Summary: Two and a half years have passed, while Tegan and the Doctor are now employed by Torchwood Three, the Master as Harold Saxon has become Prime Minster of the United Kingdom. Really, this is just filling you in on what happened during the time-skip, and will lead into an event occurring in 2008.
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Episode 1 – Time Lords & Torchwood
Character Description:
Name: Tegan Harkness
Birth Date: February 29th, 1984
Hair: Black, very short, and spiky
Eye Color: Green (left eye) and Blue (right eye)
Skin: Light tan
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 117 lbs.
Family: Rassilon - biological father, Jack Harkness - adopted father
Friends: Ianto Jones, The Doctor, Harold Saxon/The Master, Toshiko 'Tosh' Sato, Owen Harper, and Gwen Cooper
Employment: Torchwood Three second-in-command and writer.
Normal Attire: black denim skinny jeans, black military boots, black denim jacket, black cashmere double-breasted greatcoat that goes down to just below the knee, a customized Time Agent wrist strap on the right wrist, and a black cashmere fedora.
Normal Pocket Contents: a black leather wallet, and a T.A.R.D.I.S. key
Favorite Foods: spinach lasagna and hummus
Favorite Drink: flavored coffee
Favorite Books: the Ring series by Koji Suzuki
Favorite Movies: the Godzilla series
Favorite Games: the Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog series'
Favorite Singer: Frank Sinatra
Books Tegan Has Written: the Horrors of Gallifrey series (Volume 1: The Man with 13 Faces, Volume 2: The Silver Trees of Gallifrey, Volume 3: The Red Grass of Gallifrey, Volume 4: The Grey Rocks of Gallifrey, Volume 5: The Burnt Orange Skies of Gallifrey, Volume 6: The Twin Suns of Gallifrey, Volume 7: The Twin Moons of Gallifrey, Volume 8: The Birds of Gallifrey, Volume 9: The Capitol, Volume 10: Arcadia, Volume 11: The Academy, Volume 12: Death Zone, and Volume 13: The Last Great Time War), the Owner's Manuel: Your Time Lord and You trilogy (Volume 1: Child of War, Volume 2: The Conqueror, and Volume 3: Stranger Among Us), the Universal Conquest series (Volume 1: A Devil in Disguise, Volume 2: Stolen Throne, Volume 3: Rebel! Anarchist! Traitor!, Volume 4: World Conqueror, Volume 5: Galactic Ruler, Volume 6: Universal Lord, Volume 7: Next Stop, Exo-Space, and Volume 8: The Unconquerable, Anti-Matter Universe), and the Lost Time Lord series (Volume 1: Hidden in Plain Sight, Volume 2: Alien Threat, Volume 3: The Truth Revealed, Volume 4: Prisoner, Volume 5: Lessons, Volume 6: Fixed Point, Volume 7: The Time Lord Triad, and Volume 8: The Shadow Proclamation vs. The Immortal)
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2006 saw the release of Harold Saxon's book Kiss Me, Kill Me alongside Tegan Harkness's book Owner's Manuel: Your Time Lord and You, Volume 1: Child of War which was a companion book to his Horrors of Gallifrey series.
The early part of the year also saw Tegan agreeing to join Torchwood Three and after much debate, it was decided that he would be Jack's second-in-command which more often then not means he gets stuck with Jack's paperwork.
The early part of the year also saw Gwen Cooper joining the Torchwood Three team as their police liaison. Jack then figured all they were missing was a liaison with UNIT and while he'd initially considered using the Doctor due to his former ties with UNIT, it was quickly dismissed, because the last thing any of the team wanted was for Torchwood One to get even a hint that the Doctor was blind.
After the Doctor's completion of his physical therapy which wasn't always simple since he became less and less cooperative because he figured that no one was actually working on whatever had caused the loss of his eyesight. While he was correct, it was because with nobody knowing what had caused it, besides maybe that his regeneration had went wrong, nobody knew how to fix it. The downside that everyone that knew the Doctor began to see is that even after he could move around without anybody else's help is that he wouldn't leave the T.A.R.D.I.S., she was able to guide him somewhat so he didn't go walking into things, but she couldn't do that outside her walls, so the Doctor refused to leave. And, while Tegan had initially called this Doctor a bit of a motor mouth which everybody, even the Doctor had found at least a little funny, it quickly devolved into him saying less and less until he was lucky to say anything at all.
The Torchwood Three team made it a personal side mission to try to find a way to make the Doctor feel useful since they knew that was part of the problem, that without his sight that he saw himself as useless. It wasn't until Tosh had asked the Doctor what an item was that nobody on the team could identify and while he initially snapped at her about not being able to identify something when he couldn't even see it, he'd discovered he could still properly identify the item just by feeling it, and developing a picture in his head by its feel and a description by Tosh of its colors. After that, even though the Doctor still wouldn't leave the T.A.R.D.I.S. or talk much, as more items were brought to him to identify, Jack eventually decided to offer him a job with his team identifying unknown artifacts that would come through the Rift. The Doctor sternly refused when Jack told him that it would require him leaving the T.A.R.D.I.S. but when Jack admitted that the T.A.R.D.I.S. was tied in with Torchwood Three's mainframe which meant that while it was weaker in the mainframe, she could still guide the Doctor as long as he was in the Hub. The Doctor wasn't happy about the T.A.R.D.I.S. being tied in with Torchwood Three's mainframe but when the whole team confirmed that it had in fact been her idea, then it didn't bother him as much. It wasn't as if he could go gallivanting around the universe without his eyesight and at least it did help a little with him feeling useful.
