Doctor Who_ Warmonger Part 39

He stepped forward and jabbed at the b.u.t.ton with his finger.

For a moment nothing happened and the Doctor's heart sank. Any delay, any summoning of technicians, and discovery of his deception was inevitable.

There was a low hum of power and the gla.s.s coffin that was the vaporisation chamber lit up, so brightly that they stepped back, shielding their eyes.

The light faded and the chamber was empty. No trace of the body of Morbius remained, not even a sprinkling of the finest dust. 'Satisfactory,' said President Saran. He turned and marched away. After a moment, Borusa and Ratisbon followed.

Maren moved closer to the Doctor, her old eyes burning into his.

'The body in that device was already dead.'

'I know.'

'Did you kill Morbius?'

'Yes,' said the Doctor, lying without hesitation. 'I gave him a lethal injection.'

'Why?'

'Revenge. I wanted him to die by my hand.'

'I wish he had died by mine,' said Old Maren balefully. 'Still, at least we have seen the last of him.'

'That's all you know,' thought the Doctor.

Maren swept away and Ohica followed.

The Doctor detained Hawken for a moment.

'I wonder if you could do me a small favour.'

'Certainly, my dear Smith. Or is it Supremo? You're a man of many names.' Hawken sounded a little hysterical. The execution had upset him. 'Anyway, what do you want me to do?'

'There's a headless body in the room next door. It's the vampire who's been attacking your patrols. Tidy it away for me will you? And don't ask any questions, there's a good chap...'

Chapter Nine.

Departure There was a parade next morning in the forecourt of Castle Karn. It began with a funeral ceremony for Battle-Major Streg.

Sontaran drums mingled with Draconian bagpipes as the body was carried to the battlecruiser that was to carry him home to Sontara. There he would be buried in the soil of his home planet, and a special monument erected a break with Sontaran custom at the personal request of the Supremo himself.

After the funeral came the dress parade. Serried ranks of Sontarans, Draconians, Ice Warriors and Cybermen, humans and humanoids were inspected by the Supremo.

He stopped and chatted with his staff officers, High Commander Aril, the Cyberleader not much of a conversationalist and Streg's replacement, the newly promoted Battle-Major Sark. He shook hands with General Ryon and exchanged salutes with Ice Lord Azanyr.

From time to time he stopped to talk to a soldier in the ranks, moving on after a joke, a slap on the back or a handshake something these soldiers remembered all their lives. Finally he addressed them, briefly as always, from the castle steps.

'I give you all my thanks for your service in our common cause. I shall always remember your courage and the heroic sacrifice of those who cannot attend this parade. It was been an honour to serve with you. I salute you.'

He came to attention and saluted. The parade returned the salute.

The great shout of, ' Supremo! Supremo! Supremo! Supremo! Supremo! Supremo! ' crashed out. ' crashed out.

'For the last time,' thought Peri as the Doctor came to join her in the castle doorway. 'Or was it?'

For the moment the Doctor was quiet and remote. Then he said, 'That's over.'

'You didn't actually say goodbye to them,' said Peri.

'Keeping your options open?'

'It wasn't that,' said the Doctor quickly. 'I didn't think I could bear it.'

'Perhaps it's as well,' said Peri. 'I'm not sure they'd let you go.' 'The real question is,' she thought, 'can he let them go?'

The Doctor was in great demand that morning.

No less a personage than President Saran summoned him to a private interview.

'There has been talk of an intergalactic, interspecies peacekeeping force, Doctor. A sort of United Planets Organisation. Naturally, it would have to be under Time Lord control, it could be very useful to us. And, of course, only one Time Lord could possibly lead it.'

'It's a great honour, Lord President. May I have time to consider?'

Borusa too took the opportunity of a private word. He was amiability itself, all hostility and suspicion forgotten or at least laid aside.

'We must have a long talk, Doctor. I am not sure you are making the best use of your abilities. Political changes are imminent in Gallifrey. We might do well in alliance.'

'It's quite a thought,' said the Doctor. 'As you say, we must talk.'

Finally, Ratisbon cornered him in the corridor outside the Great Hall. 'You should seriously consider returning to Gallifrey, Doctor. A great career lies before you.' He lowered his voice.

'Borusa is well enough in his way, of course. But someone like yourself, with the prestige of your recent victory and a powerful armed force under your control the possibilities are endless...'

The Doctor and Peri stood on the castle steps, surveying the busy scene below.

