Nyssa breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the sweet scented air. She felt more at peace than she had done in a long while.

"This was a very good choice, Doctor," she complimented her breakfast companion.

He grinned, then took a sip of his local tea. "I thought so," he replied mildly, taking in their surroundings.

The two of them were sat on a wooden deck overlooking a vast green forest. About four miles away were the foothills of the mountain where the TARDIS had landed two days earlier, its peak out of sight in the low clouds of early morning.

Already the air was warming up and they were prepared for another hot day on the island paradise. The Doctor had changed out of his traditional fawn frock coat and now wore just a white shirt and mustard, red and black striped shorts, cut off just above the knee. These were held in place by red braces with black question marks on them.

Nyssa too had dispensed with her usual Traken attire, opting for a plain white blouse, cream knee length skirt and a blue light jacket. It was far too hot here for the velvet of her regular clothes.

"What do you have planned for the day?" the Doctor asked, pouring himself another cup of tea.

"I was going to explore inland a bit with Graham and a party from the hotel," Nyssa replied. "And you?"

"Sendrik has promised to show me the native ruins on one of the other islands," the Time Lord replied, reaching for his Panama hat which was on the table by the teapot. "In fact, I should be meeting him down at dock shortly." He rose from his seat, jamming the hat on his blond head.

"Enjoy your archaeology, Doctor," Nyssa said, also rising as she saw Graham heading towards their table.

"Thank you," the Doctor replied politely. "I hope you have fun too." He grinned at his companion.

"Me too," Nyssa remarked, returning his smile.

***

Graham Butcher nodded a greeting as he passed the Doctor. The Time Lord was heading for the small dock behind their accommodation.

"Morning Nyssa," Graham said as he reached the object of his quest. "Looks like another fine day ahead of us."

"It certainly does," she replied, following his gaze over the greenery, now dappled by sunlight as the morning mist burnt away.

"Sleep well?" he inquired, brushing dark brown hair out of his eyes. He was attractive, but not what Tegan would have called a hunk. He was as tall as the Doctor, lean and fit with deep, dark eyes. And he had a manner, which Nyssa found very charming.

"Very well, thank you. And you?"

"Like a log." He saw a moment of confusion in Nyssa's eyes and smiled. "An Earth expression."

She returned his smile. "I see. Are the others ready?"

Graham nodded. "They are waiting for us at the end of the path."

"Then let's go," Nyssa said, setting out across the deck, ready for whatever the day had to offer.

***

Some hours later, the party of seven, led by Graham and Nyssa, had stopped for a rest. They were deep into the jungle now and had already seen some of the impressive wildlife and flora the island had to offer.

"Where to next?" Graham asked Setany, their native guide.

"We will go as far as the foothills, then break for lunch," Setany replied. "After lunch, we will swing around and make our way back by another route."

"Sounds good to me," said Roxank Sran, a female Chemeloid. "I'm enjoying the sun today."

As they were about to set off, the ground under them shook and a deep rumbling sound filled the air.

"What's that?" Nyssa asked, trying to steady herself with a tree trunk.

Setany had paled visibly. "The Fire God is angry!" he declared, making a complex ritual gesture with his hands. "He is sending his wrath against us all!"

***

The Doctor took off his half frame spectacles and looked over his shoulder at his native guide.

"You know, Sendrik, these paintings are quite magnificent."

"Glad you approve of the artwork of my ancestors," Sendrik said with a smile.

"I do," the Time Lord confirmed, straightening. "And you say the ruins on the other island are even better?"

"Bresci Island has the most breathtaking ruined temple on the whole planet," the native promised.

The Doctor grinned. "Excellent! I can't wait to see them!"

"Then wait no longer, Doctor. Let us return to the boat and be on our way." Sendrik led the Doctor from the cave and down to the shore.

***

"What do you mean, the Fire God is angry?" demanded Roxank Sran of their native guide.

"We have wronged Him," Setany said, quivering where he stood. "We will all burn!"

"I don't understand," said Stefan Strome, one of the guests at the hospital complex. "How have you angered your Fire God?"

"My people must have done something to displease the Great Fire God," Setany replied, his voice quaking. "He tests our faith, and this time we have been found wanting!"

Before anybody could say anything further, there was the noise of a massive explosion from somewhere above them.

"There! Look!" Graham Butcher pointed upwards through a clear patch in the surrounding foliage.

High above, at the top of the mountain, smoke and hot ashes were leaping into the sky, propelled by great force from within the mountain.

Nyssa, from the geologically stable world of Traken, didn't know what to make of it. "What's happening?" she asked her friend.

