Doctor Who_ Mission To The Unknown Part 12

'That's what I want,' he breathed. 'Guardian of the Universe!' It was the only position that could sate his burning inner ambitions.

'Surely Trantis will be first, after the Daleks?' Karlton said, softly.

Chen spun around. 'Trantis?' he mocked. 'Trantis? They don't like him.'

'Agreed. But his is is the largest galaxy.' the largest galaxy.'

Chen dismissed the thought with a wave of the hand. 'He is already demanding too much say in what goes on,' he explained, oblivious to the fact that such were his own demands. 'They want him out of the way. And I have a plan which may help them to achieve their goal. Then it will be I, Mavic Chen, who will be next in line!'

'And I,' Karlton reminded him, 'will be there behind you.'

'Of course,' Chen agreed.

'Of course.' Karlton knew that he would be behind Chen only as long as Chen didn't feel threatened by the presence of another. It would be up to him to a.s.suage Chen's doubts as long as possible.

Chen abruptly came back to the present. 'Is your special force dealing with Vyon?'

'Not directly. I thought it would be wiser to use some of the ordinary security men.'

'Very good,' Chen approved with a smile, taking his seat again. 'You're learning. Who's in command?'

'Kingdom.'

Chen's eyes lit up in appreciation. 'Kingdom! Splendid! A thoroughly reliable agent with an impressive record.'

Karlton smiled. 'And a tendency to shoot first. I thought you'd approve.'

'I do. I would like a private word with Kingdom, please.' 'I thought you might.' Karlton bent forward and triggered the intercom. 'Have agent Kingdom report to Mavic Chen's office immediately.'

Chen stared off at the door, across the luxurious room. The carpet was rich and thick, the paintings on the walls were originals from a dozen worlds. The sculptures were all his own choices from the museums of Earth. Being Guardian of the Solar System had a few good aspects to it. 'I have one or two special instructions for dealing with Bret Vyon,' he mused.

'Is that any better?' Steven asked, finis.h.i.+ng winding on the bandage he had found in one of the cupboards.

Bret winced, and tried to stand again. 'It helps. But it still hurts like crazy,' he admitted. His trouser leg was torn open, and the bandage was already slightly bloodstained from the gash on his leg.

The Doctor stopped his pacing back and forth for a moment. 'It's your own wretched fault, young man,' he snapped, most unsympathetically. 'If you had landed that s.h.i.+p in a workmanlike fas.h.i.+on, then you wouldn't be suffering.'

'I did my best, Doctor,' Bret snarled back, stung by the unfair criticism.

'Yes, indeed,' the Doctor retorted. 'Still, I should have known better than to expect a degree of skill from a member of the younger generation. Every one of them fails you when you need them, and then tells you they did their best!'

This was so grossly unfair that Bret's anger drained away.

He realized that the Doctor's irritation was merely masking his impatience. 'I got you back to Earth, didn't I?'

'Yes and almost put us six feet under it!'

Steven gestured around the office that they were waiting in.

Bret had directed them here through the security screen about the buildings. 'I still can't see why we're hanging around in here.

Can't we just go ahead and inform the Government about the Daleks and have done with it?'

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 s.h.i.+p 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 a.s.sembling 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 he's playing.' 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 a.s.sumption,' 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 You did.' 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 s.h.i.+n.

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.'