The silence that followed this statement was broken by the sound of Jack's Vortex Manipulator beeping. Martha and the Doctor jumped in surprise as Jack started typing in on it.
"Encrypted channel with files attached," he muttered. "Don't recognise it."
"Patch it through to the laptop," the Doctor said, and Jack grimaced slightly.
"Since we're telling stories, there's something I haven't told you," he said, loading the information on the laptop and avoiding the Doctor's eyes when the Torchwood logo popped up.
"You work for Torchwood." The Doctor's tone was angry, accusing.
"I swear to you, it's different," Jack quickly said. "It's changed. There's only half a dozen of us now –"
"Everything Torchwood did, and you're part of it?"
"I did what I could when I was stuck in 1869, okay?" Jack asked. "I had Eva visiting me about once a decade, but the rest of the time I had to get along on my own. The old regime was destroyed at Canary Wharf," he added. "I rebuilt it, I changed it, and when I did that, I did it for you in your honour."
The Doctor paused, thinking back to something Eva told him what felt like centuries ago.
"You were gone," she said. They were with Queen Victoria at the events that led to the establishment of the very organization they were just discussing. "I had to get along."
The Doctor didn't say anything as he hit the play button.
"If I haven't returned to my desk by twenty two hundred, this file will be emailed to Torchwood," the woman who appeared on screen said. "Which means if you're watching this, then I'm… Anyway, the Saxon files are attached. But take a look at the Archangel document. That's when it all started. When Harry Saxon became Minister in charge of launching the Archangel Network."
"What's the Archangel Network?" The Doctor asked as soon as the woman finished talking, and Martha quickly pulled out her phone.
"I've got Archangel," she said. "Everyone's got it."
"It's a mobile phone network," Jack said, loading the files on the laptop. "Because look, it's gone worldwide. They've got fifteen satellites in orbit. Even the other networks, they're all carried by Archangel."
"It's in the phones!" the Doctor called out in understanding, grabbing Martha's phone. "Oh, I said he was a hypnotist. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on." He scanned the phone with his sonic screwdriver before lightly tapping it against the table. Almost immediately, the phone started beeping out the same four-beat rhythm that he had been noticing all day long. "There it is," he said. "That rhythm, it's everywhere, ticking away in the subconscious."
"What is it," Martha asked, "Mind control?"
"No, no, no, no, no," the Doctor quickly said. "It's subtler than that. Any stronger and people would question it. But contained in that rhythm, in layers of code, Vote Saxon. Believe in me. Whispering to the world. Oh, yes!" he called out in understanding. "That's how he hid himself from me, that's how he hid Eva! Because I should have sensed there was another Time Lord on Earth, and there were way too many people who should have made the connection between Eva Miller and Eva Saxon ages ago. The signal cancelled them out."
"Any way you can stop it?" Jack asked.
"Not from down here," the Doctor shook his head. "But now we know how he's doing it!"
"And we can fight back!" Martha added, making the Doctor smile brightly.
"Oh, yes!"
EMH
Eva stood at the airport next to Lucy and the Master, a fake smile on her face as President Winters approached. The Master saluted and Eva had to resist the urge to roll her eyes.
It won't be long until she no longer had to put up with this act of the perfect daughter. Then again, when that will happen the Year That Never Was will be in motion and the man in front of her will be dead, but those were problems she will attend when time for them arrives.
"Mr. President, sir," the Master said.
"Mr. Saxon," Winters said, not amused in the least, "The British Army will stand down. From now on, UNIT has control of this operation."
"You make it sound like an invasion," the Master commented, feigning confusion.
"First Contact policy was decided by the Security Council in 1968," the President replied. "And you've just gone and ignored it."
"Well, you know what it's like," the Master shrugged. "New job, all that paperwork. I think it's down the back of the settee. I did have a quick look," he told him. "I found a pen, a sweet, a bus ticket and… er… have you met the wife and kid?"
