Doctor Who_ Legacy Part 25

A cough from the doorway alerted him to Bernice's presence. She was carrying his cloak and helmet which she deposited on a chair. The Pel guards departed.

Is he dead, then? Did Atissa kill him?'

'You're a blood-thirsty little tyke, aren't you?' was Bernice's only answer.

She crossed to the back of the room and filled a mug with cold water. Kort was more than a little alarmed at the manic grin on her face as she wandered back over.

'What are you going to do, Benny?' She put her fingers to her lips. 'Look.

Listen. Learn.'

She tipped the mug of water directly over Savaar's face and he instantly started hacking and coughing. An arm flailed out, nearly catching Kort on the head. Slowly the coughing High Lord pushed himself up.

'Shut up, Drushull, you're dead,' Bernice said.

He looked at her through rapidly focusing eyes. 'Do not call me Drushull, Shsurr I might forget that I am one and hit a lady.'

Bernice laughed, confusing Kort further. 'Hey, it was you who decided that I was a lady. My mother just said I was a proper little madam.'

'What is going on?' the impatient boy asked.

A good question, Damakort. I, too, would like an answer. Especially regarding that strange intimacy you expressed, Professor.' Savaar hauled himself off the table and replaced his mask. He held up his cloak but the Pel guards had torn its clasps earlier. He gave it a brief look and left it on the chair.

'You liked the kiss, Savaar. Admit it, it gave you a thrill.'

It was . . . interesting, certainly.'

'Yeah. And a good ruse. Got you away from Atissa. With the help of this blaster.'

'They thought I was dead?'

'Yup. I knew the right level to simulate your physiology's shut-down procedures. I always knew a crash course in Martian biology would come in handy one day.'

I am grateful that you took it.'

Bernice laughed. I never did. I just read a couple of textbooks, thought they were boring, and so guessed. I got lucky.'

Actually, I rather think I did.'

Bernice sat and Savaar followed suit.

'Kort, do us a favour. Go find Keri and bring her back here.'

'But I want to -'

'Please; begged Bernice.

Kort nodded and left.

After the boy had left, Savaar reached out and clasped Bernice's hand.

'Thank you. You were very brave. Atissa might have killed you.'

I had to take the risk. Just as you did regarding the Doctor.'

'You have seen him?'

'He's in the mines with Sskeet. Exploring footprints. The reason I got rid of Kort is because the Doctor doesn't trust him. Or Keri. Or, I suppose, even Centauri.'

Savaar agreed. 'But it isn't just a question of trust. It's of reliability. I imagine that Centauri is about as guilty of any crime as you or I but he is quite likely to give away any secrets. His knowing the Doctor is still alive could be a risk.'

'Now, Kort and the others will have to know you're around but I suggest you head back to the shuttle.'

'No,' said Savaar. 'No, I need to be nearer. I will hide in your quarters. No one will look there, I am sure.'

Oh, right. Okay.'

A pair of human hands gently lowered the Crown of Sherak into a large adamantium casket. A soft burgundy cus.h.i.+on was placed over the top and the lid closed.

'Computer. Open safe-seal. Override MDH Absolute.'

'Confirmed.'

A hiss of air and part of the shuttle wall vanished and revealed a hole big enough for the casket. The hands lifted up the casket and inserted it. They then laid the Lance of Aggedor on the top.

'Reseal. Access commands erased. This safe-seal may only be opened on the access code Summerfield Code-A. That access code may not be divulged to any party at any time. If any attempt is made to open the safe-seal without that code this shuttle is to self-destruct instantly. No time delay. Confirm.'

'Confirmed.'

'Good.' The owner of the hands and voice got out of the Martian shuttle. He looked down at the decapitated Martian pilot and nudged the body under the shuttle. It wouldn't hide it for long, but a few seconds could be important. He picked up the double-bladed Sword of Truth from the ground where he'd deposited it and wiped the green blood off on to the dusty floor.

Damajina. Jav. And now the pilot. He enjoyed killing.

Torg was worried. He couldn't find either King Tarrol or Geban. He had arrested Savaar as instructed and had been told by his men that Savaar had been killed eventually by the human professor in revenge for the Doctor's death.

Something was wrong. Atissa was certainly a high-ranking official in Pel society and she was the daughter of the beloved Lady Lianna. She also seemed unwell.

He was distracted by a noise from an adjoining corridor. A soft humming which he soon realized came from an antigrav valise floating towards him.

Behind it was Nic Reece, a holdall slung over his shoulder.

'Hiya, Torg. Just clearing out. We know when we're not wanted.'

Torg felt his heart sag a little - Nic Reece was a popular Federation figure on Peladon and he, along with most of his men, would miss the official's humour and lighthearted banter. Torg was saddened that it was to be so quickly over.

