Forgotten Tombs

Episode One

by esherrouse

The sky was clear as the pinkish-orange glow of the sun shined across it. The air was fresh, even if humid and frightfully hot. The only thing that made this day bearable was the slight breeze which blew in the faces of the three men. Each face intently looking at a wall of hieroglyphics.

One suddenly said, "It's the same as the ones we found on the Great Pyramid."

The second, slightly older but much grayer man responded, "Yes, but you and I know what that means and it can not be true."

With a nervous retort the first stammered, "Then why all the hush hush over that discovery? Wh...what brought in the sudden lack of funding for our research and the closing down of the site?"

The second said with a satirical tone, "Of course it was just a reference to early trading routes, nothing more. Just a point at which ships came and went. Let us just overlook the fact that at the time of the writing this desert was just as far away from the sea as it is now."

The first man, still stammering, stated,"We know a ship came here over several thousand years ago. What we do not know is what sort of ship."

Finally, with an air of arrogance the third man spoke,"Yes, yes. That is all fine. What we do not know is what this last bit here says. It is uninterpretable. I would wager that it might even be a different form of writing. Certainly it is related, but the figures are nothing like traditional Egyptian forms. For that matter, they are nothing like anything I have ever seen." He reached out and ran his hand along the indentions in the wall. As he reached the ending of the figures, the indention moved.

His two companions fell backwards in a moments fright. The nervous one tripped and fell over a small stone. The man pushed the indention further as it moved inward as if the wall were drawing into itself. As the three stared at the wall, a humming noise seemed to come from the ground around them. The wall then dissolved revealing an opening.

It was a black abyss. Nothing.

The figures huddled toward the opening looking for some sign of a pathway into the darkness. As the closest and most arrogant of the three approached the portal a flashing blue flare shot out of the darkness engulfing him and his closest companion. They vanished upon it's impact as the third man was left stammering and stumbling backwards over the stones around him.

The wall rematerialized in it's place....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Two

by Atmosphere97

As the Brigadier approached the laboratory doors, he could hear a catchy melody sung by the Doctor filtering into the corridor. Upon entering, he found the Doctor at his work bench - the TARDIS sitting in corner of the room disguised in the not very incongruous shape of a Police Box - working on a small piece of equipment which did heaven knew what.

"Ah, Doctor, there you are," announced the Brigadier. The Doctor didn't look up.

"Where else would I be, Lethbridge-Stewart?" he retorted smartly. He continued to eye the component through his jeweller's eye-glass.

The Brigadier produced the manilla folder which he had been carrying under his arm. "Yes, well if you're not too busy, perhaps you could take a look at this. Chap in Egypt - apparently he was in the middle of examining one of the pyramids with two colleagues when something happened. They both vanished, leaving him alone. Gone,without a trace." The Doctor didn't seem to be listening. "The man was found a day later after the incident," the Brigadier continued, hoping to capture the Doctor's interest. "Another research team sent to examine the same pyramid. He was delirious... I daresay from heat exhaustion and dehydration... mumbling some nonsense about phantoms stealing his companions souls."

The Doctor pocketed his eye-glass and moved to a different work-bench to fetch an instrument he required, then nearly bumped into the Brigadier head on when he whirled about to return. "Look, I'm terribly busy, Brigadier. I'm not really interested in every single file your people manage to get their hands on. Most of the time they just end up being wild goose-chases. Like that last one."

The Brigadier cleared his throat guiltily. "Yes, that was a rather unfortunate incident."

"Rather unfortunate incident??" the Doctor mocked sarcastically, and resumed his place at the bench.

"You were convinced that the Silurians had returned, in force, to terrorize the residences of South Croydon. And what did it turn out to be? A gang of rather intoxicated ruffians struggling their way home after a fancy dress party!"

"Yes, well -"

"Each of them dressed as Godzilla, I might add!"

"But this is a genuine mystery!" The Brigadier protested. "This chap they found, Reynolds, he says something very odd is going on at that pyramid."

"Then go and check it out, my dear fellow. And let me get on with my work, here."

Setting the folder on the work-bench, the Brigadier leaned in closer to examine yet another of the Doctor's devices. He was leaning over the Doctor's shoulder, casting an unwanted shadow over the now-irratated Time-Lord. The Doctor looked up meaningfully without speaking a word. The Brigadier coughed a feeble apology and back away. "What does it do?" he asked with genuine interest.

"Hopefully something we can use to find the Silurian warship*," the Doctor replied simply.

"Is it, indeed? Will it work?" the Brigadier brightened at the prospect of tracking down what he considered the world's greatest threat.

"Well I don't know, do I? I haven't had the chance test it, yet!" He raised a hand to his mouth forlornly. "It's probably a wasted effort, anyways. If only I knew more about their technology. I fear it will be rather like looking for... well, like looking for a particular fish in the sea. Still, it's the best chance we have, for now. It's imperative that we open communications with them before they start reviving shelters around the world in preparation for a full-scale invasion. Humans and Silurians CAN co-exist together!"

"Creeping-crawling nasties...I have very serious reservations about that," the Brigadier indignantly pointed out.

"So do I, Brigadier! Especially when there are people like you who are so keen to wipe them out without a second thought!" Feeling yet another pointless debate about to erupt, the Doctor tactfully changed subjects. "Anyway, you have your mystery to solve, and I have my experiment to complete."

"Oh, very well then," the Brigadier reluctantly agreed. He turned to leave, but paused at the doorway. "Oh, I forgot to mention - that chap Reynolds. I had his file checked out, and it turned up something I thought you might find interesting. He's known to Miss Shaw."

The Doctor stopped working and turned around. "Liz? Is he, now...? Does she know what's happened?"

"She does. They're colleagues at Cambridge. I'm driving out there now, actually, to see what she can tell us about him."

The Doctor considered for a moment. It had only been a couple of weeks since Liz left UNIT to return to her research at Cambridge. Since then the Doctor had felt rather lonely here in the laboratory. It would indeed be good to see her again, as unexpected as this was. A broad grin spread across the Doctor's face. "Well then, my dear fellow! Why not, eh? I think some fresh air would do the pair of us some good. We'll take Bessie."

The Brigadier's face fell into a grim look of apprehension. "Actually, I've already had a Land Rover laid on. We may as well take that."

The Doctor's face fell. "Oh.. well, if you insist."

"In ten minutes, then." And with that, the Brigadier left the laboratory.

The Doctor sat pensively for a moment, his eyes falling on the manilla folder left behind by the Brigadier. He picked it up idly, and flipped through the pages. He came across colour photo-plates of the pyramid in question, and the hieroglyphics on the outer wall at the base of the structure. Undoubtedly taken by the expeditionist team and forwarded back to England. When the Doctor came across the final few characters of the hieroglyphics, he face creased into a deep frown. He looked up worriedly, considering the ramifications of the mysterious text.

"If those fools have unleashed the powers trapped in that pyramid," he muttered to himself worriedly, "then the entire world could be in infinite peril!"

*see the Missing Adventure "Scales of Injustice" by Gary Russell

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Three

by Trivial Keithy

Liz was busy pottering about, getting settled back into her old campus regime. Ever book was catalogued and displayed, her notes were filed in the usual holding pattern in which ever drawer she could fit them into. As a senior research scientist her new rooms were much the envy of the undergraduates.

Yesterday she had bumped into Professor Chronotis, he was still the same as she remembered him. He had offered her tea but she had declined politely. There was a familiar knock at the door.

"It's open, come on in Doctor."

"Liz, how are you?" The Doctor blazed into the room like a white haired comet, with the Brigadier in tow.

"Ms Shaw, glad to see you again." Lethbridge-Stewart smiled.

"Well I hope you're not here to beg me to go back. I've got the best job on campus and it's not even teaching."

The Brigadier sat down on a small settee. "No, if we can get down to business. This friend of yours Professor Reynolds..."

Liz rested against her heavy oak desk. "Yes, I was so shocked, Steve's always been the proverbial rock in the storm. He's been an asset here on many occasion."

"Well yes." The Doctor stalled. Trying to choose the right thing to say.

