Doctor Who_ Match of the Day - Chris Boucher [100]
„It‟s called the Ultraviolet Explorer’, Finbar answered.
The Doctor saw from his expression that the pilot had spoken without thinking but he wasn‟t sure how much information he was still holding back. „Do they know we‟re planning to intercept them on their inward leg to the OTS?‟
he asked, impressing himself with his confident use of guessed-at jargon.
Finbar asked, „What makes you think they‟re on an inward to the Hakai?‟ His confidence appeared to be lessening slightly.
The Doctor indicated the control console read-outs „Your fuel load and the rate of consumption.‟ He hoped it sounded as though he knew what he was talking about. „Why are they coming in?‟
Finbar shook his head. „It‟s got to be something major. She hasn‟t left the Geewin system...‟ He shook his head again and shrugged. „She hasn‟t ever left it as far as I know.‟
The Doctor had hoped he might say more about the approaching ship and when he didn‟t he was at something of a loss as to how to prompt him into it. „Never?‟ was the best he could come up with.
„Well, it‟s not built for it, is it,‟ Finbar said. „The woman might own the OTS but that doesn‟t mean she can bring that monstrous indulgence safely into orbit in any -‟
Sita interrupted him, „You mean it‟s that Ultraviolet Explorer?’ She sounded astounded.
„There is only one,‟ Finbar said. „The Lady Hakai‟s happy hideaway.‟
„Wait a minute. This lady owns the Hakai Corporation?‟ the Doctor asked, knowing that he‟d made a mistake with the question as soon as he asked it.
„Of course she does,‟ Finbar said. He shot the Doctor a puzzled look. „Where have you been?‟
Yes, the Doctor thought, this is obviously someone everybody knows about. Everybody including Keefer presumably. „I thought she might have relinquished control by now,‟ he said. „Wasn‟t there a rumour...?‟
„There are always rumours,‟ Finbar agreed. „But trust me, you don‟t stay third richest person in the system by relinquishing control of anything.‟
„She controls worlds,‟ Ronick said. „Yours for instance.‟
„Mine?‟ It was the Doctor‟s turn to be puzzled. „I don‟t think so,‟ he said.
„Especially your world,‟ Ronick said.
„She is a big fan apparently‟ Sita said. „Did your friend the State Security Minister never mention it?‟
„Not that I recall,‟ the Doctor said.
„She loves the tradition of the duellist,‟ Sita said. „She is devoted to the noble contest.‟
Finbar said, „You know she‟s got her own martial cult. They call themselves hakai-warriors. We call them the Fat Boys.‟
„What is it with you and fat people?‟ Ronick demanded.
„They‟re fat: it‟s part of their discipline. I‟m sorry if that offends you.‟ Finbar didn‟t look sorry. „Maybe it‟s to set them apart from skinny space crew. I‟m just a jobbing pilot, what do I know.‟
The Doctor frowned at Ronick. „When you say controls my world...?‟
Ronick said, „Agents, fighters, most of the Prime Division, broadcast networks; they say she owns the Senior Umpire and controls the Court of Attack.‟
„You don‟t really believe that,‟ Sita scoffed. The Senior Umpire and the Court of Attack?‟
„Don‟t let your officer-class background do all your thinking for you,‟ Ronick growled. „Everything‟s for sale if you can afford it and she can afford it.‟
The Doctor felt a small, momentary excitement, as though he almost had the puzzle sorted out in his mind. „We‟re going to intercept her ship because,‟ he smiled at Finbar,
„according to you, that‟s where Keefer has run to.‟ But something vital was not there he knew, or it was in the wrong place, so it was possible that he hadn‟t sorted any of it out and the hopeful excitement vanished as quickly as it had come.
„That‟s where he went all right,‟ Finbar said. „I helped him do it. I helped him to smuggle himself on board.‟
And there was the problem, the Doctor realised. Given that he had begun to think this was all about duelling; all about the tradition of the noble contest and some sort of clash