Living Fiction

by emptyvoices

What happens when the two authors of Lost in Time and When the Stars Burn Out find themselves swept into the very world they only attributed as imaginary? The very creators of Sara Thomas and Penny Carter now must struggle for their own survival and sanity as they begin to find their fate not much different from their characters when facing the tenth Doctor. DISCONTINUED.

10. Monster

"We can't stay inside." Laura protested and Honor nodded in fervent agreement. The Doctor looked at his two charges with a frown. He had to get outside the TARDIS to investigate but he had to ensure Laura and Honor stayed onboard where they would be safe. There were far too many variables and they were still recuperating from their last misadventure with the Great Intelligence. Jack should never had let Laura out of the infirmary and he looked at the former time agent in reproof.

Oh, that man had wasted no time. First it was Martha but luckily his companion seemed to be able to hold her own where Jack was concerned and fend off his more serious advances. Her one mistake was to leave him alone with Laura. Despite the fact that she knew general aspects about Jack's history, she seemed to be unaware of how serious the time agent was when it came to seducing other women. From what his charge told him, Jack had asked to see her room. He shook his head uncertain of how to tell Laura of what his former companion had in mind to do with her once he got to her room. She seemed to think Jack was merely teasing and that he wasn't completely serious in his intent. Being alive for over a century had only made Jack's promiscuous nature that much more worse.

The Doctor took a deep breath. "You both still need to rest." He paused. "Maybe have something to eat. Honor just suggested whipping something up for the two of you." He knew neither Laura or Honor had been doing especially well regarding their appetites, which concerned him greatly. "I'll deadlock the TARDIS and-"

"Please don't leave us here." Honor pleaded. "You said you would listen to us."

The Doctor looked at her with concern. "I did." He paused as he tried to assess them. "What's wrong? What aren't you two telling me?"

"We can't." Honor replied glancing at Laura. "But we're not staying on here for the next five hours when…" Her voice trailed. "It's just not happenin'." She was adamant.

This put him in a difficult position as he ran his hand tiredly through his hair. In the interim, Jack spoke up. "Why don't I stay with them?" He suggested charmingly. Both Honor and Laura looked at him, their faces brightened. Surely they could convince him to eventually let them out.

"I know how to make a terrific filet mignon. It will give me time to get to know Laura and Honor better. Don't worry, I'm sure we'll work up quite the appetite to-"

"No!" The Doctor interrupted. He knew exactly what Jack had in mind even if his charges did not. Laura and Honor looked momentarily taken aback, staring at the Doctor. He tried to calm himself. "Let's try a compromise." He offered, knowing this might be a better solution. "A couple hours onboard. I'll deadlock the TARDIS and then I'll come back to check on you." He paused. "IF," He said that word with emphasis, taking measure to glance at Laura, "I see an improvement, you can accompany me if you promise not to leave my sight." He looked at Laura. "No loopholes this time. I expect you both to keep your word."

They both let out a perpetual sigh as Laura toyed with her hair, glancing at Jack who gave her a coy wink while mouthing a word. "Later." She blushed wondering if Honor saw it too but her friend at the moment was looking at the Doctor. "Guess it will do." She looked at Laura. "What do you think?"

Laura looked at her feet. He was clearly expecting them to eat while he was gone and that would be part of the price for their release from the TARDIS. To ensure they were starting to take care of themselves once again and briefly she scowled. Still, he wasn't forcing her back on the IV or locking her in the medbay again. All those things were something he could do but chose not to after Jack released her from the IV.

"Fine." She asserted. It was the only compromise they could hope for at the moment and the Doctor nodded briefly at both of them before leading Jack and Martha outside the TARDIS, deadlocking the doors behind them.

Honor and Laura were left in the quiet of the console room staring at one another.

"This is how it begins." Honor said, her tone muted. She was referring to the Master.

"It couldn't have been avoided." Laura leaned against the coral, her expression pained. "But I know one thing. We're both in it together. No matter what."

"Yeah…together." Honor asserted. She couldn't imagine what she would have done If she had been here alone. Probably go nuts. Without Kiley or her family, she might as well check herself into the looney bin herself. She took a deep breath as they started to make their way to the kitchens where Honor immediately bustled about pulling ingredients from the shelf.

"Can I help?" Laura asked.

"Well…" Honor paused, glancing back at her. "Anything in particular you want to eat? You tend to be the fussy one around here."

Laura winced. "Yes, I deserved that." She shrugged. "Ironically, I like British food. Meat pies, chicken, bangers, that sort of thing." She frowned. "I'm not sure how well it will go down."

"What about a chicken breast sandwich. Pretty simple. No seasoning. Sound okay? With a cup of tea?" Honor suggested. She had watched Laura make it and practiced brewing it herself, finding the task relatively simple.

"That might work but let me at least-"

"Sit." Honor ordered. "Doctor told me about your little blood transfusion.."

"That was an accident." Laura claimed.

"Been doing a lot of those." Honor paused. "The Great Intelligence for one…" Her voice trailed.

"I know." Laura's voice was filled with chagrin. "I brought those Sherlock episodes over. Got freaked out over a fictional character. I guess…" She started. "I guess it's better him then Freddy Kreuger, right?" She grimaced, knowing she had a friend who had been fearful of the actor who portrayed Freddy Kreuger. At the time, she didn't understand but now….if only she had a chance to tell the other girl that now she could empathize.

Honor chuckled. "Well, I would have to agree with you there. But Laura, it wasn't just your fault. Been watching the episodes too. Writing with you on him. He used that. It was an accident."

"But I had all these bad dreams about him lately. Never told anyone else. I just dismissed them."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Honor asked.

"Because at the time, they were silly. Stuff about being chased. He catches me and then my head is in agonizing pain. Last night, I dreamt he was trying to absorb our energy, somehow. Our power." Laura took a deep breath. "Just a nightmare, right?" She rubbed her forehead.

"Has to be." Honor reassured. "He's gone. We destroyed him."

"Yes…" Laura was lost in thought. In her dreamscape of an altered reality in which she was trapped and the Great Intelligence with those like him, using her, feeding off her energy like a leech. She couldn't cry out or tell anyone what he was doing. It was a darkened, altered world where one human didn't trust another. Just a dream. She thought. Only just a dream.

Food was suddenly placed before her and she stared at the chicken as if it were a foreign specimen while Honor took the seat across the table taking a bite of her steak.

"What's wrong?" Honor asked. "No chili powder, cumin, soy, I promise." She attested.

Laura looked at the poultry and then back at Honor disconcerted. She couldn't put a finger on what was wrong but right then she felt overwhelmed with the desire not to eat what was in front of her. So long had she denied herself food, sought that control that had been stripped from her that even though she knew she had settled on a compromise, she felt if she ate now, she would still lose. She grew dependent on regulating her food intake and without even knowing it she relished the feeling of power it gave her. And now…all she could do was look. Tense minutes passed by as she willed the fork in her hand to move to her plate. Dropping the utensil on the table with a clatter, she suddenly stood up from the table, backing away.

"I can't." Laura told Honor.

"What do you mean you can't?"

"Can't eat this." She was shaking her head. "I just…" Her voice trailed.

"I can make something else." Honor offered.

"No, it wouldn't matter." Laura turned away in desperation. "How could he be right? All this time? It can't be. It's not true."

"Right?" Honor repeated. "Right about what?"

"Having an eating disorder." Laura looked back at her friend. "I don't. I can't have one. It was fine. Other people were on crazy eating habits too. I was okay and then…"

"Wait…" Honor stopped her. "Hold on a minute. Don't panic. Don't let him start gettin' inside your head." She grabbed her friend's shoulders. "You went on multiple hunger strikes to try to get our freedom. Said your father did the same in the military when he was a POW. Maybe if you asked your Dad, it wasn't easy for him to start eating again. Took time." Honor paused. "Studied a bit at school. The body sort of going into starvation mode and partially shuts down. Freaks out a bit when you decide to eat again. It won't just happen."

"Then what will I do?" Laura protested. "The Doctor will check! He'll know unless we…" She thought for a moment. "Wait…why didn't I think of it before?"

"Of what?"

"We're alone. We have time to figure out the deadlocks." Laura supplied.

"You want to run away now?" Honor was dumbfounded.

"Not exactly. If we get out, we'll join the Doctor, Martha and Jack. Not running away if we join them." Laura took a deep breath. "If they ask, I'll say I had a bad dream and got to nervous to eat. Didn't want to stay here."

"But that's a-"

"Lie?" Laura asked. "It's not. You know it's not. Just haven't talked to him about them yet." She looked at Honor pleadingly. "You have to help me."

"He'll figure it out right quick you didn't eat." Honor's voice was flat.

"What will he do? Maybe give me a shot?" Laura told her. "I can…I can live with that."

"But I won't." Honor's voice was firm. "You have to tell him the truth. The full truth."

