h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

SCREAMING LOCK

EPISODE ONE:

Partigan walked down the dusty, dank street slowly. After spending so much at the Kill Joint he was unaware of how quickly his life was going turn?
He carried with him a bag, a large leather bag inscribed A. G. PARTIGAN. He swung it gently as he strode down street just as there came a nearby cackling.
Pausing and looking cautiously around him at the empty street he shrugged and carried on. Then as he carried there came much louder cackling and turning, he looked scared.
The street behind was crammed with every low life imaginable, every braindead psycho grinning at him. 'Where do you think you're going, Partigan?' the lead said aloud.
'I have been called away, business you understand?' Partigan said hurriedly.
'No you ain't, who said you could go? Why are you so lucky with cards?' the leads asked as the others grinned.
'Please? I am needed elsewhere, if you want the money back I will give it to you now?' Partigan muttered by as he went for his wallet all the guys flicked out blades of every shape, all sharp!
'You ain't going no where!' the lead roared and behind him the others howled with laughter. Partigan swallowed as the men advanced.
Suddenly there was a swish! Partigan felt nothing more as his head crashed to the dusty pavement while his bodied spewed blood like an obscene fountain.
The hooligans howled like wolves as they grinned as Partigan's head and lead pulled up the bespectacled head and smiled.
'Back to the Kill Joint lads! We celebrate revenge!' he slurred and turning a vast broad figure, some seven feet tall met their gaze.
'What you want?' demanded the lead but the vast figure stood there.
'Terminate the others, terminate them there must be no witnesses!' a cold voiced man replied as he stepped from the shadows dressed in white.
Harshly the bold figure advanced on the hooligans, a vast shiny claw extended as they drew their weapons and howled.
The white clad man knelt over Partigan's corpse, plucking the dead fingers from the bag and quickly stepped back into the shadows.
As the last of the howls faded abruptly the huge figure in turn followed the man away, in to the shadows.

The Doctor stood looking very worried. His eyes were on the scanner, gazing up above him at the damage wrought by Phillips' act.
The Earth was much changed, as the TARDIS materialised in a murky alley, the Doctor seemed unaware he was charting the state of corruption that the Index was bringing. It was the Lowakan system not gobbling up the populace one by one, twenty inhabited worlds and two had already vanished.
Now noticing the rotor still he turned away from the console marching towards the door.
'Now then, what has Phillips left for me?' he muttered as he stepped out onto the cold, misty pavement.
It was cold and still and very much akin to Victorian London but this wasn't London. He was on an island in the middle of what was once England.
It was hot, a tropical heat bathing his form.
'Well Phillips you've certainly done it, only the Time Lords could repair this much damage?' he muttered as he stepped free of the alley straight into something soft.
'Good grief! A body. Isn't this always the way? No matter where I go there's always murder a foot and who was this poor soul?' the Doctor muttered as he knelt over the youth's body and flinched as he caught sight of the wound, his head was barely connecting to the neck.
Straightening he noticed another body and another and another lying not too far away.
'By Rassilon! A massacre, all killed the same way. Since their bodies are still warm I would think it best that I remove myself from here before I'm either labelled killer or victim?' the Doctor said aloud.
As the Doctor stepped over the bodies of the crumpled youths he noted the presence of knives, so they were well armed but what ever they were fighting, there appeared to be no sign of it.
Just then a grumpy looking man steeped forward swigging at his drink, belching loudly.
'Now look, this may seem bad but I shall tell you that I had nothing to...' the Doctor replied but the man watched him and then smiled.
'You went killed Merill's lot! Yee hah! Boy I would like to buy you a drink!' the man announced and belched at the end. The Doctor looked very confused.
'Okay? But what the bodies, I didn't?' he began but the man shook his head.
'Name's Sanstone, boy! And I'm going to buy you a drink!' belched Sanstone happily.

'Where is the pendant?' the hooded being roared as she cast the empty bag against the wall hard. The white clad man merely cowered against the wall as as she hissed agitatedly. 'This is your incompetence Veldan, pathetic mind you hold in that skull!' she hissed and Veldan tried hard not to look intimidated.
'It's not my fault Empress, I found that it was kept in the possession of one of the symbol. Partigan was one of them, he never have left it alone!' Veldan snapped unwisely.
'You have killed so many yet equally so many remain. I need pendant!' she roared.
'Please, my Empress you must not get too angry, the curse could spread deeper?' he said slowly.
'Don't you think I don't know that? Five hundred years in this form I need that pendant Veldan and then the world will see me anew!' she breathed.
'The Symbol is scattered sparsely across the world, we have already dispatched all others. I am a scientist, my duty is to keep you sane, to keep these servers going not as your lackey!' Veldan replied sternly.
'Your reason for existence is to find me that pendant!' she hissed and flew at him, her sharp talons digging into the softness of his throat.
'I will give you one more night Veldan and then I will eat your brain' she hissed and as he looked into that hood his gaze met her icy, red stare.
Her fangs dripped with saliva and something else as she suddenly bit him, she sunk her fangs into his shoulder. Veldan winced as he felt a burning sensation sink into him.
'There now! You are ready once again, the venom will give you clear judgement. Where you go, I go!' she whispered.
'I will do as you say Empress, I have served you faithfully these years' he replied quietly.
'Then help me find this pendant!' she roared and released him hard and gestured a claw towards the archway, Veldan rubbed at his neck and nodded.
'Follow me!' he commanded and one of the broad, powerful 'servers' followed him.
She stared after the incompetent and hissed loudly, she had no choice, the curse that burned in every fibre of her being!
She slammed a talon down hard.
'I will be the only God and I shall rule forever!' she screeched.

