Author's Note: I finally posting this! Having written most of The Echo, I plan to update at least once a week. If you're new to my stories, you should know that this is a sequel (sort of) to my other Osdrum story, Lunatic. I would recommend clicking back to my profile (just click on my name, Miss Stella Black) to read that story first, otherwise you may be a bit confused.
I want to take the time to thank LadyLini for beta reading/editing this story. Your help is much appreciated. (:
A special note: This is a sequel, but it's sort of confusing. It could be called an extended alternate ending to Lunatic as well. The story starts in the middle of Chapter 27 of Lunatic, after the page break. Instead of the story ending with their reunion, it branches off to this story.
Without further adieu, I give you this long awaited fan fiction, The Echo
He was following her advice. The Master traveled the universe, exploring, rather than attempting conquer. He had been let out of prison and given a job in the scientific wing of the citadel. After months of secret planning, he had managed to escape Gallifrey with a faulty Type 35 TARDIS. However, he was becoming restless, itching to cause trouble. He'd considered taking a companion, like the Doctor, but Clara was the only one he wanted to travel with. He missed her terribly. Searching for her was fruitless. Every time he'd tried to get to the early 21st century Earth, he'd always end up somewhere else entirely. The navigation wasn't actually all that bad—anywhere else, and he'd arrive right on time. He wondered if the TARDIS had a mind to keep him away from her. He wondered if perhaps Clara was better off without him, and the TARDIS knew it...
And then, quite unexpectedly, he saw her. It was crowded at the 1943 World's Fair in Queens, New York City, and he'd done a double take when he glanced at her. Joy flooded him, but it was quickly replaced with bewilderment—what was Clara doing here, clinging to the arm of some handsome uniformed guy? She looked so happy; she looked so at home. He supposed she must be traveling with the Doctor here, but something seemed off. And who was that man she was with? The Master supposed he could be another companion the Doctor had picked up, but if he were, why would he be wearing the same uniform he'd seen quite a few young men wearing? Besides, he didn't have the air of companion they all seemed to share. Clara didn't either, he suddenly noticed. There was something else though. Something similar, but different. Was it one of those echoes she had mentioned when she told him about having been split into a million different parts? But it couldn't be ... there was no sign of the Doctor needing saving here.
He watched her, observed her, for the next couple of days. It was strange. She seemed to be a normal 1940's girl. She didn't do anything out of the ordinary. He had trouble believing that she could be an echo, thinking she might be an entirely different person. He'd heard her speak in an American accent for goodness sake! Why would the echoes speak differently? But then he'd seen a woman call out to her on the street, using her name ... So it had to be her, right? And besides, he reminded himself, he knew very little about how echoes of people worked... for all he knew, she would be completely different.
Eventually, he decided to confront her in a cafe she frequented. Sliding into the chair across from her, he hoped she wasn't meeting anyone today. "Hello," he greeted, smiling at her nervously.
"You," she responded, narrowing her eyes and leaning in a little. "Finally polite enough to come out and say hello." She fixed him with a disapproving gaze.
"Wh-what?" he stammered. "You recognize me?" His hearts beat faster as he took in the impossible. Did she actually remember him? How could she? She couldn't possibly be the original Clara! The Doctor was nowhere in sight, and she didn't look like she was trying to adapt to a different time.
She nodded, smirking a little at his surprise. "Yeah. You've been following me for like three days, buster. That or you've been coincidently in the same place as me over and over again. Working up the courage to ask me something, eh?"
Her words stung. He could feel the disappointment in the pit of stomach. Of course she didn't remember him. It was impossible. Completely impossible. He nodded to her. "Yeah, uhm... okay. I'm trying to wrap my head around this. Do you know why you're here?"
Clara raised an eyebrow. That wasn't the question she'd been expecting. She'd been expecting him to ask her on a date or something. "What do you mean? I've lived in this city all my life. Why wouldn't I be here?"
"I don't know!" he protested, "You're supposed to be British! What's with the American accent?"
"What?" she answered, scooting back. "What is wrong with you? I've barely even left the state! What in the world are you going on about?"
The Master shook his head, sighing. "I'm not making any sense, am I? You probably haven't even met the Doctor yet. I'm sorry for wasting your time," he said, his voice and hearts heavy as he stood up. He looked away as he stood, determined she wouldn't see the tears that had jumped to his eyes.
