Doctor Who: The Ark (15 page)

‘Oh, yes!’ Dodo replied. ‘There was Charlie the First and Charlie the Second and –’

‘Charlie Chaplin!’ the Doctor interjected. ‘Yes, we know, my dear! Now why don’t you run along and find something else to amuse you, h’m?’

Mary suddenly spoke out.

‘Come with me, Dodo. We can have another look at those dresses upstairs.’

‘OK,’ Dodo replied, bouncing up. ‘I don’t know how you feel, Mary, but I sometimes find certain men a bit dull!’

She started up the stairs, knowing that the Refusian girl was at her side. The Doctor sighed, then glanced at the board. He addressed the chair opposite him.

‘Yours is the first move, my dear sir.’

‘Thank you.’

The Refusian moved a piece forward, and the two of them settled down to enjoy the game.

At the head of the stairs Dodo paused and addressed her unseen companion.

‘Mind you... men being dull... that doesn’t include Steven! He’s OK... and I’ll bet he’s having a go at something right now!’

Steven, aided by Venussa, was plumping out a bed in the rest area in the Security Kitchen.

He was attempting to create an illusion of the bed being occupied. It took several moments of plopping the blankets and pillows. Then he and Venussa stepped back, satisfied.

When Maharis entered the kitchen, Baccu was strained against the door frame. Maharis didn’t notice as he brought an empty tray forward and placed it on the table.

He turned to go out but Venussa delayed him.

‘Maharis!’

As he turned to look at her questioningly, his back to the door, Baccu quietly slipped out of the kitchen.

‘Yes?’ Maharis asked.

‘What’s the news from outside?’

‘The Monoids are preparing to leave,’ he replied, nervously.

‘And are you hoping that they will take you?’ Dassuk asked.

‘Why not?’ Maharis said. ‘We can serve the Monoids just as well on Refusis as we have done here.’ Then he glanced around. ‘Just a moment! Where’s Baccu?’

‘Asleep,’ said Venussa. She indicated the bed that Steven and she had made up. Maharis looked at the bed.

Satisfied, he turned and made his way out of the kitchen.

Outside, Baccu was hidden behind a column. He watched as Maharis left the area, then looked around to make sure that he was not being observed. Stealthily he returned to the Security Kitchen door and pressed a palm-panel. The door slid open and Steven, Venussa, Dassuk and the others joined him outside.

‘Hurry!’ Steven urged. ‘We had better split into twos and start searching for that bomb as fast as we can go!’

They murmured assent and went off in different directions, fanning out through the spaceship.

‘I am not even sure I’ll know what a bomb looks like,’

said Venussa anxiously as she accompanied Steven.

‘Just let me know if you see anything unusual,’ he replied. ‘All I know is that we haven’t got much time!’

Number One was striding through the Great Hall when Number Two hurried to join him. He quickly spoke to his leader.

‘There has still been no further contact from Number Nine on Refusis, Number One.’

‘Never mind that! Give the signal for the mass landings to begin at once!’

Number Two repeated the order into his wrist communicator. This order was taken up in the Control Room and a Monoid pressed hard on a large button.

Immediately, throughout the Ark, the echo of a klaxon was heard, blaring forth, and in the Launching Bays teams of technicians prepared craft for expulsion.

Numbers Four and Seven boarded a Launcher in the bay.

Number Four spoke: ‘The moment we land we will decide whether Number One is to stay as our Leader. If Refusis is dangerous, then we must return to the Ark before it is destroyed!’

Number Seven nodded in agreement. Then the door of the Launcher was closed behind them, and they felt the power surge as it was propelled away from the spaceship.

As they hurried down a corridor, Steven and Venussa were brought to a halt by the echoing signal.

‘What’s that?’ asked Steven.

‘The mass landing order,’ she replied.

‘So they aren’t going to wait any longer... and meanwhile our time is running out!’

They both sped on, hastily checking each room for possible hiding places.

Numbers One and Two were in their Launcher, ready for the thrust that would send them out on the last stage of their journey.

‘What about the bomb?’ Number Two asked.

‘It is ready! It is timed to go off twelve hours from now!’

They tensed as their Launcher was thrust out into space, joining and becoming part of a fleet of such craft that were leaving the mother ship and heading in the direction of Refusis, leaving Maharis and the other subservient Guardians in their wake, crowding into the now empty Launching Bays.

