Epilogue

When they returned to the resort, they found that the chaos had settled. A few guests milled about, but no employees were outside on the grounds. Evidence of the earlier disorder abounded, however: broken windows, trampled plants, patio furniture in the pools, and the like. The guests they saw all bore the marks of the pandemonium; bruises, black eyes, and swollen lips seemed the order of the day.

The Doctor led his companions to Druus' office. The resort manager was not at his desk or in the meeting room. They noticed that his desk was in some disarray, and a floor lamp lay broken on the plush carpet. As they looked about, a very disheveled young couple stormed into the room.

"Where is he?" they demanded, clearly angry but showing no overt violent tendencies.

"I don't think he's here," the Doctor replied.

The man said, "Well, if you see him tell him that we're lodging a formal complaint, both to Sanadia and to the Federation. We've already called the Federation authorities. This is the worst vacation we've ever had!"

He took the woman's arm and stomped away.

A small noise caught the Doctor's attention. He pointed toward the meeting room then held a finger to his lips. Walking softly across the carpet, he entered the room silently then strode to a closet in the far corner. He turned the door knob, but the door seemed reluctant to open. With a shake of his head, he gave the door a hard tug and it swung outward, revealing Druus squatting in the closet with his hands held out in an effort to prevent the door from opening.

The Time Lord took Druus' arm and pulled him up. "You can't hide forever," he said.

"I had to," Druus stammered. "They were all after me—they would have killed me." He gestured to his face. His right eye was swollen shut, and his cheeks were bruised and cut. He had obviously taken one or more beatings.

"And you expect us to feel sorry for you?" Turlough asked. "After what you and your corporation caused?"

"It was never supposed to go wrong," the manager said. "It was just to make everyone happy." He mopped at his brow with his filthy handkerchief then looked pleadingly at the Doctor. "But you fixed it? Everyone has calmed down some, but it's not the same as it was before. What did you do?"

"I'm afraid that the transmitter has been destroyed," the Doctor said. "You'll need to watch the former prisoners, or at least those who were convicted for violent crimes. Without the delta and theta wave stimulation, they will behave according to their natures."

Druus nodded. "I got most of them into their rooms and locked them inside—"

"You locked them in?" Tegan asked. "So you knew this could happen?"

"No, of course not, but we had exterior locks installed just in case…"

The Doctor, Turlough, and Tegan frowned at him disapprovingly. "Was anyone killed here?" asked the Doctor.

Druus shook his head. "No."

"Seriously injured?"

The manager hesitated. "There were some broken bones…"

"The engineer has been murdered," the Doctor said unceremoniously.

Druus patted at his forehead again. "Mr. Tarmel? Oh dear. Murdered, you say? By whom?"

"By his assistant. Your bartender, the one from the nearest pool, was in on it, too." The Doctor folded his arms over his chest.

"Kelve? But he wasn't even from the penal colony! He said he wanted to work here because it was such a wonderful place—said he didn't mind that he wouldn't be paid, he just wanted to be a part of Sanadia—"

"He was working for another corporation," said Turlough. "He had the engineer's assistant sabotage the transmitter."

"That traitor!" Druus cried. "After all I did for him—"

"And what did you do for him?" Turlough asked. "Allowed him to work here for no pay? Oh, he must have been so grateful!"

"Has he come back here?" asked the Doctor.

"I haven't seen him," Druus replied, still scowling at Turlough's remark.

"Well, you should try to find him and the engineer's assistant and have them held for the Federation authorities. Some guests have called them. How long will it take them to get here?" the Doctor asked pointedly.

"Oh…three or four hours," stammered Druus, obviously disconcerted by this information.

The Doctor nodded then added, "Kol is dead, too."

"Kol? What happened to him?" Druus asked.

With a glance at Tegan, the Doctor replied sharply, "He came out the to transmission station and attacked Tegan again. Why didn't you see that he was locked up after I told you what he'd done?"

"I…" Druus' eyes flicked to Tegan, but he seemed unwilling to look directly at her. "I didn't think… I mean, I had so many other things to worry about…"

The Doctor turned toward the door but paused. "When the Federation representatives arrive, I want to speak with them. I'll return here in three hours."

"Where are you going?" Druus asked, appearing hesitant to be left alone.

"I have repairs to finish. I think we'd all like to leave here as soon as possible."

He took Tegan's arm gently and led her out the door, Turlough following closely behind.

