Menagerie - Martin Day [70]
'This is what is called a secure channel,' snapped the magician. 'And I'm halfway up a very lonely hillside, watching the city. You can stop pretending to be my homunculus for a moment. No one's going to hear you.'
'The reactor is dangerously unstable, Defrabax. It must be closed down. Even at its present output it will explode in less than five minutes, causing an explosion equivalent to 790,000 kilos of plastic AK.'
'But you said that the figures were acceptable.'
'The figures accessible from the main control room indicated that the reactor was just running within the manufacturer's parameters. The test room shows that the reactor core is running over 25 per cent above recommended tolerances.'
'But how did you get into the core testing room? I thought you said that there was only one key, the key that —'
'This man opened the door for me.'
The Doctor stepped forward to the android's side and doffed an imaginary hat. 'Good evening — or is it morning up there? It's so difficult to tell. It's very dark down here, you see. I'm the Doctor, by the way, and if we don't shut this thing down soon I shall never get to meet you. It's Defrabax, isn't it?'
The old man nodded. 'That's right. And what business do you have down there?'
'The knights forced me to join an expedition in search of the Menagerie of Ukkazaal.'
'Then you're responsible for this?'
'No,' said the Doctor. 'I'm no friend of the knights. I'm here purely to avert a catastrophe.'
'I don't believe you. I'm not going to stop now. Not after these long months of preparation.'
'Ask your android,' said the Doctor. 'You know he'll speak the truth.'
'The Doctor is correct in what he says,' stated the android.
Defrabax appeared to be on the verge of tears. 'But I'm so close to success . . .'
'What are you trying to do?' asked the Doctor gently.
'I want to use that technology for the good of all our people.'
'And do you understand every aspect of what you believe to be down here? Do you have any idea of the centuries of learning that gave rise to this little microcosm of human civilization?'
'Of course not,' said Defrabax. 'The android has outlined certain principles. I have found it difficult to work only from the surface, to not actually be able to go down to the old city and see things for myself.' The man sighed. 'And, in any case, how much could I learn? I am but one man. A man of strong ideas but, it seems, little ability to back them up.'
'Now, I wouldn't say that,' said the Doctor. 'But the point is —'
'Where does your knowledge come from?' asked the mage. 'I can't believe that there is any region on our world as advanced as the old city.'
'I am from far beyond your world,' said the Doctor. 'But let's talk about such matters later. The important thing is that we shut down the reactor now.'
Defrabax sniffed. 'Very well. Android?'
'Sir?'
'I see that the Dugraqs have discovered my . . .
selfishness. Perhaps I have abused the trust of those that gave you to me. Change your command programming to obey the Doctor. Do everything he says.'
'Very well,' said the android, turning to the Doctor for instructions.
'I want you to know that I am not unsympathetic to your aims,' the Doctor told Defrabax. 'Once we've closed this plant down we'll meet you on the surface.'
'Very well,' said Defrabax. He reached down to switch off the device and the large screen again filled with the white and blue logo.
The Doctor smiled at the towering form of the disguised android. 'Now, I want you to undo everything Defrabax has instructed you to do. Shut this place down, obeying all safety protocols. How long will that take?'
'Approximately fifteen minutes to shut down major systems. Peripheral work will take a further six to seven hours and —'
'That can wait. Just make this place safe.'
The android nodded stiffly and moved off.
The Dugraq turned to the Doctor. 'Defrabax's heart is full of good intentions.'
'I'm sure of that,' said the Doctor. 'But he needs to realize that it takes time to develop technology like this.