Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [57]
Anji realised what Miraso was implying. If this killer had the Doctor, then he had access to an alien tissue sample. The Doctor could be subject to all kinds of experiments. Anji didnt want to think of the kind of analysis they might put him through.
Youre right, she said out loud. Silver turned to her with a questioning gaze. We need to get the Doctor back.
The Doctor hadnt realised he was asleep until he awoke. The exertion of all that chasing and fighting, combined with the warm, pressurised atmosphere of the submarine, had caused him to drift off. The clanging of a bulkhead door woke him up, and he jumped to his feet, smacking his head on an overhanging pipe. He swore in a language he didnt even understand himself, and tried to cram himself into the alcove above the bench.
Castillo? a male voice was calling. Castillo, you imbecile, were nearly there. Get the samples ready for Stephens.
The Doctor stayed perfectly still in his alcove, hoping that the voice would go away. He didnt know whether he could face another fight, his whole body seemed to be aching. He tried to tense his muscles, but they felt weak.
A door creaked open.
Castillo, I said the voice went suddenly quiet, the speaker clearly having seen the unconscious killer on the floor. Before the Doctor could move the door slammed. There was the sound of a wheel being turned.
The Doctor didnt consider this a good sign. He let his head rock back, felt the warm metal of the pipes behind him on the top of his head. He let his mind and body relax. He suspected that whenever he next saw someone, he would need all the energies he could muster.
The guards on the door at the Silver Palace parted for their master, the doors sliding open as he approached. Anji tried to keep pace with Silver, who had been silent since they left the Pier. She feared her dependency on Silver and his power, especially now she had lost the Doctor. But at the back of her mind she was aware that the Doctor was a Jiminy Cricket, who would coax her away from bringing Dave back. Without the Doctor there, she would be able to make a clearer decision. And the fact that his absence helped her situation made her feel guilty, even though she knew the Doctor could look after himself.
Anji expected Silver to stride straight through the main hall, ignoring the Silver Palaces nightly clientele with their drinking, gambling, and other organic pastimes. Instead he stood in the centre of the room, and from where he stood, an aura of silence spread as the people grew quiet, aware of his lingering presence, unwilling to disturb him, equally unwilling to show fear at his presence by backing away, in case that only served to anger him.
Soon, the whole room was silent, as if everyone there had been frozen in time. Every eye turned to Silver, waiting for him to move.
Anji watched him close his eyes, a lid falling over the human eye, the other going temporarily dark. Silver reached up his human hand and rubbed his temple, deep in thought.
Miraso, Silver said quietly. Get these people out of my Palace. Clear the entire room. He began to raise his voice, opening his eyes to address the rest of the Palace staff. I want all nonessential equipment powered down. Someone tell the power stations to divert all energy to here. Cut off everything except life support. And put out announcements on all the communication channels they will be going off line in twenty minutes. All around him glasses were being left on tables half full, games of cards and dice were being abandoned as people backed away, heading slowly but steadily to the exits.
Miraso nodded. Itll be done. Within the hour all communications and power will be entirely at your disposal.
Good, said Silver, shrugging off his greatcoat. There was a nervous tension in his muscles, Anji could see them squirming under his skin. Were going to activate SatNet.
Anji had no idea what that meant, but from Mirasos expression she gathered it had to be big.
As he heard