The TARDIS does something shocking...
The Master added the blow to the long list he already had; oh he was going to make them pay.
Three days they had been stuck in the Vortex and no matter how many times he said it was the TARDIS refusing to co-operate, White Coat didn't believe him.
At least they had food and water; but that was only because the TARDIS had nothing against Ianto Jones. He had no doubt they would all be floating in the Vortex if Mr Jones was not on board.
The bruises from the last beating were just starting to fade, but were now joined by new ones.
He was desperate to get to the med-bay and see if the Doctor was healing.
The bond between himself and the Doctor had receded and he was scared that it had been broken by the life-support; he had no way of knowing if the Doctor was still his Doctor.
He was distracted from his thoughts by White Coat.
"Do you still persist in the lie that this machine is capable of disobeying orders from one of its masters?"
The Master glared at White Coat. "I've told you, this isn't my 'machine' as you put it. Its pilot is the Doctor."
White Coat let out an irritated breath. "Tell me, were your entire race inveterate liars. Why would a race that was so powerful build such uncontrollable machines?"
"It's not uncontrollable. It just doesn't like you or me."
"Then we shall have to disturb my property, since it seems this machine will only fly for it."
The Master started. "No, he won't be healed!"
White Coat considered the Master's outburst. "How long until it has healed?"
The Master scowled. "I don't know because you won't let me near the med-bay and he is not an it!"
"Very well, shall we go to the med-bay?"
The Doctor was surrounded by warm white light and the sound of distant singing filled his ears.
The TARDIS...his TARDIS was singing to him.
He sighed and tried to sit up, but found himself restrained by invisible hands.
"No, my thief, the time is coming."
"Time?"
"Time for it to be ended."
Before he could finish, the warmth and the light began to fade away and the harsher light of the med-bay caused him to blinked and screw his eyes in discomfort.
The first face he saw was the Master and that set his hearts into a staccato of panic...the Master...what was he doing on the TARDIS?
The next face he saw sent his hearts into overdrive...how had he got on board! Had the Master brought him on?
White Coat looked at the panel above the Doctor. "Well, it seems my property is well enough."
He gestured to the two guards who pushed both the Master and Ianto out of the way and dragged the Doctor off the bed.
The Doctor let out a yelp that was half-pain and half- fear.
He looked at the Master and the Master recoiled; the look the Doctor had given him was not one of help me but one of "what the hell have you done?"
There was no love, only the contempt the Doctor had for him. The Master knew then that he had lost the Doctor...his Doctor.
But he knew and he was certain of it, that when it came down to it, the Doctor would choose him over White Coat.
The TARDIS let out a warning rumble as the Doctor was shoved into the console room.
White Coat ignored it and hauled the Doctor over to the console.
"Make this machine work."
The Doctor said nothing but shook his head.
White Coat sighed. "This stubborn streak, it seems to run through your species like a disease. Do I really have to resort to violence? Shoot Mr Jones will you."
"No!" the Doctor cried.
The shot that rang out seared into the Doctor's hearts and he heard Ianto fall to the ground.
"You'll pay for that," the Doctor snarled.
"He's not dead, but he may yet be. Now, make this machine work.
"No...don't!" Ianto managed to shout.
The Doctor looked at Ianto, sadness and anger flowing over him in a wash of guilt.
"I'm sorry."
He began to move round the console and went to set the TARDIS in motion.
None of them were expecting what happened next.
The panel nearest the Doctor opened suddenly and before the Doctor could react, golden light poured from it and caught the Doctor in a gilded lasso.
He stiffened and was pulled towards it and the golden light began to pour into the Doctor's eyes, ears and mouth.
The Master had done nothing when Ianto had been shot; it didn't matter to him.
But when the panel had opened and the light had begun to pour from it and into the Doctor, he did act then.
He moved further away from the console and made himself as inconspicuous as possible, his hearts racing in fear.
He knew exactly what the golden light was and he knew what it meant.
The TARDIS had acted and had released the one thing every Time Lord feared.
The golden light stopped as suddenly as it had appeared.
The Doctor straightened and it appeared he was standing on top of a draught, as his clothes and hair were moving slightly.
He looked up and his eyes were no longer brown but molten gold...a vengeful god had just been born.