HOUSE OF DOOM
The glistening flash of light on metal captured a flying, spinning object just seconds before it struck the plasterboard target. Printed on the target was the profile of a Sontaran head.
The knife had pierced the probic vent perfectly.
The next knife, which flew in an arc, shot across to the other side of the dim chamber and hit more plasterboard. On this was a dalek. Its eye stork severed neatly.
The third throwing knife swept high in an arc and came down with a thunk into the chest unit of a drawn cyberman.
Leela clapped and the chamber lights flared showing her to be a wide, circular room of black marble with a smooth floor. Her throwing knives had hit every target, all fourteen of them. No matter how far away they were, how they were angled or what was drawn on them.
She felt justly satisfied. Her throwing skills had not declined since leaving the tribe. If anything, they were keener.
A sound made her spin around in a crouch, remove her sheath knife and thrust.
It was pure reflex. Animal instinct.
A heart stab, the easiest.
She had just killed the Doctor.
Only something was wrong. There was no resistance. No sense of piercing flesh, blood and muscle.
Her knife had gone right through. So had her hand. And her arm.
She had killed a ghost.
She withdrew her blade at once. Shocked and disappointed.
The ghost smiled and winked out of existence. Appearing almost at once to her left to study the Sontaran.
"Oh well done," it had the Doctor's baritone, his mellifluous tone.
"How are you doing this," she cried, "is it mag…."
She almost said it. The forbidden word. But knowing how he'd react, she corrected herself automatically."Science."
"I'm a hologram," he told her.
"A hollow man," unfamiliar with the term, she frowned, sheathing her weapon.
"An image made of light."
He winked out and came back to her right near the dalek.
"Another good throw," he said.
"How can you be made of light? You are flesh and blood."
"It's an illusion Leela, a clever trick."
The ghost reached into its coat, eased the scarf aside and removed a medallion made of some silvery metal on which were four small triangles.
"This device allows me to project a likeness of myself over a short distance."
It was magic. She was sure of it. Like the wizards and sorcerers of tales back home. Like the shaman was supposed to be able to do, but couldn't. She had seen through him and his lies helped by the Doctor. But this was incredible. Surely it must be magical. It seemed so to her, despite all she seen and learned since coming aboard the tardis.
"Why would you do such a thing? To confound an enemy?"
"Spoken like a true warrior," he laughed, "well yes, it could be used for that I suppose. It's a toy really, something from my own home that I've adapted."
She nodded sagely, "you fear an attack?"
Given their lifestyle and adventures, it wasn't beyond the bounds of possibility.
"You can never be too sure," he ruminated.
"But we are safe in here surely. No one can break into the tardis. Haven't you told me as much."
Nodding he headed for the exit, "by the way we've landed," and off he winked, this time for good.
Having to use the exit, she dashed to the console room to find the real Doctor (she assumed) hunched over a screen frowning. Same clothes, same scarf, only the frown had gone. Replaced by a pensive look.
She waited for him to speak. Looking up, he remained silent.
Where are we?" It was she who broke the silence.
"Inside something. It's very odd."
The scanner came on showing a room. A perfectly ordinary room if somewhat ostentatious. Thick carpets, soft furnishings, a wooden writing table, a baby grand piano, a chess set and portraits.
Lots of and lots of portraits. All of the same woman.
Attractive, haughty, sharp eyed, thick dark curls atop an imperious head.
Like a queen, Leela thought. Somehow not liking the look of the woman.
"It seems safe enough," she said, hand resting on her knife handle.
"Yes, it does. Air, gravity, warmth."
"Yet you hesitate."
He considered this then went over to a flat panel. There was a drawer set into this, opening it with a wave he pulled out what looked like a precious gem. Chunky and multi faceted it glowed a strong orange red, that soon morphed to a blueish green.
On the underside was an adhesive strip.
Coming over to her, he gently placed the gem on the top of her knife handle.
"What is this, an adornment?"
"A homing beacon." He responded. "In case you get separated from me or the tardis."
Leela felt herself bristle. Her pride insulted. She had excellent tracking skills. Better than any girl in the tribe and most boys. She could find her way anywhere.
"I don't need it," she said, thinking it very pretty all the same. A bauble.
"You might," he stood back, "humour me."
"You sense danger outside, don't you?"
"I don't know. Something's amiss." And he operated the door controls.
It was indeed warm in the vast room. The air scented yet Leela saw no flowers. Despite her somewhat skimpy outfit, she didn't feel cold. The portraits gazed down on them both, almost disapproving. The same woman in different dresses, red, blue and lilac. All with plunging necklines, yet the hair different, up or down, even curled.
Going over to the piano, the Doctor played a few notes. Some tune unfamiliar to her. He left the top open when finished.
Then at the chess set he picked up the black queen. Studied it ruefully then put it back down. Not on the board but to one side on the desk.
"Art, music, chess. This is someone of taste and discernment," he decided.
"Why then am I anxious," she muttered absently?
His large eyes jumped to one of the portraits. Hair cascading, plunging neck line, lips a red gash.
"Beautiful," he judged, "if a little severe."
"Do you know her?"
"No. At least, I don't think so."
"Perhaps she owns this place, whatever it is."
Going to a metal shutter, he tried to move it with his hands but couldn't. "Why have windows and seal them up like this?"
"A defensive manoeuvre perhaps," Leela offered.
"Spoken like a true warrior," he repeated, echoing the hologram.
