Post by Fitz Kreiner on Oct 8, 2008 12:18:52 GMT
“Murdered?” Olbrich almost choked on his coffee.
“I’m afraid so, Sir.” Neruda replied, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. “And as the strangers pointed out, it would have been impossible for them to have done it as they were with Bradman and Dufayel at the time.”
Olbrich leant back in his chair, thoughtfully stroking his chin. “There are two others on the planet somewhere. We know that. It must have been them.”
“They said that their companions wouldn’t have had time to get there ahead of them.” Neruda said, wincing as she said it but continuing. “The young man said that Mendez must have known his attacker not to have defended himself.”
“Corporal Neruda. You’ve been in Earth Forces long enough to not trust unknown civilians.” Olbrich admonished, leaning forwards, his face stern. “You are to keep those two strangers under close observation until a security team arrives. I am sending down an investigation team immediately. No one is to come up from the planet’s surface. While I really want the murderer to be one of these strangers, I hate to say that it sounds as though the young man is correct. I trust you have made Mendez decent?”
“I’ve covered him, but nothing else.” Neruda replied, feeling relived that her commander could see that she was not being impertinent in going with the young man’s statements. “There were only the two wounds on him, no obvious defensive wounds. Whoever it was, he either knew them, or they took him by surprise, sir. He was a trained marine.”
“I am aware of his background, thank you.” Olbrich said. “I will be sending down Doctor Le Druier to confirm cause of death and perform necessary medical duties.”
“I understand, Sir” Neruda said. “I’ll make sure that no one leaves the landing craft and call in all parties.”
“Thank you, corporal.” Olbrich said leaning forwards and switching off his comm. link before leaning back in his chair and putting his hands to his face. He breathed out an exasperated sigh as he slowly pulled his hands down his face. A death on the planet’s surface; that was the last thing he needed. As much as he loathed to admit it, the strangers were most probably right that Mendez knew his killer if he hadn’t tried to defend himself.
The strangers. That was another thing that bothered him. Where had they come from? They had been in orbit of Amaranth for 36 days now, the landing party leaving the ship after the first day. When they arrived they had detected no other ships in the area and in the past five weeks they had detected no other ship. The only way they could have arrived is if their ship had somehow eluded their scanners.
Leaning forward he activated the ship-wide communications. “Now hear this,” he started; “Due to incidents on the surface of Amaranth, all student and scientific teams currently aboard are confined to the ship and all teams on the surface are to remain there until further notice. Security teams B and C are to meet me in the transport hangar in thirty minutes.”
Olbrich was getting to his feet when a bleeping from the comm. panel distracted him back into his chair. Flicking the activation switch, the angry face of Professor Mori appeared on the screen.
“Commander Olbrich.” He snapped. “Would you kindly explain to me why my transport pod controls have been disabled and I am stuck on the planet’s surface with all my specimens? Do you not realise that we are conducting a scientific study here?”
“Apologies Professor.” Olbrich apologised. “But due to an incident on the planet’s surface, with Doctor Sauer’s team in fact, all civilian travel between the planet and the ship has been discontinued at my express order.”
“And what such incident could necessitate this action?” Mori angrily snapped.
“An attack, herr Professor.” Olbrich simply replied.
“Attack?” Mori replied before falling into a stunned silence. “An attack.” He repeated quietly before his eyes widened in horror. “Doctor Sauer’s party? Who was involved?”
“I am not at liberty to say.” Olbrich replied. “Meanwhile, I require that you are to remain on the planet’s surface until further notice. I apologise for any inconvenience this will cause you.” With that, Olbrich reached forwards and turned off the communications link. Swiftly getting to his feet, he grabbed his uniform jacket and made for the door, ignoring the comm. panel as it started bleeping again.
Professor Ita Mori slammed his fist down on the desk as his requests to re-establish the comm. link with Olbrich were ignored. Furious, he stormed out of the landing craft cockpit and dashing through the laboratory and living sections, arrived at the transport pod and snatched up the case containing his specimens. Marching back through to the laboratory, he slammed the case down on a desk and snapping it open, proceeded to remove its contents into a storage freezer.
“What’s going on, Professor? I thought you were meant to be on the mother ship by now.”
Mori spun round. Anton Chadov, another member of the student team, was stood in the doorway from the lab to the planet’s surface.
