David took an excited breath and began. "Do you remember Roy Reedon?"

Alice smiled and nodded, "Yea, that skinny kid you used to hang out with, until his parents moved away. Guilty conscious? Always acted like he was on his way somewhere else?"

David grinned at the reminder of all the trouble he got in because of Roy. "That's the one. Well, I met him again when I got that job at the agency. He's a detective for the New Phoenix police department believe it or not. I'm going to call in some favors for the equipment I need from some buddies in the armory, and then I'll see if Roy can help nail down who may be responsible. I hope to be on my way in an hour or two. HA, if I can find some clothes. They won't know what hit them."

Lori looking between the two of them with smiles and growing excitement on their faces,.. and cracked. "What's the matter with you two" Lori stood enraged, her cup breaking as she threw it on the table, "Stop it! You act like this is some kind of Easter egg hunt! This is my child. My 4 year old daughter in the hands of god knows who, doing god knows what to her. Why don't they just give us the ransom demand already?"

David was confused by her anger at him. Did she want to know what he was going to do or not? He stood up to reach for her but she backed away. "It's ok Lori, she's much too valuable for them to hurt her if they don't have to. Wewon't see a ransom demand because there isn't enough money on this entire planet. As a female Time Lord, she is worth much more then we could offer in breeding rights alone."

Lori's eyes went wide and fixed as she began to tremble where she stood. Alice recognized the signs of collapse and went to her side to hold her. Lori ignored her and stared at a man, who was not her husband. "You're gleefully telling me our 4 year old child will most likely be sold to the highest bidder for her breeding rights?" Lori had a strange look in her eyes suddenly. "Just part of the game isn't it? Makes it a more interesting project for you, does it? I don't know who you are, and I want you out of my house and don't come back without mydaughter!" Lori shrugged out of Alice's hold and slammed the bedroom door.

Alice sighed, "Way to go Davie. Still have the emotional range of a salt shaker I see."

David was dumbfounded, "I was trying to tell her that Helen is in no real danger of physical harm."

"No, you just gave her something else to worry about, and an image she'll never forget!"

David realized what he'd done and started walking toward the bedroom, but Alice grabbed his arm. "No David. Let me go first. You're a stranger to her in more ways than one now." The pain on David's face was undeniable. He never meant to hurt Lori, and was ashamed that she was right.

It was a kind of game to him. His regeneration had left him with such a rush, the whole thing felt like child's play. Failure was not even a shadow in his path. He finally understood the twinkle in his dad's eye when he would tell stories of the dangers of Daleks and Cybermen. Life and death decisions with no time to think. Outsmarting the enemy with seconds to spare. Knowing the answers before the questions were even asked. It was intoxicating.

The sounds of Lori weeping behind the door brought him down from his high, and he could see the pain he'd caused her. He wanted to hold her and tell her he loved her and how sorry he was. But she wouldn't even look at him now.

Alice watched the emotions swim across his face. "You'd better make those calls and get started." She went to the door and gently knocked, "Lori? Can I come in?" There was no answer. Alice opened the door to see Lori on the bed weeping. She went and sat next to her, rubbing circles into her back. "I'm not going to tell you not to cry. If anyone has the right to, it's you. I know it's bad right now, but you know David will never let harm come to Helen. He will find her and bring her back to you."

Lori stopped to take a ragged breath for a moment. "The David I knew would never let harm come to Helen. I don't know who that bastard is out there and I don't know what he is capable of."

"Lori. You know he's still the same man on the inside. You have to trust in that." She had lost her faith in him and it would take a lot to get it back. Alice had an idea. "Lori, look at me." Lori turned onto her back and looked at Alice with such sadness it was nearly too much to take. "Take a deep breath, relax, and think of Helen as you last saw her. Tell me what she looks like."

Lori took a breath and began to describe Helen. "She has her fathers dark hair and eyes. She's so pale. She burns easily in the sun. Helen is such a happy child and has plump pink baby cheeks that are so kissable. I had just dressed her in her favorite green nightgown and put her in bed. She was tired from playing all day with the little girl down the block. You'd never know a child with the mind of an adult could love playing dress up so much. They came down to show me how fashionable they were in those ragged clothes I gave them." Lori stopped and smiled remembering.

Alice new this was her moment. "Lori close your eyes and just feel for Helen. You've done it before and never known it. You have a connection with your child you can't explain. Grab hold of it, stretch out and feel for her. Lori laid quiet and thought of her love for Helen. Suddenly Helen was in her mind, and Lori unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself and smiled. Alice knew that a mothers love would make the connection.