2007 saw not only the release of the Archangel Network which as Tegan discovered the last time he'd seen the code for it, wasn't what the Master had originally planned. It wasn't set up to control people's minds. However, as was soon discovered, it still ended up being revolutionary. Jack wasn't happy because the technology behind the Archangel Network was years ahead of its time and it could end up damaging the time lines. The Master just laughed and told him that it wasn't a fixed point and that current society was built on technology years ahead of its time, it's called progress! But, that if he wanted to keep bitching about it to go talk to the Doctor. The Doctor admitted that it would affect the time lines but it wouldn't damage them and that all that the Master was doing was giving humanity an additional boost in the technological era. What the Master hadn't said and hadn't uploaded until after the last time Tegan had looked at the code was that he'd developed some code that would stay dormant until he activated it, he couldn't risk Tegan telling the Doctor, because he knew it was paradoxical, and the Doctor would want the code destroyed, and he wasn't going to risk losing the code.
The year also saw Harold Saxon become the Minister of Defence of Great Britain and shortly after, the launch of the six Valiant ships that the Master had designed for UNIT.
After the launch of the last of the six Valiant ships which actually turned out to be Valiant One, the Master as Harold Saxon was at a press conference, the entire Torchwood Three team was onboard the Doctor's T.A.R.D.I.S. in what was essentially the entertainment room of the T.A.R.D.I.S., it was a lot more sensible to watch it there then everybody trying to watch on the online feed. Most of the questions were either political in nature, about the fifteen satellites carrying the Archangel Network, or about the launch of the six Valiant ships.
The question the entire Torchwood Three team had been expecting finally came up, 'Why were what seems to be battleships launched into space when we're alone in universe'? The Master had expected the question but it never ceased to make him laugh. He responded with a question of his own, 'Has anybody here ever been to Cardiff, Wales'? He didn't even give anybody a chance to respond before continuing, 'If you have, you'll know that's complete bullshit! Cybermen did not originate here on Earth! And, to those who have ever seen the Weevil's that are actually quite common around Cardiff, they don't originate on Earth either! Don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean all aliens are evil because they're not, like humans, there are good and bad. Cybermen and Dalek's are the exception, neither has emotions nor understands the concept of mercy, so they can't be good. But, other then those two, there's good and bad, it's the bad ones that the Valiant ships are there to defend against'.
The most obvious question was asked next, 'How do you know'? The Master asked, 'Humanity is very good at ignoring or forgetting things that don't fit the norm, how many times do you think that there's been aliens of some kind on Earth, and then are forgotten once the crisis is over? It's happened more times then people would like to think'.
The next question wasn't necessarily obvious but it was expected to a degree, 'So who stops the crises then, UNIT, Torchwood, or something that's actually succeeded at staying secret'? The Master had expected the question but he had hoped it wouldn't be asked, he knew what his answer was going to be, but he had hoped to have time to discuss it before it became public. The Master said, 'Sometimes, yes. The resolved threats though that humanity is so quick to forget are typically resolved by one lone individual'. The Master paused, some might think for effect, but it wasn't.
Tegan, Jack, Ianto, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen all looked at the Doctor.
Tegan's concerned thought, 'He wouldn't actually say it, would he'?
The Master said, 'The mans name is the Doctor and despite what Torchwood One would like the world to think, he is not the threat! And, while he may look human on the outside, he's really a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, and this world and many others owe him more then they could ever hope to repay'!
There wasn't a single member of Torchwood Three that was happy by that statement, even though the Doctor did keep a blank face. It didn't matter what the Master said, because unless he got his eyesight back, he couldn't defend the Earth anymore.
The next question caught the Master off guard, 'Aren't you friends with Tegan Harkness'? The Master said, 'I don't see what our friendship has to do with anything'! The same person said, 'Then you should be aware that all four of his series' of books are fiction'. The Master visibly confused said, 'Of course, I know that'! The same person said, 'Gallifrey and Time Lord's are fictional'! The Master said, 'While the books are fictional, Gallifrey is a very real place, and Time Lord's do in fact exist'! The same person asked, 'How do you know, have you ever been there'? The Master knew he couldn't answer that truthfully and asked snidely, 'Have you ever been to Mars, smart guy? Just because you haven't been someplace doesn't make it any less real'.
The conference quickly began to spiral out of control and the Master was regretting his decision to confirm alien life did in fact exist.
Once control was reestablished, the next question was asked, 'You're also friends with Tegan's father, Jack Harkness, correct'?
Jack whispered, 'Oh shit'!
The Master was concerned by where this would lead so decided on a simple answer, 'Yes'. The next question confirmed his suspicions, 'You're involved with Captain Harkness, who is the leader of Torchwood Three, correct'?
Jack said, 'I think Cardiff's worst kept secret just got worse'!
