Doctor Who: The Dimension Riders by Daniel Blythe

Author:Daniel Blythe
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science-Fiction:Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780426203971
Publisher: Doctor Who Books
Published: 1994-01-15T10:00:00+00:00

* * *

‘I hope this works,’ murmured Strakk.

‘It had better,’ Ace said. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready for breast‐feeding.’

Strakk took a last look at the peaceful form of the five‐day‐old Ferris Mostrell, whom he had just placed in the soft hollow of an incubator in the ship’s medical unit. He checked that all the tubes were attached correctly, while Ace watched the door, and then he closed the cover of the incubator over the new infant. ‘Sweet dreams,’ he said quietly. ‘If you’re lucky, we’ll be back for you.’

Ace checked the corridor. ‘Clear,’ she said. ‘Most of the spooks must be on the bridge.’

‘That would have been their target,’ Strakk agreed grimly. ‘All right. Let’s see about getting off this ship.’

They kept close in to the dark bulkheads, Strakk first, then Ace covering the rear.

‘You sure the brat’s going to be okay?’ she muttered.

Strakk grinned over his shoulder. ‘You sound almost concerned. Don’t worry, I know about babies.’

‘Yeah?’ Ace was interested.

Strakk paused at a junction and seemed uncertain. He listened. No sound. Not even the engines. The ship was dying.

‘Yeah,’ he said. He looked at Ace, briefly, and waved a hand as if it were unimportant. ‘There was a girl from the Academy,’ he said. ‘She had a kid. Mine. We were hoping I’d get a cushy station job on one of the Colonies, so we could set up home together.’

‘What happened?’

He shrugged. She couldn’t see his eyes. ‘They died,’ he said. ‘In a skimmer crash. One of those things. It was three years ago.’

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know.’

He took the left‐hand junction, and answered her, keeping his voice flat and emotionless. ‘Most people don’t.’ Suddenly, his arm shot out and pushed her back against the wall. ‘Hellfire. We’ve got one.’

Ace looked out of the corner of her eyes. The Time Soldier was emerging from the floor about twenty metres ahead of them.

‘Back,’ she said.

From behind them, a primal screech let them know that the creature had picked up their trace. They ran for the nearest door. Shimmering through Time, the soldier did not need to follow them. It began to re‐form just a few metres from them, in a blaze of green.

‘The door,’ Strakk yelled. ‘The rec‐room.’

Ace slammed her fist on the door control.

Strakk knew the Derenna would do no good, but his training triggered reflexes. He unleashed three pulses of energy. The soldier howled. In triumph, not in agony.

‘Come on, Strakk!’ Ace shouted, and grabbed him. She pulled him through the opening door as a beam of accelerated Time pulverized the wall where he had been.

And sliced into his hand.

The skin was blasted and withered like an autumn leaf. He screamed, doubling up as the door slammed down behind them again.

Ace was controlling her panic. She assessed the room. There were silvery, reflective tables set up for chess and backgammon, and a number of inert computer and VR terminals. No one was off duty today.

The door was wobbling.

Strakk’s agonized face met hers. His hand was wrapped in his jacket and he didn’t dare look.

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