CHAPTER 15

"SHE'S GOING TO DIE…"

Doctor couldn't quite believe the sudden, bizarre turn of events and was hoping he had been forgotten during this apparent power struggle. Jacoby came to stand over to him and he realized he had only managed to exchange one executioner for another.

With an evil grin on his face, Jacoby raised his gun. A split second later he was bathed in a red glow. He cried out in alarm, dropping to the floor, unconscious.

Had he been able to turn his head, the Doctor would have seen his companion standing in the doorway, weapon in hand.

Jason dashed to his friend's side in a panic. "Doctor? Doctor, can you hear me?" He looked into the Time Lord's eyes, seeing them sparkling back at him. It was obvious he was delighted to see him. Heaving a sigh of relief, Jason said, "I'm glad to see you, too."

The Healer put his fingers to the Time Lord's neck and scanned him. To his relief, he found the Doctor was only suffering from the paralyzing affects of the drug. Looking around, Jason saw a drug cabinet and smashed it open, rummaging through its contents in search of something that would counteract the immobilizing drug. With a small grunt of satisfaction, he pulled a bottle from the ransacked cabinet and filled a syringe. "I'm afraid this'll sting a bit, Doctor," he warned as he unstrapped one of his friend's arms and pushed up his sleeve.

The Time Lord closed his eyes in obvious pain as the injection was made and Jason winced for him. "Sorry," he said apologetically, rubbing the arm to stimulate the circulation. "Just relax, my friend," he said as he laid the Doctor's arm across his chest. "You should be able to move in a minute or so."

The Terrellians had hesitantly following Jason into the room. When Dillon saw Jasmine's crumpled form in the corner he immediately forgot all his fear and dashed over to her. Marjora was beside him a moment later, examining the battered female.

While Jason was seeing to the Doctor, Laurel and the others dragged the stunned Jacoby into the cage and locked him inside. They then moved Dr. Jordan's body into the adjoining room and covered it with a sheet.

The Doctor found he could move slightly after only a minute and wiggled the fingers on his free hand. He smiled in relief, turning his head to look at his companion, who was in the process of removing the restraints from his legs. "You seem to've made quite an impression on the village," he observed quietly.

Jason looked up and grinned. "It's a very long story, Doctor."

"Am I in it?"

"You have no idea."

The Doctor attempted to rise, but found his limbs did not want to work properly. Jason helped him up, supporting him as his system stabilized. "Where's Jasmine?" the Time Lord asked, looking around. Seeing her cradled in Dillon's arms, he turned back to his companion, seeing a strange, anguished expression on his face. "She saved my life," he told him, "but I'm afraid she took a rather severe beating in the process."

"Oh no…" the appalled Healer breathed. "Laurel, look after the Doctor for me. I must see to Jasmine."

All the extraordinary alarms, bells and whistles coming from the Research Center had quite naturally aroused the attention of everyone in the settlement. No one could locate the Colony Leader in the confusion, so Graham Remington started organizing a rescue party, thinking a terrible accident had occurred in one of the labs.

When he arrived at the Center, however, it was plain to see that more than a simple accident had set off the alarms. The doors at the main entrance were standing wide open and a laser-charred body was lying on the threshold. Whoever this was had apparently been running from the person who killed them. Entering the building, Graham found several more bodies in similar condition just inside the lobby. He looked around in horror and then withdrew, taking his group back to the settlement for weapons, radios—and more men. Thus prepared he returned to the Center, having his men split into teams of two and three in order to thoroughly—and safely—search the five-story building.

"One last thing," the Second-in-command said as they got to the main doors. "No heroics. We don't know who, or what, we're dealing with here. So if you come across anything strange, radio for assistance. Is that clear?"

Jason knelt down beside Dillon who turned a mournful look in his direction. "She's going to die, isn't she?" he said. The Healer did not reply. He looked over at Marjora who shook her head and lowered her eyes in sorrow. Undaunted, Jason took Jasmine's hand and scanned her. "Good Lord! They've taken nearly all her blood!" he gasped. "What on earth's been keeping her going?"

