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‘Indeed you don’t. Discrete particles of time.’
‘In the same millisecond the chronon shell is being
formed, the hothouse effect of the gamma rays will cause
the primate cortex of this brain to go into chain reaction.’
A further spin of the beading. ‘Multiplying until the gap
between shell and planet is filled.’
In the hologram, the gap between the chronon shell and
Lakertya’s surface was filling with the primate cortex–the
segment of the brain responsible for thought.
A shock of realisation ravaged the Doctor: there was to
be an immense conjugation of time particles and the brain
cells distilled from the intellectual giants.
‘You’re going to – turn this planet... into a Time
Manipulator,’ he stammered.
‘A cerebral mass capable of dominating and controlling
time anywhere in the cosmos!’
Mel had been forgotten by the two Gallifreyans. But the
enormity of the revelations reduced her own concern for
survival to an irrelevance.
The obscenity of the proposition had even robbed the
Doctor of speech.
‘All I need to bring it about,’ continued the Rani, ‘is the
material for exploding Strange Matter. And my congress of
geniuses here’ – lovingly she stroked the railing
surrounding the brain – ‘will provide me with the means of
obtaining that.’
‘I’ve underestimated you.’ The Doctor’s voice was
hoarse with disgust. ‘I thought science had blinded you.
But it’s power.’
‘Wrong again.’
‘They should never have banished you from Gallifrey.
They should have locked you in a padded cell!’ It was a
sentiment the Doctor had given vent to before.
‘If the Time Lords hadn’t refused to intervene in the
pedestrian evolution of other species, a Time Manipulator
wouldn’t be necessary!’
Cheeks flushed in the magenta glow, she strolled the
circular gantry.
‘I still can’t believe – a Time Manip --’ The Doctor was
struggling to marshal his thoughts. ‘This – this
monstrosity will give you... the ability to... change the
order of Creation!’
‘Creation’s chaotic. I’ll introduce order. An order based
on logic not the capricious whims of chance.’
She switched off the hologram.
‘Wherever evolution has taken the wrong route, I’ll
redirect it.’
‘Redirect...’ repeated the Doctor, staring at his arrogant
antagonist.
‘That planet you’re so obsessed with – Earth – I shall
return to the Cretaceous Age. The potential of the
dinosaurs was never fully exploited.’
‘Cretaceous Age...’ Mel mouthed in silent horror.
‘Shakespeare... Louis Pasteur... Michelangelo... Elvis...
Even Mrs Malaprop... will never have existed!’ The Doctor
gasped.
Mel, however, was not the sole eavesdropper. Urak had
returned to the laboratory.
‘Your concern with those minions on Earth is pathetic,’
said the Rani. ‘They’re an inferior species.’
Instead of putting himself at his Mistress’s disposal,
Urak remained by the laboratory exit, listening.
‘To be cast into oblivion?’
‘Why not?’
‘The same with Lakertya? All life on this planet would
become extinct?’
‘An unfortunate side-effect.’
‘Every
living
creature
left
behind
–
will
be
exterminated?’
‘Of which you will be one, Doctor.’
Urak’s jaws widened in a grin. He squatted on his
haunches, enjoying the obsequies emanating from the
spherical chamber.
‘There’ll be no pain,’ continued the Rani. ‘In
microseconds Lakertyans will be reduced to dust.’
‘While you float off safely in your TARDIS.’
‘Oh, I shall be back. Once the turbulence has passed.’
‘I believed you were a psychopath without murderous
intent. I withdraw that qualification --’
‘EIGHTY-SEVEN TO THE POWER OF NINETEEN
E – ’ interrupted the synthesised voice.
Throbbing undulations rippled the purple furrows and
grooves of the gestating brain.
‘– CORRELATED WITH FIFTY-TWO TO THE
POWER OF SIX-POINT-FOUR EQUALS TWENTY-
NINE V- ’
‘Thirty-nine! The Doctor’s correction was automatic.
‘Er – I mean, twenty-nine – yes, yes, twenty!’ Too late did
he realise he had aided the brain in making the crucial
breakthrough.
‘CORRECTION IS NOTED,’ intoned the synthesised
voice.
‘THIRTY-NINE TO THE POWER OF V PLUS W...
EUREKA! OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED!’
Simultaneously there came the rising sonic whine of a
power unit. The coloured granules in the sheaf of
transparent tubes began to cavort and dance.
Then the sheaf rotated... gathering momentum... until it
became a variegated blur.
Abruptly, the high-pitched screech became muted...
beneath
the
centrifuge,
a
globule
of
glistening,
phosphorescent alloy took shape.
‘LOYHARGIL!’ pronounced the synthesised voice.
‘I knew it! I knew they could do it!’ Elated, everything
but the triumphant achievement effaced, the Rani went to
the crucible to pay homage to the miracle of Loyhargil.
Just the opportunity the Doctor needed.
Signalling to Mel, he slipped from the spherical
chamber – and into more trouble!
21
A Dangerous Break
Once Mel was safely in the lab, the Doctor slapped the
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