Doctor Who_ Cat's Cradle_ Times Crucible - Marc Platt [121]
The slow coagulation of dimensions intensified around them. The air hummed with power. The Doctor felt his own assurance grow, but his chances were running out.
"Not long," said Pekkary and he was suddenly in earnest. "Tell me what happens in the future, Doctor?"
The Doctor sniffed. "It's not all bouquets. There are a multitude of scientific triumphs, but also great wars. The telepathy dwindles. Death is all but abolished. The men get taller, or is it the women shorter? But you were right, Pekkary. Rassilon and his followers come to power — even if there are fearsome obstacles to surmount and a terrible price to pay. It's all in the legends."
It was useless to ask his questions of Pekkary. The Captain and his crew should come to an end reassured — that was far more important. Yet the Doctor might never have another chance. There were questions he should have asked the Sisterhood on Karn had he thought of it, or that wretched sorceress Peinforte. But they were pale shadows of their Pythian forebears.
"Tell me who you are," said Pekkary.
"Ah." The Doctor managed a smile. "I'm a Doctor, that's all. An observer with a degree in pantopragmatics and a nasty suspicious mind." He ducked a low-flying carpet that nearly took his hat off. There was no doubt now that the area was closing in on preset parameters and interfaces. The ghost walls were cratered with roundels.
The young Chronaut crew had already vanished in the miasma. "Pekkary," the Doctor said, "tell me about Rassilon and his followers.
"Professor? I want to talk to you."
The Doctor froze. "Not now, Ace," he said without looking at her.
"Captain," she said. "If the Doctor agrees, would you release Shonnzi from your crew?"
Pekkary glanced in confusion at the Doctor.
"Ace!" The Doctor had known this would be trouble. His twin hearts sank. Human emotions were so frail. Hadn't she been through enough already?
"Oh, come on, Professor. Shonnzi's clamming up about it, but I know he'd jump if he had the chance. I mean you virtually chose him anyway."
"The TARDIS chose him," said the Doctor.
"Same difference, isn't it?" she said knowingly. "And I want him to come, Professor. Really I do."
"But I have business plans," the Doctor floundered. "It'll mean more arguments, more trouble, less room." He knew he was fighting a losing baffle. Her eyes were wide with determination. "I can't rescue two people as thoroughly as one!"
"I'll watch his back as well as yours. Trust me."
The Doctor scowled. "And you trust me too much, Ace."
"So?" she said.
He looked in despair at Pekkary.
"I'm sorry, Ace," said the Captain. "Pilot Shonnzi cannot be released from my crew. We need his guidance to get us home to Gallifrey. We cannot travel without him."
The Doctor gave a nod of undying gratitude to the Captain.
Ace turned away, crestfallen. "Yeah. Sorry. It was just an idea."
"It was a fine idea, Ace," the Doctor said. "I'm too protective. I don't allow myself many true friends."
"You couldn't afford to pay the danger money," she said with forced bravery.
The area had shrunk to the size of the console room. Shonnzi was standing in the TARDIS outer doorway with the other older Chronauts. The shapes of another ship's control area were visible beyond the door, but still in the bounds of the police box.
Pekkary gave Shonnzi a fatherly nudge forward.
"Go on then, Ace," Shonnzi said. "Off you go."
"Idiot," she said tearfully. "Just drive carefully, okay?"
The Doctor watched her run to hug Shonnzi. He felt a jolt in his stomach as if he was riding a switchback. Instead, Ace's arms were full of the skinny, mucky, ginger-haired urchin. She was startled and then cradled him tight. "Go on, gingerscruff," she sobbed. "Love to your mum and dad and your grumblies."
"Love you," said the kid and pulled away.
"Time," muttered the Doctor, "you are the cruellest monster of all."
The older Pekkary was gone. His crew