Doctor Who - The 8th Doctor - 14 - Vanderdeken

by Christopher Bulis (pdf)

  and it materialised into a thing with a crocodilian head set on a lion's body, carryingoneextrapairoflegs.Thecrewmenfired,knockingthecreatureoutof

  the air and sending it tumbling backwards. It writhed and twisted under the gunfire, metamorphosing into new forms that swallowed the blast holes in its bodyevenastheywereformed.

  'Doitlikewedidintheengineroom!'Samshouted.

  Theyforcedthecreaturebacktothehull.AtthelastmomentSamreversed

  thenormaliser'spolarityanditfellbackwardsandwasgone.

  ***

  Down in the hold Manders withdrew her arms from the cable conduit and said

  intoherwristcom,'Captain,mainenginesbackonline!'

  Theengineroomtrembledasthepowerflowedintotheimpellerbankswhile

  theship'sframegroanedagainunderthenewload.

  The Doctor sprang to his feet. 'Which is the quickest way to the hold from here?'hedemanded.

  ***

  Delrayheardthedistantsoundsofbattlebutmadenomovetoleavehiscabin.

  Once a shadowy form slid through the wall. There was a fierce snarling and snappingofunseenteeth.Withanunearthlyscreamofpainandragetheghost

  retreated.Thegrowlssubsidedagaintoalowwhine.

  Delrayhardlynoticed.

  The voice was deep within him now. There was nowhere to run or hide. It wasconfirmingwhathemostfearedabouthimself.

  ***

  'The Cirrandaria's main engines have cut in,' the monitor reported to

  Vega.'Motiontowardsthealienshipisdecreasingagain.'

  'Maintainthrustatthislevel;heconfirmed.'Anysignofsystemfailuredue

  toproximitytothealienship?'

  'None yet, sir. We are twenty-nine hundred metres from the craft. Estimate descentwillceaseattwenty-sixhundred.'

  We'll just make it.Vega thought. On the screen was a view along the tow beam.TinygreyformscouldbeseencirclingtheCirrandarialikewaspsaround

  ahive.Everyfewsecondsonewouldemergefromtheship,actuallythroughits

  hull,andtumblefreelydownthecoreofthebeamandintothecentralshaftof

  thealienvessel.Itlookedasthougheachofthemwascarryingsomething.

  'Sir, something else is coming up the beam. It's larger than the other creatures...'

  ***

  A vehicle glided through the hull of the Cirrandaria as though it was no more substantialthanairanddroppedintothemeleeonthelifeboatdeck.

  Itwasaglitteringcraftthesizeofasmallshuttlebutapparentlymadeofmist

  andsoapbubbles:avehiclelesssubstantialthanitscrew,whomSamcouldsee

  riding inside it even as it set down on the deck. They were manlike figures in

  bulky armour, who piled rapidly out through the vehicle's hatchways.They carriedtridentsandnetsinthemannerofancientRomangladiators.

  Andtheystartedattackingtheghosts.

  Whereenergyboltshadpassedthroughthemwithlittleeffect,theprimitive

  andapparentlyinsubstantialweaponsofthenewcomerstrappedandstabbedand

  drew blood and ichor from the ghostly veins. The ghosts turned upon the warriors,buttheirblowsandslashesglancedofftheirplatedarmour.

  Itwasasshewastryingtomakesenseofthisunexpectedturnofeventsthat

  SamsawJeniEngers.

  Sherecognisedher faceclearlythrough thesimpleglobe ofheremergency

  pressure suit. She was holding on to the arms of a small figure in another suit who could only be Dan Junior. A ghost had the boy by the legs. Sam lunged forwardthroughthethrong,raisingthenormaliserandshoutingforBendix,even

  as Dan Engers Senior threw himself at the creature that was trying to steal his son.Athicktendrillashedoutandsmashedhimaside.Asecondblowknocked

  Jenioverbackwards.BeforeSamcouldlineupaclearshot,theghost,withDan

  wrappedinitscoldembrace,ranataviewport,divedthroughitandflewoutinto space.

  JustthenoneofthearmouredwarriorsthrewanetoverSamandpulledher

  offherfeet.

