Introduction

Regeneration is an integral part of a Time Lord's life cycle. As one body becomes old and worn out, another takes its place. All perfectly natural.

This is what the Doctor had been trying to convince himself of for the last few days, thinking it would be only a matter of time before his new persona finally established itself. After all, this was his third regeneration. He should have the hang of it by now...
Unfortunately, this was precisely the problem. The Doctor was having quite a bit of trouble getting the hang of his most recent regeneration, which had been brought about to save his life. He was currently at an unstable stage and kept getting the strangest yearnings to do equally strange things; something he hoped to be temporary and not a permanent facet of his new, slowly forming personality.
The Doctor had been experiencing the overwhelming desire to simply disappear in the TARDIS; to just vanish from the Earth without so much as a good-bye to anyone. Finally the urge became too strong, and he decided to compromise. He would leave on his own, but return before anyone actually missed him.
"What a splendid idea, Doctor," the Time Lord enthused to himself. "Once around the galaxy, my good man."
He hummed tunelessly to himself as he set the coordinates and departed from Earth, not having the vaguest idea as to where he was going.

Chapter One
The Doctor Drops In

A chilling wind was blowing and storm clouds were moving in from sea where great sheets of lightning could be seen far off in the distance. The wind lashed through the trees sending colorful leaves cascading to the ground where they were whipped and swirled by the mounting fury. A majestic manor house stood in front of a wooded area that sloped sharply at one point before continuing on toward the beach where the waves were crashing violently in evidence of the coming storm.
Some caves near the beach were already accumulating large piles of leaves at their entrances. Out of one such cave emerged a pretty, petite oriental girl, who looked no more than eighteen. She pulled her sweater tighter around herself and called back into the cave. "Jason, why couldn't you've gone herb hunting yesterday when it was warm?"
"I'll have you know, I'm collecting moss," Jason corrected as he came out to join her. He was slight in build with a tangle of black curls on his head. He looked no more than eighteen himself, his sapphire blue eyes sparkling with life and sagacity. By trade, he was a Healer, which among his people was a great deal more than just a physician. By choice, he was also an herbalist and adept chemist.
Jason slung his backpack on to one shoulder and looked over to the ocean. He was rather enjoying the feel of a good strong wind in his face, violent weather of this kind being a rarity on Tel-Shye. His companion, however, did not share in his feelings, and he grinned impishly down at her as she rewrapped herself in her sweater. "What's the matter, Kyska?" he teased. "Afraid you might melt?"
Kyska gave him a sour look. "I'd rather get wet than freeze to death inside those damp old caves."
Jason laughed and set off in the direction of the house. "You didn't have to come, y'know. You could've gone to Krystos with Father."
"Uncle Aaron wants me to see you stay out of trouble while he's away," she teased back.
Her cousin feigned anger and threw a handful of leaves in her general direction. Kyska squealed and ran as Jason playfully gave chase.

* * *

At the top of the slope just behind the manor house, a wheezing and groaning sound rose in volume in competition with the howling wind as the TARDIS materialized. A moment later, the Doctor popped his head out the door, his blue eyes sparkling with child-like curiosity as he took in his surroundings.
"I wonder where we are now?" he muttered before remembering he had left his companion, Sarah Jane Smith, back on Earth. But then...he was supposed to be back on Earth as well, not wherever he was now. No matter, the Doctor reminded himself, he would be back before anyone missed him.
The Doctor stepped blithely out the door. He could hear the rumble of thunder from time to time, his long scarf flapping and twisting in the wind as he wandered aimlessly along. He noticed the magnificent structure through the trees and decided he might as well find out where he was and headed towards it, the leaves crunching noisily beneath his feet. He heard an odd creaking sound amid the crunching and made the mistake of stopping. The ground suddenly vanished from beneath his feet and the Doctor found himself at the bottom of a dry well. The boards through which he had just fallen joined him at the bottom of the hole, knocking him unconscious in the process.

