Doctor Who_ Match of the Day - Chris Boucher [73]
„No,‟ Ronick said flatly. „And don‟t try my patience. I‟m not a patient man and I can blow your cover.‟ He snapped his fingers. „Like that.‟
„I don‟t imagine you‟d want to get on the wrong side of state security,‟ the Doctor said and smiled. „My feeling is they are probably not the best possible enemies to have?‟
„Is that a threat?‟ Ronick asked threateningly.
From the aggressive response, the Doctor could see that Ronick was nervous of state security just like everyone else seemed to be. Not even tough, cynical policemen were immune apparently. „If I suggested that we work together, confidentially, off the record or whatever you want to call it, what would you say?‟
Ronick frowned. „Are you asking for my help?‟
„Yes,‟ the Doctor said. He stood up and offered Ronick his hand. The gesture clearly puzzled the detective. „On some of the more civilised planets they signify agreement by clasping hands,‟ he explained.
Ronick hesitated. „What do I get in return for helping you?‟
„Whatever it was you came here looking for,‟ the Doctor said, „I‟ll do my best to provide it.‟
„What do you think that is?‟
„I think you came here looking for the help of a senior agent in state security,‟ the Doctor said. „But you‟ll have to make do with me. Do we have an agreement?‟
Ronick said, „Why not?‟ And as he took the Doctor‟s hand his eyes were hidden behind his smile.
Finbar had estimated that it would take about eighty hours for the old freighter to rendezvous with the Lady Hakai‟s space-yacht, the Ultraviolet Explorer. He had stashed enough food concentrates and water in the medical supply locker to sustain Keefer during the time, but he could not provide much in the way of waste elimination facilities. In fact he could not provide anything except the rather unsanitary advice of the seasoned space-hand. He had suggested using any or all of the bulk cargo silos. „But don‟t use the same one for liquids and solids,‟ he had said. „That way lies squelching and discomfiting stinkiness.‟ Keefer considered it briefly and chose instead to limit himself to the minimum inputs required to keep his body in some sort of balance.
He had relaxed completely, lowering his metabolic rate so that he was on the edge of sleep, drifting in and out of a semi-dream state, unconscious of the passage of time but continuously aware of the sounds and smells around him.
During the journey nobody had come to where he drifted and it was only when the freighter‟s directional thrusters cut in, sending soft murmuring vibrations through the air of the deck space, that he had finally woken.
He found he was unexpectedly hungry, and a lot thirstier than he should have been. He checked the time elapsed. For whatever reason it had taken a hundred and thirty-six hours to find the huge space-yacht and begin the approach and docking manoeuvres. Even allowing for the full error margin, a flight overrun of fifty-six hours was unlikely. Either Finbar had got it wrong or the Ultraviolet Explorer had changed its routine.
While he listened to the delicate bursts of power, Keefer slaked his thirst slowly and ate some of the concentrates. He had to bring himself back to full function very carefully, he could not afford any physical imbalances. He needed to be sharp if he was going to get to and confront the Lady Hakai.
If she was the one, the unexplained enemy who had sent the android against him, then he needed to be machine sharp.
As he ate and drank he considered the possibilities for boarding the Ultraviolet Explorer. They seemed to be limited to two: he could identify himself, throw down a challenge and fight his way on; or he could get himself off-loaded with the cargo. A frontal attack meant he didn‟t get a look at the Fat Boys before he took them on, which would be a mistake. An avoidable mistake if he went the cargo route. But if the breather ran out, or if the silo pressure tubes had purification filters, even basic crud screens, riding with the bulk lecea as it was sucked through into the space-yacht‟s storage would be a worse mistake. That would be a final