The Doctor and Jenna spent the next few days discussing their plans. They had decided that Jenna would tell the Ayokyans that for the next stage of research she would need to travel through the desert for a day. The Doctor would be her research assistant. They both knew that there was no way that the Ayokyans would let them go alone. At least one guard, maybe more, would accompany them. Their plan was to pretend as if the TARDIS was something that they had never seen before. When they approached it, the Doctor would open the door just enough for them to slip inside, and the shields would activate to protect them from the Ayokyans.
That was the plan at least. As a backup, Jenna had a small stun gun that she had created from her ship's small engine and blasters. She estimated that it would be able to put an Ayokyan out for at least a minute, which was way more time than they needed. Today, they just sat around waiting for Rakshir to come, so that they could request their 'expedition'. "So how much have you found out about these Ayokyans?" the Doctor asked.
"Not much. But what I have found out is really weird."
"Can you give me an example?"
"Well… for example… did you know that," She leaned in close and whispered, "They're attracted to blood?"
The Doctor sat back and started laughing. "Yeah, of course. It's the thing that they're best known for." She stared at him in disbelief.
"You find that funny?! I only found out after I cut my finger! I went to find a bandage and instead every single Ayokyan started trying to climb on top of me! I had to barricade the laboratory for a day!" The Doctor put on a sarcastically empathic face. He tried to suppress a laugh, but ended up snorting. "You have to admit it's pretty funny though. These massive, bus-sized insects are attracted to blood. That's so stupid." At this, she started blushing. Slowly, her posture became more relaxed and soon they were both laughing loudly.
An Ayokyan who the Doctor knew as In'forio opened the door, flanked by two other Ayokyans. "You are to be taken to the King today, Doctor." He stepped back, extending an appendage to the end of the corridor. The Doctor realised that he was pointing in the wrong direction. Instead of the outside door, this door was leading further inside. The Doctor stepped forward hesitantly, looking back at Jenna. "Jenna cannot come with you today, Doctor. This is a private audience." Jenna shrugged, a look of pity painted on her face. The Doctor opened the door and left, following a large flight of stairs upwards. They climbed for two minutes, and then abruptly stopped at a corridor grander than any that he had seen. It was ten metres tall, and the shell that lined the walls was silver, and polished. Stepping into the Hive, as the Ayokyans called it; the Doctor was stunned to see a massive Ayokyan sitting atop a bronze throne that seemed to take up half the room. He approached the King, and knelt.
"Mighty King, why have you requested my presence?" He said, loudly, keeping his head down. He had absolutely no idea as to why the King wanted to see him. He had come to terms with the fact that he would never meet the King. "You join my nest, advance my technology in leaps and bounds alongside my lovely Jenna, and you expect to be left alone? Not a chance Doctor." The King's voice was a deep baritone, reverberating around the room. The Doctor even noticed that the throne was vibrating with the King's soothing voice. The King started to move forwards to meet the Doctor face to face. He had only moved a metre when the Doctor noticed the throne uncurling. It was only at that point did he realise that the entire throne was an extension of the King's body. The sight was terrifying.