DOCTOR WHO AND THE CLAWS OF AXOS

by Terrance Dicks

  The Doctor took her hand and led her past. 'Come on, Jo. We're nearly there now.'

  They reached a wider passage. At the end of it they recognised the arched door that led to freedom. The door was steadily shrinking as though it was trying to close itself, but couldn't quite summon up the energy.

  'Quick,' shouted the Doctor. 'It's closing up!'

  Desperate to escape, Jo ran for the door and shot through the fast-shrinking opening in a flying leap. The Doctor was close behind her. As they hurtled through the gap, it closed convulsively behind them, in a last-minute attempt to prevent their escape. But too late. They were free! Picking themselves up they ran towards the Nuton Complex.

  Meanwhile, Axos was fighting back. The sudden unexpected surge of power was slowly being absorbed, controlled. The panic began to subside, the Brain began functioning once more.

  Weakly the Voice of Axos whispered. 'Source of attack identified. Power-surge is being channelled through Particle Accelerator. Concentrate power-reversal on this sector. Total destruction essentialrepeat—essential!'

  The Master stepped out of the TARDIS and looked round the silent laboratory. 'Well, gentlemen? Your congratulations would be in order, I think?'

  The Brigadier, Captain Yates and Bill Filer looked grimly back at him. No one spoke.

  'I see. How very ungracious. Well, if you'll forgive me I have a few minor repairs to complete.' The Master turned to re-enter the TARDIS.

  The Brigadier stepped forward. 'Wait!'

  'Why? You agreed to my freedom, and now I've earned it.'

  'We don't know that yet. Until we're sure what's happened..

  'Really, Brigadier, I promised to help you solve this crisis. I can't solve all your problems for you.'

  The Brigadier was unmoved. 'Captain Yates!'

  Yates's revolver was already covering the Master.

  Hardiman appeared at the top of the steps. 'Something's going wrong, Brigadier. They've absorbed the power, and now they're feeding it back to us!' He ran to the control room and flicked the switch of a public-address system. 'This is Sir George Hardiman. All personnel, your attention, please. Evacuate Accelerator sector. Shut off all power and proceed to blast-wall shelters. That is all.'

  He ran back to the laboratory. The Particle Accelerator started throbbing with power once more, and the cable-connections were beginning to smoke. The power-throb rose higher and higher...

  Hardiman took command. 'Into the main control room, everybody!'

  The Brigadier watched him go to a locker and put on protective goggles and heavy gloves. 'What are you going to do?

  'Disconnect those cables. Now, the control room, please, Brigadier.'

  The Brigadier looked at the rapidly-vibrating Particle Accelerator. The cables were pouring out smoke now and it was clearly dangerous even to touch them. 'Let me help you.'

  'No, Brigadier, this is my responsibility. I'm a scientist or I used to be. I'll join you as soon as I've finished.'

  'Very well.' The Brigadier waved to Yates and Filer, who herded the Master up the stairs at gun-point. The Brigadier followed, turning at the top of the stairs. 'Good luck, Sir George.' Hardiman didn't hear him. Gloves and goggles looking incongruous with his immaculate suit, he was bending over the shuddering console, a pair of insulated pliers in his hands. The Brigadier ran to the control room and joined the others.

  They watched through the picture window as Hardiman worked steadily at his task, seemingly unaffected by the din all round him. The power-hum had risen to a roar that was shaking the whole building. Tensely the Brigadier asked, 'How's he doing?'

  'Surprisingly well,' answered the Master. 'He'll have to take the trigger section out before he can disconnect the main cable. It's a tricky job...'

  'How much time has he got?'

  'Who knows, Brigadier? Who knows?'

  Hardiman pushed up the goggles to wipe the sweat from his eyes, replaced them and went on with his task. It was a very long time since he'd last had tools in his hands, but he worked calmly and steadily. with a curious feeling of contentment. Despite all the years in meetings and conferences, he could still do a real job when he had to... Like a man defusing a bomb, he unscrewed the last bolt and lifted the trigger-section free. Gently he lowered it to the floor.

  The Brigadier shouted, 'He's done it!'

  'Almost,' said the Master softly. 'Almost—but not quite. There's still the main power cable...'