Going over, she took out her knife and dug this into a gap between shutter and wall. Her impressive muscles bulged but it didn't take too much strength.
Easing aside the shutter revealed that it was night outside. A black canvas populated by tiny winking lights.
Gazing up then down, the Doctor smiled to himself.
"Look."
She looked.
Seeing a rocky precipice below that sank and sank and ended in nothing. Night above and below. No other rocks or water, no valley.
"We are in space," she gasped.
"Yes we are," he agreed. "Can you open this."
They moved to a second shutter on the far side of the room. It was a little stiffer, but not too difficult.
More night, more stars, again a plunging precipice.
"Not a planet," he decided, "perhaps an asteroid."
"What is that," she was unfamiliar with the term.
"Like a small planet, a mini version."
"Why would anyone live in such a place?" It seemed insane to her, brought up with open spaces, land, mountains, lakes and creatures to hunt.
"Lack of choice perhaps," he proffered.
"A prisoner?"
"Possibly," and he turned from the stark view. Freezing at once. Alerted, she turned to. Knowing he'd seen something else.
No danger presented itself. No enemy.
"I see nothing," she whispered, hand hovering over her gem topped knife.
"Look again," he advised.
She did so. Eagle eyes taking in every detail.
"The portraits are different." they had moved. Before they were red, blue and lilac. Now they were blue, lilac and red. How was this possible?
"Yes they are, notice anything else?"
"You left the piano open, now it is shut."
"Very good Leela."
"And that chess piece, it is back on the board."
Slowly, he edged back across the room as if mindful of every step.
"This is a place of wonders."
She tempted to say magical and almost did until a third voice, imperious and slightly mocking beat her to it. A woman. A woman used to being listened to.
"Indeed it is," she declared and there she was. Leela had not heard her enter, not detected footfalls or a different scent. But now the woman's perfume was cloying. Tall, as tall as the Doctor, her back ramrod straight. She was clearly the woman in the portraits. She wore the lilac dress. Cinched at the waist and frilled at the cuffs, it was ankle length but split down the left side to mid calf.
Good legs, Leela noted, firm and muscled. No longer plunging, the dress rode up to a high neck. Beautiful and stylish, she was in her forties at a guess but well preserved for all that. Firm breasts, wide shoulders and lustrous black hair. Up this time, almost a beehive.
The look in her eyes was sly, calculating, slightly disdainful. Leela's distrust grew. Then the woman studied her. Running her gaze over Leela's hair, figure and animal skins.
They alighted on her knife. On the gem atop it. Lingering for a moment.
Did she know what it was or suspect?
Then back to the Doctor, "a bohemian," she judged. "A free spirit, possibly a rebel who does not conform easily."
Then back to Leela, "A poor choice of companion though."
Knowing she'd been insulted, Leela tensed. The antipathy between her and this madam deepening.
"I'm the Doctor and this is Leela. May we ask…."
She interrupted, rather rudely in Leela's view.
"I am the Lady Collingwood." Said with unmistakable pride like it should be obvious. Like she was their social superior. A person to be deferred to.
"Collingwood," the Doctor repeated speculatively. "I know that name," he moved around the chess table. "Famous for something."
He again picked up the black queen, "oh look, this chess piece has your face carved on to it."
He let Leela see, the likeness was uncanny.
"My late husband carved those," Collingwood declared.
"Was he a sculptor, an artist. No, no" the Doctor corrected himself. "Something scientific," he gave it some thought. "Engineering, computers, spaceships?"
"Micro electronics," Lady C reposted.
"Of course, Dr Centauri Collingwood. Late of the Metzinger Institute. Disappeared without trace one Thursday in May, never seen since."
The cold, glacial eyes regarded him, "he died here," the tone was clipped.
"Oh I am sorry."
"It was sudden but not unexpected."
No grief, Leela noted, just a bold statement of the fact. She did not love him. Was her next thought. Followed by, she loves only herself.
"Did he also paint these very fine portraits of you," the Doctor was asking, admiring them again. Leela was shocked to see they had returned to their previous configuration.
"Yes, he did," her ladyship replied.
"Talented fellow."
"Engaging, at least for a time."
It was a dismissive remark and further annoyed Leela. She really did not like this person.
"So, you live here alone," the Doctor was fishing for information. Leela had seen him do it before. Casual conversation that was anything but.
This time Collingwood was not to be distracted. "Doctor, this dwelling has excellent space detection equipment but it did not record your approach. The security here is first-rate, yet you got in without tripping one alarm. I'm curious to know how this is possible."
Leela frowned. Had this woman not seen the…. She tensed. Where was the blue box? She couldn't see it anywhere. They had stepped out of it directly into this room, so it should be here.
The Doctor was speaking, "lots of odd things are possible here my lady. Portraits shifting position, chess pieces that jump back into place. Let's just say our method of transport is exotic." He smiled.
A Doctor smile.
One of his I'm-not-telling smiles.
"It must be." Not pressing him, Lady C circled the room. Her movements smooth, easy, even graceful. She moved like a warrior, Leela noted. Economy, silence; no hint of infirmity due to age.
"And now that you are here," she said, "You must stay, as my guests. I get so few."
No, thought Leela, we must not do that. She hoped her glance conveyed this, but the tall man had made up his own mind.
"Tea and toast would be nice. Perhaps a grand tour."
"I'm sure I can do better than tea and toast. And a tour might be possible."
