Chapter 3

The Ice Warrior ship travelled at warp speed.

The door to the quarters opened and SSroot entered, followed by the Doctor and Carolyn. A beat as he surveyed the room. Then, with thinly veiled sarcasm, "It may not be what you're usssed to on your ship."

The Doctor and Carolyn looked around the quarters to see a bleak, uncomfortable room, spartan in its furnishings; the beds were shelves recessed in the wall; it was dark, dingy, and gave the impression of a place that had been unused for years.

"Quite nice. Thank you." The Doctor knew that Ssroot was spoiling for a fight, and he saw nothing to gain by giving him one. His refusal to be drawn in became increasingly frustrating to Ssroot.

"Is this the Doctor's quarters, or mine?"

"Both."

They were surprised.

"We have limited ssspace. We're a military ship, not a pleasssure craft."

"Of course. This will be fine."

Ssroot, enjoying their discomfiture, strolled the room like a hotel bellboy, pointing out the features. He smacked his hand on one of the shelf-beds – no mattress there. "You'll sssleep Ice Warrior ssstyle, we don't sssoften our bodiesss by putting down a pad."

The Doctor smacked the shelf himself. "Good. I prefer it that way."

"You'll take your mealsss with usss, and we don't ssserve Human food."

"I haven't had swordfish in a while, been looking forward to it. Very fresh."

Ssroot gave him a glare, but before he could retort-

"Bridge to Captain."

"Ssspeak!"

"We are approaching the Neutral Zone."

"Prepare to engage the cloaking device. Well, Doctor, we're at the border of the Neutral Zone. You mean to do thisss, do you?"

"Yes. I do."

Ssroot regarded him for a long moment, then grunted and wheeled out of the room.

The Ice Warrior ship shimmered into its cloaked state.

Meanwhile, the TARDIS spun through the vortex on its way to Zanak – home of a Galactic Federation surplus depot operated by the Mentiads. Nita hoped to find out how the salvaged deflector array ended up in the hands of the Raxacoricofallapatorians.

Nita and Michelle were in the Control Room.

"I have made contact, Nita."

"On screen."

An alien civilian, appeared on the screen. He is of a race called the Mentiads, noted for their mysterious powers. This translated into someone who was officious, fastidious and pushy.

"I'm Anita Llewcots, companion of the Doctor, who is an ally of the Galactic Federation."

"Jarvis, quartermaster of Surplus Depot Zed-One-Five."

"We need some information about a Gallifreyan ship, a TARDIS. It was brought there a few years ago."

"Did you arrange an appointment?"

Nita looked a bit startled. "Appointment… no…"

"Then I will be unable to help you. You may communicate with scheduling."

And the transmission went back to starfield. Nita was nonplussed. She turned to Michelle. "Who does he think he is?"

"The quartermaster of the surplus yard, Nita. With information you need."

Nita eyed her a moment, got her point. "Right. Reestablish communication."

"Ok."

A second, and then Jarvis appeared on the screen once more, surprised at being interrupted again.

"Mister Jervis…"

"Jarvis."

"Mister Jarvis, the information I need involves a matter of major importance to the Galactic Federation."

"Un huh."

"I'll need access to your logs, your files… It won't take long. We can do the work."

"I don't allow outsiders into my computer system."

"Fine. One of your people, then."

"I wish I had the people to spare. I don't."

Nita was starting to get steamed. "Well, sir… what would you suggest?"

"I don't know. Contact me when you reach orbit."

And the starfield returned once more. Nita turned to Michelle, incredulous. "I don't believe him."

"He's king of his particular hill, Nita. You'll have to treat him that way."

"Michelle… a perfect job for you."

Nita was happy to relinquish this task to Michelle.

The TARDIS materialized on a vast surplus depot of old, abandoned, and decommissioned vessels… stretching as far as the eye could see… a graveyard of once proud ships from throughout the Galactic Federation.

In the Control Room, Nita and Michelle were standing at an aft science station as the doors opened and Jarvis entered. Jarvis scrutinized the entire control room.

