Hey guys, I'm writing this in advance and have probably taken a few breaks in between writing. So I know the last chapter was probably bad and this one may not be much better... But the next episode will be I hope. Anyway thanks for sticking with me and I hope you can hold out a little longer.

I don't own 'Doctor Who?'

Enjoy!

XXX

Recap

"Children of Gallifrey, taken from their families at the age of eight to enter the Academy. And some say that s when it all began. When he was a child... that s when the Master saw eternity. As a novice, he was taken for initiation, it s a gap in the fabric of reality through which could be seen the whole of the vortex. You stand there, eight years old...staring at the raw power of time and space, just a child. Some would be inspired...some would run away...and some would go mad."

'The three of us are an example.'

"What about you?" Martha questions a light in her eye and a small smile on her lips.

"Oh, the ones that ran away. I never stopped." The Doctor answered with his mouth full. Suddenly Jack's maipulator beeps.

My mind fades and I bolt up looking around the room there was nothing to disturb me, I'd been gone for longer than normal, my mind had come back as my mind had drifted for to long a small fail safe so that you wouldn't literally loose your mind. Shaking my head I close my eyes again but this time it's to sleep. Wishing tomorrow never came.

XXX

I grimaced as my eyes opened, morning had inevitably come around and with it the start of the worst year ever. There was an unfortunate problem with being here, well other than being around him all the time. I had to dress the part, so I had to be nice and pretty, I couldn't wear my typical clothes on camera but other than that I would put them on as I pleased.

Looking through the wardrobe I eyed the clothes with disdain. Taking a pair of grey blue skinny jeans a tight tip that was loose around the chest area and a pair of black boots I got ready. I left my hair loose but straight grabbing a grey beret hat I placed it on top of my head and walked out the door to meet the insane phyco and his wife.

I found them waiting at the door and looking impatient. I shrug and open the door stepping out. (I couldn't find a clip of this meeting so it's not accurate.) We got in the car without a word and I tuned them out for the ride not caring what they said as I planned for what was to come. Twenty minute later we were wherever we were supposed to be and I got out after the 'Happy couple.' From there we were met with an escort and went to greet President Winters.

"Mr President, sir!" Saxon salutes, I discreetly roll my eyes,

"Mr Saxon. The British Army will stand down. From now on, UNIT has control of this operation." He ordered, only briefly returning his greeting with a cold tone. Saxon smiles.

"You make it sound like an invasion." He pointed out, I look to the side, it is an invasion.

"First contact policy was decided by the Security Council in 1968. And you've just gone and ignored it." I bite my lip as I look behind the man and see three familiar faces.

"Well, you know what it's like. New job, all that paperwork. I think it's down the back of the settee. I did have a quick look. I found a pen, a sweet, a bus ticket and uh... have you met the wife and cousin?" I wave with a practice ease, again he disregards my 'cousin's' words, and our presence.

"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?" Psycho mimes zipping his lips. 'If only.' I thought briefly. "Are you taking this seriously." A nod. "To business. We've accessed your files on these...Toclafane." I saw the look the Doctor sent me, in his eyes I could see his question and nodded slightly to say, 'yes I'm fine.' "First contact cannot take place on any sovereign soil. For that purpose, the aircraft carrier Valiant is en route. The rendezvous will take place there at 8:00 am." Saxon tries to talk around his 'zipped lips.' "You re trying my patience, sir." Winters warned with a frown. Saxon unzips his lips,

"So America is completely in charge?" I want to face palm I really do,

"Since Britain elected an ass, yes." My eyes widen and I bite my lip to stop a laugh or smile from showing on my face. "I'll see you on board the Valiant." He turns to leave after those words but he had to open his mouth again.

"It still will be televised, though, won't it? Because I promised, and the whole world is watching." I heard fake concern in his voice as he asked the question, the things he does to incite fear...

"Since it s too late to pull out, the world will be watching. Me." As he walks to the car I couldn't help but scoff, pompous ass. Saxon turns to us.

"The last President of America. We have a private plane ready and waiting. We should reach the Valiant within the hour." He motions to Lucy "My darling." Lucy gets in and he looks to me, I watch the car drive away. He turns and I could see his grin.

