Doctor Who: Dictatormocracy

Chapter Two

'Come on' said the Doctor looking around at the crowd of stares. 'We better get out of here'

They decided to resume their tour of the shopping street, which cleared Sami's mind of the drama at least. The Doctor and Alice stood silent. He worried about the repercussions of Alice's outburst. What would the local authorities think of it? Alice was worried about what the Doctor might do if she opened her mouth.

Standing suspiciously outside the shop was a tall, lean dark haired man. He was of course observing the Doctor; Sami and Alice. He was slightly confused as to why they had chosen to go shopping. It was expected that; as evident members of the Comradetic party they would return to the campaign headquarters on the northeast side of the town.

'Perhaps' he thought to himself 'they are trying to cause a distraction to appear distant from the rival campaign' The real reason however was that they were just tourists wasn't considered by him.

The Doctor looked at the street outside. For a split second, his eyes met that of the man standing outside.

'We're being watched' he said simply and quietly to his companions.

'Watched?' said an alarmed Alice 'By who?'

'There is a man standing outside the shop' replied the Doctor

Alice turned to face the window, but the Doctor told her not to.

'We must get back to the TARDIS he said 'Come along Sami'

Sami reluctantly hung the outfit she was admiring and followed the Doctor out of the shop. The Doctor decided that they would head back via an alternative route that avoided the square so that no-one else would follow them.

Their movements were being carefully recorded and reported back by their stalker, who kept a slow but steady pace behind them. He was even more confused now – where could they possibly be going? They were heading southwest in the opposite direction to that of the Comradetic Party's HQ.

'Maybe they are arranging a rendezvous?' he thought.

If this was the case, he would require a little help.

News of the outburst in the square reached the Comradetic campaign. Rob Byron knew that this outburst was the very thing that he needed in preparation for the next campaign advert. For campaign purposes, the outburst displayed a public distrust in the current government – a sign that the Caliprebun campaign wasn't going too well.

One person was however strangely absent at the time of this revelation. Cordineezer was nowhere to be seen in the building. After a few off-hand discussions, Rob had figured out that she had been absent for four hours. Did his outburst affect her more than he had expected? If that had been the case however, would he not have been subject to disciplinary action? He couldn't help but think that something was strangely amiss.

There appeared to be a strange noise following them. It sounded very much like a Jet, although whenever they looked up there was nothing to be seen. The Doctor caught several glimpses of their stalker, which meant that they were being followed intently and that their route though several back roads had failed to confuse the man. It was then that he had a thought – were they being led into an ambush?

It seemed that backup had arrived. The Spy-Omnicopter was following the people from the Comradetic campaign. Except their latest reports seemed to focus more and more on a strange rectangular blue object in the woods outside the town. The crew of the Omnicopter suspected that they would be heading in that direction. He asked the local security to check out this blue box. If it was to be their destination, then it would be possible to have the three of them apprehended for an environmental charge. This would serve as something that the campaign could use to discredit them in their future adverts and speeches. With this in mind, he decided to allow the Omnicopter to drift further away and focus on the Wood. The trap was set.

The Doctor was the first to realise that the strange noise had faded away. This put him in two minds as to what this meant for them. 'Did they make a mistake or have they prepared a trap?' he thought worriedly. In the not too far distance was the TARDIS resting there just as before. He was relieved that they could now leave and forget about the whole thing. The three of them walked into the wood and began their final paces towards the TARDIS.

Suddenly a man appeared in front of them. He was wearing a black body suit and carrying a Truncheon. They stopped dead in their tracks, all of their faces full of fear as similarly attired people appeared; surrounding them. They had been led into a trap.

Their stalker walked calmly towards them as the black suited figures stood silent, watching the three of them.

'You wish to use our conservation area as a garbage disposal site do you?' he said evilly 'Well, I would like to inform you that it is against the law. I do hope your Comradetic party colleagues will not miss you as you shaln't be playing an further role in this campaign'

He waved his hand and the local security officers grabbed the Doctor, Sami and Alice.

