Doctor Who: Mission to the Unknown

by John Peel

  Bret sighed. ‘I wish both of you would stop getting at me. Look, If Mavic Chen is in on this with the Daleks, he can hardly be alone. He’s also the greatest power in the Solar System. If we’re to get help in taking him on, I have to know who will be on our side and who will be on his.’

  The Doctor could see the sense in that. ‘So, how do you propose to do that?’

  Thankful that his companions were listening at last instead of shouting, Bret began to explain. ‘This place is an experimental rocket research station. Probing new ways of discovering things. The man in charge here is an old college friend of mind. We’ve known one another for years. He’s a very responsible man in the Government, and he can help us to get our hearing. Daxter is probably the only man who will believe our story.’

  The Doctor and Steven had been concentrating on listening to Bret. They were not aware that the door was open until another voice asked: ‘What story?’

  Chen studied the map on his desk top very carefully. ‘The ship came down out here?’ he asked.

  ‘That’s right,’ Karlton explained. ‘We’ve a security team heading out there now. Kingdom can join it when we have the cordon thrown up.’

  ‘Excellent.’ The doorway at the end of the room opened, and an agent stepped in. ‘Kingdom!’ Chen called, warmly. ‘Do come in!’ He strode around his desk, moving out to meet her.

  She walked across the carpet, full of self-confidence. Her eyes flickered around, and Chen knew that she was probably taking in all the details of the room with a glance – truly a born warrior! He examined her carefully. Though he had heard of her, this was the first time he had ever met her. She reminded him of a tightly coiled spring – ready to leap in any direction at an instant’s notice.

  She was dressed in the inevitable black catsuit that all SSS agents wore, accentuating her perfect figure. She was beautiful, but it was the beauty of ice or steel. Her hair was shoulder-length, and curled inwards. Her face was somewhat elfin. If she smiled, Chen knew she would be considered very desirable. He could not imagine her smiling. Her blue-grey eyes gave back no warmth. She looked every inch the perfect killing machine that her record had informed him she was.

  ‘It’s good to see you, Kingdom,’ he purred.

  There was no flicker of emotion at this. She looked as though meeting the most important man in the Solar System was an everyday event. ‘Thank you, sir.’

  ‘I understand that Karlton here has briefed you?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘And, naturally, you understand that the capture of these traitors is a matter of the... utmost discretion? It would reflect very badly on Special Security if it became known that one of their agents had become a traitor to the human race.’

  Kingdom stared steadily at him. ‘I understand.’

  ‘In fact,’ Chen said, slowly and carefully, ‘it would be better for all concerned if the traitors were not to stand trial...’

  She stared at him again, and supplied what he seemed reluctant to say. ‘You don’t want them brought in alive.’

  Chen appreciated this. He chuckled. ‘You have a very direct approach to life, Miss Kingdom.’

  ‘And to death,’ Kadton added.

  She understood these men perfectly. ‘You’d prefer the report to state that they were killed attempting to escape.’

  ‘Most succinct and positive,’ Chen approved. ‘How will you go about locating the traitors?’

  ‘I know where they will be,’ Kingdom answered.

  Chen was astonished. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes.’ For a brief second, some emotion crossed her face, but it was so swift, Chen might have been mistaken to think he saw anything there. She continued: ‘I know all about agent Vyon and his background. He will be in the experimental plant.’

  Inclining his head, Chen said: ‘I see that we were right to entrust you with this mission. There is just one thing more.’ He held out his hands, about ten inches apart. ‘One of them will be carrying a small device about so long. It is a machine containing Taranium. It is essential that this is recovered intact and returned directly to me. You understand?’

  She asked no questions. ‘Of course. All precautions for its safety will be taken. Now, with your permission?’

  Chen waved his hand magnanimously. ‘By all means. I look forward to seeing you again shortly – with the Taranium and the report of a few – ah – unfortunate deaths.’

  Kingdom spun on her heels and marched out of the door. As it slid closed behind her, Chen lowered himself into his seat. He looked appreciatively at Karlton. ‘An excellent choice. She is a very direct young woman. It seems a pity that she cannot join our special group.’

  Karlton’s expression showed an interest in Kingdom that was not strictly business. ‘No chance of that?’

