Chapter 1
Nita was in a bed, head bandaged, monitors working. Waking up, she groped for her bearings a second, then reacted as she saw a group of six doctors at the foot of her bed, watching her with extraordinary curiosity. Nita felt the pain in her head. "What happened?"
A senior physician had joined the group, an overworked man who didn't need any more in his life right now, certainly not an alien in his hospital. "You're in the crisis room at the Sikla Medical Facility. You've had a severe injury, but you're going to be all right.
Nita took this in for a moment, nodded again in understanding. Her head hurt terribly. "I was caught in the riot when the police moved in. That's the last thing I remember."
"Can you tell us your name?"
Nita was careful, it was all starting to come back to her and she wanted to make sure she didn't say the wrong thing. "Livas. Livas Jawala."
"Livas Jawala. Where do you live?"
Nita recited what she had rehearsed. "In the Marta community on the southern continent."
"You're a long way from home," remarked Sachi. "Are there any members of your family we should notify?"
"No, I have no family." She lifted her hand as if to rub her head and then saw the primitive equipment she was attached to. "I can't stay here… I have to get back…"
"You're in no condition to leave yet…" Hearn studied her with an experienced eye, didn't believe Nita was telling the truth. Still, using very good bedside manner, he managed a reluctant grin as he moved to a more intimate position, sitting on the corner of the bed. "There are several… unusual things about your case, Miss Jawala. Your cranial lobes, for example. They seem to be surgical implants."
"I did have some cosmetic surgery, to correct a genetic birth defect."
Picking up her hand, looking at the fingers… "And these? Another birth defect?"
Nita acknowledged. "Yes, isn't that something? My father's were the same way…"
"You want us to believe that all your abnormalities are inherited genetic traits?" Anderson put in sharply.
Hearn shot him a look, and Anderson backed off.
"I understand your confusion. My personal physician is much more familiar with these… genetic irregularities. To be honest, I'd feel better if I were back home under his care."
"Why don't I talk to him about that? What's his name?"
"Smith. But actually, I'm not sure you'll be able to reach him."
"Why not?"
"He's taking… a sabbatical."
Hearn looked at her. Then… "Well, we'll do the best we can for you." Hearn patted her on the wrist and rose. He glanced at the others, and they all left.
Nita immediately broke her pretense and tried to get up. But pain shot through her head and she retreated back to bed.
As the group came out into the medical facility's corridor, Anderson's rose rose… "'Genetic irregularities'?... that this isn't even the same species as we are…"
Hearn looked hard at him. "Keep your voice down," he ordered. "The last thing we need is a panic in here over some…" He sighed, and could not bring himself to say it.
Anderson finished it… "It's all the space flights, they've attracted creatures from outer space."
"Now, that's exactly the kind of thing I don't want to hear, is that understood?"
"What are you going to do?" asked Sachi.
Hearn sighed. "With all the medical facilities available, why did she have to end up here?"
"I think we ought to call Central Security," said Anderson.
"I'm not calling anybody yet. Not until we've done a lot more. A lot more. I want her story checked out. Run a complete search through the medical library, be absolutely certain there's never been anything like her."
"What if there's more of them? They could be everywhere," said Anderson.
"Somebody get Anderson a calmative," said Hearn. "We ought to see if we can find the physician Smith."
They were moving down the corridor.
"What about her?" asked Sachi.
"Cordon off this wing. I want security on her door twenty-nine hours a day, and I want this kept quiet." He frowned. "They've already questioned my judgement on the diagnostic centre, criticized my resource allocations, all they need to hear now is that I'm treating alien creatures."
The last was said as they turned a corner, down a hallway.
