Alliance of Death

The Doctor's jaw dropped open and, amazingly, he was at a loss for words. He then added to his own astonishment when he realized the boy was also fully dressed. "Good Lord, Jason!" he gasped out finally. "It is you, isn't it?"
Jason smiled weakly and nodded, still clinging to the Doctor for support. "Yes, it's me, thanks to you, Doctor."
"But...how? How on earth did you get into that...that..."
"Repulsive condition?"
"Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of deplorable," the Time Lord said mildly. "I never would've called you repulsive."
The Alterran studied his face. "No, I don't suppose you would at that," he muttered. Deep down, however, he was not so sure. He knew all too well the revulsion and terror humanoid lifeforms experienced when faced with the creature he would have become. But he could not deny the fact that the Doctor had overcome this revulsion in order to save his life, going on to accepted the Alterran in his current form without reservation, which made him a truly remarkable person in Jason's eyes.
"We've been looking everywhere for you," the Doctor was saying. "How on earth did you get here?"
Drawing a deep breath, Jason told of his abduction and subsequent imprisonment, as well as his being subjected to the seemingly endless tests as the renegade Time Lord tried to perfect his TSA device. Closing his eyes, he gave way to an involuntary shudder at the memory of the torturous experience.
"Did he tell you why he wants to put your people into suspended animation?" the Doctor inquired.
"No. He made it quite clear it was none of my business. I think it amused him to put me through that nightmare without telling me why."
"Yes, that sounds like the Master."
"When he finally...finished, he ordered Payne to...to..."
"To kill you," the Doctor completed knowingly.
"Yes." Jason shivered again. "I think Payne takes his name a little too seriously. Instead of just shooting me, he...he triggered a misfire."
"A what?"
The Alterran gave an apologetic smile. "A molecular change gone wrong. It's like...running an engine at full speed and then throwing it into reverse."
The Doctor was horrified. "How would he know how to...?"
"I'm almost ashamed to admit it, Doctor," the Healer said guiltily, "but...Payne is Alterran. He knew I couldn't stop the misfire and probably guessed my weakened condition would accelerate the breakdown."
"I take it that's the cohesion breakdown you mentioned last night?"
"Did I?" Jason shook his head. "I don't remember. Everything's a bit of a jumble after that. Pieces here and there, like nightmares and dreams, but nothing tangible. The only thing I do remember clearly is when I--" He cut himself off, suddenly realizing he was about to reveal his most precious secret to a virtual stranger. He had never told anyone about his scanning, yet here he was about to tell the Doctor that this was how he had discovered his identity when he took hold of his wrist.
After a long pause, he shook his head. "I...I guess I don't remember anything clearly."
The Doctor smiled understandingly. "I shouldn't worry, if I were you. I can assure you, you're better off not remembering."
"I suppose you're right," the Alterran sighed. "I only wish I could forget Payne. He dragged me in here so he could watch me pass through all the phases of the misfire--the sadist." Jason closed his eyes and swallowed hard as the memories came flooding back. "As soon as I entered the final phase, he told me I was free to go. All I had to do was get to my bag." Putting his head in his hands, he sobbed plaintively, "He didn't even bother to lock the door, knowing full well I couldn't move."
The Doctor pulled his coat up over the boy's shoulders and patted him gently, telling him that it might very well have been Payne's not having closed the door that saved his life. "They wouldn't've put me in a locked cell, now would they?" he pointed out.
Rising to his feet, the Time Lord looked around the bare cell and then up to the tiny window. "Well, we know one thing. Whatever the Master's motives are, we're not going to find them from in here." He stood silently a moment, lost in thought. "Tell me," he said suddenly, "this TSA device. You're sure it works?"
Jason did not answer right away. He already knew the Time Lords were bitter enemies and wondered how the Doctor would react when he discovered the truth. When the question was repeated, he answered only, "Yes."
"You're absolutely sure?"
Drawing a deep breath, Jason nodded guiltily and lowered his eyes, unable to bear the inquiring gaze. "Yes, I'm...I'm quite sure, Doctor. I...I..." The words got stuck in his throat and he had to force himself to say, "I gave him the key to my physical makeup that was preventing it from functioning properly."
"You what!" the Doctor exploded.
"I helped him. Is that what you want me to say?"
"Jason, have you any conception as to what you've done?"
"Of course I do! Why do you think I--?" He broke off and swallowed hard, now on the verge of tears. "I didn't care, don't you understand? I just wanted it to be over. I just...I wanted to die."
The Doctor stared down at the repentant young man in a combination of pity and rage, knowing his enemy's ruthless nature all too well. It would not be unlike him to win the cooperation of his prisoner with the promise of freedom or shared power. An empty and inevitably fatal promise. The Doctor kept this thought to himself, turning his attention to the door. He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and set to work on the lock.
The unfamiliar sound caused Jason to look up and he was immediately intrigued. "What're you doing? Or should I ask, what are you trying to do?"
Without turning around, the Doctor explained that he was attempting to unbolt the door by using his sonic screwdriver as a magnet. The Alterran watched his fruitless efforts for several minutes before asking suddenly, "Doctor, why are you here?"
