Sisters of the Flame ( audio story ) Publisher ' s summary . The richest man in the galaxy has just bought a backwards planet with no obvious mineral wealth in the outer reaches of the universe . An obscure mystical sect has been revived after centuries of neglect . A new race of aliens are hunting for prey . Why ? As the Doctor and Lucie attempt to discover the answer , it becomes clear that someone is attempting to resurrect the past — and they need a Time Lord to help them achieve it . Plot . In the TARDIS console room , the power cuts out . The Doctor realises the ship is completely dead , as though the Eye of Harmony did not exist . The Eye could be shut down with a stellar manipulator , but the only one in history no longer exists . Suddenly the power returns , but the Doctor denies responsibility . A strange noise is heard , and the TARDIS is tossed around by a black hole ahead . It is moving toward them , causing the Doctor to recognise it as a piece of ancient and nasty Time Lord technology . He manages to evade , but wonders what the Time Lords wanted — and why didn ' t they just call ? He lands the ship , and he and Lucie find themselves in a cargo hold on a freighter . Over Lucie ' s objections , the Doctor wants to look around — but they are overtaken by a group of ten - foot tall centipedes . Elsewhere in space , an employee reports to his employer — Mr Zarodnix — that they have found what they were looking for . Zarodnix is pleased . A spaceship , piloted by Police Marshal Rosto of the Trell , responds to a distress call from a Zarodnix Corporation freighter , the " Euretz " . The freighter ' s captain has a stowaway in confinement , and wants Rosto to deal with the matter quickly . The captive is a human from Earth named Lucie Miller . Rosto can find no record of her , and she has no documentation . Lucie , meanwhile , remains in a cell , until one of the centipedes enters . Using a translation box , it reassures her , and introduces itself as a Trell . She says she has seen Trell before — in fact , two days ago , about twenty of them attacked her and kidnapped the Doctor — but the freighter crew would not listen . He explains that he is the police — Marshal Rosto , to be precise — much to her surprise . Rosto realises that she thinks he must be involved . He tells her she is lucky to have stowed away on a Zarodnix ship — most freighters would simply blow a stowaway out the airlock , but Zarodnix has a reputation to maintain . He demands an explanation , and records her statement , but keeps interrupting her with questions ; Lucie grows more frustrated , and finally insults Rosto , calling him a bug . She requests a human police marshal , and he agrees to arrange it , but warns that it will take time . Once Lucie calms down , she tries again to tell her story . She explains about landing in the TARDIS , and says that the Doctor told her to run when the centipedes attacked . She saw him being overpowered , and when they turned on her , she ran . She mentions that one Trell spoke with a mechanical voice ; Rosto notes that this is very strange . She explains that the other Trell were wearing metal accessories and hats with lights . Rosto realises she must have hidden in a waste pipe ; the smell hid her scent and allowed her to escape , though it was close . She says she saw that the Trell were accompanied by a humanoid female in combate gear , with a dark visor . She assumes the Doctor was taken off the ship . Rosto leaves to continue his investigation , leaving Lucie to await a prison ship . Once alone , Lucie gives in and begins to cry , suspecting she may not see the Doctor again . Rosto begins his crime scene report , recorded in Trell and humanoid speech . He concludes that Lucie ’ s story is unlikely , as history notes that the Trell are a peaceful race . To corroborate the report , he scans for particle traces that would serve as evidence . Lucie hears the TARDIS , but is let down when it is not the Doctor who appears — it is the Time Lord Straxus , using a Time Ring instead of a TARDIS . He explains that he has been sent to locate the Doctor , who is missing . He realises he is off target by two days , and is happy to have arrived so close , but now must report back and try again . Lucie requests to go with him , but he refuses , as lesser species are not allowed on Gallifrey . He tells her that the less she knows , the better off she will be . Something terrible is happening in the universe , and she should trust no one . Using the Time Ring , he vanishes . Rosto detects two unusual DNA traces . The first is unknown , but from a highly evolved humanoid species The second is Trell — Lucie , it seems , has been telling the truth . The Trell DNA