Dvorets Shakinov, Shakin, South Ural, 13/6/11243

Ivo slumbered across the magnificent blue and gold entrance hall; his crumpled green cloak bearing a small red tomato stain from the previous night, and his face bearing a long frown.

"Ivo Iannone," he said, as he approached the desk to the far side of the room. "I'm supposed to be meeting with Bartolo Toscani."

"Mr Toscani is currently in his chambers," the plump, kindly woman behind the desk explained. "I shall fetch him for you."

'Chambers?' Ivo thought. 'I had to stay the night in a hostel…'

"Mr Toscani has requested that you meet in room V46, Mr Iannone," the receptionist said. "You can find this room by heading to the right of my desk, walking through that door, heading up to floor V, and following the arrows. Please place your arm on the desk for me."

Ivo rested his arm against the royal blue surface.

"Thank you, that should give you access," the receptionist smiled. "I wish you all the best for your endeavours. May the Earth remain protected in such difficult times."

"Thank you," Ivo said, turning to walk away.

"May you remember your true self, Ivo Iannone," the receptionist muttered.

Ivo froze. He looked cautiously at the receptionist through wide eyes.

'Doctor… Time Lord…'

"Good luck," the receptionist said with a curtly smile.

"Ivo, m'boy," Barti said warmly, his two large hands clasping around one of Ivo's. "Come. Join me. Sit down!"

Meeting room V46 bore the same repetitive blue and gold decal as the rest of the palace. A single table sat in the centre of the boxy room, just about large enough for four people to sit around, and yet it took up most of the available space. Ivo sat down upon a creaky, gold-painted wooden chair opposite his boss.

"The time has come, Ivo," Barti explained. "Time t' get your friend to bring us that bomb from Amazonas or wherever you said it is again."

Ivo raised his eyebrows. "Has it?" he asked.

"Yes, it has Ivo," Barti repeated sternly. "You need t' tell us where it's hidden. You do have the address, righ'?"

Ivo glanced upwards, his face frowning. "What do you intend to do with it?" he asked.

"Ivo… just do as yeh told, alrigh'?"

Ivo frowned silently. "I know what this bomb is capable of, Barti," he explained. "I've been studying it for years. Examining it. Taking it to pieces, putting it back together, even improving on it. I know better than anybody else how to use it…"

"Use it?"

"Yes," Ivo said, firmly, through gritted teeth. "With my help, we have a chance against the Clombites before they even land on Earth. Let me be a part of this!"

"The plan isn't to destroy the ships, Ivo," Barti scolded.

"It isn't?"

"The Clombites 'ave made demands, which we will satisfy in exchange for a peaceful return to their 'ome planet. One of 'em is for the tablet. That's why we need it."

Ivo bowed his head like a disappointed child.

"I know what they did to your wife, Ivo," Barti said. "But there are too many of them. Even their own weapon can't destroy them all."

"But we can get at least some of them?"

"And break the terms of our agreement?"

"What agreement?"

Barti paused. "This is strictly confidential information, Ivo," he said. "I hope I can trust you with this."

"Of course."

"The Clombites wan' the bomb, five 'undred 'umans to absorb, an' the safe return of Chaac from our prison," Barti explained.

"Chaac?" Ivo stared back at Barti, his mouth agape.

"Yes. That's righ'."

"It can't be done."

"I know Chaac was the one responsible for…"

"No!" Ivo rose frantically from his seat. "It is physically impossible!"

"Huh?" Barti asked. "Why not?"

"Because I snapped his cane," Ivo said, squirming where he stood. "And he needs that. The exterior of Acqua Fredda is protecting him, but the moment he exits, he will be absorbed by the Earth."

"Ivo…" Barti had disappointed look in his eyes. "Why? You know that breaks the terms of his sentence…"

"Because he deserved it," Ivo sneered. "Because that creature rotting away inside the prison is the very definition of all that is evil."

"So are many of our inmates…"

But none of them killed the one woman I ever truly loved!" Ivo roared, his fist slamming against the table.

Barti sat silently across from Ivo. A tiny tear rolled down Ivo's cheek.

"Chaac can't leave," Ivo said. "Fiore Storto, President of the Open Earth Movement, handed me the cane. She's in the cell next door to Chaac. We tell the Clombites that she was responsible for Chaac being unsalvageable. We let them have her instead."

"And she dies with the rest of the Open Earth Movement," Barti said.

"What?"

"Several hundred members of the Open Earth Movement have remained in Belermo to conduct 'peace talks' with the Clombites. The Emperor has told 'em that they shall be the five hundred-and-more humans that they can absorb."

Ivo paused to take a deep breath. "Good," he wheezed, shakily.

