CHAPTER 2

"ARE YOU GAME FOR A VISIT?"

Somewhere in the swirling vortex where space and time collide, the TARDIS sped on its way to parts unknown. Inside the impossibly large control room, the Doctor sat in his shirtsleeves hunched over a table littered with computer chips, wires, and numerous other odd bits and pieces. A box with K9 M II stenciled on its side sat on the floor at his feet and a large intricate computer schematic was tacked up on the wall in front of him. He was in the process of constructing another dog-shaped mobile computer (appropriately named K-9) to replace the original that was now on Gallifrey with his former companion, Leela, who had chosen to remain behind after having helped him thwart a Sontaran invasion.

A slight, black-haired young man carrying a steaming mug of coffee entered the control room via the inner door. He looked so dejected that one could almost see a dark cloud looming over his head. This usually cheerful person was Jason Krystovan, who, among other things, was a Healer, herbalist, chemist, and considerably older than his eighteen year old appearance suggested. The latter was due to the fact that he was Alterran, a being with the ability to change form at will, or transmute. Even his human form was an illusion, as his true non-humanoid appearance was universally considered frightening, if not terrifying, to the humanoid races he encountered.

Jason also possessed the unique ability to scan anything he touched much in the same way as electronic sensing equipment. In just a few brief seconds he could pick up volumes of information by reading what he referred to as an aura. This ability was his most precious secret known only to members of his immediate family; the Doctor being the only outsider ever entrusted with it.

When the Doctor had gone to Gallifrey with Leela, Jason did not accompanied them, having gotten involved in a project on a space station. He had stayed behind to help straighten out some of the problems and was incredulous when the Time Lord returned alone, doubly so when he learned why. He could not believe the Doctor had actually gone to Gallifrey without him. Nor that he had left Leela behind, aliens being forbidden on the Time Lord's home world.

Days went by, and the more Jason thought about it, the more depressed he became. Leela had taught him a great deal about life in general. Among his own people his spontaneity and emotionalism was looked on as a lack of self-control, yet Leela had not only accepted it, but had actually encouraged it as a way to heighten his fledgling fighting skills. She had taught him much in the way of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat, and in spite of her "kill first, ask questions later" attitude, he knew he'd miss her. K-9, at least, could be rebuilt.

Jason was thinking these very thoughts when he entered the console room. The Doctor looked up from his work and broke into a broad smile. "Ah, there you are, my boy. Very good. I was just about to fetch you. We'll be landing shortly."

His companion grunted noncommittally. He raised his cup to his lips, but even his passion for coffee seemed to have left him and he sighed heavily, putting the cup down. Wandering over to the console, Jason stared into the time column as it rose and fell rhythmically in the center of the mushroom shaped control console.

"I miss them, too, you know," the Doctor said quietly from behind him.

Jason looked up sharply and turned, suddenly realizing how terribly selfish he was being. "Where're we going?" he asked conversationally.

"Have you ever heard of a planet called Delta Vega?"

"Can't say that I have."

The Doctor beamed back at him. "Neither have I! I found it on one of the charts a while ago and rather liked the name. Are you game for a visit?"

"I suppose so," the young man replied unenthusiastically.

"Splendid!" the Doctor said delightedly. "We can see what kind of place it is."

Turning back to the console, Jason touched a switch. "We can also just as easily look it up in the computer," he pointed out.

"We'll do nothing of the kind!" the Time Lord snapped. He jumped to his feet and strode over to the console, switching off the computer.

Jason was taken aback by this emotionally charged response and took a step back in alarm. "I…I was only going to…I mean…well, we don't know anything about it."

"Precisely!" the Doctor grinned. "You wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, now, would you?"

His companion groaned inwardly. He didn't know how, but somehow he'd managed to excite the Doctor's insatiable curiosity—and that always meant trouble.

"Anyway, I think we've arrived," the Time Lord announced.

As indeed they had. The time rotor was silent and still, having nestled into its place in the control console. The Doctor activated the scanner and together they watched as it made a visual sweep of the area. They appeared to have landed on a hilltop overlooking a meadow. There was a forest or wooded area nearby that had a stream running along its edge that went on to meander into the meadow further on below. It was either spring, or early summer as the land spread out before them in a colorful carpet of wildflowers. There was another hill in the distance just as colorful as the one upon which the TARDIS rested.

"It's…beautiful," Jason breathed, turning to the Doctor, who observed that the dark cloud seemed to have lifted from over his companion's head.

"Just the place for a botanist like yourself, don't you think?" the Doctor remarked.

"Herbalist," Jason corrected absently, returning his gaze to the viewer.

The Doctor's smile broadened. He put on his coat, winding an incredibly long scarf around his neck before pulling the door lever. "Do you fancy a stroll?" he invited.

Several miles from where the TARDIS had materialized, Ellis was crouched behind a fallen tree, his men hiding in some brush close by. "They've taken cover directly in front of my position," he whispered into his radio.

"Yes, we see them, sir," came the hushed reply.

Ellis peeked over the log, looking at a clump of bushes about thirty feet away. It was always the same, he thought. He had led these capture parties so many times that he and his men could do this in their sleep. They moved and worked as one. Once the quarry was spotted, it couldn't escape them. So why did they always run? They never got away. Never.

There was a faint rustling in the bushes and Ellis called out, "Now!" The men fired in unison and the greenery was bathed in a red glow. A second later the occupants fell unconscious to the forest floor.

The victims, a male and female, were Terrellians, one of Delta Vega's native lifeforms. They were a strange mixture of plant and animal, the upper portion of the body being basically humanoid, with head, torso and arms, although the arms had more of the appearance of thick vines ending in claw-like hands. Most of the upper body was covered with something akin to broad leaves that started near the neck and surrounded the shoulders and chest area like a cape. The lower body had two main legs surrounded by a collection of broad leaves and tendril vines that were the remnants of a now unnecessary root system.

The male was large and dark green in color with gold veins running across a major portion of his body. The female was smaller and lighter green in color with splotches of brown and orange marking her body.

Two of the hunters began binding the hands and feet of their stunned quarries. "We'd better double check their ID numbers, boys," Ellis said. "Doc Jordan will be livid if we bring her another repeat." He pulled out a small notebook and began paging through it.