Free Doctor Who: The Sensorites by Nigel Robinson

beyond our own.
    'It belongs to the
one known as the Doctor. His mind was quick to realise our weakness
in the dark and to use it against us - but not unfairly, merely to
protect the girl called Susan. I sense great wisdom and compassion in
him; perhaps he can help us where our own scientists have failed.'
    The First Elder
finally acknowledged the fawning presence of his Administrator and
asked for his opinion on the matter.
    'Sir, you were
elected to lead our people because of your great brain,' he gushed.
'I would not dare to question your actions.'
    The First Elder's
tone was critical. 'Sometimes no opinion can be worse than a very
dogmatic one,' he said, leaving the chamber and taking the TARDIS
lock with him.
    As the door closed
on the Sensorite leader the Second Elder looked curiously at the
Adminstrator. 'You need not fear me,' he reassured him. 'You may
speak your mind.'
    The Administrator
approached him with the air of a conspirator. 'You are his second
opinion, yet he makes his decision without consulting you ..."
he began cunningly, playing on the Second Elder's ego.
    'He makes a wise
decision.'
    'But based on
trust! Do you trust these Earth-creatures?'
    The Second Elder
turned away, unwilling to answer the question. 'The decision of the
First Elder cannot be set aside,' he said loyally.
    'I would not
suggest such a thing,' the Administrator lied. 'But his mind is pure
- naive. We are realists.' He took a long breath before saying, 'That
is why I have beamed the Disintegrator into this room.'
    'Without
permission!' cried the Second Elder, evidently greatly shocked. 'You
are being presumptuous!'
    'I am the City
Administrator. It is my duty to protect the City and the One Who
Rules. If the Earth-creatures use force or commit one suspicious
action, the Disintegrator will eradicate them.'
    The Second Elder
regarded his junior thoughtfully. He did not trust the
Earth-creatures as did the First Elder, and perhaps there was some
justification for the Administrator's action. After all, the
Earth-creatures were aliens: who could know what their motives might
be?
    Finally he said,
'Very well. But you will do nothing until I have considered the
matter fully.' He walked slowly out of the room.
    As he did so the
Administrator called after him: 'I am acting for the good of the
Sensorite Nation. We shall not be safe until these Earth-creatures
are dead!'
    The journey down
from Maitland's ship to the Sense-Sphere had been swift. Despite
their fascination with the City's dazzling beauty the Doctor's party
were relieved when they finally reached the enclosed forecoun of the
Palace of the Elders. Throughout the short trip from the shuttle
landing bay to the Palace they had been the subject of wary stares from passing
Sensorites who backed away at their approach. It was exactly as if
they had the plague, thought the Doctor, and then realised that that
was precisely what the Sensorites believed. He made his feelings
known to the Sensorite Warrior who had escorted them down to the
planet.
    'Earth people are
not. . . popular,' he agreed. 'They fear that you may bring disease
and death to our people.'
    'We must explain to
them that this disease - if that's what it is - is nobody's fault,'
advised the Doctor. 'And besides, there are cures and remedies for
every malady.'
    The Sensorite
indicated his agreement, but then wagged a finger of warning at the
Doctor. 'Let the Elders explain this to the people,' he said. 'You
are forbidden to talk to the lower castes.'
    Susan raised an
eyebrow of surprise. 'Lower castes?' she asked. 'Do you have such
distinctions?'
    'Of course,' said
the Warrior, as surprised at Susan's question as she was at him. 'How
else can we tell what each is best fitted to do? The Elders think and
rule, the Warriors fight, and the Sensorites work and play.'
    The Doctor chuckled
to himself, rather glad that Barbara was not here. She would have had
a few things to say about this over-simplistic view of a