Penne has come right up in the universe. Now he is a king-emperor of a whole solar system, even if only three of the planets are properly habitable. And he is ready to choose a queen. Before then, there are some loose ends to tie up in this story. Chrístõ finds out the truth about the presets in his TARDIS. He has been secretly used in an experiment by the High Council to test whether the Time Lords should drop their policy of non-interference.

This idea that Time Lords observe the universe but don’t interfere in it is a central one in the life of The Doctor. His reaction to their refusal to act against evil and oppression is the whole point of his exile. It was the basis upon which they brought him to trial in The War Games and banished him to Earth. But whether it is official policy or not, they have always interfered on the sly. Sending The Doctor to Earth was one way to do so. And whenever it suited them they had him do their work for them anywhere in the universe. So in effect Chrístõ began young to do that same work for the Time Lords.

And so to the ball, and even if Chrístõ didn’t find the woman of his dreams there, Penne did. Enter Princess Cirena of Terrigna IV, a gracious woman from a troubled land. And the one Penne fell in love with at first sight.

Of course, she had to be the one who was kidnapped!