The Brigadier went straight to work. "I've been asked to sent a small team over to examine the site, make sure that there's been no foul play. After all U.N.I.T.s record of impartiality is well known. We would like you to accompany us as part of the team. I know archaeology isn't your field but your degrees in mineral geology and ancient Egyptian history makes you an ideal choice."

"Plus I said I wouldn't go without you." The Doctor started to read a copy of National Geographic "Good grief this is all wrong you know."

"Ok, ok I'll have a talk with the faculty head and arrange to take a sabbatical or something."

The Doctor tried to keep his concern hidden, some of the hieroglyphics were very familiar to him. Some kind of warning to all Time Lords...

Inside the pyramid the two workers laboured night and day, they no longer required food or drink to sustain their bodies. They were clearing away a massive pile of debris which had fallen across a doorway. Neither of them felt anything anymore but the burning desire to accomplish their orders.

The Servitors must be unleashed...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Four

by Atmosphere97

"Ah Doctor, there you are! Where have you been?" The Brigadier stood in the foyer of the hospital as the Doctor sauntered into the room.

He seemed momentarily distracted, and didn't bother coming up with some glib remark. "Hmmm? Ah, Lethbridge-Stewart, there you are! Now then, what about this chap Reynolds?"

The Brigadier produced the medical chart he'd been given by the man's physician. "It includes a psyche profile. Everything we need to know about the man. Ms Shaw is talking to him now. Seems quite calm now that he's back in the country, but still refuses to shed any light as to what happened in Egypt."

The Doctor perused the man's file. By the look on his face, it didn't tell him much. "And he hasn't mentioned anything about his colleagues?"

"Not a word. He's completely closed up on the subject. Hasn't said a word since being rescued."

"Yes..."

The Doctor tossed the chart onto a table and stood by the window. There was an awkward moment of silence. When the Doctor made no indication of continuing, the Brigadier queried, "Well, Doctor? Any theories?"

The Doctor turned and faced him. "With all the technology this planet has devised, it's brought with it an unerring urge for dominion over the weaker individuals. Find something worth having, and come up with an ingenious way of exploiting it. But what happens when that technology fails? What happens when the power is gone? Then what happens? A world collapses, that's what."

The Brigadier was taken aback. "Sorry? I'm afraid I'm not quite with you, Doctor. How does this pertain to Reynolds, here?"

The Doctor sighed and paced the length of the foyer. "I'm not sure it does. It must do, though. The inscriptions on that Pyramid worry me," he muttered as he retraced his steps. "The fact alone that the sarcophagus drew open when it did is startling in itself."

"Am I to believe that you suspect something was released from that thing?" the Brigadier gaped in astonishment. "Why on Earth didn't you say so before? I'll get in touch with Geneva and have the men put on stand-by!"

The Doctor shook his head. "There's no need for that. It's only a suspicion. I'll know more once I reach the site and had a chance to examine it more closely. In any case, if my suspicions are true, there's nothing you or your men can do about it."

This was a direct hit to the Brigadier's ego. He thoroughly believed any menace which presented itself to UNIT could be dealt with. Nothing was invincible. "Yes, well... we'll see about that."

Liz entered the foyer and smiled at the Doctor, who came up to her urgently. "Did he say anything? Mention anything at all about the site?" Liz sat down on one of the sofas and explained her visit with Reynolds.

"At first there was no response from him, but then I think he recognized who I was. A friendly face and familiar voice creates a strong sense of security after an overwhelming shock to the system. He seemed quite eager at last to tell me what happened. But I'm afraid we already know most of it already."

"Tell me precisely what he said, don't leave anything out," the Doctor gently urged. Liz shrugged.

"Just that when the panel began to slide away, he fell back , there was a flash of light, and he saw his colleagues disappear."

The Doctor pursed his lips. "He didn't say anything else? He never caught a glimpse of the interior?"

"No," Liz shook her head. "He said it closed up immediately." The Doctor slapped his leg in annoyance.

"If you want to know what's on the inside," the Brigadier began, "I should be able to fill you in on that shortly. I've got Yates and Benton there now. They're on a recce of the archaeological site with express instructions to open that panel using any means via maximum safety precautions."

"What?" the Doctor glared up at him. "You've already sent your men ahead of me? Lethbridge-Stewart, of all the narrow-minded, obtuse -!" The Doctor broke off the verbal assault, and began his pacing around the foyer again. "There's nothing else for it. We have to leave for Egypt immediately!" He looked down at Liz. "You know... I really would be most gratified if you'd accompany me there, Liz. One tends to work better with a bright assistant with an open mind."

"Given the circumstances," she began, with the smallest trace of a grin beginning at the corner of her mouth, "I can't see how I could possibly refuse."

The buggy glided over the dunes swiftly, kicking up a storm of sand in it's wake. It raced over the dunes towards the pyramid, it's two occupants dressed in khaki fatigues and wearing dark sunglasses. Yates and Benton hopped out of the buggy after it came to a juddering halt. A sandstorm the night before had clogged the engines of their UNIT helicopter, so their only source of transport was the little buggy.

The soldiers examined the area. Satisfied they were alone at the site, they approached the stone structure and found the set of hieroglyphs which were the source of the matter. "Doesn't it give you funny ideas?" Benton commented as he looked upwards towards the peak. "Sorta like trying to open Pandora's Box."

Yates took a step closer to the Pyramid. "Actually, Sergeant, that may very well be what's happened already. Look," he pointed to the second set of hieroglyphs. "That must be the bit there that slides away."

"What do you reckon? Set up a barricade to keep whatever's in "in" 'til the Doc and the Brig show up?"

"Actually, I rather thought the direct approach would prove more effective." Yates ran his hand along the wall and took a step back. "We'll do as that chap did. Only we'll keep out of harm's way."

"Yes, sir," Benton replied unhappily. Although Yates held a rank higher than him, Benton had more experience with dealing with paranormal situations and extra-terrestrial goings-on. He couldn't help shake the intuition that this was no different than the Cybermen or the Autons.

Retrieving a couple of rifles from the buggy, each soldier stood on either side of the aperture. "Right," breathed Yates, and depressed the last set of hieroglyphs. The stone wall began to slide back with a deep grating sound, sending vibrations through the wall it was opening.

Two beams of light shot out of the entrance, swirling about randomly in search of a target. Finally they stopped and all was quiet. Yates and Benton shared a look, during which Mike nodded and the two swung about in a crouched position, weapons pointed into the gloomy interior.

All seemed quiet within, but there was no way of telling what was inside. Mike advanced carefully, Benton dutifully following behind. It took several moments for their eyes to grow accustomed to the dark. When it did, they found themselves in a relatively empty chamber. Two pillars rose into the ceiling directly in front of the entrance. Mike figured this was where the energy blasts had emanated. Careful not to disturb any further booby traps, they quickly surveyed the interior and decided that they were indeed alone.

Benton wiped a hand over his brow. It didn't make sense that there would be no trace of the other two archaeologists. He'd fully expected to find two corpses within. He sat against the far wall and removed his beret, cradling his rifle in his arms. "I don't get it," he complained to his superior. "If they're not dead, well... where are they? I mean, there's not a heck of a lot of places they could be."

"Further in, maybe," Yates suggested. "There could be a concealed doorway in here somewhere. Best to let the Doctor sort that out. This seems to be right up his alley."

Benton suddenly shushed Mike abruptly. He placed his head against the wall and listened. He beckoned for Mike to come over and listen. They could both hear it. A kind of scraping noise, possibly of rock against rock, coming from the opposite side!

While Yates and Benton were busy scurrying around to find the hidden switch to reveal the inner chamber, they were oblivious to the shape beginning to materialize between the two pillars.

"Let's get some gear from the buggy," Mike ordered, leading the way back into the sunshine. Benton felt an eerie sense of foreboding, but followed Mike out of the pyramid. With top-notch cutting gear gathered from the vehicle and slung over their shoulders, they approached the entrance only to find a tall, dark, rather attractive woman blocking their path.

She wore a dark grey tunic, with deep-set eyes and mature face, crowned with jet-black hair viciously streaked with crimson. Her eyes seemed to glow as she smiled. Yates and Benton dropped their gear and produced their rifles. Before they could utter a warning, the woman swung at the air with her arm, and the two soldiers clutched their heads in pain and collapsed to the ground. Following with a crushing gesture of the hand, her victims fell back unconscious onto the sand, unmoving.

