Doctor Who_ Prime Time - Mike Tucker [9]
Greg slid the pad across the table, pointing it across the cafe. The Doctor’s face swam into view in the tiny monitor.
Greg thumbed a small stud and the machine pinged softly.
‘Got him.’ He pulled the pad close to his mouth. ‘Data retrieval, all sources, cross-reference to picture archive.’
The machine clattered for a moment, then data began to scroll across the screen.
Greg punched the table in triumph. ‘Knew it!’
Eeji Tek peered at the flickering screen.
‘Why excited you, Ashby? How special little human is?’
Greg leant forward conspiratorially. ‘This guy is big news Eeji, Remember the disaster on Coralee last year? He was the one who saved the colony. The Venddon peace treaty. Him.
The Dalek problem out on the rim. Him. Peladon, Inter Minor
– you name it.’
Eeji Tek peered around again. ‘Doesn’t look much, he.’
‘It gets better. According to the data he’s been cropping up for centuries. No name, just calls himself the Doctor. I’ve pulled records from central as far back as the prespace era.’
The alien’s blue face crinkled in puzzlement.
‘Same man?’
Greg nodded. ‘Just not the same body.’ He snapped the pad shut. ‘I think we may have a scoop Eeji.’
‘What about girl?’
Greg shrugged. ‘Assistant? Who knows.’
He looked up again. ‘Here, he’s moving. Looks like the girl’s staying though.’ Greg stuffed the pad back into his holdall and began to struggle into his waterproof.
‘You hang about her, if she goes anywhere, follow her. I’ll try and tail him.’
Eeji Tek rolled his eyes and reached for his coffee.
‘Cheer up, Eeji.’ Greg was grinning like a man possessed.
‘I’ll make you rich yet.’
‘Professor!’
Ace put down her sandwich and glared up at the Doctor in irritation. He held his hands up, placating her.
‘I won’t be long, and it doesn’t make sense for both of us to be traipsing around in the rain. I’ll find us somewhere to stay, then come back and get you, all right?’
‘Yeah, I suppose so.’
‘Right. Won’t be long.’
Snatching up his umbrella from the door the Doctor vanished into the rain. Ace watched as his diminutive figure was swallowed up by the jostling crowds. She gave a deep sigh and took another bite of her sandwich. As always there were strange flavours mingled in with ones that she recognised. Food on alien planets was always something of a lottery with Ace. However much she enjoyed her lifestyle there were times when it would be nice to be back in a good old-fashioned pub eating pie and chips.
She settled back in her chair and took a swig of her drink.
Well, if she was going to be stuck here for a while she might as well make the most of it. She peered at the reflections in the glass, trying to catch a glimpse of the man who had smiled at her when she came in. As she did so he brushed past her, flashing her another smile as he vanished into the rain.
‘Damn,’ Ace hissed under her breath. She twisted around to look at the table where he had been sitting. A gangly blue-tinted alien stared back at her with mournful eyes. Ace slumped back into her chair, raising her glass to her reflection.
‘Cheers.’
The Doctor dodged through the tide of people, jacket pulled tight around him. He’d upset Ace. Not what he had intended, but he needed-a little time alone. She was the perfect companion in many ways, never complaining, rarely getting herself into trouble that she couldn’t get herself out of, but her boundless enthusiasm could occasionally get a little wearing and at the moment he needed time-to think.
He was sure now that the Channel 400 building was the key to that mysterious signal. The readings that he had taken from the harvester confirmed they were beaming a carrier wave to the moon. That was next on his list of places to visit.
For the moment though, he had to find himself and Ace somewhere inconspicuous to stay – after he’d made a quick recce.
A hovercab loomed out of the rain and the Doctor waved frantically at it. It whirred to a halt, its antigrav fields hissing in the rain. He dodged through the traffic, hauled open the door and