Only, as vital as 142.

the oil is to them, it's also lethal. A blessing and a curse. Safe enough when it's tucked up inside their glands, but poison upon contact with their skin. They have to drain themselves every day. Very carefully.'

'No wonder they are so angry. So it is this oil that gives them their power?'

'Absolutely. Sort of. This enzyme usually stays mixed in with all the other chemicals in the oil. The Krillitanes have never thought to separate it, why would they? But Belima Febron not only identified it from a chance encounter, she's managed to isolate the specific chemical and filter it out into a quantifiable commodity, and that's what this is all about."

The Doctor paused, deeply impressed by the contents of the thin gla.s.s tube he held between his fingers.

'She's bottled evolution.'

Emily glanced up towards the vaulted ceiling of the nave, looking for likely escape routes. With wings like the Krillitanes', she might have stood a chance of making it to the windows, but they were too high to be any kind of option for her. The only other exit led deeper into the Cathedral, and yet again she regretted not taking more care in getting to know the lay of the land. It wasn't as if you could fail to notice this edifice of white stone.

She would have to stick with Toch'Lu for a while yet and hope that by chance she might stumble across the Doctor if, as she suspected, he had already found his own way in here.

143.

Toch'Lu was talking to the awkward young man who had come to welcome them. 'I can only apologise for the lateness of our arrival,'

Toch'Lu explained smoothly to him. The repairs our vessel needed were rather more extensive than at first thought. I do hope we haven't missed anything important.'

'Not at all, Baroness Deel. In fact, you couldn't have timed your arrival better. We're about to begin, so if you'd care to follow me?'

Branlo felt more comfortable with the Calabrians, humanoids like him rather than the exotic beings he'd been looking after for the past few hours.

'Of course.' Toch'Lu bowed, and they followed Branlo through into the cloisters, just in time to see the last of the delegates trailing into the Chapter House. Emily recognised the tentacled robotic travelpod of an Octulan as it disappeared through the doors.

A moment later and they had crossed the threshold into a huge circular room, where each of the delegates was being ushered into comfortably appointed areas, designed specifically for their individual needs. Emily noted that each was fitted with an induction loop patched into a universal language translator. The attention to detail was impressive. Henk had either spared no expense or, more likely, used his extensive criminal contacts to get all this stuff.

Toch'Lu and Emily were shown to the Calabrian seating area, richly carpeted and furnished with a collection of genuine and reproduction Calabrian antiques. Emily 144.

took a seat behind her Krillitane companion, where she could keep an eye out for trouble.

The Octulans were a few delegations away, past the Siilutrax and a group of tall, grey aliens she couldn't identify. There were three Octulans, their travelpods now docked with a pressurised communal bubble that dominated their area, into which each pink ma.s.s of flesh had shuffled. Earth's atmosphere was too dense for them to exist outside of their protective travelpods, but as a species they delighted in physical contact, so the clever inclusion of an enclosure was another Henk masterstroke.

Henk. The thought of the man made her shudder. This had not been supposed to happen, and she'd tried so desperately hard to avoid it. Emily took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

All around her, the hum of conversation was beginning to die away into expectant silence. Something was about to happen. All eyes turned towards a raised platform that stood before an onyx-like curve of gla.s.s that filled a sizeable area of the s.p.a.ce.

The lights dimmed.

'Imagine,' echoed a deep voice from hidden speakers, making Emily jump. 'Imagine, if you will, being handed the keys to your G.o.d's celestial palaces. Gifted their powers and infinite wisdom.

Given free rein to enact your vision of a perfect universe. Ask yourself. What would be your first act?'

With a rolling scale of notes, electronic music 145 145 now filled the air, and a video presentation began, shimmering into life upon the bulky onyx wall beside the stage. Images of suns being born, planets forming from lumps of rock and dust, the crucible of molten lava and chemical compounds as the images zoomed in to microscopic levels, to watch the first simple, single-cell bacteria seemingly spring out of nowhere. The images began to speed up, as multi-celled organisms developed into aquatic creatures, transforming into stump-limbed things that flopped out of the seas and onto wet sand...

