With the rain came also new problems. Sensors, which were put a mile around the house, picked up an increased gathering of Cyber-Scarecrows. There was a moment of panic, but soon settlers and time lords organized themselves into small groups, who would go out to stop incoming creatures.
ooo
The danger was very close, too close for Tenth Doctor's taste, but he needed to stand his ground. He recalled as Hazran told him that Cyber-Scarecrows may look defenceless, but in reality - they were very stubborn and when they caught an innocent passer-by, they would drag the prey deep into the dark forest to never hear back again.
There were only few more steps between Doctor and scarecrows, his instinct told him to run, but the time lord forced his legs to not move. Then miraculously, the earth below his enemies vanished, making creatures to fall deep down.
"Primitive, but useful." Master commented the trap set by inhabitants of deck 507th, as he put Hazran's map with such 'surprises' back into his jacket. "The more they will try to climb up, the more ground will fall on them. They will literally bury themselves."
Indeed, no one would easily get out of such pit. Settlers had to spend days on digging it, but it paid off. They were safe for a moment and Doctor allowed himself to look around the green meadow, on which they were presently standing. The land was empty, Twelve reported to him through the communicator that he also didn't see anything dangerous, it seemed as if both time lords could return back to their temporary home.
"Let's check the west part again." Doctor decided at last and pulled the hood closer to his face. Ten was grateful for n-th time that Hazran gave them waterproof coats. If not, his suit would have been soaked wet as soon as he had left the house.
"Do we have to?" Master whined.
"Most of scarecrows were coming from there." Doctor explained. "I just want to be certain that we didn't miss anything. Come, it won't take long."
"I'm hungry."
"Here." Ten stopped in his tracks and took a small bag from his coat.
"What's that?"
"Cookies."
Master inspected the content with his characteristics reservation, but he picked one in the end. It was clear that his humour lifted up for a moment and Doctor struggled to not smile.
"From where do you have them?" Ex-Prime Minister asked.
"Hazran gave it to me, as a thanks with repairing the barn, after Thirteen's accident there."
"Oh, yes. Your lady self had to be glad for having a pretext to leave the house." Master started walking again. "That settler woman can be cross. (Eleven still avoids her and doesn't mention flowers.) She had to be furious after hearing what had happened with the roof."
Truth to be told, Thirteen seemed indifferent of Hazran's reaction, which surprised all Doctors. They all soon realised that there appeared another mystery to solve, however Master didn't need to informed about it.
"Listen," Ten started, when he joined Ex-Prime Minister. "I know that you would prefer being somewhere else. Yeez, even I'm starting changing my mind about deserts and I'm dreaming about a huge cup of hot chocolate."
"A discovery of the century." Master sneered and ate another cookie.
"And presumingly, you would want my blond self to accompany you..." Ten continued and wondered why it was bothering him.
"No, not really."
"Huh?"
Doctor had to experience a short memory loss, because somehow the other time lord was a good five meters away and he had ran up to reach him, just to block his way.
"Who are you and what have you done with Master?" he asked, while standing in front of him.
"What?"
"You follow Thirteen with your eyes, whenever she pass by."
"Female Doctor might be average, but she is a far cry from an ugly witch." he shrugged, as if it was a normal thing. "Personally, I think that Missy looks better than her."
"Yeah, her too! (I have never done that with my regenerations, haven't I?)"
"This me can't resist a beautiful woman, but it doesn't mean that I'll stupidly running after them."
"Well, in this I must agree." he sighed. "But seriously, why not Thirteen?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Huh?"
"When Thirteen looks at me, she actually doesn't see me. I'm only a piece from her past. Twelve is a little better, but he can't get a hold of himself whenever Missy is nearby." his face changed into something representing a longing. "As soon as we leave the colony ship, I will be forgotten."
"It's difficult to forget you." Doctor said, hoping to cheer the situation up.
"Don't try to flatter me with your obligatory kindness." Master suddenly spat with such venom that Ten was forced to move back. "It makes matters only worse."
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to disrespect you." he raised his palms up to calm the fellow time lord and ignored the rain, which was getting heavier with each minute. "Some memories are stronger than others, that's the fact. But they don't disappear. You know me. I never truly forget people, whom I've met."
"No, I don't know you!"
ooo
"How does feel my favourite patient?" Missy asked a bored Twelve, who hadn't healed fully yet and was forced to stay in bed.
"Overjoyed." he replied frustrated and buried himself even more deeper beneath the blanket. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm on a peaceful mission of bringing you the not poisoned soup." the time lady indicated a tray with the meal in her hands, which she put on a chair next to him.
"You could have placed it closer." Doctor said, as the furniture stood in that particular distance that he would have to spend next fifteen minutes in trying to reach the spoon. Especially, in his half-paralyzed condition.
"And avoid fun in watching you struggle to get it? No way." Missy chuckled. "But really, how are you feeling?"
"Better. I cat sit up without squirming. Look... YYY... Ugh, no, maybe not."
"Remember, the fault is still yours."
"Yes, yes. I get it." Doctor rolled his eyes, then sobered and glanced at Missy with a more serious expression. "I believe that's the first time, when I have the chance to ask you that question."
"Which is?" the time lady clearly sensed the change in his mood, as her voice lost the cheerful tone.
"Why are you like this?"
"Gorgeous, clever, extremely ambitious... Be more specific, my dear."
"You know what I mean."
Since the beginning of their adventures with five Doctors and three Masters, Missy had been so reserved around him and he couldn't stand it. Truth to be told, he longed for his noisy friend to come back.
