Free Doctor Who: Time and the Rani by Pip Baker, Jane Baker

cape.
    Mel, transfixed by fright, was enveloped into the embrace of the nightmarish apparition.
    'The Mistress . . . will be over . . . joyed to see you . . .' With the tenderness of an obscene lover, Urak's lips drew closer to Mel's face.
    The forked tongue darted, piercing her ashen cheek.
    A scarlet glow emanated from Mel . . . When it faded, she was stiff. Paralysed. Only her wide, terror-stricken eyes had movement.
    Urak released her to the guard.
    'Uoy wonk erehw . . . ot ekat reh!' Translated from the Tetrapyriarban, his instruction was: 'You know where . . . to take her!'
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    14

The Centre Of Leisure
     
    Flight, the fugitive Doctor decided, should not be a rash skedaddle. No, it should reject the obvious; he opted for a longer, more arduous route.
    There was also an added bonus: the labyrinth of misshapen rocks provided excellent cover.
    Or so he thought!
    'Stop! Don't take another step!' came a warning.
    'This is a turn-up for the cook!' exclaimed the Doctor. 'A talking rock!' For only an inanimate monolith confronted him.
    Until Ikona's golden mane poked from behind it.
    'You must be the Doctor!' A conclusion accompanied by a wry smile. 'I've met your companion, Mel.'
    'Well, don't hold that against me.'
    'I can see where she gets her sense of humour. And you're going to need it!'
    'That bad?' The Doctor had stayed rooted to the spot.
    'Move those stones. Very gently!'
    The Doctor obeyed . . . glistening in the granulated shale was the percussion cap of a 'bubble'.
    'More of the Rani's nasty tricks,' he said, retreating. 'If you've met Mel, you must be Ikona-'
    Ikona had disappeared.
    The Doctor soon discovered why: a Tetrap guard had stolen up on him!
    'Er - haven't I seen you hanging around somewhere?' the Time Lord stuttered.
    Confident of snaring the escapee, the Tetrap levelled its net-gun. A firework was lobbed high in the air . . . disintegrated!
    Slivers of glittering foil cascaded onto the Tetrap, disorientating it. Blinded in all four eyes, the ungainly beast almost blundered into the Doctor.
     
    Almost, but not quite - the spritely Time Lord nimbly stepped aside - and the Tetrap stumbled onto the exposed mine!
    With a mighty whoosh , the 'bubble' encaspulated the Tetrap.
    'I'm forever growing bubbles,' gasped the astounded Doctor.
    'Come on!' urged Ikona. He knew the volatile sequence his firework had set in train.
    'Behind here!'
    The Doctor attained shelter fractionally before the 'bubble' detonated, obliterating the Tetrap guard.
    'Where's Mel?' asked Ikona when the dust had settled.
    He had to repeat the question: this Doctor, like all his predecessors, had an innate repugnance for violence.
    'Doctor! Where's Mel?'
    'Oh . . . Yes . . . Quite safe. She went with Faroon.'
     
    Safe?
    Paralysed by the venom from Urak's spitting tongue!
    The fetid murk of the eyrie now had a solitary segment of brightness. White pants contrasting with the brown pelts of the dozing Tetraps, Mel's rigid form was hanging upside-down from the rafters.
    Her eyes widened with revulsion as, next to her, a tawny membrane cape flapped while its owner dreamed a Tetrapian dream . . .
    'Tell the Doctor he can have the girl in return for the microthermister he stole!'
    The Rani, now dressed in her own scarlet clothes, was speaking to Faroon. She had been summoned to the arcade on the Rani's orders. Beyus was with her.
    'Er - how will I find this Doctor?'
    'You won't have to. He'll make contact with other Lakertyans, and try to stir up trouble.' A final injunction. 'And don't be taken in by his glib tongue.'
    She flounced into the laboratory.
    'Do as she says, Faroon.' Beyus sensed the reluctance in his consort. 'You know the price our people will pay if you disobey.'
    Disobedience was not worrying Faroon. Beyus's welfare was.
     
    'You would not try to escape as - as Sarn did?'
    Beyus's reply was gentle. 'Faroon . . .I have obeyed all the Rani's commands.
    Carried out the most