System Shock Part 33

'Total systems failure imminent.'

The shuttle tore free from the main s.h.i.+p, twisted round, and started to accelerate away.

Behind it the side of the mothers.h.i.+p exploded outwards.

Silent flames and debris shot through s.p.a.ce after the tiny craft as it b.u.mped forward on the shock wave and tumbled towards the atmosphere.

The last Voracian was hurled across the flight deck by the explosion. It lay crumpled against the wall, gasping for air as the life support systems suffered ma.s.sive failure and the oxygen was expelled through the broken hull.

Hanson leant forward into the howling gale as the atmosphere was sucked out of the room. His organic cheek rippled under the pressure, and the hydraulic fluid piping round his artificial systems started to bubble. His finger closed on a b.u.t.ton, and with the last of his strength he pressed downwards.

Voractyll launched into the s.h.i.+p's systems. It twisted and turned, finding confusion and crisis everywhere. With a hiss of anger it coiled towards the central system and the reactor control.

But before it got there, the control systems exceeded their final tolerance levels, and the core ruptured.

The s.h.i.+p exploded in a crimson burst of fire.

284.

The Doctor and Harry shook hands. It was almost a formal gesture, till the Doctor converted it into a bear hug. The last few days had been hectic, but now here they were outside the TARDIS and ready to leave.

The Doctor had destroyed the Voracian shuttle craft, letting it self-destruct in an orange fireball. Sarah had visited Robert Gibson in hospital, where he was making a good recovery. She had also spoken briefly to the d.u.c.h.ess of Glas...o...b..ry, who seemed keen to get advice from Sarah on how best to sell her story to as many popular newspapers as possible for the most amount of money. Then Sarah had helped the Doctor and Harry collect together every remnant of technology and doc.u.mentation from the I2 offices and from the burnt-out remains of Hubway. And she had watched most of it fed into the furnace at the Hammersmith waste disposal works.

'Don't you think we're perhaps overdoing this?' Harry had asked. 'Ashley Chapel put in a bid for what's left, he won't be best pleased with the little you've left him.'

'That's his problem,' the Doctor had snapped back. 'Just one Bug just one left inside a piece of digital equipment could start this whole thing off again, like that.' He snapped his fingers to demonstrate. 'And that's nothing to what a stray copy of Voractyll might manage.'

Now here they were. And Harry looked if anything even older than he had when they first met again a week previously.

Sarah hugged him close, kissed him on the cheek. 'See you sooner,' she said.

Harry smiled, but his eyes were moist and sad. 'So long, old thing. Keep in touch when you get back, won't you.'

'Will I?' she asked. 'Drop me a line anyway wherever I am these days.'

'I'll send you a memo.'

Sarah laughed. 'You!' she said and punched him on the shoulder.

The Doctor's head emerged from the TARDIS. 'Well are you coming or not?' he asked.

'Coming,' said Sarah. She waved to Harry, and followed the Doctor into the TARDIS.

285.

After a second the Doctor's head appeared again at the doorway. 'So long, Harry,' he said. Then after a moment's frowned consideration, 'You should get out more. Live a little.'

A moment later, the blue police box was gone.

Harry shook his head. 'I'll keep the desk job any day,' he said quietly.

286.

Else . . .

They met at Jardine's Jardine's, and talked about nothing in particular until the coffee arrived.

'So,' Sarah said at last. 'I guess you've been having an energetic time.'

'You know I have,' Harry said.

'Played h.e.l.l with a friend of mine,' Sarah said. 'And our microwave exploded.'

'There's a lot of it about. Hectic times.'

'Yes, hectic times. But over now, thank goodness. I don't think I could stand the pace any more.'

Harry laughed. 'You think you've got problems, I'm still bruised all over.' He signalled to a waiter for the bill.

Sarah stared off into the distance. 'It was a long time ago.'

'For you perhaps. We still have our memories.' Harry chuckled, 'It was actually quite fun, when you look back.'

The conversation paused as the tall, gaunt-looking waiter presented Harry with the bill. Harry unfolded it, grimaced, and gave the waiter a credit card.

They chatted for a few minutes, about the old days UNIT, the Doctor, their travels.

The waiter returned with a credit card slip. Harry felt in his jacket for a pen, but Sarah offered hers before he found one.

'Thanks.'

'Thank you, sir.' The waiter borrowed the pen to initial the slip. He held the pen for a moment, a thin finger running along its steel casing. Then he returned it to Harry together with the top copy. The waiter swayed his head by way of thanks, and retreated.

'Memories.' Sarah smiled back at Harry. 'Yes, that's about all we could keep from those days, I suppose. With a couple of exceptions.'

287.

'Oh?' He handed her back the heavy steel biro.

'Well,' said Sarah, showing him the logo on the side, 'I still have this pen.'

288.