"Jason, it's still here," the Doctor called, receiving a blank look in reply. "Jasmine's blood. It's still here," he said firmly, pointing over to the counter. "I heard Dr. Jordan tell Jacoby just before he killed her."

Renewed hope lit the Alterran's eyes and he turned to Dillon. "Quickly, help me get her up on a table."

The Terrellian gave him an appalled look. The tables had only one meaning. Pain. Jason put a comforting hand on his arm. "Dillon, I'm not going to hurt her, honestly. I think I can save them, but we must hurry!"

Dillon gave him a baffled look before gently lifting his wife from the floor and placing her on the nearest table. Jason found the container of blood that had been carefully packed and then abandoned. Taking it to the table, he cleaned Jasmine's arm and was just bringing the needle to her skin when his wrist was caught in an iron grip, a strong hand pulling his away. To his astonishment and sorrow, he saw the claws were fully extended. The non-violent Terrellians had learned the ways of violence and in many ways, ironically, this was his fault.

Looking up, Jason saw Dillon gazing at him in an agony of uncertainty. "Dillon, please, you've trusted me this far. Don't stop now."

Dillon turned searchingly to Marjora who said bluntly, "I can't help her, Dillon, I don't have the knowledge."

"But I do!" Jason cried in frustration. "Dillon, please! Don't let this white coat fool you. I can save her life."

Although filled with misgivings, Dillon realized he had no alternative and released his grip on the Healer, allowing him to continue. Within seconds, Jasmine's own lifeblood was returning to her body.

Suddenly the Doctor snapped, "Jason. Light!"

His companion looked up, pulling the overhead light fixture into position over the battered Terrellian female. It wasn't exactly sunlight, but it was bright, and it was warm.

After several agonizing minutes, Jasmine's color started to darken and Jason scanned her. Sighing heavily, he lowered his head and sat down, suddenly feeling completely drained.

"Jason…?" Dillon said sheepishly. "My Jasmine, is she…?"

The Alterran looked up and shook his head. "No, she's not going to die," he said softly. "She's a very strong willed lady, your Jasmine. It's going to take time, but if she continues to respond this well, they'll be just fine."

"They?"

Jason smiled brightly. "Jasmine is pregnant, Dillon."

The affect of this announcement was not want he expected. A horrified expression came to the faces of all five Terrellians. Jason exchanged a mystified look with the Doctor.

"Dillon, don't you understand—?"

"No, Jason," Marjora broke in, "now it's you who does not understand. The drugs kill our children before they are born."

Gently stroking his unconscious wife's face, Dillon said mournfully, "The drugs will have killed my child before—"

"She wasn't drugged," the Doctor said startlingly. "They were in too much of a hurry to kill me to bother with that."

Afraid to believe what he was hearing, Dillon turned to Marjora and then Jason, who threw a knowing look in the Doctor's direction before saying, "If that's true, then there's every chance the child is unharmed. Despite the massive blood loss, I think we got to her in time." With a smile, he added, "You'd better start thinking about building a nursery."

There was a momentary silence and then a small celebration broke out in the lab. Jason got caught up in it as he crossed to the Doctor who was still sitting on the examining table.

"And how are you feeling, my friend?" the young man inquired happily.

Before the Time Lord could reply, the main doors to the lab were abruptly thrown open and Graham Remington and two others appeared in the doorway, weapons in hand. They were momentarily stunned by the whole scene, Graham's mouth dropping open in amazement.

"Oh, dear," the Doctor said softly. "Company."

"Who invited them," Jason remarked dryly as he helped his friend down from the table.

"Everyone stay right where you are?" Graham ordered, having found his voice at last.

The Doctor glanced over his shoulder at the wide-eyed Terrellians and then broke into an engaging smile. "In case you hadn't noticed," he said mildly, "everyone has."

"What the devil's going on in here?"

"Ah, well…it's rather difficult to explain..."

The Doctor got no further. Jacoby regained his senses at that moment and was horrified to see where he was. "Graham!" he called in a panic-stricken voice. "Don't just stand there, shoot them! These creatures attacked Dr. Jordan. She's dead!"

"Well, that's one way," the Doctor muttered aridly.