The Time Lord stopped working and turned. "What?"
"Why are you here? A prisoner, I mean."
"Ah, a very good question," the Doctor replied, giving up on the lock and walking over to the table. "I've been giving that a great deal of thought."
"And?"
"Well, as far as I can make out, and assuming the Master's intentions are grandiose--and they always are--I'd say he probably plans to use me as a Judas goat." Seeing the blank look on the Alterran's face, the Doctor said helpfully, "I'm to take the blame should anything go wrong. As far as the Master's concerned, I'm just a lone traveler of questionable background, and intelligence, who accidentally stumbled upon his hideout."
As an afterthought, he added, "I'm to be killed, of course."
Jason was justifiably puzzled. "Didn't you tell me you knew each other?"
The Doctor flashed a broad smile. "Oh, we do, dear boy, we do. It's just the Master hasn't realized it yet. It's been some time since our paths have crossed, you see, and--"
"Of course!" the Healer blurted out. "And you've only just regenerated. He wouldn't've recognized you."
"Exact--" The Time Lord turned and stared at him. "How did you know that?"
"What?"
"That I've only just regenerated?" the Doctor said coldly.
Jason silently cursed having allowed himself to be caught out. This never would have happened if he were thinking clearly. His heart started pounding and he was suddenly very light headed. "I ...I...guessed, of course," he stammered out feebly.
"You guessed," the Doctor repeated in a tone that conveyed the fact that he did not believe him.
"I do know quite a bit about Time Lords, if you'll recall."
"Oh, I recall it, alright," the Time Lord hissed. "I also recall you're pointing out that you're Alterran, which means your true self is non-humanoid and your current form is an illusion. A deception. It's a way of life for you, isn't it? Deception?" he said brutally.
Speechless, the aghast Alterran sat staring with his mouth open.
"Well, now that we have all that out of the way, perhaps you'll tell me exactly how much help you gave the Master? Or should I ask, how much help are you giving him?"
Finding his voice at last, Jason said defensively, "Doctor, I was left in here to die, isn't that enough?"
"Perhaps. But then, I'm not a qualified Healer, now am I? I wouldn't know if your story were based on medical fact or not. Is it true? Is there really such a thing as a misfire? You tell me. How do I know you weren't put here as the Master's eyes and ears?"
The Alterran was again at a loss for words. He'd known his admission would get a negative reaction, but never expected such blatant hostility. Then again, he was as much a stranger to the Doctor as the Doctor was to him.
Closing his eyes, Jason sighed heavily, leaning back against the wall. It was cold and damp and he felt a sudden chill and pulled the coat tighter around himself, trying to envelope himself in its warm folds. He wondered how he could convince the suddenly distrustful Time Lord that he was not his enemy--and could only think of one way.
"I know you don't trust me, Doctor," the Healer began in a quiet, insistent tone, "but I really am on your side. The reason I know you've only just regenerated is because--" The words suddenly dried up in his throat. This was going to be harder than he had thought. Looking up, Jason said, "When I found you in the well, I examined you by--"
"Even the most sophisticated equipment on Gallifrey can't detect a regeneration after the first few weeks," interrupted the Doctor. "And now you expect me to believe you were able to tell from one examination with no equipment and in the dark? You may know more than the average person about Time Lord physiology, but you're still no medical scanner," he snorted indignantly,
Jason could not help himself and chuckled at this remark. How ironic that he should say that. Looking up, he said mildly, "I'm afraid I am." He proceeded to reveal to the skeptical Time Lord the secret he had kept for a century. His ability to scan anything simply by touching it, being able to recall it perfectly years, even decades later.
"Doctor, I've never told anyone about this before," the Healer informed softly. "Only my family knows anything about it."
"How very convenient."
Jason was incredulous. "The first time and tell anyone, and they don't believe me," he muttered, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all. He immediately regretted having done this. His vision suddenly blurred and then the room started to spin.
"Could we...? Could we continue this confrontation later, Doctor?" The Alterran asked mildly, a hand going to his head. "I think...I'm about to pass out." So saying, his eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped to the mat.

Chapter 12
”Did I miss something?”

The Doctor was momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events and stood staring at the motionless figure before finally crossing to him. Still uncertain, he checked the young man's eyes and then his pulse. It was racing. Jason also seemed to be running a fever and his color was terrible, something the Time Lord hadn't even noticed until that moment. In short, Jason was in a bad way, yet hadn't uttered a single complaint.
The Doctor studied the inert form intently. The ability to transmute made Jason an expert in the art of deception. His race had, at one time, used this power to subvert other, weaker races. The practice hadn't been used for centuries, but the power still existed; and any power could be misused. Reflecting on this, the Doctor wondered if he were simply witnessing an exceptional performance. Not unlike his own.
Checking the boy's condition again, the Time Lord decided that no one was that good an actor. Not even an Alterran. Jason was most definitely unconscious and apparently had suffered a severe trauma of one kind or another. He was also in no condition to defend himself, either physically or mentally. Keeping this in mind, the Doctor decided not to push for answers until the boy was stronger. Until then he would just have to stay on his guard and keep an eye on him.
