CHAPTER 16
INCOMING MESSAGES
Mission Day 53 - continued
The Doctor returned to the flight deck, seeing the results of his search of Jason's log still awaiting his attention. "I'm not going to need you any longer," he muttered, dropping into a chair and deleting the search. He sat thoughtfully a moment. "Computer, when was Jason's last personal log entry recorded?" he asked.
"Last log entry, local date 20.65.5," came the unhelpful reply.
"How long was that before my arrival?"
"Thirty-seven hours, six minutes."
The Doctor was taken aback by this. Jason was usually meticulous in his record keeping. What could have kept him away? he wondered. "What was your last order prior to my arrival?" he then asked.
"Record all message transmissions between locations designated Tri Global and Sanctuary," the computer replied startlingly.
One surprise after another, the Doctor thought. "Have there been any transmissions?"
"Affirmative."
"How many?"
"Seven."
"Play them back in chronological order."
"Accessing."
The main screen flashed up a split-screen image. On the one side were the top two members of the Triad, on the other, the robed figure of the Benefactor.
"Transmission one," the computer announced.
"What's the Doctor's progress?" ONE asked.
"He's recovering faster than expected. And he's asking a lot of questions," the Benefactor said worriedly "I'm sure he knows more than he's telling. I should've killed him the minute he arrived."
"When will he be well enough to leave?" ONE asked.
"Leave?" The Benefactor sat back in his chair and started fiddling with a small remote control. "No one leaves the Sanctuary and lives to tell about it."
"We'd like you to make an exception in the case of this…friend of THREE's," ONE said coldly. He exchanged a knowing look with TWO, who started to laugh.
"As you wish. Out."
"Transmission two," said the computer.
"The Doctor left the Sanctuary and should be arriving in the city within the next few hours," the Benefactor informed.
"Excellent," Leader ONE replied. "THREE is due back at our headquarters tonight."
"Are you going to confront him?"
"We're going to kill him!" TWO announced happily. "Lying, conniving, alien trash!"
"Indeed. You'll be amused to learn the Doctor plans to destroy the Triad upon his return," the Benefactor said blandly.
TWO laughed raucously at this.
"Our spies tell us another raid on our headquarters is being planned," ONE informed. "If we can get him to delay this until the Doctor arrives…"
"We can kill two birds with one stone," TWO snickered. "Out"
"Transmission three. Text only," said the computer.
The message was addressed to Leader ONE.
Emergency situation has arisen.
Urgent I speak with you and you alone.
–Benefactor
"Transmission four," said the computer.
Having apparently received the previous message, Leader ONE appeared on the Triad side of the screen.
"What's so important that only I must hear?" ONE asked in a bored tone.
"Leader TWO is planning to take over the primary position in the Triad," the Benefactor said in a worried voice.
ONE was stunned, having rightly assumed that TWO lacked the brainpower to plan such a thing. "How do you know this?" he demanded.
"You're not the only one with spies," came the evasive reply.
A scowl came to the Leader's face. "Did your spy tell you when this will happen?"
The robed man nodded. "When he eliminates your adviser. Two birds with one stone, remember?"
ONE remained thoughtful a moment. "You'll be rewarded for your loyalty, alien. Out."
"Transmission five. Text only," said the computer.
As with the first, an urgent message from the Benefactor appeared, only this one was addressed to Leader TWO.
Emergency situation for your attention only.
Urgent that I speak with you alone.
–Benefactor
"Transmission six," said the computer.
This time it was Leader TWO who appeared alone on the Triad side.
"What do you want, alien?" TWO asked without preamble.
"Your life is in danger," the Benefactor replied. "Leader ONE is planning to replace you in the secondary position."
"Ha! He hasn't the guts!" TWO snorted derisively.
"Don't be too sure. He's already picked the time and place."
TWO suddenly looked worried. "When?"
"When you eliminate your adviser. He believes you'll be too distracted then."
A growl rose in the Leader's throat. "I'll shoot them both," he said, holding up his laser pistol.
The Benefactor cleared his throat. "You've already tried that once," he reminded. "Your adviser carries a device that repels laser weapons."
