Chapter Two

What Happened

The Doctor expected to be told that no one knew for certain and was therefore unprepared when the Emperor said, "See for yourself," and activated a view screen. "He was making this log entry when it happened."

The image of a travel weary Prince Jason appeared on the screen. "Entry number seventy-two," he said in a tired voice. "Seventy-too many," he added under his breath. "Well, I must admit that Gillaanan Four is far and away the most down to earth colony I've visited so far. Every one I've met has been hospitable and open to suggestions on making this colony more cost efficient…and profitable. I definitely recommend further assistance and possibly a protection force."

After a thoughtful pause, he added, "You may want to consider sponsoring a joint venture in the fledgling mining operation. The ore samples I forwarded have a high concentration of—" Jason broke off, turning away from the screen. "Sounds like Sully's back," he muttered. "Sully, is that you?" he then called towards the cabin door. In the background there was the sound of laser fire followed by a scream. The prince was instantly on his feet. "Sully!" Turning back to the terminal, he commanded, "Computer, activate automatic distress call. Continue recording until deactivated by voice command."

The computer acknowledged the order just as the door was blown open. Jason spun around to see three intruders menacing him with high-energy weapons. Holding out his hands, he took a step back and said evenly, "I'm not armed."

"All the better," came the grating reply as the intruder fired his weapon pointblank.

The Alterran prince threw up his hands and took another step back, concentrating to absorb the energy being fired at him. A second member of the band joined in, but Jason stayed on his feet. It took the combined efforts of all three to finally bring him down (much to the amazement of the Doctor, who silently marveled at how powerful his friend had become.)

"Cass, he's sent a distress call," one of the attackers called from the console.

"Who cares? We'll be long gone before anybody gets here."

Apparently the one in charge, Cass watched calmly as the stunned prince was securely bound, gagged and blindfolded. It was not until the Alterran moaned that he showed any emotion at all. "Don't forget the drug," he ordered worriedly. "These things will be useless a second time." He waved the weapon in his hand to make his point. "If he comes to with his system in balance, he'll be more than the lot of us can handle."

A metabolic destabilizer was immediately administered, its purpose being to throw Jason's metabolism out of whack, making it impossible for him to transmute. With their quarry no longer a threat, the group left the ship, the entire incident having taken no more than five minutes. Then the screen went blank.

Emperor Quinton remained silent, allowing his guests time to absorb what they had just witnessed. It was the Doctor who spoke first. "I'm not going to insult you with the obvious question," he said mildly. "What did your investigation find?"

Not to his great surprise he was told that nothing conclusive had been found in or around Jason's shuttle. The operation had been meticulously planned and executed. The only significant point was that, while the kidnappers were human, they had more than a passing knowledge of Alterrans.

"Yes," the Doctor said thoughtfully. "I noticed they knew enough to drug him to prevent his transmuting."

"What are they demanding for his return?" Turlough asked. He was startled when the Emperor turned a piercingly steady gaze in his direction, his sapphire blue eyes seeming to glow momentarily. For a brief panic-stricken moment the young man wondered if he was not sup posed to speak during this interview.

"To date, no ransom demand has been received," came the calm reply.

The Doctor was incredulous. "What? None?"

"None," the Emperor confirmed gravely. "Oh, we identified all the men in the recording. Wanted criminals, the lot. Unfortunately, they all seem to've met with a violent end within days of the kidnapping."

"Murdered, no doubt, by the person or persons who hired them," the Doctor remarked.

"Not directly. It was all perfectly 'legal,' if that's the right word for it. You know the sort of thing, I think? A barroom brawl gets out of hand and so on."

This is going from bad to worse, the Doctor thought darkly. No ransom. No kidnappers. No evidence. No nothing.

"It doesn't make sense," Turlough injected. "Why go to all the trouble to organize something like this if you're not going to capitalize on it?"

Having wondered the same thing, the Doctor turned an inquiring gaze to the Emperor, who admitted that the possibility of a personal grudge had been explored. The list was narrowed down to only one person who was vindictive enough, intelligent enough and possessing the means to organize something on so large a scale.

"The Master," the Doctor concluded, bringing an admiring look to the Alterran monarch's face. The Time Lord nodded. It would be just like his enemy to humiliate his victim in the way they had just witnessed. "I don't know what you expect me to do, Majesty. If the Master were behind this, he'd've done something to bring this to my attention before now. And left some kind of trail I could follow, however obscure. Since this hasn't happened…" Pausing, he gave voice to a thought they had all shared, "You do realize Jason may already be dead."

The monarch met the Time Lord's gaze steadily, a hand going to the Great Seal. "No…" he said softly. "He's alive. I can still feel his mental energy, but…it's fading."

By this time Turlough was completely lost but kept his confusion to himself. It was obvious the Doctor understood what this meant.

"Too faint to get a fix on?" the Doctor asked.

The Emperor nodded. "His mind is in turmoil, fading in and out. More drugs, probably. Oddly enough, I only managed to lock onto him when he started calling for you. I think he was aware of my contact. I'm just not sure he knew it was real."

Before the Doctor could interrupt, the Emperor held up a hand. "When the official investigation turned up nothing, an unofficial investigation began. It's being run by a group calling it self the Argonauts." With an impish grin, he added, "I'm, eh, not supposed to know about it."

"Why's that?" the Time Lord asked.

"Because they're operating from the Sorenson Estate on Aegis." Noting his guests' startled expressions, the Alterran's smile broadened. "You were on your way to the Alexandria Foundation when I stopped you, I believe."

"Yes, we were, as a matter of fact," the Doctor confirmed.

"Then perhaps you wouldn't mind making a slight detour? Their base is located only a few kilometres off your original flight path."

"And you want me to join them, I take it?"

"No, Doctor, I want you to lead them."

The Doctor blinked, exchanged a look of mutual disbelief with his companion before turning back to stare unbelievingly at the Emperor.

"Isn't that assuming an awful lot, even for you?" he asked once he had found his voice.

"Perhaps," came the evasive reply. "Let's just say I've had another glimpse into your future and leave it at that."

A knowing smile came to Turlough's face. He, too, had had a glimpse into the Time Lord's future. Prince Jason's too, come to that. Having seen the King that Jason would someday be come, he wondered how much his knowledge would influence him in the present. Looking up, he saw the Emperor staring fixedly at him again, an odd searching look on his face.

The moment passed quickly and Quinton was himself again, giving the Doctor the paperwork from the official investigation. While the Time Lord was assimilating it, the monarch took his companion aside and spoke privately with him before bidding them farewell.

"I suppose it would be foolish of me to ask what his Majesty said to you?" the Doctor remarked as he hit the dematerialization switch.

Turlough frowned. Only part of the conversation was clear. The Emperor had told him he had seen the image of the future Jason in his mind, but the rest of what he had said was only a vague impression. A dream he could not quite recall.

Looking up in bewilderment, he said, "I don't know. It's as if… This is going to sound crazy, but…it's as if he didn't use words."

"Not at all. He probably didn't." Seeing the puzzled expression on the boy's face, the Doctor said patiently, "He's telepathic. Incredibly so, as a matter of fact, thanks to the Great Seal—that jewel around his neck." Waving a hand in the air, he said dismissively, "Never mind. Whatever he wants you to know, you'll re member when the appropriate time comes. Right now our first order of business is finding this rescue effort."

Turlough grunted. "And the second is to convince them that you're the man to lead them."