"It's a volcanic eruption," Graham replied. "Molten lava forced up from the core of the planet. It will swamp anything in its path."

Nyssa nodded. She had heard of this phenomenon. "It seems quite spectacular."

Graham grimaced. "It's also quite deadly. When I said it swamps anything in its path, that currently includes us."

***

From Sendrik's boat, the Doctor and the native watched the volcanic explosion with interest.

"Some of my people will be praying to the Fire God to spare them right now," Sendrik said with disdain.

"I take it you're not that superstitious," the Doctor replied.

"I learn many things from the visitors to our world. Visitors like yourself. I no longer believe in the wrath of the Fire God. I understand the workings of the planet. This is nature, not divine intervention."

"And it's nature at its most violent," the Doctor commented. He looked about him, taking in the other islands in the chain. "Tell me, which island is that? I've lost my bearings since we set off."

"That is Mansert Island, Doctor. It is where we set off from this morning."

The Doctor's face fell. "Then it's also where I left Nyssa and the TARDIS!"

***

This is a nightmare, thought Nyssa. Why does it always happen to us?

They were supposed to be relaxing in an island paradise after the traumatic events of their last two landings. The death of Adric and the battle with The Master on prehistoric Earth had taken it out of her and the Doctor, though the Time Lord wouldn't admit it.

The fact that Tegan had left them on Earth had upset the Doctor as well, but not as much as it had Nyssa. They had been close and she had been really surprised when the Australian girl hadn't returned to the TARDIS after their last adventure.

"She's probably returned to her own life," the Doctor had said as he reset the co-ordinates. But Nyssa could see the surprise and hurt in his own expression.

That was why this planet had seemed perfect. Until now. Now she was running for her life.

"Where are we going?" Roxank Sran wanted to know. She was having difficulty keeping up.

"Well, away from the lava for a start," Graham Butcher explained. "Then we can think about where we go from there."

Nyssa thought this was sensible. Graham had taken charge when Setany had run off into the jungle, his fear overcoming him. None of the party had objected to Graham leading them, they had been only too glad to leave the foothills and the danger from the molten lava pouring down the side of the mountain.

"I think there's a clearing up ahead," called Stefan Strome from the front of the group.

They discovered a large lake before them. It stretched as far as the eye could see on either side, and across the lake the far bank was visible in the distance.

"Now what?" asked Nyssa.

"We can't go around it," Graham said.

"Why not?" Roxank Sran inquired.

"Because it would take too long," Graham explained.

"Well, we can't swim across," said Strome.

Graham was looking up and down the shoreline. He turned to his fellows, grinning. "We don't have to."

They followed his pointing finger. About a quarter of a mile to the right was a small dock, with a couple of boats moored.

The seven of them moved as fast as possible, reaching the dock in double quick time. They discovered two small watercraft, one motorised and the other not.

"We can't all fit in that," exclaimed Roxank Sran, indicating the motor boat.

Graham nodded. "True. Most of us can go in that boat. I and one of the men will go in the other."

"I'll go with you," Nyssa volunteered.

Graham frowned. "I'd rather you were safe with the others," he decided.

"I'm no shrinking violet," Nyssa told him, borrowing a phrase she had heard Tegan use.

"Very well," he said, still looking like he wanted to argue the point.

The other five crowded into the motor boat and set out across the lake. Graham turned to Nyssa.

"Have you ever used a pair of oars?"

She shook her head, her brown curls bobbing. "I suppose I'm going to learn quickly."

"You better had," Graham said, pointing over her shoulder.

Nyssa looked where he indicated. Molten lava was flowing towards them slowly, scorching everything in its path.

***

"Can't this thing go any faster?" the Doctor complained.

"She's flat out now!" Sendrik called back over the roar of the boats engine as they made best speed back towards the island.

The native looked over at his companion. The Doctor's blond hair was billowing in the wind. If it wasn't for the grim expression on his face, it would have looked like he was enjoying himself immensely.

Ahead of them, the volcano was spitting forth its deadly fire with ever greater force.

"It's a cinder cone," the Doctor declared.

"What?" Sendrik asked.

"Cinder cone. They are a common type of volcano, especially on the planet Earth. They have a bowl shaped crater at the summit and get their name from the cinders that build up around the top of the volcano during eruption."

"And how does all that help us?"

The Doctor looked across at Sendrik, fixing him with his pale blue, sad gaze. "It doesn't help at all. I was just thinking out loud."

Sendrik shook his head and tried to urge the boat that little bit faster.

***

Nyssa had indeed learnt the principles of rowing very quickly. It was just a shame that knowledge didn't bring expertise in its wake.

