Doctor Who_ Divided Loyalties Part 23

The Observer had his finger on his lips, the traditional sign to be quiet. He was indicating the slabs. And the fact that one by one, the dead' bodies were stirring.

He was mouthing at her. No more words. Not yet.' She frowned but complied.

Awaken, brethren,' the Observer suddenly bellowed.

Awaken for She is here!'

As one, the bodies rose up, saw Tegan and gasped, clearly in awe of her. They all bowed and started chanting.

But they were dead...' she started to say. Again the Observer waved her to silence.

Welcome her, brethren,' he commanded, and the chanting got louder. And louder. After a moment or two Tegan began to wince - the voices were really very loud.

She couldn't concentrate.

Exactly,' the Observer whispered. Your mind is unable to focus and therefore your thoughts cannot be read at the moment. Do not try to speak, allow me to explain. There can be questions later.'

He turned again to the chanters. Louder, my brethren, the Chosen One cannot hear your grat.i.tude, cannot hear your love!'

I can hear it very well, thank you.' Tegan gritted her teeth to keep her mind off the noise level.

They have slept for many decades, Tegan Melissa Jovanka.

They believe their G.o.d has abandoned them. They believe their G.o.d to be sick. I was left to await the coming of the Chosen One, the one they believed would lead them to their G.o.d, save him from his sickness and return him to them.'

And that's me, is it? I'm your Chosen One?'

The Observer smiled. Of course you're not. But they believe you are. And, more importantly, their G.o.d will believe they believe you are. Which will distract him long enough for the Doctor to do his job here.'

Tegan stared, open-mouthed. Of all the things the Observer could have said, this was not what she expected to hear. All she could say was Why me?'

The old man took a step closer. Because of what you have already surmised. Nyssa of Traken and the boy Adric do not possess the strength to fight back, to overcome the brainwas.h.i.+ng. He uses me. He treats me with contempt. He believes that I can't control this rabble. He also believes that he is not sick. In truth, he is very sick.'

Who? Their G.o.d?'

Indeed. The Doctor will believe he can save him - and you are the distraction that will enable me to stop the Doctor performing the task that he thinks he must perform, that he believes he has been summoned for. That will allow me to show him an alternative path to walk.'

I don't understand. Why must they make so much noise?'

Because their G.o.d can read minds, particularly mine. This noise distracts, disrupts the alpha waves along which he can communicate with me. By chanting in perfect unison, they are unwittingly creating a barrier between their G.o.d and my mind.'

Tegan frowned. The strain on you must be...'

He nodded. But it is worth it.'

But the images you put in my mind earlier. My father...'

The Observer shrugged. They are images you put there yourself. I do not know if your father is alive or dead, any more than you do. But you suspect he is dead and feel guilty for not being with your family. I am ashamed to say that it was very easy for me to... violate your subconscious, bring those unpleasant possibilities to a plane of reality for you.'

You were testing me, weren't you. That's what you meant about Nyssa and Adric!'

The Observer nodded. The G.o.d is playing with their minds at the moment. And even the Doctor's, although I can read enough to know he is not fooled. The Doctor is a clever foe - he already understands the Game. I cannot help him further - I have already done my bit for him. But you ... you withstood the brainwas.h.i.+ng. I was instructed to give you. Tegan, I need your help. Allow me to show you the universal truth. So you will understand.'

The Doctor took a step back as the first of the sleepers awoke and rose up, breaking into a chant. Around them, all the other previously comatose bodies left their slabs and started chanting.

Some coma, Doctors!' Oakwood said waspishly.

Dieter shrugged, but the Doctor was furious. Of course, he's manipulated our minds.'

Who has?' asked Desorgher.

Where's Townsend?' the Doctor asked quietly.

Who?' Oakwood looked around. Is she the person you think has manipulated our minds?'

But the Doctor ignored him and, roughly pus.h.i.+ng one of the chanters aside, clambered on to its slab and looked around. Townsend! Braune! Talk to me. Now!'

Dieter tugged at his trouser leg. Are you all right, Doctor?'

Yes, I am. But you're not. Who travelled with us to this planet?'

Dieter shrugged. You and the commander.'

Don't you see?' He looked at her, then Oakwood.

Desorgher? Where's Desorgher?' As Dieter was about to speak, the Doctor waved her quiet. Yes, yes, I know what you're going to say - Who? They're your comrades, Dieter. I should have spotted it earlier - Braune was the first to disappear from our memories! He looked up and around, clambering from slab to slab, yelling out their names.

Desorgher? Braune? Townsend?'

He stopped as he saw Braune. The security man was standing, chanting with the others, but he was shadowy.

Almost as if he wasn't quite there.

It's a dream. I'm still dreaming this.' He looked around.

Where does it start, hmmm?' he yelled up to the ceiling. Am I by the door, still drugged? Or perhaps I'm still on the surface of Dymok. Or...' No, surely not that! Or am I still in the TARDIS? Has none of this really happened?'

But nothing changed. He looked around - he'd lost Braune again and could see neither Dieter nor Oakwood any longer.

All right, Toymaker, I'll play it your way - round one to you.

Checkmate. Snap. Rummy. Whatever you want, but move things along or I can't help you!'

And the world dissolved around him.

Nyssa stared at the TARDIS - it was on some kind of pedestal, probably at the heart of the maze. It was also rather small. Or a long way ahead.