Coe sat in his office in an impressive government building in a large, metropolitan city that could be from mid 21st century Earth, with a few alien touches. Coe was the leader of his people and this was a fitting office for a man of his stature, oval shaped with windows that looked outside. Coe himself was in his fifties, slight in stature. There was a gentle quality about him, thoughtful, brilliant, committed. With him here was Carolyn, a woman in her early 30s, and the Minister for Internal Security, Ensign. He was older than Coe, with a keen intellect and piercing eyes. Two other members of the cabinet were present.
Carolyn, the Minister of Science, was displaying a star chart with some rough animation on a wall montor. "At twelve-point-four after launch, the warp field generator will be activated."
"That's when it would break the light barrier?"
"Yes, Chancellor. If we're successful, the craft will leave our star system in a matter of minutes and will be on its way toward the Rixon system."
"An then what?" asked Ensign, non-supportively.
Carolyn gave him a disarming smile. "And then, Ensign, we'll see what's there."
"How long, Carolyn?"
"We have the prototype design for the warp engine, it would simply be a matter of building the actual production units. If I can get your approval today, ten months, maybe less."
Ensign shook his head, but was extremely pleasant and politic throughout, this was an argument they'd had many times before, there was even a smile on his face… "Chancellor, I'll admit Carolyn's enthusiasm for her work is seductive, but perhaps we're moving too fast."
Coe acknowledged his comment with humour. "As fast as the speed of light, Ensign."
"Why am I always the only realist in a room full of dreamers?"
They all laughed.
"Please, I must be serious, there was another demonstration today, some violence. Your opponents will see this as another example of your determination to pull us further from our traditional ways."
Coe stood, and moved as he talked. "My opponents look back as I look forward. I cannot believe that my people would choose to retreat after all we've done."
"I agree."
"The people were willing to accept your social reforms because they believe in you, Chancellor. But there are many who say we have gone far enough, all of these new ideas, new technology, and now space travel, it confuses them, frightens them."
"And I will not allow them to remain in the dark ages, the warp program will proceed as you have outlined, Carolyn." He smiled to Ensign. "And then we will slow down, Ensign, to let everyone catch their breath including you."
Ensign nodded and they all rose to leave.
From Carolyn's lab, a person could personally supervise and control rocket launches, satellite operations, radio and optical telescope functions, receive telemetry, etc. If the head of NASA wanted to be completely "hands-on" in the 21st century, this was the kind of place they would have. There were computers, monitors, printers, observational equipment, models of spacecraft, etc.
Carolyn entered, sat down at one of the computer monitors and tapped in a few command.
Behind her, the TARDIS materialized and the Doctor stepped out. Carolyn turned in her chair toward the door reacting to the noise. The Doctor was dressed in his usual clothes. He was not posing as a local. "Excuse me, Carolyn Seymour?"
She glanced at him curiously. "Yes?"
"My name is the Doctor. May I come in?"
Carolyn was already on her feet, his appearance was clearly not of local origin. "Who are you?"
"Please don't be alarmed by my appearance, I've come with some… important information."
"About what?"
"About space. About the universe you are preparing to enter."
"I represent the Time Lords. I am from a planet called Galiifrey more than two thousand light years from here."
"Uh huh."
"We have been monitoring your progress toward warp drive capability. When a society reaches your level of technology and is clearly about to initiate warp travel, we believe it is time to make first contact. We prefer meeting like this rather than a random confrontation in deep space. I've come to you first because you are a leader in the scientific community. And scientists can generally accept our arrival more easily than others. We almost always encounter fear and shock on this sort of mission. We hope you will be able to help facilitate our introduction."
Carolyn digested this, then… "Is this a joke? Did Lupo and the others at the lab put you up to this?"
The Doctor grinned. "I assure you this is no joke." He held up his hands. "You can see I am quite physically different than Malcorians. And with your permission, I am prepared to prove what I am saying."
"All right," said Carolyn tentatively.
"Follow me." The Doctor led her into the TARDIS.
As they entered the Control Room, she reacted, astounded.
"Welcome aboard," said the Doctor.
Carolyn looked around with awe and wonder, somewhat shaky.