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The propulsion unit.

The Doctor gave a small cry of delight that didn't get much beyond the mouthpiece covering the lower part of his face.

The Geiger counter clicked alarmingly, and the Doctor had to remind himself that, even with his metabolism, prolonged exposure to radiation was best avoided. He checked his watch. Five minutes before Mike would expect him back at the surface. Just enough time for a better look at the alien craft.

As the Doctor came closer to it, something moved to his left He half turned in surprise, and found his face covered by a Waro that had come skittering towards him. The Doctor clawed away the goblin creature as another attacked him from behind. Then another.

They were all over him, ten or more, obviously left behind by the main force to prevent investigation of their landing site.

The Doctor cursed himself that he had thought the Waro so stupid as to leave the propulsion unit unguarded.

He was forcing himself higher in the water but the little creatures clung to him, sharp teeth and claws cutting into his wet suit and then his skin. The Doctor thrashed with his arms and legs, knocking another two of the creatures away from him, but there were too many of them and he was being dragged back down again by their weight and ferocity. With the last of his failing strength, he unhooked the oxygen tank from his back. Taking a final gulp of air from the mouthpiece the Doctor aimed the top of the tank away from him and twisted at the valve. The pressure within the cylinder was released, and the Doctor found himself flying upward through the water. The burst of oxygen from the tank was just enough to fling the Waro aside.

The Doctor held his breath, his eyes stinging as he shot through the water. Then, suddenly, he broke through the surface and gulped in fresh air. A helicopter hovered above him, lowering a line in his direction.

'What kept you?' he managed to say as he grabbed on to the steel cable with the last of his strength. He looked up to see Mike Yates's beaming face sticking out of the helicopter door.

'You look like you need a hand, Doctor,' shouted Yates above the roar of the blades.

'I was getting on quite nicely, thank you,' replied the Doctor drily.

Once aboard it took the Doctor some minutes to fully recover his senses and then struggle out of the wet suit. He was aware that Yates was asking him something but his ears were ringing loudly. 'Sorry, Captain?'

'Did you find what you were looking for?' repeated Yates.

'More than I bargained for,' said the Doctor. 'Why the helicopter?'

'It was sent down by Shuskin.' said Yates sourly. 'To let us know our presence is required urgently.'

'Why?' asked the Doctor.

Professor Trainor has been kidnapped. Liz didn't quite make it

lime. But she saw Viscount Rose's car leaving the professor's chambers at great speed. Oh, and Benton's awake again. Gave us a very good description of someone who left the hippie site just before the attack.'

'Rose?' asked the Doctor.

'Rose.' came the reply.

By the time the helicopter landed on the shore a large number of UNIT vehicles were already in place. Teams of divers, armed with Ilan guns, were disappearing beneath the cold water of the Channel. The Doctor and Yates climbed out of the helicopter, and walked over to the communications truck that was functioning as a temporary command centre.

Shuskin stood impassively, listening to a UNIT sergeant. She dismissed him as she saw Yates and the Doctor approach.

'Is Liz all right?' asked the Doctor.

'Dr Shaw is unharmed.' stated Shuskin. 'I have arranged transport for her. And local police have been alerted to the abduction of Professor Trainor.'

'So it seems the professor is innocent of duplicity,' said the Doctor, relieved.

'But Rose is in it up to his neck.' said Yates.

'He left this morning.' said Shuskin, gesturing towards old Norton's stately home. 'A search of the grounds has revealed only another victim of the alien creatures. All ports, terminals,