Kest was a Krattorian slave trader.
Biography[]
In February 2065, Kest's spaceship landed on Skaro, with Kest ordering his slaves out onto the surface to collect the vast fortune of sand he found there. However, Kest's ship's instruments soon ran into difficulties due to the magnetic properties of the sand, which was actually a defensive measure of the hidden Dalek City, forcing him to give his "cattle" a rest. Soon after this he was informed by the slave Andor of a budding rebellion spearheaded by Sala. Kest ordered that Sala be brought to him but when she proved elusive he was presented with her co-conspirator Astolith. Kest asked him repeatedly about Sala's location but Astolith claimed not to know, with Kest eventually threatening the slaves with starvation for a week if he did not answer. An answer was not necessary, however, because Sala returned at that moment claiming "a power almost ready to destroy" them all was outside the ship. Kest was intrigued by this and went with Sala, Astolith and a couple of guards into the mountains, though promised to kill the duo himself it was just another trick. During their journey Kest happened to look back and discovered that his ship was not where he left it. He accused Sala of tricking him and threatened her life to Astolith if he did tell him where it was. Astolith responded to this agressively, forcing one of the guards from the cliff where they stood to his death. Sala followed by pushing Kest which sent him tumbling down the mountain, albeit without the fatal injuries which had befallen his comrades.
He soon picked himself up and found his way into the Dalek City where he was just as soon captured. Kest told the Daleks about the knowledge he possessed regarding the operation of his ship, specifically offering the secrets of space travel to them if they destroyed Sala and Astolith in front of him, who were at large inside the City. The Daleks searched for two hours but were unable to locate Sala and Astolith, with Kest eventually suggesting they check his ship. He justified this action by describing it as the "one place" they hadn't searched but it really served to advance his plan to recapture his ship and leave Skaro. However, this did not come to fruition because Andor was found and brought to the Golden Emperor before it could happen, having on his person papers containing the details of space flight. Meanwhile, Sala and Astolith boarded Kest's ship, freed the other slaves and began preparations for an immediate take-off. While pondering ways to get back into the ship Kest heard a noise emanating from within it but he realised too late the ship was blasting off, desperately grasping at its closed doors as it began its ascent. Later, a Dalek reported to the Emperor that Kest and Andor were dead. He responded that the matter was of no consequence as the affair had given them knowledge of space flight and therefore the means to conquer other planets and ultimately rule the Universe. (COMIC: Power Play)
