Thin Ice (audio story)

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Thin Ice was the third story release in the second series of The Lost Stories, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was adapted by Marc Platt, from his original script, and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace.

This story was originally intended to be the second story of the original Season 27, but was cancelled along with other planned stories when Doctor Who itself was cancelled in 1989.

This story puts to the forefront the Seventh Doctor's ulterior motive for raising up Ace: he wished to groom her for entrance into the Time Lord Academy if she was willing to join them. While the Cartmel Masterplan would have designated this as Ace's departure story and Raine Creevy's start as the new primary companion for the Doctor, the audio adaptation skewed from the original intentions of writer Andrew Cartmel and instead saw Ace decline the Doctor's offer and elect to keep travelling with him. The change in narrative allowed Big Finish Productions to keep charting its own course for Ace.

Publisher's summary

Moscow 1967. The Doctor and Ace have arrived behind the Iron Curtain, and the Soviet Union is seeking a new weapon that will give it mastery in the Cold War.

What is the secret of the Martian relics? As the legendary War Lord Sezhyr returns to life, the Doctor is faced with some of his oldest and deadliest enemies.

The fate of Earth – and the future of Ace – are now intertwined...

Plot

Part one

Major Felnikov and Dimitri are performing an experiment involving a patient in a strange suit of armor with an ornate helmet. Dimitri turns the power on and keeps it at 200 as Dr. Yevgeni enters the room to serve as the observer of the experiment after apologizing for being late due to the traffic being atrocious on his way. Felnikov tells Yevgeni that he has already made a full report, to which Yevgeni replies by saying that the Central Committee values his work on the coverage of the project's medical aspects, but also needs to assess the strategic potential of the artefacts as it is believed that they could be the most important discovery since the Americans' idea of the bomb.

Dimitri notices that the blood pressure is 140 over 90, and Felnikov steps away from the bed. Yevgeni notes that the helmet looks medieval, almost reptilian even, and Felnikov even believes that it is not a human's helmet as he notices that the armor's fabric is laced with complex electronic circuitry almost like an extra nervous system. The body has reacted to the stimuloid sense. When asked about the patient, Felnikov refers to him as Private Ulyek Tultrov, also known as Volunteer Number 3. He then orders Dimitri to raise the power to 300. When asked about the first 2 volunteers, Felnikov answers that they both died.

Suddenly, the patient's heart rate increases, prompting an increase in anti-histamine input to 3.4. Yevgeni notices that she choking patient's metabolism is changing. The anti-histamine input is not working, so Felnikov orders Dimitri to cut the helmet's power, but Dimitri protests this order as the test must run with conclusions, so the patient is to be kept alive. Unfortunately, the patient almost immediately flatlines due to the helmet's power being too much for the patient to handle. Felnikov refuses to believe that the helmet is alive and orders the patient to be brought back, Dimitri refuses and states that the patient was rejected by the helmet due to not being compatible with its needs. Felnikov orders the experiment to be restarted with a new subject.

The Doctor and Ace are in Russia, with the Doctor pointing out the frozen Moskva river and the Kremlin where Napoleon once fled from as the people of Moscow burned the city around him. An unamused Ace calls to the Doctor who asks the TARDIS why it has brought them here. Turning his attention back to his companion, the Doctor tells her that he was perusing the streets of Russia before complimenting her hat, to which Ace remarks that it wasn't her first choice. The Doctor says that hats like the one Ace is wearing are quite practical, especially in cold Russian winters, reaffirming Ace's point that they are in Moscow when she was promised London 1967 during the Summer of Love where it would have been warm instead of grey and depressing.

The Doctor walks off and tells Ace to keep moving before they can attract anyone's attention, reminding Ace that they are in the USSR in 1967. He then decides to take a certain road that will take him to where he can see Red Square and the Kremlin, but Ace asks what Glasnost is. The Doctor remembers that Ace had already left home by 1989 due to the Time Storm that she had unwittingly created. Ace thinks that the Doctor is holding another test for her, even refusing to believe the Doctor when he says that he is as surprised as she is. Ace asks how long he has had these so-called delusions, to which the Doctor replies "It all depends on which side your toast is buttered, and which side of the wall you're on." Ace calls the Doctor the biggest hippy of the lot and asks to be shown around Moscow just as it begins to snow.

Markus Creevy is called over by a Russian police officer named Boris who wishes to know what is in the case that he is carrying. Markus replies that it's already been checked after he's been through customs, but Boris insists that he opens it, prompting Markus to tell him that he's in Moscow as a trade delegate and that his passport has been stamped. He then shows Boris a piece of paper saying that Major Felnikov is supposed to meet him. Boris warns Markus that if he doesn't cooperate, the case will be forced open.

Reluctantly, Markus opens the case to reveal records that he was going to give to the people of Russia as gifts. Boris has the records confiscated and Markus is placed under arrest. Major Felnikov arrives to see what is going on and Boris tells him that Markus has been smuggling illegal capitalist propaganda, only for Felnikov to say that he takes responsibility for guests of the state. Markus is allowed through to speak to Major Felnikov who apologizes for the misunderstanding before welcoming him to Moscow and introducing him to the person who will be his guide for the visit: Raina Kerenskaya.

