Doctor Who_ Mission To The Unknown Part 14

'These men can best explain what happened next, sir.'

Chen rounded on Froyn and Rhymnal; Borkar was glad to be out of the heat for the moment. 'Well?'

'It's an experimental s.p.a.ce travel system,' Froyn explained, glad to have got the ear of the Guardian of the Solar System. 'As you know, we've been using T-mat beams for centuries to travel through the Solar System, but longer distances have eluded us.

Our system should break the distance barriers.'

'I don't want a lecture,' Chen said impatiently. 'I just want to know where the three people are now.'

'Well,' Rhymnal offered, 'if they survived the cellular structural change, then they should be approaching the preset destination.'

You couldn't get a straight answer from a scientist. Chen raised an eyebrow and prompted: 'And that is?'

'The planet Mira.'

That was all Chen needed some obscure planet half a Galaxy away! He slammed his fist into his palm in annoyance.

There had to be some way out of this there had to be! He turned back to the two scientists. 'And what are the chances that they are still alive?'

Froyn glanced at his companion, who nodded encouragingly. 'Well, according to our instruments, everything functioned perfectly, despite the excess ma.s.s that we had not calculated on.' He dried up under Chen's withering glare, then added, quickly: 'I think it's safe to say that they're alive.'

'Thank you,' Chen said, with heavy sarcasm. 'Please leave us for a moment.' The two scientists shrugged, picked up their notes and wandered out into the corridor to confer on how this would affect their experiments, and the results. Chen stared pointedly at Borkar. 'You too.'

When he was finally alone with Karlton, Chen whirled around to face his a.s.sistant. 'Mira is not far from Kembel, is it?'

Karlton shrugged. 'It's nearer than Earth is.'

Chen nodded, a plan having already formed in his Machiavellian mind. 'We'll have to call the Daleks and tell them about this. Tell the Daleks that you tricked the fugitives into the cellular transporter deliberately.'

Karlton stared at hint. 'You think they'll believe it?'

'Of course they will believe it! They imagine that no one would ever dare to lie to them deliberately. Make them believe that we planned it so that they could personally recover the core faster this way around. It will suit their plans, and they will naturally believe it.'

Karlton nodded, thoughtfully. 'Anything else?'

'Yes. Have a s.h.i.+p made ready for me.' Chen looked pained for a moment. 'I do wish that idiot Vyon hadn't wrecked my Spar Spar... Ah well, you can't conquer a Universe without a few losses.'

'Where will you be going?'

'Back to Kembel. It might be better if I were on hand when the Daleks recover the Taranium core.'

That made sense to Karlton. 'I'll invent a cover story to explain your absence,' he said. 'When will you return to Earth?'

'I shan't,' Chen replied. 'It's too close to the limit now. I shall stay on Kembel until the Daleks begin their masterplan.

You and the others will be able to join me there in about three weeks.'

Thinking about his plans always pleased Mavic Chen. The Daleks thought that they were using him, but they didn't dream of how grandly Chen had planned! With the Dalek taskforce heading towards Earth in three weeks, Kembel would be left vulnerable to a small strike fleet... 'The day of Armageddon is drawing close,' Chen breathed, savouring his plans. 'The whole history of mankind will be snuffed out like a candle in the wind.

When I return to the Earth it will be with a power that no human has ever known! Power absolute!' The inner light of madness was burning strongly now, and Karlton knew better than to interrupt. 'Then Earth will rise again, but without the shackles of infantile philosophies like democracy and equality! It will be a new and virgin land that can be shaped... moulded...

fas.h.i.+oned into the image that I I design. design. I I will be its life-blood will be its life-blood I I its creator its creator I I its very G.o.d!' its very G.o.d!'

Abruptly, Chen seemed to realize where he was, and he slowly calmed down, his vision burning dimmer. After a moment, he turned to his a.s.sistant. 'You are a fortunate man, Karlton,' he observed in quieter tones. 'You will have a high place in this destiny.'

