(no subject)
Title: Interventions
Pairing: Simm!Master/Ten!Doctor, Jack/Ianto
Author: Buttercup
Contact: Buttercupgaud@aol.com
Rating: Let’s say R to be safe, but might be PG-13
Warnings: None really. Mild spoiler for ep1, now.
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, they belong to Russel T and the beeb.
Summary: The Doctor wakes up with a headache, which quickly becomes everyone at TW’s too. Doctor Who/Torchwood crossover.
Thanks: Thanks to the wonderful Amy for beta reading this and being so encouraging.
PART ONE
PART TWO
PART THREE
PART FOUR
PART FIVE
Ianto emerged from the TARDIS looking a little confused and pale. The Master half smiled and pretended not to notice. The other side of the smile appeared when there was the distant sound of something hitting a TARDIS wall. Tosh looked worriedly over her shoulder towards the TARDIS. Ianto pretended not to notice and wandered off in the direction of the coffee machine. Gwen followed him.
“So, what exactly should I be looking for?” Tosh asked, after it seemed that the crash was a one-off and no one else mentioned it.
The Master paused for a second, his hands going to his head, trying to shake off the feeling that the drums were actually going to fall right out of his skull. “Anything about the Torchwood Institute for Research and Development, especially any indication of where it’s funding might have come from. Start the search from the moment that I became Prime Minister.”
Tosh nodded and began doing just that. Owen leaned back on his chair and looked at the Master.
“You planning on explaining how it is that an alien became Prime Minister, and how you’re not dead?” he asked. The Master appreciated that Owen was able to make nearly all of his utterances seem like he was half annoyed, half amused, despite himself. It was a lot of intonation to fit into any sentence.
“No,” he replied, staggering a little as he turned toward Jack’s office. He needed to lie down, try to get the drums under control. They’d been so much worse since the entrenchment. Although, that might have been part of the design, to keep himself and the Doctor occupied so they didn’t find a way to escape. Jack’s office was too far. There were some sofas a little closer. They looked very inviting.
Are you alright?
Shut UP. If I want your sympathy I shall ask for it. I just need to lie down. The drums…
I know. I’ve been trying to block them, but I can’t keep it up.
The Master chuckled. I hope that’s not a common theme with you. Our honeymoon will be one long disappointment at this rate.
He could feel the Doctor blush, which was lovely. He was nearly at the sofas when his legs decided that they’d had enough and he toppled over.
Ow.
Oh, just shut up. Get out of my head.
If only I could.
Ianto had somehow appeared by his side and was lifting him up. He turned to try and smile at him, but Ianto was firmly not looking at him, and wasn’t being exactly gentle as he deposited him on the sofa. He hovered for a moment, his desire to help battling with his anger. The Master would have enjoyed it more if his eyes had been open to see it, but as soon as he’s lay down, his eyes were closed. He couldn’t sleep. The pounding in his head was far too distracting, as was the feeling of the Doctor’s worry. But it did feel nice to be able to close them anyway.
Who’s doing this? The Doctor sighed.
I have no idea. We could make some sort of list containing all our enemies, but I don’t think there’s enough time left in the galaxy for that.
We could think about those with enough money to buy out Torchwood.
Oh shut up and let the lackeys get on with it. That’s what they’re there for.
They’ve started to shut down the link from the cell.
They’ll be working on making a new one, so they can bring me back.
How do you know?
Because that’s what I’d do.
Of course. We’d better hurry before they close it completely. When there was no reply, the Doctor continued. So, you got your way with Jack and Ianto. Happy now?
The Master smiled. Nearly. All I have to do now is bring Ianto round to my way of thinking.
The Master revelled in the Doctor’s feeling of hurt and disappointment at his pettiness. Why bother? You don’t even want Ianto sexually.
Says who? I’ve been dead before goodness knows how long, my husband’s an incapacitated eunuch and I don’t see why I can’t play with the humans. Besides angry pay-back sex is the best type of sex.
There was a very long silence.
I’m not a eunuch. I just don’t feel the need to mix bodily fluids with everyone I meet.
Okay, Doctor. How long did you pine over that Rose girl and do NOTHING about it? Pathetic.
It wasn’t like that. I loved her.
The Master felt odd for a moment. Not angry, exactly, but… disappointed, maybe. Or hurt. Which, inevitably, led him back to angry. I cannot wait to escape this entrenchment. Having you in my head is worse than I could have even begun to imagine.
There was a sense of satisfaction from the Doctor that the Master couldn’t understand. Then, I think that whoever’s taken over Torchwood has to be human. The way it’s all based around Earth like this.
There is something rather small about the plan. I mean, why have they captured us and then done nothing? If there was some big plan we’d have been put to work right away. Not left alone to workout an escape.
Hmmm, someone who wanted to keep us locked up.
There was a sudden thrill running through the Doctor, and the proverbial light bulb exploded into life.
Van Statten.
Who now?
Henry van Statten, but how? He doesn't even know I exist yet, and yet it seems just like him... Get Tosh to run a check on him.
Who. Is. Henry. Van. STATTEN? The Master was never one to take orders, full stop, let alone follow them blindly.
Alright, no need to shout. A multibillionaire that I met a few years ago. Hang on.
There were the memories, Rose, a Dalek, some idiot of an American. Killing Rose. The Master smiled. Rose still being alive. Not being able to kill her again. The Master’s smile turned into a scowl.