The sound of voices out in the corridor startled the Doctor out of his thoughts and he rose to his feet, glancing from the door back to the motionless youth. Jason had been sitting in the far corner, and this portion of the cell would be blocked from view by the table. Nevertheless, the Doctor chose to play it safe and covered the unconscious Alterran with his coat, using his scarf to conceal his protruding feet. He had no sooner finished when the spy-hole in the door slid open with a snap.
"Ah, would that be the customary bread and water?" the Time Lord boomed cheerily. "I know I distinctly told room service I wanted breakfast at seven o'clock sharp."
"Shut up!" snarled an angry voice. The spy-hole slammed shut and a tray was shoved through the opening at the base of the door.
Relieved the guard hadn't chosen to come in, the Doctor went to collect the tray upon which were a small cask of water and a plate containing a number of unidentifiable lumps. "I was warm, anyway," he muttered darkly as he took his unappetizing breakfast over to the table.
Jason groaned and started to stir, struggling weakly under the coat. The Doctor got down beside him and pulled it back, receiving a look that was a combination of fear and bewilderment.
"Wh...what? Why...?" the Alterran stammered, asking finally, "Am I dead?"
"No, you're not dead yet," the amused Time Lord said gently. Indicating the tray, he said brightly, "I rang up room service while you were out, but I'm afraid these five star establishments aren't what they used to be."
Jason was nonplussed and stared up at him a minute before finally saying, "Did I miss something? A minute ago I was persona non grata."
"Never mind that," the Doctor said dismissively. "How do you feel?"
"To be honest, terrible."
"That's good, because you look terrible, too."
"Thanks. That makes me feel much better," came the sarcastic reply. Jason allowed the Doctor to help him sit up only because he was too weak to push him away. He leaned back against the wall and scrutinized the Time Lord, completely baffled by his sudden congenial mood. His head started to spin again and Jason closed his eyes and swallowed hard.
"Are you alright?" the Doctor asked concernedly.
"I will be...if I can get something high in sugar," the Healer informed in a faint voice. "I need to get my energy level back up fast."
The Doctor started searching his pockets. "How fast?"
Jason wasn't listening. He had found the empty medicine bottle beside the mat and gave way to a shudder when he realized how very close to death he had been. The bottle seemed to blur in his hands and he blinked hard to clear his vision, looking up dazedly when the Doctor asked firmly, "Jason, how fast?"
"What...?" the young man muttered. Seeing the quizzical look on the Time Lord's face, he replied weakly, "Fast, fast. Otherwise, there's a very real possibility I'll lapse into a coma if I pass out again."
"Something high in sugar, eh?" the Doctor muttered.
Jason nodded. "I might have something in my bag--"
"Not to worry," his collimate grinned, pulling a crumpled bag from one of his capacious pockets. "Here. Have a jelly baby." So saying, he dropped the bag into the bewildered Alterran's hands before going to retrieve the tray.
Jason opened the bag and peered in. "I don't believe it..." he muttered, pulling out a candy.
"Go on, try it," the Doctor encouraged as he took a seat beside the skeptical youth. "They're really quite good,
Jason did as instructed, discovering the candies were, indeed, quite good.

* * *

After a shared breakfast, and half the bag of jelly babies, the Doctor expressed the urgent need to escape in order to warn Jason's people about the Master. The Alterran reasoned there was no time like the present and got shakily to his feet. He walked slowly over to the cell door and scrutinized it from top to bottom.
The Doctor watched the young man closely. "Are you sure you're well enough to travel?" he asked innocently.
"I'll have to be. You need me to get out of here."
The Doctor knew this to be true. He also knew it was a distinct possibility he was being led into a trap.
"We are still in the Royal Palace, aren't we?" Jason asked, receiving a nod in reply. "Good. I know the place like the back of my hand."
"Just exactly how do you propose getting us out of here?" the Doctor asked as he joined the Alterran at the door.
"Well...the window is out," Jason observed, glancing up at the barred opening. "You'll never fit through." Turning back to the door, he said suddenly, "You're not afraid of snakes, are you?"
"Snakes?" The Doctor was baffled--but only for a moment. His companion's body shimmered and there was suddenly a great snake at his feet. It slithered through the opening at the base of the door, having no sooner vanished from sight when there was the sound of the heavy bolt being thrown back. The door swung open, revealing Jason on the other side looking particularly pleased with himself.
The Doctor took the Healer's medical bag from the table and handed it to him. "Show off," he whispered as he passed through the door. Glancing quickly up and down the empty passageway, he asked, "Which way?" His companion nodded down the corridor and then silently led the way, shouldering his bag as he went.
Jason came around the corner at the end of the corridor and stopped dead in his tracks. Ahead of him, Stinson was arguing with another mercenary guardsmen.