Tegan said, 'Well, you're already the face of Torchwood Three, so I don't see the problem'.
The Master considered the following days headline if he admitted it, how would Great Britain see their new Minister of Defence if it was confirmed that he was involved with another man? He could lie and deny it but he'd been out in public enough with Jack and they weren't always so careful, there was probably evidence of something going on between them somewhere! The Master said, 'Yes, I am'.
The next question surprised the Master, 'Are you aware that he's also involved with another member of Torchwood Three by the name of Ianto Jones'?
Tegan, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen all asked, 'What'?
By the surprise on the Master's face, Ianto looked at Jack and said, 'He didn't know! You said he knew'!
The Doctor said, 'If the Master knew, you'd be dead Ianto, he does not share! It is not in the nature of a Gallifreyan to share'!
Jack looked at the Doctor and said, 'He always knew it was just sex'! The Doctor just shook his head.
The Master wanted to say that he knew but he couldn't. He wanted to say several things but he couldn't. As he was led off-stage, he wondered what would get said about his freezing on-stage, and ultimately what it would do to his political career. Why hadn't he just used the Archangel Network like he'd planned?
The next few days, it was a good thing that the Rift had decided to stay quiet. None of the rest of the team was happy with either Jack or Ianto.
It ended up surprising everyone when the Master showed up at the Hub, he ended up looking Ianto up and down, he knew by the scent on Ianto that it wasn't a lie, and then asked, 'How long'? Ianto said, 'I didn't know, he said you knew'. The Master shouted angrily, 'How long'? Ianto said, 'Since your first book signing'.
Jack came out of his office with Tegan trailing right behind when they heard the shout.
The Master looked at Jack and asked one question, one word, 'Why'? Jack said, 'We always had an understanding, it was just sex'. The Master asked, 'How many times did I -' he cut himself off, shook his head, snarled, and said, 'It doesn't matter what I said, it obviously didn't matter to you'!
Tegan had a bad feeling he knew exactly what had gotten said and if he turned out to be right, he knew he was going to end up calling Jack a heartless bastard!
Jack said, 'If this is about you saying that you love me, it's just nonsense you say after you've gotten fucked'! The Master shouted angrily, 'You stupid motherfucker, I never said that after we fucked! Think for half a damn second, when I said that, it never led to or was the result of being fucked'!
Jack thought for a moment before realization hit and he said, 'I - I - I'
Tegan said, 'Heartless bastard'!
Tosh, Owen, and Gwen were at their desks but they nodded.
Ianto said, 'Damn twpsyn'!
The Master continued to shout angrily, 'Why did I ever think I wanted to protect this damned place? You're just a bunch of stupid insignificant humans'!
The Master started to leave only to turn and say, 'Tegan, if anything more happens with the Doctor, I'd advise you to bring him to me, because I'm not coming back here'.
It took a couple months but the Master settled back down enough to where he was willing to go back to Torchwood Three, even if he wouldn't talk to Jack. He initially wouldn't talk to Ianto either but after figuring out that Ianto broke off what he and Jack were doing after that whole incident with the Master yelling at Jack, he decided that at least Ianto had some sense.
The year also saw the release of the Tegan's whole Universal Conquest series along with its companion book, Owner's Manuel: Your Time Lord and You, Volume 2: The Conqueror. Also, the whole Lost Time Lord series along with its companion book, Owner's Manuel: Your Time Lord and You, Volume 3: Stranger Among Us was released. There had been a mix-up with his publisher in 2006, and the Universal Conquest and Lost Time Lord series' along with their companion books were supposed to be released once a month for what would have amounted to eighteen months and they would have all been released by the end of 2007 anyways, but due to the mix-up, they were releasing one of both each month in 2007 until they'd run out and then released the companion books in December.
Despite the fact that Tegan did not like having the Lost Time Lord released in conjunction with Universal Conquest, because despite them and Horrors of Gallifrey being able to be read independently of one another alongside their respective companion book, he did have the preference for them being read the way they were written, he accepted it. Even though he did end up giving an interview that mentioned his preferred way of reading them and that his next series would be tying together the lead character from Horrors of Gallifrey, the lead character from Universal Conquest, and the lead character from Lost Time Lord, but he couldn't give an estimated time for when they'd be written yet alone released because there was a lot of planning to get it to come out right.
2008 started with Tegan trying a new idea that he'd been working on with the Master, a way for his mindscape to look like what he's seeing at that moment, there had initially been several seconds lag, but Tegan had practiced it with the Master enough that the lag wasn't even noticeable anymore unless you were a trained Time Lord like the Master, that was where the problem still lay though since the whole reason for Tegan coming up with the idea was to give the Doctor another way to see, and since the Doctor is a Time Lord he would notice the lag. The other problem though is that doing it to much gave Tegan stress headaches and there wasn't a way to avoid that, but if it was going to work, Tegan needed the Doctor to understand the side-effect for Tegan and that the only way it could work without the very noticeable lag is if they were touching. It was strange but instead of one connecting their mind to the other and the other allowing the connection to complete, they had to both connect, which due to the fact that like the Master, the Doctor is a touch telepath, meant that they had to be touching.