You’re utterly weak and pathetic.
But it's impossible.
Have you ever noticed that you use that word a lot, after the apparently impossible has already happened? Perhaps you need to find a more accurate saying?
You're not helping. This reeks of him but I don't...
The Master sighed. There's no chance he got hold of time travel technology? The best place to hide would be before he ever met you
YES! That's brilliant.
Yes, I am, rather.
Stop gloating and just find out if he managed to escape having his memory erased and somehow turned up here?
The Master tried to stand up. Maybe I should have a little rest.
We don’t have the time for that. Get up.
I can’t.
Oh. Oh dear. Get Ianto.
No way.
Get him.
No.
“Ianto!” The Master’s eyes flew open. How did you do that? How DARE you?
Sorry, you were distracted.
Ianto was standing next to the sofa, not looking happy. His arms were folded over his chest and his eyes were narrowed. “Yes?”
“Nothing,” the Master said, trying to smile, but he knew it looked more like a pained grimace. “Just wanted to see your gorgeous eyes.”
Ianto sighed heavily. He probably got enough of that from Jack. “I get enough of this from Jack.”
Heh.
Ianto tapped his foot impatiently. “Did you want something or not?”
“No,” the Master said, then found himself saying, “Yes.”
Stop it, I can handle this myself.
No you can’t
“Well, which is it? Yes or no?” Ianto was frowning, but it looked a little more like concern now.
The Master sighed and gave up. “I can’t move.”
“What?” Ianto crouched down and peered closely at him. “Can’t move how?”
“I mean, that I am currently challenged in the standing up area.”
Ianto looked over his shoulder long enough to call, “Owen!” before turning back to him. “Can you move at all?”
“Yes,” the Master replied, managing to lift his head. “Not sure I have the energy for much more than that.”
“What?” Owen asked, now standing next to Ianto, looking between him and the Master.
“There’s something wrong with the Master, can you take a look at him, try to find out what’s wrong with him?” Ianto asked.
Owen shrugged. “I don’t know what’s right with him, but I can have a go,” he said, already going to retrieve some of his instruments.
Ianto’s hands went to his waist, moving his jacket out of the way. He was obviously worried. The Master thought idly that he might not be quite at square one after all.
“I’ll leave you with Owen, then,” he said, when Owen was back and crouching down to start his examination.
“Ianto,” the Master said. Ianto turned back, and raised his eyebrows. “Will you stay? Just for a bit?”
Oh, oh, that’s ridiculous! He’s not going to fall for that!
Ianto hovered for a moment. The Master tried to look ill, which wasn’t too much of a stretch at that moment. Then Ianto nodded and wandered back and sat on the other sofa.
You’ve got to be kidding.
But I just look so cute and vulnerable. He can’t resist.
You’re a joke. What about van Statten? The longer we’re just lying about the more likely it becomes that he’ll find a way of taking you again.
Oh fine.
“I need Tosh to find out anything she can about one Henry van Statten,” the Master said, interrupting Owen’s prodding’s by squirming to look at Ianto.
“Who’s he?” Ianto asked.
“Someone the Doctor pissed off a few years ago, or in a few years, I guess. Anyway, he had the resources and the desire to do something like this. Just see if there's anything unusual surrounding him within the last couple of years.” Ianto just nodded and got up and went to Tosh. But he came back after a while and sat back down.
This is unbelievable.
You mean I’M unbelievable.
You think that’s a good thing.
Naturally.
“What’s the story, Doc?” the Master asked after a few silent minutes.
Owen lifted one eyebrow at this. “As far as I can tell, you’re suffering from exhaustion. Although this is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, if you were human you’d be dead. You should try and get some sleep, I can give you something to help.”
“I don’t really have time for sleep,” the Master pointed out. “I’m going to die soon, with or without sleep. Perhaps you could give me some adrenaline or something? A little pick-me-up?”
Owen looked uncomfortable. “I’m not really sure what that’d do to you, it’s as likely to overload your system and kill you as it is to help you stand up.”
The Master grinned ruefully. “Not much choice but to try.”
I don’t like this. It’s a stupid risk. Just try getting some sleep instead.
Worried, Doctor?
Yes! We have time for a nap at least.
“Let’s do it, I understand the risks.” He looked at Ianto. “We’re going to have to move quickly after the injection, I won’t have long.”
Ianto nodded. “I’ll go and see what Tosh’s found out.”
Owen reached into his bag and filled a needle. “You didn’t strike me as the hero type,” he said casually.
“Full of surprises, me,” the Master replied with a grin.
“What’s your game with Ianto?” Owen asked in the same casual voice. “He’s been hurt quite enough. If you’re trying to mess with his head-”
The Master raised his eyebrows. “And what would you be planning on doing about it?”
Owen looked at him for a long moment. “Let’s just say that you’re the one lying helpless on the sofa, and I’m the one with a big needle.”
The Master grinned. “Spunky, I like spunky.”
Owen sighed and pulled up the Master’s sleeve with a little more force that was needed.
Be careful. The Doctor warned. See what you’re getting into? And all for a petty game.
But such fun. I nearly have him where I want him.
And then what?
I haven’t decided.
There was a long pause. That’s it, isn’t it? You don’t have a plan passed getting what you want. I guess it’s lucky that you never manage to quite get it; you wouldn’t know what to do next.