"What is it now." I mutter, he grabbed my arm and runs over to a police van. Clive and Francine are pulled out of it.

"Hi, guys! All will be revealed!" I glare at the man beside me. I glance over at the three people I wanted to talk to most but look away quickly, the perception filter wasn't enough to stop me from seeing my link and by association the filter cancelled out Jack and Martha's as well because I wanted to see them. I let warmth brush over the Doctor's mind.

'Leave.' I murmured to him. Clive and Fancine are bundled into a range rover and I spin on my heel and walk away from the Master. Sliding into the car again I close my eyes in grief, please...

XXX

An hour later we were on the valiant. I stepped off the plane in my usual attire not sparing Saxon's disproving look a glance as I walked into the room where the broadcast would take place taking a seat and throwing my combat boots onto the table. Part of my plan had already been put into action but it was exhausting me.

"I want the whole thing branded in my sort of honest, not the United Nations. Got that?" I roll my eyes at his pompous attitude ignoring the man until my supposed cousin walks up to him.

"Anything I can do? I could make tea or isn't that American enough? I don't know, I could make grits. What are grits, anyway?" It's almost Doctor like the way he was rambling. I shake my head at the thought, he is nothing like my Theta.

"If you could just sit." I smirk as Saxon makes a face at Winter's instruction.

"Misery guts. What do you think? It s good, isn't it?" He pulls a chair out for Lucy.

"It s beautiful." He looks at me after Lucy's comment,

"It's turned out splendid." I mutter slight disgust marring my tone.

"Some of our best work." He lowers his voice to a whisper, "Ministry of Defence. We helped design this place." He sits beside her as he tells her this. "Every detail."

I let my mid drift as my eyes glaze over slightly.

...

"Don't touch it." Theta's voice orders, I turn and see them inside the TARDIS and wince at the image of her, bathed in red. She looked so much better in coral or silver, glass as well after you get used to the change.

"I'm not going to." Jack defends,

"What's he done though? Sounds like it s... sick." Martha gasped pity in her eyes. I walk to the console,

'We've got a long year ahead of us ol' girl.' I think to her. I cringe at the pain through our bond but ignore it. Looking at the console I was touching I felt grief, he'd stripped parts of her and caged others, the sight of it made me feel sick to my stomach-

...

I'm pulled back to the room and I hold in a groan, I shouldn't have done that, especially given the current circumstances.

"Two minutes, everyone!" Winter calls as he climbs the steps, "According to the treaty, all armed personnel are requested to leave the flight deck immediately. Thank you." I sigh at the last order, that was a stupid rule in the treaty, what if many others mean harm as they had done in the past.

"Jelly baby?" Saxon offers, I don't even dignify his question with a response. People, hundreds of thousands were going to die today and he was treating it like a movie.

"Broadcasting at 7:58 with the arrival timed at 0800 precisely. And, uh, good luck to all of us." Winter continued to talk and i agreed with his last words, but they wouldn't do much good. I watched the camera crews address the world as Winters was given his que to speak.

"My fellow Americans, patriots, people of the world... I stand before you today as ambassador for humanity, a role I will undertake with 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." I watched my trio walk into the room and kept my face blank as Saxon's smile drops. "For as long as man has looked to the stars, he has wondered what mysteries they hold. Now we know we are not alone." I keep an eye on them and see the doctor hold up a key. "And I ask you now, I ask of the human race, to join with me in welcoming our friends. I give you the Toclafane." I felt pain rip through my head and heard the TARDIS cry in pain as they appeared around Winters... "My name is Arthur Coleman Winters, President-Elect of the United States of America and designated representative of the United Nations. I welcome you to the planet Earth and its associated moon."

"You're not the Master." I bring my hand to my head as the first male voice speaks,

"We like the Mr Master." Female voiced sphere spoke after,

"We don't like you." I cringe at the ominous warning,

"I... can be Master, if you so wish. I will accept mastery over you if that is God s will." I could hear a slight giggle,

"Man is stupid." The third sphere, male, sneered.

"Master is our friend."

"Where's my Master, pretty please?" I rub my temples in dread...

