CHAPTER 26
A SHOW OF FORCE
"But I can be a merciful god," Jaka said in an almost wistful tone. "Your suffering will befit your interference."
"I hope it's not like that of your faithful followers," the Doctor remarked aridly.
The Alterran laughed. "You amuse me, Time Lord," he said as if surprised by this. His face distorted further, his features becoming sharper until the Doctor realized he was looking at the face of Jaka himself.
"All my faithful followers wanted was power," the false god went on, a bitter edge to his voice. "My power. They served the purpose for which I called them, but their inadequacies eventually rendered them useless and I was forced to destroy them. Just like all the others."
"Others?"
"You sound surprised. Brogan wasn't the first star traveler to come in search of my power. There've been many who've taken up the roll of High Priest. But none of my own race. None I could possess so completely."
"You've lost me," the Doctor admitted. "If you couldn't possess them—"
"Few are trained to close out external influences as your race is. With them, control is easy," Jaka said simply, placed a hand on the controlling Epsilon circuit. "Until my power was returned, there was little else I could do. And this boy you trained so well proved far more difficult to take control of than did Brogan." With a wistful sigh, he added, "It was almost a pity I was forced to destroy him."
The Doctor was immediately interested, but did not allow it to come through in his voice. "You mean it's a pity Jason was forced to destroy him, don't you?" he said blandly. "After all, you said yourself you were powerless—"
"Child's play," Jaka snorted. "If you'll recall, this boy had possession of the circuit when my High Priest and the others revolted. I was able to turn the violence in their minds against them by giving the power he'd utilized an extra nudge. He didn't think he could control it, so, naturally, he couldn't. I did."
"You did it…" the Doctor echoed, being greatly relieved to learn his companion had not been the one responsible for so many violent deaths.
"It's ironic, don't you think?" Jaka went on. "That the one to return my power to me was the only one not seeking it."
The Doctor blinked. "Not seeking it?" he repeated. The more the false god spoke, the more misgivings he cleared up concerning Jason's recent erratic behavior.
"He doesn't want the power I offer, the stupid, foolish boy. His mind's been poisoned with what he calls a sense of moral justice," Jaka said in distaste. "He also has a revolting amount of emotional baggage to go with it."
"Things like compassion, mercy, idealism? Useless things like that?"
The sarcasm was lost on the Alterran, who answered as though the Doctor had made his remarks in earnest. "Exactly. I knew you would understand, Time Lord. Your race is so completely heartless. How ironic that you should have two."
"It has been mentioned."
"I must see to it all traces of these useless emotions are purged once my task is complete," the false god said offhandedly.
Again the Doctor was intrigued by Jaka's remarks and raised an eyebrow. Choosing not to comment on it, he said, "Tell me, since you already had Brogan at your disposal—and he was such a snap to control—why go after Jason?"
"I needed my Guardian."
The Doctor was momentarily stunned. "Your— Do you mean…? Jason really was the Guardian after all?"
"Only one of my own race possesses the unique anatomy required to open the chest." Jaka laughed at his captive's horrified expression. "While he was delirious, I implanted an overpowering fear of madness and rejection in his mind. With it, I was able to maintain control. The harder he fought, the tighter my grip became." With another laugh, he added, "And he couldn't even tell you, because he was too afraid you'd banish him forever."
This appalling revelation both saddened and angered the Doctor, who wished he had known that this had been the reason behind his friend's strange and uncharacteristically secretive behavior. "So what do you intend now?" he asked pointedly, his voice suddenly deadly serious. "Things have moved on while you've been dormant, you know? The Time Lords and Alterrans have become powerful allies—thanks to you, ironically. And the rest of the universe has forgotten all about—"
The Alterran's crystalline eyes suddenly blazed with the raging hatred Jason had been trying so desperately to fight. An intense blue light fell on the trapped Time Lord, causing him to cry out in pain.
"I was trapped by your race, Time Lord! Abandoned by my own people and left to rot in the limbo of eternity! I may've been forgotten once, but not again. This time all will know and re member the name of Jaka!"
The Alterran's rage passed quickly, the blue light fading at the same time. The Doctor sagged back against the wall, feeling drained and slightly dazed. "Perhaps I am a few thousand years late in my rise to glory," Jaka chuckled. "But isn't there an expression that goes, Better late than never?"
"Yes," came the shaky reply. "It's an Earth expression. And you'll forgive me for saying so, but I'm rather surprised that you know it."
"This boy's mind is filled with trivial expressions and nonsense," Jaka snorted disdainfully, turning his back on his shaken prisoner—and the door.
