CHAPTER 18

ANOTHER DOCTOR FROM UNIT

The Doctor and Mel entered the chaos within the morgue, having missed Jason's escape by mere seconds. Upon seeing them, Colonel Hildebrand strode up angrily. "You're responsible for this," he said accusingly. "Don't even bother to deny it."

Having never laid eyes on the man before, the Doctor bristled at this openly hostile greeting and Mel could see the Colonel was about to be taken down several pegs. "Since I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about, I can't deny anything," the Doctor replied caustically.

"The Visitor's body is gone," the Colonel informed sharply. "Stolen. And I know you UNIT people did it."

The Doctor's eyes flickered. "Oh yes, I admit it. I'm your man." He held up his hands in mock surrender, his voice now dripping with sarcasm. "Give him the body, Mel. You know they'll find it in your handbag as soon as they search us." Turning back to the Colonel, he added dryly, "It never ceases to amaze me what they can fit in those things."

"Don't play the fool with me, Doctor," the Colonel snapped.

"I don't have to," the Time Lord retorted sharply. "You're doing a fine job of it all by yourself." The officer's face darkened in anger but he was prevented from saying anything as the Doctor went on. "Now do use your brain, man. How could we possibly—?"

"You're not the only UNIT personnel on Base. I've gotten nothing but flack from Geneva ever since the Visitor arrived. They couldn't get a hold of him when he was alive, so now…" He waved a hand in the direction of the morgue to make his point.

"As I recall," the Doctor replied coldly, "this base is supposed to be in the process of being turned over to UNIT. Which rather puts the question, where were you moving the Visitor this morning, Dr. Miller?" He turned pointedly to the physician, who squirmed as the full force of the Time Lord's personality turned in his direction. "My companion tells me there was no one from UNIT other than herself anywhere in the building."

The Colonel's eyes narrowed. He threw a warning glance in Dr. Miller's direction and the physician wisely remained silent. At that moment Lieutenant Benton arrived and was quickly apprised of the situation. He shared the Doctor's curiosity as to where and why the Visitor was being moved, especially since no one seemed to have authorized it.

"Well, now that we have all that sorted out," the Doctor said sharply, turning to Benton, "I think you and I should have a little chat on what to do next."

"I've already sealed off the Base," Hildebrand announced, attempting to reassert his authority. "And a search is being organized even as we speak. There aren't that many places you can hide a body in this heat. Not unless you want it to start decomposing right away." So saying, the Colonel strode off in a huff.

"Oh, you'd be surprised," the Time Lord sing-songed, exchanging a knowing look with his companion.

The Lieutenant gave him a suspicious, questioning look. "Now what don't I know that I probably don't want to know, Doctor?" he asked hesitantly, his tone causing Mel to giggle.

The Doctor's smile broadened and he clasped Benton around the shoulders, leading him out. "Mr. Benton, do you remember my young friend Jason?"

In an apparently deserted office not far from the front gate, a well-dressed civilian sat patiently awaiting the return of the office staff. He was watching the activity outside in amusement, soldiers running in all directions as the Base was sealed off.

This seemingly abandoned individual was none other than the missing Jason Krystovan, who had changed his appearance yet again. He had taken on his usual human form but had aged himself to appear in his early fifties, his curly black hair cropped short and interspersed with gray.

A woman in the uniform of a sergeant came out of the back where a hurried conference had been called. She jumped when she saw the well-dressed gentleman waiting in the front office area, his hands folded atop the briefcase in his lap. "Excuse me," she said politely. "I don't mean to sound rude, but um…how did you get in here?"

A dazzling smile lit up Jason's face. He put the briefcase on the floor and rose to his feet, holding out his identification and completely ignoring the question "I'm Dr. Krystovan. I believe you're expecting me." Since he already knew no one was expecting him, he was not surprised by the Sergeant's reaction. She gave him a bewildered look, glancing at the identification.

"You're from UNIT?" she said at last.

"Yes. I was sent by Geneva to examine a patient here. The Visitor, I think is the way they put it," Jason informed. He reacted as though seeing her confusion for the first time. "They didn't tell you I was coming, did they? How typical."

The Sergeant gave a small polite smile. "If you'd just wait a moment, please, er, Dr. Krystovan."

