Doctor Who_ The Twin Dilemma - Eric Saward [43]
When presented with the discovery, Mosten had become immediately suspicious, partly because of the sheer size of the find, but also because of their pristine state. Further investigatin found the vases and statues not what they, were supposed to be, but modern copies, carefully aged.
Further investigation showed the reason for the deception: the planet was bankrupt. It had been the intention of the Senilians to pass off the discovery as authentic, selling the pieces to the highest bidder, thereby solving their immediate fiscal problems. They had also planned to 'discover' further items which they would exhibit, creating a tourist industry which would solve their long-term cash flow.
At least, that was the plan.
Mosten was so angered by the deception that he set out to discover how the Senilians had managed to age their pseudo antiques so skilfully.
Such was his determination that it didn't take him long to find the chemist who had invented the acid. With the aid of a massive bribe, he was able to acquire two flasks of the unique liquid.
However, whilst travelling to the press conference where he was to publicly expose and denounce the acid, one of the flasks broke in his pocket. Unfortunately for Mosten, he aged and died in seconds.
When he arrived at the conference there was nothing left of him but a pile of grey ash.
Fortunately for the planet Senile, the second flask had survived and, on being analysed, was declared a breakthrough in the science of chemistry. No longer would incredibly hard substances such as modern alloys have to be drilled, carefully filed, subjected to controlled explosion or, in more extreme cases, simply left to weather away. With the careful application of the acid, any shape or depth of hole could be created quickly, simply, safely and, more importantly for money-orientated societies, very cheaply.
Although Senile Nine had been denied wealth through tourism, it now grew rich and fat on the production of what became known as Mosten's acid.
The Doctor knew the history of the acid he carried in his pocket, but he was not thinking about it as, with Azmael, he made his way along the corridor. He was more worried by the lack of guards. It made him feel uneasy. Mestor might be all powerful, but even he would take some precautions.
As they waited for the massive steel doors to the throne room to swing electronically open, it was Azmael who supplied an answer to the Doctor's concern.
'If you were Mestor, and you knew that I knew what you planned for this planet, would you want to discuss it in front of Jacondan courtiers and guards? Personally I would think you would prefer to keep it all rather private.'
As they entered the long, dank, sepulchral throne room, it seemed that Azmael was right. Apart from the massive, slobbering form of Mestor, slouched on his throne, the room was empty.
Cautiously, the two Time Lords started the long trek towards their captor. As they walked, Azmael noticed that massive humidifiers had been installed and that each one was saturating the atmosphere with an ultra-fine sheet of water. Everything dripped including the beautiful tapestries which adorned the walls.
But what broke Azmael's heart most of all were the thick layers of petrified mucus which encased the mosaic floor. A thousand years ago it had taken Jacondan artisans ten years to create the fascinating and intricate patterns of the mosaic. Such was its final glory that it it had been declared an ancient wonder of the Trilop Major galaxy.
Now it was ruined, destroyed beyond restoration, and the slobbering mass which sat upon the marble throne before them didn't care at all.
'Long walk,' said the Doctor flippantly. 'And now I'm here, 1 don't think the sight of you was worth it.'
Mestor moved uneasily in his chair. In spite of his earlier conversation with the Doctor, he was still unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a rude, offhand manner. 'Control your arrogance, Time Lord,'