After exchanging pleasantries, Kerenskaya is told to escort Creevy to the Interest Hotel where Felnikov will join them in the evening. Once Felnikov is gone, Kerenskaya is happy to see her lover again and Creevy asks her if something is set up. Kerenskaya replies in the affirmative and they both begin to make their way to the hotel while Markus reminds Kerenskaya about the case containing the records.

The Doctor and Rose enter a cafeteria where the Doctor orders two teas, only to be disappointed that only biscuits are sold in the cafeteria instead of blinis with sour cream. At the table, Ace notes that it's much warmer inside than it is on the streets, but the Doctor is more interested in the flags that the people were putting up on the street. Ace asks if it's May Day, but the Doctor says that it's the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution even though it's November. He explains that the revolution went on for quite a long time, ultimately ending in November with the downfall of the Tsars. Unfortunately, not much improved after the revolution, to which the Doctor states that he believes that the Russians sometimes seem to be addicted to suffering. The Doctor tells Ace that she should have met Ivan the Terrible who, according to him, was terrible but not as bad as Joseph Stalin who was the worst Tsar of all.

The duo are approached by Lemayev who notices that they are both English, and Ace wishes him a happy anniversary for the revolution. As the Doctor introduces himself and Ace, Lemayev reveals that he already knows who they are and that he heard that they would be in Russia. He introduces himself to them and asks them if they should be at their hotel, to which the Doctor replies that he and Ace were taking in the sights of Russia. Ace notices that Lemayev is shaking, most likely due to the cold. The Doctor invites Lemayev to join them for tea and biscuits, but Lemayev asks if they are with Markus Creevy who he heard would bring two experts with him, but it may be too late as he thinks that the old plan may have to be abandoned.

Kerenskaya tells Creevy that they have 2 hours to spend together at the hotel before the reception begins, remarking that it has been 15 weeks since they were last together. Markus is assured that the man who is driving them to the hotel doesn't speak English, so they are safe as long as they talk in public due to the hotel room possibly being bugged. Markus is looking forward to sharing a bottle of vodka with Kerenskaya in the hotel room, but Kerenskaya has had to give up drinking for reasons that she will tell him about later. She then tells Markus to look his best at the reception and to talk about fur, something that Markus isn't too well-experienced in talking about. Luckily for him, Kerenskaya will serve as his translator and cover his mistakes, remembering that her grandfather worked as a trapper in Ukraine.

During the parade tomorrow, Markus and Kerenskaya will slip away and get busy with their own project. Markus asks if the Doctor and his companion have arrived yet, to which Kerenskaya responds in the negative, hoping that he would have known where they were. Markus believes that they will have had to have made contact at the hotel, but Kerenskaya prefers people she knows. She tells Markus that Yevgeni will be driving as he has the codes to the vault and once he gives them the go-ahead, Markus and Kerenskaya will leave with their collected treasures. When asked he has any weapons, Markus replies that she will be surprised with the weapons he has.

Before Kerenskaya can tell Markus something very personal, Markus spots something standing on the frozen river. It appears to be a London Police Box.

In the café, Ace asks Yevgeni if someone is following him, but the Doctor assures Yevgeni that no one is behind him. Yevgeni shows the Doctor and Ace what looks like a large jeweled egg known as a Fabergé, but the Doctor notices that its applique is quite different from a regular Fabergé. Ace notices that the object has diamonds embedded in it and the clusters are linked. On top of that, it also appears to have some sort of electrical properties to it, making Ace ask Yevgeni if it's a weapon. The Doctor asks Yevgeni if it's dangerous to walk around Moscow with the object, to which Yevgeni explains that the object is part of a trove of objects that the defense group has been studying for months.

Yevgeni also explains that he is working for the defense group and he believes that it is part of what the Doctor and Ace are here to steal, so he couldn't help but take it for himself. He says that the sooner the Doctor, Ace and Creevy get it away from them, the better. The Doctor asks what else is in the trove and what the group is developing, but before Yevgeni can answer, the object suddenly becomes primed. Yevgeni commands the Doctor to tell Creevy that he is sorry before running out of the café with the object.

The Doctor and Ace follow Yevgeni into an alley where he attempts to get rid of the object which is actually a sonic grenade. They cover their ears just as the grenade goes off, killing Yevgeni after his eardrums implode. When Ace asks where the grenade came from, the Doctor tells her that it was from Mars and that something else came with it. Then someone wearing a strange helmet shows up on a motorbike to hem them into the alley. As the Doctor tells the person about the death of Yevgeni, Ace notices the helmet he is wearing which the Doctor explains is from Mars' third epoch.

Ace tells the person that if he wants trouble, she will be happy to oblige, but the Doctor tells her that there has been enough violence. Just then, a Russian soldier shows up and, ignoring Ace's inquiries about the dead man, orders the Doctor and Ace to come with him in the car that he arrived in.