Barti raised an eyebrow. "That's a relief," he said. "I know you used to be a member, Ivo. I wasn't sure how you would handle…"

"No… no… I left for a good reason," Ivo insisted. "I… I have no desire to save any of them. They made their choice. And they chose the path of destruction. No, it will be good riddance."

"Good," Barti said. "I'm glad we're in agreement."

"Yes," Ivo murmured, uncomfortably. "Quite."

Barti glanced at his watch. "We really 'ave to get moving now Ivo," he said, rising to his feet. "Asianah Cruz. Call her! Now!"

"Call Asianah Cruz," Ivo instructed his watch, with a sigh.

"Calling Asianah Cruz," the watch replied.

Ivo drummed his fingers upon the table as the black hologram appeared empty. Suddenly, Asianah's face appeared before him.

"Hello again, Ivo," she said, calmly.

"It is time, Asianah," Ivo said, reluctantly.

"Time for what?"

"Put me on!" Barti insisted. "I believe I am speaking to Dr Asianah Cruz, is that correct?"

"Yes…"

"Do you recognise me?"

"Bartolo Toscani," Asianah replied. "Of course. A pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise. The Clombites are landing in Belermo any moment now," Barti explained. "The plan is t' have some of them come 'ere to Dvorets Shakinov and hand the tablet over to 'em, in exchange for them leaving."

"Is it that simple?" Asianah asked.

"Yes," Ivo interrupted hesitantly. "We give them the tablet and they leave. That is all there is to it."

Asianah scowled. Ivo stared uncomfortably into the digital representation of her eyes, begging for her not to see through him.

"It all seems a bit too easy," Asianah said. "They come and invade our world and all they want is that bomb?"

"I… I know," Ivo chuckled. "We should be grateful they aren't asking for more."

"I don't believe you," Asianah said.

Ivo's cheeks blushed.

"The world needs you now Asianah," Barti offered. "I shall send a flight to your address from La Posición del Amazonas military base in Silagua. It will bring you here before the Clombites land, so we can have everything ready in time."

"On my way," Asianah replied. Suddenly, Asianah's face cut to black, before vanishing entirely. Ivo stared into the far corner of the room, another member of the Open Earth Movement entering his mind every few seconds, primed for Ivo to ponder whether they were still in Belermo.

"We're doing the righ' thing," Barti assured Ivo. "These fanatics are a real and present threat to our way of life, and perhaps the security of our planet. The Emperor should have thrown every single one of 'em into our cells a long time ago for alien conspiracy."

"Before or after I stopped being a member?" Ivo asked.

"Ivo," Barti said, placing a chunky, firm hand upon Ivo's shoulder. "I know it will be tough for you to see so many that you once cared for killed. But when you left them, you acknowledged the error of your ways, and of their ways. You must not let your ancient love of these dangerous people cloud your better judgement."

Ivo's lip wobbled uneasily. "Yes," he said. "I suppose you're right."

Barti's hand gave Ivo's shoulder another reassuring tap. "Time for us to go," he said. "There will be a gathering in the entrance hall to watch the aliens land. I suggest we make our way now."

"Where do I go with this?" Asianah asked, satchel in hand, her eyes marvelling at the grand décor of the entrance hall.

"I'll show you," Ivo said, looking across to the royal blue desk to the far side of the hall, underneath the large hologram of the disgusting green ships approaching orbit.

The bustle of noise was loud enough to drown out Ivo's rapid thoughts. He ushered Asianah to the desk, immediately greeted by the woman behind it.

"Do you have it?" the receptionist asked.

"Here," Asianah proclaimed.

"Hush," the receptionist insisted, looking warily across the crowd. "You must be subtle. Is it hidden?"

Asianah nodded.

"Then pass the container across the desk."

Asianah pulled the brown satchel from her side, and placed it to the other side of the desk.

"I'll be taking that," interrupted a dark-eyed woman, her fine blue and gold tunic brushing against the side of the desk as she arrived.

"Yes, Most Esteemed Lady," the receptionist said, bowing a little as she handed the bag to Inka.

"Thank you for your service," Inka replied, calmly, before looking across into Ivo's soul. "You must be Ivo Iannone," she said.

"Yes… Most Esteemed Lady…" Ivo stammered.

Inka reached out a hand to shake Ivo's. "I hear that you are something of an expert in alien artefacts such as this."

"I look after the vault at Acqua Fredda," Ivo said, humbly, "It is my job to study all kinds of artefacts, including this one."

"Then I would value your presence when the Clombite leaders come to meet with us here in Shakin," Inka smiled. "You know about the Clombite known as 'Chaac' too, I believe."

"I was there when Fiore Storto snapped his cane and trapped him permanently inside Acqua Fredda," Ivo recalled. "The fragments of the cane remain inside the vault."

