CHAPTER TWO

Mijaco stopped just as he crossed inside the doorway of the ornate, cathedral-like room. He cautiously took in his surroundings and tried not to appear awe-struck. The room was enormous, compared with his humble abode. The high ceiling was covered with an elaborate painting that seemed to predict the Quadrant's glorious soon-to-be-victory over the rebels. Hanging from the ceiling were at least a dozen chandeliers made from the finest hand-blown glass from Bendari Prime. The unusually soft light given off by the chandeliers gave the room an uncomfortably eerie glow. Corresponding with each of the chandeliers was a pillar set into the wall covered with the most intricate woodwork Mijaco had ever seen. In between each pillar, large, intricate, hand-woven tapestries covered entire sections of the walls. He had been told of the splendour of the Quadrant Leader's headquarters, but until now had only corresponded with her via messenger and had never been summoned to appear in person. He wondered whether any other Trividian had ever set foot in this room, given the sacred feeling it emanated.

There was only one occupant in the room, sitting on a raised throne. Mijaco knew the setting was precisely constructed to give the Leader an even larger sense of power over her subjects. Mijaco's throat went dry as the Leader, clothed in royal purple robes, stood up as he entered. She gestured for him to approach.

Mijaco swallowed, crossed hurriedly towards the throne and knelt. 'Leader Likaria, you sent for me?'

'I did. That was an interesting battle today, Mijaco.' Likaria glided down the three stairs that separated her throne from the main part of the room. As she made her way towards Mijaco, he glanced up and noticed how determined each step seemed, how with each forward motion, the Leader's gown and cape flowed regally around her. She took his hand, pulling him to his feet, then began to walk slowly around him as if inspecting the room for anything out of the ordinary, making sure to keep her back to him. 'Explain to me what happened on the battlefield.'

Mijaco refused to look directly at her, although he didn't ever let her get out of his peripheral vision. 'The resistance took heavy losses, my Leader, as did our own forces. Unfortunately, we were the ones forced to retreat.'

Likaria suddenly stopped walking. 'Is Lacond too smart for you?' she asked bluntly.

An astonished expression clouded Mijaco's, but he quickly buried it before Likaria could notice. How dare she doubt my abilities, he thought. 'No, my Leader. Lacond had the benefit of strategic positioning. No one knows the Kithra Valley like she does. Even the Mechguard unit felt the need to retreat.'

Likaria quickly reasserted her power over Mijaco by turning towards him and glaring. Harshly, she responded, 'The Quadrant tells you when to attack and when to retreat. You were not given the order to retreat!' Likaria reached out and grabbed Mijaco's chin with one hand and forced him to look her in the eyes, her own face nearing his. 'Your own cowardice led you. I expect you to keep the rebel forces at bay; that is why you were picked to lead the Chosen's army. Have you grown weak in your old age? Do I need to find another to take your place?' She released him roughly and turned her back to him once again.

He stuttered. 'N… no, no, my Leader. I can handle the situation.'

'Then I have another matter that requires your attention.' Likaria walked across the room, away from Mijaco. When he didn't follow her, she raised her hand and gestured slightly, as one would an errant puppy. 'Mijaco, come. I want to show you something.'

Likaria led him to a small, glowing view screen on the far side of the room. Her voice became soft, more like an equal than a superior. 'I observed this after your battle today.'

As Likaria replayed the confrontation between TeArin and Lacond, Mijaco could only watch his enemy disfigure his son. He turned away in shame as the screen showed TeArin's retreat. Almost under his breath, he mumbled. 'When TeArin told me he was searching for Lacond, I did not think he could find her.'

Likaria turned from the view screen and glared at Mijaco, her voice becoming harsh once again. 'Then you knew of this? You should have watched your son more carefully. Lacond could have easily killed him. More importantly, his attack of her was unauthorised. The Quadrant is not pleased, and the Electorate Body is demanding compensation.'

Mijaco's blood instantly ran cold. He knew that to the Electorate Body, compensation meant death, usually in the most painful way possible. Or even worse, it could mean being sentenced to Mechguard conversion. A million possibilities for TeArin's future played out in his head all at once, each one worse than the one before. Outwardly, he played the fool. 'Compensation, my Leader?'

Likaria smiled kindly. If Mijaco hadn't known Likaria's smile almost guaranteed a death sentence for his son, he might have thought she was being sincere. 'I have spoken with the Electorate Body on your son's behalf. Instead of the usual compensation, your son will only be banished from the Chosen.'

