The Doctor stood staring at the energy extractor lying on the floor next to the fallen table. It didn't look like it had sustained any damage. He had completely forgotten about it during his mishap and that was strange. He would have thought it would have been foremost in his mind, not tea and sandwiches. But then nothing involving this bit of Gallifrey seemed right.
Squatting down, he took a closer look at it, gently turning it upright. To his relief there were no sounds of loose parts rolling around inside. He cradled it gently in one arm while he used the other to manhandle the table back into an upright position.
He had some time before he confronted the Atterian. Jack had decided to wait a bit and see if it was just a coincidence that she was just out the front door or if she was indeed waiting for them as Ianto presumed. Whichever it was, it didn't matter to him, but it had definitely unnerved Jack to see his quarry apparently so willing to be caught.
Gingerly he placed the device on the table. He felt a slight pang at his temple but he ignored it. "Aspirin must be wearing off," he thought with an almost perverse pride in the apparent fact that human medicines had so little effect on him. He pulled his orange from his pocket while he considered what to do.
It was a very good orange, the skin separated easily from the flesh, the sections inside were plump and juicy. He bit into one enjoying the sensation of the thin skinned vesicles inside bursting as his teeth broke them, releasing their flavorful fluid. It was exactly what he needed, a good shot of vitamin C and the wonderful citrus scent that went with it. A sure way to lighten his mood. It didn't get rid of the headache but it did make it easier to endure. He nibbled on a bit of the peel, enjoying the intensified scent of orange as he chewed it, the sharp, almost sting of its flavor as the oil in the rind was released.
When he finished the orange he felt clear of mind and ready to deal with the energy extractor. Carefully, he removed the damaged part. Examining it, he recognized it. It was a frangilizer, a very common part if one was on Gallifrey, but almost impossible to find on Earth. It looked like it might not have been connected correctly or perhaps the energy conduits in the device itself were faulty. He put it in his pocket and proceeded to poke around to see if he could determine why it had failed.
He found it hard to concentrate on what he was doing. Thinking he saw a loose connection, he started tracing it only to get confused as to which energy conduit he was following. He tried to find the original fault only to discover it was no longer there. In his frustration he slammed his hand on the table. Suddenly the device fired up and a display panel revealed itself. He blinked in surprise at what he saw.
The display was unusual for a Time Lord device, not the usual nested geometric symbols whose meaning could only be understood by those who could sense the flow of time. Instead it was designed to be read by non Gallifreyans, using a symbology that could easily be understood by almost any race. There was also he could sense, a primitive translation capability that would fill in any gaps in the viewer's native language. This made the device all the more dangerous. Anyone with medical knowledge and an understanding of energy flows could operate it. He heard approaching footsteps and quickly turned it off.
"Well, she's here. You said you wanted to be involved in the interrogation," said Jack as he entered the room, clapping his hands together.
"Yes, absolutely," replied the Doctor as he pocketed his sonic screwdriver and stood up. "Any clues so far as to why she is interested in me?"
"No, but she most definitely is. Claims you are the only one who would understand. Apparently the rest of us are just too dense in her mind," said Jack as he ushered the Doctor out of the storeroom.
Upon entering the hub the Doctor was shocked by what he saw. Myfawny was standing in front of the Atterian, eyes half closed, wings semi furled, almost purring in contentment as the alien administered a neck rub. The Doctor stood stock still hoping to avoid attracting the pteranodon's attention. It didn't work, Myfawny turned to him and screamed.
The Atterian stroked the pteranodon and spoke to it soothingly, calming it down before sending it on its way to the upper reaches. She then turned to the Doctor and smiled. "It's okay, she'll stay out of the way now. I'm Celeste by the way – we need to talk."
"Really?" said the Doctor as he carefully made his way over to Celeste, checking the upper reaches to make sure for himself that Myfawny was indeed staying away. "What could you possibly want to talk to me about?"
"You're a Time Lord aren't you? You're a data point that is missing in our research."
"I'm a what?" asked the Doctor.
"A Time Lord. You are one, aren't you? My sensors showed you had all the earmarks of one and the ship you arrived in was definitely Time Lord technology. I'm correct, aren't I? It would be really embarrassing if I spent all this time waiting for you to arrive only to be wrong. My research advisor would be most upset with me. Though if you are something new, that could also be good," she temporized, trying to make the best of the situation.
"No, I am a Time Lord. I meant what's this about me being a data point?"
"Oh, well, you have to understand. I'm trying to get certified and I need to do research to get it. It's a very important project for our species. We're collecting information on the reproductive habits of various species and no one in the project has ever done a data collection on a Time Lord."
