Doctor Who_ Original Sin - Andy Lane [61]
‘What do you mean?’ the Doctor asked.
‘Bloodlust. People suddenly going off the deep end and slicing up their nearest and dearest with the first sharp object that comes to hand. Or taking potshots at passers by. Or crashing flitters into packed restaurants.’
The Doctor’s eyes took on that dreamy, misty quality that Bernice had seen so often before. It meant that he was thinking about sticking his Gallifreyan oar in.
‘Just on Earth?’ he said, shooting Forrester a penetrating glance.
‘As far as we know,’ she confirmed.
The Doctor gazed meaningfully at Bernice. ‘And so it begins,’ he murmured, then glanced over at Provost-Major Beltempest. ‘Had this man been on Earth recently?’ he asked.
Beltempest shrugged. Not sure,’ he said. ‘I could check when we get back to the admin sector.’
Bernice interrupted. ‘He was on the Arachnae with us. I recognized him.’
‘Must have just come back from leave, then,’ Beltempest said thoughtfully.
‘Hmm,’ the Doctor mused.
Everybody looked expectantly at him.
He
glanced up, surprised and slightly embarrassed by the attention.
‘What is it?’ Beltempest said. ‘What exactly did we see in that man’s brain?’
‘Well, as far as I can make out, it was some kind of resonance effect, as if he had been subject to an extremely strong –’ The Doctor paused, as if he was only just realizing what he was saying. ‘– an extremely strong icaron field.
Hmm.’
‘Icaron field?’ Forrester asked.
‘Elementary particles of the tachyon family. Imaginary mass, imaginary charge . . . ’
‘But the effects are all too real,’ Bernice said quietly.
‘Indeed,’ the Doctor said. ‘Icarons have been known to cause paranoia and psychotic behaviour in humans under certain rare circumstances, and only to genetically susceptible individuals – those who have gone through body-bepple, I would suggest. That’s why they were called icarons, I believe –
because of Icarus, the legendary character whose death was a result of badly applied science. If only I knew more . . . ’
‘Icarons drive people mad?’ Beltempest snapped, eyes wide in surprise. ‘I’ve never seen any reports to that effect. How do you know? How can you be so sure?’
‘Experience,’ the Doctor said succinctly. ‘Interesting that you know what icarons are.’
‘Ah. I’ve . . . come across them,’ Beltempest spluttered through his trunk.
105
‘You suspect that there’s an – what did you call them? – an icaron field affecting people on Earth?’ Forrester said, frowning.
The Doctor grimaced. ‘Based on other information which has reached our ears, I think it’s a distinct possibility. I’d need to talk to an expert first.’
Forrester shook her head. ‘Shame you’re not going to get the chance.’
‘But this is –’
‘Don’t care. You’re a suspect in a murder investigation. You’re both coming back to Earth with us.’
‘Wait!’ Beltempest’s authoritative bark made the two Adjudicators freeze in their tracks. ‘The Imperial Landsknechte need to know why these men died.’
‘The Order of Adjudicators needs to question these two in connection with a murder,’ Forrester snapped. ‘That takes priority.’
‘It’s a matter of interstellar security –’
‘Under Order regulations –’
‘Wait!’ The Doctor’s voice cut through the babble. When everybody was staring at him, openmouthed, he continued. ‘The most important thing is to prevent any more deaths. That takes precedence over everything.’
Beltempest nodded slowly, followed by Forrester.
‘So, if you have to question us over this murder on Earth, do so. But do it quickly. It’s important that I get to work on whatever is causing this – this mutation in the human brain.’
‘What’s your suggestion?’ Forrester said quietly.
‘Question us here. Then, when you’ve cleared us, let us stay.’
Bernice shot him a baleful glance. Purgatory was the last place in the universe she wanted to be at the moment.
‘No can do,’ Forrester said. ‘We need access to centcomp files.’
‘Then take one of them back to Earth,’ Beltempest suggested. ‘The woman, for preference. Leave the man here to work with us. Just make sure you return the woman, if she’s found