"Lori? You can feel her with you can't you?"

"YES! I can feel her in my arms." Tears were running down Lori's face.

"Good. Ask her how she is. Ask her if she knows where she is."

Lori was aglow with the feeling. "She's ok, a little frightened, but ok. She can't see anything."

Alice had tears in her eyes. "Tell her what a brave girl she is and daddy will be there soon."

Lori sobbed again, "She can hear me. Oh Alice, she's ok."

"Good Lori, You need to let go now. She needs to rest for a while or it may cause you both pain." Lori didn't want to let go but she didn't have the strength to hold on.

Lori looked at Alice with wonder. "How did that happen?"

Alice smiled, "Time Lord child. We are touch telepaths, but family groups don't need to be touching to feel each others thoughts and feelings. That's how I knew to come to you. I felt him… die, and I know father and mother did to. They will not be put off for long."

Now for the hard part. "Lori, I want you to do the same for David."

Lori's eyes grew cold. "No, I don't want to make contact with that bastard on my couch. He's not my David. My David is gone."

Lori began to sob again and Alice put out her hand to pull away the hair in Lori's eyes. She laid her hand on Lori's forehead. "No Lori, he's not gone, and I will prove it to you. Look at me." Alice looked into Lori's eyes and whispered, "Think about David. Your David. Tell me your favorite memory of him."

Lori relaxed and her thoughts strayed to the first time they made love. When she knew that she loved him. Despite what he was, he was the one she wanted to spend her life with. Then, David was in her mind and the strength of his love wrapped her in warmth and soothed her soul. She wailed in desperation, "David! David, I need you! Where are you?"

There was a muffled voice coming from the door so profoundly lost it was hard to hear. "Lori, I'm here. I'm here, please let me in." Lori didn't think. She got up from the bed and ran to the door. The man that stood there was not who she remembered, but when she closed her eyes and he kissed her, that warmth and love filled her whole being. She kept her eyes closed as she wrapped herself around him. David buried his head in her neck, clenching his eyes closed. "Oh David I felt her. She's alive, She's ok."

"Yes, my love. I feel her too. She hasn't left the planet yet." He held her head as he kissed her deeply. Lori looked into his eyes and suddenly the fear was gone. David touched his forehead to hers, "I'm so sorry. I promise you I will bring her home." Lori didn't look up. She didn't want his last image of her to be her face red and swollen from crying. David gave her a hard kiss again, "I love you Lori."

Lori whimpered quietly, "I love you too David." He led her out to the family room and Alice followed.

David was all business suddenly, "Time to go. Alice, I need you to run interference for me. You and Lori go out the front door. Lori, dress in my clothes, you need to try and look like the old me. Make as much noise as you can, run over a bush or something, get their attention. I'm going out the bedroom window, into the bushes at the side of the house and skirt down the alley fence. They are expecting this and will follow you, don't lose them. You know what to do Alice. You probably won't see them, but that's ok. Bring a cloth bag. Go to a bank and make it look like you're getting a lot of money out. Stuff it with envelopes or something. Lead them back here. I'll be long gone.

oopOqoo

Alice was perfect. She was yelling at me (Lori) telling me what an idiot I was, slamming the doors, screeching out of the driveway and down the road at top speed. I was watching from the windows in back as their lookouts ran to the front. I was out the window and away before they knew it. Alice and Lori should be okay once they get back. My sister had a good head on her shoulders and a street sense that was as good as my own.

I met with Roy. Took me a while to convince him it was me. He almost blew my head off, but he knew I was a Time Lord and what that meant. Roy gave me what he could with such short notice. The man I could be dealing with was Joseph Anthony. He runs an underground syndicate that deals in drugs, gambling, and slave markets in ten systems. They had heard he was coming out this way to expand his empire.

Roy warned me he was not the sort to be stupid or lazy. His weakness right now would be his associates. Local thugs trying to impress the big man for their own share of the pie. Word around was they were going to make a killing on something, selling it to Anthony. The exchange hadn't been made yet, but Anthony was on his way to receive the goods.

"Thanks for your help Roy. I would appreciate it if you kept this under wraps. My daughters life is at stake."

Roy wanted to help but I refused. They were sure to know who he was and spot him. "I brought you some backup from your friends. It's in the trunk." Roy pulled the hood up and there before me was an arsenal that would outfit a small planet. I took only what I could fit in my pockets.