Chuckling to herself, the mysterious woman glanced down at them. Her eyes glowed a fierce white, and the air around the soldiers appeared to swirl around them, and then they vanished. Turning to the entrance of the pyramid, she could see the inner sanctum had opened wide to reveal two servitors. They marched forward, their square metallic bodies swaying slightly with each step, and two stubby arm-like devices swinging about happily.

The female intruder glanced towards the desert and breathed deeply. "Another world beckons, like so many others. The Great Old Ones have failed in their attempt to secure me forever in the nether-worlds of Time. Their dissolution was long-awaited! Now... Ehlia lives once more!!"

A fierce sandstorm whipped past the pyramid, shifting the sands and half-burying the UNIT buggy. When it cleared, the woman was gone, and the entrance to the pyramid had once again sealed itself.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Five

by Trivial Keithy

The flight out was long and boring. The Doctor has tutted and moaned about the poor record of the aeroplane. A stewardess tried to halt his impromptu lecture about crash statistics but he continued to rattle out fact after fact. In the end Liz took refuge in the toilet.

She was glad she was no longer a part of U.N.I.T. but she was equally upset to be leaving the Doctor behind. Eventually she returned to find the Doctor and the Brigadier enjoying a rather large and expensive bottle of brandy. The stewardess approached her.

It was the only thing we could do to get him to shut up.

Oh I know. He can spend hours reeling off facts and figures.

The Doctor offered Liz a glass. Care to try a drop mdear? Its an excellent year. I should know, I helped them make the stuff. Victoria, Jamie and myself had found ourselves outside this small brewery. There had been some sort of mishap and their system was completely ruined. Well I helped them repair it. Im told this was the best year they ever produced.

Liz sipped it, she wasnt keen on spirits. She had been a real ale connoisseur back in her undergraduate days. She remembered Steves drunken pranks and the smile faded from her face.

The Brigadier had made arrangements for a jeep to be waiting for them. They were driven by a U.N.I.T. soldier from the Egyptian branch directly to their hotel for a briefing by Yates and Benton. They were checked in by the hotel manager who stared at Liz disapprovingly.

I wont wear one of those damn veils, I simply wont. Liz was adamant. She was a strong believer in equal opportunities.

No ones asking you to Liz, female tourists like yourself are exempt from wearing a yashmak.

Ahem, as we are a United Nations delegation we are expected to uphold the native laws of each individual country we visit.

I am no longer attached to U.N.I.T. If I remember correctly Im a civilian advisor. Eventually Liz stormed out, leaving the Brigadier lost for words.

The Brigadier looked at his wrist watch. Yates and Benton should be here by now.

The Doctor closed the fridge. He was holding a bowl of waldorf salad. Peace offering for Liz. If I know Mike Yates hell be exploring every inch of that pyramid.

Whatever for Doctor?

Mike did study archaeology as well as political history at Durham before he became a soldier.

I must have overlooked that fact when reviewing his file. Anyway you know Benton. You can set your watch by Bentons drill parades. I should really have a take with Miss Shaw, I dont want to upset her, but Geneva is watching us very carefully. Our actions will be seen at the highest levels or U.N.I.T. budgeting may be cut.

Whats more important your troops or your image? The Doctor handed his friend the bowl.

Ok, I get the message. He left to apologise.

Ehlia paced around the inner chambers of the pyramid. It was taking too long, they should have cleared away the route to her throne room by now. Small bolts of lightning earthed themselves as she walked around. She adjusted the simple white dress and created a trove of dazzling gold jewellery from out of thin air. Soon, so very soon she would have this world for herself.

Liz had rejoined the Doctor and the Brigadier. The Brigadier was talking to three Egyptian soldiers. The Doctor walked over to her.

Doctor, I feel ridiculous in this get up. Liz had dressed in the traditional black outfit of the Muslim religion, only to prevent a stupid international scene. How am I supposed to blend in dressed like this?

My dear look outside. The Doctor pointed to the multitude of similarly dressed women outside. You can go anywhere, see anything and not be noticed. Youre our spy here Liz. Mike and John havent arrived and we think theyve been captured.

Oh no. Who would do such a thing? Terrorists?

It could well be, and two foreigners are going to stand out like sore thumbs here Liz. We need you to listen for any clues you may overhear, but first were all going out to the pyramid and see for ourselves.

The Brigadiers briefing ended and the three soldiers filed past Liz without giving her a second glance. I see what you mean about spying Doctor. One up for the girls I think.

Er you look delightful Miss Shaw. The Brigadiers diplomatic skills were just about used up for the day.

Ehlia let out a yell of triumph, the passage way had been cleared, soon she would use the powers of the throne to enhance her powers and make the whole world bend to her will.

The ancient ones had failed...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Six

by esherrouse

Ehlia's voice echoed throughout the pyramid halls. Yates and Benton looked around them for the source. The were covered in dirt and sweating from exhaustion. They had been digging for what seemed like days - under threat of pain from some unseen monitor. They had just now broken through to what appeared to be another passageway.

They could see a brilliantly lit room which seemed to glow with gold. A sudden hum of power also came with their new discovery. Yates looked at Benton and then whispered, "So do we wait around here for another jolt from that machine or do we go head first?" Benton looked back and noticed a mechanical eye swivelling around. It appeared to be charging up for another bolt of energy. "I'm with you." Benton replied.

Within seconds Yates dove through the opening and found himself on the floor of the golden chamber. Benton fell in behind him as a blast fired at the entrance narrowly missing him.
"That was close, sir"
"Take a look at this place, Benton."
"It looks like something out of the Doctor's stories. Amazing."

They stood up and began to look around the room. There seemed to be jewels and ancient artifacts mixed in with some sort of machinery. The humming continued.

"HALT!" A mechanical voice cried as Benton stepped onto a square stone embedded in the floor. A beam of light shot around him and within seconds Benton collapsed to the floor. "You are a primitive of this planet. You are not a threat." The voice continued.
"That's a relief." replied Yates as he stepped onto the stone to help Benton up.
The voice then continued, "You will serve the cause by donating your skills as part of the labor force on the HOMEWORLD."
"What?" They both began to reply as a light engulfed them and they seemingly disappeared.

Ehlia heard the sound of the Servitors approaching again. They were stupid machines, but they still had enough power to interrupt her plans of escape. She was still weak. She quickly stepped back into the shadows and seemingly vanished.
"Alien prisoner detected in this area. Find and detain" echoed the Servitors as they continued their search.

The UNIT buggy sped across the dunes toward the towering pyramid. The sand was blowing fiercely. As soon as they came to a slight halt the Doctor jumped out of the vehicle and made his way toward the entrance.
"Doctor, you could wait until we came to a complete stop." protested the Brigadier.
"It's no use Brigadier. You should know that by now."
Liz smiled as she followed suit. "I must get a better look at those glyphs that were on the report."

The Doctor half-responded, half-muttered to himself. He came close to the entrance and then knelt down. Liz arrived and crouched beside him. The Brigadier stood behind and surveyed the area. "Well, there is no sign of Captain Yates or Benton. They must have returned to HQ." The Brigadier declared in his usual militarily matter of a fact manner.

"You see this, Liz. I was wrong." The Doctor pointed at the hieroglyphic images on the side of the pyramid.
"What do you mean, you were wrong?" Liz looked at them and he continued.
"They resemble some sort of cunneiform mixed with early hieroglyphs. I had originally thought that this was a warning for me, well for my people, the Time Lords. I was wrong. The warning is for anyone who dares to open this passage way. The script is very ancient and in many ways similar to Old High Gallifreyan, but it is certainly not Gallifreyan at all." He then ran his fingers along the wall. "Look at this here" He pointed to one part of the script.
"What does it say?"
"It tells us how to open the passage."
"You mean, right after warning us not to?"
"Apparently so. Shall we?" The Doctor activated the opening.

As the stone slid to the side, the Doctor noticed a sensor activating. He then dove to the side pushing Liz to the ground beneath him.

