Doctor Who_ Longest Day - Michael Collier [12]
The corridor seemed to go on for ever. Sam was still striding off ahead but feeling less and less sure of herself. She subtly shortened her stride, but, glancing over her shoulder, she cc uld see that the Doctor was always the same distance behind her, never catching up, never standing still. There were stretches of the corridor that were dimly lit at best -usually the parts with sharp turns in them, so it was impossible to see what was coming round the corner.
The Doctor's voice suddenly rang out in the sterile silence of their surroundings. 'You know, when you've wandered up and down as many corridors as I have, it's quite soothing to find some as dull as these.' He yawned, loudly. 'This soft lighting is making me sleepy.'
'All we need is some soft music and a sofa. We could have some fun!' Sam grinned over her shoulder. I don't believe I said that, she thought, embarrassment suddenly making her toes curl in her battered trainers as she walked.
'Quite,' said the Doctor, vaguely. Sam quickened her pace, turned a new corner, and stood stock still.
'What is it?' Suddenly the Doctor was there at her side, body tensed, moving her behind him protectively. Then he relaxed. 'Airlock,' he said.
'Pressurised area ahead. Shall we see what's inside it?'
'Yeah,' said Sam with exaggerated enthusiasm. Tell you what, though.'
'What?'
She gestured proudly forward. 'You go first.'
***
The row of flickering screens flashed harsh squares of blue-white light into the darkness. A sound like static filled the air. A few red lights winked and flickered on the far side of the room as if dancing a frenzied code, begging for attention.
Anstaar peered into the blackness. She sniffed. That could only be Vasid.
Her ears strained for some sound of him, her forked tongues flickering over her dry lips nervously.
'Is this your problem, Vasid?' she began, challengingly. thankful there was no tremor in her voice. 'The light's not working? I think you'll find a service bot can deal with this for you if it was my advice you wanted at this idiot hour of night.'
Silence. The flashing of static on the screens.
"This is so funny, Vasid .'Where was he? Hiding? Crouching in the dark? 'I just wet myself laughing. Good night.' She turned around to leave. Then a thought struck her. What if Vost was behind this? What if -
'You're paranoid,' she told herself. Then the hands grabbed her by the throat and propelled her into the control room.
Chapter 3
Split
Too shocked even to try to cry out, Anstaar tried struggling, but the pressure didn't ease off. There was a sharp crack and she realised her head had smashed against one of the monitors. Vasid's face drew close, dark blue and shadowy in the erratic light from the flickering screen. His breath was foul and his forehead glistened with sweat.
'I'm not paranoid,' said Vasid, relaxing his crushing grip slightly and smiling as she whimpered for breath. 'I know exactly what you are.'
He twisted her neck round and pressed close against her as her body attempted to turn with it. Her face was pressed up to the glass of the screen. She could see her features reflected in it, saw the fear in her own eyes and the manic gleam in Vasid's behind her. 'Got bored with Vost, did you?' he gurgled in her ear. A dribble of his saliva landed on the bare skin of her neck and she shuddered. 'Didn't he come up to your standards?' He grabbed her hair, pulled back her head and bumped it against the screen.
She stayed silent.'I know where you must've put him,' he grated, twisting her arm behind her back. 'I've worked it all out. I know. And I'm going to make you join him!' He pulled savagely on her twisted arm.
The pain brought with it anger and disbelief. This was Vasid, for the deity's sake! She brought her heel down hard on his foot, and with a cry of rage untwisted the arm he was holding, grabbed his wrist, and pushed. Vasid stayed silent as he crashed into what was probably the command chair, overtoppling it and landing, by the sound of it, underneath it.
There was nothing