The Master slunk grumpily after the Doctor out of the TARDIS, fussing occasionally with his collar - the idea of people being able to tell who he was by the color of the medallion was a less than pleasant thought - and he had refused to utter a word since his tantrum earlier. The Doctor prudently ignored his pouting, choosing instead to look at the bright lights around them until his mobile rang when the call came through from the TARDIS. He knew perfectly well that the Master was trying for attention, and he also knew better than to fall for it. The Master knew that although the collar wasn't actually uncomfortable at all, if he didn't behave melodramatically about it, he would lose serious cred, or else cause the others to become suspicious, neither of which he desired, thus the fussing and the occasional withering looks at the Doctor and Rory. For his part, Rory had been quite happy when the Master left the TARDIS, as the Master's idea of a withering look could actually be quite off-putting. In fact the subject of said look might get the vague impression that it was entirely conceivable for someone to become dinner, which then prompted them to seriously hope it wouldn't be them. The Doctor, of course, had become accustomed to such fleeting impressions of impending digestion and was therefore impervious.
"No radiation." The Doctor commented as he put Rory and Amy on speakerphone, more to fill the silence than anything else. "Well, there're the lamps but they couldn't do much harm even to the most sensitive humanoid species, not with radiation, anyway."
The Master moved quietly past him, looking around at the various garish neon signs that made the night seem almost as bright as day around them. Perhaps the people who designed this place were addicted to light pollution. Perhaps they simply felt it was their mission in life to combine as many vibrant, flashy colors and bright lights together in one location as humanly possible.
"Despicable." He remarked. "Thank the stars these people haven't made first contact with the Ltharians yet."
Upon the Master's first and only visit to the Ltharian homeworld he had barely left his TARDIS before he became physically sick from the sheer amount of bright clashing colors and the arguably quite ill- advised use of glitter alone. The Doctor shivered slightly at the mental image.
"Ughh, now that is dispicable. You know, that place was so horrid your vomit was the only thing that actually matched." The Doctor reminisced.
"Matched what?" Came Rory's voice, faintly over the mobile.
"Anything." Retorted the Doctor.
"Ew." (Amy's voice from the phone.)
"Doctor!" The Master scolded.
"But it's true!" The Doctor insisted.
"I know, but we agreed never to speak of it again."
"You agreed." The Doctor amended.
"Same thing."
"Ummm, guys? You do remember there is a point to this, right?"
"Yes, Rory. The air seems fine as well, no toxic contaminants." The Doctor reported.
"Just toxic disp..lays..." The Master trailed off looking at something apparently very interesting around the corner, out of the Doctor's line of sight.
"What?" The Doctor walked over to him to see what he was staring at.
"Doctor?" Amy asked.
"You don't see that every day." The Master commented.
"See what every day?" Rory questioned.
"Wow." The Doctor remarked sounding distracted. "That's... something."
"Yes." The Master said narrowing his eyes at the Doctor over his shoulder, which the other alien failed to notice due to the 'interesting billboard'.
"Do you suppose those are real?" The Doctor asked. Amy snorted.
"Doesn't matter." The Master replied before turning away from the lewd image to face the Doctor. "Anyway, don't you mean were real?" He corrected, skillfully killing the Doctor's mood.
"I think it's safe for the two of you to join us. Just stick close and don't ingest anything until we've tested it." The Doctor pronounced to Amy and Rory, still gazing ~vacantly~ the Master thought, at the billboard.
"I think you're the only one in any danger of that. This regeneration seems to be a bit 'taste first and ask questions later,' but then, so was the last one." The Master reflected, "Tell me Doctor, have you developed a permanent oral fixation somehow?"
Amy and Rory joined them outside a moment later.
"So testing it is." The Doctor said, indicating the resturaunt across the street from the TARDIS. "We can test food and water over at Milliways."
"Hurrah." The Master stated enthusiastically.
"Oh, come along Master." Amy said pulling him forward by his unbandaged arm "We're investigating a huge, futuristic, mysteriously abandoned city; all the power is even still on. You could at least attempt to enjoy yourself."
"It's futuristic to you lot. This place is Medieval in comparison to Gallifrey."
"It's still an adventure." Amy insisted as they entered the large, very expensive-looking restaurant.
"I doubt it's the food." The Doctor said. As he moved between the round tables that were draped in either gold or violet burnt-velvet, each with a unique and complex patern of swirls and spirals etched into both the tablecloth and the lush velvet seats.
"Where is everyone?" Rory asked.
"That is the question." The Master said as he made his way down the stairs to the heavy, genuine oak reception desk.
