Things gradually deteriorated to a critical level. As trade was halted completely, the Bandrils threatened an all-out attack. Even at this moment a battle fleet was being prepared to enter Karfel’s stratosphere. It seemed unbelievable that any ruler would encourage such a destructive move on his own world, but this was exactly the course of events about to take shape.
Katz, still very much a woman despite her torn and frayed battledress, adjusted her hair in a pool of water at the far end of the cave. She used to have a mirror until it was smashed during a fight with guardoliers. Mirrors no longer existed on the planet. A mysterious order from the Barad banned all reflective items and mirrors were the first things to suffer mass destruction.
A scurry of footsteps brought Sezon to attention. He freed the safety release mechanism on his blaster, signalling the others to take cover. Then a hollow whistle indicated the appearance of an ally from the Citadel. Sax, barely an adolescent, jogged into the encampment holding a message tightly in his grasp. He offered it to Sezon, and without a word, took off once more for the Citadel before he was missed.
Katz and some of the others craned their necks over Sezon’s shoulder to learn of Tekker’s election, and Renis’s death.
‘More murder.’ Sezon threw the paper into the dancing flames. ‘Just when we were getting him on our side. What now, Katz? Think you can sweet-talk Tekker?’ The group shared a laugh, even though they realised the gravity of the news. Tekker was renowned for his fawning ways, the sort of individual you would treat like a Morlox, a creature you dared not turn your back on.
‘Let’s make today’s strike really count,’ rallied Katz, pulling herself together. ‘We owe it to Renis.’
Sezon needed little persuasion, and took up his arms.
‘Let’s hit the fuel depot,’ he said firmly, looking directly at his colleagues.
‘Across the Morlox swamps?’
‘Yes. Anyone object?’
The small group of freedom fighters continued to prepare themselves without a word. Katz and Sezon grinned, and packed away the final items about the steaming fire, doused by water. The group marched out of their resting place and forged their way into the blazing morning sun. The Morlox swamps were a long march away, though getting through them was another matter again.
Tekker unleashed an exaggerated grin in readiness to greet the occupants of the TARDIS, which was now standing in the centre of the Inner Sanctum chamber. His lackeys, Kendron and Brunner, hovered at his tail, babbling to each other about this unexpected development.
‘Leave the Doctor to me,’ ordered the pompous Maylin, who stood poised to give his best performance as a welcoming host.
‘But what if he refuses to help us?’ stuttered Kendron nervously. Tekker’s lean face rotated purposefully until his stabbing gaze struck its target. The look was enough to send the snivelling Karfelon away several paces, bowing his head to superiority as he back stepped.
Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor had already activated the scanner, and he perused the images with a sparkle of recognition in his eyes.
‘I’ve been here before,’ he said delightedly.
Peri was pleased at this statement. There was instant hope of a quick solution to the mysterious time tunnel in space. It was one thing to have a problem to worry over, but quite another to have to worry over the Doctor worrying about the problem. Peri hated it when her companion and friend was perplexed.
‘Karfel,’ announced the Time Lord gleefully. ’I recognise the architecture and people. No mistake. Last time I was here I sovied their food shortage problem.’ The Doctor squinted, his mind in a reverse gear, retrieving thoughts several regenerations back.
‘Come on then,’ he continued, offering no further explanation, ‘but don’t go wandering off on your own.’ He stressed the last word and waited for Peri to acknowledge the emphasis. She did, but growled her agreement under her breath.
The doors of the TARDIS swung open onto the warm environment of the Inner Sanctum Chamber. Tekker hurried forward with his two assistants marking his every step.
‘Welcome, Doctor,’ he beamed, with superfluous gestures. The Doctor dug deep into his trouser pockets with a faint smile. He was uneasy about a display of overt friendship at this stage, and allowed Peri to make all the initial small talk, while he evaluated, carefully observed, and made mental notes.
Tekker offered the travellers hospitality, but one matter had to be resolved immediately. The time corridor. Tekker hedged an immediate answer, but offering the Doctor a full explanation in due course, and not wanting to upset the positive atmosphere on offer, the Time Lord nodded his agreement and followed the Karfelons through to a botanical reception lounge, a delight to Peri’s floral background. The Doctor eyed the changes around him: an android servant, security cameras, and the lack of light in the rather dim, non-reflective chamber.
