Yours is No Disgrace

Chapter Six

The more we live, the more we learn, the more we know.

The cold, dark, murky water around him enclosed him in its grip. He thrashed desperately, seeking escape, trying to get a breath of air. But his arms felt like dead weights, his legs were stiff and sore. He was exhausted, his mental energy almost spent...but he could feel the same weariness in his opponent, his strength was just as spent.
The Doctor opened his eyes underwater and drew on the last reserve he had...the deepest source of his strength, something he knew his opponent couldn't possible have...and he powered upwards with a massive uppercut which connected solidly with his stalkers jaw and sent him stumbling back into the dingy water half-conscious, his mask floating away on the slow current.
The Doctor's eyes widened as he saw the bruised and battered visage. It was a deep shock to see that usually perfect, haughty face marred by injuries.
"Chancellor Goth?" He gasped.
The landscape around them seemed to ripple like heat waves rising from a hot rock, and a sinister, rasping voice hissed in their ears.
"Imbecile...I see that I must do everything myself."
"No...Master..." Goth protested feebly, struggling to rise.
The Doctor rose to his feet, only realising what was going on when the harsh alien environment began to dissolve before his eyes.
"No..." He whispered, "He's trying to trap us both in here...."
The Doctor close his eyes, reaching with all his strength and energy towards the twisting golden cord that was wrapped strongly around his own essence, using it as a guide, a beacon...a candle in the window to welcome him home.

Sparks fizzed a burst alarmingly from the APC console as Engin tried desperately to stablise the power overload.
"What's happening?" Sarah cried, her voice agitated and her eyes filled with pure terror.
"Someone has overloaded the data bank...the whole system is experiencing meltdown," Spandrell said, trying to avoid the sparks that were still being spat from the console, "If the Doctor doesn't escape soon, he may be trapped inside."
"But why?" Sarah yelled, "Who's doing this?" Her eyes searching Spandrel and Engin's faces for answers, while her hand still absently gripped the Doctor.
"It was Chancellor Goth." A voice said croakily from the table. Sarah's head snapped around.
"Doctor!" She cried in unashamed delight, hugging him impulsively. The Doctor sat up with some difficulty, tiredness plain in his bright blue eyes. Sarah kept her hold in him, refusing to relinquish her grip.
"Chancellor Goth?" Spandrell gasped in disbelief, "I don't believe it..." Sarah nodded, completely unsurprised.
The Doctor got up, his attention now turned to Engin.
"Engin, what's under here, hmm?" He asked, patting the APC console. The bent old engineer looked startled for a moment, but answered with confidence.
"Just a few service vents...and the Vaults, of course."
"Vaults?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, they date back to the Old Time - haven't been used in centuries..."
"That's where they'll be." The Doctor said, whirling around and striding purposefully towards the door.
"Goth?" Spandrell asked, confused.
"And if we're lucky, his employer - come along Sarah!" The Doctor called back as he walked out. Sarah shrugged gamely and jogged after him.
The two Time Lords looked at each other helplessly and hurried after them.

The dust down in the Ancient Vaults was at least two inches thick, and obviously hadn't been disturbed in centuries.
Sarah pinched her nose to hold back a sneeze, glaring reproachfully at the thick layer of dust beneath her feet.
"How can he been down here, Doctor? No one's been down here for a very long time."
"Hmm..." The Doctor said non-comittaly his eyes intent on the dark hallway in front of them. Suddenly, he stopped and held up a hand for silence. He crept forwards, his steps making virtually no noise. Sarah held her breath as she moved after him, trying to copy his noiseless, creeping movements. Finally, she reached a dimly-lit alcove, and had to cover her mouth to prevent a scream.
A skeletal figure sat motionless in a chair. Its bulging eyes were fixed sightlessly on the far wall. Scabbed, partially decomposed skin hung from what remained of its hands. Even the black cloak seemed to be almost rotting of the body.
"Is it...dead?" Sarah asked fearfully, lowering her hand. The Doctor didn't get chance to reply as a violent cough interrupted him.
The alcove contained a miniature version of the APC console. Its components had a jury-rigged look...and it was sparking and blinking erratically. Laying on the tiny cot attached to the console, his formally regal robes tattered and dirty, was Chancellor Goth.
"Looks as though...you...won...Doctor..." Goth gasped, flecks of blood gathering at the corners of his mouth.
"Why do it, Goth? Hmm?" The Doctor demanded, "You were going to be the next President..."
"No..." Goth interrupted, "The...the President said...I'd never be...I'd never...succeed him..." Goth's gaze wandered to the emaciated body of the Master sat rigid in the chair. "I...met him on...Tersurus..." Goth continued, "He was...at the end of his regeneration cycle...he promised...promised me...power if I could...take him to Gallifrey." Goth took another tortured breath, and Sarah heard Spandrell and Engin come up behind her to listen. Goth's voice was becoming fainter and fainter, "I...I brought him...here...but I couldn't resist...his mind...his...dominance...I...couldn't..."
"What were his plans, Goth?" The Doctor said with an almost frightening intensity in his voice, he took hold of the dying Time Lord's shoulders. Goth stared blankly for a moment, and there was a horrific gurgle from Goth's lungs...then he went still.
"Typical politician," The Doctor said, a trace of bitterness in his tone, "Can never give a straight answer to a straight question..."
Sarah moved forward and placed a comforting hand on the Doctor's arm. Distracted as he was, he still took hold of her hand and held it tight.
This time, she was almost sure she heard the unspoken words that flicked into her mind.
'Don't let go....'

To Be Continued...