| "Excuse me!"
Everyone suddenly looked over at Inquirer, who was politely holding
up a hand for attention. A brief, understanding smile passed between her
and the Doctor; he obviously knew exactly what she was about to say, and
was radiating amused approval.
"Excuse me!" she continued. "But might I make a suggestion?" Taking
the stunned silence in the room as assent, she held the Item up for all
to see. To Bishop, she said, "You're afraid of what this thing could do
in the hands of a powerful government agency like the NSA, yes?"
"Damn straight," growled Bishop, and the other Sneakers quickly echoed
him in a chorus of assent.
She turned to Abbott. "And you're afraid of the kind of damage it could
do in the hands of any individual person -- or group of people, like Bishop
and his friends -- however well-meaning they might claim to be. Right?"
"Isn't that what I've just been saying?" glowered Abbott.
Inquirer smiled broadly. "Well, then, I'd say the solution's obvious,
isn't it?" She raised the hand holding the chip with a dramatic flourish...
And it suddenly rose up from her palm, burst into flames, and vanished!
Inquirer, still smiling, raised her hand to her lips and blew imaginary
dust from her palm.
"There," she said. "Problem solved!"
Sneakers and NSA agents alike gaped at her in disbelief. One of the
TARDIS crew snickered softly somewhere behind her. The Doctor actually
applauded.
"Well," she said, turning to him. "I think our work is done here. Let's
get back to the TARDIS, shall we?"
With a flourish, he linked his arm in hers, and they strode off to the
TARDIS, followed by their laughing companions. Behind them, they could
hear Bishop and Abbott uttering curses, and Carl's hopeful voice asking
the female NSA agent out on a date. Then the TARDIS doors shut behind them.
"So," said Betty, unsuccessfully attempting to conquer her grin, "Now
that that's over... Time to skip on out of this universe?"
-
 "actually,"
said Inquirer, "there was one more little side trip I wanted to make..."
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