As the sun sets, the Doctor and Ace are being driven to the KGB headquarters, also known as the Lubyanka, which is the tallest building in Moscow according to the Doctor who has questions that need to be answered. He wonders if Mars' influence is spreading to Earth, but Ace doesn't believe that it has happened as she would have seen it on the news, to which the Doctor replies that time can change its course just like a river.

As Ace rummages in her pocket for a pencil to give to the Doctor she finds a bank note for 10 rubles which was apparently planted on her by Yevgeni. On the back of the bank note is a sequence of figures which is assumed to be a code that was supposed to be passed onto Markus Creevy. As they arrive at their destination, the Doctor asks for a cell with a view. It turns out that they have arrived at the Interest Hotel. The Russian tells them that the reception for visiting guests has already started and that they cannot go on any expeditions alone.

On the way into the hotel, Ace calls the Russian soldiers dumbos for thinking that she and the Doctor are guests, but the Doctor thinks that they have been expected at the hotel.

Kerenskaya calls Markus over to tell him that Yevgeni is dead after talking with his brother. She explains that Yevgeni took an object from the vault and the Secret Police began to pursue him. Markus asks for a way out so he doesn't end up dead or working in a salt mine, but Kerenskaya tells him that the police likely think Yevgeni was acting for himself and that they still need to find the Doctor and Ace, to which Markus replies that her nose pucker is right up when she's taking charge, which he really likes.

Ace is showing disapproval at the fur coats that she sees at the fashion show that she and the Doctor are watching, thinking that wearing them is not necessary. She tells the Doctor that she spotted Creevy at least 10 minutes ago wearing a floral shirt and a velvet jacket behind a potted plant having a bit of a barney with an official woman, but the Doctor says that it's more like they're arguing in the way old friends do. The Doctor tells Ace to grab a handful of pretzels before they both make their way over to Creevy.

Kerenskaya tells Creevy that they both should mingle while they wait for Felnikov, but Creevy is more concerned about Yevgeni. Kerenskaya tells him that Yevgeni's brother, Yasha, will take over the driving and that he also works at the clinic, despite her telling Creevy that only Yevgeni has the code.

Just then, the Doctor and Ace approach the duo and introduce themselves. Ace tells Creevy and Kerenskaya about the time they met Yevgeni in the café before his death which Creevy and Kerenskaya already know about. The Doctor gives Markus the 10 ruble note that Yevgeni gave them. On the back of the note is load of numbers which the Doctor believes is the code that will open a safe or vault. Creevy tries to take the note, but the Doctor and Ace decide to hang onto it for a bit longer.

Major Felnikov arrives in the hotel to find out if Kerenskaya is treating Creevy well. The Doctor and Ace then introduce themselves to the Major who points out that he has no record. Kerenskaya talks to the Major and tells him that the Doctor and Ace are guests of the government that have been overlooked before saying that they should avoid diplomatic incidents on the eve of their celebration day, to which the Major replies that Kerenskaya should keep an eye on them.

Kerenskaya informs the Doctor that Felnikov won't be pleased for long. She and Creevy explain that their contacts in London told them that the Doctor and Ace would be coming before Creevy asks about the bank note that Ace was given. The Doctor tells Ace to take Creevy to get some Russian salad while he talks to Kerenskaya. Once Ace and Creevy have gone, the Doctor explains to Kerenskaya that he has arrived because of Yevgeni's death by sonic weaponry that doesn't belong on Earth.

When asked where it came from, Kerenskaya mentions that there are a number of rumors that began after a submarine found treasures amongst the wreckage of a spaceship in the Bering Sea two years ago. The Doctor realizes that the treasures are actually weapons that the Russian government hope to acquire so they have an advantage over the west. The weapons are being held in a vault under the Kremlin and Creevy has arrived to help in stealing them during tomorrow's celebrations when everyone in Moscow will be busy watching the parades in the Red Square. The Doctor offers to help Kerenskaya due to having the codes for the vault and says that Ace will get into the vault.

Suddenly, the Doctor hears someone calling to him mentally. After convincing Kerenskaya to accept his deal of ten rubles, the Doctor begins to make contact with one of his fellow Time Lords to see if he and his fellow Adjudicators have reached a decision.

Creevy is getting to know Ace better by asking her about her name and saying that she's been watching too many Bond films. Ace asks if they have gotten as far as Roger Moore, which confuses Creevy who says that Roger is a saint. He then asks Ace about the Doctor, to which Ace replies that he is the brains, but she runs the defense side. She then explains that it takes 8 ounces of nitro-9 to blow up the hinges on a three-foot thick tungsten door, which impresses Creevy. Ace refuses to give Creevy the vault numbers until the Doctor allows him to have them. Just then, Creevy receives an alert and leaves.

The Time Lord informs the Doctor that his application to the Academy has been considered despite their suspicions about Ace not being from Gallifrey. She must undergo a series of tests, which the Doctor explains is why they are in Moscow and have not been arrested. The Doctor thinks that Ace's assessment beginning is unfair as he doesn't believe that she is ready, but the Time Lord reminds him that he was the one who set up the first task of recovering the lost artefacts. Ace must now act on her own before she can join the academy. As the Time Lord disappears, the Doctor protests that he doesn't want Ace to get hurt.

