PART SIX
MANHUNT

CHAPTER 55

GESTURE OF GOOD FAITH

"I've never heard of this planet," Jason observed as the Doctor entered the coordinates into the navigational computer.

"Nor I," the Doctor replied. "But according to Tolan, Trevor was apparently last seen there."

"Does this Trevor have a last name," Mel wanted to know. "You've never said."

Jason gave a bittersweet smile. "Krystovan."

This surprised even the Doctor. "Something else in common?" he said as he hit the dematerialization switch.

The Alterran's pensive expression did not change. "One of my many hundreds of relatives in the House of Krystovan. A cousin a dozen times removed, probably. He's considerably older than I am."

The Doctor looked up. "But you're of higher rank, aren't you?"

"Yes. That's only because my father is that much older than everybody else," Jason replied with a sigh. "As his heir, I'm next in line. In fact, I…um, unseated Trevor as second in line."

The Doctor did not remark on this latest revelation. He studied his friend a moment, a concerned look coming to his face. "You look exhausted. The mind link with the Emperor took a lot out of you, didn't it?"

Jason gave a small smile. "I'll be alright."

The Doctor already had his friend by the arm and was steering him to the inner door. "We have no idea how long this manhunt is going to take," he said firmly. "You've been awake the equivalent of three straight days with only a few hours sleep in between. Now I want you to get some rest before you drop from exhaustion."

Jason was about to protest but was prevented when his knees gave way, seeming to verify the Doctor's very prediction. Were it not for the fact that his friend already had a firm grip on him, he would have fallen to the floor. "Okay, I need to rest," the Alterran admitted grumpily.

By the time they arrived at Jason's cabin, he had sufficiently recovered to walk under his own power. The Doctor turned to go as his friend entered the main room, turning when he called him back. Jason crossed to a keypad set in a sidewall and entered a code. There was a beep and a panel slide open.

The Doctor came into the room and watched in bewilderment, wondering what his friend had in mind now. He stiffened involuntarily when the Prince turned back to face him with an Alterran energy weapon in his hands. Unlike the stasers, this formidable weapon would not just kill an Alterran, it was so powerful that all but its lowest stun setting would kill him, too.

Seeing the apprehensive look on the Time Lord's face, Jason could not help smiling. "I'm not going to shoot you again," he said mildly as he crossed the room. He held out the weapon. "I want you to have this."

The Time Lord was completely thrown. "What?"

"Words are easy," Jason stated flatly. "But after everything that's happened, I think a gesture of good faith is in order."

"Jason, as you pointed out so eloquently, even after viewing the Matrix archive I was still questioning your motives," the Doctor reminded firmly. "If anyone should be making a gesture, it's me."

"Alright, point taken. But you're the one who always seems to be—I don't know, at a disadvantage around me. I can't help wondering if that's the cause of some of your misgivings."

"You've already proved you don't have to physically overpower me to have the advantage."

Jason scowled a moment. Then his face cleared. "Computer, total system exemption—The Doctor," he ordered.

"Acknowledged," the computer replied.

"There. Now nothing will prevent you from shooting me," the Prince informed. "And you can countermand all my orders."

The Doctor was taken aback. If this wasn't a gesture of trust nothing was.

"Anyway," Jason said seriously, "if we do find Trevor, I've a feeling you're going to need it just to even the odds." He held out the weapon again. "Please, take it."

The Doctor stood thoughtfully a moment, looking down at the weapon in distaste. He detested guns and as a rule refused to even carry one. The current situation seemed to be an exception to all the rules, however, and he reached for the weapon only to have Jason suddenly pulled it back. "Under one condition," the Prince said firmly.

"I had a feeling there might be one," the Time Lord said guardedly.

Jason flashed another smile. "Please, don't give it to Mel. Or she'll be shooting me next."

The Doctor actually laughed at this. "Agreed," he grinned, slipping the weapon into his pocket.

As the Doctor suspected, the hunt for Trevor was not an easy one. Several days passed without success. They utilized the leads supplied by the Alterran Imperial Guard, all of which proved to be dead ends. Finally, Jason suggested that Tolan contact his own team. It was they who found the location where the TARDIS next materialized.

The Doctor went to retrieve Jason, finding him peacefully sleeping in his whirlpool. Considering how little his friend had slept in the past few weeks, he hated having to wake him for what might turn out to be yet another dead end.

"Jason, we've arrived," he said quietly.

The Alterran did not seem to respond, although he was certain he had heard him. After a few seconds, he submerged, reemerging in his human form.

"Sleep well?" the Time Lord asked conversationally.

"Yes," Jason replied happily as he climbed out of the tub. "Is this planet inhabited?" he asked conversationally as he quickly dried himself off.

"Doesn't appear to be. It may just be another of his hideouts," the Doctor speculated. "They were shifting an awful lot of cargo from the Sanctuary that last day. It had to go somewhere."

A haunted expression passed over the Alterran's face as the mention of the last day. Shaking off these dark thoughts, he looked in a mirror. "What's the terrain like?"

"Very rocky. We seem to've landed along a ravine or rock ledge," the Doctor replied.

Jason nodded and was suddenly wearing appropriate hiking gear. He turned to his friend, holding out his arms. "Well? Does my choice in wardrobe meet with your approval this time, Doctor?"

The Doctor grinned back. "It does." So saying, he led the way out the door.