Dreams of Empire by Justin Richards

Author:Justin Richards [Richards, Justin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Science Fiction, Doctor Who (Fictitious Character), General, Media Tie-In, Fiction
ISBN: 9780563405986
Google: JrsHAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0563405988
Publisher: BBC BOOKS
Published: 1998-08-04T07:00:00+00:00

‘Why? What do you mean –’

‘You said you completed your task. Why do I need you now?’

‘But –’ Sponslor shook his head in disbelief, took a step forwards. ‘You can’t just leave me here.’

The chuckle was louder than the answer. ‘Indeed I can’t.’

After five minutes with the armourer, Jamie was reluctantly forced to agree that he should wear the under-armour only.

The armour, he quickly discovered, was not just simple metal plating as he had assumed. There was a mass of electronic equipment built into the suits –targeting systems for the smart weapons, in-built communications links, tracking and positioning systems. While he reckoned he could get the hang of the head-up display and control systems within the helmet, Jamie was also pretty sure that it would take him more than the couple of hours that now remained until the mysterious ship arrived.

What he was forced to accept instead was a set of tight-fitting trousers and tunic. The material was obviously strong and he could feel the heavy padding and reinforcement built into it. But it was light and flexible, as Prion had promised. It felt like soft leather and was about as bulky.

As he pulled on the tunic, Jamie could hear Victoria in the adjacent room thanking the armourer for his help. ‘I can manage now, thank you.’ she was saying. A moment later the armourer came back to see how Jamie was coping.

From the other side of the room, the Doctor’s voice was audible as he played his game of chess.

‘Oh, that’s a cunning move. Yes, yes. But I think if I do this...it might present you with a problem...Aha! What do you think of that then?’

Cruger’s responses were rather restrained, almost entirely limited to arcane phrases that Jamie assumed were something to do with the game. ‘Knight to Queen’s Bishop four,’ he said this time.

‘Hmm. That was quick.’ the Doctor responded. ‘And not very clever.’

The armourer checked that Jamie had pulled the straps on the tunic tight, then nodded and excused himself. ‘I have many other duties.’ he explained.

‘You don’t talk much, do you?’ the Doctor chided from the next room.

‘Pawn to King five.’ Cruger replied.

There was a movement from the far side of the room, and Jamie turned towards it. Victoria was standing in the doorway.

‘Jamie,’ she said, ‘I’m not really sure...’ Her voice tailed off and she looked down at the under-armour she wore.

Jamie looked too. And then looked closer. Victoria’s trousers and tunic looked even tighter than his own, hugging her body and accentuating the curves she usually wrapped in looser garments. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail so that even her face seemed tighter and more streamlined than before.

‘I’m going to ask the Doctor,’ she said before Jamie had recovered sufficiently to answer.

The Doctor looked up from the game as they entered the room.

‘Ah, there you are. All ready?’

Victoria cleared her throat. ‘Doctor...’

‘Ah, Victoria.’ He smiled. ‘You look very, er, protected.’ He turned quickly to Jamie. ‘Doesn’t she, Jamie? Wouldn’t you say?’

‘Protected.’ Jamie repeated.

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