Mijaco knew that without the protection of the other members of the Chosen, TeArin would be at the mercy of both the rebels and the Mechguards. He tried to plead on his son's behalf. 'My Leader, it will be very dangerous for him out in the wilderness. Is there not some other solution that would please the Electorate Body without leading to TeArin's certain death at the hands of the rebels?'

Likaria shook her head slowly, showing her displeasure at his insistence. 'It is not wise to argue, Mijaco. Outward defiance of our orders is instantly punishable by death. Lacond did not kill him when she had the opportunity today, so I hardly think your argument is viable. The Quadrant took your service to us into consideration and we are being most merciful, under the circumstances. We are allowing your son to live.'

He had to risk one more argument. His hands were clammy, his own fate soon to be uncertain because of his insubordination. 'It seems to me, my Leader, that the Quadrant is becoming sympathetic to the rebels. Wouldn't the Quadrant be pleased with Lacond's death?'

If Likaria's blood was boiling, she didn't show it outwardly. Curtly, she said, 'You have overstepped your bounds, Mijaco. The Quadrant thought of your son and the harm he could come to at the hands of Lacond. She is not someone to be taken lightly. TeArin's impetuousness is also dangerous to our goals. He must learn discipline. You of all people should know that.' Lacond returned to her throne. 'Now, go and take care of your final business with your son. Be glad that he is not going to be taken for processing.'

Mijaco leaned forward, not quite bowing. He had pushed the limit and he had failed. 'Yes, my Leader. Thank you, my Leader. You have been most merciful.' He left quickly, without another word.

Once he was outside the main chamber, he leaned against the wall and inhaled deeply, trying to calm his racing heart. He had taken a dangerous risk by facing up to Likaria. Fortunately, it did not cost him his life.

~!~!~!~

Harry was baffled by the little man standing in front of him and sank into the chair by the window. He'd been sitting and waiting for too long and now that the Doctor had arrived, it was time to do something. Unfortunately, the Doctor wasn't as eager as Harry thought he should be. 'Let's go, Doctor. We need to get to this Trivid place and get my Sue back before something happens to her.'

The Doctor folded his hands and leaned against his question mark handled brolly. 'Harry, rash actions lead to bad decisions. So, I think you'd better take a moment and explain the situation to me. What's going on here?'

Harry stood up and began his deep breathing exercises, trying to calm his ever-rising blood pressure.

'You're anxious about something, Harry.' The Doctor looked at him thoughtfully. 'Tea, that always seems to work.'

'Huh?' He regarded the Doctor with an incredulous look. 'Tea for what?'

'To calm down, clear the mind a little bit, bring things into focus.'

'Right. OK.' Harry walked quickly into the kitchen with the Doctor following.

The Doctor sat in one of the kitchen chairs as Harry absently walked over and plugged in the tea kettle. As he grabbed mugs out of the cabinet, then went to the refrigerator and pulled out the milk, dutifully pouring the appropriate amount into each mug, the Doctor only watched him move about. After a moment he spoke. 'So, Harry, what is this all about? I didn't even realise you had a daughter, much less that she was, uh, misplaced as you say.'

Harry stopped and smiled as he thought about his daughter. 'Her name's Susan. She's sixteen and stubborn, just like her mother.' He dropped back into quiet reflection as he put the tea in the teapot, then followed suit with the now hot water.

'Harry, how does Susan's misplacement tie in with us sitting in Sarah Jane's kitchen?'

Harry shook his head as he poured the now brewed tea into the mugs. 'Doctor, that really doesn't matter. What matters is that we shouldn't be here wasting time by making tea. We need to go pop into the TARDIS and bring them back.'

'Them?'

'Yes. Sarah's gone too. She took off after Susan.'

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. 'And Sarah left from here, which is why you and I are here?'

'Well, something like that, yes. This Lacond person said she was here looking for you. She had some type of supposedly broken transmitter thingummy that K9 helped her fix, then she and Susan just up and disappeared. Sarah called me, I rushed over and she used the same device to follow them.'

The Doctor frowned. 'Harry, there's got to be more to it. You're raising more questions than answers. Lacond couldn't just show up on Sarah's doorstep, something had to have triggered her arrival here. Why would your daughter just leave with her? Did Lacond kidnap her? And why would Sarah go after them instead of waiting, like you did? Just how do you and Susan fit into this? You say this is Sarah's house, so how do you know exactly where she keeps everything for making tea?'

Harry silently looked at the Doctor, then walked across the room and sat down at the table. 'Sarah is…' He stopped and looked down, collecting his thoughts, his eyes instinctively going to the bare third finger of his left hand. Thirteen years ago, his wedding band would have been there. 'Sarah is Susan's godmother. My wife, Elizabeth, died when Sue was three. Sarah's been helping me take care of Susan ever since.'