Jason nodded and sat down again, watching as the flustered woman went back into the conference room. He could hear a muffled exchange as his presence was announced. A few minutes later Lieutenant DeWitt appeared. "Well, at least I'm moving up the chain of command," he said to himself as he got to his feet a second time. Taking in the officer's uniform, he raised an eyebrow. A Marine. Now that's interesting, he noted, wondering at the same time what had happened to everyone from UNIT. Surely the meeting must be over by now.

The officer held out his hand. "Dr. Krystovan? I'm Lieutenant DeWitt. Sorry about the mix up. Things have been really crazy around here today."

Shaking the man's hand, Jason replied, "So I see. I seem to've arrived in the middle of a security drill."

The Lieutenant's jaw twitched as he smiled. "Something like that. There's been a change in the Visitor's status. I'll let Colonel Hildebrand explain it all."

"Colonel Hildebrand? Is he the Base Commander?"

"On a manner of speaking," DeWitt replied unhelpfully. He returned Jason's identification and then held out a hand, leading the way out of the building. A car was already waiting and as Jason got in, the officer gave the driver orders to take him to the Colonel's office. Then he bid the Alterran good-bye before returning to his office to coordinate the search for the very man he had just sent across the compound.

"Dr. Krystovan?" Colonel Hildebrand said as the Alterran entered his office. "I wasn't expecting anyone else from UNIT. Especially another doctor."

Jason picked up the edge to his voice, and had to force himself to suppress a smile. "Really? There's another UNIT physician here?" he said in his best confused tone.

"Yes. He arrived yesterday. Some kind of language specialist.

"Ooooh, that Doctor. Tall, blond, looks like he raided a circus wardrobe?"

The Colonel actually laughed. "That's him."

"He's not an MD, I'm afraid, Colonel. That's why I was sent. I've, eh, a bit more experience with alien physiology." Jason wished he wasn't the only one to appreciate the irony of this last statement. "From what I could gather from Lieutenant DeWitt, there's been a change in the Visitor's status. He's hasn't taken a turn for the worse, has he?"

The Colonel cleared his throat, inwardly wondering if this man were involved in the events of the past few hours. He gave a quick rundown of what had happened that morning, noting the man's appalled expression. "Looks like you've had a wasted trip."

"Not necessarily," Jason remarked. "I'd like to talk to the attending physician, if I might. At least I'll be able to put something in my report to Geneva." He patted the briefcase he had placed on a chair when he entered.

"I'm afraid Dr. Miller is tied up in the search."

"I see. How about the specimens that were removed? Could I examine those?"

The Colonel cleared his throat in embarrassment. "They're gone too. A woman walked right into the lab, bold as brass, and carried them off. At least we have video footage of her from outside the elevator. No idea where she went after that. They haven't finished installing the surveillance system yet."

The mention of video surveillance made Jason's heart jump. He had completely overlooked its presence in his hast to escape. In as bland a tone as possible, he asked, "No video in the morgue, I take it?"

"It hasn't exactly been necessary until now. They only use it during the autopsies." Snickering, the Colonel said, "It's not like one of the bodies is going to walk off on its own, is it?"

The Alterran could not help himself and broke into a broad smile, which Hildebrand interpreted as appreciation for his little jest. If only you knew, Jason thought, wondering how the officer would react if he learned the truth. "Well, looks like you're right, Colonel," he said at last. "This was a wasted trip. If you can point me in the direction of UNIT's Commanding Officer, I'll get out of your hair." He picked up his briefcase and turned to leave, turning back when Hildebrand said, "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, Doctor?"

"That depends on what it is," came the guarded reply.

"Oh, nothing top secret. I just wondered where you're from? All these other UNIT people seem to be Brits, but you—"

"Sound like I come from somewhere in the Northeast," Jason completed with a knowing look. "Around the Great Lakes, not New England, right?"

The Colonel gave a satisfied smile. "I thought I recognized a hint of Michigan in there."

The Alterran winced inwardly. "I'm actually just a consultant to UNIT, not 'part of the gang' as it were. I'll tell you what, though, if my wife finds out I've been to Florida without her there'll be hell to pay in the Krystovan household."

The Colonel gave him a sympathetic look. "Good thing that is top secret, isn't it?"

"You said it," Jason agreed. Flashing another smile, he turned on his heel and left.