Doctor Who_ War Of The Daleks Part 10

'He has their weapons,' Barydon added.

'He's a scavenger!' Delani snapped. 'You're trained soldiers. You should be able to find him without trouble. Do it.'

Barydon acknowledged and signed off. Delani was right. The fugitive had simply been lucky. He would not be so lucky again.

Sam was feeling worse and worse about this whole situation. The Doctor seemed to have sunk into introspection, and Chayn was silent as she led the way through the underworld of the ship. About the only good thing Sam could see here was that there were no Daleks actually involved. The Doctor might think the Thals were friends of his, but Sam was under no such illusion. They were soldiers, and they would do whatever they were ordered to do. Delani had already proven that he had an itchy trigger finger. And if this Davros character was half the monster the Doctor seemed to think he was, then he was definitely trouble.

He certainly looked evil. Sam knew from her time with the Doctor that appearances were definitely deceptive when dealing with alien creatures. But there was something about the misshapen creature that made her feel sick. She could understand the Doctor's sense of urgency. She'd have preferred to return to the TARDIS and get the h.e.l.l out of there, but she knew that wasn't an option for the Doctor. He was on another crusade to save a sizeable portion of the Universe. And for all his being a Time Lord and a thousand years old, she knew that he still needed her around to look after him and watch his back. Although Chayn, too, seemed to be quite happy to take on that role.

Again, Sam resented the older woman and her skills. She could only hope that the Doctor wasn't foolish enough to reciprocate the interest that Chayn clearly had in him. No matter how compatible they might look, it was obvious that they weren't really suited to each other.

Chayn stopped by an access panel. 'Storage bay eight,' she whispered. Sam thought this was a bit silly. It was rather unlikely there would be anyone standing on the other side of the panel, listening for them. Unless, of course, Ayaka had discovered that they had escaped. Chayn looked worried. 'There may be several Thals guarding Davros.'

'I doubt it,' the Doctor replied. 'Delani is arrogant, and thinks he's got Davros firmly in hand. But we have to take that chance.'

Nodding, Chayn eased open the panel, and then the three of them slipped out into the storage bay. There was n.o.body in sight, and she closed the hatch behind them. They had emerged behind the debris, hiding them from Davros and Cathbad. The Doctor now took the lead, hurrying silently through the maze of wreckage to where Davros had been sitting. As they rounded the final wrecked bulkhead, Sam saw that Cathbad was working on some instruments, his back to Davros.

And Davros was moving. He seemed to have regained his mobility by now. A mechanical hand-like device was protruding from a portion of his sh.e.l.l, and it was definitely aimed towards the unsuspecting Thal.

'Cathbad!' the Doctor yelled. 'Look out!'

Cathbad dived and rolled, his instinctive reaction as a soldier. A lance of electricity shot from the mechanical hand, aimed at the spot where the Thal had been standing. The machine he'd been tending exploded in incandescent flames. The blast rocked the floor slightly, making Sam stumble. The Doctor kept his feet, though, and made it to Davros.

'That's quite enough from you,' he said, his fingers tapping controls in Davros's sh.e.l.l. 'I think it's time to subvert your control systems.'

Chayn hurried to Cathbad's side, grabbing the Thal's rifle, and then helping him to sit up. 'Are you all right?' she asked him.

'Yes,' Cathbad gasped. 'Fine.'

'Good.' Chayn pointed the rifle at him. 'Now, sit still, there's a good fellow.'

Sam reached the Doctor's side. She glanced at Davros, and saw that some of the mechanical lights on his casing had died out. 'What have you done?' she asked the Doctor.

'I've shut down all of his power functions, leaving only life-support,' the Doctor explained. 'It means, among other things, that we won't have to listen to him ranting.'

'No,' said a fresh voice. Sam whirled around, to see it was one of the crew members. He was a tired-looking man, but he held a rifle on them all.

'Harmon!' Chayn exclaimed. 'You traitor! You sold us out to the Thals!'

'I didn't know they were going to do this,' Harmon said bitterly. 'I thought they just wanted that Dalek artefact that we found. They never told me that it contained Davros.' He spat on the metal floor. 'The Daleks wiped out my entire family. Now it's time to switch him off for good.' He gestured with the rifle, and Sam and the Doctor moved slowly out of his way. 'How do I do it, Doctor?'

The Time Lord said nothing. 'Tell me or she dies.' Harmon indicated Sam.

Almost immediately the Doctor rejoined, 'Those two switches on the right.' Sam looked at him quickly. Was his haste from the threat on her life or from finding someone prepared to b.u.mp off Davros without compunction?

Harmon moved in, and shot home two final switches on Davros's control panel. Instantly, Davros shuddered, and the rest of the lights died out and Sam got her answer.

'No!' the Doctor snapped, starting forward. Harmon held up the rifle threateningly. The Doctor halted, his face torn by emotions. 'Harmon, killing Davros won't solve anything.'