"Oh, all right then. It's me." Saxon stands or that's what I remember. "Ta-da!" He laughs with glee as his plan falls perfectly into place. "Sorry. Sorry, I have this effect. 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!" I glare at the back of the timelord standing in front of me.

"Saxon, what are you talkin' about?" Winters demanded, Saxon turns to him serious,

"I'm taking control, Uncle Sam. Starting with you." He looks to the spheres, "Kill him." I look as one shoots winters with a laser and he disintegrates. Screaming erupts as everyone tries to leave. The armed guards pull their weapons and keep everyone boxed in. Saxon laughs as he shouts "Guards!" I shake my head and look at the people all around the room.

"Nobody move! Nobody move!"

Saxon moves towards the camera to speak,

"Now then, peoples of the Earth, please attend carefully." I watched The Doctor rush forward quickly,

"Stop him!" One of the guards shout, two guards do as commanded and force the Time Lord to his knees. I keep my face blank even with the pain ripping through my head as I stare at the room looking unconcerned.

"We meet at last, Doctor. Oh, ho! I love saying that!" Saxon exclaims.

"Always with the dramatics." I mutter,

"Stop this! Stop it now!" The Doctor orders,

"As if a perception filter's gonna work on me." He pauses and looks towards the other two companions. "Oh, and look, it s the girlie and the freak. Although, I'm not sure which one s which." Jack rushes him in response to the insult but Saxon fires a laser and the immortal man falls to the floor temporarily dead. "Laser screwdriver, who'd have sonic? And the good thing is, he s not dead for long. I get to kill him again!" I cringe slightly from the excitement in his voice. Martha runs to Jacks side and kneels to look at him in worry. I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

She knows he's not dead for long, why worry?

Carefully I think about the callous thought that had passed through my mind then, spending time with the nuts Time Lord certainly had its drawback, well everything was one big draw back from hanging out with him.

"Master, just calm down. Just look at what you re doing. Just stop. If you could see yourself..." I looked down at the Doctor as he pleaded and scoffed quietly, of course he knows what he's doing. Saxon sighs obviously exasperated and looks back to the camera.

"Oh, do excuse me, little bit of personal business. Back in a minute." he looked to the two men at the sides of the Doctor. "Let him go." he ordered. The guards push him to the floor and I fought the snarl that wanted to rip from my throat. I couldn't do anything anyway, not as I am now.

"It s that sound, the sound in your head. What if I could help?" He offers, Saxon looks over at me,

"Oh, how to shut him up dear cousin?" I bite my lip and look away with a shrug, he only wanted to get to me, this was necessary. "I know. Memory Lane!" He sits on the step facing my link. "Professor Lazarus. Remember him? And his genetic manipulation device?" I could see the memory flash through the Doctor's eyes. "Did you think that little Tish got that job merely by coincidence? Or when she gave my regards to 'Nix here." He gestured to me using that annoying nickname he ha chosen for me. "I've been laying traps for you all this time. And if I can concentrate all that Lazarus technology into one little screwdriver... But, ooh, if I only had the Doctor s biological code. Oh, wait a minute, I do!" I felt my stomach drop as he ran to the silver case opening it. "I've got his hand! And if Lazarus made himself younger, what if I reverse it? Another hundred years?" I watched him pick up the screwdriver and aim it at the Doctor, as soon as his screams started my teeth clamped down on the inside of my cheek. The pain ripping through me was unbearable.

I look over at Jack as he revives and tap my wrist subtly, he gets the message and hands Martha the manipulator. Saxon stops and I see the Doctor as the almost blinding pain leaves my body, he was an old man. Finally I bolt from my seat to his side ignoring the psychopaths amusement as I kneel beside him, Martha on the other side.

"Doctor, we've got you." Martha whispers to him, each of us holding a hand, she glances up at me with a slight relief in her eyes,

"Aw, she s a would-be doctor. But tonight, Martha Jones, we've flown em in all the way from prison " I grit my teeth as he says this, the door slid open and armed guards escorted Francine, Clive and Latitia Jones into the room.

"Mum."

"I'm sorry." Francine cries to her daughter, I look away from the scene as the Doctor speaks.

"The Toclafane, who are they? Who are they?" I close my eyes at his question, he shouldn't know and I wish I didn't.

