CHAPTER 22
OUT OF THE PAST
"Doctor!" the Emperor called suddenly. The Time Lord appeared in the doorway to see the monarch standing beside the bed, a horrified expression on his face. "He should've regained consciousness by now," Quinton told him. "But he…he seems to've gone into a coma."
"What!" The Doctor rushed to the bedside, reaching out a hand and then quickly snatching it back. "Is it safe for me to touch him yet?" Receiving only a blank stare in response, he dropped all the social niceties, took the Emperor by the shoulders and shook him. "Quinton! Pull yourself together!" he snapped forcefully. "Is it safe for me to touch him or not?"
The combination of hearing his own name and the roughness of the Time Lord's actions immediately brought the Emperor out of his daze. "Yes. Yes, it's safe now." Looking down at the inert form, he moaned, "What've I done? How could I've allowed this to happen?"
The Doctor stared in amazement, seeing the real Quinton for the first time. The man beside him was no longer the cool, confident Lord Emperor of Alterrous. He was simply Quinton; a man possessing all the fears, self doubts, and insecurities that made him mortal.
"You did what you thought best," the Doctor replied. "Just as Jas—Ow!" He cried out as a spark suddenly flashed from his companion's body, numbing his hand. "His body's still charged with energy!"
"But that's impossible. The residual energy was nearly dissipated when I brought him in here."
"Well, it's not dissipated now!" the Doctor said sharply, shaking his tingling hand. "Judging from the jolt I just got, I'd say he's still charged with a great deal."
"But how?"
The Time Lord furrowed his brow, scowling down at the motionless youth as he tried to make sense of it all. "Would I be correct in assuming the connection with the Seal was still active when you brought him in here?" he asked.
The Emperor nodded slowly. "Ye-es…"
"Yes. And you'd also given him leave to use it," the Doctor went on thoughtfully. "Is it possible—?" Looking up, he asked, "Could he've absorbed a second dose of energy when you carried him in here?"
"I suppose it's possible," the monarch replied slowly. "But…why would he need a second dose? There was nothing to be protected from."
"Why indeed? Then again, Jason's current state of health isn't exactly par excellence. Perhaps he needed more energy than he originally thought in order to remain stabilized."
The Lord Emperor shrugged, sighing heavily. "I suppose we'd better put him to bed properly. There's no telling when he'll wake up now." Placing a hand on the young man's shoulder, the monarch instantly transformed his elaborate brocade clothing into something more suitable for bed. He then lifted his unconscious nephew into his arms as the Doctor pulled back the bed clothes. Catching the Time Lord's eye, the Emperor grinned self-consciously. "Yes, I know, Doctor. I'm showing off again."
Thanks to the very visible presence of Corporal JoHanna, Constance was spared any further unpleasant en counters. She arrived at her quarters and was surprised again when JoHanna informed her that Tolan had given orders that she remain on guard outside insuring that Constance would be spared from anyone else who might take it upon themselves to carry out her death sentence.
Leela tensed when she entered the room, sensing something was wrong yet again. She crept silently to the bedroom, relaxing when she saw the Doctor sitting quite unharmed within.
Constance came to the door and caught her breath. Since she had no knowledge of Jason's part in her recovery, his current condition came as a complete shock. The Doctor filled her in on what had happened and then the foursome sat in silent vigil.
It was Constance who finally broke the silence. In a quiet voice she said, "You've all done so much for me. More than I ever dreamed possible. I think, well…I think you deserve to know my name. My real name, that is."
She immediately had everyone's attention.
"I'm Emilia Sornon."
"Sornon?" the Doctor gasped. "As in, Sornon Genetic Research Team?"
Constance nodded, grateful the years of hiding, denial, and pretending were over. Her father had been the head of the team. He had also been the one to see the first signs of betrayal in Emperor Krystovan and arrange for their escape. When the day finally came, only thirty made the trip that eventually led them to Aegis. The true irony in the story was that Constance had never been a member of the team. She had been exposed because she had had the misfortune of choosing the day of the accident to visit her father at his laboratory.