The Kill Joint was a loud, noisy bar. It played ill-made music over loud speaker smothered by many large bottles containing a green fluid?
The Doctor sat disgusted on a dirt barstool while the barkeep, a fat, rotund man with a studded eye-patch and sparse hair eyed him.
'Don't you eyeball him Ak, he's a one of a kind!' Sanstone muttered happily.
'He doesn't look so special, what's yer name stranger?' Ak, the barkeep replied.
'Doctor, um might I enquire as to why you're celebrating in here? Several people have just been killed and you're...?' he replied but Sanstone simply belly laughed.
'Stop it boy, you're killing me! Give him a tall glass of green' Sanstone roared and as Ak poured the glass, the Doctor stared at the frothing green goo.
'Green? Don't you have any tea?' the Doctor asked but Sanstone continued to laugh heartily.
'What's the matter boy? Never had no green before?' he stammered.
'Not really, no, what's in it?' he asked but suddenly everyone stopped and looked at him.
'I don't reckon know? We should?' Ak muttered.
'So how'd you do it boy? Them murders? Sanstone asked but the doctor paused for thought.
'Murder? No I didn't, Murder is such a cruel and vicious thing, the act of a dangerous cowards who prefers to kill secretly and run the other way, I had nothing to do with them!' the Doctor replied and took a sip from the green juice, it was vile and bitter.
The atmosphere of the bar dropped into silence.
'Stupid thing to say, coming into this kill joint' Ak muttered as he wiped a glass clean with a dirty rag.
Just then the Doctor found something sharp digging into the back of his neck, on trying reach it, a rough, gruff voice spoke out:
'So we're cowards are we? Well try and wriggle out of this one freak!'
As the Doctor turned he could see every one with knife blade wielded, staring at him.
'Hold it right there!' spoke a woman and clicked the guns in her hands.
'He's coming with me, you lot try anything and you're dead-got that?' she added politely.

'Thank you very much for being there, any later and they would have caused serious damage?' the Doctor replied as he led her along the cobbled streets.
'Stop!' she commanded and as he stopped, she wheeled round on him still levelling the guns at him.
'Are you so stupid to declare such things in a Kill Joint?' she demanded.
'I must be, people keep saying it to me enough times, perhaps on the third time I get a sign with the words 'I am stupid' written all over it?' the Doctor replied.
'Be quiet! Who are you? What manner of man are you? Not a killer? A collector?' she asked but the Doctor looked lost.
'I'm the Doctor and I'm a visitor to your town, two levels of class? What has happened to the world?' the Doctor muttered.
The woman gestured to an alleyway and then pointed to him.
'This way, they may try to follow us. Are you sent by the symbol?' she asked suddenly.
'Symbol?' the Doctor repeated but instead the woman dragged him through the alley just as a powerful figure stomped silently past.
'What was that?' the Doctor called.
'Trouble, lone server on patrol. We must get you to Doctor Irving' the woman replied and grabbed the Doctor's sleeve.
The Doctor instead stood there, watching the shiny dark gold figure composed of entirely of metal, from its right hand there projected a twist, gnarled vast corkscrew.
'The culprit of the killings! I wonder what it wanted?' the Doctor murmured.
'Well if you hang around like this Doctor then you're bound to find out, it's coming back!' the woman snapped and suddenly the Doctor was dragged back just as the silent giant appeared.
It swung about staring into the darkness then as it registered no movement it carried on with its task.
'You there, come we must go to Partigan's house!' called Veldan and reluctantly the silent giant stomped off into the night air.

'Thank you very much for being there, any later and they would have caused serious damage?' the Doctor replied as he led her along the cobbled streets.
'Stop!' she commanded and as he stopped, she wheeled round on him still leveling the guns at him.
'Are you so stupid to declare such things in a Kill Joint?' she demanded.
'I must be, people keep saying it to me enough times, perhaps on the third time I get a sign with the words 'I am stupid' written all over it?' the Doctor replied.
'Be quiet! Who are you? What manner of man are you? Not a killer? A collector?' she asked but the Doctor looked lost.
'I'm the Doctor and I'm a visitor to your town, two levels of class? What has happened to the world?' the Doctor muttered.
The woman gestured to an alleyway and then pointed to him.
'This way, they may try to follow us. Are you sent by the symbol?' she asked suddenly.
'Symbol?' the Doctor repeated but instead the woman dragged him through the alley just as a powerful figure stomped silently past.
'What was that?' the Doctor called.
'Trouble, lone server on patrol. We must get you to Doctor Irving' the woman replied and grabbed the Doctor's sleeve.
The Doctor instead stood there, watching the shiny dark gold figure composed of entirely of metal, from its right hand there projected a twist, gnarled vast corkscrew.
'The culprit of the killings! I wonder what it wanted?' the Doctor murmured.
'Well if you hang around like this Doctor then you're bound to find out, it's coming back!' the woman snapped and suddenly the Doctor was dragged back just as the silent giant appeared.
It swung about staring into the darkness then as it registered no movement it carried on with its task.
'You there, come we must go to Partigan's house!' called Veldan and reluctantly the silent giant stomped off into the night air.

