Doctor Who_ Prime Time - Mike Tucker [41]
Ace and Gatti looked at each other. Ace took a deep breath.
The surgeon general of the Fleshsmiths stared out of the window of the ship at the planet below, the writhing tendrils of gas that formed the nebulae forming an ever-changing backdrop. Behind him the operating theatre was dark and quiet, the silence broken only by the breathing of the creature on the operating table. The creature that he had created.
A shadowy robed figure shuffled from the shadows.
‘Surgeon General.’
‘Speak.’
‘This man. This human that we have augmented. What is its function?’
The surgeon general said nothing for a moment, staring out at the muted colours in the blackness of space. Then he turned.
‘There are events occurring that I had not foreseen. Our allies at Channel 400 may not be as trustworthy as I had hoped, and our Zzinbriizi friends are duplicitous by nature.’
‘But they are under our control. The pain that we can give them...’
‘... makes them hate us as well as fear us.’ The surgeon general turned away from the window and crossed to the figure of Greg Ashby lying on the operating table. ‘I would rather have a tool whose loyalty is not in question.’
A scarred hand pulled back the sheet, scrutinising the creation underneath. Outside the operating theatre a television screen flickered with the endless programming from the planet below. The surgeon general turned to his waiting minion.
‘Take the ship to low orbit. We will release our new tool to be our eyes on Blinni-Gaar.’
‘And that’s about it.’
Ace sat back, watching Trasker’s face. The woman sipped at her coffee, the stub of a cigarette dangling from between her fingers.
‘You don’t believe in taking things easy, do you?’
Ace shrugged. ‘It’s a knack.’
‘Well, you two could be just what I’m looking for.’
Ace frowned. ‘How come?’
Trasker took a deep drag on her cigarette.
‘I used to work for Channel 400, wasn’t exactly keen on them as employers.’
Ace tensed, suddenly wary,‘Doing what?’
‘Reporter, journalist.’
Ace shook her head. ‘Seems there are a lot of you about.
Why did you leave?’
‘Because they’re corrupt, evil. They dumped me without a second thought as soon as they realised that I wasn’t as easily bought as they were expecting.’ Trasker gave a barking laugh.
‘Not all journalists are ready to sell their souls to the devil.
I’ve been trying to get a lead on Lukos for over a year, without success. If I could get you two on camera...’
Ace suddenly exploded from’ her chair, pushing through tables, sending chairs flying in her haste to get to the screen above the bar.
‘No!’
Gatti crossed to her side. ‘What is it, Ace? What’s wrong?’
Ace was grinding her fists on to the glass of the counter.
She couldn’t take her eyes from the screen. Channel 400’s coverage of the Doctor’s exploits had resumed and there on the screen in front of her was the Doctor, sitting down with the man she had least expected to see.
‘Who is that man? Ace, do you know him?’
Ace’s voice was barely a whisper. ‘Oh, yeah. I know him.’
Chapter Eleven
The Master stood at the window, staring out over the shadowy plains of the TARDIS interior. The Doctor sat in the shadows, saying nothing, waiting for him to speak.
Finally the Master turned.
‘Death is something that I have done my best to avoid, Doctor. I have clung to life, prolonged it by every means available to me. This body...’ He held up a gloved hand,’...is not strong enough, and so I have endeavoured to gain a new one.’
The Doctor regarded him grimly. ‘I believe mine was on your shopping list for a while.’
The Master gave a sly smile. ‘And believe me, Doctor, I would gladly have taken it.’ He inclined his head slightly.
‘Though your present form is less than ideal for ruling a galaxy with.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I have run out of options though. The cheetah virus that plagues me has almost finished me. Oh I control it now, I have finally mastered the beast, but it is a strain, and I had so nearly rid myself of it.’
‘How?’ asked the Doctor. ‘Where did you go?’
‘I went to others for