Tosh chose that moment to call out. “I have him. Henry van Statten. He was bought out a couple of years ago, but then all of his assets seem to have ended up in the same place. All under a new name and with most them hidden by dummy companies.”
“Can you find out where he is? If we can get to him?” Owen asked.
Ianto shook his head. “I think we should forget about him, for now. We can deal with him later. We need to get the Doctor back, otherwise both he and the Master are going to die.”
“I don’t know why we didn’t do it sooner,” the Master sighed.
Ianto looked at him, his expression unreadable. “Jack wanted to make sure you were telling us the truth. He doesn’t like flying blind. None of us do.”
The Master nodded and gestured at Owen. “Come on, let’s get on with it.”
“I’ll go and get the TARDIS ready,” Ianto paused half-way toward it. “Then I’ll come back and help you get over to her.”
Master, please, think about this. The Doctor sounded urgent, like he had on the phone what seemed like a thousand years ago. It was pleasant.
Owen hesitated but at the Master’s nod, he plunged the needle into his arm. There was no reaction for a moment and then the Master’s body seemed to explode with pain. He let out a bellow of pain and sat up. Panting he fell forward onto the floor. The drums crashed in his head, and he couldn’t feel the Doctor, which was oddly terrifying for reasons he didn’t want to even think about. He knelt on the Hub’s floor, panting and feeling the blood pump through his veins at a speed that he’d never imagined possible.
Ianto was knelt beside him, pulling him up by his elbow, and all but dragging him to the TARDIS.
“Ianto,” he panted, “I don’t think that was the best idea I’ve ever had.”
Ianto didn’t say anything, just propelled him into the TARDIS. He sat him down on the seat next to the console and began setting switches and pulling leavers. Jack was leaning against the wall, looking very unhappy indeed. This cheered the Master considerably.
He still couldn’t feel the Doctor.
The thought that the shock of the adrenaline might have killed him presented itself. The Master looked at it in his mind’s eye before scowling and shoving it away. No. He wasn’t about to lose out on having the Doctor’s mind at his disposal, to play with as he wished. The Doctor wasn’t dead. He would not allow it.
“Is anyone going to point out that we have no actual plan?” Jack said. He sounded like he had at times during the year that should have been. It seemed that the Master was pushing all the right buttons.
“We use the link to take the TARDIS to where the Doctor is, rescue him and then we leave,” the Master said.
“Because, I suppose, I didn’t think of that?” Jack growled. “It’s not that simple. The link’s the only way into the cell and the TARDIS won’t fit down it.”
“Then we go to van Statten. Make him take us to the Doctor.” That was Ianto.
“No,” the Master said. God, this hurt more than anything he’d experienced. It felt like he was being stretched and squashed all at once. “I can shrink the TARDIS, make it seem like there’s only one of us, we only need to be there long enough to get to him. I don’t think I have the energy for anything else.”
“But she won’t let you anywhere near her, how will you do that?” Ianto asked pointedly.
“Fine, I’ll do the calculations, you feed them into the TARDIS,” he sighed.
As he set about trying to do just that, his thoughts were still chasing themselves around and around his head. Where was the Doctor? Why couldn’t he feel him in his head? It might be too late. There never seemed to be enough time.
Dimly he held out a sheet of paper with an equation on it that he didn't remember writing.
Why did he have to try to control everything all at once? Why had he bothered toying with Jack and his boy-toy when he could have been securing his hold over the Doctor? Always too ambitious, always got him into trouble. Showing off for the Doctor. Ha! He was getting maudlin. Turning into the Doctor. Maybe they’d have ended up meeting in the middle. The Doctor a little less pure, and he little less… What? Evil? Spiteful? He couldn’t think. Not with the drums pounding so loud.
The TARDIS moving. After a long moment he got up and staggered to the door, and hauled them open.
Jack was shouting in the background, but it didn’t matter, he needed to reach the Doctor as soon as he could. Clinging to the door frame, he watched the vortex. It seemed beautiful, he didn’t remember thinking that before, but it was. Infinite, touching everything, everywhere all at once. He smiled, then there was another jolt as the TARDIS leapt from the vortex and there was a tiny cell.
The Doctor.
Sprawled out on the floor. The Master was reaching out for him, but he couldn’t reach. Ianto couldn’t come all the way out of the vortex otherwise they wouldn’t be able to leave, but the Master couldn’t reach the Doctor. His fingers strained trying to get a little closer, but he couldn’t.
Then Jack was stood behind him, grabbing hold of his belt and shoving him forward. He tilted out the TARDIS, swinging madly in the gust the vortex was creating in the cell, but his fingers brushed over the Doctor’s suit. He laughed a little. Swung forward further, feeling Jack tip forward and try to find a better footing.
The TARDIS started beeping shrilly. “I think we’ve been detected,” Ianto called. “We need to leave, or they might shut down the link altogether.”
The Master could feel the Doctor’s suit in his hands and he gripped as hard as he could and hauled him upwards. Jack began trying to pull them both up, and somehow they were all suddenly sprawled in a heap on the floor of the TARDIS.
The Master managed to blink and feel the Doctor, noting the double beat of his pulse before he toppled forward into the welcoming blackness.
****
The TARDIS. The Doctor felt her before he’d even opened his eyes. They were mid-flight and by the feel of it someone was hot on their tail. He jumped to his feet or, more accurately, lurched there and found one of Jack’s Torchwood team, clinging to the console. He seemed to be doing a pretty adequate job of flying her, but that didn’t stop him from staggering over to him.
