Prologue
Deep underneath London there is a chamber.
This chamber has walls of stone, with no clear way in or out.
In the center, there is a table.
On the table, there is a box. A box he built himself.
...it's good, isn't it?...
In the box, there is a ring.
...screaming at the dark...
In the ring, there is a small worm.
...five hearts could be considered an improvement...
And in the worm, lives the Master.
...I love it when you say my name...
In this body, deep in stasis, what he experiences cannot even be considered a half-life. It is a muted existence, consciousness dimmed beyond all recognition, thoughts skating like frozen echoes across ice.
...duh duh duh dum. duh duh duh dum. duh duh duh...
But he exists. Just barely.
...the drumming...
Waiting.
...the call...
Every hour, the box spools up with a slight mechanical whir. The device signals a frequency and waits for a response. Waiting.
...the drumming...
It is silent. The light on top of the device glows red. Waiting.
...the call...
And in a time when the city above is imperiled, the signal bounces back.
...to war...
The light shifts green.
...I win.
And with a ear-popping 'click', the box vanishes.