CHAPTER 18
"WHO ARE YOU?"
Before the Doctor could contemplate the implications of what had just happened, the Benefactor ordered, "Secure him in the interrogation room."
The incapacitated Time Lord was pulled from the floor and out the door. Before the last man followed, his superior ordered, "Once the Doctor's secured, get the last of the cargo transferred."
"Don't worry, sir. We'll make the deadline," the man said as he left the room. He hurried after the others, who were making their way down a series of corridors before reaching the interrogation room. As the last man to arrive, he stayed outside as the others dragged their prisoner through the door.
The first thing the Doctor noticed upon entering was a wall of heavy metal plate with thick leather restraints bolted to it. The far wall had a slab of metal attached to it that was probably supposed to serve as a bench. In the corner opposite the restraining wall was a computer console next to which was a large trunk, the contents of which he felt sure he would learn all too soon. It was all too apparent that not all the information the Benefactor was selling had been obtained from willing sources.
In the hall, the sentry smiled evilly as the Time Lord's shouts of protest came through the closed door. It was obvious he was being less than cooperative. The man was so intent on listening to the commotion within the room that he failed to notice the cloaked figure approaching and jumped when he suddenly loomed over him.
"Benefactor!" he gasped. "Sir, I didn't expect you this soon. I thought you'd be seeing to—"
The Benefactor cut him off with a wave of the hand, a clear indication that the man shut up and open the door, which he hurriedly did. The scene inside was one of bedlam. The group had stripped their prisoner of his clothes and were attempting to force him against the wall and into the restraints. The Doctor was indeed being less than cooperative.
The sentry cleared his throat loudly, gaining everyone's attention. One man took advantage of the distraction and punched the Doctor hard in the stomach, sending him to his hands and knees.
"The prisoner will be secured in a moment, sir," the man called Justin informed breathlessly. He gave the downed Time Lord a savage kick in the ribs, sending him back against the wall. "Once we beat a little sense in to him," he added angrily.
"That won't be necessary," the Benefactor replied calmly.
The men exchanged a confused look. "Sir, he isn't secured yet."
"I can see that." The Benefactor took in the gasping form on the floor. "He isn't likely to pull a weapon, now, is he?"
"No, sir." Justin cleared his throat. "But…I think …"
"He doesn't want any witnesses, you idiot!" the Doctor snapped impatiently.
Justin gave the Time Lord a stunned look, turning back to the Benefactor, who waved a hand in dismissal. He gave a shrug and left, herding the others with him.
"Now what?" the Doctor asked as the robed man locked the door and crossed to the computer terminal on the far side of the room. "You've already got the humiliation phase out of the way. What next? Threats? Torture? A combination of both?" He slowly got to his feet. "You're obviously planning on killing me. So why don't you just drop all this Benefactor nonsense and tell me who you really are. I don't think it'll read too well on my death certificate at any rate. Cause of death—the Benefactor." His voice rose in pitch as he demanded, "Just who are you?"
The man across the room shook his head as he removed his all-concealing cloak. "Unbelievable. Here you are, stripped of your…dignity, and you still manage to stay in control of things." He tossed the garment onto the chair and turned, his voice changing the same instant. "As for who I am, you already know that."
The Doctor's eyes grew wide and his mouth dropped open. "Jason…" he breathed, not quite able to take it in. "I left you in the sickbay."
"With orders that I remain unconscious until repairs to my system were completed," the Alterran replied in a slightly angry tone. "I know. You thought you had another two days. Thing is, you have to ask my computer questions in just the right way."
"The time frame was inclusive." The Doctor cursed under his breath. "I should've realized!"
"I completely reprogrammed all the ARGO's systems. The computer will defend me at all costs." Jason's voice hardened as he added, "Even from you."
This only seemed to verify the Doctor's fears that his longtime friend was now his enemy and he looked him up and down. "Which part are you playing now?" he asked coldly. "Leader THREE? No, he's dead. Ambassador Krystovan? No, he's dead, too. The Benefactor, perhaps?"
"Well, at least he's not dead," Jason observed lightly. He paused, throwing a quick glance over to the door.
"You never told them you weren't human, did you?"
"I never do. You're the only one who knows different," the Alterran replied as he came to stand before the Doctor.
"I know different about a lot of things," the Time Lord said coolly. His hand suddenly flashed out and stabbed into Jason's throat just above the collarbone, paralyzing him where he stood. "Such as, when you're in human form, you're just as frail and vulnerable as they are."
The Alterran gasped, a shocked look passing over his face; his eyes flashed to the bindings on the wall and back to the Doctor's face. Although unable to move, found he could still speak and gave a wry smile. "Did you come across that in my computer, too, Doctor?" he asked mildly.
"Never mind that. How do I get out of here without being seen?" the Doctor demanded.
"That's going to be difficult considering you're stark naked," Jason observed blandly.
"You let me worry about that."
"I think you should be more worried about getting past the man outside the door."
The Doctor frowned. "You sent them all away."
"I heard him just now, but if you say they've gone…"
"I'm in no mood for this, Jason," the Doctor growled impatiently. "I want a straight answer from you."
"Alright. Incase you've forgotten, those of us in the First Circle can counteract the frailty of a human form," the Alterran stated matter of factly. His hand suddenly flashed up and took the astonished Time Lord by the throat. He slammed him back against the wall with such force that he knocked the breath out of him. "Oh yeah, and I'm not the Benefactor. How's that for a straight answer?"