Chapter 2

In the TARDIS, Ace had just finished programming the Holoroom. It had taken her eighteen hours.

The Doctor, Nita and Huldah approached the Holoroom doors.

"All participants have entered their depositions," said Ace. "Technical schematics, and complete records from the lab's ground computers, as well as Doctor Raphael's personal logs, have been included. The recreation has a nominal eight-point-seven percent margin of error."

The participants entered the Holoroom. It displayed the main laboratory of the space base. The walls were lined with consoles, readouts, and computer equipment, most of which was inactive at the moment. Dominating the room was a large array of energy-focusing condensers, field coils, refractors, and so forth. Nearby was a medium-sized power reactor.

The Doctor and Huldah stepped into the centre of the simulation. The Doctor nodded approval. Even the normally poker-faced Huldah was impressed.

"Is there anything you'd like to say before we begin, Nita?" asked the Doctor.

Nita turned to Huldah. "Just this. I'm not a murderer. I went to the Krithian lab as an official representative of Earth. And I acted accordingly. I was there to evaluate Raphael's progress on development of a Delta Wave converter. That's all I was interested in. Computer. Load deposition program, Llewcots One."

The holograms of Raphael and Revna appear, frozen in position.

Raphael is female, older than Nita, cold, intelligent, antisocial…and like Huldah, she is soft-spoken, reserved. Revna is male, early twenties, the deferential assistant.

"Run the simulation," said Nita.

The Raphael and Revna holograms "came to life" just as holograms of Ace and Nita materialized in the lab by means of vortex manipulators. In Nita's presentation of the story, she was extremely business-like, almost flat in character…she was not as charming or personable as she could be. Nevertheless, for her, this was the truth.

"Doctor Raphael? I'm Anita Llewcots; this is Dorothy McShane."

Raphael was making an effort to be polite, but she was plainly less than overjoyed to see them. And impatient to get it over with.

"My assistant Revna…well, let's get on with it, shall we?"

Off to the side was the voice of Darien, "Don't be in such a hurry, dear…"

Darien entered, and it was a moment, like that first look that Bogart gave Bacall in 'To Have and Have Not', he gives that look to Nita…male, thirties, strong, outgoing, he took your breath away. But Nita's hologram was quite unmoved.

"Perhaps our guests would like some refreshment," Darien continued. He moved to Nita, looked her in the eyes.

"My husband, Darien."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr Raphael," said Nita, pleasantly but routinely. Her attention was on Raphael. "Doctor, if you're prepared to get started, so are we."

"Prepared?" asked Raphael, defensively. "Of course I'm prepared!"

"All right," Nita reacted. "Then why don't you give me the overview of your research while Miss McShane and your assistant look at the experimental data."

"Fine. Whatever. I must say, Miss, I resent your early arrival. Earth will get its converter, I've had a few setback, that's all."

"Doctor, we're not here to pressure you, we just want an update on your progress," said Nita, sympathetically.

Raphael grunted, disbelieving. Nita glanced toward Darien, revealing he was bored beyond description, leaning languidly against a counter with his elbows back, supporting him and his hips thrust out rather invitingly. His eyes undressed Nita.

"Revna, show Miss Llewcot's assistant whatever she wants to see," said Raphael. "Give her full access to our records."

"If you'll come with me…" said Revna to Ace. Revna led Ace over to the other side of the lab, and showed her the large array of condensers.

"Our Lambda Field generator is on the planet since it requires a minimum of five thousand kilometres for the field to collimate."

Darien turned to Nita and smiled warmly. He said to his wife, "really, darling, you're being rude. After all, Miss Llewcots is willing to sit through all your prattle about Delta Waves."

Raphael bristled at her husband's digs. Darien took Nita's arm, and Nita was embarrassed for Raphael, but it would have been extraordinarily awkward for her to throw down his arm now that he had it.

"Anita, let me get you a drink, and we'll hear all about Delta waves," said Darien.

Nita was clearly uncomfortable as he led her to another room. Raphael followed as they left.

Next was displayed the space base living area. Champagne was being poured into three flutes by Darien. Nita and Raphael were seated. Darien handed a glass to Nita. As Nita took it, their hands touched. Darien smiled. Almost as an afterthought, he handed Raphael her glass.

Nita raised her glass in a friendly toast: "To your success, Doctor."

"And the rewards that come with it," added Darien, pointedly.

Raphael scowled and made a point of not joining in their toast. Raphael got down to business, stating her grievances: "Anita, what is Earth doing here anyway? My delivery wasn't scheduled for another three months."

"Actually, we're in this sector on another mission, and you had asked Earth for additional dicosilium. It seemed like a good opportunity."

"How interesting, said Darien. "Tell us about this other mission." As though he was interested in anything other than his wife's work.

"It's just a study of a proto-star cloud. The TARDIS will be returning tomorrow."

"The TARDIS just left you here?" asked Raphael, even less pleased.

Nita couldn't understand why Raphael had such a negative attitude. She tried to placate Raphael: "We have no wish to inconvenience you. We've arranged for hotel rooms on the planet."

"I won't hear of such a thing," said Darien, smoothly. "Miss Llewcots, I insist you and Miss McShane stay with us." Again the inviting smile from Darien.