“Hello,” he said, and smiled, fumbling in his pockets for his glasses and putting them on. “Being followed are we?” He looked at the man currently flying the TARDIS. “Ianto, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” Ianto said, nearly falling over as the TARDIS jerked violently. They both went for the same leaver to steady themselves. “Sorry,” the Doctor said.
The thought that he’d experienced holding that hand before startled him.
The Master.
He looked around frantically for a moment before seeing his body on the floor, near the doors. He allowed himself a moment to check that his chest was still rising and falling before acknowledging that Jack was now standing next to him.
“Hello, Captain, good to see you again.”
Jack smiled at him. “And you, Doctor. Now, can we try and lose the hangers-on?”
The Doctor grinned and set about trying to do just that. He waited for a moment, but found that the TARDIS was still talking to Ianto. Then everything clicked gently into place. There she was in his mind, both rejoicing at their reuion.
Ianto staggered backwards as the TARDIS cut her link to him. The Doctor grinned at him and clung to the railing around the console and concentrated on the readouts.
“We should set her down a little way from the Hub,” he said. “Just in case we haven’t managed to completely shake them.”
Ianto nodded and together they managed to land her, just outside the Bay area.
The Doctor was at the Master’s side before they’d fully stopped moving. He ran his hand over the Master’s face, and smiled a little sadly. “Time to wake up, I think.”
He felt forward through their link, finding the Master and gently prodding him awake. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
The Master’s eyes began to flutter open, but the Doctor’s hands were already on his face and he was pushing forward with all his might, diving deeper into the Master’s mind. As soon as he realised what was happening the Master began to struggle, push back, but it was too late. The Doctor opened up the link as far as it would go, poured everything of himself through and rode the wave of consciousness into the very centre of the Master’s mind. Tried not to notice everything that was there, all the memories, half-formed ideas, everything the Master was, is, could have been, will be, all there for the taking, but he ignored it. Just the drums. He had to find them.
Someone was screaming. It might have been him. Or the Master. He thought it was probably both. Then suddenly there they are, the pulsing life force at the very centre of the Master, and he walled them up. Wrapped himself around them again and again, so that they couldn’t move, couldn’t beat. He realised then that the Master would never forgive him for this, that this invasion is probably the worst thing that he’d ever done.
But he didn’t stop.
He noticed that there was silence. The link was so open that there was nothing left to come through it. He pulled back from the link, and away from the Master just in time to receive the punch he knew he had coming.
The Master scrambled away from him. “How dare you! How dare you!” he screamed.
The Doctor didn’t move for a long time. He just let the Master’s rage wash over him, like he deserved it. Which he thought he probably did. “I’m sorry,” he said when the Master stopped shouting. “There was no other way.”
The Master looked so furious that he could barely stand to look at him. “You could have asked.”
“No, I couldn’t. You wouldn’t have let me, and I had to. I couldn’t risk us losing our minds, being able to be controlled, or you being able to control me.” The Doctor used the pretence of getting up in order to look away from the Master’s rage. It was cowardly, but it felt good to be only able to feel the rage rather than see it too.
Ianto was staring wide-eyed at them both. Jack seemed to have grasped what had just happened and looked serious, but not overly bothered. He probably thought of it as some kind of payback. Trying not to be angry about that, the Doctor wandered over to the TARDIS console.
“We were followed,” he said, hoping he at least didn’t sound as relieved as he felt for the distraction.
The Master didn't say anything, he just paced up and down, looking pale and shaky. Jack was by the Doctor’s side within a moment and looking at the screen. “What have we got?”
“A whole heap of trouble,” Ianto replied coming to stand on the other side of the Doctor. He kept casting furtive looks at the Master.
The Doctor felt the Master scrabbling around inside his head, trying to find some way to close the link again. The Doctor tried to ignore it, while at the same time trying to show how sorry he was, and concentrate on what might be about to appear in the middle of Cardiff. He needed to sleep.
The Doctor frowned. “Looks like there are soldiers on the way. Lots of them.”
Jack sighed. “I doubt it’ll take them long to figure out where the Hub is, not if they managed to follow us this far. We’d better get prepared.”
The Doctor nodded and they headed out of the TARDIS. The Master followed them out, much to the Doctor’s surprise. Jack stopped, turned to face the Master and planted his hands on his waist. “He’s not coming in the front way.”
The Doctor sighed. “Jack,” he said, the tone in his voice a warning, and a plea.
But Jack didn’t change his stance. The Master didn’t speak, but watched Jack, his eyes flashing dangerously.
“Don’t worry,” Ianto said. “I’ll take him down the other way. We’ll meet you in there.” He paused, looking a little uncertain.
The Master left a long enough pause to make everyone think that he was going to refuse before he nodded once. Ianto lead the way and Jack waited a moment before heading in the other direction.
“We need to find whoever’s behind this and make them call off the attack,” he was saying as the Doctor hurried to catch up with him. “We can probably hold them off, but not indefinitely.”
The Doctor nodded, not really hearing him.
“Doctor,” Jack said, then, more forcibly, “Doctor.” The Doctor looked at him. “I know what just happened must have been… but, we have to do this now.”
The Doctor sighed. “We’re going to find out where Henry van Statten is and we’re going to stop him.”
Jack looked at him for a long moment, like he was sizing him up, before he nodded once and swept away towards the Hub.
