Doctor Who BBCN17 - Sick Building by Doctor Who

Toaster. ‘Not at all.’
    Barbara went on: ‘She thinks Tiermann is about to betray us all.
    All of the Servo-furnishings. She has overheard him. She has eaves-dropped on his plans for the coming of the Voracious Craw. Whew.
    Would you mind if we took a breather, while I tell you what I know?’
    ‘Go ahead,’ said the Doctor, trying to be patient.
    ‘Do you want some more crisps? No? Well, she’s absolutely livid.
    She thinks Tiermann is going to leave us all behind. He has built more and more of the Servo-furnishings over the years. More than he ever needed, to do everything for his family. He gave us all intelligence, personality. And now there is no room for us in the spacecraft that will take him and his family to safety.’
    ‘It’s true,’ sighed Toaster. ‘There’s only enough room for the human beings. We’ve all checked. They won’t even be taking the robots that are still of use to them. Let alone us broken down, kronky old useless ones.’
    ‘I thought as much,’ said the Doctor.
    ‘We’re going to be left behind to face our doom,’ Barbara whispered, 62

    her husky voice turning shrill. ‘What kind of reward is that for a lifetime of servitude?’
    The Doctor had to agree. ‘It’s pretty shabby. And the Domovoi herself. . . Tiermann’s finest creation. . . she will have to be left behind as well?’
    Barbara nodded warily. ‘Yes. I think I’m ready to move on now.
    Come. We must go to face her.’ She turned to lead the way again.
    ‘You’re right, Doctor. The Domovoi is hardwired into the fabric of Dreamhome. She can never be moved. She is bound to die tonight.
    And that very thought is driving both her and her creator insane. . . ’
    Martha was the first to back away from the tall windows. She moved very swiftly across the shining kitchen tiles, kicking aside broken crockery. She called out to the others. They needed to move. The beast was obviously about to charge. But the Tiermann clan seemed frozen to the spot. They held their ground, as if amazed by the creature on the burning lawn.
    ‘Get back!’ Martha yelled at them. ‘Solin, tell them! We’ve got to move!’
    Even from this distance it was as if the bear-creature on the lawn could hear her. As if it could smell them all inside the protective walls of the Dreamhome. It threw back its massive head and gave a blood-curdling cry that seemed to set the very floor vibrating. This was enough to bring Solin to his senses. He grabbed his mother’s arm and bundled her back towards the hallway, where the lights were flickering again.
    His mother and father were struck dumb. His mother flopped her limbs like a puppet. The robots in the kitchen had ceased their point-less tasks and had gathered around Tiermann, who was still staring out at the brutish creature that had invaded his home.
    ‘Father, we must get away. . . ’ Solin shouted.
    ‘No!’ Tiermann bellowed. ‘This is my home! My domain! I will not be forced to flee from primitive beings such as this. . . thing!’
    Martha led the way. ‘Leave him, Solin. Come on.’
    ‘My Staff will deal with the intruder!’ Tiermann cried. He whirled 63

    to face the motley collection of malfunctioning kitchen robots. They gave a little jump at the sound of his voice. They were programmed always to respond to his ringing tones, and now, even with everything going haywire, Tiermann’s voice could still command them. ‘Kill the beast!’ he spat. ‘Protect the family!’
    Martha thought the robots looked pathetic, compared with the creature out there. She pulled at Solin and his mother again, urging them to rush, as the bear-like creature charged and flung itself at the kitchen windows.
    The room shuddered and Tiermann cried out. A great crack appeared in the glass. The creature drew back for another attempt. Its slavering jaws hung open and gnashed hungrily at the air. It was three times the size of Ernest Tiermann, but Tiermann stood there bravely and shouted back at it. ‘You have