"I will." Laura said.

"When?" Honor knew how slippery Laura was with words.

"When this debacle with the Master is finished. After that, you have my promise I will tell him. Laura put her hand on her heart. "I swear to God."

Honor took a deep breath and nodded. "Guess I can understand waiting til after. But you are promising me this time. Not the Doctor, all right?"

"On the subject of promises," Laura started. "You need to promise me to let me know if you have anymore bouts of insomnia due to nightmares. Can't have either of us falling prey to bad habits, right?" She remembered how horrendously sick and pale Honor looked. It worried Laura deeply and she knew it lay heavily on the Doctor's mind.

"Guess we both have a deal." Honor said. "Shake on it?"

"More then that." Laura told her. "I found this in my room. Maybe the TARDIS wanted us to have them." After all they had lost, it was a touching gesture from the sentience. She held out two crucifixes affixed in delicate pink coral both with their names engraved on it. "I think this one is for you." She took Honor's hand, putting the necklace in the girl's palm. "We each wear one to remember the word we gave each other. This way we don't forget."

Honor looked up at her friend for a long time and finally smiled, wrapping her fingers around the chain. "Thank you." Her voice was filled with emotion.

Laura nodded, "You're welcome. We should go-oh, okay…" The brunette patted her friend on the back when Honor drew her into a tight hug. After a moment, the younger woman released Laura and rubbed her eyes hurriedly.

"Sorry, just…it's nice gettin' a gift from a friend, didn't mean to get all sappy on you. Probably doesn't help that I haven't hugged anyone in a while when I used to do it once or twice a day…like goin' into withdrawals." She laughed awkwardly as she continued to ramble nervously and fluffed the hair on the back of her head self-consciously. "S'posed to help preserve your mental health or somethin', but I just think they're nice. I'm a touchy feely sort of person…Anyway, you sure we should try to find the switches? What if we flip the wrong ones and blow up the universe? And even if we get out, what about the futurekind? I won't be able to outrun them, I don't think…"

"We can't stay here, Honor!" Laura exclaimed expression pleading. "You know that. If we stay in here, the Master will-"

"-So we leave before that! Some guys'll come lookin' for the TARDIS and pick it up for the Doctor, bring it to him. We'll wait until they come 'n' drop us off, then we'll just stick around the Doctor. Won't be anywhere near the fruit loop, I swear."

"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep," the older woman frowned.

"Well, it wasn't exactly a promise, 'cause we'll be around Yana, but we can be out of the room when he turns all fruity, if you know what I mean."

Laura sighed, "Right, well, it still can't hurt to know what switches undo the deadlocks, and I doubt flicking only a couple of switches at a time will blow up the universe, especially if we immediately flick them back again to turn them off."

"Well, I s'pose you're right," Honor mulled it over. "'Sides, we know the general section of the TARDIS console that they're on. It was at the same place that the Master did his 'hello' routine." She huffed out a laugh. "Even if he is off his rocker, that was pretty funny, especially that YouTube video remix of it." She paused with a flush. "Actually, now that I'm really thinking about it…I feel kind of creepy…Like I was stalkin' the whole cast of 'Doctor Who.'"

Laura grimaced. "Thousands, maybe even millions, of people were tuning into their life every single Saturday, writing fan fiction about them, and obsessing over them far more then we did." She remembered the custom posters and artwork she had seen in professor's offices at school. That didn't even scratch the surface of the sweatshirts that were handmade, TARDIS covers for cellphones, mp3 downloads and those imitating the clothing worn by the Doctor or his companions. She remembered in her Age of Information class when a presentation on Fan Fiction was given that the most popular combination of stories written put Dr. Who, Sherlock, Supernatural and Star Trek together at the exact same time. How do those even fit? Two of the shows, she knew were American in origin and one dealt with the biblical apocalypse. She gave a brief shrug. At this point, it hardly mattered trapped as they were in some alternate universe that months ago, they had only perceived to be fiction.

Honor rose an eyebrow. "Did you look at my other 'Doctor Who' fan fiction 'Good Enough?' That's creepy, because I actually met the people. Even worse than that, was some of the fan fictions I read. Do you know how many original characters shipped with the Doctor or companions and some of those fics I read over the span of two years? Far, far too many to be comforted by the fact I only actually wrote one and outlined plots to think about for later…especially since the Doctor could potentially just read my mind and see it and just know what I used to dinge read in my free time…super embarrassing. I don't think I could take the judgin', 'cause I know he'd judge me, oh man." She covered her flushed cheeks. "I hope he never, ever, ever finds out…or asks. Cripes, if he asks I can't even avoid the question, he'll just know. Oh man, oh man, I regret readin' those fics right now, I so do."

"Honor, it's….we all read some of those stories." Laura tried. "Do you know how I felt when he confronted me with 'Lost in Reality'?" She had collapsed not just because of potential paradoxes but out of sheer humiliation. "Talk about humiliation. All those bonding scenes. Sara and Lilly…." She paused taking a deep breath. "Just…don't think about it," Laura suggested weakly. "It'll be fine."

"No, it'll be just like that book I once read with the mind reader. The main character found out and tried not to think about anythin' embrassin' and just kept thinkin' about the word 'underwear', 'cause when you try not to think about somethin', you think 'bout it anyway." Honor looked at her friend. "Sides, you didn't see him with 'Lost in Reality'. I was there in the library when he finished readin'. He was…" Honor paused in reflection. "There was pain in his eyes. Looked as though he teared up. Mentioned Rose." Honor glanced at Laura. "I think he liked the idea of bonding with Rose that way."

Laura smiled faintly. "Well, if I ever talk to Amber again, I'll let her know." She paused. "But, you never know, he could be flattered, depending…besides, I don't think telepathy works that way."

"You sure?" Honor asked. The Doctor hadn't used telepathy on Honor….yet but he had compelled Laura on three occasions that she knew about. "What was it….the telepathy…was it like Sara's Doctor?" She remembered that description avidly. How exposed Sara felt when the Doctor forced his way into her thoughts but somehow Honor knew in comparison to the Great Intelligence, she likely would have preferred the telepathic touch of that Doctor if forced to decide. The agonizing pain was like nothing she had ever felt and she shuddered briefly in the memory.

Laura looked at her friend in sympathy. The Great Intelligence used his telepathy only for a matter of seconds to command her to sleep. While utterly painful, Honor had dealt with a longer, more prolonged attack by that monster. What other comparison did she have at present?

"Oh, no…Honor, it's nothing like the Great Intelligence or I think Sara's Doctor." Laura said reassuringly. "I mean, don't get me wrong. I don't like having it forced on me but it never hurt once when the Doctor compelled me." She paused in thought. "It felt…like the sea. Calm, tranquil and relaxing. Like I was floating." Laura shrugged. "That's about it really. I couldn't resist. Way too powerful." Laura frowned. "But then he made me not want to resist when he…" Her voice trailed. She remembered knowing that she should of fought him. That it was wrong but her defenses had been gently sapped away.

"Doesn't hurt…reassurin' at least there I s'ppose." Honor said but she still didn't like the idea of anyone entering her mind without her consent and her friend put her hand on Honor's arm.

"Well, I don't think anything will pop up," the Californian told her firmly. "Besides, he promised he wouldn't unless he has our consent or if our situation becomes life threatening."

"I hope you're right, because I don't want to explain that unpopular ship I like involving Eleven and Cleopatra…" She paused, a mortified look crossing her face. "Oh man, forget I said that! You heard nothing!" Honor strode hurriedly out of the room, embarrassed. "Let's go find those switches and forget I said anythin' 'bout that old hobby of mine. It never happened. Period."

Laura tried not to laugh, because she did feel bad for the embarrassed younger girl, but Honor's overreaction to a hypothetical situation was kind of funny. She quickly followed her friend out to the console room and found the red head on the lower level, edging around the room to get the right angle that she remembered from the show. She had indeed spent time analyzing the position of where the Master was for her story, 'Lost in Time'. "Hey, Laura? Did the Master flip the deadlock when he was old or young?"

"Well, technically he was always old…"

"Ha-ha," she laughed sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "No, seriously, Yana or Saxon?"

"Um, he'd do it as soon as he could, so I'd say Yana."

"Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright," Honor muttered as she edged around the room further, eying the jump seat and the railing with the foam on it. "I think it was either the first or second section next to the monitor in front of the railing…You know, I always thought this railing was super unstable, I know it's not, but it just the feel and appearance of it…. anyway, the switches should be here, I think…Maybe, possibly, hopefully…"

Laura eyed a set of black switched that were spaced out evenly along the first console section that Honor had indicated. She pursed her lips. "No wonder the Doctor has trouble driving, all the switches look the same! Just say 'enable A', 'enable B', 'disable A', and 'disable B.' Anyway, there are four sets of switches here, one of them…" She frowned. "…is completely ruined, the switches were snapped off, completely useless until he gets another set."

