Rexton simply strode away down the corridor, Bendix beside him. Dessel
motionedtheotherson,thentookuptherear,carryinghisshoulder-slungrifleat theready,turningeveryfewpacestocheckbehindthem.
Thecorridorranonforoverahundredmetres,givingtheillusiontheywere
crossingaverylonghump-backedbridge.Halfwayalongitalargeplaquewas
mountedonthewall,coveredwithmoreoftheshapestheyhadseenonthehatch
keypads,plusanarrayofadditionalgeometricsymbols.Lysetphotographedit.
'Well,Doctor?'Rextonaskedexpectantly.
'Sony?' said the Doctor, who had been tilting his head and squinting at the jumbleofsymbols.
'Whatdoesitsay?'
'Idon'tknow.Ican'treadit.'
'Noteventhenumbers?'
"They'renotnumbers.'
'Butthey'rethesamesymbolsasonthekeypads.Weassumed-'
'Itcanbedangeroustoassumeanything.They'reallletters.'
'Butthenifyoudecipheredthekeypads,whynotthis?'
'Because it's gibberish.'And he smiled, as though inviting Rexton to join in his appreciation of the joke the universe was playing on them. Rexton merely gloweredandstompedaway.
AstheycontinuedalongthecorridorSamwhisperedtotheDoctor,'Ithought
youcouldreadalmostanylanguage.'
'Notifitcontainsnointelligence.Thatdisplayreallywasnonsense.'
'Thenwhyputitupthere?'
TheDoctordidn'tanswer.
Sam became aware of a deep, slow, throbbing pulse that reverberated
throughthethinairandalongthefloorfromsomewhereaheadofthem.Theend
ofthetunnelcameintoviewandtheyapproachedcautiously.Thespacebeyond
widenedandsuddenlytheywerestandingonagalleryencirclinganopenshaft
as wide as the landing bay. Above were more galleries linked by long spiral ramps. The centre of the shaft was half filled with massive conduits made of glass or plastic which glowed with multicoloured inner light. Between them were glittering metal grids, lenses and mirrors, all set at angles as though to deflectenergyoutoftheverticalshaftandofftothesides.
'Hell of a setup,' Delray exclaimed, as Lyset began snapping away at the scene.
'Ifthisisapowerplant,thenit'slikenothingI'veeverseenbefore,'Manders
admitted.
Rextonlookedabouthiminsilentaweandsatisfaction.
Samsteppedovertothegalleryrailandpeeredupward.Thejumbleofpipes
andlensesseemedtoblurintoahazehighaboveher.
'Itmustrunrightupthecentreofthetower,'shesaid.
Shelookeddown.Thestrangearrayofconduitsranintodarkness,likepipes
disappearing into a well. In fact, she could almost imagine she could see reflections of water in the distance. She narrowed her eyes. There really were sparkles of light down there - blurred streaks of softly scintillating colour that seemedtodriftatsomeindeterminatelevel.SherealisedtheDoctorwasbyher
sidefollowinghergaze.
'Isthatthemaintunnelthatrunsthroughtheship?'Samwondered.'
'Ithinkso.'
'But it's open to space at either end. I suppose there must be a pressure
curtainorsomethingkeepingtheairinhere.'
'Or something,' the Doctor agreed. He sounded distracted and was staring intentlyintotheinkyblackness.
'Andwhatarethosecolouredlights?'sheasked.
'Iratherthinkthey'restars.'
'What?'
Theothershadheardhimtoo,andsuddenlyhewasthefocusofattentionfor
severalincredulousfaces.
'You'llsee,'hesaid.'Comeon!'
Andbeforeshecouldaskanymore,hewasboundingupthenearestrampto
thenextlevel.Theothersfollowedafterhiminconfusion.
Thegalleryabovewascrossedbyoneoftheconduitarraysrunningoffthe
centralshaft.Thecoreofthiswasatubeofsilverywiremesh,surroundedbya
framework of supporting struts.The Doctor followed it along a radial corridor and into a large semicircular room.The open end of the tube faced an array of angledmeshpanelsmountedonasolid-lookingblackplinth.