Debris was still being cleared, and s.p.a.ceships were being repaired and restocked. The occasional s.p.a.ceship took off, carrying walking wounded or mercenary prisoners away from Karn.

'As far as I can make out,' said the Doctor, 'President Saran wants me to roam the galaxy with an interspecies army fighting evil evil, of course, being defined as anything contrary to Time Lord interests. Borusa wants me to become his campaign manager and give Saran the heave-ho and Ratisbon wants me to stage a military coup d'etat coup d'etat and make myself dictator of Gallifrey!' and make myself dictator of Gallifrey!'

'Lots of career opportunities there, Doctor,' said Peri.

'Which one are you going to go for?'

The Doctor gave her an enigmatic look.

Hawken came out of the hall and hurried towards them. 'All taken care of,' he said. 'Headless corpse tidied away.'

Peri looked astonished.

The Doctor said hurriedly, 'Thank you. Thank you very much.'

'What the devil were you up to last night?'

'What do you mean?'

'Come off it, Smith. Several of my patrols saw you skulking about the corridors. And that body in the vaporisation chamber looked thoroughly dead to me. Oh, and two technicians and a sentry are complaining of being kidnapped by your Ogrons.

What's going on?'

'Believe me, you don't want to know,' said the Doctor. 'I'd like to ask another favour, though.'

Hawken looked alarmed. 'More headless corpses?'

'Nothing like that. You remember that blue box I had, the very first time I came here? I'd like to take a look at it.'

'Oh, yes, now what did I do with it? d.a.m.ned if I can remember. Was it in one of those towers that got demolished? It could be under a ton of rubble by now...'

He saw the appalled looks on both their faces and laughed.

'Just my little joke, it's perfectly safe.'

'Most amusing. Could we see it, please?'

'What now?'

'Now!' said the Doctor firmly.

'Oh, all right, come along.'

Hawken led them along the obscure corridors of the security section and came to a halt before a heavy door. He fished out keys and opened it, revealing a dusty storeroom.

There, in the middle of a clutter of unwanted lumber, stood the TARDIS.

'There it is,' said Hawken. 'Want me to organise some chaps to take it to your flagship?'

'That won't be necessary,' said the Doctor. He seized Hawken's hand and shook it. 'Thank you. Thanks for everything.'

Hawken looked puzzled. 'You're talking as if this is goodbye.

Lord Delmar's giving a celebratory dinner tonight. I'll see you there.'

'Right,' said the Doctor absently.

Peri gave Hawken an impulsive peck on the cheek.

'Goodbye, Commander.'

Hawken went back down the corridor thinking that Smith had always been a peculiar chap. Certainly gone up in the galaxy, though. One day a suspicious wanderer and suspected spy, the next a warlord consorting with presidents. Useful chap to know.

As he turned a corner he thought he heard an odd wheezing, groaning sound behind him, but he decided he must have imagined it...

Later that morning, Hawken was swooped on by a trio of tetchy Time Lords.

'Where is the Doctor?' asked Borusa.

'The man you know as Smith,' said Ratisbon.

'The Supremo,' said President Saran. 'We all have important business with him and he is nowhere to be found.'

Hawken looked round. 'Isn't he back yet?'

'Back from where?' asked Borusa.

'He was checking up on his blue box; seems to set great store by it.'

'Blue box?' screamed Ratisbon. 'You gave him access to his blue box?'

'Why not, it's his. Brought it with him when he first came.'

'Show us at once!' demanded Borusa.

Hawken led them to the storeroom but of course it was empty. Only a square shape in the dust showed where the TARDIS had once stood.

The Doctor was in his study in the TARDIS, a cosy oak-panelled, book-lined room. He was sitting in a deep leather armchair by the coal fire that flickered perpetually in the old-fashioned grate. As usual, he looked immaculately Edwardian in striped trousers, fawn blazer and crisp white shirt. His fair hair looked a little spiky but he'd done his best to brush it back. He was drinking tea and leafing through his beloved first edition of The Time Machine The Time Machine.

He looked up and smiled as Peri came in. She'd bathed and changed into a white silk dress.

'You're looking very nice,' he said politely.

'You don't look so bad yourself,' said Peri. 'You're back, are you? No more Supremo?'

'I expect he's still in there somewhere, Peri. We need our Supremos sometimes. A Wellington for Napoleon, a Churchill for a Hitler. But, by and large, yes, you could say I'm back. What about Peri, the Scourge of Sylvana?'

Peri shuddered. 'She's gone for good, I hope.' She gave him a considering look. 'All right, Doctor, spill it!'