Doctor Who_ Prime Time - Mike Tucker [27]
Her evenings had been good too. In the absence of the Doctor she had dug out Greg’s business card and given him a call. He and Eeji Tek had taken them out clubbing last night.
She slid down under the water, and closed her eyes. She was looking forward to having a go at that wall. The Doctor had turned up again at just the right moment – even if she still had no idea how he’d got a picnic table on to the mountain with no sign of the TARDIS. It still bothered her that she didn’t know the whole story, but at least she was an essential part of the Doctor’s plans.
There was a rap on the door.
‘Are you going to be in there all day?’
The Doctor.
Ace grinned. ‘Why? Is there some rush?’
‘Well, I thought we might get some dinner. We’ve got a busy night ahead of us.’
‘I’ll be right out.’
By the time Ace had dried herself and changed, the Doctor and Gatti were waiting for her in the front room.
‘Hiya, Professor. Had a good couple of days?’
‘So, so.’ The Doctor held out his hand. ‘Here, I brought you a present.’
He handed her a lump of grey stone.
‘A rock, great.’
‘ Moonrock, Ace! He’s been to the moon!’ Gatti’s eyes were shining with excitement.
Ace gave the Doctor a quizzical look. She had expected that he’d been wandering on his own, she hadn’t expected him to be going quite so far afield.
‘What’s so special about the moon, then, Doctor?’
The Doctor tapped the side of his nose. ‘I’ll tell you over dinner.’
‘Right.’ Ace nodded, slipping the rock into the pocket of her jacket ‘Where are we eating?’
The Doctor looked expectantly at Gatti. ‘Any suggestions?’
Gatti pulled some menus from a notice board. ‘Well, there’s a Draconian takeaway on the corner, or we could try the new Argolin restaurant that’s opened.’
‘Argolin.’ Ace jumped in before the Doctor could open his mouth. Much as she liked takeaways, she wasn’t sure if she could stand another meal at the Rooth’s.
‘Right!’ The Doctor snatched up his hat and rolled it up his arm on to his head. ‘Shall we go? I’m buying!’
The Argolin restaurant was on the edge of Gatti’s estate, slightly outside the boundary of the city. It was bright and modern, set within an elegant meandering garden. Its clientele were mostly offworlders, and Ace was impressed by the number of expensive-looking flyers and antigrav cars scattered through the car park.
Inside the monitors and screens they’d seen in other bars were still present, but were far less obtrusive than elsewhere on the planet. The three of them were ushered to their table by a slim Argolin woman.
‘The Argolins are absolute masters of leisure and entertainment,’ explained the Doctor. ‘If they can’t get somewhere like this right then no one can.’
The Argolins glided around them, elegant in their peach robes, bringing drinks, serving food. The Doctor chatted endlessly to Gatti, asking her about the history of the planet, listening to stories about the first settlers, the arrival of the television station. Ace started to get impatient. She wanted to know why the Doctor had been to the moon, and what he had found out.
Finally she managed to slide next to him while Gatti was inspecting the sweet trolley.
‘Professor, what did you find?’
‘Hmm?’ The Doctor was inspecting a curious lime-green dessert.
‘On the moon!’
‘Ah!’ The Doctor put down his spoon. ‘I’m not entirely sure, Ace. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the last day or so, but there’s something that I haven’t put my finger on yet.
Some piece of the puzzle that I’m still missing.’
He looked up, staring at the ceiling. Ace got the impression that he was looking through it.
‘There’s something familiar about this area of space.
Something about that nebula.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s just on the tip of my mind.’
There was a sudden commotion from the doorway. Gatti crossed back to the table and dropped into her seat. ‘Someone is trying to attract your attention, Ace.’
Ace looked up. Greg and Eeji Tek were in the doorway, arguing with the manager of the restaurant.