Theseseemedtoserveasprismsandmirrorstowhateverenergywasbeing
guided down the conduit, for smaller conduits radiated out from it into half a dozen large banks of twisted green, bronze and silver machinery which were rangedinanarcaboutthewallsoftheroom.
Samwalkedovertooneofthem.Itscontrolpanelwaspatternedwithlarge,
round,multicolouredbuttonsarrangedinshortarcs,togetherwithcircularglass
display screens, all labelled with embossed lines of the unreadable alien script.
Thefloorbetweenthefreestandingequipmentwaslaidoutwithgridsandtrack
lines,presumablyindicatingthepathsofreflectedorrefractedbeams.Setalong
theselinesweremountedblocksandpanelsofvariousmaterials,asthoughthey
mightbetesttargetsforexposuretothebeams.Manderswasexaminingoneof
thesecuriously.'Itseemsfibrous,likedriedmossandplantstems.Whatwould
anybodywantwiththat?'
ThenSamrealisedwherethechamberwassituated.
'This is the inside of one of those projecting fins higher up the tower,' she said.'Iwonderedwhattheywerefor.'
'Laboratories or control rooms, I should think,' said the Doctor. 'They're probablyarrangedlikethissotheycanbetiltedtocompensateforgravityshifts-
did you notice the overlapping segmentations along the entrance corridor?' He ducked nimbly under the mesh tubes so that he could examine the strange machinery more closely. "They tap the central core for energy to run experiments, and probably also feed modulated power or matter back into it to controltheshaftpotentials.'
'Butwhy?What'sitsfunction?'Mandersdemanded.'What'sthiswholeship meanttodo?'
The Doctor bunked at them in genuine surprise. He really forgets how
differentheissometimes,Samthought.Ireallyforget.
TheDoctorlookedatRexton.'Youknow,don'tyou?'hesaid.
'WhatdoIknow,Doctor?'Rextonrepliedimpassively.
The Doctor sighed.'Yes, I was afraid you did. Well there's no point in keeping it a secret then. Obviously this whole ship is an experimental
hyperspatialbridge.'
***
They placed the strips of explosive Tane had requested in a large circle inside therimofthehatchway.Nottrustingtoelectronicdetonatorsorcommandwires,
they were using a simple chemical fuse. From the shuttle cabin, Argen saw Corporal Martel pull the activator toggle. The squad withdrew in close order, eyesalwaysscanningtheshadowsfortheunknownenemythathadkilledtheir
comrades.They disappeared from view beneath the curve of the hull and a momentlaterhefeltthethudoftheirbootsontheramp.AssoonastheHATCH
SEALEDlightblinkedon,Argencutintheunderjetsandtheyliftedclear.Five
hundred metres up he banked into a wide circle so they could watch the hatch sitebelowthem.Inafewminutestheywouldhaveopenedawayintothealien
ship.Ifanyoftheircomradeswerestillalivethatwastheonlyplacetheycould havebeentaken.Andtheyweregoingafterthem.
***
'Youcan'tbeserious,'Delraysaidincredulously.
'If the Doctor says this is a hyper
spatial bridge, then you'd better believe it,'Samtoldhim.
'I've heard all the usual theories and rumours about such things,' Manders said.'ButasfarasIknownobody'severcomeupwithanythingpractical.'
'Ididn'tsaythisconstructionwaspractical,'theDoctorcorrectedher.'Isaid
itwasexperimental.Infactelementsofitlookill-conceivedandquiteunstable.'
'But this is alien technology,' Manders protested. 'How can you possibly understandanyofitaftertwominutes'examination?'
'Itravelalot,'theDoctorsaidlightly.'Onepicksthesethingsup.'Hiseyes
foundRexton'sandanewcompellingtoneenteredhisvoice.'Andbasedonthat
knowledge I tell you that this ship is dangerous. There are forces here you
cannotcomprehend.Iwouldstronglyadviseyoutoleaveitbe.'
Theyallsensedtheconvictionbehindhiswords.Rextonwasstaringathim
intentlynow,asthoughweighingeverynuanceandinflectionofhiswords.
"Thenyoureallyclaimtoknowhowallthisworks?'
The Doctor took the room in with an appraising glance. 'I dare say I could reasonmostofitout.'
'Thenyoucanexplainittome.'
