CHAPTER 3

WORK IN PROGRESS

After a refreshing night's sleep, the Doctor and his companions were served a generous breakfast out on a small patio that overlooked the Foundation's main building. The Doctor remarked that it was obvious no expense had been spared in the construction of the Foundation or the residence park. The guesthouse was lavish without being gaudy, and even had a small staff to look after its occupants. It was actually one of several such accommodations that were in constant use, as noted members of the scientific community came and went on a weekly basis.

Leela was the first to finish, saying a quick good-bye before setting off to rendezvous with Marshal's group near the fountain in the central plaza. The Doctor told her to enjoy herself, asking that she try to avoid killing anyone while she was away. A few minutes later a messenger arrived bearing the security passes arranged by Tobias. The Doctor and Jason then finished their own breakfasts and set off to retrieve the gutted K-9.

The rest of the week passed relatively without incident. As K-9's repairs became more and more intricate, Jason's presence seemed to become less and less necessary. The Doctor had succeeded in awing Marshal's entire staff within the first hour of his arrival and was running the whole show by the end of the first day. Eventually his Alterran companion felt like an unwelcome spectator and stopped going to the Robotics lab altogether. There was not much going on in his own fields to hold his attention, which did not help in raising his gloomy spirits.

Jason had joined the Time Lord as a traveling companion only a few weeks earlier and his departure from home had been less than smooth. The Doctor had warned him that he might regret the decision, and in his present, depressed state, he was doing just that. Jason tried to convince himself that as soon as he felt better, the regrets and homesickness would vanish. Or at least, he hoped they would.

On a brighter note, Jason had been able to catch up on old times with Tobias. His friend told him how he came to be at the Foundation in the first place, and on a planet well out of the Alterran sphere of influence. He had been part of a research team that had been given a grant by the Sorenson estate. After that, he worked on another grant, and then another, eventually working his way up to Director of the Foundation itself.

Jason was very pleased his old friend had done so well, recalling how difficult things had been for him in the past. The Healer was also glad that at least one person in the building knew he was still alive.

Unbeknownst to Jason, his absence from the Robotics lab had not gone unnoticed. The Doctor was not only aware of it, but was also becoming increasingly annoyed with the young man's behavior. For reasons known only to himself, Tobias had introduced Jason to all as Lord Krystovan, a title the Alterran rarely used. The Doctor was puzzled when his companion did not immediately correct this, and was less than thrilled when he started displaying a very superior, if not condescending attitude. Or so it appeared to the Doctor, who could finally take it no longer and resolved to have it out with Jason as soon as K-9 was up and running.

On the eve of the final checks to K-9's circuitry, the Doctor was unexpectedly summoned to the Director's office. He arrived to find Jason waiting in the outer office, having received a similar summons and being none the wiser as to the reasons behind it. All became clear when they were shown inside. Seated beside the desk was Miss Constance Sorenson who had returned to the estate the previous evening.

Director Black made the introductions and then moved aside. Jason observed that Miss Sorenson was exactly as his friend described: cold, impersonal, businesslike. She was also even more striking than her portrait. She remained polite yet formal throughout the entire interview.

"If I'm to believe what I'm hearing," Constance said to the Doctor, "Mr. Dunn's report on your scientific qualifications falls woefully short of your actual knowledge and expertise."

"You flatter me, Miss Sorenson," the Doctor replied in a rare show of modesty.

Turning to Jason, she said, "Director Black informs me that you, too, have a scientific background, Lord Krystovan. Is it as extensive as the Doctor's?"

"Alas, no," Jason said urbanely. "My knowledge of Robotics is virtually nil in comparison to the Doctor's. My fields are medicine, chemistry, and botany. But I'm afraid I'm not as proficient in them as I'd like."

"Don't let him kid you, Miss Sorenson," Tobias injected. "Lord Krystovan knows a little bit about everything. And he's one of the most gifted Healers Tel-Shye has ever produced."

Constance raised an eyebrow. "How very interesting, especially in one so young—Oh, but of course, you're not as young as you appear, are you, your Lordship? Director Black told me about the longevity of your people."

"How very kind of him," Jason remarked, throwing his friend a reproachful look.

Miss Sorenson glanced at her watch. "I'm terribly sorry, I must be going. I've a meeting in a few minutes on the other side of the building. It was very nice to've met you both."

In an apparent display of courtly manners, Jason took her by the hand and kissed it, bowing slightly. "The pleasure has been all mine, Miss Sorenson." This entire flamboyant display had merely been a device so the Healer could touch, and thereby scan, Constance. He had been ill at ease ever since he'd seen her portrait and was determined to scan her at the first opportunity. What he discovered was so startling he failed to noticed her practically snatched her hand away before leaving. It was Director Black who finally brought him back to reality.

"You're wasting your time, Jaycie," Black intoned. "That lady's only interested in the operation of the Sorenson Empire."

The youth smiled briefly only to frown again. The Doctor was puzzled by the boy's behavior, having already deduced that he had scanned Constance. Leaning close to Jason's ear, he asked, "What was that all about?" His companion shot a quick glance in Black's direction and quietly replied, "Not now."