Leela took a step back and bumped into a sofa that hadn't been there before. She was forced to sit down. Back on her feet almost at once, she held her knife handle firmly.
This was a disturbing place that was never the same one moment to the next. The tardis was strange. But not as strange as this.
Amused, Lady C waved, "come with me." It did not sound like a request. She approached a door Leela could swear hadn't been there a moment ago. Hurrying to the Doctor's side, Leela began to speak but he silenced her with a glance saying only, "I know." Adding cryptically, "I think there's more to see."
And in a louder, jollier voice, "Be right with you, your ladyship."
If Collingwood had heard, she made no response. The door she had used remained open invitingly.
"That door was not there when we arrived Doctor, and that sofa moved itself."
"Yes Leela, it seems my initial instincts were right. This is an odd place. What do you think of her?"
Leela had many words in mind, none of them complimentary. Arrogant, pompous, self-centred and cold hearted were just a few of the more polite ones.
"She did not love her husband."
He beamed at that, a toothy grin that seemed to split his face. "Somehow," he said, "I don't feel like a mere guest."
"Where is the tardis?"
"She's concealed herself, and I think I can guess why."
"We should leave, now."
Not responding to that, he again picked up the black queen, this time pocketing it.
"Let's have a nosey first, see what other clues we can find."
Then pausing, he took out his odd medallion, "May I have your knife.
Startled by the request, but trusting this man, Leela complied. The moment the gem on top of the knife came close to the medallion, a series of sparks shot between them back and forth like an electrical arc.
Startled, she jumped back. But the arc soon faded and when it had both gem and medallion had a slight blue tinge, which soon faded.
Handing her weapon back with a grin, the time lord headed for the doorway.
"What did you just do," Leela demanded, gazing at her knife?
"Just a little added precaution."
"You don't trust her any more than I do," it was hardly a question.
"No I don't. But I am rather hungry. Let's go and see what gastronomic delights she has to offer."
Not really hungry, Leela held back for a moment, then followed. Knife still in her hand.
As he went through the doorway, the Doctor seemed to vanish. At least, she couldn't see him beyond the threshold. Puzzled, she went through the opening and….
Found herself, not in a kitchen, but a bland white walled corridor.
Looking around she saw no sign of the tall man.
He had vanished. Been taken somewhere. Or, she had.
Why was she alone in a corridor? Body tense, she looked around.
Then hearing footsteps, she took cover in an alcove around a corner.
Seconds later, Collingwood appeared. She was alone herself and now dressed in a cream skirt suit, tights and flat heels.
As ever she looked confident and poised.
But she was alone and unarmed.
For the first time since arriving, Leela felt she had the advantage.
Now it was time to confront this woman, to get some answers and maybe take her down a peg or two. She'd been looking forward to this.
Stepping up behind Collingwood, she saw her tense and slowly turn.
Eyes fixed on Leela, then her knife.
A slow smile stretched across the haughty features. No hint of fear.
"Ah here you are, the primitive."
Stung by the insult, Leela closed in, ready to slice this bitch open if she had to.
"I'm unarmed," she was told. "Would you stab an unarmed opponent?" The tone was mocking. "Do you fear to take on an older woman? What kind of warrior are you?"
Pride deeply offended by this insult. Leela considered for a moment, then tossed her knife aside. She didn't need it.
If this woman wanted a fight, then so be it.
He was alone. And he wasn't in a kitchen. The room was long and blue walled with a long wooden table, two chairs, a hat stand and yet another portrait of Lady C. The vanity of the woman was incredible.
"Leela?"
He turned to find her gone.
So was the doorway.
He was in a room with no exit.
"Your ladyship?"
No sign of her either.
"So much for local hospitality."
Striding over to a chair, he sat in it and put both boots up on the table in a relaxed posture that totally hid his ill ease.
Once again he found himself in a cell. Hardly a novel experience. It seemed to happen every trip. He arrived, met some dignitary and was prompted arrested.
Only here, there'd been no arrest. No even a waved gun or faked confession.
"What now? Are you just going to leave me here? Was it that remark about tea and toast?"
Suddenly, he was on the floor. Thrown there by the chair, which bucked beneath him, tossing him out of it.
Dazed, he sat up. The chair was now still but the big, heavy table was moving. Gliding towards him menacingly. Heavy and thick legged, it appeared to be stalking him like some wild animal.
On his feet, he backed away. "Now steady on, we haven't been introduced."
Accelerating suddenly, the table shot forwards. It required a prodigious leap to avoid it but managing this, the Doctor landed on another chair.
This swiftly threw him off it, and the table spun around and began to approach for a second try.
"Homicidal furniture," he mused. "What's going on here?"
The big table increased speed, trying to pin him against another wall.
Once more an athletic leap was required.
This one took him to the hat stand and grabbing this, he levelled it at the table like an ancient knight confronting a dragon.
In this case, a chunky wooden beast with no head or tail.
But just as deadly in a confined space.
As the table advanced, he jabbed at it. "Keep back," he hissed.
For a moment, the table obeyed, then edged forwards again.
This time when he jabbed at it, he made contact and an amazing thing happened.
There was a flash of light. Almost blinding. Hat stand and table reacting to each other, like powered objects.
Encouraged, the Doctor jabbed again and struck again, harder.
This time there was a brighter flash and the table flew back, one of its legs cracking, a crack appearing along its top.
"Touche," the Doctor bragged.
Then he threw his weapon onto the table.
Aware he was taking a big risk.