* * *

"Jason, come take a look at this!"
Kyska was at the bottom of the slope staring up at the bizarre blue box that had not been there when she and Jason went to the cave several hours before. She had to call again to be heard and pointed up the hillside when her cousin looked questioningly up at her.
"Where the devil did that come from?" he muttered, going over to join her. "Someone's idea of a joke?" he wondered aloud. Kyska shrugged and together they scrambled up the hillside to the deserted Police Box.
The two circled the TARDIS, scrutinizing it from all angles. Jason ran a hand along one side. "It's vibrating," he observed.
"It's also locked," Kyska said as she tried the door.
Jason pushed on one side. "Well, whatever it is, it's not going anywhere. This thing's a ton weight." There was a loud crack of thunder and he called to Kyska just as she disappeared around the opposite side of the TARDIS, "I think we'd better get going. That storm'll be moving inland any time now."
Jason was already making his way through the trees when Kyska reappeared. She saw him stop and scowl at the ground. Suddenly he dropped his backpack and went dashing over to a hole, getting down on all fours and leaning in.
"Jason, what in the world are you doing?" Kyska asked as she came over to him.
He looked worriedly up at her. "I think someone's fallen down the old well."
"Oh, no!" his cousin gasped, looking down the dark hole.
The young man went over to his backpack, pulling out the lantern he had used in the caves and tying it to a rope attached to the side of the well. He slowly lowered it down, looking up sharply a few seconds later. "There's someone down there! Kyska, get my bag and some help!" he ordered as he started to climb down. "And hurry!" he added, quite unnecessarily, his cousin thought as she sped back toward the house.
Dropping down from the rope, Jason found the motionless form partially buried beneath a pile of the broken boards and carefully pulled them off. A low moan filtered up through the dust that was music to his ears. Thank goodness, he thought, at least this stranger was alive. He finished digging out the Time Lord and then knelt down to examine him.
The Doctor moaned and stirred, turning painfully over on to his back.
"It's alright. Just lie still," Jason soothed gently, putting a hand on the Time Lord's shoulder to keep him quiet. A clap of thunder sounded overhead and he looked uneasily up at the gathering gloom, adding nervously, "Help is on the way."
"What happened?" the Doctor asked weakly, a hand going to his throbbing head.
"You fell down a well," the Healer informed in the same gentle voice. "You've also taken a nasty crack on the head, so, please, lie still."
The Doctor decided this was excellent advice, especially since he was feeling too weak to move anyway. The more frequent claps of thunder did nothing to ease the pounding in his head, and the dim light coupled with his blurred vision made it impossible to make out the face that went with the soothing voice that spoke to him.
"My name's Jason," the voice said. "What's yours?"
"Most people call me the Doctor," the Time Lord replied faintly. From above he heard another voice. Female this time.
"Jason...?"
"Just relax, Doctor," the youth said relievedly. "Help's arrived." Rising to his feet, he called up to his cousin that the Doctor was alive, but would be unable to climb out of the well on his own.
Kyska sent down Jason's medical bag, telling him that more help would be arriving momentarily.
"Good...very good," Jason called back. He knelt down again, discovering his patient to be barely conscious. He wished he didn't have to move the injured man until he was more stable. Unfortunately, the coming storm was threatening to be quite severe and would invariably fill the old well with water.

* * *

The Doctor was only dimly aware of being removed from the well. His head spun whenever he tried to move it, and he floated in and out of consciousness. He heard the sound of the now driving rain on window glass and felt the warmth of a house envelope him as he was brought inside and gently placed on an examining table. There were several voices he could not identify; conferring, chatting and then leaving. Suddenly there was the soothing voice of Jason speaking to him again, but he could not quite find the strength to respond and finally blacked out completely.
"He's out again," Jason said without surprise as he stripped off his drenched jacket.
His equally drenched cousin stood uneasily near the door. "He's not going to die, is he?" she asked sheepishly.
"Good heavens, no!" Jason cried in mild reproof. "He's got some cuts and bruises and a very nasty bump on the head. That's all."
Kyska smiled weakly, realizing that Jason would never be so casual if he had a dying man on his hands.
"He's not going anywhere for a while, though," the Healer said practically. "Would you ask Constanza to have a room made up for him, please?"
"Certainly."
Kyska started to go, stopping when her cousin called, "Oh! And he'll need some dry clothes, too." Looking down at himself, Jason laughed. "And so will I."
Kyska giggled and nodded before hurrying off.
After she had gone, Jason looked at his unconscious patient. "So...?" he said thoughtfully. "What brings you all the way out here in the middle of nowhere, Time Lord?"

