Chapter 38
"Now What Do We Do?"
Startled, the Doctor's companions turned to see him smiling weakly up at them. "But I do appreciate the thought," he added quietly. He tried to sit up, only to fall back, too weak to manage it alone. As Turlough helped him up, Jason took the mixture Tegan had prepared and knelt down beside him. "Here, Doctor, drink this. It'll help you get your strength back."
Supported by Turlough, the Doctor gave the orange-brown liquid a quizzical look. "What is it?"
"A dose of poison," Jason snapped impatiently.
The Time Lord's eyebrows went up. "Indeed?" he said mildly.
Realizing the implications of his thoughtless remark, Jason blushed vividly, attempting a tangled explanation that only made matters worse. "Oh, never mind!" he sputtered finally. "Just drink it."
"I was only curious," the Doctor grinned innocently, taking full advantage of the underlying purr the Master's voice could accomplish. He drank the mixture and returned the empty glass to the flustered Alterran. He then tried to stand, only to find, to his annoyance, that it was too difficult on his own.
"Easy, Doctor," Jason soothed as he assisted the Time Lord to his feet. "You've just taken an awful beating."
The Doctor pulled away in anger and frustration. "Jason, we've no time for this!" he growled irritably, having to grab the console to keep from falling. "We've got to get the Master off that balcony and into the Crystal Cavern." By this time, his mind was racing. There had to be some way. Unfortunately, he kept coming back to the same frightfully unthinkable conclusion. The only way to get the Master to the Cavern…
"I'm going to have to take him there," Jason stated flatly, not liking the idea any better than the Doctor.
"What?"
"I said—"
"I know what you said," the Time Lord interrupted sharply. "I'm just confused as to how you came to that conclusion."
"Oh, no, you're not," the Prince countered forcefully. "You know perfectly well it's the only way. You're just afraid to suggest it. It's like…choosing the volunteer for a suicide mission."
"But, why you?" Tegan wanted to know.
"Well, for starters, I'm the only one here who's supposed to know the Cavern even exists."
The Doctor sighed, conceding, "And he's also better equipped to deal with the Master one-on-one." Looking his friend in the eye, he said seriously, "It's still very dangerous, Jason."
"I know. Have you a better idea?"
The Doctor was forced to admit that he did not, going on to admit that he also knew there was no alternative. He grudgingly laid out the stratagem he had hoped to avoid. Jason would have to get close enough to the Master to either stun him or take him by force. This would not be easy since the Master would invariably see him leaving the TARDIS. If caught, he would allow himself to be "forced" into revealing the Doctor's whereabouts.
The Doctor cautioned his friend to be extremely careful, mentioning the veiled threats his enemy had made at the time of the exchange. As an afterthought, he also requested that the Palace Guard be alerted as to what was going on.
"I really don't want to be shot due to a case of mistaken identity," the Time Lord stated sharply.
"My dear old friend," Jason said affectionately, "you can't possibly think I'd allow that to happen. Not after all this! I'll go straight to Father as soon as I leave."
"Splendid!" the Doctor enthused. "No time like the present to get underway."
"And if something goes wrong?" asked the eternal pessimist Turlough.
Jason turned to the dark figure who was now the Doctor to see his eyes twinkling back with a look that was, oh, so familiar. "I know. I know. Improvise!"
Watching from the shadows, the Master saw Jason emerge from the TARDIS and walk purposefully to the Palace, vanishing beneath the balcony. A few seconds later, the Police Box dematerialized. Turning thoughtfully from the doorway, the Master's hand stroked the beard that was no longer there as he considered this latest snag in his plans. "So, Doctor," he crooned, "you're on the run. But to where, I wonder?"
Crossing to a table, the Master pulled a box from a drawer, an evil grin parting his lips. He took out a squared off gray bar, popping open its casing to check the mass of wires and printed circuits it contained. Closing the casing with a snap, he gave a satisfied grunt, toasting his own colossal genius with the last of the herbal mixture. He then began removing more parts from the box and fitting them together. Time for Prince Jason to play his part he thought. And this time, the hot-tempered Alterran would not get the upper hand. This time, he would be ready for him. A chuckle rumbled forth at this very pleasant thought.
"No, Jason, I won't allow it. It's much too dangerous," the King stated flatly. He did not share his son's unshakable faith in the Doctor, or his plan, which was, to say the least, dubious. Too many things could go wrong.
"I'm aware of the risks, Father, and I'm willing to take them," Jason replied fiercely. "I've got to! The link is deteriorating exponentially. The Doctor doesn't have the strength to withstand another pass of instability. And if the Master even suspects an ambush, he'll disappear and regenerate. Then we'll never find him!"
The King silently studied his son's set expression, having seen the defiant look more times than he cared to count. They had clashed on numerous occasions and, more often than not, Jason backed down, but when the Doctor was involved the boy always stood by his friend, no matter what. It was a steadfast loyalty that Aaron was not sure he should be annoyed or proud of.
"Jason, I'm sure we can find some other way—"
"No, Father. The Master would spot a substitute in a heartbeat," his son countered. "You'll just have to make sure the Palace Guards synchronize their watches. The Cavalry's supposed to arrive in the nick of time, you know."
Aaron sighed heavily. "Jason, just once do you think you could try speaking the same language I am?"
Jason laughed in spite of himself. In his excitement, he had forgotten his father never understood any of the expressions he had picked up during his travels with the Doctor. "Just make sure the Palace Guards know what's going on and don't start shooting at the wrong person," he said helpfully.
Not waiting for a reply, the Prince turned and quickly headed for the door. Just as he pulled it open, his father called him back and he stopped, half expecting another round of arguing. To his amazement, Aaron beamed proudly at him and wished him luck. Jason smiled weakly and left, leaning heavily against the door once he was in the hall.
"Good luck," he said under his breath. "Boy, am I going to need it."
The wheezing and groaning of the TARDIS materializing broke the serene silence of the Crystal Cavern. The Doctor was the first to emerge, his awestruck companions coming out behind him. He cautioned them to stay clear of the raised platforms, as he crossed to the starburst control console and started to examine it. He found the drawer where the Master had deposited the syringes and pulled them out, giving each a cautious taste. "Nasty stuff," he grunted in distaste. "No wonder I couldn't think straight."
As he returned the needles to the drawer, a flash of light caught the Time Lord's attention and he looked inside, seeing, to his elation, a key wedged in a corner. "Hal-lo," he intoned. "What have we here?"
"Find something interesting?" Turlough inquired, pulling his attention away from his extraordinary surroundings.
"Does this qualify?" the Doctor asked, holding up the key.
"What is it?"
"Well, incase I miss my guess, I'd say it's a key to the Master's TARDIS." With a grin, the Time Lord asked, "Want to help me find it?"