'The highest,' Karlton agreed, obsequiously. 'Next to you.'

'Yes,' Chen said, thoughtfully. Was this fool getting ideas above his station? Could Chen continue to trust him for much longer? 'But now there is much to be done. Contact the Daleks and tell them that the fugitives are ready for them on Mira...'

Tendrils of mist curled through the lianas that festooned the huge trees. Lowlying, stagnant pools were interspersed by the trees, whose thick, woody roots protruded from the stinking ground. Ferns and feather-like plants grew in uneven clumps.

Insect-like creatures buzzed and zipped through the heavy, oppressive air. Dank smells came and went, carried by what little breezes there were.

It was hot and oppressive. It was smelly and unpleasant. It was the surface of the planet Mira.

The everglade-like trees shadowed out much of the sun, so it was difficult to see too far. Dead plants, falling into the waters, rotted where they lay. Occasionally, bubbles of marsh gas broke the surface, hardly improving the quality of the air.

Close by one such unhealthy pool lay the Doctor. He was on a small hill rising from the waters, and close behind him was a small cave, worn from the rocks by the water action of the swamps over the centuries. Around the Doctor's unconscious form were scattered various straggly bushes, overlaid by hairy creepers, and overshadowed by the huge trees.

One of the creepers swung aside, and the leaves of the bush rustled. Had there been a wind, this would not have been remarkable. Since the air was still, though, there was no apparent explanation for the movements. Then the branches of the bush moved, and there was an audible crack as dead material snapped under the weight of something.

Apart from the Doctor, though, the clearing was quite empty.

The ground by the Doctor was wet and muddy. Had the old man been awake, he would have viewed with considerable interest and probably a little trepidation the footprints that formed in the mud. There was nothing apparently there to cause them. They were the markings of large, bird-like claws.

Laboured breathing was coming from a spot about seven feet from the ground. It sounded as if a heavy creature was breathing through some form of membrane, and having a good deal of difficulty managing it. This noise moved closer to the Doctor as the invisible being producing it bent to examine this intruder.

'Ugly,' a voice whispered. The creature reached out and lifted one of the Doctor's arms, then let it fall. Invisible fingers traced the form of the Doctor's face. Invisible organs of sight surveyed what they could see. The creature a Visian didn't care for the alien intruder. There was little enough food to be found in this swamp as it was, and fierce compet.i.tion for what was there with all native life-forms. The last thing the Visians wanted was a new species moving in to take some of that precious food.

Then again, maybe this new creature was edible?

The Vision paused to study the Doctor again, and to pinch at the flesh. Thin, very thin. Not good feasting here. The Doctor groaned. The invisible creature jumped back, splas.h.i.+ng in a puddle as it did so. The Doctor began to stir, finally waking.

Deciding that discretion was perhaps the most admirable virtue, the Visian beat a hasty retreat to the safety of the bushes. There it lurked, watching unseen as the Doctor groaned again and finally managed to lever himself into a sitting position.

His head was aching slightly, and a dreadful smell a.s.saulted his nostrils, acting like smelling salts. Shaking his head to clear away the vestiges of unconsciousness, the Doctor wearily clambered to his feet. Not for the first time, he wished he still had one of his walking sticks from the TARDIS with him. This ground looked quite treacherous indeed.

There was no sign of his companions, nor of the room in which they had been standing. 'Not the Earth,' the Doctor muttered, looking about. 'Even that planet doesn't smell this foul.' He batted at the air in front of his face, making no discernible difference to the stench. Giving up, he called: 'Steven! Steven!'

There was no reply. Shrugging to himself, the Doctor chose a direction at random to start searching for his young friend. He had taken only a step when he spotted the footprints left by the visitor hiding in the bushes. He went down on to one knee, investigating the print with great care. It was already starting to fill with water, but it told him a few things. 'Tall,' he deduced.

