CHAPTER 2

THE DOME

The Doctor stood silently in the open laboratory doorway, watching his companion in mute astonishment. Jason was hard at work within, apparently oblivious to his friend's presence. While it was not unusual for him to work in his lab, it was unusual for him to do so in his true form; and after the scene in the console room the Time Lord was taken aback when he saw him. The Alterran's true form was non-humanoid and the Doctor had only seen it on one other occasion, and had that not been to save his life, he doubted he would have seen it at all.

Jason's true form was simply a large, bulbous main body with numerous large blue crystals evenly spaced around the circumference. Below the body were dozens of tendrils that snaked down to the floor, yet barely touched. The Doctor noticed they did not appear to support his weight at all, the Alterran seeming to float in the air.

Spellbound, the Time Lord watched as the tendrils flashed in several directions at once, each performing a separate task. After a few minutes, Jason said softly, "Hasn't anyone ever told you it's not polite to stare, Doctor?"

The Doctor was so startled he actually jumped. "How did you know I was here?" he asked quietly. To his added amazement, he saw the crystals change in brightness and realized it was Jason's way of turning his gaze across the room. Instead of moving his body, he simply used a different set of crystals, two of which were now glowing brightly in his direction.

"These are sensors," Jason said, indicating the crystals. "I use two for binocular vision, the rest for information. They work independently and pick up everything."

Intrigued, the Time Lord's eyes grew wide. "Motion sensors?"

"Motion, infrared, ultraviolet. You name it."

The Doctor wanted to inquire further and found himself disappointed when his friend abruptly returned to his human form.

Seeing the crestfallen expression, Jason scowled. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Suddenly realizing he was still staring, the Doctor drew a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling. "I've done it again," he groaned.

"No, it's not your fault this time. I should've shut the—" Breaking off, Jason shook his head. "No. I've got to get past this. I can't keep hiding from you. It's just…It's going to take some get ting used to, that's all."

The Doctor gave him a knowing look. That it would indeed, for the both of them. "Jason, there's no rush," he said gently. "If it makes you uncomfortable—"

"No, don't you see?" the young man interrupted sharply. "If I can trust you with the secret of my scanning, I should be able to trust you knowing more about me—the real me. If you'd known more on the Excelsior,(4) I never would've gotten suspended." With a small smile, he added, "You'll just have to bear with my…reticence."

The Doctor broke into a broad smile, instantly dissipating Jason's discomfort. "Of course!" he boomed happily. "So long as you bear with my bouts of vulgar curiosity. I'm afraid K9 was of little help. Constance only gave me the information I needed to monitor your energy levels."

Jason nodded and immediately changed the subject. "What were you doing at the door, any way?"

"Ah! Yes, I came to tell you we've landed."

"Already? I thought Earth was a few more hours away. Or have I just lost track of time?"

"No, actually. I thought we might put that trip off a bit. As to where we are… The general where is along the fringes of the Empire, so you still may encounter a human or two. As for the specific where, well…that's rather intriguing," the Doctor said mysteriously. "As far as I can tell, we're two miles below sea level."

His companion gave him a puzzled look. "Wouldn't that put us underwater?"

"Yes. That's the intriguing bit."


(4) – Silent Witness – chapter 3


The TARDIS had materialized in a large storeroom and the Doctor took in the room in a glance as his companion came out behind him. He turned back to lock the door as Jason looked around. "This doesn't tell us too much, does it?" he observed. "Where are we?"

"I don't know the exact where, but the when is a surprise," the Doctor said breezily.

"Am I supposed to figure it out in here?"

"You'd be amazed at what you can learn about people by what they keep in storage."

The Doctor started away from the TARDIS, only to stop as a wave of psychic energy suddenly washed over him. He looked around in bewilderment. Now where did that come from? he wondered.

Oblivious of this, Jason was opening the nearest box. He pulled out a broom and dustpan. "I proclaim that these people are very clean and neat," he announced grandly.

The Doctor gave him a sour look. "Come on," he said and headed for the door.

"Hey, wait a minute," Jason said as he opened another box, "this might be something." The box was filled with gold neckpieces that had an unusual dolphin design on them. Looking up, he said, "Underwater junk shop? Gold merchant, maybe?" With a grin, he added, "Treasure hunter's paradise?"

