CHAPTER 14

"THEY'RE ATTACKING !"

Unaware of the fact that a Terrellian raid, of sorts, was in full swing, Lilith was in the process of drawing blood from the frightened and confused Jasmine, who was still in tears.

"Oh, be quiet and keep still, you stupid little weed!" Dr. Jordan snapped angrily, thinking that she probably should've had the whining little creature drugged after all. Then again, what difference did it make? She was abandoning the project anyway.

After drawing the normal amount, Lilith gave orders for an additional amount to be drawn from the aghast Jasmine. She then dismissed all but three of the others, turning her attention to the Doctor.

The Time Lord was moved under a large light similar to those used in operating rooms and Dr. Jordan adjusted its angle before unfastened the restraint across his chest. "Now let's see what makes you tick," she said under her breath. Picking up a pair of scissors, she turned to whoever was nearest. "You! Help me get these clothes off."

At that moment the alarm went off and Lilith looked up in annoyance. "Now what?" she growled through clenched teeth. "One of you go see what's going on." Higgins was the closest to the door and dashed out to the monitoring room just down the hall.

By this time Jasmine was ready to be released and one of the technicians began loosening her restraints. She had fainted when the additional blood was drawn, and Higgins had forgotten to note that she had not been drugged. She moaned softly as she started to come around, the gag being the only thing still tightly in place. The sound of the bell brought her to her senses with a jolt, frightening her at first. Then she noticed that it also seemed to frighten the whitecoats, who were in a state of total disarray. They also seemed to have forgotten all about her. Even more amazing was the fact that she was practically free and had none of the after effects of the drug to dull her senses or slow her down. Not wanting to call attention to herself, she pretended to be groggy, slowly turning her head. She was horrified at the sight of the Doctor lying helpless beneath the bright light, Dr. Jordan moving a tray of instruments into position beside him.

The Doctor's haunting words suddenly returned to Jasmine's mind. Was she really better off not fighting back? Did she really want to spend the rest of her life living in fear? The answer, of course, was no. Suddenly, like Marjora, Jasmine understood what the Doctor had been trying to impart. Even death would be preferable to this…existence. It wasn't life. It was a living death.

With a new resolve, Jasmine tried desperately to think. The Doctor had come to this point trying to help her people. Now, she must try to help him…but how? The answer that came to mind were the words of the stranger. "Next time, I'll use claws!"

Jason had discovered an alarm box in one of the corridors and looked at it a moment in indecision. "Well, if they don't know something's up by now, they're deaf," he remarked dryly and fired a laser bolt into the box. It immediately exploded into a shower of sparks, sending fragments in all directions and silencing the alarm.

"That's better," he grunted in satisfaction. "Now we can hear ourselves think." With that, he led the way towards the main lab.

"Dr. Jordan, they're attacking!" Higgins exclaimed as he burst back into the room. "Those creatures. They're attacking! They've entered the main building."

Lilith was dubious to say the least. "That's impossible. They've no more fight in them than rabbits." Seeing the panic-stricken technician motion back towards the monitor room, she sighed heavily and dropped the scissors back onto the tray. As far as she was concerned, this was just another irritating delay. The Doctor, on the other hand, was in high hopes that his miracle had actually occurred.

Lilith followed Higgins to the room and looked at the monitor. It showed an empty corridor. Before she could vent her frustration on him, he switched channels, bringing up the image that had so terrified him. Passing under the camera was the band of Terrellians led by Jason.

"It's that wretched boy!" Lilith exclaimed in disbelief.

Jacoby suddenly appeared at the door. "What the devil's going on?"

"It's worse than I thought," she replied darkly.

"So, we really are abandoning the project?" Jacoby asked almost joyfully.

"Abandon is right. Emergency evacuation. Now!" Dr. Jordan slammed a fist on a large button and ordered, "Jacoby, have Ellis recalled and be sure to get the samples from that hybrid." So saying, she strode from the room.

The instant Dr. Jordan hit the evacuation button, another alarm sounded. Unlike the first, this one was more like a chime and caused Jason to bring his band of followers to an abrupt halt. "I don't like the sound of that," he said darkly. Looking around, he spotted a camera high in a corner and wanted to kick himself for not having thought of the surveillance system.

"They must've seen us," Jason informed as he blasted the camera into fragments. "We'll have to take it slowly from here on. And keep your eyes open. They're probably waiting for us."

Jason could not have been more wrong. With the exception of the Doctor and Jasmine, the main lab was completely deserted, every one having fled the moment the chime sounded. Dr. Jordan strode in and went over to where the Doctor was lying still strapped to the table.

"I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to find out about you after all, Doctor," Lilith sighed in genuine regret. Picking up a scalpel, she touched her thumb to the blade. "I hate to cut and run, but I'm afraid I've no choice." She then chuckled over her own black joke.

The Doctor stared helplessly up at her, unable to do more than watch as the cold, heartless woman slowly brought the blade down to his throat. He fought with all his strength against the drug paralyzing his body, but couldn't so much as wiggle his fingers. Well, at least it'll be quick, he thought, closing his eyes and waiting for the cold steel to bite into his flesh.

