And so, Izor agreed reluctantly to take his rescuers to his people, and with the Doctor and Jenny helping him to walk, he showed them the way to the secret city. He led them to a small dark cave, and as they stepped inside, careful not to bang their heads against the low ceiling, the passageway widened out until they reached the top of a flight of steps, dimly lit by flamed torches hanging from sconces running in sequence along the walls. As they stepped slowly down the narrow steps, the light got gradually brighter, and they emerged into a huge cavern.
Jenny gasped at the sight before her, as she helped her Mum carry Izor down the final steps. The city was very simplistic in its design, consisting of small domed buildings, and around these structures were trees and flora that seemed to be made of living crystals like Izor's people were. Various Kosronans could be seen in the streets, going about their various activities in a leisurely manner. An artist could be seen painting a landscape picture of one of the many urban gardens; a musician sat under a tree while playing a cheerful melody on his lute; a man and woman could be seen walking hand-in-hand by a water fountain; and a happy family could be seen walking their crystal dog, who woofed happily as a stick was thrown for it to chase.
"It's like walking into a vision of paradise," breathed Jenny, amazed by the alien beauty of the place.
"Well spoken, young lady," said Izor. "We have achieved a level of perfection here in our underground world. We are without want."
"Very nice," said the Doctor. "I can see why you have very little reason to live on the surface, especially since the sun up there must be deadly to you."
"Why's that?" asked Jenny.
"Well you see, Jenny, Kosronans feed off light, such as off the flames they've set up here," explained the Doctor, indicating the numerous flame torches set up around the city, illuminating the whole chamber. "It gives them their energy, like they are living lasers. The problem is that because of this, constant exposure to sunlight above can potentially kill them, rather like forced feeding."
"You are correct, Doctor," said Izor. "That is why we can only send up a few of our people at a time to watch over the young on the surface. The sunlight is usually safe for the children during their first year while they grow, but after that, we have to bring them down here."
As they reached the bottom of the steps, some of the people were startled and even a bit frightened at the sight of the Doctor and Jenny. They were clearly not used to having aliens in their self-contained paradise, and soon, guards armed with sharp-looking spears hurried over to surround the unknown visitors.
"Hi there!" said the Doctor with a friendly smile. "You must be the welcoming committee."
"Silence, alien!" snapped one of the guards, eying the newcomers with hostile suspicion. "How did you get here, and what have you done to Izor?"
"Take it easy, mate," said Jenny quickly. "We were trying to help him."
"They speak the truth, Teke," said Izor, struggling to keep on his feet. "They are quite friendly."
Apparently Izor's word alone was good enough for the guards, and they slowly lowered their spears. A couple of them came over to take Izor from the Doctor and Jenny, before gingerly taking him away down the streets.
"He will be cared for," assured the guard whom Izor had called 'Teke', noting the worried look on Jenny's face. "I must apologise for the hostile reception, strangers. But we must be on constant guard against invaders."
"Yes, so I can see," said the Doctor. "Well, this is a bit of a cliché to say, but... Take us to your leader."
Teke nodded and led the Doctor and Jenny through the streets, eventually arriving at one of the many domed stone buildings that were common for the city. Inside, were rows upon rows of shelves, filled to the brim with books of varying styles and sizes.
"One of our libraries," said Teke proudly. "We have no reception area for visitors, I'm afraid, so if you'd be so good as to wait here, I shall bring our president."
And with that, Teke marched out, leaving two slightly jumpy-looking guards to watch the doorway and make sure their 'guests' remained in the building. Apparently, they were still a little bit cautious of the Doctor and her daughter. Jenny could really not blame them for still being suspicious, if most of the aliens they have had to content with were fortune hunters and kidnappers, as Izor had told them. She just hoped that they did not decide that they would end up becoming permanent 'guests' in this strange place, impressive though it is.
The Doctor was completely unfazed by the potential danger the two of them were possibly facing. Her interest had been taken up by the books on the shelves, which she began reading through at a fantastic rate. Time Lords can read and process information at an unbelievable speed, and she was now already halfway down the first bookshelf.
"You ought to read this lot, Jenny," she said. "Absolutely fascinating stuff this is, and so well written."