"I know where to start. I hope you don't mind if this gets messy. I don't intend to ask them for my child. I intend to take her back! And I'm not going to stop to read them their rights."

Roy looked down at the ground as he spoke. "The petty scum you're dealing with have been a thorn in my side for long enough. Every time I pick them up, they wiggle out like worms and they have been getting steadily worse. Usually by killing or intimidating the witnesses. If I didn't have a badge I would have killed them myself." Roy looked at David sternly. "But I do have a badge and if I catch you with blood on your hands you will pay for it." He grinned, "So don't get caught."

oopOqoo

The desert around New Phoenix went for 200 miles in every direction. Lots of places in the outlying cliffs to hide a rat. I had come across them a few times while surveying for the newest subdivisions. I headed that way because I could feel her presence like a beacon. The cycle I was on came courtesy of the same guy who loaned me the leather jacket. Hopefully he'll wake up and find my note to pick it up at the police station.

The tracks back to their hideout were out of the way and well hidden. They weren't taking any chances. There were motion sensors and cameras everywhere. So much for the element of surprise.

Men like this had respect for only one thing. The next guy up on the food chain. I was about to become a rival buyer. Let's see if the greedy bastards would fight amongst themselves long enough to get her out. If not, there were other ways in my pocket.

I was stopped at the fence gate by several unsavory men who took a dislike to me. After showing them my calling card, which put holes in unimportant parts of their bodies, followed by threats to important parts, they decided not to trouble me further. Destroying their communication system as I went past was just the cherry on top.

The rat's nest was little more than a large, rusted Quonset hut that had been used to store vehicles a few decades ago. I revved my engine to announce myself and waited. They came running out like kids to an ice cream truck. I grabbed the first one and held him in front of me with his arm behind his back as the others drew their weapons.

"Now, Now. Let's all be gentlemen shall we? Unless you want me to break this guy in half." The man screamed to the sickening sound of his arm fracturing. They stood still and were silent. "Relax boys, I don't want any of you little piglets. Get your boss. You're all dead men and you don't have much time."

One of the men went inside and returned with an unsavory character with a scar on his lip. "Who the hell are you asshole?"

I eyed him slowly "My employer has heard that you have the impossible. A female Time Lord child. You're waiting around like fools for that amateur Anthony to arrive. Don't you know Time Lords take a dislike to having their children snatched? He's on his way and you won't know it until it's too late."

The men laughed. "We have him and his family under surveillance. He's being a good boy and not going anywhere." Another laughed, "Yea, he's waiting for a ransom demand that will never come."

I laughed and yelled back, "Are you really that stupid! Don't you know why they are called Time Lords? Because they can travel through time! He's on his way back to kill every ancestor you ever had. In a few minutes you will never have existed." The men were mumbling and shifting, and ready to run. I smirked at them, "Forget it. There's nowhere to run when you've never been born."

They were listening to me closely now. "You have one chance. Don't wait two days for Anthony. You sell to me, NOW. I go to him and take the heat. You stay alive. My employer gets what he wants. Everybody's happy." The men were nodding their heads and pushing the boss. If they get their money who cares where it comes from. Let's just get out of this. "I'll only offer this once. Make up your mind, because I know The Time Lord will have something special planned just for you Mr. Bossman."

The boss was considering it. "You don't know my price. How do I know you have the funds?"

I stared at him like he was a moron. "Do you think I came all this way out to this disgusting shithole, to buy a Time Lord, without the funds? Have you ever heard of the bank of Karabraxos?" His eyes widened. Everyone has heard of the bank of Karabraxos. You have to own several star systems to even get an account.

"My employer doesn't haggle. He gets what he wants. I'll give you the account number. And you transfer what you want. Remember to be reasonable or you will not be breathing for long." I held up a data crystal and let it shine in his eyes.

The boss grinned, "Will you come inside to discuss it?"

"I told you I'm not here to haggle, and I warn you, he doesn't like being told no. If you want to live the next 24 hours you'd better produce the girl."

He considered for a moment more and then told one of his men to get the girl. I tossed the man I was holding to the ground. "She better be what you say she is, and unharmed, or the deal is off and you die bossman." The man brought the girl out into the sun. My heart clenched as I saw her tearstained face. She looked so much like Lori. Her eyes were bound with a cloth and there were red marks on her wrists. I closed my eyes for a moment to touch her mind. 'Helen, baby it's daddy. It's going to be alright. We're going home to mommy soon. Don't let them know you know me.'