Outside a large house hang a sign: A.G. PARTIGAN Purveyor of Ancient work. The street was so silent broken abruptly as the front door as it splintered through by the jarring fist of the server. On the second hit it broke through and in stepped the server.
'Do not destroy everything, merely open all doors, you will stay out here and guard the streets!' Veldan ordered as he stepped through the wide gap.
'That's it, now search my servant, search!' whispered the Empress' voice in his ear.
'I know what to do' he said and started to look through various documents.
After a while he open a trunk by the window and breathed high.
'You have found it! Now the pendant will be mine, get it for me!' the Empress hissed but Veldan lifted the strange symbol off a stack of papers.
As he searched he could find nothing?
'It's not here' he replied desperately, knowing how much pain it would cause her.
In her palace, she gave an aggravating screech and beat the wall hard.
'He must have it! He is a symbol carrier, he serves their cause, I need it!' she screeched and Veldan shook his head hurriedly.
'Just a minute, your Empress? I have found a letter?' he said quickly.
'A letter, what is so good a letter without my pendant!' she screeched loudly.
'Listen, this letter is from Symbol it says that the time approaches and grand pendant will be handed to you on the thirteenth' Veldan replied aloud.
'That was today, you killed him before he could get it you fool!' the Empress hisses as she faced the gleaming sarcophagus.
'I didn't know that though did I? Anyway it gives a name of the holder. Are you still interested or will you still call me a fool?' Veldan retorted loudly.
'Who is the carrier, slave?' she hissed loudly.
'Doctor Ian Irving, Waterside house number five' Veldan replied and the Empress smiled.
'Then go! Tear it apart and him and bring that pendant, the final key to my Godhead!' she hissed, her scarlet eyes staring at the sarcophagus with new found glee.

'Cup of green Doctor?' asked the tall, frail man dressed in the antiquated brown suit.
'No thank you, I'm trying to give it up' the Doctor replied pleasantly.
The man eyed him cautiously, his long grey hair was tied back behind as he took a sip from the steaming goo much to the Doctor's disgust.
'Now you came here with Myra, my secretary because you are a carrier?' Irving replied.
The Doctor looked suspicious and quickly examined himself.
'Carrier? I'm not ill at all?' he said but Irving waved his hand.
'No, no! You were sent here to collect the grand pendant for removal to a safe place?' Irving insisted despite the Doctor as he shook his head.
'Doctor Irving I'm not him, whoever or whatever you're talking about. My place here is much more important?' the Doctor argued but Irving was already waddling over to his rickety looking book shelf.
'Nonsense Doctor, I know you are the right man to safeguard it?' Irving replied as he pulled a wide book from the shelf. An ancient dark coloured read.
'I've looked after it four nine years since I too was a carrier's apprentice. The dark times are coming, the symbol diminishes' Irving muttered as he returned to the table.
'I'm truly sorry Doctor Irving but I don't know what you want with me?' he asked as he started to rise but quickly Irving opened the book.
Within a cut out alcove there sat a curious, sparkling jewel on a chain. As the Doctor caught sight of it, the jewel glowed into a bright aura.
'Bless my soul! The pendant chooses you, I have not seen it glow that bright in all my eighty seven years? You are indeed the right man to keep it safe' Irving whispered and passed the glowing jewel into the Doctor's hand.
'I have fulfilled my purpose Doctor, the pendant is yours to hold' he said and closed the book slowly.
Gazing at the brightness as the jewel glowed, the Doctor looked to the man's face before pocketing the jewel.
'Doctor Irving, could you please explain to me the situation, I believe it would help matters?' the Doctor asked and was surprised as he felt the warm radiate off the jewel.

