The Eight Doctors Terrance Dicks

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'This is wild speculation,' cried President Niroc. But his face was white and his voice shook.
'Then let us speculate a little further,' said the Doctor. 'Let us speculate that the rumour Lady Flavia heard
was true and that advanced technical secrets were being stolen from the Matrix. Now, who is responsible for
protecting the Matrix and all our Time Lord secrets? Who faces ruin and disgrace if their failure is discovered?
The Agency, of course.
Let us speculate that the Agency, shutting the proverbial stable door long after lots of high-tech horses have
departed, discovers that the thieves originate from Andromeda but have a secret base somewhere on Earth
-which they cannot find.
Desperate not only to prevent the thefts but to conceal them so as to protect its own reputation, the
Agency in outrageous, apocalyptic laziness decides on one of the most callous crimes in Time Lord history.
They will move Earth billions of miles through space, thus causing a fireball which will "accidentally" destroy
all life on the planetary surface. Since this cannot be done without the knowledge and collusion of the
President and the High Council -'
'So that is why I was removed from the Presidency,' breathed Flavia. Her eyes were fixed on President Niroc,
who shrank from her accusing gaze.
Lady Flavia rose and looked around the table.
'As soon as this inquiry is concluded, I shall place a Motion of Impeachment before the High Council. I shall
demand the removal of President Niroc and the holding of a new and honestly conducted election.'
There was a general growl of assent.
'I am sure we will all support you in such a measure," said the Doctor.
'Meanwhile, if I may continue?'
'Of course, Doctor. My apologies for the interruption.'
'Yet even this horrendous measure was a failure,' the Doctor went on. 'It was worse than a crime, it was a
blunder. The secret base of the Andromedans was underground. They put themselves into suspended
animation, leaving a robot to guard them and their stolen secrets. Others survived as well and over the long
years, Earth returned to barbarism.
Savage tribes on the surface, slaves ruled by the Andromedan robot below.
Then a wandering Time Lord called the Doctor lands on Ravolox... Panic!
He must be discredited and destroyed to prevent discovery of the Agency's crimes and failures.'
'Are you saying that the whole purpose of the Trial was to prevent you from learning about the Agency's
involvement in the Ravolox Affair?' asked Flavia.
'I am. I think the trial was set up as soon as it was known I had landed there. Everything else was simply a
smokescreen to conceal the Agency's real concerns.'
'But why would they deliberately draw attention to Ravolox by choosing to use the events of your visit there in
the trial?'
The Doctor shrugged. 'A typical piece of Agency arrogance. They were attempting the classic double bluff. If
they brought up Ravolox first, it looked as though they had nothing to hide.'
A voice from the Matrix screen said, 'Congratulations, Doctor. A very impressive feat of deduction!'
The Master was smiling down at them from the Matrix screen. 'What a pity that your beefy Doctor Watson
wasn't here to admire your brilliance. Would you like to see where he is now, by the way?'
Suddenly the screen was filled with a picture of the Sixth Doctor. He was on some kind of desolate beach,
sinking slowly into quicksand.
Helpless, they looked on in horror as the bubbling wet sand closed over the Sixth Doctor's curly head...
Chapter 20
The Master
The participants in the Presidential Inquiry were in a state of shock. To see the death of the Sixth Doctor was
shocking enough. To see the Master at large in the sacred Matrix was positively horrifying.
He lounged smiling in a high-backed chair, the blackness of clothes, hair and neatly pointed beard
contrasting with the whiteness of his skin. On a chain around his neck was a huge and elaborate key. He
held it up mockingly.
'As you can see, the Doctor's speculation was correct. In fact, all his speculations were!'
The Master's eyes were alight with malice. He was enjoying himself enormously. His mind reached out
through the Matrix to touch the Doctor's.
'So it is you, Doctor? Somehow I knew it was!'
'I suppose I should have expected you to be involved,' the Doctor replied.
'How could you resist an affair as
sordid as this?'
'How indeed? But what are you doing here, meddling in your own past?'
'You should know that, better than anyone!'
'I should? You must be referring to some abominable crime that I haven't yet committed! I look forward to it
immensely!' [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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