‘They’ve gone!’ Maharis cried out desperately. ‘And they have left us behind!’

In the castle on Refusis the Doctor and the Refusian were locked in battle on the final moves of their chess game.

Dodo came back down the stairs and glanced over the Doctor’s shoulder.

‘That knight,’ she whispered. ‘Move it forward.’

The Doctor considered, calculating the outcome, then followed her suggestion.

Immediately the Refusian moved another piece and took the knight, while at the same time exclaiming:

‘Checkmate!’ The Doctor puffed out his cheeks in annoyance. But there was nothing he could do about it. He shrugged as he conceded.

‘Foolish girl!’ he chided. ‘I was holding my own until you made that suggestion...’

‘Yes! But I wasn’t on your side,’ said Dodo. ‘I was on Charlie’s!’

The Refusian girl called from the window: ‘Something seems to be going on! There are some more craft landing on our planet.’

Hastily the others joined her at the window, staring out.

The Launchers could be seen landing a short distance away. The Doctor snorted and remarked: ‘That must be the main party of the Monoids.’

Steven and Venussa turned a corner and met Dassuk and another Guardian.

‘Any luck?’ Steven asked. ‘Any sight of the bomb?’

‘No.’

‘We haven’t found anything, either.’ Then they looked up as Maharis approached them.

He was distraught. ‘They have gone... and they’ve left us behind, despite all their promises.’

‘You were wrong to trust them in the first place!’ said Venussa coldly,

‘But just a minute,’ Steven cut in. ‘You were close to them, Maharis. Isn’t there anything that they said that would give us a clue to where the bomb is?’

‘No!’ Maharis shook his head in desperation. ‘I’ve told you all I know... but I never heard any of them speak about it afterwards.’

‘Too bad! We could have done with some luck just now.’

Steven indicated a corridor, ‘But in the meantime round up some of your friends and search places like that.’

Maharis shook his head hopelessly. ‘What’s the use?

There’s no sense in trying, The Monoids would have been very clever about the way they concealed it.’

‘Don’t give in!’ Steven snapped. ‘Whatever happens, we’ve got to do everything we can to find that bomb... and a way off the Ark!’

He and the others moved on, still swiftly searching, leaving a desolate Maharis in their wake.

The Launchers from the Ark landed in a pattern in the fields and galleys of Refusis. The door levers were operated and the Monoids emerged from the craft to look about them at the planet,

Among the first of this main party were Numbers One and Two. Number One, surveying the landscape curiously, announced: ‘Everything seems to be quiet.’ He raised the weapon in his hands. ‘And from this moment on, this planet isours!’

‘Yes, Number One. This is indeed a proud moment for our kind!’ Then Number Two noticed something a short distance away. He walked over to examine it and called out: ‘Number One... look at what I have found.’

Number One went over to join him, and they both stared down at the wreckage of the first Launcher that had landed on Refusis.

‘That is the reason why Number Nine failed to complete his message to us!’

‘A reason... and a warning!’ Number One said,sombrcly.

‘We must find out who destroyed this Launcher... and then destroy them!’

He marched forward, indicating with a wave of his weapon for Number Two and the other Mdtinoids to follow him.

But as they moved away they failed to notice the Doctor and Dodo who were hidden in the undergrowth nearby, watching their every move. When the first group had passed, Dodo made as though to speak, but the Doctor hastily placed his fingers on his lips, urging her to keep silent.

A second group of Monoids came into view. They were headed by Number Four and Number Seven. This group paused uncertainly upon seeing the wreckage of the first Launcher, and Number Four addressed them.

‘Number One has made a mistake in bringing us here!’

he stated. ‘We will have to wait for our chance and then challenge him... and then return to the Ark. There is still time to find that fission bomb that has been left behind and deal with it before it is too late.’

‘I think you are right, Number Four,’ Number Seven agreed. He, looked at the others. ‘Do you agree?’ There was a murmur of assent from them.

‘Then come,’ Number Four commanded. ‘We must not let Number One and the others get out of our sight,’

The group moved on. The Doctor pursed his lips.

‘A fission bomb!’ he whispered.

‘When that other Monoid – Number Nine – hinted that they had a plan for dealing with the Guardians, I had no idea that it was going to be anything like that!’ Dodo said.

