CHAPTER TEN

PART OF THE COLLECTION

Juris returned to his senses to find himself in yet another holding tank and he took in his new surroundings in some bewilderment. The tank was clear on all sides like those in aquariums. What is this? An aquarium? he wondered. Well, I hope they don't expect me to be performing any tricks for them. Not unless they like disappearing acts.

The tank seemed to be in the center of a large room and he surveyed it, noticing numerous works of art placed under glass. They were not displayed as those within a home but were more like those in a museum. This observation puzzled him. Why would he be in a museum?

"Now for the big question…" Juris said quietly. "Do I go or do I stay?"

The Doctor and Alex arrived at the Freeland Center to find it in bedlam. After sorting out the whole story, Alex was immediately on the phone to the military.

"Well, either they're lying," the Security Chief said as he hung up the phone, "or someone else staged this to make it look like the Army did it."

"Which seems most likely to you?" the Doctor wanted to know.

"I hope they're lying," Alex sighed. "At least then I'd know Frankie was safe."

The Time Lord nodded.

"Why would they take her with them?"

"My dear Alex," the Doctor said patiently, "only you and I know Juris isn't really a marine animal. If they didn't take her to keep him healthy, she probably when along to see where they were taking him."

Alex sighed heavily. That's exactly what Frankie would do, he thought. "So, now what? Where do we go from here?"

The Doctor had several ideas, but kept these to himself. "First we collect Ace and Jason. Then, to the TARDIS."

After arriving at the estate, and learning the truth of the military intervention, Frankie found herself wishing she hadn't insisted on coming along. Her treatment, although outwardly cordial, held enough of a hint of malice that she knew if she made any kind of a fuss, she would regret it. She was taken to a guest room and locked inside. She assumed this was so they could decide what they were going to do with her.

After more than an hour Reed appeared at her door, having shed his military uniform for casual clothing." Come with me," he said crisply. "Mr. Aylsworth wants you to make sure the creature arrived unharmed."

"His name is Juris," Frankie informed sharply.

"His name is whatever Mr. Aylsworth says it is."

Frankie gave him a knowing smile. "That's what you think," she said under her breath.

Mr. Aylsworth was already in the display room, silently marveling at his latest acquisition. When Dr. Albert finally saw him, she was actually disappointed. He was not the most imposing of individuals. In fact, he was not much taller than she was. He was slightly overweight had a receding hairline and dressed in a manner that was much too young for him.

"Welcome to the most exclusive collection on Teggell," he said grandly as she entered.

Unimpressed, Frankie gave him a sour look before turning attention to Juris. The tank rose several feet above her head and she walked around it before saying, "How am I supposed to get in there?"

"Get in? You can't get in!" Aylsworth seemed aghast at the idea.

"Then how do you expect me to examine him if I can't get into the tank?" Frankie asked reasonably.

"You…I…but…you…oh, dear. Oh, dear…" the man across the room fluttered. "No, no, that won't do at all." Clearly, he was not the brains of the operation. He called out the door to Reed, who had barely made it to the end of the hall.

"What seems to be the problem?" the Acquisitions agent asked as he returned.

Juris had been intrigued by Reed when he first saw him but had been unable to zero in on him, there being too many others around. Now there were only two other people in the room, and Juris could easily filter them out. He watched Reed intently as he calmed Aylsworth down, going on to supply Frankie with the means to enter the tank. There was something not right about this man, but the Alterran did not know exactly what it was. Nor did he realize how important it would turn out to be.

"If that's all, sir?" Reed said urbanely before taking his leave.

A large platform ladder had been brought in to allow Frankie access to the top of the tank. In order for the performance to look completely real, she knew she would have to get into the water but inwardly wished she did not have to. As she got to the top of the ladder, Juris swam casually past and said quietly, "Call my name."

Startled, Dr. Albert watched the Alterran move away and then back where he repeated more firmly, "Call my name."

Suddenly Frankie realized what he wanted and she knelt down on the platform, splashing her hand in the water. "Juris," she called. "Come on, Juris. Come here."

"Preposterous name," Aylsworth muttered indignantly. "That's going to change."

"That's what you think," Frankie muttered through clenched teeth, glaring at him through her eyelashes.

The Alterran moved as though responding to the call, gliding up to the oceanographer and remaining near her. "You tell him," he whispered approvingly.

"Come on, let's have a look at you," Frankie said aloud, then quietly to Juris, "Now what? I'm open to suggestions on how we get out of here."

"Pronounce me fit," Juris replied, "and then try to go. I'll kick up a fuss so you'll have to stay close."

"Well, it's a start," Dr. Albert said approvingly.

After leaving the newest display, Reed returned to his room. "The Alterran is here," he announced. "How do I make sure this doctor finds him?"

"That won't be necessary. The Doctor will locate him without outside assistance. You have done well, Reed," the Guardian purred approvingly from the depths of the mirror. "Your freedom is within your grasp. Are you prepared for it?"

"You know I am. Just tell me the next move."

The Doctor was surprised by his friend's subdued reaction when informed of the events at the Center. He went on to tell of the jamming signal he encountered when trying to contact their home worlds. He did not, however, reveal his conversation with the White Guardian. That would have to wait until later.

Jason was silent for several minutes before finally asking, "Where do we go from here?"

With a grin, the Time Lord replied, "The TARDIS."

Juris' ruse had worked. The moment Frankie tried to descend the ladder, he took hold of her wrist and let loose with some of the must bizarre sounds the oceanographer had ever heard. When the unnerved Aylsworth asked what was wrong, she quickly explained that she believed the "creature" was just a baby and had apparently selected her as its surrogate mother.

"I've seen this before," Dr. Albert explained as she gave the appearance of calming the panic-stricken Alterran. "Some creatures bond with the first person they see after a traumatic experience."

"So why didn't it bond with your staff?" Aylsworth wanted to know, the intelligence of the question surprising both Frankie and Juris.

"I was drugged," Juris prompted softly.

"He was kept sedated until I got back," Frankie repeated. "I gave strict orders to that affect so he wouldn't be frightened." Seeing the man's dubious expression, she said insistently, "Just look at him. He's just a baby."

"A very big baby."

The oceanographer gave a wry smile. "You should've seen the adult." Before the Collector could think of yet another objection, she said, "Look, just let me sit with him a while. I'm sure he'll calm down once he's had the chance to settle in, but it's hard to say this soon. Two moves in so short a time…" She left the sentence unfinished.

Sighing heavily, Aylsworth agreed. After all, she was the expert, which was the whole reason she was there in the first place. He then left to allow her to calm the creature better.

The moment the man was out of the room, Frankie heaved a sigh of relief. Then, to her amazement, Juris rose out of the water and moved onto the ladder, where he promptly returned to his human form.

"Well done, Dr. Albert," he grinned approvingly. "Now let's get out of here."