The Doctor reacted instantly, putting a hand over the boy's mouth just in time to stifle an alarmed cry. He then unceremoniously yanked the petrified youth back around the corner. Jason was puzzled only at how tightly the Doctor was holding him, not realizing the Time Lord still did not trust him. He closed his eyes trying collect himself, pulling the hand from his mouth with his own trembling hand.
"Well, we can't go that way," the Doctor observed in a quiet firm voice. "We'll just have to go back." Taking the boy by the arm, he tried to lead him away but was prevented when Jason came to an abrupt halt and stared at the blank wall in front of him.
"Wait a minute, Doctor. I'm sure there's an entrance along here." Placing his still trembling hands on the wall, the Healer moved them slowly across its uneven stone surface. The Doctor noticed he was not so much feeling for the opening as sensing for it. "Secret passage?" he asked as he kept a sharp lookout for the guards. His companion nodded without looking up. "Scanning for the entrance, " the Time Lord then asked innocently.
Jason nodded again. Suddenly realizing what the Doctor had said, he caught his breath and whirled around. "How did you know about--? Oh, yes...I told you, didn't I?"
The Doctor smiled benignly and Jason returned his attention to the wall, not realizing this genuine reaction was what finally convinced the skeptical Time Lord that he had, at least in part, been telling the truth.
"Aha! Here it is," Jason announced in a triumphant whisper. He pushed on a stone block, which gave under the pressure of his fingertips. There was a low grinding noise as a slab swung open revealing a hidden passageway beyond. They had to turn sideways to squeeze through the opening, and once inside, Jason triggered the door again. The slab swung shut, leaving them in total darkness.
"Oh, no. I forgot about that," the Alterran said guiltily.
"I don't suppose you can still glow in the dark," the Doctor asked dryly. He pulled out his flashlight and switched it on. "That's better."
"There used to be lanterns down here when I was a child," his companion told him. "Maybe we'll come across one on the way to--" Jason broke off, suddenly realizing he had failed to ask a very important question. "Exactly where are we going, anyway?"

Chapter Thirteen
Getaway

"Colonel, the stranger has escaped!" a guard announced as he and several others burst into the Master's lab.
"What!" the Master roared from within his office, appearing in the doorway quite beside himself in rage.
Payne was at his command station and leaped to his feet, mirroring his employer's fury. He struck the bearer of ill tidings with such force that he went flying across the room. The unfortunate man landed several feet away, very definitely unconscious.
"How did this happen?" Payne thundered to his remaining subordinates. The response was mass confusion. The Master immediately intervened. "Silence!" he roared, receiving it instantly. "You're wasting time, you ignominious pack of half-wits! Get after him!"
The mercenaries fled.
Growling to himself, the Master returned to his office. In the corner of the room, and looking completely out of place, was a high backed easy chair. Seated in the chair, and looking equally out of place, was Kyska, a vacant expression on her face. The Master glanced absently in her direction as he entered, dropping heavily into his chair. Payne appeared at the doorway and silently watched his seething employer.
"Fools. Imbeciles," the Master hissed angrily. "That man was my contingent against disaster. And those idiots let him just waltz right out of--" Cutting himself off, he turned to Kyska, who slowly raised her eyes to meet his steady gaze.
"You waltzed with this stranger last night, my dear," the Time Lord purred. "Perhaps you can tell us about him?"
"Who, my Lord?" Kyska asked politely.
It was Payne who answered. "The tall, curly-headed beggar with the scarf."
"Oh! You mean the Doctor," she said brightly.
The name meant nothing to Payne, but he could see it meant a great deal to his employer.
"The...Doctor..." the Master repeated haltingly. Kyska smiled sweetly and nodded, causing the Time Lord's face to darken even further, his eyes narrowing into angry slits. "What can you tell me about him?"
The young woman obligingly told him everything, from the discovery of the Doctor's TARDIS to his arrival in Krystos with Jason and herself.
The Master was thunderstruck. Then he was enraged, growing even more irritated as he realized what a fool he had been the night before. Getting to his feet, he charged past the puzzled mercenary and back into the now partially dismantled laboratory. "I hope you enjoyed your little charade, Doctor," he growled, waving a fist in the air. "Now I know who you are." Rounding on the bewildered Colonel Payne, he roared, "And those fools of yours allowed him to escape!"
"Just who is this doctor, anyway?"
"Only the one person capable of thwarting with my plans."
Payne did not like the sound of this one bit. In their short association, it had become apparent the evil Time Lord had an exceedingly high opinion of himself. That he should worry about this one man stopping him was not good.
"He'll go straight to the King, you can bet on that," the Master said, deep in thought. "Now, how can I use this?"
The Colonel could see only one immediate solution and strode to his command desk to radio his men. "We'll just have to see to it he never gets there."
"No, Colonel," the Master crooned, suddenly in a congenial mood. "Perhaps there's another way. He'll need to arrange an audience first, and that will take time--even for a Time Lord. And while he's waiting...well, who knows what might happen?" He shot a meaningful glance back towards his office.
