Doctor Who_ Return of the Living Dad - Kate Orman [96]
‘Why should we believe you?’ said a Kapteynian, a butterfly the size of two hands. Her voice was an angry song.
‘You killed six of my scouting party!’
‘I did no such thing,’ said the Doctor sharply.
He raised a hand before the insect could disagree.
‘There’s no time to discuss it now. Why don’t we deal with the nuclear problem first, and then you lot can argue about who gets to kill me, hmm?’
The aliens murmured. There was a lot of old pain there, years old, and fear, and loathing. He was the one who had stranded them here. Not their own commanders or their conquest plans or their own greed or foolishness. Him.
‘Listen,’ he said, more gently. ‘I’ve been protecting this planet for years. But I’ve been doing half a job, leaving so many loose threads... and Isaac has been tidying up after me. Taking care of all of you, and so many others. Now I’ve got a chance to make up for that. Let me work with you to save all of our lives.’
Isaac turned to M’Kabel, who had hopped up onto the verandah, still clutching his clipboard. The Tzun murmured something to the Admiral.
‘You’re the ones who agreed to fight for this planet.’ The Doctor looked around at them. ‘This is home now.’
‘Yeah, yeah,’ said the Ra’ashet. ‘Some of us just want a crack at the Daleks.’
‘You might get it after all,’ said Isaac. He held up a long strip of dark film. ‘The Ogrons are gone. And these are —’
‘Dalek instructions,’ breathed the Doctor. He grabbed the filmstrip and ran his eyes over the harsh green characters. ‘I should have known.’
‘The Ogrons just left it on the bed,’ said M’Kabel. ‘Not too bright.’
‘Albinex is working for them,’ said the Doctor. ‘It all makes sense. The ultimate military power. He must worship them.’
‘His ship wasn’t caught up in the battle,’ said Isaac. ‘He must have been negotiating with them. Even then. Dear God.’ The Admiral gripped the railing. ‘He’s going to do it.
He’s going to start World War Three.’
‘Well, what did you expect him to do?’ said the Doctor irritably.
More than half of the aliens refused to have anything to do with the Doctor, even against the Daleks. Of the ones who were left, most were going to have to sit out the action anyway.
It was extraordinary, thought the Time Lord. Some of these people considered humans to be inherently inferior.
Many had been involved in attempts to destroy or control the human race. And yet here they were, taking orders from a short, unassuming human in a moth-eaten jumper.
The Doctor’s team comprised Isaac’ M’Kabel and Benny.
And possibly Jason. Or not. The couple were arguing furiously in a corner of the coffee shop.
‘We don’t have time to discuss this,’ Benny whispered.
‘Albinex could arrive any moment.’
‘Joel,’ said Jason. ‘He could look after him.’ Keith was hanging around their ankles, coming out with the occasional
‘Va!’ in between chewing on a soft toy. ‘It’s not just you anymore. I don’t want you facing the danger alone, okay?’
She took his face between her hands. ‘And if we both get blown away? Someone has to stay behind.’
‘I keep getting left out!’
‘That’s as it should be.’
‘Haven’t you done enough in your life?’ He caught her hand, pressed it to his cheek. ‘This one’s on me.’
‘No,’ she insisted. ‘This is my job. You don’t ever stop being a companion, Jason.’
She pulled him closer and kissed him. The Doctor frowned, turning away.
‘Now stay put,’ Benny murmured silkily. ‘Or I’ll wallop you with yon frying pan.’
The Kapteynian flew right at the Doctor’s face. He threw up his hands to protect his eyes.
She settled onto one of his wrists. ‘Listen!’ she said.
‘Listen...’
‘What can I do for you?’ he said cautiously, lowering his hands. She looked like a small, perfectly formed human child, with great, glittering butterfly wings.
‘I want to go home,’ she said. ‘I sunburn so easily under this sun. We tried sunblock, but it gives me lesions.’
‘Done,’ said the Doctor.
The Kapteynian