 eople 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.’
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 
|
arillios page3
