The Destroyers (short story)

The Destroyers was the ninth short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips: Life Science. It was written by Steve Lyons. It featured the Fourth Doctor and Leela.

Summary
Delthea is an elected government official on her planet. When she was a child, she learned her people's legendary stories about the Protector and the demons, the Boggle-Eyed Demon and his primitive servant, that destroyed it.

As an adult, she vows to use a time ship to send troops to the planet's past so that they can help the Protector in its fight against the demons. However, she has intended all along that she would go back herself. Before she leaves, she is shown a video clip of the demons, and is surprised that they were reluctant to destroy the Protector, only doing so because the Protector requested it.

When she arrives back in the past, she thinks she has arrived too late. The planet is overgrown and the city is in ruins. She soon realises that her planet's golden age was a myth and that her people had grown utterly dependent on the Protector. She has to admit to the Protector that the future, her time, is better than this time. This is why the Protector wants to be destroyed.

The demons arrive, having been called by the Protector. Delthea can't say anything, but when the tall demon asks the way to the city, she indicates it by pointing.

Delthea remains trapped in this time, but she decides that she will try to help her people reclaim their lives.

Characters

 * Fourth Doctor
 * Leela
 * Delthea

Continuity

 * The Doctor says the Protector is not another Xoanon. (TV: The Face of Evil)