Colonel Payne was not sure what the Time Lord had in mind, but knew it would be something diabolical. "Tell me, Master," he asked with an evil grin," would you be open to any suggestions?" He slowly turned his gaze to the alcove where Anon hung limply from the shackles. The boy had been brutally, if not mercilessly beaten, his mouth having been sealed with tape to prevent his calling out to Kyska.
"Why, Colonel Payne," the Master purred approvingly, "you are getting creative, aren't you?"

* * *

It had taken some time for the Doctor and Jason to arrived at their final destination. They had been forced to stop several times during the long and tiring journey in order for Jason to rest and the suspicious Time Lord wondered if it were genuine fatigue or just a delaying tactic. Either way, he said nothing.
Once they arrived in the main building, Jason located the door he wanted and triggered the opening, cautiously peered out. To his relief, he saw a large embroidered wall-hanging concealing the opening. This was the one he wanted. "We made it," he whispered. He then looked down at himself. Not exactly the most suitable attire for a Lord of the Court to wear to so important an audience. "I think I'd better change," he whispered. His body shimmered and he was suddenly wearing a completely different set of clothes.
The Doctor blinked, staring in awe at the royal blue garments that would easily have blended into the gala event of the previous evening.
Catching sight of the Time Lord's expression, Jason blushed. "Sorry. I keep forgetting you're new at this. I'm supposed to be representing the House of Krystovan, remember?"
Stepping unnoticed into the corridor, Jason motioned the Doctor to follow and then walked casually down the hallway. The Time Lord did not recognize the section of the building and the Alterran aristocrat explained that they were now in the King's private residence and all entry was restricted.
"Restricted?" the Doctor repeated.
Jason nodded. As they came around a corner he turned his gaze toward the end of the corridor. "See for yourself."
The Doctor stopped. At the end of the long hallway was a very large, ornately carved double door in front of which were two equally large armed guards. "Now what?" he asked, turning back to the Alterran, who looked at him in a way he found both puzzling and unsettling.
"Yes, I think you'll pass," the Healer said approvingly. "But I'll probably hate myself for doing this."
The Doctor didn't like the sound of this at all, but Jason quickly explained that the only thing an Alterran could not change was their eye color. While this was a trivial detail when it came to transmuting, in the broader scheme of things, it denoted one's social rank. Those of the Royal Bloodline, like himself, had sapphire blue eyes. And luckily, the Doctor also had blue eyes. They weren't exactly the right shade, but passable.
It took only a few minutes of idle chit-chat before Jason and the Doctor were admitted into the residence block. Jason's being known to everyone in the Palace gave him the advantage, as any story he cared to tell would be believed without question.
Once they were a sufficient distance from the door, and could not be overheard, the Doctor observed, "You lie extremely well, Jason." This was spoken in a combination of admiration and distrust, but its implications eluded the Alterran, who responded with a self-conscious smile.
They came to yet another guarded doorway, and were again admitted without question. The aristocrat found the presence of these sentries odd, but said nothing about it. As soon as the door was closed, he made straight for the inner door. "Let me talk to Terry first," he said quickly. The Doctor made to follow but was halted by an upraised hand. "Alone," Jason said firmly and then vanished through the door.
The Doctor had never heard this tone of authority in the young man's voice and it immediately put him on his guard, as did the sound of raised voices coming from the other side of the door. Before he had the chance to consider all the implication of either of these things, the inner door was suddenly thrown open and King Terran appeared. It was immediately apparent he was not in an agreeable mood as he stood glaring at him from the doorway.
The fair-haired monarch was similar to Jason in size and build, but had taken on a more mature appearance, closer to thirty. He was dressed simply in a red check shirt and dark trousers. Then, just as suddenly as Jason had changed, the King was standing before the Doctor in full regalia; elaborate purple and blue robes with gold and silver trim, a floor length cape, and a jeweled crown upon his head.
The Doctor found himself wondering if he would ever get used to these instantaneous transformations when the King suddenly thundered, "Guards!" The sentries burst into the room and Terran pointed at the bewildered Time Lord. "Arrest that man!"

Chapter Fourteen
King Terran

Jason came up behind the King, not quite believing what was happening. He watched in mute astonishment as the guards took the Doctor firmly by the arms.
"May I ask why I'm being arrested, your Majesty?" the Time Lord said calmly.
"Conspiracy against the Crown, kidnapping and murder," Terran replied succinctly. "We already have a full confession from your fellow conspirator, so you can stop this pretense of surprise. He warned us you'd be making an attempt on my life."
"Indeed?" The Doctor fixed Jason in an accusing gaze. "Did this fellow conspirator happen to mention that I'd be with Lord Krystovan, by any chance?"
Jason returned the icy stare with an injured look, finally realizing the Time Lord had never trusted either him or his motives. Considering the current situation, he could hardly blame him.
"No, as a matter of fact, he didn't," the King said coldly. "We were led to believe Lord Krystovan had been murdered."
Jason caught his breath, his immediate thoughts being of his father. News like this would kill him, he thought fearfully. He'd pine away to nothing...
"I'm really quite innocent, you know," the Doctor said mildly.