"Did-did you just say the Doctor?" she stammered, her eyes wide.
He whipped around, blinking rapidly to clear his eyes. Reclaiming his seat, he cracked a smile. "So you do know him," he breathed. "You've traveled with him, yes?"
"Traveled with him? Oh how I wish." She smiled wistfully, but she was overjoyed to have somebody else know about the Doctor.
"You ... what? Explain," he requested.
She quirked an eyebrow. "You first, lunatic man. Starting with your name. I'm Clara Oswin Oswald by the way." She reached a hand out across the table to shake.
Instead of shaking it, he took it and gently kissed it, causing a blush to rush up her cheeks. "Clara Oswin," he repeated with a smile.
She nodded. "I go by my first and middle ... And you forgot to mention your name."
"Right, sorry," he said, deciding at that moment not to call himself the Master. "I'm Koschei."
Clara Oswin grinned. "Is that British?" she half-joked.
He snorted. "No, not in the least bit."
"Too bad. The Doctor's British, I think."
He shook his head, laughing. "The Doctor's no more British than I am, Clara Oswin."
"He's not? He really seemed like it. Of course I've never been to England ... Are you sure he's not British?"
He nodded. "Positive. We grew up together. We attended Academy together. We were best friends for years, Clara Oswin. I would know."
"Alright," she granted, "Where are you from then?"
"Gallifrey."
"Galli-whatsit? That's not on any of my maps," she told him, scrunching up her nose in disbelief.
He sucked his cheeks in, thinking about how adorable she looked when she did that. Goodness had he missed her. "Oh Clara," he murmured under his breath, too low for her to hear. Louder, he told her, "Gallifrey. It's, ah, out of this world."
"That good, eh? Is it a tiny island? I've studied my maps a million times. I can't see how I would be able to miss a country with a name like that..." she trailed off, trying to picture the collection of maps she kept just in case she ever did get to see the world like she so longed to.
He chuckled. "No. I mean, it's literally out of this world. It's an entire planet."
She raised her eyebrows. "Don't be daft, Koschei. I'm not going to believe that one."
"I'll prove it to you," he insisted.
Clara Oswin laughed. "And how are you going to do that? What do you have a spaceship you can take me to Gallifrey in?"
He shook his head, biting his lip. "I'm definitely not going to take you to Gallifrey. I'm sort of not allowed back for the time being. But I could take you anywhere else in the universe you'd like," he told her with earnest.
"Anywhere, eh?"
"Anywhere in all of time and space."
"Hmmmm," she hummed, her eyes lit up even though she didn't really believe he could do it. "Get me into a yacht club party."
"A what-sit?"
"A yacht club party." She giggled, repeating herself. "It's a fancy party on a yacht. They always sounded so elegant and magical. I've always wanted to go to one, but I haven't the connections to do so."
Koschei grinned. It hadn't been what he was thinking, but it sounded like fun. "Well, Miss Clara Oswin, I think I'm going to be all the connection you need to get into that party."
She laughed. "Oh really? Who do you know?"
He shrugged noncommittally. "Mmmm, I don't know. Might have to make something up."
"Okay," Clara Oswin said, unable to wipe the grin off her face. Something about the man before her seemed trustworthy, like she knew he would never deceive her ... even though he was spouting off nonsense about other planets. She couldn't help almost believing him. Sure, it was a bit odd that he had been following her around, but she supposed it had something to do with the Doctor ... and while she found the man before her quite handsome, her main concern for the moment was to find out more about the man whose life she had saved two years before.
Koschei nodded and forced himself to stand up. "It's a date then?"
She nodded, the excitement bubbling. "I think there's one this Friday night off the peer."
"Perfect," he spoke, echoing her tone. "I shall pick you up at six in the evening?"
"I'll see you then," Clara Oswin said, her tone a little flirtatious.
He breathed out softly and nodded before making his way to the door. The confusion stirred within him, but he realized he was on thin ice, and he didn't want to scare her off. If he did, he wasn't sure he could go on.
A/N: Review if you want to make me smile! :) (or if you wanted to tell me you hated it. Whatevs)