"Let's not get carried away. Are they the real thing?"

Shaking his head, Jason replied, "Not even decent gold plate. Junk."

"Your first guess may be right, then."

The Doctor pulled open the door and looked out. The hall outside was deserted, but at the end he could see quite a bit of activity and headed in that direction. The time travelers suddenly found themselves at the edge of a central lobby and watched as several groups of people came and went. The room was a large oval and had a circular information desk set in the center. There were as far as Jason could see, twelve or so people working at various computer terminals behind the counter, each patiently trying to sort out the arriving and departing groups..

"What a mob scene," he observed quietly.

Having already taken in the lobby, the Doctor was surveying the rest of his surroundings. At one end of the room were several sets of double doors through which the large groups came and went. He wondered if this were the main entrance or possibly the only entrance. Across from the main doors were several corridors leading away from the room. There were a number of rooms set off like cogs in a wheel that appeared to be sitting areas. On the wall directly opposite, several large notices were posted and he decided to have a closer look. Tugging at his companion's sleeve, he headed across the room.

"It's like a Grand Hotel, isn't it?" Jason observed as he struggled to keep up while at the same time trying to take in the enormous room rising overhead.

"Yes, it does have that feel to it, doesn't it?" the Doctor agreed.

Arriving at their destination last, they stood before what a sign grandly proclaimed to be THE EVENTS WALL. It was divided into four sections; Current Events; Upcoming Events, Noted Guest Speakers, and Announcements.

Jason turned back to look at the lobby from this vantage point. They had entered beneath a walkway that went part way around the room. Painted above this were the words; The Gathering Dome – Where Great Minds Meet Under The Sea.

"It's a Convention Center!" he gasped, turning back to the Doctor.

"So it is," the Doctor grinned, scanning the different sections on the wall before him. "And right up your alley, too. It seems the majority of the current events are medical in nature." He also noticed a section on the paranormal and wondered if that were the reason he'd felt the sudden jolt of psychic energy.

The Alterran Healer folded his arms and stepped back. "I haven't been to one of these in…in…" With a laugh, he said, "I don't remember when!"

"Now that is a long time," the Time Lord grinned. "Anyway, I wouldn't be too sure if I were you. That's part of the surprise. We've gone back in your time."

"My time? My timeline, you mean?"

The Doctor nodded.

"How far?"

"Oh…about a hundred years or so," came the airy reply.

"Great," Jason snorted. "So I'm either an infant, or I haven't even been born yet."

The Doctor's smile widened. Their last few adventures had taken a lot out of his companion, although Jason would never have admitted this. What he needed was some time off to relax and apparently, for once, the TARDIS had cooperated.

"Then you can make a fresh start," the Doctor said at last. "Shall we see if they can fit you in to a symposium or two? I think you could use some time off."

His companion thought a moment. "I don't know…" he said in feigned hesitancy. "If I get wrapped up in some lectures, who's going to keep you from getting into trouble?"

The Doctor gave an indignant snort in reply. "On the same token," he replied coolly, "if I let you get wrapped up in these lectures, who's going to stop you from giving a few of your own? On say…Gallifreyan medicine, perhaps?"

Jason flashed a smile. "No. If this is the past, I'd end up stealing my father's thunder."

"Your father?"

"He used to lecture quite a lot before I was born. And if this is before I was born, he's still on the circuit."

"Really? Speaking on what subject?"

"Genetics, mostly."

The Doctor's eyes lit up, a delighted smile spreading across his face. "And this was before you were born?"

His companion scowled, wondering why his friend found this so amusing. "Yes. He did have a life before that, you know. He was nearly ten centuries old when I was born. But not past his prime, as he's so fond of reminding me."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"That's very interesting. I wonder, considering that and you, how he felt, as an expert in genetics, having you as his offspring. Your numerous gifts must've been a constant source of fascination."

Jason gave him a stunned look, and wondered why this thought had never occurred to him. "The miracle child," he muttered dreamily.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just something my father always used to say."

The Doctor gave an involuntary cry and Jason tensed, looking around the room. "What's wrong?"

"Take a look at the Noted Speaker on Genetics," the Doctor instructed, pointing at the listing.

Jason did, a small squeak escaping him as well. The name on the board was that of his father, Aaron Krystovan.