Eva forced the smile to stay on her face despite being referred to as a kid.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. President," she said, making Winters look at her for a moment before deciding to ignore her and turn back to the Master.
"Mr. Saxon, I'm not sure what your game is but there are provisions at the United Nations to have you removed from office unless you are very, very careful. Is that understood?" The Master nodded shortly before pretending to zip his lips shut. "Are you taking this seriously?" The Master nodded and Winters sighed before moving on. "To business. We've accessed your files on these Toclafane. First Contact cannot take place on any sovereign soil. To that purpose, the aircraft carrier Valiant is en route. The rendezvous will take place there at eight am."
"Mm mmmm mmm mmm?" the Master asked, pretending to not be able to talk due to his mouth being zipped.
If Eva wasn't so tense, she might have laughed at the absurdity of it all, but Winters didn't seem as amused as her.
"You're trying my patience, sir," he said tightly.
The Master pretended to un-zip his lips before asking, "So America is completely in charge?"
"Since Britain elected an ass, yes!" the President declared. "I'll see you onboard the Valiant."
"It still will be televised, though, won't it?" the Master asked as Winters walked away. "Because I promised, and the whole world is watching."
"Since it's too late to pull out, the world will be watching," Winters told him. "Me!"
He walked away and the Master smiled, leaning in closer to Lucy and Eva.
"The last President of America," he whispered before raising the tone of his voice slightly. "We have a private plane ready and waiting," he told the two of them. "We should reach the Valiant within the hour. My darlings," he added, marking them to follow the soldiers that led them away towards the plane.
Eva walked without protest, only sparing a moment to look back at where the Doctor, Martha and Jack were standing. As her eyes met the Doctor's, it was only Alex's tight grip on her arm that stopped her from running to hug him and never let go.
EMH
"Europe now online," a woman's voice declared over the speaker system as Eva, Lucy and the Master entered the main room of the Valliant through the lift. "Awaiting confirmation from South America. And keep tracking Japan."
Eva's fingers were intertwined with Lucy's, the two of them walking next to the Master and looking at the place with undisguised awe. If not for the other's woman tight grip and Alex's supporting presence, Eva was certain that she wouldn't have been able to stand through the nerves that were driving her mad.
"I want the whole thing branded in my suit of office, not the UN," Winters told someone. "You got that?"
"Anything I can do?" the Master said, going straight to the President, the two women following him. "I could make the tea, or isn't that American enough? I don't know, I could make grits," he shrugged. "What are grits, anyway?"
"It you could just sit," Winters said, his tone the one of someone who had long since ran out of patience.
The Master pulled up a face as they walked away. "Misery guts," he muttered before turning to Eva and Lucy. "What do you think?" he asked, marking at the space around them as he pulled two chairs out for them. "It's good, isn't it?"
"It's beautiful," Lucy sighed as she sat down.
"It really is… something else," Eva settled. She couldn't truly bring her to admire the room, knowing what would happen here in the next year.
"Some of my best work," the Master said, either not noticing or not caring that the compliment wasn't honest. "Ministry of Defence. I helped design this place. Every detail."
"Two minutes, everyone," Winters declared, walking to his place at the top of the stairs, right in front of the cameras. "According to the treaty, all armed personnel are requested to leave the flight deck immediately. Thank you."
"Five," a voice said over the sound system as the Master pulled out a small paper bag. "Four, three, two, one."
"Jelly baby?" he offered, and Lucy accepted happily while Eva declined with a small shake of her head, fighting the urge to run away.
"Broadcasting at seven fifty eight with the arrival timed for eight hundred hours exactly," Winters said. "And, er… good luck to all of us."
He waited impatiently, looking at his watch as he waited for the transmission to start. Less than a minute later, the cameraman gave the mark and Winters started speaking.
"My fellow Americans, patriots, people of the world," he said. "I stand before you today as ambassador for humanity, a role I will undertake with the utmost solemnity. Perhaps our Toclafane cousins can offer us much, but what is important is not that we gain material benefits, but that we learn to see ourselves anew."
