EIGHT
As the group made their way to the Royal residences, the Master explained that the person he sought had been systematically eliminating key members of the ruling class over the last several months, possibly in an effort to draw Alterrous back into conflict with Gallifrey.
"Wait a minute," Jason interrupted, halting the group's progress. "You keep saying you assume this and suspect that. Don't you have any hard evidence?"
The Master remained evasive. "Too many key people have died mysteriously for it to be a coincidence."
"You're risking all our lives on sheer speculation!"
"Sources indicate—"
Jason interrupted yet again. "What sources?" he demanded, taking hold of the Time Lord's arm. "Look, I said I wanted straight answers from you!"
"And you'd know if I were lying, correct? How, might I ask?" The Master looked pointedly at the hand on his arm. Jason stiffened but remained silent. "Could it be the same way you detected a couple of cracked ribs without benefit of any medical apparatus whatsoever?"
"Okay, okay, you've made your point. You know about the scanning, don't you?" Jason said, releasing his grip.
The Master nodded. "And with it, are you able to detect any physical weaknesses or genetic defects that might bring about an untimely death?"
Jason suspected he could do a great deal more than that but was forestalled from making this admission when the Doctor asked pointedly, "Untimely, or well timed? How is this the right time for the Emperor?"
"He's been stemming the growing tide of public opinion that hostilities recommence. That hasn't made him very popular with most of the people in the Empire."
"Wait a minute, back up," Jason cut in. "I want to know who told you about the scanning."
To the Master's astonishment, it was the Doctor who supplied the answer. "I suspect it was very likely Aaron. Whom I also suspect is your the reliable source," he added, turning to the Master.
"Your deductions…astound me, Doctor," the Master informed.
"Then allow me to astound you further with fact rather than assumption. Jason's counterpart already informed me himself that he intends to murder the Emperor and blame his death on me."
When the unlikely group of allies arrived in the Royal residences Jason emerged from the tunnel first and looked around. "Where is everybody?" he wondered aloud. "There should be servants and security guards everywhere."
Exchanging a knowing look with the Master, the Doctor informed, "I think Palace Security works for the highest bidder."
"Great. There's loyalty for you," Jason muttered dryly. He led the way to where the Emperor normally stayed in his own world finding him in residence, along with several of his personal guards. The leader of guards was yet another person the Doctor and Jason knew: Colonel (now Commander) Payne, whose disgraced counterpart had once attempted to take Jason's life.
"This is really getting weird, Doctor," Jason remarked as he entered, bowing to his sovereign.
To the surprise of them all, Emperor Quinton rose to his feet and glared at Jason before saying, "Your audacity astonishes me, boy!"
"What?" the young man replied. "I don't understand."
"Don't pretend you didn't get my edict, my Lord Krystovan. Get out of my sight!" The Emperor waved a hand before turning his back on the group.
"You haven't even heard me out yet!" Jason protested. "Is this Imperial justice?"
"Justice?" the monarch scoffed, turning back to face him. "You don't know the meaning of the word. Is it justice to start a war because of personal ambition? You don't care about anything but yourself. You may've bought the people's support, but you can't buy respectability so easily. It will take more than money to pull your family's name out of gutter where it belongs."
Upon hearing this, Jason turned to the Master. "Oh, yeah. He'll listen to me. No problem. Thanks for the advice, Master." Turning back to the Emperor, he said firmly, "My Lord, I know this will be difficult for you to accept, but I'm not the person you think I am."
"If you're not Lord Krystovan, then who are you?"
Holding up his hands, Jason replied, "No, I am Lord Krystovan. One of them. Just…not the one you know."
"He's stalling, Majesty," Payne sneered.
"Yes. That's exactly what I'm doing, because there are two Jason Krystovans running around on this planet and one of them wants to kill you."
The Commander looked at the young man in disgust. "He's trying to make a fool of you, my Lord."
"Oh, Payne, shut up!" Jason snapped. "This is important. There isn't a soul anywhere in this wing of the building other than us. Don't you find that in the least bit odd?"
Payne did indeed and immediately went to check on it.
"Majesty, if you're willing to listen," the Doctor suggested helpfully, "we'll start at the beginning."
After explaining the situation, the Doctor did not expect to be believed but still waited patiently for a response. The point was suddenly made academic when the young man in question appeared at the far end of the room in the Doctor's form. He was armed with a laser rifle and shot down the Emperor's bodyguard with pinpoint accuracy before noticing the real Doctor present.