The Doctor regarded Harry in silence for a moment. 'I'm glad you and Sarah remained friends. I sometimes wondered, the way you two argued.'

For the first time, Harry's gaze met the Doctor's. 'We're best friends, Doctor.'

~!~!~!~

Mijaco needed time to think. He thought best when he walked around and could clear his mind. He instinctively went to what was left of Trivid's capitol city, Katran. What were once buildings of commerce and government were now empty ruins. Buildings that should have stood forever as a testament to their creators were now in danger of crashing around those that were forced to take shelter in their remains. This was all that was left of the once great Trividian civilization. Deep down, he blamed the Quadrant, although as the head of the Quadrant's supposedly Chosen people, he couldn't afford to voice that opinion to anyone.

He journeyed on towards the camp where he and the members of the Chosen lived and observed the sparse surroundings. It disgusted him that the Chosen had been forced to live as mere peasants with the rest of the citizens being treated as slaves, working in the Cyryllium mines. The Chosen's living quarters were badly battered excuses for tents as the collapsing cities housed the mineworkers and suffered from neglect. All of this was supposedly for the good of the Quadrant and the whole of Trivid. As he entered his family's tent, Mijaco wondered whether he had picked the right side of the battle. He was once a respected member of the community, all before the Quadrant came to power. Now, only the members of the Chosen respected him. The other surviving citizens merely tolerated his presence, or worse. He knew that at least half of the remaining citizens despised him for collaborating with the enemy and would join the rebels, if the Quadrant's threats against their families hadn't paralysed them with fear.

Still, he was their leader, the one they were supposed to respect and look up to. His authority was an extension of the Quadrant's. He swallowed hard. At times like these, he hated what the Quadrant made him do. He had to find a way to not let his true feelings slip. He thought about the friendship with Lacond he was forced to sever when she organised the rebellion. Now she was his greatest enemy. The Quadrant was essentially killing his son, and he was just supposed to sit back and accept it. Deep down, he knew if he didn't, things could be much worse than they already were. As his son entered the tent, he tried his best to remove all emotions from his face, especially the shock at seeing the stumped appendage that used to be his son's hand.

TeArin crossed to stand before him, head reverently bowed. 'Father, you wished to see me.'

Mijaco glared at the young man. 'I'm most disappointed in you, TeArin.' He reached down, deeply burying his concern, and grabbed TeArin's handless arm, which was now wrapped in a tight bandage. He turned his worry into harsh words. 'You let her do this to you, and what did you get in return? Nothing. Lacond is not dead, not even seriously wounded according to your accounts.' Mijaco dropped TeArin's arm and watched it dangle at TeArin's side.

TeArin winced as pain shot through his arm. 'I did wound her, Father. Her side was bleeding from the energy rifle's bolt.'

Mijaco unconsciously copied Likaria's movements from their earlier confrontation. He walked around and looked at everything other than his son, keeping his back to TeArin. 'Lacond didn't falter, didn't collapse. What kind of warrior did you intend to be? You are a grave disappointment, both to me and to the Quadrant.' As he finished talking, he was at TeArin's back. He turned around and looked at TeArin, waiting for his response.

TeArin didn't face Mijaco, but continued to look only at the ground, his father's words stinging more than the destroyed nerves at the end of his arm. 'I'll be better next time, I promise. I can be better, Father.'

Fatherly emotion overcame Mijaco and he took TeArin by the shoulders and turned him around to face him, his words gentle, but firm. 'There won't be a next time, TeArin. The Quadrant was not happy with your actions. They wanted to have you processed, but I was able to talk them out of it. Instead, you will only be banished.'

TeArin looked up at his father, insulted by the Quadrant's harsh treatment. 'Banished? Why should I be banished? The Quadrant always says they want this war to end. They want Lacond's head. I've heard a messenger from Likaria herself say those very words. I tracked Lacond down and confronted her. I would have killed her, but instead, I was only able to wound her. So why am I the one being punished?'

Mijaco walked over to the door of the tent and nervously peered out. 'TeArin, keep your voice down!' Satisfied that no one had overheard his young son's outburst, he crossed back towards TeArin and sat down in one of the chairs at the makeshift table. He gestured for TeArin to sit as well, but TeArin only shook his head in refusal, so Mijaco continued, his words soft. 'It was not the will of the Quadrant that Lacond be confronted in that manner. They have a plan for Lacond's defeat. If we do not obey that plan, we could fail! The Quadrant will not tolerate failure.'