Markus Creevy returns to his room where he finds a creature named Lord Hhessh standing by the window due to the room's temperature. Creevy orders him to move away from the window before he is spotted by the other humans. As Hhessh protests that he needs air, Creevy tells him that he cannot turn the central heating off and that he was defrosted early. Hhessh is informed that his mission to return the lost relics of Sezhyr to his followers will be tomorrow, but he has to stay in the room for one more night. When they hear a knock at the door, Creevy tells Hhessh to hide in the bathroom.

Ace enters the bedroom and is subdued by Creevy who demands to know what she is doing. Ace explains that she had to know what Markus is really up to. Hhessh is angered at Ace entering the room and finding out that there is a Martian in the hotel. He orders Creevy to stand aside so that he can kill Ace.

Part two

Before Hhessh can kill Ace, Creevy tries to convince him to spare her so that they don't get interrogated about her death. Ace tells Creevy and Hhessh that the Doctor sent her to find them and then says that Hhessh is from Mars which is not the dead world that people think it is. Creevy tells Hhessh that Ace is on his team as an explosives expert, but Hhessh asks Creevy what he has told her, only for Creevy to remind him that if he exits the room they are currently in, half the red army will be coming for him. After being told to let Creevy deal with Ace, Hhessh states that he still needs answers from Ace.

The Doctor tries to call an elevator so he can find Ace, but Kerenskaya tells him not to waste his time with it and that it will be quicker to walk up the stairs. As they walk, the Doctor asks Kerenskaya about the treasures, to which Kerenskaya answers that it's hidden beneath the arsenal in the Kremlin which the Doctor has been in a long time ago. She also explains that Yevgeni's brother, Yasha, works in the Kremlin due to having an entry pass and he drives a delivery van in through the back gates, which is how they plan to get into the Kremlin during the anniversary parade when the vault workrooms will be closed. Once inside, Ace will open the vault.

When asked what he wants and who he's working for, the Doctor replies that he's working for himself and is curious about the treasure's nature before asking Kerenskaya what she wants. Kerenskaya answers she is doing this for self-gain and Creevy is doing this mission on behalf of his boss in London whereas she is paid not to ask questions. Their intentions are to steal the treasure and take it out of Russia. As they explore the hallways, the Doctor tells Kerenskaya that Creevy left quickly and Ace followed him, thus making him concerned. Just then, the Doctor and Kerenskaya both hear a sonic gun firing. They rush towards the source of the noise.

Hhessh is busy destroying the listening bugs that Ace is pointing out in the hotel room that they are in. The Doctor and Kerenskaya burst into the room, and Creevy has to prevent Hhessh from killing them both whilst also assuring Kerenskaya that Hhessh is on their side despite smelling a bit fishy. He then tells her that Hhessh is the one who is leading their mission. Hhessh focuses his attention towards the Doctor, whom Ace introduces to him.

The Doctor asks Hhessh why he is on Earth, to which Hhessh answers that he is trying to recover the lost relics that belonged to his people, to which the Doctor chastises Hhessh for bringing the relics to earth and then tells him that the humans could assume that his intentions for coming to Earth were less than peaceful. Hhessh is adamant that the Doctor is wrong and that the relics must be retrieved before they can cause any more damage, a mission that the Doctor and Ace agree to help him with so that he can take the relics away from earth.

With the heat in the room becoming unbearable for him, Hhessh begins to leave through the fire escape, despite Creevy's protests.

Ace orders the Doctor in the bathroom and calls him out for speaking to Hhessh the way he did, to which the Doctor replies that Martian Ice Lords are militaristic fighters who respect displays of strength. He then tells Ace that it isn't easy for him to not be in charge, even though Ace thinks he is in charge. She then realizes that the Doctor wants her to assume responsibility for the mission, and is thankful for the opportunity, but she still doesn't know about the Doctor's problems with the Martians. After saying that he has a checkered history with them, the Doctor gives Ace the list of numbers and tells her not to lose it. Ace tells the Doctor not to wander off in case she needs his assistance, to which the Doctor replies that everyone has their own agenda before wishing Ace good luck.

Creevy explains to Kerenskaya that Hhessh is in charge of their operation even though their boss, Nibbs, is in London and tells her to do her job and take her payment. Kerenskaya is concerned that Felnikov is likely to be checking on them, but Creevy is more concerned about the Doctor and Ace even though they need them both after Yevgeni's death. When Kerenskaya asks Creevy what happens to them after their mission is done, Creevy tells her to get some sleep, but Kerenskaya says that it's too late to sleep.

Hhessh contacts another Ice Warrior named Glarva to ensure that he is in position so that he can relay to the outpost that the first part of their mission is complete and he is in Russia with a group of humans that he considers untrustworthy. If the plan deviates, then he may have to take control.

