CODE: S2/S5
Episode Five
Niall Turner
Shadows
At times the Emperor felt as old as the palace itself. Far above him, on a thin balcony, the sightless eyes of the Fourteenth Emperor stared stonily into eternity. It was a striking image; the Emperor poised to deliver death to his enemies with the twin blades of retribution. The Emperor allowed himself a wry smile. Swords. Little good they would do anyone today; although some of the Imperial Court still favoured their usage above energy weapons.
He sighed. Soon it would be time.
Distantly a horn sounded from the palace grounds. It would be time and he was too old and he was too tired. Yet he knew he had to do this. Oh, he had set tongues wagging with his choice, quite turned the court on its head. But his will remained as determined as his body was tired. Karnalis would not be Emperor.
Completing another circuit of the audience chamber he leant against the cooling stone of a buttressed window. Figures moved far below in the palace grounds. The suns were heavy in the early morning sky. It was going to be a fine day. The Emperor laughed, the sight of the morning restoring his humour. There was a tiny sting at his neck, a fly tickling. He swatted distractedly with one hand, leaning further into the morning air. All about the grounds and gardens below him the Imperial Guard were strategically positioned. Supreme Admiral Vorkuuthh had supervised security himself. It was good of him but somehow the Emperor didn’t share the Supreme Admiral’s concern with possible assassination attempts. Assassinated? In his own palace? The very thought amused him further and he laughed again. Karnalis would throw an almighty sulk for some considerable time but that would be the sum of it. Young upstart had never been good enough for Jaahkathna anyway. What the girl saw in him he didn’t know but at least she had the sense to see her father was doing her a favour now. Being God Empress of all Draconia would help her keep him in line. Unprecedented it might be but by all his ancestors it was going to happen!
He rubbed his neck. The scales felt irritated. Damn flies! Doors opened softly behind him.
“Father?”
It was Jaahkathna. She was dressed in the official robes of coronation. Karhaazaar felt a surge of pride. She was very beautiful. And strong too. He knew again that he was doing the right thing.
“What are you thinking father?” She stepped forward, always careful in his presence.
The Emperor smiled. “Of you and our Empire’s future my daughter. And how long your wretched husband will sulk over the events of today.”
Jaahkathna hissed laughter. “You are hard on him father. He will serve us well.”
“As long as he serves, that is well. Never give the fool any notion of power daughter.”
“Yes father.”
They regarded one another. Jaahkathna stepped forward again, tentative. Without knowing why, the Emperor found himself embracing his daughter. Such a gesture would never be countenanced in public view but the Emperor was no traditionalist and a sentimentalist to boot. Stepping back he held his daughter by the hands, scrutinising her serious eyed expression.
“A fear daughter?”
“No fear father. I am your daughter after all.”
It was the Emperor’s turn to laugh. They stepped apart.
“Such you are daughter, such you are!” Karhaazaar turned, regarding the statues that stood around the sides of the audience chamber. He gestured to the pair either side of the double doors, the mantis god Horvorus, and the scorpion god, Ilith. “Why does your fool of a husband think he can buy my favour with such ugly trophies?”
Jaahkathna smiled. “A memento of his time in the east.” She grinned a wicked grin. “You should find him another consulate; it will probably help with the sulking.”
The Emperor laughed long and loud. “Come daughter, it is time as you say. Let us not be late!”
* * *
And now they were all here. Row upon row of seated nobles and dignitaries, Draconians and off-worlders alike. Staring. The Emperor relished the moment. Admiral Vorkuuthh and High Priest Abraxaarr, in the front row, were inscrutable as ever. Karnalis, seated beside his daughter, looked fit to explode. Senator Akrulan looked black of mood also, his brother Ambassador Ishkavaarr beside him, recently returned from Alpha Centauri. The Emperor rested his bejewelled hands on the podium in front of him, holding the collective gaze of the Imperial Court. Daring them to challenge his decision. Not surprisingly, no one did. From outside there was the faint sound of a hover-skimmer rising from the palace roof. Slowly, the Emperor turned and extended a hand to his daughter, while meeting the gaze of his wife Arkethniiss in the front row. She was smiling. With renewed purpose the Emperor continued.
“And so I say again, I pass all my powers and the body politic to my daughter Jaahkathna, who shall reign alongside me as First God Empress of all Draconia.”
Sweet heresy! The collective silence of the court was razor sharp now. Well let them cut themselves… Fools didn’t know what was good for them. The Emperor saw the off-worlder, the Doctor, smiling at him from several rows back. A wise man, this Doctor, he was sure. It would be good to talk further once the ceremony was over.
The Emperor opened his mouth to speak again and abruptly closed it. His mouth and throat were painfully dry. He thought he heard a murmur run through the court. Reaching for the pitcher of water on the podium he knocked it to the floor where it broke asunder. The sound seemed muffled. Someone was shouting something.
“Somebody help him!” The off-worlder, the Doctor, was approaching in the central aisle. The Imperial Guard moved to hold him back.
“Father?!”
Someone screamed.
What was happening? His head and neck were scalding, his vision blurring…
Staggering, the Emperor grasped for the edge of the podium and dragged it to the floor. His hands were on fire. Black flame raced up his arm, greedily consuming his robes and devouring his skin and bone with horrific speed…
Other sounds and voices but the Emperor could distinguish them no more. Pain, terrifying, all consuming pain obliterated his consciousness… This was not how it should be… Then nothing. Nothing at all…
* * *
Two Days Later: Bridge of Tranquil Dreams.
The Doctor studied his face in the water. It was a lived in face, no doubt about that. He smiled then grinned ferociously at himself.