A bolt of energy shot out and dissolved in the air near the astonished Brigadier. "All right, that does it. I am calling for this area to have full patrols immediately." He then made his way back to the buggy and ordered into the Radio, "I want every available unit here right now. We have potentially hostile presence on site. Over."
"Affirmative, sir" came the crackled response from the radio.

"As I said, Shall we?" The Doctor motioned toward the opening as he helped Liz to her feet. The two of them then disappeared in the dark passageway. The Brigadier called after them as the wall slid back into place.

Benton opened his eyes slowly as he looked around at the vast darkness that was around him. Yates was unconscious on the ground next to him. "Captain..." He began as he tried to wake him.
"Keep your voice down boy." came a voice from behind him. Benton turned rapidly trying to reach for his non-existant gun. A face was in the shadows. It continued, "They will hear you if you keep on like that." The man came out into the opening and looked at him. "So you are from Earth?" He looked at Yates and said, "Get him back here before they find the lot of us." He pointed to the shadows.

Yates began to come around and sat up. "What's going on?" He stammered.
"Shhh" The man replied.
"You're one of the missing scientists" Yates recognized his face from the briefing reports.
"So I am. Now you and your friend had best get in here and remain quiet."

As they followed, Benton asked, "Where are we?"
"Hell." Was the only response he got.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Seven

by Davros 41

Yates and Benton followed the man, Carter, down a dusty stone passageway. They moved cautiously, at Carter's insistance. From the side passages the two soldiers got occasional glimpses of robots floating past, much like they had seen in the pyramid on Earth.

Eventually they made it to the end of the passage and onto a stone platform looking out over a valley. A valley on an alien world.

Yates uttered a quiet curse as he looked out onto pale green sand, strange trees and three oddly shaped satellites casting their faint glow over the evening landscape. A small settlement sat in the sand below the pyramid.

"Well, I'd say we're not in Kansas anymore, sir," Benton said.

Yates smiled. Benton could always be relied on in a crisis. While UNIT soldiers were generally well trained for any situation, there were few he would have swap places with the Sergeant right now.

"Yes, Benton," he replied. "We do seem to be a little far from home." He turned to Carter. "Have you made contact with the local population yet?"

The man frowned through his scraggly beard. "We had to, seeing as it's taken you so long to find us."

Yates was a little confused by this. "Well, it might have taken a week to organise everything, but I wouldn't call that a long time."

Carter looked at him strangely. "A week?" he echoed. He looked out across the desolate landscape. "I've been here for four months!"

*

The Doctor and Liz stood in total darkness and silence. A click heralded a beam of light from The Doctor's pocket torch.

All they saw in the pale light was a stone passageway, dust motes drifting past the end of the torch and darkness beyond it's reach.

"After you, my dear," The Doctor said.

Liz shook her head. "No, after you, Doctor. I insist."

The Doctor grinned. "Very well, after me then!" So saying he set off down the passage with Liz following closely behind.

*

The Brigadier thumped the bonnet of the buggy in frustration. Damn The Doctor! Why did he have to be so damned impulsive?

He looked up into the sky when he heard the sound of rotor blades chopping the air. A UNIT helicopter appeared around the side of the pyramid.

The Brigadier sighed. Here came the cavalry, charging over the hill just too late.

Yates, Benton and Carter carefully descended the steep rocky hillside towards the shanty town. The night air was warm and dark, oily clouds kept drifting in front of the three moons hanging in the darkened sky.

"So, you've been here four months?" Yates asked Carter.

"That's right, as far as I can tell. And only a week has passed on Earth?"

The Captain nodded. "No doubt The Doctor could explain it," he mused. He turned back to the unkempt scientist. "Is your colleague, Sheridan, at the camp we're going to?"

Carter shook his head. "Dan Sheridan died last month," he said. His voice was matter of fact but his eyes betrayed his sadness.

"I'm sorry," Yates replied. Carter didn't respond and the rest of the journey passed in silence.

*

The settlement was larger than it had appeared from the plateau outside the pyramid. Even at night, the narrow streets were bustling with people.

The people of this world were hairy bipeds, seven feet tall and uniformly thin. They had sunken eyes and stooped shoulders. Yates could imagine that when healthy, they would be an impressive sight. Now they were a sad looking bunch.

Benton was looking around himself with a fixed expression on his face. Yates decided to seek his opinion.

"What do you think, Sergeant?"

Benton seemed a little surprised by the question, but quickly gathered himself to form an answer.

"Poor hygiene and sanitation, flimsy construction, little available food and poor climate. Not somewhere I would like to bring the lads for too long."

"Indeed," Yates replied. He agreed with the Sergeant's general assessment of the place and people, but Yates always liked to get another opinion if possible. A good solider listens to his men, his father had taught him. You don't have to agree, just listen.

Carter led them down a side alley and through a rough, canvas type flap. Inside the tent smelled of something pungent but probably best unknown.

"This has been my home for the last four months. You're welcome to share it too."

Yates and Benton looked around them. There were at least six other people in the tent, all sleeping. Carter took them over into a corner, where the floor was clear. He handed them a couple of sheets of rough sacking.

"You can sleep here, away from the others. I will explain your presence to them in the morning."

"Thank you," Yates replied, slipping out of his uniform jacket.

"Yes, cheers mate," Benton responded, putting his sheet down next to his Captain. Carter nodded and went over to his 'bed'.

"Do you think we'll be here for long, sir?" Benton asked when Carter was out of earshot.

Yates shrugged as he unbuttoned his shirt. "Impossible to say. If The Doctor takes a day to figure out how to get into the pyramid, how long will have passed here? Two weeks? Three?"

Benton frowned slightly. "I'll assume that's a yes then, sir." he said quietly, removing his own shirt and crawling under his blanket.

Yates waited until the Sergeant quickly fell asleep before going back outside the tent. Being careful to remember the way back, he walked to the edge of the settlement.

He stood looking out over the desolate valley, thinking about Earth. He realised with a jolt that one day, his own world could look like this. And it didn't need help from an alien goddess, mankind was doing the job of fouling it's own nest very well, thank you.

As he watched the first of the moons set, the warm wind blowing gently across his bare chest, he wondered if he would ever see his own world again. One of the scientists had died on this world, and Carter did not look well. Would he and Benton live to see rescue?
The Doctor and Liz reached the end of the passage. It finished in a blank stone wall.

"Strange," The Doctor murmured. He turned to Liz. "Would you hold this please, my dear?"

"Yes, Doctor," she replied, sighing. That was one of the reasons she left UNIT. At times she felt like all The Doctor needed was someone to hold things, fetch things and tell him how clever he was.

The Doctor examined the wall in front of him with both hands while Liz held the torch. He frowned slightly.

"This isn't a wall, Liz," he said, reaching into his pocket.

"What? Of course it's a wall!" She reached past him and rapped her knuckles on the stone. It was solid.

The Doctor smiled his infuriatingly smug smile. He brandished his sonic screwdriver.

"Watch this," he said. He made an adjustment to the device and passed it along the top of the 'wall'. When he reached the corner, he followed it down. He went all around the edges of the wall, then made a further adjustment. He aimed his device at the centre this time and the wall vanished.

Liz gaped at him. "What did you just do?"

The Doctor smiled as he returned the sonic srewdriver to his pocket. "Firstly, it was a forcefield, not a wall. It was made to look and feel like a wall. Once I deduced this, it was simply a matter of reversing the direction of the positron flow."

"Well. As simple as that," said Liz. "Who would have thought it?"

"Don't worry, Liz, I wouldn't expect you to understand. This level of technology is far beyond anything developed on Earth."

"You know, that makes me feel so much better," Liz told him.

"Good," The Doctor beamed, completely missing the sarcasm dripping from Liz's words. "Ladies first?" he offered again.

She shook her head, smiling. "Whatever monster is through there, I'm going to let it eat you while I run away."

This time The Doctor grinned. "Good plan, Liz," he said as he started down the newly exposed tunnel. "But I should warn you, I'm a former joint winner of the annual Delrathi seven legged race."

Liz laughed as they proceeded down the stone corridor. Soon they could both see a glow from the far end.

"What is it?" Liz asked, lowering her voice as she did.

"Don't know," he replied honestly. "Let's find out."