But it worked.
A supernal flash, several crunching noises and the table blew apart. Legs exploding to throw its bulk onto the floor in a blackened heap.
Another side effect was that the doorway reappeared.
Leading, not to the lounge of before, but a white walled corridor.
Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, he took it. Bounding out of the toxic room as fast as his long legs could take him.
Without another word, Leela threw herself forward, locking her forearms around the slender neck of the other woman with a snarl. Driven back off balance, Collingwood collided with a wall, blinking, lips twisted in pain and shock.
Applying the choke hold, one of her favourites, Leela was pleased to see her opponent's eyes bulge and face discolour. So, she could be hurt; good. A skilled wrestler since childhood, Leela knew she had the upper hand. She was younger fitter, faster and one of the best fighters in the Sevateem.
Yet, reaching up, Collingwood grasped her arms and with amazing strength, pulled them apart. Leela couldn't believe it. Then she was thrown back, tossed with contemptuous ease.
Regaining her smile and composure, the older woman regarded her.
"Is that the best you can do," she smirked. "Not very impressive."
Enraged, Leela closed in again. Knocking the arms down, she applied another choke hold taught to her by Gavner. Who trained all the children of the tribe.
This one was unbreakable. Or so she had always believed. But yet again, she was thrown back, tossed aside like a child.
Collingwood was not what she appeared.
Leela launched a kick at the woman's middle. But found her leg expertly caught. Next instant she was crashing to the floor.
Rolling expertly, she shot up into a fighting pose.
Good job to as Collingwood grabbed at her, keen to grapple.
Fine, Leela twisted suddenly to unbalance the woman and sent her spinning into a wall. Before Collingwood could recover, she delivered a chopping blow to the neck and a punch to the kidney.
The woman should have collapsed. Many men had. But spinning around she grabbed a clump of Leela's hair, yanking on it painfully. As Leela reached up, an uppercut exploded into her stomach with such force that she felt the air whoosh out of her.
Legs buckling, she collapsed onto her knees paralysed by pain. She literally could neither breathe nor move. It was without doubt the most powerful punch she had ever taken and it had caught her in just the right spot.
Leela was strong but she was still a woman, with a woman's weaknesses and the body blow had left her pole-axed.
She knew she was beaten.
Unable to get up.
Unable to do anything but gag and squirm, she heard Collingwood low mocking laugh and felt totally humiliated.
To lose to another woman was shameful.
To lose to a woman twice her age, even more so.
There was nothing she could do but make pathetic gasping sounds as the victor circled her.
"Not so smug now are you," the words stung deeply. They seemed to hurt more than the punch.
Stomach a ball of pain, Leela clutched at herself. She wanted to breathe but couldn't and was powerless as Collingwood reached down to pluck the gem from her knife handle.
Taking it like a trophy.
"Mine, I think."
Kneeling down, Collingwood seized another haft of hair, lifting Leela's tear streaked face from the floor.
Leela would have loved to spit in her face, but couldn't even manage that.
"You were never any match for me girl," a thumb rubbed away a tear. "I could kill you easily, but will defer that pleasure...until later."
Letting go, Collingwood rose. For a moment she stood over her beaten foe admiringly. Then picking up the discarded knife, she placed it on the floor next to her opponent's pain racked face.
"Better hang onto this, next time."
Leela gulped and twitched. The pain receding a little. But before she had recovered, her rival strode away arrogantly. Giving one last chuckle of victory.
Damn the bitch. She would pay for this.
Lifting her upper body off the floor, Leela sucked in a deeper breath. Rubbing her bruised belly, she blinked her eyes clear.
Next time old woman, you will be mine.
She'd been stupid and overconfident, it had made her careless.
Next time, she would be ready.
Which way now, the Doctor was thinking. All the corridors looked the same. He had a good sense of direction. Or so he told everyone. But now felt disorientated.
Then a sound reached his ears, a gasp, a painful intake of breath. Homing in on this he turned a corner to find.
"Leela, at last."
Leaning one hand against a wall, the girl was holding her middle with the other. She looked dazed and winded, hair a mess and composure in tatters.
"Are you all right," he went over but she waved him away.
Not someone who liked sympathy.
"I am a fool."
"What happened?"
"Collingwood," one word, said with contempt.
"She beat you." The Doctor's big eyes boggled.
"Caught me with a good punch."
"But how could she beat you, warrior queen of the tribe?"
It was meant as a joke, but was greeted with a fierce glare.
Knowing when to back off, the tall man decided not to dwell on this. Although it was interesting. Collingwood had beaten Leela. He would have bet his tardis against that result.
"She took the gem," Leela admitted.
"Good."
The response surprised her. "How is it good. You have it to in trust and I lost it."
"As long as she has that gem, we can track her."
He took out his medallion, it was glowing a soft blue ambience.
Nodding, Leela patted her knife, "I will kill her next time."
"Not before we get some answers," the Doctor ruminated.
"This place is cursed, it is not natural."
Not rising to that, he took something from his pocket. A chess piece. The black queen.
"I've just been attacked by furniture. A table that wasn't really a table."
He gave the queen to her, "cut this open lengthwise, please."
She did so. Glad of something to cut. The wood parted to reveal cork and then tiny grains of silver sand.
"What are these?"
Studying the grains, the time lord nodded, "micro circuitry."
"What does that mean?"
"I'm willing to bet the furniture is full of it too."
"Why?"