“Yes, I should be, but that military buffoon, Olbrich, has cut off all travel to and from the ship until he decides otherwise.” Mori snapped as a reply, slamming closed the freezers lid.
“That’s not right. How can he do that?” Anton asked, slumping his back pack on to a clear desk
Mori sighed as he clicked down the lid of the case and turned to face Anton. “Apparently there has been an attack in Doctor Sauer’s team. He said we are not to leave the planet’s surface until further notice.”
“An attack?” Anton stopped still in his pouring himself a drink, not noticing the water overflowing his cup as he turned to look at Mori. “Who did what?”
“He didn’t say. But I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later.” Mori replied turning and walking towards the sleeping berths, pausing and looking over his shoulder from the door. “Oh, and clear that spill up, will you?”
“Y’know it’s a bloody good job for us that you’ve been boning up on your ‘Taggart’!” Jess shouted through from the sleeping berth, where she was changing out of her ripped skirt and tights and into a pair of trousers that had been supplied.
“Eh?” Toms rather confused reply came through from the small living section.
“Y’know: ‘There’s bin a mah-dah!’” She said, trying to emulate the Scottish accent. “Police dramas and cop shows!” She added after several long seconds of silence. “What you said to that Marine about the victim knowing their killer who’d want to kill them all.”
“Oh that.” Tom’s voice came through. “That was just elementary.”
“What’s that Sherlock?”
“Just simple things which are obvious if you look objectively.”
“Ah.” Jess replied as she looked down at herself. She couldn’t see a mirror in the sleeping area to check her appearance. She took another look at herself and the grey trousers that emerged from underneath her corset. With a sigh, she removed the corset and rolled it up. “Well, whaddya think?” She asked walking through to the living area.
“Yeah, fine.” Tom replied. He had sprawled himself over an uncomfortable looking padded bench that ran around two sides of the room, one arm resting on a table that seemed to dominate the small space. His attention seemed to be concentrated on a long thorn he was delicately holding in his fingers.
“Don’t sound too excited.” Jess replied, sticking her tongue out. He was still wearing his ripped shirt. The mushroom coloured replacement shirt was still folded on the table near his feet.
“You think the Doctor’ll say ‘I told you so’ about the clothes?” He asked, looking at her and winking.
“You recon he’s the type?” Jess replied sliding onto the bench next to Tom and leaning on her arms, folded on the table. “What is that?”
“Dunno.” Tom replied. “Found it stuck in a tree trunk out there. Now, I’m no botanist, but if this is a thorn from a plant, it has some bizarrely biological properties. For a start, it had a congealed substance on the end of it that could have been a kind of blood, yet squeeze it,” to demonstrate, he gently squeezed the thorn and a droplet of milky liquid oozed from the spike. “And that’s a different liquid altogether. I’m guessing the Doctor’ll be interested.”
“Ooh, get you, eagle eyes.” Jess teased. “So how long until you’re doing my laundry then?”
“Ooh, at least another hour.” Tom replied, gently placing the thorn down in the centre of the table and laying flat out, resting his arms under his head. “Don’t worry; I’ve faith in the old feller.”
Smiling, Jess leaned back on the bench, shuffling until she was vaguely comfortable. Looking down at Tom, she wondered how he seemed so relaxed and comfortable. The bench was really less comfortable than it looked. Eventually finding a spot that resembled acceptable, she settled down. She could hear the muffled voices of Drew Bradman and Lucien Dufayel in the laboratory section of the landing craft. She didn’t know where Neruda was; outside or compiling an arrest report on her and Tom.
Closing her eyes, Jess listened to the soft burble of voices and the rhythmic sound of her breathing, not sure really what to do. She opened her eyes when she heard the voices coming from the lab get louder and more excited. Turning to look at the door, Tom rose from where he was laying and turned to look at her.
“And he’s here!” He said, smiling.
Doctor Sauer watched as the Doctor dashed from the clearing to a sheet covered form, laid prone on the ground beside the landing craft. Gently, the Time Lord reached out and pulled the sheet back, before swiftly covering the body and turning to look at Sauer, Rossini and Tifa.
“Oh dear.” He said sadly, looking at Sauer who quickly joined him. “A young man, military uniform.” He said softly.
“Mendez.” Sauer said, reaching to the sheet and looking at the body. “The pilot. Who could have done this?”
“I don’t think we’re the ones you want to be asking.” The Doctor replied, getting to his feet and brushing some mud off his trousers as Rossini and Tifa approached.
