The Doctor and Tegan Jovanka are property of the BBC – you know the drill. Kimoto Takita and most everybody else are my creations!
The party's over and Tegan and Kim have to find the Doctor before Ashim makes up his mind regarding his destiny. But is it enough that the princess is on a known territory?
o o o
Part nine
The Doctor looked as if he was fast asleep on the parked gurney when four samurais entered the cell. They cast him a casual glance and then allowed for a pale man in a white lab coat to come into the cell.
The man bent over the Doctor and reached out a hand as if to touch his face when the Doctor popped open his eyes and looked smilingly at the newcomer.
"Hello," he said. "I am the Doctor. And you?"
"As a matter of fact," the man replied in a huffed tone, "I happen to be the doctor around here. The name is Krentz and I was sent by chancellor Ashim to see that you were fit to talk."
"As you can see, and quite clearly hear, I am," the Doctor beamed happily, seemingly oblivious to his predicament.
"Good," Doctor Krentz nodded. "Let's go and have a talk with the chancellor then."
He nodded to the guards, two of whom seized the handles of the gurney and started to roll it outside.
"I can walk by myself," the Doctor offered.
"Just stay on the gurney," Krentz suggested in a neutral voice. "We prefer it that way. Don't make me order the guard to restrain you."
"By all means," the Doctor harrumphed. "If you insist."
He lay back and enjoyed the ride as best he could, allowing his eyes to dart and survey the route between his hitherto confinement and his unknown destination.
"I don't suppose you'd tell me precisely where we are going?" he asked the white-clad man, and then, after a pause added: "I didn't think so."
The Doctor propped his head up on his hands, resting as if he did not have a care in the world, allowing the well-armed samurais to transport him along.
As it turned out, he didn't have to wait for long. After a few turns and twists, they entered an elevator and, after a few moments going down, exited to a corridor at the end of which he was rolled through a clinical looking set of double doors.
At their arrival, nobody else was in the big room, and Krentz let the Doctor understand that they would wait for a few moments, apparently for Chancellor Ashim to arrive, and that the Doctor was to remain on the gurney while waiting. This gave him time to take in the surroundings.
The room was obviously a hospital ward of some sort,and though the Doctor tried to suppress a shudder, he went cold inside as he looked around. There were examining tables and a bed in the room, along with a variety of machinery and equipment, some of which he recognised as surveillance equipment to monitor a patient's condition – heart rate, blood pressure, the likes. But that was not what made the Doctor feel a sting of terror.
It was the pictures on the wall.
One wall was dominated by several boards, plastered with reports, printouts of cardiograms and results of blood tests as well as a number of big, glossy photographs, all showing the same patient.
It was Kimoto Takita, strapped down to the bed in the centre of this very room, her face contorted in a mask of pain and terror, her teeth bared, her eyes bulgingand unseeing as electrodes attached to her head and other parts so obviously sent currents through her convulsing body.
"I suppose you recognise the patient," a voice interrupted as chancellor Ashim entered the room, escorted by more samurais.
"Why the pictures?" the Doctor asked, a coarse tone in his voice. "Why would you choose to display these?" He hefted himself up onto his elbows.
"Oh, it helps to induce the right mood in my patient," Krentz answered impassively. "She always arrives on foot, escorted by imperial samurais. Always stoic, always pretending that nothing is wrong. But her tail gives her away, as she lays eyes on the images."
"And the emperor approves of this?" the Doctor asked.
"The emperor believes in these methods," Ashim said. "As do I. But let's waste no more time on trivialities. I chose this room for an interrogation because we are largely undisturbed here. I find this to be… best."
"What is it you want to know?" the Doctor said plaintively. "My name, rank and number? As for my name, I doubt that you could pronounce it, even if you tried. My rank is, well, doctor. I have no number as such."
"Very funny, Doctor," Ashim said, his expression showing no sign of mirth. "Now, please do move to that chair over there. And I really expect that you will not try any foolishness."