The Doctor pointedly ignored Jack's laughter as he continued to press for clarification. "So you are just collecting data on reproductive habits? You're like a Kinsey?"
"A Kinsey?" the Atterian and Jack asked almost simultaneously, the Atterian confused, Jack barely able to contain his mirth. At least Gwen and Ianto were having the good graces to remain silently in the background.
"Yes, a Kinsey," responded the Doctor rapidly waving his hand in a circle as he fought for the right words to clarify what he meant. "Sexual researchers… back in the last century. They went from door to door asking people about their sexual practices. You're like that?"
Celeste brightened at the Doctor's explanation. "Oh good, so you are familiar with the idea, though we don't just ask questions, we prefer to actually experience it. You can get far more data recorded that way and, well, we have found subjects do tend to false report in these areas. Actual experience is so much better. It makes it easier for our species to adopt it."
"Adopt it?"
"Yes, that's why this research is so important. Our species was in trouble. Reproduction was just so boring and dull no one wanted to do it." She gave Jack a sharp glance as he made a choking sound. "We were in danger of dying out. Then we discovered other species actually enjoy it and with our shape shifting capabilities we could too.
"All the centers of learning tried to get government sponsorship for the research but mine won," she declared proudly. "We've been doing it for several years now, and hope the sponsorship will continue for several more." Again she shot a look at Jack, who was now doubled over in laughter.
The Doctor looked at Jack in disdain as he responded to Celeste. "Oh… I think it will continue on for quite a while. You have no fears on that," he assured her.
"Oh," she looked at him in surprise as comprehension spread across her face. "You would know, wouldn't you? That is wonderful news. That means when I get my certification I should be able to continue my research. So you'll help me out?"
"Yes Doctor, are you going to help the nice research assistant out?" Jack asked, finally able to get control of himself. "It is for science after all. You could possibly be responsible for the salvation of her species."
The Doctor looked sternly at Jack, but it had no effect on the captain's jovial mood. He turned his attention to Celeste who was looking up at him hopefully. "I'm sorry, I can't help you. We don't reproduce that way, not anymore."
"Yes, I know about the looms and the infertility curse, but surely you still must have done something before then. You must have relations of some kind with other Time Lords. I saw you when you landed. You seemed tactile and affectionate with your ship. Surely you must be the same with your own species," offered the upset and eager Atterian.
"But that is it. It needs to be another Time Lord and even then…"
"But I can be a Time Lord," Celeste interrupted "I've studied all the records, all the readings, not everything was lost and I've spent my time here waiting for you, practicing see?" Celeste sat down, closed her eyes and started to go limp.
The Doctor, mesmerized, watched her carefully, intrigued at the subtle changes going on. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and approached him slowly, seductively. "See, two hearts," she whispered, as she took his hand and placed it under her shirt on the right side of her chest, just above the breast. Holding it there gently, she moved her finger tips moving in a soft circular motion on the back of it. She leaned into him till the distance between them was no more than the thickness of a single sheet of paper. "I'm like you in other ways now too. Can you tell?"
And tell he could. It was heady stuff, Time Lord pheromones and Celeste was exuding them way beyond the normal levels. If he had been an ancient Gallifreyan he would have been helpless, unable to resist, driven by the animalistic urges that had ruled his race in times long forgotten. As it was her scent, the feel of her cool skin and the beating of her right heart under his palm caused him to feel dizzy and breathless. Thirsty for that which he had not had in so very long a time and had thought to never have again. A light sweat broke out on his skin as the remembered joys and wonders he had buried in the deepest recesses of his mind came to the fore.
Instinctively, he reached out to see if that one essential part, so necessary for what she wanted, was there. Disappointment and relief both crashed over him when he discovered that it was not. Slowly he regained his composure as the rush of excitement drained from him. Leaving him dazed but in control. Gently he took his hand from her chest letting her hand fall from his as he stepped back from temptation.
Smiling down on her sadly he said, "Sorry, it wouldn't work."
Celeste's face fell and she looked up at him in desperation. "But I'm a Time Lord in every way. You reacted. I saw it. I felt it. I've waited all this time, just for you. It's for research, you're a scientist, surely you understand?"
The Doctor looked around the room and realized he had a situation developing that had to be handled before he finished dealing with the Atterian. Jack had very clearly been affected by the pheromones in the room. Ianto was affected also, but even more so he was affected by Jack's building lust for the Atterian. Thankfully Gwen was keeping it together. He turned back to the Atterian.
