Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [25]
It isnt mine, she said simply, using a handkerchief to wipe the gore from her face.
OK, replied Fitz, unsure what to say. Anji seemed a little shellshocked, but then he felt too shaken to judge.
Are you two all right? asked the Doctor, pushing through the crowd to get to Fitz and Anji, quickly looking them over as if checking for any obvious damage to a couple of valuable ornaments. To Fitzs alarm he could see a nasty black bruise growing on the Doctors throat.
Were fine, he said insistently. He gestured to his own neck. Are you...?
Some slight bruising, said the Doctor, a slight croak in his voice belying the sentiment. He tightened his cravat to conceal the damage. It will heal quickly enough.
A chant was beginning to ripple through the crowd around them, one name repeated over and over.
Silver! Silver! Silver!
I gather thats Silver, said Fitz, nodding towards where the giant cyborg was climbing on to one of the few surviving tables.
Yes, said the Doctor, looking over at Silver with concern. Its him we have to deal with.
Fitz didnt enquire as to which meaning the Doctor was ascribing to the phrase deal with. Instead he turned to where Silver was clearly preparing to make a speech. In spite of the seemingly ludicrous robot arm bolted on to his body, which should have made him seem entirely lopsided, Fitz was surprised to find that Silver had a strange grace about him, a precision of movement perhaps aided by his computerised senses, as if he were more than a human with a couple of attachments. And that was another thing Silver was clearly human, not an Endpointer. He had hair, thick and black, and one dark eyebrow that ran right up to the faceplate that covered the other half of his head. His skin was a rich, dark tone, and Fitz could swear there was a South American lilt to Silvers deep voice as he spoke.
Thank you for your help in defending this, my home, boomed Silver. Yet again it is shown that united against disorder we can bring reason to any situation. Unfortunately the results of this noble struggle mean that the Silver Palace will have to close for the next six hours for repairs. While those of you with restspace or outstanding intercreds may of course retire to the west corridor for this period, I am afraid I will have to ask the rest of you to leave for the moment.
There were murmurs, albeit quiet ones, of discontent among the crowd.
In gratitude for your help in defending this oasis of civilisation, added Silver. You will find that upon your next visit all of you here tonight will have a hundred extra credits on your account!
The murmurs ceased and another chant of Silvers name went out.
Thank you, said Silver humbly, giving a slight bow. Gradually, the crowd began to disperse.
Hes certainly an impressive speaker, said Fitz. These guys were lapping it up.
The fact that he can fire missiles from his wrists probably helped keep their attention, commented Anji.
In that case Id be careful when you shake his hand, added the Doctor.
Miraso was leading Silver towards them, leaning over to speak into his single ear. Fitz couldnt help be intimidated by the sheer size of the man, the raw power and presence he seemed to have. The only person Fitz had never known to have a comparable aura of authority was the Doctor and Fitz was worried that the Doctor wasnt himself to that extent at the moment.
Miraso has explained that you were responsible for bringing us an intriguing sample earlier today, said Silver. Close up, Fitz found his voice even more overwhelming, like resting your head against a guitar amp just as someone strummed a power chord.
Please, added Silver. Lets talk in comfort. He walked over to where a heavy wooden table had been knocked over in the fight, and picked it up with his artificial hand as if it were a paper plate,