Chapter Two
Healer Aaron

While the Doctor was being transferred from the examining room to the one that had been prepared for him, Jason quickly showered and changed. He checked on his patient's condition and then took a seat nearby, picking up a book. Occasionally he would look up from his reading to watch the peacefully sleeping figure. He had given the Time Lord a sedative to stabilize his condition and settle him down, which it seemed to have done. The Doctor had scarcely stirred in more than an hour, despite of the storm still raging outside.
There was a quiet knock at the door and Jason went out into the hall to find Constanza waiting for him.
"Your father's returned," she informed woodenly. "And dinner will be served in forty-five minutes."
The Healer glanced back at the room he just exited, causing the plump housekeeper to snort indignantly. "Now, don't you go worryin' about your patient," she said sternly. "I'll see to it someone sits with him while you eat your supper. I won't have you takin' ill yourself, young man."
Jason beamed down at her. Because of the estate's remote location, and the fact that his father was also a Healer, the presence of an injured or convalescing person was not an uncommon occurrence. One wing of the house had been converted to accommodate the joint practice and Constanza always seemed to be complaining about the constant comings and goings. Yet, in a real emergency, such as today, she could be relied upon to have the entire staff at their immediate disposal.
"Thank-you, Constanza, but there shouldn't be any problems," Jason replied. "I've given him a sedative, and it won't wear off for another couple of hours, at least."
She nodded approvingly. "Oh, yes, and we've cleaned the gentlemen's clothes. And it was quite a job, let me tell you. What did you lot do? Drag him through the mud all the way here?"
Before the amused youth could respond, the housekeeper turned and started quickly down the hall. "I'll have his things sent up just as soon as we've finished with dinner."
"You're an absolute gem, Constanza. What would we ever do without you?"
"Go to wrack and ruin in a week," she snorted.

* * *

After another quick check on the Doctor, Jason gave instructions to the servant selected to keep watch and then went downstairs, finding his father pouring over some papers in the library. Aaron was a tall, somewhat dashing figure of a man, with salt and pepper hair and beard.
"I understand we have a guest," the elder Healer said as his son entered. "Serious?"
"No, not really," Jason replied as he dropped into an armchair and put his feet up on a stool. "I was a little concerned at first, though. Our guest calls himself the Doctor." He paused a beat before adding, "And he's a Time Lord."
Aaron looked up sharply. "A Time Lord? All the way out here?"
His son nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"Am I sure?" Jason laughed. "Oh, Father, really." His voice took on a serious note when he went on to say, "The Doctor's only just regenerated, too. I'd hazard a guess it's been less than two weeks."
This, in point of fact, was more than a simple guess. Jason had been born with the unique ability to scan anything he came in contact with, being, in effect, a living medical scanner. With a single touch he could ascertain anything from vital signs to molecular makeup of any object. He could also recall in exact detail all the information he "sensed" in a scan.
Jason was scarcely five years old when his father became aware of his amazing and slowly developing ability. He also realized its value, and future implications, charging the boy not to tell anyone about his power. By the time Aaron discovered the full extent of his son's abilities, he was even more determined to keep them secret; having lost his wife in the interim, he was not about to lose his only child to the researchers who would invariably take him away for study. He wanted his son to have as normal a childhood as possible leaving the decision to expose his secret up to him. Upon reaching adulthood, Jason wisely chose to keep his power to scan a secret.
Healer Jason shook his head as he thought on how recent the Doctor's regeneration had been. "This is such an unstable time. I was a little worried he might go into an post-regenerative crisis."
"I thought you said it wasn't serious!" Aaron exclaimed. "You should've had him admitted." (By this he meant, admitted to a hospital.)
His son remained unruffled by the outburst. "Why? They would've just kept me there anyway. Never mind that I'm not the one on call this week. You know perfectly well that ever since I got back from Gallifrey I'm suddenly the world's leading authority on Time Lord physiology." He threw up his hands, adding, "Besides, there are no signs of crisis. Just a lot of cuts and bruises. I even gave him a sedative as a precautionary measure."
Kyska appeared in the doorway looking much cleaner and drier than the last time her cousin had seen her. With a bright smile, she announced, "Dinner's almost ready."
"Good. I'm starving," Jason said without missing a beat.
Ignoring him, Kyska turned to the elder Healer. "How did everything go in the city, Uncle Aaron?"
Aaron's face darkened considerably. "Terrible. You can't move for all the visitors. I got absolutely nothing done," he growled. "I'm not going near the place again until after the coronation and everyone goes home. I'm getting too old for all this."
"Not until after the..." Jason was stunned. "Father, you can't be serious? Not go to the coronation?"
His father merely grunted.
"But...we have to go."
"When you've seen one, you've seen them all. And I've seen one," Aaron snorted.
"Well, I haven't!" his son exploded. Glancing over to his equally vexed cousin, Jason added, "And neither has Kyska."
"I'm not going, and that's final."
"Father, you're being terribly unfair about this. Terry--I mean King Terran--will be expecting us. You can't just back out at the last minute."
"Oh, no? Just watch me," Aaron stated firmly.
"Father, you're the Duke of Starbridge--"
"Preposterous title."
"--representative of three provinces, not to mention hereditary patriarch of the House of Krystovan. You must go."
"Must I?" Aaron grinned. "As I recall, you are the present Marquis of Krystovan."
"I don't like where this is going..." Jason intoned.
"And," his father went on, "since you're so enthusiastic about it--not to mention my only son and heir--then there should be no problem with your going in my place, should there?"
"Oh, no," Jason groaned. He no more liked these official appearances than did his father. He had been planning on simply dropping out of sight, perhaps even get into a little mischief, as soon as they arrived.
"Look on the bright side," Kyska chimed in sweetly. "You'll be able to see Shadra while you're there."
"The Baroness Tostine has gone to Alterrous to further her education in intergalactic protocol," Jason informed frostily as he rose from his seat and headed for the door. "And who knows when she'll be back. If she comes back..."
The note of melancholy in this last statement did not go unnoticed by his father or his cousin.
Kyska turned to her uncle. "I'm sorry. I didn't know," she said apologetically.
"He'll get over it. I hope," Aaron said gently.
"He loves her rather desperately, you know, Uncle?"
"Yes, I'm afraid I do."
From out in the hall, they heard Jason bellow, "Hey, are you two coming? I'm hungry!"