"Look, you need to turn off the pheromones if you can, before you end up with data collections you didn't intend."
Celeste quickly glanced at Ianto, then Jack, her eyes going wide. "Oh, no, I don't want to do that. Both of them have had their data collected several times," she whispered to the Doctor.
The Doctor sensed the pheromone production decreasing and enlisted Gwen's help. "Can you turn on some blower systems and get us a clean exchange of air?" Jack started walking towards Celeste, a friendly but leering smile on his face. The Doctor grabbed him by the elbow.
"Steady on there, Captain. Gwen, fetch me one of those lemons."
"Sure," answered Gwen looking up from the HVAC control panel, "but why?"
"I'll get it sir," Ianto offered, pulling himself out of his own stupor to help Jack. He returned with the fruit.
"Good, now peel off a section of the rind, hold it under his nose and give it a squeeze so he gets a good doze of lemon oil up his nose," the Doctor instructed.
Ianto did as he was told and the results were instantaneous.
"Hey, what was that for?" protested Jack.
"Welcome back Captain. You were about to give a demonstration, I for one, really didn't want to see."
"Well you could have just turned your back. What was that with the lemon? I never knew it could do that. "
"Well, I wasn't sure it would work with you. But it does cancel the Time Lord pheromones quite effectively," explained the Doctor matter of factly, He took the lemon from Ianto's hand and peeled a bit of rind for himself, enjoying Jack's expression of disgust as he bit into it. The rush of flavor cleared his head, preparing him to talk to the Atterian, who was still looking at him hopefully.
"Look, I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have done that here," she apologized. "But I had to show you. We can wait till tonight. I'm in the suite next to yours. Once Nigel is asleep, I can slip over."
"No, it's not the location, though if everything else was fine, the location would certainly be an issue. You're not really a Time Lord, that's the problem." He scanned the room looking for a place they could discuss this rationally. "Jack, can we borrow your office?"
"Only if I'm in there with you," came Jack's insistent reply.
"What? Why?"
"I'm not leaving you alone with her. Not after what I saw and felt. We've had experience with this kind of thing before, you need someone with you."
"Oh, so 'you' are going to chaperone 'me'?" asked the Doctor in disbelief.
"It's that or I chuck her into a holding cell and you can talk over the intercom."
The Doctor looked down and considered his options. A quick glance at Ianto and Gwen told him they were very interested in the outcome of this power struggle between him and Jack. Reluctantly he decided to yield. Jack would still have to command Torchwood after he left and he would be a poor friend if he undermined Jack's authority.
"Sure, fine, but here." The Doctor tossed him the partially peeled lemon. "Keep that handy."
Settled in the office, seated behind the desk, the Atterian across from him and Jack leaning on the door jam, working on peeling the lemon, the Doctor was finally ready to begin his explanation in earnest.
"Look, I really can't help you other than give you some details you apparently are unaware of," began the Doctor only to be interrupted by Jack he has tried biting on a piece of lemon peel.
"Yuck," he exclaimed with a grimace, "how can you stand that?"
"Captain, if you don't mind, we are trying to have a serious conversation here," said the Doctor, irritation showing on his face and in his voice.
"Oh, right, yeah, don't mind me. Just a fly on the wall here."
The Doctor refrained from commenting and continued his explanation to the Atterian. "It takes more than physical contact with us. There has to be a mental connection or ultimately nothing happens and it becomes a rather unpleasant, distasteful experience," he explained with regret. "As good as you are with the physical aspects, you don't have the ability to complete the mental connection."
"But I do," protested the Atterian. "I'm a sixteen on the Ratoff scale. That's the highest we've ever recorded."
"I'm sure that is quite impressive for an Atterian, but even the weakest Time Lord would have been well in the thousands on the same scale. The act you want requires a full, complete merging of the minds."
"But I can handle it, it's worth the risk for the project. This mental connection thing could help us keep our interest up and it would be a magnificent addition to the database."
"Oh, the impetuous nature of youth," thought the Doctor. He took a deep breath before playing his trump card.
"It's really not worth the risk and your race could never adopt it. You don't understand the mental power at the moment of culmination and no Time Lord has ever been able to hold it back at that time. At best you would be a mindless husk, alive with no thought, no feeling, but more likely it would kill you, rip you apart mentally and you would die in unspeakable agony.
"Even with Time Lords this became a problem. Comas lasting days after the act became normal. Often death would follow. Once the death rate started exceeding the conception rate, the High Council took action and created the looms and the fable of the infertility curse to explain them, hiding our weakness from what they considered to be the lesser races.
