CHAPTER 53
CONTACT
"I say again, identify yourself," Commander Tolan ordered, his expression fixed. He was careful to remain well back from the opening, the phenomenon having already been identified as a temporal instability. He stood studying the unlikely invader in the multicolored coat at the end of the shimmering corridor.
The Doctor could not help but admire the man. Even faced with an inexplicable temporal event aboard his own ship he appeared in complete control of himself. He might be in a total panic over what was happening, yet this did not show in the way he carried himself or in his unreadable features.
"I apologize for my unorthodox appearance on your ship, Tolan," the Doctor said urbanely. "This is the Doctor."
The instant Tolan heard the Time Lord's name his face cleared and the presence of a temporal corridor on the bridge of his ship suddenly made perfect sense, as did the Doctor's equally unorthodox physical appearance. "I'm almost afraid to ask what you want, Doctor," he said in a guarded tone. "Although I must warn you, whatever it is will have to wait. I'm currently—"
"En route to Enol," the Doctor completed for him. "I know. That's where I'm calling from."
The Commander's eyes flickered, his only visible reaction. "And…? Just what am I walking into this time? If you have to resort to opening a temporal event horizon on the bridge of my ship, it can't be good."
The Doctor beamed at him from the other side of the temporal corridor. "You know me too well, Tolan," he remarked, telling of the presence of the Gres-Fa-Raayn Elite's ship currently in orbit around Enol, and the unidentified fleet on its way from the opposite direction.
Tolan wasted no time giving the order to increase to fleet's speed to maximum. Returning his attention to the Doctor, he asked, "Anything else I should be aware of?"
"Yes. They're transmitting an ultrasonic disruption that's specifically keyed to shatter your crystalline physiology."
"Really?" The only indication of surprise was in Tolan's voice. "We'll have everyone's countermeasures checked before we arrive. Were any of SorRell's people affected?"
"No, their countermeasures worked perfectly. Only Jason was affected before I could jam the signal," the Doctor informed.
A stunned look came to the Commander's usually stoic face. "How badly?"
"The affect wasn't long enough to cause progressive lattice damage, but it's bad enough to put him out of commission for a while. And the jamming signal cut off all outside communications. So if you've been trying unsuccessfully to contact SorRell, you know why she hasn't responded."
Tolan nodded. "We thought it might be a time lag."
"Yes. Fortunately, I was able to get a real time interface working. I just hope you can get here before the Elite's reinforcements."
The Commander turned and spoke with one of the officers a moment before returning his attention to the Doctor. "Our ETA is seven hours, forty-eight minutes. Is that quick enough?"
The Doctor blinked. "Just what is your maximum speed, Tolan?"
"By your tone I assume it isn't what you thought."
"Fortunately, no. But then, I may have been computing the speed of the wrong class of ship."
"Actually, we were considerably closer than Alterrous when the order came to change course. The Emperor decided to send—you'll appreciate the irony of this—the Krystovan class ships just incase the Gres-Fa-Raayn tried something stupid."
"As they are now."
Tolan nodded. "I'll see you in about eight hours."
"Take care, Tolan. In the words of your military, the Gres-Fa-Raayn Elite are extremely unpleasant."
"So I've heard," Tolan replied. "And Doctor…"
"Yes?"
"You take care, too."
"Jason, there must be a dozen warning lights and alarms going off over here," Grant said, throwing up his hands.
"So I can hear," the Alterran replied aridly.
"I don't know what half of them mean."
"They mean the Doctor is making a nuisance of himself in space/time."
"I wish I could do something more than just stand here watching alarms go off," Grant moaned helplessly. "I really am useless!" He picked up the box from which he had retrieved Jason's collar earlier and threw it across the room in anger, causing the unprepared Jason to jump and give a startled cry.
"Are you trying to give me a coronary?" the Alterran said accusingly, a hand to his chest. "I have enough internal damage already, thank you very much."
"Sorry," Grant said in a small voice. "Temper tantrum."
Having had more than his fair share of tantrums, Jason gave a wry smile. "Just give me some warning next time, okay?"
Grant could not help but smile at this and went over to retrieve the already battered object he had heaved across the room. There was a small clatter as he picked it up and he looked in bewilderment at the object that had fallen out. "What's this doing in here?" his asked, picking up what he thought was a woman's lipstick.
"What does it look like?" Jason asked, his sightless eyes growing wide upon hearing the reply. "It can't be…" he said in a disbelieving whisper. "I left that with Shadra."
"What is it?"
The Alterran held out a trembling hand. "Give it to me," he commanded. "If it's what I think it is, you may've just saved my life with your little temper tantrum."
The Doctor took a step away from the temporal corridor, glancing back at the others. "Start to close it down, Lix," he commanded. "Start at the far end and work back."
l'X'el nodded and started to reset the computer.
"Doctor, why did you tell Commander Tolan about Jason when you wouldn't let us tell SorRell?" K'ell'k wanted to know.
"Not that it's any of your concern," the Time Lord replied frostily, "but SorRell only knows Prince Jason. Tolan, on the other hand, knows the former Marquis Krystovan." Seeing this meant absolutely nothing to his audience, the Doctor said, "Tolan has known Jason almost as long as I have and has considerably more contact with him on a regular basis. In short, he's a friend."
"Won't knowing he's hurt interfere with his judgment, like you said with SorRell?"
The Doctor shook his head. "Not in the least. Commander Tolan is one of the most level headed, professional individuals it has ever been my privilege to know."
Suddenly Tolan's clear voice came through the slowly closing entrance behind him. "Thank you, Doctor. I'll try to live up to that glowing assessment."
The Doctor turned sharply to see Tolan's amused face vanish as the opening at the far end closed.
Grant placed the tube he had found in Jason's hand, and caught his breath when the Alterran's body suddenly glowed brightly.
"It's okay," Jason assured, a contented smile coming to his face. "It's supposed to do that."
"What is that thing?"
Settling back on his pillow, Jason explained to the astonished Grant about the energy tube. He went on to say that he had left it with Shadra on Earth and had no idea how it had come to be in the box with his collar of rank. "She must've put it in the box by mistake," he speculated.
"You think so?" Grant was not so certain. Despite the fact that he had had little contact with Jason's wife, it was all too apparent that she had her head squarely on her shoulders. "You told the Doctor that something always goes wrong. Shadra must think so too and put that in there on purpose."
Jason gave a small smile but did not reply. He closed his eyes and tried to relax.
Grant sat thoughtfully a moment before finally asking, "Jason, what did you mean I saved your life with my temper tantrum?"
The Alterran opened his eyes and cleared his throat nervously. "I…um, wasn't exactly truthful when I gave the Doctor the results of my scan."
"Oh?" Grant's eyebrows went up.
"I didn't want him to worry. Well…not anymore than he was already."
"In other words, you lied when you said your injuries weren't life threatening."
After a long pause, Jason admitted quietly, "Yes."
Grant sat back, his eyes going to the ceiling. "No wonder you were on the point of hysterics when he said he was turning off the jamming signal."
Again Jason did not reply, silently drinking in the energy supplied by the little miracle in his hand. One of the alarms suddenly cut out and he turned his head slightly toward the console, listening. "What was that?"
"What was what?"
Another alarm cut out and this time Grant registered the change in sound, turning to look at the console. "Oh, that," he said aridly and went over to the console to investigate.