With a weary smile, Jenny began to read through the books too, since it would at least give them something to do while waiting for the Kosronans' leader to arrive. Although she could not yet read at the same speed as her mother, Jenny could still take in information far faster than a human being, and within minutes, she had already gone though at least a couple of dozen books. The contents they contained covered a wide range of subjects, such as poetry and romantic fictions.
"Jenny, come and see this," the Doctor called out, holding up a book that had caught her eye. It was titled 'The History of Kosron' and had some very intriguing information.
Jenny hurried over, her curiosity piqued. "What is it, Mum?"
"This book mentions a time when Kosronans had to fight back against invaders," said the Doctor, her eyes skimming over the pages. "They had to develop their telepathic abilities into a formidable form of defence. But it seems like they haven't had any truly major trouble for a few centuries now, except for the occasional intrusion by pirates and the like, and have mostly forgotten their more advanced skills. If these metal creatures who stole the kids are indeed a new threat, it's no wonder the Kosronans watching them were caught off-guard."
Jenny nodded, taking the book and scanning it herself. "But if they have records of these ancient battles, we might find something useful to help us understand what we're dealing with."
"Not if this is a new kind of enemy, one they have never encountered before," pointed out the Doctor solemnly.
The next few minutes were filled with a tension that was palpable, as they continued to search through the books. Yet, as much as they fruitlessly sought any clue to the metal creature's origins or weaknesses, there was something that nagged at Jenny.
"Mum, do you notice something odd?" Jenny asked, breaking the silence.
The Doctor looked up from her reading. "What's that?"
"Look, all these books are about history, art, and literature, but not one on science or technology," Jenny observed, holding up the book in her hand. "It's as if they've abandoned the pursuit of knowledge outside their immediate needs. It's... eerie, like they're afraid of something."
"Not afraid, my child," came a gentle voice from the doorway. "It's is simply that we have no use of science here."
The Doctor and Jenny turned to face a new Kosronan standing in the doorway. Like the others, his body was made of a jewel-like structure, yet he seemed to glisten more than the others, almost like a bunch of diamonds under the spotlight. He was dressed in fine white robes, and around his neck was a gold medallion, presumably a symbol of office. On either side of him, the guards stood respectfully to attention, as he took in the appearance of the two alien women with interest.
"Good morning," said the Doctor politely. "I take it you must be the President?"
The Kosronan nodded. "Indeed I am. I am President Zalar. What is it that brings you to our city, strangers?"
"Oh, we're just passing tourists," said the Doctor with a friendly and disarming expression on her face. "I'm the Doctor, and this is my daughter, Jenny. We're simple travellers, exploring the final frontier and all that jazz. Isn't that right, Jenny?"
"More or less," grinned Jenny, before turning to Zalar. "We were just having a stroll through the forests when we came across Izor. He told us that he had been attacked by metallic aliens, who stole the young kids he was guarding. He was too injured to get down here on his own, so we helped carry him here. We don't mean to intrude on your privacy or anything."
Zalar nodded solemnly. "Yes, I am most grateful to you both for assisting Izor. I must apologise for any initial hostility you had to endure on your arrival, but under the circumstances, we are understandably worried. You see, the breeding field that Izor was guarding was not the only one to be attacked last night. Many guardians have been found dead, the fields looted. Izor is more fortunate as he is still alive."
The Doctor's gaze grew more serious than before. "How many children have been taken?"
"In total, fifty of our youngest," replied Zalar. "We have not seen such an event in over five hundred years. Our records are clear, no creature or race has ever been able to breach our telepathic defences like this before. We are a peaceful civilization, and our knowledge of weaponry and technology is... limited, to say the least."
"Yes, why is there no information on science and technology in your books?" asked Jenny.
"We had no need of it," replied the President simply. "The purpose of science is to make beings better understand each other, and out people were born with such understanding. We have focused on the arts and culture, and relied on our natural powers to keep us safe, and that has appeared to have been enough."
"Until now," said the Doctor. "Unfortunately, your telepathic powers are useless against robots designed to withstand such a form of attack."
President Zalar looked troubled. "We had not considered that. Our people have been living in peace for so long that perhaps we have grown complacent. But fear not, we shall find a way to combat this new menace. Our library holds much wisdom, perhaps we have something that can assist us in understanding these metal creatures."
