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the Doctor continued, trying to sound chatty. 'I've just seen Tegan, but I would like to know that the boy Adric is safe.'

'I have no interest in your friends.'

'That's unfortunate. Because our original purpose in coming here was to help you.'

'Help?' the Terileptil's voice was harsh and disbelieving. 'You would help a Terileptil?'

'To get back to his home planet, yes.'

The Leader let out a long, loud hissing roar. Simple reflex response to the sound propelled Mace one step backwards.

'You must think me a fool,' said the Leader.

'Not at all.'

'Look at me, Doctor.' The Terileptil lowered his own head as he pulled the Doctor towards him. 'Do you see this?'

Up until that moment the Leader had allowed no more than a three-quarter view of his face. He now turned to reveal, on the left side, a large carbuncle-like growth and heavy scarring that covered his whole cheek.

'This disfigurement is not natural to my physiognomy,' said the Leader.

'There is only one place in the universe I could have received such scarring: the Tinclavic Mines of Raaga. And to be sentenced to Raaga is always to be sentenced for life.'

He released the Doctor and pushed him back.

'Ah,' said the Doctor awkwardly. 'I should have guessed. But Terileptian law was never my strong point.'

'But you understand now? I am a fugitive, Doctor. The last place I wish to go is home.'

The Terileptil strutted away.

'I can see your point, but there are countless uninhabited planets where you could settle. You don't need to stay on Earth.'

'You imagine we would condemn ourselves to a primitive life without grace or beauty,'

the Leader hissed.

'You're highly intelligent. You have your android, your skills. Your way of life wouldn't be primitive for long.'

The Leader snorted, as though in contempt.

'I can take you anywhere you want,' the Doctor continued. 'A billion light years from your home planet. You'd never be found.'

'No, Doctor.' The Terileptil's magenta eyes stared down at him. 'A barren rock in space without a ship is not an acceptable alternative. Especially when offered by someone who is my prisoner and their ship is for the taking.'

'You didn't look after your own ship very well. I gather its break-up made a very impressive spectacle.'

Slowly the Terileptil turned on the Doctor, the fins on the back of his neck gently rippling. The Doctor had said the wrong thing. Even if he hadn't known the significance of the fins, the way they moved now said it all. The Leader was very angry.

'It cost the lives of all but myself and three comrades.'

'There are only four of you?' Although the Doctor's tone was basically one of surprise, the hint of relief was too strong for the Leader to leave it unchallenged.

'It will please you to learn that we are now but three,' he snarled. 'But it is enough!'

'Against the millions who already live here?' The Doctor's response was now urgent.

'You'll never be able to establish yourself on this planet.'

The Leader's fins began to settle as he crossed to the control-bracelet console. 'You are assuming we plan to coexist.'

There was a nasty pause.

'Genocide?' the Doctor said slowly.

Never having heard the word before, Mace turned to the Doctor confused.

'The primitives on this planet are too aggressive and wilful,' the Leader bel owed before Mace could speak. 'We have little need for them, especially now we have your TARDIS.'

'That won't help you!' said the Doctor angrily. 'And you'll find their elimination far more difficult than you think.'

The Doctor found he was wagging his finger at the Leader like an angry schoolteacher might at a difficult class of children. He felt silly and even more frustrated because he had been reduced to such a ridiculous gesture.

Richard Mace was less inhibited. 'This thing is talking of mass murder!' he shouted.

The Doctor grabbed the actor's arm as he started to move towards the Terileptil. 'This is not the time to become heroic,' he warned.