Chapter 6

The Prince Joins The Hunt

The Doctor had been brooding a very long time, and Tegan was sure he didn't have the faintest idea what to do next. Even his gift of improvisation seemed to have deserted him, and with all the security guards searching for them, it would take a miracle for them to escape.

The miracle was on the way in the guise of a fair-haired security guard. Jason made straight for the lab door he had seen closing. He was sure it must have been the Doctor and hoped his old friend had not gone since he had passed by.

"Doctor, someone's coming!" Turlough gasped, backing away from the door. The Doctor mo tioned him behind the door and Tegan under the counter. Then he backed up to stand in front of Tegan, who had the laser pistol at the ready.

"I hope that thing's set to stun," the Doctor hissed.

Before his companion could reply, the door opened and the disguised Jason entered. Seeing the Doctor, he held up a hand in a gesture Turlough misinterpreted as hostile. Grabbing the extended arm, the young man pivoted on his heel and slammed the startled newcomer into the wall. Jason's head connected with the unyielding surface and he collapsed to the floor in a heap.

Turlough made a quick check in the hall and was relieved to see their unexpected visitor was alone. Quickly shutting the door, he turned to see the Doctor examining the stunned blond form on the floor. Tegan had come out of hiding and was looking around in bewilderment.

"Is he armed?" she asked.

"Doesn't appear to be," came the equally bewildered reply.

Jason groaned and stirred, putting a hand to his aching head.

"You'll live," the Doctor informed dryly.

"I'd like a second opinion," the Prince muttered darkly as he struggled to a sitting position and tried to clear his vision, looking at the three strangers he had burst in upon.

"Well, I'll say one thing for you, young man," the Time Lord remarked, "you're a unique guard. Everyone else we've seen so far has been armed to the teeth."

"That's probably because I'm not a guard," the Alterran said irritably, cradling his pounding head in his hands.

"Oh, I see," snorted Tegan. "I guess it was the uniform that fooled us."

"Can you think of a better way to move around this place unchallenged?"

This spirited exchange amused the Doctor. Whoever this young man was, he seemed rather sure of himself. "Would you wet one of those cloths for me, please, Tegan?" the Time Lord requested, pointing to a stack of dusty linen beside the sink. "I think this young man is in need of a doctor."

Two guards appeared at Professor Turner's office to "escort" him to the Commander's office. He was not at all happy about it. The last two days had been an absolute disaster. Communications completely shot, cameras out, radios down, noisy alarms, dead guards, intruders. And now to be summoned like a schoolboy to the Head Master's office. Outrageous!

Jason looked over at Turlough, who was still keeping watch by the door. "It would be easier if you just locked it," he suggested helpfully.

Turlough gave him a baleful look. "We don't happen to have a key."

"I do."

Fishing into his pockets, the Prince produced a key and tossed it to the astonished Turlough.

"You are full of surprises," chirped the Doctor.

"More than you may think," came the enigmatic reply. The Alterran gratefully accepted the cold cloth from Tegan and applied it to his throbbing forehead.

The Doctor was more than a little intrigued. "Why, may I ask, are you here? Everyone else is of the opinion that we're armed and dangerous, yet you don't seem the least concerned."

Jason sighed heavily and looked up. "Well, to tell you the truth, I thought you might be someone else."

"Oh, really? Who?"

"Someone called the Doctor."

The three time travelers were dumbfounded and exchanged an astonished look. Why would this extraordinary young man be looking for the Doctor? How would he even know to look for him in the first place?

"I am the Doctor."

Jason blinked and then felt himself getting angry, lowering the cloth from his head. "No, you're not!"

"I can assure you, young man," the Time Lord said firmly. "I am the Doctor."

Without warning, Jason reached out and took hold of one of the Doctor's hands. Although startled, the Doctor did not pull away and continued to watch the intriguing youth in growing fascination. The boy's eyes moved back and forth a moment before looking quizzically back up at him.

Turlough wasn't sure what to make of any of this. Crossing to Tegan, he hopped up on the counter.

"I think you may've knocked a screw loose," Tegan whispered as she joined him on the counter top.