The Doctor tries to convince Ace to get some sleep, but Ace has too much to think about. Hhessh won't return to the room due to the cold streets of Moscow being a more suitable environment for him. Kerenskaya calls the room service to order some breakfast for five people, much to the confusion of the others. Hhessh has brought a pack of frozen fish fingers for his sustenance.

Glarva tells Hhessh to send out a homing signal when the operation is complete, to which Hhessh confirms before terminating the call just as Ace shows up to give him some breakfast. After Hhessh thanks her, Ace admires the view of Moscow. Hhessh notes that there is a resolve among the people of Russia and sometimes the people of Mars fight for the wrong reasons. When Ace asks him why he's come to Earth, Hhessh laughs and tells her that no one comes to the blue planet through choice.

Hhessh and his fellow warriors are exiles who have been on Earth for 43 years. Only 7 warriors now remain, but their suffering will be at end when the relics are returned to them. Ace apologizes for the Doctor's protective nature, but Hhessh replies that his stance is forthright and he is also an old warrior.

The Doctor asks to hear Kerenskaya and Creevy's plan again. They will attend the parade in the Red Square at 11 o'clock, then they will drive to Lviv at 1250 where Yasha will use his van to drive them into the Kremlin via the back gates. Felnikov knocks on the door to the hotel room and then enters to see that Ace isn't in the room. The Doctor explains that Ace is in the bathroom before Felnikov tells him that he checked his papers to find that they were both overlooked. Felnikov then turns his attention to Creevy who is told that the fur trade is eager to expand abroad.

Felnikov closes the window to keep the room from getting colder before Kerenskaya reminds him that she ordered breakfast for five people. Both Creevy and Kerenskaya are looking forward to the parade. The official cars will take them to the viewing stands at 11 o'clock. Before Felnikov leaves, he tells Creevy that he loves a piece of music called "The Last Waltz" and asks if he has a copy, to which Creevy replies that he will try to find a copy.

After Felnikov has left, Kerenskaya and Creevy realize that Felnikov knows too much, but the Doctor believes that he is naturally suspicious. Ace enters the room and tells them that she is ready, having been through the plan with Hhessh, before asking when her breakfast will be delivered.

Major Felnikov gives his motorcycle-riding soldiers instructions to let the Doctor's group straight through so as to cause as little commotion as possible, but they are allowed to close the trap if they deviate. The Major informs his soldiers that the approaching group will bring them a greater prize.

The Doctor is once again communicating with the Adjudicator, who tells him that the panel have eased the disruption of his arrival in the time stream, to which the Doctor replies that disrupting history has nothing to do with Ace's further education, accusing them of bringing in Ace to tidy up a temporal anomaly. When the Doctor objects to not knowing about living a blameless life, the Adjudicator says that his protest is noted and he will now proceed to the parade.

As the Doctor and his allies proceed through the parade, the time is now 1240, and it will be another 10 minutes before they need to meet up with Yasha and enter his van. Creevy is unimpressed at the sight of all the tanks being shown off during the parade, but the Doctor says that they are all the weapons that they are allowed to see. Creevy tries to convince the Doctor to lighten up, but the Doctor is worried about what the Russians may be learning from the Martians' weapons.

Kerenskaya points out the factory workers from Kyiv in Ukraine, her home. Ace notices a pair of happy people on the stands, Cosmonauts. They are Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova, the first man and woman in space. Ace questions whether being the first people in space is worthy of being considered a hero, and Kerenskaya says that life is a struggle before asking if London is as liberal as she's heard people say it is and if she will like it.

Ace realizes that she is going to London once her job is done due to being unable to stay in Russia while she's pregnant, which she has been for 15 weeks and Creevy is going to be the father of her new baby, but he doesn't know about it yet. She is greatly concerned with Creevy while he is working for Hhessh, but Ace is adamant that Hhessh can be trusted and that Kerenskaya has to tell Creevy, and she also asks if Kerenskaya should be trying to steal the relics while she is pregnant.

Creevy reminds Kerenskaya and Ace that they have work to do. Felnikov approaches the group and tells the Doctor that both he and his fellow Russians believe in strength. Today, all progressive humanity celebrates the victory of communist ideals that have been expressed within the deeds of the Soviet, a statement that Creevy replies to by saying that once the parade is over, he is returning to Bethnal Green.

Felnikov points out a series of nuclear warhead-carrying rockets called SCARPs, which no other country in the world has, but the Doctor says that he knows other armies that have much deadlier weapons. When Felnikov says that most secrets lose their bluster after they're revealed, the Doctor replies that he just has to know where to look. Felnikov leaves the group to do his business elsewhere. Ace believes that Felnikov thinks that they won't go through with their plan, but it's too late to turn back now, so they begin to make their way over to Yasha's location, where the Doctor fears Felnikov will also be waiting.

Glarva contacts Hhessh who is inside a crate that is being carried on the transport that Creevy and Kerenskaya are driving through the parade. Hhessh is informed that his transport is approaching the Kremlin and then there will be one last battle for the relics that they have been trying to recover.

