Episode Three: Vegas II
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who if I did this would be far closer to canon, and the show would probably be more HBO or well this fic is rated M so you get my point. Does anyone even read this bit? Note to self: stop writing the disclaimers whilst sleep deprived.
"I got my head but my head is unraveling. Can't keep control. Can't keep track of where it's traveling. I've got my heart but my heart's no good and you're the only one that's understood."
-Nine Inch Nails (The Perfect Drug)
Chapter One: The Signal
A tall slender man dashed swiftly down the darkened streets, his long, cream-colored, suede duster billowing behind him gracefully. The bright multicolored lights of the city around him reflected off the wet pavement, causing the droplets he kicked up as he ran to become a rainbow assortment of tiny jewels. The flashy buildings all around him boasted big shows, big money, forbidden pleasures and delicious, overpriced cuisine. He barely noticed the signs. There would be no shows, no gambling, no dinners. The streets were completely empty of life save for him. A hover turned onto the street up ahead and he ducked around a corner, trying to catch his breath. He looked at his watch.
"Fifteen. Fifteen." He muttered breathlessly to himself, looking around. He ran his fingers frustratedly through his firey red curls as he searched for the promised... "Stairs!"
He dashed up them, leapt gracefully off the balcony at the top, swung from the hanging neon sign to land catlike, on the roof. As soon as he'd landed, he streaked over to the antenna set up on the roof. He pried open the console and began to make alterations. ~Nine seconds~ He thought to himself as he heard another hover aproaching. They'd noticed him. Now they'd be checking him out. He couldn't afford to be identified. Not this time. The circuits sparked and he growled softly.
"Zi'jaien!" He cursed, sucking his singed finger. ~Six seconds~ The hover landed behind him on the roof and two of the collectors got out. He jammed his screwdriver into the slot in the circuit and activated the signal.
"Identify." The larger of the two collectors demanded. The redheaded man simply smirked at them.
"Oh, I don't think so." He replied cockily.
"You will identify yourself!"
"Nope. I won't actually. I'd say I was sorry but I'm really not." The collectors charged their weapons.
"Then you will suffer!" The redheaded man seemed entirely unconcerned as he took a look at his watch and shot them an aggravating grin.
"Nice try, mate. Time's up." He told the collector who had spoken, punctuating with a wink before he vanished into thin air.
The TARDIS shook as it was pulled unpiloted through the vortex toward an unknown destination.
"Doctor! Do something!" Amy screamed as she and Rory smacked against the railing. They'd all be sporting some nasty bruises. The Doctor struggled once again to reach the controls.
"There's no point." Jyun stated loudly so as to be heard over the racket. He was still outwardly fairly calm, though for him, fairly calm was actually what would later be classified as 'Anxious Jyun'.
"I would consider not dying to be a valid goal!" Rory shouted back. Jyun straightened a bit, freeing up his right hand to gesture dismissively with, then quickly grabbed back onto the console as the place shook once again. The Doctor tried to use the stabilizers, but the moment he touched the controls, the TARDIS shocked him, causing him to let out an offended cry.
"I meant it won't work. She appears to be following a guidance signal, which would supercede our commands. She won't let anyone redirect her course even her chosen pilot." Jyun explained, in a subtly I told you so tone of voice.
"What!" The Doctor exclaimed, actually looking shocked at the news, which was disturbing in itself.
"It's a guidance signal." Jyun repeated more slowly, nodding at the readout he'd been studying. "Pretty basic. Still, recognisable. The signature appears genuine."
"What?" The Doctor repeated.
"Someone wanna fill the two humans in on the situation?" Rory interjected. Jyun turned to them as if to reply, but then there was a loud thud - an impact- and they were thrown to one side far more violently than before. Poor Jyun was catapulted into the drive pillar, rolling over the console to land limply on the floor. Amy screamed (as did Rory) as she was knocked down the stairs. The Doctor fell back against the wall. Then everything went still.
"Oouuuch." Amy groaned breaking the eerie silence.
"Amy!" Rory shouted rushing down the stairs to check on her. "Amy! Are you alright?"
"Oooh, hmm, I think I'm okay actually." Amy assured him after a moment's consideration. Rory quickly checked her for injuries and was relieved to find some nasty bruising but nothing major.
"Doctor?" Amy called as Rory helped her up. "Jyun? Are you alright?...Jyun!"
They rushed over to the limp figure lying on the floor beside the console. He was bleeding from a cut in his hairline over his left eye and was out cold. Rory gently rolled him onto his back, then carefully examined him.
"Breathing's normal." He appraised quietly. "Heart rate steady, No broken ribs..."
There was a grunt from the other side of the console as the Doctor regained his footing.
"Rory?" He asked groggily, then saw what the two humans were doing and snapped back to full consciousness. "Oh dear."
"No serious damage but he's been knocked out, so I can't be sure." Rory reported as the Doctor joined them, scanning the other alien with his sonic screwdriver. Amy patted Jyun's cheek gently.
"Come on. Wake up." Amy coaxed, it didn't seem to be working. She patted a bit more harshly. He stirred muttering a short "No," sleepily.
"Oy!" She snapped, slapping him, ~though not too hard,~ she thought.
"Ahgf! Bloody savage-" He exclaimed, 'coming to' immediately and glaring at her.
"Watch it! That's my fiance you're talking about." Rory interrupted.
"Why do they assume that I actually care?" The irritable alien demanded, looking up at the Doctor.
"At least try to behave yourself, Master." The Doctor answered. "How do you feel?"
"Like I've been hit by a hover-pod." The Master replied flatly, as he pushed himself into a sitting position. The Doctor flashed the light from his sonic in the other man's eyes, checking his pupils.