includes indication of technological implants ; accompanying it is a two - millimetre metal artefact , origin unknown . He returns to interrogate Lucie further . In the meantime , a woman calling herself Haspira enters Lucie ' s cell ; Lucie assumes she is the humanoid police officer promised by Rosto . Playing the role , Haspira suggests relocation to the nearest Earth embassy , arguing that Lucie ' s life could be in danger . AS well , the embassy can circulate a description of the Doctor around the galaxy . Impressed , Lucie leaves with her . On Gallifrey , Straxus meets Co - ordinator Bulek , who tells him that the Time Scoop is active and Zarodnix is playing with time travel . That makes Time Rings the only safe way to travel . Straxus explains that the Doctor was kidnapped before his arrival in the cell ; Bulek demands to know why he did not bring Lucie back with him . Over Straxus ' s objections , Bulek explains that she could have useful information . He orders Straxus to go back for her , as she is their only link to the Doctor — and Zarodnix cannot be allowed to capture the Doctor , as the whole universe hinges on it . . . Haspira ' s ship is unusually luxurious for a police vessel . As the ship departs , Lucie ponders her situation , and realises that whoever captured the Doctor must have been waiting for them ; but how could they know where the TARDIS would land ? Perhaps the Time Lords are responsible ? And if so , who is the mystery woman from the attack ? Haspira regrets that Lucie did not see the woman ' s face — it could be circulated along with the Doctor ' s . As Lucie is tired , Haspira sends her to her cabin to clean up , change clothes , and rest ; but as Lucie drifts off , she hears a female voice chanting . " Sacred flame , sacred fire . " She begins to feel strange , and wonders what is going on , until a banging from the main deck pulls her awake . The banging is from the airlock , which opens to admit a Trell . Lucie yells that Haspira is a police officer , but the Trell — revealed to be Rosto — says that she is not , as he has not put in the request for a human officer yet . Haspira begs Lucie not to listen , and accuses him of being in league with the Trell from the attack ; but Rosto counters that she knows a lot about the case , despite his report not yet being submitted . Haspira tells Lucie to take her gun and shoot Rosto , but Lucie silences them both . Rosto says that he thinks Haspira is the woman from the attack ; she is wearing one ear stud , and he found its mate in the cargo hold — the metal artefact he found . Lucie agrees with him ; in response , Haspira takes out her other ear stud and throws it down . It bursts , releasing a cloud of gas . Haspira runs to her cabin and locks the door . Lucie shoots the lock , and enters with Rosto , just in time to see Haspira chanting , " Sacred flame , sacred fire " ; Haspira disappears . Rosto assumes it is a teleport , but he can find no mechanism . With the chant still echoing , Haspira appears in a chamber , and is met by an old woman named Orthena , who rebukes her for returning empty - handed . Haspira explains that she was interrupted en route by Rosto . Meanwhile , the crew of the " Euretz " had no inkling of Zarodnix ' s plans , which is why they reported Lucie as a stowaway . Orthena re - emphasises that Lucie must be brought here , as she may have Time Lord knowledge ; Haspira says that Lucie knows Straxus . Fearful that Lucie may unintentionally help Zarodnix , and decides that all links with the Doctor must be destroyed as if he never existed . Lucie remembers the chanting she heard earlier , and realises she was nearly teleported away herself . Rosto tells her he has found evidence that the Trell are being controlled , and the two apologise to each other . Lucie finds a flame motif on the ear stud , consistent with the " sacred flame " chanting , and suggests researching it . Rosto uses the Galactinet — a faster - than - light information network — and begins searching . Zarodnix learns from his Trell agents that they have lost their Time Lord prisoner — he was taken by Haspira during the search for Lucie after the attack . When they arrived on the planet Karn , they found the cell empty ; a device was sending out false bio - signatures , but the captives were gone . Zarodnix concludes that the device is Time Lord technology , indicating that Haspira is working for the Time Lords . The Trell tell him that their prisoner was the Doctor — a legendary name , known even to him , and known to have been to Karn before . He is angry when he learns that they no longer have the TARDIS , either — the Doctor must have escaped in it . However , they still maintain a lock on its time signature . He tells Operations Control to locate the TARDIS , but they lack the power to do so , having depleted their supplies on the first tracking ; he does not accept the excuse , and indicates that the Time Lord Time Scoop will also be seeking the Doctor , making him easier to locate . He tells them to sell another planetary system so as to buy sufficient energy . He begins to rant , saying that nothing is more important than the future Empire they are building . From there , he goes to a processing chamber — it is nearly time for the " final extraction " . Accompanied by her Sisters , Haspira meets the Doctor in a cell . They unchain him to take him elsewhere , but refuse to tell him about Lucie . Meanwhile , Rosto and Lucie track down the symbol ; it is the emblem of the Sisterhood of Karn . Rosto states that Karn is owned by Zarodnix , who is alleged to even live there . He is believed to be the richest man in the galaxy , and possibly the universe . When the planet was bought , fifty - two years ago , the Sisterhood departed it for parts unknown . However , they are known to possess great mental powers , possibly explaining Haspira ' s escape . All other files on them have been expunged , probably by Zarodnix . Lucie cross - references for information on the Time Lords , but most of the records on that race have been expunged as well . Lucie suggests going to Karn ; while Rosto sets their course , he reassures her that she should not feel guilty for obeying the Doctor ' s order to run . Now , they will both seek the truth , each for their own reasons . Under the surface of Karn , Zarodnix orders that the final extraction proceed without him so as to avoid delays . Space Traffic Control , meanwhile , has detected an approaching ship ; Zarodnix tells them to deal with it in the usual way . Aboard Haspira ' s ship , Lucie and Rosto approach Karn . Rosto reveals that he has learned something disturbing : several Trell worlds have been recently purchased by Zarodnix , and their records have been expunged as well . It seems he is using augmented Trell as a private army . Orthena , the Sisterhood ' s Mother Superior , orders the Sisters to bring in the Doctor . He refuses to say anything , as they have not been forthcoming about the situation ; he demands to be taken back to Lucie . Orthena says she may be able to comply , in a manner of speaking . She points out a nearby door , and tells him it leads to oblivion . Haspira ' s ship makes orbit , but is caught in an energy web . Before anything can happen , Straxus materialises in front of them . Straxus orders Rosto to stay out of the situation , until Rosto asks Lucie if he should restrain the newcomer ; Straxus becomes nervous . Lucie explains who he is , and takes his Time Ring so as to prevent him from leaving again . He demands that she return to Gallifrey with him , but she demands to know about the Doctor . The Doctor recognises the door as a molecular dispersal chamber — a barbaric piece of technology which , to his chagrin , originated with the Time Lords . Orthena says they need his help to find Lucie ; but Haspira ' s recording from the cell on the Euretz indicates that they already know where she is . Orthena knows she is on Haspira ' s ship now , but when she tries to make telepathic contact , she is stunned to learn it is in orbit over Karn . However , this world is not Karn ; she confirms that they left that world many years ago , but refuses to reveal their location . Straxus blames the Doctor for what has happened — if he had not avoided the Time Scoop , this would not have happened . Lucie realises he is referring to the black hole which the Doctor narrowly avoided . Straxus defends the Time Lords ' choice , saying that communication would have been unsafe . Before he can continue , the energy field begins pulling them to the planet — and Straxus is horrified to learn that it is Karn . Orthena tells the Doctor that Lucie is in danger , though the Doctor doubts it . She demands that he link his mind to theirs , as he has an affinity for Lucie ; she threatens him with the molecular dispersal chamber if he refuses . Straxus , now panicking , demands his Time Ring back , promising to take Lucie with him . Under pressure , he even agrees to take Rosto if possible . He explains that Zarodnix bought Karn because he is the leader of the Cult of Morbius . Lucie agrees to leave , but before she can give the Time Ring back , she is teleported away by the Sisterhood . She materialises in the chamber with the Sisterhood and the Doctor . She is relieved at first — until Orthena reveals that they will both be placed in the dispersal chamber . There will be no trace of the Doctor . She gives the order to place them inside .