TeArin exploded. 'Whose side are they on? You'd sometimes think they supported the rebels instead of the Chosen. The Quadrant supposedly picks our battles for us so we'll win, but this time we didn't. I try to rid us of Lacond and what does it get me? The Quadrant gets all in a state and I'm banished! There is no logic in their actions, Father.'

'Do not second guess the Quadrant!' Mijaco hissed as he slammed his fist against the table, cracking it. 'It is by their grace that any of us live at all. They could very easily call you down for processing. You'd be no different than any of the other Mechguards; no conscience, no free will. Is that the kind of life you desire for yourself?

Mijaco's words sunk in to TeArin and he calmed considerably. Almost repentantly, he whispered, 'No, Father. Any life is preferable to that of a Mechguard.'

'You should be thankful that you are a member of the Chosen.'

'I'm no longer a member of the Chosen if I'm being banished,' TeArin said hotly. 'You will all be sorry that you did not let me stay. I could become the greatest warrior the Quadrant has ever seen. There has to be another way.'

Mijaco closed his eyes and fought back the tears that were starting to come to the surface. He wished his son were right. He stood up to face TeArin, reached out and gently squeezed his son's shoulder. 'There is no other solution, my son, I'm sorry. Consider yourself privileged; you will not become a Mechguard. I will leave you in peace to get your things together. Be gone by sundown.' Mijaco started to walk out, then turned around and offered one last piece of advice. 'Speak to no one on your way out of the compound; you don't want to draw attention to yourself. Your life expectancy might dramatically decrease if just one person is not as loyal to the Quadrant as they should be.

TeArin nodded, knowing he should feel lucky to still be alive, whether or not he believed it. 'Yes, Father. As you wish.' TeArin watched as Mijaco left the tent, then swore. He slammed his good hand against the table, splintering the weakened wood. 'Lacond will pay for this. For all of it! I will be her downfall. Likaria can bet all her power on it! Then I will take on the Quadrant and they will pay!'

From her throne room, Likaria watched TeArin's outburst and growled. 'Don't tempt me boy. I will make you pay.' She called out to her servant, 'Get Mechguard Unit Seven leader in here right now! I have a task for him.'

'As you wish, Leader Likaria.' The servant bowed and scampered quickly out of the room.

~!~!~!~

Harry looked down at the mug of tea in his hands while he recounted his first meeting with Lacond. 'I was just coming back into town from a business trip. It was Elizabeth's birthday and I always try to go by the cemetery on her birthday. Susan was there. She always goes too, even though she really doesn't remember Elizabeth. Anyway, we were getting ready to head back to Sarah's so Sue could pick up her stuff before Sarah left on her trip. Not that she was going on her trip, her friend cancelled. But anyway…'

The Doctor cut him off. 'Harry, that's all well and good, but where does Lacond come into this?'

'Oh, right. Let me try to explain.' Harry focused himself and began to give the Doctor more useful details. 'It all started when Susan and I headed out of the cemetery...'

As they left the cemetery, an oddly dressed woman stepped from behind a nearby tree. She was leaning heavily on a cane and only glanced at Harry and Susan before collapsing. 'I say,' Harry said as both he and Susan rushed to her side.

Harry immediately noticed blood profusely oozing through the woman's clothing. 'Sue, run and get my medical kit out of the car boot,' Harry said urgently.

'Right.' Susan replied as she started running for the car.

Harry quickly looked the woman over for any other injuries. It was hard to tell from the metal plated long sleeved vest and trousers she wore, but Harry couldn't see anything obviously broken. He would judge her age to be between 30 and 35, going by the slight lines that were just starting to form on her forehead and around her eyes, although he couldn't be sure, because of the cane clutched in her hand. 'Appearances can be deceiving,' he reminded himself.

Susan came back with her father's med kit and watched as he put on a pair of protective gloves and started pulling out a bandage to dress the wound. 'It looks like she's wearing armour.'

'Looks that way. We should get her back to the house where I can take a proper look at this wound.'

'Why not a hospital? They can give her the best care. And how did she just show up out of nowhere like that? People can't really do that, can they?'

Harry noticed the woman beginning to move. Susan continued to fire questions at him. 'Susan, hush.'

Susan fell silent as the woman stirred, opening her piercing grey eyes. 'I am Lacond. I'm here to find the Doctor,' she said weakly, before lapsing back into unconsciousness.

Harry reached down and instinctively took Lacond's pulse. Recognizing the pattern, he frowned, then looked up at Susan. 'Sue, help me get her back to the car. Then I want you to call Sarah on the mobile, tell her we're on our way there and what's happened.'