The monarch snorted, waving a hand to the guards. "We shall see. Take him to security. And tell the Commander he's authorized to use the mind probe, if he doesn't cooperate."
The guards started to drag the Doctor from the room. He was already being less than cooperative.
Finally, Jason came out of his daze. "No, stop! This is all wrong!" he cried, finding his voice at last. He dashed to the Time Lord's side, physically halting the guards.
"Lord Krystovan..." the monarch began reprovingly.
"No, Terry, this is no time for protocol," the aristocrat said insistently. "You have to listen to me. I don't know who you've been talking to, but I do know that I'd be dead now if it weren't for the Doctor. He saved my life!"
Jason saw a glimmer of uncertainty in the eyes of his childhood friend and went over to him, speaking in a low voice. "My dear Terran, please, you've known me all your life. I know you have no reason to believe him, but you know you can believe me. We came to tell you, to warn you. There's a great evil at work."
"Evil?" Terran was taken aback. The word was so cliché, he could not quite believe hearing it spoken with such gravity.
"Yes. And someone's obviously trying to discredit us before we have a chance to warn you."
"Discredit me, dear boy," the Doctor injected pointedly. "You're supposed to be dead."
Jason shot him a quick sideways glance and straightened, his voice suddenly completely formal, "Your Majesty, may we, please, speak with you privately?"
King Terran considered a moment, looking pointedly at the Doctor and then back. Before he could speak, his friend replied to the unspoken question, "He's not armed. He's a Time Lord."
The affect of this announcement was magical, thought the Doctor. The guards at his sides immediately released their grip and fell back a step.
The King also seemed momentarily overcome as he took in the Doctor's very non-Gallifreyan clothing. He was definitely unlike any other Time Lord he had ever encountered. Dismissing the guards, the King then led the way into the next room.
"Why didn't you tell him that in first place?" the Doctor asked indignantly.
"I didn't think of it until now," Jason replied guiltily.
The Doctor grunted his disapproval, following the monarch in to the next room where he told him of the true identity of Lord Masters and what Jason had discovered in the lab.
Feeling his input would be unnecessary, Jason wandered over to an open balcony overlooking a square courtyard. He looked at the room below, absently munching some candy from the table beside him. Things had changed considerably since his last visit. The room below was no longer a room, its walls having been knocked out and replaced with archways that met at the corners in large triangular columns. The fountain in the center was also new. It looked like someone had taken blocks and jammed them onto pipes that stuck out and sprayed water in all directions. It was a hideous monstrosity, in Jason's opinion.
Behind him, Jason heard the Doctor suddenly interrupt himself. "I'm curious, your Majesty," he was saying, "who was the fellow conspirator you mentioned earlier? As far as I know, the Master doesn't know who I am, and only Jason knows of our past history."
Thinking his integrity was in question yet again, the young Lord turned angrily away from the balcony. Before he could protest his innocence, however, the King replied, "Actually, this all started when Lady Kyska reported Jason missing this morning."
Jason caught his breath. "Kyska! Good heavens, she must be worried sick about me."
As if on cue, Kyska came through the door. In spite of the fact that her missing cousin was only a few feet away, she failed to notice him. In fact, she failed to notice anything but the Doctor whom she glared at with an expression he thought looked strangely like unbridled hatred. An odd response from someone who had gone out of their way to beg him for help.
"You!" she snarled at the bewildered Time Lord. "You thought I wouldn't find out, didn't you?"
"My dear girl," the Doctor replied, "I haven't the faintest idea what--"
"Murderer! Jason saved your life and you killed him!"
Kyska bore down on the mystified Time Lord, suddenly taking him by the throat. In spite of her diminutive size, her hands were astonishingly strong and he barely managed to break free.
"Kyska, what are you doing!" Jason exclaimed.
Ignoring him, she made another lunge at the Doctor, but having lost her element of surprise, he was able to sidestep her attack with ease. "She can't hear you!" he called. "Her mind's being controlled by the Master."
Jason took hold of his cousin's arm and was promptly doubled over as an elbow slammed into his stomach. He gasped and dropped to his knees.
"You murdered Jason. Now you must die," Kyska announced in a cold, matter of fact voice. Her body shimmered and the Doctor found himself staring into the eyepiece of a Dalek. "Exterminate the Doctor," it squawked in the metallic voice that made the hair stand up on the back of his neck.
The Doctor threw himself sideways as the Dalek fired, the blast blowing a hole in the wall behind him. Scrambling to his feet, he dove out of the way as another blast was fired.
"Exterminate," the Dalek bleated, continuing unrelentingly.
The Doctor got to his feet and tried to evade only to discover he had backed himself into a corner. With no means of escape, he braced himself for the final lethal blast. It was all too obvious now that the Master knew who he was. Only his arch-enemy would know of his private crusade against the Daleks in order to devise this incident.
"No!" Jason screamed, interposing himself between the Doctor and the deadly ray gun. "No! Kyska, stop! I'm not--"
"Jason, get out of the--"
The Doctor's warning was cut off when the ray gun fired. The Healer took the blast full in the chest yet, miraculously, remained on his feet. "I'm not dead," Jason said in voice that was unnaturally calm. Then he promptly collapsed. The Doctor caught him as he fell, lowering him gently to the carpet.
