CHAPTER 41
IT ENDS HERE
Jason had barely materialized on the flight deck when he commanded, "Computer, get us out of here. Now!"
"Systems activating. Course required for launch."
"I don't care, anywhere. High orbit!"
"Course required for launch," the computer replied stubbornly.
Cursing under his breath, Jason didn't even bother to stand. He crawled over to the console, punching in a heading from his knees. "Now launch!"
"Safety settings engaging."
Jason cursed again. "Command override, designation Krystovan. Now launch, you stupid machine, launch!"
"Acknowledged."
The ship suddenly lurched, throwing the Prince onto his back. He could hear the engines powering up and braced himself for the G-forces to come.
Fifty miles from the Sanctuary, the water in a peaceful lake suddenly became violent, as though in response to a coming storm, tall waves crashing onto the shoreline. Then a loud rumbling like distant thunder rolled across the area, the ground shaking in response. A few seconds later the ARGO appeared, rising from the depths of the lake. It cleared the surface and lifted off, moving faster and faster, attaining escape velocity and shooting out of the atmosphere, away from the planet's surface and on a heading that would take it out of the system.
On the main view screen, the planet shown like a blue green marble in space, slowly growing smaller as the ship moved away.
Jason slowly and painfully picked himself off of the floor of the flight deck. He staggered over to the sickbay where he retrieved his Med-kit and returned to the Doctor's side, cleaning and dressing his wound. He had scarcely finished when the Doctor regained consciousness, a moan escaping him as he did so.
"What happened?" he asked, a hand going to his aching head.
"You were knocked out by an explosion," Jason said as he slowly got to his feet. "We're on the ARGO."
"The ARGO?" The Doctor blinked up at him and then sat up, an accusing look on his face. "Do you mean to say—?" He got no further. At that moment, the main view screen flared.
They both turned to see a white mushroom cloud billowing up from one of the continents. Then to their horror, the atmosphere burst into flame, the inferno rolling around the globe like a great wave until the entire surface was awash in its glow. When the blazing light finally faded, it revealed a blackened husk where there had once been a thriving world.
"That wasn't supposed to happen," Jason said in a horrified whisper.
The Doctor jumped to his feet, beside himself with rage. "Is that all you have to say? It wasn't supposed to happen?"
"Doctor, it wasn't supposed to be like this."
"An entire planet's been destroyed!" the Doctor thundered. "Billions of lives snuffed out! And you think you can explain it away by saying it wasn't supposed to happen?"
"It wasn't!"
The Doctor glared at him. "I don't know what's happened to you," he said angrily, "but I know it had nothing to do with what happened between us. That…you…" As impossible as it seems, he could not find the words to describe the revulsion he felt at that moment. "I'm done."
The Alterran gave him a stricken look. "What?"
"You heard me. I'm done with you. Finished. When I leave, I never want to hear from you again. Is that understood? If you try to send for me, I won't come."
"You think I'm responsible for this?" Jason gasped in disbelief. "You don't understand!"
"That's the first thing you've said that I do agree with," the Doctor shot back. "I don't understand! I'm done trying to understand."
"What happened to not wanting to change history? And everything else in that guilt trip you laid on me last time?" Jason demanded. "I'm to forgive you, but you can't forgive me, is that it? Now we're even?"
"I could forgive you any number of things, Jason, but how do you justify that!" He pointed at the screen. "That…abomination is unforgivable."
"It was a mistake!"
This was the wrong thing to say. The Doctor completely lost his temper and did something he never thought he would. He struck Jason hard across the face with the back of his hand. The blow was so unexpected it knocked the already injured Alterran off of his feet.
The ship's computer, which had been unusually silent during this altercation, suddenly came to life. "Activating defense mode," it announced.
"Cancel," Jason snapped as he struggled painfully to his elbows.
The Doctor was so furious; he didn't even notice when this happened.
"A mistake! I made a mistake! But you…you…" Again, the Doctor found himself at a loss for words. "I don't know who you are anymore. You're a complete stranger. I am not getting sucked in to any more of your deceptions."
Jason looked at the enraged Time Lord standing over him and knew that somehow he had gotten everything completely wrong. Unfortunately, his brain couldn't supply the words he needed, and by this point, the Doctor was completely beyond reason. He got to his feet and went to the console. "Computer, map," he commanded dully. A map of the ARGO's interior appeared on the main screen. "Your TARDIS is there." He pointed to a storage bay. "Take it and go, if that's what you want."
The Time Lord drew himself to his full height. "It ends here."
"If that's what you want," came the toneless reply.
"You can't even give me a straight answer now, can you?" the Doctor observed in irritation. With that, he turned on his heel and left.
Jason watched him go in a stunned silence. He heard the TARDIS dematerialize and closed his eyes, his only hope of salvation abandoning him. Then he slowly sank into the command chair, putting his head in his hands. "It wasn't supposed to end like this," he said in a small voice.
The Prince looked over in the direction of the sickbay but could not summon the energy to stand and cross to it. Turning back to the console, he laid his head in his arms, completely exhausted. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he was suffering from shock but was just too numb to do anything about it. A large bloodstain was blossoming across his back, and he was oblivious to it. He was oblivious to everything but his own sudden and total isolation.
oOo