“What about the others of your party?” Rossini asked, looking from Tifa to the Doctor.
“They couldn’t. They wouldn’t.” Tifa protested, angrily turning on Rossini. “If they did, then he must have attacked them first.”
“Easy easy easy easy.” The Doctor cooed, soothingly putting his hands on Tifa’s shoulders. “No, this man was killed by someone he knew, there are no defensive wounds and the look on his face is clearly one of shock. He’s a soldier; he should have been able to defend himself against an attacker.”
“That’s exactly what the young man said.”
The small group turned to the landing craft. Colonel Neruda was stood at the door to the cockpit, her arms folded, observing the group.
“So these must be the others of the lost expedition.”
“Lost expedition?” Sauer asked.
“The other two members are inside.” Neruda replied. “Apparently Dufayel and Bradman found them being attacked by a one of the larger birds in the jungle.”
“Are they alright?” The Doctor asked stepping forwards and towards Neruda. “Hello, I’m the Doctor, I’m sure I can help you here.”
“Doctor, eh?” Neruda asked, ignoring his offered hand. “Well, Doctor, we’ve got teams coming down from the mother ship to conduct a full investigation, we don’t need your help.”
Quietly, the Doctor stepped back to Tifa’s side, his face fallen. “A load of military trampling all over the area; exactly what they don’t want.” He whispered.
“What have you done with the others of their party?” Sauer asked looking to the Doctor, who was stood looking sulky, and Tifa.
“They’re in the living quarters until a party from the ship arrive to take them into custody.” Neruda paused and looked at the Doctor. “All four of them.”
“Oh, you can’t pin this on us.” The Doctor protested stepping forward.
“We didn’t do it!” Tifa cried. “We’ve only just got here. We arrived with them, tell her.” He pleaded to Sauer.
“Think about it.” The Doctor said, putting his hands out, emploring Neruda. “You’ve got a brain, use it. Look at it rationally. How could we have done this, we all arrived with members of the scientific teams. Think about it, rationally.”
“That’s far enough.” Neruda said, pulling her gun from its holster and aiming it at the Doctors head.
“Corporal, please!” Sauer shouted, standing between the Doctor and Neruda’s gun. “Even I can tell that Mendez was killed by someone he knew, someone he allowed to get close because he didn’t see them as a threat.” Sauer swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on Neruda’s gun. “The Commander will be asking these questions. Also he will be asking why you weren’t on hand to stop his murder.”
Her face turning into a scowl, Neruda lowered her gun and holstered it. Taking a step down from the landing craft she came and stood very close to Sauer. “Don’t you ever question me like that again.” She whispered before turning and disappearing into the cockpit.
“Thank you.” The Doctor began, as Sauer turned round and raised his hand.
“I don’t know who you are or where you come from, but I do know you couldn’t have done that.” He replied. “Commander Olbrich will want to question you no doubt. I don’t think you’ll be leaving so quickly after an hour. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, not at all, Doctor Sauer. Not at all.” The Doctor replied smiling. “I’m sure the Commander is a reasonable fellow and I can help him sort this little mess out. The Corporal was just talking out of hurt. Shall we?” He gestured towards the door leading to the laboratory section of the landing craft.
Nodding, Sauer lead the way into the lab, followed by the Doctor and Tifa, Rossini bringing up the rear. Drew Bradman and Lucien Dufayel were inside sat at one of the benches engaged in a deep discussion over something they were studying. So engaged they didn’t notice the arrival of Sauer and the others.
“Good afternoon gentlemen.” Sauer said loudly causing the two students to look up. “I understand that you found two strangers whilst you were out.”
“Yeah that’s right.” Bradman started, trailing off as his eyes fell onto the Doctor and Tifa. “You found the others. No, don’t tell me, the Doctor.” He said looking at the Time Lord.
“You’ve spoken to Jess and Tom then.” The Doctor smiled. “Where are they?”
“What are you a Doctor of?” Dufayel asked, eyeing the Doctor suspiciously.
“Practically everything.” The Doctor replied, grinning and standing up tall. “Botany, xenobiology, anthropology, chronology, you name it.”
“Haha! Yes! I told you!” The excited voice was muffled through the walls of the landing craft, but the Doctor recognised it instantly as Toms. A further voice, too muffled to be made out was clearly Jess’s.