"Good question Leela. I wish I knew. But if everything here contains circuitry then in theory it can move."
She caught on, "like the portraits."
"Like the table and this chess piece. But like you asked, why do it, what for?"
"You said that woman's husband was a scientist."
Nodding thoughtfully, he pocketed the black queen. "A man who vanished at the peak of his powers. Hiding away here perhaps."
Galvanised, the Doctor touched the black queen to his medallion. For a moment nothing happened, then the medallion glowed a soft silver.
"This way I think."
Despite being sore, Leela was recovering fast due her fitness levels and trotted after the tall man. He seemed to know where he was going. Which was good as she had no idea.
"Where are we going now," she asked, then thought about what she'd seen, "to find the woman's husband." She couldn't bring herself mention her ladyship's name. From now on she would just be the woman.
Reaching a door without a handle, the time lord gave it some thought then touched the door with the chess piece.
Moments later they entered…
A bedroom.
He seemed as disappointed as she was surprised.
"Oh," he said, "I was expecting a laboratory, computer room or engineering workshop."
Nothing like that was evident in the wide, spacious room with its soft yellow walls, thick carpet and king sized four poster bed.
Huge walk-in wardrobes dominated one side.
There was a C shaped table on which were framed photos.
They were all of one subject.
"Her, not him," Leela noted. "She has a big opinion of herself."
"Centauri always was a bit shy," the Doctor admitted. "But you're right, it is odd."
"Well she isn't here, there seems nothing of interest."
Turning sharply, he regarded her. This voluminous eyes bright with mischief. "There's always something of interest Leela. As we're here, let's have a shufti."
He began opening draws and cupboards. Rummaging through their contents, huffing to himself.
Drawn to the wardrobes, Leela tried to open one. The door resisted. She applied her strength.
"These are locked."
"Don't let that stop you."
She wouldn't. Inserting her knife into a lock, she twisted savagely and thrusted. There was a crunch, a click and one of the wardrobes revealed itself to her.
Clothes on hangers – dresses, skirts, tops, hats. Below them shoes with and without heels, casual and for show.
"Nothing much here." But she couldn't resist touching some of the garments, running her fingers over the rich fabrics.
"They must be rich," she muttered, "To have so many beautiful things."
He paused, "Isn't it odd by how the ugliest people can have the prettiest possessions. It never ceases to amaze me."
"He was wealthy then, this man Centauri?"
"Not really. At least not according to the records I've seen."
Maybe his wife had all the wealth. That was an irritating thought.
Taking out a dress, she held it up against herself. Yes, it was a good fit. Blue and corn coloured with a pink floral design it was simple yet attractive. Cinched waist, frilly skirt and a low neckline. She wondered how she'd look in it and considered putting it on.
Then the attack came.
There was no warning beyond a low rattle. Leela dove to one side just in time.
The clothes hangar that had held the dress tore loose from its mooring and shot out of the wardrobe like a boomerang.
It was as though the thing were alive. Flying over Leela, it headed for the Doctor. Forcing him to duck as well.
Then, in mid air, the thing circled and came back.
Throwing himself to one side, the tall man tried to grab the object but it was too fast. Leela was clearly its next target. With a deft judo roll, she took herself out of danger.
Flying back into the wardrobe and crashing into its back, the hangar broke into two halves. In each, she could see the tiny silver grains.
Before she could comment another wardrobe, the whole thing this time, detached itself from the wall and lumbered forwards on four stubby legs.
A monstrous wooden oblong of death, hulking and huge.
"Separate," advised the Doctor, "two targets are harder than one."
Agreeing, she sprinted to the door. Turning, she was shocked to see him stood stock still, immobile, waiting, tempting fate.
The wardrobe advanced, rattling and creaking but deadly all the same. There was no doubt it could crush him and planned to do so.
Shouting a warning, Leela took out her knife.
But what effect would it have on timber. This was not a creature of flesh and food. She'd be wasting her only advantage.
The Doctor waited and waited and...stepped onto a low table, using this to propel him him onto a make up cabinet. From there he leapt on top of the moving hulk, rolled and jumped down the other side.
She didn't understand, until she saw the gap left by the wardrobe. There was a door behind it opening out onto a bright room.
The Doctor could now reach this, "see you later," he said. "I hope."
With the wooden giant in the way, Leela knew she'd never make the opening.
"I will find you." And taking the room door, she exited.
The Doctor had gone next door. But Leela found the corridor outside a truncated dead end. She'd have to backtrack and find another way. Time to use that finely honed hunter's instinct.
A lab, at last. He'd been sure there was one here and now he'd found it. Equipment, scanners, sensors, a test bench. Not as advanced as the tardis, but then what was. Impressive though.
A multi phasic induction amplifier, a hyper space induction coil, level 4 stochastic computers. Impressive kit indeed.
"This must be where all the robots were made," said the Doctor as if speaking to himself. He wasn't though. "Why not show yourself."
She did. Stepping into view. Now attired in a two piece maroon trouser suit. Hair down in cascades, lots of gold on each finger.
"This place is a death trap," he remarked. "Animated fixtures and fittings. The old man must have been paranoid."
"It is a testament to my husband's genius," the lady C declared.
"And yet he's dead," the eyes hardened, "Did you kill him?"
Not remotely offended by the question, Collingwood smiled. "Of course I did."
"Why?"
"His usefulness was at an end Doctor. He had given me all he could. I required a superior mind. A mind like yours perhaps."
