Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [93]
The Doctor looked Fitz straight in the eye. Fitz, I trust your sense of what is right. He turned to Miraso. And Im sure that your years of managing security at the Palace have given you good instincts for detecting something wrong, something out of place. Were looking for something bad, some evidence of Silver misusing the technology here. I dont think whatever we find is going to be subtle enough to miss.
Well, if this place is ever attacked, Silver is certainly prepared for them, said Miraso, walking over to a crate, one of many untidily piled around the corridor. She reached into the crate and picked out a small, dark blue disc. Low range mines. Extremely focused blast area.
Nonetheless, in this environment they can be highly destructive, said the Doctor tersely, snatching the mine from Miraso and sliding it back into the crate. These are not to be played with, especially not when one rupture could bring the sea down on us. Dont forget were not just dealing with our lives, but those of all the surviving members of the human race.
Thank you for the lecture, Doctor, said Miraso dryly. Can we return to what we came here for?
No need, whispered the Doctor. I think weve found it. He pointed down the corridor. Fitz and Miraso followed his finger to a turning, where a thick pipe snaked around the corner. It seemed initially unremarkable, but as they approached they could make out the thick, shining liquid within the transparent pipe. It seemed to pulse with a life of its own was it being pumped through the pipe, or moving of its own accord?
What is it? asked Fitz.
The Doctor ignored him. Where does this lead, I wonder? His eyes followed the pipe down the corridor, and then widened suddenly. Oh, no. We need to find the source of this and stop it. The Doctor started running down the corridor, following the pipe in the reverse direction to the flow. Miraso and Fitz ran to keep up. They passed a few curious Endpointers and humans, and Miraso nodded in their direction, trying to distract from the incongruity of what they were doing. Surely Silver would know they were here by now, anyway?
The Doctor kicked open the door at the end of the pipeline, and Fitz followed him into a room with a mass of equipment in the centre. To Fitz it looked like an advanced form of brewery pipes, barrels, lots of frothing. The one additional detail was the computer banks manned by a handful of human scientists.
Miraso clapped her hands together as she entered the room. This is the Doctor, Mr Silvers Chief Scientist from the surface. Mr Silver wishes him to perform an inspection on the... Miraso struggled to find an appropriate word ... the equipment. He will need time to do this inspection, so you will now be relieved for a rest break. Please return to your work in one hour.
Looking suspiciously at the Doctor, the humans shuffled out of the room. Miraso closed the door behind them. She leaned back on the door with a sigh of relief.
Well done, said the Doctor. Now we need to put this out of action. Fitz, pass me
He was interrupted by the door Miraso was leaning against being flung open, throwing Miraso across the room. Fitz saw her tumble gracefully, landing back on her feet. He tried to turn around, to see what was happening behind him, but all he saw was a rush of silver as something very fast and very hard hit him in the nose, sending him flying across the room, landing flat on his back. The room swayed giddily. Were there really figures scurrying all around him? He heard the Doctor let out a yelp of pain, protests from Miraso.
Protect the central supply! barked an unfamiliar voice, a cold metallic tone to the words. Fitz tried to get up again, but was kicked in the chin so hard and fast that he fell flat on his back before he could even glimpse his attackers. A glutton for punishment, Fitz once more tried to push himself up on to his elbows. Before he could see anything he found himself knocked back as Miraso was thrown on top of him.
Assailants neutralised.