And all the while a clock at the foot of the screen sped at an insane rate through the millennia.

The story of life is the same across the galaxies, enshrined in myth and legend, explored through science, revered by religion, but the power to take hold of life, to transform and improve it, has never rested in the hands of mortal beings. Until now.'

The music, which culminated in a rousing crescendo, faded to a sonorous background hum, while a complicated chemical equation replaced video footage, scrolling across the screen as if being handwritten by a fevered, invisible ghost.

'Good evening. Tonight we are presenting to you a breakthrough in genetic science that has the potential to change the course of history,' said the same voice that had accompanied the presentation, only this time it wasn't a recording.

Emily dug her fingernails into the finely turned wooden arms of her chair, knuckles whitening, and she 146.

gritted her teeth as a spotlight picked out the figure of a large, imperious-looking man who had taken position on the stage while the audience's attention had been enraptured by the somewhat over-the-top presentation. It was him. It was Henk, and hatred exploded in Emily's heart.

The security monitor had been scrolling through different cameras automatically, before holding on a shot looking down on the gathering in the Chapter House. A montage of images played out on a screen in front of the a.s.sembled guests.

'Ooh, look, they've started. I wonder if we can get sound on this thing?' He reset a few audio parameters and music blasted into the small antechamber. Darke clamped his hands against his ears and the Doctor hastily turned the volume down. 'Sorry.'

'... Until now.' An echoing voice crackled through the tinny speakers, which the Doctor recognised as Henk's. No sign of him in person, though, as the camera remained focused on the screen that was now covered in words, rendered illegible by the resolution of the monitoring station. The Doctor squinted, trying to make some sense of them, but the camera suddenly whipped away, stopping on an image of Henk himself, bathed in the glow of a spotlight. Oddly he looked more trustworthy now he'd ditched the Bishop's garb and was wearing an expensive-looking and very fashionably cut suit.

That's our man, Captain.'

147.

'Good evening.' The little grey image of Henk continued.

Tonight we are presenting to you a breakthrough in genetic science that has the potential to change the course of history.'

The Doctor groaned. 'Here we go. Typical salesman, trotting out empty patter left, right and centre. You can't "change" history. It's already happened. You can influence your own future, but you can't change everybody's past. Well, you can, but you're not supposed to.

It gets so messy and... Hang on, where are we off to now?' The camera was on the move again, panning down and to the left, finally holding and zooming in on a delegation whose number seemed to be rather depleted, given the handful of empty chairs in their area.

'I don't think much of the director. What kind of audience reaction shot is that? You can't even see their faces,' complained the Doctor.

Darke was looking closely at the screen, thinking. 'Why would this spy in a box seek out these people, amongst all the others? It is as if they are of special interest, though to me they look no less normal than you or I.'

That is a very good point, Captain. Someone in security has singled them out. They must be scanning them, but why now?

Surely Henk's people would have run thorough checks on all the delegates as soon as they arrived. Unless they arrived fashionably late...' The Doctor rubbed his chin, unwelcome thoughts percolating at the back of his mind. 'I need to access the full security grid. Should be able to do it from here.'

148.

The Doctor's fingers were a blur of motion on the keyboard, until a new data panel opened on the screen, containing the same security camera shot but with a panoply of additional data. 'Aha. I love integrated computer networks. Such a doddle to potter about in. Oh.

Oh, this isn't good.' The Doctor's face fell, and he checked the data again. This is in no way good.'

'What is it, Doctor? What do you see?' Darke peered at the monitor, unable to understand the readings that had so disheartened his companion.

'No wonder security is interested,' whispered the Doctor. That delegate isn't who she's supposed to be.'

149.

ELEVEN.

