Doctor Who: Dictatormocracy

Chapter Seven

'Get them back!' snapped Darien 'They are dangerous terrorists and threaten the life of President Shrub'

'Nice try Smythe' replied Michael Stanton 'As you know, not even our illustrious leader is above the law. You are coming with us – all of you'

As he was being pushed by Stanton's own security men, Darien watched the four of them rush out the gates and into the suburbs of Shuton.

'What just happened?' asked a bemused Alice

'Stanton' replied Rob. 'Steadwards Bohn must have contacted him'

'Stanton being the commander in chief of the local security forces?' asked the Doctor

'Yes. It looks like Cordineezer was caught out. I knew she would go down. It was only a matter of time' Rob replied jubilantly

'Where next Doctor?' asked Sami

The Doctor pulled out his TARDIS tracking device from his pocket and found the direction that would lead them towards the TARDIS.

'This way' he said 'We are going back to the TARDIS'

With that in mind, they set off in search of the TARDIS hoping that the adventure was now over.

There was an incoming call on Steadwards Bohn's communicator. He picked it up.

'Yes' he said

'Darien Smythe and his co-conspirators have been apprehended' replied Stanton

'Where are the others?' asked Steadwards in reply

'They left by the main gate. They are now walking free in Shuton'

'OK. Thanks Michael. I won't make any attempt to get them back given what they've been through. With that in mind, they are going to need to be given new identities though'

'Don't worry; I shall follow the proper procedure. I shall be heading towards your hotel to collect Ms Mite soon'

'Understood. Goodbye Michael and thanks'

Cordineezer felt angry and was in despair.

'What's happened?' she asked angrily

'Mr Smythe has been arrested' replied Steadwards 'Rob and his friends are alive and are now roaming the streets of Shuton'

'Don't you want your loyal member back?'

'No. It would create far too many complications. He shall be given a new identity so that your party cannot interfere in his life anymore. Even if I were to ask him, I doubt that he would return considering what you have aided in doing to him'

Cordineezer did not reply. She sat there deep in thought. Her career and freedom was now at an end.

The Doctor suddenly remembered something he meant to do. He remembered those Manstors imprisoned in that high security centre. It was his duty to let them out; give them their freedom. After all, "they" would want that also. This was something that required careful thought though; he didn't want to put Sami and Alice in any more danger. Sami in particular had had more than the Lion's share of danger for one trip. He decided on a course of action that he felt comfortable with. First he would get Alice and Sami back safely to the TARDIS and then he would go alone to release them.

From the strength of the signal coming from his TARDIS tracker, the Doctor determined that they had a long journey ahead of them before they would reach the TARDIS. The Doctor also felt concern for Rob and for his future. Surely he would have to life the rest of his life under a new name; a new identity and hopefully a less involved life.

'What are your plans Rob?' he asked

'At the moment I haven't got any. I shall see you off and then I'll have a good think about my future. Now that I am officially dead, I will lose my right to a pension and my bank accounts will be closed. I will be left with no money and no home – nothing. I shall be living the rest of my life in poverty'

'Surely there is something you can do!' said a concerned Alice

'Well, whatever the future holds, I shall stay far, far away from politics that's for sure!' he replied

They continued their journey, edging footstep by footstep nearer their futures.

The time had come for Cordineezer to join Darien in a high security prison; pending a formal trial by a jurisdiction one judge. Michael Stanton casually walked up the front steps of the Hotel joined by two security men ready to formally arrest her. Michael was fed up with this political party nonsense and would be very glad when the damned election was over. He had little interest in who was going to win; all he wanted was to be able to run his force without infiltration, bribery and treachery.

When he reached the reception, he presented his identification card to the receptionist.

'I wish to speak to Steadwards Bohn' he said officiously.

'Certainly sir' replied the receptionist 'If you'd like to follow me'

He followed; flanked by his two guards into the lift and into room 118.

'Ms Cordineeder Mite' he announced as he entered. 'You are under arrest. You are charged with a number of offences involving aiding a kidnapping. You shall be charged in accordance with the laws of Extas and given due punishment for the crimes you have committed'

Michael then signalled to the guards to seize her. One of them placed the handcuffs on her forcefully and led her out of the room followed by the second. They took her into the prison transport and wait for their superior officer to join them.

Steadwards signalled to Michael to sit down. With some hesitation, he did.

'Thank you for everything Michael. I'm glad to see real justice prevail under your watchful eyes once again' said Steadwards

'Well it's been a nasty shock this. I shall have to find Robert Byron and the others now and insure that they are brought out of the mess they now find themselves in. Robert Byron as you know will cease to exist' replied Michael

'Well goodbye Michael'

'Goodbye Steadwards and good luck'

With that, Michael left for the prison transport.

They had reached familiar territory once again. They found themselves back in that same square where all the fuss had began. The Doctor sighed knowingly and with it wondered what would have happened if they had not interfered. What if Alice had not spoken out? Had they made any difference? Had they made things better? Probably not he decided. They were irrelevant in the grandeur surrounding the election and this "Dictatormocracy" as Sami had phrased it. As he walked through the square, he felt a strong desire to leave the place without a second glance; but not after he had completed that one last task.