Tegan ended up telling the Doctor about the idea he'd come up and the Doctor was understandably skeptical. Tegan explained how he'd been working on it with the Master and while the Doctor wasn't happy, he understood that Tegan wanted to make sure it worked before getting his hopes up and then it not working. Tegan also explained how they'd have to connect with one another and stay in physical contact for it to work and the Doctor's skepticism kicked in again. Tegan then went on to explain his personal side-effect and that that was why it could only happen for a limited amount of time before Tegan would need a break, that the Doctor understood.
By the end of April, Tegan and the Doctor had developed a system. As long as he was in the T.A.R.D.I.S. or the Hub, he would let the T.A.R.D.I.S. guide him but on the rare occasion where the Doctor would leave, Tegan and the Doctor would connect telepathically so that the Doctor could see. Tegan had hoped that being the Doctor's eyes in a sense would get him to want to go out more but due to his own limitation, the idea had only worked slightly, which all things considered was better then nothing, but the Doctor was still refusing to travel to other planets, he needed his full eyesight back before he'd do that.
May saw Harold Saxon become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he'd tweaked history around before ever meeting Tegan to take into account his fictionalized history, but there were things he'd left blank because he would've needed the Archangel Network with its original design, its original code to make them believable, but they didn't seem to matter, in the grand scheme of his campaign, it was a seemingly endless cycle of smile, vote Saxon!, preach the word of the alien threat, but make sure they understand that the Time Lord's aren't a threat even if they are alien, and then use the skills he'd had since he was still in the Academy to make people listen. It was harder work then if he'd just used the Archangel Network but for some reason, he found it much more fulfilling.
He knew once he settled in that he was going to bring Torchwood One to its knees and while he wanted to protect Torchwood Three due to his - he supposes friendship with Tegan and the fact that whether or not he'd told either Tegan or the Doctor that in order to get the Doctor to regenerate just once had used up the rest of his regenerations, which was odd since he was only on his 18th which meant he should have had six more, and even if he hadn't really been looking that hard for a solution to the Doctor's blindness, he didn't want the Doctor getting caught up in his agenda against Torchwood. There was just one thing he needed to fix before his first press conference as Prime Minister.
Tegan walked out of the T.A.R.D.I.S. after she informed him that there was someone in the Hub and it wasn't any of the team back from their current Rift excursion. Looking at the Master sitting back in Jack's chair with his ankles crossed on Jack's desk, his arms behind his head, and his eyes closed, Tegan was going to ask what he wanted, but when the Master opened his left eye and said, 'Let Jack and Ianto know they have someone that wants to talk to them'. The Master closed his eye, Tegan asked concerned, 'What are you planning'? No matter how many ways or which way the question was asked, the Master wouldn't answer.
It took six hours before the team returned and Tegan did as requested.
Jack, Ianto, and Tegan stood in Jack's office on the other side of the desk from the Master.
As soon as the Master had smelled Jack's pheromones, he'd sat up more proper.
Before anybody else could say anything, the Master said, 'I let myself feel something I shouldn't have. Time Lord's are taught to be above such physical desires and it was really something I didn't take much stock in, maybe what they really should have been teaching was that Time Lord's should be above love. Hell, maybe some were and that's why they ended up wanting to be gods and either rule the universe or destroy it trying. I made a mistake and it won't happen again'.
Jack, Ianto, and Tegan looked at each other, but before any of them could speak up, the Master continued, 'You know, I was curious at first why Tegan was so dead set against the return of the 456, with it being a fixed point, there's not much I can do without risking a paradox, even though that would be a use for my paradox machine. It took me awhile but I figured it out, it's you, Ianto Jones'.
Ianto was surprised. Jack stared at Ianto. And, Tegan looked concerned.
The Master said, 'See, you're going to die if they're not stopped, many people will die and you'll be among them. And you, Jack, I feel sorry for you, you're going to lose Ianto and your grandson'. Jack asked concerned, 'What about Steven'? The Master said, 'Stopping the 456 won't be problem'. It wasn't hard to tell by his tone of voice that the Master wanted something. Jack asked, 'What's the catch'? The Master laughed and then said, 'Jack, to a Time Lord, human life is over in the blink of an eye, I can wait, but you better make damn sure you make Ianto happy'.
Tegan, Jack, and Ianto were all surprised. Ianto said, 'But, I haven't been with Jack since -' The Master interrupted by saying, 'I know, I'm sure that's part of the reason his scent isn't on you anymore'. Jack asked, 'You're actually encouraging us to -' The Master interrupted by saying, 'Yes, I am'.
What none of them expected, the Master least of all, was for that odd bit of seeming encouragement to lead the three of them, Jack, Ianto, and the Master to end up in the beginnings of a very strange arrangement that had even the Doctor scratching his head due to his knowledge that the Master did not share, that to even attempt to do so, goes against everything a Gallifreyan is taught and feels! The arrangement however strange was actually simple.
What led Jack, Ianto, and the Master into the arrangement was actually a conversation Ianto had with the Master after he had ended up in Jack's office that day. They both knew that Jack wasn't nearly as insensitive as he had come across. Ianto knew that the Master had been correct even if it had sounded callous at the time, even if Ianto lived to be a hundred, human lifespan is just so short compared to that of a Time Lord, but there was just so much that could change in that short amount of time. The Master had explained that even a Time Lord's life is short compared to Jack's immortality. They ended up discussing their likes and dislikes of Jack.