"Well, well," he sneered, returning to his normal appearance as Lord Krystovan. "This is certainly a surprise. Looks like I won't have to drag you up here after all."
"What do you expect to prove with this, Krystovan?" the Emperor demanded.
"I'm not trying to prove anything, my Lord," the evil youth snarled.
A security guard had the misfortune to burst into the room at that moment, having been sent by Commander Payne. He came to an abrupt halt at the sight that met his eyes, giving the agitated Lord Krystovan the time to seize him by the arm. The guard's eyes suddenly bulged in his head and a gurgling sound came from his throat. The grip on his arm was released and he fell to the floor where he convulsed violently. Within seconds he was dead.
From behind him, the Doctor heard his companion catch his breath. "My God, he overloaded the scan," Jason said in a horrified whisper. "It really is possible." The Doctor threw a quick glance in his direction, seeing the look of abject horror on his companion's face. It was all too clear that the boy was watching one of his worst fears about himself being played out before his very eyes.
"After I eliminate a few others," the evil Jason was saying, "I expect to take your place, my Lord Emperor."
"Oh, no, you won't!" came his counterpart's enraged voice. He moved in front of the others, his eyes fixed on his astonished alter ego. "Hello, my Lord Krystovan," he said evenly. "I'm you. Only…I'm not, because I have absolutely no intention of allowing you to murder the Emperor. Or anyone else, for that matter." As he spoke he moved in front of the monarch.
"How are you going to stop me? You're not even armed."
"He has a point," the Doctor remarked under his breath. Jason met his gaze, seeing his eyes flicker in the Emperor's direction. Suddenly he knew what the Doctor was thinking.
"Well?" the young man with the gun snarled. "How do intend stopping me?"
"Guess," came the defiant reply. Suddenly Jason turned and snatched the medallion from the Emperor's neck. He then held it out in front of himself. "Shoot me now, if you dare."
"Whoever you are, you're dead," his evil twin snarled, and fired his weapon.
"Doctor! Everyone, get down!" Jason cried as the energy bolt struck the jewel in his hand.
The Master dragged the Emperor to the floor and they all watched as the glow of energy striking the gem grew brighter and brighter. Across the room, Jason's counterpart growled in anger and hit the switch to increase the power on his weapon.
"No!" the Doctor called out. "Reduce the power or you'll destroy yourself!"
The enraged being ignored him and increased the power a second time. The weapon in his hands started to whine in protest and then started to glow, yet the demented Alterran would not stop. Finally the weapon exploded, vaporizing its owner. The energy backlash threw Jason forcefully back against the far wall, stunning him.
What followed was a deafening silence.
The remaining occupants of the room were picking themselves up off of the floor when Commander Payne returned. He burst into the room and looked around in an appalled silence.
"Well, Lord Emperor," the Master said dryly, "do you believe us now?"
Before the shaken monarch could reply, Jason moaned and sat up slowly, a hand going to his pounding head. The Doctor was immediately beside him. "Are you alright?"
"What happened?" his companion asked dazedly.
"We won," the Time Lord replied.
"Yes. And I lost," the Healer sighed, looking across the room where his counterpart had been. The jewel in his hand suddenly flared brightly and he caught his breath as its power flooded through him. He gave the Doctor an amazed look. "Is that all it needed? Activation?"
"I wondered how you were able to get it away so easily," the Time Lord remarked.
"I kept hearing the words of my own Emperor. 'Healer Jason, I give you leave to do that which is necessary.'" Giving his battered friend a knowing smile, he then said, "And speaking of healing…" and touched his hand, instantly healing his wounds.
The dazzled Emperor came over to them. "How did you do all that?" he asked.
Jason's mouth dropped open. "Good Lord, you don't know what this is, do you? Or how to use it?"
"That would explain a great deal," the Doctor remarked.
"It certainly would." Jason got to his feet and held the gem out in the palm of his hand. "Your Majesty, I present to you the Great Seal, the single most powerful object ever discovered." Pausing, he said firmly, "It's the binding force in my universe and will help you work out an acceptable peace with Gallifrey. Please, use it wisely."
Quinton took the Great Seal from the young man's hand, feeling its power suddenly surge through him. "How could you part with this so willingly?" he wanted to know. "It's incredible."
"Yes, I know." Jason gave a bittersweet smile, turning his gaze to where his counterpart had been. "I just don't think it's very healthy for me."