Arc of Infinity by Terrance Dicks

Author:Terrance Dicks
Format: mobi, epub

7

The Matrix

President Borusa touched a control, and a large monitor screen lit up, high on the wall. It showed a symbolic representation of the Matrix, an interlocking web of energy impulses, a kind of three-dimensional spider’s web.

Borusa studied the display. ‘The Matrix is clear. The creature has been expelled…’

The Doctor awoke.

He was floating against velvet blackness… He felt weightless, almost disembodied. Was he dreaming?

Periodically, energy impulses zipped past him at incredible speed – the speed of thought.

The Doctor opened his eyes and saw that he was floating in a great three-dimensional energy web, like a swimmer drifting gently with the tide. He was in the Matrix.

He heard soft, mocking laughter, felt some unseen, malignant presence.

‘Who are you?’ called the Doctor feebly.

There was no reply.

The Castellan strode away from the Place of Termination, Commander Maxil following respectfully at his heels.

The Castellan was silent, brooding. At last he said, ‘What was your opinion, Maxil?’

‘Of the termination, Castellan? Not quite what I expected.’

‘Nor me. I want a full analysis of the event. Be discreet – but do it immediately.’

As soon as she’d recovered her self-control, Nyssa headed for the TARDIS. As she’d predicted earlier, it was unguarded now.

She found Damon in the control room. He had just completed the installation of the new space/time clement. ‘It’s ready, Nyssa. We can leave –’ He broke off at the sight of her face ‘The Doctor? He’s –’

Nyssa nodded. Too upset to speak, she went through the inner door.

The alien creature appeared in its cone of light. ‘It is done.’

The waiting Time Lord leaned forward anxiously.

‘And the Doctor?’

‘Weak – but he lives. You have done well, Time Lord.’

Maxil came into the computer room. He looked round, relieved to find that for once the place was empty.

He went to a terminal and began punching in the programme for a full computer analysis of the Doctor’s termination.

On a monitor screen in a room not far away a Time Lord was watching Maxil at his work.

Drifting, half-dreaming, the Doctor heard a deep, resonant voice. ‘Doctor!’

He opened his eyes. There, floating somewhere in front of him was a masked, cloaked figure. The Doctor stared at it, trying to focus his eyes. The tight-fitting stylised mask resembled a knight’s helmet, though more elongated, with something insect-like about it. The apparition wore a heavy medallion on its chest, like a badge of rank. There was something oddly familiar about it…

‘Doctor!’ called the voice again. ‘Do you know where you are, Doctor?’

‘The Matrix… I must be in the Matrix.’

‘Only your mind. Your body is still in the Termination Area, shielded and made invisible by an energy barrier.’

The Doctor said weakly, ‘I knew you wouldn’t let me die.’

‘You knew? You realised that this would happen?’

‘I guessed. Besides, I hoped it would give me the chance to meet you.’

‘And now that you have, what do you make of me, Doctor?’

‘It’s difficult to say – without knowing who you are. Yet you seem… familiar…’

Again there came the mocking laughter. ‘Let us just say I am a friend, Doctor.

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