Doctor Who_ Silver Nemesis - Kevin Clarke [42]
Ace was mesmerized by the Doctor. ‘How?’ she managed to whisper.
‘From the statue,’ said Lady Peinforte triumphantly. ‘It is his creation.’
‘All right,’ began Ace. ‘So what does it matter? He’s a Time Lord. I know that.’
Lady Peinforte smiled almost kindly on her. ‘And you, think that is all,’ she said sweetly. She turned to the Doctor and her expression became one of cold fury. ‘Well, Doctor?’
There was a moment before the Doctor could reply. ‘If I give you the statue?’ he said finally. His voice was almost inaudible.
Lady Peinforte’s voice was like silk. ‘Your power becomes mine.’ Her eyes hardened. ‘But your secrets remain your own.’
The Doctor slowly turned to Ace and put his hands on her shoulders. He looked sadly into her eyes. ‘It’s all over, Ace. My battle; all my battles: I’ve lost, I can only surrender.’
‘Yes,’ Lady Peinforte agreed calmly.
The Doctor turned and faced her. ‘But not,’ he said, ‘to you. The Cybermen will have the Nemesis.’
The Cyber Leader was clearly surprised. ‘This is most rational, Doctor,’ he said.
Lady Peinforte appeared to be on the verge of a fit.
‘But... but I know your secret,’ she blurted, The Doctor looked her full in the eyes. In all the moments that would ever come, Ace doubted whether she ever saw him looking more magnificent. ‘Very well,’ he replied in total defiance. ‘Tell them.’
Lady Peinforte put her hand to her forehead. She could no longer comprehend the world. Her voice became pathetic. ‘But I know...’ she repeated softly, almost speaking to herself.
The Doctor was now fully in command of himself. ‘I’m afraid,’ he replied magisterially, and drawing himself up to his full height, ‘that makes only two of us.’
The Cyber Leader stepped forward impatiently. ‘You may now give me the bow, Doctor,’ he grated.
‘Very well,’ the Doctor replied.
Ace could not believe her ears. ‘You can’t, Doctor,’ she shouted desperately.
For once Lady Peinforte was in complete agreement with her. ‘No,’ she repeated, ‘you cannot.’
The Doctor, however, ignored them, and in deathly silence handed the silver bow to the Cyber Leader.
‘Deactivate its destructive capability,’ ordered the Cyber Leader.
The Doctor turned obediently to the statue. ‘Do you understand the Cyber leader’s order?’ he asked.
‘Perfectly,’ replied the statue in its cold, calm voice.
Ace looked on in growing horror. ‘You can’t do this, Doctor,’ she said.
The Doctor gave no sign of having heard her. The Cyber leader placed the bow in the statue’s hands. He stood back almost reverently. ‘Prepare it for launching to liaise with our fleet,’ he commanded the Doctor. ‘You have its position from this device.’
He was indicating Ace’s ghetto blaster. He pressed a button on the front and ejected the jazz cassette. The Cyber Leader removed it and held it tauntingly in front of Ace and the Doctor. ‘A new and final era begins, Doctor,’ he said. ‘Imagination, thought, freedom, pleasure, all will end.’ He crushed the tape in his fist and dropped the broken pieces to the ground. He addressed the group in general. ‘The Earth will be transformed into our base planet, the new Mondas,’ he anounced. ‘Before I kill you all, you may watch the arrival of our fleet. Launch the Nemesis.’
Ace screamed, a final plea. ‘Don’t do it, Doctor! Please, please don’t.’ It was hopeless. Again, the Doctor gave not the slightest indication of having heard her. Instead he stepped forward to the sled and pressed the switches, activating the rockets. He stepped back again and stood clear. The rockets began to hum. Lady Peinforte stared in horrified disbelief.
‘It’s about to launch,’ the Doctor warned them grimly.
‘Keep back.’
The rockets were building