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Costa finished securing the Doctor’s hands with ropes from Cy’s bedroom. Alf and Vera were already bundled up against the now empty tank. ‘Leave him,’ Cy pointed at the professor. ‘We need him as a witness.’ ‘What about that one?’ Fisk nodded towards Nick, who had now regained some of his strength. ‘Well you could get me out of these chains.’ Nick gestured at the cold metal that constrained him. Fisk swaggered over to Nick and eyed him suspiciously. ‘What were they doing to you sonny?’ he asked, prodding him with his swagger stick. Nick paused, glancing down at the Doctor. ‘You heard Cy,’ he said simply. ‘This Doctor and his fancy woman were torturing me. They’re trying to resurrect an ancient creature. Now let me out.’ Alf looked between Nick and the Doctor in astonishment, but the Doctor winked at her, so she remained silent. Fisk hauled Nick away from the tank. ‘You. Take him to get cleaned up.’ He motioned to Cy. ‘This lot will be just fine down here for the minute. Once our ship’s Hymetusite engines have recharged, we’ll be off back to Azure where they’ll spend the rest of their lives rotting in gaol!’ Vera began to sob uncontrollably on the floor. ‘Admiral,’ Costa began. ‘If this Cy wasn’t expecting us, who set up the homing signal? It must have been one of this lot, right? So why would they do that if they didn’t want to get caught?’ Fisk looked uncomfortable for a moment. ‘They’re criminals aren’t they?’ he snapped back. ‘That’s what criminals do! Is there any good fruitcake here lad? I’m starving’ Cy smiled, and led them, Nick and Endlemann up the cellar stairs, before bolting the door behind them. Vera sniffled away to herself quietly while the Doctor took the opportunity to talk to Alf. ‘Alf,’ he began looking very uncomfortable, ‘is there something you ought to be telling me?’ ‘I don’t know Doctor. To be honest this isn’t a conversation I ever thought I’d be having with you.’ ‘Is it serious?’ he asked simply. ‘It’s all kind of snuck up on us, Doctor. We’ve been through so much together recently and while I knew there was something brewing between us for a while, neither of us have really admitted it to each other. There was never the right moment you know. Then I see him off with someone else and I just had to tell him finally.’ The Doctor looked understandingly at her. ‘You must follow your feelings you know. The human heart has so much love in it,’ he said wistfully, ‘and there’s no way even a Time Lord could fight a power of that magnitude. Follow your heart and you’ll know what is right. There are no second chances Alf, so take the chance while you can.’ His gaze was far away, lost somewhere in the past. ‘Thanks, Doctor,’ was all Alf could think to say. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t let them hurt him, not if I have anything to do with it!’ He smiled at her. ‘Can you reach in my jacket pocket, I think there’s a little something that might help in this situation…’ ‘A hanky?’ sniffed Vera. ‘The sonic screwdriver! That should help us get out of this room!’ ‘Look Doctor! I’ve broken free of my ropes!’ she smiled. ‘Well done Vera!’ the Doctor beamed. ‘You’d make an excellent companion… if we didn’t already have a full ship that is!’ he added quickly just on the off chance she might have the idea of joining him. Admiral Fisk was not a happy man as he paced round the kitchen table. ‘What do you mean there’s not enough mugs Costa? What kind of kitchen is this?’ ‘Not a well stocked one sir,’ he replied. ‘Well there’s only one thing to do. You’ll have to find some.’ Costa frowned. ‘That’s an order Waterguard!’ he commanded. ‘Relax boys,’ said Cy nonchalantly. ‘There’s a set of special tenth anniversary commemorative “Clear Waters” mugs in my bedroom.’ ‘Oh, I loved that,’ Costa replied. ‘I used to watch it with my Mum. Did you see the one where Myrtle ran the hotel single-handedly because her Brian was having an affair with…’ ‘Enough of the chitchat Costa! I’m dying of thirst here!’ hollered Admiral Fisk. ‘Go and fetch the mugs! Now! Or you’ll be Junior Waterguard Costa before the night is up!’ Costa stalked through the interior door into the hallway. While Admiral Fisk filled up the kettle, Cy leaned over to Endlemann. ‘Keep your calm Invigh.’ Cy hissed. ‘We’ve almost done it.’ ‘We’re almost finished more like!’ whispered back Endlemann. ‘Didn’t you see the empty tank in the cellar? The Protii is on the loose!’ ‘But don’t you see? Nick is able to connect with the Protii. He can control them. And I can control Nick. Together, we can be rich. The Protii can see through time. I can use their powers to see what’s going to happen. I could get the lotto numbers on any number of planets! I’ll be able to see when stock markets are about to fall! There will be nothing to stop me making money and with all that money I’ll be the most powerful guy in this galaxy! You could join me Invigh, be my deputy.’ ‘You’re mad Cy,’ Endlemann murmured, his brow furrowed with worry. ‘I want no part of this. I’m going to tell them everything.’ ‘You do, and I’ll tell them just who you are. You’re record is longer than my left leg Endlemann. You think they’d bother about locking up the Doctor and his friends if they knew that had the infamous “DNA Buggerer” in their grasp? You’d be on trial before you could blink.’ Costa fumbled around in the dark, edging his way up the stairs towards Cy’s room. It was at times like this he really wished he had paid more attention in the Waterguard Academy and been more prepared for these kinds of situations, instead of spending his time ogling Junior Waterguard Thelma Lvan. Even taking a torch with him might have been a good idea, or maybe turning the lights on at the bottom of the stairs. He grinned as he remembered Fisk’s words of wisdom, ‘Hindsight is a wonderful thing,’ he had said and by Ambril he was right. Still, he had made it to the top of the stairs unscathed so what could possibly happen now? Mere seconds later he cursed that thought as the window at the top of the stairs shattered into a thousand shards. He backed away as fast as he could from the blue tendril that snaked through the broken glass. He ran through Cy’s bedroom door and slammed it shut and let out a sigh of relief. But as he turned round, he knew that it had all been in vain. He was not alone. He screamed as the Protii materialised in front of him. Desperately he threw a commemorative mug at it, but to no avail, it merely bounced off its protective armour. ‘No, no!’ he screamed, ‘keep away from me you brute!’ Those were his last words as the hungry mandibles moved menacingly towards him… Admiral Fisk wandered round the kitchen. ‘Do you know, I’ve a funny feeling there was something we were waiting for.’ He looked at Cy, who was sat next to Nick, holding his hand. Nick shuddered. He couldn’t bear to even touch him now, but he knew he had to keep up the pretence to save Alf and the Doctor. As long as he played along, they had a chance. ‘Didn’t you just send your mate up to get some mugs?’ he said. ‘Yes! No! Mugs? What “mate”? Are you delirious?’ ‘Babe, are you okay?’ Cy asked softly. ‘He didn’t come with any mate. And we’ve got enough mugs here.’ ‘You’re all mad.’ Nick said flatly. ‘Why don’t I take you upstairs honey?’ Cy said to Nick. He nodded to Endlemann. ‘I’m okay really.’ Nick looked pleadingly at Fisk. He knew if the Protii connected with him again, it would be complete and Cy would control him, the Universe and maybe even time itself… ‘Maybe even time itself…’ he whispered. ‘Of course! That’s it. That’s what he’s after.’ ‘I do think it would be better if you went upstairs and had a lie down sonny,’ Fisk said brusquely. ‘My ship will be ready to leave in about an hour. I’ll have Endlemann bring you up a mug of tea.’ At that moment, the Doctor, Vera and Alf burst into the kitchen. ‘Doctor!’ Nick yelled. ‘Doctor, I know what he’s after! I’ve worked it all out!’ ‘Not so fast, we’ve both got a date with the Protii!’ Cy yelled, grabbing Nick and hauling him through the interior door before anyone could stop him. The Doctor moved to follow them, but Admiral Fisk barred his way. ‘Too late Doctor! You needn’t think you’re getting out of room. If you try, I’ll shoot you. Kidnap is a serious offence this side of Azure!’ ‘Don’t worry about him Doctor!’ Vera yelled, running forward and jumping onto his back. ‘I’ve handled worse than you, sonny!’ ‘Unhand me madam!’ commanded Fisk. The diversion allowed the Doctor, swiftly followed by Alf, to make it through to the hallway in hot pursuit of Nick and Cy.
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