Chapter Forty-Nine

The Master ignored Rose's anguished screams as the probe penetrated deeply into her mind looking for any sign that the Bad Wolf was present. The room was soundproofed so there was no chance of anyone hearing her. He sat nearby at a monitor watching the screen as he went through her memories digging deeper and deeper into her subconscious mind.

He sighed wishing he had brought some earplugs with him. The child's screams were starting to get on his nerves. He hoped he would find something soon before he went deaf.

"Come on, the power has to be in there somewhere. I just have to dig deep enough to find it."

He pushed a button and the machine probed deeper into her mind as Rose's screams increased.

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The Doctor seethed. He felt like ripping everyone and everything in the Valiant apart. He should have expected this. He should have seen it coming. He knew that the Master had his eye on Rose ever since they came back. But, still he held out the hope that the Master would be so busy focusing on him and his plans for conquest that he wouldn't have time to do something to Rose. What a naive fool he was sometimes.

He had tried to get the truth out of the guards keeping watch by the door, but they completely ignored him, which infuriated him more. He had tried to contact Rose telepathically, but got no response from her. Angrily, he slumped to the ground in front of the tent.

"I swear, Master, if you harm her and she dies or goes insane, I will rip you apart with my bare hands." He muttered to himself.

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The Master sighed as he probed deeper. He was deep into her subconscious now and there was still no sign of the Bad Wolf. After another few minutes, he decided to take a break and he stopped the probe. Rose's screams died away into silence as he rose and walked out of the room.

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The Doctor looked over as the door slid open and Tish entered the room carrying his lunch tray.

"Hey, Doctor, how are you doing?" she asked.

She paused when she saw the angry look on his face.

"Doctor," she said putting the tray on the table and running to him. "What's wrong?"

"He has her, Tish; the Master took Rose away last night."

"Oh God," she said leaning down next to him. "Why?"

The Doctor sighed angrily.

"Because he thinks that she has god-like powers and he wants to get at it so he can use it."

"God-like powers? Why would he think Rose would have something like that?"

The Doctor briefly explained the Bad Wolf to her. Tish sat beside him in shock.

"You gotta be kidding me. She actually defeated an entire fleet of these Dalek things on her own?" she said.

"No, she didn't do it, this Bad Wolf did." The Doctor corrected her. "But the power is gone from her now, I'm sure of it. I tried to tell the Master that, but he wouldn't listen to me and now he's torturing her somewhere in an effort to draw it out of her."

"What do we do?" Tish asked.

The Doctor thought for a moment.

"The Master's laser screwdriver. If I can get a hold of it, I can use it to force him to take me to Rose and then we can put him, my double and everyone else working for him in a room and lock it so they can't escape. We can remain on the ship in safety until Martha comes back."

He took her hand.

"I can't do it alone though. It's gonna take the combined effort of everyone to pull it off. Tish, we're gonna have to risk staging another revolt to get Rose back. I hate doing something that might upset our plan, but I can't let that bastard torture Rose into insanity."

"Just tell me what to do." Tish whispered. "I know everyone will go along with it. Tell me what you have in mind and I'll tell my mum and dad."

"Tell Jack too, we need his help as well." The Doctor whispered back.

He thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Okay, here is what I want everyone to do."

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Tish walked quickly down the corridor trying to find her parents. Once she found them, she pulled them to one side and quickly told them the details of the Doctor's plan.

"When is he wanting to do this?" Francine asked.

"He's not sure yet, when he feels the time is right, he said he'll show us with his fingers. He'll count out the time that way. That way if someone gets wind of it, they won't be able to mount a defense against us."

"Tell the Doctor we're in. Clive and I have been aching to get back at them ever since they tortured us." Francine said.

Tish nodded.

"I have to go feed Jack. I'll write out what he needs to know on a note, put it in the tray and let him read it while he eats. That way the guard standing next to him won't have a clue."

Clive and Francine nodded.

"Just keep up to date on what's going on." Francine said. "We better get back to work now before the guards start asking too many questions."

"Okay, I'll let the Doctor know you two are in."

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"Hey Tish, how's it goin'?'" Jack asked as she entered the room carrying the tray. "I'm so glad you're here, I'm starving."

He stared at her as she walked right up to him with the tray.

"You gonna set that down?" he asked.

Tish put her finger to her lips. She glanced over at the guard and moved the note out from under the bowl.

"Read this while you eat." She whispered to him.

Jack read the note silently while Tish spooned gruel into his mouth. Once he finished reading, he looked back up at her.

"I'm in." He mouthed to her.

Tish nodded. She glanced back at the guard and quietly slid the note back under the bowl.

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The Doctor looked up as Tish entered to clean off the table. She glanced back at the guards, put the spray bottle and rag on the table and quickly hurried over to him. Kneeling down beside him, she took his hands.

"Everyone's in, Doctor." She whispered to him. "All you need to do is let us know when to strike."

The Doctor nodded and smiled.

"I'll be sure to let you know." He whispered back. "It'll probably be in the afternoon though. That way you guys will be in here cleaning and it won't look suspicious."

Tish nodded.

"Speaking of, I better get on with my duties. But, I just wanted to let you know that everyone is in, even Jack."

"Good. Then, tomorrow we get Rose back and take over this ship at last."