Sorry I haven't updated for ages.

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who. This story is based on the Doctor Who characters and universe.

Science Assassin: Chapter nineteen

Mr Anderson scratched his head thoughtfully as Wanda concluded her tale.

"Well, you seem to have quite a fine story there. I trust that it's true?"

"Every word of it." Wanda needed Mr Anderson's help. She had worked for him for years and trusted him. She would ask him to watch the motroid while she went to find the science committee.

"Well then, where is this, er, Doctor?"

"I'm pretty sure he's on his way back here. He picked up Donna from the nursing home."

"I see. Well, he seems to be able to manage that future Donna thing. Now about the motroids. How can you be sure they're in the wrong?"

"Well, that motroid over there pushed Mr Long into the path of a moving car. That should be proof enough."

"Hmmm, well, things are looking bad for the motroids at the moment. What did you want me to do?"

"Can you give that motroid lots of jobs until I come back?" Wanda pointed to the motroid. "He's the one who pushed Mr Long onto the road. He should be in jail but I don't want to rouse the alarm among the motroids. Just get him to do things like paperwork. And if he tells you a story about some hardware store and stock, don't believe him. It's a lie to get away."

"OK then." Mr Anderson walked over to the filing cabinet. He pulled open a drawer and yanked out armfuls of paper which he scattered over the desk. "If I ask him to put all this away, it will give you some time. Filing is so tedious. And if he finishes before you get back, I'll get him to wash my car. It's a bit on the muddy side."

"Thank you Mr Anderson!" Wanda sighed in relief, grabbed her handbag and headed out the door. The motroid saw her leaving and put down his polishing cloth.

"Are you going? Can I stop now?"

"NO!" Wanda kicked over his bucket of soapy water. "Finish those windows, and then Mr Anderson has some filing to do. Hurry up!"

Leaving the sulky motroid behind, she ran to her car. Where would the science committee be? At the hospital? Wanda glanced at the digital clock in her car. No. It was now late afternoon, after 2 o'clock. The science committee would probably be finishing lunch.

Wanda racked her brains to remember all the city restaurants. She had handed out coupons and vouchers on the first day. Had any been for restaurants? Suddenly she remembered. She had given out coupons for Mario's Italian restaurant, in the city. That was the most likely place.

Putting her car into gear, Wanda drove towards the city, heading straight for Mario's Italian restaurant.

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Arthur Dales rubbed soot from his face and pushed away a fallen chair. Slowly, he sat up. No bones had been broken. He looked around. The restaurant was a mess. Pasta was strewn all over the floor, tables were overturned and chairs were broken. There were ambulance officers wheeling someone out and police inspecting the damage. Mario, the restaurant owner, was wringing his hands, his face worried and his trimmed black moustache curved down. There was no one else around.

Arthur stood up. What had happened? He had been unconscious for a while. He remembered the hew explosion, when he had been thrown back. What had happened to the rest of the science committee?

Mr Prumble came up, his arm in a sling.

"Prumble, what happened to everyone?"

"Well, most diners were taken to hospital. Thankfully, no one was killed. Hew has a burnt face, Colle minor concussion, and Mckenzie a broken arm. I just sprained my wrist. Luckily, Hew explodes with a large amount of force, but no flames or sparks. The last ambulance just left."

A police officer came up. Arthur noticed he was motroid.

"Can you give me any information regarding the explosion? I understand it was caused by a match hitting a piece of hew." The policeman spoke in a monotonous voice, droning out the words, as if he were bored.

"Yes. I think it was caused by a motroid body guard," explained Arthur. "He was examining the hew, and then left. Moments later, the match was thrown. I tried to flick it away, but I was too late."

"The police have the body guard in custody. Anything else?"

"No. Has he confessed?"

"That is confidential material. I am not permitted to release it to the public." The policeman abruptly turned and walked away."

Suddenly, the doors were flung open and Wanda burst in. "What happened? I saw smoke coming out of the roof! And ambulances! Have the motroids attacked again?"

Prumble related the incidents to her. Wanda was furious.

"You scientists are so stupid! Motroid body guards? After being warned?"

"We weren't warned," replied Prumble coolly.

"Yes you were. The Doctor suspected the motroids, but you didn't listen to him." Wanda was feeling very annoyed.

"The Doctor was mad. Anyway, he's in jail now."

"Well, I have proof that the motroids are guilty. I found the one who pushed Long into the road. He's at the hotel now."

"Really? So, the motroids are guilty?" Prumble was surprised, and unbelieving. Wanda quickly relayed her information, hoping that she would finally get the scientist to believe her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The Doctor was still chained to the pole in the secret room. He was worried about Donna. He hoped she would be smart enough to evade the motroids. As for him, he needed to escape. Confident that the Doctor couldn't get away, the major had ordered the two guards to go off on separate errands before marching off somewhere, leaving the Doctor alone.

The Doctor looked around the small, bare room. There was nothing in it except the pole and the power switch. There was a lump in his suit pocket. He managed to pry out his alien detector, which was still on. Numerous red lights were beeping. Careful not to drop it, the Doctor twisted his hand, trying to reach the buttons. Finally, he succeeded in turning a tiny knob. As a red light switched on and shone in a thin, pin-prick straight line towards the chain links, the Doctor smiled.

"Laser. Always comes in handy."

More to come....

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