Doctor Who: The Ark (16 page)

‘Why? What has happened?’

‘One of the Launchers has returned from Refusis.’

Dassuk led them out of the chamber and to the Launch Bay area. He indicated: ‘There! See for yourself!’

The Launcher was at rest on its platform and was now surrounded by Guardians. Its door was open and they were staring in... at nothing!

‘It was like that when the door opened!’ said Venussa.

‘Empty!’

But as she, Steven and the others puzzled over this, they were taken aback when the unseen Refusian suddenly laughed!

‘May I come aboard?’ he asked.

Steven was cautious. ‘Who... what... are you?’

‘I am a Refusian,’ came the reply. ‘And I am a friend of the Doctor and Dodo.’

They all immediately relaxed, though still not understanding why they couldn’t see the Refusian, and Steven answered: ‘Why, of course! And welcome to the Ark!’

In the main hall of the castle on Refusis, Number One studied the Doctor with his swivelling eye.

‘Doctor... where are the Refusians?’

‘I don’t know! I haven’t seen one!’ the Doctor replied.

‘I have a report that says that you stepped out of the Launcher and a moment later it was flown away!’ Number One stated. ‘It must have been controlled by someone...

and I must find the answer!’

Impatiently, he paced away from the Doctor and Dodo.

‘Do you think they will talk, Number One?’ Number Two asked him.

‘If they don’t, they will die!’

His pacing had taken him near Number Four, who spokeup: ‘Perhaps! But it would seem that we will die as well.’

‘Do you seek to challenge me?’ Number One demanded.

‘You have led us to this planet and placed us all in danger.’

‘If that is the way you feel you can return to the Ark.’

‘We will!’ Number Four replied, taking up the challenge. ‘Only there we have to face another danger that you have created – the fission device.’

‘Yes, and that will be quite a problem, I can assure you –

finding it and getting rid of it!’

Number Four faced the other Monoids: ‘Those of you who wish to stay on this unknown world with its hidden dangers must side with Number One. But those who truly care for the future of the Monoids must come with me!’

There was a moment of uncertainty among them. Then several moved to Number Four’s side, while others remained with Number One.

Number Four looked at his supporters, then, with a wave of his weapon, led them out of the castle. Number Two addressed Number One.

‘Will you let them go?’

‘Why not?’ Number One chuckled and turned back to the Doctor and Dodo. ‘You see, Doctor, I let traitors choose their own fate. They will be lucky if they find the bomb... and even if they do, they will not find it easy to dispose of.’

‘Why not?’ the Doctor asked.

‘Oh, come on.. tell us!’ Dodo urged. ‘After all, we’re not going anywhere!’

‘The child is right,’ the Doctor said. ‘So where have you hidden the fission bomb?’

Number One chuckled. ‘In the last place they will think of looking,’ he gloated. ‘It is in the Monoid statue in the Great Hall!’

8

In the Control Room Steven addressed Venussa, Dassuk and the others: ‘I think we should split up. Some of us should land on Refusis to help the Doctor and Dodo, while the rest of us stay here and try to deal with that bomb.’

‘Yes, that’s a good idea,’ Dassuk agreed.

‘Is it?’ Maharis protested. ‘Why should any of us stay and risk being blown up?’

‘Because the Earth’s population – and every other form of life – all these things have to be taken to Refusis later!’

‘Steven is right,’ Venussa said. ‘That’s why our forefathers started this voyage through space in the first place, seven hundred years ago.’

‘But we’re alive!’ Maharis protested. ‘Why should any of us die for an idea that they thought of?’

‘You’ve served too long with the Monoids, Maharis,’

said Venussa. ‘You no longer belong with us.’ She turned to Steven. ‘Let him go with the landing party.’

Steven nodded. ‘All right.’ He turned to Dassuk. ‘You take the Launcher – go with him, Maharis – and you two -’

he indicated a couple of young Guardians, ‘contact the Doctor as soon as you can!’

Another Guardian spoke up: ‘I’ll stay here.’

‘All right.’ Steven turned to Venussa. ‘What about you?’

‘I’ll stay, too.’

Those who had been selected to make the trip to Refusis started out toward the Launching Bay. Steven looked at Venussa. ‘You could have gone with them.’

