Chapter 2
The TARDIS rematerialized above the planet, near the Terraberserker ship. A shuttlecraft approached the planet.
Carolyn had hired the shuttlecraft from the nearest spacestation to find the Doctor, gambling that the Terraberserkers would back down rather than risk an exchange of phaser fire. But Nita felt like they were playing a deadly game – the Doctor's life was the prize, and they still didn't know the rules.
Carolyn read her instruments. The positron density was point zero one three. Electron concentration was seven point nine-five.
In the TARDIS Control Room, Nita heard Carolyn's com voice, heavily fritzed. "I am two hundred and fifty kilometres from the planet's surface."
Nita saw that the shuttle had reached the E region of the planet's ionosphere. How long could she maintain communications? The scattering layer induced by the Terraberserkers was concentrated in the upper D region. The shuttle would enter that area in approximately two minutes. She looked at the viewscreen, showing the Terraberserker vessel, hanging silently in front of her. The Terraberserker ship was unchanged. They appeared to be making no attempt to stop Carolyn. Nita considered this for a moment as she stared at the viewscreen. Maybe they had called their bluff.
In the shuttle, Carolyn worked the controls. She heard Nita's com voice, extremely fritzed. "What's your status, Carolyn?
"Navigational, life-support, propulsion normal. Onboard systems do not appear to be disrupted by the field. But I can barely hear you, Nita."
"Ok. Maintain contact as long as conditions permit." Nita looked at her instruments. "Carolyn! I am reading a power surge in the Terraberserker plasma reactor."
In the shuttle, Nita's voice was barely understandable. "…Evasive maneuvers!..."
A single, tiny, phaser beam burst fired from the Terraberserker ship, away from both vessels, down toward the planet and hit the shuttle. The blast rocked the shuttle. Carolyn nearly fell from her seat.
Nita read her instruments as saw that the shuttle had been hit. The starboard nacelle had been rendered inoperable. She was surprised there was not more damage.
Carolyn had recovered from the blast. She heard Nita's com voice. "Report."
"Starboard thrusters destroyed. Nita, I may be able to land. I will not be able to take off."
"Ok, Carolyn. You'd better return to the TARDIS."
Carolyn plotted a course. "Very well."
It had been enough to make Carolyn turn back, but not enough to hurt her. The phaser pulse appeared to have been carefully attenuated for just that effect. Nita looked up at the Terraberserker ship on the viewscreen. "Nice shooting."
Nita and Carolyn sat in the TARDIS lounge. Carolyn was indicating a graphic display of the planet's upper atmosphere – a glowing umbrella effect indicated the spread of the Terraberserker scattering field. Graphic representations of the TARDIS and the Terraberserker ship were in orbit above it. "I'm pretty sure I can punch up the annular confinement beam – enough to materialize around the Doctor. But it's going to take a full day at least."
"The Doctor could be dead by then."
"I do not believe so."
Nita turned to her in surprise.
"I have confidence in his ability as a warrior. He will be victorious."
"You're still assuming this is some sort of a challenge ritual. We can't be certain of that. We're making educated guesses about their motivations – no more than that."
"Then why do we wait? If we attack the ship directly, they will be unable to maintain the scattering field."
"Which could start a shooting match, and for all we know, a war. And we still might not be able to save the Doctor."
"It will end this stalemate."
"There's too much at risk. I'll take that course when it's the only one left." There was a silent beat as Nita looked at Carolyn, the frustration obvious in her voice. "Who the hell are these people? There's got to be some way to get through to them."
"As I have said, with further study it may be possible to – "
"-Then do it. I want something by nine tomorrow morning."
The meeting was over. Nita got up and left, Carolyn followed her out. Carolyn had a daunting task in front of her.
The Doctor was curled up asleep by the now burned-out campfire. He took a ragged breath, his eyes opened. The Doctor sat up, took in his surroundings, and glanced across the clearing. The Terraberserker's campsite was empty – he was nowhere to be seen. The Doctor stood, dusting himself off, still looking across the clearing. "Where have you gone to, my friend?" The Doctor stared for another beat, glanced around, didn't see anybody, and made a decision. He strode away from his campsite, crossed the clearing, looking around at each step for the alien. The Doctor arrived at the campsite, pausing at the rocks that had bee piled around it. Still no sign of the Terraberserker. The Doctor looked at the campsite – several personal objects appeared to have been left. He couldn't resist. "Forgive the instrusion, Captain. But I need some answers." The Doctor stepped over the rock perimeter. He moved to the burned out campire and crouched down. Two of the small pieces the Terraberserker worked the ritual with the previous night. The Doctor's hand reached down and picked one of them up. The Doctor turned it over in his hand, studying it. The object was metallic and crystalline, dull like lead rather than shining, but had a beauty nonetheless. He put it down. Something caught his eye a metre away… a book belonging to the alien captain – the same type of lettering on the Terraberserker ship adorned its cover.