  ***

  Aghost,driftingthroughthecargostacksofthehold,hadalmostpreventedthe

  Doctor from reaching the TARDIS. But he had driven it away with his sonic screwdriverandmanagedtogetwithintheTARDIS'sownshieldedwalls.Now

  hewasworkingfranticallyoverthecontrolconsole.

  His first priority had been to prevent the ship crashing. Now, perhaps, he coulddosomethingabouttheintruders.

  "Thenormaliserfunctionsasintended,'hemutteredtohimselfashishands

  flew across the controls, 'confirming that the ghosts are susceptible to frequencies nineteen to thirty-seven... combine the characteristics and channel output through the ship's power distribution grid... allow for containment and amplificationwithinthehull...crossfingersand-'

  Hethrewafinalswitch.

  ***

  ThelightsthroughouttheCirrandariabegantopulserapidly.Piecesofelectrical

  equipmentstartedupoftheirownaccordandseveralimmediatelyfused.Alow drone of power reverberated through the length of the ship, rising rapidly to a shrill whine that drilled into the brain.The humans who heard it winced and coveredtheearpiecesoftheirsuits.

  Theghostsfled.

  Like fog shredded before the wind, they billowed through compartment

  wallsandoutthroughthehull,theretodropawayintothecentralvortexofthe

  redbeamandreturntowheretheyhadcomefrom.Andthearmouredwarriors

  alsodepartedintheirimpalpablecraft.AndwiththemwentSamJones.

  ***

  Two minutes later, by which time the labouring engines of the Cirrandaria and Indomitableliftedthetwocraftfivekilometresfromthealienship,theredbeam flickeredanddiedawayasthoughithadneverbeen.

  Chapter24

  ThroughtheTunnel

  The terrible cold numbed Sam's body and mind. She just had sense enough remaining to clasp the normaliser to her chest, though she no longer had the feelinginherhandstooperateit.Forthatmattershecouldhardlyfeelanything aboutherproperly.Theonlygoodthingaboutthecoldwasthatithadapparently

  numbedherfear.

  Shewasinagreytwilitworld,allfuzzedattheedgesandalmostbleachedof

  colour. She lay helplessly entangled in the net on the insubstantial deck of the armouredwarriors'ghostlycraft.Fourofitscrewofsixsatwiththeirfeetresting uponher-whichshewouldhaveresentedhadshethestrength

  -withtheirweaponsheldready.Outsideintheglowingredmistofthebeam

  the ghost creatures spiralled thickly about them on their batlike wings. Sam muzzily realised there were figures struggling feebly in their grasp, and automatically tried to spot Dan Engers. Turning her head to follow them down shefoundherselflookingthroughthecraft'stransparentdeck.

  Andthroughherownoutstretchedforearm.

  Shecoulddimlyseethebonesandevenasuggestionofthemusclesaround

  them,wrappedinthetransparentlayersofhersuit.Shehadbecomeaghost!

  Thefearatlastpenetratedhersluggishbrainandshehadtofighttostayin

  control.TheDoctorwouldn'tpanic,shetoldherselffirmly:hewouldreason.

  They knew touching the ghosts made them more solid, but obviously the

  processworkedintheotherdirection.Intheirdealingssofartheyhadmad
eonly briefcontactwiththem.Butevidentlyifthecontactwasextensiveorprolonged,

  the living person became equally out of phase with reality. That was why everythingappearedsohazytoher.Partofthelightnormallyinterceptedbyher

  retinawassimplypassingthroughitandtherestofherinsubstantialbody.And

  itwasinthatstatethatshehadbeentakenthroughthehulloftheCirrandaria.

  Butwasthechangepermanent?

  No! That was why they were resting their feet on her. It was only their continuingcontactthatstoppedherregainingnormalityandfallingthroughthe

  hulloftheiralmostnonexistentcraft.

  It meant her condition was reversible. She would not remain a ghost for ever!

  Sheclungtothisrationalisationevenasthecraftdivedintothegapingtunnel

  mouthofthealienship.

  Around her were stars, smeared and distorted as though by a funhouse

  mirror.Thenshefeltspacepressinginabouther.Thecraft,thewarriorsandher ownbodywerebeingsickeninglytwistedandstretched.Thestarscontractedto

  pinpoints once more, blazing brilliantly as they flew past.The cold deepened.