The Doctor had returned to the central console as soon as they set foot in the TARDIS. He sent Turlough to retrieve a tool from one of the storage rooms. Tegan remained near the door, watching the Time Lord as he flicked several switches on the control panels. The grime on her face felt heavy, and she wiped her hand over her cheek, forgetting for an instant the tenderness of the bruised flesh.

"Ow!" she muttered, shaking her head.

The Doctor looked up at her. "Are you all right?"

She smiled wanly. "You know me. I'm indestructible." Her tone was less than convincing.

The Doctor glanced back at the switches then moved his gaze to her face. After a moment he left his work to walk toward her.

"Tegan," he began, standing before her to place a tentative hand on her shoulder, "the transmissions brought out the worst in everyone. You understand that, don't you?"

She lowered her eyes. "That's what you told me before—"

"And it is the truth. Don't think for one moment that anything that happened to you was your fault."

She nodded in acknowledgement. "I suppose I was pretty awful, too."

"No, not much more so than usual." His flicker of a smile did little to impress the joke upon her.

"Really? I'm not that bad, am I?"

"No, Tegan, of course not. If anyone should apologize for contemptible behavior, it is I."

"I think Turlough could stand to apologize, too." Tegan rubbed at the sore spot on her chest almost subconsciously.

"Perhaps. But he was the one who prevented the transmitter from exploding when you were overcome with smoke, and he kept Kol from hitting you. I seem to remember, too, that he placed his body in front of yours when it seemed the transmitter would explode as Kol fell into it."

Tegan's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "I didn't know that." She seemed immersed in thought for a few seconds, then she continued, "What he said about jumping overboard… Do you think it's true?"

The Time Lord caught her gaze and held it steadily with his own. "Yes."

Turlough returned to the room then, carrying the requested item. He handed it to the Doctor then leaned against the wall in obvious exhaustion.

"How long until we can leave?" he asked.

"Now that the electrical transmissions have ceased, this should only take a few more hours. I'll have you home by tomorrow."

Turlough nodded, but his expression showed none of the excitement that the Doctor and Tegan had thought this information would produce.

"Turlough," said the Doctor rather carefully, "you do still want to go home, don't you?"

The Trion shrugged. "I suppose that would be best for everyone."

"I've found your electrical skills rather helpful. There are several more long-standing projects with which I could use your assistance." The Doctor glanced at Tegan.

She took a few steps toward the door but paused long enough to say, "It's your ship, Doctor. Suit yourself."

When the Doctor left the TARDIS several hours later to speak with the Federation officials, both Tegan and Turlough opted to remain behind. Neither wished to return to the resort property. Tegan had showered and changed her dress again and felt somewhat happier with her clean apparel. Turlough had disappeared into his room as well, though Tegan was not sure what he was doing and really did not particularly care.

Shortly after the Doctor left, she went to the kitchen to prepare some food, finally feeling hungry after a very taxing day. As she set a bowl of soup on the table, Turlough walked past the open door. He paused to glance inside.

Without really thinking, Tegan said, "I made soup. Do you want some?"

He stepped inside. "I suppose," he replied phlegmatically.

She ladled some soup into a bowl. He had already sat down when she turned back to the table. She saw that he had apparently showered, too. The soot and grime from the fire were gone, and he wore clean clothes. The lump on his forehead was still visible, and his lip remained slightly swollen from the bartender's blow with the gun. She noticed a bruise forming on his jaw, and when he reached for the soup spoon she saw that the knuckles of his right hand were bruised as well.

"You're sort of a mess," she said.

He shrugged and took a spoonful of soup.

"Did you hurt your hand fighting with Kol?" she asked somewhat hesitantly.

He glanced down. "I suppose so."

Tegan pulled out a chair and sat down. "Why did you fight him?"

He looked up at her, surprise evident in his expression. "He was attacking you, Tegan."

"I know, but—" She paused. "I didn't think you'd… I mean, that was…"

"At a loss for words?" he chaffed. "That's a first."

She began to frown, but his small smile showed his intent. "I just meant," she said, "thank you."

"You're welcome."

She ate a few spoonfuls of soup then looked up at him again. "What you said before, about why you jumped overboard, was that true?"

He shrugged again. "Yes."

She set her spoon carefully next to the bowl. "Turlough, if you'd just told us—"

For an instant she saw a stricken expression cross his face, and his hand began to snake back up toward his neck. She shook her head and lowered her eyes without continuing her words. They ate in silence for some time, but finally Tegan asked, "How's your neck?"

Turlough replied, "It's better. The Doctor gave me some sort of heating device to put on it. It helped a lot."

"I'm glad."

Tegan's words were sincere.