"You can't do this," Jack insisted.
Lord Nyin turned a sharp eye on Jack. Gave him a little bow. "With all due respect, Earthman… we can. And we must."
"We have classified her as an enemy of both Earth and Draconia," the Honorable Flascarf added, not far off. He handed Jack the report that showed Dr. Elfitz's findings, along with his own searches into Seo's past. "As an esteemed Professor of both cybernetics and galactic history, I have confirmed the findings that she is a carrier of cyber-technology."
"I have spoken with the Earth Ambassador," Lord Nyin went on. "He checked in the latest Earth census, and found no trace of her. It was agreed that there would be no diplomatic repercussions, on the condition that the alien female was executed as soon as possible."
Jack flipped through the report.
Swore, beneath his breath.
"Cyberplanner," he muttered. "Should have known that'd come back to bite us in the ass."
"You do not deny the findings, then?" said Lord Nyin.
Jack flung the report down on Lord Nyin's desk. "Look, I dunno how familiar you are with Cybermen," he said, "but they're usually big, heavy metal things. Seo doesn't look like that."
"That is true of most Cybermen," the Honorable Flascarf confirmed. "But the Cyberplanner is an exception, Earthman. Particularly in the early stages of upgrade… the Cyberplanner can seem perfectly ordinary."
"Doesn't sound ordinary, though," Jack replied.
The Honorable Flascarf coughed, pointedly. "Neither did she."
Damn.
He'd skimmed through that report. Read the reports of what Seo had said, during the med-scan. And they did sound unusually Cyberplanner for her.
Damn, damn, damn.
"We do apologize, honorable Earthman," said the Honorable Flascarf, with another bow. "Although you seek the glory of this capture for yourself, we hope you understand — for diplomatic reasons, she must be executed on Draconian soil. There is no alternative."
"Glory of this…?" Jack paused. As something occurred to him. "Hang on. You guys don't think I'm a professor, anymore."
The Honorable Flascarf and Lord Nyin exchanged a glance.
"You got the Earth Ambassador to look me up, too, huh?" Jack cried. "Just to make sure I was really a citizen of the Earth Empire."
"We apologize, honorable Harkness," said Lord Nyin. "We meant no dishonor. We just wanted to be thorough."
That was the thing about living forever. You were always bound to be around somewhere, whatever time period you happened to be visiting.
From the looks on Lord Nyin and the Honorable Flascarf's faces, though, Jack was guessing this future-him was employed by some other top-secret agency. Guessed that the Earth Ambassador had told Lord Nyin that Jack existed, Draconia couldn't touch him… and that was it.
No wonder they thought Jack had been taking Seo to Earth as his prisoner.
Maybe he could use this to his advantage.
"Listen," Jack said — stepping up to get right into Lord Nyin's face. "If you know who I am, you know — I've got things I know that I can't tell anyone about. Not even you." He pointed in the direction of the cells. "You know there's something different about her. She could walk through mirrors. She didn't show up on med-scans. That's not normal Cyberplanner behavior, is it?"
The Honorable Flascarf faltered.
But didn't deny it.
"I've got her under my protection for a reason," said Jack. "Can't get into why, or what she is, or what it means. But I can't let you execute her."
Lord Nyin gave a weary sigh. "Honorable Earthman," he said, with a slow shake of his head, "it is not that simple. She has admitted, several times, that she forfeited the Draconian Emperor's life for the Earth. If you and your… associates… do not condemn this action fully, then it will be mean war between Draconia and—"
"Yeah?" Jack said, evenly. "And you worked all this out with the Earth Ambassador yourself? Thought that was the Emperor's job."
Lord Nyin said nothing.
"He doesn't know anything about this, huh?" Jack guessed. "You've gone and done a deal behind his back! Why's that? Got ambitions of your own, Nyin?"
"He does not need the current Emperor's permission to negotiate," said another, much younger Draconian, stepping into the room. He was more ornately attired than the others, with two swords at his side. "He has mine."
Lord Nyin and the Honorable Flascarf turned and bowed, deeply, to the newcomer. Lord Nyin even got down on one knee, before him.
"Crowned Prince?" Jack asked.
From talking to the locals, he'd just assumed Draconia didn't have a Crowned Prince. But the way this guy was looking down his nose at Jack — as if personally affronted at having to confront an alien, and one who didn't show the proper respect for one of his rank — Jack figured maybe he was wrong.
"The Emperor is weak," said the Draconian. "A tired old man, who has led Draconia to the brink of destruction!" He withdrew one of his swords, and with the flick of his wrist, held the blade by Jack's throat. "Kneel before me, alien. There will soon be a new Emperor of Draconia. Emperor Mazenku."
