Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [103]
If you think Im letting you go in there alone... Anji was almost speechless with fury. On some level she knew that her anger was a release valve, that she was redirecting the pentup emotions caused by Daves resurrection. Emotional confusion, boiled up and fired out as a simple, direct outburst against some poor third party. In this case, the Doctor, who was insisting she find Fitz and Miraso rather than go in with him and Dave.
Anji, said the Doctor. Listen to what you are saying, how you are saying it. Thats anger, an emotion youre barely in control of right now. Silver has you riled. If you come in with us youll be a danger to yourself, to me, and to Dave here. Feel that anger thats why you cant come in with us. I need to stop Silver, and I need someone with Daves inbuilt training to back me up. He put his hand on her shoulder. You would be a passenger at your best, and Im afraid youre not at your best. I need to know youre safe if something goes wrong.
Anji shrugged his hand away from her shoulder but knew he was right. She looked at Dave II, who was standing back from the situation, muscular arms crossed over his chest. He was wearing a set of military fatigues they had found in a nearby locker, which only emphasised the differences between him and Dave I, her Dave. Dave II was a different man, a born fighter. There was a certainty in his stance that displayed confidence in himself, even though he had only emerged into the world twenty minutes before. In twentyodd years her Dave had never gained that kind of confidence.
Different man, but with the same face. Her stomach fizzed at the thought of it, emotions churning through mind and body. How could she face Silver in this state? The Doctor needed someone to stay cool in the face of extreme danger. Anji could barely think straight with this walking anomaly nearby.
OK, she said to the Doctor. Ill go.
Thank you, said the Doctor. I need you to look after something for me. He took her hand, and pressed something into it. Anji looked down at her palm it was the TARDIS key.
Youre trusting me with this? she said, her voice sticking in her throat with emotion. Even after what I did?
We should never let betrayal destroy our capacity to trust, said the Doctor, his blue eyes gleaming. If we do, then were all lost. Take the key. Get Fitz away from here if something goes wrong.
I will. Thank you for trusting me again, Anji said, before turning and walking away, trying not to look back.
At the end of the corridor she gave in, and turned around. But the Doctor and Dave had already gone. Keeping an eye open for Silverati, Anji began to make her way to the airlocks.
Dave knew what he had to do. Although his life had begun less than an hour ago, the knowledge installed in his brain gave him the abilities of a trained soldier. He adopted the confident gait of a Silverati and walked straight into the Hypertunnel room, proceeding to the nearest console. As he went he tried not to lose his nerve while surrounded by Silverati they were everywhere, either working on the equipment, or standing perfectly still while looking to Silver for guidance. Dave looked at the console in front of him, trying to act like the enemy all around him. He examined the layout of the controls, then turned to the nearest Silverati.
Have the navigation settings been entered correctly? Dave asked. The Silverati had to turn to answer, allowing the Doctor to dart into the room unnoticed, ducking behind a crate. Dave tried not to look at the Doctor, and focused his attention on the Silverati.
The Silverati indicated a panel of controls manned by one of his fellows in the far corner of the room. They are being prepared now, he said, then returned his attention to his work. Dave ticked a couple of things off his mental list: passed successfully for a Silverati, check; Doctor in chamber safely, check.
Dave was walking towards the navigation