A sapphire dragon hovered minutely below him, a facet of iridescent crystal against the glass of the water. A squatting sap tongue flicked it lazily out of existence with a noisy burp. It blinked up at the Doctor, moon eyed.
“Well really,” murmured the Time Lord. “That’s quite spoilt my morning.”
“The beauty of nature eh?” Abraxaarr, High Priest of the Temple of Jade and Onyx was by his side. All about them stretched the expanse of the sacred lake, ornamental gardens rolling into the distance at its edges.
“All things must pass,” agreed the Doctor. He shivered in the early morning mist, pulling his scarlet and saffron robes closer about himself.
“I must inspect the kitchens,” said Abraxaarr. A frown crossed the Draconian’s brow. “Is there anything I can do for you Doctor?”
“Oh, no, no,” the Doctor waved the offer away. “No special treatment for me.”
Abraxaarr bowed. “May the new day's glory be yours.”
The Doctor returned the bow. “Your's too my friend.” He watched the Draconian walk slowly away towards the servants quarters, quietly humming a mantra to himself. “Capital fellow.” The Doctor stroked a greying whisker as he leant back against the stone side of the bridge...
* * *
...the Doctor noted another figure approaching from the tree lined avenue of the west gardens. A jet-black robe and silver braid of office marked this Draconian out as someone important, above your common courtier or high priest.
“Senator Akrulan!” The Doctor blasted a greeting.
The senator looked towards him. “Ah Doctor! The glory of the morning to you!” He smiled, hawk like. “May it be a bloody one!”
The Doctor studied his sandals. “Yes, well…”
The senator roared laughter. “I jest with you my peaceable friend!”
“Ah, I see!” The Doctor nodded and returned the laughter. Interesting sense of humour Senator Akrulan had…
“I cannot understand why you waste your time in this prayer den!” grinned Akrulan. He plucked an emerald dragon from the air, rolling it in his carefully manicured fingers. It squealed pitifully and vanished into the senator’s mouth. A tiny bead of black blood ran down his chin.
Bad morning for the dragon, thought the Doctor. “Oh, cleanses the mind, refreshes ones mental palate,” he said out loud. “You know the sort of thing.”
Akrulan was looking at him with some suspicion. “Refreshes ones mental palette?” He chuckled softly. “You sound like a Peace Timer Doctor!”
“May my beard be garlanded with stars,” agreed the Doctor.
Akrulan wasn’t listening. Instead he was looking to the east garden. “What is that?”
“Where? I don’t. Oh…” The Doctor had a familiar, sinking feeling.
Darting between the trees and shrubbery of the east garden was a small, air borne vehicle.
“Is that a hover-pod?” asked Akrulan with some distaste.
“Er, yes, I believe it is,” said the Doctor disingenuously.
The hover-pod zipped closer, it’s crew of two now just discernable as Nick and Falex. At the lakes edges it seemed to dip abruptly, Falex laughing out loud. Nick was at the controls, frowning in concentration.
“No,” said the Doctor through gritted teeth, “Don’t do it.”
Nick did it.
The hover-pod dropped, hit the lake’s surface with a splash and proceeded to skim like a bounced pebble. As Nick and Falex high-fived one another, the pod dipped sideways. Nick and Falex were upended into the water. The pod tipped over, covering the surface where they had vanished.
The Doctor stretched forward in alarm.
“They will not be harmed,” sighed Senator Akrulan.
“What?” The Doctor gave him a questioning look. The senator pointed.
Out on the lake the pod had flipped back over, Nick and Falex clearly back on board. A shimmering globe of turquoise light surrounded them, accompanied by the automated tones of a comp pilot. “THIS DEVICE HAS SWITCHED TO AUTOMATIC.” It continued to repeat the statement in a monotone as the pod surged towards the lake bank, coming to rest just below the bridge. The light field vanished.
“Yes!” Nick looked ecstatic. Falex scrambled out of the pod behind him and Nick led him by the hand up the bank. By the time they reached the Doctor and Senator Akrulan, Nick was chewing thoughtfully on a Garrah reed stem and Falex was blowing emphatically on a duck whistle. A group of Oolah birds rose in fright from the lake surface in distant alarm.
“That was the business!” Nick grinned broadly at the Doctor. “Look!” He patted himself and Falex. “Bone dry man! Bone dry!”
“Yes, yes, very impressive,” said the Doctor.
“Oh come on,” said Nick, still grinning. “Besides, if you’re going to go all noncey on us and agree with this barring us from the Imperial Court…”
* * *
“...Doctor?”
The Doctor blinked. Nick and Falex weren’t there. There was no hover-pod below the bridge. Palace security had removed it the previous morning. That was when he had last seen Nick and Falex. Two days since the Emperor… The Doctor sighed heavily.
Abraxaarr was back at his side, a concerned look on his face. “Have you been here all through my tour of the kitchens?” He looked embarrassed.
“Were you talking with yourself Doctor?”
“I rather think I must have been,” said the Doctor. He stretched and rolled his neck.
Abraxaarr watched him curiously.
“I wonder,” said the Doctor at length, “If you could help me with something, High Priest Abraxaarr?”
* * *
Pain. New sensations and sounds. Lots of pain. His head felt heavy… Hang on, he was upside down. An acrid smell of smoke and something else in his nostrils. Still alive then. Great. He shuddered, a cough racking his chest.
“Nick?” The voice was uncertain, frightened.
For a moment he genuinely didn’t remember.
“Falex! Shite mate!” Damn, he sounded hoarse. “Where are you?”
“I can’t see anything! It’s black! All black!” The kid sounded close to panic.
“Yeah, I know, I know…” He could feel it too now, some kind of metal clamping, painful around his temples, wrists and ankles. Shite in excelscius.
