Chapter 17

Arrival

After exchanging a mystified look with his companions, the Doctor followed Jason outside, finding him standing motionless atop a sand dune, entranced by the gentle waves lapping up onto the beach below.

"You seem surprised to be here," the Doctor observed, voicing his own feelings as he came to stand behind his friend.

"Yes, very," Jason confirmed dreamily. "To be here. After all this time. I just can't believe it. After reading that message, I thought—" Pausing a moment, he threw a quick glance back at the building. "But no official business is ever conducted here. Well…except in an emergency. And that's almost never."

"Jason, you're babbling," the relieved Time Lord said admonishingly. "Anyway, I think we get the general idea."

The Alterran did not seem to take any notice as he continued to bubble like a bottle of uncorked champagne, recalling how he had first met the Doctor no more than a few miles away on his family's estate.

"This is all very interesting," Turlough broke in pointedly. "But where are we now?" All this enthusiasm was all well and good, but they couldn't hang about on the beach all day.

"Sorry. I guess I got a little carried away," Jason said, blushing yet again. "We're at YonSharoon Palace. It's…sort of a Royal retreat. I never dreamed we'd be coming here, of all places. Back to the sea…" He returned his gaze to the waves, adding, "You have no idea how much I wanted to leave that ghastly Institute. Carna's such a desolate, barren rock of a planet."

Turlough smiled to himself. He had every idea how he felt. Jason had just echoed his own feelings about Earth and the English Public School from which he had fled. They had more in common than he realized, and he added this to the growing list of things he liked about the Alterran Prince.

"The YonSharoon Palace?" the Doctor muttered thoughtfully. "The Palace at the Place of Joining?" he then translated, turning to Jason who was clearly impressed. "I see your father still has a sense of humor, at any rate."

"The Honeymoon Palace is probably a better name for it," Jason replied with a wry smile. "More of the arrangements I expect. Oh, who cares! I'm just happy to be home. I'll worry about all that when the time comes."

A small party of Palace Guards suddenly appeared in the distance, having been dispatched to remove the trespassers from the back lawn. The Prince had been blocked from view by the others and it was Tegan who first noticed them approaching. "We've got company," she said warningly. "And they don't look happy."

Seeing what she meant, Jason stepped forward, bringing the guards to an immediate halt. "Our escort, I should think," he said softly. He ran his fingers through his hair and a small gold circlet appeared, sparkling brightly amid his tangle of black curls. "Might as well look official."

One of the guards came forward and exchanged a formal greeting before turning to escort the group to the Palace.

"They all look human," Tegan remarked quietly to the Doctor.

Jason smiled, readily understanding her bewilderment. "We never appear in our true form openly, Tegan," he explained.

"But…this is your own planet," the puzzled woman replied.

"Yes, with lots of alien visitors," the Alterran reminded. "Too many races find us…well, terrifying, to say the least. If you didn't know me, I dare say you'd find my true appearance frightening, wouldn't you? That's why we only reveal ourselves privately to members of our own race." Jason caught the Doctor's eye and smiled. "With a few exceptions, of course."

"Of course," Tegan replied, giving the Prince a look he also understood. He knew she was recalling how he had returned to his true form and tried to kill the Master at the Institute.

They had all agreed to keep the incident between themselves, sparing his family undo heartache. It did not, however, spare Jason from a scathing reprimand from the Doctor. Tegan had been surprised when the Alterran received the rebuke meekly, without comment or attempted justification. She was even more surprised when he showed no signs of animosity towards his Time Lord friend afterwards. She did not realize until later that this was her first glimpse into the unusual bond between the incredibly powerful alien beings.

Tegan then reflected on the very alien being that was the real Prince Jason. At least the Doctor appeared human, but him! The reality of the Alterran's true form was unsettling to say the least. The unassuming young man walking blithely ahead of her was, in truth, an extraordinary creature possessing almost invincible powers. Why did his people hide within a weak, vulnerable human form? Was it the only way he could keep his powers in check?

Upon entering the Palace, Jason was informed that his father had been delayed in the city and would be joining them later. Several servants were waiting to escort the Doctor, Tegan and Turlough to their rooms.

While his guests were settling in, Jason seized the opportunity to excuse himself to dictate his official report on the near catastrophe on Carna.

After prowling the lavish suite of rooms that had been prepared for him, the Doctor stepped out onto the balcony. A cool sea breeze blew across his face as he took in the view and he found himself relaxing almost in spite of himself.

"Doctor, this place is amazing!" Tegan squealed as she came out of her room to join him.

The Doctor turned slowly. His companion had changed from the dark outfit she had been wearing into a white sundress with a colorful embroidered skirt. "What are you wearing?" he asked amusedly.

"It was in my room. There's a whole wardrobe to choose from. And they're all my size!" Tegan smiled brightly upon receiving an approving look and turned in place.

"An appropriate choice on a day such as this. Not unlike a summer's day in…early August. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Not where I come from."

Catching her eye, the Doctor smiled. "Quite." It had slipped his mind that she had been raised in Australia where the seasons were reversed to those of England where he had spent most of his time during his five year exile on Earth.

"A very restful setting, though," the Time Lord continued. "This planet is very aptly named Tel-Shye. Roughly translated, it means tranquility."

"You're showing off again, Doctor," Turlough observed as he came out to join them.

The Doctor gave him a look of complete innocence. "Am I?"

Tegan tried to give him a disapproving look, but could not manage to keep a straight face. "Oh, you're impossible!"

Noting her relaxed manner, the Doctor was pleased to see some of the tranquility of their surroundings had already rubbed off on his strong willed, and ofttimes lamenting, companion.

Their present peace of mind was destined to be short lived, however, as their arrival had already been observed and unseen forces were at work setting up the chain of events that would, once triggered, eventually cause the Doctor's companions to question the sanity of those around them—and even themselves.

The King returned while Jason was working on his lengthy report and sent word that he was ready to receive his guests. The Prince gratefully stopped his dictation and made his way through the corridors to collect his friends. A servant stopped him as he was about to climb the main staircase, giving him a note bidding him come to a nearby sitting room. The note was unsigned, and pressing as to its origins proved fruitless.

Intrigued, Jason went to the sitting room, finding a woman gazing out a window with her back to the door. "Excuse me. Are you the author of this note?" he asked politely, his mouth dropping open when she turned to face him. "Shadra! What on earth are you doing here?"

"Ja—your Royal highness," the Baroness said demurely. She bowed low as the Prince entered, puzzling him all the more. Whenever they were alone, she was never this formal. Come to that, even in public she was never this formal.

With a nervous smile on her face, Shadra said, "I'm here to give you the specifics on the arrangements your father mentioned in his message."