The tall man circled the lab, "I'm not on the market for a bride."
"If not marriage then you could become my assistant."
Freezing on the spot, back stiffening, he glared at her, "I'm nobody's assistant your ladyship."
"I thought it a generous offer, considering it's your only way out of here. You won't be leaving any other way."
"Is that right," smile back now he was on safer ground, he ran his fingers over one object after another. "Trapped am I?"
"Yes you are."
"We'll see about that. Your animatronics don't impress me."
"There's no way out of here. Believe me, others have tried."
"Oh you've lured others here have you? Well I shall be leaving when I'm good and ready."
"With that girl?" Collingwood's laugh was contemptuous. "Worthless creature."
"My money's on her in the rematch."
"I shall swat her like a fly," the boast was blunt.
"Oh I'm not so sure. Leela learns from her mistakes. Unlike you."
The smile wavered a little, "what does that mean?"
"You've become complacent your ladyship. Too cocksure of your abilities."
"Doctor, I cannot be beaten."
Wondering how many times he'd heard that before, he paused before a screen on which was a complex diagram.
"Hello, what's this?"
She was with him in a moment, shouldering him aside. "You are too curious."
"Looks like a design for…."
Killing the screen, Collingwood became defensive. "This is not for your eyes."
"Your hubby's last project perhaps."
"Forget him. I want to talk about how you got in here without my knowing. I want to know about your ship."
"Now who's too curious," he shot back.
"Tell me where it is. What it is."
"I'm going to use a word you probably haven't heard in a long time Lady C. That word is – no."
"Nobody refuses me Doctor. Tell me."
Ignoring her, as he knew she would find it infuriating, he drifted over to a tall cubicle. A vast cylinder, hollow, but meant to house something or someone.
He saw some kind of head piece with electrodes for the temples and crown. Arm restraints, an EEC and EKG and various other items.
"This is a bio pod. It's for people with catastrophic injuries or those who need post operative care. Can't be for your late hubby, so it must be for you."
"Must it?" The words were curt in the extreme.
"Well there's nobody else here that I can see. Had an operation, have we?"
"I think that's my business."
Circling the pod, touching it here and there, he noted every detail.
"But an operation for what, I wonder? You look healthy enough. In the pink I'd say. And you were fit enough to beat Leela. Impressive achievement. Not many have."
"Move away from that." Striding over, she made to push him aside but neatly side stepping the woman, he hopped over to a control terminal.
"User log. Ah yes, here we are."
Advancing once more with a frown, Collingwood killed the screen. But not before the Doctor had seen and flash memorised what he had seen.
"So, before he died, Centauri performed a complex procedure on you. Full body mark up, implantation….."
"You've seen too much Doctor. I think it's time we got back on track. I want your ship and you're going to give it to me. Here's your inducement."
A large wall mounted TV came on showing Leela moving down a corridor, approaching a bland looking door with no handle. There seemed no way to open it but with the swipe of a fob, Collingwood unlocked the door, which slid aside.
"Walking into danger," the older woman purred. "Without her trusty mentor to advise her."
"Leela, watch out," the time lord yelled, "It's your trusty mentor speaking."
Of course, she couldn't hear him. Life was never that simple.
Bland enough room, a sort of living area come kitchenette with a sink, freezer, a dining table and a garbage disposal system.
"What are you going to do, your ladyship?"
"You need motivating Doctor. If you're not afraid for yourself then we'll see how you cope with this."
"Where is Leela right now?"
"Not far from here," Collingwood purred. That meant a neighbouring room and if that was the case…
He fingered his medallion, hoping it had the range and that nothing here would block the signal.
Something was wrong. The hunter in Leela sensed it even before she could see anything. Instinct was a vital part of any warrior in the tribe and it couldn't be taught. You either had it or you didn't. Those without didn't live long.
Going into a crouch, knife out and eyes peeled she saw movement to her left. Instantly she dove and rolled out of the way and just in time.
A heavy tallboy fell over and crashed to the ground where she had stood. Made of thick, dark wood it would have crushed her.
Up ahead some brooms on hooks began to rattle. Then, without any warning they shot through the air like javelins. Their handle tips sharpened to lethal points. Spreading out to create an avalanche of wood, they bore down on her.
Quick as a flash, she took cover behind a thick chest of drawers.
The spears thunked into this one by one, burying themselves in the cream timber.
"Leela." The voice made her jump. It was close and yet not. It made no sense.
"Doctor?"
"Leela, listen to me."And there he stood. No, not quite, he was shimmering, she could see through him. He was a hollow man, like before in the tardis.
"Where are you?"
"With Lady C. Now listen. I've seen a blueprint of this room. Keep to the right. Touch nothing. There is a large level near the back wall. If you pull it down it will switch of all the robots in your area."
"Kill that woman Doctor, and we are both safe."
"Not my style. Now, do as I say."
It was a long room, she had several meters to go and would have to pass chairs, tables, wardrobes and various other objects.
Could she do it?
Did she have a choice?
The Doctor said, "I'll do what I can from here." And he was gone. Leaving her to navigate the room of death.
Keep to the right, he had said. And touch nothing. Cautiously, she edge d around the chest of drawers and skipped to a maroon curtain that stretched from floor to ceiling. It seemed safe, but she could trust nothing here in this world of trickery and deceit.
Sometimes life and death are separated by micro seconds. Leela wasn't sure why she squatted low and covered her head. But it saved her life. The chunky wooden fist punched the curtain hard. If it had struck her head, Leela knew she wouldn't have survived.