"Doctor, if I told you the truth, your hearts would break." Saxon told him gleefully, I glare at the man heatedly.

"Is it time?" one of the spheres ask, I wince at the voice.

"Is it ready?" Another sphere continues,

"Is the machine singing?" I felt disgust, she wasn't singing, she was screaming. Saxon checked his watch.

"Two minutes past." He runs up the steps and stands by Lucy. "So! Earthlings. Basically, um, end of the world." He holds up the screwdriver. "Here... come... the drums!" Music starts to play, it's Rogue Trader's 'Voodoo Child.'

Saxon looks out the window as a rift in the sky tears open and the spheres descend by the thousands. He runs back to Lucy and they talk, I don't listen to them as I felt the intense pain rip through my head.

"Remove one-tenth of the population!" I hear him command through the pain. Messages blare from the speakers from the panicked military stations.

"Valiant, this is Geneva! We re getting slaughtered down here!" Martha stands leaving the Doctor's side. "Help us, for God s sake! Help us! They re everywhere!" I close my eyes. "This is London, Valiant! This is London calling! What do we do?!" Martha looks at her family. "They re killing us! The Toclafane are killing us!" I nod to Martha as she looks over at the Doctor and I. And then she disappears.

Standing I walk up to Saxon and Lucy. A grim smile spreads across my lips as I looked at the camera.

"It won't stay this way." and then I let the image go. And I disappear from the valiant and am laying in a field Martha hovering over me. "This is gonna be one hell of a long year." She nods at me,

"The plan worked out well." she comments.

...

Martha had gone out to get chips I had projected myself into the alley. Just as she walked by I pulled her in and placed a hand ver her mouth.

"Shh!" I hiss looking out before I drag her further back into the alley. She turns to me and hugs me.

"Phoenix!" I smile tiredly,

"Hey Martha."

"Are you alright? He hasn't done anything to you has he? Come on I'll take us back to the Doctor!" I shake my head.

"I'm not actually here Martha." I let some of my focus slip from me and my hand passes through hers. "Just an image. I just needed to warn you. Tell you I have a plan."

"Wait I thought you couldn't?" I shake my head.

"I couldn't tell you about Utopia. This and that are completely different circumstances. What I'm going to tell you, you cannot tell Jack or the Doctor." She nods, "He's going to make a perception filter with the keys and parts of the TARDIS. They won't work on Saxon, but that's what needs to happen, you're going to be caught and the Doctor will be put through pain, and myself by extension. You can't interfere. Jack's going to give you the manipulator, or the space hopper as the Doctor put it." We both smile at that. "You're going to use it to meet up with me after the sphere's descend." She pales and tries to protest, "No- This has to happen, people are going to die we know that. But if we do this right, everything that happened this coming year will cease to exist, no one will die and the paradox will be put back to normal. But remember, don't tell anyone. We'll meet up at Hampstead Heath when you get out and then we'll go about setting this whole thing right."

"My parents!"

"I'm keeping them safe as best as I can, they will make it out of the valiant alive but things will change with them." I smile, "I'll see you in a few hours Martha." And before she could grab me I had faded out of existence and into my temporary room.

...

She pulled me up from the ground and I hand her a gun. She hesitated in taking it.

"You're going to need it to survive. The keys work on the sphere's as long as you don't move, this is a precaution." She took it,

"So where are you heading first?" she asked, I shrug,

"Bristol. We get this country out of the way and move on to the next. We've got a year to get things under way." We look back over the destruction of London.

"We're coming back." I nod and give her a hug. Opening the bag that was over my shoulder I pull out the gun holster and strap it on loading the blaster into it and tucking the sonic into the pocket of my Jacket.

"I'll see you in Hell Jones." I salute and took off running from her and out of the field.

To Be Continued...

XXX

Well this has taken a while. And I have a legitimate reason I swear! First I've been working, I got a job recently. Second I had trouble with my Uni placement so I had to sort that out, but I'm officially in now. And I've kinda been hooked on Godric from True Blood recently... Besides the point but I promise I will finish this story. The sequel will take a while though given I'll be focusing on 'Ruin'. But until then there's only one more episode to go. And maybe I'll put in the Titanic one as well.

Shadow OUT!

XXX