a very stupid idea?” Nick heard Falex’s voice, suddenly loud in his mind.
He grinned. “Oh yeah mate, a real stunner. Absolutely page three!”
The body armour goons had huddled together in close conference. One of them raised a sleek looking communicator.
Nick took his chance. Tearing the packet of space dust, he hurled it at the column of black light, wondering what the hell would happen.
The results were spectacular.
Crystallised sugar and E numbers collided with raw Black Light energy, imploding and then abruptly expanding into gigantic balls of luminescent, fiercely crackling orange/black light. These then proceeded to bounce crazily into the chamber. One collided with the guardsmen who vanished with a soundless pop, the ball of light vanishing in the same instant.
Nick screamed something unrepeatable gathered Falex up bodily and in the best of traditions, legged it.
“Stop them!” Abraxaarr fell flat on his back as one of the balls looped slowly over him. “I must have my power!”
There was an ominous rumbling from the bowels of the station.
One of the figures in body armour, taller than the others, stepped forward.
“We have to contain this, it may threaten the station.” It gestured to the mantis statue. “Find them-kill them.”
The mantis statue left the chamber at frightening speed.
Most of the energy seemed to have dissipated, the globes of light crackling then fading.
The tall figure turned to it’s compatriot’s, the barest hint of annoyance detectable in it’s voice. “Well?”
“Weapon type identified,” said one of the others, staring at a hand held monitor. “Desiccated confectionary?”
***
In the silence of deep space, a Draconian Star Destroyer, recently unberthed from the flagship Draconia manoeuvred as it finalised its path towards the Black Sun Station, a malignant hexagon atop the massive globe of the Black Light generators. A tracery of defensive fire arced towards the ship which turned skilfully into the fire, dodging it all. The fire concentrated on the Star Destroyer as it surged towards the station, now on a clear attack path. In the same instant and almost imperceptibly, a tiny craft was launched from the belly of the destroyer.
A Draconian limpet pod. Automated and able to carry up to ten life forms. Designed for one purpose only.
It sped towards the hub of the Black Light Station at sub light speed.
***
“Travel broadens the mind, eh?!” The Doctor roared with laughter as the limpet pod hurtled towards the station. “Well,” he continued, strapped into a restraint harness, “ It does unless the buffers fail in which case it flattens the mind on impact!” He grinned broadly.
Only Vorkuuthh returned the smile. Like the Doctor, he wore a Vac Suit and visor. Strapped around the sides of the pod were six of the elite guard and Prince Karnalis, who had insisted loudly upon coming, much to his wife’s disinterest. All were similarly clad.
Karnalis scowled. “If you could refrain from your idiot commentary?! There is honour to be claimed this day!”
The Doctor boomed laughter, checkmating Karnalis’s ill humour.
The pod increased speed, hurtling towards it’s target.
***
The pilot of the Star Destroyer was communicating with Jaahkathna on the bridge of the Draconia. Senator Akrulan and Commander Ultarch stood watching.
“Limpet pod launched successfully my lady.” The pilot was frowning in concentration.
Jaahkathna nodded. “There is something else?”
On the viewing screen the pilot was looking sideways, listening to someone else. He turned back to face the screen.
“Ship launched from the station my lady. Incoming at sub light speed.”
Jaahkathna didn’t hesitate. “Engage immediately! The Doctor must get through!”
“My life at your command!”
***
“Brace yourselves!”
The Doctor’s warning came at the same instant the limpet pod connected with the side of the Black Light Station.
There was a dull thud of impact and an angry shout from Karnalis.
‘ATMOSPHERE SEALED,’ announced an automated voice.
There was a clunk from behind the passengers and an entire section of the pod shifted forward then began to spin at an increasing rate. Multi level restrainers slotted into place.
“Tranq caps!” shouted the Doctor, biting down.
“This is not dignified!” raged Karnalis, spilling most of his capsule down his chin.
The Doctor howled laughter and abruptly fell unconscious.
***
The mantis thing had been gaining on them for some time now.
Nick had dropped Falex because he knew the boy was fast.
Faster than him.