Just then, another Kosronan came in, with a piece of paper in his hand. He bowed respectfully to his President, before speaking in an urgent tone: "President, Izor is resting now. He is expected to make a full recovery in a few days."
"I am glad to hear it," said Zalar in relief. "Was he able to tell more about his attackers?"
"Yes, President," said the messenger, as he held out the paper he was holding. "He was able to give us a detailed description, and we have sketched it down here."
Before Zalar had a chance to even see the sketch, the Doctor had already snatched the paper out of the messenger's hand and she intently studied the drawing. It was crude, but she could make out the general shape of a robotic creature, with a round, bulbous head with spikes coming out of it, two stubby arms ending in claw-like hands, and a central box-shaped body on short legs. There was something about the robot's design that looked eerily familiar to her.
"Oh, this is bad," she breathed, almost to herself, as memories of a fierce ordeal on the planet Dulkis came to mind, back when she was travelling with Jamie and Zoe. It had been a very long time ago, but she still recognised the shape of the machine that had attacked Izor.
Zalar looked up at her sharply. "What is it, Doctor?"
Jenny leaned in to see the sketch, her eyes taking in the cumbersome shape of the alien machine drawn on the paper. "Do you know what kind of robot that is, Mum?"
"I'm afraid I do," said the Doctor gravely. She took a deep breath before continuing, "It's a Quark, a machine controlled by a particularly nasty and intensely utilitarian gang of invaders called the Dominators. They go around space, plundering any planet they deem of worth to them, sometimes taking slaves, and in a lot of cases, they blow up those planets and convert the energy they release into fuel for their ships. They have no compassion or respect for life, only cold, calculated efficiency in their pursuit of resources for their fleet of invading ships."
Jenny's eyes grew wide with concern as she looked at the Doctor. "But why would they be here, on Kosron?"
The Doctor furrowed her brow, deep in thought. "Dominators are obsessed with gratuitous destruction and anything that can aid their mission of conquest, or at least the ones I've meet before were. If they've taken the children, it's not for wealth, as they don't care for such things. They must have another objective in mind, something that the Kosronan young can provide them with."
Zalar's crystalline features tightened with worry. "But what could that be? Our children are innocents, they have no value outside of our society!"
The Doctor's expression grew grim. "They may have value as living, telepathic batteries. The Dominators do tend to exploit the unique abilities of other races for their own ends. Or perhaps they're being used as bait to lure out more of your people so they can be captured, studied, and used as slaves. Whatever the reason, we must act quickly to understand their true intentions and retrieve the children before it's too late for them and for Kosron itself. The safety of your entire world is at stake here, not just the fifty younglings that were taken."
Jenny felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought of such cold, calculated cruelty. She had encountered many strange and sometimes hostile species in her travels, but the idea of a race so callous that they would use innocent children as tools or bargaining chips was particularly unsettling.
The Doctor continued, "The Dominators are not known for their mercy. They view all other forms of life as inferior and disposable. If they see a use for these younglings or any other Kosronan, they'll take it, regardless of the consequences for your people. And if they don't get what they want, or if they simply tire of the planet, they won't hesitate to destroy it to fuel their own needs. That's their MO."
"This is appalling!" exclaimed the messenger, still standing next to the President. "Utterly barbaric!"
"It is," agreed the Doctor grimly. "But what more worries me is the danger the rest of us may be in."
"What do you mean?" asked Zalar. "Why are you so certain the whole world is in danger?"
"As I just said, Dominators tend to turn planets into fuel for their ships. If they're still on this world, and they remain true to form, then they probably see your whole world as nothing more than a source of potential fuel!"
"Wait, you mean they might be planning to blow the whole planet up?" gulped Jenny.
The Doctor nodded gravely. "I've seen them try to do this before, on a planet called Dulkis, back when I was a short guy who went around playing tunes on a recorder. I was only just able to stop them then. They're a relentless and unreasonable enemy, but not unbeatable, and they can be outwitted. We have to find them fast if we're to have any chance of stopping them."
"But how can we find them?" asked Zalar. "We've no clue as to where they might be hiding!"
