Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [49]
The Doctor paused. I have no idea, he said finally, slumping slightly.
Miraso gave out an audible groan of disappointment.
What is it like? asked Anji, lying back in the grass. The accelerated growth of the apple trees was continuing, and blossom fell down from the branches. To have as much power as you have, to be able to make any decision and see it happen, to wield absolute power on this planet. What is it like?
It fills me with despair, said Silver, without hesitation.
Anji frowned. Despair? How can being able to do anything lead to despair?
Silver paused before responding. Because I have done everything that can be done on Endpoint, he said. I have reached a pinnacle of success, and there is no danger of me falling. I cannot expand my power because there is nowhere else to go, no more power to have. All that is left is keeping the machine well maintained, making sure the system continues to work. Threats like these murders your Doctor is investigating provide brief distraction, but they are irritating problems rather than serious challenges. I have explored every facet of this world, conquered every territory, bought every resource. There is nothing new to discover.
But surely there are always new discoveries, replied Anji. Scientific discoveries, if nothing else. Like these trees. She tried to stop herself, aware of what was emerging from the back of her mind, unbidden. The thoughts that she had been suppressing for the last couple of days. She realised the path she was leading herself down with her next question. I mean, theres always new places to go with science, technology, medicine. You cant do everything, can you? You can reintroduce a dead species like the apple tree, with enough material. She tried not to say it, but she did. But you cant actually raise the dead, can you?
Silver turned to her, looming over her once more. Perhaps her question had challenged him in some way. Anji was painfully aware her fragile neck would snap like a twig between those steel fingers.
This planets resources are limited, said Silver. But the technology here can do whatever those resources allow. There are no new discoveries to be made. And yes, given the correct genetic material I can raise the dead, as you would say. It is a resource intensive process, and there is no one indispensable enough to revive, but it would be possible to create a copy of any living being within our laboratories.
Anji was grateful she wasnt given a chance to speak, that he kept talking and didnt allow her to ask, to take things too far.
Imagine you had done everything you ever could, Anji, said Silver. Then what?
Anji tried to think about that, but Silver answered for her.
Nothing, he said. You do nothing, forever.
This gets us nowhere, groaned Miraso. We still have no plan of attack against the killers, no coherent defence against them. We know nothing about them.
No, said the Doctor, jumping to his feet. His eyes gleamed and his body seemed energised as he stepped towards Miraso, pointing a slim finger. But we do know about you.
What? replied Miraso. How does knowing me help?
You, Powlin, all of you, said the Doctor, waving his arms expansively. Ive been observing all of you, and thats how I know how to break this case. He suddenly pulled Fitz out of his chair, so that the two of them were opposite Miraso and Powlin, who were sitting up in their chairs, leaning forward. Fitz didnt like their expressions.
Look, Fitz, said the Doctor, pointing at Miraso and Powlin. Theyre different from you, but theyre alike, the same species. What do you notice about them?
They seem really pissed off? replied Fitz, uncomfortable with the Doctor dragging him around by the collar.
Exactly, said the Doctor, spinning Fitz around to face him. Theyre aggressive, defensive, always prepared for an attack, always suspicious, always puffing themselves up, making themselves look big. He threw Fitz