Nita was trying her hardest to be gracious. "Thank you for coming on board, Mister Jarvis."

Jarvis was still rubber-necking. "Quite a ship you have."

"We've tied into your computers. If you could access the files…"

"I don't usually see them in such good condition. By the time they get to me, they're always falling apart."

Nita appealed to Michelle with her eyes, and Michelle moved toward Jarvis. "Mister Jarvis, we must find this ship – and you're the only one who can help us."

He turned, looked at her, and was caught in spite of himself by her gently stroking demeanor. "Who're you?"

"Michelle Forbes, companion of the Doctor."

He nodded, without looking at Nita, talking about her… "She probably figures we don't get to see a lot of handsome women out this way – and someone like you might get a little more cooperation from me."

Michelle and Nita exchanged a glance.

"She's probably right." He moved to a console. "What kind of ship was it? A TARDIS?" He keyed instructions. "A TARDIS… Gallifreyan registry…" He gestered, "There. Logged in on April 13, 2334."

"Where is the ship now?"

Jarvis was still resistant; he didn't give up information easily. "Docked. Section eighteen-gamma-twelve. Do you want me to take you there?"

"I'd appreciate that."

"Lay in a heading one-four-one by two-zero-eight. Ahead slow, two hundred kph."

Nita nodded.

Jarvis turned to Michelle. "I suppose this is your first time in a junkyard, isn't it? You'd be surprised at some of the things I find on board these ships."

Michelle listened in rapt attention.

The TARDIS made its way through the graveyard of ships.

Michelle stood near Jarvis, trying to keep a glazed expression off her face as Jarvis warmed to his favourite subject. "I once found a fourteen foot Caldorian eel on board a freighter… in someone's locker…"

"Are you serious?"

"If you have time, I'll show it to you… I still have it… nursed her back to health."

"We are approaching the designated coordinates." Nita turned on the screen.

A starfield – empty space. The group reacted with puzzlement; Jarvis was caught completely off guard. He took a step toward the screen, nonplussed. "Where is it? What happened to it?" He glanced at Nita who had no answers… he turned back, tapped keys. "These are the correct coordinates."

"The TARDIS is missing?"

"The TARDIS… is missing."

"How could a ship disappear from your depot?"

Jarvis seemed to be chastened. This was embarrassing for him. He turned back to his console, bristling with intent. "I'm not accustomed to losing things, Ms Llewcots. I'll find your ship for you." He furiously worked the keys. "I have the TARDIS cross-referenced in four different directories."

"When it was brought here… was it stripped of material – sensors…?"

"Of course."

"Can you tell us what happened to its navigational deflector?"

Jarvis looked at the monitor. "It was routed to the Tripoli, a holding vessel on the outer rim of the shipyard."

"It's not there anymore. What's left of that deflector is laid out of the floor of our cargo bay."

Jarvis was stricken. His system, his efficiency, everything he stood for was under assault. "How can that be?"

"Maybe we ought to pay a visit to the Tripoli."

The TARDIS changed course in the graveyard of ships.

Jarvis was bending Michelle's ear again. "In all the time the Mentiads have operated this depot, nothing's ever been lost. Never. I'll tell you this… somebody will pay. I'll conduct an investigation. Whoever is responsible."

"Approaching the coordinates of the Tripoli."

Nita exchanged a look with Jarvis, who now looked visibly nervous.

"On screen."

Again, the starfield. Empty space.

Jarvis was devastated. "I do not understand this. This is not possible." He turned to the others, as though to prove that the missing ship was in fact where it should be. "We transmat goods to the Tripoli on a regular schedule. There was a shipment yesterday, and another is set for today. It must be there."

"When is today"s transport?"

"Just over two hours from now. A shipment of deuterium storage tanks."

"Michelle, align the TARDIS so we'll appear to be one of the abandoned ships. When we're in position, shut down engines and all systems except sensors and life support."

"Ok."

"I'm guessing somebody's going to be here to receive those storage tanks – and I'd be very interested to see who it is."