They approached the golden glow carefully. It came from a high doorway at the end of the tunnel. They reached the doorway and cautiously stepped inside.

The room was high ceilinged. Around the walls were banks of sophisticated looking machinery. The floor was covered in exotic rugs and furniture. Inlaid into everything was what appeared to be gold and precious stones. Liz gasped and even The Doctor looked impressed.

"It's magnificent," she breathed.

"Very impressive," The Doctor commented.

Neither of them had noticed a golden throne, set into an alcove behind them. A figure reclined on the throne, a woman with jet black hair, streaked with crimson. She had changed her dark grey tunic for an elaborate dress of crimson and gold. Her glowing eyes were fixed on her visitors.

"Who are you, who disturbs the rest of Ehlia?"

The Doctor and Liz spun round, caught by surprise. The Doctor quickly recovered.

"I'm The Doctor and this is Elizabeth Shaw."

She waved his words away with her hand. "It doesn't matter who you are. For the crime of entering my throne room, you will be put to death!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Eight

by esherrouse

Liz stepped back as the Doctor stood firm. Her first inclination was to run, but she felt a sudden chill in her spine. She was frozen solid.
"Wait!" The Doctor exclaimed as he examined the being in front of him.
Ehlia waved her hand in the air again and then spoke, You are not of this world. What sort of creature are you?" She seemed perplexed as her head tilted forward and her eyes began to glow more intense.
The Doctor stared into her eyes with all of his concentration. The mental strain was incredible. He could feel himself weakening. It was as if each moment an ounce of his soul was dripping away in painful drops.
"I am called the Doctor. I am from the planet Galifrey. I am a Time Lord." He strained to get the information out.
"Galifrey?" Ehlia turned her head toward an instrument on the far side of the room. It began to hum. "Ahh, a small primitive people in the constellation of Kasterborous." She then looked back at the Doctor with a more puzzled look. "A Time Lord?"
"Perhaps my people are primitive in many ways when compared to such beings as yourself. But I would wager that your information is rather dated." The Doctor could feel a release being granted. She was allowing him to speak freely.
"Why are you here? Do you seek to harm me or imprison me? As do the Servitors?" Her voice was melodic. She seemed to be enchanting suddenly. It was as if a spell had been cast across the room and she was luring them in.

The Doctor looked to his side at Liz's paralyzed face. She had not spoken or moved since this creature began. "I wish you no harm nor does my colleague here. We are merely investigating this tomb in search of our friends."
"You are not slaves of the Servitors?" She smiled in the most alluring manner.
"We know nothing of these Servitors of which you speak." He replied. He tried to convey the greatest amount of honesty that he could muster. She was probing his mind and he could feel it.
"You are a strange creature, Doctor. Why do you interest yourself with these primitives?"
The Doctor smiled for a moment and then said, "You see, I am exiled here by my own people. I ..."
Before he could continue, Ehlia interrupted with a chuckle. "Ah yes, that is the bitterness I sense. You are a prisoner like myself. We have both been confined against our wills. Perhaps we can be of use to each other in our mutual escapes. Fate, it seems has brought us together, Time Lord." Ehlia paused with a slight look of concern as a noise came from one of the adjoining corridors.
The Doctor looked down at Liz and noticed she was free. She looked up at the Doctor and then they both looked down the corridor. Ehlia began to mutter something under her breath as a pair of Servitors came into sight.

"Run!" The Doctor pushed Liz toward a corridor opening on the opposite side of the room as bolts began to fire from the approaching Servitors. A column of white light surrounded Ehlia. The Servitors fired in futile attempts and the beams seemed to be absorbed by the spiraling white light shielding her. Liz and the Doctor raced down the corridor trying to find something familiar that might lead them back to the surface.

"Doctor, Over here!" Liz had noticed sun light coming in from an opening. It had to be the entrance. He rounded the corner and they
both began racing up the stairs. In front of them the doorway began sliding into place. Liz was running as fast as she could. The door closed in front of her as she feel to the ground following the sliver of light that had disappeared before her. She looked back as a beam of light engulfed the Doctor. His look was one of apology as his body disappeared into nothingness. The Servitor chirped forward for it's next prey. Liz back away as far as she could as a beam of light swarmed around her body.

Just outside the opening the beams of light could be seen illuminating the entrance. The UNIT troops took position as the Brigadier ordered them to prepare their weapons. The recent arrivals had secured the area. Nothing was going to get in or out of this pyramid without going through every last man that UNIT could muster. The Brigadier surveyed the area. He had already lost the Doctor
and Liz, who most likely knew exactly what was behind that doorway. Two of his best men were also missing in action. He was not in a pleasant mood.

"Alright men!" He announced through the bullhorn. "As soon as I give the word I want whatever comes out of that hole in the ground leveled." He looked over his men one more time. They were more than prepared.

Inside the monument, Ehlia could feel her energy weakening. She needed time. The servitors must be distracted. She smiled as she thought of the primitives of this planet and what the servitors would do to them. She focused her mind as the machines began to pulse with energy. She then began to withdraw toward the pair of columns that had revealed her to this world. The Servitor paused for a moment as if receiving new instructions. Ehlia vanished.

The passageway opened as a human sized robot of some sort emerged. It appeared to move awkwardly as it surveyed the sandy area outside the pyramid. A blue streak seemed to pulsate around it's chest as if it were charging up to fire.

"Fire!" The brigadier ordered. He had never been one to wait and ask questions. He knew the situation well enough and he was certainly not about to give some metallic war machine the upper hand at a time like this. The soldiers fired round after round into the creature as it stumbled back into the entrance. It looked defeated for a moment as the first few rounds quieted at the sign of the Brigadier's raised hand.

Before the Brigadier could give the next order; the servitor unleashed a bolt of energy that obliterated the helicopter and sent many of those closest to it flying through the air. The Brigadier dropped down behind the barricade. "We need immediate back up. I repeat, immediate back up" He ordered over the hand held radio. "Fire!"
The soldiers released all that they could as the clumsy robot pressed forward out of it's trench. Behind it appeared another of it's kind. After a few minutes there was a small cluster of them securing the area around the tomb opening.
"Grenades!"
Explosions ripped the air as sand and bodies seemed to fly with ease around the battle zone. Beams of light shot out of the sand. It was impossible to see where any of them were coming from. UNIT jeeps were being replaced with charred craters and bodies littered the ground. The Brigadier could see the fear in his men. They were good men. They would fight to the bitter end. That is what they were here for. But he was not about to go that far. Not yet.

"Pull back! Get behind demark two!" He yelled over the radio and then the bull horn. The firing paused momentarily as the troops scurried back into make-shift trenches that were farther away from the pyramid. The Servitors fired haphazardly at the fleeing troops, but they too paused in their assault. The area was secure.

It had been nearly a two weeks since they had arrived on this God forsaken world. The heat was unbearable in the daytime and most of the nights reduce them to a shivering huddle. They lacked the natural hairiness of their new neighbors and they could feel the difference each night as the frigid wind cut through the camp. Water was another issue. Within the camp there were sub-groups that had jurisdiction over certain watering holes. To violate these unwritten laws meant death. It was not a violent death by brutal methods such as stoning or the like, but it was death by ostracism. The violators were cast out of their group. In most cases this meant setting out to find another camp across the wastelands or begging another group to allow you to join them. Most often, it was the wastelands.

Carter had befriended one of the more amiable tribes which thought of he and his friend as a curiosity that they should have. It was almost a form of prestige among the other tribes. This is not to be confused with any sort of worship. Carter and his kind were merely oddities that brought attention to that group and were revered as a sort of freak show. But in this world, even those oddities must support their weight or the cost of admittance is too great.

Yates and Benton had been through survival training courses on Earth. They had been abandoned at sea, dropped in the middle of a desert, thrown into the middle of a jungle. But nothing there had prepared them for this. This was brutal. At least on Earth they had the comfort of knowing that they would get home. They knew that even if they failed the training mission, someone would be around to pick them up for another go. This was different. This was reality. They were lost on a planet that looked like a wasteland. The only images that came close to what they were seeing were those of World War Two. And neither of them had experienced that firsthand. They did what they could to survive.