'The symbol has existed for hundreds of years, you must be confused young man' Irving replied but the Doctor shook his head.
'Can't you see it Doctor? All of this is wrong, a cabal existing to benefit mankind? Two classes of society- rebellious psychopaths and the gentry? Your race should be conquering other worlds, exploring the galaxy not fighting tooth and claw over some ridiculous jewel!' the Doctor snapped.
'Ridiculous jewel? It is the God maker jewel, a forbidden tool to exact power and we have protected its existence from the Empress!' Irving retorted angrily.
'The Empress? Who's that?' the Doctor asked quickly.
'You don't know her? A bitter and twisted creature who dared wrest the powers of be with the God maker, she was cast down to lower depths and even now waits her chance to live again, that was six hundred years ago' Irving replied and the Doctor sighed hard.
'That's the problem with legends, they always distort the truth. I'm pretty sure this Empress is long dead now' the Doctor retorted but Irving shook his head and wandered to a chart on the wall.
Reaching up to a cord, he pulled it free and a chart came loose.
'This Doctor is proof, many of our kind have been killed her forces, we are very few now. As you can see only two remain, Alexander Partigan and myself. We are the symbol and she exists down there in the darkness! She wreaks control on our world so Doctor you must protect it or else we all suffer her wrath, I am too old now' Irving replied.
Just then the door opened and the hooded women, Myra entered the house.
'Your escort is ready Sir' she simply said but quickly the Doctor was ushered towards the door.
'But I'm not the one you're looking for, I have enough trouble on my hands?' the Doctor replied but Irving shook his head.
'My time is up Doctor, the pendant disagrees with you, farewell Myra I shall die with dignity on my face' he whispered as the Doctor was forced out of the house.
'He knows he's going to die and you're going to leave him?' the Doctor asked astounded as Myra pushed him on.
'It is his way Doctor, now move we cannot risk the switch being discovered?' she said quickly and forced him into a side alley.

'There! There is his place, Veldan! Break open the door, bring me it!' the Empress hissed deep in Veldan's ear.
'I know what do do!' Veldan argued and nodded to the two servers.
'Break down the door and you will restrain the keeper!' Veldan instructed and stepped back as the bold server stepped forward.
Inside Irving sat in the large padded armchair, his arms wrapped tightly around the dark book as the door splintered inwards.
Out on the street, the Doctor paused as he heard the echo of the breakage.
'What was that?' he half-asked having an idea what it was.
'Irving's time, we must go!' Myra replied but the Doctor looked angry.
'That's what he meant? Those robots! We can't just leave him?' the Doctor cried pulling away from her.
'Doctor, you aren't going back!' Myra warned but the Doctor was running.
Irving house was broken. The furniture was wrecked while the bookcase lay smashed on, books spilled into every place. The servers had crashed the books completely while the upturned chair lay in three pieces and among the debris lay Irving's discarded spectacles, crushed and bent.
As the Doctor tore through the cobbled streets he ran straight into the powerful, looming figure of a server.
'How do you do? I'm the Doctor?' he replied but the server merely swung its mighty fist but quickly received a volley of gunshots.
'Run Doctor!' Myra yelled and quickly the two of them ambled off straight down anothe street straight into a group of angry folk, the Doctor recognised them as punters from the Kill Joint.
'Well look here, we have the cowards and gal! What you wanna do boys?' Sanstone called aloud.
'Kill them!' roared the others.
'Hello again? This really isn't the time?' the Doctor replied but Sanstone shook his head and laughed.
'You should have thought about it before you insulted us and I'd hate to disappoint the boys?' Sanstone replied and as Myra raised her guns, the men raised their guns and blades.
'Right, boys, Kill them!' Sanstone belly laughed and bared his rotten, yellow teeth.

SCREAMING LOCK

EPISODE TWO:

As Sanstone advanced with his posses of ill kept psychopaths Myra pulled at the triggers and two of the men fell back, hitting the ground hard.
However as the thudding of the server came closer, the Doctor pulled Myra away.
'Gee- Golly bOys! What in the name of Mad Merill is that thing?' Sanstone cried pointing to the advancing figure.
'I believe he came with us but he's not from around here?' the Doctor replied quickly.
'I don't care if he came from dark, dark sea blast him!' Sanstone ordered and immediately the gang of drunks opened fire.
'Doctor, we have to get you out of here?' Myra whispered. 'For once I'm entitled to agree, I'll follow you!' he said and hurried off on his own.
Confused by this Myra gave one more look before darting off after the strange man.
As more of Sanstone's men fell to the swinging wrath of the Server's gnarled claw. As the last one fell Sanstone fumbled with his ancient pistol from his belt as the massive robot lumbered forward.
'Now look here bOy! I'm gonna blow you back to scrap yard that you crawled out from!' he cackled and pulled free his gun.
As the Server swung a fist Sanstone stepped aside and cackled a belly laugh.
'Think you're so clever, can't even hit a nut like me!' he gurgled and as he stepped off he felt pain.
At first he thought he had stubbed a toe then he felt heartburn. He coughed deep and felt something trickle from his mouth and down his chin.
'What in the name of...? he gurgled and became aware of something pulling at him, something rough and hard and as it came free he looked down to see... to see the once shiny silver claw coated in thick crimson pulling out from his body.
'What in...' was all he could say as his body crashed forward churning blood from the gaping holes in his chest and mouth on the dusty cobbles.
The Server was still for a moment before turning away and faded into the shadows.
The last thing that lay in Sanstone's mind before it drained away was the fact that he'd forgotten to pay Ak at the Kill Joint and then he was as gone as the blood from his pale, pale skin.

