The Doctor spoke softly, almost to himself. 'It's just as I feared. The Axons, their ship, this Axonite. They're all the same thing!'
Filer looked at him in disbelief. 'I don't get it, Doc.'
'We're dealing with a single living creature. The copy of you, Filer, the Axon you saw forming, Jo, this Axonite here—all part of the same organism. Axonite is just the dormant state.' The Doctor looked again at the still-growing mass. 'Was the dormant state—until I activated it!'
The seething mass of Axonite began slamming itself against the doors. Filer whispered, 'Can't you stop it, Doc?'
'I've got to—or it could consume the whole planet. I only hope it's not too late...'
With a shattering crash, the huge blob of Axonite burst open the heavy plastic doors and rolled slowly towards them like a giant boulder, They backed rapidly away. Jo looked behind them and screamed. Filling the laboratory door was the writhing, many-tentacled form of an Axon monster.
Filer acted by sheer instinct. With lunatic courage he shoulder-charged the monster, yelling, 'Doc, run. Get Jo out of here!'
Filer's sacrifice was in vain. One of the monster's tentacles slashed across his body, there was a fierce crackle of energy and Filer was hurled clear across the lab. Jo and the Doctor backed away as the monster bore down on them. The last thing they heard was the Voice of Axos. 'De-energise them!' Immediately the monster's tentacles lashed out and they were stunned into unconsciousness. The tentacles of the monster dragged them both away.
In Hardiman's empty office the Brigadier was on the telephone. In a stunned voice he was saying, 'And you're absolutely sure? I see. Yes, of course, I'll take over at once.' Slowly he put down the phone, his mind reeling under the impact of shattering news. Some time ago a message had gone out from UNIT H.Q., not only to the U.N. Security Council, but to every Government and every news agency in the world. The message told of the Axon landing in England, and of the supreme benefits of Axonite, which were being offered not only to Great Britain, but to the entire planet.
The sensation and scandal had been immense. Now the entire world was insisting on immediate supplies of Axonite, threatening instant attack if the demands were not met. Great Britain had no alternative but to give way. The Brigadier was ordered to take over responsibility for security, pending a full enquiry into the leak. Chinn was to supervise distribution—acting purely as an administrator.
The Brigadier looked up as the door opened. Captain Harker stood in the doorway, covering him with a revolver. The Brigadier snapped, 'You can put that away, Captain. You won't be needing it.'
Harker rubbed the bruise on his jaw. 'You're still under arrest, Brigadier.'
'I very much doubt it.' The Brigadier passed Harker the telephone. 'Here—you'd better check with your H.Q. Whole situation's changed. Do as I say, man.'
The Brigadier watched as Harker made the call. He smiled grimly as a look of sheer astonishment spread slowly over the Captain's face.
In Winser's laboratory, everything was under control—Axon control. The seething mass of Axonite had disappeared—so too had Jo and the Doctor. Chinn and Sir George Hardiman rushed into the laboratory—to find the golden form of the Axon leader standing beside the Particle Accelerator.
Hardiman stared in amazement. 'What's been going on here? Where's Winser—and the Doctor?'
Gravely the Axon said, 'Your scientists have been killed. The female also.'
'Killed? How?'
'Their bodies were destroyed by an immense blast of radiation.' His voice was cold and angry. 'Our instruments showed that attempts were being made to interfere with the very structure of Axonite. Such experiments are dangerous in the extreme. We came to help—but we were too late.'
Hardiman looked round. 'We? But there's only you...'
'My crew have taken the unstable material back to Axos where it can be safely destroyed. The radiation has already been neutralised.'
Chinn's immediate instinct was to find someone else to take the blame. 'Sir George, did you authorise these experiments?'
'I authorised normal tests, yes. But Winser went his own way. Besides... I gather he had some kind of row with the Doctor fellow. Some experiment Winser thought too dangerous... Maybe the Doctor—'
The stern voice of the Axon leader cut across their discussion. 'The blame is for you to decide. Such a thing must never happen again. Never. Otherwise we shall cancel the agreement—whatever the cost to ourselves.'