Carter had worked with them to establish a makeshift device to capture any amount of moisture that remained in the mornings after such cold nights. This offered at least one refreshing drink in the morning before the heat set in.
"How long do you think we have been here, sir?" Benton looked up from his squatting position near the tent.
Yates looked back at him,"I would guess a day or two at most. They might not even know we've gone yet." You could hear the despair in his voice. He then looked back over the camp. The inhabitants had been as friendly as they could have been to them. It was amazing he thought to himself as a slight smile cracked on his face.
"What's that, sir?" Benton noticed the facial oddity, given the circumstances.
"I was just thinking about how nice these people have been to us. They have so very little and yet they offered us a place here. They share their water and food. Nothing like what would have happened on Earth."
"How do you mean?"
"You know Sergeant. The greed. It is the driving force of our world. Everyone is out for themselves. They do not care about others or about what that greed is doing to everything around them. It is sad really."
"I suppose that was one of the reasons I signed up, sir."
"Why's that?"
"To make a difference."
"You're a good man. If only half of the population were like you."
"They're not all bad you know." Benton could see Yates' despair.
Yates looked back for a second and then smiled again,"I suppose you're right Sergeant." He looked down at the sergeant, who was still optimistic even now. He still had faith in people. Yates had remembered that same faith, but he had felt is slipping over time. Perhaps Benton was right. He then headed toward the tent.

"Sir!" Benton jumped up pointing out at one of the outlying hills. Yates turned around quickly and noticed Carter running toward the camp followed by the Doctor and Liz. They were racing toward them. Carter had his hand up in the air waving them rapidly toward the camp. The inhabitants began to scurry about as if in preparations for an air raid. Then they both saw why they were running. From behind the hill, a servitor emerged. The Doctor, Carter and Liz ran side to side as beams of light fired into the ground behind them. Debris flew into the air as the servitor loomed closer...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Nine

by davros 41

"Split up!" The Doctor yelled to his two companions as they ran down the hillside. He saw Liz nod beside him and move away. At his other side, Carter did the same.

Now he knew. A glance over his shoulder confirmed it. The servitor was following him.

He started to weave from side to side as he ran. The ground at his heels exploded as the servitor tried to lock it's weapon on to it's fleeing target.

The Doctor saw the settlement looming ahead of him. He couldn't risk the servitor firing on innocent beings, so decided to change course. As he was thinking this, his foot caught on a loose rock and he fell.

Rolling onto his back, The Doctor saw the servitor slow to a halt over him. He saw the weapons port in it's underside glow as it charged to fire.

*

Yates and Benton had stood, frozen, as they saw their three friends running towards them. They saw them seperate, the robot guard following The Doctor. They also saw him fall.

That was enough for Mike Yates. Known among the men as a man of action, he set out to prove them right.

He grabbed a metal bar, about the size of a cricket bat, from the table of makeshift tools beside them and ran towards The Doctor, who had rolled onto his back. As the servitor reached the fallen Time Lord, so did Yates. He swung the bar with all the strength he could muster.

The servitors were generally well protected. They could erect force screens to deflect energy weapons, had of course their own offensive capability and were extremely mobile. One thing their creators didn't build into them was protection against sheer brute force.

Yates' bar connected solidly with the robot. Sparks flew from the machine and there was a whine from the anti-gravity unit. With a fizz and a muffled bang, the servitor dropped to the ground beside The Doctor.

The Doctor looked from the fallen robot to his rescuer. He grinned at Yates.

"Howzat!" he exclaimed.

*

Ehlia flexed her mental muscles and smiled. It was almost good to be back.

Keeping everything together on the new world had drained her reserves. Until her powers were up to full strength, she needed familiar surroundings.

She walked out of the pyramid and surveyed her prison. She had come to hate this little planet. When the Old Ones had imprisoned her, the inhabitants of this world were barely into the hunter/gatherer stage of their development. While this made them easy to enslave, it had taken many generations before they were capable of trying to help free her from exile.

A servitor drifted past, ignoring her. Her smile grew. They would not challenge her so long as she didn't try to escape. It did surprise her slightly how much they had evolved too over the centuries. The Old Ones had given them adaptive software to deal with new threats. They had adapted to nearly everything she had been able to throw at them. The servitors on the new world, despite being the same orginally, were very primitive by comparison.

Sighing at the injustice of having to chase the alien herself, she set off towards the settlement, for she was sure that was where she would find The Doctor.
Through the powerful field binoculars, the Brigadier could see a group of four robots guarding the entrance to the pyramid. The glint of sunlight on metal from inside the passageway told him that at least two more were inside the entrance.

"Any movement, sir?" asked Major Aziz. He was the local UNIT commander and the troops used in the battle were his men.

"No, Major, they're still blocking the entrance. No way past them that I can see."

A Sergeant came up and saluted them both. "Sir," he reported, "we have lost eighteen men in battle. Another five wounded have been sent to hospital."

Aziz returned the salute. "Very well, Sergeant. Carry on."

"Sir!" Another crisp salute and the Sergeant left them.

The Brigadier sighed. "It's never easy losing men, Major. I'm sorry."

Major Aziz nodded his acceptance. "It's what we signed on for, Brigadier. Fighting threats to the safety of the world."

Lethbridge-Stewart frowned. "We don't know yet whether these robots are a threat. If only The Doctor were here."

"Your advisor?" asked the Major.

"Yes. Has a habit of being in the thick of the action. Not always the best place for him. Now he's inside that pyramid."

"Unless our metal friends got to him first."

The Brigadier had been trying not to think of that. After all, Liz, Yates and Benton were also presumably in there too. If he lost all four of them it would be a devastating blow to his section. Plus he had come to think of The Doctor as a friend.

They had shared many adventures together now, both this version and the scruffy little man the Brigadier had first met in the London Underground. It was sometimes hard to believe they were the same person, the unkempt wanderer and the exiled dandy. Then The Doctor would say something, probably speaking out against some injustice, and their similarities became obvious.

"If there's any way out of there, I'm sure The Doctor will find it."

"I hope you are right," Aziz commented.

At that moment, the Brigadier's RT came to life. He answered it quickly.

"Yes. Right. Fine. I'm very grateful, Captain. Over and out."

He put the radio down and turned to Aziz. "That was the Captain of the Ark Royal, on manoeuvres in the Med. If we need it, they can have an air strike here within minutes."

Aziz was now looking through the binoculars at the immobile servitors. "The way things went in the last battle, we may just need them next time."

I hope there won't be a next time, thought the Brigadier.

The Doctor sat, relaxing in a makeshift chair in Yates and Benton's sleeping tent, like he belonged there. He smiled at the two soldiers.

"So, two weeks have passed for you?" he inquired.

Yates nodded. "We know about the time difference, we encountered it when we met Carter. We've been missing what, a couple of days?"

"Something like that," the Time Lord replied.

"This time difference," Liz said. "Could it be due to the fact that this planet orbits it's star quicker than Earth, and is also closer in?"

The Doctor grinned. "My thoughts exactly, Liz," he said.

"How did you know that?" Benton asked the female scientist.

"Simple," she told him. "Not only is the sun hotter than on Earth, it's larger in the sky. It's also almost possible to see it move across the sky."

The Doctor agreed. "That's why for every day that passes on Earth, nearly two weeks go by here."

"Can you do anything with that?" Yates said, indicating the damaged servitor.

Fishing in his pocket, The Doctor produced a jewellers eye piece. He fixed it into his right eye and started removing a panel with his sonic screwdriver.

"It's a complicated piece of machinery," he commented, not raising his head, "but I should be able to at least understand the workings. Thanks for the timely intervention, by the way."

"You're welcome," Yates replied. "It was good to see familiar faces after two weeks here."

"But can we get home again?" asked Benton, ever practical.

"I don't see why not," said The Doctor, tinkering with the exposed innards of the servitor. "We just need to find out how."

Liz saw the two soldiers faces drop. The Doctor was too busy to notice.

She led them and Carter to one side, away from where The Doctor was working.

"Don't worry, we'll get home somehow. There will be a solution, probably a very obvious one, when we find it."

"You're a scientist too?" asked Carter.

Liz nodded. "I'm a former colleague of Ed Reynolds," she told him.

