CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ALL A MATTER OF TIME
"You see, Doctor?" the Black Guardian sneered. "All is as it is meant to be." So saying, the transmission ended.
Reed gave the Doctor and Alex a cold look, using the gun in his hand to motion them to the door. They exchanged a resigned look before doing as they were told.
Juris told his father what he had discovered and was surprised by his reaction, or lack there of.
Jason listened carefully, scrutinizing the enormous model and star chart before going on to fill his son in on what he and the Doctor had discovered. He looked over the calculations, and shook his head in amazement. "No wonder they were able to isolate the signal to just Gallifrey," he said softly. "Just look at these. They're incredible!"
"I'm glad you approve," came a voice from behind him.
Jason spun around to see Reed standing just inside the far door, gun in hand. Three armed members of his security team came in behind him, ushering the Doctor and Alex in with them.
Jason met the Time Lord's gaze, the grave expression on his face sending a chill down his spine. Something was very, very wrong. Turning back to Reed, he said blandly, "This isn't your work, surely?"
Reed smiled knowingly, ordering the Doctor and Alex over to the others. He then ordered one of his men to pull the coverings off of what Juris had assumed were displays, revealing them to be electrical relays that formed a square around the TARDIS.
As he drew nearer to the table, the Doctor looked over the figures, seeing them to be more than simple star calculations. "Are you sure you can generate sufficient power to make this contraption work?" he asked mildly.
Reed did not answer directly, motioning them back from the table. "How very convenient," he said approvingly, crossing to stand in front of the star chart. "Four relay points. Four of you."
His puzzled captives exchanged a bewildered look.
"Four? You were right, Jason," Alex snorted sarcastically. "That can't be his work. He can't even count."
Reed gave him an odd look before turning an inquiring gaze in Juris' direction. "If he is Jason, then you would be Juris. The Alterran I brought here," he observed, receiving a startled look and hesitant nod in reply. "Good." Turning to the nearest guard, Reed ordered, "Shoot him."
The guard did not hesitate and fired, the bullet striking the horrified young man and throwing him to the ground. Frankie screamed and was instantly at his side trying to stop the blood pouring from his shoulder.
"There was no call for that!" the Doctor protested. He took an angry step forward, stopping when the others turned their guns in his direction.
"Perhaps not from where you're standing," Reed replied coolly. "But I should think it will keep him from changing into anything nasty while my back is turned."
By this time, Jason was at his son's side. "Stay still. Stay still," he hissed, his hands on Juris' shoulders. He threw an angry look back at Reed and then glanced over at the Doctor, doing a double take when he saw the stern look on his face. It communicated volumes. He could almost hear what his old friend was thinking. Stay calm, use your head, and whatever you do, don't lose your temper. That will only put the others in greater danger.
Jason nodded in silent agreement, sighing heavily. "You'll be alright, Juris, the bullet went straight through," he said gently. "Just lie still. And whatever you do, don't call me Father."
Juris nodded weakly, lying back and closing his eyes. "It…hurts," he moaned softly.
"Yes, I know."
From behind him, Jason heard Reed ordering his men to tie his prisoners to the relay pillars and allowed himself to be pulled from his son's side, watching silently as his captor busied himself at a computer console that had been buried beneath the papers. Within minutes the whole system seemed to come alive, electricity crackling from the metal globes atop the relays A rushing wind suddenly seemed to fill the room. The security guards were finally dismissed, much to their relief. It seemed to them that Reed had gone over the edge and was about to kill himself along with his prisoners. Even though they were loyal, they had no intentions of following him to their graves.
"Now, Doctor, with this move, the ultimate war begins," Reed announced. "Once your Alterran allies receive this signal, they will conclude the threat was real and that you were actually a party to it. A deception played against the deceivers."
"No!" The Time Lord pulled angrily at his bonds. Whatever he may have added was drowned out as electricity arched from globe to globe. Suddenly it connected to the TARDIS and the rushing wind started to swirl.
The noise not only drowned out the Doctor's words, but also the sound of Jason snapping his bindings. He could have slipped free by transmuting, but his anger had moved him beyond that point. He had learned over the years that without a physical release, however small, he could become violent, and he needed to stay in control. He advanced on the unsuspecting Reed and was looming over him before he realized what was happening. The astonished man did not even have time to raise his weapon before the enraged Alterran stripped it from his hand and threw it across the room.
"Shut it down. Now," Jason ordered. He was unprepared for the reply.
"It's too late. It can't be shut down."
From out of nowhere, Ace's voice called, "I may know a way."