“Ah, through there!” He smiled, pointing to the door leading to the living area.
In a quick stride the Doctor covered the floor and reached the door. Flinging it open he disappeared inside. Looking after him then to the assembled members of the expedition, Tifa managed an embarrassed and watery smile before heading off after the Doctor.
“What a weirdo!” Drew said quietly after they’d gone.
“I don’t think so.” Doctor Sauer said as he pulled out a stool and sat down, looking at the specimens that Drew and Dufayel had collected. “I was talking to him on the way back and he seems to know a lot more about zoology and xenobiology than myself. If he is with another expedition, I’m sure we could get them to join us, they’d be invaluable.”
“But what about the murder?” Dufayel asked.
“They can’t have done it.” Rossini said, joining the three men. “We found those two a good mile or so from here, and if you were with the others when it happened, they’ve cast iron alibis.” As she finished, her eyes widened as the three men all raised their heads at the same time. As one the four turned to look to the cockpit. “You don’t think?” Rossini whispered looking back to her colleagues.
“She’s putting on a very good act if she did.” Drew whispered.
“Now now.” Sauer admonished. “Let’s not let our imaginations run away from us. I imagine we’ll be getting a military investigation team, so we’ll just have to wait and see what they say.”
“It was only a matter of time, really.” Tom said as the Doctor slid onto the seat next to him. “I guess you’ve seen the body outside as well. Let me guess, the Corporal made a suggestion that it was one of us.”
“Hmm.” The Doctor muttered, he attention distracted by the thorn lying in the centre of the table. Reaching out, he picked it up and examined it closely, squinting at it.
“She said something about taking us into custody.” Tifa said, walking round the table to sit next to Jess.
“Typical military mind.” The Doctor muttered. “Shoot first, ask questions later. Never look for the logical, just the first conclusion, whether it’s right or not.”
“So you think that he was killed by someone he knew as well?” Jess asked.
“I’m positive of it.” The Doctor said. “The killer had struck before we arrived and the only other people on the planet are members of this expedition.”
“You mean the killer is here, with us?” Tom asked. “Hang on; the only one who was here before we got here was Neruda.”
“Your turn to jump to conclusions.” The Doctor replied, still busily examining the thorn, gently squeezing it. “I sincerely doubt that they’re the only ones here from the expedition. The Bellingshausen expedition was rather large as memory serves.”
“So you know who did it then, if you’ve heard of this Bell housing thing.” Jess said, her eyes brightening.
“No, I’m afraid not.” The Doctor looked up, his eyes and indeed his whole face full of sadness and concern. “I don’t remember any record of the expedition ever landing on Amaranth, it seemed to be strangely missing from the records. Also, there’s this, and I think this could be the key.”
“What is it?” Tifa asked.
“I found it in the jungle, sticking out of a tree, it looks like vegetation but there’s something not right about it.” Tom replied looking over the Doctors shoulder.
“You’re right there, top of the class.” The Doctor said, before pausing considering what he’d said. “It displays more in common with biological organisms rather than botanical life, and yet it does certainly display some properties that are akin to plant life.”
“So, what are you saying?” Jess asked. “It’s a Triffid?”
“Oh no. Although it could be a form of highly intelligent plant life, we can’t rule that out. No, I’d say it was more genetically engineered. I’ve not had any experience of the vegetable or animal life outside, but there’s something...” The Doctor trailed off and looked up at Tifa. “Tifa, let me see your hand.”
Cautiously Tifa held her hand out to the Doctor, his handkerchief still tied round where she had cut it on the vine earlier. “It still stings a bit.” She said. “It aches a bit now.”
“Let me see.” The Doctor said leaning over the table, putting the thorn carefully to one side.
Gently, he untied the knot that was holding the handkerchief in place and peeled it away. Tom and Jess who had leaned forwards, curious, swiftly sat back in shock, Jess grimacing. Tifa’s eyes widened at what she saw before her. The three puncture wounds were in an almost perfectly straight line diagonally across her palm, each one was raised and puckered. The skin around each wound had turned a dark green and taken a rough texture. Thick veins now pulsed through the skin in her hand, tinted a heavy green.
“As I thought.” The Doctor said. “That vine wasn’t a vine at all.”
His companions looked at him as one waiting for the explanation.
“Someone has been genetically modifying something and loosed it on this planet. Half animal, half vegetable. The thorn you found, Tom, comes from it, and it’s highly toxic.”