Seizing the opportunity, Frankie and Alex slipped out of the TARDIS and hid just outside the computer room door.
"Everything seems to be in order," the Alterran purred, looking over the console with an appraising eye. "Tell me, Time Lord, which should I destroy first? Alterrous or Gallifrey?"
The Doctor was appalled. "No, you can't go through with it!"
"You dare tell me what I can and cannot do?"
"The ones responsible for your imprisonment are dead. Long dead. What purpose would it serve to—?"
"Silence!" the Alterran thundered. "Perhaps I should kill you first." His eyes blazed brightly once more.
Caught in the agonizing light, the Doctor twisted in pain. Then he found himself unable to breathe as an invisible hand clamped down on his throat.
"No! Stop it!" Frankie screamed. Alex tried to stop her and was so astonished when she pushed him away that he fell to the floor. Equally astonished, Jaka immediately lost his concentration. Released from his torment, the Doctor sank to the floor gasping for breath.
"Primitives! How delightful!" Jaka squeaked happily.
"I'll give you primitives," Frankie hissed, throwing herself at the amused false god.
"You dare interfere, woman?" Jaka gasped amazedly, grabbing her by the wrists as she reached up to claw at his face.
"You're damn right! Just give me half a chance and I'll scratch your rhinestone eyes out!" She struggled to free herself only to be effortlessly flung into the far corner of the room. Frankie slammed into the stonewall with such force she had to grab whatever she could to keep from falling. "Here we go again," she moaned.
Alex was already on his feet and halfway across the room. "You leave her alone!"
"Silence, primitive!" Jaka raised a hand and Alex found himself being thrown forcefully back against the wall. His head struck its unyielding surface, knocking him unconscious. He dropped like a stone to the floor beside the Doctor. At the same time the force field widened, encompassing them both. The Doctor tried to turn to the motionless Teggellan, only to find he could not move. He looked up to see the unsettling blue eyes fixed upon him, apparently searching for any sign of opposition. He knew better and said nothing, giving no outward sign of approval or disapproval.
With a satisfied smile, Jaka turned to the cornered Dr. Albert. Before he could decide what to do with her, however, the computer beeped loudly. He threw a quick glance at the main control panel and let out another delighted squeak. "Wonderful! Weapon systems fully charged and ready for testing."
"I should've smashed that sphere when I had the chance," Frankie spat venomously.
"Ignorant primitive," the false god snorted condescendingly. "It's impossible to destroy my power source. Didn't my High Priest tell you the prophecy? 'When the hidden power is restored to Jaka by his Guardian, no man alive shall have the might to return him to bondage,'" he quoted.
"Fancy flowery words," Frankie snorted. "Perhaps you haven't noticed, O Great One, but I don't happen to be a man." She received a noncommittal grunt in reply. "I do remember the one that says no woman is supposed to touch the power source. That's because it goes dead, isn't it?"
Jaka's eyes narrowed. "So you know about that, do you?" the deep voice rumbled. "That makes you something of a threat, now, doesn't it?" Looking over at the ancient torture table, an evil smile parted his lips. "Have a little rest until I decide what to do with you."
Before she knew what was happening, Frankie found herself securely clamped to the table. She struggled against the metal bindings without success, tears of anger rolling down her face.
"Perhaps later I'll show you why they called that the Alter of Pain." Turning, the Alterran saw the Doctor watching with an expression of anger and trepidation on his face. "Perhaps you would like to tell her how it got its name, Time Lord?"
The Doctor's eyes narrowed, but he continued in his silence, controlling himself with visible effort.
"No? Well, later then." Jaka settled himself in front of the control board and switched on the exterior monitors. He then started what the Doctor reasoned to be a diagnostic program. With a chuckle, Jaka pulled out a circuit board and removed a single chip, replacing the board again. He rose to his feet, crushing the chip beneath his heel. "Play time's over, children," he announced suddenly, looking pointedly at each of his helpless prisoners. "So if you'll excuse me…" Turning on his heel, he strode out of the room and into the TARDIS.
The Doctor waited a few seconds after the door was closed before asking after the wellbeing of his frightened Teggellan companions. Alex had regained his senses by this time, but was still rather dazed. "What's he going to do with us?" he asked, being more worried about Frankie than himself.
The Doctor was saved from replying when the computer started to hum loudly. He looked up and cursed under his breath.
"What is it?" Alex asked.
"He's using Jason's knowledge of the TARDIS to update his star charts," the Time Lord replied helplessly. "Now he'll be able to hit any target he wants."
To the Doctor's relief, a familiar voice said calmly, "Not if he uses the star charts from that obsolete old thing."