Chapter Six

They downed the food quickly and were done by the time they made it back to the apothecary. The Doctor flung open the front door and marched inside followed by his three companions. A couple of people sitting in the waiting room jumped and stared at him, but he took no notice of them as he walked past. He headed towards the exam rooms.

"Excuse me," Mar'zac said jumping in front of him.

"Out of my way," the Doctor snarled at her.

"You can't go in there without an appointment! Apothecary Ba'zon is busy and…"

"Then he'll just have to make time for me. Now move out of the way before I shove you out of the way!"

Mar'zac saw the menace in his eyes and stepped aside.

"Thank you."

He looked back at Rose, Martha and Mickey.

"Let's go gang," he said.

They walked towards the exam rooms while everyone stared at them in shock.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"There you go," Ba'zon said as he finished putting a patch on a woman's arm, "it'll stay on for a couple of hours and then you can take it---"

He gasped when his door banged open and the Doctor walked in.

"Ah, just the man I wanted to see," he said, glaring at him.

"I beg your pardon. I have a patient here," Ba'zon said angrily.

"Yes, and now she's finished. You can talk to me," the Doctor replied.

Ba'zon sighed.

"You can go," he said to the woman.

The woman hopped off the exam table. She stared at the four strangers while she hurried past them out the door.

"Close the door, Rose," the Doctor said when she was through.

Rose shut the door while the Doctor stepped forward and put his arms over his chest.

"What is the meaning of this?" Ba'zon demanded.

"I want some answers and I want them now!" the Doctor replied.

"Answers? What kind of answers?"

"I want to know why To'lan is dead!"

Ba'zon stared at him.

"Dead? What are you talking about?"

"We were over near the marketplace and while we were there, To'lan went on a rampage and nearly killed several people, including my friends, before falling to the ground and dying a violent death. I want to know why!"

"I…I don't know why," Ba'zon stuttered.

"Several people claimed that the Nok flu killed him, which seems to me a little far-fetched considering flu viruses don't work that fast."

His eyes narrowed.

"Plus, someone in the crowd said that the Nok flu has killed over a hundred people so far, not the three you claim. So, why is there such a huge discrepancy in the number of casualties? What's really going on? Why is it so necessary to vaccinate everyone?"

"I told you, we're taking precautions. The virus is deadly. We need to take care of the problem before it gets out of hand," Ba'zon replied.

"So, am I to assume there's been a huge cover up?"

"No."

"Then why does everyone think that a hundred people have died from the flu?"

"Uh…rumors, I guess. You know how people talk and spread gossip. I'm sure someone got the number of dead wrong and told someone else and they told someone and on and on until a lie became the truth."

"Or the truth became a lie."

"I assure you, a hundred people have not died," Ba'zon said.

"Then, why vaccinate everyone?"

Ba'zon sighed.

"Because I'm under orders to do so," he said.

"Who is ordering it?"

"That's none of your business."

He gasped when the Doctor grabbed him by his shirt and put his face close to his.

"I just watched a man go on a murderous rampage. A man I talked to a few hours ago who seemed perfectly normal. He then got one of those patches and suddenly he was an insane psychopath. I managed to calm him down, but he seemed dazed and confused and couldn't even remember that he was even here. Then, he went into violent convulsions and died a horrible death right at my feet. Seems to me that the patch was responsible for his behavior and death, so you better believe me when I say this is my business, Ba'zon. Now talk! What is in these patches?"

"Just medicine."

"What kind of medicine?"

"I don't know exactly."

"You don't know what is in these patches and yet you willingly stick them on people's arms?" the Doctor said angrily.

"I'm bound to do my duty without question. The government is the one who commands me to do it. I cannot question it or I lose my license to practice. I'm sorry; Doctor, but I really don't know what the vaccine is. I'm not a scientist. I only administer the patches. That is my job. I'm not sure what has happened to To'lan. It sounds to me like he had an allergic reaction to the vaccine and---"

"That was no allergic reaction. When you have an allergic reaction to something, it doesn't turn you into a mindless psychopath!"

"Then, I don't know what happened, Doctor! That's the first time I've ever heard of something like this happening, I swear. I'm not trying to hide the truth from you."

The Doctor eyes bored into him.

"I'm not completely convinced of your innocence, Ba'zon. I think you know more than you're letting on," he said.

"I'm sorry you think that way, Doctor. All I can say is you're mistaken. I've told you all I know. I can't help if you don't believe me. I'm sorry that To'lan is dead. I don't know what happened to him, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't the patch that did it. Every other person I've administered the vaccine to has been fine. Look at you and your students, Doctor. All of you are wearing the patches and as far as I can see, none of you has become psychopathic monsters. Most of the people in this city have had the vaccination. If what you're saying is true, then those people should be running around murdering one another. Are they? So, I don't buy that it's the patch that did it. It must be something else, which means I had nothing to do with it, so I really don't appreciate you barging into my office with your students accusing me of murdering people when you don't have any proof. I am busy, Doctor, I have people waiting out there to get the patch. People who have to go home or go to work. You are holding them up with these crazy accusations of yours. Now, if you don't have anything else to say, I want all of you to leave so I can do my job!"

The Doctor glared at him.

"Alright, I'll go," he said. "But don't think this lets you off the hook. I'll find out what's happened to To'lan and if I find out you are lying to me, then rest assured I will return."

"Whatever, Doctor, just go."

The Doctor stared at him for a moment and then turned to his companions.

"Come on, guys, let's go. The apothecary has work to do," he said to them.

Rose, Martha and Mickey glared at Ba'zon as the Doctor walked over to the door and opened it. Then, all of them turned and followed him out. Ba'zon waited until the door was closed before opening the door to his office. He closed it and walked over to the holoprojector. He turned it on and took a deep breath.

"I need to contact Minister Za'tok," he said aloud.