“I’m afraid so, Sir.” Neruda replied, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. “And as the strangers pointed out, it would have been impossible for them to have done it as they were with Bradman and Dufayel at the time.”
Olbrich leant back in his chair, thoughtfully stroking his chin. “There are two others on the planet somewhere. We know that. It must have been them.”
“They said that their companions wouldn’t have had time to get there ahead of them.” Neruda said, wincing as she said it but continuing. “The young man said that Mendez must have known his attacker not to have defended himself.”
“Corporal Neruda. You’ve been in Earth Forces long enough to not trust unknown civilians.” Olbrich admonished, leaning forwards, his face stern. “You are to keep those two strangers under close observation until a security team arrives. I am sending down an investigation team immediately. No one is to come up from the planet’s surface. While I really want the murderer to be one of these strangers, I hate to say that it sounds as though the young man is correct. I trust you have made Mendez decent?”
“I’ve covered him, but nothing else.” Neruda replied, feeling relived that her commander could see that she was not being impertinent in going with the young man’s statements. “There were only the two wounds on him, no obvious defensive wounds. Whoever it was, he either knew them, or they took him by surprise, sir. He was a trained marine.”
“I am aware of his background, thank you.” Olbrich said. “I will be sending down Doctor Le Druier to confirm cause of death and perform necessary medical duties.”
“I understand, Sir” Neruda said. “I’ll make sure that no one leaves the landing craft and call in all parties.”
“Thank you, corporal.” Olbrich said leaning forwards and switching off his comm. link before leaning back in his chair and putting his hands to his face. He breathed out an exasperated sigh as he slowly pulled his hands down his face. A death on the planet’s surface; that was the last thing he needed. As much as he loathed to admit it, the strangers were most probably right that Mendez knew his killer if he hadn’t tried to defend himself.
The strangers. That was another thing that bothered him. Where had they come from? They had been in orbit of Amaranth for 36 days now, the landing party leaving the ship after the first day. When they arrived they had detected no other ships in the area and in the past five weeks they had detected no other ship. The only way they could have arrived is if their ship had somehow eluded their scanners.
Leaning forward he activated the ship-wide communications. “Now hear this,” he started; “Due to incidents on the surface of Amaranth, all student and scientific teams currently aboard are confined to the ship and all teams on the surface are to remain there until further notice. Security teams B and C are to meet me in the transport hangar in thirty minutes.”
Olbrich was getting to his feet when a bleeping from the comm. panel distracted him back into his chair. Flicking the activation switch, the angry face of Professor Mori appeared on the screen.
“Commander Olbrich.” He snapped. “Would you kindly explain to me why my transport pod controls have been disabled and I am stuck on the planet’s surface with all my specimens? Do you not realise that we are conducting a scientific study here?”
“Apologies Professor.” Olbrich apologised. “But due to an incident on the planet’s surface, with Doctor Sauer’s team in fact, all civilian travel between the planet and the ship has been discontinued at my express order.”
“And what such incident could necessitate this action?” Mori angrily snapped.
“An attack, herr Professor.” Olbrich simply replied.
“Attack?” Mori replied before falling into a stunned silence. “An attack.” He repeated quietly before his eyes widened in horror. “Doctor Sauer’s party? Who was involved?”
“I am not at liberty to say.” Olbrich replied. “Meanwhile, I require that you are to remain on the planet’s surface until further notice. I apologise for any inconvenience this will cause you.” With that, Olbrich reached forwards and turned off the communications link. Swiftly getting to his feet, he grabbed his uniform jacket and made for the door, ignoring the comm. panel as it started bleeping again.
*
Professor Ita Mori slammed his fist down on the desk as his requests to re-establish the comm. link with Olbrich were ignored. Furious, he stormed out of the landing craft cockpit and dashing through the laboratory and living sections, arrived at the transport pod and snatched up the case containing his specimens. Marching back through to the laboratory, he slammed the case down on a desk and snapping it open, proceeded to remove its contents into a storage freezer.
“What’s going on, Professor? I thought you were meant to be on the mother ship by now.”
Mori spun round. Anton Chadov, another member of the student team, was stood in the doorway from the lab to the planet’s surface.
“Yes, I should be, but that military buffoon, Olbrich, has cut off all travel to and from the ship until he decides otherwise.” Mori snapped as a reply, slamming closed the freezers lid.
