CHAPTER FIVE

INTRUDER?

As the sun was setting, a lone form dragged itself from the surf several miles from the Coral Basin. The battered individual staggered up the beach toward a solitary beachfront home, managing to make it to the back porch before dropping to his knees in the sand. There were no lights coming from within yet he blindly continued on in his quest for help, stumbling through the screen door and finally collapsing into a wet heap on the floor.

Less than ten minutes after the intruder entered the back porch, the home's owner came through the front door carrying an armload of grocery bags. It was Dr. Francesca Albert, Director of the Freeland Center, who was just returning from a two-week leave of absence. She vanished into the kitchen as Alex Grove, the Center's Security Chief, came in behind her weighed down with suitcases, which he gratefully deposited in the front hallway. He went back outside and promptly returned with yet another load.

"Frankie, where do you want—Oh, never mind," Alex sighed, dropping the suitcases beside the others and then heading toward the living room.

"Alex, don't break everything before I've had the chance to unpack it," Frankie scolded from the kitchen.

"Ooooh, unpacking," Alex moaned as he dropped into an easy chair. "I hate the thought of it!"

"You hate the thought! I'm the one who foolishly agreed to do all the laundry. It'll take me all day tomorrow."

"I know, I know," Alex replied. "That's why you dragged me to the grocery store. Why you couldn't've waited until after we'd unpacked the car I don't know."

"You think I want to go back out again?" Frankie asked as she came out of the next room. She sniffed the air and went to the back door. "Oh, is it stuffy in here. Let's get some air—" An involuntary cry escaping her when she saw the prostrate form inside her back porch. "Alex!"

The big man was already beside her and they exchanged an amazed look before going out to the battered intruder they had yet to learn was a friend. He groaned as Alex turned him over, opening his eyes and focusing on the surprised Teggellans.

"The roof caved in," Jason informed dully. "I didn't know…and they were gone," he muttered, a hand going to his bleeding head. "I didn't mean to… Sorry…can't think."

"Alex, let's get him off the ground," Frankie said at last, helping to get the battered stranger to his feet.

"I got them out…" Jason rambled on. "Then the roof…and Juris was gone."

Frankie shushed him, guiding him to a lounge chair on the porch. Looking over at Alex, she said softly, "I think he's got a concussion. That's probably why he's rambling."

"I'll call for an ambulance," Alex replied.

"No, no ambulance!" the Alterran gasped. He grabbed Alex's wrist in a grip so incredibly powerful it startled him. "Please, they won't understand."

"You need help," Frankie said soothingly.

To her further surprise the stranger said, "Frankie, please. No…ambulance. It'll just…make matters worse." He seemed to weaken suddenly, releasing his grip on Alex and leaning back in the chair, his eyes closed. "I can't…think…"

The tranquilized Juris was taken to the Freeland Center and placed in the main tank Jason had occupied on his original visit. An excited team of researchers immediately descended on him in order to get as much information as possible before their Director returned from her leave.

No more than an hour after Juris' arrival, a man identifying himself as a colleague of Dr. Albert's appeared asking to see her. He explained to the receptionist that he has been overseas for several weeks and only just returned to find a message from the Director waiting for him. He was informed of the events that had transpired, this being the break in at the Center that caused the loss of Crystal, the death of two staff members and the near deaths of Dr. Albert and Alex Grove.

The appalled stranger was then informed, to his delight, that a similar creature had been captured, but since Dr. Albert was not present, he would not be permitted to examine it until after her return, which was expected within a few days.

"I'm sure Dr. Albert will contact you as soon as she gets back," the receptionist said politely. "If you could just tell me where she can reach you, Mister…"

"Doctor, actually," the man replied. "No, that's quite alright. I have other business in town. I'll call back in a few days."

After an agonizing few minutes, Frankie decided not to call for an ambulance, much to Alex's annoyance. Jason moaned and stirred again, opening his eyes and looking at the confused pair. "I'm sorry…" he said again, a hand going to his head. "Didn't…mean to frighten you."

With Alex's help, Jason managed to get to his feet and allowed himself to be lead to the bathroom where Alex assisted in cleaning off the blood and sand that covered him. The big man was surprised at the injuries covering the apparent stranger's body. It looked as if he had been buried in glass he was so badly cut up, and yet his clothing, although filthy, was otherwise undamaged.

Frankie threw the Alterran's clothes into the wash, going on to ransack Alex's luggage, pulling out something suitable for her unexpected houseguest to wear. It was a few sizes too big, but it was better than nothing.