Chapter Three
"Where Am I?"

The storm had raged into the night, blowing itself out by morning. The sun rose on a day that was clear and calm with all the earmarks of being very warm and pleasant. The Doctor awoke shortly after dawn and looked around the room in bewilderment. His gaze came to rest on a youth sleeping in an armchair across the room and he scowled. As soon as he started to rise his bruised muscles brought back the memory of the fall, and he groaned, getting as far as the edge of the bed and waking the sleeping stranger in the process.
"Good morning," Jason yawned, stretching his arms and rising to his feet.
"I know this is going to sound cliché," the Doctor said mildly, "but, where am I? And how did I get here?"
"You're in Starbridge House in the province of Krystovan," the Healer informed as he came over to him. Seeing his patient was none the wiser, Jason grinned. "To be less specific, you're on Tel-Shye."
"Thank-you," the Doctor mumbled, trying to recall exactly where the planet was located.
"And..." the young man went on, "as for how you got here, I found you at the bottom of a dry well last night. You had a disagreement with the boards covering it, and I'm afraid you lost."
The Doctor gave him a wry smile and stood up, only to waver unsteadily on his feet. Jason grabbed him to keep him from falling. "Hey, not so fast, Doctor," he admonished mildly. "Even a Time Lord needs time to heal."
Startled, the Doctor turned sharply to the youth, but before he could say anything there was a soft knock at the door and a pretty young girl peeked in. "Jason?" she said in a voice that was scarcely above a whisper. "Jason, are you--Oh!" Kyska jumped when she saw her cousin supporting the Doctor.
"It's alright. You can come in," he told her as he helped his patient back down on to the bed.
"I came to wake you," she explained self-consciously.
"Well, as you can see, we're both awake," Jason replied. He then proceeded to make the introductions. "Doctor, this is my cousin, Kyska. She was with me when I found you last night. Kyska, this is the Doctor."
Kyska smiled politely, only to giggle when the Time Lord broke into one of he most engaging smiles.
"And, in case you don't remember me, I'm Jason."
The Doctor looked up sharply. "Yes, of course. You're the voice in the well."
Kyska giggled again and said as though it were a title, "Healer Jason, The Voice In The Well."
Her cousin was not amused. "Was there something else you wanted, Kyss?" he asked acidly.
"Breakfast is almost ready."
"Good. Have Constanza set another place," Jason ordered crisply. "Now, shoo!" He waved his hands at her, bustling her out of the room and closing the door. "Now let's see about getting you dressed," he said, crossing to where the servants had hung the Doctor's clothes.
"Healer Jason?" the Doctor said with a note of marked surprise.
"Hmmmmm?" Receiving no response, Jason turned to see the Time Lord studying him curiously. "What's the matter?"
"Aren't you a little young to be...?" the Doctor's voice trailed off when the young man started to laugh.
"I've just reached my first century, Doctor," Jason said with a smile. "I'm Alterran."
Alterrans were old allies of the Time Lords, and the Doctor knew a great deal about them; although to his knowledge he had never actually encountered one before. They were a highly intelligent, and technologically advanced. A noble, peace-loving race that abhorred violence of any kind. They also possessed the ability to assume any form they chose by realigning their molecular structure, a process known as molecular transmutation.
As the Doctor watched his physician, he could not help but wonder at his true appearance; one of the few things he did not know about Alterrans. They were a non-humanoid race who concealed themselves in human form, rarely appearing in their true form to anyone other than members of their own race.
"And with Alterrans," the Doctor observed finally, "things are never as they appear."