Jo and the Doctor recovered in the Axon cell that Filer and the Master had once occupied before them. Jo stirred, and immediately felt the restraining grip of the tentacles. The Axons had learned the lesson of Filer's escape. Now the tentacles reacted immediately to the slightest movement. As Jo struggled, their grip closed even tighter. She called out in panic, 'Doc-tor, I can't move. What are these things?'
The Doctor stood relaxed within his bonds, on the other side of the cell. 'We're inside Axos, Jo. The tentacles are part of Axos too.'
'Why have they brought us here? What do they want?'
The Doctor sighed. 'I only wish I knew.'
The golden figure of an Axon suddenly appeared in the doorway. 'Come!' The tentacles around them loosened their grip.
The Doctor moved away from the wall. 'Come along, Jo. I think we're about to meet our host!' Gripping her hand reassuringly, he led her from the cell. They followed the silent Axon down the glowing corridors.
The Brigadier was listening suspiciously to the Axon's story. 'So—by the time you arrived here, there was no sign of the Doctor or Miss Grant?'
The Axon leader shook his head. No one was here --except this man.' The Brigadier crossed to the crumpled body in the corner.
'Filer! Maybe he'll be able to tell us what happened.'
The Axon leader said, 'The man is gravely ill. It would be better if we were to take him back to our ship for treatment.'
'You will do no such thing. He'll be cared for in the medical wing here. See to it, will you please, Captain?'
Harker relayed the Brigadier's orders, and two soldiers began to carry Filer away.
Chinn was furious. 'You forget, Brigadier—you are no longer in a position to give orders.'
Captain Harker coughed. 'I'm afraid the position has changed, sir. I've had orders to hand over to the Brigadier.'
'New orders? I've heard nothing of this...?'
'Well you have now,' barked the Brigadier. 'There's a lot of work in front of you, Mr Chinn. I suggest you contact your Minister.' As Chinn almost ran from the room, the Brigadier turned to Harker. 'Release Captain Yates and the rest of my men immediately. They will assist your own troops in making a search for the Doctor and Miss Grant.' He looked at the Axon leader. 'Despite this... gentleman's theory, I am not yet convinced that they're dead.'
Jo cowered away from the terrifying scrutiny of the Eye of Axos. The Doctor however was quite calm, listening to the Voice with an expression of polite interest—rather like a guest whose host insists on telling him some rather lengthy anecdote.
'All things must die, Doctor,' whispered the Voice. 'Mankind... this insignificant planet. Axos merely hastens the process a little.'
The Doctor raised an eyebrow. 'I see. May I ask how?' The Doctor had a pretty good idea of the answer to his question. But he was simply playing for time, seeking some way of escape. Despite his perilous position, it wasn't in his nature to give up.
The Voice of Axos continued its whispered explanation. 'Axonite is merely the bait for human greed. Because of that greed, Axonite will soon be spread across this entire planet. Then the nutrition cycle will begin.'
'And what happens then?'
'We shall consume every last particle of energy, every cell of living matter. Earth will be sucked dry.'
'I see,' said the Doctor coolly. 'So Axos is simply an overgrown cosmic parasite! Does this plan of yours have a time limit?'
'Axonite must be activated within seventy-two hours of our landing.'
The Doctor smiled at Jo. 'It l
ooks as if our friend Chinn is doing the right thing—for the wrong reasons, of course.'
'What do you mean?' asked Jo shakily.
'For purely selfish reasons, he intends to confine the supply of Axonite to Great Britain.'
There was triumph in the whispering voice. 'No longer, Doctor. That too has been taken care of.'
'Indeed? Well, am I here purely as an audience for your boastings—or do you have something else in mind?'
'You are here because you have knowledge that we need, Doctor. Knowledge of Time travel.'
Chinn listened shuddering to the Minister's angry voice. 'The whole thing has blown up in our faces, Chinn. There has been a catastrophic security leak. The world is insisting on immediate distribution of Axonite. It will take place immediately. You will see to it.'
'Yes, sir. As soon as...'
'Never mind "as soon as", Chinn. Now!'
'You can depend on me, sir! '
'Well, just in case we can't—your resignation is on my desk, Chinn. I've written it out myself. All it needs is your signature!'
