Doctor Who_ History 101 - Mags L. Halliday [114]
He moved over to the console, trailed his fingers over the panels, felt a faint static shock of energy pulse through. Back. He wondered if this was how Enrique had felt, reunited with the System. The feeling of completeness, of being connected. It was buzzing through him still. She must have used her connections to the System to pull him back.
He should find Fitz and Anji. He checked his pockets automatically and then poked cautiously at the door button. He grinned as the doors opened, with a deeper hum thrumming through the room. It felt good and he gave the console a small pat. Then he headed out.
Plaça Reial was bathed in sunlight. It was a beautiful morning. He pulled the door to, tucking the key back into his shirt and absently scratching at his chest as it itched. Was it best to start at the Hotel? Would Anji be there or would Alberto have squirrelled her away somewhere? Fitz, he felt sure, would reappear but how long should he wait? He noticed a car had been abandoned close by the TARDIS. A kid was siphoning petrol out of it into a tin watering can and staring at him, wide-eyed. He grinned at him too. Start with POUM then, find out if Anji was safe.
‘Ah, Doctor. There you are.’
He stopped, stared. Then inclined his head in a formal greeting.
‘Sabbath.’
‘Join me for a coffee, Doctor. I would offer you a sherry but not only is the stuff they serve here excruciating but it’s a little early yet.’
A girl came forward and put a second cup of espresso in front of an empty chair next to Sabbath. The other man was dressed in a linen suit, the Doctor noticed, every inch the English gentleman abroad. He was sat on the shady side of an outside table, his face half hidden under a cream fedora. The Doctor sat, taking a cautious sip of the hot coffee.
‘Are you here for a reason, or just enjoying the scene?’
‘My reason for being here has been resolved, thank you.’
The Doctor took in Sabbath’s serene face, the knowing half-smile visible beneath the brim of the hat.
‘How are Anji and Fitz? Such determined young people. They remind me of my own agents.’
‘They’re friends, not agents.’
Sabbath took a sip of coffee, leaning forward so his face came fully into the sunlight. His eyes were dark, as always, looking straight into the Doctor’s own. ‘Doesn’t that rather depend upon your perspective?’
The Doctor frowned. Was it worth asking the other man how involved he had been? Had he set the whole thing up? Used the Doctor in some way? Had it been some distraction to keep the Doctor occupied? He’d had to let people die horrifically and it was all part of one of Sabbath’s little games? No, he could sense that the Absolute’s truth was unravelling, that uncertainly was being restored.
‘My chap was terribly impressed with them, you know.’
The Doctor thought for a moment. ‘Jueves?’
Sabbath chuckled and made a mocking bow with his head. ‘Actually, he was also... well, never mind.’
‘If you’re just here to gloat and claim to be superior in some way then I think I’ll be going to find my friends.’
The Doctor put his cup back down and pushed his chair back to stand. Sabbath put out one heavy hand, barely touching the Doctor’s wrist. The Doctor felt it, some kind of jolt, and found himself sitting again.
‘There is another matter, Doctor.’ Sabbath said, smiling and folding his hands into a steeple in front of him.
* * *
Anji sat on the stairs of the safe house, leaning against Fitz’s legs. He was sat a couple of steps above her and in turn leant on the banister. For once, she didn’t object when he lit a cigarette and exhaled slowly.
‘So...