* * *

During breakfast the Doctor learned of the forthcoming coronation, which was to be held in only a few days time. His hosts were surprised he did not seem to know about, this being the reason so many alien visitors were on Tel-Shye.
As a rule, the Doctor tried to adhere to a strict policy of honesty, but felt he would be able to learn more from his hosts if they believed his fall had caused a slight lapse of memory.
"Father's being insufferably unreasonable about the whole thing," Jason was saying. "Do you think it's fair that I should be forced into representing the family while he sits home relaxing throughout the entire, tedious business?"
"Jason! Where are your manners?" Aaron snapped. Turning to his guest, he said in a milder tone, "I must apologize for my son, Doctor..."
"Oh, not at all, Aaron, as a matter of fact, I'm in complete agreement with him," the Doctor said airily. Aaron scowled at him, only to break into a broad smile when he added, "After all, if Jason's that ashamed of his family, it hardly seems reasonable for you to expect--"
"I never said I was ashamed of my family!" Jason objected fiercely.
Kyska started to giggle and her cousin glared over at her a moment before realizing he had just succeeded in trapping himself. Then he laughed, conceding, "Oh, it's not that, Doctor, don't get me wrong. I've known Terran since we were children. I'm just not looking forward to all the ridiculous trappings that go along with it. All those dignitaries and courtiers trying to out do one another, milling around in fancy dress like so many peacocks. Whose feathers are the brightest?" Laughing at a sudden mental image, Jason added, "You know what it reminds me of? One of those ludicrous official assemblages in the Panoptican."
The Doctor was justifiably surprised. "The Panoptican? On Gallifrey!? But--"
"Aliens are forbidden on Gallifrey," the Healer completed, grinning at the astonished look on the Time Lord's face. "I'm Alterran, Doctor, remember? We're not considered aliens."
"Oh, yes," the Doctor muttered thoughtfully. "The proviso in the Alliance."
"I spent a couple of years there doing some post-graduate work," Jason explained. "I've gone back a few times since to brush up on what little I know."
"What little you know!" Kyska exclaimed unbelievingly. "Would you listen to him. Jason's the leading authority on Gallifreyan medicine here on Tel-Shye. And to hear him tell it, he's just a medical neophyte with a passing interest."
"Now, Kyska..." Jason began warningly.
"It's the truth, Jason! Don't you dare deny it."
Now it was the Doctor's turn to smile at the way the young man blushed vividly in response to his cousin's disclosure, which was apparently quite true.
"Then I'm very glad I fell into the most qualified hands available," the Time Lord quipped, receiving a chorus of groans from those present. "Would it be possible," he then asked, "for me to accompany you in to Krystos, Jason?"
Aaron was puzzled. "Don't you have your own transport, Doctor?"
"Ah, yes, well..." the Doctor began haltingly, glad that he could finally give a completely honest reply. "The TARDIS can be a bit...erratic when she wants to be, and I don't always end up precisely where I'm supposed to."
"I see..." the elder Healer said thoughtfully. "So that explains it."
Now it was the Doctor's turn to be puzzled. "Explains what?"
"What you're doing all the way out here in the middle of nowhere."
"A mile or so more west and you'd've been in the ocean," Jason laughed. "The distance doesn't matter, though. We'll be using the transmat. And it's always been completely reliable." He then went on to voice his concerns for the Time Lord's health, stating that, since his father was not going anyway, they could easily put off the journey until the following day in order to give him time to recover.
"Rubbish! I won't hear of it," the Doctor blurted out. "I feel wonderful. And anyway, how can I possibly get into trouble with Tel-Shye's leading authority on Gallifreyan medicine by my side?"
He was about to find out.