‘They’ll manage without me. And you don’t know the Ark like I do. You’ll still need me to help you find the bomb.’

Steven nodded gratefully: ‘Then let’s try behind that central scan.’

Together, they continued with their search.

Number Two came in from the terrace. He was agitated as he addressed his leader: ‘Number Four has spoken to others and some more of them have agreed to go with him

– including Number Twelve!’

Number One looked up. ‘Number Twelve? But he was in charge of the building of the bomb and knows where it is hidden!’ He started out, signalling to Number Two and his other supporters to follow him. ‘I have changed my mind! We must stop them from returning to the Ark.’

Once they had left, the Doctor addressed Dodo. ‘A falling-out among friends!’ He grasped the lapels of his jacket thoughtfully. ‘Now that could be a dangerous thing... or, on the other hand, it could be to our advantage.’

He started to walk out to the terrace to see what was going on, but a Monoid who had stayed behind to watch over them indicated with his weapon that the Doctor should stay indoors.

What the Doctor had been denied seeing was that the progress of Number Four and his party was suddenly intercepted by Number One and the other Monoids who had chosen to follow him.

Number One levelled up his weapon so that it covered Number Four.

‘What is the meaning of this?’ Number Four demanded.

‘We are going back to the Ark, and you have agreed to our decision.’

‘I have changed my mind, and it is against my orders that you should be allowed to leave.’

‘Your orders! You have given too many and delivered them unwisely. Now they mean nothing to us.’

In reply Number One fired off his weapon. It emitted a flash, and Number Seven was extinguished as he moved forward protectively in front of Number Four.

Immediately, Number Four and his companions fired their weapons as they scrambled for cover. In moments, battle had broken out between the two groups of Monoids.

They were evenly matched and fought desperately. The flashes from their weapons, screeching and cracking, echoed throughout the Refusian countryside which, until now, had always known peace.

Monoids were caught in the blasts that left nothing behind except scorches upon the landscape. In a very short time ten... then fifteen... then thirty of their number had perished in this way.

Some were luckier than others, managing to scramble away from the area. Among them was Number One, who beat a hasty retreat when he saw the death and destruction that was being visited upon his followers.

As they scrambled away he addressed Number Two:

‘Tell me, what happened to Number Twelve?’

‘I think he was hit, Number One. But I am not sure. In the confusion I lost track.’

‘Then send a special party to guard the Launchers!

Whatever happens, Number Twelve must not be allowed to leave because he knows the secrets of the bomb.’

Number Two nodded and turned to instruct others who had followed them. They then left and made their way to the area where the Launchers were parked, while Number Two followed Number One.

Having been denied a view of the events outside the castle, the Doctor and Dodo were trying to put their Monoid captor off guard by playing a game of snakes-and-ladders that they had found in the drawer of a table.

They were succeeding. The Monoid was puzzled and amid not work these two strangers out at all. Where others might have protested and tried to challenge him, this man and the young girl seemed to be embroiled in a useless, pointless game.

‘One... two... three – and up the ladder I go!’ Dodo exclaimed.

‘H’m!’ the Doctor said. ‘You seem to have all the luck in this game.’

He threw the dice. It rolled... and stopped with the five dots showing up.

Ah!’ Dodo exclaimed, and took great delight in moving the Doctor’s counter for him. It landed on the head of a snake and she ran down its length to position his piece well behind hers. The Doctor grimaced.

Strange beings, the Monoid thought. Rumour had it that they had not only travelled through space, but time as well. He could not bring himself to believe it. He had a private theory that they were odd descendants of the original Guardians who had managed to hide on the Ark in some out-of-the-way corner, That made more sense. Then his thoughts were interrupted as the Doctor called over:

‘Are you sure you won’t join us in this game, old chap?’

The Monoid moved over to the table and stared down at the board.

‘What is the meaning of this?’ he demanded.

‘Sorry... don’t follow you!’

‘You mock the Monoids with that image.’ The Doctor was puzzled, then realised that the Monoid was referring to the snakes that were colourfully drawn on the hoard. The Monoid continued: ‘You go up those ladders and down the snakes, It should be the other way round’

Impatiently be grasped the board and threw it onto the floor.