Well if it was going to get one of them it might as well be him.
It was very close now, a mad shadow at his back. God knew how many circuits he’d made, at least that’s what it felt like. Still that damn klaxon was going off.
There was a sudden impact and he lost his footing.
They were under attack for definite. Go Doctor!
“Nick!”
Falex looked terrified.
He sensed it before he felt the claws at his back.
“Falex! Get out of here!”
He rolled onto his back.
The mantis thing was looming above him. Up close the leather stone of it’s skin, smooth black and green had a weird unnatural sheen.
There was another impact and it staggered.
Nick scrambled to his feet and found himself hoisted aloft by one razor sharp hand.
The thing gave a throaty chuckle.
This was gonna’ be quick-
He fell heavily, an abrupt flare of light all around him.
It faded and he found himself looking up at the woman from the Black Light chamber.
Nice view. Oh gods.
She removed her mask.
Nick blinked.
Severe hair. Jet black and close cropped to match jewel black eyes. She smiled and extended a hand.
Nick took it finding himself drawn very easily to his feet. “Er, hello, I’m Nick. I come in horniness.” (And now I’m going to die.)
She smiled a disconcerting smile. “Europa.”
“You killed it! You saved me!”
“The Garrak? It had its uses.” She traced a painted black nail down his face. “Go and find your friend.”
“But-“
She raised a finger to her lips, wagged it reproachfully. “Maybe I’ll see you later, or earlier…”
And then she vanished.
“Well that’s just bollocks isn’t it?” said Nick to no one in particular.
***
Jaahkathna and the others watched as the Star Destroyer closed with the enemy ship on the forward viewing screens.
“I do not know that type,” said Akrulan.
“Shall I give the order to launch further Destroyers my lady?” asked Ultarch, champing at the bit.
“Wait,” ordered Jaahkathna.
On the screen, the enemy ship, sleek and triangular, a mauve sheen against the midnight black had performed a near impossible manoeuvre and looped over and under the Destroyer. There was a brief flare of light and the Destroyer vanished.
Akrulan turned to Jaahkathna in astonishment. “Obliterated! That ship had class seven shielding!”
“We must launch further ships!” urged Ultarch.
“My lady!” There was a shout from the deck below. “Enemy craft incoming, going to light speed!”
Akrulan made a quick calculation. “Two minutes. We have two minutes.”
Ultarch shouted an order to the deck. “Raise shields to maximum! Prepare the Empress’s personal escape carrier!” He turned to Jaahkathna. “My lady…”
“No!” Jaahkathna’s tone brooked no reproach. “In the absence of Supreme Admiral Vorkuuthh, I am commander of the forces of Draconia.”
Ultarch stared in astonishment.
“The Supreme Commander has a suggestion?” wondered Akrulan.
Jaahkathna smiled. “Arm all forward weaponry banks. Plot and reverse incoming course!”
Ultarch gaped. “Ram them?”
“Do it!”
***
With an explosive clang of metal on metal, a neatly circular section of one of the Black Light stations inner walls collapsed inwards.
Shortly afterwards a vac suited Doctor plus assorted Draconians clambered into the corridor.
“Is that sound in my head?” wondered the Doctor, shaking off the effect of the tranq capsule.
“No, Doctor,” said Vorkuuthh, “That is the alarm.”
“Ah!” The Doctor nodded sagely.
“Enough of this!” Karnalis brushed past them, brandishing a blaster. “Now I shall show you the meaning of honour, alien!” He set off down the corridor.
Vorkuuthh sighed. “You men,” he indicated two of the guard, “Guard the prince.”
The guardsmen hurried after Karnalis, who had disappeared round the bend of the corridor. Everything was illuminated in sickly infra red light.
Vorkuuthh was shaking his head. “This station is not up to full offensive capability, I am sure of it.”
“Which way are the generators?” asked the Doctor.
Vorkuuthh turned. “We need to go inwards, to the centre.”
***
The alien ship loomed larger in the forward screens of the Draconia. Still it didn’t alter course.
“My lady,” Akrulan leant forward.