"Any dizziness?" He asked.
"Nope. Just a headache."
"How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Two." The Doctor nodded, satisfied.
"Do I even want to know what just happened?" The Master asked as the Doctor helped him up.
"Jyun said we were being hijacked." Amy reported, expertly ignoring his horrible behavior. The Master pinched the bridge of his nose as if trying to fight off a migraine.
"What?" He asked stiffly, as the Doctor went over to the readout Jyun had been looking at, toying with the controls.
"He seems to have been right." The Doctor told them. "A guidance signal. An old Xien type-"
"That's impossible!" The Master interjected, coming up beside him and taking a look for himself.
"I'd noticed." The Doctor commented. "That's what she thinks it is, anyway."
"She?" Rory asked.
"The ship." Amy clarified quickly. "What's a Xien type..?"
"It's nothing." The Master replied, examining the readout more thoroughly. "They don't exist anymore. There's no one left!"
"Hold on, I am now totally lost." Rory said. The Master rolled his eyes and did nothing to clarify any further.
"It was a way our people used to call TARDISes to them during the war." The Doctor explained. "It was uniquely Gallifreyan technology. No one else could do it."
"Oh, right! That is weird." Amy realized aloud. Then at Rory's questioning look, "They're the only two left."
"I can't find any faults in the signature..." The Master said, hitting the scanner which then shocked him. "Ow! I am not sorry!"
The screen flickered irritably at him in response. He glared at it.
"It has to be a fake." He insisted. Looking like he might strike out at the TARDIS again. The Doctor grabbed his hand.
"We're all in agreement then." The Doctor told him smoothly. "Let's just see where it's led us then shall we?" The Doctor said taking The Master's place at the controls.
Amy stepped up to stand beside the Master and peer over the Doctor's other shoulder.
"Hmm... We have landed on... New Earth! We're right in the center of the city of Vegas 2, but hold on. That isn't right at all! Where is everyone?" The Doctor questioned, sounding surprised.
"No life signs." The Master read aloud, raising his eyebrows.
"This is the second largest city on the whole planet! There should be about 8,175,133 people here and that's just the humanoids!" The Doctor exclaimed.
"Even on a completely undeveloped planet there should be some life signs." The Master pointed out "Even in space there's some life."
"So there's probably something really, really bad going on out there, isn't there?" Rory responded nervously. The Master nodded.
"Most likely. Yes."
"So what do we do?" Amy asked, looking from one Timelord to the other. The Doctor didn't even look up from the read out.
"Well personally, I would suggest avoiding any unnecessary mortal danger and leaving as quickly as possible." The Master replied casually, leaning back against the railing. "The Doctor on the other hand, he probably wants to go outside and risk life and limb to see what's gotten rid of everyone. Don't you, Doctor?"
"Mmm? Oh, yes." The Doctor replied, finally turning away from the console. "The Master and I will head out first, just in case it's something environmental that the TARDIS somehow missed. Once we're certain it isn't, you're welcome to join us."
The Master rolled his eyes at this, but said nothing.
"Oh! First though, your collar." The Doctor said as if just remembering it. The Master narrowed his eyes for a moment before catching on to his meaning.
"No. Definitely not!" He said adamantly.
"Yes." The Doctor countered calmly.
"Not a chance."
"It's for your own good as much as ours. It will allow the TARDIS to monitor your vitals as well as your transitions." The Doctor continued gently.
"I don't need the TARDIS to monitor me. I can look after myself!" Amy tried and failed to hide her look of disbelief at that one, earning her a death glare from the already very agitated alien.
"You can't leave the TARDIS without it." The Doctor said presenting his ultimatum. The Master scoffed and ran down the stairs to try the doors. He struggled against them but they wouldn't budge. "I'm sorry, Master, but we're in complete agreement on this. She won't let you go unless she can keep track of you."
"You mean not without my leash!" The Master spat furiously. The Doctor said nothing.
"Master-" Amy began gently but the Master cut her off.
"Tell me the truth then! Go on! Am I your charge or just your prisoner?" He screamed, sparking a little, causing Amy and Rory to take a startled step back. The Doctor just watched silently, not even flinching; clearly he was far too acustomed to this sort of behavior. The Master angrily punched the wall a couple of times, then kicked over the coat rack and finally lashed out at the railing before slumping to the ground, panting. Amy started to step forward to go to him but the Doctor put a hand on her shoulder.
"Amelia, could you please go to my workshop and fetch his collar for me? You remember what it looks like, yes? Good." The Doctor prompted briskly. Amy paused for just a moment to look worriedly at the Master before heading up the stairs to do as she was told.
"First cabinet on your right." He added before he led Rory down the stairs to check on his old friend. Seeing a drop of blood fall from the Master's right hand, Rory reached out to check it, only to be stopped by a look from the Master which clearly said 'touch me and I will bite you'.
"Master, please don't make this difficult." The Doctor requested gently.
"I hate you." The Master grumbled, but he let Rory look at his wrist anyway.
"You've torn your stitches." Rory reported.
"I don't need a bloody collar." The Master growled.
"Then why don't you prove us wrong?" Rory replied as Amy joined them.
.
A/N: This is much later than I planned to post this but between going and visiting family members that I almost never get to see and my internet connection which is totally shit this turned out to be the soonest I could manage it. Thank you all for reading and for bearing with me through the annoyingly long wait between episodes. Special thanks to GuessWho for reviewing. I hope to finish the next chapter earlier than usual and possibly post it on friday or saturday but I feel I should make no promises just in case. Anyway, now I absolutely have to go sleep. Once again, thank you for your patience.