TBC...
Pairing: Simm!Master/Ten!Doctor, Jack/Ianto
Author: Buttercup
Contact: Buttercupgaud@aol.com
Rating: Let’s say R to be safe, but might be PG-13
Warnings: None really. Mild spoiler for ep1, now.
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, they belong to Russel T and the beeb.
Summary: The Doctor wakes up with a headache, which quickly becomes everyone at TW’s too. Doctor Who/Torchwood crossover.
Thanks: Thanks to the wonderful Amy for beta reading this and being so encouraging.
PART ONE
PART TWO
PART THREE
PART FOUR
PART FIVE
Ianto emerged from the TARDIS looking a little confused and pale. The Master half smiled and pretended not to notice. The other side of the smile appeared when there was the distant sound of something hitting a TARDIS wall. Tosh looked worriedly over her shoulder towards the TARDIS. Ianto pretended not to notice and wandered off in the direction of the coffee machine. Gwen followed him.
“So, what exactly should I be looking for?” Tosh asked, after it seemed that the crash was a one-off and no one else mentioned it.
The Master paused for a second, his hands going to his head, trying to shake off the feeling that the drums were actually going to fall right out of his skull. “Anything about the Torchwood Institute for Research and Development, especially any indication of where it’s funding might have come from. Start the search from the moment that I became Prime Minister.”
Tosh nodded and began doing just that. Owen leaned back on his chair and looked at the Master.
“You planning on explaining how it is that an alien became Prime Minister, and how you’re not dead?” he asked. The Master appreciated that Owen was able to make nearly all of his utterances seem like he was half annoyed, half amused, despite himself. It was a lot of intonation to fit into any sentence.
“No,” he replied, staggering a little as he turned toward Jack’s office. He needed to lie down, try to get the drums under control. They’d been so much worse since the entrenchment. Although, that might have been part of the design, to keep himself and the Doctor occupied so they didn’t find a way to escape. Jack’s office was too far. There were some sofas a little closer. They looked very inviting.
Are you alright?
Shut UP. If I want your sympathy I shall ask for it. I just need to lie down. The drums…
I know. I’ve been trying to block them, but I can’t keep it up.
The Master chuckled. I hope that’s not a common theme with you. Our honeymoon will be one long disappointment at this rate.
He could feel the Doctor blush, which was lovely. He was nearly at the sofas when his legs decided that they’d had enough and he toppled over.
Ow.
Oh, just shut up. Get out of my head.
If only I could.
Ianto had somehow appeared by his side and was lifting him up. He turned to try and smile at him, but Ianto was firmly not looking at him, and wasn’t being exactly gentle as he deposited him on the sofa. He hovered for a moment, his desire to help battling with his anger. The Master would have enjoyed it more if his eyes had been open to see it, but as soon as he’s lay down, his eyes were closed. He couldn’t sleep. The pounding in his head was far too distracting, as was the feeling of the Doctor’s worry. But it did feel nice to be able to close them anyway.
Who’s doing this? The Doctor sighed.
I have no idea. We could make some sort of list containing all our enemies, but I don’t think there’s enough time left in the galaxy for that.
We could think about those with enough money to buy out Torchwood.
Oh shut up and let the lackeys get on with it. That’s what they’re there for.
They’ve started to shut down the link from the cell.
They’ll be working on making a new one, so they can bring me back.
How do you know?
Because that’s what I’d do.
Of course. We’d better hurry before they close it completely. When there was no reply, the Doctor continued. So, you got your way with Jack and Ianto. Happy now?
The Master smiled. Nearly. All I have to do now is bring Ianto round to my way of thinking.
The Master revelled in the Doctor’s feeling of hurt and disappointment at his pettiness. Why bother? You don’t even want Ianto sexually.
Says who? I’ve been dead before goodness knows how long, my husband’s an incapacitated eunuch and I don’t see why I can’t play with the humans. Besides angry pay-back sex is the best type of sex.
There was a very long silence.
I’m not a eunuch. I just don’t feel the need to mix bodily fluids with everyone I meet.
Okay, Doctor. How long did you pine over that Rose girl and do NOTHING about it? Pathetic.
It wasn’t like that. I loved her.
The Master felt odd for a moment. Not angry, exactly, but… disappointed, maybe. Or hurt. Which, inevitably, led him back to angry. I cannot wait to escape this entrenchment. Having you in my head is worse than I could have even begun to imagine.
There was a sense of satisfaction from the Doctor that the Master couldn’t understand. Then, I think that whoever’s taken over Torchwood has to be human. The way it’s all based around Earth like this.
There is something rather small about the plan. I mean, why have they captured us and then done nothing? If there was some big plan we’d have been put to work right away. Not left alone to workout an escape.
Hmmm, someone who wanted to keep us locked up.
There was a sudden thrill running through the Doctor, and the proverbial light bulb exploded into life.
Van Statten.
Who now?
Henry van Statten, but how? He doesn't even know I exist yet, and yet it seems just like him... Get Tosh to run a check on him.
Who. Is. Henry. Van. STATTEN? The Master was never one to take orders, full stop, let alone follow them blindly.
Alright, no need to shout. A multibillionaire that I met a few years ago. Hang on.
There were the memories, Rose, a Dalek, some idiot of an American. Killing Rose. The Master smiled. Rose still being alive. Not being able to kill her again. The Master’s smile turned into a scowl.