  ‘No,’ Chen said, reluctantly. He had never felt the attraction of women himself. They wanted a share of power, and Mavic Chen had no intention of sharing anything with anyone. ‘The Daleks insist that only fifty humans will be allowed to survive. She’ll just have to perish with the rest. Pity, though.’

  ‘Shall I contact the Daleks and inform them of progress?’

  ‘No,’ Chen smiled. ‘Let’s give it another hour. It will be so much better to report in when Vyon is dead and we have the core in our hands.’

  Daxter had been introduced to the Doctor and Steven, and listened quietly to their entire story without comment. He was in his early fifties, and obviously a man accustomed to power and authority. He had made a few notes on his pocket computer as the Doctor and Bret had told their story, but refrained from interrupting at any point. When they stopped talking, he looked at them all, thoughtfully. ‘I find it hard to believe that Mavic Chen is a traitor.’

  ‘It’s true,’ Bret insisted. ‘He’s made some sort of deal with the Daleks. The Doctor saw him talking with them.’

  ‘Is this true?’ Daxter asked.

  ‘Quite true,’ the Doctor informed him. ‘It seems that the Daleks aim to destroy or capture the whole of the Solar System. They have some kind of a weapon that they call the Time Destructor, and Mavic Chen supplied the final part for the machine.’

  Daxter shook his head. ‘I still can’t believe it,’ he exclaimed. ‘Mavic Chen a traitor!’

  ‘Well, you’d better start believing it,’ Steven snapped. ‘A very brave girl sacrificed her life while we were bringing this information to Earth. Nothing can make up for her death, but I’d like to think it wasn’t entirely wasted!’ He shot a filthy look at Bret.

  ‘Quite, quite,’ the Doctor said, covering this emotional outburst.

  ‘But why?’ Daxter asked. ‘Why should Mavic Chen be co-operating with the Daleks?’

  ‘Because he’s hungry for power!’ the Doctor snapped. ‘He’s the supreme force in the Solar System, but this is not enough for the man. He wants Universal power.’

  ‘We’re going to have to move quickly on this, Daxter,’ Bret urged his friend.

  ‘Yes, of course!’ Daxter snapped out of his lethargy. ‘It will be a vast operation. We’ll have to start assembling a fleet to attack Kembel. It’s going to take some planning. And we have to get Chen impeached...’

  This was the stage where the Doctor took his farewells. He knew that he and Steven were now no longer essential to the safety of the Solar System. Humans had many faults, but once they were convinced of the need for action, they could be most forceful. It was time for him to leave. ‘Whatever your plans,’ he interrupted, ‘it is essential that Steven and I return to Kembel. I must recover something of unique value.’

  For a moment, there was an expression of horror on Daxter’s face. ‘You didn’t leave the Taranium there?’

  ‘Of course not,’ the Doctor snorted. ‘But I did leave a piece of very valuable personal property there. We must recover it.’

  Relieved, Daxter nodded. ‘Of course. We’ll see what can be done.’

  The Doctor moved carefully away from Daxter, edging closer to Bret. Then he called: �
��Steven! Restrain him!’

  Steven didn’t understand, but he did as the Doctor commanded, and grabbed hold of Daxter. Daxter looked wildly around. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Yes,’ Bret said, coldly. ‘What are you doing, Doctor? What kind of a fool game are you playing?’

  ‘Ask Mr Daxter what kind of a fool game he’s playing.’

  ‘Me?’ Darter spluttered.

  ‘Yes, you,’ the Doctor mocked. ‘Just what is Mavic Chen paying you for this piece of treachery?’

  Puzzled, Bret said: ‘He’s no traitor. I’ve known him all my life.’

  ‘It’s a stupid assumption,’ the Doctor replied, ‘that long acquaintance is a guarantee of honesty.’

  ‘But... but I’m no traitor,’ Daxter said. ‘You know that Bret. I’m not a traitor.’

  ‘Oh, you’re not, indeed?’ The Doctor stuck a finger into Daxter’s face. ‘Then tell me this: how did you know that the core to the Time Destructor was made of Taranium, eh?’