“That’s not right. How can he do that?” Anton asked, slumping his back pack on to a clear desk
Mori sighed as he clicked down the lid of the case and turned to face Anton. “Apparently there has been an attack in Doctor Sauer’s team. He said we are not to leave the planet’s surface until further notice.”
“An attack?” Anton stopped still in his pouring himself a drink, not noticing the water overflowing his cup as he turned to look at Mori. “Who did what?”
“He didn’t say. But I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later.” Mori replied turning and walking towards the sleeping berths, pausing and looking over his shoulder from the door. “Oh, and clear that spill up, will you?”
*
“Y’know it’s a bloody good job for us that you’ve been boning up on your ‘Taggart’!” Jess shouted through from the sleeping berth, where she was changing out of her ripped skirt and tights and into a pair of trousers that had been supplied.
“Eh?” Toms rather confused reply came through from the small living section.
“Y’know: ‘There’s bin a mah-dah!’” She said, trying to emulate the Scottish accent. “Police dramas and cop shows!” She added after several long seconds of silence. “What you said to that Marine about the victim knowing their killer who’d want to kill them all.”
“Oh that.” Tom’s voice came through. “That was just elementary.”
“What’s that Sherlock?”
“Just simple things which are obvious if you look objectively.”
“Ah.” Jess replied as she looked down at herself. She couldn’t see a mirror in the sleeping area to check her appearance. She took another look at herself and the grey trousers that emerged from underneath her corset. With a sigh, she removed the corset and rolled it up. “Well, whaddya think?” She asked walking through to the living area.
“Yeah, fine.” Tom replied. He had sprawled himself over an uncomfortable looking padded bench that ran around two sides of the room, one arm resting on a table that seemed to dominate the small space. His attention seemed to be concentrated on a long thorn he was delicately holding in his fingers.
“Don’t sound too excited.” Jess replied, sticking her tongue out. He was still wearing his ripped shirt. The mushroom coloured replacement shirt was still folded on the table near his feet.
“You think the Doctor’ll say ‘I told you so’ about the clothes?” He asked, looking at her and winking.
“You recon he’s the type?” Jess replied sliding onto the bench next to Tom and leaning on her arms, folded on the table. “What is that?”
“Dunno.” Tom replied. “Found it stuck in a tree trunk out there. Now, I’m no botanist, but if this is a thorn from a plant, it has some bizarrely biological properties. For a start, it had a congealed substance on the end of it that could have been a kind of blood, yet squeeze it,” to demonstrate, he gently squeezed the thorn and a droplet of milky liquid oozed from the spike. “And that’s a different liquid altogether. I’m guessing the Doctor’ll be interested.”
“Ooh, get you, eagle eyes.” Jess teased. “So how long until you’re doing my laundry then?”
“Ooh, at least another hour.” Tom replied, gently placing the thorn down in the centre of the table and laying flat out, resting his arms under his head. “Don’t worry; I’ve faith in the old feller.”
Smiling, Jess leaned back on the bench, shuffling until she was vaguely comfortable. Looking down at Tom, she wondered how he seemed so relaxed and comfortable. The bench was really less comfortable than it looked. Eventually finding a spot that resembled acceptable, she settled down. She could hear the muffled voices of Drew Bradman and Lucien Dufayel in the laboratory section of the landing craft. She didn’t know where Neruda was; outside or compiling an arrest report on her and Tom.
Closing her eyes, Jess listened to the soft burble of voices and the rhythmic sound of her breathing, not sure really what to do. She opened her eyes when she heard the voices coming from the lab get louder and more excited. Turning to look at the door, Tom rose from where he was laying and turned to look at her.
“And he’s here!” He said, smiling.
*
Doctor Sauer watched as the Doctor dashed from the clearing to a sheet covered form, laid prone on the ground beside the landing craft. Gently, the Time Lord reached out and pulled the sheet back, before swiftly covering the body and turning to look at Sauer, Rossini and Tifa.
“Oh dear.” He said sadly, looking at Sauer who quickly joined him. “A young man, military uniform.” He said softly.
“Mendez.” Sauer said, reaching to the sheet and looking at the body. “The pilot. Who could have done this?”
“I don’t think we’re the ones you want to be asking.” The Doctor replied, getting to his feet and brushing some mud off his trousers as Rossini and Tifa approached.