Susan helped Harry carry Lacond back to the car. Neither one of them could get over how heavy she was for someone so small. 'Dad,' Susan started, 'I'm not sure what is happening.'

'Just tell her how we found this woman in the cemetery and that she is asking for the Doctor. Sarah will understand.'

As they carefully settled Lacond into the back seat, Lacond roused again. 'Where are we going?' she asked weakly. 'I have to find the Doctor.'

Harry patted her hand reassuringly. 'I know. I am a doctor, and I'm going to take you to where I can get a better look at that wound of yours.'

'You're not THE Doctor.' Lacond started.

Before she could object to anything else, Harry interrupted. 'So I've been told, frequently. Don't worry, I know the Doctor. We'll find a way to contact him, I promise.'

Harry and Susan got into the car and quickly drove off. After Susan called Sarah, she looked over at her father, then towards the back seat at Lacond. 'Who is this Doctor person?'

Smiling, Harry replied. 'He's a friend of Sarah's and mine. He's the one that gave K9 to Sarah.'

'Smart guy, then? Will he know what's wrong with,' she paused. 'What did she say her name was?'

'Lay-something or other. I can probably take care of her physical injury, but as for why she needs the Doctor, we won't know until she's in better shape to tell us.'

'Dad, do you think it's smart taking her back to Sarah's? Are you sure we shouldn't take her to hospital or something? Maybe have Sarah just meet us there?'

Harry shook his head. 'No, we'll need K9's help to contact the Doctor.'

Back in Sarah's kitchen, the Doctor looked at Harry as he finished speaking. 'So Lacond just materialised in this cemetery?' Harry only nodded in reply. 'I left the transmitter on Trivid with Taketo many years ago. Lacond was only supposed to use it in a dire emergency. It was supposed to transport her directly to the TARDIS. I wanted her to be safe if she ever needed it.' The Doctor stood up and began to do his own pacing.

Harry looked up at the Doctor. 'Going by how badly she was wounded, I'd say she needed to be somewhere safe.'

'Last time I was on Trivid, it was a peaceful paradise.'

'Sounds like things have drastically changed from that paradise you remember. But you probably knew it would change, otherwise why leave the transmitter?'

The Doctor shot a glare at Harry and stopped his pacing in front of the window. Staring at the continuing rain, absently he said, 'I had my suspicions.' Getting back on topic, the Doctor asked, 'So why did Lacond, Susan and Sarah go back to Trivid, and how did they get there?'

K9 rolled into the room, ears waggling as he processed the conversation. 'The young mistress and non-human utilized the transmitter once its circuits were functioning at peak efficiency, Master.'

The Doctor turned from the window and looked down at the small robot. 'That transmitter was never designed to have a peak efficiency. It was supposed to be a one-way, single use device.'

K9's head dropped. 'Apologies, Master. I corrected what was naturally assumed to be a fault. The transmitter is now perfectly functional for multiple uses and programmable to different destinations. I installed a security feature to make this location a default destination, at the Mistress's request.'

The Doctor looked at Harry for confirmation. Harry only shrugged his shoulders. 'I have no idea what happened as far as when Lacond and Susan left. I only know what Sarah told me.'

'So why didn't Sarah just wait if she was so sure that I was on the way?'

'Apparently Susan and Sarah had an argument. When Susan found out that Lacond was planning on heading back to Trivid without waiting for you, Susan asked to go with her. Sarah thought it was important to resolve their issue, so she called me, explained the situation and took off.'

'She didn't think I would come,' the Doctor said softly.

Harry shook his head. 'Not in time, no. And she wasn't going to just let Susan slip away that easily.'

'Harry, this situation is very odd. Your daughter's never been off planet before, has she?'

Harry laughed lightly. 'Of course not, Doctor.' Then he realised what the Doctor meant. 'Oh, I see. Not exactly normal behaviour for an Earth teenager, eh?'

'So Susan was upset. What would make her that upset?' the Doctor asked.

Standing up, Harry frowned. 'She knows, Harry.' Sarah's words echoed in his head yet again. He began to clear the table and take the tea mugs to the sink. To the Doctor, he said, 'She was pretty upset with both Sarah and I. I guess she just overreacted. That's pretty typical of teenagers.'

The Doctor turned from the window and watched as Harry began to wash up the dishes. 'Harry, there's still something missing. Why was Lacond looking for me?'

Harry stopped what he was doing and looked over at the Doctor. 'Lacond thinks you can bring an end to her planet's decade-plus old civil war.'