'About seven feet, I should say. Heavy, too, and bipedal. Good length of stride. Quite formidable, I imagine. And fresh fresh,' he added, seeing the rate at which water was seeping into his own footprints. The creature that had made these prints couldn't have gone far. The Doctor examined the landscape carefully, but saw nothing, even though the Vision was hunched less than twelve feet away from him.

The Doctor set off into the bushes, beginning a slow sweep of the area. After a moment, the Vision stood up. It followed, quietly and invisibly, after the Doctor. Footprints appeared as it walked, and the bushes moved when it pushed them aside.

Otherwise, there was nothing to show its pa.s.sage.

It took about five minutes for the Doctor to find Steven. The young man was lying on the gra.s.s, looking almost peaceful.

Shaking his head, the Doctor hurried over. 'Steven!' he called urgently into his companion's ear. 'Steven!' He helped the young pilot to sit up and, eventually, Steven began to come round.

'What happened?' he asked, rubbing the back of his head, which pained him. He took in the surroundings, and then the Doctor. 'She.. she was going to shoot... to shoot... what happened?'

'I'm not entirely sure,' the Doctor confessed. 'If she did did shoot, though, I don't think we've come to Katarina's Place of Perfection, judging by the surroundings and the smell.' shoot, though, I don't think we've come to Katarina's Place of Perfection, judging by the surroundings and the smell.'

'Phew,' Steven agreed. 'It's like a hothouse in here. Where are we?'

'I really don't have the faintest idea,' the Doctor replied cheerfully. 'One minute we were in a room on the Earth, and the next here.' He waved an arm about.

Steven was trying to get his thoughts together. 'I seem to remember falling,' he said, slowly. 'As if I were falling a long distance. It's vague, though. Maybe it was just a dream.'

The Doctor patted his arm. 'I seem to have experienced something of the same dream, then. However, how how we got here isn't all that important. What we do need to know is we got here isn't all that important. What we do need to know is where where we are. Do you recall that machine that stood in the centre of the room with us? I suspect that it was some form of transmitter, and that it will be with us here somewhere. We can be certain that however we were projected to this place, they will know about it on the Earth. That means that Mavic Chen will know and so will the Daleks!' we are. Do you recall that machine that stood in the centre of the room with us? I suspect that it was some form of transmitter, and that it will be with us here somewhere. We can be certain that however we were projected to this place, they will know about it on the Earth. That means that Mavic Chen will know and so will the Daleks!'

Their thoughts were cut off by the sound of a woman's scream.

13.

Allies

'Come on!' Steven yelled, and started off through the bushes in the direction of the scream. It had been filled with terror, then abruptly cut off. The Doctor did his best in the enervating atmosphere to keep up with the far younger man. Neither of them cared too much about the obvious conclusion that it had to have been the woman who had tried to kill them who was in trouble.

They broke into a small clearing, and stopped in astonishment.

Sara Kingdom was being held, a kicking struggling captive but there was nothing nothing there. Her feet were several inches off the ground, and her mouth contorted, as though something was pressed upon it. Her arms were shaking, struggling with something. It would have looked almost comical, had it not been deadly serious. there. Her feet were several inches off the ground, and her mouth contorted, as though something was pressed upon it. Her arms were shaking, struggling with something. It would have looked almost comical, had it not been deadly serious.

The two Visions that had grabbed Sara were attempting to drag her back to their main encampment a couple of miles through the swamps. Suddenly, they saw two more of the same ugly creatures appear, and the odds no longer seemed so fine.

They could not be seen directly, but these new arrivals would be able to guess where they were from where Sara was being restrained. With one accord, the Visions dropped Sara and fled into the bushes.

Sara hit the ground with a squelch. Two arms caught at her, and she started to struggle again. Then she realized that she could see these arms, and that they were attached to a handsome-looking man who was trying to help her regain her feet. Gratefully, she accepted the help, and stood there, shuddering.

