Disappearing Act (short story)

Summary
Fergus Antelect, accompanied by his ill-treated assistant Ood Delta, is about to perform his stage act, once more for the entertainment of some of the Univers’s wealthiest people while they feasted on expensive food and even more expensive wines at their tables. In the audience too, was Special Agent Ratner of the Galactic Enforcement Agency (as usual), investigating the mysterious theft of jewellery from the audience of Ratner’s shows. Just as the act is about to begin the Doctor and Donna Noble interrupt and grab a seat at Ratner’s table, and settle down to watch the show. Ratner’s act consists of using the Ood’s telepathy to create illusions which the audience believe in – flowers from a hat that change into a rabbit, limbs on volunteers that just disappear and then reappear. When Lady Delatron is invited onto the stage wearing the famous Gangestic Necklace of perfect crystalline nectar-stone set in diamonds and oolian, Antelect only has to think that the necklace was safe in Lady Delatron’s room and, through the Ood’s telepathic ability the thought would be communicated to everyone in the room. This simple deception enabled Antelect to remove the actual jewellery, undetected, in clear view of everyone – including Agent Rayner, without suspicion. The robberies all occurred when Antelect had a water-tight alibi with dozens of witnesses to back him up. But suddenly the act takes a turn when Antelect hears himself making a confession even explaining how he was able to commit the crimes. He realises that someone in the room has a more powerful imagination and grasp on Ood Delta’s telepathic abilities. Antelect tries to protest but realises that, to deny chronometers were set with a remote digitiser to give him time to commit the offences would give the game away and amount to another confession. Ood Delta is asked to confirm Antelect’s story of innocence which he does by confirming that Antelect did not use a digitiser or change the clocks. For a moment Antelect believes he may have got away with it because an Ood always tells the truth but then, Ood Delta goes on unstoppable to state that Antelect is however guilty of 37 counts of theft, 92 counts of misleading the public through illegal telepathic manipulation, and 113 counts of cruelty to a sentient life-form – namely Ood Delta. With Antelects crimes exposed, a reviewing of security tapes previously overlooked because of the weight of witness is ordered as Kalrusian guards secure Antelect. As Agent Rayner turns to thank the Doctor and Donna he finds they have vanished into thin air leaving behind empty chairs.

Characters

 * Ood

Continuity
to be added

Timeline

 * Disappearing Act occurs after: DW: The Satan Pit
 * Disappearing Act occurs before: DW: The End of Time