Doctor Who by Jonathan Morris

Author:Jonathan Morris
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781448140299
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE OBSERVATION LOUNGE was emptying. Tourists drained their drinks and headed for the Great Hall. Black-robed guards followed, ushering the crowds forward. Bar staff cleared away the glasses and wiped the vacated tables.

There was an unsteady grinding sound and in one corner, nestled between the window, a waste-disposal unit and the charcoal-coloured wall drapes, the TARDIS materialised. Nobody took the slightest bit of notice.

The Doctor emerged. ‘Hello. This must be the observation lounge.’ He noticed the gothic decoration. ‘A bit maudlin for my tastes.’

Romana looked around with heavy hearts, remembering the last time she had been here. ‘What time is it?’

‘Exactly the same time as our previous arrival.’ The Doctor pulled the TARDIS doors shut. ‘We are currently walking around in the hold of the Montressor.’

‘We shall have to be very careful, Doctor. If we meet our past selves, the consequences could be catastrophic.’

‘Oh, yes,’ said the Doctor. ‘But the last time we were here, we didn’t bump into our future selves, did we?’

‘Exactly,’ said Romana flatly. ‘So if we encounter our past selves, we will therefore be changing our own pasts. Which we can’t do.’

‘Second law of time travel.’

‘First law.’ Romana tried to bring the Doctor down to earth. ‘I’m still not sure we should be doing this. We’re taking an awful risk just by being here.’

‘Don’t worry. I didn’t come here to find myself.’

‘I’m being serious, Doctor. If we upset the time stream, then the whole continuity of the universe would unravel.’

The Doctor grinned. ‘I promise I shall resist the temptation of conversing with the greatest intellect on the G-Lock.’

‘You are already are,’ smirked Romana.

The Doctor strode to the centre of the lounge. ‘Right. Where to?’

‘Well, I wouldn’t mind having a proper look round the necroport,’ said Romana.

‘Good idea. But first…’ The Doctor scratched his head. ‘I’d rather like to have another word with ERIC.’

‘In that case, I’ll go and find Evadne,’ said Romana. ‘Recruit her to the cause.’

‘Of course, you haven’t met her yet, have you?’

‘Doctor, at this point in time, we haven’t met anyone yet. No one knows who we are.’

‘That will make a change,’ said the Doctor. He started to walk rapidly towards the door, and then stopped. ‘You wouldn’t happen to know the way to Metcalf’s office, would you?’

‘What are we going to do, sir?’ asked Byson.

Rochfort blinked slowly, as if it was taking him a great effort to stay awake. He staggered into his seat and slumped.

‘Captain?’

Rochfort jerked awake. ‘Byson. Only one thing we can do. Back our way out.’

Byson raised his gaze. The aft windows were filled with hundreds of ships, all packed tightly together. There was no way a ship the size of the Cerberus could get through. ‘But sir –’

Rochfort shouted at the ceiling. ‘ERIC?’

> You’re right, whimpered the computer. > I should have overruled you. It’s all my fault.

‘Never mind that. Can you put the Cerberus into reverse?’

> I will never forgive myself. ERIC broke down, sobbing.

Rochfort slammed a fist into the desk. ‘Answer the question!’

There was a brief sneeze of white noise.

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