CHAPTER 23

LOST IN TIME

The instant the Doctor's mental barrier went up the globe fogged over startling l'X'el who had been monitoring the events through Jason. He checked everything over but could find neither him nor Mel, unaware of the fact that the Alterran was also able to throw up a mental barrier. "They must be hidden by the Doctor's mental barrier," he concluded angrily.

"How is that possible?" K'ell'k wanted to know.

"Proximity. I should be able to pick them up once they move away from his area of influence. Until then, we'll just have to wait until the forward scan finds them again." He entered a few commands, saying, "I think I'll boost the power, too. It might keep this from happening again."

K'ell'k leaned back in his chair and sighed. "I'm tired of waiting," he moaned, adding forcefully, "And I'm hungry, too!"

l'X'el sighed heavily, throwing his brother an annoyed scowl. He pointed at a pile near the door. "There's some food over there. Go get something if you're that desperate. Just don't leave the room. You'll never be able to get back though the time shift if you do."

"Now we can talk," Jason sighed as he sat back in his chair. "Okay, Doctor, what was all that nonsense about? Was it just to get my attention or did you really find something?"

The Doctor met his accusing gaze with a glowing smile and pulled the piece of technology he had removed from the wrecked spaceship from his pocket. "Do you have any idea what this is?" he asked, placing the item on the table. "It was attached to the plating under the deck of what was left of your ship."

His friend scowled at the misshapen object and then shook his head. "I've no idea by looking at it. And if I scan it, I may lose my barrier. I'm still not back to one hundred percent yet."

"We'll have to chance it," the Time Lord replied. "You're better equipped to analyze it at speed."

Jason nodded, reaching out and taking hold of the object. His eyes seemed to glaze a moment and then he looked up in surprise. "It's a temporal beacon!" he gasped. "Like the ones you use for the TARDIS, only a hundred times more powerful."

The Doctor nodded as his suspicions were confirmed. "Powerful enough to attract a temporal distortion, perhaps?"

"Yes," Jason said in a low, horrified whisper, seeing the object in the palm of his hand in a new way.

"Well, that answers one question. Unfortunately, it also triggers a dozen others." The Doctor took the beacon from Jason's hand and returned it to his pocket. "Time to lower the barrier, I think. Mustn't stay out of sight too long."

"Am I still on the defensive?" his former companion inquired, receiving a nod in reply.

The Doctor turned to his current companion. "Just play along, Mel. I'll explain it all when we don't have an audience."

"You lead, I'll follow," she replied, throwing Jason a quick knowing look. "Do I have an actual role in all this?"

"Protector, I think. Same as in the hospital," Jason replied. Turning to the Doctor, his eyes narrowed. "I think the Doctor is about to openly accuse me of carrying out a hidden agenda for my Emperor."

K'ell'k had been happily consuming a snack when he saw the globe suddenly come to life again. He suppressed a chuckle when he saw his brother jump, having been so startled that he almost fell from his chair.

l'X'el sat up quickly and manipulated the controls, zeroing in on Jason in order to keep him from being hidden by the Doctor's mental force a second time. "Got you now, Mr. Ambassador," he whispered triumphantly. "You won't get away this time."

Jason was on his feet and storming across the room. "I can't believe you'd even think something like that, Doctor," he thundered, throwing his arms in the air. "How could you accuse me of—? Do you really believe I would sabotage my own summit?"

"I'm not accusing you of anything," the Time Lord retorted sharply as he too got to his feet. "I just asked if the Emperor had any…well, long term plans for those outer planets."

Jason spun around, his eyes blazing. "And if he did, then of course he'd want to make sure everything went his way, right? Make sure the evidence was slanted just so? By me."

"Jason, you can't ignore the possibility that something odd is going on out there," the Doctor pointed out. "You said so yourself."

The Alterran stood staring a moment, then seemed to waver on his feet. He put a hand to his head as though he were suddenly very dizzy. He knew the others would think it was part of the act, but he had actually felt some external force pushing against him and cautiously opened his sensor array to see what it was.

Mel was suddenly beside him, the picture of concern. "Here, sit down," she soothed, guiding him to the bed. She threw an angry look in the Time Lord's direction. "Doctor, don't you think this could've waited? We're supposed to be letting Jason rest."

