I am so, so, so sorry. I really honestly didn't expect to leave it this long, and especially not on a cliff-hanger. But in my defense, no one ever mentioned how incredibly terrifying exams were (except the teachers, but really, who listens to them?) and my internet connection is worse than useless (which isn't my fault. At all. Really.) and there were other things grabbing my attention, which prevented developments like a logical plot, and quips worthy of Gene Hunt (I say again, I can't write him at all). So please don't crucify me, or throw things at me, or anything like that. Please?
Before the jacket-less Sam could say anything, the other one pulled him back into the blue box. It disappeared again, then reappeared. Sam stuck his head out, looked around, then slammed the door shut. Like before, it faded out of existence and then came back. However, when Sam appeared in the doorway this time, Gene grabbed him and threw him across the room. He landed with a thud on the ground.
"You are going to explain yourself right now, Tyler, or I swear the only disappearing act you'll be doing is the one from this world into the next."
He was up on his feet again in a heartbeat, and was advancing on Gene, expression thunderous. The Guv stared him down, daring him to attack.
Before he could get close enough to do anything, jacket-less Sam was in his way, one hand stretched out, stopping him. "This is not the time to start ripping each other to shreds!" He said. He turned around and looked at Gene.
"Guv, I know you probably think this is some kind of practical joke or something, but I swear, give me a chance and I'll explain what's going on as best I can. And you," He turned back to his doppelganger, who's hands were curled into tight fists. "If you want to find out what happened to your... to the Doctor, maybe murdering the detective chief inspector isn't the best way to do it. It would just be wasting time, when anything could be happening to him." The Master was momentarily taken-aback at Sam's words, but he covered it up with a sneer, and jammed his fists back into the pockets of Sam's jacket.
"Fine, Sam Tyler. Until we find The Doctor, I'll hold off on the murderous rampage." He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall in a huff of barely concealed frustration. "At this rate I'll be lucky if I get to kill anyone at all."
Sam nodded and turned back to the guv.
"You're Sam Tyler," Gene said pointing at him, "And he's what, some long lost twin brother or something?"
"No." Sam said, rubbing his head.
"I'm a time travelling alien double of your also time travelling DI and I'm looking for my time travelling alien compatriot, who according to our time machine is right here." The Master said before Sam could find a way to phrase it better. Then he grinned widely at Gene, eyes flashing dangerously.
"Oh. Well, that explains everything." Gene deadpanned. He shook his head, and rounded on Annie. "Has Tyler ever mentioned something like this before, or is he just reached his new level of insanity today?"
Annie sighed, trying to keep calm. The Guv had enough trouble dealing with female coppers, he'd be impossible if she broke down, even if, in her opinion, she had every right to given the circumstances.
"He's always said that he just woke up here, after being hit by a car."
"You told him?" Sam asked, absolutely betrayed.
"What was I supposed to do Sam?" She snapped, "You were caught with a criminal, and you threatened me."
"I never-" Sam processed what she said, then rounded on The Master, who was leaning against the wall. "What the hell did you do to her?" He roared, grabbing onto him by the lapels of his own jacket.
"Nothing, just scared her a bit. I never intended to do real damage. Not to her at any rate." The Master replied in an almost bored tone, not even bothering to push Sam off of him.
"Oi, Tyler, what was that about not ripping each other to threads?" Gene said. Sam stayed where he was for a moment, before letting The Master go.
"Now that we've established the facts, can either of you explain where the Doctor is?" The Master asked, over Sam's shoulder.
"Not here. We haven't seen 'im since you two ran off."
"According to the TARDIS he is. This exact spot." The Master stepped away from the wall and started to pace as he launched into an explanation. "If you haven't seen him then he might be somewhere else temporally, which would mean whatever we're dealing with can time travel, which is further proved by Sammy-boy here." He clapped Sam on the shoulder to illustrate his point as he went past him, "It also seems to need to disguise itself, as it manipulated the television in your flat to copy the signal to create a physical template. Or," The Master said, coming to a stop in front of Gene, who was looking decidedly unimpressed as a new thought came to him,
"It doesn't have a physical form of it's own and needs to manipulate nearby signals. Something more than an image but less than a hologram. That would fit the bill. So, it's a formless temporal entity with at least a basic controls on it's surroundings. Brilliant."
His face, which had been in an expression of deep thought coupled with evident enjoyment, fell and curled itself into a look of disgust. "Ugh. I'm even beginning to talk like him. This is getting ridiculous."
"My sentiments exactly," Gene said, "This talk of temporal what'sits isn't getting us nowhere. What I want to know, right now, is where the bloody hell have Chris and Ray got to?"
Chris and Ray were back in their car, on their way back to the station. They hadn't said much to each other, each not believing what they'd seen and not wanting to mention it in case they were laughed at.
"Ray?" Chris finally said, deciding that he couldn't keep it to himself.
"What?"
"You know, back when we nearly hit the bo- Tyler with the car..."
"Yeah?" Ray snapped, not wanting to talk about it.
"And that other bloke grabbed him..."
"Yeah?"
"Did he... I mean... they looked a lot alike, din't they?" Ray took a long time to answer, and when he did, he dragged it out, as if reluctant to admit it.
"Yeah. they did. I mean, we didn't really see him too clearly." His voice speeded up, grasping onto an explanation.
"No we didn't." Chris agreed immediately.