"Bring her to me." The boss nodded and the man brought her over. I reached down to feel the pulse at her throat and smiled. "Looks like you boys get to live today." I got on the bike and put her in front of me. I held up the crystal and threw it at the boss. "Don't spend it all in one place. The account number is 4296160."

They crowded around the boss as he put the crystal in his device. A pleasant woman's voice came over the line. "Welcome to the bank of Karabraxos. How can I help You?"

I started the bike and road away as fast as I could. The men all cheered and congratulated each other for becoming very rich men. "Account number 4296160"

"One moment while I access that account….. What services would you like? Last deposit, Last withdrawal, Account balance, Security services, Schedule a payment." The men all cheered again.

The boss smiled, "Let's have some fun. Account balance."

"The balance on this account is four billion quadrocredits."

The men fell silent at the incredible amount of money before them. Many went pale knowing how close they came to someone with that much power. "Remember." One of the men said, "Only what we were asking from Anthony, or we're all dead men." The boss looked at the men around him. The ones from the gate were struggling through the door. "Hey, the jerk on the bike has the kid. He said you got paid. We want our share!"

The nice lady from the bank asked what service she could provide next. A few men laughed and made disgusting suggestions. "I want to transfer funds to account 99594533 on earth, in the amount of one billion earth credits."

"Yes sir, One billion earth credits to account 99594533. Please wait while I process your request." An odd song came on to entertain them as they waited. Some of the men actually started dancing. It seemed to take a lot longer that it should. Finally the woman's cheerful voice came back on. "I'm sorry, you do not have authorization to transfer funds from this account. You are guilty of a breach of security. The penalty is incineration. Have a nice day."

oopOqoo

The Time Lord sped away as quickly as possible from their hideout. He knew access would be denied. The bank of Karabraxos did not allow security breaches to go unpunished. When he heard the explosion and saw the mushroom cloud rising behind them he knew it was over. There wouldn't even be a greasy spot left and the crater would be seen from space. The following 2.3 magnitude earthquake would inform the rest of the planet. I have to remember to tell Roy the cause, so he can be on the nightly news.

When we were far enough away I pulled over to check out my daughter. "Helen my little love, before I take off the blindfold I need you to know that my face is different, but it's still me, okay?"

Helen smiled and nodded. As I removed the rag she quickly gave me a hug and kisses. "I knew you were coming for me daddy."

The tears in my eyes made her shoulder wet as I hugged the stuffing out of her. "I'll always be there for you baby. I love you. Let's go home."

oopOqoo

I pulled into the parking lot at the police station and asked for Roy. I gave him the keys to the bike and told him my story over a cup of coffee and a piece of pie at the diner next store. He was anticipating with glee, telling the media and his boss, that the local crime syndicate had just blown themselves up in a chemical lab explosion. The hole is so deep It'll probably end up a tourist attraction. I made sure the truth would slip out as unsubstantiated rumor. No sense making criminals pay if it didn't serve as a lesson, and a warning.

Helen was unfazed by it all and sat happily with her ice cream waiting for her mother to come and get us.

When I called Lori, Alice was in a heated discussion with my parents who had decided to visit and find out what was going on after all.

"I'll be right there." Was all she had time for as she ran out the door leaving Alice to fend for herself.

When Lori arrived and kneeled on the pavement to hold Helen in her arms I knew I could sleep in peace that night.

The fallout, -not of the explosion- it was non nuclear, of my regeneration was not going to be pleasant. I was more afraid of mom and dad than I was of the kidnappers.

As we pulled in the driveway they were out of the house and giving me what for, until Helen ran out of the car happy to see her grandparents. As she rushed into moms arms dad could see the marks on her wrists. He looked at me knowing he could have lost us both. I'll never forget the look in his eyes. Not anger, not fear, just relief and gratitude.

Mom gave me the biggest hug she could and then a slap on the hands. "Why are you always trying to give me a heart attack? Look at you, with your new face." Pinching my cheeks like I was five. She grabbed Lori in a hug pulling her away. "I know it's not easy to get used to, his father's new face was difficult for me too, but if he's his father's son I'll bet he made it worth your while to try." She waggled her eyebrows a few times and said nothing more.

As they all went inside chattering, I picked up Helen and held her tight. Planting kisses on her cheeks. She didn't seem to mind my new face. She could feel me in her hearts and that was all that mattered to her.

The End