  The cable was very hot now, and Hardiman's gloves were starting to smoulder. Carefully he unbolted the shackles and tugged. The cable refused to come free—the shackles had been warped by the heat. He tugged again... and again. He gave a final heave. There was a sudden explosion that hurled him clear across the room—but the main power cable was free, the end clutched in his gloved hand. The roaring stopped, leaving a silence that hurt the ears.

  The spectators in the control room rushed down into the laboratory. Yates ran across to Hardiman and knelt beside the body. 'He's dead, sir. The shock must have killed him instantly.'

  The Brigadier nodded silently. Filer yelled, 'Look out!' The Master, who had been last to leave the control room, was running for the TARDIS.

  Filer ran to tackle him, but the Master smashed him to one side. But by now Yates and the Brigadier were blocking the way to the TARDIS. The Master changed direction, and ran for the door. He almost made it—then an out-thrust foot brought him crashing down. He looked up. In the doorway stood a tall figure, grimy and rumpled, but still with a certain elegance. 'Dear me!' said the Doctor. 'Leaving so soon?'

  The Brigadier commandeered Hardiman's office for a combined meal and conference. The Doctor, Yates, Filer, Jo Grant and, of course, Chinn, sat round a big conference table tucking into much needed coffee and sandwiches. The Master, handcuffed, was an un-willing spectator. Also present was Ericson, a balding unobtrusive man who'd been Hardiman's assistant, and was now considerably alarmed to find himself in full charge.

  The Doctor, happily munching a chicken sandwich, offered one to the Master, who snarlingly refused. 'Temper!' said the Doctor reprovingly, and took a swig of coffee. 'Now then, Brigadier, you've sent out those warnings about Axonite?'

  'I've sent them out—whether any one will believe them is another matter. There's a tendency to regard them as a trick to regain control of Axonite.'

  The Doctor nodded. 'Very understandable, considering the earlier behaviour of friend Chinn.'

  Chinn glowered into his coffee cup, but said nothing. So much had gone so drastically wrong, that he was laying very low till the situation cleared. If there was any credit going, he could always grab it later.

  The Doctor put down his cup. 'Well, that aside, we've enough to worry about with the main body of Axos—here.' He gestured through the window in the direction of the mound. 'Axos is like a vulture, gentlemen,' said the Doctor dramatically. 'Its claws are already sunk deep into your planet and it has no intention of letting go. Soon it will activate the Nutrition Cycle—and the feast will begin!'

  Whatever that meant, Filer didn't like the sound of it. 'How's that again, Doc?'

  'The Axonite will cease to be dormant. It will begin to feed, and continue till every scrap of energy, every living thing has been consumed.'

  Ever-practical, the Brigadier asked, 'Well? How do we stop it?' He seemed quite confident that the Doctor would have an answer.

  'I'm not sure that we can.'

  Jo was horrified. 'There must be something you can do, Doctor?'

  'I can try.' He turned to Ericson. 'Can you commandeer the computer banks for me? I'll need to make some very complex calculations.'

  Ericson nodded. 'Yes, of course, Doctor. I'll clear them right away.'

  'Good, that's a start. Now then, Brigadier, I want you to keep constant watch on Axos. We must know its every move.'

  The Brigadier looked across the table. 'Captain Yates, will you see to that?'

  'Right away, sir. There's remote-control camera equipment in the Mobile H.Q. We could use
that.'

  'Off you go then. I'll be setting up my H.Q. in the lab. I want you in R/T contact all the time.'

  The Doctor stood up. 'Then that's it for the moment. Oh, just one more thing—I'm afraid I'll need him.' He pointed to the Master.

  Immediately Filer protested, 'Now just a minute, Doc...'

  'I'm sorry, Bill. You'll have to hand him over. The only way I can defeat Axos is by using the TARDIS. To do that I must have the Master's help. He has certain knowledge that is no longer available to me.' The Doctor smiled. 'Anyway, he's quite a competent mechanic. He may as well earn his keep! '

  The Master shot him a murderous glance, but said nothing. Reluctantly, Filer unlocked the Master's handcuffs. Jo leaned closer to the Doctor. 'How can you possibly trust him?' she whispered. 'You know he'll kill you first chance he gets.'

  The Doctor gave her a reassuring pat on the head. 'Don't worry, Jo. The Brigadier's given me this.' He produced the Master's laser gun. 'That'll keep him in order.'

