Doctor Who_ The Power of the Daleks Part 19

Valmar looked up, fire in his eyes. He was obviously struggling to control his temper. 'Nearly,' he finally said, returning to his work. Tapping out the codes on the disa.s.sembled pad, he spoke into the microphone. 'This is Valmar. Test call, please.'

From the far end of the huge room came the sound of raised voices. Both Valmar and Bragen looked up as the door slammed open. The Doctor and Ben entered, while a frustrated guard tried to drag them back out again.

'You can't go in there, I tell you!' the guard snapped.

Then, aware that they were already in the office, he looked up and caught the Deputy Governor's glare. 'I'm sorry, Bragen. I tried to stop them.'

Bragen jumped to his feet, leaning forward on the desk.

'What is the meaning of this intrusion?'

'Intrusion?' the Doctor asked innocently. 'What intrusion? We're just returning all of your various calls, This is just a social visit. This guard --' he indicated the man, whose face went crimson '-- tried to tell us you were too busy to see us. But we knew better, didn't we, Ben?'

'I tried to stop them, Bragen.' the guard interjected sullenly. 'I did my best.'

'All right,' Bragen said. 'Your best is obviously not good enough. And don't call me by name. I've told you that before.'

The guard glowered. 'Yes. Sir. Sir. ' '

Bragen ignored the insolence 'Dismissed.' He watched the guard until he had matched out and closed the door before turning to the Doctor. 'Well?'

The Doctor smiled back at him. 'Oh, what a nice new uniform.' he gushed. 'Smart, very smart. I wish I had one like that.'

From his place on the floor, Valmar picked up the handset to the comm unit as it bleeped. 'Terrace.' There was a faint burst of sound. 'I can hear you clearly. Good.

Now try and patch in the connection with the interior, then the perimeter stations.'

Bragen moved away from the desk, blocking the Doctor from interfering with Valmar 'As you can see, Examiner Examiner,'

he said, laying stress on the t.i.tle, 'I'm having some repairs done.'

'So I see,' the Doctor replied. His expression grew puzzled. 'Funny. I'm certain that Janley received a call earlier in Lesterson's lab. And his communications wouldn't be repaired before yours, would they?' Before Bragen could reply, the Doctor added: 'And this is the reason why you've refused me entry for the last half-hour?'

Bragen drew himself up to his full height, 'I do not have to give you reasons any more.'

The Doctor nodded thoughtfillly. 'So that's the way the wind blows now, is it?'

Having taken as much of this verbal fencing as he could, Ben could keep silent no longer. 'We want to know what you're doing about Polly!' he yelled. 'She can't just have disappeared. What are you doing about finding her?'

'You are doing something, presumably,' the Doctor added, Bragen gestured at Valmar, who was in the process of rea.s.sembling the comm unit. 'Now that our interior communications are working again it should be easier, I have had men out asking questions. You really mustn't expect miracles, you know. Even if you are the Examiner.'

He smiled at his private joke.

Finis.h.i.+ng his work, Valmar began to gather his tools together. 'There we go,' he told Bragen. 'There shouldn't be any furter trouble now.'

'Good,' Bragen said coldly. 'it's about time, too.'

The Doctor stepped forward, 'When do you expect to regain communications with Earth?'

Valmar glanced at him. 'As soon as I can,' he snapped.

'Interior communications were the priority, you know.

Bragen's orders.' He looked at the Deputy Governor. 'Is that all?'

'Yes,' Bowen replied. 'Get out,' As Valmar turned to leave, Bragen held up his hand. 'No. Wait.' The technican looked back, stifling a staged yawn. 'Don't be insolent with me!' Bragen snarled. 'You're lazy and inefficient. The work should have been completed long before this.'

'I did the best I could,' Valmar said sullenly.

'I know your work record,' Brawn responded, slapping one of the files on Hensell's desk. 'If you really did the best you could, perhaps we should a.s.sign an able-bodied man to your position and rea.s.sign you to work you can manage.

Cleaning nut the garbage, for example.'

Valmar's face flushed, Clenching his fists threateningly, he took a step forward.

Bragen's face twisted in a sneer. 'You're one second away from prison, my friend,' he said softly. 'Be very careful.'

The two men locked gazes. Valmar was the first to look away. Then he turned to leave once more.

'Remember,' Bragen called after his retreating back, 'in future I'll be watching you, Valmar. Now, get out.'

The door slammed behind the technician. The Doctor studied the Deputy Governor with interest. 'Finding your feet, are you?'

'What do you mean?' Bragen demanded, annoyed.

'Wearing a new uniform and a new att.i.tude?'

'There's too much of an easy-going att.i.tude in this colony,' Bragen snapped back. 'Quinn fostered one. But I'm bringing in new methods. Smartening things up. That means a certain amount of control.'

Ben grunted. 'You won't get better work out of people by bullying them.'

'People need leaders.h.i.+p,' Bragen said.

'Indeed,' the Doctor agreed. 'But it all depends on what kind kind of leaders.h.i.+p. You may discover that your brand is more unpopular than Hensell's.' of leaders.h.i.+p. You may discover that your brand is more unpopular than Hensell's.'

Bragen sat down at the desk and picked up the next file.

Then he forced a smile on to his face. 'If you wish to criticize the Governor, you had better save it for your report Examiner.'

At that second, a Dalek moved smoothly into the room.

The Doctor and Ben stared at it in a mixture of astonishment and confusion. It was disarmed, and attached to its sucker-stick was a metal tray. On the tray was a gla.s.s of some liquid, with ice cubes c.h.i.n.king in it.

'So,' the Doctor breathed. 'you've given the Daleks the run of the colony, have you?'