You’re utterly weak and pathetic.
But it's impossible.
Have you ever noticed that you use that word a lot, after the apparently impossible has already happened? Perhaps you need to find a more accurate saying?
You're not helping. This reeks of him but I don't...
The Master sighed. There's no chance he got hold of time travel technology? The best place to hide would be before he ever met you
YES! That's brilliant.
Yes, I am, rather.
Stop gloating and just find out if he managed to escape having his memory erased and somehow turned up here?
The Master tried to stand up. Maybe I should have a little rest.
We don’t have the time for that. Get up.
I can’t.
Oh. Oh dear. Get Ianto.
No way.
Get him.
No.
“Ianto!” The Master’s eyes flew open. How did you do that? How DARE you?
Sorry, you were distracted.
Ianto was standing next to the sofa, not looking happy. His arms were folded over his chest and his eyes were narrowed. “Yes?”
“Nothing,” the Master said, trying to smile, but he knew it looked more like a pained grimace. “Just wanted to see your gorgeous eyes.”
Ianto sighed heavily. He probably got enough of that from Jack. “I get enough of this from Jack.”
Heh.
Ianto tapped his foot impatiently. “Did you want something or not?”
“No,” the Master said, then found himself saying, “Yes.”
Stop it, I can handle this myself.
No you can’t
“Well, which is it? Yes or no?” Ianto was frowning, but it looked a little more like concern now.
The Master sighed and gave up. “I can’t move.”
“What?” Ianto crouched down and peered closely at him. “Can’t move how?”
“I mean, that I am currently challenged in the standing up area.”
Ianto looked over his shoulder long enough to call, “Owen!” before turning back to him. “Can you move at all?”
“Yes,” the Master replied, managing to lift his head. “Not sure I have the energy for much more than that.”
“What?” Owen asked, now standing next to Ianto, looking between him and the Master.
“There’s something wrong with the Master, can you take a look at him, try to find out what’s wrong with him?” Ianto asked.
Owen shrugged. “I don’t know what’s right with him, but I can have a go,” he said, already going to retrieve some of his instruments.
Ianto’s hands went to his waist, moving his jacket out of the way. He was obviously worried. The Master thought idly that he might not be quite at square one after all.
“I’ll leave you with Owen, then,” he said, when Owen was back and crouching down to start his examination.
“Ianto,” the Master said. Ianto turned back, and raised his eyebrows. “Will you stay? Just for a bit?”
Oh, oh, that’s ridiculous! He’s not going to fall for that!
Ianto hovered for a moment. The Master tried to look ill, which wasn’t too much of a stretch at that moment. Then Ianto nodded and wandered back and sat on the other sofa.
You’ve got to be kidding.
But I just look so cute and vulnerable. He can’t resist.
You’re a joke. What about van Statten? The longer we’re just lying about the more likely it becomes that he’ll find a way of taking you again.
Oh fine.
“I need Tosh to find out anything she can about one Henry van Statten,” the Master said, interrupting Owen’s prodding’s by squirming to look at Ianto.
“Who’s he?” Ianto asked.
“Someone the Doctor pissed off a few years ago, or in a few years, I guess. Anyway, he had the resources and the desire to do something like this. Just see if there's anything unusual surrounding him within the last couple of years.” Ianto just nodded and got up and went to Tosh. But he came back after a while and sat back down.
This is unbelievable.
You mean I’M unbelievable.
You think that’s a good thing.
Naturally.
“What’s the story, Doc?” the Master asked after a few silent minutes.
Owen lifted one eyebrow at this. “As far as I can tell, you’re suffering from exhaustion. Although this is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, if you were human you’d be dead. You should try and get some sleep, I can give you something to help.”
“I don’t really have time for sleep,” the Master pointed out. “I’m going to die soon, with or without sleep. Perhaps you could give me some adrenaline or something? A little pick-me-up?”
Owen looked uncomfortable. “I’m not really sure what that’d do to you, it’s as likely to overload your system and kill you as it is to help you stand up.”
The Master grinned ruefully. “Not much choice but to try.”
I don’t like this. It’s a stupid risk. Just try getting some sleep instead.
Worried, Doctor?
Yes! We have time for a nap at least.
“Let’s do it, I understand the risks.” He looked at Ianto. “We’re going to have to move quickly after the injection, I won’t have long.”
Ianto nodded. “I’ll go and see what Tosh’s found out.”
Owen reached into his bag and filled a needle. “You didn’t strike me as the hero type,” he said casually.
“Full of surprises, me,” the Master replied with a grin.
“What’s your game with Ianto?” Owen asked in the same casual voice. “He’s been hurt quite enough. If you’re trying to mess with his head-”
The Master raised his eyebrows. “And what would you be planning on doing about it?”
Owen looked at him for a long moment. “Let’s just say that you’re the one lying helpless on the sofa, and I’m the one with a big needle.”
The Master grinned. “Spunky, I like spunky.”
Owen sighed and pulled up the Master’s sleeve with a little more force that was needed.
Be careful. The Doctor warned. See what you’re getting into? And all for a petty game.
But such fun. I nearly have him where I want him.
And then what?
I haven’t decided.
There was a long pause. That’s it, isn’t it? You don’t have a plan passed getting what you want. I guess it’s lucky that you never manage to quite get it; you wouldn’t know what to do next.