When the subject of sharing Jack had come up, Ianto was okay with it because he knew Jack well enough to know exclusivity wasn't something he could expect, it was just that he didn't like being lied to. The Master admitted that it went against his possessive nature and really the nature of being Gallifreyan but one thing he'd learned since delving into politics, you have to learn to adept.
When the subject was brought up to Jack, he'd thought they were either on some very pleasant drug or had to much to drink, but when they both confirmed that neither were on drugs or drunk, Jack asked if that meant that since they were sharing him, if that meant that he was sharing Ianto with the Master and vice versa. The look on both Ianto and the Master's faces had made Jack laugh.
While the basic ground rules were laid, the question that ended up with the most debate was who would be seen with Jack in public, because there was no way with Harold Saxon's position as Prime Minister that both he and Ianto could. Jack didn't mind being the face of Torchwood Three but he didn't like the idea of the attention it would garner if it was found out that he was involved with the Prime Minister and it would make Torchwood Three's job a lot harder! Ianto still hadn't discussed with his sister his prior relationship with Jack after it was first revealed that he was involved with Jack and that still wasn't a relationship he was to enthusiastic about having to discuss, because despite the truth of it, he didn't like the idea of people thinking he was fucking or being fucked by his boss! When the Master offered the solution of him taking Ianto, Ianto yelled at Jack for even putting that idea in his head, and Jack fell out of his chair laughing, which was a pretty impressive feat considering the chair had arms.
Jack didn't want the attention that would be brought to him and by extension Torchwood Three if he got back into a relationship with the Master, being involved with the Minster of Defence had brought enough bad attention, but to be involved with the Prime Minister would be even worse.
Ianto didn't want people finding out he was sleeping with his boss.
And, the Master was getting to the point where he didn't care, because there was still another subject he needed to bring up with the entire Torchwood Three team before his first press release as Prime Minister.
It was settled that while Ianto and the Master would both be involved with Jack that they needed to get to know each other better before they approached the subject of getting involved with each other.
But, it was also decided that they'd play it by press, whoever was the one first seen with Harold Saxon would be the one he'd admit to, that idea backfired though the day before his press conference when all three were caught together.
Considering the context of part of the press conference, the Master asked for the entire Torchwood Three team to be there. Jack and Ianto agreed because really, what else could it hurt? Tosh, Owen, and Gwen agreed even though they didn't know yet what Harold Saxon was going to say. Tegan agreed because he'd already agreed to stand by Harold Saxon during that press conference before he'd even become Minister of Defence. The Doctor did not want to be there! After what had gotten said during the press conference where Harold Saxon had not only revealed the existence of aliens but also Time Lord's and drug the Doctor's name into it, he didn't want to be involved. Another reason being that the Doctor didn't want to be away from the Hub or the T.A.R.D.I.S. that long. The final reason being that he did not need Torchwood One, UNIT, the human race, or any number of alien races to find out that he'd lost his eyesight! It took quite a bit of convincing on everybody's part and a pair of wrap-around sunglasses from Owen before the Doctor finally relented. The Rift had been sporadic recently but it at least seemed to be settling down, so everybody hoped it didn't turn out to be a mistake to go to London.
The day of the press conference, 'Ladies, gentleman, and people of the press, I give you the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mister Harold Saxon'!
Jack, Ianto, and Gwen stood off to the right side while the Doctor, Tegan, Tosh, and Owen stood off to the left side.
The Master stepped up to the podium and began, 'When made to look, you can see many things, sometimes seeing that the person you have become isn't a face you want staring back at you. Sometimes seeing that someone you considered a friend or cared for deeply wasn't who you thought they were. Other times, you allow yourself to be blinded to the world around you, and force yourself to forget'.
Jack, Ianto, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen were confused what this speech had to do with Harold Saxon's standing as Prime Minister.
The Master continued, 'Since made to look at the cold hard fact of alien life, after the initial panic and paranoia, you came to realize that just like with humans, there is good and bad in most life forms. It's the bad that the Valiant ships are there to defend against'.
Tegan knew bits of the Master's speech, he'd overheard the Master rehearsing different parts of it.
The Master continued, 'However, there is a problem with the idea of alien life living alongside human life. The name of that problem is Torchwood or to precise Torchwood One or Torchwood London depending on which way you want to look call it. The Torchwood Institute was founded by Queen Victoria with the ideal to defend the Earth or at least her homeland from the alien threat. And, in the process, she declared their number one enemy to be a man that simply goes by the name of the Doctor. Whether she ever came to realize it or not, I'm sorry to say, but the idea was misguided. She wasn't taking into account that there were good aliens and she wasn't taking into account that the man she banished and declared the number one enemy of Torchwood was one that even then this whole planet owed a debt to that can never be repaid! And, what Torchwood became was something that at its core is despicable! After the initial founding of Torchwood, two women working for Torchwood tortured a man whose only crime you could say is that he's immortal. Well, he can die, he just can't stay dead'.
Jack tensed at the reminder.