Jack couldn't believe his ears.
Here they were, about to put Seo to death for plotting to kill the Emperor, and all the while…!
No. Actually, hang on. This was all starting to make sense, now.
"You're not executing her for wanting to kill the Emperor," Jack said. "You think she's figured out your plan. You're executing her because she wants to save him!"
"She has gained the confidence of the Lady Arasine," said Lord Mazenku. He spat on the ground, at the name. "That traitor to Draconian heritage! That inquisitive, un-feminine… concubine!" He spat again, just for good measure. "Secret 'lab'. It's clear what that means."
"It is?" Jack muttered.
"A female would never have the intelligence to do real science!" said Lord Mazenku. "She's been using her studies as a cover, to spy on me. Discover my plans!"
"We offered this… 'Seo' of yours… a pardon," said Lord Nyin, "on the condition that she denounced the Lady Arasine."
"But she didn't take the bait? Sounds about right." Jack felt the blade pressing into his neck. "Gonna execute me too, now?"
Lord Mazenku's eyes flared. He kicked at Jack, forcing him to his knees. Keeping the sword at his throat the whole time.
"You claim to protect the girl," said Lord Mazenku. "Perhaps you are even fond of her. Very well." He took the sword away. "You may both live, Earthman. So long as you tell our Cybernetics expert, the Honorable Flascarf, how to operate on her mind — to force her to do our bidding."
Jack went very still, at this.
His eyes flicking over to the Honorable Flascarf, who looked down, in shame.
"Again," Jack said, not quite believing it. "After everything we went through, trying to stop her last time… and now you're trying to start it up all over again?!"
"Earthman, you would be wise to assist the Lord Mazenku in any way…" Lord Nyin proposed.
Jack jumped to his feet. "Listen, your hoping-to-be majesty," he said. "Last time this happened, Seo flipped out. Killed everyone who'd hurt her — then nearly destroyed the universe in a fit of rage!"
"Is this how Earth-men lie?" Lord Nyin pondered.
Jack had known that one'd be a hard sell. "Okay, forget that," he said. "How about this Glarnov weapon? Because — dunno if anyone's clued you in, yet — but your civilization's being eaten up by an invisible monster that only Seo can see. If I were you… I'd put all this politics aside and let her go hunt the thing down!"
"And why would I want to do that?" said Lord Mazenku. He shrugged. "If her story is a lie, then it means Seo wishes to foil my plans — and must be either reprogrammed, or killed. If it is true… then I welcome this Glarnov Weapon. It seeks the same goal as I."
"It doesn't, you know," Jack warned him. "It really, really doesn't."
Lord Mazenku flicked his sword up to its previous spot, beside Jack's neck. Eyes narrowed.
"Go ahead! Kill me!" Jack replied. "But if I'm right and you're wrong… what's gonna happen when the Glarnov weapon comes for you?"
Lord Mazenku hesitated.
"My honorable Lord," the Honorable Flascarf cut in, kneeling before Lord Mazenku. He kissed Mazenku's hand. "Emperor soon-to-be, my life at your command! Would it not be wiser to keep the Earthman alive? Dead, Earth would demand an explanation. Alive… we could frame him for conspiracy, after the deed was done. You could demand his execution, to preserve your honor."
Lord Mazenku thought a long moment.
Then dropped his sword. "Very well," he decided. "Lock him up with the others. And redouble the number of guards on patrol around the perimeter of the cell. If there is any hint of an escape plan… I want them all executed immediately."
"So… no killing, then," Jack muttered, as he was handcuffed and led away. "Great. So much for Plan A."
Lord Mazenku watched through narrowed eyes, as Jack was led away.
"That Earthman makes me… uneasy," said Lord Mazenku, sheathing his sword. "He speaks as if Seo's story is true. And these… Glarnov, super-weapons, mirror-dimensions, and time… what did she call them?"
"Time Lords, my honorable Lord," said the Honorable Flascarf.
"…'Time Lords' really exist," said Lord Mazenku. He stroked his beard, again. "Yet… it cannot be. How can one lord over time itself? Preposterous."
"Preposterous, my lord," Lord Nyin agreed.
"Still…" Lord Mazenku turned to the Honorable Flascarf. "Don't cut that 'Seo' open. Find some way to coerce the Earthman Jack into assassinating the Emperor, instead. We'll frame him." He spun around, marched out of the room. "If this Glarnov weapon does exist… I may need her."