A\N: A little fiction based on our new ship for Clara and The Master. This is after Clara entered the Doctor's time stream, so in my mind there must've been a 'Clara' version in Ten's tenure. Here she is and let's see how it goes. Dedicated to my fellow ship mates cluuingforlooks iHiddles
Clara was just an ordinary girl; she had long straight brown hair, big brown eyes, and was actually very short. She had an ordinary job working as a personal assistant to the billionaire Joshua Naismith, author of Fighting the Future. She loved her job, and her employer treated her fairly, she even got along with his daughter and sometimes went out with her. There was just something that nagged at Clara. Some days she had this feeling that there was more to her life, that she had a destiny that needs to be fulfilled, almost like she forgot something important and cannot remember what it was.
It was a cool Christmas morning, she had wished that it might snow this year, but it was actually rather warm for this time of the year. She quickly had to drop off some documents at her boss' mansion before heading over to her father's house to spend the day with him, as she pulled up in the long drive of the mansion.
She got out of the car, looking up at the red brick building, it was a spectacular site, and she took a minute appreciating the beauty before she quickly made her way to Joshua's study. As she reached his study she heard him and his daughter Abigail talking. She peaked through the open door and was shocked at what she saw inside the mahogany panelled masculine office.
There strapped to a large chair-like device was a young man, his mouth held closed by a strap wrapped around his head; there were guards in the room with big army type guns. She was surprised to see the butler Mr Danes in the room with them. Her boss was as always impeccably dressed in a dark suit with a black and white tie; the tall dark man had pulled himself up to his full height, towering over the young man.
She could hear him ordering Mr Danes to remove the restraints from the man's mouth. She then heard the man breathe out hoarsely "I'm starving." Clara was concerned at how tired the man looked, and why would her employer have a man strapped onto such a monstrous contraption to begin with.
Clara was afraid, and moved into the shadows outside the office, hiding away, she was able to see into the office and hear everything that was going on inside of the office. "You've my daughter to thank for this," Joshua said pointing over to where Abigail was standing, delight shining in her eyes, she looked to Clara like a little girl that got all she wished for, for Christmas "It's all her idea. She heard rumours of Harold Saxon, his disciples, his return. It's the sort of thing she finds rather thrilling." He said lovingly, almost proudly pointing to his daughter. Abigail was practically salivating over the man "And I was right. He's back. The very man we need, and he's here. Oh this is going to be wonderful." Abigail breathed huskily, clapping her hands together.
Clara watched as the young man licked his lips, "Harold Saxon" she said softly under her breath, repeating it several times, "I've never heard of him." Clara moved closer, remembering the small alcove just behind one of the panels, she uses to slip into Joshua's office during meetings, she slipped the panel aside, slipping into the little space, leaning close to the door, opening it slightly. She was glad when the door didn't make its usual protest against her touch and swung ajar slightly. In front of her she could see the profile of her employer and his prisoner.
After some time passed she heard footsteps approaching behind her, she quickly made herself as small as possible, trying to hide in the shadows, and she could see people in white coats walking into Joshua's office, holding a straightjacket in their hands. Clara clasped her hand across her mouth, trying to not make any noise, she watched as the two people in white jackets walked towards Harold holding it between them.
The guards stepped closer pointing their guns at him. Mr Danes removed the bonds that held Harold in the chair; he nudged him towards the two people, pushing him into the straight jacket, fastening all the buckles. Joshua stepped forward, smiling from ear to ear, "I'm sure you understand this will be more practical." Harold gave him a sarcastic smile; he rolled his head cracking his neck, looking up at Joshua. Clara felt there was something odd about this man. He was attractive, not very tall, with almost white blond hair, his dark eyes, roaming the office. He almost looked mad, but Clara felt sorry for him, she needed to find a way to help him, but how? She was a nobody, a little girl against the guards.
Joshua turned starting to walk out of the room, he gestured towards the guards and they nudged Harold with their guns, forcing him to follow Joshua. Clara waited a couple of seconds, slipping out of her hiding spot. She then followed behind them, trying to make her way as silently as possible in the direction the group walked in.
She followed them all the way to the other side of the mansion, she hasn't been in this part of the building before, she tried to be as quiet as possible, trying to scope out a place where she could hide, as they made their way down the corridors, she could see them walking just a couple of metres in front of her.
There was a heart stopping moment when Harold stopped in his tracks, looking behind him. She quickly ducked behind a pillar, when she peaked around the pillar, she could swear he saw her, he winked. Clara slammed her body against the wall. 'No he saw me.'
Clara waited until she could hear them walking again. She followed them once again. Until she was outside the door they went in, she quickly sneaked into the room, throwing herself behind a blue Christmas tree, she peaked through the branches, she saw on the other end of the room, a contraption that looked like a door frame made from steel, blue and green sparks emitting from it. An electrical sound filled the room.
She heard Harold saying "Oh, that's not from earth." Clara was confused, what could he possibly mean? She saw Joshua and Abigail turning around facing Harold. Joshua answered Harold "And neither are you. A perfect combination, don't you think?"
Clara could see Harold rolling his neck again. She watched him closely, 'what does Joshua mean by that?' Joshua took a seat in chair in the middle of the room, indicating that Harold should take a seat across from him. The straightjacket was taken of him replaced with a collar around his neck, the chain fastened to the floor by his chair.
Joshua leaned forward placing his elbows on the table between them. "The gate was found inside a spaceship buried at the foot of Mount Snowdon. It was moved to an institute knows as Torchwood, but when Torchwood fell, let's just say I acquired it." Clara's ears perked when she heard the word Torchwood, remembering papers that were signed months ago with the words: Classified Torchwood stamped across it.
Harold leaned forward almost whispering "I like you, you'd taste great" she could see the smile fading from Joshua's face, he looked over to Mr Danes "The visitor will be given food." Mr Danes brought a covered plate to the table; removing the cover he revealed a large roast chicken. Clara was surprised at how Harold ripped into the chicken, eating it so fast; it was finished in a blink of the eye.
As Harold was licking of the bones, Joshua started pacing around, he stopped, pointing towards the gate "Anyway, the device came equipped with its own power supply. A Nuclear Bolt. One technician remain in charge of the feedback twenty four hours a day, and the power feeds through to the Gate, where it encourages some sort of cellular regeneration. Miss Collins was our test subject. She carried some burns as a result of an accident when she was a child, down her left side. If you could?" he said gesturing to the young woman who had stepped forward. Joshua continued his monologue "The gate mended her. Thank you." He nodded to the young girl and she walked back to her work station.
Harold looked over at the gate, "But what do you want it for?" Joshua continued almost interrupting Harold, "We calculate that if this device can be fully repaired by your good self, it can restore the body forever, hence it's given the title The Immortality Gate. Because that's what I want. Not for me, but for my daughter. I want her never to die. My gift to her. She will be immortal." Abigail danced over to her father "Abigail, it means bringer of joy."
Clara was watching Harold now, she saw him sniffing the air, he then turned around facing the computer, "Better get to work." He said as he started running his fingers across the keys, working at an enormous speed.
Clara saw as the scientists starting to run around, looking at the monitors excitedly. Joshua clapped his hands together, looking at Abigail and then at Harold "Now, please don't imagine I'm a slave-driver. We can resume work on Boxing Day, Mister Saxon." Clara could see a smile spreading across Harold's face. He looked up at Joshua "My name is the Master" He pressed one last button and the lights started to dim. The gate lighting up with what Clara could only imagine a wormhole looked like developing inside the Gate.