'Why not?' Bragen asked. 'They're harmless, and I a.s.sure you that they make splendid servants.' Ignoring the Doctor's snort of derision. Bragen reached out and took the drink from the tray.

The Dalek's eye-stick swivelled to take in the Doctor and Ben. 'Shall I bring liquid for your visitors?' it asked.

'No,' Bragen replied. As the Dalek moved smoothly back across the room, Bragen smiled at the Doctor. 'I know you won't be here much longer.' He took a sip from his drink.

'I wouldn't count on that if I were you' He slumped down into one of the chairs, then glanced thoughtfully at the Dalek. 'I wonder how long they can keep moving around on these floors? They're not metal...'

Ben stared from Bragen to the Doctor anxiously. 'We can't stay here,' he said. He nodded at Bragen. 'If this character won't help us, we've got to look for Pol ourselves.'

Rather than taking offence. Bragen smiled. 'That's good advice,' he told the Doctor. 'Especially since there appears to be no evidence.'

This was too much for Ben. 'No evidence?' he yelled, leaning across the desk dangerously. Bragen jerked sharply backwards. 'What about that letter, then? What more do you want?'

Bragen dismissed the subject. 'Only you saw it delivered. Only you claim that your friend is missing.

Naturally, I'm supposed to take your word for it that this isn't some sort of scheme to keep my men occupied while the rebels act.' He gave them an insincere smile. 'I'm doing all that I can under the circ.u.mstances.'

'Why, you ' Ben looked as if he were ready to launch himself across the mirrored surface of the desk and straight at Bragen's throat. The Doctor grabbed hold of him hastily. 'No, Ben,' he hissed in his companion's ear. 'This isn't the answer.'

Calming, Ben gave a curt nod. 'You're right. He isn't worth it, Doctor.'

Bragen glared at them both. 'Goodbye Doctor Doctor,' he said.

' Examiner Examiner,' the Doctor corrected. He led Ben away from the desk.

'Understand this,' Bragen called from behind them.

'The only reason you're not in prison as suspects is because the rebels have to be dealt with and I haven't the time to bother with you. But make trouble and you'll get trouble.'

'Thank you,' the Doctor replied, without turning. To Ben, he added: 'Interesting isn't it, that now he's Deputy Governor the rebels have suddenly become worth bothering about?'

'I don't care about the rebels,' Ben said. 'I just want to find Pol right now.'

The Doctor gave him a thoughtful look. 'The two might not be as far apart as you seem to think, Ben.'

As Bragen tried to compose himself after the Doctor's visit, his comm unit buzzed. Trying to mask his annoyance at the further interruption, Bragen scooped up the handset and flicked on the screen. An image of Hensell flickered at first, then settled down. It was obvious from the background tunnel that he was at one of the mine sites.

'Ah, there you are, Bragen,' Hensell snapped. Clearly the talks were not going well. 'Thank heavens the communications are working again. Let me have your report, man; I'm very busy here.'

Bragen buried his anger and managed a smooth smile.

'There's nothing to report, Governor. Internal communications are back, but we're still isolated from Earth.'

'And that meddling Examiner?' Hensell asked. 'Is he still poking his nose into our affairs?'

A genuine smile touched Bragen's face. 'We're managing to keep him occupied.'

'Interfering busybody,' Hensell muttered. 'I'll be glad to see the back of him. Well, I'm going to be stuck here another day or two at the very least. You can manage until I return, can't you?'

'Yes,' Bragen replied. As the picture faded away, he looked up from the desk. He gave a slight start. The Dalek waiter had returned silently, and was watching him. 'What do you want?' he snapped, angry with himself for showing shock.

'Have you finished your liquid?' the Dalek asked.

It was just trying to be efficient, that was all. 'No,'

Bragen told it. The Dalek spun about and moved smoothly away again. As he watched it leave, Bragen wondered if it had been listening to his conversations. Then he dismissed the idea with a snort. These Daleks could have no possible interest in what he was up to. He was just suffering from a touch of paranoia while he waited for his plans to mature.

There was no way the Daleks would interfere with his mastery of the colony. No way at all.

The Doctor's path led them back towards the hub of the building, and the bulletin board. As he and Ben approached it, they could hear voices. The Doctor held a finger to his lips for silence. Puzzled, Ben followed his lead. They peered around the corner together.

Lesterson's a.s.sistant, Janley, was at the board. With her was a slightly plump, short man that Ben had not seen before. He had thinning dark hair, carefully combed over the rotund skull to attempt unsuccessfully to hide his spreading baldness. Ben was willing to bet he dyed his hair to mask the grey in it. He seemed the sort who'd do anything to cover his weaknesses. He was apparently just arriving as Janley was leaving.

'Kebble,' Janley said, nodding her head at the board.

'Better check the agenda'

'I'll do it right now,' Kebble agreed. He scanned the notes as Janley left. After a moment, he moved on.

The Doctor had found a magnet in one of his pockets and seemed very absorbed in studying it. He tapped it against the wall and the floor, but it refused to stick. 'Non-magnetic,' he said to himself. 'Then the Daleks can't be transmitting power. They must be storing their energy internally for now. I wonder how good their batteries are?'

He sat on the floor, thinking, his back against the wall, his legs stretched out. Pulling out his recorder, he began to play a little jig.

'Doctor,' Ben hissed. He pointed down one of the side corridors. The Doctor stopped tootling and followed Ben's gaze.

Three Daleks, all minus their gun-sticks, glided down the corridor, and into a second.

'Insanity!' the Doctor said firmly, clambering back to his feet.

'Eh?'

The Doctor gestured at the retreating Daleks. 'Allowing the Daleks to move around like this.' He gnawed at his lip, deep in thought. 'Ben...' he said slowly. 'Surely... Look, we've just left Bragen. He had a Dalek acting as his servant...'