Jaahkathna shook her head. “An Empress must be seen to act, must she not senator?” She smiled as the hum of the engines rose to a higher pitch.
The ship was filling the screens now.
“Fire!” ordered Jaahkathna.
There was an intense flare of light from the screens and the entire deck seemed to shift.
Jaahkathna held her footing, holding on to the command console.
Akrulan fell to one knee, grimacing in pain.
“You did it my lady!” Ultarch was exultant. “We destroyed them!”
There was a cheer from the ranks on deck.
Jaahkathna acknowledged this while at the same time shaking her head. “I don’t know… Select geo stationary orbit at safe distance to the station.”
***
Abraxaarr listened to the distant sound of gun fire. The enemy were on board the station! How could this have happened? Ordering the last of his personal guard from the Black Light chamber he turned to the bank of controls below the massive column of light. Things were running out of control… That prattling alien fool had mocked his ultimatum… Now there was no sign of his allies. They had promised him! Promised him! This was not how it should be! The Black Sun would rise again… He stared mournfully into the column of light, deep shadow on his face, twisting and scarring it with unnatural patterns.
Well if the power would not be his it would not be anyone’s. Turning back to the controls, he began to reset them.
***
Nick found himself running through yet more corridors. That damn klaxon was still going off, along with the idiot-automated message. And there was something else…
Gunfire?
Yes, in the distance but getting closer.
Nick turned, uncertain.
Where the hell was Falex? He wouldn’t forgive himself if… No, don’t even think it.
With an abrupt hiss a door slid open behind him.
Nick jumped back, raising his hands. “Okay, first thing’s first…Oh…”
A dying Draconian, one of Abraxaarr's guardsmen, fell backwards through the door, smoke spiralling from a deep gash in his chest armour.
An imposing figure stepped through the doorway, energy weapon raised. It was Supreme Admiral Vorkuuthh. Closely followed by the Doctor and members of the Imperial Guard.
“Nick!”
“Doctor!”
“Where’s Falex?”
“Ah…”
***
Abraxaarr continued to stare into the Black Light, hypnotised. There was power down there, power beyond imagining. His allies had gone down into the bowels of the station, taking things, replacing things.
Abraxaarr hadn’t fully understood what they had done but he had understood the basic operation of the controls.
Understood enough to set them to override.
Whatever their plans, his allies had brought the means of his salvation. His and all Draconia’s. If the Black Pearl would not rule eternal, it would be remembered eternally.
The sounds of gunfire had largely died down now. He knew it could not be long before his enemies found him. Well let them! The constant thrum of the generator chamber had grown deeper in pitch.
The column of light flared, mad shadows flitting across the chamber walls.
“Power,” murmured Abraxaarr. “Power and death are the only constants… Death is power…” He sensed someone behind him.
It was the Taurean child.
The boy’s eyes seemed huge, reflecting the unnatural light.
“You! What are you doing here?” Abraxaarr stared, then laughed. “Come to me child! We shall embrace the Black Sun together!”
He heard a voice in his mind, soothing, comforting. “You shall have your power.”
“Yes,” said Abraxaarr, “I shall have my power.” This was the way it would be!
The boy smiled and stepped towards him.
***
Prince Karnalis crept through the corridors of the Black Sun Station, blaster at the ready. Now he would show his disrespectful bitch of a wife, Vorkuuthh and all the interfering fools! The hour for true glory was at hand! Afterwards there would be time a plenty for recriminations. Oh yes…
Karnalis paused. The sounds of gunfire had tailed off. Still there was the insistent alarm but it was a mere distraction to his finely honed warrior’s instinct.
Rounding a bend in the corridor he heard voices.
There was movement from ahead.
Karnalis dropped to a crouch, levelling his gun.
Shadows moved on the curve of the wall.
Karnalis strained to hear.
“…Sure had some moves on her!…”
“Rhamon! We almost died there!”
“Shut up, Garvary!”
Laughter.
Karnalis crab shuffled closer, then froze.
Draconians? No, the armour was similar, the masks Draconian but these were off worlders.
Now he had them!
***
Ultarch was studying a data inflow screen on the bridge of the Draconia.
