Warp War: Chapter 14:Daytripper
It felt like a council of war.
The Doctor, Jo and Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart sat in the latter's modest office in the UNIT admin block. The Brigadier looked pointedly at his watch.
"I have a meeting with the Parliamentary Appropriations committee in twenty minutes so we need to crack on. What is it you wanted to say, Miss Grant?"
"It's Kim X, sir. She's made a request. She wants to go into London for the day."
"Seems reasonable enough to me. Do her good to get out and about. I'll authorise a rail warrant for both of you - "
"She wants to go alone, sir."
"Alone?"
"She was emphatic about that."
The Brigadier sucked in air through his teeth. "I don't think so, Miss Grant. We may never see her again."
"She's not your prisoner you know, Lethbridge Stewart," murmured the Doctor. "If she wanted to walk out of here today, I don't see how you could legally stop her."
"UNIT's remit is to deal with the unusual. I'm sure you agree that a contemporary woman rescued from the far future who then suffers a convenient memory loss is at least unusual, Doctor."
"UNIT's remit also concerns global security. Do you really think she is a threat, Brigadier?"
"She is disabled, confused." said Jo. "I got the idea that this really means something to her. A step back towards independance."
"What is your proposal, Miss Grant?"
"Well, I think we should agree. But keep her under surveillance. We might get some clues about her if we find out where she goes, whether she meets anybody and so on."
"What do you think, Doctor?"
"Well, as you won't let me hypnotise her without consent, because that would require a court order – blasted red tape – this seems the next best thing. Just leave me out of your James Bond shenanigans."
The Brigadier looked at his watch again. "Very well, Miss Grant. But we can't run to a surveillance team on the ground, resources being what they are. Go and see supply about a homer and tracking equipment. You can oversee the operation remotely. It's in your hands, Miss Grant. Your responsibility."
Jo gulped. "Yes sir."
*
"Are you sure you'll be OK on your own ?" asked Jo Grant, not for the first time.
Kim nodded
They were standing on the chilly railway platform just a few days on from Jo discussing Kim's request with the Brigadier and the Doctor. The sky was threatening snow again and they were both wrapped up well.
Kim had a big (read shapeless) long coat trimmed at the collar with imitation fur. Heaven knows where Jo had dredged it up but it was at least warm. Her stunted left arm was held in a sling underneath.
This had been insisted upon by the rather dishy new medic at UNIT HQ who had just been transferred from the Navy on temporary secondment.
"It's healed very well, " Lt Sullivan had said as he had examined the stump of Kim's left forearm. "You don't really need a sling as such but as this is your first time out you need to make sure you keep it protected. The sling will be a reminder."
And he had dressed her arm and constructed the sling with good-humoured efficiency.
"You've got your money safe?" fretted Jo. "And you'll call me from a phone box when you're on the way back? Eight o'clock at the latest, remember?"
God Jo, you sound just like my mother.
The irony did not escape Kim.
Jo looked at her. "You will be coming back, won't you? I've gone out on a limb for you, Kim." A momentary horror played on Jo's face when she realised what she said. "Sorry!"
Kim actually laughed.
At last the train arrived, a little four-carriage diesel on the local line.
Out of habit Kim waited for the doors to automatically hiss open for her before remembering where and when she was. She fumbled with the handle before Jo helped her.
The carriage was empty, dirty and smelled of stale cigarettes.
"Take care," called Jo anxiously, as the train pulled out on its twenty minute journey into the capital.
A few flakes of snow started to fall as Jo made her way back to the car park. She opened up the boot of her car and adjusted a switch on the bulky cathode ray screen she found there. The screen lit up and a map overlay was displayed. The blinking blip that was the tiny transmitter Jo had secreted in the lining of Kim's coat crawled across the screen.
James Bond Shenanigans. That's what the Doctor had called it.
Shrugging, Jo closed the boot and set off for UNIT HQ, wondering if she would ever see Kim X again.
(End of Chapter 14)