The Doctor turned to see his companion coming out of hiding, a can of Nitro-9 in her hand. She had seen the Doctor and Alex being led to the dome and followed, slipping in unnoticed while everyone's attention was fixed on Juris.
"Ace!" the Doctor cried delightedly.
"Get us loose!" Frankie called. "Juris is hurt."
Ace untied the Doctor, who took the explosive from her and sent her to free the others. The Time Lord went to the console and tried unsuccessfully to shut down the system. He turned to the now bound Reed. For reasons he did not understand at the time, his friend had used heavy wire to bind him. He stood almost passively in Jason's iron grip.
"You fool, do you know what you've done?" the Doctor demanded.
"Yes. I've activated the catalyst that will start a war with the potential of destroying both your home worlds," came the succinct reply.
Suddenly the noise in the room changed dramatically as if to punctuate his statement. The electricity stopped its erratic sparking, settling into a constant hum, moving from relay to relay, encircling the TARDIS. Only an occasional zapping sound could be heard as the electricity made contact with the time machine. The sound of the wind changed also, seeming to come from within the star chart itself.
"Is that all you think this'll do?" Jason snarled fiercely.
"No. At any moment, a transport corridor should appear."
"Transport…?" Jason could not believe his ears. "Analyze the data! The data as a whole, not individual sections!"
"To extrapolate what conclusion?" Reed asked calmly.
"That your corridor is an unstable a time fissure! If it isn't closed, time and space will fold in on themselves."
"What does that mean?" Alex demanded as he helped the injured Prince Juris to his feet.
"It will destroy your planet and probably everything around it," the Prince informed quietly.
"Doctor, we have to get out of here," Ace exclaimed, pulling at the Time Lord's arm.
Chaos was beginning to develop in the room and the Doctor quickly put an end to it. "Everyone into the TARDIS. Now!" he ordered suddenly.
Jason thrust the captive, and now horrified Reed in Ace's direction. "Here, take him, too."
"He tried to kill you!" she protested.
"Ace!" the Doctor hissed, his face making it clear he was in no mood for arguments.
"Okay. Okay."
The Doctor turned back to see Jason pulling the panels from the computer console. "Jason, that won't do any good—"
"If my people pick up this time ripple," his friend said hurriedly, "they may assume it's yours amassing a preemptive strike. We've got to warn them before they do anything drastic. Like launching an attack on Gallifrey."
"And how do you intend doing that?"
With a small smile, the Alterran replied, "I have no idea."
"Oh, good. I'm glad you thought it through."
Looking into the open panel, Jason asked, "Is that message we were trying to send set on automatic?"
"Yes, why?" the Doctor replied.
"Good, I think I've thought of something. Stand back." So saying, Jason reached into the opening and pulled out a fistful of wiring, turning away as sparks flew in all directions. He separated the ones he wanted and drew a deep breath. "Here goes," he muttered, and then touched them together, catching his breath and going completely rigid as a flood of power swept through him.
"Jason, let go!" the Doctor commanded. "Let go!"
The Alterran shook his head, struggling to twist the wires together. Then, with visible effort, he wrenched himself free, falling back to the floor where he sat gasping for breath. The Doctor was immediately beside him. "Are you alright?"
Still gulping in air, Jason nodded, pointing at the console. "Check…trans…mission," he gasped out.
The Time Lord rose to his feet to look at the console. The same instant, the rushing wind stopped and the room was plunged into an eerie calm. "I don't like the sound of that," he said quietly.
Having been transfixed by what was going on at the computer, Juris had stopped his progress. It was only when he was certain his father was alright that he allowed Alex to assist him the remaining few feet to the TARDIS. There was a connecting zap of electricity the same instant he touched the Police Box and he gave a sharp cry of pain, his knees giving way. Were it not for the big man beside him, he would have fallen to the floor.
"What happened?" Jason demanded, struggling to his feet.
"I don't know," Alex replied. "He just—Oh my God!" To his amazement, he watched as the Alterran's injured shoulder healed over before his eyes.
"Juris, no! It's too soon!" Jason scolded.
Still clinging to Alex, the bewildered Juris informed, "It wasn't me. It…it…healed itself."
The Doctor was the first to realize what had happened. "It's the time field surrounding the TARDIS. It's moved him forward in time! Alex, quickly, get him into the TARDIS and stay there! Don't let anyone out."
The star chart changed again, going completely black. From within, the Black Guardian's sinister laughter could be heard. "Reed has set the elements into motion, Doctor. And even you cannot stop time."