IDChapter36

"What do you think she wants with him?" Jack asked with a frown as they returned up the spiral staircase to sit and wait in the Esteemed Father's office.

"Probably wants to talk to him about Koschei. She may be suffering from a form of Stockholm Syndrome. She did seem a bit preoccupied with what would happen to him." Jon shrugged. "By the way, what does he usually do with his prisoners?"

"He punishes them in a way that he thinks fits the crime. Koschei will probably suffer the same fate that Isana did when he kidnaped her. He'll probably be made into a sex slave."

Jon whistled. "Wow. Any time off for good behavior?"

"Nope."

"Still, could be worse, I suppose. Maybe he'll learn something from it." Jon changed the subject. "So, when do you want to head back? Do you want to visit for awhile, take Isana sight-seeing, I wouldn't really mind checking out the planet, never been to the Krillitane homeworld before, believe it or not. Might be fun to look around a bit, since we're here. I did promise the Father I'd visit for awhile sometime..."

"Aren't you forgetting something, Jon?" Jack interrupted.

"What? Did we have something else we were supposed to do here?" Jon looked puzzled.

"No, not here. You were supposed to answer questions back on Karn before we left. Remember?"

"Oh yes, well, quite right, but nobody came up to me and asked anything."

"Maybe because you were to busy to notice any curious looks? Remember, these aren't fellow Time Lords yet, they're not going to just march right up to you and fire away, you're their mysterious benefactor, they're a bit shy just yet. You've got to make it easy for them, instead you just went about your business and left them. Again." Jack was exasperated.

"Hmmm... never really thought about it that way. You're right, I need to be more sensitive about things. I'm just so used to it being just me and Rose, I guess I was guilty of assuming they'd jump right in, just like she does - and like you do." Jon gave Jack a rueful smile.

"No problem, we can vortex back if you like."

"Nah... it might raise too many questions I'd rather not answer just yet. I'll just apologize and take my lumps when we return."

"Apologize for what?" Isana stood in the doorway.

"Being rude. It's bad habit of mine. How are you doing, Isana? Are you ready to go home?" Jon asked.

"Not just yet, the Father is going to do something for me before we go. He said for the two of you to wait here, he'll be down in a few minutes."

"Right, well then, we''l wait here. Where are you off to?" Jon asked as Isana turned to leave.

"He had a room made ready for me, I'm going to go lie down for awhile." She yawned. "I'm really worn out by all this."

Jack strode over and wrapped his arms around her. "Of course you are. Mind if I join you for your nap?"

"No thank you, I really am tired and I just want to rest." She didn't meet his eyes as she said it, and she turned and left. Jack's eyes followed her as she walked down the hall and turned to go up a stairway. He turned and looked at Jon.

"Is it just me, or does it seem to you, too, like she's upset with me?"

"She does seem upset with something, but it's not necessarily you, Jack. This has been quite an ordeal for her, she probably just needs some time to herself to put herself back together again. I wouldn't worry about it too much. She knows you're there for her when she needs you." Jon walked over to his friend and patted Jack soothingly on the back.

Before long the Esteemed Father entered from the back of his office.

"Lady Isana has agreed to accompany me to Karn for a visit. Is that agreeable to you, Doctor?"

Jon was a bit gobsmacked, but shrugged and said, "I have no objection, um... will Jack be accompanying you as well?"

"No," the Esteemed Father looked at Jack kindly, "she expressed the wish to stay here alone for a few days. She told me she's feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the attention she's gotten lately and would like some time alone. I'm arranging to let her have some time at my chalet." He walked around his desk to where Jack was standing and touched his face. "She needs some distance, old friend. Please allow her to have it, and don't take anything personally. She has a lot to heal from."

Jack bit his tongue. He couldn't understand why Isana wouldn't talk to him about it, but he would respect her wishes. He nodded and lowered his eyes.

"Good." The Father spoke softly. Then he turned briskly and returned to his desk, all business. "My secretary tells me we have located some of your people in a Usurian mine on the planet Hell. We have ships already on the way to collect them. We'll be bringing them along when we visit, in about a week."

Jon visibly brightened at that. "How many?" He asked.

"About one hundred. Better expand that settlement of yours. Why don't you and Jack return now, and I'll have those agents I promised travel with you."

Jon knew Jack would be reluctant to leave, but was surprised when Jack spoke up, readily agreeing with the Father.

"Yes," he said, "let's get under way."

Koschei had been lying in the examination room for what seemed like hours. He had been stripped naked and strapped onto the cold metal table in a very compromising position, then just left there. Finally the door opened and he saw Isana.

"Isana! Thank the gods you're here! Set me free!" He ordered her. She held her finger to her lips and he immediately quieted, realising there were probably guards somewhere nearby. She walked over to him, but instead of freeing him, she bent down over his crotch and started pleasuring him.

"Isana! This is not the time for that!" He hissed at her, wondering if she'd lost her mind. She ignored him, and continued her actions. His body could not help but respond, she was doing this incredible thing with the roof of her mouth and her soft palate... ye gods, where had she learned to do that, he wondered, as he exploded, writhing in ecstasy. "Gods, that was wonderful," he breathed, eyes closed, "now free me, please!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, but sorry, I won't do that." The voice was not Isana's. Eyes jerking open in alarm, he saw 'Isana' morph into none other than the Esteemed Father himself, grinning wolfishly. "So, you enjoy taking beautiful, strong women and making them subservient to you, eh? Well, let's see how you enjoy a good, stiff dose of your own medicine." He stripped down to his skin, and it was very apparent how that 'good, stiff dose' was going to be administered.

Koschei went wild, struggling against the straps holding him down while screaming obscenities at the Father. The few intelligible words he uttered were, "I'll get you and that bastard consort of yours!"

"Oh, that's right, you have a 'bone' to pick with the good Captain." The Father's grin broadened as he morphed into 'Jack'. He picked up a tube of lubricant, squeezed some on his fingers so that Koschei could see, and asked, "Guess where this is going?"