The Doctor got up from the gurney and went to the chair, all the while carefully followed by four of the samurais, obviously prepared for most anything. He sat down in the high-backed chair, his blue eyes unwavering on the chancellor's face, not blinking while the samurais strapped his hands, legs and torso onto the chair and then operated it to allow him to lean back, legs lifted somewhat from the floor.
"I could ask about your origin," Ashim said, almost lazily. "But honestly, it is of no importance to me. What I do wish to know, is how you gained access to the palace, what you intend to do here and what your interests in the princess are."
"The princess, just to take the important bit first, happens to be a friend of mine," the Doctor replied, his face revealing nothing about the shortness of said friendship. "And she seems to need my help."
"Your help?" Ashim's voice was scornful. "So, you intended to help her away from here? Is that it?"
"Yes."
"How did you get in here?" Ashim asked, a dangerous tone in his voice. "Did you bribe the guard? Or does the princess have a secret entrance?"
"No such thing," the Doctor said, twisting his one hand slightly against the restraints. "I entered the palace through an unseen entrance, and I planned to leave much the same way."
"Where?"
"I really couldn't say," the Doctor shrugged.
"Why would you take her away from the palace?" the Chancellor inquired. "For a ransom? For your own pleasures?"
"Neither," the Doctor's voice had taken on a sharp edge and anger flared in his eyes. "But I don't expect you to understand that."
"Doctor whatever your name," Ashim spat; bending down to look straight into the Doctor's face. "I will have doctor Krentz demonstrate his skill to you. As a colleague, I am sure you'll appreciate it. And then I'll ask you the same questions again. And if you do not answer in a manner I find satisfying, -"
"You will have doctor Krentz continue?" the Doctor suggested warily. "Why must all thugs do that?"
The comment seemed to take Ashim off balance. He quickly regained his composure and stared at the Doctor with dark, angry eyes.
"Krentz san, would you please demonstrate your skill to this doctor?" he said, stepping back and taking a nearby chair to sit.
"Yes, Ashim sama," the white clad man said, bowing ever so slightly before him. Then he turned to the Doctor and regarded him briefly, studying his victim.
He then went to a nearby table, just outside the Doctor's view, where he busied himself with items, making small clanking and rustling noises.
Then he returned to the Doctor and gazed at him, a syringe in his one hand. Without further ado, he folded back the sleeve on the Doctor's left arm, revealing skin which he cleaned off with an alcohol swab. "This," he said to the man before him, "may sting!"
It did, ever so slightly.
But it was not as painful as the things he did afterwards…
o o o
"Have you seen combat before?" Kim asked in a low voice as she stopped outside a door.
"Yeah, some," Tegan replied, not sounding very proud about it. "Why?"
"I expect that this may turn a bit nasty," the sheerer said tersely. "I doubt he will be nice."
"What will you do?"
"Force the little prick into revealing what we need to know," Kim said, her voice quivering slightly. It occurred to Tegan that Kim's coy words were hiding a very nervous girl beneath.
"How?" the Australian asked.
"Dunno, I guess we'll have to improvise. Let's go and see, okay?"
Tegan nodded as Kim briefly glanced at her, then the princess pushed open the door before them and they both entered quickly, Tegan closing the door behind them.
Inside were a small flat with a living room, a kitchenette and two open doors leading into a small bedroom and a toilet. There was also a man in there, a balding but tall man, sitting at a table in the living room with headphones, totally caught up in some papers spread before him. The whisper of some string music sounded faintly from the headphones. He had his back to the door and had clearly not heard them.
Kim locked the door very quietly, arching an eyebrow at Tegan with an expression of satisfaction. Then she tiptoed towards the man until she stood right behind him, he face twisted into a semblance of an evil grin.
With one swift motion, she tore the headphones from the man's head. He jumped at this, gave a muffled yell and leaped from his chair, turning as he did so to gaze at the intruders.
