Chapter 3
Ace and Nita were standing at the console looking at monitors displaying information.
"No question about it, the Kirithions are right…something was fired at the reactor core just before transport," said Ace. "The energy signature would seem to indicate a phaser-like blast."
"Well, it wasn't my phaser!" said Nita, strongly. "It couldn't be. There's another answer. We're just not seeing it yet."
"Was there anything else in the lab capable of creating this kind of energy discharge?" asked Ace. "I don't remember seeing anything. And besides, how do you explain that it came from your exact position? Dammit, I should have stayed with you."
A small alarm went off on the console.
"Sensors indicate a radiation burst just outside the TARDIS," said Nita.
"Source?"
"Unknown."
"Computer, identify type of radiation."
"Emission is not consistent with any known radiation," flashed up on the screen.
"It's subsiding, Ace."
They exchanged glances.
A section of wall about the size of a 20p coin had melted. The sonic screwdriver was run across the spot by Ace. She and Nita were in a deserted corridor, checking the screwdriver readings.
"Make any sense to you?" asked Nita.
"The screwdriver doesn't recognize it. Even the main deflector doesn't put out that kind of spillage."
"Where would it be coming from?"
"I don't know, Nita, but whatever it is, it's capable of putting a hole in the TARDIS.
The Holoroom doors opened to reveal Huldah escorting in Darien. He stopped as he saw the lab recreation. He was as handsome as Nita described, but was dressed quite conservatively and did not ooze sensuality. He was in fact a grieving widower.
"In a sense we've all met Mr Raphael, so shall we dispense with the introduction?" asked Huldah.
But Darien was ignoring her. His attention was riveted on Nita. Nita half-rose from her chair…
The Doctor held up a hand. "Mr Raphael, do you understand the purpose of this hearing?"
He nodded.
"We understand how difficult this will be for you," said Ace. "If you need a recess, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Would you like to make a statement before we begin?" asked the Doctor.
Darien was unprepared. "No. I just know she did it. She killed my wife."
"Load Darien Simulation One," said Huldah.
The living room of the space base appeared. Frozen on stage was Darien and Raphael alone, heading through the living area. He was straightening out her scarf.
The real Darien visibly gasped at this sight. Huldah studied him and decided he was ready to proceed. "Run program."
The figures unfroze, and Darien continued to adjust his wife's appearance, brushing off her suit, etc. She was impatient, bitter and defeated. As he spoke he punctuated his words with encouraging little touches to her hand, cheek, etc.
"If you greet them with such a long face they're going to assume something is wrong with the experiment," said Darien.
"I just need time. A little more time."
Darien smiled at her. "I'm certain they'll give you the time you need if you just show a little charm."
Raphael kissed him lightly. "You do that so much better than I." She caught him as he started to walk away. "Darien, someday I'll be able to reward you, for all your patience. I'll get you everything you ever dreamed of."
"I have all the reward I need." Darien smiled at her, a warm, loving glance. This was a very supportive man who was charming and in love with life. "Go on, I'll be right in."
She exited and he took a deep breath, smiled a hopeful smile to himself, and as he took a beat to look in a mirror and adjust his hair, from the other room, could be heard the materialization sound of a vortex manipulator, and…
"Doctor Raphael? I'm Anita Llewcots, this is Dorothy McShane."
He moved toward the door…
"My assistant Revna…well, let's get on with it, shall we?"
Darien entered. "Don't be in such a hurry, dear. Perhaps our guests would like some refreshment."
"My husband, Darien."
And he was the happy house-husband here, but still there was that moment, because now Nita gave him that look, the look that Lana Turner gave John Garfield in "The Postman Always Rings Twice", and he felt it and was immediately uncomfortable.
"It's a…pleasure…to meet you, Darien," said Nita, warmly.
In this take on the story, Nita's attitude was less aloof and formal. She was relaxed and charming. In fact, in some ways she was more like the Nita the Doctor knew and loved.
"I'm anxious to get started," said Raphael.
Reluctantly, bringing back her attention to Raphael – "If you wish," said Nita.
"I must say I resent your early arrival, Miss, I have much work to do."
"I'll try to make this as painless as possible. For both of us." She smiled at Darien. "Do you assist your wife in her work?"
"Oh, dear, no. I'm no scientist."
"Frankly, neither am I."
"But I find this all fascinating, don't you?" Darien asked, uncomfortably.
Nita grinned as though they shared a secret boredom. "Miss McShane, why don't you go over the doctor's experimental data?" She turned to Raphael, "later on, you can give me an overview."
"Fine. Whatever. Earth will get its Delta Wave converter. These things take time. I've had a few setbacks, that's all," said Raphael, defensively.
Darien gave Raphael a warning glance…don't be rude, dear. Raphael pulled it in.
"Doctor, I'm not here to put pressure on you," said Nita. She turned to Darien, "I'm sure my report will only underscore the need for continued support of your research."
And as nice as that sounded, the fact that it was said to Darien could carry with it a tinge of sexual leverage. Raphael grunted, disbelieving, moving away with Ace and Revna.
"Revna, I'll call up the records, show Miss Llewcot's assistant whatever she wants to see."