As the Doctor reached the safety of a far distant street he stopped running, he was lost.
'Are they still following?' he asked and as Myra caught up with him, she shook her head.
'No, looks like the Server got them!' she gasped as she caught out for breath for a her lungs.
'The what? You've used that term before?' the Doctor replied loudly.
'It's a Server, an automated server in the employ of the Empress' Myra breathed and the Doctor looked at Myra.
'How would you know about automation? In the time I've been here I have not seen a sign of any pollution, no cars, no radios, chemical lights but for the three thousand years this world should have undergone severe terraforming but I don't think it's a simple as this?' the Doctor breathed.
'I was a student of Doctor Irving, he told me everything about the old times' Myra said but the Doctor looked flatly at her, at her face.
'Is something wrong?' she asked but the Doctor pointed to her guns.
'You have very good aim, exceptional to hit those fanatics also I thought Irving said you were his secretary or bodyguard?' the Doctor breathed.
'You know then, don't you?' she suddenly said and he nodded.
'You don't blink, that and I suspect the Servers home in on body heat, you don't make any. Back there cleanly ignored you' the Doctor replied.
Myra looked at him and then ushered that they should go on but the Doctor stayed.
'What does it matter, we must get you to a boat?' she said but the Doctor remained.
'You still assume that I came here for this jewelled pendant? I came here to investigate the damage wrought on this world, to see if an even greater menace was present not to become mixed up in this ridiculous pantomime!' the Doctor snapped.
'Where is this Empress? Where does she live?' he asked but Myra took hold of his wrist and held tight.
'You will not go there Doctor! I have been programme to ensure that the pendant is removed from this land and you are going to the boat!' she spat but the Doctor removed his sonic screwdriver and applied it.
Myra gave a slight cry before falling backwards.
'Looks like I'm on my own Doctor' he said aloud.
Irving coughed hard as he was shoved forward down the steep steps.
'I refuse to go another step, my legs are tired' Irving whined but Veldan shoved him forward.
'You won't have any legs if you continue to bleat! Now move, you have an audience' he replied.
As Irving was forced through a tunnel by Veldan and the two servers he stared at the vast underground palace decked out in finery.
Sitting in a large throne sat a hooded figure, cold, sharp talons raked the armrests.
'What is this?' she hissed as Veldan bowed and shoved Irving forward.
'The keeper of the pendant, complete with his pendant!' Veldan prompted and shoved Irving forward, he in turn bowed his head to the floor.
'Do you know who I am, little man?' she hissed and Irving weakly nodded.
'You are the cursed one, you are she who was cast down here to rot in your evil and I shall spit every last bit of bile at you!' Irving whispered and spat a long globule blob of mucus and saliva to the ground.
Immediately the Empress rose and started forward, her talons-like claw caught at Irving's throat and raised his face to meet her but immediately he shut his eyes tight.
'You think by not seeing me you shall live?' she hissed.
'I shall die by your hand but you Cursed Empress shall never rise to God head!' Irving replied.
The Empress pulled off her hood, to let her features into the light. Veldan swallowed as he saw her.
'Look at me now, keeper I shall give you seconds but only if you stare into my face' she hissed.
Tentatively the old man opened his eyes but what he saw, he tried to recoil in fright as she raised her fangs and bit deep.
His strangled cries echoed through the tunnels before finally she dropped him, his crumpled body shook gently as blood poured like a torrent from his torn throat.
'And now I shall arise!' she hissed aloud and Veldan knelt smiling so.

The Doctor by this time had searched every street and corner but was utterly lost, more lost than he had been with Myra.
With the TARDIS he might have a chance of locating Irving and this Empress? He had had thoughts of leaving but he knew better. To abandon these people at the wrath of the Index?
Crossing the street he heard what sounding like a scream, a man's scream. Picking up his feet he rushed towards the sound, turning this way and that?
Then the scream cut out. Staring everywhere around him but it was an empty street.
'Doctor Irving? Doctor Irving?' he cried but there was no response.
He stared around him, wondering where it had come from?
It had been hollow and deep, resounding through the darkness. Looking around, it could happened in an alleyway.
He sighed and looked to his feet, he stopped. a grating.
'Of course, the sewers. Now if this Empress despises light so much she would in the deepest, darkest sewer' he replied and started to look for a round circular manhole.
Wandering out into the road, he caught the round, shining surface but as he leant to pick it up he felt a gun in the back.
'Move away from that Doctor!' Myra warned and the Doctor sighed deeply.
'Oh, it's you again. It seems the sonic screwdriver didn't hold out as much promise as I thought it would?' the Doctor replied as he dropped the cover.
'I countered them Doctor, I was out of action for precisely six minutes' Myra retorted as she led him away.
'But then you tracked me? You homed in on the pendant?' the Doctor muttered.
'Precisely and my orders still stand, you will take it away from here' she instructed and the Doctor quickly turned.
'What of Irving? Are you prepared to let him suffer?' the Doctor retorted.
'He is dead and if the Empress takes hold of that key then we will all join him' Myra replied.
'Ah! But I won't let her anywhere near me! I'm stronger than I look' the Doctor answered and took a step towards the open hole.

