Doctor Who_ World Game - Doctor Who_ World Game Part 5
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Doctor Who_ World Game Part 5

'Fire!'

Nothing happened and Lieutenant von Schultz looked up in surprise.

The firing squad was staring bemusedly at the section of wall where the odd little figure had been standing. They hadn't fired because there was nobody to shoot at.

The Doctor was no longer there.

The old man stared at the empty space in furious bafflement.

The beautiful dark-haired woman threw back her head and gave a peal of laughter.

'You jolly well took your time,' said the Doctor indignantly as he faded back into view in the Temporal Control anteroom on Gallifrey.

'You were only under intermittent surveillance,' said Milvo irritably. 'Can't you go anywhere without getting into trouble, Doctor?' He held out his hand.

The Doctor pushed back his sleeve and the Time Ring dropped into Milvo's palm.

'Now, Doctor, we have indulged your whimsy. It is time for your work to begin.'

'Just a minute before we start,' said the Doctor. 'There's something odd going on in Earth 1915. Some kind of historical interference. I'm not sure who's doing it or why, but it needs looking into. I'd be happy to '

'No, Doctor,' said Ragnar firmly. 'No more delays, distractions or diversions. We have much to do.'

The Doctor sighed. 'Yes, I suppose I I do, don't I...' do, don't I...'

Sardon burst into the room, Luco close behind. 'Is he ' He broke off, seeing the Doctor. 'You survived, I see.'

'Barely,' said the Doctor cheerfully. 'My little trip was nearly over before it had begun.'

'I gave orders for continuous surveillance,' said Sardon, with a coldly furious glance at the terrified technician. 'My apologies, Doctor. There will be an enquiry.' He glanced at Milvo and Ragnar. 'Thank you for your attendance. I know that numerous duties await you, and I must not detain you further.'

More relieved than offended by this summary dismissal the less they knew of Sardon's operation the better Ragnar and Milvo made a dignified exit.

Sardon turned to the Doctor. 'Now, Doctor, if you will come with me...'

'One moment,' said the Doctor. 'I tried to tell your two colleagues but they didn't want to know. I stumbled across temporal interference on Earth in 1915 the very thing you want me to investigate.'

'Indeed,' said Sardon. 'You must tell me more, Doctor.' He held up his hand. 'Not now. You need rest, refreshment...' He glanced at the Doctor, now somewhat bedraggled after his recent adventures. 'A change of clothes, perhaps...'

'I like these clothes,' said the Doctor indignantly. He looked down at himself. 'Though I admit a wash and brush-up wouldn't come amiss. Look, about this temporal interference...'

'Later, Doctor, at the briefing meeting. You shall tell me everything and meet your new colleague at the same time.'

Chapter Six.

The Briefing

Washed, brushed, tidied and considerably cleaner, the Doctor marched jauntily into the conference room. He was followed by Sardon, and by two members of the Capitol Guard who took up positions by the door.

Sardon dismissed the two guards with a wave of his hand.

'Station yourselves outside. Stay alert.'

The guards left and the door closed behind them.

'I see you still don't trust me,' said the Doctor.

Sardon smiled. 'My dear Doctor, if I could trust you, you wouldn't be of any use to me.'

Two people were waiting for them at the table, a dark, thin-faced young man seated behind a monitor screen, and a tall, startlingly beautiful young woman with green eyes and blonde hair. The young man rose as they entered, the young woman stayed put.

'My assistant, Luco,' said Sardon. 'This is the Lady Serenadellatrovella, who will be your companion on this mission. You may address her as Serena.'

The Doctor stared at Serena. 'Companion? You mean she's going to be my assistant?'

'No, Doctor,' said Serena. 'I'm going to be your supervisor.'

It wasn't a good start.

The Doctor was outraged. 'Supervisor? Now see here, Sardon, if you think I'm going to be bossed about by some inexperienced amateur...'

'I refuse to take part in this mission unless our respective positions are made clear,' said Serena coldly. 'If this this convict refuses to acknowledge my authority, there is absolutely no point...'

'Convict?' said the Doctor indignantly. 'Who are you calling a convict you mannerless minx?'

'You were convicted of a crime, were you not, Doctor? A capital crime, I believe?'

'Well, yes, but...'

'There you are then you're a convict. As far as I'm concerned,' Serena went on calmly, 'you're simply out on parole. A parole which may well be revoked unless your behaviour shows considerable improvement.'

'In my day,' said the Doctor scathingly, 'well brought up young ladies were taught to show respect for their elders and betters.'

'Then perhaps your day is done, Doctor. What are you a doctor of, by the way?'

'Practically everything!'

'Lady Serena, Doctor, please,' said Sardon soothingly.

'Lady Serena will accompany you, Doctor, as our representative. She will ensure that you observe the designated parameters of your mission and, of course, she will render you any assistance that lies within her power.'

