Tegan walked through the carnival, smiling brightly, despite the early hour. Around her, games and rides were in full swing, vendors shouted to bring attention to their wares, and people milled around, laughing, eating, and having a great time. The Doctor had brought Tegan and Turlough to the carnival planet of Epsilon Ghanni VI, where several planetary systems sent their harvests and artwork to be displayed. The carnival was a center for commerce and innovation.

Tegan was expecting to meet the Master soon, so she wandered around absorbing the atmosphere and doing a bit of shopping, making note of games and rides she was interested in. A large glass building loomed ahead, gleaming in the early sunlight and looking a bit out of place amongst the bright tents and cheap, wooden vending carts. Shrugging, Tegan went inside, since she'd been told all areas were open to visitors.

Inside, a competition of some kind was taking place. A large, raised area was roped off in the middle of the room and spectators walked around, eying the circle of tables within. The tables were littered with strange devices, bits of wire, and tools of various natures. Fire extinguishers were placed along the walls every four feet and sprinklers were placed overhead. Tegan shook her head, making a note to point the Doctor in this direction. Tegan couldn't tell what the point of the contest was, since nothing on any of the tables looked remotely familiar.

Tegan did find a familiar face in the crowd, however. Shaking her head in amusement, she walked over to the Master, who was looming over one of the tables with a great air of concentration. She stood close to him, wondering what he could find so intriguing in the ungainly mess of wires and metal bits she saw.

"Good morning, handsome!" she greeted, drawing his attention.

The Master blinked, looking oddly at her for a moment.

"Good morning," he acknowledged, before his eyes were once more drawn to the work on the table.

A tall humanoid began piecing some wire together, an act the Master seemed to find intriguing. Tegan smiled indulgently and stood as still as she could, watching. There was a rhythm to the contestant's movements that was somewhat enthralling, but Tegan had no idea what he was doing or why.

"Okay, I give up. What is it?"

The Master stared at her again, seeming to consider something, then shrugged.

"It isn't anything. He's merely constructing a model of scientific principles in the field of engineering. He's trying to show new ways that the principles can be used in a practical setting."

Tegan sighed, "So, this whole room is full of scientists showing off their toys?"

"This room is full of geniuses who might very well transform the future of the universe," the Master corrected her dryly.

"Right, or that," Tegan agreed, wryly. "Goodness knows it's hard pulling you or the Doctor away from this sort of thing."

The Master turned to her, studying her intently, until she began to feel a bit uneasy.

"What? Is something out of place?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes. Before you say anything further, my dear, I should warn you that our timelines are crossing. My time is about two years behind yours."

"You...you mean you're from two years in my past?" Tegan asked, praying she had misunderstood.

"That would be another way of putting it, yes," the Master agreed sardonically, a grin twisting the corners of his lips.

"Hell's teeth!" Tegan pronounced, her eyes wide.

"And another," the Master agreed, chuckling.

"It's not funny!" Tegan scolded. "Won't this create a paradox or something?"

"Calm yourself, Miss Jovanka," the Master instructed, condescendingly. "I'm a Time Lord; this is hardly the first time I've been in such a situation. It's bound to happen eventually in time travel, though it's not common. I'll merely have to suppress the memory."

"Suppress?" Tegan echoed, alarmed. "You're going to deliberately wipe out a section of your own memory?"

"No," the Master explained slowly, surprised at the vehemence of her objection. "I'm going to lock the memory away, until I'm at the proper point in the time line that I should remember it."

"That still sounds like you're using a euphemism for something awful," Tegan complained, unimpressed.

The Master shrugged eloquently.

"You'll have to take my word for it, I'm afraid. As you said, we can't risk a paradox. Relax and try to appreciate the works of genius taking place," he advised.

"Uh huh," Tegan responded skeptically. "One of your geniuses just set his table on fire!"

The Master looked around, smirking at the billows of of black and white smoke coming from the far side of the display.

"Yes, I rather thought he was overloading his bi-ampular circuits," the Master agreed.

Tegan stared hard at him and the Master raised an eyebrow at her in silent inquiry.

"Y'know, we have a custom on Earth. We leave the room, when someone catches it on fire!" Tegan informed him, incredulously.

The Master chuckled.

"Normally, I would commend your practicality, my dear, but you needn't worry. Fires are rather common at these contests and, as you can see, that one is already out."

"I was thinking the fire prevention was a bit overdone," Tegan admitted.

"Really? I was thinking it was inadequate," the Master countered dryly, a bit pleased when Tegan laughed.

"That does me in," she chuckled, surrendering. "It's too early to deal with crossed timelines and geniuses setting the table on fire. I'm going for coffee."

The Master bowed elegantly.

"Until we meet again, my dear," he offered, with genial sarcasm.

"Byyyee," Tegan drawled, smirking.

Tegan walked away, her cheeks burning a bit. Of all the absurd situations for her to land in, that one took the cake! Tegan blinked, as she stepped back out into the sunlight. She looked across the street and smiled. The Master stood in the doorway of his TARDIS, in it's familiar shape as a Roman column. He leaned casually against the frame, his eyes bright with humor and a smirk on his lips.

"Good morning, beautiful," he teased.

"That was embarrassing," Tegan informed him, firmly, walking over to him.

"Ah, but you handled it wonderfully, my dear," the Master assured her, chuckling and holding out his hand.

Tegan placed her hand in his, allowing him to pull her into a kiss, savoring the soft, cool glide of his lips over hers.

"Thanks, but I'd like to avoid situations like that for a bit."

"A wise idea," the Master agreed. "Do you still want coffee?"

"Yes, please," Tegan laughed.

The Master stepped forward, shutting the door to his TARDIS and tugging gently on her hand.

"Come, my dear. Having been here previously, I know an excellent place to get some breakfast," he promised, leading her away from the past.