6. Approaching the Wisp.
Heavy Plant.
The Sontarans are holding the Wisp to account for allegedly moving back a planet that the Sontarans had told them to relocate.
The Wisp had been the first and thereafter the only race to extend personal armband teleportation to the complete removal of a whole planet. Their planet moving equipment was far too expensive to buy and could be hired in an intergalactic store chain called Planting World with a slogan Heavy Plant for All (ref. 2).
But Sontarans had been banned from hiring any of their equipment.
Instead, the Sontarans had gone straight to the inventors and forced them to move an insignificant planet called Slint when they wanted to face their opponent in open space (ref. 21). They have been occupying the Wisp HQ building since then, but in real time that's only a few days.
The tunnel.
The Sontarans aren't expecting any approach from the water and have no guard there.
As Meran rows across he notices a small tunnel entrance at waterline, and he heads for it.
They disembark and go further into the small tunnel.
The Wisp do have a guard on the tunnel, and he challenges them. Ommera can hardly keep a straight face as she contemplates the beauty of the Wisp guard in contrast to the guard having to challenge them. It just doesn't seem credible, the guard is far too nice.
"Please, who is approaching?" the Wisp Guard asks. He is clearly alarmed and doesn't know quite what to do.
"It's quite alright," the Doctor says gently. "We're friends who've arrived to help you overcome the Sontarans." He holds his psychic paper for the Wisp Guard to see.
"Ah, you're historians hoping to restore Planet Wisp to public visitors."
"Are we?" Meran says in complete astonishment. He hasn't seen psychic paper used before.
The Doctor and Ommera are surprised, but they expect to be surprised, so they're better able to contain their surprise.
"My name is Gunther," the Wisp Guard says. "I will act as your guide, please tell me your names."
"I'm so glad to meet you, Gunther," Ommera says. It is her first true conversation with one of the Wisp people and she feels on top of the world suddenly, her euphoria boosted by having successfully crossed deep water in a rowing boat. "My name is Ommera, this is the Doctor and Meran."
Gunther leads them deeper into the dimly lit tunnel.
Ommera is quite taken looking at the Wisp Guard as he relates the history of the tunnel as they walk along it. The Wisp are so gorgeous and Ommera loves meercats.
"The tunnel was built especially for our President to have direct access to the beautiful lake when he was courting his good lady wife. The other end emerges directly into the Presidential Boudoir."
"What's that?" Ommera asks.
"The President's bedroom!" the Doctor replies quietly.
"How is the President?" Meran asks as they arrive near the other end of the tunnel.
"He is very well," Gunther replies, "but confined to his bedroom by the Sontarans. You may meet with him if you will wait a minute for me to gain permission. Could you wait, please?"
"Of course," Ommera says, smiling happily.
Gunther goes to ask for Presidential permission for friendly visitors to speak with him.
The President's bedroom.
The Doctor follows at a discreet distance, quietly, instead of waiting.
Ommera and Meran tiptoe after him.
The Doctor sees into the boudoir and hears the Presidential reply.
"The Sontarans have respected my booking system so far but have booked their daily random-time check of my apartment for just ten minutes' time. Besides which, I can't see how any such visitors could possibly have gained access."
The Doctor steps forwards into the boudoir. He waves a wiggly wave, just moving his fingers, and smiles mischievously. He can see that he has apparently outwitted the Wisp President just by being there.
"Hello. I'm the Doctor."
Gunther turns on him gently. "Please, I did ask you to wait. But now you're here, I can introduce you."
The introduction is swept away.
"So, you're a Doctor," the President says. "I'm not ill."
"No," the Doctor says, "but your HQ building is infested with Sontarans. I've come to put that right."
Ommera enters sheepishly. She feels she is intruding in the Presidential bedroom.
The Doctor turns to introduce her. "Meet my wife."
Ommera looks at the Doctor, then back at the President. She is unsure how to address the Wisp President and is rather in awe of him.
Meran enters, not wanting to be left alone in the tunnel.
"Meet my friend, Meran," Ommera says, finally distracting herself from her awe.
"So glad to meet you all," the Wisp President says. "My name is Pellor. Sorry, there isn't much time for pleasantries."
A noise from behind an internal door reminds him of something. "Oh, my wife is in the bathroom."
The President's wife enters from the bathroom. More introductions follow.
Gunther halts proceedings, panicking. "I'm sorry, there's only three minutes until the Sontaran inspection. They will find us all. We must go!"
"Do they inspect the tunnel?" the Doctor asks.
"No, they don't know of the tunnel," Pellor says. "But Gunther is right, you must go now."
They leave the Wisp President and his wife in the boudoir and descend close to where the boat is tied up.
We hope the Sontaran inspection isn't thorough.
What can they do to help? Will their present help? If so, how will it help?