“We’re going to die! I don’t want to die!”
Damn. Empathy. Forgot that.
“Hey! Falex! Stay calm…” He broke off, coughing harshly. “We’ll find a way out of this.” The restraints were frighteningly strong.
“You can’t fool me!” Falex sounded like he was crying.
“Course I can,” muttered Nick. “I can fool the whole of the world the whole of the time if I want to.”
“You’re just trying to make me feel better!” Now there was an undercurrent of amusement.
“Well don’t knock it if it’s working!” returned Nick. “Wouldn’t like to think I’m being completely useless.” Pain shot across his shoulder and down his back. Definitely put something out of alignment there. He ceased to struggle, listening for background noise. Nothing. Just the sound of his and Falex’s breathing, rapid and shallow.
“We didn’t even find anything out,” said Falex, sounding peeved.
“Hey, hang on a minute!” Nick found himself feeling aggrieved, which was absurd considering the seriousness of their situation but there it was. “We, my son…”
“I’m not your son!”
Nick sighed. “Never mind.” He paused. “Listen Falex, we might have ballsed up big time so far but,” and here he attempted to strain against his bonds again, “This might just be the chance we’re looking for.”
“What might? Getting knocked unconscious and captured?”
“Exactly!” Nick did his best to sound conspiratorial, all too aware of his own anxiety and how it might transfer to Falex. “We have got to be right in the thick of it. All we need to do…”
“Who was my father?”
“What?”
“You’re not my father. I know you and the Doctor look after me but who was my father? I can remember my mother, just…”
Silence.
“She was a good woman,” said Nick eventually.
“What happened to them?”
Nick attempted to shrug and hurt his shoulder again. “Shit! Sorry.” He gathered his thoughts. “Your dad…”
“What’s a dad?”
“Dad! Father! Oh, it doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter. You feel upset.”
Further silence.
“Yeah, well, whatever. Your d- father, I don’t know. Your mother, well…” How best to put it? “She died.”
A long silence.
“People don’t just die,” said Falex in a tiny voice.
Nick sighed. “Falex, they do mate. It’s… Oh, I dunno’ what it is but they do. All the time. For no reason.”
"Maybe. But not my mother. You feel wrong inside.”
“I feel wrong inside? What the hell does that mean?!”
“You… You’re hiding something. You can’t say it.”
There was a sudden rush of antiseptic air as an unseen door slid open. Someone was with them.
“I trust you are suitably… uncomfortable?” The voice was cultured.
“Great!” Nick felt the situation slipping away from him. “It’s Fanny bleedin’ Craddock and the torture trolley!”
“What’s a torture trolley?”
“Falex mate, not now!”
Nick felt a hand, artificially cold, possibly gloved, take hold of his face, squeezing jaw and cheekbone with gentle but firm pressure.
A soft laugh.
“Yemf… very fummf… Ow!”
“You will tell me everything I require to know.” The pressure increased.
“I will tell you precisely bugger all mate!” Yes!
“He is afraid of dying. He fears pain!” Falex was high pitched and hysterical.
Nick sighed. “Falex mate, backs against the wall and all that…”
“We aren’t against a wall! We’re upside down! My head hurts!”
“You forgot that we can’t see anything,” said Nick.
“Sorry.”
“No problem.”
“Taureans...” Their captor’s voice was mocking. Also oddly distorted thought Nick suddenly. “An amusing, if inferior species,” continued the voice.
“Oh really?” Nick sensed the opportunity for an offensive. “This some racial supremacy gig is it?”
The hand held his face again. A pinprick of pain from a razor tip and he felt the skin break. Warmth trickled slowly down his cheek.
“This is your only warning. I ask - you answer. Understand?”
“In the interests of continued breathing I am completely savvy with that. You psychotic… Ow!”
* * *
With High Priest Abraxaarr’s influence it hadn’t taken the Doctor long to gain access to Ambassador Ishkavaarr.
“Oh yes, that’s very good.” The Doctor replaced the jade figurine on the ambassador’s desk top with a smile. “Fifth dynasty isn’t it?”
“You are correct Doctor. Your historical knowledge is very good.” Ishkavaarr narrowed his gaze. He had been very wrong about the Doctor when they had first met in the bar on Alpha Centauri. The Doctor was certainly no fool, he had learned that lesson many times since then.
The Doctor leant back in his chair. “I sometimes wonder where I get it from. Almost as though I’ve been here before…” He broke off. “No, that can’t be right…” He shook his head, watching as the ambassador stood up crossing to a jewel studied cabinet.
“Wine, Doctor?”
The Doctor squinted. “Alpha Centaurian triple rose? Oh yes indeed! Wine not?!” He bellowed laughter. “Wine not?! Very good eh?”
Ishkavaarr poured with an indulgent smile.
The Doctor harrumphed.
“Abraxaarr is keen you continue your investigations, Doctor.”
“Yes… oh, thank you.”
They clinked glasses.
“I cannot grant you access to the inner palace alone,” said Ishkavaarr.
“But?” said the Doctor, anticipating one.
Ishkavaarr gave a knowing smile. “Supreme Admiral Vorkuuthh has countersigned the order.”
“Really?” This seemed to throw the Doctor. “Interesting. I wouldn’t have thought he’d have wanted to help.”
“I wouldn’t assume that he is Doctor,” said Ishkavaarr. “Granted, you may be able to help us. Even before these unfortunate events you had attracted the Emperor’s patronage with your technological knowledge.” He paused, smiling the smile of a born politician, snake fast. “However, if it should prove you were in any way involved with the Emperor’s death, your limbs will be paraded through the Avenue of Triumphs!”
There was an awkward silence.