"No. I mean, I get that, but if it was something natural like poisoning or a plague, then they'd still be here." Rory clarified as the Doctor wove in between the tables, heading to the reception desk. "There isn't any thing wrong though, is there? There's just no one. So why isn't there even any trace of anyone here?"
"No idea. Let's ask." The Doctor said, pressing a button on the corner of the desk. An extremely attractive holographic blonde flickered to life next to where the Master was leaning on the other side of the desk. She was wearing a perfectly fitted, white, buttoned shirt and violet miniskirt with gold pumps, probably the standard uniform for female employees. She turned and smiled invitingly at him with her sultry scarlet lips.
"Well, hello, Sugar." She greeted in a slightly raspy, utterly feminine voice. The Master raised his hand in a casual wave. "Welcome to Milliways." She was undaunted. "How may I help you?"
Amy walked up to the hologram to inspect her more closely, then looked over at Rory with one eyebrow raised.
"Have you got a reservation, Sweetheart?" The Hologram tried looking up at Amy questioningly with big blue eyes.
"No, not this time actually." The Doctor said, coming round the desk to stand beside Amy. "I do have a question, though - maybe more than one, probably."
"I am sorry. We do not have any seating open at this time. If you wish to make a reservation, I would be delighted to make one for you at a future-"
"Quiet." The Master ordered, once again catching the hologram's attention.
"Problem, Sugar?" She asked.
"Why yes." He said in a pleasant tone. "We have a question. I couldn't care less about reservations."
"I apologize for any inconvenience, but we are very busy at this time-"
"In what sense?" Rory half questioned, half-hinted. She paused for a moment before batting those unrealistically long, thick lashes and starting over.
"I apologize for any inconvenience but we are very busy at this time and must limit our attentions to paying customers."
"But there's nobody here but us." Amy pushed. "You aren't busy at all."
"Not according to her circuits." The Doctor explained with a sigh. "I don't suppose you could just do a quick scan of the tables? It should take you less than a second. Just humor me?"
The hologram batted her eyes at them before speaking again.
"I apologize for any inconvenience-"
"Too bad. She must be a Mark One." The Doctor observed, disappointed.
"This is ridiculous." Rory noted, walking over to them as the Doctor turned toward the stairs.
"Why did you mention our lack of reservations?" The Master questioned as if truly wondering. "Is the noble Doctor now too good even to deceive a mindless restaurant hologram? Your fan club will be so very proud."
The Doctor ignored the jab. Amy sighed.
"Honestly Master, you're making us all miss Koschei."
The Master was just about to point out that Rory was incapable of missing Koschei, having never met him, when the hologram unexpectedly spoke.
"Master Koschei. Fragment recognized. Searching archives."
"What the-?" Amy said, taking a step forward as the hologram closed her eyes and flickered bright red momentarily.
"Accessing secondary archive."
The Doctor frowned, exchanging a look with the Master.
"That's not a Mark One." The Doctor observed tensely.
"Name retrieved. Master Koschei Xha'en. Code zero zero thirteen."
"How did you know that? You shouldn't know that name." The Master asked suspiciously.
"Voice pattern recognized." The hologram continued in monotone. Then she opened her eyes looking straight into his. "Target confirmed."
The Master went still as a statue for a second before spinning round and bolting up the stairs with inhuman speed and grace. Amy followed not far behind. The hologram tracked his movement with her babydoll eyes, never once losing her polite, flirty facade.
"Lockdown initiated." She reported pleasantly and a big, heavy, metal door slammed down blocking the exit. "Please be seated. A Collector will be with you shortly to handle target retrieval."
The Master ignored her, rushing over to the windows on the wall to their left, grabbing a chair as he went, and flinging it at the closest one.
"Careful, Sugar." The hologram said sweetly, as Amy grabbed him around the waist, yanking him back from a burst of high voltage current erupting from the point of impact, and setting the cushion on fire.
"Jesus!" Rory exclaimed, rushing over to them.
"Please note: all windows are currently electrified. We apologize for any inconvenience. We ask that our patrons please refrain from interfering with Target acquisition." At the last bit, Amy flashed the hologram a very rude gesture. The Doctor had already started tinkering with the tech for the holographic systems behind the desk.
"You alright?" Rory asked, helping Amy to her feet. She nodded and they both looked down at the Master, who was still on the floor.
"I'm extremely annoyed, but otherwise just fine." The Master said, ignoring their outstretched hands and pushing himself up off the floor. "How long?" He asked as he inspected his hat for damage.
"Five minutes." The Doctor replied, not pausing in his work. The Master moved to join him but he held up a hand halting him in his tracks. "No, not a good idea. You'll only trigger more security measures. I can handle it."