"Yes. That's true," TWO pouted.
"But I doubt it'll be as effective against hand weapons."
TWO looked dumbly at the screen before he understood what the Benefactor meant. Then he started to laugh. "Yes!" he snickered, motioning with his hand. "I'll stick him like the pig that he is!"
"I knew you'd be pleased," the Benefactor purred. "Out."
"Transmission seven," the computer said.
Now only the Benefactor appeared on screen, the Triad side apparently off. The robed man was entering information into a computer terminal. Then a high-pitched squeal came through the sound system and the Triad side turned on, showing the room empty. There was a computer terminal on screen that seemed to turn on by itself and started running a program on its own. The Doctor realized that the Benefactor was controlling it remotely. After several minutes, the computer shut down and the transmission ended.
"End entries," the computer announced.
"Well, now we know how the memory was wiped," the Doctor observed thoughtfully, sitting back in his seat. "Computer, do you know the location of the Sanctuary?"
"Affirmative."
The Doctor was beginning to wonder what the computer didn't know. "Do you have the transmat coordinates?"
"Please specify location."
"Clarify."
"There are two transmat stations located at destination Sanctuary," the computer informed startlingly. At the same time, a map of the freighter now known as the Sanctuary appeared on the main screen.
The Time Lord gave a low whistle. The ship was enormous. Two red dots blinked on different levels indicating the transmat locations. "Which is the least used?" he asked. The dot on the upper level went out. "Yes, I thought it might be that one." He leaned closer to the screen, studying the map. The dot was flashing in what looked like the ship's hold.
He got to his feet, going back into the sickbay to make one last check on Jason before crossing to the transmat station and ordering the computer to transport him to the Sanctuary.
oOo
"Doctor, may one ask the reason you chose to go to the Sanctuary at that specific point in time?" Fitzhugh asked mildly.
"Curiosity," the Doctor replied bluntly.
"Curiosity? Nothing more…tangible?"
"No. I didn't know what I was looking for at the time," the Doctor admitted. "All I knew was the Benefactor was hiding something and I wanted to know what it was."
"Surely that was obvious from the messages," the prosecutor replied. "He was working to eliminate the Triad. He set the top two against one another and gave them the means to eliminate the third, this being the accused."
"Your point?"
"My point is that the accused already suspected a connection. Otherwise he would not have ordered his computer to intercept the transmissions."
"Ah. I concede the point," the Doctor said happily.
This surprised even the Inquisitor. "So noted. Anything else, Lord Fitzhugh?"
Fitzhugh was so totally thrown by this that he completely lost his train of thought. "Uh, no, my lord," he stammered out.
"Then I suggest we recess for the meal break." Eustis tapped the gavel and the court went into recess.
"Just how many more surprises are there?" the dazzled Jason asked as the door to the side room was closed.
The Doctor grinned. "That would be telling."
"Very funny," the Alterran said as he dropped into a chair. "I'm not sure I can take much more of this." He gave a small sigh and looked up. "Although it is nice to know that I'm worthy of Shakespeare on my demise."
The Time Lord's eyes lit up. "So you finally read Hamlet, did you?"
"No. Shadra dragged me kicking and screaming to a performance," the Prince admitted. The thought of his wife brought a bittersweet smile to his face.
The Doctor could picture the scene so vividly that he laughed.
"I'm not sure I like the parallel." Jason's face darkened and he put a hand to his head. "And I'm not sure about this strategy, either."
"That's not very encouraging, coming from a strategist," the Doctor remarked aridly.
"It's just…things seem even more out of control than they were before."
The Time Lord took a seat and studied the Prince's worried expression a moment. "We haven't even gotten through the first day yet," he said mildly.
Jason gave the Time Lord a piercing look. It seemed to him that his friend was still closing him out. "You are on my side, aren't you, Doctor?"
The Doctor laughed again, this time at his friend's serious tone. "At least let me get through my testimony before you fire me."
"It's the rest of your testimony that's worrying me. I know how this tragedy ends," the Prince replied darkly, sliding further into his chair.