"So that only leaves, what, three of them? Well, try the…" Honor's voice trailed and she stared unseeingly into the air in front of her muttering to herself. "The one to the right of it was undamaged… So it can only be sets one, two, or three…" Louder she asked, "Um, which one's broken?"

"Set two and I know which one to flip if it's this set!" Quickly flipping the third set, the girls were gratified to hear two locks click. When they went to the door, however, it was still locked.

"Did he leave it unlocked?" Honor asked mystified.

"No, I'm definitely sure that I heard it lock behind him." Laura scowled at the door in front of her, thumping it once in displeasure before glaring down at the lock. "Of course it wouldn't be that…" Her voice trailed as she noticed the second lock mechanism attached to the first in such a way as to be unnoticeable if one wasn't looking closely. "…easy."

"What is it?" Honor asked peering over the slighter girl's shoulder.

"There's two locks, not just one but two," Laura reported dumbfounded.

The Minnesotan groaned, "He must've added it after reading 'Lost in Reality' or something. Didn't want us pullin' the same thing on 'im."

"That's explains why we heard the two clicks," the older girl realized. "Before, after the 'Lazarus Experiment,' when he caught us in the underground, there was only one actual click, not two."

"Before we came to an understandin', he must've added 'em to make sure we wouldn't run away, and then later decided that it was probably safer to keep it like that anyway."

"Some use that was, only half of it is unlocked and since it's deadlocked, we can't just unlock it manually…"

"That was clever," Honor muttered out loud. "Really clever. Reminds me of this post I found on Tumblr, 'bout how it was smart to get six locks and only lock three of them. 'Cause that way, if anyone else tried to unlock them, they'd assume that they were all locked and…" She trailed off once she caught sight of the growing look of comprehension on the other girl's face.

"…And then continually locked three while unlocking the other three, no matter how they did it," Laura breathed in realization.

"Oh, yeah, that's right. Did you also read that post?" Honor asked curiously. "I didn't know that you were on Tumblr too."

"I wasn't." The brunette turned to face the other girl. "But you know all the research I did for those stories and I just realized what the Doctor did. He rerouted the locking mechanism, the switches are reversed or something. When you flick them both, one is locking while the other unlocks."

"Oh, I hate that! Back at my grandparent's house there were two switches for the master bathroom lights. Inside the bathroom there were two buttons, one for the light and one for the fans, and in the bedroom there were three, one for the lights in the bathroom and two of the lights in the bedroom. Problem was, no matter which one you flicked, one of bathroom lights switches would always be in the 'up' position while the others would be 'down' when turned off. Always bugged me…Anyway, you think it's the same way here? That one of the switches is that way?"

"Can't hurt to try while we wait, now can it?" Laura asserted as she jogged back over to the console. "I'll try the first one, 'A', I'll switch it to 'enable'." There was a click, but as Honor tried to open the door, it was still locked. "Okay… I'll put 'A' back to 'disable' and 'B' to 'enable'…" Two clicks later, and Honor managed to successfully open the door.

"Oh, yes!" The red head whooped. "You're a genius! It totally worked!"

Laura sighed in relief, "For once, something is going our way." At least if anything went wrong…she briefly thought of the Time Lord Victorious and shuddered. For now, they had a card in their favor.

"Hey," Honor said suddenly. "Here comes our ride." Laura joined her at the door, and the two friends watched the truck draw closer to them. After a moment, they closed the door and flicked the switches back to their original positions at 'enable.' No use in getting the Doctor even more upset when he was about to face another and far larger crisis anyway.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Professor, tell the Doctor we've found his blue box," came the call over the radio.

"Ah!" Doctor called out in relief, setting down the gluten strings. "Well, that ends that worry."

"Doctor?" Jack said as he observed the fuzzy screen before him, setting down his clipboard. The Doctor let go of the large power cable he was holding, letting it dangle as he excitedly went over to join Jack. His good mood from finding such a wonderful human being increased exponentially at having his TARDIS and charges brought to the silo, safe and sound. As Yana joined him, the Doctor looked at him with a beaming smile.

"Professor, it's a wild stab in the dark, but I may have just found you a way out," the Doctor announced to Yana, patting him on the shoulder before walking away and muttering, "And have ended my worries about those two…" The elderly human didn't notice, gaze transfixed on the screen displaying a blue box and the sound of drums beating in his mind.

The Doctor went down to the cargo hold to meet the men there. He stopped them from carrying the box briefly and undeadlocked the door. He immediately opened it, completely relieved to find both girls unharmed and rather impatiently waiting in the console room.

"Well, at least they didn't get eaten by the zombies," Honor joked as she immediately exited the TARDIS without so much as a 'by your leave' with Laura close behind.

"Wait, just a moment, you can't just…" the Doctor sputtered, not having expected the immediate mass exodus from the time ship. He discreetly scanned her with the sonic, its tell-tale warble hidden by ambient noises.

"Sorry," Laura apologized. "It's just that I couldn't stay there any longer. I needed to get out, I-"

"-haven't eaten anything," the Doctor concluded as he brought up the sonic for examination. "Your electrolyte levels are low once again. I thought we-"

"I tried!" Laura cried. "I really did, but I just couldn't…" Her voice trailed off. "I'm sorry. I wasn't able to even take a bite. I don't know why…."

Her downtrodden expression was enough to make the Doctor soften a bit. He weighed the pros and cons of letting the two girls follow him around instead of remaining in the TARDIS, but eventually decided that there was little trouble they could get into as long as they stayed in the laboratory under his watchful eye. Besides, it made little sense in the long run to enforce the reminder of their limited freedom. Not to mention that it would be more trouble than it was worth to badger them at the moment. "Well, I will need you to try again later, if I let you stay. I can give you something to increase your appetite, and we'll start out small, take it from there, eh? For now, just stay close. It's easy to get lost in here."

The look of unadulterated relief on both of their faces nagged at the Doctor. What could be so bad about remaining on the TARDIS? Does something go wrong with the plan he had in mind? He hoped that there wouldn't be sparking that would cause a fire. Then again, maybe the futurekind had something to do about it. Honor had mentioned 'zombies.' Maybe if he hadn't demanded that the TARDIS (and, consequently, his charges) be retrieved, something would have happened with the time ship? But that didn't sound right either.

The Time Lord mulled it over the whole way back to the laboratory and as he connected the power cable with extra care. There didn't appear to be a problem over than his extra caution other then causing a delay in setting up equipment. "Jack, you're in charge of the retro feeds," he called out faintly, distracted.

Martha entered the room with Chantho close behind. "Oh," she sighed with relief. "Am I glad to see that thing! Means Honor and Laura are back too. Alright?"

"Yeah," Honor piped up on the other end of the room. "Could be asking you the same thing."

"We're doing okay. Bit of running, but when aren't we?"

"Chan, these are friends of yours, tho?" The Malmooth asked curiously. "Chan, I did not realize that more people had been found, tho." Then she noticed Yana sitting down in a chair, looking worse for wear. "Chan, Professor, tho! Chan, are you alright, tho?"

Honor and Laura exchanged glances, knowing exactly what was bothering the elderly man and precisely the contributing factor behind his headaches.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Everything had been going perfectly, exactly to plan. So it came as an unexpected and unwanted shock when everything started to go horribly, horribly wrong.

The room shuddered and a sound, a mixture of a fire and classic nuclear meltdown alarm, began to reverberate throughout the laboratory. "Oh no," Honor moaned. "It's startin', it's goin' to overload with radiation!" She jumped slightly when Jack rested a hand on her shoulder, but he wasn't paying attention, just listening to the alarm carefully. So was everyone else in the room, leaving Honor and Laura mystified that they would do actually do the exact same thing in real life as they would in the show.

"Don't just stand there!" Laura cried. "We need to do something!" Thought the Doctor said the show wasn't terribly accurate in parts. But at that point, that segment must have been done to accuracy.

That seemed to snap them out of a trance, Jack and the Doctor started to move to different parts of the laboratory, shouting out directions:

"Radiation's rising!"

"The chamber's going to flood."

"Jack, override the vents!"

"We've lost control! It's not going to work." Jack grabbed one power cable and yanked it out before doing the same to another one. "We can jump start the override!"

"No, Jack, don't! It's going to flare!" The Doctor warned, but it was too late. Jack brought the two live ends of the cables together and electrocuted himself. Honor and Laura shrieked at the suddenness. Even though they knew it would happen, the show never presented it how it was in actuality: the burns, the scent of burnt flesh, Jack seizing, the brightness of the flare. It was terrible to watch, even though they knew his death wasn't permanent.

"I've got him!" Martha hurried over to his side, ready to try to resuscitate him.

Chantho scrambled behind her to knock the live cables away, warning her, "Chan, don't touch the cables, tho."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Yana said mournfully, coming to kneel next to Chantho while the Doctor came to a stop next to his charges by the TARDIS.