The Master continued, 'In a sick way, the funny thing is that, besides his inability to stay dead, he was actually quite human. So, Torchwood didn't just target aliens but also humans with abnormalities'.
Ianto glanced at Jack, he really hoped the cameras didn't pick up how tense Jack was. He was hoping they stay focused on the Master.
The Master continued, 'Eventually, Torchwood branched off. Torchwood One in London became their largest branch with the belief that if it's alien, it's ours. Torchwood Three in Cardiff was really just a smaller branch but things changed. After a disaster that took the lives of all but one of the small team, a man named Jack Harkness'.
Tegan thought, 'What the hell disaster is he talking about'?
Jack knew that at least one camera was on him by now, so he was trying his damnedest to stay stoic, even if he wanted to ring a certain Time Lord's neck!
The Master continued, 'After that disaster, Captain Harkness became the leader of Torchwood Three. The reason he kept a connection with Torchwood One despite his disdain for them was simple, they had evidence that like the Doctor, Jack's son Tegan was a Time Lord'.
Tegan had missed that part of the speech during the rehearsals! The look on his face was a mix of terror and panic, whether it was smart or not, he backed up against the Doctor.
Jack saw the look on Tegan's face and realized that little revelation had been just as unexpected for Tegan as it was for him, the main difference being that Jack could keep a pretty straight face during a lot that had him rattled on the inside.
The Doctor already knew the whole speech, it wasn't just that he'd been the Master's not-always-willing audience when he decided to rehearse his speech, but had ultimately helped grind out some of the rough edges. Even though there were a couple parts that were most of the reason he didn't want to be there and they were also the parts that he'd made no comment for improvable on.
The Master continued, 'When Tegan finally met the Doctor, he realized that his own hatred toward the Doctor was undeserved. Torchwood One would then go on to target Tegan to get at the Doctor and actually did a pretty good job, because by threatening to take Tegan into custody, they got the Doctor to willingly surrender. What does Torchwood One turn around and do though? They don't question the Doctor, they torture him! After the Doctor was successfully broken out, Tegan would go on to quit doing his freelance work for Torchwood despite knowing that it would put a target on his own back, and Jack would sever his connection with Torchwood One'.
The Doctor, Tegan, Jack, and Ianto all know why the Master skirts over his involvement in the break-out, he'd lose his position as Prime Minister if his identity as a Time Lord was found out.
The Master looked to his left and then right and then returned to looking forward and continued, 'As you can see, just off-stage, I requested the presence of Torchwood Three'. Extending his right arm out to his right with his palm up, the Master continued, 'I give you Captain Jack Harkness, the leader of Torchwood Three'.
Jack nodded, but managed to keep his face otherwise blank.
The Master continued, 'Ianto Jones, administrator and general support of Torchwood Three'.
Ianto knew it was bad but he couldn't help smiling.
The Master continued, 'Gwen Cooper, who is the police liaison between Torchwood Three and Cardiff law enforcement'.
Gwen nodded, despite being somewhat concerned just how many cameras were watching them.
Lowering his right arm, then raising his left out to his left with his palm up, the Master continued, 'Owen Harper, the medical officer of Torchwood Three'.
Owen just crossed his arms and glared at the Master.
The Master continued, 'Toshiko Sato, the computer specialist of Torchwood Three'.
Tosh nodded slightly but otherwise made no other movement.
The Master hesitated for only a few moments before continuing, 'Tegan Harkness, second-in-command under his father at Torchwood Three'. The Master regretted introducing Tegan because if looks could kill, he'd be on the funeral pyre!
After the initial surprise from being revealed as Time Lord, Tegan got mad and was making no offer to hide it!
The Master again hesitated for a few moments before continuing, 'And, the Doctor, I'm not actually sure his position at Torchwood Three but he's responsible for identifying unknown alien technology'.
At that moment, the Doctor wasn't upset about Tegan having released his hand when he'd gotten mad over what the Master had said, because he really didn't want to see just how many people was looking at him.
The Master lowered his left arm and then continued, 'Torchwood Three is unique, because not only do they have humans working for them in Ianto, Gwen, Owen, and Tosh, but they also have aliens - Time Lord's working for them in Tegan and the Doctor. And to those who should know, Tegan grew up on Earth so this is more his home then anywhere else. The Doctor on the other hand grew up on Gallifrey but has pretty much adopted Earth as his second home. And, since I figure I'm going to get yelled at by Tegan anyway once we're away from the cameras, the reason I know the story about the immortal man from the 1800s is really quite simple, because the immortal man is the leader of Torchwood Three, Captain Jack Harkness himself'.
Jack realized he'd been wrong, it just got worse.
The Master continued with the more political angle of his speech, including a simple declaration at the end, 'While I do support both Torchwood Three and UNIT, before my time as Prime Minister is up, I will see the end of Torchwood One'! And, with a smile that was very typical of Harold Saxon, he continued, 'Yvonne Hartman, you pissed off the wrong Master'!
The Doctor, Tegan, Jack, Ianto, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen were all surprised that while it might not be very obvious to the general public what the Master had just revealed, but to anyone at Torchwood or UNIT who knew about the Time Lord named the Master, he'd just revealed who he was!