“And my head?” wondered the Doctor eventually.
Ishkavaarr laughed harshly. “Just a friendly warning. We like to keep our friends and enemies close.” He drained his glass with a hiss of satisfaction. In truth Ishkavaarr did not believe the Doctor to be involved, but it was always good to keep non-Draconians informed of the possibilities that Draconia offered them. “Another?”
The Doctor belched. “I do beg your pardon. Yes please.”
“There is no shame in showing your appreciation.” Ishkavaarr poured again. “In ancient times our soldiers would eat their vanquished enemies and regurgitate their entrails in recognition of their glory in battle.”
“Is that so? What a charming custom.” The Doctor contemplated the end of his nose.
Ishkavaarr laughed, a soft, sly sound, enjoying the Doctor’s discomfort.
“Well,” said the Doctor, “So much for civilised values. Why not Cybernise the lot of us and have done with it!”
Ishkavaarr gave him a dangerous look. “Oh no my friend, there we are in complete accord I can assure you. Draconia will fight to the last; capitulation is not an option.”
“Ah,” the Doctor ruminated for a minute then stood up. “I thank you for your support, ambassador. I’d best be getting on, no telling what trouble my companions have got themselves into.”
Ishkavaarr nodded. “I shall accompany you, Doctor.”
“Yes,” said the Doctor, “I thought you might.”
* * *
“He is very thorough,” said Abraxaarr.
“He was very thorough on his visit to the Imperial Artificer’s,” muttered Karnalis.
Four figures stood watching the Doctor as he made his examination of the royal audience chamber below them. He moved swiftly from statue to pillar, casting his tracking device between floor and cloistered ceiling high above.
“Impressively thorough,” rumbled Supreme Admiral Vorkuuthh, fingering his beard. “He appears to have an interest in and extensive knowledge of the theoretics of time travel.”
“Alien poison!” spat Karnalis.
The admiral ignored Karnalis. “The artificer’s considered the ion drive a worthy bargain, especially considering the gathering of Mondasian strength within the system. The Doctor’s input on new propulsion systems and shield resistance factor’s has apparently been invaluable.”
“More scientific miracles,” observed Abraxaarr with a wry smile.
“I do not trust him.” Karnalis was blunt.
“Seconded, I expect, by my brother,” observed Ambassador Ishkavaarr.
Senator Akrulan was ascending the broad sweep of the stairs to the balcony level from the audience chamber below.
“Ambassador!” His tone was shrill, not the greeting of a sibling. “We have found the alien’s companions on the palace security screening but the recording has been tampered with!” He paused significantly. “They must have had assistance. Off world assistance!”
“Oh really?” The Doctor’s voice boomed up at them from the floor some fifty feet below. “How exceedingly interesting. I’d have said exactly the opposite myself but there it is…”
The Draconians stared in astonishment. Only Vorkuuthh appeared unsurprised.
* * *
Nick was thinking. Thinking fast. Their unseen captor had departed. Nick couldn’t put his finger on it but there was something odd about the voice. Something almost… machine like? Nah, surely not. He shivered.
Falex was sobbing quietly to himself.
Nick didn’t think the creep had touched the boy but there had been a nice line in verbal put-downs. Definitely on some kind of racial supremacy trip, whatever he said. Anyway.
Nick strained again, testing his bonds. Brute strength was the only option left it seemed. The clamps were more malleable than he’d at first realised. Again he leant as far as he could to one side, tugging hard at the clamp on his right wrist. He’d already cut himself and had to bite his lip trying to hide the fact from Falex. The skin chaffed again, tearing. His heart beat harder.
“Empire.”
The single word from Falex was unexpected, echoing sharply in Nick’s head. In the same instant, the clamps retracted. White light flooded Nick’s vision as he fell to an unfamiliar floor.
There was a cry of pain from Falex.
“Arse!” Nick scrambled round in a semi circle, clutching at the hand he’d been trying to free. Temporarily blinded and eyes watering he squinted towards the shape of Falex.
“Falex mate! What the bleedin’ hell did you do?!”
The shape moved closer, resolved itself into Falex’s familiar features. The kid was blinking, his pupils enormous pools of amber in the new light.
“The bad man. That’s the word he said. I was thinking about it. I heard him think it outside the door. What’s empire?”
There was a dull thunk as a door slid closed behind them.
Nick laughed hoarsely. “Empire! Empire! Empire! Empire!”
The door opened, closed, opened and closed.
“Empire,” said Nick one final time. The door slid open again. Apart from the restraining clamps set into the wall behind them the chamber was bare. He breathed heavily. “Voice or psi activated eh? Pretty low tech.” He smiled, ruffled Falex’s hair. “Next time you have a bright idea like that, do share earlier. How the hell did you know?”
“I heard him think it,” repeated Falex proudly.
Nick nodded. “Bit careless of our host, you being Taurean and all that. Right then,” he stepped outside, “Come on.”
* * *
Outside was a dank stone tunnel, huge blocks of carved stone, centuries old guessed Nick. To their left a broad set of ancient stone steps led upwards. To the right the tunnel disappeared into the distance, torches on the walls.
From somewhere above them to the left came the sound of movement and voices. They exchanged a look.
“Right it is then,” said Nick. “On with the motley…”
* * *
“So you see,” said the Doctor, once the Draconians had joined him on the floor of the audience chamber, “My friends were definitely here, as you have also now proved.” He scratched an ear. “Silly of them, very silly. But remiss of myself. Two wrongs can make a muddle.” He glanced up at Abraxaarr, who had remained alone on the balcony, watching.
“What is that device?” Akrulan was staring at the cumbersome tracking device the Doctor held.
“Alien devilry!” hissed Karnalis.
