Doctor Who_ Lungbarrow - Marc Platt [119]
'You cannot go,' said Rassilon.
The dark figure shook his head. 'I bequeath you my roses, Rassilon. They are plagued by scissor bugs. You may have to purge them too.'
As he walked away, there was a flash in the air. A web of electric blue flickered round and over the garden.
'You cannot leave,' Rassilon said.
The Doctor shot his companions a warning glance, before moving in beside the dark figure.
'Energy nets?' said the man. 'Are you so afraid of losing me? What do you really fear, Rassilon?'
Rassilon studied him coldly. 'After all this time, I stil hardly know you.'
This seemed to please his prisoner. 'They do say, my Lord President, you have truck with unnatural powers.'
'And do I?'
'Don't you know?' He set off back to the balcony. Rassilon followed. 'That depends upon what our narrow perception defines as unnatural. I cal them other powers.'
'They are much overrated,' said the other.
Dorothée, watching with the companions, saw something move among the rose arbours. The shadow of a figure that she could not identify.
The other was studying the flickering barrier. 'And this from someone who professes to despise superstition.'
'I banished superstition,' insisted Rassilon. 'I shut the gate on the Time of Chaos.'
190
'And I can name you at least four provincial outer-worlds that have raised temples in Rassilon's name.'
'Against my express edict.'
The other loomed over him. 'Then have the statues torn down. Or strike them with a thunderbolt.'
'Now that's a power you never offered me,' said Rassilon with a wry smile.
Anger brewed in his prisoner's eyes. 'I won't be tied by a blood-bargain or a pact. I was merely sent on approval.'
'On my approval, or yours?'
The other gave a cold smile. 'Rassilon, the People's God. How very quaint.'
'A state of affairs for which you naturally take no responsibility.'
'I advise. You don't have to listen.'
'But you're too valuable to dismiss!'
'I will not be chained!' With a snarl, the other smashed his fist against the energy nets.
Purple sparks showered among the roses.
Rassilon backed away from the figure. 'Who are you?' 'What do you want with us?'
The darkness of the figure grew in the smoky sunlight. 'I'm bored. Bored with wielding great power. Who wants to be a player, when he could be a pawn in the thick of the game?'
'You? Give up power and manipulation?' laughed Rassilon.
The other snapped his fingers. There was an explosion in the cold air. The energy web disintegrated. And the Hand of Omega was at his side.
Rassilon eyed the box. Steam drifted off its surface. It crackled to itself.
'You'l never give it up,' he said. 'What about your Family? The ones you think you keep hidden? Will you take them too?'
'Rule wisely, Rassilon,' said the other. 'And be wary of your disciples, lest they worship the icons and not the man.'
He walked down from the tower unhindered, the box following.
'Guards!' shouted Rassilon. 'Seal the ports and time wharfs. No one must leave!'
The Doctor was moving away after the other.
'Wait,' called Dorothée, but they were already drawn in his wake. 'I saw someone. Someone else was watching.'
'Where?' said Chris.
As they rose away from the tower, another insubstantial shape moved out after them.
'Who is he?' asked Romana.
'The Cousin from Hell,' said Dorothée.
'Our Cousin Glospin.' Innocet had a chill in her voice. 'I should have known he'd come after us.'
191
Leela, her colour much restored, tried to pul away from the group. 'I shall deal with that craven-hearted snake.'
'Don't break the line,' warned Innocet. 'If you stop to challenge him, we might lose you and the Doctor altogether.'
The Other stood on the steps before a new municipal building, gazing down across the city. The box was at his side.
Passing citizens ignored him. 'Go,' he said to the box, but it had gone already.
There was a flash