Carter's sad eyes brightened. "Is he alright?"

"He was a bit shook up by seeing you and Sheridan disappear, but otherwise he's fine. Where is Sheridan?"

Carter's eyes clouded over again. It was Benton that answered. "Mister Sheridan died here," he told his colleague.

From the other side of the tent, there was an exclamation. The four Humans returned to where The Doctor was working.

"What is it, Doctor?" Yates asked.

"I've managed to override the automatic systems. Should stop it firing on us."

"Hey!" said Liz. "I've had an idea. Can we reconfigure it's systems to send us home, as the ones on Earth sent us here?"

The Doctor thought for a moment. "I don't see why not. Good thinking Liz!"

"Yes, good thinking," said a strong, female voice from behind them. They spun round to see Ehlia standing just inside the tent flap, a feral smile on her face.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Ten

by esherrouse & davros 41

Benton and Yates both reached for some sort of weapon, poles actually, as any well trained soldier would. They instinctively prepared to defend the camp.

"That will be quite enough of that." Ehlia spoke as a blue light encased the two soldiers. They stood motionless. "You see, Doctor, this is my world. I can call on much more of my strength here."
"I am well aware of your strengths, my dear. There is no need to demonstrate on those poor fellows." He motioned toward his two imprisoned friends.
"Now they know how I feel. Trapped. I might as well kill them and show them that I am more merciful than my own captures." She focused on the Benton and Yates.
"No!" Liz exclaimed as she ran forward.
"I will not help you if you harm either of them." The Doctor said almost simultaneous to Liz's scream.
"You care for these primitives?" Ehlia smirked slightly as she though of how quaint this little man really was. He was only a step above them on the food chain. She concealed her laughter just barely.
"I do."
"These primitives?" Carter took exception to the comment.
"You will help me return to their world as well as many other worlds, Doctor."
"I shall, but first you must allow me to return these men to their rightful homes. Only then will I help you." He gestured toward Carter and the two soldiers.
"Very well. Let it be known that Ehlia is not as cruel as her captors. I shall allow you to return them as long as the female remains." She released Benton and Yates, who then fell to the ground. Both appeared drained by the encapsulation. Before the Doctor could respond, Liz was enveloped in a similar field. She stood motionless.
"I just need to make a few adjustments to this device before I can send them home. Then I will customize it so that you will have free roam of the universe again." His face revealed the strain of the decision.
"Excellent" Ehlia was elated with the sudden change of events. She had thought that the Earth would be her new home. A new prison, but with more people and technology far beyond that of this primitive planet. Now, the Universe would be at her fingertips again. She would make them all beg for the mercy she so longed for.

***

"Sir, there is activity from the robots. They appear to be returning to the pyramid."
The Brigadier heard the report and then looked at Aziz. They both knew what their orders were once the robots had withdrawn to the entrance.
Neither of them liked the idea of losing any more men. The Brigadier specifically did not like the idea of losing two of his best as well as the Doctor and Miss Shaw.
"When they have retracted to the entrance we will secure the area and attempt to seal it off once and for all."
"What about the Doctor and your men?" Aziz spoke the Brigadier's thoughts.
"These are direct orders from the top. We are to seal of this area by nightfall, with or without my men or the Doctor." He hated saying it, but it was his duty. It was a duty to the entire planet as well as to the United Nations.
"Yes sir." Aziz returned to his men.

***

"One more thing, Ehlia," said The Doctor, still tinkering with the inner workings of the servitor. "The natives of this world."

"They are even more primitive than the Earth creatures," she replied with evident contempt. "It took centuries of forced evolution to get them to a level I could fully exploit."

The Doctor looked at her sharply. "I want to find them a new home. This planet will only sustain two more generations, three at the very most."

"Do as you will, after I have gone back to the stars."

The Time Lord shook his head. "They must be released first. It's my final condition for freeing you."

Ehlia's face clouded with fury. She almost struck him down where he sat, before the half dismantled servitor. She managed to reign in her anger, thinking of the new worlds she could conquer.

"You dare put conditions on me?" she raged. "I could crush every living thing on the miserable planet with just a thought!"

"Then you would truly be imprisoned, my dear," The Doctor pointed out reasonably.

While Ehlia scowled at him, The Doctor turned to Carter. "Do you know how many more native encampments there are on this planet?"

Carter nodded. "There are two others, at either point of the pyramid. They are all that's left of the population, I'm afraid."

The Doctor smiled sympathetically. "It's not your fault, old chap," he said, looking pointedly at Ehlia. She returned his stare icily.

"I could kill your friends," Ehlia said darkly.

"I know," The Doctor replied. "But earlier, you were willing to show how much less cruel you were than those that imprisoned you."

Ehlia thought this over. All in the room, apart from the still frozen Liz Shaw, could see she was far from happy with this turn of events.

"Very well," she conceded. "But make their evacuation swift. I long to be back out in the universe, where I belong."

I know the feeling, thought The Doctor. He turned to Carter, Yates and Benton. "Could you chaps round up the remaining natives and bring them here? I should be ready within the hour."

Carter nodded, while Yates and Benton snapped off smart salutes. The Doctor waved them off. Military protocol was not for him.

***

The Brigadier and Major Aziz led their men forward carefully, fully expecting it to be a trap. Both were relieved when they were not fired upon.

"Right, men, spread out and secure the area," ordered Lethbridge-Stewart. He glanced over at Aziz.

The Major offered him a half smile. "It will take a little time," he said reassuringly.

Lethbridge-Stewart nodded grimly. "The Doctor has a habit of pulling off the last minute escape act," he replied. Silently, he hoped The Doctor had one more miraculous escape up his sleeve.

***

It had taken a little less than an hour to make the full preparations for the departure. Carter had amassed the natives as best he could. They were more than a little frightened of Ehlia's presence. Was this some sort of tribute that their new visitors had worked out with the Goddess? Were they to be sacrificed to her in some manner they had not witnessed in their oral traditions. It had been a constant story of the goddess crushing them and then rebuilding them as she saw fit. They knew not what to expect from her manic explosions. The Doctor looked up and noticed the frightened looks in each of their eyes.
"It will be alright. We are going to free you. You will be granted food and shelter. We just need your co-operation." He raised his hands in a motion for them to come forward.
"They do not trust you yet, Doctor." Carter observed. "Perhaps I should display that there is nothing to fear." He then communicated the same thoughts to the natives who listened attentively to the oldest of their new friends. He then approached the area that the Doctor had allocated for the departure zone. "See there is nothing to fear." He mentally crossed his fingers hoping that there was nothing actually to fear and that this Doctor fellow had his calculations right.
"Ready?" The Doctor asked in more of the form of a statement. He then activated the device which fired an amber beam out and engulfed Professor Carter. Within seconds he had vanished in a glimmer of light.
The natives recoiled slightly, but then seemed curious as to what had occurred. They looked to both the soldiers that they recognized and then to Ehlia who was growing furious with their hesitation.
"Go! You worthless creatures." She was growing tired of their hesitation. The universe awaited her. As she began to focus her energies in hopes to show these pathetic beasts exactly who their master was, a set of servitors glided into sight over the hill. She turned her attention to them. They had sensed the transfer. She had to cross soon or they would destroy her escape. She turned to the Doctor and declared,"Now! Send them now."

***

"Sir, the front line is reporting a man has just appeared in the entrance. They believe it is Professor Carter." The soldier reported to the Brigadier.
This was what he was waiting for, the last second escape that the Doctor had proved so proficient at in the past. Now all he had to do was keep the status quo and get them out of there. "Get him to me as soon as he is clear." The Brigadier ordered the soldier. Aziz looked over to the Brigadier, hoping that this was going to be the ending he had been waiting for.
In a matter of minutes Ed Carter was standing in front of the Brigadier and Major Aziz recounting his tale and expressing the need to help the aliens when they arrive. He also tried to explain that Ehlia was most likely going to be right behind them if not with them. Major Aziz retorted, "We are ready for her." The Brigadier had focused on the arrival of these aliens and began, "What sort of aliens? What are we supposed to do with them?"
"I am sure this Doctor fellow can work something out. He seems a rather intelligent fellow." Carter stated. "Besides, they are a peaceful people."
The Brigadier withheld his scepticism.
Suddenly a blast of brilliant amber filled the area. Many of the soldiers shielded their eyes. When they looked again the pyramid had a steady flow of thin, hairy bi-peds running from the opening. The servitors did not seem to take notice. They were content as long as the soldiers did not progress toward them.
"Get them into camp. Seal the area. This is Top Secret. Secure all access points and get them under cover now." The Brigadier knew the consequences of public knowledge of such an event as alien arrival. This was a non-event as far as the rest of the world was concerned and it was going to remain that way.