  Shewantedtocryoutbutshecouldn'tmove.Itwastheinterfaceeffect,spread

  out along the entire length of the shaft. Time slowed to ah eternal moment. A fewtrillionkilometresandseveralaeonscrawledby.

  Her stomach knotted again and she writhed in pain as the process slowly reversed.Thefarendofthetunnelopenedaroundthemandtheywereclear.

  Sheheardsoundsthatmighthavebeenmuffledwords.

  Craning her neck, she saw that one of the two warriors seated before the craft's glassy control console was swaying from side to side and flailing about with his arms. His comrade seemed to be trying to restrain him.The warriors seatedaboutherstartedforwardasthoughtohelp,butitwastoolate.

  The disturbed one rose from his seat, tearing at his armour, which was splittingandfallingawayfromhisbody.

  Thenarockwallcameoutofthedarknessstraightatthem.

  Iftheyhadbeeninanormalstateofbeingtheywouldhavebeensmashedto

  pieces.As it was, the crash resembled hitting foam rubber. But evidently they were still travelling too fast to pass cleanly through as they had the hull of the Cirrandaria.

  Thecraftsankafewmetresin,buckledanddisintegrated.

  Sam,stillbundledinthenet,wasthrownthroughitsfragmentinghullandhit

  the rock wall. She felt its substance soak into her flesh before peeling away again and letting her go. Then she was falling slowly into darkness, the life coming back to her as she receded from the ghosts and their craft, sharing her storeofrealityonlywiththeirnet,whichremainedtangledabouther.

  By the time she hit ground the rock felt as hard as it should have -and the impactknockedthesensesfromher.

  Chapter25

  Aftermath

  BendixspokeregretfullytotheDoctor.

  'Yourassistantwasheadingforthewomanandchild.Wewererightbehind

  herwhenwewerehitbyaghost.Ittookoneofmymenandknockedmeover.'

  He touched the fresh bandage on his forehead.'By the time I'd got back on my feet, the warriors had already bundled her into that craft of theirs.Then your alarm,orwhateveritwas,startedupandtheyallsimplypouredoutoftheship

  backthroughthehull.TherewasnothingIcoulddo.

  I'msorry.'

  TheDoctor'sfacewasapale,setmask.Theothersroundthetablelookedon

  sympathetically.

  'Iwishwe'dleftwhenyousuggested,'Lanchardsaidtohim.Shethoughtof

  DanandJeniEngers,whomshehadvisitedinthesickbaywhileDanwashaving

  his injuries treated. The look on their faces would stay with her for a long time.'Now we can't leave. Not with all those people missing. Unless you think there'snohope...'

  "There's always hope,' the Doctor said firmly. A little animation seemed to flow back into him. 'We'll have to go after Sam and the others who were kidnapped,that'sall.'

  'Intotheship?'

  'Not quite. Into the interdimensional tunnel that runs through the middle of theship.Thehullalreadyformedtheinitialhyperspatialbridge,andnowthey've usedittoopenthemaincorridor.ButIcan'tdeterminewheretheotherendlies, sothere'snootherwaybuttotravelalongit.Myinstrumentsshowit'spassable

  forthemoment,butitwillinevitablycollapseinafewhours.'

  'Whatifthatredbeamappearsagain?'Lanchardasked.

  "The vortex field? I doubt it. It's a secondary hyperspatial effect.The creaturesneededittolaunchtheirattack.Vacuummaynotharmthem,butthey

  can'tmovethemselvesthroughit.Isuspecttheirwingsweretoworkagainstthe

  resistanceofthebeam.Ifyoukeepclearyouwon'tbetroubledbyitagain.'

  'What about those humanoid warriors?' Bendix asked. 'They seemed to be

  fightingtheghosts-atleastatfirst.'

  'Ihavenoideawhattheirmotivesare-yet.ButiftheystillhaveSamthen

  wewillcertainlybemakingcontactwiththem,'theDoctorassuredhim.'Butnow

  wemustgetready.'Hefishedapieceofpaperoutofhispocketandhandeditto

  Manders.'Howsooncanyouproduce,say,fourofthese?'Sheunfoldedthesheet

  to reveal a hand-drawn circuit diagram and a set of specifications.'It's a normaliser,liketheoneSamhad.Theyseemtobeourbestdefenceagainstthe

  ghosts.'

