Chapter 3

In the small and dark Ice Warrior quarters, sitting on the single bed, Carolyn was working on a computer. The door opened and the Doctor and Romanadvoratrelundar entered. Romanadvoratrelundar immediately reacted.

"Have you had any success, Carolyn?"

"No, Doctor. The Dalek Pathweb employs a progressive encryption lock. I've been unable to penetrate their security measures."

"May I assist you, Carolyn? I've had some experience in these matters."

"By all means, Ambassador."

Romanadvoratrelundar sat in a chair next to Carolyn, and began to work on the panels of the computer. "The Daleks have incorporated a forty-three part cipher key into their entry sequence."

"Yes, the twenty-ninth is the only one I can't bypass."

Romanadvoratrelundar continued on the panels. The Doctor realized he was useless in this situation and there was something he'd been wanting to do. "I think I'll take this opportunity to remove my casing."

He left.

"He intrigues me, this incarnation of the Doctor."

"In what manner?"

"He is remarkably serious and contemplative compared to the incarnation that I travelled with. I understand why my father would choose to link telepathically with him. He's more like a Time Lord than he used to be."

"Interesting. I didn't know that. And the Doctor has been a role model in my quest to be more Human."

"To be more Human?"

"Yes, Ambassador."

Romanadvoratrelundar raised an eyebrow. "Fascinating. You have an efficient intellect, superior physical skills and fewer emotional impediments. There are Time Lords who aspire all their lives to achieve what you were born with."

Carolyn considered this a moment and then, "You are half human."

"Yes."

"And yet you have chosen a Time Lord way of life."

"I have."

"In effect, you have abandoned what I have sought since I met the Doctor and Nita."

Carolyn's innocent remark struck close to home for Romanadvoratrelundar; what she saw on the monitor allowed her to avoid a response for a moment at least. "I believe I have isolated the twenty-ninth cipher access code. I'll attempt to access the files." She pressed a few panels and stopped. The computer beeped.

"Ambassador, may I ask a personal question?"

"Please."

"As you examine your life, do you find you have missed your humanity?"

The computer beeped. Romanadvoratrelundar paused, before she began to work the panels. "I have no regrets."

"'No regrets.' That is a Human expression."

"Fascinating." She began again to work the panels.

In the Zanak piano bar, Harriet was again at the piano, Michelle sitting at the piano bar beside her. Again, the room was lightly populated.

"Do you know any Blowfish opera?"

"I don't get a lot of requests for it."

"Surely, you must know at least one theme from "Aktuh and Maylota."

"I may be a little rusty." She began to play, a pleased expression grew on Michelle's face, and after a beat, she could not restrain herself, she began to hum, and finally broke into full voice.

"Maylota, Maaaylota."

"What is that dreadful noise? It sounds like a Bane pronghorn moose!"

Michelle reacted, and turned to see her offender – the fattest Raxacoricofallapatorian she'd ever seen, on his arms, two gorgeous women in skintight dresses. "You know what I want to hear." He sat in a booth.

Michelle exchanged a glance with Harriet who acknowledged, this was the guy, she began to play a rhapsody, she hit a button on her mobile phone. Nita answered.

"A fat Raxacoricofallapatorian has just entered the establishment."

"Is that 'Melor Fumgal' I hear?"

"It is."

"I'm on my way."

Later…

A colourful array of food was spread across the table in front of him, drinks and champagne, as he banged on the table top with his shoe, mouth full of food, "Where is the waiter? Is there no waiter in this sorry place?"

Nita approached the table, Michelle behind her, "Is there a problem?"

"Yes. I need more napkins."

"Use your sleeve."

"What did you say?"

Nita nodded to one of the girls, "Or use her sleeve, I don't care."

The Raxacoricofallapatorian's eyes narrowed, "Who are you?"

"Anita Llewcots, friend of the Doctor."

"Am I supposed to stand up and salute?" He laughed at the women. They laughed.

"We're investigating the disappearance of a Gallifreyan Time Ship."

"You've got the wrong Raxacoricofallapatorian. I never trade in Gallifreyan Time Ships."

"We know you were involved."

"Who would want a Gallifreyan Time Ship, Time Lords are pacifists, I deal in warships, can somebody get me a napkin?"

Nobody did.

"Who would want a Gallifreyan Time Ship?"

"Hypothetically speaking?"

"Hypothetically speaking."

"I never learned to speak hypothetical." He laughed. The women laughed. Nita took a beat, then casually lifted up the table and all the food and drinks slid down, falling over the Raxacoricofallapatorian, the women shrieked, the music stopped, the Raxacoricofallapatorian rose in a rage, "Are you crazy?"

Nita grabbed the Raxacoricofallapatorian by the lapels and rose him off his feet to eye level (he was very short). "Let me explain what's going to happen if you don't tell me about that Time Ship. Your passage rights through this sector will be revoked. But more than that, I'll be very unhappy."

The Raxacoricofallapatorian looked at her with loathing and fear, "I delivered it to a Bane freighter."

"At what coordinates?"

"I don't remember."

Nita tightened her grip.

"Ow, watch it, you're stretching my neck."

"Coordinates?"

"At Necros. Near the Neutral Zone. That's all I know. I swear it."

Nita threw him back into his seat, nodded to the women, "Enjoy your dinner." She smiled at Harriet and as she started to leave, she picked up a napkin off a near-by table. The Raxacoricofallapatorian, his hands and clothes covered with stains, and the napkin was thrown on his lap.