Ishkavaarr coughed. “Prince Karnalis, please remember, the Doctor remains our guest, an honorary nobleman of Draconia.”
The Doctor gave Karnalis a broad smile. “What this? It’s just the sonic hair dryer, with a few adaptations I grant you. Very useful for tracing sub spectrum DNA particles.” A happy smile crossed his broad features. “Technology eh?”
“This is irrelevant!” interrupted Senator Akrulan. “We need to know who has perpetrated this criminal act.”
“This act of war,” added Vorkuuthh ominously.
“My brothers,” Ishkavaarr swatted annoyedly at his face. “Damn flies! The Doctor is here to help us.”
“Exactly!” The Doctor indicated the statues about the edges of the chamber, attempting to change the subject. “These are very beautiful.”
“Some as early as the third dynasty,” said Ishkavaarr.
“Really.” The Doctor frowned. “I must say those are very ugly though.” He moved to study the mantis and scorpion statues either side of the double doors leading into the chamber. Close up, the intertwined sculptures, humanoid limbs plus insect torso and appendages were compellingly grotesque.
“A gift,” said Ishkavaarr quietly at his shoulder. “From the lord Karnalis to his wife.”
Commander Ultarch and the Imperial Retinue were staring doggedly ahead either side of the double doors.
The Doctor sensed a seething presence behind him. “Yes, well, ugly is a very broad term. They have a beauty all their own.”
Karnalis swept past him with a barked order to Ultarch and his men who trooped after him.
“I have had enough of this!” The prince’s voice carried back to them from the vaulted corridor outside. “You will pay for your trust in this alien charlatan!”
There was a brief silence.
“Charlatan?” wondered the Doctor out loud.
“You must forgive Karnalis,” Abraxaarr had appeared in the entrance. “These are trying times for us all. External pressures and internal strife. Now the inexplicable.”
“Nothing is inexplicable!” The Doctor’s tone was fierce.
Abraxaarr turned his head. “May it prove so.” He stepped inside the audience chamber. “I agree with you Doctor. The statues are ugly. Representations of the gods Horvorus,” he indicated the mantis, “and Ilith,” he turned to the scorpion statue. “Revered by my order in somewhat darker times.”
“Dark times are with us always,” observed Vorkuuthh. “And all this talk does nothing to further our investigation. Doctor?”
The Doctor cleared his throat. “Well, as regards the Emperor, there was very little DNA evidence remaining to…”
“Ambassador Ishkavaarr?” Vorkuuthh wasn’t listening, suddenly concerned.
Turning, the Doctor saw Ishkavaarr leaning against the audience chamber wall. Smoke was pouring from the sleeves and collar of his robes of office. Acrid black smoke, all too familiar.
Ishkavaarr stumbled, his face contorted in pain. “I… I… Doctor?”
“No!” The Doctor’s voice was full of horror.
In the same instant, Ambassador Ishkavaarr's torso erupted, a pluming spray of black fire. The heat and roar of the flame was intense.
Akrulan and Abraxaarr were staring in disbelief, Vorkuuthh shouting an order into the corridor. But it was already far too late.
* * *
“Falex mate! Oi! Falex! Wait up!” Nick paused to get his breath, squinting down the dark tunnel ahead of him. Falex had nearly disappeared around a corner in the distance. Now he paused, skipping impatiently from foot to foot.
“Come on Nick!”
Kid seemed to have unlimited energy. Must be that accelerated metabolism. Nick sighed and broke into a jog.
“All these corridor’s look the bloody same,” he muttered to himself.
He paused. Shook his head. Weird. It felt as though he’d exchanged some bizarre high five with the rest of the cosmos.
“What?” he said out loud. “They do look the bloody same!” He poked at a wall. “Pretty solid though.” He guessed that they were pretty deep underground, possibly somewhere beneath the gardens and between the palace and priest quarters. The stone was very old and very cold. He shivered.
“Nick!” Falex had disappeared round the corner.
“Oh!” came the child’s abrupt tone.
“Hang on!” Heart beating faster, Nick hurried onwards.
Around the corner he found a dead end. A bizarre bank of alien looking machinery dwarfed Falex.
“What is it?”
“Dunno’ mate,” said Nick. “Looks a bit of a hotch potch. Very high tech.” Alien symbols played over an illuminated read out panel.
“You understand any of this?” asked Nick, wondering if Falex’s empathic abilities might come in useful.
“Those are numbers! I can’t feel numbers silly!”
“Beg your pardon,” said Nick, stepping forward.
Falex followed him.
The floor became dull metallic grey here, as the tunnel ended.
“Well,” said Nick, “We’ve come this far. In for a penny in for a…”
“Yes but what is it?” interrupted Falex.
Nick, rather coolly he thought, reached out and pressed a button at random. Gotta’ show the kid who’s boss.
“I want to know what it is!”
Reality shimmered.
“Transmat platform?” wondered Nick’s disembodied voice. “Arse!”
“What’s arse?”
The machinery continued to hum quietly to itself at the now empty dead end.
* * *
“I don’t understand…” The Doctor’s tone was shocked, hollow. He leant heavily against the statue of Horvorus, staring as Ishkavaarr’s remains were discretely suctioned away by Draconian med techs. As with the Emperor, there was very little left.
“I understand only too well!” Senator Akrulan was trembling with rage. “You were alone with my brother Doctor, when he misguidedly granted you audience!” He stepped closer. “I don’t know how you have done it but this is your doing!”
“Yes!” Karnalis was quick to voice his agreement. “Guards!”
Draconian Elite guardsmen stepped towards the Doctor who sighed and raised his hands in a placatory gesture.
“I really don’t understand how the Doctor…” began Abraxaarr.