"Incredibly reckless behaviour from a member of the Open Earth Movement, as usual," Inka said. "I shall entrust it to you to explain the situation to the Clombites."

Ivo's eyes narrowed. "Ummmm…"

"Oh, do not worry," Inka assured him. "I have an adequate solution to our conundrum surrounding Chaac. I am sure that it shall suffice them greatly." The corners of the Most Esteemed Lady's mouth began to curl upwards.

"Good…" Ivo said. "That's… that's good. I'll be there."

"Very well then," Inka said. "I must be heading off. I would like to thank you both very much. Your actions shall prove vital to securing the future of our planet."

"Thank you, Most Esteemed Lady," Ivo and Asianah said, both a little out of sync.

Asianah breathed a sigh of relief the moment the Most Esteemed Lady turned her back, squeezing her free hands together. "It's gone," she said. "I don't have to carry that thing anymore."

"Ivo," the receptionist said, out of nowhere. "I have something that you're going to need in the meeting." She handed Ivo a rectangular metal stamp the size of his palm. The stamp bore an image of a large, blue and gold meeting room with important-looking statues in the corners, a high, decorated ceiling, and a blue and gold table in the centre. "Use it wisely," she said. "Use it well."

"Can't you tell me any more?" Ivo asked, inquisitively.

The receptionist shook her head. "No, I must not," she said. "I must be assured that this is all the information that you need. Go now. Go and watch the landing. I have other clients to see to."

Ivo scowled a little, exchanging blank looks with Asianah as they walked back into the crowd. The orbit of the Earth in the hologram had transformed into clear blue skies as the ships in the foreground descended.

"Are they really sacrificing the Open Earth Movement to them?" a hushed nearby voice asked.

Ivo tried to pick up the pace. Asianah stood, still as a statue, resistant to Ivo's subtle steps forward.

"Ooh yes," replied another voice. "Sending the aliens over there for 'peace talks', and by the time they realise it's a trap… goodbye terrorists! Good riddance don't you think?"

"Oh, absolutely," the first said.

"Did you hear that?" Asianah asked.

"I did…" Ivo said, slowly. "I… is this true?"

"Ivo…"

"Fine." Ivo's head drooped. "I knew."

"Ivo!"

Ivo stormed further into the crowd, Asianah scurrying behind him.

"You told me that they only wanted the tablet!" Asianah scorned.

"Well, they also want five hundred humans to absorb," Ivo said. "The government plan to use the Open Earth Movement-"

"Ivo, m'boy! What news?"

"Hi, Barti," Ivo said.

"Did you know about the Open Earth Movement as well?" Asianah cried.

Barti froze.

"I see how this works," Asianah continued. "A peaceful group opposes the government, and so they get sacrificed to a hoard of aliens…"

"Peaceful?" Barti scorned. "The Open Earth Movement is a terrorist organisation…"

"All they want to do is make the Earth a more welcoming place for other species…"

"And jeopardise the Earth's safety in the process! Not to mention hamper the good work of our prison. It is better that they are gone."

Asianah stared blankly at the two men. "Has everybody on this planet lost their minds?" she asked.

"I used to be a member of that organisation," Ivo said. "It is a festering wound on this planet's surface; believe me, I should know!"

Asianah looked shocked. "So you're just going to sit back and watch your old friends die?"

A tear rolled down Ivo's cheek. "They dug their own graves," he said.

"And what about your wife?" Asianah asked. "Did she dig her own grave?"

"Don't bring Jade into this!" Ivo fumed.

"What would Jade say if she could see you now, Ivo?" Asianah pressed. "I reckon you still have contacts in the Open Earth Movement. You could warn them, Ivo. Make sure they get out before the Clombites land."

"Ivo, surely you can see this is madness!" Barti interjected. "Intervene and if the Clombites don't come and kill us all for not holding up our end of the deal, the Open Earth Movement will find a way to make it happen. Think about who it is that we're sacrificing…"

"Five hundred innocent people who might just be worth listening to…"

"A danger to our people!" Barti retorted. "It may well be that their meddling with aliens has led to this invasion in the first place. They brought this upon themselves."

"Ivo, listen to me," Asianah said. Her grip against Ivo's arm was tight, her eyes welling with tears. "Hundreds of people are going to die if you don't warn them what will happen. You need to get in touch and-"

"Sentence us all to our deaths…"

"Enough!" Ivo roared. "Both of you! Shut up!" Ivo looked up at the hologram on the far wall with watering eyes. The mountainous landscape that held the sprawling metropolis of Belermo was now firmly in the background.

'Doctor… Time Lord…'

The familiar sight of the blue box in the Under Vault rattled through Ivo's mind, stronger than ever. He glanced hesitantly at his watch, his gaze flickering rapidly between the two pleading faces in front of him.