CHAPTER 16

"OUT ON BAIL ALREADY?"

Jason arrived at his quarters to find Leela and Constance waiting for him. Since it was his own room, he had entered without knocking, startling JoHanna, who immediately drew her weapon. This caused K-9 to glide forward and produce his laser to protect the equally startled aristocrat.

Before K-9 could fire, he was stopped with a quick command from Leela, who went on to introduce Jason to the apologetic Corporal.

The young Lord dropped wearily into a chair and put his feet up. "I didn't know you were joining me for dinner, Leela," he joked happily. "Or that you were bringing a friend."

Leela gave him a disapproving look, thinking that she should probably have let JoHanna shoot him after all.

Jason looked at Constance and smiled broadly. "Out on bail already?" he quipped.

"I can't for the life of me understand why," Constance said in bewilderment. "Commander Tolan suddenly appeared at my door and said I was free to go." Glancing over to her armed escort, she quickly added, "Well, not exactly free, but at least I'm out of that accursed cell."

"When did all this happen?"

"A few hours ago. JoHanna was good enough to show me to one of the gardens so I could get some fresh air. We were trying to find the Doctor and thought he might be with you." Seeing the amused smirk on Jason's face, Constance gave him an annoyed look. "I suppose you think this is just a big mistake."

"Me?" the aristocrat said innocently. "Oh, no, my dear Constance, quite the contrary. It's anything but a mistake."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well," Jason began calmly, "putting it simply, I paid your bail."

"You paid my…" Constance stared at him, not quite comprehending. She was about to ask what he meant when she noticed the insignia she had pointed to earlier was missing from its usual place around his neck. Even though the Emperor had given it back, Jason had chosen not to wear it. "What did you do…exactly?"

Seeing her eyes fixed on his chest, Jason's hand went to where the medallion usually hung and cleared his throat. "I…uh, pledged my birthright and all I possess as the surety to secure your release," he explained calmly. "So I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from any rash actions while you're at liberty."

"What!" Miss Sorenson gasped.

Jason's expression did not change. "I said, I pledged—"

"I know what you said!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "I just can't believe it."

"So, now I'm not just a double dealing Krystovan, I'm a liar as well," the young man ob served sarcastically.

Constance turned sharply back to him, hearing her own words thrown back at her.

"Now do you believe I'm on your side?"

Nodding slowly, Constance sat down again, overcome with remorse. "Yes. Yes, I do. Oh, Jason, can you ever forgive me?"

"Ask me again after the Doctor comes back."

"Jason, where is the Doctor?" Leela asked pointedly.

"He's either with the Chancellor or the Emperor, depending on who he decided to see first," the youth replied, settling further down in his chair and closing his eyes. "We spent all afternoon pouring over the stuff they brought from the Foundation." Glancing at his watch, he muttered, "When are they supposed to serve dinner? I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry," Leela snorted.

Constance, on the other hand, had latched onto his previous statement. "What stuff?"

"Hmmmm?" Jason opened one eye, looked at her and closed it again. "Oh, there were a dozen or so boxes full of files and laser disks that—" Hearing a small gasp, he half opened his eyes.

"Jason, you didn't… I mean, you didn't…"

"Find Preston's disk? Yes, I'm afraid I did."

Leela was confused by the horrified look on the face of her newfound friend. She turned accusingly to Jason, whose face was a study in concern and compassion. He held up a hand to silence the warrior, going over to the distraught Constance and sitting beside her. "Tell me about it," he said gently. "Tell me about Preston."

"No, Jason, please, I don't want to remember," she cried in anguish, burying her face in her hands. "Please, don't make me remember."

"The disk clears you of the murder charge," the young man said in a quiet, soothing voice, "but they'll still want to know how you knew about it."

"Because he told us!" Constance exploded, tears now staining her face. "He told us and then played that horrible recording as proof of how he'd cured us. Oh, Jason, it was so awful!" She collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Jason held her gently, reflecting on the stark difference there was between the frightened, helpless woman sobbing in his arms and the cold, self-assured businesswoman he'd met in To bias Black's office less than a week ago. Deep down, he had a terrible nagging fear that all their efforts would prove in vain and he would invariably have to bear witness to her execution.

The Doctor was having similar misgivings. Chancellor Dru had refused to discuss the matter of a reprieve or anything else, his feeling being that any attempt to save Constance was not just futile, but downright treasonous.