Dodo pouted. ‘Now we’ll never know who would have won that game.’

The Doctor observed the Monoid as the creature walked nervously away.

‘I think
we
did!’ the Doctor said, quietly.

Number Twelve and a couple of other Monoids cautiously approached a parked Launcher.

‘We must be careful,’ Number Twelve advised.

‘Yes,’ one of the others agreed. ‘Tell mc, Number Twelve, is it true that you know about the secrets of the bomb?’

‘I designed it, I helped build it,’ came the reply. ‘If we can get back to the Ark I can at least halt the timing mechanism and render the bomb inactive!’

Everything seemed to be quiet as they approached the craft. A last, cautious look around them, and then they scrambled through its doors.

Once inside, Number Twelve operated the lever that closed the door. Then he switched on the power source, and they all relaxed as the Launcher rose into the air.

But on the ground below them a group of the Monoids who had been detailed by Number Two looked up as they saw the Launcher rising.

‘Concentrate your fire,’ cried one of them. ‘We must destroy that machine!’

The flares from their heat weapons hit the Launcher at the same time. There was an explosion... and the remains of the devastated Launcher rained down from the sky.

At the same time, not far away, another Launcher was landing on Refusis.

Dassuk operated the door lever. As the door opened Maharis immediately stood up.

‘Maharis, where are you going?’ Dassuk asked.

‘Out!’

‘Better make sure that everything is all right first.’

Maharis shook his head impatiently, anxious to set foot on Refusis. He stepped out of the craft. Looking about him, he smiled as he saw a land of apparent peace. Quickly he started walking forward. Then he paused as he saw Number One a short distance away, in company with other Monoids.

Maharis eagerly started toward him, crying out:

‘Master! I am here...’

Number One looked up, startled to see him there. Then he coldly aimed his weapon at him. Maharis screamed as the first blast of heat hit him, the scream quickly dying away to nothing.

Dassuk had been watching from the doorway and had seen Number One in the distance. At the same time he could see other Monoids shadowing Number One and his party, and then, as he watched, the two groups engaged in battle.

Dassuk turned to the other Guardians.

‘Come!’ he said. ‘Let’s get out of here while the Monoids are fighting each other.’

Hastily, they left the Launcher and started running across fields, seeking the cover of trees and bushes. As they ran Dassuk occasionally caught glimpses of the scattered fighting that was taking place between the Monoids.

Ahead of him, he and the others saw the castle. They ran toward it.

The Doctor, Dodo and the Monoid had seen the flashes of the heat weapons from an open window. The Doctor sensed that the Monoid was disturbed and uneasy.

‘What the heck is going on?’ Dodo asked.

‘It looks like an outbreak of civil war,’ the Doctor replied.

‘At this rate they’ll all kill each other and a lot more besides,’ Dodo observed. ‘And I don’t think the Refusians are going to like that!’

‘So you know these beings, the Refusians?’ the Monoid asked. ‘What are they like? How do they behave?’

‘In a way that I don’t think you’ll appreciate, old chap,’

the Doctor replied.

The Monoid looked as though he was going to ask another question... but just then Dassuk entered the hall, running in quickly.

‘Master!’ he panted, addressing the Monoid. ‘Number One needs your help out there!’

The Monoid stared at him suspiciously. ‘I don’t know you,’ he said.

‘Perhaps that’s because I’ve always worked for Number Fifty-Two,’ said Dassuk. ‘The Monoid Master who was in charge of the polar regions on the Ark.’

‘Oh, that place,’ the Monoid replied. ‘No wonder I have never seen you – I never went there.’ He glanced out of the window. ‘You say that Number One has asked for me?’

‘Yes.’

‘Very well. Meanwhile, keep an eye on these strangers!’

The Monoid left, taking his weapon with him. Dassuk breathed a sigh of relief and turned to face the Doctor.

‘What
is
going on out there, Doctor? All that fighting...’

‘Nothing for you to worry about, dear boy... just local politics!’ He studied Dassuk. ‘What is more important is this... is the Ark still all right?’

‘So far. But they haven’t found the bomb yet.’