He turned to Jaahkathna. “My lady?”
“What is it?” The Empress stepped forward.
“That ship has re-docked with the Black Sun Station. We didn’t even scratch them.”
“Who are they?” asked Jaahkathna.
“I don’t know,” observed Akrulan, nursing a bruised knee at the command console, “But I do not like being less than a moon’s orbit from them!”
***
The column of light was so close Abraxaarr could almost touch it now. The child was at his side. It was fitting.
Somehow he knew the boy understood.
“I understand,” said the voice. “Take the power. Take it!”
Abraxaarr smiled, leaning forward, embracing his god.
***
Karnalis watched as the alien filth moved various crates and equipment into another chamber beyond the corridor. A red light flashed slowly on and off above the entrance to the chamber.
Karnalis smiled to himself. This would be easier than snaring blind dragons in the swamps of Gaasshnaarrkk. There were only three of them. The woman had an energy weapon but it was not readied. He would slay them all!
Careful, he stepped into the chamber.
At the same instant, a bizarre, drawn out scream echoed through the corridors of the station.
A hatchway slammed down behind Karnalis and the figures turned as one. He raised his gun, unafraid.
***
“What the hell was that?!”
Nick voiced the thoughts of the Doctor’s party as they raced towards the generator chamber.
The high pitched, unnatural sounding scream seemed to hang in the air, turning in on itself.
“Come on!” The Doctor urged them onwards as the hum of the generators grew steadily deeper in pitch, merging with the scream in a sonic cacophony.
***
Humanoid faces were revealed behind the masks.
Karnalis faced a woman with close cropped black hair, a dark skinned, dread locked male and another, pale skinned with an absurd shock of blonde hair.
“Nobody move!”
They grinned, collectively ignoring the command.
“Prince Karnalis isn’t it?” asked the woman.
“What of it?” asked Karnalis, forgetting himself.
“Oh nothing,” said the woman.
Almost imperceptibly, the three had taken a step back.
“It’s vaguely diverting to meet you,” continued the woman.
The males were grinning in a most disrespectful manner.
“You will listen to me, scum!” spat Karnalis.
A transparent screen dropped down in front of them, cutting him off. “What is this?!” Karnalis prepared to fire. “That will not save you!”
The woman smiled, leaning to press a button on the wall behind her. “You’re in an airlock, moron!”
Karnalis gaped then scrabbled for his vac helmet at his belt as the floor dropped away beneath him.
***
At the entrance to the generator chamber, the Doctor’s party stopped as one.
Abraxaarr seemed to hang in the air, transfixed within the column of Black Light, his figure impossibly stretched and contorted, a film negative warping in on itself.
The scream grew to an almost unbearable pitch then went beyond hearing.
Abraxaarr stretched further, separated like wax, then was gone.
The Doctor raced to the controls, keeping one eye to the light column. “He stepped in unprotected! Incredible!”
Nick noticed the diminutive figure of Falex, kneeling at the edge of the light.
“Falex! What the hell happened?!”
The boy’s face was blank. “Power is death… death is power…what is dying?”
“Falex?” Nick took the boy gently by the shoulders, helping him to his feet and steering him away from the light.
All around them the thrum of the generator’s, the alarm and automated announcement continued.
The Doctor was donning his vac helmet. “Admiral! I need an extra set of hands!”
“Doctor?” Vorkuuthh stepped forward.
“This thing’s running out of control!” He gestured to the ladder descending into the depths of the station. “We’ve got to get down there! Take the generator loops out of phase!”
Vorkuuthh nodded his understanding, donning his vac helm.
Nick noticed very little of this, continuing to watch Falex, eyes narrowed in concern.
***
On the Draconia’s viewing screens the great bowl of the Black Light generators beneath the hexagonal hub of the station was pulsing in and out with fierce intensity.
Akrulan stared in horror. “A Black Light implosion! Abraxaarr’s madness will destroy us all!”
Almost unnoticed a technician passed a message to Jaahkathna.
“My lady,” he bowed, overwhelmed by the crisis and what he had to say.