With this door closed, literally, the Doctor went to Emperor Quinton, who welcomed him with open arms. The monarch took the Time Lord into his office where he patiently listened to the evidence that the afternoon's labors had uncovered.

Due to the gravity of the unique situation, the Lord Emperor granted the Doctor the rare privilege of speaking with complete freedom, thus alleviating the fear of giving offense through any breach of protocol. He even ordered dinner brought to them so they would not have to stop working. As the Doctor made his case on Constance's behalf, the monarch realized he was liking him more and more, his respect and admiration mirroring that of the Time Lord himself.

"I realize you have to adhere to certain laws, Majesty," the Doctor was saying. "But I also know that most laws have a loophole somewhere."

"If that's so, Doctor, I certainly can't find it," Emperor Quinton sighed resignedly.

"Perhaps we're going at this the wrong way round," the Time Lord observed, shuffling through the papers on the desk.

"Doctor, we've looked at these so many times I've practically got them memorized," the weary monarch moaned. "The answer is still the same. No one, not even another Emperor, can rescind an Imperial decree. That's why they're not issued very often." He sat back in his chair and rubbed his tired eyes.

The Doctor wasn't listening. He was studying a copy of the original Changeling death decree. "Tell me, this decree. How is the execution to be carried out? There's no mention of it here. It just says the Changelings must die. Rather vague, don't you think?"

Quinton took the paper, glanced at it and handed it back. "In cases such as these, I have the unenviable honor of choosing the means of execution."

The Doctor nodded. "I take it the choices are wide, varied, and equally unpleasant."

The Emperor gave him a wry smile. He was really beginning to like this Time Lord. "Some are more unpleasant than others, but I'm afraid they're all equally fatal."

The Doctor marveled at him. After spending so much of his time with humans, he had forgotten there were races that actually preferred life over death. Peace over war. Races like the Alterrans who had an innate abhorrence to violence. More amazing still was the fact that this one man, who controlled unimaginable power and ruled over an entire star system, should be genuinely concerned for the well-being of an individual he'd never met. It was almost miraculous, the Doctor thought, thinking to himself that Emperor Quinton was quite possibly the most exceptional leader he had ever encountered.

This last thought had barely passed through the Time Lord's mind when the Emperor looked up and grinned. "Thank you, Doctor."

The Doctor blinked.

Quinton laughed at this reaction. "You're either very tired or you trust me," he said simply. "You let your guard down about half an hour ago." Indicating the Great Seal, he explained, "With this, I'm able to read the thoughts of those around me. Your being telepathic just makes the process that much easier."

"I'll have to watch what I think from now on," the fascinated Time Lord quipped.

The monarch smiled again. "As long as you keep the barrier around your mind as you usu ally do, you're quite safe from my picking up any stray thoughts. Actually, I don't use it to probe the minds of others unless I have to."

The Doctor was now bubbling over with curiosity. "Just how much power do you control with the Seal?" he asked, adding quickly, "If your Majesty doesn't mind my asking?"

Another chuckle rumbled forth. "Not at all, Doctor. In fact, you're the first person who's ever had the courage to ask—at least directly." Pausing, Quinton thought a moment, only to admit, "There aren't words to describe it. All I can tell you is, when I do tap into the power, the results can be both astounding and terrifying. I dare say, it's more than most could handle."

The Doctor nodded sagely, having encountered more than his share of leaders corrupted by only a fraction of the power the Alterran held, quite literally, in the palm of his hand.

The Emperor sighed heavily, staring despondently at the papers strewn across his desk. "You know something? Even with all the power of the Seal, I'm powerless to stop this execution."

The Time Lord looked up sharply, his expression a mixture of surprise and disappointment. "But surely if we—"

"What?" the monarch interrupted. "We could look through all these until we both died of old age, the outcome would still be the same. An Imperial decree cannot be overturned. Not even by another Emperor. Period."

The Doctor was forced to agree. Then the Emperor's remark struck a cord in the back of his mind. He sat bolt upright, a small cry of delight escaping him. His eyes grew wide, a bright smile illuminating his face.

Noting this extraordinary reaction, the Emperor gave him a quizzical look. "What? What is it?"

The Doctor gave him a devilish look. "Your Majesty, I think I've just found our loophole."