The Doctor considered, her thoughts racing. "Are there any volcanoes or radioactive areas nearby?" she asked. "Dominator ships are powered by negative mass flux absorption, so they tend to land their craft in areas where they can tap into the natural energy there, absorb it and convert it into power to be used for their craft. It's possible they've brought the children there as well."
Zalar's eyes flashed with realisation. "We did recently receive reports of strange lights over Mount Kulcade, a volcano many miles from here. Could that be where these Dominator's are hiding?"
"Well, it's as good a place to start searching, said the Doctor. "Do you know of a fast way to reach this place?"
Zalar nodded and gestured to Teke. "Our fastest transport is the Luminar Chariot, a vehicle that can travel through the tunnels at incredible speeds. We shall take you to the volcano at once, though you must take care. It is very active and filled with lava!"
Teke led the Doctor and Jenny outside the library to a sleek, crystalline vehicle that hovered slightly off the ground. It was drawn by four majestic crystal steeds, which Jenny had never seen the likes of before. Their manes shimmered like stardust in the dimly lit cavern.
The Doctor's eyes lit up as she approached the chariot. "Brilliant!" she exclaimed, running her hand along the side of the chariot. "The crystals here are incredible. They're not just for decoration; they're a source of power."
Jenny followed her mother's gaze, taking in the sleek lines of the chariot. "How does it work?" she wondered aloud.
"It's a clever bit of tech," said the Doctor. "These crystals are likely a form of solar collector, but instead of heat, they absorb light and convert it into kinetic energy."
Teke nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it is how we power most of our city. The light from the surface is directed down here, and we filter and harness it for all our needs. But without light energy, the chariots eventually run out of power, and can crash into the ground, so we tend not to use them too much for long journeys into places where there is very little light or complete darkness."
"Like a car battery running out of juice," mused the Doctor, as she studied the chariot. "I take it this thing is fast? If we're to reach this Mount Kulcade before it's too late, we'll need all the speed we can get."
"Do not fear," said Teke with confidence. "The Luminar Chariot can reach speeds that would astonish you. It is our fastest mode of transportation. We should reach Kulcade before the Chariot runs out of power."
They boarded the chariot, with Jenny taking the reins and the Doctor sitting beside her, holding tight to the side of the vehicle. Teke and two of his fellow guards sat in the back, clutching their spears as they prepared for the perilous journey. The crystal steeds, seemingly understanding the urgency of their mission, sprang to life, their hooves barely touching the ground as they sped off down the well-lit tunnels. Jenny had to admit, she was quite impressed by the engineering marvel of the Kosronans. The way the crystals glowed and pulsed with power, the gentle hum of the chariot as it cut through the air, and the way the steeds responded to her commands with an intelligence that suggested they were more than mere animals.
A minute later, they were off, speeding down the path and past the gathered crowd of fascinated onlookers. As they raced out of the city and entered the tunnels, Jenny felt a sense of awe at the speed they were traveling, both of her hearts beating at a fast rate. She had always loved the thrill of adventure, with its mix of excitement and fear, as she felt like these were the kind of dangerous missions she had been born to face. Yet she also kept her mind focused on navigating the twists and turns of the tunnels. They were still picking up speed, and she knew that a single misstep could mean disaster.
The light from the city behind them grew dimmer and dimmer as they ventured further out, and soon the only illumination came from the crystalline steeds themselves. Their hooves struck the ground with a rhythmic pattern, sending echoes bouncing off the tunnel walls like a heartbeat. It was a sound that was both soothing and invigorating, a testament to the life that thrived even in the darkest of places. As the city was swallowed by the shadows behind them, Jenny felt a growing pang of caution amidst her feelings of excitement, as they headed into the unknown, racing against a silent countdown that could mean the end of Kosron. Her eyes remained fixed on the path ahead, her grip on the reins firm and determined.
The sudden flare of torches was a stark contrast to the serene glow of the crystal steeds. Teke and his comrades held them aloft, casting dancing shadows on the jagged walls of the tunnel. Their flickering light threw jagged shapes across the crystal surfaces, painting a scene that could have been plucked from a fairy tale of heroes and monsters. The Doctor nodded in approval, the flickering light revealing the tightness of her jaw, as they continued on their determined quest to find the Dominators.
To Be Continued...