'People you say. In the box..’
‘Yes, sir.’ crackled the voice on the intercom.
‘How many?’
‘Two so far, sir, my men are searching the box.’
‘Weapons?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Any form of identification or communications equipment?’
‘No, sir.’
Silence.
‘Sir? Are you still there?’
‘Yes, yes. Bring them in, on the double.’
The figure sat down behind the large panel that floated in front of his chair-a desk with no legs, just the top panel floating in mid-air. The figure was a man in his mid-thirties, and was Lowk Gabriel, Lowk being the prefix given to each of the eight leaders of Arillios. He was an ordinary man, but being six foot four inches high meant he could put the wind up anyone. A loud thud knocked his door.
‘Enter!’ he shouted, and the panels opened inwards and the two guards brought in the Doctor and Mel. ‘Leave!’ he said to the guards, who saluted, turned on their heels and left the room. Gabriel was just about to begin his usual bellowing at those he didn’t know, and who were not from his world, when the Doctor beat him to it.
‘What were you thinking of by projecting a beam of such energy into space? You not only nearly wreaked my ship, but you nearly got us killed, so explain yourself!’
Gabriel, caught out by this, mumbled something before adopting idea number two - the apologetic host. ‘Oh, my dear...I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name…’he started.
‘You didn’t catch it, because you weren’t given it! The Doctor snapped. ‘I’m the Doctor and this is Mel.’ he said, indicating to his companion, who stood dumbly by his side.
‘Ah, my dear Doctor. How can I begin to apologise? You may not know, but here in Arillios we are celebrating the 100th…’
‘Yes, I do know,’ cut in the Doctor, ‘ so explain about that energy beam.’ he said, obviously very angry and the most worked up Mel had ever seen him.
‘We were projecting images of the Cadinollium, who were…’ Gabriel began, but again the Doctor interrupted.
‘Yes, I know, the beam, PLEASE!’ the Doctor shouted.
‘Yes, well. Using large lance laser projectors, we were entertaining the people of our planet by showing our heroes faces onto our four moons, which, being uniquely dark could show up the faces better in daylight than at night time. You obviously strayed into the path of one of the beams…’ Gabriel concluded.
‘Yes. Obviously, and blowing our main drives and draining most of our power as well.’ He pulled a small hand-held calculator type device from his pocket and taped two keys. The small LCD readout displayed:
*Energy level = 16.5% and dropping* *End of analysis*
The Doctor looked up at Gabriel. ‘My TARDIS energy banks are down to 16.5% power and that number is getting smaller as we speak…’
Before he could continue, there was a furious knock at the door. Resuming the authority he had seemed to have lost, he bellowed, ‘In!’ and the two frightened looking scientists entered. ‘Yes?’
‘Lowk Gabriel - we think you should come to the mound.’
~~~
'When did this start to happen?’ the Doctor asked one of the scientists, as they stood before the huge mound, watching white mist cascade from one of the many fissures that had raced across its surface.
‘About five minutes ago - I went to Lowk Gabriel as soon as it started.’ the scientist replied.
‘Mmm, good, good..’ mumbled the Doctor as he tugged at his lapels and walked the complete perimeter of the mound.
‘Any ideas?’ asked Mel, following him like a little lost ( multicoloured clothed ) sheep.
‘I’ve always got ideas, Mel. You should know that. Tell me,’ he said turning back to the scientists, ‘when did this mound appear, approximately?’
‘Just about the same time as your box fell from the sky. Is it important?’
‘Mmm, probably very important...tell me, do you have any form of space tracking devices, or radar?’ the Doctor asked.
‘Yes,’ said the scientist, ‘why do you want to know?’
‘We’re going to make sure there are no spaceships in the vicinity of your planet - and then we’re going to turn on those lance laser projectors of yours, again.’
~~~
Little circles of light blipped around the screen before the words *Local star-zone clear of craft* appeared.
‘Excellent, excellent.’ said the Doctor, clapping his hands, before standing up and turning to Gabriel.
‘Right, the local star vicinity is clear, I want those projectors turned on again.’
‘Why?’ came a caustic smeared reply from the man who felt he was being told to do too much for a supposed leader.
‘Because I have a theory that can only be proved
by the operation of those projectors, so please activate them.’
Gabriel gave the command, and the low whine that accompanied the terrific build up of power started.
The Doctor activated the intercom. ‘Are you positioned by the mound, Kalikol?’ he asked the scientist.
The intercom cracked slightly into life and the reply of, ‘Yes, Doctor.’ cut through the harsh buzzing.
‘Right keep your eyes on it, and record any activity, okay?’
‘Yes, Doctor.’
‘Right, have we got maximum power yet?’
Gabriel checked with a technician. ‘Yes, Doctor.’
‘Okay, fire them up, when I give the command.’ the Doctor said, clutching a note pad and pen close to him. ‘Right,’ the Doctor said, ‘Now!’
A fierce white light hit the room and as they looked out of the observation windows, the four images of the Cadinollium heroes appeared on the moons.
‘Right, full power!’ the Doctor shouted, keeping his eye on the mound, and occasionally scratching notes on the paper. The intercom crackled into life, and the voice of Kalikol came through.
‘Doctor, the cracks are widening and the smoke is getting denser. Myself and my men are going to back off…’
‘No!’ screamed Gabriel, ‘You stay put and record everything, understood?’
Silence.
‘Understood?’
‘But Lowk Gabriel, it’s…’ the voice of Kalikol stopped abruptly, and the Doctor glanced back at the mound. Thick white smoke was gushing over the land, covering the entire mound and surrounding building.