"He was just wearing the bo- Tyler's jacket."
"Yeah he was. And it was pretty dark." Chris added, relieved to find an excuse for what he'd seen.
"Exactly. It must've been that Doctor." This is when Chris fell silent.
"What?" Ray asked, who'd been expecting him to agree again.
"Well... you know how you chased after them?"
"Yeah, and you followed."
"Well, I was having a bit of trouble with me seat belt-"
"What were you wearing a seat belt for?" Ray asked, surprised at him.
"The bo- Tyler wears one." Ray shook his head and gave Chris a look of contempt.
"Anyway." Chris said, trying to get out the rest of his story. "I was having trouble getting out of my seat, and I saw this man run the same way as them. He looked at the car. I saw his face in the headlights. It was the Doctor."
"So there's three of them in it?" Ray asked, feeling better. "Probably a relative of Tyler's. That's why they looked alike."
"Ray."
"What?"
"The Doctor disappeared."
"He ran off? Why didn't you chase him?"
"He didn't run off Ray. He disappeared."
"I don't understand."
"I mean, one second he was staring at me, the next there's nothing there, just empty space."
"Don't be a twat. You can't just disappear."
"But he did! I saw 'im do it."
"Then you're seeing things. Let's just get back to the station and tell the Guv we've lost 'em."
The Doctor slammed into a wall, unable to stop; barely realising he had been transported. It took a moment for him to register the side effects. There was slight ringing in his ears, a green afterimage of the alley in his eyes, and a hint of fizzy lemon in the air. He rubbed his eyes, stepped away and into the centre of the room, to get a better look of where he had been taken, ignoring the slight ache from his ribs, which didn't like sudden brick walls.
He was in the Lost And Found. He was a little surprised at this, but didn't question it. He headed for the door, but found it was locked. He pulled out the sonic, but the door still refused to budge.
When he turned back to the room, a little girl was sitting cross-legged on the table, in a red dress, holding a rather large clown doll. She was looking at him, expression calm and neutral.
"Hello." The Doctor said, unsure what to do. "You must be The Test Card Girl."
"You do realise you've ruined everything?" The Doctor blinked at her.
"Have I? Sorry about that. I don't suppose you'd tell me how I've ruined everything?" She bit her lip and tilted her head, as if considering it.
"I'll tell you if you answer my question." The Doctor raised his eyebrows.
"You want to interrogate me?"
"I want to ask you a question." She looked up at him, nothing even faintly malicious in her eyes. She looked for all the world like a normal child.
After considering his options, of which there were none, he nodded. She smiled, and sat down cross legged on the floor, clown in her lap. Gingerly, the Doctor sat down as well, facing her.
"What's the question?" The Doctor asked, deciding to play along for now. He sill wasn't entirely sure who or what she was, and if there was a chance of finding some more information, the Doctor was happy to try anything.
"Why does your Master look like Sam?" She asked, straightening the hem of her dress.
"I don't know." The Doctor told her. "Coincidence? They say everyone's got a twin. I'm a pretty good likeness for Casanova, if I say so myself. It's all very well saying there are an infinite number of different genetic variations in the human genome, but there are millions upon billions of humans. It's not that much of a stretch to say that one of them can mirror the physical characteristics of another humanoid. It's a bit more of a stretch to say that their paths could cross, especially when you factor in the temporal displacement of both of them, but, hey, it's a big universe."
The girl nodded, as if expecting this sort of response. The Doctor paused, waiting for her to ask what he was talking about, or at least to say something. After a moment he broke the silence.
"Who are you? What do you want with Sam Tyler?" The girl looked up at him, still calm and collected.
"I can get inside Sam's head, see all the thoughts and emotions he goes through here. When Your Master assumed Sam's identity, he took Sam's place, meaning I could see inside his head." She wrinkled her nose slightly. "I prefer Sam's. Your Master's head is very messy, and it's falling apart. Probably because of those drums, or whatever they really are."
"The drums?" She nodded.
"How can you hear the drums?" The Doctor asked, confused. The drums were a manifestation of The Master's madness, and therefore inaudible to anyone but him. They weren't real.
"If it's in his head, I can see it. I don't know what they are, because he doesn't know what they are. But!" She yelled suddenly, making the Doctor jump.
"That isn't important. You want to get back to your Master, and I want your Master gone. I let you find him, and you'll leave. Okay?"
"What about Sam? There must be a reason he's 33 years out of his comfort zone. What's he here for?"
"He's needed here."
"What for?" The girl's forehead creased, not understanding the question.
"He's a policeman. What are policemen ever needed for?"
"There are policemen here. Or, maybe you need alien police- I could signal a passing Judoon ship if you want." The Doctor ran a hand through his hair. She was right, he did want to get back to The Master, but he had to help Sam if he could, and he couldn't do that until he knew exactly what he was dealing with.
"No." The girl shook her head violently. "It has to be Sam."
"Why?" The Doctor asked, exasperated. But she didn't say anything else, just sat and stared at him. The Doctor was beginning to feel annoyed. "Look, I'm all for The Master and I leaving, God knows what kind of trouble he's causing without me, but I can't just leave Sam. He doesn't belong here. He wants to go home." He emphasised his last sentence, trying to appeal to the little girl's sympathy, but she just hugged her clown closer to herself and quietly watched him, waiting.
