The Aurelius Gambit is a short story written by Helen Fayle. Released in 1998, it is part of the Doctor Who anthology Perfect Timing and tells of Sarah Jane Smith investigating a company.
Characters[]
- Sarah Jane Smith
- K9
- Steve Kennelly - a private investigator who knows the Doctor
- Lance Victor - the co-owner of Carrefour Industries
- Marie Jenner - Lance's accomplice
Plot[]
While working on mysterious dealings involving a company known as Carrefour Industries, she is contacted by someone claiming to have information for her. When she goes to meet this person, she learns that he is a private eye named Steve Kennelly who met the Doctor at some point. From Kennelly, she learns that one of its co-founders (Farrington) has vanished. As such, the two decide to sneak into the headquarters of Carrefour Industries.
Once Sarah has introduced Steve to K9, the two decide to sneak in during Carrefour's 25th anniversary party. After Steve knocks out a guard, the two break into Farrington's office. While rooting through his files, Sarah finds the shrunken corpse of the Master. At first, she assumes that the Master killed Farrington but hears the current CEO of Carrefour Industries and an accomplice talking about the murder. Shortly after this, Sarah finds a mysterious chessboard which she realizes is a computer holding secret company files. Sarah and Steve hear guards approaching but are able to escape with the computer after Sarah sets off the fire alarms.
Back home, Sarah is able to deduce how to activate the computer using a gambit developed by Farrington's godson (the titular Aurelius Gambit). Before Sarah can find out what is within the computer, the story ends.