Doctor Who: The Lost Years: Earth Aid

Part 3

Yanikov reports that the ship is not going to collide with the grain silo leaving Ace relieved. Shepstay reports that the vessel is now attaching lines to the Lilliput and towing it away, leaving Ace confused before suggesting that they follow it.

The Doctor finally reaches the door to the grain silo which has a keypad, meaning there's a password. He correctly guess the password as Demeter, the Goddess of wheat. The Doctor then enters the silo.

The Doctor switches on a light, revealing massive piles of grain. Quite suddenly, large emerge from the grain. The Doctor says that he means them no harm, but wishes to know who they are and what they're doing here. The main creature introduce him and the others as Grub, a race from the planet Safensthome who were kicked out due to eating all the food. They found the grain silo and stowed away on board, they then stuck the crew to the walls. The main door suddenly slams shut.

Victor is just outside the door, meddling with the keypad when suddenly Baraki stops him before demanding he open the door. Victor complies and opens the door, allowing the Doctor to run out. Baraki berates him for disobeying her orders, but the Doctor quickly explains about the Grub and where the crew are. He then advises Baraki to get her troops to gather some food, use it to distract the Grub, and then use some special gel to free the crew, Baraki agrees to this.

Back on the Vancouver, Ace and the others see that the ships are approaching a planet which Shepstay confirms is Safensthome. Ace is confused by this, feeling that the inhabitants are a bit cheeky. Yanikov says that he's just relieved they're at their destination.

Later in the grain silo, the Grub are busy eating while Baraki's troops are freeing who they think are the crew. Baraki tells the Doctor that she feels she was wrong about him and that she'll be glad when this is all over. The Doctor, however, doesn't think it's over, and feels that Victor isn't being truthful, but Victor tells him to stop worrying. The troops finish releasing the crew and it's revealed that it wasn't the crew, but the Metatraxi who ambush and kill all of Baraki's troops. The Doctor and Baraki attempt to run, but the Metatraxi corner them and it's revealed that Victor is working with them.

The Metatraxi and Victor frogmarch The Doctor and Baraki on to the Lilliput's Bridge. Baraki tells Victor that she always suspected that he was no good. Victor states that he's a loyalist, fighting the injustices of politics behind food aid. The Doctor's not convinced, prompting Victor to reveal he's just doing it for money. Victor then takes out a and the Doctor explains to Baraki that it's used to communicate with sentient planets. Victor forces it on to Baraki's head, revealing that the device only works with women, The Doctor adding that sentient planets are female. Baraki then goes into a trance.

Back on the Vancouver, Yanikov detects a dozen ships heading towards them from the planet. He then informs everybody that it's a .

The Doctor comes to the conclusion that the Metatraxi have taken over Safensthome, but the Metatraxi leader reveals that this is in fact their home planet.

The Doctor, Baraki, Victor and the Metatraxi step out on to Safensthome. The Doctor notes that there isn't much of a famine going on, to which Victor reveals that he made the famine part up. The Metatraxi leader reveals that he and the other Metatraxi plan to take the crews of both ships to their battle arena and "taunt them to death" The planet, speaking through Baraki reveals that it evolved the Metatraxi in order to combat the Grub. The Metatraxi constantly go off fighting in wars, leaving the planet safe and plentiful.

Back on the Vancouver, the ship is coming under heavy fire from the war fleet and Shepstay tells Ace that they're almost out of weapons. Ace then gets an idea and asks Yanikov to patch her through to the main battle ship. A Metatraxi replies, introducing his race. Ace introduces herself and reveals that she's the captain of the Space Vessel Vancouver, and she's fighting against them. The Metatraxi is disgusted by this and orders his fleet to retreat, seeing it as an insult that a woman would challenge the Metatraxi. Yanikov and Shepstay congratulate Ace while other crew members clap. Shepstay asks Ace how she knew that would work, and Ace states that some boys at her school would back off if she challenged them.

In the Metatraxi battle arena, dozens of Metatraxi are heard cheering as the Doctor is forced inside. He then confronts the Metatraxi leader who verbally taunts him. At first, the words have no effect, but soon the Doctor is on his knees, clutching his temples. He's mentally exhausted as the Metatraxi leader taunts him for allowing his friends to die. He's soon saved when the Vancouver arrives. Ace calls down to them (horrifying the leader,) before flying the ship over to the Lilliput, grabbing the grain silo and emptying it, releasing the grain and Grub on to the planet. The Grub are happy and rejoice at being back on Safensthome. Several Metatraxi discover this and wish to kill the Grub, however, the planet tells them not to. The Grub reveals that they've learned their lesson and wish to return home. The Metatraxi believe they'll devour everything and begs the planet to let them kill the Grub. The planet refuses, stating that the Grub are their brothers and both should get along. The Metatraxi whine over this, but reluctantly agree. The Doctor then leaves, since this is a family affair.

Later on, both the Doctor and Ace are safely inside the TARDIS. Ace asks the Doctor if he thinks the Metatraxi and Grub will get along. The Doctor believes that they will, saying that the strangest people get on. Ace remarks that if they don't, the planet could always evolve a third race to kick them both off. She then asks how Baraki enjoyed essentially being a planet and the Doctor reveals that he thinks she missed it once they removed the headset, but got great satisfaction from placing Victor in irons. Ace asks Doctor if he knew about everything all along like he usually does. The Doctor claims he did, but when Ace presses him he reveals that for once, he knew absolutely nothing. Ace says that it makes a nice change and hopes that he keeps it up.