Tegan was not sure how far she and the Doctor had traveled through the tunnel. The insects had led them some distance, but she knew that her progress was quite slow. The tunnel was too narrow to permit the Doctor to walk next to her, so she had kept her hand against the wall to aid in her movement and take some pressure off of her knee. The Doctor tried to help her, but aside from pausing to allow her to lean against him every few minutes there was little he could do.

"We're descending," he commented after a time, running his hand along the packed dirt of the wall.

"We're going deeper into the earth?" Tegan asked, momentarily surprised.

"Yes."

"What for?"

"Tegan, I've already told you that I don't know. Yet you continue asking—"

"Sorry!" she huffed. "I'd just like to know what they're planning for us."

"As would I. However, at the moment we appear quite safe. They haven't threatened us in any way."

"Maybe they take their prey underground and store them there to eat later—sort of like a hibernating bear."

"Bears generally don't store food in their dens to eat during hibernation," the Doctor commented.

Tegan sighed. "Fine. But you know what I mean."

He nodded. "Yes, and it is a possibility. However, I'm not certain that these insects are carnivorous."

"Really? What makes you say that?"

"When I was with Nyssa, we noticed another type of insect. Several of them were chasing two of these. I think that these insects are the prey of the others."

"But that means that the insects here are carnivorous, right?"

"Not necessarily. One species may be, but the other may be herbivorous or omnivorous."

"So we have a two out of three chance of being their supper."

The Doctor did not respond to this comment. Instead, he said, "Tegan, look up ahead. There's more light."

"Great," the Australian grumbled, "it's probably their oven, all set for roasting up some delicious humans."


Turlough watched in abject horror as the insect used its sharp jaws to slice the bandage on his hand. It severed the gauze easily. He was glad that the anesthetic was still working. At least he would not have to feel the pain that would surely accompany his hand being bitten off. He tried to see past the insect's head to watch the blood running over his fingers, but the creature's head blocked his view.

He saw the bandage fall to the floor, then the insect lifted its head and turned around, raising its abdomen toward him. He could see his hand now. To his astonishment, it was not bleeding; the insect had not cut him. His skin was still terribly red and blistered, of course, but there was no blood. The insect wrapped a hind leg around his wrist, then his view was obstructed by the creature's body. All he knew was that his wrist was restrained.

"Let me go!" he cried, trying to pull away. He had the sickening thought that the insects could smell the raw flesh on his hand and were planning to devour it. The insect's hold on him was secure, however, and he could do nothing more than jerk ineffectually. "Hey!" he shouted again, "stop!"

The insect ignored his pleas and held his wrist more firmly.


"There's an opening just up ahead," Tegan confirmed, peering through the vague glow at a stronger light a few meters away.

"Ah, good. Perhaps it will be an exit," the Doctor said.

The insects seemed to move a bit more quickly, their feet and wings rustling slightly against the dirt floor and walls.

"Did you hear that?" the Doctor asked.

Tegan listened for a moment. "What?"

"A voice. I'm certain that I heard a voice." He had stopped, tilting his head to listen.

Tegan paused, too. "I heard it," she said. "It sounded like someone said 'stop'."

"Come on," the Doctor said. "It could be one of the researchers, possibly the one who sent the distress call. He may still have the transmitter. Perhaps it's not too late to send Nyssa a message."

He increased his pace, gently pushing Tegan ahead. The insects moved faster, too. In a minute they saw clearly that the tunnel opened up into a much larger room. The light was somewhat brighter due to the antennae of at least a dozen insects clustered near the far wall.

"Please, stop!" A plaintive cry echoed through the room.

Tegan turned back to the Doctor. "That voice," she began.

The Doctor pushed past her and the insects to hurry into the cavern. "Turlough!" he cried.

The insects accompanying the Doctor and Tegan squealed and fluttered their wings. The creatures surrounding Turlough froze for a moment then backed away. Turlough was pressed against the wall. One arm hung at his side; the other was thrust out. His expression reflected intense fear. He blinked, taking a moment to realize that the insects were moving away.

The Doctor hurried toward the Trion. "Turlough," he said again, "are you all right?"

Turlough looked up at the Time Lord. "Doctor?" he spluttered in disbelief. "You're—alive."

"Yes, quite." The Doctor stood in front of him now and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you all right?" he asked again.

Turlough shook his head, then his eyes shot toward his outstretched hand. "I thought it was going to take my hand off," he said.

The Doctor grasped his wrist. "Did the insects do this?"

Turlough looked more closely at his hand. He saw that it was encased in a white substance resembling a spider web. "Yes," he replied with some surprise.

