Doctor Who - [073] - The Monster of Peladon Read online

  Sarah came to join him. "Doesn't look very loveable to me."

  "Well, this is a symbolic Aggedor, the real animal is very different." The Doctor stared up at the statue. "You know, when I first came here, Peladon was just on the point of joining the Galactic Federation. There was a good deal of trouble ... "

  "Not now, Doctor," whispered Sarah suddenly.

  The Doctor was hurt, "Well, of course, if you don't want to hear about it."

  "It isn't that, Doctor - but I think there's going to be some more trouble. Look!"

  The Doctor turned.

  Armed soldiers were filling the door to the temple.

  As they were marched into the throne room the Doctor was saying cheerfully, "Don't worry, Sarah, as soon as we see King Peladon... "

  He broke off in astonishment, at the sight of the slender young woman on the throne.

  The bearded figure beside the throne stepped forward. "You stand accused of both sabotage and of sacrilege. Do you wish to confess, before you die?"

  "No, we don't," said Sarah spiritedly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

  "Silence, slave. I addressed your master."

  "He's not my master," said Sarah indignantly.

  Ortron ignored her, glaring at the Doctor from beneath bushy eyebrows. "Well, alien?"

  The Doctor bowed low before the throne. "May I ask who I have the honour of addressing?"

  "I am Ortron, Chancellor and High Priest. This is Her Majesty Queen Thalira of Peladon."

  The Doctor bowed again. "And King Peladon?"

  "King Peladon was my father," said Thalira. "I was the child of his old age. He died when I was still a baby."

  "Name those who sent you alien," boomed Ortron, "and your life may yet be spared."

  The Doctor waved him away. "Yes, yes, in a minute, old chap." He turned back to the Queen and said gently, "I am called the Doctor, Your Majesty. Your father and I were good friends long before you were born."

  Thalira looked wonderingly at him. "I have heard stories of the Doctor since I was a child. How you fought Grun and spared him, and tamed the sacred beast ... "

  "And so has every child on Peladon," said Ortron scornfully." What better disguise for an alien spy and saboteur than to claim to be a legendary hero of our people?"

  The Doctor sighed. "You really are a suspicious old fellow, aren't you?"

  Ortron's face flushed with anger at the Doctor's insolence. Turning to the guard Captain he roared, "Take these alien spies away and cut off their heads!"

  Aggedor Strikes Again

  Guards seized their arms, and began to drag them out. Then a strange figure bustled into the throne room, and bowed before the throne.

  Sarah gasped. "Doctor, what's that?"

  "The answer to all our troubles. Alpha Centauri!"

  The Ambassador swung round, his tentacles waving wildly. "Doctor! Is it really you?"

  "Indeed it is!" Shaking off the astonished guards, the Doctor went over to his old friend. "Alpha Centauri, my dear fellow! What a well-timed entrance!"

  "It's like a miracle, Doctor! All these years, and you haven't changed a bit!"

  "Neither have you. A touch of grey in the tentacles, perhaps, but still the same old Alpha."

  To Sarah's astonishment, the Doctor enfolded the many-tentacled alien in an affectionate hug, which was affectionately returned by all six tentacles.

  "Ambassador!" boomed Ortron, reprovingly.

  Alpha Centauri swung round. "Forgive me, Chancellor, Your Majesty."

  "I take it these aliens are known to you, Ambassador?" asked Thalira.

  "Not the, er-female?" Alpha Centauri blinked enquiringly at the Doctor, who nodded. "Not the female, Your Majesty, she's of no importance. But this is most certainly the Doctor, a good friend of your father and of Peladon."

  Thalira inclined her head. "Very well. We shall release the aliens into your custody, Ambassador. But we shall expect a full explanation of their presence on Peladon."

  Alpha Centauri bowed and fluttered his tentacles. "Of course, Your Majesty." He turned to the Doctor. "Come with me, please, Doctor. You may bring the female."

  Sarah stood her ground. "Well, I don't think it's good enough. I think we're owed an apology, for the way we've been treated ... "

  "Not now, Sarah," said the Doctor warningly. "Come along." Grabbing her by the hand, he pulled her after Alpha Centauri. As they, left, Ortron approached the throne. "It is not wise to trust this alien, Your Majesty. Even if he is the Doctor-was he not the one who helped persuade Peladon to join the Federation, and so caused all our troubles? Why has he come here again? Will he not bring still more trouble with him?"