'Clear that away, no take it to the God Head let more young blood keep it going!' the Empress ordered and Veldan hurried forward to drag the old man's body away.
As the Empress took hold of the book, she hissed a rattling laugh to the air as the two servers stood in silent salute.
'At last for six hundred years I shall once more become a God and this world will br mine to take, mine to control!' she hissed and pulled open the book but what met her eyes was the wide space in the book.
'What? Where is it?' she screeched a rasp.
Veldan, who was pouring the life blood into the gap of the sarcophagus looked up.
'There is something wrong Empress?' he asked and she turned, baring her fangs.
'Yes Veldan, there is! Where is the pendant that you promised me he would have on him?' she demanded harshly.
'He should have it, he's the keeper, Empress?' Veldan replied but the Empress glided over to him, staring him hard in the face.
'The book is empty, search him!' she ordered and as Veldan bent to examine each of the pockets, blood squirted onto his once white tunic.
'Well?' she hissed, her forked tongue wriggling impatiently across her fangs.
'He doesn't have it on him?' he replied but the Empress grabbed his throat.
'That would leave you to be pathetic cretin and food!' she hissed.
'Wait! We can revive him, we can find out the exact details from his mind?' Veldan said quickly and hurriedly she released him.
'Then do so, I will return, you Veldan will bring his form to life and I will be returned!' she hissed and gestured to the laboratory archway.
Reluctantly Veldan dragged the body away as she looked to the gleaming God Head sarcophagus waiting vacant.

'I could kill you Doctor Myra called as he descended the ladder into the darkness of the sewer.
'You could but who would guard your precious jewel then? Besides I'm curious?' the Doctor replied.
'Curiosity killed the cat, Doctor!' Myra warned and lowered her guns.
'Yes but I'm more agile than any cat and more cautious are you coming or do we still have to hold this conversation where we are?' the Doctor called as he reached the bottom of the ladder.
'I was programmed by Irving to secure and protect the Jewel. I shall continue to do so Doctor' Myra replied and steadied herself over the ladder and then slid down it.
'Well, you make quite an appearance. Shall we go on?' the Doctor replied as he looked down several long, dark tunnels.
'This way' Myra replied and led the way.
'Is that a guess or are you fitted with some kind of homing beacon?' the Doctor asked.
'On the contrary Doctor, I am detecting multiple humans in this direction' Myra replied and the Doctor shrugged.
'What about the server robots? Can you detect if they're close by?' he asked but Myra was still for a moment.
'I believe there's two of them but they're in the mid chamber with something else?' Myra answered and with that she led on.
In the laboratory, Veldan had bolted Irving into a strange rack, spikes protruded through his wrists, ankles while wires led to a complicated generator.
His throat had been crudely sewn up and as Veldan applied his goggles, he pulled a lever.
Immediately the generator roared into action and across the spikes twisted blue sparks, Irving's chest was opened, flesh pulled back grotesquely and its heart the focus of Veldan's gaze.
As he puled the lever again the heart slowly pulsed into life, while down the tunnels where the Doctor and Myra walked the lights flickered slowly.
Suddenly Irving's body gasped for air, his heart beating quickly.
'At last, there you are again, now tell me where is the pendant?' Veldan hissed.

'Someone's making huge demands of power? I thought automation was practically non-existent?' the Doctor asked as they carried on.
'The Empress has a man working for her, a scientist. It is said that he can bring the dead to life' Myra replied but the Doctor felt the urge to smile.
'Rubbish, just the things to scare young children. I doubt there's any truth in such things? Yet I am surprised that she actually has anyone serving her?' the Doctor replied.
'She offers them power, anyone who can assist her, who will get her what she wants' Myra said as they turned left.
'Always the way, find someone weaker, someone misguided, corrupt them. This ability to become God, what is it?' he asked.
'The God Head, crafted centuries ago to grant anyone supreme power, only a clear mind could ascend but she, twisted with power tried to ascend but her evil corrupted her form' Myra explained.
As they approached another winding stairs they caught sight of a platform, a raised platform with a safety cord along side.
'You know, I think we're on the right track?' the Doctor replied and carefully jumped to the platform. Myra joined him with one precise leap.
'Very good, now where is Irving?' the Doctor wondered.
'This way Doctor but be careful from now on, I can detect the close presence of Servers, you would best follow me as I will provide good cover' Myra replied and slowly led him down the stone steps.
Before them was an arch way and beyond that, a vast chamber filled with burning torches.
'The Empress' chamber lies ahead, we must be wary now Doctor we are in her lair' Myra said quietly.
'I would like to see this God Head for myself?' the Doctor whispered.
'I shall see what we can do?' Myra replied.
Just then into the chamber stepped Veldan, his white smock was stained red, his gloves were deep red to the elbow as he bowed respectfully to her.
'My Empress, he breathes again' Veldan hissed.
'Excellent! My God head will be realised' the Empress hissed and as the Doctor watched the distant figure slid by giving them a chance.