Chapter Four
Unexpected Encounters

In spite of the Doctor's protestations, Jason postponed the journey to Krystos until the following day. When they arrived in the city, they found it just as Aaron described; the streets jammed with visitors, the buildings colorfully decorated. Flags and banners seemed to flap in the breeze from every conceivable location in celebration of King Terran's coronation.
The Doctor was surprised when he learned they would be staying in the Royal Palace, his not having realized just how high in rank his unassuming hosts truly were. Since Aaron had backed out, his room was turned over to the Doctor who, as a Time Lord, was considered of equal rank with the Alterran nobility.
"There won't be too much going on this afternoon," Jason was saying as they entered their suite. "There'll be a buffet set up all day in the Gathering Hall, and then there's a dress ball this evening."
Kyska was ecstatic "Really? A dress ball! I've never been to one. Oh, Jason, what do I do? What should I wear?"
The Doctor and Jason exchanged an amused look. "Why don't you cross that bridge when you come to it?" the Doctor suggested practically.
Jason glanced out a window in time to see a handsome, sandy- haired youth below that he thought he recognized. "Kyska, look. Isn't that the boy you went to school with? What was his name? Aggie...Eggie...or something?"
"His name is Agamemnon, as if you don't remember," she said firmly following his gaze out the window.
"You're joking," said the Doctor amusedly.
Kyska shook her head. "No, that's his name, poor thing. We all call him Anon for short."
"A wise move."
Before Kyska could stop him, Jason leaned out the window and called down to Anon, telling him to stay where he was. He then turned to his cousin and practically picked her up and carried her to the door. "Go on, now, off you go and enjoy yourself," he said briskly.
Kyska tried to protest but her cousin suddenly seemed to be stone deaf. "Go, on! Anon's waiting for you. I'll see you tonight. And don't worry!" Jason called after her. Turning to the Doctor, he sighed, "Oh my, but she's such a child."
"Unlike yourself?" the Doctor grinned.
Catching his eye, Jason laughed. "Unlike myself, Kyska's very close to the age she appears to be. Twenty, to be precise."
The Doctor's smile broadened. "Well, since we're on our own, how about a tour of the Palace?"
Rubbing his hands together, the Alterran Lord grinned mischievously. In his short acquaintanceship with the Doctor, he had already come to realize the Time Lord was as unorthodox as he was himself. "Alright, Doctor, which tour would you like? The authorized, or the unauthorized?"

* * *

To Kyska's relief, Anon was delighted to see her and told her that he was on his way to the Gathering Hall to meet up with some mutual friends. When they arrived, Kyska stayed by one of the doors while Anon went off to find them. She took in the room and concluded that this would be impossible. The Gathering Hall was an enormous circular room with a sunken center; a landing running around the entire outside wall and numerous stairways leading down in to the center. It was on this landing that Kyska stood, and all she could seen when she leaned over the railing was an ocean of people.
"My dear Lady Kyska, what a pleasure it is to see you again," a rich voice purred from behind her.
Turning in the hope that it was one of Anon's friends, her face fell when she saw who it was. Lord Masters, a typically self-serving bureaucrat. She had met him a short time before, and taken an immediate dislike to him. It wasn't that he was an unpleasant sort of man, she thought, in fact he was rather charming; what with his strong, dark handsome features and that voice like warm honey. Yet, there was something very disquieting about him. Something...evil.
Putting on her best social smile, Kyska said, "Why, Lord Masters, what a surprise to see you here."
"Are you alone, my dear?"
"NO!" Kyska laughed nervously when she realized she had answered too quickly. "No, I'm with...well, I'm with an old boyfriend, you see. And I'm a bit..."
"Ah, yes. A bit nervous, perhaps?" Lord Masters crooned understandingly.
"Yes." Kyska was now frantically searching for Anon while trying to remain polite.
"Your other young man won't be jealous?"
The young woman turned to him in bewilderment. "What other young man?"
Lord Masters thought a moment. "I'm afraid I don't recall his first name at the moment. He's the Marquis of Krystovan, and was with you at--"
"Oh! You mean Jason," she giggled. "He's not my boyfriend, Lord Masters, he's my cousin."
"Oh dear, now I am embarrassed."
Kyska smiled with difficulty, hoping this was the end of it. She was sorely disappointed.
"Then that would make the Duke your uncle," he said as if it were a major revelation. "Tell me something. I was told that the Duke and the Emperor are related. Is that true? Or is it just another one of the stories one hears at these functions?"
The exasperated young woman sighed, wishing this insufferable man would go away. She could not excuse herself, however, or Anon would never find her. "Everyone of the Royal Bloodline is related, my Lord. The Duke is my Great Uncle. He and the Emperor are...well, sort of related. In-laws, actually. Jason's the one who's directly related. Through his mother, the late Duchess of Starbridge."
"This is all sounding a bit too complicated for a paper pusher like myself," Lord Masters sighed. "Now I'm sure you'll forgive me, my Lady. I have some people to see. Good day." He bowed and kissed her hand, turning to vanish into the crush of people.
Kyska was still marveling at this extraordinary exit when Anon arrived with a group of others.
"What's up, Kyss?" he asked. "Who was that?"
Wiping her hand on her dress, she said simply, "Someone to avoid."