"This information has been kept hidden for many millennia. It should satisfy your research center as important enough to get you your certification." He held up his hand to stop her protest. "It's going to have to do, because no matter how important you think your research is, it's not that important and I refuse to be a party to your destruction."
Celeste looked down at the floor, fighting back her disappointment and tears. The Doctor felt sorry for her and almost wished she could help. She wiped her eyes and looked up at him. "Well, I guess it's time for me to go then. I'll have to figure out how to break the news to Nigel. He's been such a dear."
"Yes, why the ambassador? Why did you pick him as the one to stick with?" asked Jack.
"He's traveled a lot. Been to all kinds of countries. Claimed to know the sexual habits of hundreds of cultures. All variations on the same theme it turns out, but he has been sweet to me and very amusing." She explained. "Well, I should get going."
The Doctor stood up and got out from behind the desk as she rose from her chair. "I hope your next research project is more successful," he said graciously, finally able to relax around her, "but, watch out playing around with pheromones, they can get you in trouble if you aren't careful."
"But you secrete them," she protested.
"That's just an after effect from what you did. It will go away soon."
"No, it won't. You're always doing it. Even in the restaurant this morning. It's why I thought you would agree without the normal work up."
Putting his hand over his eyes the Doctor slowly shook his head in disbelief. But a quick assessment showed she was right. No wonder he had been having so many problems along those lines with this regeneration. His biology was trying to help him find a mate, to start the Time Lord race anew. An exercise in futility more than fertility as it turned out.
He dropped his hand away, took a deep breath and faced her. "Thank you for pointing that out. I wasn't aware of it. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
"No that's it." She stepped forward, gazed up at him and tenderly cupped his cheek in her hand. "Such a shame though. You could use some happiness, you are so sad, there is a shadow on your soul."
At her last words the Doctor felt a sudden surge of blind rage that disappeared as suddenly as it began. The Atterian dropped her hand from his face, recognition and naked fear showing in her eyes. She quickly covered it, bending down as she gathered up her purse and coat.
"Well I do need to get going – Nigel has such plans for tonight." She straightened and turned to Jack. "So, if I can go now?"
Jack looked to the Doctor who nodded, confused by his sudden anger and her reaction to it, but knowing he wanted her and the confusion she brought him, gone.
"Fine you can go – just one question first," replied Jack.
"Yes," said the Atterian as she edged to the exit.
"Any chance I can have copies of the data you collected on me?" he asked a hopeful and sly grin on his face as he escorted her.
"No, it skews the results if the test subject knows the types of data we collect."
"Can't fault a guy for trying. I'm sure I had top scores though."
"They were adequate," she replied. "Look, I really have to get going now."
"Okay, okay," said Jack opened the door for her. She quickly hurried out of it and was gone.
"Well, that was quite a performance," Jack said to the Doctor, who had followed him to the exit.
"Yes, she was quite accomplished. "
"Not her, you. Don't con a con man Doctor, you were lying through your teeth there."
The Doctor was stunned, though he should have known Jack would see through him. "Enough of it was true, the best lies have their roots in the truth. I said what I had to so I wouldn't be pursued by armies of sex researchers for the rest of my life."
"I don't see any problem with that. In fact I would consider it to be quite a lot of fun," Jack laughed.
"You might, but I don't. There are consequences, and they are consequences I don't want to be responsible for," responded the Doctor, irritated by Jack's cavalier attitude and teasing. "Now, if you don't mind I'd like to go for a walk and clear my head."
"Sure, let me get coat and I'll go with you."
"Why? Am I your prisoner? I want to go alone."
"You're not a prisoner, you're a guest. It's just for your safety," assured Jack.
"I've been a 'guest' of governments before. I know perfectly well what the euphemism means. If all you care about is my safety I'm sure you can use the CCTV feeds to keep track of me. I promise to stay in view of them. Now if you will get out of my way I want to clear my head of all of this."
Jack held up his hands and stepped away from the entrance. "Fine, go, but you are a guest here and not in the governmental sense."
The Doctor left Torchwood, relief washing over him as the door closed behind him. He closed his eyes and leaned back against it, suddenly feeling completely drained, as if he had just barely managed to escape with his life. He wondered what he was coming to, nothing seemed right any more. He pressed his hands against the cold metal of the door, pushing himself upright. He swayed slightly but managed to keep his balance. He considered going to the TARDIS, but at the mere thought of her, he felt her violently push him away.
Rejected again, he put his hands in his pockets and walked along the quay. The cold wind tore at his thin suit as he searched for a place to shake the dark mood that was descending on him.