‘It’s changed a bit,’ commented the Time Lord, rubbing his index finger along a row of ornate books on display.
‘Must keep up with the times, Doctor.’ Tekker served up another toothy grimace.
‘And why not indeed?’
Peri’s attention had been totally captivated by a bank of flourishing plant life near the large bay windows overlooking the desolate planet surface. She revelled in the unusual features of the exceptionally beautiful flowers. Her mind, caught up in detailed examination, was sharply realigned with her surroundings when the android waiter thrust forward to remove the shiny silver St Christopher medallion from about her neck. The sharp tug from the humanoid robot cut into the back of Peri’s neck, making her yelp more with surprise than pain. Before the young botanist could object, the creature had made a fast exit rather like some fleeing shoplifter.
Tekker moved quickly to confront his guest offering his sympathy and promising the safe return of the for the pendant.
‘Curious,’ said the Doctor. ’Some re-programming is needed for the android.’ A signal above the security camera suddenly summoned the Karfelon host into another room.
Making polite noises, Tekker whisked out of the chamber leaving the time-travellers to chat. The Doctor had so many questions yet unanswered.
Tekker eyed the interstellar contact screen, regurgitating hateful venom from deep wounds within his stomach.
‘What does the Bandril Ambassador want now?’ he queried, looking at the limp features of Councillor Kendron.
‘Peace,’ muttered the assistant, focusing the sharpness of the viewing screen.
Suddenly the reptilian features of a middle-aged Bandril appeared before the two Karfelons. Adorned in the trappings of his diplomatic office, the long-toothed creature, communicating tones of officialdom, conveyed his important message succinctly: ‘We do not want war, Tekker.’
He was firmly corrected. ‘
Maylin
Tekker.’
The Bandril continued. ‘Just food which is rightfully ours.’
Tekker spun around, unmoved and disinterested in hearing more from the ambassador of the starving civilisation. He mused at the strong position Karfel had gained since stopping trade with its hungry neighbours.
With a smirk, the Maylin gave his final message of non-co-operation, without any possibility of reconciliation two planets. Inevitably it meant war, death and mass destruction, but that seemed the last care for Tekker.
As the ambassador of Bandril disappeared from the screen, Kendron squirmed on the spot, fidgeting nervously with his thin chain of office.
‘That’s provoked an all-out attack,’ he muttered.
‘Good,’ Tekker responded, looking pleased with himself.
Kendron’s worried face summed up the horrific idea of a massive intergalactic attack. Tekker returned a hungry look to the councillor. ‘Just let them try. The Borad’s ready for them, you’ll see. His plans will succeed and our planet will grow immeasurably.’
Kendron frowned at Tekker’s thirst for power, as he watched the young Maylin glide elatedly out of the room.
He bowed his head between his sweaty palms and prayed.
Peri kicked her heels as she examined the contents of the reception chamber. The dull lifeless surroundings did little to inspire her. This was not the place she had hoped to travel to for a relaxing holiday. It lacked charisma - sparkle
- and general atmosphere. On top of this, she had to contend with the Doctor’s uneasiness - things on Karfel were not what they seemed, especially for a second-time visitor.
She looked at the Doctor attempting to bounce a sudden thought, but the Doctor was already poking his inquisitive nature into every nook in the room.
‘It’s so dull here,’ Peri eventually bleated.
‘What? Bored already?’ Peri smiled.
‘No, I mean dull as in the whole place lacks sparkle. It’s all so matt and lifeless.’
The point was instantly fed into the Doctor’s hungry mental computer. He churned the idea about, coming to no real conclusion. Yet he had to admit that Peri had a valid point, though he was not going to tell her that. Peri continued to survey the plants in the reception room with interest.
‘Ah!’ croaked the Time Lord, making his assistant jump ten paces.
‘What?’
‘I think we’ve cracked it.’
‘Well?’ Peri glared at her chief source of inspiration only to get a limited response. Footsteps could be heard and Tekker’s return prompted the Doctor to revert to his passive saunter, both hand’s firmly clasped behind his back.