Twisting, she saw a human-like shape but too tall, too bulky, its movements stiff. It lumbered towards her on legs somehow rigid.
Judo rolling out of the way, she came up in a fight pose, knife ready to jab or throw.
In the end, she did neither.
The hulking monstrosity wasn't flesh and blood.
It was a mannikin. A wooden model yet animate. Somehow alive like everything in this chamber of horrors.
Turning towards her, it revealed its carved face. A face she knew. The face of that woman.
Rigid and unreal yet possessing all her hatred and arrogance. The eyes glowing red like some demon.
Then the Doctor spoke, "the curtain Leela. Use the curtain."
What did he mean?
She didn't understand.
"The curtain," he insisted. "Use it."
But how? It was fabric. This monster would rip through it.
Yet she trusted the Doctor. He had saved her life more than once.
As the mannikin advanced, thick arms swinging, body creaking and head moving side to side. Leela grabbed the curtain edge and pulled hard, stepping to the right to wrap the curtain around her opponent like a cocoon or a web.
Perhaps net would be a better word.
The thing struggled, it lashed out but the blows were smothered, the strength neutralised.
She continued to wrap and wrap. Twisting the curtain in folds until the monster was entombed.
Once it was, she fled. No sense hanging around. She had a lever to find.
Collingwood's face was a rictus of fury. She clearly hadn't expected this, for Leela to show such initiative. Permitting himself a sly grin, the Doctor nodded.
"Very clever," he purred. "Not bad for a savage, eh your ladyship?"
Receiving no reply, he watched as Collingwood worked controls. No doubt activating other things within the room.
"Nobody has survived the room of death before," Collingwood snarled.
"Before," said the Doctor? "You mean you've lured others here and murdered them."
"Experimented," the word was spat back.
"Not the term I'd use. How many have you killed exactly?"
"That's not important. Leela has lasted longer than most."
"I can't just stand around and let you kill her your ladyship. In fact, I think you're killing career is over."
Returning to the bio-pod to study its controls, the Doctor had to guess what most of them were for. But his guesses were usually pretty accurate.
"Keep away from that," he was told.
Ignoring the directive, he hit a release mechanism and the pod hissed open. Yes, it was just the right size for someone like Collingwood. What had the old man done to her. Because he'd done something. Altering, adjusting, possibly upgrading.
Hearing footsteps, the time lord turned to see Collingwood storming over. Eyes blazing with violence.
Quickly he took out his sonic screwdriver.
"Careful," he warned, "I might fuse something. These circuits are delicate."
That stopped her. Frozen on the spot, fists clenched, she just glared at him.
Was this her Achilles Heel, her great weakness? Had he finally found a chink in her armour?
"This is where you were made, isn't it? It's also where you can be unmade."
"I am a person."
"Are you?" He teased?
"You can see I am."
"I can see a lot of things that don't make any sense. Micro-electronics, wasn't it? Old Centauri was decades ahead of his time, maybe centuries. He could give life to inanimate objects. So what did he do to you, eh?"
The question was considered. Then coming to a decision, Collingwood raised her right arm, removed a sleeve to bare the flesh and smiled.
"Very well," she said. "I shall show you."
A single steel sharp nail pierced and tore the flesh to expose – not blood and tissue – but something entirely different.
There it was. She could see it. The lever wasn't hidden or disguised in any way. But out in the open. Blatant. And that meant, it was a trap. Leela was no fool and she learned a few things travelling with the Doctor.
Nothing was what it seemed; being one of them.
If she approached directly, she'd been walking to her death.
Picking up a small broom, she tossed it at the lever.
Expecting a reaction.
The broom bounced off harmlessly.
Okay then, something bigger.
Like a stool.
Checking this out first, she picked it up and hefted it.
Stool clanged off lever with no response.
Hmm, this place was very tricky.
She took a tentative step forward, then another. All the time her senses alert for the slightest hint of movement, of attack.
She knew one was coming, but from where?
Before she knew it, she'd been hit from behind by something hard. She felt it bruise her and knock her off balance. Turning, she found it was the stool she had thrown, now hovering in the air like a bird of prey. She had to duck to avoid another swipe from it, but in doing so tumbled into an armchair.
At once the wooden arms of this hugged her tightly, refusing to let her rise.
Gasping with effort, Leela strained with all her strength but the chair wouldn't yield.
Worse, the stool hovered towards her, angling for another strike. This time at her head.
Unable to block or avoid it, she did the only thing she could. She rocked the rocking chair. Pumping with both legs so that it was swayed back and forth, making her a moving target.
The stool swung, missed, swung again and missed again.
It edged closer.
Continuing to kick, Leela made her prison move every more violently back and forth. No way was she giving these mechanical monsters an easy victory. It wasn't in her nature.
The stool swung and missed. The chair continued to rock until, inevitably, it flew back and toppled over.
Leela found herself free.
Rolling away from the now inert chair, she went for the lever.
Something struck her left arm painfully. It was a broom. Another broom jabbed at her stomach.
Side stepping this, she leapt onto a low cabinet. Braced both legs and propelled herself upwards. Her hands closing around a small chandelier. This swung forwards, back and forwards again.
On its third arc, she let go and with a cry sailed over brooms, stool and chair to reach her goal.
Grasping the lever with both fists, she pulled down with all her might. Giving an animal roar of triumph.