The Dalek let out a deafening shriek and the Doctor looked up in alarm. Suddenly Kyska was standing before him. She stared dazedly at Jason, slowly lifting her gaze to the Doctor, who saw her eyes glaze over before she staggered over to the wall, where she slid gently to her knees.
This entire incident had taken place in a matter of minutes and the young King had been transfixed the whole time, not quite believing what was happening before his very eyes. It was only when Kyska fainted that he finally came to his senses and rushed over to her. He then discovered she had not fainted at all but seemed to have completely withdrawn into herself.
The Doctor looked mournfully down at Jason's inert form and then over to Terran, who was at a loss for words. "Well, now you know what we're dealing with, your Majesty," he said angrily.

Chapter Fifteen
What Must Be Done

With a resigned sigh, the Doctor said sadly, "I hoped we could prevent--Good Lord!"
Jason suddenly drew a sharp breath. His eyes snapped open and he blinked to focus, looking up at the Time Lord who was staring back in stupefied amazement. "Doctor, are you alright?" he asked weakly.
The Doctor was incredulous. "Am I alright?"
Later, Jason explained that he had been able to absorb the energy blast through a rather complex form of transduction that was child's play for an Alterran. He added offhandedly that it was only because of his slightly weakened physical condition that he'd had any difficulty at all. Otherwise, he never would have been knocked unconscious. Upon hearing this, the Doctor resolved that nothing the extraordinary young man could do would surprise him anymore.
Jason sat up slowly and rubbed his bruised chest. "This definitely isn't my day," he muttered darkly. The Doctor helped him to stand, supporting him as he shook his head to clear it. "Wow, she really packs a wallop."
"Are you sure you're alright?" the Doctor asked concernedly.
"Yes, I'm fine," the youth assured, turning his attention to the King, who was still kneeling beside Kyska. "Terry, how is she?" he asked worriedly.
The King shook his head in bewilderment. It was the Doctor who replied. "She's in a state of post-hypnotic shock. It's the result of her mind rejecting having been forced to do something that's against her nature."
"I take it you've seen this before?" Jason observed.
"Yes, unfortunately."
"Well, now you know how the Master found out who you are," Jason remarked as he went over to his silent cousin.
"And you also know what must be done," came Terran's regret filled voice, "don't you, Jason?"
"Oh, no, Terry, you can't. You mustn't," Jason said imploringly, but he knew the Laws of Alterrous were very specific on these matters. Over the centuries they had been set down to safeguard against the misuse and abuse of the extraordinary powers his people possessed.
By taking on the form of a Dalek, Kyska had broken the cardinal law, which forbade taking on the form of any weapon. The punishment for this offense was banishment. But because Kyska had compounded the crime by attempting to kill a Time Lord, she would be further punished by having her ability to transmute permanently suppressed. In other words, Kyska would be exiled from her own people, trapped in her present form forever; and it was this that Jason plaintively explained to the Doctor.
"Oh no, your Majesty, Jason's right. You can't do that to her," the Doctor said beseechingly.
King Terran stared in wonderment. "Doctor, Lady Kyska just tried to kill you. Why are you defending her actions?"
The Time Lord shook his head. "They weren't her actions. If they were, she wouldn't be in the state she's in now."
"I can't do anything for her," Jason said helplessly. He looked searchingly over to the Doctor. "You said you'd seen this before. Can you help her?"
"I can try."
The Doctor knelt down in front of Kyska and took her face in his hands, cradling it gently as he stared into her vacant eyes. Keeping his voice a gentle, soothing lilt, he said, "Kyska, can you hear me? You're safe now. No one can harm you any longer."
Jason kept his gaze fixed on his motionless cousin as the Time Lord went on in the same hypnotic tone. He thought he saw a slight flicker in her eyes. Then she blinked.
Kyska came out of her trance with a jolt, babbling frantically about Jason, the Doctor, and the Master. She started to cry hysterically, fighting weakly against the Doctor, who was now holding her firmly by the wrists. He never took his eyes from her face, nor did he raise his voice. Then as suddenly as she had revived, Kyska stopped fighting, being transfixed by the Time Lord's unwavering gaze.
"You're free, Kyska," the Doctor soothed gently. His voice hardened slightly as he commanded, "You will forget all the orders the Master or Lord Masters ever gave you. Do you understand?" The young woman nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Very good. You can sleep now." The Doctor touched her temples and she went limp, falling back onto the unsuspecting Jason who had to grab her to keep her from striking her head on the floor.
"She'll sleep for several hours now," the Doctor informed as he got to his feet. "I'm not sure how much she'll remember of her encounter with the Master. But I can assure you, she won't remember a thing about what happened here." Turning to the King, he added pointedly, "I think we should all forget this incident as well."