Raphael protested: "I hardly think…"

"I know you'd prefer to be alone with your important work, but I, for one, am glad for the company," Darien said to Raphael, firmly.

Raphael sullenly clammed up. Darien beamed at Nita. "Good. I must apologize for my wife's lack of social graces. She may be one of the great scientific minds in the galaxy, but she does come up a bit short in other areas."

Nita didn't know what to say to that, and took a sip of champagne.

"Stop," said Huldah, from the background.

"Computer, freeze program," said the real Nita. The holograms froze in their tracks. Huldah turned to the real Nita: "Then it's your testimony that it was Mr Raphael's idea for you to spend the night aboard the base."

"It's my testimony, and it's the truth."

Huldah nodded noncommittally.

"Resume program," said the Doctor.

The space base guest quarters were displayed. The door opened. Darien and Nita entered the tight quarters. The room was simply decorated.

"Our guest quarters aren't luxurious, but I've tried to make this room warm, and inviting."

"I'll be very comfortable, thank you. Good night."

But he didn't leave. "The environmental controls are here…" Darien brushed past Nita to show her the controls – no 'accident'.

"I'm sure I can find everything I need."

"And the door shuts by touching this panel." It closed.

"Mr Raphael…"

"This is my sanctuary. Privacy is very important on a small base. I'm left alone here…often for hours." He looked directly at Nita, Nita ignored his meaning.

"It's late. And I'm tired."

Darien put his hands on her shoulders.

"Please, don't," Nita pleaded.

"It gets very lonely for me up here, a prince in a very high tower."

"Your wife will be looking for you."

"My sanctuary, remember?" He slid his hand in the opening of her jacket and slipped it off her shoulder. She pulled it back on.

"Sir, excuse me, but I really think you ought to leave."

His hand was still on her shoulder and she brought her hand up to his to try to remove it. The door opened to reveal Raphael. Seeing Nita's hand on her husband's, she snapped to her husband: "I knew I'd find you with her. Did you think I didn't notice how you looked at her? I'm not the fool you take me for!"

"Doctor…"

Raphael slapped her husband hard across the cheek. He cried out and Nita was forced to intervene. Raphael took a swing at her. Nita deflected the punch harmlessly. Raphael lost her balance and fell.

Raphael stared at Nita with hatred and embarrassment.

"Doctor, believe me, this is all a terrible mistake."

Raphael scrambled to her feet and as she stormed out of the room she said to Nita, "you won't get away with this. I'll see to it. I swear I will, Llewcots."

He left. Darien rushed out after her without even a glance at Nita. The hologram program ended with Nita alone in the room.

"Freeze program," said the real Nita.

Nita's hologram froze.

"I didn't see Doctor Raphael again until the following morning when she asked to see me alone. Ace returned to the TARDIS…Resume program."

The holograms of Nita and Raphael stood in the main laboratory area.

"I suppose if I make a formal complaint, your report on my work won't be very good," said Raphael, fuming.

"Doctor, this will have no impact on my report. It was a misunderstanding of the worst kind, and I feel I could straighten it out if you would ask Mr Raphael to join us."

"My husband and my assistant have transported down to the planet," replied Raphael, curtly.

Raphael was a woman under a great strain. She looked away, shook her head, then looked back at Nita. She couldn't let Nita leave without knowing where she stood. "What are you going to put in your report, Llewcots? That there's no justification for all the extra dicosilium I've requested? That is why they sent you early, isn't it?"

"Doctor…"

"I can explain why I needed it," said Raphael, too earnestly. "They have no idea what my problems are, there are explanations for all of it…"

"I don't need explanations," Nita interrupted.

They studied each other for a moment. Raphael seemed to understand where she stood now. "Then we have nothing further to say to each other."

Nita nodded. She tried. "I will tell the Doctor to expect your grievance."

"Do that."

Raphael seated herself at a console and began to work, entering commands. Nita called the TARDIS on her mobile phone.

"Yeah hi, I'm leaving now."

"Freeze program," said the real Nita.

As Raphael looked up one last time at Nita, it froze.

"And then I returned to the TARDIS."

"And there's nothing you'd like to add…about firing a phaser, Miss?" asked Huldah.

"I fired no phaser aboard the science base."

Huldah's eyes looked perplexed.

"That's very odd, Miss. Very odd. Doctor, isn't it true that your sensors picked up a power drain just before transport?"

"That is correct."

"Have you been able to explain it?"

"Not to my knowledge."

Huldah nodded. "We have. Our readings are quite clear about it. Information retrieved from the lab's ground computers show that a focused energy pulse was fired just as Miss Llewcots began transport. Furthermore, by analyzing the trajectory and angle, it is clear that it came from the very spot that Miss Llewcots was standing. In short, allow me to show you my own recreation of the end of this story, a speculation if you will…computer, play hypothetical Huldah One."

The holograms of Raphael and Nita vanished, and reappeard in the positions just prior to Nita's departure. Nita called the TARDIS on her mobile phone.

"Yeah hi, I'm leaving now."

Just before Nita punched the dematerialization button on her vortex manipulator, she took out her phaser and aimed it behind Raphael. Nita fired the phaser at the reactor.

"Freeze program," said Huldah.

The program froze.

"Three seconds later the station exploded," Huldah continued.