'Looks like we're heading for the Wood' said Sami

'Yes it does' replied the Doctor 'It's decided to be sensible for once'

'But remember the last time – we were ambushed' said Alice

'I doubt they will try again' replied Rob 'Officially the four of us have died in a crash. It would be very silly for them to go chasing after four dead people. It would attract unwanted attention'

They had finally reached the wood. The trees blew softly in the breeze, the sounds just as when they had arrived. There in the place that it had originally landed was the TARDIS. Suddenly; they heard a travel pod stop behind them. Sami and Alice were frightened – they were about to be captured again!

Out of the pod stepped a slightly podgy and balding man that they recognised from their escape from the prison. The man smiled at them.

'There you are' he said 'I had a job trying to find you four'

'Hello Mr Stanton' said Rob so that the others would calm down 'Come to de-brief us?'

'Something like that. As you know, you are all on record as being deceased; killed in a crash. I'm here to grant you all new persona and with it, a new life' replied Michael

'Thanks for the offer Mr Stanton' replied the Doctor 'but we three are mere visitors. I'm sure that no-one from our home planet would learn of our apparent death'

'Very well then. Then you are fortunate indeed' replied Michael 'Rob however is not. He shall need all the assistance he can get in order to move on'

'I better go with you then' said Rob 'Goodbye Doctor. Sami; Alice' he said in turn

'Bye Rob' chorused the Girls

'Goodbye. Thank you for all you have done for us'

On that note, Rob left with Stanton and the travel pod disappeared into the distance. The Doctor unlocked the TARDIS and the doors opened.

'Well then' he said 'That was Extas'

They walked into the familiar sight of the console room and the Doctor closed the doors.

Now that they were inside the TARDIS, it was time for the Doctor to tell them what he was about to do.

'I have one last thing I need to do before we leave Extas' he said

'What's that?' asked Sami curiously

'You remember those creatures we saw at that extraterrestrial detention centre – the Manistors; well I'm going to release them' he replied

'What!' said Alice furiously 'Haven't we done enough already?'

'I know. I know. I am going to do this on my own. They deserve a chance to make a new life for themselves; continue the Manistor race away from this genocide'

'What are you going to do?' asked Sami, worriedly

'Well' replied the Doctor 'release them from their cells and give them a chance to get out of the centre. After that, it will be very much up to them. I'm just giving them this chance to start afresh'

'But you'll be caught!' said Alice

'Don't worry. I will be fine. You'll see'

The Doctor's plan was more than a little haphazard in truth. He planned to materialise within the perimeter during the night time and open the cell doors containing the Manistors. After that, he was going to open one of the fire escapes on the perimeter near the cells. Before he got there though, he had to draw them a map to the spaceport in Shuton, where he hoped they could seize one of the spaceships and take off. He removed a tourist map (which he had found whilst scouting around the hotel) out of his pocket and using a large sheet of paper, drew a map that they could understand.

Whilst he was doing this, Sami and Alice gazed at him in wonder. Why was he doing this after all that they had been through? He had finished the map. He walked over to the console, set the controls and the TARDIS dematerialised.

The Extraterrestrial Terrorist Detention Centre was pitch black in the night time. It was however far from peaceful. For all of day and night, the Manistors would screech in the hope that someone would release them. They had been here for three years; imprisoned by these human creatures. However distressing this noise was, it was just the sort of thing the Doctor needed in order to materialise in the centre without being heard. Luckily, the Doctor had set the controls accurately and the TARDIS landed just where he wanted it; directly outside the wing holding the Manistors.

'You two stay here' he said before he left 'This won't take long'

The TARDIS doors closed behind him and he was in that dark courtyard yet again. He looked around to ensure that there were no guards nearby. He had been amazed the last time by the lack of guards. It was now time to put the trusty sonic screwdriver to the test. He attached the sonic lance device and cut neatly around the door to the cell wing and pulled open the door. He then went over to a control box and; using the sonic screwdriver opened the cells. He told one of the Manistors what he was doing and passed the map to it. It was now time with the Manistors pouring out of the cells to make them a way out of the centre. There was an emergency exit situated quite ridiculously near to the main door to the wing. He broke the lock to the door, but this time he had set the alarms off!

There was no time to lose, he pushed open the door and wished the Manistors good luck as they piled out of the centre and into whatever fate would befall them.

'Oi!' shouted an armed guard behind him

He made a break for it and ran back towards the TARDIS. He had done what he came to do as he unlocked the TARDIS doors and stepped inside.

He rushed over to the console and set the dematerialisation controls.

'Where are we going next?' asked Sami

'Well where would you like to go?' he asked

'Including Earth?'

'Yes. Even there'

'What about a real holiday. Somewhere warm and sunny with a beach'

'The Caribbean?' asked Alice

'Good idea!' said Sami excitedly

Obligingly, the Doctor set the co-ordinates for their chosen destination and the TARDIS was now travelling through the time vortex towards their next adventure.

THE END