This wasn't the first time since their arrival that Jason had brushed the Doctor off and he was becoming increasingly more irritated with each occurrence. It was only because the Director was present that he controlled his annoyance, resolving to have a talk with his companion as soon as possible.

Now the Director was apologizing, stating that he, too, had a meeting in another part of the building and had no sooner left than Jason turned to the Doctor with a somber expression on his face. "There's more going on here than meets the eye, Doctor," he said mysteriously.

This remark took the Doctor completely off guard. "What?"

"Miss Constance Sorenson is not what she claims to be. She's Alterran, not human. And she's …she's…" The Healer cut himself off and shuddered.

"Jason, what the devil—?" The Doctor was interrupted when the Director's secretary entered with the message that the repaired circuitry for K-9 had been installed and his presence was required for its testing.

"You go ahead, Doctor. I've got to think this through." So saying, Jason turned his back on the irritated Time Lord and stared out the window.

There it was again! the Doctor thought angrily. Dismissed by his Lordship yet again. He ground his teeth and left.

After their separate meetings ended, Tobias met Miss Sorenson in the hallway where she immediately collared him and practically dragged him into an empty conference room. Once inside, she began voicing her disapproval. "An Alterran Healer from the House of Krystovan! Are you out of your mind! Have you no conception how dangerous he can be?"

Tobias remained unruffled. "Oh, come off it, Constance. He's only been here a week."

"With unrestricted access to the entire facility!" she countered fiercely. "He's already been seen in the access tunnels. What happens when this gifted friend of yours stumbles across your private laboratory? Or your private research? What will he think of you then, Mr. Director?"

Black glared back but said nothing. She was right and he knew it. Jason was scrupulous to a fault and had a nasty streak of idealism to go with it. "I'll restrict his movements, then," he said at last. "Tell him it's was the Board's decision or something."

"I don't care what you tell him. Or the Doctor for that matter. Just keep Krystovan away from me!"

The Doctor returned to the guesthouse to find Jason out on the patio apparently lounging in the light of the setting sun. "And how is my Lord Krystovan tonight?" he asked with a distinct edge of sarcasm in his voice.

Jason opened one eye to look up at him and then closed it again, sighing heavily. There was so much jangling around inside his head he didn't know where to begin. Surely the Doctor could help him sort it all out…

The Alterran was jolted out of his thoughts when the Doctor said softly, "Jason, we need to talk."

The startled youth sat bolt upright, convinced the Time Lord had just read his mind. "What?"

"I said we need to talk." The Doctor took a seat opposite his companion, adding pointedly, "About you."

"Me? What about me?" Jason was completely baffled.

The Doctor took a deep breath. Confrontations of this sort were not one of his favorite things. They invariably caused hard feelings and emotional displays. And, unfortunately, this time would be no different. "I realize it's been difficult for you since you left Tel-Shye," he began slowly. "You've been brooding a great deal, which is understandable..."

"But…?" Jason injected sharply. "There's a but coming soon, isn't there?" He could feel himself becoming very angry. The Doctor was about to touch a raw nerve he'd been trying very hard to ignore.

The Doctor sighed heavily. This was already going badly, and he'd scarcely started. "The but is, I think you've been questioning your—"

"Why don't you just say it?" Jason exploded. "You're sorry you ever let me come with you. You wish you'd never agreed to it in the first place, don't you? Well? Don't you?"

"I'm beginning to…" the Time Lord said between clenched teeth.

"Well, get on with it then!"

Now the Doctor lost his temper. "And that's another thing. This past week you've either been sulking off in a corner somewhere, or acting like a spoiled popinjay brushing aside we the insignificant commoners. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression you didn't like all the accolades that accompanied your title." His voice hardened further as he added, "Or was I wrong, myLord Krystovan?"

"Well, I'm sorry if I offended you, Time Lord!" Jason spat back. "I wouldn't want to undermine your authority as resident expert on all subjects great and small. After all, I'm only an Alterran. What do I know?"

"Apparently very little! And you're not going to learn anything by shouting at me."

"Me? Learn from you? Don't make me laugh. I don't know how I could've been stupid enough to think you could teach me anything."

By this time they were both on their feet and Jason turned to leave. The Doctor took hold of his arm telling him to stop acting like a child and calm down. His companion glared murderously back at him and pulled his arm away. Then he lashed out, striking the unsuspecting Time Lord with such force that he was knocked off of his feet and sent sprawling.

"I could teach you a lesson or two, Time Lord," the Alterran snarled, slamming a fist on a table and turning it to splinters. "And I can guarantee you wouldn't like any of them!" With that, he stormed off into the fast growing darkness.

Stunned, the Doctor watched him go. He had never seen this side of his companion's personality before, and was completely shocked by it. For a member of a non-violent race, Jason had an extremely violent side.

When he finally picked himself up off of the ground the Doctor discovered that he had an audience, the fight having attracted the attention of everyone within earshot. Throwing a quick glance in the direction the boy had taken, he withdrew into the privacy of the guesthouse.

One member of the audience had been enthralled by the altercation, absorbing every detail. When the Doctor finally went inside, the interested observer withdrew into the shadows.

Now was the time to act.