Not even wasting a minute, he asked, "The chamber's flooded with radiation, yes?"

Yana answered despondently, "Without the couplings, the engines will never start. It was all for nothing."

"Oh, I don't know." He stepped forward and went to his companion's side. "Martha, leave him."

"You've got to let me try!" she protested as the Doctor took hold of her and dragged her away from the fallen captain. Martha began to struggle.

"Come on, come on, just listen to me," the Time Lord coaxed. Getting her attention and looking her straight in the eyes, he told her, "Now leave him alone." Satisfied that she wouldn't misguidedly try to give Jack the 'kiss of life', he then continued to observe the man playing possum. "It strikes me, Professor, you've got a room which no man can enter without dying. Is that correct?"

The old man gave a bitter laugh, "Yes, unfortunately."

"Well," the Doctor drew out as Jack gasped and panted loudly, obviously not dead but a little worse for wear from the stunt he had pulled. Martha eyed Jack wide eyed as the Doctor casually took off his glasses. "I think I've got just the man for the job."

"Was someone kissing me?" Jack asked with a cocky smile while Martha let out a surprised laugh.

Honor let out a tense breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Shakily, she joked, "He's a modern-day sleeping beauty, how shocking." Laura hit her once in the arm and Honor raised her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, bad joke, sorry. But Walt Disney would be proud, just saying."

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Laura and Honor begged to go with the Doctor while Jack fixed the power couplings in the radiation soaked room, which he had been none to graciously volunteered for. Jack didn't seem to mind but the Doctor was concerned about the girl's reactions since they never quite so avidly sought his company.

"Might be safer if you stay with Martha and-"

"No." Honor was adamant.

"Why?" The Doctor looked at her. "What's wrong?" Honor only grimaced and the Doctor turned to the other girl. "Laura?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I…" Laura paused. "I had these nightmares." She swallowed. "Please…don't leave us alone here to…" Her words trailed, her skin was pale.

The Doctor sighed, shaking his head. "Alright." She put his hand into the pocket of his coat removing an object. "First things first." He beckoned Laura towards him and she approached him with hesitation.

"What?" She started. "I've told you the truth and I…" She gave a slight flinch when he took her arm and rolled up her sleeve.

"I can't have you passing out again." The Doctor told her as he removed the cap on a syringe. "Especially not down there. In the short term, this will help."

Laura nodded and only winced briefly as the needle pierced her skin. "Will it…? My appetite?"

"A little. I'll start a proactive treatment once we're finished here and back onboard the TARDIS." He stated. Honor looked away at those words and he examined his charge carefully. Why weren't they being open with him? Hadn't they reached a compromise? Didn't he promise he would listen to them?

He sighed, knowing he was still working on the Family of Blood. The process of reversing what he did was not an easy task and even if it was considered the more merciful option then what he had attempted to do, he detested the concept of destroying them outright. At the moment, he managed to get them back onto the TARDIS and put them in a time lock until he could work out a solution. However, he doubted that telling his two charges they were frozen in a moment of time would be an improvement. No. He would find a remedy and when it was completed, then he would let Laura and Honor know what became of the Family of Blood.

The Doctor and Jack led the way down the corridor to the room in question with the girls trailing behind, whispering quietly to themselves. Despite his ability to hear their nearly inaudible words, they seemed to have adopted a form of code around him. Their use of pronouns was non-specific and he grit his teeth in frustration. He assured himself, he would have a proper talk with both of them when they returned to the time machine.

In the meantime, Jack got to work in the room as the Doctor acted as a guide while they conversed. It became especially painful when Jack started to bring up Rose. The Doctor closed his eyes remembering the girl he loved and lost. She had been stripped from him just as she decided to definitively choose to spend the rest of her life with him. There were so many possibilities. All the places he was still planning to take her. He was never able to finish saying how he truly felt about her. She knows. She has to know. He pressed his lips together.

"Everything she did was so human." The Doctor told Jack, thinking of Satellite Five. "She brought you back to life but she couldn't control it. She brought you back forever." He smiled softly. "That's something, I suppose." That was just another reason he loved her so deeply. "The final act of the Time War was life."

Laura was moved by a sudden surge of pity. She remembered the scenes that were written in 'Lost in Reality' but had been uncomfortable with the bonding that took place between the Doctor and Rose considering the circumstances. To be thrown into that situation…she shivered, wondering what she would do if that happened to her. Fortunately, if there was one positive thing in this universe, bondings such as in 'Lost in Reality' didn't happen here. Certainly Time Lords married. She had seen the episode with the marriage of the Doctor and River Song but there must be no telepathic bond. At least, not to the extent that Amber devised.

No puerile bonds either although she certainly didn't think Time Lords made a practice of penetrating the core of someone's mind. She remembered how Sara became catatonic and was trapped in her own perpetual hell after the Valeyard created the paradox. I won't let that happen.

Still, she remembered the pain the Doctor suffered from what she and Amber had written. How devastated he was when he lost someone to whom he was bonded to. Perhaps after so many centuries of being alone, to find a girl, even a human with a fleeting life span, only to have her snatched away after two brief years….the agony must have been excruciating.

And he'll do it again…he'll let her go again. Laura thought.

"Do you think she could change me back?" Jack asked.

"I took the power out of her." The Doctor shook his head, looking more weary and grief stricken then ever. "She's gone, Jack. She's not just living in a parallel world, She's trapped there. The walls have closed."

There was a silence before Jack spoke. "I'm sorry."

The Doctor frowned. "Yeah." He took a deep breath, attempting to reign back in his emotions. He had a job to complete. It wouldn't do to dwell on Rose at the moment. Who knows? She just might have started to move on. Might have found someone else. A human she could start to love. He would want that for her. For Rose to be happy.

"I'm sorry too." Laura said suddenly and the Doctor glanced over at her.

"I thought you understood…" He started. "Your stories…"

She gave a brief shrug. "I…a lot of it…the bonding was Amber. I didn't understand with all the centuries you lived, you could really fall in love like that and…" Laura's cheeks became crimson and she glanced at Honor. "I'm sorry. I don't really write romances…it's….well…I lost someone too, years ago and then after the attack, I sort of turned that part of me off." Laura bit her lip. "Maybe that's why I had trouble relating…" Her words trailed. She was just sticking her foot in her mouth.

The Doctor glanced at her introspectively. "Maybe you understand better then you give yourself credit for." He glanced over at Honor who had taken the liberty of unceremoniously collapsing to a sitting position on the floor.

"Doing alright over there?"

"Me?" Honor asked. "Just fine. Tired is all but what else is new?"

"You said you both were having bad dreams?"

"Don't want to talk about it now." Honor declared.

"Fine." The Doctor looked at Jack. "But, I expect answers when we're back on the TARDIS."

"Okay." Honor agreed easily. "You'll get all the answers you want on the TARDIS."

"Could I get that in writing?" The Doctor muttered sarcastically.

"This new regeneration," Jack started. "He's kind of cheeky."

"You have no idea." Laura replied and Jack flashed his most charming smile at her. "Rude but not-"

"Ginger." Honor finished. "He always wanted to be ginger, didn't he?"

"I definitely need to get to know your charges better when I'm done here, don't I?" Jack was looking at both Laura and Honor.

"Oh don't you start." The Doctor said warningly. It was hard enough that the Captain felt wrong to him and the TARDIS leapt through billions of years to get away from him. Of course, he didn't mean to be prejudiced. It wasn't Jack's fault what happened but the smell of the Captain was entirely wrong. He was never meant to live forever like this. Even with the girls being what they were, their lifespans weren't as limited….he looked at his charges, closing his eyes. He hadn't told them yet about those circumstances. He needed to at some point. How the rapidly accelerated artron in their cells since triggered in the void and now in his universe, it wasn't just their abilities that were affected.

Later. He thought. Jack had made the final connection of the cables preparing the silo for launch.

"Yes!" The Captain exclaimed.

"Now get out of there!" The Doctor urged. "C'mon!"

Jack wasted no further time and the Doctor hastily urged them to the control room where he ran about flicking switches, checking with the Lieutenant to see if they were ready to launch.

Suddenly Martha came hurrying in and the girls exchanged a nervous glance of foreboding.

The Doctor looked at her with a grin, appearing excited as he pointed to the monitor. "Ah, nearly there. The footprint, it's a gravity pulse. It stamps down, the rocket shoots up. Bit primitive. It'll take the both of us to keep it stable."

"Doctor, it's the Professor. He's got this watch. He's got a fob watch. It's the same as yours. Same writing on it, same everything." Martha looked at the Doctor, her eyes wide.

"Don't be ridiculous." The Doctor scoffed.

"No. I asked him. He said he's had it his whole life." Martha protested.

Immediately Honor reached out for Laura's hand, which she took. They both knew far too well what this meant.