The persona of Emil Sorenson was created as a cover so the group could raise the necessary funds to continue their work, and it was Constance who assumed the identity. Utilizing information supplied by Melnacon, she was able to make insightful, and extremely profitable, business investments.
A search for a cure was always the group's main goal, but they were all keenly aware that the mania could appear at any time. This was the reason the booth Tobias Black had used to imprison the Doctor was constructed. Its function was twofold; confining anyone showing signs of the mania, and execution chamber should the mania be confirmed. All members of the group had agreed that this was far better than what awaited them on Alterrous.
Constance paused a moment, the memories suddenly seeming too painful. Getting control of herself, she went on to tell of how, after many long months, Melnacon abruptly vanished. Since he had done nothing but make a nuisance of himself since their escape, everyone was glad to be rid of him. Then Preston magically appeared with his cure.
"Well, you all saw that horrible recording," Constance said softly. "When he presented it like a proud parent—" She closed her eyes and shivered, seeing the events of so long ago playing out before her.
"I take it the reaction wasn't as he expected?" the Emperor said calmly.
Constance shook her head. "Let's just say you'll never have to worry about having him stand in judgment." She went on to tell of how the group had scattered after this, her father wasting away with guilt, blaming himself for failing to see the instability in Preston sooner.
"That's why I established the Alexandria Foundation. I wanted to somehow make restitution for Preston's unspeakable actions. Melnacon's death saved my life. I couldn't let it be in vain," she said quietly. After her father's death she gave birth to the persona of the cold and detached Constance admitting that after spending so many years pretending to be a man, she was grateful to finally be able to appear as a female again. A woman who was easy to hide behind, and could keep everyone else at bay.
"But still very much alone," the Emperor observed knowingly. It was easy for him to empathize with her, he himself having been cut off from a normal existence because of what he was. At the same time, he was fascinated, never having expected to learn so much.
Leela had been unable to follow most of what was being said and chose not to even try, keeping her full attention on the motionless form in the bed. She sat up suddenly when she thought she saw a flicker of movement. Then Jason's eyes fluttered open a second, closing again.
"Doctor," Leela said in an excited whisper, "I think he's waking up."
The Time Lord turned in time to see his companion stir slightly. "Jason? Jason, can you hear me? It's the Doctor."
The Alterran's eyes fluttered open again and he looked at his friend in a daze. "Doctor…?" Blinking to focus, he moaned, "Oh, no. Have I done it again?"
"You certainly have," the Time Lord replied delightedly.
"I feel so…strange this time. It's almost like…I've been hit by lightning or something."
The Emperor smiled. "I think or something is more like it." He touched his nephew's fore head, commanding, "Remember."
Instantly Jason's mind cleared. He remembered everything—including the conversation that had gone on while he was in a coma. He caught his breath, his eyes growing wide. He sat bolt upright, looking at the others in amazement. "I remember now!" he gasped. "Constance was… and then I—Oh, what I did." He put a hand to his head, dazzled by the memories.
"Perhaps you should rest a little longer," the Doctor gently suggested.
Jason looked up sharply. "No, I'm fine. Honestly, I am."
"Jason, I think the Doctor's right," Constance said firmly.
The young man ignored both of them, throwing back the bedclothes and hopping to his feet. He looked around in jubilation. "I feel terrific! Better than I have in ages."
The Doctor and Emperor exchanged glances. "The second dose of energy," the monarch breathed. He touched the grinning youth, returning his clothes to their original lavish state.
"Thank you, my Lord," Jason said politely. "But I've a feeling I could've done that myself. I'm almost positive the second dose of energy normalized my system."
"Well, whatever you do, don't test it until we find out!" Constance snapped reprovingly.
Jason smiled broadly, his spirits soaring. "You are a worrier, aren't you, Miss Emilia Sornon?" he laughed, taking the stunned woman's face in his hands and kissing her. "Constance, has anyone ever told you you're the most beautiful creature in the cosmos?" So saying, he strode exuberantly from the room.
"Hello, K-9!" he exclaimed from the next room. "I've got a little job for you!"
The astounded occupants of the bedroom exchanged a look of mutual astonishment and amusement before bursting into laughter.
"And I was worried," Emperor Quinton moaned.