'There you are then,' said the Doctor. 'Assistant!'

'Supervisor,' said Serena.

Sardon sighed. 'Let us not get bogged down in disputes over nomenclature. Lady Serena's role contains elements of both functions. Now, shall we begin the briefing?'

The Doctor and Serena glared stubbornly at each other but neither spoke.

Taking silence for consent, Sardon said, 'Luco, perhaps you would begin?'

Luco tapped controls and studied his monitor. 'Temporal scanning has detected a pattern of systematic interference in the affairs of Earth. The pattern is concentrated in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century a period marked by extended bouts of warfare between England and France. In particular, there have been attempts to influence the careers of two key figures. Arthur Wellesley, who becomes in due course the Duke of Wellington, and Napoleon Bonaparte, who rises from lieutenant to general, and from First Consul to Emperor of the French. Others have been the subject of interference, but efforts seem concentrated on these two.'

'What action has been taken so far?' asked Serena.

'Luco here paid a number of undercover visits to the relevant period,' said Sardon. 'Unfortunately his efforts were completely unsuccessful.'

'What kind of interference do you suspect?' asked the Doctor. 'Positive or negative?'

'Both,' said Sardon. 'Those concerned are being both attacked and protected.'

'Interesting,' said the Doctor. 'It suggests the existence of two opposing factions.' He brooded for a moment. 'Let me tell you about my experiences on Earth in 1915, the time of their First World War.'

'Must you, Doctor?' said Serena.

'Yes I must. Just be quiet and listen, young lady. Perhaps you might learn something.'

He gave them a detailed account of his meeting with Major Winston Churchill, who had resigned as First Lord of the Admiralty when the failure of his plan to attack Turkey via the Dardanelles put a temporary end to his political career. He had returned to the Army, insisting on serving in the front line in France1.

The Doctor told of the plot against Churchill. 'The plan was either to kill him, or to kidnap him, fly him to Berlin and frame him as a traitor,' he said. 'And with Churchill dead or disgraced, the Second World War would have gone very differently. A successful German invasion in 1940, and Hitler victorious!' He looked round the little group. 'Don't you see the similarity? It's the same technique! An attempt to pervert the course of human history by sabotaging the career of a key figure at an early stage! at an early stage! ' '

Almost in spite of herself, Serena found that she was fascinated by the Doctor's story and impressed by his courage and resourcefulness.

'Did you discover who was responsible?' she asked.

'There were two of them,' said the Doctor. 'Count Ludwig Kroner and Countess Malika Treszka. A man in his sixties high forehead, hooded grey eyes and an extraordinarily beautiful young woman. She had black hair and blue eyes, an unusual combination.'

'You sound rather taken with her, Doctor,' said Serena.

'Nonsense,' said the Doctor. 'Fortunately, however, she took a fancy to Major Churchill and helped us to escape.'

'Helped your fellow captives to escape,' said Serena. 'Not you.'

'I'm not as handsome as Major Churchill,' said the Doctor modestly. 'Besides, my capture wasn't her fault. I stayed behind to cover the getaway of the others, and lingered a little too long.'

1 For a full account of the Doctor's adventures in 1915, see Doctor Who: Players by Terrance Dicks.

'Did you discover anything more about them?' asked Sardon.

'Not really. The Count claimed to be Danish, the Countess, Hungarian, but I rather doubt it. I'm not sure they were even human.'

'Why do you say that, Doctor?' asked Luco curiously.

'I'm not sure. I sensed something about them something alien.' He smiled wryly. 'Perhaps it takes one to know one!'

Sardon rose. 'Well, Doctor, we have told you all we can.

Perhaps you would care to go over the temporal interference traces with Luco here? You will need to decide at what point you wish to intervene.' It was a command, not a suggestion.

'If you will come with me, Lady Serena, I will brief you on the transportation arrangements. We will meet later at the TARDIS and your first mission can begin.'

Serena and Sardon left the conference room and Luco went over to the monitor. He adjusted controls, and complex, swirling patterns appeared on the screen.

'Are you familiar with temporal graphology, Doctor?'

'Rather more so than you, I imagine, young man,' said the Doctor testily. 'Get on with it!'

Luco picked up a light-rod and pointed to the screen. 'The first traces are apparent here here...'

Some time later the Doctor, his head still spinning with whirling tempographs, was marching along a corridor with Luco, escorted by two members of the Capitol Guard.

They still didn't trust him, he reflected. Hadn't it occurred to them that once inside the TARDIS he could soon slip out of their grasp? There was Serena, of course, but he could easily deal with her. Strand her on some pleasant little planet like Metebelis Three, send a message telling the Time Lords where to pick her up...

On the other hand he had had given his word, and the Time Lords had kept theirs. But was a promise extracted under the threat of death really morally binding? given his word, and the Time Lords had kept theirs. But was a promise extracted under the threat of death really morally binding?