“What is there to understand? He is an alien spy! Keep to your prayer book priest!” Karnalis snatched the Doctor’s tracking device away.
“Erm, you might be interested in some of what that has to tell us,” suggested the Doctor.
“Enough!” Akrulan was incandescent with rage. “Take him away!”
The Doctor was marched out.
Abraxaarr turned helplessly to Vorkuuthh, who raised a laconic eyebrow by way of reply.
* * *
“Whoa!” Nick steadied himself. Transmat was a damn uncanny way to travel.
Falex was blinking rapidly beside him.
“That made my head buzz. My foot hurts.”
“That’s nice mate. Now then… Oh arse…”
“There’s no door! It’s all metal! Nick!”
“I know mate, look I’m sorry, all right?” This never happened in the movies. “Must be some kind of containment cell if you ain’t authorised to use this.” Nick sat down heavily. The floor was dead grey metal like the walls and ceiling, the dim light source indiscernible.
“And we still haven’t found anything out!”
Nick sighed. “Not strictly true Falex mate. One, we know we’re even deeper in the shit and two…”
“What?”
“We are definitely crap at finding stuff out. Perhaps we’re more of an action hero combo…”
* * *
The Doctor studied the bars of his cell.
He was disturbed by the death of Ishkavaarr. Although, at the same time, oddly relieved. In a detached way. If nothing else, the death of Ishkavaarr altered that future he had found himself in a couple of months back.
He closed his eyes, and forced the deaths of Ishkavaarr to the back of his mind, instead focusing on the now.
The Doctor hoped Nick and Falex were faring better, wherever they were. Nick could look after himself but the boy was too young. He studied the bars in closer detail.
“Interesting, a composite of aluminium, tellurium and…” He trailed off, fingering the bars gently. “Some other substance, unknown…” He hummed quietly to himself. “Their artificer’s really are very talented.”
Delving in one of his robe pockets he found his cards and flipped them idly from hand to hand, shuffling and reshuffling.
He frowned to himself in the cell’s dull light.
“The question is, who,” he flourished a card, “is the joker in the pack,” a quick reshuffle, “And who holds the ace?”
He flipped the card thoughtfully, dropping the rest of the pack back into his pocket.
There was a soft hum from nearby.
“Doctor.”
“Abraxaarr!” The Doctor pocketed the ace and leant forward. He recoiled abruptly. “Ouch!”
He sucked his fingers.
“Pressure triggered static charge in the bars! Very nice!” He gave Abraxaarr a reproving look. “Well?”
“I am doing everything I can, Doctor. I have requested a private audience with the Empress.” The high priest was looking uncomfortable.
“But?” prompted the Doctor.
“Draconia is on a state of war alert, Doctor. All aliens have been requested to and are leaving, bar embassy staff and delegates. Even they are effectively under house arrest.” He lowered his gaze. “Senator Akrulan and Prince Karnalis are demanding your public execution.”
The Doctor shook his head. “The fools! I’m nothing more than the scapegoat! Someone on the inside is responsible for these deaths, whatever outside involvement there may or may not be.”
“But who?!”
Seconds passed.
They stared at one another in the gathering gloom.
* * *
“My love?”
The silence lengthened, becoming painful.
Karnalis squinted at his wife’s back, silhouetted against the balcony windows of the imperial bedchamber. She appeared to be shaking.
“I am not your love Karnalis! I am not yours or any other male's!” Still she did not turn. “I am God Empress in perpetuity or had you forgotten that?!”
Smarting at this double insult, Karnalis took a step forward, almost tripping on his robes.
Incense of sandalwood and crushed topaz drifted from an ornamental holder. He sniffed and coughed.
“This is really not behaviour becoming of an Empress my love-Ow!”
Karnalis recoiled. She’d cut him! Those rings were sharp. The blood gems glowered in his vision, dark as her eyes.
She had her father’s eyes.
Karnalis shifted uncomfortably.
“Now I am going to tell you how it shall be, ‘my love’”. Jaahkathna’s voice was ice and venom. “This Doctor was an honoured guest in my father’s court. So he shall remain in mine. Give the order for his release!”
“But Senator Akrulan-“
“I shall have Senator Akrulan’s eyes served to him for breakfast along with your idiot tongue! Get out!”
Scowling but cowed, Karnalis retreated without a word.
A smile played about the Empress’ lips.
* * *
It was at least two Draconian hours since he had spoken with Abraxaarr, pondered the Doctor.
He turned to make another circuit of his cell, restless.
Abruptly, harsh white light flooded the corridor outside.
The Doctor blinked.
Flanked by Commander Ultarch of the Imperial Guard and Supreme Admiral Vorkuuthh, God Empress Jaahkathna was approaching him, a questioning look on her face.
She stopped just the other side of the bars.
“My father trusted you, Doctor.”
The Doctor took a step back and bowed. “My life at your command.”
There was a hiss from Karnalis at the back of the group.
“So I too place my trust in you,” continued Jaahkathna.
“This is not tolerable!” Karnalis’ face was a mask of barely suppressed anger.
The cell bars were already sliding back at the Empress’s instruction.
Vorkuuthh gave Karnalis a curious look. “You still object strongly Prince Karnalis, even when all evidence seems to point against your theories. Why?”
Karnalis faced the Supreme Admiral, dwarfed but unbowed. “I say it is insanity to consort with aliens, spies or otherwise, at a time such as this!” He turned on his heel, the matter closed. “Guards!” Along with his personal guard, he exited the cell area.
Vorkuuthh bowed to Jaahkathna. “I spoke out of turn, my lady. My life at your command!”