I presume that's my target, BeeBee.'

Around them the many-coloured wooden blocks formed a ma.s.sive wall - she could see only ahead - which rather confirmed that the TARDIS was indeed a very long way in front of her and very high up.

Who is controlling all this, BeeBee?'

I have no idea, Miss Nyssa.'

Nyssa looked at his unreadable furry face. Oh nonsense, BeeBee. You are my toy, from home. You no longer exist - you were destroyed when my world, my bed and everything on it vanished. I'm not exactly the naive young Traken n.o.blewoman I was back then - I've seen and learnt quite a bit.'

She tapped BeeBee's chest. People are always underestimating me, but just because I don't yell my head off like Tegan or sulk like Adric it doesn't mean I don't absorb, notice and learn things. Someone has taken you out of my memories and brought you to life. Or I'm dreaming and someone is manipulating my subconscious on a biometric level. Either way, I am aware, I can reason and I can see that whatever is going on, someone is trying to trap me.'

She turned away from BeeBee and carried on walking. And whoever it is, is using a giant rather talkative version of you to convince me otherwise!'

She called back over her shoulder. Oh, and BeeBee, I suspect that my mysterious benefactor wants the Doctor, not me. After all, he recognised the pyramid for what it was - a trap.'

BeeBee did not respond - and when Nyssa turned to see why, he had vanished. What a surprise,' she sighed. Mind you, for all Tegan's vocalising of her complaints, the human did have a point fairly frequently. Things did seem to go wrong.

That was quite a speech, Nyssa,' said a voice behind her.

One rarely hears you say so much.'

I rarely do. Out loud,' she retorted without looking back. She realised that it was the Master again, with that voice - a silky, pretend-softer version of her own father's. Doesn't mean I don't think it. Why don't you show me your true self instead of my toy bear, my father or the Master?'

And the Celestial Toymaker materialised before her, arms wide in apology.

That's better,' she said. I don't know you, so I'll a.s.sume you are the one behind this ridiculously childish attempt to confuse me.'

I'll speed things up for you, shall I?' he replied. Go to the centre of the maze.' He addressed his command to the air.

Nyssa heard a slight mechanical whirring and clicking noise and around her the blocks started moving up and down of their own accord, rea.s.sembling in a different order. Some formed a tall column with a long ladder painted on it. Nyssa looked up and could just make out the TARDIS atop the column.

So,' she said, did the blocks move, did I move or is none of this remotely real?'

I underestimated you, Nyssa of Traken! The Toymaker clicked his fingers and all the blocks vanished. They were back in the white void Nyssa had seen when she first emerged from the citadel.

There is more to you than even the Doctor believes.' The Toymaker smiled at her, but it didn't make her feel safe. I see that my games and tricks aren't amusing you just yet. I feel I might have to up the ante. In the meantime, I think a reunion is in order.' He seemed to look through her, and she s.h.i.+vered. A reunion on so many levels.'

The Doctor was standing in the Toymaker's realm, surrounded by silence and whiteness. He staggered under the sudden change in circ.u.mstances as the loss of the deafening chanting momentarily threw him.

You've grown stronger over the years, Doctor,' said the Toymaker, solidifying in front of him amid a swirl of coloured mist. Once upon a time, you'd have stayed in there for an eternity, locked within your own dreamscape.'

Well,' the Doctor was calmer now, his strength and perspective returning, I'm older now. Wiser even. What do you want?'

Is that any way to greet an old friend?' The Toymaker smiled, but his eyes were dark and ringed, like those of a man who had lacked a good night's sleep for some time.

We are not friends,' the Doctor said simply.

But I believe this young lady is,' said the Toymaker, and from behind him stepped Nyssa. Well, for now, at least.'

Ignoring him, the Doctor held his hand out to Nyssa.

She walked slowly towards him. Are you all right, Doctor?'

Fine. You?'

Yes, thank you. I'm afraid I don't like your friend very much.'

Has he hurt you?'

Nyssa shook her head. I could do without the constant visits to Traken, however.'

The Doctor saw her pain, and looked across at the Toymaker in fury. What do you hope to achieve by tormenting my friends?'

The Toymaker smirked. You'll see. Very soon in fact!'

Nyssa, too, looked at him. I don't suppose you'd consider letting us go home now? Back to the TARDIS, wherever it is.'

The Doctor opened his mouth to speak, but the Toymaker held his hand up. Oh, sorry, Doctor. Did I forget to mention that?'

He clicked his fingers and the TARDIS appeared in the distance.

The Doctor did not have to ask if it was the real TARDIS or one of the Toymaker's twisted creations. He knew it was real - he hadn't travelled throughout time and s.p.a.ce in the same craft for most of his adult life without knowing instinctively when his TARDIS was nearby.

Of course,' the Toymaker laughed, getting to it is probably harder than it initially seems. I'd hate you to think I'd lost my touch.'

Just let us go!' Nyssa cried, subconsciously trying the Tegan approach.

Don't bother trying to appeal to his better nature, Nyssa.

He doesn't have one.'

Oh Doctor,' cried the Toymaker, you wound me with your churlish, dismissive statements. Surely you should be encouraging your young friend here to see the universe with open eyes, not a closed mind. How can she judge me fairly when one such as yourself - one so beyond reproach, so beyond anything other than wholesome goodness and charity - casts such aspersions upon me?'