*mily could feel the lump of her phase pistol, hidden _inside her Euniform. It would be so easy to take Henk down right now, just draw the weapon and fire. Now she was here, why not? The bounty had been paid, or at least enough of it to cover her costs. And it wasn't about the money anyway. Henk was right there, a sitting target, hers for the taking, yet common sense held her back. It wasn't the right time. Security was discreet but heavy, and they would be on her the moment she reached inside her tunic.

Clenching her teeth, she resolved to wait. Their luck had held this far, so there was no reason to believe a better opportunity wouldn't present itself.

Despite her focus on Henk, Emily realised she hadn't been listening to a word he'd been saying, and curiosity 151.

began to get the better of her. Until now she'd had no interest in Henk's reasons for being on this planet, just that he was. Even having spent time with the Doctor, and meeting Toch'Lu, she'd not given a thought to what linked him with the Krillitanes. Right now there was nothing she could do but listen, and she had to admit that Henk was certainly an impressive orator, a master at engaging with a large audience as if his words were directed at each individual alone.

'Many of you have travelled halfway across this galaxy to be here, following intricate routes which I have insisted upon to maintain the exclusive nature of this event. Each of you has taken an interest in what I have to offer, yet thus far I have offered only the merest micron of detail, a scratch upon the surface of possibility, just enough to pique your interest into making the arduous journeys you have all endured.' Henk looked humble. 'And for this I apologise. Now all shall be revealed, and you will understand my reasons for such circ.u.mspection.'

Behind Henk, the giant onyx screen was beginning to clear, pixel by pixel, a harsh yellow light bursting through the tiny gaps which grew in number and began to merge, like a disease spreading across a Petri dish. Henk continued to speak while the light's intensity increased, a supernova exploding over his shoulder.

'I asked you to imagine what you would do with the power of a G.o.d. I can think of nothing more powerful than the ability to protect your own species, to ensure that it survives and prospers in the battle to thrive in this harsh 152.

universe.' Henk, delighted by his own showmanship, had a warm glow in his stomach. Thanks to the astonishing work of the galaxy's pre-eminent biologist, we have made this dream a reality. For a negotiable fee, payable in instalments over a fixed licence period, we can give you that power.'

The onyx screen was now entirely translucent, revealing an interior that resembled a holding pen. At the rear of the pen was a row of arc lamps, the source of the startling yellow light which now filled the Chapter House, and Emily was grateful for the polarised visor on her Calabrian helmet.

She could see a shape moving inside, silhouetted against the lights, familiar yet new, moving into plain view as if following a well-rehea.r.s.ed and ch.o.r.eographed routine. A huge, angular living thing, light reflecting from armoured shoulders, four muscular legs supporting a torso covered by a protective carapace. From its back stretched long wings, filling the width of the holding pen. Larger than Toch'Lu by far, the creature was unmistakably of Krillitane descent, yet composed of striking physical elements appropriated from any number of other species. A showroom model with all the extras, created solely to make an instant and unforgettable impression on its audience.

'During a scientific expedition to a primitive planet in the Omarra sector, Doctor Belima Febron discovered a previously unknown species,' Henk continued. The Krillitanes. A species that naturally generates a malleable 153.

genome, that can be harnessed and receded using our proprietary technology. We can bio-engineer this species into forms that fit your specific needs, whether all you require is a pa.s.sive, tireless agricultural drone, or a sentient mining machine immune to high-level croprastic bombardment, or perhaps a savage weapon that will follow your orders into any environment, and carry them out to the death. This is the power we give to you. Behold - the Krillitane Storm,' Henk declared with triumph.

As if on cue, his creation bared its teeth and roared. One by one the audience got to their feet, those that had them, and a round of applause swept across the room, a wave of appreciation, greedy eyes already planning new empires using this wonderful toy.

There was one notable exception, however: the Calabrian delegation remained silent amid the excitement.

Toch'Lu made a move towards the stage, but Emily clasped a restraining hand on her shoulder. 'Don't,' she implored, knowing it was no use.

Toch'Lu twisted free, and turned on Emily. 'Do not presume to command me. In grat.i.tude for a.s.sisting me this far, I advise you to leave here. Now. Henk, and his a.s.sembly of scavengers, must pay for his lies. For this abomination.'

