CHAPTER 58

TO THE DEATH

Jason was at the top of the path at the exact spot where Trevor had confronted the Doctor. He had heard the Time Lord's cries of torment as he neared the top of the path, and after his call, he heard him cry out and then abruptly go silent. He turned his gaze in the general direction of the sound, his eyes changing to his more powerful sensors. He searched the area across the ravine without success and wondered if the Doctor were near the river below. He was about to go look when he heard another voice from behind him.

"Jason! Slow down," Mel called out breathlessly. "I'm not a mountain goat." They had already lost the Doctor. The last thing she wanted was to lose him, too. In fact, she had not been in favor of climbing back to the top of the ridge, but he had insisted. Then he suddenly scrambled to the top, leaving her to fend for herself.

"Quiet! I heard the Doctor just now," he snapped impatiently. "He's in trouble."

"He's not the only one," Mel moaned as she slid back slightly on the steep incline.

Jason turned back and was about to go back to retrieve her when the Doctor's disapproving voice suddenly came from out of nowhere. "Where have you two been?"

The Prince spun around, seeing the Time Lord approaching from the opposite direction to where he'd heard the sounds. He looked unharmed and unruffled, which immediately set off an alarm in his head. Jason had not changed his eyes and could see the heat signature of the approaching figure. It was completely wrong. Now he was convinced the Doctor was in trouble, and prayed he was being held somewhere as opposed to simply having been killed.

Jason's eyes returned to their human appearance as he turned back to Mel and took a few steps towards her. "Here, give me your hand."

Mel did as instructed and was pulled to her feet. The Alterran then put his arm around her waist and carried her the remaining distance to the top, setting her gently on her feet. "I thought you said he was in trouble," she remarked, seeing the Doctor walking towards them.

"That's not the Doctor. It can't be," Jason replied quietly. "Something's very wrong, Mel. Get ready to run for the bridge when I tell you."

Mel gave him a stunned look, looking over at the Time Lord as he drew nearer. If that was Trevor, he had gotten everything completely right. She never would have known the difference until it was too late.

Jason turned back and gave the approaching figure an appraising look, a knowing smile coming to his face. "Nice try, Trev," he said evenly. "But now you're trying to be too clever." His words had the desired affect. Trevor's eyes grew angry, his face clouding over. Jason reached out and moved Mel protectively behind him.

"That's right. Protect your human," Trevor taunted.

Mel gave way to an involuntary shudder as this sneering reply came in the Doctor's voice. There was a malicious edge to it that made her hair stand on end.

"You're coming back with us," Jason said coldly. "I'm not taking the fall for what you did."

"You weren't supposed to 'take the fall,' as you put it."

"What was I supposed to do?"

Trevor's eyes blazed with blind hatred. "You were supposed to die! I failed once. But I won't fail a second time." So saying, he was instantly in his true form.

"Run!" Jason ordered as he too reverted to his true self. He remained steadfastly in front of Mel, who let out a small squeak and fled.

The Doctor watched as the standoff on the far side of the ravine began. He had seen Jason fend off another Alterran shortly after they started traveling together. But his opponent at the time did not have the same color eyes and the Doctor could easily tell them apart. This had also been before Jason had passed through what he called "the second phase" during which many of his more formidable powers manifested themselves.

As Mel fled toward the stone bridge that crossed to the Doctor's side of the ravine, he wondered how he could make his presence known. If only there were some way he could— Of course! What an idiot he'd been. He suddenly remembered the weapon Jason had given him all those days ago. It was still in his pocket! He looked down at himself. His hands were pulled back against his body, and his coat was dangling forward. If he could manage it, he might just be able to reach into his pocket. After that, he'd tackle the problem of actually pulling the gun out and firing it.

The Doctor looked up. The standoff was rapidly deteriorating. Any second now…

Trevor suddenly attacked. As the Alterrans came together, there was the sound of electricity aching through the air. The combatants' bodies glowed, throwing off sparks of raw energy as they grappled against one another. It was an impressive and frightening display of power.