* * *

The Doctor and Jason were making their way through the corridors of the Royal Palace and arrived outside the Gathering Hall only minutes after Kyska had gone. They were just about to enter when the Doctor came to an abrupt halt, looked around quickly and then grabbed his companion, pulling him back around the corner, a hand clamped firmly over his mouth.
"What the devil do you think you're doing?!" Jason demanded angrily the moment he pulled the hand away.
"Isn't it obvious?" the Doctor hissed impatiently. "I'm hiding. And keep your voice down. I don't want him to see me."
"You don't want who to see you?"
"Take a look around the corner. You'll see a rather distinguished looking, bearded man in a black suit."
Jason looked at the Doctor as if he had just lost his mind, and, indeed, this thought had crossed his mind. "Doctor, are you feeling...?"
"Look!" the Time Lord commanded.
This was spoken with such authority that the puzzled Healer found himself obediently looking around the corner. "That's Lord Masters," he said in a disappointed tone, half expecting to have seen the devil himself, which, as far as the Doctor was concerned, was not very far from the truth. "I met him a couple of weeks ago," Jason went on to say. He thought a moment and frowned. "Y'know, now that I think of it, it's odd his being here at all. He keeps to himself, mostly, and only comes to the official stuff. I've never heard tell of him coming to any of these social functions."
"Perhaps he's waiting for someone," the Doctor commented darkly, not realizing how accurate his guess truly was. "Well, well, well. So he's calling himself Lord Masters, is he? He has come up in the world."
"I take it you don't like him."
"Like him! He's my sworn enemy. And he usually calls himself the Master." A group of people passed noisily by and the Doctor took his companion by the arm. "Come on. Let's go somewhere where we can talk."
Unbeknownst to either of them, their conversation had been witnessed by one of the score of servants swarming the hall. He watched as the Doctor and Jason disappeared down the corridor, going over to the Master and whispering in his ear. A smile came to the evil Time Lord's face and he promptly excused himself from the knot of individuals surrounding him and departed.

Chapter Five
More Of The Unexpected

The Doctor decided the best, and safest place to talk was back in their suite. He told Jason as much as he dared about the Master; and the more he talked, the more he wondered why his enemy was on Tel-Shye in the first place.
"Why come during this particular event in history?" the Doctor wondered out loud. "Is there anything significantly different about this coronation in comparison to the others?"
"You're asking the wrong person, Doctor. This is the first one I've ever been to," Jason replied, adding helpfully, "I suppose that could be considered significantly different."
The Doctor was not amused and ignored the remark. "He's here for a reason. And I can guarantee it's not to attend the coronation." Thrusting his hands deep into his pockets, he began pacing the floor. "He's after something, that's certain. Now all we have to do is figure out what it is."
"We?" Jason repeated pointedly. "What do you mean we? He's your sworn enemy, Doctor, not mine. I've got enough problems."
"You'll have a great deal more with the Master on the loose, dear boy, I can assure you of that."
"Doctor--"
A knock at the door interrupted the aristocrat's protests. He exchanged a questioning look with the Doctor before answering the door. A Royal Guardsman entered, bowing slightly. "I'm sorry to intrude, Lord Krystovan. I wouldn't've come at all, except that it's an emergency. There's been an accident, sir,...in the detention area..."
"An energy barrier?" Jason asked concernedly.
The guard nodded, going on to say, "The infirmary's up to its neck in visitors, and someone remembered that you and your father were expected."
"Yes, yes, yes." Jason waved a hand dismissively and went into his room, returning with his medical bag a few seconds later. "Unfortunately, my father isn't here, so you'll just have to make do with me." Turning to the Doctor, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Doctor. I have to go."
"Of course you do," the Doctor replied understandingly. A thought struck him and he asked, "May I come along?"
This unexpected request threw the guard completely and he stammered out an unintelligible reply.
"Sorry, Doctor, not this time," the Healer said firmly as he slung his medical bag on his shoulder. "The detention area will be off limits until after this is sorted out." He took a step towards the door only to stop, turning back quickly. "Oh! This will probably take some time, too, so I'll see you tonight at the ball. And make sure you tell Kyska not to worry!" With that, he was gone.