'You don't stand a chance, Toch'Lu.' Emily stared, pleading, into Toch'Lu's eyes but saw only blind rage. She glanced around the room.

Security had already taken an 154.

interest in them. Then she caught a glimpse of the young man that had welcomed them, whispering something in Henk's ear. Henk, aghast, stared straight at them. Their cover was blown. Emily looked back at Toch'Lu. They'll kill you.'

'My life is unimportant. Beneath this temple my brethren, my children, are held prisoner. Release them for me, and if I fall, they will avenge my death.' Toch'Lu pulled away, and before Emily's shocked eyes, returned to her true form.

The image of the Calabrian amba.s.sador dissolved into a dust storm, swirling, twisting, expanding, re-coalescing into the brutal, hungry shape of a Krillitane. Toch'Lu swung her face towards Henk, pulling back her lips to reveal razor-sharp fangs, and she let loose a dreadful, vicious howl.

In the antechamber, the Doctor leapt out of his chair. On the screen, the other Calabrian, the one that hadn't transformed into an alien killing machine, had just thrown aside her helmet, revealing a shock of unmistakable, short blonde hair. 'No. No, that's Emily,' the Doctor exclaimed, gesticulating at the screen. 'I knew she'd end up in trouble. Come on, Captain. And bring your sword.'

There was a moment of shocked silence, as the delegates wondered if this was all part of the show. Toch'Lu roared again and leapt forward, half-sprinting, half- 155.

flying directly towards Henk, slashing wildly at anyone unfortunate enough to cross her path.

The room erupted into full-blown panic. Monks were running towards Toch'Lu, drawing blasters from the folds of their robes, but a few had their sights set firmly on Emily.

That's that, then,' she whispered and, without looking back, took full advantage of the sudden confusion and dived into the throng that was flooding towards the only exit.

Toch'Lu sprang at Henk, claws outstretched, ready to rip him apart.

Henk watched, unmoving, unconcerned, and too late Toch'Lu recognised her mistake. She smashed into the invisible protective force wall that Henk had installed at the edge of the stage. Sparks of energy flitted across her body, and she collapsed, unconscious, to the floor.

Unaware of Toch'Lu's fate, though suspecting it would be terminal, Emily fought her way through the mangle of desperate bodies, and all but fell through the door into the cloisters.

'You. Stop where you are, or we'll shoot,' a voice shouted from the left. More monks with guns.

Wasting no time, she was on the run, heading right, towards the nave. With luck, she might even make the main door. Limestone shattered under a hail of gunfire above her head, but Emily didn't stop.

She leapt up a set of stone steps and flew through the doors so fast she didn't 156.

have time to avoid crashing into some fool running in the opposite direction.

'Get out of my-'

Strong hands gripped her, and she looked up into a familiar face.

'Emily, it's me. It's the Doctor.'

'G.o.d, I could kiss you.'

'Yeah, I get that a lot. No time right now. This way.'

The Doctor pulled Emily to one side, as a pair of Henk's monks bowled through the doorway and straight into the path of Captain Darke's fists. The first crashed to the floor, unconscious, but the other recovered enough to swing his gun towards the Doctor. Darke's sword smashed the guards weapon from his hand, and a well-placed boot sent the a.s.sailant tumbling backwards through the open door.

The Captain slammed it shut before the guard could gather his wits, and braced himself against the pressure of bodies soon hammering against the other side.

'Doctor. The brace.' Darke nodded at a hefty wooden bar, propped against the door frame.

The Doctor strained to lift it, slamming the brace into its iron brackets. 'Not exactly Fort Knox, but it should hold them off for a bit.'

And the three of them were running again, across the marble floor, away from the m.u.f.fled fury emanating from the cloisters.

'I thought you'd gone,' the Doctor panted, glancing at Emily.

'I did, but I had to come back, to warn you.'

157.

'About what? That you're best mates with a Krillitane?'