"If you'll come with me," Revna said to Ace, moving across the lab. "Our field generator is on the planet, since it requires a minimum of five thousand kilometres for the field to collimate."
Darien suddenly found himself alone with Nita and her eyes were undressing him. Their eyes met. He quickly moved to his wife at a computer bank.
"Darling, let Revna take care of that, I'm sure Miss Llewcots wants to hear how close you are to a breakthrough."
And it was his wife's arm he took. "I'll make the two of you a drink and you can talk all about Delta Waves."
And he led them out.
The setting changed to the Space Base Living Area
Darien was handing a glass of champagne to Nita who is standing close at his side. He crosses to his wife, who is seated on the couch, and gives her a glass.
"To success," toasted Raphael.
"Success," agreed Nita, glancing to Darien.
They drank. Darien looked at Raphael with encouraging eyes. Raphael got the message, cleared her throat. "Well, in a way, I suppose it's good you're early. Darien's right – it gives me a chance to show you the progress we've been making."
Nita was paying no attention to the babbling scientist. She was watching Darien. "I'd appreciate it if Miss McShane and I could stay here until the TARDIS returns."
"It's a little inconvenient," said Darien, uncomfortably.
"It might help accelerate the process," said Nita.
Raphael felt the pressure. "If you wish, Miss."
Raphael stood, and began to pace as she warmed to her topic. "Now, where shall I start? Well, first of all, you should know that I'm very close to being able to collimate a Delta field."
Darien looked up from an abstracted study of his glass, and found Nita staring at him intently. A long beat as they stared at each other.
The scene changed to the guest quarters.
Nita was surveying the tiny room. Darien, who stood behind her, and very close to the door, was uncomfortable.
"Very…charming," said Nita, smiling at him. "It has your touch."
"The base is very small, and we don't often have guests," said Darien, embarrassed. "So I use this as my sanctuary."
"Who do you need sanctuary from?"
He smiled off the question uncomfortably. "The environmental controls are here."
While he is talking Nita moved to the control panel and closed the door, blocking the exit. Darien started, and looked back at her.
"Miss, it's late and I'm tired."
"A wife more interested in Delta Waves than in a man like you, how is it possible?"
"My wife is one of the great minds in the galaxy!" Darien replied angrily. "And we love each other very much."
He moved toward the door but she stopped him, put her hands on his shoulders and slipped his jacket off.
"Please, don't," Darien pleaded softly.
"It must get very lonely for you up here, a prince in a very high tower."
"My wife will be looking for me."
"Your sanctuary, remember?"
He slipped his jacket back on.
"He's lying, this never happened!" cried the real Nita.
"Freeze program," said the Doctor.
It froze.
Nita couldn't take this anymore, and she stood. "Doctor, you know I would never act like this!"
"Miss Llewcots…"
Nita crossed into the Holoroom quarters, and went up to her image. "This isn't me. I wasn't the one who closed the door. I didn't proposition him. I certainly didn't try to seduce him." She turned to Darien. "Why are you doing this?"
"It's exactly what happened," replied Darien.
Ace moved out to Nita. Nita looked again at the frozen image.
"Come on, Nita," Ace urged. "Sit down."
Nita returned to the table. Huldah watched it all curiously. "Resume program," she said.
The door opened to reveal Raphael. Seeing her husband in Nita's arms she snapped to Nita: "I knew you'd try this, Llewcots! Do you think I didn't notice how you looked at him? I'm not the fool you take me for!"
In a rage she rushed Nita. Nita blocked Raphael's wild punch, and followed with two hard jabs to the scientist's gut. Raphael doubled over, and fell to the floor. Darien ran to his wife, and dropped down protectively at her side.
"You won't get away with this," gasped Raphael. "Your travels are over. I'll see to it. I swear I will, Llewcots."
"If you report this, you'll be making a terrible mistake, Doctor," Nita threatened. "A terrible mistake."
Darien was terrified of Nita. He got Raphael to her feet, and helped her from the room.
"Freeze program," said Huldah.
"Your travels were safe," Darien said to Nita. "She was a scientist. In another day some fascinating bit of technical trivia would have distracted her. She would have forgotten about you and her complaint to Earth."
Nita stared at him open-mouthed.
"Excuse me." Darien headed for the Holoroom doors, followed by Huldah. The Doctor was deeply troubled by the charges. Not that he believed them, but the mounting evidence was forcing him to see extradition may be unavoidable. After a beat, he glanced at Ace and Nita.
"We'll, uh…take a short recess," he said, softly.
The Doctor exited. Ace and Nita were alone. Nita was stunned. "Why would he lie like that?"
"Ace didn't immediately answer, in fact, she was uncomfortable with what she was feeling and Nita noticed it.
"He was lying," said Nita. "You must have seen it."
"Nita, I saw no deception from him."
"Then you must think that I…" Nita reacted.
"No, of course not. I know you. You don't have to convince me of anything."
"We can't both be telling the truth."
"It is the truth…as you each remember it."
Nita tried to lighten the mood, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness and truth to her words. "Yes, but his version was going to put a noose around my neck."