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Trion, he answered coldly, activating the controls. He
walked to the door and turned for one last look round the
console room before addressing the Captain of the rescue
ship. The TARDIS is on a time-delayed take-off. We have
fifteen seconds to get clear.
Peri watched the embarkation on the screen of the seismic
control desk. Now that s what I call a space ship. She
pointed to the huge Trion vessel beside the ruin.
Not much use to us, replied the Doctor, without taking
his eyes of the gauges on the console. The only way out of
here is by TARDIS. He glanced hopefully at the space
where the police box should materialise. Come on,
Turlough, he whispered nervously, for time was running
out. Nothing would hold back the surge of numismaton
and the subsequent destruction of Sarn. Nor was there any
way of preventing the renaissance of the Master, who lay
secure in his laboratory, guarded on all sides by the
impenetrable flame, and waiting for the healing vapour.
The cave began to tremble; pale smoke, smelling of joss
filled the air. An ethereal singing came from the corona:
and the flame around the Master s casket turned blue.
It s the surge! cried Peri.
Another blue miasma began to form beside the control
desk. Well done, Turlough! shouted the Doctor, as his
TARDIS materialised. He pushed the young American
towards the safety of the police box and turned to face his
adversary, alone.
The pale blue phosphorescence played around the box
in the corona. The head of the growing Master appeared
like the rising sun over the wall, laughing with
exhilaration as he felt the strength flow into him. The
Doctor stared, appalled, at the evil genius rising from the
cabinet. The Master saw his old enemy watching him. I
shall come from this fire a thousand times more strong, he
cried. To hound you, Doctor, to the borders of the
Universe!
The Doctor was trembling. He peered anxiously at the
control desk and back at the fiend who continued to grow
inside the corona.
There was another confident, mocking laugh from the
Master and then a gasp. The blue of the numismaton was
suddenly flecked with red and yellow. The Time Lord s
leering smile twisted to a grimace. He screamed with pain.
Cancel the reinjection immediately!
The Doctor did not move.
The Master struggled to escape the flame, but could not
stir from the corona. Doctor! he howled. I will plague
you for the rest of time for this...Agh! A blood-curdling
scream echoed round the cavern. The agonised Master
stretched out his hands towards his enemy. Help me,
Doctor, and I will give you anything in Creation!
Every instinct in the Doctor urged him to cut the
calorific gas he had fed back into the numismaton. He had
never before wilfully inflicted such pain on another living
creature, nor ever would again. In those dreadful moments,
the Doctor suffered with his fellow Time Lord all the
tortures of the damned.
Please, Doctor! The Master was weaker now. Pity me?
The Doctor just stared into the flames.
The fire turned to sheer white, and, with a final
withering scream, the Master disappeared from view.
The Doctor walked slowly across to his police box.
Black smoke filled the cavern and lava began to seep
through the cracking floor, as the TARDIS de-
materialised.
You okay, Doctor?
The Doctor leaned trembling on the control room
console. He turned, ashen, to the thoughtless girl. Do you
realise what I ve just had to do? He checked himself as he
saw her vulnerable, concerned face.
Yes, of course I m... okay. He grinned. Where s
Turlough?
Didn t show.
The Doctor nodded and began to set the co-ordinates
for the ruin.
The volcano was surrounded with fire. Lava poured from
its sides and would soon engulf the city.
Turlough stood with his brother beside Captain
Lomand, watching the last of the citizens file into the
transporter. Am I under arrest? he asked the officer.
Do you want to be? said the commander.
Turlough was hopelessly confused. Was the man tying
to make a fool of him? Captain Lomand smiled. Things
have changed on Trion since the days of the Imperial
Clans. We no longer persecute our political opponents.
You are welcome to return... He looked across to where
the blue time-machine was reforming beside the ruin. Or
not, as you please.
Embarkation complete, sir, shouted one of the crew.
Lomand glanced at the Fire Mountain. Time we were
gone.
Turlough looked towards the Doctor who had just
opened the door of the old police box. Please, Turlough!
pleaded his new-found brother.
Malkon, you board, said Turlough. Go on! he shouted
and ran to the TARDIS.
Do you need someone to put in a good word for you?
asked the Doctor, kindly.
The young Trion shook his head. My exile has been
rescinded.
I m pleased for you.
Across the open space, Captain Lomand stood patiently
beside the ship s ramp.
I shall miss you, said the Doctor.
I don t want to go, said his friend. I ve learned so
much. But there s Malkon... And I ve got to return some
day.
The Doctor nodded. Better go back while you re a bit of
a hero.
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