'Wrong, Doctor.' The man sighed. 'It'll stop some of my worst nightmares. And he'll never cause the death of another living being.'

Sam glanced at Davros, who seemed frozen in place. Was he already dead? She knew that she was witnessing murder, and that she should do something. But what? And did she really want to risk her life to try and save a ma.s.s murderer? She was torn between her principles and her knowledge that Davros was utterly evil. The Doctor, too, seemed to be undergoing the same agonizing choice, his eyes flickering back and forth from Davros to Harmon.

'That's enough,' Delani called. Sam whirled around, and saw that he was standing in the open hatchway to the bay, two other Thals flanking him. All three had rifles trained on them. 'Harmon, turn him back on immediately.'

'Drop your weapons, or I kill him,' Chayn called, tapping Cathbad under the chin with his own weapon.

'Kill him, then,' Delani said, emotionlessly. 'He's a soldier, and expects to die.'

Chayn stared at Cathbad, her knuckles white. Then she laid down the gun. 'I'm sorry, Doctor,' she said.

'I'm not,' he told her.

Harmon had made no move to obey Delani. Instead, he started to turn and raise his rifle, clearly intending to fire at them.

Three bolts cut him down where he stood. He looked startled, and then fell, smoking, to the deck.

The two Thals were hurrying down the ladder, Delani keeping the small party covered from his vantage point. 'Turn Davros's life support back on, Doctor,' Delani ordered. 'Or I kill your friends.'

The Doctor looked from the gun to Davros to Sam and back to Delani. 'So you can continue with your insane plan?' he asked. 'I will only do as you ask if you give me your word that Davros will be held for trial.'

'No deal, Doctor,' Delani snapped. His finger tightened on the trigger.

Cathbad pushed past Chayn, and started to tap in commands on Davros's carriage. The lights began to return to their normal colors, and Davros took a long, deep breath. 'It's all right, sir,' Cathbad called. 'I've repowered him.'

'Good.' Delani started down the ladder now, as Cathbad and the other two Thals had the Doctor, Sam and Chayn covered.

Cathbad gave Chayn a slight smile. 'It was sensible of you not to kill me,' he complimented her. 'Delani would have killed you immediately in retaliation.'

'That wasn't what stopped me,' Chayn snapped. 'He's probably going to kill me anyway.'

Puzzled, Cathbad asked, 'Then what did stop you?'

'Killing you in cold blood would have made me as bad as you,' she replied defiantly. 'And I won't sink that low.' She seemed to enjoy the confusion on his face.

Delani hurried over to join them, his expression a mixture of satisfaction and anger. 'So, Doctor,' he said, mildly enough, 'you had to interfere. And you managed to get away from Ayaka. She's not normally this careless.'

'I think she was a little preoccupied,' the Doctor answered. He looked at Harmon's body. 'Another death you've caused. I hope you're feeling proud of yourself.'

Delani grunted, and then turned to Cathbad. 'What happened?'

'Davros tried to kill me,' the young Thal replied. 'The Doctor called a warning which saved my life. While I was stunned, they captured me, and Harmon then tried to terminate Davros.'

Delani gave the Doctor a slight smile. 'Contradictory messages,' he murmured. 'Saving my man's life and attacking my prize.'

'I'm a complicated person,' the Doctor answered.

'So I see.' Delani examined the explosive collar still around Davros's neck. 'It seems that the Doctor was right. You have been busy.'

Davros said nothing. He clearly regretted only that his attempt had failed.

Delani turned back to Cathbad. 'Watch him from now on,' he ordered. 'Put a power lock on his chair, with a dead man's switch. If anything happens to you, I want his power packs to be drained instantly, killing him.' He turned back to Davros. 'You understand that I will give you no more chances?'

'Perfectly,' Davros grated. 'However, I am willing to work with you as you desire, on one condition.' His head turned. 'Kill the Doctor.'

Delani raised an eyebrow. 'You will work for me without any conditions,' he stated. 'And what happens to the Doctor will not be because of your desires.' He turned to one of the guards. 'Stay here and help watch. We move out as soon as this ship is secure.'

'Secure?' The Doctor's ears perked up. 'Having a little trouble, are we?'

'Very little,' Delani snapped. 'One crew person has managed to kill two of my men. He is being isolated and punished. Now, Doctor, you and your friends will precede me. We are going to the dining area where the crew is being held. Ayaka will join us there. Move.'

The Doctor shrugged, and gestured politely for Sam and Chayn to go before him. Sam knew that Delani had something planned, and she suspected that, whatever it was, none of them were going to like it very much. But she was glad to get away from Harmon's dead body and the cold, calculating evil of Davros.

Loran waited for the inevitable search, prepared. He'd holed up in the doorway to the reactor chamber, knowing that the next Thals he saw would be more prepared for him. Or so they thought.

