Doctor Who: Galaxy Four (14 page)

Steven grunted. ‘And when that comes we’re finished.’

‘My goodness, you people,’ the Doctor said reproachfully. ‘You do nothing but worry.’

Steven sighed and at that moment a high-pitched whining filled the chamber. ‘What’s that?’

‘A signal that the ship is charged, unless I’m much mistaken.’ He turned to the eye at the port. ‘Is that so, my friend?’

‘You are right, Doctor,’ the Rill replied. ‘We are ready to disconnect.’

The Doctor wanted to be sure as a Chumbley moved to disconnect the cable. ‘You’re sure you have enough power to lift off?’

‘Sufficient to get us well into space where we can recharge from a sun.’

‘Good, good. Well, that’s it, we can go.’

‘A machine will escort you back to your ship.’ ‘And you?’ the Doctor asked.

‘We will wait until you are safely there.’

‘I’d rather you didn’t. The moment I start my ship we’re out of range in time. You need space. The moment we’re clear, go.’

‘Very well. The machine with you will escort you to your ship. It will protect you and obey your commands. Once you have gone it will destroy itself.’

Vicki was appalled: ‘Oh, no.’

‘It will be painless,’ the Rill reassured her. ‘It will simply put itself out of action, its job done. And now, we must bid you farewell. Our thanks again for your help.’

‘And ours to you,’ the Doctor said. ‘Now get clear as fast as you can.’

‘Goodbye, and take care.’

There was a click, and a humming noise filled the air. The chamber began to tremble. The Doctor led the way outside and he and his companions hastened to get clear, the Chumbley tweedling along beside them.

The hum became a mighty roaring. The Doctor and his party turned to watch the lift-off. A bright glow pulsated outward from the base of the Rills’ ship, growing into such power that they could see the top of it vibrating against the menacingly ochrous sky.

Second followed second until they could see the ship literally straining to leap away,.like a hound with all muscles gathered and waiting for the final spring. Then the restraining power was released, light and debris hurled themselves outward and the vessel leapt triumphantly up toward space. Momentarily it flickered before them, then was gone, the outbuildings now a mere heap of rubble to mark its passing. That take-off, the Doctor had to admit, was final proof of how advanced the Rills were–if proof were needed.

Maaga, too, had seen the departure and a bitter pill it was to swallow. Her hatred for the Rills would find no vent on them. But the Earth people still remained and now they no longer enjoyed the protection of their repulsive allies. She gestured to her two remaining soldiers and they set off toward the TARDIS, time snapping at their heels, out for the time-travellers’ blood.

Now it struck. There was a powerful rumbling from underground and the very planet itself shook on its axis. The suns seemed to jump across the sky. The Doctor and his party raced onward, knowing that this was the end. The Chumbley suddenly stopped its perambulating about them, aimed its gun and fired, barely giving time for Maaga and her soldiers to take cover, which was the last delay they wanted because their prey were now at the door of the TARDIS, the Doctor yanking out his key.

The soil split. Crevices raced across the surface and from them roared towering columns of molten lava. The air itself seemed to be tearing like paper. Suddenly the planet was a living hell, doomed to destruction, and taking all it could with it along the way.

As the Doctor and his friends fought their way breathlessly into the TARDIS Maaga turned to check on her soldiers, only to see them hurled upward atop a fresh jet of raging lava. She saw them only for a moment, racing upward like broken dolls, arms and legs akimbo, their hair wreaths of flame. Then they were gone.

Once inside the TARDIS the Doctor looked over to Steven and snapped, ‘Quickly, the cable!’

Steven snatched it up and hurled it out into the blazing turmoil. He caught a fleeting glimpse of Maaga racing through the horror toward them and slammed the door shut. He leant gasping against it, and watched Vicki staring her sad last at the valiant Chumbley on the screen, which was still firing away at Maaga; and the Doctor, wrenching a lever over. The grinding sound of departure filled the console room and the Doctor blew out his cheeks with relief. It had been close.

Maaga stared in disbelief as the TARDIS dematerialised. Deafened by the uproar, her clothes beginning to smoulder and her eyes stinging with acid tears, she turned upon the remaining Chumbley and blazed away at it. But it had shut down the moment the TARDIS door had closed. Her ray sliced into it and it made no move. Its spirit had gone. She was alone.

White light raced across the surface. There was a deep bubbling sound, turning into one last bellow, and the planet exploded outward, debris hurling into outer space, and nothingness bursting in to delete existence for all time.

Revision Notes:

Initial Scan by samscud
Ver 1.0: Converted to html and proofread by ST7