The Maylin darted back into the room as swiftly as he had departed, beating a path to the Doctor and attracting the Time Lord’s undivided attention. An enigmatic glint sparked across his prying eyes as if he were desperate to engage in mind games with the famous time-traveller.
Offering Peri the chance to explore the plant life that littered the Citadel’s extensive network of corridors, Tekker dangled a metaphorical carrot before the Doctor, tempting him to learn more about the Timelash - the massive time vortex in space. Peri listed a string of good reasons why she ought not to leave her companion, but stood little chance of being taken seriously after the Doctor himself fully agreed she should take her guided tour. And that was that. Councillor Brunner escorted the young visitor out of the chamber and around the Citadel complex while other business was discussed behind closed doors.
A concealed guardolier primed his neck-loop standing in readiness to act on command. He squinted at Peri as she sauntered past with Brunner, his fingers eager to operate the device he was fully trained to use.
‘Beautiful flora,’ said Peri, trying hard to be polite as well as conversational.
‘From Bandril,’ returned Brunner, quickly giving her a potted background on the flowering shrub under her gentle touch. ‘Mind the next one,’ Brunner warned, telling his guest of the dangers of the violet-striped flower that emitted a steam of acidic juice when agitated. Peri stuck her tongue out at the plant as Brunner led the way forward.
She was not enjoying her trip at all, all too eager to be back at the Doctor’s side.
Brunner’s communicator summoned the councillor away, leaving Peri to wander on her own. She paced a long corridor that led to a large door with a central locking device. Not wishing to pursue that direction, she turned to see the giant features of a guardolier in full uniform facing her. Timid, she smiled at the veiled soldier, but there was no response. Instead the Karfel warrior opened the clasp of the neck-loop harness, pointing the awesome instrument in Peri’s direction. Further menacing movements led her to commence a hurried retreat, but despite calls for help, she was now very much on her own, facing the first of many major challenges on this dangerous planet.
5
Peri managed to escape the Citadel before the fire of an android, who had joined in the pursuit, hit its intended target. Closing the heavy hatchway behind her, which led on to the planet’s dry surface, she scrambled clear of the massive pyramid structure and darted into a rocky area with plenty of cover.
She stopped to catch her breath, gazing up at the view of a crimson skyline. The giant fireballs of Rearbus and Selynx, Karfel’s twin suns beat down an acrid heat on Peri’s sweating forehead. She could feel her pulse race to keep her frightened body functioning as her spirit regained composure despite her unpredictable future. Peri cursed her luck, quite annoyed at the Doctor’s irresponsible and fickle act of ‘off-loading’ her merely to accelerate his thirst for knowledge of the Timelash.
Glancing around, there seemed little point in deliberating any further. Action was required, but there was not a lot to choose from. Northward lay sand; south, more sand and gorse bush vegetation; east, the Citadel, and west, more rocks and caves. Perspiring more than ever, she put on a brave face and trudged in the direction of the caves. Perhaps some shade would revive her before she decided her next move in the parched inhospitable environment.
Brunner questioned the android as they scanned the horizon for their lost guest.
‘Nothing that way but sand, thirst and Morlox,’ he reasoned, allowing the android to firmly close the sealing hatch once more. ‘Those creatures’ll make a meal of her soon enough. Either way she’s finished, poor child.’
The councillor took his leave, allowing the android to continue its way to the lower vaults in order to make a report to the Borad. Brunner had other matters to attend to, none of which he relished. Mainly this concerned an explanation of Peri’s disappearance to Tekker, but he would think of something.
The search for Peri was on. Guardoliers were called up in large numbers and scattered throughout the Citadel. The Borad was angered at the girl’s escape and Tekker knew his delicate, if not dangerous, position. He had to locate her and fast, passing the buck to his troops and helpers. An emergency Council meeting was called and heads of departments summoned. For some reason, Peri’s importance had been overlooked and now she was searched for with all the vigour of a major rebel hunt and more. An exterior search unit was assembled before Tekker himself.
The lean, hungry-looking Maylin stared at each member of the six-strong unit which stood rigidly to attention.