'You can't do this!' shouted Alice defiantly

'Can't we?' replied the stalker 'Do not forget who still holds the office of power'

The three of them were pushed head first into an ion drive transporter.

An hour later according to Sami's watch, they awoke in a very high-tech cell. The Doctor thought to use his sonic screwdriver to get out, but he could hear two pairs of footsteps pacing the corridor outside.

'Oh if only those guards would go away!' he cursed to himself.

Sami had been overwhelmed by the whole experience and was sitting in tears in the far corner of the cell.

'Why have they arrested us?' she balled

'Well it's certainly not on an environmental charge' replied the Doctor bitterly 'Perhaps it is something to do with someone's foolish outburst!' he shouted.

'I'm sorry' said Alice quietly 'I thought that it was unacceptable to make slanderous remarks in a campaign speech'

'I understand what you say Alice, but we must never interfere in matters that have absolutely nothing to do with us' replied the Doctor a little more calmly.

'That man referred to us as Comradetic party members. What is he talking about?' asked Alice now that the Doctor had calmed down a little.

'It sounds like they think we are members of the opposition party' replied the Doctor.

'Then we are prisoners of conscience. We are political prisoners. A society that holds elections, yet locks up anyone who opposes their rule. It's a feign democracy' Alice replied.

'A dictatormocracy' said Sami half comically, still in tears.

'Well evidently, that is what it appears to be' said the Doctor glumly 'But I've always been led to believe that the Union of Satellite Acolytes is a peaceful, democratic society. They were wrong'

'Who was wrong?' replied Alice wondering who he was referring to.

'The mysterious they of course' replied the Doctor

'Oh them' said Alice sarcastically as they sat hoping for the guards to change shift and give them an opportunity to escape.

News had reached Rob that the people responsible for the outburst at Shrub's campaign speech had been captured and were being held at the high security detention centre in the Northwest of Shuton. These people were now even more useful to the campaign as they could demonstrate that they had been locked up for the outburst, of which was by no means illegal. This operation required two things. The first was a means of getting there without being spotted by the Caliprebun party security and the second (and most important) was a gullible prison officer who could take a bribe and let them go free.

Rob hired a travel pod so not to use his own (the registration details of which had was sure had been carefully recorded by the Caliprebun campaign) and headed towards the detention centre.

It was getting dark outside the Doctor noted through the thin slats of the cell's window. They had been locked up for six hours now and not a single sole had come to visit or interrogate them. They had not been given any food of course.

Suddenly, they heard two people having a conversation outside. Could this be the opportunity that they had been waiting for? But, before the Doctor could get out his sonic screwdriver and get to work on the lock, the cell door opened. Standing in it were two men. One was evidently a prison guard, but the other tall red headed man was wearing casual clothing. Alice assumed that this man was part of the thugs that had ordered their imprisonment.

'Come to ask us some questions?' she said viciously.

'That comes later' he replied 'I have come to release you. There has been a misunderstanding. I am really sorry about this. If you would like to come with me please'

The three of them followed the red headed man out of the centre and boarded a transport of some description. The Doctor was suspicious however.

'Who are you and why have you released us?' he said angrily.

'Now that we are outside the centre, I can tell you. My name is Rob Byron. I work for the Comradetic party campaign. We heard that you had denounced President Gorge Shrub's speech.' Replied Rob.

'I see' said Alice happily 'You are one of the opposition team'

'Yes' replied Rob 'I am taking you three back to the campaign headquarters where you will be safe'

'Before you do' interrupted the Doctor 'could we visit the wood in the southwest. I'm worried about something that I've left there'

'OK' replied Rob 'But you had better be quick'

The engine started and they travelled to the wood via an indirect route. When they reached their destination, Sami was puzzled.

'Isn't this where you left the TARDIS Doctor?' she said

'Yes, I'm afraid it is' he replied mournfully 'They've stolen the TARDIS'

END OF CHAPTER TWO