From the corner of her eye, Eva could see the Doctor walking into the room with Jack and Martha in toe, but she didn't dare looking in fear of someone noticing.
"For as long as man has looked at the stars, he has wondered what mysteries they hold," Winters said, unaware of the three new people in the room. "Now we know we are not alone. No longer unique in the universe. And I ask you now," he went on, "I ask of the human race, to join with me in welcoming our friends. I give you the Toclafane."
If one was looking, they could physically see the breath leaving nearly everyone in the room as the Toclafane arrived. As it was, everyone were too busy looking at the four spheres to pay attention to anything like that.
"My name is Arthur Coleman Winters, President Elect of the United States of America, and designated representative of the United Nations," Winters said, radiating confidence. "I welcome you to the planet Earth and its associated moon."
"You're not the Master," one of the spheres said.
"We like the Mister Master," another told him.
"We don't like you," a third joined in.
"I can be master, if you so wish," Winters said, misunderstanding the true meaning behind the Toclafane's words. "I will accept mastery over you, if that is God's will."
"Man is stupid," one of the Toclafane said what both Eva and the Master were thinking.
"Master is our friend."
"Where's my Master, pretty please?"
"Oh, all right then," the Master said, standing up with a bright smile. "It's me. Ta da! Sorry, sorry, I have this effect," he explained. "People just get obsessed. Is it the smile? Is it the aftershave? Is it the capacity to laugh at myself? I don't know. It's crazy!"
"Saxon, what are you talking about?" Winters asked.
"I'm taking control, Uncle Sam," the Master replied. "Starting with you. Kill him."
Eva closed her eyes before the Toclafane shot the President, keeping them shut tight as the guards pulled out their weapons, taking comfort in that Alex chose to give his up in order to stay with her.
Lucy stood up, running to stand closer to the Master and the rest of the people present in the room stumbled away from the table, leaving only Eva standing next to it, grasping Alex's arm for both physical and mental support.
"Now then, peoples of the Earth," the Master said and Eva shivered as she remembered the message the Master sent out to the universe just before Four's regeneration. "Please attend carefully."
She didn't get to think of it in length, though, as the Doctor pulled the TARDIS key off his neck in one quick motion and ran towards the Master, only for two men to grab him.
"No!" she said, trying to get out of Alex's grip, but he was holding her too tightly.
"We meet at last, Doctor," the Master said before laughing joyfully. "Oh, ho. I love saying that!"
"Stop it!" the Doctor called out. "Stop it now!"
"As if a perception filter's going to work on me," the Master huffed. "It didn't even work on Eva… oh, I guess you know her little secret now, don't you?" He turned to look at where Jack and Martha stood. "And look, it's the girlie and the freak. Although, I'm not sure which one's which."
Jack ran forward and Eva let out a scream as the Master hit him right in the chest using his laser screwdriver, making him fall to the ground.
"Laser screwdriver," the Master said. "Who'd have sonic? And the good thing is, he's not dead for long. I get to kill him again!"
"Master, just calm down," the Doctor begged. "Just look at what you're doing. Just stop. If you could see yourself –"
"Oh, do excuse me," the Master said, looking at the camera. "Little bit of personal business. Back in a minute. Let him go," he told the guards who held the Doctor before glancing at Alex. "Her, too."
The Time Lord and the Time Jumper fell to the floor, and Eva hurried to where the Doctor was, holding him tightly. She knew what was coming next, and she wanted to be with him when it did.
"It's that sound," the Doctor said, keeping an arm wrapped tightly around Eva as he looked at the Master. "The sound in your head. What if I could help?"
"Oh, how to shut him up?" the Master asked, looking at Eva. "I know! Memory Lane." He sat down, his eyes finally at the same level as Eva and the Doctor. "Professor Lazarus. Remember him and his genetic manipulation device? What, did you think that little Tish got that job merely by coincidence? I've been laying traps for you all this time. And if I can concentrate all that Lazarus technology into one little screwdriver?