'It was horrible,' she gasped. 'I couldn't see anything, but I was enveloped... It touched me, and...' Her body shook, and Steven held on to her, comforting her. It wasn't a hards.h.i.+p for him, considering how pretty she was. She didn't seem to recognize him at all.

The Doctor moved over and examined her with a twinkle in his eye. 'This is an interesting change in our situation, eh, young woman?' He peered down his nose into her puzzled face. 'It seems like it was only minutes ago that you were trying to gun us down in cold blood.'

The shock finally left Sara, and she understood in sudden fury who these two strangers were. Angrily, she tore herself from Steven's arms, and her hand went automatically to her holster.

'The traitors!' she exclaimed. Her gun was gone, and nowhere to be seen.

Taking no apparent notice of her hostile actions, the Doctor continued as cheerfully as before. 'Well, of course you needn't hang about with such terrible specimens as us.' He waved his hand at the bushes. 'You could always run along into the jungle, if you like,' he added, helpfully. 'I'm sure we won't stop you. I should think you may get an ah enthusiastic welcome out there.'

Sara took one look at the bushes, and shuddered again.

Those cold, clammy claws that had grabbed at her before were out there, unseen, and waiting. She took a nervous step back towards the two men, then stopped, caught in indecision.

'Whatever you may think of us,' Steven said, 'I think we're a better alternative than what is waiting out there.'

'Shall we join forces?' the Doctor suggested. 'A truce to get us away from this place?'

Sara considered the matter as rationally as she could. She knew that her fear of the invisible creatures was unbalancing her slightly, but she simply couldn't face them alone again. Besides, if she stayed with these two characters, she'd be able to keep track of them for when the upper hand pa.s.sed back to her as it inevitably would. 'All right,' she agreed. 'But it doesn't change anything. My orders are to kill you, and I aim to carry out your execution once we're away from here.'

Steven snorted. 'Well, I hope you've no objection if we try to avoid being killed.'

'You won't think it's so funny once we're out of here,' Sara warned him.

The Doctor smiled, cheerfully. 'Now, let's not get off to a bad start for this alliance by squabbling, shall we? I think we'd first best get to firmer ground. There was a cave back over that way that should make a pa.s.sable camp. Come along, come along.' Leading the way with confidence, he started out, reversing his path. Steven and Sara, eyeing one another warily, followed behind him.

After a moment, the first Visian turned to its companion.

'Summon more of the People,' he breathed. 'These strange invaders cannot be tolerated. They must be destroyed, so that no more follow. There is not room here for our People and these ugly intruders.'

There was a rustling of the bushes as the first Visian's companion sped away, back to their camp. Satisfied, the remaining creature started to follow the strange intruders.

The Dalek control room on Kembel was once again operating at maximum efficiency. The various Dalek technicians a.s.sembled about the machines were working diligently as the Black Dalek entered. It glided to the supervisor and demanded: 'Report!'

The supervisor spun its head section about, as its arm continued to operate the computer controls. 'The pursuit s.h.i.+p is now approaching the planet Mira.'

'You will order the patrol to take the captives alive.'

'I obey.'

'It is vital that the core of the Time Destructor is recovered,'

the Black Dalek stated.

'It is possible that the fugitives know of its value to us,' the supervisor replied. 'They may attempt to conceal the core, or bargain for its return.'

This possibility had occurred to the Black Dalek. 'If necessary, we shall agree to the demands of the fugitives. We must recover the core.'

'And then?'

'Bargains with lesser life-forms are not important. The fugitives will then be exterminated.' The Black Dalek spun about and returned to the conference room, where their alien allies were waiting for news.

The monitor Dalek moved to join its supervisor. 'I have contacted the pursuit craft,' it reported. 'They have landed on the planet Mira.'

'Have they located the fugitives?'

'Their perceptors register strong readings at a range of five units.'

'Maintain contact,' the supervisor commanded. 'When they report the capture of the fugitives, inform the Supreme Dalek immediately.'