"Collectors... Doesn't ring a bell." The Master considered, putting his cap back on. "How about you?"
"Not a clue." The Doctor replied from under the desk.
"Some kind of bounty hunters maybe?" Rory guessed, then seeing those bright golden eyes looking up at him, added. "Not to accuse you of anything. It's just a thought."
"They're pretty well prepared." The Master said finally looking away. Amy gave Rory's shoulder a reassuring squeeze as she passed him on her way to face the hologram once again.
"What can you tell me about the Collectors?" Amy asked, crossing her arms over her chest,
"I am sorry we are very-"
"Yeah I know. No service without a reservation; he didn't have one, but this is me asking." Amy interrupted in a no nonsense tone of voice. She was getting really sick of people trying to kill her friends and, in her opinion, going after the mentally unbalanced one was exeptionally low.
"My apologies, Sweetheart." The hologram replied warmly, "Under what name shall I log your inquiry?"
Amy looked at the ground, seeming to consider her next move. Rory was standing beside her immediatly.
"Don't! You can't use your name. You might be targeted." Amy ignored him.
"He's right. You shouldn't." The Doctor agreed. "You've been travelling with me longer than he has this time around. If they have his name they could easily have yours."
"Would you like to log an inquiry, Sweetheart?"
Amy looked over at the Master and their eyes locked for a moment before he shook his head. She took a deep breath before turning back to the hologram.
"Yes." She replied smoothly.
"No listen-" Rory tried, desperately.
"The name is Rory Williams."
"Searching archive..." The hologram replied with a smile. "Reservation found. Request accepted. Please state your query."
"What? How?" Rory asked. Amy shushed him holding a finger to his lips.
"Who are the Collectors?" Amy inquired.
"The Collectors: Seven specialized hunters of unknown origin who are in current contol over sector one of Vegas II. Under the employ of a classified party for retrieval of certain specified threats to the sustained function. A security code of blue level clearance or higher is required for further information." The hologram explained. There was the sound of a hovercraft landing outside.
"Tell me you're finished." The Master demanded, looking from the door to the Doctor and back again.
"Of course." The Doctor said jumping to his feet. The Master grabbed Rory's arm pulling him toward the windows.
"Right then. Humans first." He proclaimed, never taking his eyes from the doorway. "Specifically, Rory."
The big metal door began to open, showing two rather imposing, navy blue figures standing just outside.
"Umm, why me?" Rory asked, jumping as the Doctor used his sonic to shatter the glass. The Master just shoved him toward the opening.
"Just shut up and run." Amy glared at him as she went through the opening without prompting. The Master was building up current in his hands; at the same time, the Collectors were pointing their weapons at him and the Doctor. One moved to fire and got hit with a big bolt of white hot energy that knocked him off his feet instead. The Doctor grabbed the Master leading him to the broken window as the other Collector opened fire. They barely made it through without geting hit.
"Hey, are you alright?" Amy shouted as she and Rory helped them up.
"Just fine. Didn't we tell you to run?" The Doctor asked.
"Yes you did." Rory confirmed, looking accusingly over at Amy as they ran for it. They turned right as a pulse bullet hit the wall just behind the Doctor's head.
"There are actually seven of those guys somewhere around here! How are we supposed to handle seven?" Rory exclaimed. "I don't even know how we'll manage two!"
"'We' don't have to manage anything." The Master pointed out after they'd ducked into the backdoor of some kind of club. "They aren't after you."
"He's right." The Doctor agreed. "You two shouldn't be involved in this. We should split up: you two head back to the TARDIS."
"No." Amy argued.
"Keep out of sight. You should be fine."
"No, I am not just leaving you here!" Amy snapped.
"I'm sorry. You seem to misunderstand how this works. I am not asking you. I am telling you. Get back to the TARDIS." The Doctor commanded rather harshly, causing the Master to raise an eyebrow. Amy, on the other hand, looked like she wanted to slap him.
"Oh for the..." The Master said rolling his eyes and made the decision for them by running out the door and slamming it shut behind him. A moment later the keypad next to it sparked.
"Master!" The Doctor shouted trying to follow, but the door wouldn't open. He reached into his pocket and then looked utterly shocked. "He took my sonic-screwdriver. He took my sonic-screwdriver!"
.
A/N: So here it is the new chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. I certainly did. Props to those of you who caught the Douglas Adams reference. This has got to be the longest uninterrupted scene in the entire fic. It even has an unrealistically sexy, passive-aggressive, holographic waitress for your viewing pleasure. Anyways, thank you all for reading. Special thanks to Bunyipbabe and BiggerOnTheInside95 for reviewing. Please, do review, people. Not only will it make me love you but it will also really help fuel the writing process.