"Hello, Hatfield," Kim smiled ferally as she threw the head phones onto the floor, having unplugged them from the stereo set next to the table. "How nice to see you. I have a few questions to ask of you."
"Your highness needed only ask," the man said, bowing before her, clutching the lapels of his powder green shirt. "There was no need to scare me like that. Well, lest it was to the liking of your highness, of course," he continued meekly.
"I did knock," Kim lied. "But obviously you didn't hear me. Now, please explain to me where Uncle Ashim would take prisoners of he wished to keep them to himself."
"Prisoners, your highness?" the man said wide-eyed. "Why, I wouldn't know anything about that. I am but a servant and matters of prisoners are for the chancellors involved in police work or intelligence, such as Ashim sama, and for their trusted men."
"Don't start now, Hatfield," Kim groaned. "You are amongst his trusted men, we both know that. I've known ever since you squealed about my spare key to the western Dragon Gate."
"But your highness," the man said, bowing again. "I have done no such thing. I would never betray your trust. You are a Takita and I live and die before the house of Takita! But why, if I may so bold as to ask, is your highness clad in the attire of servants? And accompanied by a menial?"
"Tempting thought, living and dying for my house," Kim agreed with cold, feline eyes. "But I don't suppose I would be that lucky. No, Hatfield, please save us both the trouble and tell me what I want to know."
"Your highness," Hatfield said, his voice growing tender. "I fear that you are not well. Have you taken your prescription drugs? You should be in bed."
"Drop it, Hatfield." Kim was somewhat shorter than the tall man, but she still surveyed him with an air of authority. "I ask again, but for the last time. Where would unca Ashim put prisoners?"
"I honestly have no idea," the servant insisted. "How would I know such… such…" He choked and suddenly fell to his knees, staring at Kim with a strange mixture of pain and exhilaration, his one hand grasping at the collar of his shirt, the other waving at his side as if to grasp onto something he couldn't quite find.
"Hatfield…" Kim murmured in a purring voice, gazing unfocused at the face of the servant.
Tegan, who had remained in the background, took a tentative step forward and saw that the eyes of the princess were as locked with those of the kneeling and choking servant. The air in the room felt sultry and the Australian could almost feel a headache building. Whatever was happening, it was downright scary. She did not, however, dare to break what Kim was doing.
"Hatfield…" Kim purred in a throaty voice. "Ashimmm…"
"Your highhhhh…" coughed the man warily, his face reddening and his staring eyes unseeing. Tegan saw that a few drops of blood were escaping from his nose.
"Yesss…" This time Kim's voice was barely audible.
The man coughed again, his jugular vein standing out as if trying to break free of the skin, and his eyes rolling back into his head so that only the white was showing.
"Aaaaaahhh…"
Suddenly, as if somebody had thrown a switch, the servant gave a single spasm and collapsed to the floor. Kim reeled, turned and retched violently, her face pale and sweaty.
"Kim? Are you all right?" Tegan asked as she came over. "What happened?"
"Moment please," Kim coughed, spitting and then retching again. She stood for a few moments, one hand against the wall, spilling all that was left of the day's culinary feast. Then she staggered to the kitchenette where she opened the faucet and rinsed her face, wiping it dry with a tea towel.
"That," she whispered in a raw voice, "was not very pleasant."
"What did you do?" Tegan asked a little hesitantly.
"I tried to use my mind probe on that little shithead," Kim explained. "I have had it in me for years and it has grown stronger lately. Perhaps, as the Doctor said, because I am maturing. I don't know, I just know that Hatfield was not going to give on his own."
"That was amazing," Tegan said. "So, what happens now?"
"As soon as I have made sure the little twerp will not follow us, we go to Ashim's private prison quarters," Kim said, returning to kneel by the prone form of the servant, tea towel in one hand. "Isn't it peculiar that one of the heads of intelligence around here is in need of private prison cells?"
