Doctor Who_ Nightshade - Mark Gatiss [103]
Ace, Robin and Vijay threw themselves to the floor as The energy was weak, but once it had been fresh. The chairs and papers crashed around the room The Doctor and Sentience would have to go back. Back to when the star Cooper gripped the benches for dear life as a freezing wind exploded. And then it would feast.
blasted through the room. ‘Is it not... beautiful?’
Back. Back. Back.
The Doctor turned away as the column of fire expanded across the room, dazzles of brilliant white light searing his Cooper hugged Vijay to her. ‘I’m so sorry, my dear eyes. A screeching cacophony pounded at his ears and he friend.’ She kissed him and then held him at arm’s length.
thrust his head under the bench, sweat washing down his
‘There’s just the two of us now, I’m afraid. Think we can forehead.
manage?’
‘Beautiful! Beautiful!’
Vijay smiled thinly. He thought of Holly and immediately The Doctor lay down flat and covered his ears with his pushed the thought to the back of his mind.
hands. There was a tremendous wave of energy and he felt No.
his whole body being flattened. His eyes lolled back in their That was wrong. That’s how Holly... that’s why Holly died.
sockets and blood roared in his ears. He rolled himself into a By not accepting James’s death and letting his memory ball and came to rest against the console. Then he opened fester inside her. Holly was dead.
his eyes.
He would grieve, very publicly and for as long as it took.
The makeshift polythene window had burst asunder and But he would remember her with joy.
a fine rain was blowing through.
‘I think we’ll manage,’ he said at last, kissing Cooper Cooper poked her head over the top of the bench and fondly on the forehead.
looked around.
Robin grasped Ace’s hand tightly. ‘Well?’
Papers fluttered over the consoles.
Ace gazed into his lovely green eyes and bit her lip. ‘I’m
‘It’s gone,’ said the Doctor, sighing with relief. ‘Gone to going to tell him. Tell him now.’
find its star.’
The Doctor was rummaging through his pockets. He pulled out the small, vellum-bound book which the Abbot The Sentience consumed the ancient radiation as it rushed had lent him and looked up, as though struck by a thought.
into the telescope’s feed. Even at this distance, there was
‘Doctor,’ said Ace quietly. She placed a hand on his sleeve.
much to enjoy. So much energy pouring out of the dying
‘Mm?’
stellar body. But it was still so far away. So far away.
‘Doctor, I’ve ... I’ve decided to stay...’
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DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTSHADE
The Doctor blinked as though waking up. ‘Stay? Here?
He dashed across the room and lifted his hat. ‘I hate But you can’t. You ...’ He stopped and sucked his lower lip.
goodbyes. I’ll have Ace back here before you can say John
‘Of course you can.’
Robinson.’
Ace looked at her shoes. The Doctor turned and regarded He pushed open the double doors and was gone.
Robin. ‘I take it you’ve got something to do with this, young Ace turned to them all and shrugged. ‘I’ll be back soon.
man?’
Promise. Bye!’
Robin smiled his cheeky smile. ‘Guess so.’
Robin looked longingly after her. The doors clattered and Ace looked deeply into the Doctor’s eyes. ‘What about then immediately swung open again. Ace popped her head you?’
round the jamb. ‘Merry Christmas!’ she cried and vanished.
He smiled encouragingly. ‘I’ll be all right.’
‘I will miss you, Doctor.’ Ace felt the familiar numb pains The Doctor was scrabbling at his watch chain for the spreading to her palms and throat.
TARDIS key. He looked up at the sky which had cleared
‘And I shall miss you too, dear Ace.’
completely, leaving a dark, star-filled expanse. In Orion, one She flung herself into his arms and he held her tightly.
particular star was blazing wonderfully.
Ace pulled away, tears stinging her eyes.
Ace ran up behind the Doctor. ‘What’s the theory then, The Doctor looked at the book in his hand. ‘Would you do Doctor?’
one last thing for me?’
He spoke as he walked. ‘The nova is one hundred and ten
‘Of course,’ she said, sniffing back tears.
parsecs away,