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"A fool and his life are easily parted I suppose," Yurik purred before nodding towards an outcrop. "On the other side of those boulders you will find a path."

"Thank you Yurik, and perhaps when we come back, you can have us for tea. I know T.R. is probably craving a cup," he smiled thought it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Theta, be careful, even if you get into the Hub. Eat and drink nothing inside that place. It's not a silly story, remember that," the cat said with a worried look on his face. "Good bye."

The Doctor followed Ally leaving the Cat alone on the cliff. He stared at the pair then shook his head and vanished.

"Ally, are you well?" he asked as he approached her, "you don't have to do this..."

"It's my name... well, close to my name," he said putting his hands in the pockets of his now black trousers, "Theta Sigma my friends used to call me before it all went wrong... Yurik is- WAS a professor in Carroll's University. He's quite possibly the oldest most brilliant mind here, well, at least when I'm not around. Cheshire Cats live for thousands of years, provided they're not bored."

He trailed off as if sensing something was amiss. It felt... strange as if someone were watching them.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat..." a deranged sort of voice sang out before laughing.

"Who's there? March?" the Doctor called out before pulling Ally behind him. "Thackery is that you?"

"WRONG! So very WRONG!" the same deranged laugh followed, "I didn't say 'knock-knock'."

There was the sound of hydraulics and a mechanical being blocked their path. Spikes and saws covered the sleek metal body. Its face seemed like a metal mask and maniacal laughter echoed from behind it.

"'Ello again... Theta..." the mask split open to reveal a hare's face, or what remained of one. A cybernetic eye and tubes attached to the skull. "Up above the world so high... like a tea tray in the sky..."

The Doctor looked at the beast horrified.

"March... oh March, I'm so very sorry..."

"Ooh, you hear that blokes? The Doctah's sorry!" the hare laughed as it's saws powered up. "Apologies never stopped a Shredder... t'ain't gonna stop one now. Sorry Doctah, so very sorry."

"Thakery, listen to me, I can help you. I can help all of you, but you've got to stop."

The Hare didn't lose the grin on his face or the mad look in his eye and he took a step closer. The Doctor brought out his sonic screwdriver and pointed it at his friend.

"How doth the little crocodile... sleeping in the Nile..." he hummed it like a lullaby. "Can't stop Doctah, can't stop, can't eat, can't sleep, can't rest... 'aven't rested in years... not allowed... the king's in my noodle... What does a rich man lack that the poor-man has? What does the miser spend that the spendthrift misers? What do the creatures of Wonderland have to live for and the Trumps to die for? Can you guess?"

"Guess! Guess! GUESS!!!" the shredder shrieked at the two.

The Doctor backed away slowly from the crazed machine. There was no way they could stop the monster should it pounce so he would concur with Ally, fleeing seemed like the best choice.

"When I give the word you run Ally. Run and don't look back..." he whispered before squaring his shoulders and raising his sonic screwdriver.

"March... Thackery, I know the answer," he said looking at him steadily, "but you're wrong."

"ANSWER DOCTOR!!! WHAT DO THE CREATURES OF WONDERLAND HAVE TO LIVE FOR?!"

The Doctor took a hesitant step forward. "Nothing... but you're wrong."

"NOTHING!!!!" the shredder crowed with a triumphant laugh, "THERE'S NOTHING!!!"

"Thakery you're wrong!" he yelled as he stepped forward again, "Thakery look at me! I will stop this! Believe me, trust me! I will!"

The Doctor nodded before stepping up towards the Shredder.

"Please Thackery... believe me, I'm here to help," he said in a level tone.

The shredder suddenly grew silent and he stared at him intently. "Did Alice believe you when you said you would help her out?"

The Doctor winced his eyes filling with pain. "How did you find out?"

"Kinda hard ta miss when a star system goes nova 'cause of a Vorpal pulse. Yurik, pieced the rest together. He's good at readin' timelines."

"I had nothing to do with that," the doctor's voice turned cold.

"Heh, issat whatcha really think, Theta? You left Alice to die. Yurik sent you to save her, and you sealed her in and pulled the plug..."

The Doctor's jaw clenched and he gripped the screwdriver tightly. The voice had changed from manic, to cockney, and now to a sweet eloquent tone with a slight lisp.

"Did she cry Doctor? Did she beg for you to open the chamber? How did that feel... Timeling? Did she still believe you?"

The doctor stepped back and a sudden thrill of fear surged up his spine.

"You're not Thachery," he said brethlessly his eyes widening, "You're... no... tell me they didn't... Hatter please tell me they didn't..."

"What? The Grimixians? That's what you're here for isn't it? Scanners indicate you have one with you, where is she?"

"Tarrat..."

The Doctor raised a hand to stop her.

"Ally go," he said staring at the bot intently.

"Ally... that can't be her true name," the Shredder murmured, "and yet there she is... Mistress, we have awaited your arrival for some time. The King will be pleased."

The Shredder's claws retracted as it took a step forward.

"The conquest is complete."

The Shredder tilted his head.

"My King? What an odd thing to say," the gentle voice murmured. "He is the Trump King and then there is the Trump Queen. You must come to the throne room now and initiate the final phase."

"Enough Tarrant!" the Doctor commanded, "you're not taking her anywhere."

"On the contrary Theta, I am taking her and seeing how you being here has become... superfluous..." the Shredder's body stepped towards him and growled, "you will be disposed off."

The Doctor ran with Ally his eyes glancing at the Shredder behind him.

"He's gone..." he muttered as they ran, "Thackery and Tarrant..."

He closed his eyes as if in pain. When they opened they were dark and cold again.

"Stop Ally," he said grabbing her wrist and changing direction. "We're going to the source of this..."

Behind them the Shredder tilted its head before giving out a loud howl. From a distance the howl was answered by various other cries.