  All the colour drained from Daxter’s face. He saw the accusing finger, and then Bret’s face turned quite cold.

  ‘Yes,’ he asked, thinking back. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘One of you mentioned it,’ Daxter said, wildly. ‘While you were telling the story.’

  ‘No,’ the Doctor answered. ‘None of us did. We didn’t mention the core at all, in fact. You did.’

  Daxter realized that he had been discovered, and that there was no use continuing to play the innocent any longer. He lashed backwards with his foot, hitting Steven hard on the shin. As Steven yelled, Daxter twisted free and ran for the door.

  He never made it. Bret had drawn his pistol and fired before Daxter had gone six feet. A brief glow illuminated the man, and he collapsed, dead, to the carpet.

  Angrily, the Doctor whirled around. ‘How many times do I have to tell you about taking lives?’ he exclaimed. ‘There were other ways of dealing with him.’

  Bret reholstered his gun. ‘He deserved worse.’

  ‘Quite so,’ the Doctor agreed. ‘But now we shall never know whom we can trust!’

  The conference room on Kembel had a very tense atmosphere. Though no official meeting had been called, most of the delegates had got into the habit of spending their time there. Trantis, above all, would stand and stare greedily at the map of the Solar System for long periods.

  The Black Dalek noted this carefully. Humanoids were so predictable, so hungry for power. Yet they used it for so foolish an end! Power for the Daleks was simply a means to an end – the total subjugation of the Universe to the Dalek will. Their allies at this conference were purely temporary, however deluded the delegates might be on their importance. The only way to subjugate the Universe to the Dalek will was to ensure that the Daleks were the only species left alive in it...

  The door to the control room hissed open, and a Dalek moved to join the Black Dalek. ‘A report from Earth,’ it stated. ‘Mavic Chen has almost recaptured the Taranium core, and will return here with it in two days.’

  ‘Have the ones who stole it been exterminated?’

  ‘The report did not say.’ The Dalek’s eye-stick swivelled to take in Trantis. ‘But it is believed they were working under the leadership of Trantis.’

  ‘What?’ Trantis spun around, his face dark with anger. ‘That is not true! It is a lie concocted by Mavic Chen. He is jealous of my power in the outer galaxies!’

  That was only too plausible to the Black Dalek. On the other hand, truth was whatever was useful in a given situation – and Trantis was becoming a problem with his continual demands and posturing. Mavic Chen’s accusation could be ‘proven’ if it became necessary to destroy Trantis... as Mavic Chen well knew. Chen was proving to be a dangerously intelligent ally. ‘We shall see,’ the Black Dalek finally stated. ‘Has the report been confirmed?’

  ‘No,’ the messenger answered. ‘It was a suspicion only.’

  ‘It’s Mavic Chen!’ Trantis insisted. ‘He’s trying to undermine the galactic council with his accusations!’

  ‘When Mavic Chen returns, we shall discover the truth.’ The Black Dalek was totally impassive, as ever. ‘Then those who stole the Taranium core will have been identified and exterminated.’

  ‘Now what are we going to do?’ Steven asked.

  ‘I don’t know,’ the Doctor said, thinking furiously. ‘But I do think we’d be well advised to get away from here.’ He gestured to the body on the floor. ‘It’s quite likely that Daxter here will be missed very shortly.’

  ‘Good idea,’ Bret approved. He levered himself to his feet, and stood, a little uncertainly, on his injured leg.

  Steven looked concerned. ‘Are you going to be able to walk with that leg of yours?’

  ‘I’ll manage,’ the agent answered. ‘We can get out through the experimental sector. It’s usually pretty quiet there, and there are groundcars parked outside. I can probably override one of their computers. It’ll speed up our escape.’

  ‘Right,’ Steven agreed. ‘Let’s go.’ He walked over to the door, and hit the control to open it. The door hissed aside.

  ‘Hello, Bret.’ Kingdom stood in the doorway, her gun at the ready.

  After a second of shock, Bret exclaimed: ‘Sara!’ He gave a sigh of relief, and a slight smile. ‘Am I glad to see you. I was beginning to think there was no one I could trust.’

  Sara had not returned his smile. On the contrary, her gun never wavered for an instant. Icily, she snapped: ‘I don’t suppose traitors have a lot of friends.’