Jaahkathna smiled, then looked sad. “You did no such thing, Admiral Vorkuuthh. My husband is a fool.” She seemed to consider for a moment, then turned to the Doctor. “Why are these things happening, Doctor? I can give my mother, praise her name, no explanation for her husband’s death. Now Ambassador Ishkavaarr also.”
The Doctor stepped forward and bowed again. Before he could speak, Commander Ultarch had abruptly handed him the tracking device.
The Doctor smiled his thanks. “I’m grateful to you for your trust, my lady. As to why, sometimes that is the hardest question but in this case I fear not.” He paused. “Draconia is a powerful player, very powerful, within and sometimes outside of the Federation. Somebody wants to destabilise that power, both internally and externally I suspect.”
Vorkuuthh was frowning. “For what end? A coup? Invasion?” His eyes were hard. “The Cybermen grow ever more powerful.”
The Doctor pursed his lips. Now how can Vorkuuthh know that? The Doctor pushed away his suspicions for now and focused his attention on the problem at hand. “Initially I would suspect the former.” He looked meaningfully at the Empress. “Politically this is a very delicate time. Latterly, who knows? People may be willing to forge the most unthinkable alliances.” An image of the Supreme Senator of the Galactic Federation came to mind, but the Doctor pushed that away for another time.
The Empress nodded her understanding. “So what can we do Doctor?” Her face was resolute, her tone determined.
The Doctor smiled, seeing the respect Vorkuuthh, plus Ultarch and his men clearly had for their new Empress.
“We start where we left off my lady. The Royal Audience Chamber. I don’t think I need to see your palace security records. The footage of Nick and Falex was obviously tampered with to make it look more suspicious…”
Vorkuuthh interrupted him. “They are scarcely there. They appear to vanish from the vid record after the audience chamber. Possibly some unknown technology was involved.”
The Doctor nodded. “That’s very likely. I think Nick and Falex are very convenient fall guys for somebody, as was I. I just hope they’re all right.”
There was a brief silence.
“We will find your friends,” said Jaahkathna firmly. “Now come.”
* * *
Nick sighed to himself.
Falex was asleep on the floor of the chamber.
This was definitely going from bad to worse. Nick was beginning to regret spending the credits on the multi access tool kit back on Centauri. It had seemed such a good idea at the time. Bit of gear, prove he could be a bit handy to the Doctor, show Falex what was what. It had got them into the palace. It had also landed them squarely in the shite. Plus their captors had requisitioned it. You couldn’t trust anyone these days.
Falex stirred, mumbling to himself. His tattoos pulsed faintly.
Nick knelt over him. Looking up he frowned at a hairline crack in the cell wall.
Odd. Hadn’t noticed that before.
Standing he levered at it with his finger tips.
It came away surprisingly easily.
Nick stared. Swallowed.
He’d been with the Doctor long enough to know what he was looking at. Shielding, instant vac seal. They must be in deep space, an iso- holding cell. Probably limited oxygen. Depended if their captors decided they were any use to them. If not, they’d probably just be left to suffocate. He replaced the panel, careful not to disturb the sleeping Falex.
All too aware of the several thousand light years of vacuum just inches away Nick sat down again.
“Twenty questions,” he whispered softly to himself. “One: why? Well, Nick mate, just because old son, just because…”
* * *
The Empress and Admiral Vorkuuthh stood to one side as the Doctor resumed his examination of the audience chamber. The Imperial Guard stood close as always.
Occasionally the Doctor would give an excited exclamation, mostly he was silent, frowning over his readings in concentration. The tracking device gave off the occasional bleep but otherwise there was silence. At length, the Doctor approached the Empress’s group, nodding to himself.
“Yes, yes, they were here, they couldn’t progress any further,” he moved to the entrance doors, casting the device towards a broad stairway ascending to the imperial bedchambers. “So they went upwards.” He looked worried. “By which time they were being followed.” He shook the device, looking peeved. “But there’s no clear trace-life type unidentifiable.”
Vorkuuthh was staring at the tracker with some suspicion. “You are sure this is accurate, Doctor?”
“What? Oh, yes, yes of course.” The Doctor waved the question away replacing it with one of his own. “Where exactly do these stairs lead?”
The Empress answered. “To the west wing. To my husband’s chambers.”
There was a brief silence.
Vorkuuthh moved closer to the Empress. “My lady…”
“I wish to be left alone.” Her tone was uncompromising.
“I shall post guards just outside the doors,” said Ultarch.
“Alone I say!” Jaahkathna’s voice was ice, threatening to crack.
Vorkuuthh and Ultarch exchanged a look, then moved to escort the Doctor up the stairs, to the west wing.
* * *
Alone in the audience chamber, Empress Jaahkathna felt the shadows of the day grow longer around her. She drew her robes of state closer about her shoulders and closed her eyes, remembering. Her father. He had been a good man. She fingered the ceremonial blade at her side, a gift from him. She sighed a heavy sigh and moved to a window balustrade to look out upon the grounds below.
Behind the Empress, the head of the statue representing the mantis god, Horvorus, turned slowly to track her movements. A malevolent smile spread over its features. Soundlessly, it stepped from its podium…
* * *
The Doctor’s group had arrived at a high landing, gilded double door of finely wrought metal before them. A faint cry drifted up to them from below.
Vorkuuthh started. “The Empress!”
* * *
Senator Akrulan collided with the Doctor’s group on the lower landing.
“What is happening? I heard a cry!”
Nobody responded, rushing as one to the now closed doors of the audience chamber.
Vorkuuthh wrenched them open.
For a split second everyone stared in astonishment.
Jaahkathna was on the floor of the audience chamber, the scorpion statue rearing over her.
"Defend the Empress!”