“Speak!” Jaahkathna had no time for this.
“My lady, an urgent incoming message from your husband: He is on his personal communicator and apparently in space fall with limited oxygen.”
A look passed between Jaahkathna, Ultarch and Akrulan.
Jaahkathna sighed. “If we get out of this situation we will reroute to pick the Prince Karnalis up. Sub priority C routine!”
“My lady!”
Jaahkathna turned to Akrulan. “Hopefully the fool's oxygen will have run out by then!”
Akrulan wasn’t listening. “Empress, the enemy ship is disengaging. Data reports the station is about to go critical!”
***
“Well, that was educational.”
Europa leant back in her chair, the contours moulding themselves automatically to her body.
Rhamon and Garvary operated instruments forward and below of her as the Construct ship turned sideways in time.
“Very.” Garvary rose to fix himself a drink. “I like the Draconian girl. She’s got balls.”
Europa pulled a face then stretched, cat like. “Very apposite. You really are a moron, Garvary.”
He grinned a lunatic grin. “Every team needs one.”
“Seems I’m hip deep in them.” Europa eyed Rhamon who had set the controls to automatic and was now idly playing with his braided hair. “I could have done without the macho posturing as well.”
Rhamon raised an eyebrow by way of reply. “This armour sucks,” he commented eventually, darkly handsome in the dim light.
There was a gentle chime and, as if on cue, two further figures materialised, clad in the same pseudo Draconian body armour.
As one they removed their masks.
Kade and Orestes.
“This armour does, as you say, ‘suck’,” observed Kade. “I must find myself something more comfortable.”
“Going to slip into a little black mayhem number are you?” said Europa.
“Mayhem’s in this year I hear,” said Garvary.
“Shut up.” Orestes. Blunt as always.
Garvary yawned. “Somehow you’re not scaring me.”
“Listen,” said Kade and everybody did. “This has been an interesting exercise. The Black Light could be useful. But that is for the future.”
There was collective laughter.
Kade smiled. “Most importantly, we have proved the child’s potential for corruption. We can leave the insects to their squabbling.” He stared into the middle distance. “The past must remain untouched.” His tone was uncompromising, his eyes black holes to nowhere and beyond. He grinned abruptly, animal savage. “You have your coordinates, you know what to do. Let’s do it. Time, as they say, is on our side.”
***
From the window of the Empress Jaahkathna’s private suite the Doctor watched Nick and Falex playing in the palace grounds far below. It was two days since the events on the station. Together with Vorkuuthh he had successfully powered down the generators. The weird thing was the changes that had already been made to the operative systems, the items that had obviously been removed. The Doctor frowned, lost in thought.
A door opened softly behind him.
Jaahkathna.
She stepped lightly towards him.
“Doctor? Have you considered your answer?”
The Doctor smiled, turning from more worrying thoughts.
“Yes, my lady, yes I have.” He bowed. “My life at your command.” A pause. “It would be an honour to accept the position. Not only for me, but for the memory of Ishkavaarr, too.”
Now it was Jaahkathna’s turn to smile. “I shall inform Senator Akrulan immediately. You shall make a fine Ambassador for Draconia!”
The Doctor smiled again as she left the chambers.
He hoped he would serve the Empress well.
Better, perhaps, than he had served his friends in the past few days. Time would tell. It usually did. So much for philosophy!
The Doctor inhaled deeply and left the chambers, heading for the stairs and
his friends, alone together beneath the morning suns…
Next Episode:
The Restaurant of Death
CAST
Brian Blessed as The Doctor
Nick Pereira as Nick
Winona Ryder as Empress Jaahkathna
Bernard Horsfall as Supreme Admiral Vorkuuthh
John Woodnut as Senator Akrulan
Peter Postlethwaite as High Priest Abraxaarr
Seth Green as Prince Karnalis
Terry Walsh as Commander Ultarch
Claudia Black as Europa
Gene Wilder as Garvery
Denzel Washington as Rhamon
Peter Miles as Kade
Jean Claude Van Damme as Orestes
and
Haley Joel Osment as Rahlena Falex
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