Earth 1, The Caribbean
It was finished. And so, she thought, was her time here.
Lucy moved around the table, putting out a dozen copies of the food and climate report she had put together. Displays of the main food producing areas and major climate events linked to them were arranged around the walls. She was no expert but she could see that some of the areas were vulnerable and to what type of weather.
Mark Martin was the first to arrive. He wandered around the room, looking at the displays with an interest that Lucy found macabre. He moved over to the table and began leafing through a copy of the report. The presence of Lucy plainly wasn't on his radar.
Cassandra came in, glancing at Lucy and giving her a cheery ''Good Morning.'
Then her eyes narrowed slightly. ''Mr Martin, it would be best to wait until we can read through the report together.''
''Of course'' he said ironically. At least he did stop reading, sit down and pour a glass of water.
Savage and Nikki arrived next, followed by the usual tail of Caspar and Dronon. Lucy made a mental note that their increasing position on the sidelines might make them amenable to an approach from outside Savage's organisation.
She hovered on the fringes of the meeting, bringing teas and coffees and, occasionally, being asked to clarify or expand on a point in the report.
It was a clever plan, she had to admit. Savage intended to manipulate the world's food supply - or rather to have Martin do so. In the early stages of his plan, it seemed almost benevolent. Almost. There were places where he wanted the harvest to be a success. He would be among those buying and storing surpluses of appropriate food stocks. He would even give some of his stockpile to poorer countries. After a few years, things would change - weather factors would lead to ruined harvests. Savage would be in a position to help - to make friends. No doubt others would be doing the same. But there wouldn't be enough to help the whole of the expanding human population. There would be hunger, civil unrest - he would have people in place to encourage the latter. Erode the trust between governing and governed.
''We'll have to be selective, of course'' Savage remarked. ''I doubt Mr Martin could control the weather in all the relevant areas.''
''True'' came from Martin.
''Study the report'' Savage directed him. ''Produce a list of the areas in which you would be most effective. Report back to Cassandra.''
The main meeting broke up soon afterwards, but Savage and the two women - the real power trio, Lucy had become aware, stayed to discuss another issue.
''It's definite'' Savage said in an irritated tone. ''Lance is gone -possibly taken back to Earth X. Her mission was only of limited success. I've told her third-in-command to see what he can do to keep the pot boiling.''
X
Alice Murphy was certain that Savage would not be calling on her that morning. Cassandra would also be in the planned meeting and Nikki barely knew her as yet.
She walked over to the statue.
''Algernon.''
''Mistress?''
''Open the gate.''
The circuitry within the statue began to hum. After a couple of minutes a blue beam of light projected from one side of the statue, gradually growing into an oval of light. It had some resemblance to a standard breach device - but of course it wasn't that.
She waited patiently for the five minutes that it took before he stepped through. Mallam.
''Sire'' she inclined her head.
''Alic - Persusis.''
She had changed her appearance to that of her native form, the one she'd worn when they first met.
He'd been kind, understanding, when she told him of the problems she's encountered on her home world.
''One in 500 children is born a shape-shifter'' she'd confided. ''But they still hate and despise us.''
''They fear you'' he'd corrected her.
He'd told her something of the tragedy - not of their making - that had engulfed the citizens of his home world. For very different reasons they were both now homeless.
When they were both seated, she told him what she'd uncovered about the current state of affairs on Earth 1.
''They don't have any kind of register or screening for aliens'' she was glad to say. ''Although I don't think there are many living here at present. What they do have, in a part of the USA, are beings referred to as meta-humans, who have various powers - as a result of some kind of scientific/industrial accident. A few of them work for the good of society but most serve their own ends. Savage has one of the latter in his employ - a Mark Martin, who can apparently control the weather. Martin has quite a criminal record.''
''Is he recruiting more of these meta-humans?''
''Not specifically. He has a number of criminals committing robberies on other Earths, building his war chest.''
''And they have access to a range of advanced Time Master technology. What direction do you think his plans will take?''
''Early to say for certain but they're having a meeting today, with Martin present.''
''Weather manipulation'' he was thinking it through. ''Affecting living conditions, food supplies and so on - could lead to population reduction.'' He seemed to be in two minds about that. ''Social destabilization. ''
And Savage himself?'' he prompted her.
''He trusts me'' she felt sure about saying that.
''Cultivate him'' he ordered. ''Become his lover if you must.''
''I'm working towards that'' she replied. ''He's helping me get over the 'loss' of Frazier.''
X
Two days later Lucy made her customary weekly trip by bus to the town. This time the package she was carrying, for her contact to 'steal' had one simple message -'COME AND GET ME PLEASE. AS ARRANGED.'