"You're doing just fine," Graham assured her. "We'll get there with time to spare."

"Please don't patronise me," Nyssa panted, heaving on her oar and trying desperately to match Graham's rhythm.

He frowned, then nodded. "Alright. We're barely a third of the way across, the lava is flowing into the lake and the water is already starting to heat up."

"I also didn't ask you to be so brutally honest," Nyssa told him, but with a slight smile.

"Well, I think we need a change of tactics. So, if you'll permit me, I'll take both oars and see if I can't speed up the process."

"But I wanted to help," she protested.

"With the best will in the world, you're not helping, you're hindering."

Frowning, she gave up her oar to Graham and sat at the back of the boat, folding her arms.

***

The Doctor leapt over the side of the boat before Sendrik had even beached it. He was haring up the beach as the native was securing his craft.

"Wait for me," Sendrik called, running after the Doctor. "You haven't paid me yet!"

"My wallet is in the TARDIS," the Doctor called back over his shoulder. "If you want paying, follow me."

Sighing, Sendrik sprinted after the disappearing Time Lord.

He caught up with the Doctor at the roadside. He was trying to rewire a ground car.

"What are you doing?" demanded Sendrik.

"Trying to rescue my friend," the Doctor replied. "Now, are you going to just stand around or are you going to help me?"

***

They were making steady progress across the lake now that Graham had sole charge of the oars. Nyssa had been annoyed at first, mainly because he had been right, but also because she felt useless.

"I take it you've done this before," she commented.

He nodded. "I used to row two or three times a week back home."

Nyssa smiled slightly. "And where is home? Apart from Earth."

Graham grinned. "Canada. More specific Calgary. Used to row on the reservoir, except of course in winter."

"Too cold?" she inquired.

"Far, far too cold," he replied. "Freezing in fact. It gets down to a wind-chill of minus fifty in the very depths."

Nyssa frowned. "Only cold isn't the problem right now."

"Indeed. The very opposite in fact."

They both looked out over the lake, which was steaming and bubbling.

***

"This isn't the way back to the holiday complex," Sendrik called over the wind noise as they sped along the road.

"We're not going back to the complex," the Doctor shouted from the driver's seat. "We're going to find the TARDIS."

"I thought you were concerned about your friend."

"I am. But they went inland on foot. It's unlikely they have returned by now, so the easiest way to find them is to reach the TARDIS and activate the tracking controls. I should be able to lock onto Nyssa's DNA pattern without too much trouble."

Sendrik nodded. This did seem the best way to go about finding people amid the vast jungle of the island.

They both looked up as another rumble filled the air. More smoke and lava spewed forth from the volcano.

In response, the Doctor pushed down on the accelerator.

***

They had started to perspire some time ago. This was understandable in Graham's case, but Nyssa was just sitting in the boat. Yet the perspiration was pouring from her.

"We're not going to make it," she declared, looking backwards at the river of lava that was running into the lake. The surface was now boiling and the bottom of the boat was almost too hot to touch with bare skin.

"We will," Graham said shortly, trying to save his energy for rowing. They were over two thirds of the way across the lake and he was determined he wasn't going to give up now.

They sat in silence for long minutes, until Nyssa looked down into the bottom of the wooden boat. She stifled a gasp.

"What is it?" Graham asked, his eyes stinging with sweat now.

"The bottom of the boat," Nyssa said quietly. "It's smoking!"

Graham redoubled his efforts, despite the ache in his arms and hands. Nyssa continued to watch the bottom of the boat, waiting for the first signs of a hole.

They were a couple of hundred metres from land when water finally started to bubble up through the base of the wooden boat. Nyssa looked up at Graham.

"That's it. The water is coming in. We're sinking."

"Maybe," he replied through gritted teeth. "But we're not finished yet!"

If it were possible, he pulled even harder on the oars. As they lifted from the water, Nyssa could see that they too were scorching and blackened.

With a bump, the boat butted up against the bank, even as water started to pour through the hole burnt into the bottom. Nyssa stood, ready to jump over the side and wade up the bank.

"Hold it!" Graham commanded. He stood too, stooped slightly beside Nyssa, then swept her up into his arms. Carefully, he stepped out of the boat into the shallow water.

He ran ashore, the burden in his arms not slowing him at all, it seemed. With an audible sigh of relief, he set Nyssa down gently on the ground.

"Thank you," she said, straightening her skirt. "But I don't think that was really necessary."

Graham was grimacing in pain. He reached down and rolled up one leg of his jeans. Nyssa could see the skin of his leg reddening, blisters already beginning to form.