As the figure slipped from the room Myra advanced cautiously into the archway. On the far wall there stood the two Servers and quickly Myra stopped.
'Doctor there two Servers here' she whispered.
'Are they active?' he breathe as he followed after her but as he met the archway he gazed at the gothic chamber.
'Doctor!' Myra cried but the Doctor waved her off.
'It's all right, they're not active. This gives me the opportunity I need?' he said and started to wander around the room.
He looked into ever alcove, seeing jewelled busts and ornamental vases. Then he saw the golden throne supported by a stone gazebo, heavy white pillars supported the roof from which the golden chair sat.
'This place must have been a mausoleum? How very quaint?' the Doctor breathed and as he ventured to the back his eyes widened as he saw a strange golden sarcophagus.
'Well, well, well you must be the God Head?' the Doctor breathed as he gazed at the shining box.
He suddenly flinched as he felt a strange twinge in his pocket, removing the pendant he could see it was pulsing and before it was a narrow slit and a ring around it was also pulsing in unison.
'Doctor? We should be careful, they could return at any moment?' Myra said as she joined him.
'Interesting? This is Xerallian technology, a healing bar? Since their metabolism is stronger than a human's then they're bound to have side effects if a human should use it. Could cause considerable mutation to human cells?' the Doctor muttered.
'But this is a God Head and with the pendant it can bestow great power to anyone who enters it?' Myra insisted but the Doctor shook his head.
'Oh it can do much more than that?' he said and then noted along the edge, the thin stains of red, dipping his finger into the edges he looked grim.
'Blood, human blood' he said slowly. Then from the opposite archway there came a strangled cry.
'Irving! We have to stop this now!' the Doctor replied urgently and hurried off towards the archway with Myra in hot pursuit.
'Tell me!' hissed the Empress.
'Never!' Irving cried in a scream.

As the Empress slithered into the laboratory Irving's tortured form raised a weak head.
'No, I died why have you brought me back' he cried weakly.
'You will tell me where did you hide the pendant? And I have patience, Veldan here can bring you back many times but in those I will learn the truth old man!' she hissed.
'You can rot in hell for all I care, I do not have it' Irving gasped but the Empress indicated to Veldan.
'Increase the power on him, it could him but he will tell me!' she hissed, the fork tongue flickered past her needle-sharp fangs.
He grasped the lever and pulled, immediately sparks crackled across the spikes in his joints, Irving cried out as his heart continued to beat faster.
'I will never tell you!' he screamed but the Empress leaned over him, her scarlet eyes digging into his grey eyes.
'Tell me and we shall release you' she whispered but Irving held on.
'If I tell you, then we are all doomed' Irving gasped.
'Shall I increase the voltage?' Veldan asked and the Empress nodded and quickly Veldan adjusted the dial and pressed the lever.
'I gave it to a man... a man far from here now and that's it!' Irving stammered.
'What's his name?' Veldan asked but Irving shook his head.
'Tell me!' she hissed as Veldan pulled the lever and vast sparks lashed out throughout his body.
'Never' Irving screamed and his exposed heart continued to beat faster.
'Excuse me, is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?' the Doctor asked and then he looked to Irving's form.
'By Rassilon's star! What have you done to him?' he demanded but then the Empress turned and the Doctor blinked twice as his eyes met hers.

She looked like a snake, like humanesque cobra, complete with a hood, her flesh was brown and green and scaly. Her snout was very much snake-like and possessed a fork tongue.
'Intruders' she hissed.
'Hello, I'm the Doctor and you must be the Empress, I've heard so much about you' he replied grimly.
'Doctor of what? A scientist like myself?' Veldan demanded.
'You, a scientist I would call you a butcher rather than anything else!' the Doctor snapped looking to him.
'Doctor... why are you here?' Irving gasped.
'I came back to try and help you but I fear I was too late. Practical demonology and after all this I believed it was old wives' tales' the Doctor replied.
'Who are you to come, to stand here in my presence?' the Empress hissed.
'You want the pendant, don't you? Had some trouble have we? incompatible subject material resulted in a genetic cross mutation that results in your current physical form. Very nasty, I bet those scales used to be smooth, pale skin and now...' the Doctor replied.
'What do you know of my purpose? How could such a man as you know me?' she hissed.
'I read and listen a lot. You believe that machine in there will make you a God, shall we put that to the test?' the Doctor asked.
'Doctor you wouldn't?' Myra cried from behind him.
'Ah hello Myra, I'd like you meet the Empress and her butcher' the Doctor said cheerfully.
'You have the pendant? Give it to me!' the Empress hissed but the Doctor waved his hand.
'Release Irving from his torment, let him rest!' he said and with a nod from the Empress, Veldan reached for the lever.
'Doctor, you cannot do this.... I must' Irving cried as Veldan switched the power off.
Irving's form slumped down, his heart stopped.
'Now you will give me the God Head and I will live again, supreme ruler of the worlds!' she breathed.

