Chapter One

Regeneration

"Ahhhhhhh!" The Doctor screamed. The electricity coursed through his entire body at two hundred volts, searing his muscles and singing his long brown hair to the roots.

"Doctor!" River shouted from across the room. She, like the Doctor, was restrained heavily by big leather strips. The Master laughed maniacally.

"Oh, the mighty Doctor!" He shouted over the sound of the current. "Fallen at last with his last faithful companion. Where have they all gone, Doctor? You had companions who would absorb the time vortex, companions who could destroy the entire Toclaphane army with nothing more than the power of thought! Where are your faithful companions now, Doctor?" He laughed, his long blonde hair sweeping backwards. When the Doctor had first seen him, he was shocked. The Master had escaped from the time vortex, although he had no idea how.

"They're still here, Master." The Doctor said through gritted teeth. "And they're better than ever. River, do it now!" "

"But-"

"I know, River!" He shouted angrily. "Just do it, will you?" The Master looked at his two captives in shock.

"What are you talking about, Doctor?" He hissed through gritted teeth. "What is she doing, Doctor? You can't escape."

"See, that's where you're wrong." The doctor said, whipping his hair back. His face was suddenly covered in a ludicrous grin. "Because River is very clever at hiding things. So clever, in fact, that she was able to smuggle my lovely sonic screwdriver inside. Which is why she can do this." He nodded at River. River looked at him in protest before pulling the sonic screwdriver from somewhere inside her skinny jeans. She pointed it awkwardly at the Doctor and pressed the button.

The machine that was shocking the Doctor was sparking and going completely mad, and the Master watched helplessly as the volts reader broke passing a million. The Doctor was nearly lifted off of the table as volts rushed through his body.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He cried out. The Master grabbed River by the throat.

"What have you done, insolent child?" He hissed. "What is going on?"

"The one sacrifice you could never make, Master." The Doctor's voice said from the other side of the room. The Master spun around, but the Doctor wasn't there. Instead, a great glowing resemblance of the Doctor was hovering a few feet above the floor. His face was contorted in a mixture of intense pain and incredible joy.

"Doctor, no!" River shouted. She strained at the restraints, but it was no use they were too strong. The glowing figure turned and smiled at her.

"Don't worry, sweetie." He said kindly. "I'll be back in a nip." Suddenly, the room exploded with glowing gold light as the golden form exploded, sending the Master flying and breaking River's restraints.

"what's happening?" The master shouted, covering his eyes. River turned away from the golden figure, tears streaming from her eyes.

"He's regenerating." She choked, covering her eyes. "The Doctor's regenerating."