Doctor Who_ Ghost Light - Marc Platt [51]
‘I just want a little chat, that’s all.’
Light had returned its scrutiny to Control, who sidled forward like a submissive cur. It was apparent that away from Light’s influence, Control had been exposed to stimuli that only the Survey Agent was allowed. The proto-creature had grasped the language of this world and begun to resemble the dominant lifestock, but that could be dealt with later.
‘This is not the planet I expected,’ asserted Light.
‘Excuse me, but this is Earth,’ interrupted the Doctor.
Light ignored him. ‘Our next survey was to be a simple, barren rock with a few social moss colonies and four sterile moons. Easy to catalogue. So why this?’
As Control began to whine, the Doctor heard a voice in his ear. ‘You’ve had your little chat. Let’s get out of here.’
He pushed Ace away and prayed she would wait a little longer.
It occurred to Ace that she was not the only one who was subjected to initiative tests. By now, Control was going through contortions of misery. ‘Poor Control. Always blamed. No hoping.’
‘Where is the Survey Agent?’ demanded Light. ‘What happened while I was dormant?’
‘You’re still only half awake, Light,’ chimed in the Doctor. ‘You throw your weight around and you don’t even know what planet you’re on!’
‘What is this?’ Light asked, regarding the intruder with curiosity. It was amazed to see the creature disappear out of its view through an entrance portal, pursued by a second of the species dressed in white.
With Ace in tow, the Doctor marched into the drawing room. Assuming that Light was following, he said, ‘This is Earth. How many more times! Check the instruments in your ship.’ He looked back past Ace and saw that they were not accompanied. ‘Now where’s he gone?’ he complained.
He turned again and started in surprise; Light was ahead of them, its aura pulsing as it waited beside the piano. ‘How does Light move so fast?’ asked Ace.
The Doctor settled back into a chair. ‘He can travel at the speed of... thought.’
‘Earth!’ Light’s voice was suddenly steeped in weariness. ‘Why mention that wretched planet to me?’
‘If you don’t like it, then bog off!’ Ace met Light’s cold stare and tried to back away, but the glare stretched like an arm towards her and she felt as if every muscle and sinew in her body was crushing outwards from within.
‘I once spent centuries there faithfully cataloguing every species. Every organism from the smallest bacteria to the largest ichthyosaur. But no sooner had I finished than it was all changing. Growing, crawling and spawning new subspecies — new species! Evolution ran amok! I had to start amending my entries. The task was endless!’
The Doctor shrugged. ‘That’s life.’
The bright mantle of Light’s aura droned louder and the voice deepened with anger. ‘Control!’
Thunder rumbled distantly.
The doors flew open on the hall, catching Control, who was spying at the keyhole. She looked up startled and began to whine. Behind her, Mackenzie, whose head was spinning with ideas he could not begin to absorb into a routine enquiry, panicked and fled.
Unable to resist the summons, Control slunk into the room. Light fixed her with its cruel eyes.
‘How many more millennia must I endure your company? Is this the Earth?’ Control swayed back and forth wringing her gloved hands. ‘Well? Where’s your other half? Where’s the Survey Agent?’
Desperation finally drove Control to protest. ‘Control wants freeness! Be a ladylike!’ She pointed at the Doctor.
‘Doctor promised!’
‘It is not his to give.’
Ace knew it; he just couldn’t resist, could he? ‘Did you promise, Professor?’
The Doctor looked acutely uncomfortable. ‘Things ran away with themselves,’ he blustered.
‘Control too! Run away!’ With a final glare at her betrayers, the creature fled into the hall and away up the stairs. Light’s head rose to blast its errant charge, but found the Doctor blocking the path.
‘Light. Light! Give her a break! She’s not the real troublemaker