"So he's got the same watch." Jack tossed off casually.

"Yeah, but it's not a watch." Martha attempted to explain. "It's this chameleon thing."

"No, no, no, it's this, this thing, this device, it rewrites biology. Changes a Time Lord into a human." The Doctor was starting to get nervous. Could this mean…?

"And it's the same watch."

"It can't be." He was struggling to come to terms with this information and glanced at his charges that seemed to be offering each other consolation. His eyes narrowed. They had known something was wrong with the professor all along, which would explain why they didn't want to stay. They were in fear of him.

In the distance an alarm started to sound near the controls.

"That means he could be a Time Lord. You might not be the last one." Jack immediately reasoned, looked at the Doctor distractedly.

"Jack, keep it level!" The Doctor was referring to the gravity pulse they were working on. One wrong move…

"But that's brilliant, isn't it?" Martha asked, looking optimistic. The Doctor was so lonely because he was the last of his kind. Maybe now if one was still alive, he wouldn't feel so alone.

The Doctor inhaled through his nose. "Yes, it is." He mused wryly. "Course it is. Depends which one. Brilliant, fantastic, yeah. But they died, the Time Lords. All of them. They died."

Laura shuddered briefly reminded of the internal monologue that was made during the rise of the Time Lord Victorious. The Doctor reflected on the very same words to rationalize his assuming that title.

"Not if he was human." Jack assessed and the Doctor turned on Martha, looking at his companion intensely.

"What did he say, Martha? What did he say?" He advanced on her and the girl looked taken aback by the abruptness in his words. She drew herself together once more.

"He looked at the watch like he could hardly see it." Martha tried. "Like that perception filter thing."

"What about now?" The Doctor asked in desperation. What had he done? "Can he see it now?"

Martha looked stunned. "He…I'm sorry." She shook her head while the Doctor suddenly turned to his charges.

"You two," He started. "Tell me what you know, now."

Laura glanced at Honor and then back at the Doctor. "I tried to tell in sickbay and before…didn't want to be around for-"

"Utopia." The Doctor stared at them with growing realization. The missile was starting to launch towards that very promised location. Words echoed in his mind. Yana. YANA. You Are Not Alone. The Face of Boe tried to tell him before.

"Doctor." Lieutenant Atillo's voice echoed over the speaker. "We'll see you in Utopia."

"Good luck." The Doctor answered without taking his eyes off his charges and at once went forward taking hold of both their hands as he proceeded to maneuver them and the rest of his party out of the control room. The door slammed shut in his face.

He dropped his grip on them and glanced at Jack. "Help me get it open!" Both were working on the door as he glanced at the girls.

"You know who he is, don't you." It wasn't even a question. Thoughts ran quickly through his mind. "He escaped the Time War and…" His voice trailed as he remembered Laura's protest to him when he started to leave the library.

'Then let us go. At least for a few weeks. That can't be too much to ask. The Master…' He had let the matter drop thinking Laura was simply using his friend's death as a goad to him but now. Oh now, it was different. The Master had never been right to begin with and if he was here…

"Got it!" Jack exclaimed. The door opened. "This way!" Everyone started to run towards the laboratory.

Future-kind was in the building and the girls knew they were heading to their location.

"Professor!" The Doctor exclaimed at the door of the laboratory. "Professor, let me in!" He rammed his hands against the door urgently. "Let me in!" He turned to Jack. "Get the door open now!" Jack was still using his sonic on the door as the Doctor continued to try to reason with the occupant inside.

"They're coming!" Martha warned as they heard the encroaching footsteps of future kind.

"Open the door, please! I'm begging you, professor! Listen to me." He was breathing hard. "Just open the door, please."

"Enough." Jack said, smashing the control panel. The door opened as the girls witnessed the professor or the Master stepping into the TARDIS, carrying the jar with the Doctor's hand with him. For a moment, his eyes locked on theirs and he inhaled, than fully climbed onto the time machine, at once shutting the door on the Doctor.

The Doctor rushed up to use his key but both Honor and Laura knew it wouldn't work. The Master had access to the controls inside and knew how to use them. His voice echoed outside the TARDIS.

"Deadlocked." He said.

"Let me in!" The Doctor protested. "Let me in!"

"She's dead." Martha was referring to the professor's assistant and Honor averted her eyes not wanting to see another death directly in front of her. Beth was difficult enough. Both Laura and Honor didn't risk interceding to save the assistant's life. They didn't want to risk anything upsetting the paradox. The Master had to take the TARDIS as he was meant to. At least they weren't trapped inside it.

In the meantime, Jack was attempting to hold the door closed to the lab from future-kind and he took a deep breath. "I broke the lock. Give me a hand!"

The girls immediately assisted the captain, pressing their weight against the door as the Doctor continued to plead with the Master.

"I'm begging you! Everything's changed. It's only the two of us! We're the only ones left!" He wasn't bringing up Laura and Honor. "Just let me in."

They could barely hold the door closed to future kind and they it wouldn't last but suddenly they were struck by the glow emanating from inside the TARDIS.

"Regenerating." Honor gasped. "The Master is…"

"Doctor!" Jack shouted. "You better think of something!" The door was starting to give way.

"Now then, Doctor."

Laura inhaled at the sound of the Master's voice as it echoed around the room as she continued to struggle to assist Jack.

"Ooo, new voice." The Master seemed to relish the novelty. "Hello." He tried in one voice and then switched to a higher pitch. "Hello." The smirk in his tone was clear. "Hello." His voice deepened. "Anyway, why don't we stop and have a nice little chat and I tell you all my plans and you can work out a way to stop me, I don't think." His sarcasm was clear.

"Hold on." Martha exclaimed as she pressed against the door with Laura and Honor. "I know that voice."

"You would." Honor said leadingly.

"I'm asking you really properly." The Doctor tried. "Just stop. Just think."

"Use my name." It was a command.

"Master." The Doctor paused. "I'm sorry."

"Tough." The Master returned. "Want to make amends? Your two lovely companions." Honor and Laura froze knowing the Master was referring to them. "What are they? You know I could smell them."

"No one." The Doctor tried. "Minor anomalies. Nothing of interest to you."

"I don't think so." They heard the sound of the TARDIS engine starting the background. "Until next time Doctor."

"I can't hold out much longer, Doctor!" Jack shouted as the time rotor started to activate. Immediately, the Doctor removed his sonic, aiming it at the TARDIS in his attempt to stop the Master.

"Oh no, you don't!" The Master said gleefully. "End of the universe. Have fun. Bye, bye!"

"Doctor, stop him!" Martha protested. "Help us. They're getting in!"

The Doctor could only stare in momentary shock as his beloved TARDIS dematerialized leaving them all behind billions of years in the future.

Seconds later he moved, heading directly to Jack, grabbing hold of his arm as he aimed his sonic at the vortex manipulator.

"What are you doing?" Jack looked astounded. "I told you, that thing has been broken for years. The circuits were fried and-"

"That's because you didn't have me." The Doctor was working feverishly. He had to amplify the muon output to transport beyond the usual capacity for the vortex manipulator, forcing it to carry five instead of three. The trip, needless to say would be unpleasant but as a Time Lord, it was well within in capability.

"Done!" He exclaimed. "Honor, Martha, Laura, give me your hands."

Immediately, they placed theirs on top of his and just as the door came open the five of them found themselves painfully jolted and compressed as they were launched backwards in time through the vortex. They couldn't breathe or even see and seconds later when they found themselves in an alley, they collapsed. Honor and Laura rubbed their heads as Martha leaned against the building breathing hard.

"We made it." Martha said weakly.

"Time travel without a capsule." The Doctor leaned over. "That's a killer." He cracked his neck as he righted himself, looking at his charges. He was uneasy about taking care of either one of them without his ship available and at the moment he didn't have his med kit. He had used the last vial that he had on his person to give to Laura thinking he would be able to resupply once back onboard. Then there was Honor with her asthma. True. His treatment was further advanced then the barbaric practice of using steroids to treat inflammation but that also required a schedule of injections in order to successfully end her condition. He had meant to discuss it with his charge but when Jack Harkness had gotten onboard and the girl's recent compromise, he thought it best to wait.

Now he needed to be on alert. He knew the Master was nearby. He could sense it. They eventually started to walk down the street and Jack argued the merits of his vortex manipulator while the Doctor said it was only because of him that made it possible.

"Then, how are we going to find him?" Martha asked, referring to the Master.

"I'll know him. The moment I see him. Time Lords always do." The Doctor claimed.

"But hold on, if he could be anyone…" Martha paused. "We missed the election." She took a deep breath. "But it can't be."

They stood to watch the large television in the center of the square as it announced that Mr. Saxon was returning from the palace and was back at headquarters.

"Lucy." Laura looked at the woman accompanying the Master with a degree of pity.