"Hmm." The Doctor studied the webbing for a moment then lowered Turlough's hand. "I wonder…" he began, but he did not complete the thought.

"Is he all right?" Tegan's voice resounded through the chamber.

Turlough's head shot up, and his eyes widened. "Tegan?" he gasped.

She hobbled forward. "Who were you expecting?"

"But you… I saw you fall into the vent, then the geyser… how did you survive?" Turlough stammered.

Tegan replied, "I fell into a giant web, and it protected me from the heat. The Doctor got me out."

"I thought you had been killed," Turlough said, regaining his composure somewhat.

"When you get to know me better," she said with a wry half-smile, "you'll see that I'm indestructible."

The Doctor had wandered away to investigate the chamber, but he turned back now to ask, "Where's Nyssa? Any why didn't you remain in the TARDIS as I asked?"

Turlough leaned back against the wall. It vibrated slightly against his shoulders. "We came to look for you. Nyssa brought the TARDIS to the area where she thought you'd be, but we landed some distance away. So we thought we'd find you on foot, but we were intercepted by some insects that lead us into their den."

"In here?" asked the Doctor.

"No," Turlough responded, his eyes darting to the side. "We were helping them transport their eggs to another chamber, and I noticed a second tunnel there. I thought it might be a shortcut—back to the egg chamber. I ended up in here."

"So Nyssa's back in the other chamber?" asked Tegan. "Alone with the insects?"

Turlough nodded. "I'm sure she's fine. They didn't seem to want to harm us. She thought they just wanted our help."

"We should find her," Tegan said.

"Yes," agreed the Doctor, "but these fellows may have other plans for us."

The insects had clustered together in the center of the chamber and now began moving toward the three visitors.

"What do they want?" Turlough asked, tucking his hands behind his back.

The Doctor stepped back to Tegan and Turlough. "I believe they want us to continue moving," he said.

Indeed, the insects were advancing en masse, antennae quivering. They approached the travelers then swerved slightly, urging the humanoids toward the adjoining wall. There was another tunnel opening, somewhat larger than the one through which the Doctor and Tegan had traveled, on this wall.

Herded like so many cattle, Turlough, Tegan, and the Doctor stepped into the tunnel, the insects following closely behind. Turlough lifted his hand.

Tegan glanced at the appendage. "I guess they start with the hand then work inward," she commented.

"Can you get it off?" he asked the Doctor, rubbing the webbing against his shirt.

"Yes, I imagine so. I've brought some shears."

"Then please, Doctor, take it off." Turlough held out his hand.

The Doctor began to reach into his pocket, but he paused. "I'm not sure that I should," he said.

"Why not?" asked Turlough. "It can't be good for the burns."

The Time Lord inquired, "How does the hand feel?"

"It's numb," replied Turlough. "Nyssa gave me something for the pain."

"Of course," the Doctor nodded. He lowered his hand from his pocket without reaching inside. "I think it might be wise to leave that on a bit longer."

"Whatever for?" asked Turlough with some disgust.

"I have a feeling that the insect put it there for a reason—"

His words were stopped by a rustling of the insects' wings and a few high-pitched squeals. Several insects poked at the Time Lord and Turlough with their antennae.

"What do they want now?" asked Tegan.

The Doctor studied the creatures for a moment. "I believe they want us to be quiet."

"But we—" began Tegan. A pair of antennae prodded her thigh.

The Doctor held a finger to his lips. "Sshh," he whispered.

The conversation ceased, and the insects backed away slightly as the group continued to move through the dim tunnel.


After a time, a brighter light was visible at the end of the tunnel. The insects had slowed their progress slightly during the last few minutes. Now they paused, their antennae thrust out stiffly and heads bobbling as they poised on tensed legs.

"Did you feel that?" asked Tegan, resting a hand against the wall for support.

"The ground is trembling," Turlough said.

The Doctor stood still, apparently absorbed in thought. The insects, however, began to shift and shuffle, remaining in position but moving with some agitation from side to side. Several in the lead bumped the Doctor's hip and back with their heads.

"Oh," he said, looking at the creatures. "Do you want me to go ahead?" He turned and took a step. One insect responded by providing another gentle push against his leg.

"Come along," the Time Lord said to his companions. "It seems that we are to head the party."

"More like head the menu, if you ask me," Tegan groused.

The Doctor arched an eyebrow at her. "I didn't, so shush."

She limped ahead, Turlough and the Doctor just behind her. However, as they neared the end of the tunnel and the opening into another chamber, the Doctor reached for Tegan's shoulder, stopping her so that he could squeeze past her and Turlough and take the lead. He walked to the opening and paused in the soft glow from inside.