"It does sound a bit strange," Tegan admitted.
"Oh DAMNED!" Kim yelped, jumping up from her position next to Hatfield and backing away, fear evident in her face. "Oh no! Oooooh cripes!"
"What's the matter?"
"I…" Kim sobbed, turning to look at Tegan, tears flowing from her huge eyes. "I have… Hatfield, he is…"
"Oh no," Tegan muttered.
"He is dead! I've killed him!"
o o o
"This man is very resilient!" doctor Krentz observed, putting a hand under the Doctor's chin, lifting it to look at his slack face. "He looks like a human, but he obviously isn't. For one thing, he seems to have a double cardiovascular system and his breathing also seem different. I wonder where he's from."
"Well, that's what we are trying to find out, isn't it," Ashim snarled, his impatience evident. "What's taking you so long? You usually break people within the half hour. Human or not, he is obviously not immune to electricity."
"No, but the drugs that should have prevented him from fainting seem to have less effect on him. The last couple of times I have increased the current, he has simply passed out. I cannot condition a man who is without consciousness."
"Wake him up then," Ashim demanded.
"I'm trying," doctor Krentz assured his master. "But this time it doesn't seem to be working. It is as if he is subconsciously refusing to wake up. After all, there is refuge in unconsciousness."
"You are an expert, do what you must. I want to know who he is as why he is here."
Krentz nodded, looking troubled. He had tried smelling salts, he had tried salt water and he had tried small electrodes in various places that usually provoked a human to wake up. He had even attempted various potent drugs that would normally provoke a patient to react, but to no avail.
Now he tried to apply electric currents where it would most definitely hurt the most. His insulated and gloved hands were shaking ever so slightly as he performed the procedure and he cursed himself mentally for his sudden insecurity. But other than a few local spasms caused by the current, the Doctor remained unresponsive.
Krentz continued his work, now connecting the Doctor to a variety of the surveillance equipment in the room. He had already been monitoring his heart rates as best he could, considering the Doctor's special physiognomy. Now he attached electrodes for the electroencephalogram and attached monitors for blood oxygenation and oxygen contents in the patient's breathing air.
The encephalogram was strange to be sure. It almost seemed as if the man before him was going comatose. His oxygen levels seemed to indicate the same. Doctor Krentz did not like this at all, and slowly he turned to face the chancellor, printout from the encephalogram still in his hand.
"I am afraid that I cannot wake him up," doctor Krentz announced. "He seems to be slipping into a coma. There is very little I can do to prevent it."
"Have you failed in your ministrations?" Ashim barked. "Is it because of your treatments that he is out like that?"
"I really cannot say," Krentz muttered, removing his gloves. "But it is possible that he is reacting negatively to the drugs I have used. He doesn't seem in a toxic state, but then he is not human. The electric stimuli should not have induced this state. Though painful, they were far from at any really dangerous levels when he last passed out."
"Find out then," Ashim said, getting to his feet. "Keep trying to wake him up. And if you do, continue your work. You know what I want from him."
"Yes, Ashim sama."
"If he doesn't come round soon, place him in a secure cell and have the guard fetch the girl instead. Perhaps she is less resilient than her friend here."
"Yes, Ashim sama," Krentz bowed to the retreating figure, who stopped by the door and turned towards him.
"Oh, and doctor Krentz?"
"Yes?"
"Have the room prepared for her highness also. Soon the wedding is too close to commence treatments. I really should be happy if they are not needed anymore when that time comes. Do you think this can be achieved?"
"I think the results at the last session were very positive," Krentz assured the chancellor. "If we can induce the same state again a few more times, along with the proper medication, I think the treatments can be concluded."
"That would please the emperor," Ashim smiled. "And the Count Matsudaira."
With that, he was gone from the room. The door was closed behind him by one of the unspeaking guards, and Doctor Krentz turned back to continue his attempts at reviving his unmoving patient, the Doctor.
o o o
To be continued…