"You both knew the Master was here since you arrived." The Doctor looked at them.

"We couldn't tell you." Honor said, immediately defensive. "If we told you and you didn't go all those billions of years into the future-"

"It would be a paradox." The Doctor concluded. "The Master." He repeated. "And his wife…" His voice trailed in surprise looking at Lucy. "That's him. He's prime minister. The Master is Prime Minister of Great Britain." He looked completely dumbfounded.

"This country has been sick." The Master was speaking to the reporters. "This country needs healing. This country needs medicine. In fact, I would go so far as to say what this country really needs right now is a doctor." He smiled and to those that knew him, it came across directly as a leer.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"We can't go to Martha's house." Honor felt it safe to release that amount of information. "They have it rigged with explosives. Know she'll be there."

"What?!" Martha exclaimed. "What about my family?" She turned on the girls. "I need to call them and…"

Laura shook her head. "If you do, they'll try to warn you. You're parents, sister and brother will be hunted down for sure and locked up." She looked at the companion sympathetically. "Don't tip them off. I know you want to. I would too but it will make things worse for them. I swear."

"Okay." Martha breathed. "Alright." She tried to think clearly, her stomach in knots. "Doctor, what do we do?"

"Fish and chips." The Doctor answered. They all looked at him surprised. "We all need to eat." There was a supply store next to the restaurant they were close to. If his charges were right, then the Master anticipated their arrival back in the time period. But why wasn't he able to sense him before his rise to power as Prime Minister. Laura and Honor knew but he was left in the dark.

"They're goin' to be looking for us." Honor said. "All of us."

"I have something in mind for that." The Doctor said as they ventured inside and sat down at the table. When the server appeared, they started to order even though no ones mind was on food. Laura in particular was the most reluctant and she looked at the Doctor pleadingly. "No." She tried. "Don't make me eat this." She tried fish and chips in London with a normal appetite, finding the meal greasy and distasteful. "It won't-"

"A small combination plate for her." The Doctor interrupted and sighed. "I'm sorry, Laura. You have to try."

She looked at him resentfully before lapsing into silence as she clutched the crucifix around her neck. When the meal arrived, the Doctor ate hurriedly before looking at Martha and Jack. "I need to fetch a few supplies just next door. With the keys to the TARDIS, I can make filters that can help us stop the Master but I need you to watch things here until I get back. Shouldn't take long."

"Yeah, alright." Despite what the Doctor and the girls said, Martha was itching to call her family. At least just her brother. If she could warn one of them of the impending danger….it was better then nothing. Jack volunteered to go outside to sweep the proximity for added security.

Left inside the restaurant with just Martha, Laura and Honor thought of their stories still accessible on the TARDIS database. Did the Master access them? Know what they were? Was that why he made that crack to them about knowing what was about to occur with Dr. Lazarus? The episodes were gone but the stories…still, even if he read them, Laura closed her eyes. Maybe he would just think like the Doctor did. It was an alternate timeline. Perhaps he never even saw them and only approached them because of the time energy they carried.

"Laura, you need to try to eat." Martha informed her and Laura sighed as she forced herself to pick up a fork. This was going to be a painful experience. She was certain of it.

Suddenly, the smell of gas permeated the restaurant and they looked at each other.

"Wait, you smell that?" Martha started. "It's-"

Canisters were thrown inside and all at once they were blinded by the thick smoke that was everywhere. No one knew which way to run. The exits weren't visible. All they could hear was each other screaming and at once Laura cried out as arms wrapped around her. She struggled as another set of hands clamped down on her elbows and then her feet. She was being carried out of the restaurant, her eyes burning as she tried to blink to clear her vision.

"Targets acquired." A woman's voice stated. "Martha Jones escaped."

"Get off me!" Honor shouted. "Let go! Take your hands off-" Her voice was muffled and Laura could dimly see her friend as she was being hauled to the back of a transport van. She felt cuffs slide on her own wrists as a gag was put in place. The Doctor can't hear us scream. Laura thought dimly as she found herself in darkened interior, chained inside with a guard for good measure. Was this it? Were they going to be dragged towards their impending execution just as the Master intended to execute Martha publically on the Valiant?

We won't forget. We'll never forget. Laura thought. We'll die there before the paradox machine activates and that's it. My family…Would her family even remember her? Know she was missing or was she simply written out of their existence? She looked at her friend and down at the crucifix around her neck. They both knew there was only one thing they could do at this moment.

Pray.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Martha coughed as she stumbled through the small restaurant. Instead of going out the front like her original goal was, she went out the back via side door, having been completely flipped around. The smell of the gas was simply nauseating and she gagged, thankful that she hadn't touched any of the fish 'n' chips. It would've just come back up if she had.

She stumbled along the alley, hand shakily supporting her as she exited it. She could only watch helplessly as both Honor and Laura were both loaded into the back of a police vehicle. Cars with tinted windows being driven by armed government agents escorted it quickly away and out of sight.

Legs no longer able to support her, Martha fell to her knees. It was almost like they knew, she thought to herself. Like they were watching and merely biding their time. Her ears rang loudly and she swallowed hard, throat dry from the coughing caused by the smoke screen. It started to set in.

That would've been her family if she had called. The girls had warned her, and in return, they were the ones apprehended. It wasn't fair.

Jack was kneeling in front of Martha, shaking her shoulders. Only when he started to click his fingers inches away from her and saying her name loudly, did Martha snap out of it. "Martha, what happened?"

"Some soldiers threw gas in the restaurant, they got Honor and Laura, drove off with them. It's like they knew when you and the Doctor weren't inside. They waited until the three of us were alone!" Martha explained earnestly. "There was a smoke screen, couldn't see a thing, could barely breathe."

"Not your fault," Jack assured her. "I was just behind the building." He paused in regret. "Couldn't get back in time to…" He grimaced. "Saxon obviously waited until he could easily separate the girls. He might be watching us right now, we can't stay here." He eased Martha up to a standing position "C'mon, we need to tell the Doctor what happened and plan our next move." Hurriedly, they ran across the street and into the store. The two of them systematically searched the first and second floor only to turn up empty.

They eventually found the Doctor at the lower level of the shop, critically examining several lengths of wire. He looked up as they approached him, his face morphing from surprise to concern in a split second. "What is it?" He asked, turning to face them. His eyes searched their faces and then looked for his charges. "Where's Honor and Laura? Did they…?" The Time Lord grimaced, already reaching for his sonic screwdriver. He didn't want to think that they had run away again, especially so soon after the compromise they had reached, but their track record left a lot to be desired.

"No," Jack said quickly, face grim. "It's worse. Your friend decided to have them kidnapped instead."

"They threw some canisters in the restaurant, gassed us, couldn't see a thing," Martha added. "Trouble is, I think they were waiting for you to leave. They knew exactly where we were."

The Time Lord's face paled as he looked between the two of his companions. "No," he whispered. This news spoke of trouble on a level bigger than either Martha or Jack fully realized yet. If the Master found out who the girls were, if he looked on the files stored in the TARDIS…Worse yet, if he somehow accessed the ghosted files of the stories the girls made, putting two and two together. Things were going to get very ugly, very quickly.

He wanted to be angry at Martha and Jack. It would've been easier than accepting this was his fault, and he knew that the two humans in front of him were already kicking themselves. However, the blame belonged to him alone, and he knew it. The girls were his responsibility and should not have been left alone, not with anyone, regardless of trust. He should've sent Jack to get the supplies. He should've waited before running the errand. They should've all went to get the supplies first. So many options, so many things that he should've done.

"We need to find them, now," the Doctor asserted, moving to go past his companions. "Which direction did the vehicle go in?" Turning to Martha urgently, he asked, "Phone? I can use it to-"

"Doctor," Jack interrupted cautiously. "We can't go after them now."

The Time Lord whirled around, "And why not? Out of the question leaving them to the Master! If he found out about their Time Lord heritage, their mutated DNA structure alone…" He drew in a deep breath of air. This was what he feared and why he insisted the girls remained with him. To protect them from people like the Master who might put the entire universe at risk. "If he finds out that they're from a parallel universe…" It horrified him to even conceive the notion. His friend was insane and having just regenerated, he didn't seem to take any regard for the rules of time. The paradoxes alone that he could create with the information inside the girls' minds. He swallowed hard at the thought.

"Doctor," Martha started. "That's all speculation right now, and the Master probably doesn't even have time for them. Not with the press conferences he's holding."

"And anyway, how are you going to get to them?" Jack added. "They're obviously going to be put under heavy guard and even using stealth, we are high on the threat list. Saxon probably has all his staff on the lookout for us. With everyone on, not just red but also, maroon alert, we won't even be able to get close to where they are being held. Can't help them if we get captured ourselves, right?"

They were right, the Doctor realized with some reluctance. He couldn't afford to lose his head now. Honor and Laura were gone and currently being held where he couldn't reach them. Being rash wasn't going to improve their situation.