The Doctor suddenly remembered what he was trying to do and returned his attention to his hands, fighting with the fabric of his long coat until he managed to maneuver it to where he could reach into his pocket and catch hold of the energy weapon. He was starting to lose the feeling in his hands, and the last thing he wanted to do was drop the gun. He made certain he had a firm grip on it before slowly withdrawing it from his pocket. He could just reach the controls with the fingers of his other hand and struggled to set the weapon to the highest stun setting.

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"You won't win!" Trevor snarled, sending another massive jolt of energy into his opponent. "I've put too much into this!"

Jason wasn't trying to win. He was just trying to stay alive until Mel made it safely to the other side of the ravine where the TARDIS was located. He increased the power in his own energy field, sending a jolt back into his attacker. The only thing that saved him from being completely overpowered by his older adversary was the fact that he was in the First Circle. "Trevor, I don't want to fight you."

"Then hold still so I can kill you!" he opponent snarled, sending an enormous wave of energy through him.

This jolt was powerful enough to pull a cry of pain from Jason and knock him back several feet. He took stock of his situation and checked on Mel's progress. She was moving very slowly so as not to fall from the long narrow bridge. Hurry up, Mel. I'm getting killed over here. Literally!

Trevor charged again and Jason stood his ground, taking several more painful jolts before Mel finally reached the other side of the ravine. He allowed himself to be thrown aside, letting the momentum carry him away. Then he made straight for the bridge.

Mel turned just in time to see the Alterran descending on her. She let out a scream as he scooped her up and pulled her from the edge.

"I do wish you wouldn't do that," Jason admonished as he set her back on solid ground again. "I have very sensitive hearing."

Mel pulled away as the tendrils released her. "That's not funny!" she snapped angrily.

"It wasn't meant to be," he snapped back.

"No! I will change the future!" Trevor yelled as he moved towards the bridge.

Mel looked in his direction in dismay. "He doesn't give up," she moaned.

"That's because he's completely insane," Jason replied darkly. "Just keep back."

"Jason, he'll kill you!" Mel protested.

"Not if I can get him to deplete his energy reserves first," he informed knowingly. "He can't keep this up much longer."

Mel noticed the Alterran's body was covered with injuries from the energy exchanges. They looked like scorch marks and she wondered if they also felt like them. "How long can you keep this up?" she asked worriedly.

"As long as I have to!" Jason replied forcefully. He suddenly thrust something into Mel's hand. "Here, take this."

Mel opened her hand. "A key?"

"It's my key to the TARDIS," the Alterran informed startlingly. "As soon as he starts in again, get to the TARDIS and stay there. I promised the Doctor I'd look after you and that's exactly what I'm doing."

Before Mel could reply, Trevor was across the bridge and descending on them. Jason quickly moved to intercept him. "Now, Mel! Run!" he ordered.

Trevor was so focused on destroying the future that he completely forgot about the present and the captive Time Lord concealed only a few yards away.

With the combatants at closer quarters, the Doctor felt he had a better chance of hitting them and waited for the opportunity to fire. All he needed was for them to get in front of him and he could stun them, saving Jason and capturing Trevor at the same time.

Suddenly Mel was dashing past and the Doctor tried desperately to call out to her. He knew she couldn't see him, but hoped she might at least hear him and come looking. Unfortunately, his muffled cries were drowned out by the sound of the energy exchanges. After several agonizing minutes the fight moved into his line of fire. He aimed as best he could and fired three shots in quick succession.

Mel had no idea who was who anymore. She was almost to the TARDIS and turned back, seeing the Alterrans separate again. Then she nearly jumped out of her skin when three energy bolts suddenly erupted out of nowhere.

The first shot missed completely.

Mel thought the second shot passed between them, but saw the Alterran furthest from her jerk back as if he'd been hit. He did not make a sound as he was thrown to the ground.

The third shot struck home, hitting this individual full on. He gave a horrible shriek, flailing wildly within the glowing ball of energy before dropping into a heap on the ground. Neither of them moved after that. Mel had no idea if they were alive or dead and was not about to get close enough to check.

The Doctor, in the meantime, was staring in shock, his eyes wide. He looked down and saw, to his horror, that he had inadvertently set the weapon to kill. What have I done? he thought mournfully. He closed his eyes and sagged, lowering his head in remorse, the offending weapon dropping from his hand.