Tendrils of silver filament, thick alien fibres, jumped from the open wound. They coiled in the air, probing, seeking, oddly hypnotic. Further fibres extruded from the woman's neck, ears, chest and legs. The Doctor could see dozens of them, each crackling with power like live cables.
Soon Collingwood resembled a hideous many limbed sea creature, a cybernetic anemone. Yet her face was still vaguely human, if rather stretched and wax-like.
Realising he couldn't let any of the fibres touch him, the Doctor scuttled behind the bio-pod, glad now of its size and width. It was the only realistic cover he had.
"You can't escape me." Rasped a barely human voice, amplified and robotic.
"Why would I want to do that your ladyship? No, that's not right. Your robot ship."
As always, when faced with danger, the Doctor became flippant.
Sonic out, he used it on the pod.
This was where Collingwood had been made, so it made sense it would be how she was destroyed.
He hoped.
Sonic hummed, pod hummed, but the creature kept advancing.
Damn. Another setting maybe.
He tried it.
Collingwood's laugh was chilling in the extreme. Her tendrils began to snake around the pod, lengthening before his eyes, spitting sparks.
This was not good. Trapped, he backed away as far a she could. Still using the sonic but seeing no results.
He was as amazed as Collingwood when a door to one side hissed open there stood Leela.
Seeing the horrific apparition, the girl hesitated only a moment then her knife was spinning through the air. Thrown with consummate skill.
It thunked into the back of the monster's head. A killing move.
Only this time Collingwood merely blinked, smiled and replied.
"Pathetic."
Leela's dismay was palpable.
The Doctor's too.
That should have worked.
"What is she," Leela cried?
"Dangerous. Don't let those fibres touch you."
The crackling silver tendrils reached for Leela with alarming speed. Only her amazing reflexes saved her. Diving back and squatting low, she rolled behind a free standing terminal.
Even so the tendrils went after her, Doubling, tripling in length, becoming thicker and more charged. They extruded out of Collingwood at an alarming rate.
Do something, the Doctor told himself. Save Leela. But how? What could he do?
If he came out into the open, Collingwood would get him.
Then, something occurred.
An idea.
A wild idea.
Touching his medallion. The only real weapon he had, he focused its power.
To the right of Collingwood another Doctor flickered into being.
Instantly she lashed out. But her fizzing tendrils just went right through the hologram.
To her left, another Doctor, beaming and defiant.
She attacked. Same result.
"What is this?"
A third hologram with an even bigger grin.
"I think you're outnumbered your ladyship."
With a savage snarl, she used every tendril. But of course, there was nothing to strike.
Right, that had drained some of her power. Not all of it but maybe enough.
Time for the real Doctor to play his hand.
"Err, your ladyship," he called. "Do you still have that homing device you took off Leela's knife? You know, that small gem you nicked?"
He was sure she had.
He produced his medallion.
"Only it's linked energetically to this." He held the medallion up for her to see.
"So what," the woman screeched?
"So I think you should let Leela go and stop sprouting any more silicon tendrils."
"Oh do you Doctor. Well I don't take orders from you."
"This is more in the way of a threat actually." He smiled. Steel in that smile.
"You can't threaten me."
Hand probing the side of the bio-pod he found a switch and pressed, the lid of the pod hissed open.
"I think I can. Now, back off."
Furious, Collingwood swung towards him. More and more silver strands jumping from fingers, wrists, neck and scalp.
She was an insane cybernetic gorgon, on steroids.
"I'll just kill you first," she said. "It will be a pleasure. The girl can wait."
Not waiting, he threw the medallion into the pod. At once it glowed bright blue and began to spark. Ribbons of energy jumping from it to very part of the pod and forwards at Collingwood.
Her shriek was one of pure rage.
"Leela, get out of here."
But ignoring him, Leela rose and ran, now away from but towards her enemy.
There was pride at stake here, and revenge.
Too late, Collingwood heard her but before she could turn, Leela jumped and landed a powerful two legged drop kick to the creature's back. Propelling her off balance towards and into the pod.
The Doctor was very impressed. But he didn't let that stop him from pressing the switch that closed the pod lid.
Trapping her ladyship inside.
Power from the medallion surged, crackling and spitting, tearing into the creature. Drawn by the homing device.
Combined the two of them overloaded vital circuits in the pod and in Collingwood.
Writhing, twisting and screaming she tried to free herself but her tendrils had become welded in place.
The pod had begun to glow, smoke and vibrate alarmingly.
"I think we should leave," Leela suggested. It was a good idea.
"Me to," the Doctor agreed. But lingering to gaze down at her defeated rival, Leela touched her face, neck and hip.
The ritual gesture of the Sevateem.
"Die evil one," she said. "It is all you deserve."
Then she was running, chasing the Doctor. Almost overtaking him.
Smoke poured from the pod as Collingwood shrieked and roared in fury. "Can she free herself," Leela worried?
"I hope not," the Doctor paused. "I'm all out of medallions."
"What is that tube thing,"Leela asked?
"It was where she was modified by her husband, made immortal, or so he believed."
"Why did he do that?"
"I think she was dying. He wanted to save her."
"And his reward was to be killed?"
The big eyes gleamed, "that's gratitude for you."
A blast. A fierce explosion ripped through the dwelling. Both of them were thrown askew by it. Windows shattered and walls cracked, debris rained down.
Collingwood gave once last shriek and was silent.
Leela tried to feel sorry for her. But not too hard.