The baffled Jason released his hold on the Doctor. "I don't understand…" he said to no one in particular. "The time aura is right, but everything else is so different. How could…?" A thought struck him like a bolt of lightning and he caught his breath. "Of course! I should've realized. You've regenerated."

"You seem to know a great deal more about me than I do about you," the Time Lord observed, rising to his feet. "Have you a name?"

"A name?" Jason was momentarily thrown.

"Yes," the Doctor replied sarcastically. "Most people have one."

"Of course I have a name. In fact, I have several." Picking up the cloth, the Alterran used it to wipe his face. When he lowered it, his own older face had replaced that of the stranger. Ruffling his hair, it too returned to its normal tangle of black curls. With a grin, he said, "But you can still call me Jason."

Tegan's jaw dropped open in amazement. She had seen the Doctor regenerate in front of her, but it was nothing like this! The Doctor's regeneration had been the result of a devastating fall. This was like flipping a switch.

The Alterran sat grinning up at the Doctor, who was staring at him in wide-eyed astonishment. "How many companions have you had that can do that?" the young man asked.

"One," the Time Lord replied. "You look older."

"And you look younger," jested the smiling youth.

The Doctor was now grinning from ear to ear and helped his old friend to his feet. "I think some introductions are in order. Jason Krystovan, this is Tegan Jovanka." Tegan gave a nod and weak smile. "And this guilty looking young man is Turlough."

"I'm very pleased to meet you," the Alterran said politely.

Tegan found her voice at last. "Ho…how did you…change like that?" she stammered.

"Molecular transmutation," the Doctor and Jason said in unison. They exchanged glances and Jason started to laugh.

"Jason is Alterran, Tegan," the Doctor explained. Turning to his friend, he added, "I hope you're also here to help. I must admit, we can definitely use some right now."

"I'm afraid the situation's far more serious than you realize, Doctor," Jason informed soberly. "The Master is here."

The Master was waiting for the arrival of Professor Turner when Saunders called to inform him of the discovery in the Containment Area. At first the Master was annoyed to learn the Doctor was still at large, but he positively glowed when he learned of the discovery of the TARDIS so near the bait he had laid. The Doctor would be his very shortly. If those incompetent guards could not find him, he would be forced to come himself to retrieve his TARDIS.

"Now, my dear Doctor," the Master chuckled, "you will come to me. One way or another."

Jason related all he knew about the Master's alter ego, the Commander. But since he had not actually met him face to face until that morning, there was little to go on. The entire security force seemed petrified of him, yet he and Professor Turner were very chummy. The Doctor found this point very interesting. Why would his rival suddenly be interested in biochemical research? The prospects were not ones he dared dwell on.

"We've got to get out of here and find some answers. And we need to do it without attracting a lot of attention." The Doctor turned to Jason for assistance, but the response was not what he expected.

"No problem." Jason climbed up on to the counter and pulled the grating off the air vent. "This will take us anywhere you want to go. Including—" He raised a finger. "—the Commander's office."

The Doctor could not have been more delighted. The prospect of getting the upper hand on his sworn enemy had renewed his sagging spirits. Suddenly his enthusiasm knew no bounds.

Jason was pleased at the response he had invoked in his old friend. He turned to the Doctor's companions and pointed to the computer terminal. "Since we'll have to leave you two behind, maybe you can get some information out of that thing pertaining to the last twenty-four hours."

"I've already tried," the Doctor informed. "There's no power."

The Alterran cleared his throat. "You have to turn it on," he informed innocently, pointing to the switch in the wall just beside the terminal. With an almost apologetic smile, Jason clambered into the air duct.

The Doctor appeared a little embarrassed at having made so blatant an error, and Turlough could not help feeling sorry for him. "Go on, Doctor," he said. "We'll be alright."

The Time Lord muttered something and then followed Jason into the air duct.

"Left behind again," Tegan moaned.

Turlough ignored her, flipping the switch and settling down in front of the computer. He touched a key and the screen came to life. "I think we're in business," he grinned, rubbing his hands together.

Tegan saw a mischievous gleam in his eye. This might be fun after all.