The Master rolled his eyes. Honestly? Well, he had one last method of torture in his pocket, something that would bring even the almighty Doctor to his knees "Now the next game involves you and you alone Doctor. And you have a choice as to what I'm going to do! Your choice is this: Either you get to enjoy a medieval style breaking with the wheel or... a movie!"
The Doctor stared hopelessly up at him from within his baggy, stinking suit. He hadn't the strength to speak or move anymore and simply stared with huge eyes at his captor
The Master sighed. "You're hopelessly silent in this state. And I want to hear you beg for mercy." He bound the Doctor to his chair tightly with a rope he borrowed off a guard "To make sure you don't escape." Finally, he grabbed his laser screwdriver, and began the de-aging process.
The intensity of concentrated time on the body, even when in the direction of youth, was one of the most painful experiences known to any being short of what had occured to Jack. The poor wretch was gone from the Doctor's mind as he choked on the pain of being rejuvinated. The ropes gnawed on his wrists as they fleshed out from their dilapidated state and the wheelchair seemed to shrink around him as he was replenished to his regular state after nine regenerations. He gasped for air in his now strong lungs and glowered at the Master, still refusing to speak. He didn't care, this game was pointless. Whatever he chose it would mean nothing, the monster would have his fun without the Doctor's help. "I still only have that one thing to say. The three words you don't want to hear."
As he shoved his screwdriver back in his jacket pocket, the Master smirked at the Doctor "Just you wait... Theta Sigma... Just you wait. I've saved the best for last." He slunk over to the wheelchair and grabbed the Doctor's chin roughly "I will break you."
Fury slammed into the Doctor at the mention of his old name. "DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME THAT..." he hissed through his bared teeth, "Gallifrey is GONE... It's gone... Gone, forever and you know who put them in that Time Bubble, trapped them forever, killed the past for good..." he leaned forward into the Master's face. "You know who did that. Who's been running ever since... Koschei..." he smiled lovingly. "It doesn't have to be like this. You are stone cold brilliant, you really are... Come with me, travel amongst the stars... We can run from the past... never stop, never slow... just run..."
The Master rolled his eyes and let go, turning away "That sort of flattery might work on your stupid apes, Doctor. But I know your true intentions. You're a Prydonian after all, devious and cunning. And besides, I quite like it here! I reign supreme! Why would I want to leave!" He checked his watch "Oh look at the time! The screening's about to begin!" He snapped his fingers as a large media screen rolled down from the ceiling. "I do hope you enjoy this, Doctor, I really do."
The Doctor leaned forward and pulled against the already biting ropes. "Master, listen to me, this is pointless, stop. Stop now while you still can because if you don't I will stop you. I've always stopped you, I've stopped the Daleks and Time Lords and I've stopped you." He spoke quickly, urgency in every syllable. He had to offer one last lifeline. The Master was the only other Time Lord in existance, he couldn't let anything happen to him. The Doctor never cared for his own safety, not even in the clutches of the insane friend of his childhood.
"And therein is where the fun lies!" The Master countered gleefully. "Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the film. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to step out for the duration. But don't worry, my guards will still be here. And I'll be just outside the door. So don't try anything. Theta Sigma." And with that, the Master hit the 'play' button and waltzed out of the room...
The opening shot on the screen showed an idyillic red planet, with rolling hills and two suns. The next shot showed a bustling citadel. There were shots of happy pedestrians, clad in rich velvet like robes, going amongst their daily lives. Gallifrey.
This was the first time the Doctor was afraid during the months he had been here. Once he saw the red hills of Gallifrey, panic struck his limbs and hearts. Adrenaline coursed through him and he thrashed against the bonds that bit into his wrists. "MASTER! MASTER, LET ME OUT! MASTER!" He screamed and thrashed, closing his eyes against the images. He then realized: wheelchair. The Time Lord kicked his feet methodically until he shook the brakes loose on the chair, then placed both feet on the ground and shoved towards the screen, intending to kick it or tear it down. The movie continued as the Doctor struggled.
There was a clip of a large spiraling building, known as the academy, which, due to it's height, seemingly went on forever, children happily wandered in and out of the building, chatting about their days, homework, et cetera.
The clip flashed again, shaky handmade video. A young blonde haired boy was adjusting the camera as his friend looked on in frustration. The friend, a tall skinny boy with dark hair and blue eyes groaned "I still don't understand your fascination with such primitive gadgets, Thete. We have so much better here."
The blonde shrugged as he finally managed to mount the camera onto a tripod and put his arm around the still irritated skinny boy. "A report on Earth. By Theta Sigma and Koschei."
The guards, noticing the Doctor's attempts to destory the screen wheeled the doctor back to his original position and firmly held the chair in place. "Master said we have to make you keep yer eyes open," one of them spat.