***

Yates and Benton disappeared from view just as the servitors from the pyramid arrived at the edge of the camp.

"You fool!" snapped Ehlia. "You've left it too late! You and your pathetic regard for those worthless sheep! We'll be captured!"

The Doctor smiled at her. "Do try to keep calm. I don't intend to be captured. Watch." So saying, he launched the modified servitor into the air. He had been changing the settings while Ehlia ranted. Now, it flew towards its fellows.

Sensing something amiss, one of the pyramid servitors fired on it. However, The Doctor had strengthened the force field protecting it. It fired back and the enemy servitor vanished.

Ehlia was impressed, despite herself. "You've improved the weaponry. Good."

"Oh, that's not a weapon. It's the transport device. I've sent that other servitor five miles away from here. It will take a while to get back."

While he had been talking, their servitor had despatched the others from the pyramid. It returned and hovered over The Doctor's head.

Ehlia nodded. "Now, Time Lord, free me."

"We'll need to return to the pyramid for that," The Doctor told her. "These servitors are single destination only. If you want to roam the universe, we'll have to access more sophisticated technology."

Ehlia's eyes blazed. "Is this a trick? Don't try to fool me, Doctor. I can crush you like an insect!"

"I'm sure you can, my dear," The Doctor replied mildly, "but I wouldn't dream of trying to trick someone as clever as you are. Now, shall we go? Oh, and please release Miss Shaw. We'll need her too."

"Why do we need her?" Ehlia asked suspiciously.

The Doctor put his hands on his hips. "Because she is a fully qualified scientist and will be very useful in figuring out the pyramid controls."

"Very well." The blue glow surrounding Liz vanished and she stumbled. The Doctor stopped her before she fell.

"It's alright Liz," he said, setting her back on her feet. Then the three of them set off towards the pyramid.

*

The Brigadier was very pleased to see Yates and Benton emerge from the pyramid. The two soldiers were dirty, tanned and tired, but still carried themselves with military bearing. He was proud of his men.

The aliens had been put into a holding camp a quarter of a mile from the pyramid until it was decided what to do with them.

Yates saluted his commanding officer. The Brigadier returned the salute.

"Sorry we're out of uniform, sir," Yates said, glancing down at his bare chest and ripped trousers.

"That's alright, Captain. Where are The Doctor and Miss Shaw?"

"Still on the alien world, sir. Before we left, The Doctor whispered a message. He said give him an hour, then seal the pyramid."

The Brigadier nodded. "Let's hope he doesn't leave it until just after the last possible second."

*

Ehlia was pacing the floor of the throne chamber. Their servitor had dealt with all opposition on the way back inside the pyramid. Now The Doctor and his friend were looking over a mass of complex circuitry set into the base of two columns.

"Come along, Doctor. I grow weary of waiting to take my revenge on the cosmos!"

"You're not really going to free her, are you?" Liz whispered.

Her only reply was The Doctor standing up. He pocketed his sonic screwdriver and smiled at Ehlia.

"The way is prepared. Simply step between the columns and you will be free."

Ehlia threw back her head and laughed. She ascended the stairs, as The Doctor pulled Liz clear.

"Once more the galaxy will tremble at my feet." So saying, she stepped between the columns.

Liz looked over at the Doctor, whose face revealed nothing. He stood watching Ehlia as bolts of energy started to shoot from the columns around her. Her body seemed to return the energy in kind. This continued as Ehlia became the focal point of all of the Column's energy. Her body was encased in an energy shield not unlike the one that had been used on Liz earlier.
She began laughing maniacally. The sound echoed throughout the chamber as the energy continued to magnify around her. It was as if all the power of the machines were coursing through her already powerful body. Both were feeding on each other.
She looked down at the Doctor and Liz and spoke, "I can see the universe! It is all around me! It will be mine!" She continued to laugh as the sphere of energy grew more brilliant and then seemed to implode on itself. There were still echoes of her laughter in the chamber.

Liz looked back to the Doctor with a worried face, "You didn't just let her out into the universe did you?" She was obviously some suspicion at the Doctor's tactics.

"I most certainly did, Miss Shaw. I never go back on my word." He offered a partial smile as he stroked his chin with his hand.

"What?" Liz was amazed. "Of all the..." She paused as she notice the partial smile turning into a full grin. "What is it?" She asked, this time more out of intellectual curiosity than amazement.

"Ehlia has been released out into the universe. You might say that she has been released out into every part of the universe." He walked over to the machinery to offer it as an aid in his description. "You see. I redirected the transport field so that the machine attempted to send her to every co-ordinate that it had stored in it's system. The result is that our lovely Ehlia gets to see the universe from a more constant state. She is imprisoned at the threshold of release at every point in this system. Each of them are pulling her in every direction and none of them can release her due to the conflict of energy."

"So she is in a perpetual state of balance?" Liz smirked as she realised the Doctor's direction of thought.

"You might say she found an inner peace after all." He laughed to himself as Liz tried not to roll her eyes. He then continued with, "She became one with the universe." Liz could not resist and allowed the eyes to roll after that.

***

Major Aziz approached the Brigadier, "It has been nearly an hour, sir. Do I order the air strike?"

The Brigadier paused for a moment and the looked at his watch. "Contact the Ark Royal and inform them to prepare for a strike. That will give the Doctor and Miss Shaw a few more minutes to get out of that thing." He then looked to one of the nearby soldiers and commanded, "Pull all available men back out of the strike area." The soldier ran off as ordered.

Benton and Yates had returned to the Brigadier's side after hearing of the planned air strike. Their faces expressed their worries over the Doctor and Liz. Benton finally spoke, "Can't we at least give them 30 more minutes?"

The Brigadier responded solemnly, "I have given the Doctor all the time I can give him. We are already beyond the time limit of the UN. They want this thing sealed off now."

Within seconds a series of jets flew through the sky. "A fly by" Yates commented. "The next one will be for real." They each looked at one another as they started off for cover.

"Sir, look." Benton pointed at the Pyramid opening. Out of it emerged the Doctor and Liz. Both seemed to be in a fairly jovial mood before they noticed the waving hands and heard the screams of warning to get away from the pyramid. Then the jets returned and they knew the course of action. Both set off in a mad sprint for the entrenched area. The missiles were released as the Doctor and Liz dove to the ground. Explosions erupted behind them as the Pyramid collapsed in a ball of fire. The Doctor looked up to see the Brigadier standing over him.

"You couldn't wait one more minute." The Doctor inquired with a tone of frustration.

"We waited as long as we could, Doctor." The glare of the flames were bouncing off the Brigadier's stoic face as he stared out over the desert sand. "Besides, now that you are free, we have no need to allow those robots free roam of the area. It was imperative that we contain or destroy them. Seeing as we could not contain them, this was our only option."

The Doctor stood up and helped Liz to her feet. "What exactly to you plan on doing with those." The Doctor pointed to an alien who was peeking out of one of the nearby tents to see the fireworks display of Her Majesties Royal Air Force.

The Brigadier waved a hand ordering a soldier to close the tent off, just in case. "That will all be sorted out in time, Doctor."

"The Doctor developed a method of transporting them to another planet just as the servitors had done us."

"You are too modest, Liz. It is a point of fact that she developed the said method. I merely applied it." He smiled at Liz for a moment and then looked back to the Brigadier. "So once your men have finished playing in the sand box here, I suggest you get to work on digging out one of those servitors so that we can get these people to a more hospitable planet."

With that he walked off toward one of the nearby jeeps. Liz smiled at the Brigadier and then followed suit. The Brigadier could only reply, "More hospitable planet?"

- The End -