There was a click and the line went dead. Chinn slammed down the phone, and buried his head in his hands. Then he took a deep breath, rallying himself.
He snatched up the phone again. 'Get me Air Transport command. This is Chinn, here—from the Ministry.'
Sadly Sergeant Benton looked on, as a squad of soldiers carried the familiar blue shape of the TARDIS into the corner of Winser's laboratory. Much use it was now, with the Doctor nowhere to be found. 'All right, lads, that'll do.' He turned to the man beside him. His voice was very respectful, for the figure beside him, overcoat collar turned up and cap pulled low, wore the uniform of a General. 'I still think I ought to tell the Brigadier you're here, sir.'
A clipped military voice snapped, 'You will do no such thing, sergeant. That is a direct order. This is a surprise inspection. I shall contact the Brigadier myself when I see fit. Now, where's your Scientific Adviser, this Doctor fellow?'
General or no General, Benton wasn't going to tell his mysterious visitor more than necessary. 'I'm afraid I don't know, sir,' he said—which was true enough.
'Well, find him and send him in here to me. Mean-while, see I'm not disturbed.'
The General turned away dismissively. Benton said, 'Very good, sir,' saluted and left the laboratory.
As soon as he was gone, the Master took off his cap and greatcoat and tossed them over a stool. He crossed to the TARDIS, took a complicated electronic device from his pocket and spent the next few minutes picking the lock. When at last it gave way, he went into the TARDIS, closing the door behind him.
Once inside, the Master paused, looking round the control room in horror. It was certainly in something of a mess, the control console partly dismantled, wires and electronic circuits scattered everywhere. The Master shook his head in disgust. 'Oh no! What has he been trying to do?' He knew the answer well enough. The Doctor had been trying to evade the Time Lords sentence of exile and get his TARDIS going again. 'What a botch up!' He kicked the console savagely. 'Of all the mouldering moth-eaten, clapped out piles of obsolete old junk! Still, perhaps, it could be made to work—just possibly. If there's no alternative.'
Sadly the Master thought of his own gleaming immaculate TARDIS, one of the latest models, still held fast in the grip of Axos. He drew the stubby laser-gun from his pocket, and stroked it gently. 'Now then, Doctor, where are you? Don't keep me waiting too long...'
The Doctor was conducting a desperate mental duel with the Brain of Axos.
'I couldn't help you if I wanted to,' he protested. 'The Time Lords took away my knowledge of Time travel when they exiled me to this planet.'
'It is useless to lie, Doctor,' hissed the Voice. 'Not all of your knowledge was taken from you. Besides...' The Voice took on a seductive note, 'We have explored the blocks on your memory. It is possible that we can free them. We must have the secret of Time travel. We must!'
'Must you? Why?'
'To expand our feeding range!' Greedily the Voice hissed, 'Soon it will be necessary to enlarge the energy sources available to us. Time travel will give us the power to range through all Time. Axos will be immortal, indestructible!'
The Doctor shuddered at the thought of this voracious monster roaming not only Space but Time to devour its prey. Defiantly he shouted, 'I refuse to ally myself to... to such cosmic bacteria!'
'We shall see.' Tentacles lashed round Jo and the Doctor, holding them powerless. 'Are you aware, Doctor, that Axonite can absorb the very life-force of a human being? We have arranged a demonstration for you. You shall see your companion age to death.'
There was a crackle of energy and Jo went rigid, her eyes staring before her. The Doctor struggled wildly, but he was firmly held. Helplessly he watched as wrinkles and cracks appeared in Jo's face. Her skin sagged, her hair went first grey, then white... her body twisted into a crouch. It was like watching a speeded-up film of the effect of the passing years. Jo looked thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy... she was turning into a wizened old woman before his eyes. Soon she would be dead.
8
The Power Robbers
Eighty, ninety, one hundred... Jo Grant was withering into old age. The Voice of Axos whispered, 'The process can be reversed, Doctor, but only if it is arrested in time...'
The Doctor shouted. 'Stop! For pity's sake, let her alone.'
'You will co-operate?'
'I can't co-operate. Not even Axos can defy the Laws of Time. Give me a chance and I'll prove it to you.,
'Very well.'