Once clean, Jason's more serious cuts were bandaged and he was then taken to the guest room and put to bed. "I'm sorry…if I frightened you," he said again. "I just…I didn't know where else to go." He struggled to focus, leaning his bandaged head back on the pillow. "I need your help. I must…find Juris…"

"Please, you must get some rest," Frankie insisted. "You can tell us everything when you're stronger." She received a weak nod in reply. Sighing heavily, she exchanged a bewildered look with Alex, almost jumping out of her skin when the phone rang. Since neither she nor Alex were expected back until the next day, Frankie let her answering machine get the call, going out to listen as the Freeland Center's Security Office came on.

"Dr. Albert, this is Carl. I hope you get this message before you see the news, but…well, you probably have. Anyway, I wanted you to get the right story before you started to worry. The three divers are alright, not hovering near death like the news said. They did get the story right about Crystal, though. She showed up and helped us get the men out. Actually, she showed up with another one of what-ever-it-is she is. We were able to capture that one, but the other was lost when the roof collapsed on the coral reef. Like I said, I hope you hear this first. Bye."

Frankie and Alex stood staring at one another as the call went on, turning sharply to the guest room when the collapsed roof was mentioned. As soon as Carl hung up, Frankie turned on the television just in time to see the latest news broadcast about the reappearance of the Guardian and its assistance in saving the lives of three of the Freeland Center's divers.

Frankie was immediately on the phone to the Center. After a lengthy conversation she hung up and turned, visibly shaken, to look at the man across the room. "They're back," she said in disbelief. "The Doctor. Jason. They're back. They said they wouldn't be, and now…they're here. Why?"

"Frankie, you don't know that," Alex said, gesturing toward the guest room. "He…he… doesn't look like either of them."

"How can you tell? He's so banged up," Frankie retorted. "But, my God, Alex, he knows our names! And—what else did he say? He didn't know where else to go. The roof caved in. He got the men out. And he couldn't find…someone else. He must mean the one at the Center."

"What?"

"There's another one—like Crystal—at the Center," Dr. Albert informed. "My team says it is definitely not Crystal. It's smaller and has different markings." Pausing, she went on to say, "And a man showed up not an hour after he—it—was brought in. He said he was a friend of mine, but wouldn't give his name or where he was staying. But the receptionist is certain he said he was a doctor."

Alex stared at the woman across the room, turning to look back down the hall. "You're right. They are back." Turning back to her, he then said, "I'm staying, if that's alright with you."

The Doctor and Ace were taken to the local police station where they were charged with trespassing and crossing a police line. They were taken to separate rooms for questioning, booked and then taken to night court. The judge, who was feeling generous that evening, gave the time travelers a choice, pay a fine or spend two days in jail. To Ace's annoyance, she learned that the Doctor had yet again overlooked the necessity of carrying money, which meant they would be forced to spend two nights in jail.

Several hundred miles from the Freeland center, Dr. Albert's beach house, and the Temple of Jaka was the Aylsworth estate. Felix Aylsworth, a wealthy industrialist was known more for his passion for collecting fine and rare artifacts rather than as a financial wizard. He had made his money the old fashioned way—he inherited it; and thanks to a team of brokers, investment bankers and so forth, he did not have to bother with the mundane task of working to keep it. This left him free to devote his time to his collection.

The Aylsworth collection was the envy of the art world, yet this was not enough for the renowned Mr. Aylsworth. Thanks to the efforts of his acquisitions agent, he had been able to add many unique pieces that were not available at any price. They could, however, be stolen and Reed had proven invaluable in this capacity. How he had acquired his expertise in this area did not matter to his employer so long as he did not practice them on the Aylsworth Collection itself.

Despite the lateness of the hour, Reed was still awake. He stood before the mirror for several minutes before speaking. "As you predicted, the Alterran has returned. I've been to the Center and they confirmed he was there. They didn't even question my story."

"Naturally," the Guardian cooed. "Now you must act quickly in removing him before others do."

"As you say. But I don't see how it follows that by giving Aylsworth this…creature, I will gain my freedom."

"The Alterran is a stepping stone, a move closer to your freedom. Once you have him, the Doctor will have no choice but to come to you in order to retrieve him."

"And when he does, I am to take his ship," Reed injected, repeating what he had been told earlier.

"Correct. You must gain possession of the TARDIS before you gain possession of your freedom. Each move must be taken in turn."

Reed nodded thoughtfully. "And you have a way for me to get the Alterran out?"

"Just do exactly as I say…"