‘It seems sound to me,’ Craddock agreed. ‘Very well, from this moment on, we’re not speaking. Out.’
Barlow handed back the headset, amused. If Estro was indeed behind this attempt to split him and Craddock, he’d just made a very serious mistake…
Donna was furious with herself for being captured so easily, intrigued by what was going on and very, very worried about what was going to happen to them, the three emotions chasing each other wildly. The Doctor and David might just be fortunate enough to be simply executed. There was absolutely no chance of that fate for her. Haldoran wouldn’t waste her in that manner.
She glanced at David. He seemed just as worried, though she suspected it was his missing wife that occupied his mind the most. Even as she thought this, David looked at the guard leading them to the runabout. He seemed about to speak, and then thought better of it.
‘They’ve captured her,’ the Doctor said gently ‘Don’t be afraid that you’d be betraying her by asking.’
‘How can you be so sure?’ David demanded, furiously. You might just have told them what they want to know!’
‘I saw female footprints on the rise where we were captured,’ the Doctor explained. ‘Surrounded by guard prints. That was why I was so sure we were about to be captured. If they could sneak up on Susan, they could sneak up on us, too.’
‘The Peace Officer?’ the guard captain asked. ‘Yes, we’ve got her. In fact, you’ll be meeting her any moment. I’ve sent one of my men to collect her. We might as well get rid of all of the vermin at once.’
David sighed in relief, and Donna felt glad for him, even as she realised that it didn’t improve their situation at all. The Doctor smiled slightly, as if there was something he knew that was still hidden from everyone else. He enjoyed being a bit mysterious, so it might be nothing more than affectation. Then again…
The runabout they were led to was an electric van, with the back isolated from the front. Before they could be herded inside, another guard came running over, his face twisted with worry.
‘She’s escaped,’ he reported.
‘What?’ The captain was furious. ‘You imbecile! How could she escape?’
‘She’s very bright,’ the Doctor offered helpfully.
The captain threw him a disgusted look, and then rounded on the hapless guard. ‘Search for her everywhere. The perimeter alarms haven’t sounded, so she must still be on the grounds somewhere. Move!’
The guard saluted, and then bolted, presumably relieved he had escaped punishment – for the time being.
‘My commiserations,’ the Doctor murmured. ‘It’s always terribly embarrassing to have to report that you’ve lost a prisoner.’
‘Well, I’m not losing any more,’ the captain snarled. ‘Into the runabout now, or I start breaking legs.’
Since it was absolutely clear that he meant what he was saying, Donna obeyed with alacrity. David and the Doctor were just behind her, and then the door was slammed and locked.
‘Some people don’t take setbacks very well,’ the Doctor opined, sitting cross‐legged on the floor and ignoring the seats around the blank walls.
‘I’m glad she got away,’ David said fervently.
‘She’s not gone far,’ the Doctor informed him. ‘I know Susan, and I’m willing to bet she’s down in DA‐17 right now. It’s where I’d be if I were free. We have to know what’s going on down there. It’s the most important thing in your world right now.’
Donna glared at him. ‘I rather think the war Haldoran has caused is the most important thing,’ she snapped. ‘I know this isn’t your home, Doctor, but it is mine.’
‘That war,’ he replied darkly, ‘is nothing compared to whatever’s happening in DA‐17. These idiots are feeding power to it, and power and the Daleks mix rather combustibly.’
David obviously shared the Doctor’s concerns. ‘What do you think they think they’re doing?’ he asked.
‘I’ve no idea yet,’ the Doctor admitted. He shook slightly as the runabout started up. ‘But it appears that we’re on our way to find out the answers.’
Shaking her head in despair, Donna said, ‘They’re planning on interrogating us, not the other way around!’
The Doctor grinned, apparently unconcerned. ‘Yes, but what they ask us will tell me what they’re interested in – and, by extension, what they think we’re after. It should be simple to piece together their plans.’
David grunted. ‘And we’ll only be inside Haldoran’s fortress, under guard and possibly under torture. The knowledge of what they’re doing will, I’m sure, be a great relief to us.’
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ the Doctor answered. ‘I’m sure I’ll be able to think of something.’
‘Well, the faster you do it the better,’ Donna informed him. ‘Look, you two are likely to only get killed in all of this. I won’t be so lucky.’
‘Lucky?’ The Doctor raised an eyebrow, ‘Ah – the daughter of Haldoran’s archenemy. You d be a valuable hostage. Do you think he’ll recognise you?’
Donna raised her eyes to heaven in silent plea. ‘Doctor, you may not live to be interrogated by Haldoran. I won’t be any kind of hostage. I couldn’t be that lucky. And, yes, he’s definitely going to recognise me. I haven’t changed that much since we were married.’
At least she had the satisfaction of seeing the Doctor speechless for once.
Estro whistled cheerfully to himself as he walked down the corridor towards Haldoran’s war office. The decor was hardly to his taste – a trifle too plastic and metal, and with rather gaudy baubles scattered everywhere – but there was the air of success about the place. His plans were proceeding perfectly. A small cart followed him, carrying the promised forty Dalek guns in their crates.
When he entered the war room, Haldoran looked up from the map he was playing with, adjusting the positions of his forces. ‘Estro,’ he called and glanced at the cart. ‘Are those the promised armaments?’
‘Naturally.’ Estro stood aside, and let the cart park itself. ‘All charged, and ready for distribution.’
Haldoran nodded, as he came around the table. ‘One of my men came to fetch you shortly after you left,’ he said slowly. ‘You weren’t in your room.’
‘Of course not,’ Estro agreed smoothly. ‘I was fetching your weapons. After all, I’m sure you searched my room and already knew that they weren’t hidden there.’
‘Of course I did,’ Haldoran said, not bothering to lie. ‘Your wardrobe was also missing.’
‘Really?’ Estro allowed his eyebrows to rise. ‘How sad. Some people will steal anything, won’t they?’
‘Is it still missing?’ Haldoran asked.
Estro inclined his head slightly. ‘No, I rather think the thief has seen the error of his ways and returned it to me.’ He smiled innocently.
‘I am glad to hear that,’ Haldoran said. ‘Around here, we discourage thieves by cutting off their hands.’
‘A splendid idea,’ Estro approved. ‘I am, therefore, surprised to see that Portney still retains both of his.’ He was pleased with the look of venom and fear he was treated to from the clerk.
‘He may yet lose them,’ Haldoran mused. ‘And yours are not so firm that they won’t come off with a little effort.’
‘Mine?’ Estro feigned complete innocence. ‘I’m giving you things, not taking them.’
‘And that’s the sole reason you still have both gloved extremities,’ Haldoran assured him. ‘Because you are taking something of mine. A few gigajoules of power?’
‘Ah!’ It had taken the clod long enough to figure that out. ‘You mean my power lines.’
‘Yes.’ Haldoran leaned forward, attempting to look menacing. ‘That is precisely what I do mean I’ve been having… words with Murdock, who for some reason seemed to think he wasn’t supposed to tell me about your little secret. But Portney discovered it.’