The Dalek weapon would be useless now, he knew. The power pack was running low, and it stood to reason that the Thals had some form of defence against it. But their own weapons were another matter.

It was just a matter of time now. He had hoped to be able to free some more of his crew, but had been forced to abandon that plan. They were too well guarded, and the Thals were expecting trouble. Loran was under no illusion that he could win this battle, but that wasn't really his intention. He knew he was a dead man; it was merely a matter of taking as many of the enemy with him as he could before they killed him. Two so far, but he had no intention that they would be the last.

Then he heard footsteps in the corridor, and he brought up one of the stolen rifles, aiming carefully. He'd placed several of the magnetic grenades ready for the impending attack. They were attached to the ceiling of the corridor, hidden in the shadows caused by burnt-out bulbs. This was the first time he'd ever been thankful for the lousy maintenance on the Quetzel Quetzel. All he needed were targets...

Suddenly four Thals were advancing on him, their own rifles raised and ready to use. Loran smiled to himself. If he could take these out, then his father's and his own deaths would be avenged. He waited as they came closer. Their armour was closed, he noted, and they were ready for an attack. Well, he'd see just how ready they were...

He fired at the first of the ceiling grenades. The device exploded, a flash charge that slammed downward. Three of the Thals were knocked from their feet, and sent tumbling in the dust and smoke. Loran laughed, and fired again, this time at the grenade pouch on the closest target.

All the soldier's grenades detonated at once. It didn't matter how good his armour was, there was no surviving that explosion. Loran hit a second target, who also erupted into a column of fire and pain. The third soldier managed to roll for cover.

The fourth, still on his feet, fired back. The shot missed Loran, but hit the door frame above him. Molten metal sprayed across his back. The agony of the burns made him scream and roll to fight the pain.

He never saw the next shot, but the pain was gone forever...

Ayaka was waiting for them in the dining room, her face flushed with embarra.s.sment. Delani motioned for the trooper he'd brought with him to wait outside the door, and then ushered the Doctor, Sam, and Chayn in to join the rest of the captives. Then he sealed the door behind him.

'I'm surprised at you, Ayaka,' he said mildly.

Ayaka hung her head in shame. 'I'm sorry, sir,' she replied in a quiet voice. 'I neglected to search them.'

'Yes, you did.' Delani shrugged. 'However, even if you had, I doubt it would have changed much. The Doctor is a dangerously resourceful person.'

'It's nice to be appreciated,' the Doctor murmured.

Sam was definitely getting a very bad feeling about this, and she suspected that this was the worst possible time for the Doctor to be needling Delani. The Thal wasn't too well hinged right now, and any small thing might set him off.

Delani studied the forty or so people in the mess hall. They were sullen, tired and cramped, but still somehow defiant. 'One of your number,' he said slowly, 'has managed to kill four of my troops. I had hoped to have him brought here alive and executed as a lesson. However, my troops were forced to kill him.'

'What a shame,' the Doctor murmured. 'It's so much more fun when you make execution a spectator sport, isn't it?' Sam wished he would just shut up, and stop provoking Delani further.

Delani turned to the Doctor and looked pointedly at him. Then he turned to the crew. 'It appears as though I shall have my example for you after all.' To Ayaka, he added, 'This vessel is under military jurisdiction, and the Doctor is attempting to defy my command. Kill him.'

'What?' Sam jumped forward, furious and scared. 'You can't do that! He's unarmed. You're asking her to commit murder for you!'

'No,' Delani said coldly. 'I am enforcing discipline, without which power cannot stand. Ayaka, your orders have changed. Kill the Doctor and the girl.'

Sam felt sick, realizing she'd been baited into opposing him, too. She couldn't think of a thing to say, and turned to stare at Ayaka. The beautiful Thal appeared torn and confused. Chayn seized the opportunity to step forward, her face grim.

'You'd better order her to kill me, too,' she said coldly. 'Because if you don't, I can promise you that I'll continue the Doctor's mission.'

The Doctor gave her a wan smile. 'There's no need for these heroics,' he said gently.

'You're wrong, Doctor,' Chayn answered. 'There's every need for me to take a moral stance.' She crossed her arms and glared at Ayaka.

Delani sighed. 'Very well. You leave me no option.' He glared at Ayaka. 'Execute them,' he ordered.

'You can't do it,' Sam said, not really believing it, but forced to say something.

A tear trickled down from Ayaka's eye. 'I'm sorry, Doctor Sam,' she apologised, raising her rifle.

Sam stared into the barrel, wishing she could simply faint. Her stomach was cramped, her throat dry, her heart pounding. It was clear that Ayaka didn't want to pull the trigger. Somehow, though, it was no comfort to know that she was going to be murdered by someone who really didn't want to do it.

CHAPTER 6.

SIGNAL.

Sam swallowed, waiting for the final shot. Her body shook as Ayaka's finger tightened on the trigger.

'I'm sorry,' she repeated. Then she moved the barrel and fired.