"Turlough," he said in a hushed voice, "I believe we've found your egg chamber again."

Turlough hurried to his side. In the chamber he saw several insects against the wall, just as they had been before. He also saw the pile of eggs, much smaller now. In fact, Nyssa had apparently managed to move at least three quarters of the eggs into the secondary chamber.

"Hello?" the Doctor called softly, stepping inside.

The insects near the wall turned to twitch their antennae at him. One rose up on its hind legs momentarily, but another made a small clicking noise which seemed to assuage the rearing creature; it returned its legs to the ground.

"It seems safe enough," the Doctor said. "I don't think they'll harm us."

"Where's Nyssa?" asked Tegan.

Turlough pointed to the tunnel on the far wall. "She's probably taken another load to the second room where they're keeping the eggs now."

The Doctor took a few steps toward the eggs then bent to study them. The insects near the wall watched him but did not appear perturbed by his actions.

"I suppose we should each take an armload to the other room," Turlough said perfunctorily.

The Doctor nodded, bending to pick up an egg. The insects near the wall reared abruptly, hissing and flapping their wings.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" the Doctor said quickly, standing. However, he realized that their attention was not focused on him.

The insects from the tunnel had begun entering the chamber. As they noticed the creatures inside, they too squealed and reared.

"Is it some sort of mating ritual?" asked Turlough.

"Mating ritual?" repeated the Doctor with some surprise.

"Yes," said Turlough, gesturing toward the insects near the wall. "Those are the males and these are the females, right?"

The Doctor shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Turlough. These are two entirely different species, and it seems they are natural enemies."

A commotion in the tunnel leading to the secondary egg chamber drew their attention. A dozen insects emerged, wings lifting and jaws opening menacingly. The Doctor wrapped an arm around Tegan's waist and pulled her back toward the wall, motioning to Turlough to follow. Before them, the two groups of insects grew increasingly agitated, clearly preparing to fight.

"Oh!" A familiar, gentle voice reverberated through the chamber. "What are you doing?"

Nyssa stepped from the tunnel, quickly taking in the scene before her.

"Nyssa!" Tegan cried, beginning to take a step. The Doctor, however, restrained her.

Nyssa's head turned, and her eyes locked on her three companions. She blinked in disbelief. Abruptly she was pushed aside, falling into the chamber as several more insects pressed past her from inside the tunnel.

Quickly the Doctor scooted along the perimeter of the chamber. The insects had all gathered near the center, bucking and snapping, legs flailing threateningly. The Doctor took Nyssa's arm and pulled her upward, then lead her briskly back to Tegan and Turlough. Nyssa's eyes had not left Tegan.

"Tegan!" Nyssa gasped, hurrying to embrace her friend. "How—"

"Not now, Nyssa," the Doctor said quickly, his gaze moving to the insects.

The creatures that had escorted the Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough were clearly smaller than those in the other group. The larger insects, though fewer in number, had bigger, stronger mandibles and more powerful front legs. It was unclear to the observers which group would prevail in the impending conflict.

Suddenly one of the larger insects whipped its head forward, slashing at the nearest adversary with its open jaw. The victim shrieked, lifting its wings in defense then rearing up to strike at its enemy with its forelegs.

"No!" shouted the Doctor, stepping forward. "Stop!"

Although his words were meaningless to the insects, the noise created by his voice drew their momentary attention.

"What are you doing?" hissed Turlough.

"Trying to prevent a fight," the Time Lord replied.

"No, Doctor, wait!" Tegan cried, attempting to reach for his arm. "Don't get in the middle of it! They'll hurt you—"

He shrugged off her hand and strode toward the insects.

"Doctor!" Nyssa pleaded, "Be careful!"

Tegan began to move toward the Time Lord, but Turlough stepped in front of her. "He knows what he's doing," he said with a sideways glance. His wrist pressed against the crystal in his pocket.

"But he could get hurt—" Tegan protested.

"And so could we." Turlough's eyes darted to the tunnel from which they had come. "We should get out of here."

"We can't leave the Doctor!" Tegan countered.

The Doctor now stood between the two groups of insects. They peered around him, still raising and lowering their wings angrily. All seemed poised to attack; the Time Lord's presence would not deter them for long.

"Doctor! Come on!" urged Tegan. "We've got to leave."

"No," he said evenly, "I have to try to stop this."

"But you said it yourself—they're natural enemies. This is just the normal order of things," Tegan said.

The larger insect that had begun the attack rose up and jumped at the Doctor, knocking him back so that he fell to the ground. Tegan shoved Turlough aside and reached for the Time Lord. "Come on, Doctor! Get away from them!"