  Bret couldn’t believe what she was saying. He groped for words, but none came. The one person he had been certain would help!

  She held out her hand. ‘The Taranium,’ she said, softly. ‘Give it to me.’

  A sick feeling overwelmed Bret, and he sagged visibly. ‘You, too?’ he asked, dully. ‘You, too?’

  Impatiently, Sara moved forward, aiming to search Bret for the core – not realizing that the Doctor had it. As she moved, Steven grabbed his chance. He jumped at her, and smashed aside her arm before she could retrain the gun on him. Then he threw her as hard as he could across the room.

  ‘Come on,’ he yelled. ‘Run for it!’

  The Doctor needed no further urging. Together, the two of them dashed into the corridor and away. Bret, hampered by his injured leg, was a little slower. In the doorway, he paused, looking back at Sara, still finding the fact that she was also one of the traitors hard to accept.

  Sara had been slightly dazed by the force of the blow, but she shook her head, and staggered back to her feet. What a stupid move! She had been so intent on Bret that she had neglected to watch the other two men carefully enough! She dived for her pistol, and then dashed to the door. Bret was still in sight, limping down the corridor. She brought up her gun and aimed it.

  ‘Stay where you are!’ she called, fighting to keep her voice level. She knew what her orders were, but it was simpler to think about killing Bret than actually to do it. Her finger tightened on the trigger, and Bret refused to stop.

  She fired, closing her eyes at the last second. She heard the thud of Bret’s body hitting the floor, and then she opened her eyes and looked. He was down, but not quite dead. Sara hurried over to him, and turned him gently on his back.

  His eyes were open, and filled with pain. It was more than physical pain – though that must have been extreme, and it was astonishing that he was still clinging to life. ‘How?’ he whispered. ‘How could... Mavic Chen... have bought you? How?’ His will could not hold his wrecked body together any longer. With a sigh, he died.

  Sara laid him gently to the floor, fighting back the emotion that threatened to wash over her. She also held back from thinking about Bret’s last words. There were still two intruders to kill.

  Steven and the Doctor dashed past a sign that warned special passes were needed to enter the next area. The last thing on their minds at the moment was approval for their various trespasses. They ran through the only door opening from the corrido
r.

  They were in a perfectly blank room. Its white walls were devoid of features, and there was no other way out. The only thing in the room besides themselves was a strange-looking machine about the size of a man, and vaguely pyramid-shaped.

  ‘No time to retrace out steps,’ the Doctor gasped. All this exercise was quite fatiguing. At his age, he shouldn’t be expected to run all the time. ‘Let’s hope that woman thinks we’ve gone elsewhere.’

  Steven closed the door. ‘Did you see anything of Bret?’ he asked, softly. The Doctor shook his head. Steven was worried, but there was no way of checking on their friend without the risk of running into that other agent. ‘Well,’ Steven whispered finally, ‘what do we do now?’

  From the expression on the Doctor’s face, the same question was going through his mind also. There was no need for him to answer, because at that moment the door opened.

  Sara stood in the doorway, gun in hand. The two men stared at her in amazement. What idiots! Did they think they could escape her heat sensors by running? She brought her weapon to cover them both. ‘You are trying to escape,’ she said, flatly. ‘That means I shall have to kill you.’

  Chapter 12

  Counter-plot

  In another room of the experimental complex, Froyn and Rhymnal eagerly exchanged delighted smiles. Both men had been working for several years on a particularly tricky and delicate experimental procedure – which was finally about to be tested for the first time. Both men hovered around a central panel in a room lined with computers. Even with the sophisticated machines of the year AD 4000, the amount of calculating needed to get this experiment perfect was staggering. Vast rows of humming computers worked through the figures, projections, energy requirements and safety margins. The expenditure of energy alone in this experiment was horrendously high – Froyn had often quipped that he was glad it wouldn’t be on his personal debit. Only the Government of the Solar System could ever have afforded even to think about trying this experiment.

  Rhymnal checked the final couplings, and smiled. ‘Power flow is at maximum,’ he reported for posterity. Naturally, they were recording the whole experiment. Everything was looking good.