  But Jo wasn't reassured. The Doctor was quite unused to carrying weapons, let alone using them. She couldn't help feeling that his nature was no match for the Master's evil cunning. Like Filer, she was very worried as she watched the Master follow the Doctor from the room.

  Loaded down with camera equipment, Captain Yates and Sergeant Benton struggled to the top of a low wooded rise and peered over the edge. Benton said, Right on target.' There below them was the low mound which was all that could be seen of Axos. 'It doesn't seem to be doing anything, sir. Just sitting there.'

  'Let's hope it goes on doing just that, Sergeant,' whispered Yates. 'Well, on with the show. Our viewers are waiting!' They set up the camera at a convenient vantage point, camouflaging it as best they could with rocks and branches. Then they moved carefully back down the ridge, laying cable behind them, until they reached their Land Rover which was hidden in a clump of bushes.

  Quickly Benton connected up the cable to the one in the Land Rover. Yates meanwhile was on the R/T. 'Trap One to Greyhound over...'

  They heard the Brigadier's voice. 'Receiving you loud and clear, Trap One. Over.'

  Yates glanced at Benton who nodded. 'All fixed up, sir.'

  Yates spoke into the R/T. 'Eyes down, look in!'

  The Brigadier's voice crackled back. 'Never mind the comedy, Captain Yates. Are you ready or aren't you?'

  'Sorry, sir. You should be getting a picture now...

  The Brigadier was watching a small monitor screen in the main control room. On it appeared a clear picture of Axos—doing, as Benton had just observed, precisely nothing. 'Affirmative, Trap One. Maintain surveillance.'

  The Brigadier put down the R/T set as Chinn bustled into the control room, a chicken sandwich still clutched in his hand. 'Brigadier, I demand full access to the communications equipment. Unless I'm allowed to send reports to the Minister, to the country, Britain will get the blame for all this.'

  'You mean you'll get the blame,' said the Brigadier unpleasantly. 'And quite right too, Mr Chinn.'

  'If you don't allow me access to the Ministry...'

  The Brigadier lost patience. 'We are in the middle of a major crisis, Mr Chinn, and I have more to worry about than your desire to whitewash yourself. Now, stay out of my way or I'll have you put under arrest.'

  Chinn lapsed into an offended silence, wandering over to the picture window. In the laboratory below, the Doctor and the Master were busy dismantling the Particle Accelerator. Perched on laboratory stools, Jo and Filer were chatting quietly.

  Jo couldn't help smiling at Filer's gloomy face. 'Cheer up, Bill! You look like a disappointed bloodhound.'

  'All bloodhounds look disappointed. It's an occupational disease.'

  'Why so gloomy? You've got your man! '

  'Have I? I don't like it, Jo.'

  'Nor do I. But all we can do is wait.'

  Filer shook his head. 'I don't mean the hanging around—I'm used to that. Or even the Axos business. That seems to be out of our hands...'

  'Then what is worrying you?'

  'They are.' He nodded across the laboratory. 'Look at 'em! Thick as thieves.'

  The Master and the Doctor stood by the Particle Accelerator, talking in low voices as they worked. Filer muttered, 'I've got a feeling there's something going on. Something we're not supposed to know about.'

  Jo said, loyally. 'Don't be silly, Bill. The Doctor's using the Master because he needs his help, that's all.'

  Inwardly she wasn't so positive. She remembered her own early suspicions when the Doctor had taken such a sudden interest in Winser's work. And why had the Doctor wanted the TARDIS brought down to Nuton? She knew how bitterly he resented his exile to Earth. Any chance of escape would present a tremendous temptation. Was the Doctor ready to buy his freedom at any price? Even if it meant making a deal with the Master? The dismantling process completed, the Doctor and the Master carried a pile of electronic parts into the TARDIS, closing the door behind them. Filer looked at Jo. Her face was as worried as his own.

  The Doctor unloaded his collection of electronic oddments onto the console and started sorting through them. 'The Master watched sardonically. 'I'm still waiting to hear this brilliant scheme of yours, Doctor.'

  The Doctor looked mildly surprised. 'Don't tell me you fell for that too? There isn't one. There's no way of stopping Axos now. Things have gone too far.'

  'Indeed? Then may I ask what we're doing here?'