"Couldn't let you step into the water with your bare legs," he told her, rolling the leg down again.

Nyssa frowned. "I didn't think of that," she admitted. "It seems I owe you my thanks again."

He smiled weakly. "Think nothing of it. All part of the service."

"We should get moving," Nyssa said. "Can you walk?"

Graham nodded. "Just don't ask me to do any fancy dance moves."

"I won't," Nyssa promised with a slight smile.

As they set off slowly along the trail through the jungle, a whistling sound made them pause. They both looked up, trying to find the source of the noise.

It became apparent soon enough. A large flaming rock, as big as Nyssa's head, smashed into a nearby tree. The tree immediately burst into flame, which rapidly spread to the surrounding trees.

Graham groaned. "That's all we need. Come on!" He set off running as fast as he could, Nyssa following, as more hot rocks pelted the tinder-dry jungle around them.

***

The Doctor threw the ground car around another sharp bend, Sendrik gripping the side door tightly to avoid being thrown from the speeding vehicle.

"Not far now," the Time Lord called to his companion.

"Good," Sendrik called back. "I don't think I can hang on for much longer."

The Doctor grinned suddenly, pushing the car to even greater speed.

***

Graham and Nyssa stumbled into a clearing, fire at their backs. His legs still stinging, Graham collapsed onto his knees.

"Come on!" Nyssa said, pulling his arm in a vain effort to help him up. "We must keep going!"

Graham lurched to his feet, swaying for a moment. He shuffled forward to an overturned tree, then collapsed onto it.

"You go on," he gasped. "I can't go any further."

Nyssa shook her head stubbornly. "I'm not leaving you."

"You must!" he shot back. "My legs are too bad for me to get any further. You must save yourself Nyssa."

She looked into his eyes and saw the pleading look in them. He knew he was going to die here, in this clearing. But he wanted her to have a fighting chance. She decided she couldn't let him down.

"Alright," she agreed, "but I'll send someone to find you."

He nodded, knowing that it was an empty promise. There wouldn't be anything for a rescue party to find except a body charred to a cinder.

Without another word, Nyssa turned to leave the clearing. But she found her intended route blocked by fresh fire. Turning again, she was again confronted by flames, leaping up high into the smoke-darkened sky.

She turned three hundred and sixty degrees, only to find that the clearing was now surrounded by fire. While they had been talking, the fire had cut off all their exits.

"We're trapped!" she told Graham.

He looked around but Nyssa was correct. There was no way out of the clearing now. He hung his head.

"I'm sorry, Nyssa," he said, his voice full of defeat.

She sat down next to him, putting an arm around his shoulders. "It's not your fault. You got us across the lake when I didn't think we would make it. We did our best. Now we must face the end with dignity."

Together, they watched the fire creep closer to them. When it was hot enough for Nyssa to feel the soles of her shoes melting, she heard a noise behind her. A very familiar noise.

With a shriek and a roar that could be heard even over the crackling of the fire all around them, the TARDIS materialised just behind the fallen tree.

***

The Doctor threw the car around another corner and immediately skidded to a halt.

Sendrik was thankful he was gripping the door so hard, otherwise he would have been thrown clear over the front of the vehicle. Then he saw why the Doctor had stopped.

Lava was flowing towards them along the street. But instead of putting the car into reverse, the Doctor was just watching it, seemingly dumbfounded.

"Doctor, we should get out of here!" Sendrik said loudly, hoping to break the spell.

"The TARDIS," the Time Lord muttered. "It was parked at the end of this street."

The far end of the street was now under molten lava, more of which was flowing towards them. Sendrik decided that now was not the time to worry about lost property.

"Doctor, if we don't get out of here soon, we'll be joining your machine under a ton of hot rocks!"

It worked. The Doctor snapped his head round to Sendrik, then back to the approaching flow. "Hang onto your hat," he exclaimed, even though the native wasn't wearing one.

The car reversed out of the street quicker than it had driven in. Sliding into a skid turn, the Doctor engaged forward gear and they shot off back towards the holiday complex.

***

Nyssa and Graham staggered into the TARDIS console room. She helped Graham into a wicker chair and moved over to the console, where she operated the door control.

The double doors swung silently closed, shutting out the inferno beyond.

It was only then that Nyssa realised that the Doctor hadn't been there to greet them. She had expected him to be stood over the console, a big grin on his boyish face when he saw that she was safe. But there was no sign of him.

She moved over to the inner door, opening it half way. "Doctor, are you there?"

Silence greeted her. Frowning, she returned to the console, studying the panels intently.

Eventually she found a winking light beside a display screen. The screen read 'Hostile Action Displacement System operating within normal peramaters.'

