Doctor Who BBC872 - To the Slaughter

‘About time,’ Kendor said from further down the table. ‘I’ve been directing
them on this job for weeks already.’
‘Share value will rise considerably as a result.’
‘Have to make up for the shortfall in those figures somehow, eh, Piers?’
smirked Hoon, his moustaches twitching.
Piers glowered at him. ‘Simply ensuring that the proposed demolition of
Jupiter’s unnecessary satellites will continue on schedule.’
Falsh gave him an irritated look. ‘Of course it will.’ He moved his leg
out of Tinya’s reach. ‘While our tame decoratiste is lending his name to the
programme, we will always have the President’s endorsement.’
‘Not so tame right now, is he?’ Hoon snorted. ‘Losing Carme has ruined his
“grand orchestration”. He’ll have a thing or two to say when he arrives.’
‘And he’ll swallow them back down when he sees the gifts I’ve had transported
here,’ said Falsh. ‘A most generous gesture from myself and my board.
Should have Halcyon purring again.’
Tinya’s wristpad chimed. She looked down and checked the message. ‘He’s
arrived now. His ship’s docking –’
She broke off as she felt a furtive pressure on her right leg. Someone was
caressing her thigh! But Falsh was sat to her left, how could he. . .
With horror, she realised Piers had a sweaty smile all over his face. ‘You
were saying, Tinya?’ he purred.
With an involuntary yelp she turned in her seat to escape his grip. As she
did so she brushed against Falsh’s leg once more with her bare foot.
He rounded on her. ‘Tinya, what is the matter with you?’
The words were like a smack and she flinched, flushing. But a second later
the entire table burst out in a confused babble of accusations. Hoon was
staring incredulously at the woman beside him, who had just smacked his
face. Three seats down, two men from Takeovers were waving their hands in
the air, hotly disputing something with Subsidiaries.
Falsh was staring round at his executives with a face like a time bomb, ready
to blow.
‘There’s something under the table!’ shouted Hoon.
It was a man. He scrambled out from his hiding place and stood awkwardly
before them.
For a split second, all argument ceased and hush descended on the boardroom.
Then the screaming and yelling started.
‘Look, I’m sorry, OK?’ shouted the newcomer. ‘Everyone just stay calm!’ He
was tall and bony with a long, angular face and scruffy dark hair, and he was
dressed in bizarre clothes. Had to be an agitator. Something was clutched in
his hand and he was waving it about.
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