The Doctor swiveled his head and fixed them with an icy glare. Tension filled the air about them as he emanated an ancient power gained through age and experience. "Turn it off," he said softly, menace hanging in the air about them. Terror flowed from him to target the guards. He watched their faces for any reaction as the memories of his childhood battered his spacious mind.
The guards looked at one another in absolute fear, they knew what this man could do. Still, they feared their boss more. They knew that by far, the Master was the more dangerous and volatile of the two Time Lords, and would be more than happy to kill them in an instant. They continued to guard the Doctor, although obviously shaken.
On the screen, Theta and Koschei were pointing out the features of Earth. "Earth's notable inhabitants include the Earth Reptiles and the homo sapiens, or humans." Theta chirped into the camera.
Koschei groaned "You and your humans... honestly."
Theta shrugged "Well anyways, humans are one of the most resiliant species in all of the universe. Time and time again, no matter what fate puts in their way, they manage to struggle through, and survive."
Koschei smirked "However, it must be noticed that they are a weak race, and easily conquered."
"KOSCHEI!" bellowed Thete.
"What? It's true! In the 12 million years which comprised of the human golden age, they were conquered no less that 23,000 times". The clip switched again, to show Theta, again with his camera, following Koschei and Ushas in a light hearted game on the fields of Mount Perdition.
The Doctor thrashed madly and yelled in frustration. His white trainers flailed about before him as he tried desperately to shake free of the bonds or the guards. The screen continued to flash with memories long supressed. The more he saw, the more his mental wounds were torn open. His emotional pain flooded out of those scars and slammed his brain with information he never wanted to see, further continuances of the projected memories adding to the ones before him.
The camera flashed again, a slightly older version of Theta (now with a clearly better camera) was sitting on a bed in the Academy dorms. Koschei lazily read a scroll. "So Koschei," Theta yawned, adjusting the camera, "I'm trying to pick a name for after I graduate... Any ideas?"
Koschei (now with a bit of stubble- the beginnings of a moustache) looked up. "And why exactly are you filming this?"
Theta smiled and huffed out a short laugh as if it were obvious. "So I can remember what you've said of course! Any ideas?"
Koschei rolled his eyes "How about 'Doctor' or something. Since you have to try to fix everything there is." Theta thought for a moment "Huh... I actually really like that one."
The image changed, to a CCTV of the interior of a TARDIS. Theta and Koschei were clearly irritated with one another. Theta slammed his fist on the console "Why do you have to always try and control me like that!? It's like I'm your slave and you're my master or something!"
Koschei was about to retaliate, when he suddenly got an idea "Master... Interesting... I like it..."
Their childhood shifted to adulthood on the silver screen... The time at the cusp of war. The Doctor shut out everything but his immediate goal. He had to. The Oncoming Storm apologized in advance aloud, twisted around, and bit the hand of one of the guards while bracing himself and shoving out of the chair, shoulders and hands twisted about behind him, but head and body free of the chair. He twisted his leg about, jammed against the ground, and sent the chair crashing into the other guard's foot. It all happened in less than two seconds. With both in pain he jammed his feet into the ground again and shoved for the screen. He reached it and kicked, punching a hole through with his foot. The Doctor bit the bottom edge of the tear and dropped as low as he could, forcing the tear to grow. The picture was now unrecognizable, the faces distorted. The audio still rang out, but he shoved it out of his mind as he glanced frantically about for something to get free.
Pain was the first thing he felt. Jack's eyes flew open as he gasped desperately for the air to fill his lungs, his beautiful, strong working lungs. "Jack Harkness, how are you!" he cried instinctively as life flooded him again. He gasped a moment and smiled, happy to be rid of the pain, but longing for the death that had surrounded him... 'No, think of the team,' he remembered. His beautiful crew, Gwen, Ianto, Owen, Tosh, their adventures... Who knew where they were now... He was chained in his own little pitiful room adjoining the engines. The heat was oppressive as he stood on barely his tiptoes, wrists held high above his head by steel shackles. Dirt smothered him everywhere and his clothing was replaced, bloodied and sweat smeared but no longer in shreds.
The Master heard the commotion and ran in, only to find the Doctor ripping the screen with his teeth, the guards on the floor in shock. He grabbed the wheelchair roughly, and began pulling the Doctor backwards, smirking. "Oh no you don't. Not yet. You have to watch the whole thing." He wheeled the Doctor into a nearby conference room, pulled out a padlock, and chained the wheelchair to a supporting post in the center of the room. Grinning, he yanked down this room's video screen. "And to think, I wasn't sure I was going to get to you!" He set about hooking up the screen to his phone, which stored a copy of the video. "Let's try this again, shall we?" He fast forwarded to where he had left off, and pulled up a chair, facing the Doctor, back towards the screen. "I want to see your face this time."