He grunted his disappointment and Reece held out his hand. Torg took it and they shook. 'Just in case we don't have another chance, Torg, I just want to say thanks. You and your chums have been sporting chaps and I'll miss you all. Good luck with Atissa.' Reece smiled and Torg bowed slightly and stepped back.

He knocked into the floating suitcase and it s.h.i.+fted on its antigravs, cras.h.i.+ng to the floor, the lid springing open and sending clothes and other personal items on to the ground.

Embarra.s.sed, Torg dropped down and started piling things back into it.

Kort found Keri quite quickly.

'Something's going on,' he said quietly.

'What exactly?'

'Savaar is alive!' Keri c.o.c.ked her head and twitched her snout. 'Sorry? I wasn't aware that he'd died. What d'you mean, yeah?'

'Atissa had him executed. Except Benny interrupted and saved him. But Atissa thinks he's dead and she killed him. I think she knows that the Doctor isn't dead, but Atissa thinks he is. But she's not saying.'

'Who's not saying what?'

'That he's alive!'

'The Doctor or Savaar?'

'What?'

'No, that's my line. Kort, what are you talking about? Slowly.'

With a deep breath, Kort started again.

Alpha Centauri bobbed around his room, trying not to panic. The Doctor was dead. Savaar was probably dead. And he had no way of communicating with Io as the Bruk appeared to have left orbit. On top of that, his short range transmitter was not getting through to the pilot on Savaar's shuttle.

Oh, I need something to do,' he cried to no one in particular.

At which point there was a knock on the door, scaring the hysterical hexapod into near hyperventilation. 'Who . . . who is it?' he asked.

It's Geban, Amba.s.sador. We need to talk.'

Centauri opened the door but it wasn't Geban. Before he could cry out, the flat side of the Sword of Truth, fresh with red blood, smacked into the side of his head, just to the side of the eye. In the last seconds Centauri realized that although he hadn't seen his opponent, it had to be someone he knew because they knew his weak spot, and very few people did.

The attacker stepped over Centauri's prostrate form. Something had held him back from killing again - an interesting psychological block that needed explaining. One day.

He wrenched open Centauri's locker but couldn't find what he was looking for. Angrily he slammed the doors shut and walked back towards the door.

Just before he left he pulled from his pocket a piece of burgundy robe, very similar to something Geban would have worn. He wiped the now sticky red blood on the sword off with the material, balled it and dropped it by the door.

Then he left.

Bernice looked sharply at Savaar. With astonis.h.i.+ng silence, the Martian stood up and away from Bernice's bed, crossing the room in a heartbeat to hide behind the door.

The knock came again.

Bernice mentally noted again that, when necessary, Martians could move swiftly and rather elegantly.

'Come in?' The door opened and Nic Reece popped his head in.

'Hi.'

Oh. Hi. What can I do for you?'

'I want to apologize. Can I come in?' Unseen by Reece, Savaar nodded at Bernice.

'Yes,' she said. 'Sure. Fine.'

As Reece came in he turned to allow his floating case to follow and was greeted by the High Lord hiding by the door.

Am I interrupting something?'

Savaar strode back to the bed and sat. 'Yes. But it doesn't matter.'

'Hey. I'm sorry. I'll come back.'

Bernice waved him to a chair. 'No. Say what you have to say.'

Reece cleared his throat and looked at Savaar. He in turn stared back impa.s.sively, clearly not taking the hint. Or not wanting to. With a sigh, Reece realized that the obstinate Martian was not going to leave.

Okay. Benny. I'm sorry about that business in my room. I was wrong to go off at the deep end.'

I was wrong to snoop.,'

'Yeah, well, I just got kind of paranoid. Silly old git I know, but there were things that I didn't want you to see.'

I know. The holos. I'm genuinely sorry about your family. If you'd said, I'd have understood. Maybe helped. I lost my parents. Apart from the Doctor, I've no one really, so I know what loneliness is.'

And now you've lost him. That's bad. Let's part pleasantly. Can we go for quick walk? In the catacombs?'

Bernice looked at Savaar and then at Nic Reece. 'Yeah. Okay, just a quick wander though. I've got to prepare to leave as well.'

Reece jumped up 'Great. See you later, my Lord. Nice to see you alive and kicking after all.'

He and Bernice left, followed by the floating valise.

Savaar suddenly felt very worried. Something was wrong - something that he should have said to Shsurr Summerfield. What was it?

The Doctor stared in surprise and admiration.

Of course, now it all made sense.

He had followed Sskeet down the long winding tunnels further into the gloom but equally further into familiar territory.

'Where are we going, Sskeet? And why?'

'Lord Savaar believes it is in all our interests to explain our actions. I am therefore doing just that.'

'Well, good for Lord Savaar.'