He's out and without a leash...
Ianto dropped the files he was carrying, which drew the attention of Jack and Doctor Stoneleigh.
With a shaking hand Ianto pressed the speaker button and the Doctor's voice rang out.
"Are you still scared of me, Mister Jones? You shouldn't be. I never damage my toys...well, not so badly that they can't be fixed."
Ianto went to speak but Jack interrupted.
"If you want to talk, talk to me, not the staff."
"Well, if it isn't the freak. We have unfinished business you and I."
The threat in the Doctor's voice was plain for all to hear, but Jack wouldn't allow it to rattle him.
"You sound well, managed to get a new supply have you?"
"I don't do that anymore," the Doctor's voice hissed. "He saved me."
Jack faltered then and a feeling of dread passed over him. Which one had him? Which of the two evils that had haunted him now repossessed him?
"Who saved you?"
He got his answer but not in the way he expected.
There was an ear-splitting squeal and the phone went dead.
The hum of the disengaged line echoed round the Hub.
"Well, that was unexpected," Doctor Stoneleigh said, breaking the silence. "At least he's alive."
Victorious dropped the phone as pain shot through his head, but this time he didn't black out; this time he rode it out.
He inhaled sharply and squeezed his eyes shut and focused on it. As the pain subsided, his eyes snapped open and they blazed with fury.
How dare he!
With a snarl he reached inside his own mind and saw what the Master had done. He tore it away with a look of disgust on his face.
Did he think he could control him...like some disobedient puppy dog?
Then he could think again.
He didn't need the Master...he could cause his own chaos.
He left the office and made for the door and when the butler tried to stop him, he pushed him to one side with a snarl.
He reached the gates and with some trepidation stepped through them and when he found himself still standing, he grinned and began walking along the road.
He'd been walking for about twenty minutes when the sound of a vehicle slowing down stopped him.
It was lorry.
"Need a lift mate?"
"Are you going Cardiff way?"
"Only going as far as Chester, then my eight hours are up, that alright?"
Victorious smiled. "Brilliant," he replied and climbed in, hoping that the smoke from his little message to the Master wasn't yet showing.
He found the company of this human pleasurable, despite his general dislike of the whole species.
He never asked any difficult question like his name and, why he was hitch-hiking; just made pleasant conversation...perhaps he would spare this one.
"So, you got family in Cardiff?"
"More like acquaintances. They're looking after something for me and I'm going to collect it."
The driver nodded as he pulled into a petrol station and Victorious, being the helpful psychotic all powerful Time Lord offered to pay for any food or drinks the driver wanted.
The driver laughed. "Thanks, but I get expenses. Just go and get me a bottle of water and some cigarettes, Benson and Hedges."
He went into the shop with no intention of buying anything; he didn't need to or his powers of suggestion were sadly lacking.
He sidled up to the nearest customer and whispered in his ear.
Moments later, pandemonium broke out as a customer began sweeping things of the shelves, yelling something about there being rats.
In the ruckus, no-one noticed a lone figure taking a handful of cigarettes and a whole case of water and saunter out of the shop.
The driver grinned at him as he climbed back into the cab and pulled away, just as a police car came speeding in.
"Wonder what that's all about?" the driver said.
"Shop-lifter," he replied.
They pulled into the lorry park at 8pm and the warmth of the winter sun was long gone.
"Thanks for the lift," Victorious said and went to shake the driver's hand.
The driver took the proffered hand but jumped when it felt like something bit him.
Victorious looked him the eye. "I can't promise that this will be painless, but it will be quick. The time between the bite and death is quite quick."
He took his hand away to reveal something that looked like a spider but was metallic.
"If it's any consolation, at least you won't suffer what's to come."
The driver began to seat and his breath became ragged and he clutched his chest as his heart gave out.
Victorious put a finger against the driver's neck...dead.
He patted the driver's shoulder. "Once again, thank you for the lift."
He took the driver's coat and jumped out of the cab and began walking out of the lorry park, the driver already forgotten...already looking for his next ride to Cardiff.