Jo's body seemed to freeze. She began to straighten up. Her hair went from white to grey, then back to brown. Her skin smoothed out, cracks and wrinkles disappeared... Suddenly she was young again. The Doctor sighed with relief. Jo stared round wildly, aware that something had been happening, but not sure what. 'Doctor? I felt so strange...'
'Don't worry, Jo, it's over. You're all right now.'
Impatiently the Voice of Axos hissed, 'Begin, Doctor. Begin!'
'What do you want me to do?'
'Concentrate! You have only to think the Time Equations. The mind of Axos will do the rest.'
The Doctor wasn't surprised. He had already guessed that Axos had a degree of telepathic ability.
'I assume you know the basic theories? In fact, you already have the power of Time travel—to a very limited extent.'
How did you know that?' There was surprise in the Voice.
The Doctor smiled. 'I knew from the moment you eluded the human missiles. How else could you have done that, but by a Time jump? You reached Earth before the missiles were fired.'
'That is so. But we can move only moments in Time. It is not enough. Begin!'
The Doctor stared deep into the Eye.
Jo looked on, only half-aware of what was happening. She saw an area behind the Eye turn into a kind of screen, across which flowed a stream of complicated equations.
The Voice said, 'Good. And the power requirements?' More equations. Now the Voice was angry. 'What is this, Doctor? Remember what will happen if you lie.'
'Pure mathematics cannot lie. You need a colossal amount of power to create a Time Field for a being as large as Axos. Look!' Another equation filled the screen. Even Jo's shaky grasp of mathematics was enough to tell her that it represented an immense quantity of power. 'There,' said the Doctor triumphantly. 'Your final power requirements—well in excess of your total capacity.'
There was a long pause, then the Voice said, 'All data confirmed.'
The Doctor waved towards the screen. 'There you are then. You might just as well abandon the idea of Time travel.'
The Voice spoke again. 'Add the total output of the Nuton Power Complex to your figures, Doctor.'
'If you wish. Though there's very little point.'
The equations changed again. The Voice said exultantly, 'Data confirms Time travel attainable using additional power from Complex. And we can call upon the whole of Nuton's power whenever we need it.'
'How? You can scarcely just walk in and take it.' Gloatingly the Voice hissed, 'On the contrary, Doctor—we can!'
A huge map of the world had been installed on the wall of Hardiman's office. Hardiman was at a conference in London. Around his big office table sat Chinn, the Brigadier, and the golden figure of the Axon leader. The Brigadier was making a final, useless protest. 'In my view the whole question of Axonite's distribution should be shelved until we find the Doctor, and get his report on it' The Brigadier had recovered much of his confidence, and Chinn was his old objectionable self again.
'The Doctor! We shan't be seeing that gentleman again. If he wasn't killed in the explosion, then he's simply cleared off.'
'We have still to search the Axon ship—'
Smoothly the Axon intervened. 'At the present time, our energies are fully occupied with providing the Axonite your planet demands. Mr Chinn, perhaps you would show me the extent of your operation?'
Eagerly Chinn rose. 'Yes, of course. A very efficient set-up, if I do say so myself.' He took up a pointer and touched it to the map. 'Cape Kennedy, Ottawa, Baikonur, Lop Nor...' The string of names droned on and on... Chinn ended with a triumphant flourish of his pointer. 'There you are, gentlemen! Axonite consignments are now on their way to every major scientific establishment on this planet.'
A smile curled the golden lips of the Axon leader. He thought of all those units of Axonite suddenly coming alive when the Nutrition Cycle was triggered. Breaking out of their containers, feeding, growing. Sucking up every atom of energy, and returning with it to Axos. Then and only then would Axos depart, leaving behind it the dead husk of a planet. 'Excellent. Truly excellent.'
Chinn smiled complacently. 'Thank you,' he said, with unconvincing modesty. 'Just doing my job.'
Suddenly the Axon leader went still. In his head there was a commanding Voice. 'Depersonalise. Locate and enter main reactor. Establish link and transmit power.' The Axon strode abruptly from the room.
DOCTOR WHO AND THE CLAWS OF AXOS Page 7