After the speech came the questions, the political questions were expected. The questions that were aimed at either the immortal, Jack or either of the two Time Lord's, the Doctor and Tegan were also expected after what the Master said but the Master wouldn't answer for them and they primarily chose not to answer.
'Why would someone who had spent so much time hiding out on Earth want to be known for writing what has amounted out to four separate series of books revolving around Gallifrey and a trio of Time Lord's when they themselves are in fact from Gallifrey and are a Time Lord'?
The Master looked at Tegan and Tegan said, 'That I can answer if you'll let me'. The Master had already stepped to the right and gestured for Tegan to go ahead when he realized that might not be a good idea. He knew he was going to pay for outing Tegan the way he did, he just didn't know if Tegan when angry was vindictive enough to destroy his political career to get back at him.
Tegan said, 'Whether you believe me or not, me being a Time Lord and technically being born on Gallifrey has nothing to do with the context of my books. To explain something that up until now has been a secret except from the Torchwood Three team as well as Harry here, my Horrors of Gallifrey series was written during the period of time where I hated the Doctor, I wanted him dead, I wanted to kill him myself, so really, the lead character from it was based on what I saw the Doctor as at that time. My Lost Time Lord series, the inspiration from it was from how I felt at different points in my life because I'm not human but there is so much about being a Time Lord that I don't know either, and yeah, I really could see papa going up a whole damn organization to protect me'.
Jack smiled because he knew Tegan was right.
'What about your Universal Conquest series'?
The Master kept his face blank but he couldn't help staring at Tegan, would Tegan tell the truth or figure out a rather convincing lie to tell?
Tegan said, 'Actually, it was sort of a gag on Harry here. He'd never had any doubt that he'd end up as Prime Minister even before he became Minister of Defence. And, I've called him a megalomaniac enough since I met him that the character just came together rather nicely'.
'So Prime Minister Saxon is the one person who was the inspiration behind one of the three central characters that isn't a Time Lord'?
Tegan laughed, looked back at the Master, and then said jokingly, 'Yeah sure, he's a Time Lord alright, everyone meet the Master, former arch-enemy and occasional ally of the Doctor'. Tegan laughed again before saying in a more serious voice, 'Seriously though, I can't see Harry here being the Lord of anything, and certainly not a Lord of Time'!
The Master wasn't sure how Tegan made the truth out to be a joke but it seemed to work. Even though he was insulted by the latter part of what Tegan said, he couldn't show it, Tegan had to know that, and that was probably part of the reason Tegan said it.
The Doctor, if he hadn't known the truth behind what Tegan said would have found it funny. However, he was impressed that Tegan managed to find a way to insult the arrogant prick and at a time where the Master couldn't retaliate.
Tegan stepped back, allowing the Master to step back up to the podium, as more political questions came, and then -
'If the Doctor is supposed to be some all-fire saint the way you've made him out to be, why did he destroy part of Cardiff'?
The Master said, 'If you're referring to the explosion a few years ago, you need to be aware of what the situation was with the Cybermen. People were being converted faster then they could be stopped! Yes, it was terrible that people died but I've read the autopsy reports, most of the people caught in the explosion were either dead before it ever happened because they were killed due to their inability to be converted or they were Cybermen! And, the ones who died near the conversion unit before being converted, there was no way to save them. Whether you believe me or not and anybody who has ever lost someone to the Cybermen will, death is a mercy compared to conversion. Would you want your emotions cut out, your ability to feel love, regret, or even mercy'?
The Master wasn't sure when he'd become the Doctor's defender but he figured it was somewhere around the time when he'd made that first speech as Minister of Defence. And now, he was in a position that if he didn't defend the Doctor, he'd probably be putting his career on the line.
'Did you know there's a picture circulating of you, Captain Harkness, and Ianto Jones that implies more then just being friends'?
The Master nodded quickly and said, 'It was taken yesterday and yes, I'm aware of its existence'.
'And, what's your response to the implication'?
The Master decided to play stupid and asked, 'What implication'?
'That you're not only involved with Captain Harkness again but also with Mister Jones'.
Jack and Ianto were both curious how The Master was going to explain his way out of that and preferably their way out too.
The Master asked, 'Why does it have to imply that we're more then just friends'?
'You have actually seen the picture, right'?
The Master said, 'Along with all of Torchwood Three, yes'.
'And yet, you claim that a picture where you're kissing Captain Harkness, Mister Jones is kissing your neck, and Captain Harkness has his hand down the front of your trousers is a picture of just friends'?
The Master, Jack, and Ianto knew the rest of the story that that one picture didn't show. Jack's other hand was down the front of Ianto's trousers and after they'd left that restaurant, back in Torchwood's SUV, both he and Ianto had punched Jack. The question they'd been asking each other and themselves since they saw the picture, 'Why did we think it was a good idea to go out together'?
21st century Earth, the Master knew even between consenting adults that a picture like that could ruin a political career. The world was still on the fence about homosexuality and while that alone wouldn't condemn him, even if it did hurt, polygamy was a long many years from being accepted!
The Master asked curiously, 'Would it make you feel better if I said that Ianto and I both still wanted Jack and the solution that was come up with was to sure'?
'You do know that's called polygamy, right'?
The Master said, 'I am aware of that, yes'.