“What about the others of your party?” Rossini asked, looking from Tifa to the Doctor.
“They couldn’t. They wouldn’t.” Tifa protested, angrily turning on Rossini. “If they did, then he must have attacked them first.”
“Easy easy easy easy.” The Doctor cooed, soothingly putting his hands on Tifa’s shoulders. “No, this man was killed by someone he knew, there are no defensive wounds and the look on his face is clearly one of shock. He’s a soldier; he should have been able to defend himself against an attacker.”
“That’s exactly what the young man said.”
The small group turned to the landing craft. Colonel Neruda was stood at the door to the cockpit, her arms folded, observing the group.
“So these must be the others of the lost expedition.”
“Lost expedition?” Sauer asked.
“The other two members are inside.” Neruda replied. “Apparently Dufayel and Bradman found them being attacked by a one of the larger birds in the jungle.”
“Are they alright?” The Doctor asked stepping forwards and towards Neruda. “Hello, I’m the Doctor, I’m sure I can help you here.”
“Doctor, eh?” Neruda asked, ignoring his offered hand. “Well, Doctor, we’ve got teams coming down from the mother ship to conduct a full investigation, we don’t need your help.”
Quietly, the Doctor stepped back to Tifa’s side, his face fallen. “A load of military trampling all over the area; exactly what they don’t want.” He whispered.
“What have you done with the others of their party?” Sauer asked looking to the Doctor, who was stood looking sulky, and Tifa.
“They’re in the living quarters until a party from the ship arrive to take them into custody.” Neruda paused and looked at the Doctor. “All four of them.”
“Oh, you can’t pin this on us.” The Doctor protested stepping forward.
“We didn’t do it!” Tifa cried. “We’ve only just got here. We arrived with them, tell her.” He pleaded to Sauer.
“Think about it.” The Doctor said, putting his hands out, emploring Neruda. “You’ve got a brain, use it. Look at it rationally. How could we have done this, we all arrived with members of the scientific teams. Think about it, rationally.”
“That’s far enough.” Neruda said, pulling her gun from its holster and aiming it at the Doctors head.
“Corporal, please!” Sauer shouted, standing between the Doctor and Neruda’s gun. “Even I can tell that Mendez was killed by someone he knew, someone he allowed to get close because he didn’t see them as a threat.” Sauer swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on Neruda’s gun. “The Commander will be asking these questions. Also he will be asking why you weren’t on hand to stop his murder.”
Her face turning into a scowl, Neruda lowered her gun and holstered it. Taking a step down from the landing craft she came and stood very close to Sauer. “Don’t you ever question me like that again.” She whispered before turning and disappearing into the cockpit.
“Thank you.” The Doctor began, as Sauer turned round and raised his hand.
“I don’t know who you are or where you come from, but I do know you couldn’t have done that.” He replied. “Commander Olbrich will want to question you no doubt. I don’t think you’ll be leaving so quickly after an hour. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, not at all, Doctor Sauer. Not at all.” The Doctor replied smiling. “I’m sure the Commander is a reasonable fellow and I can help him sort this little mess out. The Corporal was just talking out of hurt. Shall we?” He gestured towards the door leading to the laboratory section of the landing craft.
Nodding, Sauer lead the way into the lab, followed by the Doctor and Tifa, Rossini bringing up the rear. Drew Bradman and Lucien Dufayel were inside sat at one of the benches engaged in a deep discussion over something they were studying. So engaged they didn’t notice the arrival of Sauer and the others.
“Good afternoon gentlemen.” Sauer said loudly causing the two students to look up. “I understand that you found two strangers whilst you were out.”
“Yeah that’s right.” Bradman started, trailing off as his eyes fell onto the Doctor and Tifa. “You found the others. No, don’t tell me, the Doctor.” He said looking at the Time Lord.
“You’ve spoken to Jess and Tom then.” The Doctor smiled. “Where are they?”
“What are you a Doctor of?” Dufayel asked, eyeing the Doctor suspiciously.
“Practically everything.” The Doctor replied, grinning and standing up tall. “Botany, xenobiology, anthropology, chronology, you name it.”
“Haha! Yes! I told you!” The excited voice was muffled through the walls of the landing craft, but the Doctor recognised it instantly as Toms. A further voice, too muffled to be made out was clearly Jess’s.
“Ah, through there!” He smiled, pointing to the door leading to the living area.