Tosh chose that moment to call out. “I have him. Henry van Statten. He was bought out a couple of years ago, but then all of his assets seem to have ended up in the same place. All under a new name and with most them hidden by dummy companies.”
“Can you find out where he is? If we can get to him?” Owen asked.
Ianto shook his head. “I think we should forget about him, for now. We can deal with him later. We need to get the Doctor back, otherwise both he and the Master are going to die.”
“I don’t know why we didn’t do it sooner,” the Master sighed.
Ianto looked at him, his expression unreadable. “Jack wanted to make sure you were telling us the truth. He doesn’t like flying blind. None of us do.”
The Master nodded and gestured at Owen. “Come on, let’s get on with it.”
“I’ll go and get the TARDIS ready,” Ianto paused half-way toward it. “Then I’ll come back and help you get over to her.”
Master, please, think about this. The Doctor sounded urgent, like he had on the phone what seemed like a thousand years ago. It was pleasant.
Owen hesitated but at the Master’s nod, he plunged the needle into his arm. There was no reaction for a moment and then the Master’s body seemed to explode with pain. He let out a bellow of pain and sat up. Panting he fell forward onto the floor. The drums crashed in his head, and he couldn’t feel the Doctor, which was oddly terrifying for reasons he didn’t want to even think about. He knelt on the Hub’s floor, panting and feeling the blood pump through his veins at a speed that he’d never imagined possible.
Ianto was knelt beside him, pulling him up by his elbow, and all but dragging him to the TARDIS.
“Ianto,” he panted, “I don’t think that was the best idea I’ve ever had.”
Ianto didn’t say anything, just propelled him into the TARDIS. He sat him down on the seat next to the console and began setting switches and pulling leavers. Jack was leaning against the wall, looking very unhappy indeed. This cheered the Master considerably.
He still couldn’t feel the Doctor.
The thought that the shock of the adrenaline might have killed him presented itself. The Master looked at it in his mind’s eye before scowling and shoving it away. No. He wasn’t about to lose out on having the Doctor’s mind at his disposal, to play with as he wished. The Doctor wasn’t dead. He would not allow it.
“Is anyone going to point out that we have no actual plan?” Jack said. He sounded like he had at times during the year that should have been. It seemed that the Master was pushing all the right buttons.
“We use the link to take the TARDIS to where the Doctor is, rescue him and then we leave,” the Master said.
“Because, I suppose, I didn’t think of that?” Jack growled. “It’s not that simple. The link’s the only way into the cell and the TARDIS won’t fit down it.”
“Then we go to van Statten. Make him take us to the Doctor.” That was Ianto.
“No,” the Master said. God, this hurt more than anything he’d experienced. It felt like he was being stretched and squashed all at once. “I can shrink the TARDIS, make it seem like there’s only one of us, we only need to be there long enough to get to him. I don’t think I have the energy for anything else.”
“But she won’t let you anywhere near her, how will you do that?” Ianto asked pointedly.
“Fine, I’ll do the calculations, you feed them into the TARDIS,” he sighed.
As he set about trying to do just that, his thoughts were still chasing themselves around and around his head. Where was the Doctor? Why couldn’t he feel him in his head? It might be too late. There never seemed to be enough time.
Dimly he held out a sheet of paper with an equation on it that he didn't remember writing.
Why did he have to try to control everything all at once? Why had he bothered toying with Jack and his boy-toy when he could have been securing his hold over the Doctor? Always too ambitious, always got him into trouble. Showing off for the Doctor. Ha! He was getting maudlin. Turning into the Doctor. Maybe they’d have ended up meeting in the middle. The Doctor a little less pure, and he little less… What? Evil? Spiteful? He couldn’t think. Not with the drums pounding so loud.
The TARDIS moving. After a long moment he got up and staggered to the door, and hauled them open.
Jack was shouting in the background, but it didn’t matter, he needed to reach the Doctor as soon as he could. Clinging to the door frame, he watched the vortex. It seemed beautiful, he didn’t remember thinking that before, but it was. Infinite, touching everything, everywhere all at once. He smiled, then there was another jolt as the TARDIS leapt from the vortex and there was a tiny cell.
The Doctor.
Sprawled out on the floor. The Master was reaching out for him, but he couldn’t reach. Ianto couldn’t come all the way out of the vortex otherwise they wouldn’t be able to leave, but the Master couldn’t reach the Doctor. His fingers strained trying to get a little closer, but he couldn’t.
Then Jack was stood behind him, grabbing hold of his belt and shoving him forward. He tilted out the TARDIS, swinging madly in the gust the vortex was creating in the cell, but his fingers brushed over the Doctor’s suit. He laughed a little. Swung forward further, feeling Jack tip forward and try to find a better footing.
The TARDIS started beeping shrilly. “I think we’ve been detected,” Ianto called. “We need to leave, or they might shut down the link altogether.”
The Master could feel the Doctor’s suit in his hands and he gripped as hard as he could and hauled him upwards. Jack began trying to pull them both up, and somehow they were all suddenly sprawled in a heap on the floor of the TARDIS.
The Master managed to blink and feel the Doctor, noting the double beat of his pulse before he toppled forward into the welcoming blackness.
****
The TARDIS. The Doctor felt her before he’d even opened his eyes. They were mid-flight and by the feel of it someone was hot on their tail. He jumped to his feet or, more accurately, lurched there and found one of Jack’s Torchwood team, clinging to the console. He seemed to be doing a pretty adequate job of flying her, but that didn’t stop him from staggering over to him.