The Doctor's group arrives at the Kremlin's gates and soon meet Yasha who lets them in after seeing Creevy's papers. The Doctor doesn't want any violence during this operation, to which Creevy replies that he prefers to talk his way out of trouble. After the Doctor reminds Creevy that Hhessh is armed with a sonic weapon, Ace says that it's set to stun after she spoke to him, prompting the Doctor to compliment Ace for her forward thinking.

Yasha orders the group out of the vehicle. Ace realizes that they're missing the fireworks of the parade, but the Doctor tells her that they will soon have some of their own. Both Creevy and the Doctor carry the crate containing Hhessh to Yasha's van while Kerenskaya begins to feel what she tells Ace is nerves.

Kerenskaya notices that no one is around because they're busy watching the parade. Creevy and the Doctor load Hhessh's crate onto Yasha's van before they are all ordered to enter the Kremlin. They take the elevator down to the level of the vault where the relics are being kept.

Yasha explains that he and his brother, Yevgeni, worked on different projects and Yevgeni was scared. Ace remembers that he was terrified when she and the Doctor met him in the café. Yasha has not seen the treasures due to the high amount of security around the Kremlin, but Yevgeni believes that it has a mind of its own, which is how he knew that it would end up killing him.

As the group proceeds towards the vault, the Doctor wonders where the security is. Kerenskaya explains that they're busy watching the parade and are not expecting any trouble. Ace begins to suspect that a trap is set, but Creevy releases Hhessh from his crate to prevent Ace and the Doctor from leaving. Kerenskaya prevents Yasha from shooting Hhessh for thinking he's a traitor. After Hhessh says that they all fear betrayal, the Doctor tells the Ice Lord that he doesn't fear him, but his motive, which he doesn't understand.

Ace is ordered by Creevy and the Doctor to open the vault door as Yasha runs off, only to run into Felnikov who asks him if he managed to bring them to the vault as he promised. When Ace has trouble opening the vault door, Hhessh tells her that the code sequences are wrong. Using a stethoscope, the Doctor tries to locate the door's contact point, only to find that the dials have been reset and the codes have been changed. Angered, Hhessh accused the Doctor of lying to them and decides to try and cut a way in, only for Ace to produce some Nitro so that she can blow up the door.

Yasha is telling Felnikov about the armored creature that is with Creevy's group. Felnikov proudly says that they have fallen into his trap and his men can deal with Hhessh, before Yasha asks, having atoned for his brother's offenses, for his family to not be harmed. Yasha is told that his family will believe that he was a hero, but he will not be sharing their pride as Felnikov shoots him for seeing too much.

Having blown up the whole wall instead of just blowing off the door with her nitro, Ace assumes that the Russians will think the explosion was a result of the fireworks. Once inside the vault, Hhessh finds the lost relics of Sezhyr, the first Marshal of the Ice Army. Among the relics is a jeweled sword that was used by Sezhyr to kill the leader of the Dust Rebellion, as well as his armor. As Creevy orders Hhessh to go back into the crate, the Doctor is fascinated by Sezhyr's armor, remarking that it's like a medieval cyborg, only for Hhessh to tell him not to defile the relics. Kerenskaya is interested in the helmet, which has dark eye plates that make her think the helmet is watching her.

Major Felnikov shows up with his biker gang who are wearing Martian-style helmets, much to Hhessh's anger as he thinks they are mocking the armor of his people. Felnikov thanks Creevy for bringing a live Martian into the Kremlin. Ignoring the Doctor's warnings to be careful, the Major orders his soldiers to take Hhessh alive or dead, but Hhessh begins firing back with his sonic weapon, unfazed by the Russians' bullets. Amid the chaos, Creevy punches Felnikov, knocking him down to the floor. Hhessh tells Felnikov that his scientists will be disappointed as there is nothing for him to dismember yet. An alarm goes off as the group begins to hurriedly carry the crate out of the building.

The group reaches Yasha's van which the Doctor decides to drive while everyone else gets in the back. They place the crate on the van and then they begin to drive off, pursued by Felnikov's bikers. The Doctor drives the van through the closing gate, much to Ace's excitement. The bikers pursue the van through the streets and begin to block off the streets in an attempt to prevent the Doctor and his group from leaving. Hhessh decides to deal with the bikers, but the Doctor tells him not to shoot anyone. The Ice Lord ignores the Doctor's commands and shoots some of the bikers. The Doctor then begins driving towards the parade.

Kerenskaya tries to convince the Doctor to turn back before he can try to cross the Red Square, and Hhessh tries to get the Doctor to stop the van so that he can fight his way out, but the Doctor ignores both requests. As the van speeds towards the tanks, the Doctor pulls away at the last second and starts driving towards the river where there are no traffic jams and the bikers have less control on the ice, making it easier for the Doctor to drive towards the TARDIS.

Ace is looking at Sezhyr's helmet and feels that it's watching her just like Kerenskaya felt back in the vault. Hhessh contacts Glarva to ask him if he's tracking them and then tells him that his intervention is required and no trace must be left behind. An Ice Warrior's ship descends towards the river. Creevy explains that this is where he and Hhessh get off and he kisses Kerenskaya before telling the Doctor to take her home. Ace insists that Kerenskaya is going with Creevy.

