Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or Doctor Who. They belong to Stephenie Meyer and the BBC respectively.
Author's Note: OK, so I decided to change this chapter a bit. If you've read it already, you'll probably want to at least skim over it again.
The Sound of Drums: Exile
Prologue: The Girl and the Master
Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump!
A sigh escaped my lips as I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the window.
Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump!
I slammed my head against the window once, and then unbuckled my seatbelt. I slammed my fist against the 'Call' button whilst simultaneously yanking open the overhead compartment. My bag was torn open and I dug frantically for the bottle of Abilify I had stashed there.
Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump!
With shaking hands, I twisted the top off and dumped a tablet into my hand, then stuffed the bottle back in the bag and shut the compartment. The attendant arrived just as I dropped back into my seat.
"Yes ma'am, how may I help you?" she asked, a cheerful smile on her face.
Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump!
"Would you mind getting me some water, please?" I replied giving her the best smile I could manage with the drums pounding so loudly.
Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump!
"Of course, miss," she said, scurrying off to get the requested beverage. I glared at the back of her head.
"Stupid ape," I hissed, cradling my head in my hands as I tried to shut the drums out.
It's hardly her fault, you know?
Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump!
Oh great, not only does it not help, but you're back as well.
I'm not fond of you either, thief.
Pain lanced through my body, as the skin and muscle tissue phased out of existence, revealing the skeleton beneath for the briefest of moments before reappearing as though nothing had happened. I glanced around briefly to make sure no one had noticed. Luckily there weren't many people on the nighttime flight to Seattle.
Yes, lucky indeed. It wouldn't do for UNIT or Torchwood to discover you while you're in my body.
Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump!
Sod off, Isabella!
Why don't you?
A harsh sigh escaped my mouth.
Perhaps I should introduce myself. I am the Master, one of the last two surviving Time Lords in the universe, the other, of course, being my nemesis, the Doctor. I'm sure you've heard of him; practically everyone has. Bastard.
At least he tries to help others. What have you done for the universe?
Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump!
I've tried to bring order to the universe!
Your order is a curse.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!
Will you both shut up?
No thanks.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!
Thank Rassilon the ape is coming back. No, wait fuck that bastard Rassilon!
At least we can agree on that. I'm glad I'll never have to meet him.
"Here is your water, ma'am," the ape said, smiling brightly as she handed me the cup.
"Thank you," I said, nodding to her before quickly shoving the Abilify in my mouth and chugging the water.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!
The drums pounded incessantly as the stewardess scurried away once more. The dull pain began to build throughout my body again, signaling another oncoming phase. Without thinking, I pulled the hood of my hoodie over my head and rested my head in my hands, effectively hiding every inch of skin from prying eyes as my body once again phased.
THUMP-THUMP-thump-thump!
The phasing was a side effect of a resurrection that went wrong in my previous body. My bitch of an ex-wife hurled a Potion of Death at me during the resurrection. Since then, my body has been in a constant state of degeneration; something that I had hoped would leave me when I abandoned that body for a new one. Sadly, it had not.
Thump-Thump. Thump. Thump.
Thankfully, the degeneration wasn't quite as bad in this new body. I really only arrive at the point of phasing when the drums are at their worst, which can be avoided if I take the Abilify before it gets to that point. Usually.
Thump... Thump... Thump… Thump.
I don't know why you don't just man up and ask the Doctor for help with your degeneration and drumming problems. You know he would help.
Yes, I'll ask my worst enemy to help me. That's such a great idea! Then, when he's done, he'll keep me as a prisoner while we go gallivanting across time and space, saving every kitten that's stuck in a tree.
I'm detecting a hint of sarcasm somewhere in there.
Screw you!
I waited for her retort, surprised when it didn't come.
With the drums almost silent again and Isabella deciding to shut her mouth, I decided that I could sleep for the rest of the flight to Seattle. Sleep that was, thankfully, undisturbed up to the point of descent.
Disembarking the plane, backpack slung over my shoulder, I headed toward the baggage claim, where I knew Charlie would be waiting for me.
Charlie was Isabella's dad. Maybe I should explain that.
Isabella Marie Swan is the name of the girl who's body I stole when I abandoned my old body. Why my conscious was drawn to her, I don't know: don't care, really. The point is, it was, which ended with my conscious overpowering and absorbing hers.
Bastard.
Theoretically, Isabella should be gone, however, she remains, a constant presence in my mind.
And you remain a constant presence in my body.
All of her memories are inside of my head, which allowed me to assume her identity with little trouble at all. The reverse is also true, Isabella now being the only entity in the universe that knew everything about me.
The best part of the switch though is that her body mutated to accommodate my vastly superior mind, adapting into a Time Lord. I'm not going to waste time explaining the process. Suffice to say, it was a very painful process and I don't ever want to do it again.
You deserved the pain.
Seriously Isabella, shut up.
Anyway, I decided that I didn't want to pretend to be Isabella constantly, which couldn't be done if I stayed in the presence of her mother. I hated that bitch. She was completely useless, wanting nothing more than to be a sex toy to her new husband.
I don't know how you put up with her.
She's my mother.
And?
Anyway, since I didn't want to pretend to be Isabella and I didn't want to draw attention to myself by simply leaving, I decided that I would go to live with Isabella's estranged father, who she hadn't seen in several years. He would therefore not know much of Isabella's personality, allowing me more freedom to be myself, within reason of course, while I attempted to find a way to get back to my TARDIS so that I could return to my usual schemes.
Don't judge me! You humans play your video games and sports and I plan ways to take over the universe. It's my life, fuck off.
You have serious issues.
Yeah, and you can't stay quiet.
Spotting Charlie at the baggage claim, I sighed and began heading toward him.
K, I think that's a little better than the original version, but, tell me what you all think.
And as I said last time, there is a link on my profile that goes to a blog I've set up for this story. It has images for the way I see the characters in my mind, so if you want, check it out.
To those that review, would you mind telling me how you want the POV's to work? I could alternate between the Master and Alice, I could do it from just one POV, I could alternate and occasionally throw in a chapter from a different character's POV, or I could switch to 3rd person. What you say may or may not effect the story, but I want to hear your opinions anyway.
So, please leave a review and I'll see you lot next time I get the chance to update.