The Terrellian's invasion party had come across the deserted main security room and Jason entered slowly, looking around in amazement. "So much for security," he observed, seeing three abandoned weapons lying on a computer console. He turned off the evacuation alarm, tearing the control panel from the console and tossing it carelessly aside. "Nobody'll be using that for a while," he stated firmly.

Looking around, he saw a few lab coats hanging from a rack and put one on before realizing the implications of this action. Turning to the horrified members of his team, he smiled weakly. "I need more pockets," he said simply, pocketing the abandoned weapons in way of explanation.

Laurel had been watching the security monitors, which had been set on a continuous sweep. The pictures flipped from one area to another, going through a preset routine. Suddenly one of the screens showed the events unfolding in the main lab and he caught his breath. "Jason, look!"

The Alterran turned just in time to see the picture change. Flipping a few switches, he was able to bring back the image just as Lilith picked up the scalpel.

"No!" Jason didn't wait to see more. Pushing past the others, he flew from the room.

There was a strange, strangled scream and the Doctor opened his eyes when he realized it hadn't come from him. He was even more surprised when he realized it had come from Jasmine. She had been trying to summon her courage to act and was grateful when everyone fled the room. When she tried to rise the first time, she became very dizzy and lay down again. She was about to try again when Lilith returned and pretended to be unconscious, listening to the scientist's words in horror.

Summoning all her courage, Jasmine extended her razor sharp claws and sliced through her bindings just as Lilith was putting the knife to the Doctor's throat. She sprang at the woman who had caused her people so many years of suffering, raking her still extended claws across Dr. Jordan's face.

Lilith screamed in pain, clutching her scratched face and dropping the scalpel. "You horrible little beast!" she hissed angrily and savagely clubbed her attacker with her free arm, sending her to the floor.

Looking up dazedly, Jasmine saw Lilith reaching for another scalpel. Pulling the gag from her mouth, she did something she had never done in the lab before. She spoke. "No! No more!" she cried loudly. "You evil woman, no more!" She slashed out again, catching a substantial portion of Dr. Jordan's lower leg.

Lilith screamed again, dropping to her hands and knees, where she was promptly slashed again, this time in the upper arm. Lashing out with her free arm again, she was able to land a blow that sent Jasmine to the floor. Grabbing her injured arm, she glared murderously at the exhausted Terrellian who was now dragging herself across the laboratory floor.

Jasmine was trying to lead the homicidal scientist away from the helpless Time Lord. She had heard the hysterical Higgins announce that her people were coming, and hoped she could keep the evil woman busy long enough to prevent her killing the Doctor before their rescuers arrived. Unfortunately for her, she was doing an excellent job.

Dr. Jordan rose to her feet in a blind rage and bore down on the cornered Jasmine, who was now too weak to fight back. "No more," she said contemptuously. "I've got news for you, you miserable piece of fungus. There's plenty more." With that she proceeded to beat the Terrellian senseless with her fists.

Jacoby entered while this was going on and took in the scene with an air of amusement. "Hav ing a little trouble, Lilith?" he asked with a smirk.

Lilith spun around, puffing in anger. Her usually neat blond hair was hanging in a disheveled mass from her head, and there was blood running from the deep gashes in her face, arm and leg. Crossing to her assistant, she was quite beside herself in rage. "That beastly little weed actually attacked me!"

"So I'd noticed," Jacoby replied blandly, receiving a murderous look in reply. "I came to get the blood that was drawn from her. That idiot Higgins evacuated and forgot to bring it with him."

Dr. Jordan gave him a sour look, waving a hand in the container's general direction. "It's over there on the counter," she muttered and then started to clean her wounds, paying no further attention to him.

"Good. I have everything else and didn't want to leave that behind. I'll be able to start on it right away."

"There'll be plenty of time to process it, Jacoby. Once we've eliminated the non-essentials and evacuated, we'll have all the time in the world."

"Yes, I know," he replied coldly. Jacoby pulled out a gun and aimed it at Dr. Jordan's back. She, however, was still oblivious to his sudden change in manner. "I know a great deal," he went on. "The names of all your business associates, for example. The numbers to your secret accounts, and so on…"

Lilith looked up sharply and spun around, seeing the gun in his hand and the odd look on his face. "Jacoby, what the devil are you playing at? Put that thing down."

"No!" her assistant yelled in a voice that made her jump. "I'm through taking orders from you or anyone else. I'm taking what I know and leaving this accursed planet alone."

Dr. Jordan laughed at him. "Don't be a fool. You know what Ellis will do to you if you try anything that stupid."

Now it was Jacoby's turn to laugh. "Don't flatter yourself, Lilith. You're not the only one in this building who's spread their legs for him." He laughed even more at the stunned look on the woman's face, his arrow having definitely struck home. "I can't believe you had no idea. Rewards of the hunt I think he calls it."

"That's a lie!"

"Is it?" Jacoby grinned. Nodding in the direction of the semi-conscious Jasmine, he could not resist adding an actual lie to the truths he had been telling. "He's not all that particular, you know. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't had a piece or two of F42 over there."

Lilith had heard enough. "You're a pig, Jacoby," she spat angrily. "That's the most revolting thing I've ever heard. Only you could think up something that…repulsive."

"Well, you'll never know, will you?" he sighed. "You see, I regret to inform you that your services are no longer required." So saying, he shot the astonished scientist where she stood.