  Thalira said coldly, "If the Doctor is our enemy, he will soon betray himself. We shall not learn of his plans by chopping off his head. See that he is watched."

  There was a secret passage from the mines into the Citadel. Gebek was in that passage now, together with Ettis and a squad of armed miners. Ettis was one of the leaders of a resistance movement, sworn to drive the aliens from Peladon. Gebek was sympathetic to their aims, but still hoped to reach the same results by peaceful means.

  It was with that aim that he was about to enter the Citadel now. Ettis had no faith in his mission. "Gebek, for the last time, will you listen? Even if you reach the Queen, it will do no good. She and Ortron are puppets of the Federation."

  "We must try," said Gebek determinedly. "If I can only talk to the Queen ... "

  "All right. But if your talking fails, Gebek - we fight."

  Gebek clamped a massive hand on his arm. "There will be no fighting, not yet. You will all wait for me here. When I have spoken to the Queen, we shall talk again."

  Ettis waited till he was out of earshot. "Gebek is a good man, but he is too trusting, too patient. We shall give him time to get clear. Then while he is talking, we shall act."

  From the low growl of assent, it was clear that the others were with him.

  Gebek marched boldly along the corridors until he walked straight into a squad of palace guards. Outraged, they seized him. "Take him to the Chancellor," ordered the squad leader.

  Gebek offered no resistance. It was what he wanted, after all.

  Not far away, the Doctor and Sarah were heading for that part of the Citadel assigned to visiting aliens. Sarah was still protesting. "I don't see why I should put up with being treated like this. And as for your friend there!" She nodded towards Alpha Centauri, who was leading the way down the corridor. " "The female is of no importance,' indeed!"

  The Doctor grinned. "I knew you wouldn't care for that! Still, you should be grateful to Alpha Centauri, Sarah, they go in for rough justice on Peladon. Chop off your head and apologise afterwards."

  Sarah refused to be consoled. "If you hadn't missed the target by about five hundred yards and fifty years, we wouldn't be in all this trouble."

  In an anteroom just off the throne room, Gebek stood before Ortron under guard.

  Ortron stared disdainfully at him. "You know that the Citadel is forbidden to those of lowly rank?"

  Gebek chuckled, "Reserved for you nobles eh? And your masters, the Federation aliens, of course."

  Ortron flushed with anger. "Do not be insolent, Gebek! Why did you come here?"

  "I must speak with the Queen."

  "You should have petitioned for an audience in the proper way."

  "And endure endless delay? Things are too urgent for the proper way. I must see the Queen now-for the good of all Peladon."

  Such was Gebek's sincerity, that even Ortron was convinced. "Very well."

  Ortron headed for the throne room, and Gebek followed him.

  Ortron bowed before the throne. "The miners' leader, Gebek, Your Majesty."

  Gebek fell to one knee. "Forgive this intrusion, Your Majesty."

  Thalira said graciously. "Why have you come here, Gebek?"

  "To beg you to send the Federation aliens home. Otherwise there will be rebellion on Peladon."

  Gebek r
ose and began to plead his cause, not knowing that the rebellion had already begun.

  The massive wooden doors to the armoury were permanently guarded. More than the weapons of the palace guard were kept there-the strange and deadly weapons of the Federation aliens were stored there too.

  The guard before the doors marched up and down, wondering sleepily how long it would be before he was relieved. There was a patter of bare feet on stone, and half a dozen armed miners rushed along the corridor. Before the astonished sentry had time to react, they had pulled him down.

  The communications room was in marked contrast to the rest of the Citadel. Instead of stone and torches and tapestries there was bright lighting and massed banks of control consoles. Modern living quarters were attached. Here the Federation representatives on Peladon were able to leave barbarism behind, and keep in touch with the affairs of the galaxy.

  The Doctor had been introduced to Eckersley, and was now engaged in a heated discussion of the affairs of Peladon. "It seems to me, the Federation has brought an awful lot of its troubles on itself."