  'Isn't it obvious? If you can help me to get my TARDIS going, we can both escape.'

  'Doctor! Are you actually suggesting an alliance?'

  The Doctor whirled round. 'Why not?' he demanded with sudden passion. 'Do you really think I intend to end my days as a heap of dust—on the second rate planet of a third rate star?'

  'What? You mean you're prepared to leave your precious Earth to the tender mercies of Axos?'

  'Certainly. You know why I'm on Earth. My fellow Time Lords exiled me here.'

  The Master stroked his beard thoughtfully. 'I see. But why should I help you?'

  'Well—we are both Time Lords.'

  'And mortal enemies, as you very well know! I'll need a better reason than that, Doctor.'

  'Very well.' The Doctor's voice hardened. 'If you don't help me, I'll hand you back to UNIT. You'll be a prisoner on a doomed planet.'

  'And you'll be doomed with me!'

  The Doctor nodded. 'I'm very well aware of it. We escape together—or we die together 1 '

  The Master was still unconvinced. 'Why so generous, Doctor? Why not hand me over to UNIT and escape yourself?'

  The Doctor looked shamefaced. 'I can't. The Time Lords have put a block on my knowledge of Dematerialisation Theory.'

  'Ah, I see. How very unfortunate.'

  'Well,' said the Doctor. 'Make up your mind. Time's running out you know—for both of us. Death—or freedom? Which is it to be?'

  11

  The Feast of Axos

  The Master looked thoughtfully at the Doctor. Was he really capable of such ruthless realism? But the logic of the Doctor's arguments was unanswerable. It pleased the Master to think that even the Doctor was ultimately selfish. 'Very well, Doctor. I accept.'

  'Good. Well now, you're the mechanic. How do we get the TARDIS going again? What's the answer?'

  The Master held up a complicated section of machinery. 'The answer, Doctor, is here—the trigger mechanism from the Particle Accelerator. It has the potential to supply the deficient elements of your dematerialisation circuit. With a little ingenuity I may be able to combine one with the other to produce a functioning whole. But it will take time.'

  'Not too much time. I hope,' snapped the Doctor. 'Right, you get on with the repairs. I'll look after the Space/Time Co-ordinates. I've already fed the equations into the computer.'

  'Once you'd have worked them out in your head, Doctor,' mocked the Master.

  'Once I didn't need your help for anything,' said the Doctor bitterly. 'But times change.' He started to leave the TARDIS, retur
ned and removed a component from the console. 'In case you finish before I get back. You might be tempted to leave without met'

  The Doctor left the TARDIS, slamming the door behind him. The Master chuckled, and started work.

  Inside Axos, all was calmness and order once more. The attempt to conquer Time travel had been abandoned. Axos was going about its normal business—the total absorption of all life and energy from a living planet. The Voice whispered, 'Data indicates distribution now complete. Activate Nutrition Cycle.'

  All over the world, scientists watched in horror as the Axonite they were studying began to grow... soon it was smashing its way out of their laboratories and destroying all in its path. Now people remembered the warnings sent out by UNIT. But it was too late. The Axonite was on the move...

  'It's surfacing, sir. The whole thing's just... coming up out of the ground!'

  As Yates's voice crackled over the R/T Chinn, the Doctor and the Brigadier watched the scene on the monitor in fascinated horror. Like a gigantic jelly-fish, the heaving, quivering bulk of Axos was rising out of the ground. The mound had become an enormous hill, and it was still growing. Soon it would be as big as a mountain, big enough to engulf the whole Nuton Complex.

  The Brigadier grabbed the R/T. 'Yates, Benton, pull out at once. Back to the Complex on the double.'

  Yates's voice was more than a little shaky. 'With the greatest of pleasure, sir. Trap One out.'

  The Brigadier put down the receiver. 'Well, Doctor, what happens now?'

  The Doctor studied the swelling horror on the screen. 'Axos will begin feeding. First on direct energy sources, like this Complex, then on anything in its path. It will grow even more, and become more mobile. It will probably send out smaller units to protect itself..

  The R/T crackled into life again. The Brigadier picked it up, and listened to the frantic voice on the other end. Then he said curtly, 'We're doing all we can. I'll keep you informed.' He flicked a switch and the set went silent. 'That was UNIT H.Q., Doctor. This stuff's on the rampage all over the world.'