The Doctor orders Ace, Creevy and Kerenskaya into the TARDIS as Hhessh commands Glarva to take them aboard the ship. Creevy tries to convince Kerenskaya to leave without him, but Ace demands that he goes with them to the TARDIS as Kerenskaya is expecting his child. The Ice Warriors activate their tractor beam to pull them aboard their ship.

Part three

The Adjudicator contacts the Doctor once again and chastises him for interfering and not letting Ace work on her own. After the Doctor calls out the conditions that the Time Lords set for Ace and putting her at risk, the Adjudicator warns him that if he interferes again, his involvement will be terminated before sending him back.

In the hold of the Ice Warriors' ship, Ace rouses the Doctor who lost consciousness when their van was pulled into the ship by the tractor beam. Both Hhessh and Felnikov left before anyone could ask them where they were going to. They find the TARDIS attached to a large piece of the frozen river after it was also pulled aboard by the Ice Warriors. Ace blames herself for telling the truth about the TARDIS, but the Doctor assures her that Creevy had to be told. He then explains that Raina Kerenskaya's new baby will be a girl.

Creevy calls out Kerenskaya for not telling him about her pregnancy, but she feels as though someone is staring at her through the Martian's helmet. The Doctor suggests that she leaves the helmet alone, but Creevy is angry with the Doctor for getting them into the situation that they are currently in. They then hear Felnikov knocking on the door.

Felnikov demands that they open the door to the hold, but the Doctor tells him to stand away. Felnikov tells them that he wants to talk, only for Glarva to ask him what he wants. Hhessh shows up and tells Felnikov to stop bothering the Doctor as he is no longer involved with them, before telling Glarva to stand down as they have what they were looking for: the ancient relics of Marshall Sezhyr. Suddenly, Raina's scream echoes from the van where the relics are kept.

Raina Kerenskaya appears to have collapsed after she put on the helmet despite Creevy's attempts to stop her, and they can't pull it off her. The Doctor notes that her temperature is rising, and Hhessh is angry that Kerenskaya has defiled Sezhyr's helmet after he warned them not to touch it, to which Ace replies that he shouldn't have left it lying around. Kerenskaya's pulse is climbing just like her temperature. The Doctor explains that the helmet is part of a Martian's exo-skeleton and its circuitry is melding with Raina's body.

Hhessh says that all warriors are one with their armor and Sezhyr was their greatest strategist. He was born into Sezhyr's service and Sezhyr laughed at death as he swore that it would never claim him. He then orders Glarva to bring a sonic torch so that they can cut Raina out of the helmet and take the other relics to the flight deck, despite Ace's protests that Raina needs medical help and if they try to cut her out of the helmet, they will kill her.

Raina's condition continues to worsen due to the helmet speeding up her physical and chemical processes and reprogramming her body. Creevy and the Doctor become incredibly concerned about the baby that Raina is pregnant with.

Glarva is ordered by Hhessh to stow the relics with reverence, but Glarva questions why they have left Sezhyr's helmet with the humans. Hhessh says that he trusts Ace as she is unlike the others. The ship's pilot, Slokk, says that they have achieved holding orbit, and night will not reach the outpost for another 2 earth hours. A hungry Hhessh asks where the fish fingers are. Slokk says that they will soon see what the humans' newspapers and televisions say after they have emerged from their hiding spots, but Hhessh replies that the Russian people are so secretive, that they may never admit to their incursion or accuse the West. If the latter happens, then the Ice Warriors will be in the shadows. They begin to wonder if what the helmet is doing to Raina is one of Sezhyr's plans.

Raina's condition continues to deteriorate as her metabolism goes into overdrive. When she says "fish", Ace realizes that she needs food, more specifically, the glacier fish from the Martian polar regions as they are the stable rations of every embattled Ice Warrior, and the earth equivalent is fish fingers that are ready-frozen. The Doctor shoots down Ace's suggestion of asking Hhessh to help them as the Ice Warriors are military and are unlikely to understand their problem.

The helmet is turning Raina into a Martian, but not just any old Martian. The Doctor leaves, but not before telling Ace and Creevy to stay with her. Ace is confident that no one is better at dealing with the Ice Warriors than the Doctor. Creevy leaves as well so that he can find a bathroom, and he tells Ace to save some fish fingers for when he gets back.

Major Felnikov asks the Doctor what is in the TARDIS, to which the Doctor replies that it only contains a few personal effects. Felnikov assumes that they are being brought to an outpost on the Moon or Mars, but the Doctor is doubtful before he is told that Kerenskaya won't survive due to the helmet killing people who wear it. The Major says that the helmet was tested on 11 volunteers who all died after wearing the helmet when it burned them from the inside out.