* * *

The Alterran ability to transmute made conventional forms of confinement unfeasible and they had to develop their own, unique form of confinement, known as an energy barrier. The barrier was a force field that produced a specific energy emission blocking the brain waves necessary to molecular transmutation. It also reduced a prisoner's strength to human levels. The major drawback was the barriers could not be focused at one specific individual. They effected anyone in the vicinity, guards and prisoners alike.
A barrier's energy level was normally set to stun force, but if it changed for some reason, then an accident was waiting to happen. An accident that could prove fatal if the energy level were too high.
Jason knew all this, of course, and moved quickly toward the detention area, oblivious to the presence of his escort until he suddenly said, "No, your Lordship, you're going the wrong way."
Jason stopped dead and looked in the direction indicated and then down the corridor he was about to enter. "No, I'm sorry, Stinson, but you're wrong. The detention area's that way," he insisted, pointing down the other way. He turned back to the guard and stiffened visibly when he saw an energy weapon pointed at him. "What is this?" he asked.
"Change of plan," Stinson snapped, completely dropping the show of respect and etiquette. Shoving the confused aristocrat up the hallway, he snarled, "That way. Now, move!"
Not sure what to make of this, Jason did as he was told, and went down the passage. He knew exactly where it led. At the end was a flight of stairs leading down to what was now the sub-basement, which had not been used for centuries. As a child, he had played there often, yet most of his people chose to pretend it did not even exist. This was because it had originally been the dungeons and torture chambers constructed during a particularly violent era in Alterran history. All the old chambers were pretty much forgotten, making them a perfect hiding place for any criminal element.
Because of the remote location of Starbridge, Jason had encountered more than his share of injured alien criminals seeking medical aid and he assumed this to be the case again. "Look, if someone's hurt, it's my job to help," he said in an even tone. "I don't need to know how they got that way."
Stinson was unimpressed. "Shut up!" he growled, pushing his prisoner further along the corridor. "I only follow orders. They said to get Healer Jason of Krystovan, and that's you."
"Lucky me," the young man muttered dryly as he started down the stairs.
As soon as they reached the bottom of the long, twisting stairway, Stinson indicated a door ahead that was slightly ajar. A light shone from within that should not have been there.
"Inside," the guard ordered, his conversation having deteriorated into one and two word commands.
Pushing the door open, Jason found himself in a kind of makeshift laboratory. There were crates and empty boxes stacked against the near wall, a large, U-shaped computer console on a raised platform standing just across from him. Strewn on benches and tables were various bits and pieces of unfamiliar apparatus.
As the Alterran took in the room the Master appeared in the doorway to his left. "I see we have a visitor," he chirped. "How very nice."
From behind him, Jason heard another voice; harsh and gravely, "Healer Jason; Marquis of Krystovan, Earl of Altrose, Baron of Tara, and the only son and heir of Aaron Krystovan, Duke of Starbridge," the voice hissed.
Jason turned slowly to see who had spoken. The man was dark and stocky, giving all the appearances of being a thug, which he just so happened to be. He was wearing what could broadly be described as a uniform (in a gaudy sort of way.) It was black and red, with a splash of blue and green thrown in for bad taste. It was trimmed in gold and had an overabundance of braid and ribbons. Jason took in this insult to the eye before addressing its wearer. "Well, well, well...if it isn't Colonel Payne. Or more accurately, Ex-Colonel Payne," the aristocrat remarked. His tone made it clear that he did not care for the man. "What happened, Colonel? One of your men shoot himself in the foot?"
The Master entered the room, dismissing Stinson with a wave of his hand. "I see you two know each other," he remarked as he approached.
Jason snorted and said nothing.
Payne exploded. "His father destroyed my life and ruined my career!"
"Oh, come off it!" the young man moaned. He had heard it all too many times before. "Nobody ruined your career but you. It all came out at your court-martial."
"Lies! Lies, invented by you high and mighty aristocrats to cover up a rebellion. I did my job like any good soldier."
The young Lord was incredulous. "Good soldier! You!? You're a butcher! An abomination to the whole Alterran race," he spat back angrily.
Without warning, Payne lashed out, striking the unsuspecting youth savagely across the face with the back of his hand. The blow caught Jason completely off guard and sent him sprawling.
"I'm no longer Alterran, your Lordship!" the Colonel spat venomously. "Your father made sure of that."
At one time, Colonel Payne had been an honored member of the Imperial Guard's Colonial Task Force, whose job it was to protect the colonies and research outposts along the fringes of the Alterran system. While assigned to one of the more remote planets, Payne had begun terrorizing the human colonists he was supposed to be protecting. When they finally retaliated, he had them brutally slaughtered.
One of the medical advisors called in during the Colonel's court-martial was Jason's father, who also was the one to carry out their judgment. Payne's ability to transmute was irreversibly suppressed by a surgical procedure, imprisoning him in his present form for the rest of his life. He had also been banished from his own people forever. A fact that was only just occurring to Jason, who had not, as yet, picked himself up off the floor.
The Master took in this interplay with mild amusement, seeing the whole incident simply as light entertainment. "I hate to interrupt this touching reunion, Payne," he said acidly, "but we have work to do."
"Then I'll just be on my way," Jason said, quickly snatching up his bag and making for the door. It was locked.
From behind him, Payne hissed coldly, "You're not going anywhere, your Lordship."