(no subject)

[nitro_is_ace]

Knock knock

Ace leans against the sturdy frame of the Doctor's TARDIS, studying the magic-induced sunset with a distracted expression. There's a data flimsy in her hands that she keeps turning over and over, not realizing that she's doing so.

Comments

[just_the_doctor]

The Doctor catches sight of Ace on the vidscreen and pulls the lever to open the door.

"C'mon in, Ace."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

She slips inside, quiet on crepe-rubber soles as she makes her way to the console.
"Sent in my report." She announces, leaning against the railing, studying the odd configuration of various controls. "They didn't waste any time."

[just_the_doctor]

He nods at her, looking up from the control panel.

"Then we shouldn't either. I've been working out how we can track Gentaro, but it's going to take both our TARDISes."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"Let's do it." She steps forward, serious. "That git needs to be put away before he thinks up some new way to destroy a planet."

[just_the_doctor]

"Right then."

He walks over to the corner of the console room where two small cardboard boxes are sitting. He picks one of them up and carries it over to Ace. Inside are 8 small black boxes with only a simple switch on the top.

"We're going to cast a net for him. These tranceivers are tuned to that abnormal thermal bias reading. Each one has a set of coordinates on the back. Once activated, they'll stay in constant contact with each other and with us. When he crosses them in the timestream, we'll know right where and when he is."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"An' you're going to dump them into the vortex to ensure randomization of space/time coordinates?" She asks, shaky on procedure. She's only heard about these things. In abstract theory.

[just_the_doctor]

"More or less. Not so much random, since they'll find the coordinates they're programmed for. But between the 16 of them and the two of us, we'll be able to triangulate his position and pinpoint him anywhere in 5-d space."

Or, at least, that's the theory.

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"Right. So... then what, we just wait him out? What if it was a one-time deal? They've already sent the summons, I can't hold them off forever, eventually they'll hit the emergency recall." She's on a fairly even keel for the moment, but that's only because she's squashing the rising panic throughly.

Can't keep that up forever either.

[just_the_doctor]

"No, we'll have to flush him out. And by we, unfortunately, I mean you."

The Doctor sighs sadly and continues. "Send back to the council that you have new evidence that you wish to present that implicates another Time Lord. Use the open channel -- you can claim it was an oversight later on. He won't be able to sit still if he thinks you've got something."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

She nods, slowly. It's logical - he never could resist a challenge, and the challenge of taking out a Time Lord already being watched by the Council would be a prime opportunity. Any benefit to himself would be welcome, but secondary.

Especially if she's the Time Lord in question.

"I'll need to be in an open bit of space, if I'm going to be convincing. Preferably one with a bit of background radiation, so he won't be able to pinpoint when I jumped in. I don't want him getting back here." She's very firm about that as she flicks through a series of galactic maps. "Rallinic Sector? It's always been rather quiet out there..."

[just_the_doctor]

"No, we're definitely agreed on him not getting here."

The Doctor peers over her shoulder.

"Here," he points. "Elimar 3. Uninhabited, but Earth-like. Isolated and less than a light year from the Valiad Nebula."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"Brilliant. That should suit splendidly." Fishing a notebook and pen from her pocket, she scribbles down the coordinates.

After a moment of scanning the file for particulars, she looks back at him.
"Suppose I should get going then. No time like the present, and all that."

[just_the_doctor]

"Right you are."

He passes her the box.

"Head on up into temporal orbit and set those transievers, and I'll do the same. Then head for the planet and send out your message. And when Gentaro makes his move, we'll know."

He puts his hands on Ace's shoulders. "Good luck."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"Right back at ya." She can't hug him, with the box in her arms, but she gives him her best hellrake grin before heading for the door.

Once outside, she makes a short detour into the bar (http://www.livejournal.com/community/milliways_bar/8319323.html), but is soon hurrying across the clearing to her own TARDIS.

The groaning, tearing sound of dematerialization is the same as always as the odd stone statue disappears from view, leaving only a circle of flattened grass.