His removal prevented any restraint among the insects. In an instant they had begun lurching at each other, snapping and scraping with their jaws, striking each other with their legs and wings. The Doctor scrabbled toward the pile of eggs, grasping a sphere in his hands.

"Stop it!" he shouted, lifting the egg then dropping it to the ground. Immediately its glowing ceased.

Several of the larger insects hissed and turned toward the Doctor, wings lifting in rage.

"Doctor! What are you doing?" cried Nyssa. "You can't harm their eggs!"

"I may have to sacrifice a few to get them to stop fighting," he panted, lifting another sphere over his head.

"They'll attack you!" Tegan warned.

"That is the plan," the Doctor responded calmly.

"But Doctor—" Tegan began to object.

The larger insects were all turning toward the Doctor, their prey nearly forgotten in their haste to save their young. They had surrounded him within a few seconds, and several opened their mouths in preparation for biting at his legs.

"No!" Nyssa shouted. "Don't hurt him! He's trying to help you!" She ran forward but stumbled; the ground shook beneath her feet. She landed on several eggs, her hand crushing one.

Now the insects squealed and lunged at Nyssa. She was struggling to rise, but the slight undulation of the ground prevented her from succeeding. Four insects converged on Nyssa with open jaws. Tegan took a quick step toward Nyssa, but her knee could not support her, and she floundered to the ground with a grunt of pain and frustration.

The insects had pinned Nyssa; one climbed onto her chest while another stood over her legs. A third watched her for a moment then lowered its open mouth toward her neck.

"No, please!" Nyssa pleaded, trying to block the insect with her hands. Its powerful head knocked her hands away as its mandible closed over her throat.

"Nyssa!" the Doctor shouted, unable to reach her, surrounded by several insects himself. He was attempting to fend them off with the dissecting shears.

Turlough watched the scene before him as though it were in slow motion. He could hear his companions crying out, and he could feel the ground still trembling beneath his feet. His eyes swept the room, locking for an instant on the tunnel. He could reach it in a few seconds and get away before anyone noticed. This was the tunnel through which he had initially come. The TARDIS sat just beyond its entrance…

Then his eyes returned to Nyssa. Without further thought, he ran at the insect whose jaw was pressing against her throat. He shoved the creature away with all his strength then struck at the other two with his numb hands. They twitched then stepped off of Nyssa. Turlough realized that the ground was shaking with more force. The insects were confused, their antennae quavering as they looked about. The group of smaller animals gave a few brief squeaks and ran toward the tunnel that had brought them to this room.

Nyssa had managed to sit up, clasping a hand to her throat. "The egg chamber," she croaked. "We'll be safe there. That must be why they moved the eggs there."

Turlough held out his hand to her. She took it, and he pulled her up. The Doctor had scrabbled toward Tegan to help her stand.

"No," said the Doctor, "we can't go there. The insects won't trust us not to harm their eggs. Besides, that's where they're heading." He nodded his head toward the retreating creatures.

"What's happening?" Tegan asked, still trying to balance against the shaking on one leg.

"A volcanic eruption, I believe," replied the Doctor.

"What should we do?" asked Turlough.

"The insects," the Time Lord said, "appear to possess an excellent sense of self-preservation. I think that is why they led us down here—they knew the eruption was imminent and wanted to protect us."

"Really?" Tegan was still not fully convinced she hadn't been intended as supper.

"That's all well and good," Turlough interjected, "but where do we go now?"

The Doctor helped Tegan move toward the wall. "For the moment I think we will be safest right where we are."

Nyssa looked toward the tunnel. "The TARDIS," she began hesitantly. "It's out there. If there's lava flow—"

The Doctor shook his head. "I'm afraid that is out of our control now."

Nyssa turned back to Tegan, stepping toward her to clasp her hands. "I'm so glad that you're all right," she said with a smile.

Tegan nodded. "Me too." Her eyes moved to Nyssa's throat. "But Nyssa, you're bleeding."

Nyssa's hand moved to her neck again as Tegan tried to see what damage the insect had inflicted upon her friend. The Doctor gently moved Nyssa's hand away so that he could view the injury.

Turlough watched his three companions for a moment. All were absorbed with Nyssa's wounds. The tunnel was just a few steps away. It must be connected with additional tunnels that had brought the smaller insects here. If he followed the main tunnel, though, he would eventually find his way to the surface and back to the TARDIS. The ground continued to tremble, which he imagined meant that the volcano was still erupting. However, if he could just reach the TARDIS, he would be safe. With a final glance back at the others, he moved swiftly into the tunnel. In the dimness, he was almost certain that he caught a faint glow from the crystal.