Jack hurried along what was left of the main road into Alexandria. He'd long since turned off the camouflage; if this worked, he wouldn't need it anymore.
The eerie quietness of a place after a battle still grated on his nerves, even after the hundreds of battles he'd been in.
It smacked too much of a graveyard to him. He'd lost count of how many had died under this so called New Empire. Perhaps to those that lived in the city with its crystal spires it was a paradise; but to most it was hell.
And in that year of hell he'd had time to think about what had happened back in White Coat's lair...something had changed everything and he had a pretty good idea what. Loathe as he was to think it, he knew it had to have been the Doctor. In his insanity, he must have thought that it was right, and he had no doubt that the Master had used it for his own twisted purpose.
But that was history for now, until he had the Doctor back on the path to sanity, if he could. No scratch that; he had to get the Doctor back into his right mind or this twisted hell would never cease.
He skirted around several burnt out cars and then a half-melted tank; he was in the city proper now.
He never had time to react to what he saw as he emerged; never had time to see the bullet that killed him.
The Doctor moved further out into the rubble, intent of getting behind Ianto and the only other soldier.
It had been painfully easy the others; they really weren't a match for Time Lord, no matter how well trained they were.
He'd taken items from each of them; it was a little quirk he'd picked up, one that the Master found amusing.
What did the little simians call them...trophies?
He was skirting round a ruined building, when he heard that voice. A cold river of fear ran through him...it couldn't be, not here?
He risked a glance round the building and saw a flash of white and his hearts seemed to stutter.
It was him, his tormentor...White Coat!
Panic began to rise and he began to realise the foolishness of his actions...he was alone and unprotected and the only person outside of the Master who knew how to control him was only metres away.
With rising panic he broadcast his fear through his bond to the Master; calling out for him to find him.
The Master patience was growing thinner as they moved further into the city. He'd tried tracking the Doctor through his bond, but his insanity was like static interference.
He'd given up trying and was relying on his men to find him.
Then it had hit him, like a wave of pure emotion; one emotion...fear, and one image flashed across his mind.
He snarled when he saw who it was...he wasn't having that. White Coat was going to regret ever being born.
"I hear you. Stay where you are, I will find you."
"No, I have to hide, he'll find me...hurt me!" the panicky reply came.
"Ssh now, I will find you."
"No!" the reply came and then any further response was lost in a wash of unbidden terror.
He snarled again and barked into his com. "Go east, move!"
As they moved off, his second-in-command touched his arm and pointed.
A figure was emerging from behind
White Coat scanned the rubble and for a moment thought he saw a flash of movement. He brought the device he was holding forwards and smiled when he got a familiar reading.
He banged on the roof of the RV and it ground to halt, the other RV pulling up beside it. He gestured to the armed man who was acting as a spotter and he disappeared inside for a few moments.
Seconds later, at least half a dozen armed men were negotiating the rubble.
White Coat followed behind with the Chief Surgeon.
"You have the sedative?"
"Yes, but I warn you, I can only administer one shot. The strength of this is already at the maximum I can give without it being fatal. If your man misses?"
"He won't, I assure you," White Coat said and took the dart from the Chief Surgeon.
Ianto was getting increasingly nervous. There had been no sound or communication from his men for the last few minutes.
He knew that he and one man would be no problem for the Doctor if he chose to attack; force of numbers was the only way to contain him.
The chink of rubble caused both of them to whirl round and Ianto couldn't believe his eyes...the Doctor had stepped...no stumbled out from behind a building and fell to the ground.
Something was sticking out of his chest.
He raised his weapon and then lowered it in confusion.
The look on the Doctor's face was one of fear and then he saw why and he went pale.
Stepping out from behind the building was a group of armed men. But Ianto wasn't focused on the men; it was the person behind it in a white coat.
He let out a gasp and weapons were swung in his direction. And without hesitation he dropped he weapon as did his compatriot.
The man he knew as White Coat stepped forward. "A wise decision Mr Jones, one that may well keep you alive."
He gestured to one of the armed men and there was the crack of a shot and the man next to Ianto fell to the ground.
"He was expendable," was all White Coat said.
Ianto didn't struggle as he was dragged forward.
White Coat was already ignoring him, interested only in his regained prize, who looked at with eyes now dulled with drugs.
"Time for you to come back to your real Master."
The shot that kicked up at his feet caused everyone to jump.
Another group of armed men appeared over the ruins of a building and this time Ianto knew there would be no chance of being treated fairly.
"I think you'll find he only has one Master...me."