"Doctor, as a Time Lord, you must understand my position," Terran said insistently as he, too, climbed to his feet. "You're bound by the Laws of Time just as we--" He held out a hand to include Jason and Kyska. "--are bound by the Laws of Alterrous."
"I can assure you, your Majesty, the Master has only contempt for the law, be it Gallifreyan or Alterran. And he's the one responsible for this."
Jason effortlessly lifted his cousin from the floor and carried her to a sofa. He looked tenderly down at her peaceful figure and shook his head. "You can't punish her." He turned to the monarch, his eyes blazing. The Guardian of the Krystovans had arrived in full glory. "I won't let you hurt her, Terran Krystio. King or not, I swear I'll fight you."
Terran knew this was no idle threat. Jason never called him by his given name unless he meant business. He had seen the Guardian in action before, and regretted that the day had come when he was forced to oppose him. Especially since Jason usually won.
"Jason, I have no choice!" Terran said at last, his voice filled with anguish. "I'm not enjoying this, you know. She's my cousin, too. Distant, perhaps, but of the Royal Bloodline, like yourself."
"You don't arrest the gun for shooting someone," the Doctor quietly injected. "You arrest the gunman."
The argument abruptly stopped and the royal Alterrans turned to face him as he went on to say, "Kyska is merely the gun. The Master is your gunman."
"And Colonel Payne," Jason added pointedly.
"Oh, yes, I'd forgotten him."
"Payne!" the King gasped. "Impossible. He was banished--"
"It was Payne alright," Jason said darkly. "I'd know that sadist anywh..." His voice trailed off and he stuck his forehead with his hand. "Colonel Payne, of course! I should've realized."
"Realized what?" the Doctor wanted to know.
"Payne's hand in all this. Kyska didn't have to take on the form of a...a..."
"Dalek."
"Yes, a Dalek. She didn't have to change form at all, but Payne knew what would happen if she did." The Healer went on to explain about the infamous Colonel Payne and his connection with his family. "He's out for revenge and he's using Kyska and me to get back at my father."
"And the Master is using that to get to me," the Doctor concluded. "Ring around the rosy."
"You know, the true irony in this is that my father is completely unaware that anything's wrong."
"Yes. And so's the Emperor," Terran injected darkly. "He needs to be informed at once."
Jason was appalled. "What?" he gasped.
"An excellent suggestion," the Doctor enthused.
"Terry, can't we work this out here, between ourselves, without involving Alterrous?" Jason asked reasonably.
For the first time since the Doctor met him, King Terran smiled. "The Emperor isn't that far away," he informed. "He arrived last night for my coronation."
"The coronation!" Jason cried. "Good heavens, I'd forgotten all about it."
"How can the Emperor help?" the Doctor asked practically.
The royal pair told him that as the Bearer of the Seal, the Lord Emperor had the final say on any deviation from the Law. Any decision he made could not be overturned.
"The Bearer of the Seal?" The Doctor was vaguely familiar with the title but not its implications.
"The Great Seal of Alterrous, Doctor," Jason said helpfully. "It's what give him authority over the system and the power that...well, that binds us together in peaceful coexistence."
"Figuratively, I assume."
"Oh, no. In reality. It's not just a symbol of his power. The Seal is his power. No one really knows how much, either." Catching the Time Lord's eyes, the youth grinned. "Except the Lord Emperor, of course"
Jason saw a puzzling change come over the Doctor. His face darkened and he was suddenly lost in thought. One might even call it brooding. He paced the room asking one question after another about the Great Seal and its history. Jason smiled at this second irony. Myths and legends had always fascinated him and he had studied them in depth, including all those connected with the Seal.
Jason explained that the Seal made its appearance during the most violent period in Alterran history. Krystos, for whom Tel-Shye's capital was named, had discovered its power and used it to unite the fractured Alterran system, which had been divided into warring factions for centuries. In doing this, he became the first Lord Emperor of a united Alterran people.
The new Emperor Krystos then went on to make peace with the Time Lords, their bitter enemies for untold centuries. With the help of Rassilon, the greatest of the Time Lords, he was able to forge what would become the current Alliance between Alterrous and Gallifrey.
Since the time of Krystos, the Great Seal had been passed from one Emperor to the next in an unusual act of succession. The Seal itself making known to its bearer who the successor was to be, thereby assuring the power was not passed on to an individual who would misuse it.
"So only the Emperor can control this power?" the Doctor asked innocently.
"Only the Emperor has the Great Seal," Terran replied.
"But what if someone were to take it from him? Would they have control of it?"
The Alterrans were appalled the Doctor would even suggest such a thing.
"No one can take the Great Seal from the Emperor," the King stated flatly. "It protects him. Doctor, I've seen what happens when he taps into its power. No one could get near him."
The Doctor did not reply, merely raising his eyebrows. The expression on his face clearly said, "I know something you don't know."
Like a flash of lightning, Jason knew exactly what he was thinking and his eyes grew wide. "Not if he's in total suspended animation..." he breathed, receiving an approving look.
"Exactly," the Doctor beamed. "I think we should arrange to see the Lord Emperor as soon as possible. Don't you, your Majesty?"