Taking in a deep breath, he released a heavy sigh while closing his eyes to muster up the necessary determination to return to the task that he had previously occupied him. Getting the supplies had cost him his charges, the Doctor would be damned if he ended up not retrieving what he needed to stop the Master, and thereby reclaiming the very girls he promised he would protect.

"Jack, I need you to help me find an eight pin chip, three of them. Well, five, actually…might be useful to have a couple of spares. Martha, a ball of twine would be nice, also still need to borrow your phone…thank you. Now, I just need to decide which ceramic capacitor to use." Truth was, the Doctor had already decided on the twenty-five volt orange ceramic capacitors for their high stability and low losses for resonant circuit application for what he needed to accomplish. He just needed some time to formulate a rescue mission to coincide with his original plan in his attempt to subvert the Master's plan.

A plot that involved a four note beat.

Frowning, the Doctor recreated said four-note beat: ta-ta-ta-tap, ta-ta-ta-tap, ta-ta-ta-tap… He was missing something. Something that involved the four-note beat, how he wasn't able to detect the Master sooner, and what surely was lightly telepathic integrating itself into all human minds to simulate the action. He didn't realize how the Master was able to use his hypnosis on such an exponential level. The power and precise control it would take to orchestrate this was considerable…it shouldn't be readily possible, not with a Time Lord on his own and not without outside assistance. Technology that made such a feat possible. The Master had always been stronger telepathically then he was since before the Time War but he had been out of practice for decades since he lingered in the state of being human. The Doctor swallowed thinking of this disadvantage in his upcoming confrontation. Regardless of his time ensconced in another identity, could the Master exert so much power on a global scale? He shook his head. It was just another bit of the puzzle.

He plucked a pack of five capacitors from the box. One thing at a time, he warned himself. Can't afford to make mistakes, not now. Biting the inside of his cheek in deep thought, the Time Lord wandered off to go find his companions when the phone he was holding vibrated. A brief cursory glance revealed it to be 'Saxon,' the Master was calling.

"Doctor."

"Master."

The other Time Lord gave a sort of half laugh, "Oh, I like it when you say my name."

"You're the one who chose it…a psychiatrist's wet dream…"

"Like yours is much better, 'the Doctor,' the man who makes people better," his tone was mocking. "Tell me, are you going to try to 'fix' me too? Try to save me? I may be a megalomaniac, but at least I'm not insincere about it, Mr. Vainglorious."

The Doctor scoffed. "Speaking of names, what are those creatures? Because the Toclafane are just a myth, might as well have called them the Shakri. It's just a made up name, like the Bogeyman."

"Oh, but, Doctor, there's far more than just seven of them!" The Master laughed. "Fairy tales are sometimes based on the truth, Doctor. Time Lords, Gallifrey, we became legends! But all legends have an origin…where is it, Doctor?"

The Doctor swallowed hard. "Gone."

"Gone? What do you mean 'gone?'"

"It burned." He looked down in shame as he paced down the store aisle.

"And the Time Lords?"

"Dead," the Doctor answered with a finality that brooked no argument. "And the Daleks…more or less. What happened to you?"

"I was only resurrected because the others knew I'd be the perfect warrior for a Time War…I was there when the Dalek Emperor took control of the Cruciform. I saw it, and I ran. I ran so far. Made myself human so they would never find me, because…I was so scared."

"I know," the Doctor murmured as Martha and Jack approached him. He motioned for their silence before reaching out with the hand that still held the capacitors, offering it to Jack for him to take. Jack took both the capacitors and the twine to take to the cashier as the Doctor continued his phone conversation, walking out of the store with Martha close behind.

"All of them?" Came the incredulous question after a short and tense silence. "But not you… which must mean-"

"I was the only one who could end it," the Doctor cut in hurriedly. "And I tried. I did, I tried everything." He was all but pleading for forgiveness for what he had done. But the Master wasn't interested in pseudo-apologies.

"What did it feel like, though?" He purred, seemingly in awe of the idea. "Two almighty civilizations burning. Oh, tell me, how did that feel?"

"Stop it!" The Doctor demanded, not having expected this reaction. He thought he would've gotten hate, understanding, pity, or anger, but not this.

"You must have been like God."

"You don't realize, I've been all alone ever since…but not anymore. Don't you see? There's just you and me-"

"And your lovely girls. Honor and Laura, was it? Maybe we could go on a double date. Which one do you want? I know you've always had this dodgy obsession with being ginger-"

"Stop it. Don't touch them."

"Ooh, so possessive. What's the phrase? 'Sharing is caring,' Doctor, and I can hear you caring on the other side of this phone…"

"Please, Master, you could stop this right now. We could leave this planet. We can fight across the constellations and bring your wife, Lucy, along too, if that's what you want, but not on Earth and not with them," the Doctor insisted, attempting bribery at this point.

There was a lengthy pause. "Hmm…too late."

"Why do you say that?" He asked apprehensively as Jack exited the store, joining both him and Martha who were seating on a bench. The Doctor removed his TARDIS key and set it pointedly beside him before gesturing at both of his companions then at the key. They began to dig in their pockets as the Doctor listened intently for the answer.

"The drumming. Can't you hear it? I thought it would stop, but it never does. Never ever stops. Inside my head, the drumming, Doctor. The constant… drumming." The Doctor paused in his hurried but mostly quiet work as he cradled the cell phone on his shoulder. He frowned in thought, wondering if the drumming that the other Time Lord had heard, even as a human, was a part of his madness. But if that was the case, there would be more indicators of this imbalance when he was Yana, however, it appeared that the noise was one only the Master could hear. Maybe it was something fixable, reversible.

Perhaps it was a subjective form of chronic tinnitus, one that did not go away with regeneration, in which case made this a psychological or possibly prevalent neurological problem. The Doctor was betting on the former, as the origin of this drumming noise was gazing into the vortex. But even if it was merely neurological, it would still require the same treatment: possibly surgery. Tinnitus restructuring and medication was delicate work and his options at the moment were few. He couldn't exactly haul the Master into his med-bay without the TARDIS.

"I could help you," the Doctor realized, unconsciously speaking this epiphany out loud, before affirming it. "Please, let me help. I think I know what might be wrong."

"It's everywhere," the Master continued, as if the Doctor hadn't said anything, distracted by the constant pounding noise in his head. "Listen, listen, listen. Here come the drums. Here come the drums."

As the older Time Lord uttered those four words, Martha unconsciously tapped the four-note beat with her fingers on her knee while Jack absently tapped in tandem with Martha but with his left foot instead. Ta-ta-ta-tap, ta-ta-ta-tap, ta-ta-ta-tap…

"What have you done?" The Doctor hissed into the phone. "Tell me how you've done this. What are those creatures? Why have you kidnapped Honor and Laura? Tell me!"

"Oh, look," the Master said suddenly, changing the subject. "You're on TV."

"Stop it. Be serious and answer me!"

"No, really. You're on the telly. You and your two companions, which, by the way, is ticking every demographic box. So, congratulations on that. You're listed as public enemies number one, two, and three." The Doctor cursed, rushing to finish piecing together the last necklace, not even bothering to be surrepticious, before wielding the three little devices he made to each key with his sonic. "Oh, and you can tell handsome Jack that I've sent his little posse off on a wild goose chase to the Himalayas, so he won't be getting any help from them." The Doctor finished the perception filters and gave a key to Martha and Jack. "Now, go on, off you pop. Off to go attempt to foil my plans. Better start running. Go on, run."

"He's got control of everything, everyone," the Doctor realized, muttering out loud as he removed the phone from his ear, catching the attention of both Martha and Jack who at once ceased their respective tapping.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Martha fretted. "Nowhere is safe."

"We could go to the Hub," Jack suggested.

"No," the Doctor informed him, shaking his head.

Jack frowned. "Look, Doc, I know you have issues with Torchwood, but it's different now. We-"

"It's not that," the Time Lord refuted. "It's just that your team isn't there. The Master tossed them a red herring." Jack cursed as the Doctor offered him an apologetic look a look of apology.

He didn't know. The Doctor didn't know what they should do. Everything was going so far downhill much too fast, snowballing down a mountain. Martha's phone and the Master at current were still connected and only the Doctor could hear the other Time Lord's voice heard. "Run, Doctor. Run as far and as fast as you can, try to buy yourself some time before everything comes together and the trap snaps shut. It makes it all the more fun for me. So, run, run for your life!"

"Doctor?" Jack asked. "We can't stay here, but we don't have anywhere we can go. Any ideas would be nice."

"I said, run!" The Master barked.

