CHAPTER 11

ACCUSATIONS

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 accept the Alterran in his current form without reservation, which made him a truly remarkable person in Jason's eyes.

"Jason, 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 said coldly. "I also recall your 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.

Aghast and speechless, the 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?"

Again the Alterran was 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 fam ily 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.