'And, it doesn't bother you that you're risking your position by admitting to being a polygamist'?
The Master said, 'Of course, it bothers me, but whether I like it or not, that one instance is going to dictate my future and whether I actually have one or not. What I don't understand though is why does it matter? We're consenting adults. None of us are married. We're not planning to get married so I don't think any laws are getting broken. So, why does it matter who I end up in bed with'?
Jack couldn't help but think that the Master would make a pretty damn good 51st century human.
Ianto couldn't help but think that the Master reminded him a lot of Jack right then, just without the flirting.
Fitting eight into an SUV that is only supposed to fit seven might not have been the smartest idea - Tegan was pretty much sitting in the Doctor's lap, but the Master and Torchwood Three had a lot to discuss after the press conference.
Gwen's question, 'How will Torchwood Three's association with the Prime Minister affect any one of the members of the team ability to do their job'?
Tegan's question, 'Why did you tell everyone that I'm a Time Lord'?
Owen's question, 'Do you even think that you'll stay Prime Minister after your admitted relationship with both Jack and Ianto'?
Jack's question, 'Why did you tell them I'm immortal? You know I don't like people knowing that! I've been tortured over it before'!
Tosh's question, 'Should Torchwood Three expect retaliation from Torchwood One after the Prime Minister's threat'?
Ianto's question, 'Aren't you setting yourself up as a target of Torchwood One'?
The Master who was actually the one driving said, 'In order, Gwen, I don't how it will affect everybody's ability to do their job. I don't think it should affect it, whether they like it or not, Cardiff knows they need you as long as the Rift is open. Tegan, would you have preferred someone hacking Torchwood One and leaking the information that you're a Time Lord? At least, this way you had a chance to voice your opinion before everything went to hell! Owen, I honestly don't know. Jack, all people have to do is get into Torchwood One's files and they'll discover that you don't seem to age and can't stay dead! Tosh, I think I'm setting myself not Torchwood Three up for retaliation. Ianto, yes'.
The Doctor thought about asking something but he didn't even have a question and really didn't want to talk. He just wanted to get back to the Hub but he doubted that was going to be happening anytime soon since the Master was the one driving and he obviously wasn't going to Wales. And, he was right when they ended up at the Saxon Estate.
While Tegan, Jack, Ianto, the Master, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen were in the kitchen eating dinner that night, the Doctor was sitting in the recliner in the living room, listening to breaking news on the television. The Doctor thought, 'Canary Wharf? That's Torchwood One'! The Doctor called, 'Tegan! Jack'!
Tegan came into the living room first and as soon as he saw what was on the television, turned and was about to run back into the kitchen when Jack ran into him, knocking Tegan down, which under normal circumstances, Jack would've laughed and Tegan would've gotten mad over, but now, was not normal circumstances!
Jack helped Tegan up and they both went back into the kitchen.
The Master looked up from his plate of baked lasagna, with his fork halfway up to his mouth, and asked, 'What's wrong with you two? It looks like you've seen a ghost'! Tegan said, 'The Cybermen, they're in London'! The Master, Ianto, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen all asked, 'What'? Jack said, 'Dalek's too'! Ianto, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen all repeated, 'What'? The Master said, 'Aw, fuck'! Jack said, 'They're coming from Canary Wharf'! The Master shook his head and then asked, 'Torchwood One, why does that not surprise me'? Jack said, 'Whether we like Torchwood One or not, we can't let the Cybermen and Dalek's get out here in London! Cardiff would be bad enough but London would be catastrophic'! Ianto, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen all agreed. The Master said, 'When I said I wanted to see the end of Torchwood One, this was not what I had in mind'! Tegan said, 'I'm sure nobody here thinks that'. Jack, Ianto, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen all said, 'No'. Tegan asked, 'But, what do we do about the Doctor? We can't exactly take him with us and -' The Master interrupted by saying, 'I pay my maids and butlers to not be seen, but they can keep an eye on him'.
The Doctor didn't want to be left behind but what use would he be in a situation with two of the most dangerous races that the Time Lord's had ever come across without his eyesight? And, he couldn't exactly expect Tegan to hold his hand so he could see through Tegan's eyes the whole time!
As Tegan, Jack, Ianto, the Master, Tosh, Owen, and Gwen all headed toward Canary Wharf in the Torchwood SUV, the Doctor leaned his head back and began to hum a song he'd heard as a child before entering the Academy, a song he'd hummed to his daughter until Koschei had told him that the song he didn't know the words to was actually a song that was a call to war! Koschei taught him the song and he never again forgot the words.
Marching drumbeats, they call to me.
To war! To war!
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Author's Note 1: Yes, I know in the canon that the Battle of Canary Wharf happened in 2006.
Author's Note 2: Don't worry, the Doctor still has a part in the Battle of Canary Wharf, it'll just be played different.
Author's Note 3: In case I never mentioned it in Season One, when I started my Tegan Harkness Chronicles, I actually didn't know that the Doctor had had a prior companion named Tegan.
Author's Note 4: I'll go ahead and mention that just like Season One, that Season Two will have 13 episodes, and yes, I am still planning on a Season Three.
Reviews/Comments/Critiques welcome!