“Hello,” he said, and smiled, fumbling in his pockets for his glasses and putting them on. “Being followed are we?” He looked at the man currently flying the TARDIS. “Ianto, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” Ianto said, nearly falling over as the TARDIS jerked violently. They both went for the same leaver to steady themselves. “Sorry,” the Doctor said.
The thought that he’d experienced holding that hand before startled him.
The Master.
He looked around frantically for a moment before seeing his body on the floor, near the doors. He allowed himself a moment to check that his chest was still rising and falling before acknowledging that Jack was now standing next to him.
“Hello, Captain, good to see you again.”
Jack smiled at him. “And you, Doctor. Now, can we try and lose the hangers-on?”
The Doctor grinned and set about trying to do just that. He waited for a moment, but found that the TARDIS was still talking to Ianto. Then everything clicked gently into place. There she was in his mind, both rejoicing at their reuion.
Ianto staggered backwards as the TARDIS cut her link to him. The Doctor grinned at him and clung to the railing around the console and concentrated on the readouts.
“We should set her down a little way from the Hub,” he said. “Just in case we haven’t managed to completely shake them.”
Ianto nodded and together they managed to land her, just outside the Bay area.
The Doctor was at the Master’s side before they’d fully stopped moving. He ran his hand over the Master’s face, and smiled a little sadly. “Time to wake up, I think.”
He felt forward through their link, finding the Master and gently prodding him awake. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
The Master’s eyes began to flutter open, but the Doctor’s hands were already on his face and he was pushing forward with all his might, diving deeper into the Master’s mind. As soon as he realised what was happening the Master began to struggle, push back, but it was too late. The Doctor opened up the link as far as it would go, poured everything of himself through and rode the wave of consciousness into the very centre of the Master’s mind. Tried not to notice everything that was there, all the memories, half-formed ideas, everything the Master was, is, could have been, will be, all there for the taking, but he ignored it. Just the drums. He had to find them.
Someone was screaming. It might have been him. Or the Master. He thought it was probably both. Then suddenly there they are, the pulsing life force at the very centre of the Master, and he walled them up. Wrapped himself around them again and again, so that they couldn’t move, couldn’t beat. He realised then that the Master would never forgive him for this, that this invasion is probably the worst thing that he’d ever done.
But he didn’t stop.
He noticed that there was silence. The link was so open that there was nothing left to come through it. He pulled back from the link, and away from the Master just in time to receive the punch he knew he had coming.
The Master scrambled away from him. “How dare you! How dare you!” he screamed.
The Doctor didn’t move for a long time. He just let the Master’s rage wash over him, like he deserved it. Which he thought he probably did. “I’m sorry,” he said when the Master stopped shouting. “There was no other way.”
The Master looked so furious that he could barely stand to look at him. “You could have asked.”
“No, I couldn’t. You wouldn’t have let me, and I had to. I couldn’t risk us losing our minds, being able to be controlled, or you being able to control me.” The Doctor used the pretence of getting up in order to look away from the Master’s rage. It was cowardly, but it felt good to be only able to feel the rage rather than see it too.
Ianto was staring wide-eyed at them both. Jack seemed to have grasped what had just happened and looked serious, but not overly bothered. He probably thought of it as some kind of payback. Trying not to be angry about that, the Doctor wandered over to the TARDIS console.
“We were followed,” he said, hoping he at least didn’t sound as relieved as he felt for the distraction.
The Master didn't say anything, he just paced up and down, looking pale and shaky. Jack was by the Doctor’s side within a moment and looking at the screen. “What have we got?”
“A whole heap of trouble,” Ianto replied coming to stand on the other side of the Doctor. He kept casting furtive looks at the Master.
The Doctor felt the Master scrabbling around inside his head, trying to find some way to close the link again. The Doctor tried to ignore it, while at the same time trying to show how sorry he was, and concentrate on what might be about to appear in the middle of Cardiff. He needed to sleep.
The Doctor frowned. “Looks like there are soldiers on the way. Lots of them.”
Jack sighed. “I doubt it’ll take them long to figure out where the Hub is, not if they managed to follow us this far. We’d better get prepared.”
The Doctor nodded and they headed out of the TARDIS. The Master followed them out, much to the Doctor’s surprise. Jack stopped, turned to face the Master and planted his hands on his waist. “He’s not coming in the front way.”
The Doctor sighed. “Jack,” he said, the tone in his voice a warning, and a plea.
But Jack didn’t change his stance. The Master didn’t speak, but watched Jack, his eyes flashing dangerously.
“Don’t worry,” Ianto said. “I’ll take him down the other way. We’ll meet you in there.” He paused, looking a little uncertain.
The Master left a long enough pause to make everyone think that he was going to refuse before he nodded once. Ianto lead the way and Jack waited a moment before heading in the other direction.
“We need to find whoever’s behind this and make them call off the attack,” he was saying as the Doctor hurried to catch up with him. “We can probably hold them off, but not indefinitely.”
The Doctor nodded, not really hearing him.
“Doctor,” Jack said, then, more forcibly, “Doctor.” The Doctor looked at him. “I know what just happened must have been… but, we have to do this now.”
The Doctor sighed. “We’re going to find out where Henry van Statten is and we’re going to stop him.”
Jack looked at him for a long moment, like he was sizing him up, before he nodded once and swept away towards the Hub.
TBC...