The Doctor shook his head. 'Apart from the matter of technical
comprehension,therewouldbenopoint.Thismachinemustnotbeused.'
Rexton's hand moved to rest on the butt of his bolstered sidearm and the otherslapsedintoashockedsilence.Sam'seyeswidenedinhorror.
'Oh, very clever!' she began, taking a step towards him. 'Threaten a
FederationModerator,whydon'tyou?'
'Don'tunderestimatethelengthsIampreparedtogotointheserviceofmy
homework!,' Rexton warned her. 'I cannot risk this ship falling into the Nimosians'hands.IfthereispowerherethenImusthaveitforEmindar.'
'Power,'saidtheDoctor,almostsardonically.'Thisplacemustbedestroyed
- that way neither Emindar nor Nimos stands to gain anything at all, apart fromthesafetyofeveryonehere.Isn'taresumptionofthestatusquopreferable
totheriskofgoingtowaronceagain?''Whenyou'reasoldieryoulearntotake
risks,'Rextontoldhim.'Youalsolearnwhentowithdrawgracefully,'theDoctor
said,hisvoicehard.'Yousee,I'vealsobeenasoldier.Ihavefoughtinwarsyou haveneverevenheardof.AndIassureyouthiscraftisnotaweaponyoucan
use.'Hisfacesoftenedalittle.'Now,wearegoingtofindthemainpowersource
and see about shorting it out so that neither you nor the Nimosians will be temptedintomakingacatastrophicmistake.'HelookedatRexton'sgun.'Idon't
reallybelieveyouwillshootmeinthebackfordoingthat.'
Sam stared hard at Rexton. For agonising seconds Rexton's hand hovered
overhisholster.Finally,itdroppedaside.
'Ithoughtnot,'saidtheDoctor,notraceoftriumphinhisvoice.'Comeon,
Sam.'
Justthenafaint,sharpshudderpassedthroughtheframeoftheship.
"That was an explosion,' Rexton snapped.'Maybe the Nimosians are up to something.'Hislipspinchedandheappearedtoreachadecision.
'Manders,youandyourteamexaminetheequipmentinhere.Theremaynot
bemuchtimebutanythingyoufindoutmaybeuseful.You!'Hestabbedafinger
at Lyset Wynter. 'Take pictures of everything she tells you to. Cover the shaft outside as well, especially those power linkages, or whatever they are. Then we'llgotothecentralcontrolcomplex.'
Lysetnodded,rapidlyinsertingafreshfilmcartridgeintothecamera.
Rextoncontinuedtorapoutorders.
'DesselandBendix,you'rewithme.We'llscouttheothersidetoseewhatthe
Nimosians are up to.' He eyed Delray, who up until now had been following quietlyalongbesideLyset,speculatively.'Wantachancetoshowthatthosevid
heroics weren't just play-acting, mister?' Delray stiffened. 'I'm with you, General.'
'Good.' Rexton spared Sam and the Doctor a passing glance. 'It seems that you won't have time to sabotage anything after all, Doctor. Now if you won't help,stayoutofourway.'
But the Doctor wasn't paying attention. His head was cocked sideways and hiseyeswerenarrowed.'Listen,'hehissed.
Therewasachangeinthepowerhumcomingfromdeepwithinthebowels
oftheship.Anewhigher-pitchedwhinesofaintastobeonthelimitsofhearing.
ButevenasSamstrainedtomakeitoutitgrewsteadilystronger.
'Eithersomeautomaticsystemhascutin,ortheshockoftheexplosionhas
disturbedsomething,'theDoctorsaid.'Perhapswe'dbetter-'
With a crack of displaced air the mesh conduit leading into the room from thecentralshaftlitupwithagreenradiance.Itstrucktheprimarydeflectorarray andsplitintohalfadozensecondarybeamsthatstabbedoutacrossthechamber
into the hulking machines set about the walls. As though stimulated by this suddeninfluxofpower,lightsbegantoshowontheirdisplaypanels.
'Don'ttouchthebeams!'theDoctorshouted.'Carefullyduckunderthemand
makeforthedoorway.'
With a slight hum a pair of the intermediate standing grids began to turn, creatingnewpatternsofcrossingbeamsthatsweptabouttheroom.