"But, ooo," he sighed, "If I only had the Doctor's biological code – oh, wait a minute, I do!" the Master grinned as he opened a large briefcase, revealing the Doctor's hand inside. "I've got his hand. And if Lazarus made himself younger, what if I reverse it? Another hundred years?"
Even though Eva was the one who knew what was going to happen all along, the Doctor was the one who acted. He pushed Eva away, making sure she didn't accidently receive any of the energy the Master fired at him.
Eva screamed first, not in physical pain but at the pain of knowing what was going to happen next. The Doctor screamed in agony as every cell in his body aged rapidly, turning his body into that of an old man's. Eva knew that Jack revived behind her, but that was purely due to her foreknowledge.
She couldn't focus on anything other than the Doctor's convulsing body.
When it was finally over the Doctor fell to the ground and Eva quickly moved to hold him, Martha quickly joining them.
"It's okay," Eva whispered. "It's alright. I'm here now."
"We've got you," Martha added, drawing the Master's attention to her.
"Ah, she's a would be doctor," The Master said. "But tonight, Martha Jones, we've flown them in all the way from prison!"
Eva didn't dare looking up as a guard pushed Martha's family into the room. This was all on her. She was the one who let the Master do this. She was the one who didn't stop him. This was her fault.
"Mum," she heard Martha whispered.
"I'm sorry," Francine cried, finally understanding how badly she misjudged Saxon.
"The Toclafane," the Doctor breathed out, making Eva hold him tightly again and the Master to lean down closer to be able to hear him. "What are they? Who are they?"
"Doctor," he Master sighed, putting a hand to the Doctor's chest, "If I told you the truth, your hearts would break."
"Is it time?" one of the Toclafane asked. "Is it ready?"
"Is the machine singing?"
"Two minutes past," the Master smiled, looking at his watch before turning to the camera. "So, Earthings. Basically, er… end of the world." Eva swallowed hard, holding on to the Doctor even tighter as the Master raised his screwdriver in the air, activating the paradox machine. "Here come the drums!"
"Here come the drums. Here come the drums."
Eva jumped at the loud song that started blaring through the speaker, and she could feel the Doctor holding her closer in response, as tightly as he could considering that, physically, he was an old man now.
Lucy started dancing to the music and the Master smiled, holding her hand and leading her to the window where they could see the spheres descending to the ground.
"How many do you think?" he asked quietly in her ear.
"I…" Lucy muttered, awed at the sight. "I don't know."
"Six billion," the Master said, flicking a switch so that his voice could be heard clearly even outside the ship. "Down you go, kids!" He watched gleefully as the spheres arrived to ground level. "Shall we decimate them?" he asked Lucy. "That sounds good. A nice word, decimate. Remove one tenth of the population!"
The Doctor used the Master's distraction to whisper instructions in Martha's ear before turning to look at Eva.
"Go with her," he said. "Get away from here."
"No," Eva replied. There was no way she was going to leave him. Not now, not when she was finally with him again.
"I wasn't asking," the Doctor told her.
"Neither was I." Eva swallowed hard, turning to look at Martha. "Go, now. Before you lose your chance."
Martha slowly stood up as the sounds of the world's countries crying for help was heard through the various transmitters in the room. She sent one last look at her family, then at Jack before turning to where Eva and the Doctor sat, whispering angrily and holding on to each other as if their lives depended on it.
She swallowed hard before teleporting away, and the trio still on the ground exchanged a solemn nod. The Master turned around, an angry expression crossing his face before he pushed the Doctor and Eva away from each other, grabbing the other Time Lord and dragging him to the window.
Jack was quick to grab Eva, holding her in a tight embrace as they watched Lucy and the Master force the Doctor to look at the slaughter outside the window.
"And so it came to pass that the human race fell, and the Earth was no more," the Master said, looking more manic than ever before. "And I looked down upon my new dominion as Master of all, and I thought it good."