Carolyn was in her quarters, at a table, facing a computer monitor. The monitor was running a recording of the first encounter with the Terraberserkers, as seen on the control room viewscreen.
"Doman at Tanagra."
"Shaka! Mirab. His sails unfurled."
"Doman."
"Freeze." The computer freeze-framed the scene. "'Doman'. It seems to be a point of contention between them. Perhaps something the Terraberserker captain proposed but his First Officer didn't like?" Carolyn asked herself. "The apparent emotional dynamic does seem to support that assumption. As with the other terms used by the Terraberserker, it appears to be a proper noun. The name clearly carries a meaning for them. Computer, search for the term 'Doman' in all linguistic databases compiled for this sector."
"Searching… Doman International was a non-profit organization on Earth in the 21st century, dedicated to teaching and empowering parents in the development of their child with special needs… The Doman Method is a system of home-based treatments… Doman Learning provides you with all the materials and support you need to teach your child how to read and do math… John Doman (born January 9, 1945) was an American actor best known for playing Police Superintendent, Deputy Police Commissioner and Major… Doman Family History – Ancestry, Americanized form of the German Domann a surname partly of Sorbian origin, English: occupational name for a judge from Old English dom + mann…"
Carolyn bounced excitedly – a breakthrough? Then…
"The Doman Enclave, upon the eastern banks of Othard lies Doma, the lands from which the ninja and samurai hail… Arad Doman – the more women there are about, the softer a wise man steps. Domani saying Arad Doman is a country that lies to the far west of the Westlands…"
Carolyn's face fell.
"Psychologist Fitzroy Tim Doman Psychology Therapy, counselling and mental health support located on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy… A –"
"-Stop search. Computer, how many entries for 'Doman'?"
"Forty-seven."
A beat. Carolyn stared at the computer for a moment, shook her head. "All our technology and experience: the TARDIS translation circuits, our years in space – contacts with more alien cultures than I can remember… and we still can't even say 'hello' to these people. A single word can lead to tragedy. A word misspoken, misunderstoon. That could happen here. If I fail… Replay at time index one-four-four."
The video monitor started the replay at the same place as earlier.
"Damon at Tanagra."
"Freeze."
The image froze.
"Computer, search for the term 'Tanagra'. All databases.
"Searching… Tanagra is a town and municipality north of Athens in Boeotia, Greece… The Tanagra figurines were a mold-cast type of Greek terracotta figurines produced from the later fourth century BC…"
"-Stop."
"Earth? Computer, cross-reference the last entry with the previous search index."
"Doman Family History – Ancestry, Americanized form of the German Domann a surname partly of Sorbian origin."
"I think I've got something."
The Doctor was still standing alone in the alien's campsite. In his hands was the book, and he is pouring through it with great interest. It was a thin notebook of high-tech material. On its pages was a jumble of Terraberserker writing, reminiscent of the lettering on the Terraberserker ship. The Doctor's fingers carefully, respectfully turned the pages. The last entry ended in the middle of the page.
"A captain's log…?"
"Doman!"
It was so loud and near, the Doctor dropped the book, startled – looking towards the source of the shout. The Terraberserker flew over the perimeter of the campsite, daggers in both hands. He violently extended one hand to the Doctor.
"Doman and Jalad at Tangra!"
"I was curious. I meant no harm."
"Shaka!" He practically shoved the weapon in the Doctor's hand. "Temba! His arms wide! Temba-"
The Doctor took a step backwards – angered by the insistence. "-Enough! I'm not going to fight you. You'll just have to-"
A tremendous animal roar sounded. The Doctor whipped around at the noise. The Terraberserker was not surprised – this was what he'd been agitated about. "Doman and Jalad at Tanagra."
Another terrifying roar – closer.