Chapter 1
The End of Time…..
His resolve came the second their eyes met and his widened in realization, an almost triumphant smirk turning his lips as he ducked out of the way and a single shot rang out in a myriad of explosions. He should have known the sentimental old fool would refuse to give up on him even now.
"You'll die with me, Doctor." Rassilon snarled clenching his fist.
"I know."
He overheard the exchange and the resignation in the Doctor's voice as Rassilon, still as smug as ever, twisted the knife deeper as Gallifrey disappeared and he raised the gauntlet for the final blow.
With his mind made up he sneered, hauling himself from the floor. His last chance in this excruciatingly long and painful life not for redemption, he didn't deserve it and he would not argue differently, but to ensure that the only person he had ever really called friend hadn't wasted all those years trying to save him no matter the atrocities he'd inflicted upon him.
The instability of his waning life force raged and coiled, the power burning at his fingertips begging to be released, the fate of the Time Lords sealed. Back into hell they would all go, back to the beginning and to the end.
"Get out of the way."
The Doctor stumbled back in astonishment as the Master unleashed a bolt directly into Rassilon's chest, his hatred, pain, guilt and torment from the endless drumming fuelling the assault. Oh how he wished for it to stop, his head throbbing with every beat of his hearts.
"You did this to me!" He screamed pouring more power through the staggering form of the once mighty President of the Time Lords, closer and closer he dragged his feet across the floor despite his body's objection.
"All of my life!" He could feel the end coming. "You made me!"
Back to the pain and suffering.
"One!"
Back to death and destruction.
"Two!"
Back to the War.
"Three!"
Back to Gallifrey.
"Four!"
Reality warped around him as Rassilon slumped lifeless to the ground and the walls around them shuddered and fell away bit by bit with each tremor. He clutched his head as the resounding cries of hundreds of his people dead and dying caused him to stumble. Breathing heavily he stepped over Rassilon's lifeless body clutching an arm around his aching chest as he wiped ineffectively at the sweat clinging to his pale skin. With all the strength he could muster he strode along the gangway from the council chambers and into the panopticon, a gasp escaping his now bleeding lips as he stared wide eyed up through the opaque ceiling and the sight of the great glass dome as it barely held itself together, cracks and holes seeping great dark plumes of smoke that smelt of death and destruction choking what was left of the city as one after another enemy ships stormed through. Another explosion tore his attention away towards the under city and the gaping hole mere feet from where he stood and the fields of time ship debris and bodies that littered the mountain side below.
No wonder he had run to the end of the universe. It was any wonder the Doctor slept at all with this plague his nightmare. A thought crossed his mind briefly that perhaps if he hadn't run away the two of them could have stopped this. Too little too late he thought sadly with a final glance at the fires that consumed his world, of places and memories that he held close to his hearts even after all these years. The entourage he'd drawn out from the council chambers, those who had followed Rassilon through the breach stood waiting for him to make his move.
"You disgust me!" He snapped, glaring up at the Time Lords who remained awaiting the final sanction while their brethren fell defending their world.
"You're not even worth saving." He sneered.
"Open all communications channels!"
The technician paused glancing at the woman who stepped out of the shadows behind him, "Do as he says." She nodded and the Master regarded her briefly with an unimpressed raise of his eyebrow.
"Who're yo-"
"That's not important." She replied somberly moving to his side. "The end is what matters."
"Communication lines open on all frequencies Sir." A technician cut in, the Master staggering slightly as another hit fractured the floor beneath them.
"The Matrix has been saved but once they gain control over the Eye of Harmony-" The woman urged.
"I know!" The Master bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the auditorium, "Right then, time's up Doctor so I'll keep this short-"
The Master winced as pain shot through his body, almost doubling him over as yet another onslaught cracked and fractured the stone and steel around them, the metallic voices ringing extermination through the once great city. From the corner of his eye he saw the old woman take a step towards him and in another second she was gone as fire exploded around him.
"All these years you've known," He gasped for breath with a shake of his head as realization struck, "After everything I've put you through you still-"
"Master?"
"I'm sorry old friend," He choked running his hands harshly across his blonde hair and down his face to wrap himself in an embrace, "We could have stopped this but now-"
"Where are you!" He heard the Doctor's cries, "I'm coming to get you!"
"You can't," He whispered, "This is where I'm meant to be, where I've always been, your future my past-"
"I'm not leaving you!" He objected.
"Yes you will," He smiled sadly, "I know what you're planning to do, and it will work, trust me."
"Then you know I have to at least try to save you, someone, ANYONE!" He cried.
"You already have." The Master chuckled as the flames danced closer and closer. "And you will save them Doctor, just you wait and see."
"I-"
"Do it," His legs gave out as the flames burnt at his skin and he held back a scream of agony as he watched the Time Lords around him fall and burn, "Do it now Doctor."
"I'm so sorry…"
The Master breathed a sigh of relief as time stilled and he slumped to the ground, closing his eyes as the last of his energy bled away.
"I know."
He would be dead long before the shock wave hit. He wasn't quite sure if he was thankful for that or not.
"A billion years of history and this is how it ends." He whimpered as small arms wrapped around him in comfort. He squinted as he turned to the halo of golden hair framing a familiar face but for the life of him couldn't quite remember.
"Who are you?" His breathing coming now in shallow pants.
"A friend," She smiled softly pressing a chaste kiss to his forehead, clinging tighter as his back arched in pain, her whisperings in his native tongue soothing his final moments.
"It's alright Koschei." She held him closer as his eyes slid closed.
"I'm afraid." He rasped.
"Everything has its time and everything dies." Her response but whispers in his mind as he let the blackness take hold.
"Arrogant know-it-all." He smiled and slumped against her.
"This isn't your time though." The world around them shattered and with her last whispered word pain exploded through his chest.
"Regenerate."