  "That is less than fair, Doctor," twittered Alpha Centauri.

  Eckersley said, "There have been so many difficulties."

  "All the same, it's over fifty years since Peladon joined the Federation and, from what you say yourself, all the miners have got to show for it, is more hard work for the same miserable rewards."

  "Peladon is a feudal society, Doctor. We attempt to bring them the benefits of our technology, but they are resistant to change."

  "And meanwhile we're under constant pressure from the Federation to step up the trisilicate production," said Eckersley. "It's essential to the war effort."

  The Doctor frowned. "That's something else I don't like the sound of-this war with Galaxy Five. I thought the Federation was devoted to peace?"

  "We were the victims of a vicious and unprovoked attack," said Alpha Centauri indignantly. "We have tried to negotiate a peace treaty with Galaxy Five many times, but they refuse to listen."

  The Doctor sighed. Sometimes he felt he couldn't take his eyes off the universe for a moment without it getting into trouble. "That's odd. This galaxy is much stronger than Five. They must know they'll lose in the end..."

  Sarah went over to Eckersley. Something about his relaxed casualness appealed to her, and she couldn't see herself chatting with that octopus thing. "What's so important about this trisilicate stuff, anyway?"

  Eckersley looked at her in surprise. "Most of Federation technology's based on it. Electronic circuitry, heat shields, inert micro-cell fibres, radionic crystallography ... Whoever controls the supply of trisilicate will win this war-and the biggest deposits in the galaxy are right here on Peladon."

  "And you think someone wants to stop you mining it?"

  "That's what Vega Nexos thought. He said it must be agents of Galaxy Five."

  The Doctor frowned. "Well, I suppose it's possible, my dear chap, but-"

  "Then where are they?" demanded Eckersley. "And how are they managing to stay on Peladon undetected?"

  There was the clangour of an alarm bell and an illuminated wall-map showed a flashing light. "It's the armoury," said Eckersley. He flicked on a monitor. "Well, well, well.'.

  The monitor screen showed a group of miners. They were attacking the armoury door with pickaxes.

  Soon the heavy wooden door was torn away-to reveal a solid sheet of gleaming metal.

  "Alien work," snarled Ettis. "Preba, why don't you go and find an alien to open it."

  Preba grinned. He was the youngest of the group, and by far the most daring. Snatching up the sword of the unconscious guard, he hurried away.

  Eckersley stood watching the scene on the monitor with amused indifference.

  "You don't seem very worried," said Sarah.

  "Wasting their time, aren't they? Solid duralinium, that door. Triple-security electronic lock, remote-controlled from here."

  "King Peladon insisted that all the Federation weapons on the planet be stored there," explained Alpha Centauri. "So we insisted on providing proper protection."

  Eckersley said casually. "Soon as old Ortron realises what's happening, he'll send a squad of guards to polish them off."

  Sarah was horrified. "You're not just going to sit there and watch them get cut down?"

  "Local politics, isn't it?" said Eckersley. "Not my concern! In fact, we're strictly forbidden to interfere, eh, Alpha?"

  The Doctor gave him a disgusted look, and headed for the door. "I'll go, Sarah, you stay here."

  The Doctor opened the door-and Preba sprang through it, sword in hand.

  Ignoring the Doctor, he advanced on Eckersley. "Alien engineer-you will open the armoury door for us."

  "Not a chance," said Eckersley calmly.

  "Open the door or you will die!"

  As Preba advanced, sword raised, the Doctor tripped him, twisted the sword from his hand and put him in an armlock.

  "Thanks," said Eckersley. "Pretty handy for an old feller, aren't you?"

  Alpha Centauri's tentacles were quivering in agitation. "You see the kind of dangers we face here, Doctor? Peladon is still a barbarous and primitive planet."

  "Maybe so, but its people have always been intensely loyal to the throne. If the miners have been driven to taking up arms, I should like to know why." The Doctor looked at his captive. "Well? Will you tell me?"

  Preba tried unsuccessfully to break free, but said nothing.

  "He's a fanatic," said Eckersley contemptuously. "He won't even talk to you."