In a quick stride the Doctor covered the floor and reached the door. Flinging it open he disappeared inside. Looking after him then to the assembled members of the expedition, Tifa managed an embarrassed and watery smile before heading off after the Doctor.
“What a weirdo!” Drew said quietly after they’d gone.
“I don’t think so.” Doctor Sauer said as he pulled out a stool and sat down, looking at the specimens that Drew and Dufayel had collected. “I was talking to him on the way back and he seems to know a lot more about zoology and xenobiology than myself. If he is with another expedition, I’m sure we could get them to join us, they’d be invaluable.”
“But what about the murder?” Dufayel asked.
“They can’t have done it.” Rossini said, joining the three men. “We found those two a good mile or so from here, and if you were with the others when it happened, they’ve cast iron alibis.” As she finished, her eyes widened as the three men all raised their heads at the same time. As one the four turned to look to the cockpit. “You don’t think?” Rossini whispered looking back to her colleagues.
“She’s putting on a very good act if she did.” Drew whispered.
“Now now.” Sauer admonished. “Let’s not let our imaginations run away from us. I imagine we’ll be getting a military investigation team, so we’ll just have to wait and see what they say.”
*
“It was only a matter of time, really.” Tom said as the Doctor slid onto the seat next to him. “I guess you’ve seen the body outside as well. Let me guess, the Corporal made a suggestion that it was one of us.”
“Hmm.” The Doctor muttered, he attention distracted by the thorn lying in the centre of the table. Reaching out, he picked it up and examined it closely, squinting at it.
“She said something about taking us into custody.” Tifa said, walking round the table to sit next to Jess.
“Typical military mind.” The Doctor muttered. “Shoot first, ask questions later. Never look for the logical, just the first conclusion, whether it’s right or not.”
“So you think that he was killed by someone he knew as well?” Jess asked.
“I’m positive of it.” The Doctor said. “The killer had struck before we arrived and the only other people on the planet are members of this expedition.”
“You mean the killer is here, with us?” Tom asked. “Hang on; the only one who was here before we got here was Neruda.”
“Your turn to jump to conclusions.” The Doctor replied, still busily examining the thorn, gently squeezing it. “I sincerely doubt that they’re the only ones here from the expedition. The Bellingshausen expedition was rather large as memory serves.”
“So you know who did it then, if you’ve heard of this Bell housing thing.” Jess said, her eyes brightening.
“No, I’m afraid not.” The Doctor looked up, his eyes and indeed his whole face full of sadness and concern. “I don’t remember any record of the expedition ever landing on Amaranth, it seemed to be strangely missing from the records. Also, there’s this, and I think this could be the key.”
“What is it?” Tifa asked.
“I found it in the jungle, sticking out of a tree, it looks like vegetation but there’s something not right about it.” Tom replied looking over the Doctors shoulder.
“You’re right there, top of the class.” The Doctor said, before pausing considering what he’d said. “It displays more in common with biological organisms rather than botanical life, and yet it does certainly display some properties that are akin to plant life.”
“So, what are you saying?” Jess asked. “It’s a Triffid?”
“Oh no. Although it could be a form of highly intelligent plant life, we can’t rule that out. No, I’d say it was more genetically engineered. I’ve not had any experience of the vegetable or animal life outside, but there’s something...” The Doctor trailed off and looked up at Tifa. “Tifa, let me see your hand.”
Cautiously Tifa held her hand out to the Doctor, his handkerchief still tied round where she had cut it on the vine earlier. “It still stings a bit.” She said. “It aches a bit now.”
“Let me see.” The Doctor said leaning over the table, putting the thorn carefully to one side.
Gently, he untied the knot that was holding the handkerchief in place and peeled it away. Tom and Jess who had leaned forwards, curious, swiftly sat back in shock, Jess grimacing. Tifa’s eyes widened at what she saw before her. The three puncture wounds were in an almost perfectly straight line diagonally across her palm, each one was raised and puckered. The skin around each wound had turned a dark green and taken a rough texture. Thick veins now pulsed through the skin in her hand, tinted a heavy green.
“As I thought.” The Doctor said. “That vine wasn’t a vine at all.”
His companions looked at him as one waiting for the explanation.
“Someone has been genetically modifying something and loosed it on this planet. Half animal, half vegetable. The thorn you found, Tom, comes from it, and it’s highly toxic.”