The members of Felnikov's biker gang were wearing similar looking helmets which were designed with what Felnikov learned from the previous experiments, including lock-sequence communication and induced muscular hydraulics, which the Doctor dismisses as child's play as he is more interested in the fusion of human and Martian physiologies. The Time Lord is offered to be paid by the Russian government if he helps them learn more, but he will not do it at the cost of more lives like Kerenskaya's. As Felnikov asks who he is, the Doctor walks away to retrieve some rations.

Creevy attempts to make contact with his boss, Mr. Walshkin, who asks about his status, to which Creevy replies that he has had better days and only a couple of international incidents have occurred, but they have the relics, despite having to cut a few corners. He also says that Lord Hhessh has been getting better acquainted with the females and they have picked up a couple of strays, who Mr. Walshkin realizes are the Doctor and Ace. Before Mr. Walshkin leaves, he warns Creevy not to get too involved as it will not end too well for him.

Kerenskaya inquires about Creevy's whereabouts, prompting Ace to tell her that he has left briefly and that she herself should tell Creevy that she loves him, as well as the Doctor going to find some fish for her. Ace is told not to set down anything as everything changes, despite Ace saying that she never changes. Kerenskaya starts to go into labor, prompting Ace to call for the Doctor. Creevy shows up to see that Kerenskaya is going into labor as Ace continues calling for the Doctor.

Ace's calls reach Major Felnikov who asks the Doctor why he isn't going to help his companion, to which the Doctor replies that Ace has to learn to cope on her own. Felnikov is confused as to why the Doctor hasn't got medication for Raina from the TARDIS and is instead holding a plate of filleted fish. The Doctor makes his way to Ace who tells him that Raina is giving birth to her baby.

Raina's voice begins to become more raspy as Creevy tells her to keep her nerve as they try to take the helmet off her and then take her back to England, only for Raina to reply that it isn't her home. The Doctor finds the change extraordinary and notes that the baby's growth has accelerated due to the sped-up metabolism within a matter of hours. Ace gives Raina the fish that the Doctor brought, only for her to swat it away.

The Doctor explains to the pained Raina that she is in the early stages of giving birth to her new baby, who is a girl. As there isn't time to move Raina into the TARDIS, the Doctor tells Ace and Creevy to stay and keep Raina calm, but Creevy leaves as Ace calls him a coward. Neither the Doctor nor Ace have any experience with delivering a baby, let alone one who is being born from a woman who is transforming into a Martian.

Creevy is talking with Major Felnikov about how he is finding it hard to cope with waiting due to being unable to find a coffee machine or cigarettes and he hasn't been paid yet. Felnikov reminds Creevy that both he and Raina are common criminals in the views of the Russian public. Hhessh inquires what is happening and Creevy says that the helmet has put Kerenskaya in the condition that she is in while she is giving birth. This prompts Hhessh to ask if she is wearing the helmet of Sezhyr. They then hear the sound of a baby crying, implying that Kerenskaya has managed to give birth. As Felnikov congratulates Creevy and wishes him a long, happy fatherhood, Creevy tries to deny that he is the father.

The Doctor admires the baby girl and finds nothing wrong with her. Raina hisses that the baby is not hers, but the Doctor insists that the baby is hers. Creevy returns and asks where the baby is. Once he sees her, he thinks that the baby is perfect just like the Doctor thought. Raina orders Creevy to take the baby away before passing out. Creevy asks if they can get the helmet off her, but the Doctor thinks that Raina isn't herself anymore as her skin is becoming more scaly.

Hhessh explains that the Sezhyr is being reborn and the helmet has been waiting for its master, causing Ace to realize that Raina is transforming into Marshall Sezhyr, who Hhessh says is the Ice Warriors' greatest leader. The Doctor tells Creevy to take the baby outside, to which Creevy agrees. Both Ace and the Doctor tell Hhessh that the changes that the helmet has caused to Raina's body are not stabilizing due to it not being suitable for humans to wear, but Raina/Sezhyr says that it kills humans because it was not used properly.

After Hhessh asks Sezhyr to give them his orders, Sezhyr grabs Ace and asks for the Orb of Alikyr. Hhessh orders Glarva to bring the orb to the hold. The Doctor tries to assure Sezhyr that Ace is on his side, but Sezhyr says that she isn't on his side until the orb is his, to which the Doctor replies that he is destroying another life and that Raina deserves to live.

The Adjudicator orders the Doctor to return to the TARDIS, but the Doctor refuses to leave Ace. He is told by the Adjudicator that he has meddled once too often and is being suspended from the incident. Ace must now fend for herself, and the Adjudicator threatens to use force if the Doctor interferes again.

Part four

to be added

Cast

Worldbuilding

Culture

People

Technology

Locations

  • Hhessh considers Moscow to be cold, like his native Mars.

Notes

CD booklet interior artwork.
  • This story is one of the few stories with specific authorial intent to slot into Seven’s televised era after his actual final televised story, Survival. That is to say, set between said story and the ‘VNA era’.
  • This story shares its title with a 2017 episode of the 2005 continuation of the show, though both stories are completely unrelated.

Continuity

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Latest and Upcoming releases - Archived on 22-04-2011

External links

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