The video commenced where it had left off, the next scene an official video of a rigid Time Lord ceremony. 50 young Time Lords were seated in their dress robes, happily facing the camera. An old man called them each up one by one. "Theta Sigma..." The blonde young man rose from his seat and walked over to the man's podium, a large smile on his face. The old man coughed "What do you wish to be named?"
Theta grinned confidently "The Doctor." The man pressed a hand on a large Gallifreyan seal next to him "By Order of the High Council, the Doctor shall be initiated as a fully fleged Time Lord." Theta walked over to another old man to receive a small golden crescent pin, a symbol of his time completed at the school.
The fight left the Doctor the moment the Master pulled him from the screen. He glared at the blonde monster before him, knowing he was thoroughly trapped. He seethed, teeth bared and head down. His brown eyes glowered with frustration and pain. Unimaginable pain, the pain of failure and guilt, things thoroughly forgotten being ripped open and crammed to the front of the mind. He wailed inside, desperate to run, to run and not look back. Oustide he simply stared at the Master, watching him for any hints of his next move. The crazed Time Lord facing him smirked "Ah ah ah! Watch the screen Doctor! Or I'll force you to..."
The movie continued with the two young men, in the midst of a screaming match on the Doctor's newly stolen TARDIS being filmed by a thoroughly amused Ushas. "YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL THEM, KOSCHEI!" The blonde man yelled, pacing thoroughly about the room.
The dark haired man, now with a well grown in goatee, sat on the console chair and gloated "Temper Temper! They were only Ood! And It's the Master now."
The blonde man turned, tears in his eyes. "WHAT YOU DID WAS WRONG!"
The Master laughed "What I did was entertaining!" He turned to the young woman filming, brow creased "Why are you even filming this? Not that I mind. I'll use it as blackmail for Thet... the Doctor someday. That'll teach him to control his temper. He sounds like a child."
"I DO NOT!" the Doctor retorted, holding back a sob.
The woman smirked "For research on emotions of course."
The Doctor forced himself to breathe deeply, focused only on that. Inhale, exhale. Each breath of air hissed out in fury. He was uncontrollable, feral, as exemplified only by his innate calmness. He sat and stared, face set in a mask of seething rage. He shut his eyes against the barrage of memories. That day... The blood he had seen only outdone in his horror by the glee on Koschei's face. The laughter. Tears welled in the ancient child's eyes as he watched, reliving the day unwillingly. He was so old...
The video skipped again, this time over hundreds of years. Short clips of each of the Doctor's companions whom had been forcibly separated from him, due to death, or painful circumstances, flashed upon the screens, along with narration that had explained their departure "Memory wiped... dead... dead... trapped..." The camera lingered on one face for a particularly long period. Rose.
The Master clapped his hands with glee, and grabbed the Doctor's face roughly, pointing it towards the screen. "I love this part!"
Torchwood CCTV footage of the day Rose was separated from the Doctor played, replaying in slow motion again and again her final moments with the Doctor, her struggle and fail to hold on, Pete's rescue, and then her disappearance. Again and again.
The tears fell from the Doctor's face, pent up since that day. He had held them back, barely managing to hold on to that numb pain when she left. When he failed her. He sobbed, unable to tear his gaze from her face as she screamed. As she fell. She screamed again and again, staring for the man who screamed back. It was over in seconds, but then replayed. Each time, his hearts broke. He saw his helplessness, her pain. The last time they were in the same universe. His mind superimposed what she must've seen on the beach of Norway. He hadn't seen her, but he had failed one last time. He had run out of his own element. He had run out of time. He didn't get to tell her... Wracking sobs forced his chin against the Master's hand as he pleaded. "Stop... Stop this, please..."
The Master snorted "But we haven't even gotten to the best part! He looked at the screen expectantly, "Ah! Here we go!"
The last clip was of the red planet again, taken by an external TARDIS camera. But it had changed. It had changed so much. A cloud of haze surrounded Gallifrey, large fires and smoke could be seen rising from the ground. This was war. And it was all about to end. External narration began to play softly, one voice, whispering "It's all your fault." The planet began to burn. Slowly at first, but the fires soon began to engulf the entire red orb, until it was completely ablaze. The narration grew louder and louder, the voice seemingly multiplied and overlapped itself, repeating the same four words "It's all your fault.". The planet gradually began to collapse on itself, and soon was reduced to a large heap of space ash. The voices reached a booming crescendo, but suddenly were cut off, into silence. Gallifrey had burned.
The silence hung in the air. The only sound was the Doctor's labored breathing and sobs at what he had done. His head hung limp and eyes stood wide and glazed. The floodgates had opened completely. Screams. Fire. Burning. Faces of those from memories past, all dead because of him. He sat, unsure of anything. The red hills aflame and burning. Rose falling into Pete's arms, screaming his name. Daleks and Time Lords crashing in agony. All dead. Because of him. Tears fell from his unblinking eyes as he went completely limp...
