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'Oh, for a proper key,' he muttered, and sat back on his haunches to rest for a moment.

At that moment he heard the sound of a key in the door.

Speedily, the Doctor picked up one of the powerpacks and the safety-pins, and was stuffing them back in his pocket as the door was pushed open.

'Stay where you are, Doctor,' the Leader hissed.

He froze as the Terileptil strutted into the room, stun gun in hand.

'You are a foolish man, Doctor,' the Leader said, his eyes falling on the screwdriver.

'Drop the sonic device.'

He obeyed, sending the silver shape slithering across the floor. As it came to rest, the Leader fired, and the sonic screwdriver exploded, bursting into flames.

The Doctor looked at the twisted strip of smouldering metal, unable to believe what he saw. 'I feel as though you've just killed an old friend.'

'And soon you will join it.'

As the Leader spoke, Tegan, carrying a large covered box entered the room and placed it on the floor near the Doctor. Behind her came Richard Mace carrying a pistol.

'It saddens me that you should die,' said the Terileptil, 'but if I allowed you to live you would be a greater menace than all the primitives on this planet.'

'I think you overestimate me,' said the Doctor, looking suspiciously at the box Tegan had brought into the room.

'But there would be the argument over the TARDIS.' The Leader nodded to Tegan who started to uncover the container. 'I said I would demonstrate how I am to rid the planet of its primitive inhabitants,' said the Leader, the sibilance of his voice becoming more pronounced as though he were excited or stimulated in some way.

Tegan dragged the cover from the box to reveal a cage full of black rats.

'The infection the rats now carry,' the Terileptil continued, pointing at the box, 'has been genetically re-engineered. Though heavily infected, they will outlive you all.'

The Doctor looked puzzled. 'But you'll need thousands of them.'

The Leader's lip curled in an ugly smile.

'We have thousands. They are awaiting release in a nearby city. Their infection will kill every living thing,' he said, almost proudly.

'I thought the local plague was already doing that.'

Slowly the Doctor began to edge towards the box.

'Our rats will ensure there are no survivors.'

'A final visitation,' the Doctor muttered.

'Precisely! We do not need the primitives. Now we have your TARDIS we will be able to travel to any part of the Universe and acquire androids.'

'Such carnage isn't necessary!' The Doctor was angry.

The fins on the Terileptil's neck rippled slightly.

'It's survival, Doctor,' he hissed. 'As these primitives kill lesser species to protect themselves, so I kill them.'

'That's hardly an argument!'

'It isn't supposed to be.' The Leader strutted to the door. 'It's a statement!' His voice was harsh. 'If you try to interfere with the cage, your friends' controlled minds contain but one thought...' he turned to face the Doctor, his massive bulk framed in the doorway, '...and that is to kill you.'

The Doctor could only watch as the heavy door was slammed shut and locked. Mace and Tegan continued to stare about them, their expressions blank.

Urgently the Doctor turned his attention to Tegan. 'I know you never listen to what I say...'

She blinked back at him.

'...but please put the cover back over the cage.'

Tegan remained perfectly still, the bracelet on her wrist pulsing all the while.

'You can do it.' The Doctor made a sudden move towards the box, but Mace instantly raised his pistol and cocked it.

The Doctor stopped dead in his tracks and raised his hands.

'Just concentrate, Tegan' he continued, his voice insistent. 'Just concentrate and you can over-ride the control...think hard.'

She didn't move, just continuing to blink. The whole rhythm of her body seemed to be keeping time with the pulsating bracelet.

'Cover the cage, Tegan!'

This time she did respond