'Of course I will' the Doctor simply said and walked over the chamber towards the God Head.
'Doctor, you cannot do this! To unleash her reign over the world. I won't let you do it!' Myra cried and pulled free her guns.
'Then you're going to have to shoot me Myra because I know what I'm doing. I'm just going to shed some light on our host!' the Doctor replied and as he plucked free the flashing jewel.
'The pendant! At last for six hundred years I have suffered this curse I shall be re-born, the next God of life!' she hissed exaltedly.
However Myra swung around, her guns drawn but Veldan on seeing this made a grab at her.
'Don't you even think about it? You will obey her!' he snapped but Myra started to fire, her guns spat bullets quickly they smacked into his body as she turned.
'For the Empress I serve, I... Server... kill her!' he spat as his mouth choked on blood. Powerless to intervene, the Doctor watched as a vast Server took a step towards her, raised its large fist it smashed her aside.
Veldan coughed as he crumpled to the ground.
'For you, my Empress' he cried out before collapsing forward.
The Server raised its gnarled claw and struck hard, Myra was cut apart, springs and gears flew in all direction as her top half crashed hard against the wall.
'You... betrayed... us... Doctor' Myra clicked before she and the Server stood still.
'Now we are two. Give me the power, I so need!' the Empress hissed.
'A pity for those people and pity on you' the Doctor said and inserted the key in the lock.
Immediately the shining casing split open, a vast coffin awaiting entry. The Empress smiled viciously.
'I thank you for this Doctor but that is enough of you' she hissed and flung him hard against the wall and lay back.
The casing sealed itself over her grinning form as the Doctor opened his eyes, quickly he hurried to the casing and tried to pull the key out but it wouldn't budge?
The sarcophagus gleamed brighter and brighter and brighter as the Doctor shielded his eyes, the God Head came to life!

It had been sometime later when the sarcophagus hissed open. The Doctor stood there waiting patiently as the smoke cleared.
'Feeling better now are we?' he asked aloud and as he watched a shimmering golden claw emerged from within.
'I am a God!' she replied in a vast hissing voice.
As she rose to her feet, she had a golden hew about her form though she still looked like a walking snake.
'Well, it's certainly an improvement. You look more like a Xerallian at least?' the Doctor replied.
'Yes. I know that word, I am a Goddess, the true Empress of the worlds! I shall rule strong and free!' she hissed.
'Then you don't mind looking so scaly? Before you positively hurt it seems, almost desperate?' he replied.
'That was before but now I can do anything!' she roared but the Doctor shook his head.
'No, you can't. Xerallians possess strong telekinetic abilities, that healing bar has fully transformed you into one of them. You have power but you're no stronger than a new born baby?' the Doctor retorted.
'You will apologise Doctor, you will apologise now!' she hissed viciously.
'No I won't because that's the truth, you're no God just a creature who cannot master their own inner power?' the Doctor replied as she stalked towards him.
'And you are? I see now twin hearts, you are not human but I am stronger than any other being on this world!' she hissed.
'That may be true but a God rules over a kingdom not a sewer or a crypt but over many people and there are hundreds of millions of beings out there vast stronger you or I, what of them?' the Doctor snapped.
'You shall see my power before your end you kneel before me!' she hissed.
'Go right ahead but I've seen darker nightmares than you, all of this is wrong, Phillips' doing and I believed I've wasted enough time!' the Doctor replied.
As he turned away the stone gazebo started to rumble and shake and suddenly it collapsed crushing the throne.
'Now, you see it!' she snapped but the Doctor was unimpressed.

'Telekinesis, you did that with your mind but I've seen better why not pull a rabbit out of a hat?' the Doctor asked and could see her eyes burning red.
'I am your God! I can cause this building to crumble, to kill you, to destroy this land!' she hissed and as she stared, her eyes grew brighter and brighter and around them the bricks started to jar. Dust fell from the room and quickly the Doctor challenged her.
'What good will killing me do you if you're trying to convince me of your Godliness?' he asked and she broke her concentration.
'Then you will see my havoc that I shall compose!' the Empress hissed and smiled coldly then the Doctor found himself hovering, his feet were leaving the floor as was she.
The ceiling above them peeled back, layer upon layer until the evening sky met their eyes.
They now stood on the street, the Empress watching him but the Doctor was looking to the sky, to the vast clouds forming.
Vast, black clouds, suddenly there was a cutting blast of cold surged throughout the street.
'I don't suppose this is your making?' he said worryingly but the Empress looked equally frightened.
'What trick is this?' she cried as the moon vanished from view.
'Oh no! No, it's here!' the Doctor cried.
'Exterminate!' howled the wind and suddenly a vast line of housing erupted into flame.
A towering maelstrom was descending towards the island, its screams caught at every piece of silence.
'Exterminate and gorge!' the Index roared as it descended. Huge black scythe-like tendrils lashed out catching at everything and everyone.
The Empress hissed loudly but the Index merely swallowed up her glow and her scaly form crumpled forward.
'The end, no not the end of Earth!' the Doctor cried and through the hectic scenes of peril the Doctor spied a familiar form. The TARDIS!
Overjoyed he ran to it, ran fast but the Index was faster as it gorged on the humans, spying the blue box, it knew so well it grasped it.
The Doctor stared horrified as the tendril tore the box apart, the TARDIS exploded its energy flooding into the Index.
'No!' he screamed as the Shadow Index screeched its laughter.
'I win Time Lord! I win!' it hissed as the city burned. Then a tendril was descending fast, the Shadow was hungry and there was no escape...