"An automated system," she mused. As she spoke, the time rotor at the centre of the console ground into life and the sound of take-off sounded throughout the room.

"What's happening?" Graham said, stirring from the chair. "Where are we?"

Nyssa crossed to where he was trying to stand. "We're inside the TARDIS," she told him. "We're safe from the fire now."

He looked relieved. Then his eyes took in the room properly. He whistled. "My, this place is big!"

She smiled slightly. "You get used to it. Now, we should get your legs looked at. Can you walk?"

He nodded. "I think so."

"Good." She helped him stand. "The medical bay is just down the corridor," she told him, opening the inner door once again.

***

"Now what?" Sendrik asked as they made their way back to the holiday complex. The Doctor was driving at a steadier pace now, since they had outdistanced the lava flow.

The Time Lord frowned. "I don't know. I'll have to search for Nyssa on foot, I suppose."

"In all that jungle? Are you mad?"

"She's my friend," the Doctor replied hotly. "I'm not going to give up on her."

"Of course you're not," Sendrik said in a quieter tone. "I didn't mean to imply that you should."

"I didn't mean to snap," the Doctor responded. "I'm worried about her, that's all."

"I can understand, we are all worried about somebody."

The Doctor's expression darkened. "I've just lost two friends in different circumstances. I'll be damned if I'm going to lose another."

***

Nyssa held the console room door open for Graham, who was now dressed in shorts from the wardrobe section, his jeans being too painful for his scalded legs. The legs themselves had been treated with special ointment from the medical bay and bandaged by Nyssa. She had also found him a pair of crutches from somewhere in the depths of the TARDIS.

"How are the legs feeling now?" she asked him as he eased himself back into the wicker chair beside the console.

"Better, thanks," he replied. "I think that ointment is beginning to work."

"Well, it can't perform miracles," she warned. "You should keep the bandages on for a while, and seek proper medical advice when we land."

"Yes, Nurse," he said, snapping off a crisp salute and grinning.

Nyssa smiled back. "I want to say thank you again for saving me from the scalding water. And for all the effort you put into rowing."

"It was nothing," he told her, blushing slightly. "Anybody could have done what I did."

"Maybe so, but you did it. And I'm grateful."

He looked up, smiling. Before either of them could say any more though, the noise of dematerialisation began.

***

On their return to the holiday complex, the Doctor and Sendrik found that the emergency services were well into a rehearsed evacuation of the entire island. The last few visitors were being taken from the building as they arrived.

The Doctor spotted someone he recognised in the bustle of people, a female Chemeloid. He approached her, hoping for news.

"Have you seen my friend? Nyssa, short humanoid girl, curly hair?" he asked hopefully.

Roxank Sran looked at him, then nodded. "She was with us. She stayed to cross the lake with the human man. Not seen her since."

The Doctor's face fell. He patted Roxank absently on the arm. "Thank you," he murmured, concern clouding his features.

Sendrik came rushing up to him. "Doctor, we must get off the island! The lava has nearly reached the complex."

As the two of them watched, the first fires started breaking out in the dry buildings. Soon the inferno would reach the small dock.

"Everybody has been evacuated," Sendrik told the Time Lord. "We are the last. We must go."

"Nyssa is still missing," the Doctor told him. "I've got to find her."

Sendrik opened his mouth to argue when a rasping, grating sound came from behind them. They both turned. Near the end of the dock, between them and the last rescue boat, a blue cabinet was materialising out of thin air.

"The TARDIS!" the Doctor exclaimed, his face brightening like a summer's day after a storm. "But how..?"

The door creaked open and out hobbled Graham Butcher, followed by Nyssa.

"Nyssa! You're safe!"

She ran to the Doctor and hugged him. Their reunion was cut short by Sendrik tugging his arm.

"The lava is coming. We must go!"

The Doctor nodded. "Help Graham to the rescue boat." He grinned at the native and gave Nyssa's arm a squeeze. "We have our own mode of transport."

Sendrik assisted Graham and the Doctor and Nyssa made their way to the TARDIS. As they approached the time machine, Nyssa looked back over her shoulder at Graham. He was just settling into the rescue boat. For a lingering moment, their eyes locked. A universe of might-have-been passed between them. Then, with a brief wave, they said their much-too-hasty final goodbye.

On the threshold of the TARDIS, with molten lava and fire bearing down on them, the Doctor paused, looking quizzically at Nyssa.

"How did you manage to pilot the TARDIS with such accuracy?"

Nyssa smiled, steering him into the TARDIS. "I'll explain later," she promised.