At Vorkuuthh’s command the elite guard moved forward.
With hideous speed the hands of the mantis statue sliced, scissor like, cleanly decapitating one of their number.
“By the dark gods!” Senator Akrulan stared in bewildered horror as the remainder of the guard closed with the mantis statue.
“Gods be damned!” Vorkuuthh and Commander Ultarch were advancing on the scorpion statue as the Empress scrambled away in an undignified heap.
The Doctor rushed to her side.
“Are you all right my lady?”
Jaahkathna stared past him at a cry from Commander Ultarch. The scorpion tail had stabbed down, the sting embedding itself in his shoulder. He shrieked in agony, wrenching away.
Blood sprayed the air.
With frightening speed the statue scuttled towards the Empress.
“Oh no you don’t!”
The Doctor collided with it and found himself clasped in all too powerful arms.
Scorpion legs reared up, levering him off the ground.
Vorkuuthh was approaching from behind, Jaahkathna also on her feet now, attempting to strike at the statue with her ceremonial sword.
Sparks flew, the metal bouncing away.
There was a cry from the Imperial Guard behind them, as they battled the mantis statue.
Akrulan was shouting something into a communicator.
Vorkuuthh circled the scorpion, wary.
“The tail!” The Doctor could feel his ribs cracking. “Go for the tail!”
A look passed between them.
The Doctor cried out in agony.
Dropping his energy weapon, Vorkuuthh leapt at the scorpion, planting one booted foot in its back and grasping the tail beneath the lethal looking sting.
The Doctor was flung aside, landing heavily.
The statue flailed from side to side but Vorkuuthh held it fast. The tail bent back, stretched and snapped with a sharp crack that was followed by an unnatural stillness.
The statue stood immobile.
Struggling to his feet, the Doctor saw four of the Imperial Guard lay dead.
There was no sign of the mantis statue.
Senator Akrulan was staring in disbelief. “It vanished! Where did it go?!”
“Auto-transmat,” suggested the Doctor. “If one of them were deactivated I would suggest the other automatically return to its operators.” He extended a hand to Admiral Vorkuuthh, rubbing at his bruised chest. “Well done admiral!”
Vorkuuthh frowned at the unfamiliar gesture but took the hand none the less.
“How did you know? The tail?”
The Doctor was kneeling to examine the broken tail. He lifted it, examining the sting. “Oh, least accessible point, most likely to house the control circuitry.” He twisted the sting and with a small metallic click it separated into two halves. “Yes indeed.” The Doctor whistled softly to himself, tracing a finger along the revealed circuitry. “Black fire spore and pneumatic injector. Very nasty.” He sighed. “Well, that explains your deaths. Stuff reacts with carbon- based life forms rather like magnesium in water.”
Vorkuuthh stepped forward. “That substance is outlawed.”
The Doctor nodded. “Exactly. You are dealing with someone willing to use any available weaponry.” He tapped the disabled scorpion statue. “These are interesting. The Garrak. Semi sentient, silicon based life form from the Oorcetees Cluster. These two were somewhat augmented, mind you.” He ruminated. “Possibly Cyber technology, but I’m not sure.”
“But for what purpose?” Senator Akrulan stepped forward. “I believe I have done you a dishonour, Doctor.”
The Doctor smiled sadly. “I’ll live. You have lost a brother.”
Akrulan bowed. “He will be avenged.”
Med techs were hurrying into the chamber to tend to Commander Ultarch and the wounded guardsmen. Akrulan hurried over to assist.
“We shall all be avenged.” Jaahkathna stepped forward, her eyes dangerous. She had picked up the Doctor’s tracking device. “What do we do now, Doctor?”
The Doctor was staring at the readings. “Some trace of a control device. Ah yes!”
Abruptly he headed for the chamber doors.
“Come on! We may not have much time!”
* * *
Inside Karnalis’s private suite bodies lay strewn on the ground.
Vorkuuthh knelt to examine them. “Poison!” His tone betrayed surprise for once. “These men have killed themselves!”
The Doctor stared sadly at the bodies.
“What is happening here?” Akrulan’s tone was querulous. “I don’t understand.”
“Exactly,” came a voice from a hidden communicator, startling them. “You do not understand a thing, Senator, like your fool of a brother. Dead now, of course.” Harsh laughter.
“Karnalis?” Jaahkathna’s tone was furious. “What are you doing? I swear by all the gods...“
“You swear? You swear?!” The voice was cold, mocking.
The Doctor was shaking his head.
“No, no! This isn’t right! This isn’t right at all!”
“You can stamp your pretty little foot all you like, my dear,” the voice continued to address Jaahkathna. “You shall never be Empress of Draconia. An old order, a greater order shall take its rightful place once more.”
“Oh no, not again.” the Doctor was sweeping items aside from an ornamental table, hauling a jewelled wardrobe away from the wall. He froze.
Vorkuuthh stepped towards him.
“Doctor, what is it?”
“Bomb.”
Explosion!
* * *
“Bloody hell!”
“Nick! I feel sick!”
“I know mate, I know.” Nick steadied himself on a transmat console and realised there was nowhere to go.
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!”
Next Episode:
Black Sun Rising
CAST
Brian Blessed as The Doctor
Nick Pereira as Nick
Bernard Archad as Emperor Karhaazaar
Winona Ryder as Empress Jaahkathna
Peter Postlethwaite as High Priest Abraxaarr
John Woodnut as Senator Akrulan
Patrick Stewart as Ambassador Ishkavaarr
Seth Green as Prince Karnalis
Bernard Horsfall as Supreme Admiral Vorkuuthh
Terry Walsh as Commander Ultarch
and
Haley Joel Osment as Rahlena Falex
|
|