"We run," the Doctor echoed, snapping the phone closed as they raced away from the shopping district, slipping on their perception filters as the same group of soldiers that had taken Honor and Laura raced to where they had been moments prior…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Warning: This segment discusses (non-graphically) a violent, non-consensual act, which could be disturbing on an emotional level. The next chapter will contain elements of this too. You have been warned.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Both Honor and Laura found themselves shaking when they were brought on board the Valiant hours later in the presence of the Master, restrained by armed guards as he examined them with eager eyes.

"I've been looking forward to this for a long time." He smiled as he walked towards them. "You two have been given a rare privilege."

"But why? We're nothin' special. Just human." Honor tried to argue as she fought the grip on her arms.

"Oh on the contrary. I know what you two are and how you will serve the new Gallifrey I'm going to build."

"Gallifrey is gone." Laura managed. "Nothing left. No more Time Lords. There is no point to any of this. Please just let us go." She was terrified. Did he consider them a threat? Would they be served as the first public executions to be witnessed on camera? "We didn't do anything. Didn't stop you from finding out who you were." She took a deep breath. "Don't…please, don't. I have a family. We both do. I haven't even told them good-bye."

"You think I would kill you?" The Master smirked. "Either of you? You don't understand what you mean to me."

"Mean to you." Honor repeated.

"A new Gallifrey needs new Time Lords." He waved his hands to the others in the room. "Humans. Such a primitive, degenerate race but you're something more, aren't you. Imagine what we'll accomplish together. I can start a new family and the two of you, mothers to a new race of Time Lords."

Both of them stared at the Master in shock. "You're nuts." Honor whispered.

"Both with all that artron in your system. Nearly Time Lord but human. Able to conceive without a loom. Oh I will have children from you. The first of many."

They were in shock and Laura took a deep breath seeing the fear in Honor's very expression. What were they going to do? It was happening all over again but this time to her friend as well. Honor hadn't been violated like this yet. Tears came to Laura's eyes and she tried to suppress them as she heard the Master's words.

"Time is short. Which of you ladies would like to enjoy the pleasure of my company first?" His tone was mocking but it was still a choice. First and second. She felt the hands holding them suddenly relinquish and the Master was grinning malevolently. If there was a chance she could spare Honor from this depravity, buy her time…Laura had been through this already. Twice did she know what was to come. She would somehow survive or find her focus again. See her purpose to climb out of the shock she would endure. But Honor….no. She would have no idea what she was facing. Five years ago and now Laura had to let it happen once more. This time, it was her choice. She couldn't let her friend be ruined too. Not when she might be in the position to prevent it. Wasn't she already damaged? This could be her control; her decision and she wouldn't hesitate.

Trembling, she stepped forward. "Me." She said quietly. "I'll go first."

Honor suddenly moved towards her and Laura could feel her fingers seize her forearm. "Like hell you will. I'm not standin' here and lettin' you…." Honor was yanked back by a guard. "No Laura! I'll skin you alive if you do this. You-" A hand muffled her shout.

"Oh do be patient. Won't be long until it's your turn." He smiled with eager anticipation at Laura, now tremendously excited. What sheer bravado it took for this human to step forward and he knew without a doubt how much he would enjoy her. He held out his hand for her to take and Laura stared at it, glancing back at Honor.

"What?" He asked. "Change of heart?" The Master then looked at Honor and suddenly Laura shook her head, stepping forward and put her hand in his as Honor was desperately struggling to get free.

He led Laura away to his own private chamber just beyond the door before glancing back at Honor. "See you soon." He promised. His gaze turned back to Laura as he examined her before taking her into his bedroom and then closing the door behind him.

Honor started to scream as the guard dragged her off in the opposing direction. She knew self-defense and she had to find a way to get back to her friend before it was too late. Instinctively, she bit his hand and with a growl, he stunned her and her eyes widened in pain feeling the jolt of a tazer as she was reduced to lying on the ground with the guard examining her with a smirk. Honor couldn't move and was hardly even able to think. She felt herself slipping in and out of consciousness. Endless time went by before she felt the sensation creep back to her fingers and she was capable to grasp onto the pepper spray she had hidden in her pocket ages ago, something she picked up in the TARDIS just prior to 'Utopia' in case she had cause to use it. Considering the universe she was in, she took it instinctively out of the supply room knowing a situation would arise where it would be necessary to use it. She only wished she had found the canister before.

She played limp a bit longer until the guard seemed to pay her no more than the most meager attention. Then she leapt up and sprayed the contents of the can directly into his eyes. He yelled in blistering pain and she wasted no time in landing a solid right hook to his gut. When he doubled over, Honor placed her interlaced hands on the back of his neck and slammed his face into her kneecap. There was a grunt and muffled crunching sound that made the teen gag. She released the guard who let out a pained groan as grasped his face while writhing on the ground. "I'm sorry," she sputtered automatically, stumbling away from him. She hadn't been thinking, she just reacted. There was no time. She couldn't think about what she had done. There was no time.

Immediately she ran out of the room but then saw an emergency signal at the end of the hallway. Without thought, she yanked it and the alarm perpetrated throughout the area. Mobs of people filled the corridors and she blended in, struggling to the room where she had seen the Master take Laura. She didn't know how long she had been incapacitated by the tazer.

Finally she got there and found to her surprise the door wasn't locked. Throwing it open, she saw Laura lying listless on the bed, her clothing torn, her jeans and underwear already around her ankles, a blanket covering her haphazardly as she stared at the ceiling.

"No…" Honor muttered. She had arrived too late to stop the Master but she made haste to help her friend.

"Laura." She prodded. Her friend barely responded. "Laura!" She snapped her fingers directly in front of her face.

"Is he gone?" Laura whispered.

"Yes, he's gone." Honor said. "Time to get you out of here." She pulled Laura up and helped her pull her jeans back on as Laura shuddered, rubbing her arms.

"I'm sorry." Laura managed. "Sorry I made you mad. Volunteering first. I-"

"Not right now. Kay? Got to get you out of here."

Laura nodded as she was pulled up to her feet by Honor and they ran out of the room towards the direction where the sign indicated emergency escape pods.

"I don't like to fly." Laura looked at the pods distantly, hardly able to put a thought together.

"It will be a short flight. Only a few minutes. You'll land before you know it." Honor glanced around. "Here's one." It was already open and she propelled Laura inside but her friend froze looking at Honor.

"What about you? Not leaving without you."

"There's a pod right here. I'll be right behind you." Honor told her. She bit the inside of her cheek, knowing she was deceiving her own friend. The other pods were inaccessible locked by a security code. The one Laura was in, those measures were offline due to a technical error but it was a one-man pod. Honor would have to stay behind.

Laura took a deep breath. "The year that never was and I'll still remember…" She shuddered. "He…." She could hardly speak.

"You have me. We'll help each other. Remember?" Honor tried to reassure her. She had to get Laura off the Valiant before all hell broke loose.

"Tread carefully." Laura whispered Honor's own words. "See you in a few minutes."

Honor nodded and swallowed as she pressed the button that would release the escape pod containing Laura.

"See you soon." Honor murmured, a tear trickling down her face as she watched the pod eject. She heard footsteps behind her as guards surrounded her immediately followed by the Master who looked at Honor with vague amusement.

"And what were you trying to achieve? I will get her back." The Master proclaimed, nodding to an assistant. "Track and find the pod. Bring the occupant to me alive. She is a top priority."

"Right away sir."

"Like Hell you will." Honor glared at him in disgust for which the Master turned on her.

"Oh, I like you. Such a temper. Unfortunately, I have a meeting with the President so I will have to settle for the anticipation of your company afterward." He smirked at her. Honor cried out as guards seized her arms dragging her forward.

"Detain her. Keep her under constant guard until I'm ready for her." He leered at her. "I'm looking forward to it."

"You sick, psychopathic-" A gloved hand effectively rendered her mute as she was dragged out of one room and barricaded into another, forced to watch the hours tick by until the Master made good on his promise. She felt sickened, knowing what was to come but then she knew why Laura volunteered to go first. She was buying Honor time so if the Master had his turn with Honor, the year would reset and it would be forgotten entirely by her.

Honor bit her lip as tears came to her eyes. "Wasn't your decision to make. Both in this together and you let him do that to you….Laura, how can I…." She didn't know how to finish that sentence. But now she was alone just as Laura would soon realize she had been deserted.

She began to wonder what it would be like to forget a year that went in reverse. Whether some remnant would still exist inside them both or would it indeed be a blank slate. Honor stared at the clock. Only time would tell.

Author's Note: The next chapter or so is going to deal with a highly sensitive issue of rape on a purely emotional level. It won't be graphic but we did feel the need to give a warning. We are going for a bit of a darker reality when it comes to the Master and the conception of what he was attempting to build as a New Gallifrey. We do appreciate reviews as insight. We don't mean to stir up flashbacks for anyone, etc. We still hope you find it a bit intriguing but understand the depths a psychopath can reach for. Thank you for your comments in the past. I know this is sort of a risk but I hope you guys can bear with us. Your insight is appreciated as always.