Doctor Who_ Interference_ Book Two - Lawrence Miles [36]
Compassion narrowed her eyes at him.
‘What are you doing, Guest?’ she said.
‘I’m sorry?’
‘You haven’t been telling me everything, have you? You were expecting the sphere to start telling us about this “sacrifice” idea. You gave the girl to the media for a reason.’
‘To fill in any gaps in our knowledge. I told you.’
‘You’re lying. There’s something else. I can tell. It’s the way you’re talking.’
‘Not important,’ said Guest, far too quickly. ‘We’ve almost finished the programme. We’re close to understanding the girl’s principles. Close to understanding the imagery. A baby is more important than a planet, because a baby symbolises everything pure and innocent about humanity. An implicate human, if you like.’
He looked up, towards the roof of the tower. Compassion followed his lead. At the top of the transmitter, the media was still pulsing, still breathing.
‘One more scenario to come,’ said Guest. Compassion wondered how he knew that.
* * *
Scene 59. A Corridor
[The corridor seems to be part of a scientific complex of some kind, although it’s too dark to make out much of the decor. As we pan around the passage, we see a spot of yellow light dancing across one of the walls, a torch-beam sweeping the area.
[Finally, we focus on SAM as she creeps along the corridor. Though she’s dressed in her standard jeans and T-shirt, she’s carrying what looks like a flame-thrower, quite possibly one of those from Ordifica (see Scene 43). The weapon is connected to a heavy backpack by a thick rubber tube. There’s also an unusual item of jewellery on her arm, but we’ll deal with that later.
[The torch is taped to SAM’s shoulder, the beam shaking whenever she takes a step forward. Having scanned the corridor, SAM stops moving. She reaches into one of her pockets, and pulls out a walkie-talkie. It takes her a few moments to work out which buttons to press.]
SAM: Greyhound X to Greyhound Y. Come in, Greyhound Y. Over.
[There are a few crackles from the device; then we hear the voice of the DOCTOR.]
DOCTOR [voice]: Greyhound Y to Greyhound X. Hello, Sam. How are things at your end?
SAM: Over.
DOCTOR [voice]: Pardon?
SAM: You’re supposed to say… never mind. I’m inside the complex. They’ve got guards on the perimeter, but there’s no signs of life in here. How about you? Over.
DOCTOR [voice]: I’m at the orbital station. I’m just planting the bomb now. No problems so far.
SAM: You’re sure this is going to work? Over.
DOCTOR [voice]: Absolutely. The aliens may have taken control of Ordifica, but at least we can stop them getting their claws into Earth. With both of their stations out of action, they won’t be able to transmit properly.
SAM: Yeah, I meant to ask you about that. How long have they had agents on Earth, anyway? This place looks like it’s been here for years. Erm, over.
DOCTOR [voice]: They have agents everywhere, Sam. Don’t forget that. If they manage to pervert Earth’s history, the whole of space-time will be open to them. Just get to the centre of the complex and use the chemothrower. The fire’s going to be chemically enhanced, so they won’t be able to put it out in time. Once you’ve done that, use the time ring to take you back to the TARDIS. With any luck, I’ll see you there.
[SAM touches the jewellery on her arm, probably to make sure it’s still there.]
SAM: OK. Doesn’t look like there’ll be any trouble. I’ll see you in a couple of minutes.
DOCTOR: And don’t dawdle. The aliens could start transmitting any time now.
SAM: Gotcha. Greyhound X, over and out.
DOCTOR [voice]: Pardon?
[SAM smirks, switches off the walkie-talkie, and stuffs it back into her pocket. Then she turns her attention to the various doors set into the walls of the passage.]
SAM: Centre of the complex. Let’s see. If I came from that way… right.
[She picks one of the doors, opens it, and steps through.]