The Doctor's stone-like expression actually hardened. "Are we?" he asked icily.

Jason looked up sharply, his mind racing. Where was the Doctor trying to go with this remark? He noticed he had the melted beacon in his hands and was idly wrapping the chain of his pocket watch around it, over and over. This had to be a clue. But leading where? Why would their stopping to let him rest be…? Got it!

"What?" Mel was now completely lost. "Of course we are. It was your idea to stop, remember?"

"Are you accusing me of a deception now?" the Alterran asked icily. "Playing for time for some reason?"

A ghost of a smile passed over the Doctor's face. "Oh no. Why would I be worried that your ship is aging away to dust even as we speak?" he snapped sarcastically.

Jason got to his feet to issue a biting retort. He managed a step forward before the world suddenly spun around him. The external force had grown considerably stronger in the short time he was seated, and with his sensors open to it, the energy was suddenly swamping him. He staggered forward, grabbing Mel with one hand. "Time," he said cryptically, looking blearily at the Doctor. "Tttt…time…" he stammered, slowly sinking to the floor.

"Jason!" Mel gasped, his weight dragging her down with him. Before she knew what was happening, the Alterran was face down on the floor, unconscious.

Taken completely off guard by this unexpected turn of events, l'X'el stared at the globe as Jason collapsed. He had thought the Ambassador to be completely recovered from his injuries, aided by the energy tube, "the little miracle" as they were calling it. Now it appeared this was not the case, and l'X'el studied the computer before him, quickly checking the readings.

As l'X'el frantically worked at the controls, a startled Jason materialized in the darkened room behind him. He patted himself to make certain he was still in one piece before taking in the room. He noticed the youth struggling at the podium and took a step forward, stopping when K'ell'k appeared from the shadows. To his added surprise, the boy walked straight past him, oblivious to his presence.

K'ell'k had been attracted by his brother's sudden flurry of activity, and casually looked at the globe as he came up beside him, almost dropping the snack he was holding when he saw the events that were occurring on Earth. "What happened?" he gasped.

l'X'el did not even look up. "They were arguing and the Ambassador suddenly collapsed," he informed, causing Jason to start. Moving closer, he saw himself lying on the floor in the motel room, the Doctor and Mel beside him.

"Can either of you hear me?" Jason asked loudly. When the brothers did not react, he reached out a hand, passing it straight through K'ell'k and confirming his suspicions. Turning his gaze back to the globe, another idea sprang into his mind and he wondered if he could pull it off without killing himself in the process.

The Doctor was at his friend's side the instant he hit the floor. He carefully rolled him onto his back and checked his vital signs, having to lean very close just to make certain he was breathing.

"Doctor…?" Mel said worriedly as he sat up again.

The Doctor looked up, his face creased in concern. "This is the real thing, Mel," he informed soberly. "Question is, what triggered it?"

"And what do we do about it?" Mel said practically.

As if on cue, Jason drew a deep breath, stirring slightly as he struggling back to consciousness. His eyes fluttered open, focusing on the Doctor's worried face. "Time..."

"Easy, Jason," the Doctor said gently. "You've had a bad turn."

Jason was breathing heavily, almost gasping for breath. "Lost…in time."

The Doctor frowned, having no idea what his friend was trying to tell him.

The Alterran held out a hand in the Time Lord's direction, saying in as firm a voice as he could manage, "I need…a guide."

The Doctor exchanged a baffled look with his companion before taking hold of the outstretched hand. The instant he had a firm grip, Jason passed out again, and the Doctor felt an almost overwhelming rush of temporal energy. He gave a startled cry, reaching out with his free hand to keep himself upright. He looked up in time to see the frightened and confused Mel reaching out to him and held up his hand to stop her from touching him. "Don't!" he commanded sharply. "Must…concentrate." He closed his eyes, adding softly, "I'll…be…back…"

Mel sat back, her face a study in confusion and concern. She had seen the Doctor go into a trance a few times but was still unfamiliar with all it entailed. She threw an apprehensive look at the motionless Jason and sighed heavily, knowing all she could do now was wait.