‘Nor did I, Dodo. But a fission bomb – left like that aboard the Ark – would have a timing device. I just hope that Steven and the others are aware of it and can fmd it before that device reaches zero!’ Seeing that the way was clear he rose to his feet.

‘Where are you going?’ Dodo asked.

‘To one of the Launchers, my child. It’s our only chance of warning the Ark!’ He started away. ‘Come on!’

Dodo followed him.

Steven and Venussa again met up with Dassuk and others as they entered the Control Room together. Steven paused hopelessly, punching the keys that controlled a bank of monitors.

‘It could be anywhere,’ he said gloomily. ‘In the corridors in the jungle over there... in the cultivated lands, the desert... anywhere!’

‘We’ll find it,’ Venussa said. ‘We must!’

Suddenly, as Steven operated the keys controlling the signals, a strange noise echoed forth.

‘What’s that?’ Dassuk asked.

‘I’m not sure...’ Steven juggled with the control key, improving the signal that had started coming in. Suddenly it was in line, and they heard the Doctor addressing them:

‘Refusis calling! Refusis calling the spaceship Ark.’

Steven spoke quickly into the relay system. ‘This is the Ark – and this is Steven speaking, Doctor.’

‘Ah, thank heavens, Steven,’ the Doctor replied. ‘At least you’re still alive.’ Then he continued urgently. ‘Now listen – the Ark is about to be blown up!’

‘We know that,’ Steven answered. ‘But have you any idea where the bomb is hidden?’

‘No! But I am going to fmd out from the Monoids. In the meantime I’ll send back some of the Launchers to the Ark. And you must keep searching for that bomb!’

There was a click, and Steven realised that contact had been broken. He turned and addressed the others: ‘All right... you heard what he said... so let’s intensify our search!’

They nodded and scattered to follow his bidding.

In the Launcher, Dodo looked at the Doctor quizzically.

‘But how are you going to talk to the Monoids? And how are you going to send the Launchers back to the Ark?’

The voice of the Refusian echoed the questton: ‘Yes, Doctor... how?’

The Doctor glanced around in appreciation. ‘Oh, I am glad you heard that,’ he said. ‘You know, these Launchers are simple to operate... and I would like to suggest that
you
fly this back to the spaceship?’

‘Me?’

‘Yes! The Monoids won’t know who is taking it! And as for me talking to them... well, that problem is quite simple!’

The Doctor paused expectantly, waiting for a reply.

It came: ‘Very well! I will do as you suggest!’

‘Ah, thank you, my dear fellow.’

‘Yeah! Ta, Charlie!’ Dodo added.

The Doctor plucked her sleeve and rose from his seat.

They stepped out of the Launcher and started to walk across a field when they were intercepted by a party of Monoids.

‘Ah, dear friends!’ the Doctor cried. ‘So we meet again!’

‘Now you’ve gone and done it!’ Dodo whispered.

‘Haven’t I just?’ the Doctor whispered back quickly. ‘I said that I would talk to them and in order to do that I must face them... and one way of achieving that is by being taken prisoner.
Et voilà!
’ He spoke up as he addressed the nearest Monoid. ‘Welcome to Refusis!’

The Monoid raised his weapon threateningly, pointing it at the Doctor. But Number Twenty-Three called out:

‘Don’t harm them!... At least, not yet. Number One will want to question them.’ He addressed the Doctor and Dodo. ‘You will come with us.’

‘Delighted!’ the Doctor agreed.

But as they started to walk away, the power source of the Launcher started up and it rose into the air. Number Twenty-Three stared at it, then addressed the Doctor.

‘Who is it that travels in that Launcher?’ he asked. ‘We have seen no-one except yourselves since we have been here.’

‘Well, to tell the truth...’ the Doctor answered,’... neither have we!’

Steven entered the Main Comfort Chamber to find Maharis sitting there disconsolately.

‘Have you found anything here?’ Steven asked.

‘What’s the use?’ Maharis replied. ‘There wouldn’t be anything in here...’

‘There is no point in moping and giving in just because the Monoids promised you something and then failed you!’

Steven snapped. ‘You’ve got to do something to try and save yourself.’

‘I believed in them!’ Maharis cried in despair. ‘But they betrayed me!’

Dassuk hurried into the chamber. ‘Steven, come with me!’