The Doctor leant against the TARDIS, throwing and catching his sonic screwdriver several times out of boredom. A distant streetlight provided just enough illumination to see what was going on, but otherwise he was surrounded by pitch blackness. Donna soon stumbled out of the TARDIS, rubbing her eyes.
"How long was I out?" She said, stretching out her arms.
"Well, by Earth time it was about...12 hours. But of course, time is relative inside the TARDIS and-"
"-Yeah, whatever, no science mumbo jumbo when I'm barely conscious thank you. So what's the plan?"
"Follow me." The Doctor announced, striding off and leaving Donna to lazily follow.
Before Donna had time to intervene, complain, or stop him, the Doctor was holding down the doorbell on Anne's door, and knocking incredibly loudly.
"You do know it's like...1 a.m. People are asleep, and Anne hardly looked like a spring chicken, waking her up can do no good." Donna whispered, hastily looking around the dimly lit streets.
"Wait for it..." The Doctor said, removing his finger from the doorbell and stepping back slightly. The letterbox slowly opened inwards and the blue glow of Garth seeped outwards.
"Who is there, may I ask?" Garth asked sheepishly.
"Garth it's me, uh...ummm...Tim." The Doctor quickly responded, drawing out a random name from the top of his head.
"Mr Walton? Is there something the matter, sir?" Garth purred, still only slightly holding the letterbox open.
"I have something to show you." The Doctor slightly raised his intonation at the end of the sentence, seeming to both tell and ask Garth.
Donna immediately mouthed "Really?" in slight disbelief that such a ploy could ever work. And yet it did. The door slowly opened, and almost at an identical speed the Doctor raised his sonic screwdriver above his head. Donna noted the light had gone on but couldn't make out the familiar whine. Garth had peered round the door by now, and was staring, hypnotically, at the glowing instrument.
"We want to talk." The Doctor stated. Garth nodded, and opened the door fully for them. Donna stared at the two in utter confusion.
"What is going on?" She whispered.
"I programmed the sonic on the Dar wavelength, simple mind control."
"Mind control? Bit much isn't it?" Donna said, wiping her feet on the mat and realising the only light around them was the glow coming from Garth.
"Oh it's nothing. Got us in didn't it?" The Doctor said, his arm still dangling in the air, leading Garth like the Pied Piper into the kitchen. They stood around the kitchen table, Garth staring at the screwdriver, the Doctor staring at Garth, and Donna staring at the both of them.
"Put the damn thing down." Donna said at last, dragging the Doctor's sleeve down with great force.
Garth's four unblinking eyes still followed the screwdriver, even when the Doctor placed it back into his pocket. And then with one blink, he came to, and stared at the two, annoying strangers in his house. The Doctor gave a small wave.
Dars were polite beings, seeing anything less than utmost courtesy and manners being extremely disrespectful. They failed to believe evil could run through a being, and would give everyone a second chance no matter the situation. But Garth had seen red. Literally. The crimson glow filled the kitchen, as cutlery, plates, and the table itself began to shake ever so slightly. Donna immediately moved close to the Doctor who hugged her tightly.
"Doctor, stop him." She managed, her voice wavering with every syllable.
And as the Doctor moved his view away from Donna, he felt a burning hand press into his forehead.