The man listened to what the Doctor, his face giving away nothing. It was a dangerous plan and it would be a miracle if they managed to get away without any casualties. Even if the Doctor claimed that it would allow them to have their freedom, the man wasn't sure if he believed him. Their small village had been tricked before resulting in several of their people being killed or enslaved. Because of that, newcomers were looked at with suspicion and often imprisoned until they were sure they were really seeking help. Still, if the Doctor was telling the truth, it was the miracle they had been waiting for. For the first time, there was hope that they would no longer have to hide but would be able to live freely among the humans they once feared.

A town meeting was called and the Doctor and Jack were led to a small building on the edge of the encampment. The path they took made it impossible to see how many aliens were living in the city or how big it actually was. The Doctor knew that was on purpose as they still weren't trusted. As he walked, he pretended not to notice the men disappearing into the woods to make sure they were alone or the children watching them from the shadows. He could hear whispers all around him as they wondered if they were in danger and worried they would have to move their encampment again. The Doctor could have offered to take them all off of Earth to where they would be safe, but by doing so he would lose any help they might be able to offer him in stopping the Master.

"In here," one of the men with guns ordered. The Doctor stepped inside the large tent to find a small table with several chairs set around it. The Doctor immediately took a seat propping his feet up on the table as he leaned back in one of the chairs. Jack raised an eyebrow at him and the Doctor motioned to the chair beside him. Jack didn't understand what the Doctor was up to but followed his lead sitting down in the chair next to him.

"I don't like this," Jack informed the Time Lord. Even if they had called a meeting, Jack couldn't help but notice that two men were standing guard at the door with guns in their hands.

"I know but we need their help," the Doctor answered so quietly that Jack had to strain to hear him. If the Doctor was worried about the guns, he didn't show it as he acted bored while he waited.

"Do you think they will listen to us?" Jack questioned softly.

"I don't know," The Doctor replied his mouth barely moving.

Several men trickled in taking seats around the table. They didn't speak as they waited for the rest of the council to join. It didn't take long for the table to be filled by seven men, three women and an elderly man who sat to the side listening. The first man that the Doctor had spoken to was with them. He asked the Doctor to repeat his plan and the Doctor once more laid out his idea for ambushing the Master and destroying the transporter. From there he would take the Master as his prisoner. He would prove to the people of Earth that the man they called Harold Saxon was really a dangerous Time Lord who had been manipulating Earth in order to kill the rest of the universe.

"I don't see how that is going to free the aliens who are enslaved on this planet," One of the women spoke up.

"It won't right away. Once The Master is my prisoner, I can lock him in my TARDIS in order to keep him from having influence over the Earth. I can also bring the Shadow Proclamation down in order to help free the slaves and get Earth back on track," the Doctor stated.

"But they refused to help us," Jack spoke up. The Doctor glared at him as he continued.

"They did but only because the Master was stopping them. With him imprisoned they will have no choice but to listen," the Doctor answered.

"The humans won't change," A man argued.

"I know it doesn't seem like it, but there are good humans on this Earth. There are ones who have never taken slaves and work in secret to try to free the slaves of Earth," The Doctor responded.

"What about the rest of them who happily imprison us?" the man challenged.

"I believe they can change, just like my companion Jack did. I have every right to hate Jack. He took me as his slave and tied me to the end of his bed at night to sleep on the floor. I was spanked when I stepped out of line and treated as if I were nothing. He even threatened to sell me to his friend who wanted to rape me in order to try to keep me in line," The Doctor admitted. Jack winced hearing his words. The crowd was staring at him now and he could see the hatred in their own eyes for the pain that he caused the Doctor. "But what he did to me is nothing compared to what is happening to other aliens on this Earth."

"That doesn't make it right," one of the men spoke up.

"No, it doesn't. Still, I have forgiven Jack because he has shown me that he is a good man. He has become a fugitive here on Earth for helping me to escape and then free the slaves of a former friend of his. He went against how he was raised to care for me when I was injured and to make sure that the aliens we freed were taken care of until I was well enough to take them to a place where they could be safe. He even helped me to figure out what was happening on Earth and find a way to stop it," The Doctor proudly told the group.

"I know it isn't fair of me to ask for your help but I can't stop him on my own. Together we can stop him and even if it doesn't seem like it now if you help me for the first time in one hundred years you won't have to live in fear. Your children will be able to walk freely on this Earth among humans and call them friends," The Doctor stated. A vote was called and the Doctor watched on tensely. The man who was listening in the corner counted the votes and the Doctor swore softly as it came back with only four willing to help and the rest against. They were comfortable in their encampment and didn't trust that he could truly stop the Master.

"I'm sorry but we can't help you," the elder declared as the people filed out.

"You're making a mistake," the Doctor cried out. They ignored him as they left the two of them alone with the first man once more.

"My guards will show you out of the village," he informed them as he motioned to the two men still standing guard. The Doctor and Jack had no choice but to comply as they were led out of the village. They were taken down the path and left to continue walking on their own. Feeling defeated, the Doctor returned to his TARDIS. He swore silently as he threw his coat over the coral. All their work to find the village had been for nothing and now they were going to have to start from the beginning. Angry, he threw the handbrake sending the TARDIS into the vortex as he contemplated his next move.

"This is a Time machine right?" Jack questioned.

"Yes," the Doctor replied snidely.

"Then why don't we go back in time and just kill the Master before he has a chance to enslave the Earth?" Jack wondered. The look of utter disgust on the Doctor's face was enough for Jack to know it would never happen. The Doctor hit a few buttons, taking the TARDIS out of the vortex in order to orbit a small planet.

"I'm going to bed," the Doctor told him as he turned his back on Jack and headed towards his room. He didn't think he would be able to sleep but he needed time to think away from the rest of the universe that he was no longer sure that he could save.