  "Then perhaps he'd like to explain himself to the Queen," said the Doctor grimly. "Come on, you."

  Tightening his grip, he marched Preba out of the door. "You'd better stay here, Sarah. Alpha Centauri will look after you, won't you, old chap?"

  "It will be my pleasure, Doctor."

  As the Doctor left, Alpha Centauri moved closer to Sarah.

  Instinctively she shrunk away.

  "I have been told that humans sometimes find the appearance of my species frightening," said Alpha Centauri sadly. "Yet I assure you, we are a peace-loving and amiable race."

  There was such pathos in the voice, that Sarah couldn't help smiling. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. This place is making me a bit jumpy."

  Alpha Centauri laid a reassuring tentacle on her arm. Strangely, Sarah discovered that she didn't mind at all.

  In the throne room, Gebek was getting nowhere. Everything he said seemed to bounce straight off Ortron's opposition, without ever getting through to the Queen.

  "I tell you this, Gebek," said Ortron finally. "Your rulers have decided to support the Federation. It is not for such as you to question their commands."

  "The people have had enough of the Federation and its commands," said Gebek desperately. "There will be armed rebellion!"

  He looked appealingly at the throne, and Thalira said sadly, "Will you rebel against me, Gebek?"

  "I am loyal to the throne, Your Majesty, but ..."

  "Then order your miners to return to work," snapped Ortron.

  A panic-stricken guard rushed into the throne room. "Lord Ortron, armed miners have attacked the armoury. We drove them off and they escaped into the tunnels."

  "Not all of them," said another voice. The Doctor marched Preba into the throne room.

  Gebek stared at the prisoner in horror. "Preba! What have you and those other fools done?" He turned to the Queen. "Your Majesty, I swear I knew nothing of this."

  "We have the truth of it now, Gebek," sneered Ortron. "It is too late for your lies. You brought these men into the Citadel-then came here to distract our attention while they attacked."

  Gebek gave the Queen an anguished look. "It is true that I came here with them, but I ordered them to wait in the tunnels."

  Ortron waved towards the Captain of the Guard. "They are traitors. Take them away and execute them immediately."

  The Doctor kept a firm grasp of his prisoner. "Now just a moment, Chancellor. I brought th
is man here to talk to the Queen, not to have his head cut off."

  "Silence, Doctor! We have heard enough from traitors. These men have invaded the Citadel and carried arms against Her Majesty. Our laws demand their execution. Take them away!"

  As the guard came forward to take the Doctor's prisoner, the Doctor released Preba and shoved him towards the door. At the same time he grabbed the guard, spun him round and sent him reeling into his fellows.

  Seizing his opportunity, Gebek made a run for it. A guard raised his spear, Gebek's broad back a clear target before him.

  The Doctor reached out and knocked his arm aside, and the spear went wide. By the time the guards had sorted themselves out and surrounded the Doctor, Gebek and Preba had disappeared. There was more than one secret passage in and out of the Citadel.

  Ortron advanced menacingly on the Doctor. "So, you are in league with traitors after all then, Doctor. Since you have helped them to escape, you shall die in their place."

  "You really are very ungrateful, Ortron," said the Doctor reprovingly. "I've just saved you from a serious political mistake." He turned towards the throne. "The miners are already on the point of rebellion. How would they react if Gebek, their beloved leader, was killed by the Queen's guards in the Queen's throne room?" The Doctor paused, to let the impact of his words sink in. "He would have become a martyr, the inspiration for a people's revolution. And believe me, Your Majesty, there will be revolution and civil war on Peladon unless you let me help you."

  "And how will you do that?"

  "To begin with, by proving that the manifestations of Aggedor are caused by some kind of trickery. I'd like to examine the spot where he last appeared."

  Thalira considered. "Very well, Doctor, we will trust you-for the moment. Blor, our Champion, will be your escort."

  Blor stalked over to the Doctor and took up a position behind him.

  The Doctor looked up at the giant warrior a little apprehensively, wondering if Blor's function was that of escort or of guard. "Splendid! Ready when you are, old chap."

  As they left the throne room, Ortron turned to the guard Captain. "Send out patrols to all the mines and caves. I want Gebek-and anyone with him-captured or killed."