The Hand of Fear (TV story): Difference between revisions

It seems they are waiting in vain, as nothing happens. The Doctor enters the reactor chamber where the level of radiation is, surprisingly, still normal. He explains that sort of "unexplosion" happened. They close the reactor core and hurry out as Watson ordered an [[RAF]] strike to destroy the hand and the reactor. The missiles' impact, however, have no effect because the hand absorbed all the energy. The nuclear missiles and the full power of the reactor are enough to complete the regeneration of Eldrad.  

Crystalline, [[silicon]]-based and female, she tells the story of how she created the [[spatial barrier]]s that let Kastria thrive, but in an interstellar war the barriers were destroyed, and she was disgraced and condemned. Eldrad persuades the Doctor to return her to Kastria so she can save her people; he agrees on the condition that they travel to Kastria in the present, a hundred fifty million years after she left.  

After she explains that the dart contained [[Eldrad's acid|an acid]] of her own design, Doctor and Sarah take the dying Eldrad to a [[regenerator chamber]] deep below the surface of Kastria, in the [[thermal chamber]]s. Booby traps have been set along, targeting silicon-based beings. The regenerator chamber is rigged to destroy Eldrad, but a malfunction allows a full regeneration. The new form of Eldrad emerges and reveals he had based his earlier form on Sarah, the first human he encountered. Eldrad is now much taller and male. He boasts that he destroyed the solar barriers in a rivalry with [[Rokon|King Rokon]]. They find Eldrad's ultimate goal, to rule Kastria. He enters the Kastrian [[race bank]], where he intends to revive the dormant Kastrian people. The bank, however, is empty.  

An image of Rokon appears on a video screen, informing Eldrad that without the barriers, facing perpetual subterranean existence and a small possibility of his return, the Kastrian race elected to destroy themselves and the race bank. It was Rokon who long time ago set the [[booby trap]]s. Rokon mockingly salutes Eldrad from the grave as "King of Nothing". A bitter Eldrad now decides to rule the [[Earth]] instead and demands that the Doctor return him. He refuses, stating that his obligation to Eldrad is now satisfied.  

The Doctor and Sarah depart in the TARDIS, and the Doctor sets about making repairs. Sarah bemoans her life in the TARDIS — bouncing around the universe, fleeing from bug-eyed monsters and needing a [[bath]]. The Doctor is focused on his work on the TARDIS console, which infuriates her. She demands to be returned home and storms off to her room to pack.  

The Doctor steers the TARDIS to bring her to [[Hillview Road]], [[South Croydon]] — Sarah's home. She asks him not to forget her; he replies likewise. Once the TARDIS dematerialises, Sarah makes her exit, noting that travel does indeed broaden the mind, and the Doctor promises her that they will meet again.