  'Yes,we'llcertainlyneedalltheprotectionwecanlayourhandson,'

  Rextonagreed.'Weunderestimatedthosecreatures.Ontheshiptheyseemed

  to be no more than wild animals acting purely by instinct. But this attack was verydeliberate.Theonethatgotaboardexaminedtheengineroomsystems,then

  settheshiponaveryprecisecoursetotakeitwithinrangeofthatbeam.'

  'I take it you are prepared to accompany another party to the alien ship, Councillor?'theDoctorasked.

  'Iam,'Rextonsaid.

  'Butourobjectiveisnottheshipitselfbutwhateverliesonthefarsideofit,'

  theDoctorpointedout."Thatismostlikelywherethepassengershavebeen

  taken.Unless,ofcourse,you'restillthinkingoftryingtorecoverthedatafrom theotherhalfofthecontrolroombeyondtheinterface.Logicallythatshouldbe

  accessible from the other side. But be careful, you may find it quite literally a ghostshipnow.'

  BeforeRextoncouldreplyLanchardsaidsharply,'MayIremindyoumyship

  anditscomplementhavebeenputatrisk,Councillor,soIamatlibertytoleave

  this zone of space as soon as I am able. Remember also that you will get a volunteer crew to accompany you on arescue mission, butnot for more

  intelligencegathering.'

  Rextonhadthesensenottoprotest.'SupposeIgetachancetoobtainthedata

  myself?'

  'At your own risk; Lanchard conceded. 'It must not jeopardise the safety of theothers.'

  'Agreed,'Rextonsaid.

  He doesn't lack courage, Lanchard thought. Aloud she said, 'Nel, how

  quicklycanyoumakemoreofthesedevicesoftheDoctor's?'

  Mandershadbeenscanningthediagram.'Mostofthislooksprettystandard.I

  think I can use some regular items. Say a couple of hours. That is if it has priorityoverrepairingthemaindrive,Captain.It'sprettywellburntout.'<
br />
  'Howlongtofixthat?'

  'Aship'sday,maybethirty-sixhours.'

  Lanchard pinched the bridge of her nose, realising how tired she felt. 'If there's the slightest hope, we must try to recover passengers. We can hold our positionwiththrustersuntilthen.'

  'Good,'saidtheDoctor.'NowI'dbetterhaveawordwithCommanderVega.

  Ithinkhe'llwanttobeinvolvedinthis.'

  'You don't mean to ask the Nimosians along?' Rexton said incredulously.'Theycannotbeallowedtosee-'

  'It's too late, Councillor,' the Doctor interjected sharply.'After what's

  happened it won't take them long to deduce the alien ship's purpose. Your secret'sout.Startthinkingofsomecompromise,becausethisisonetrophyyou

  won'tbetakinghome.'

  Rextonglaredbackathimbutsaidnothing.

  'AndI'dalsolikeanitemofmyluggagemovedfromtheholdintotheDoria!'

  theDoctoradded.'I'veafeelingwemayneedit.

  ***

  'I shall complain to the shipping line,' Rhonda Plecht said angrily,'It's quite intolerable.Wewerecrushedintothattinylifeboatfornoreasonatall.'

  Theyhadreturnedtotheircabinoncetheallclearhadbeengiven.Rhonda

  hadapparentlytakeninthedamagedonetotheshipandthesightoftheinjured

  being tended with the same critical eye she turned on an unmade bed. The generalatmosphereoffearanduncertaintytouchedhernotatall.

  'Itwasanemergency,dear,'Lesterpointedout.'Andwewereluckyenough

  toavoidbeingattackedbythoseghostcreatures.'

  The argument did not seem to count with Rhonda. That sort of thing

  happenedtootherpeopleandcertainlyshouldn'tbeallowedonawell-runcruise.

  Lesterknewshewasn'tverygoodatempathisingwiththesufferingofothers.It

  wasnotcallousnessexactly,moreaninabilitytoacceptsimplemisfortune.She