'They must be working on a preprogrammed sequence,' the Doctor said.'Be
carefulorelse-Sam,getdown!'
Butitwastoolate.Oneofthetraversingbeamsstruckherinthebackasshe
tried to take cover behind a target panel. She froze rigid even as another beam touched the panel itself. The light exploded in her mind and her consciousness seemedtodissolveaway.
***
LysetWyntersawSamandthetargetpanelhaloedincoldgreenfire.Thepanel
bowed and split, then burst into powdery dust. Sam screamed and her suit seemedtocollapseinward,fallingtothefloorinashrunkencrumpledheap.
Then the power hum died away and the beams vanished, leaving ghostly
afterimagesfloatingbeforetheireyes.
InthreelongstridestheDoctorreachedSam'sbodyandkneltbesideher,the
others gathering about him. Sam's helmet appeared to be empty. With frantic hastetheDoctorunlatchedtheclipsandtoreitoff.Therewasnothinginside.He
letoutastifledgroanofanguish.
'Sam.Sam,Sam...Oh,no...I'mso-'
Then the chest of the suit stirred. Slowly a mop of tousled blonde hair appearedabovethecollarring.Itwasfollowedbythefrightenedfaceofaten-year-oldchild.
WhosefeatureswereunmistakablythoseofSamJones.
Chapter10
Brothers
RaskChenwasplayingpitchandcatchwithTalek.AsusualTalekwasthrowing
the ball wide and much too hard - he always had been the stronger one even thoughhewasayearyounger.Rasksuckedhissmartingfingers.
"That'stoohard.Anddon'tthrowsohigh.We'lllosetheballoverthefence,
and you'll have to fetch it this time. I'm not knocking on old Parche's door again.'
'ButIhadtogetyourattention,Rask,'hisbrothersaid.'It'sreallyimportant.'
'Whatd'youmean?'Rasksaidabsently,lookingaroundhim.Nowhehadlost
theball.Itmusthavefalleninoneofthefelchiabeds.Hebentdownandpushed
hiswaybetweenthestalks,peeringintothecoolgreen-tintedworldundertheir
broadleaves.
'You'vegottogetawayfromh
ere,'heheardTaleksay.'It'sdangerous.'
'Don'tbestupid.Thethornsaren'thardyet.'Hestillcouldn'tseetheball.He
pressedforwardfurther,tryingnottobreakthestems.Hismotherhadtoldhim
offaboutthatbefore.
'No.Awayfromthealienship.That'swhat'sdangerous.'
'Whatalienship?'
'Youknow.Pleaselistentome.'
Something was very wrong. The felchia bed was not this deep. He felt the mustiness of the earth and the heavy pollen catching in his throat. He tried to edgehiswayout,butsomethingwasholdinghimback.
'Talek-helpme!'
The felchia were closing in on him, suffocating him under their heavy
leaves...
'It's all right, Rask,' he heard Talek say. He felt a hand clasp his. 'All right Rask...Rask!'
Hejerkedhimselfawakechoking,throwingbackthebedcovers.
HewasnotaboyanymorebutSecondLieutenantNavigatorChen.
Around him was the night-lit cabin on the Indomitable that he shared with LieutenantBorix.Automaticallyhereachedforthecomm-unitbutton,thinking
there was a message playing on it from his brother Talek. But the unit was inactive.
He sank gratefully back on to his pillow, and realised he was soaked with sweat. He glanced at the glowing time display beside the bedhead. The alarm hadn'tsoundedyet.Hehadplentyoftimeforapropershowerbeforehewasdue
onwatch.
Theshower,alternatelyhotandcold,revivedhim.Hecameoutofthetiny
washroomcubicletowellinghishairandfeelingmorelikehisnormalself.
'Shower's free,' he said, then bit back his words. It was the same phrase he had spoken a hundred times to Borix - except that Borix was on second watch and the room was quite empty. But he had spoken because the room had
somehowfeltoccupied.
He thought about his brother. Rask had received a spacegram from him a monthagobutithadbeenhalfayearsincetheyhadbeentogether.TalekChen
wasamarinecorporalontheStarflreatleastthirtylightyearsawaysomewhere
ontheothersideofNimosian-controlledspace.
Doctor Who - The 8th Doctor - 14 - Vanderdeken Page 10