"Let see... because you forced me to watch Disney ("You proposed it by yourself." Twelve pointed. "I couldn't sleep for days after Bambi.") or because you didn't give me a Venusian pony from 23th century ("They are carnivorous and dangerous.") or because I realised whom you actually are not."
"Huh?"
"Like - not worth of my time." She tuned back and approached the door.
"Then why have you come here?" Twelve shouted with anger, which actually masked something much more virtuous.
"I was curios how you were doing, that's all."
"Is it only this?" Hope took a peek.
"Well, others were busy, except of Eleven, but he immediately ran out from the room and I didn't want to play in a rainy version of hide and seek, so I chose to be a food-deliver. (Ugh, when have I fallen so low?) Bye!"
"No, wait...ugh..." Ignoring the pain, Doctor gathered all his strength to get up and reach for her hand. It seemed to work, as both his legs managed to keep him in standing position, problems appeared when one of them took first step forward.
"Be careful, you idiot." Missy caught the man before he fell down and sat him on the bed. "Or you will be paralyzed for another days."
Twelve's spine hurt as never before, but he did it - her palm was in his and when she glanced at their joined hands, Doctor knew that the time lady didn't want to free it.
"Whatever you were told," Twelve started. "Whatever awful thing, you heard about me... you know that I would never leave you or betray you, right? You can trust me."
"No, I can't." Missy spoke as if a spell over her was slowly cracking.
ooo
Master regretted his outburst almost immediately, but Doctor's compassionate attitude and his attempts to make him feel important weren't good for his nerves. Especially, as they were starting to work. It had to be stopped, even if Ex-Prime Minister revealed something about the timeless child by accident.
"What are you saying?" Ten asked confused.
"You don't even know yourself, thus I can't know you."
ooo
"You aren't the person, I recognize." Missy stated. "Why the hell should I trust you?"
ooo
Ten intended to scold the time lord, as what he said was illogical, but one closer look at Master's cold expression instantly make him stop.
"You're serious." Doctor replied astonished.
ooo
"You don't believe me?" the time lady wasn't impressed. "Let's do in the other way. Shall we? Answer me, who you are?"
"I'm..."
"The Doctor? WRONG!"
ooo
"I might be a monster," Master said, while trying to convince himself that Doctor's warm and in the same time sad brown eyes weren't affecting him. "but believe me, you're worse. As everything is because of you."
ooo
"You think that you are him, or her, whatever." Missy snorted. "but truly - you aren't aware of whom you are. And I won't allow a stranger to rule my life."
ooo
Master took a deep breath, suddenly realising that he was really getting sloppy with emotional life and also in what was going around him. "And now - move out of the way."
There was confusion, understanding and soon Doctor was jumping to the right, as the other time lord shoot Cyber-Scarecrow, who was sneaking dangerously close to Ten.
"A monster wouldn't have saved me." Doctor stated, while glancing between the dead creature and his friend. "Particularly, not a person, who is so hated."
ooo
If somebody had a crazy idea to make a painting with goddesses of chaos, Missy would be a perfect model. Twelve hadn't remembered, when he saw her so furious. She wasn't the only one, her accusations upset him as well and Doctor had every right to object, but instead - he studied her face, because even if the time lady was insisting on not knowing him, he couldn't say the same about her. Twelve inspected layer after layer of dark emotions, until he found that for what he was looking from the beginning.
"You want to know that stranger again." Twelve said softly, which made Missy to stand up and back away as if bitten.
"You lost your friend." he thought. "That's why you've been so cold for all that time."
ooo
"I've just made sure to not disturb the timeline even more." Master explained, but somehow it sounded too hollow, thus he turned around and started quickly walking away. "Try to keep up, Doctor. If another Cyber-Scarecrow attacked you, I may not be there to rescue you."
"This Mystery with big M," Ten said to the time lord's withdrawing form. "is it really so horrible?"
"Boring!" Master commented, not stopping for a second. "Try asking about something different, like about the position of my personal slave. Just for your information, it's still open."
"Why don't you want to tell me about it?"
ooo
"Thirteen is hiding something from us." Twelve spoke. "The mystery, of which I believe you are aware. I came to understand that it could have also caused us to be here. Won't you tell me what it is?"
Missy raised her head, opened her mouth, but nothing came out. It seemed as if she was reconsidering with herself what she should do. When the time lady decided at last, she only said:
"It isn't my story to tell."
ooo
"It isn't my story to tell." Master's tone indicated the end of subject.
"...then I have other question." Ten pressured.
"I hope that it's more interesting than the last one."
"Do you know what will happen to you?"
"I get out of the ship, of course."
"I've meant all of your selves."
"We continue to have fun." Ex-Prime Minister glanced at his companion, who was keeping a two steps safe distance behind him. "As an annoying smart person, you really choose stupid topics."
"Tell me what will happen to Missy?"
This made Master stop. Thankfully, Doctor didn't move himself in front of him, because he presently couldn't trust his own expression.
"Why should I do it?"
"You may convince yourself as much as you like, but she isn't just a random regeneration, whom you met by accident." Doctor said. "She is also nice to me... Ugh, not bad choice of words, she would vaporize me if she heard it... well, I enjoy her company and she is important to you."
"Stars, as if you would care for any of us..." he sneered, while still not turning around.
"I DO care."
"For cold-blooded murderers? Have you thought about finding a shrink?"
"Yes, you kill, destroy, wreck havoc, transformed Bill into a cyberman... but our relationship have never been simple and... I don't know whom I would be without you..." Two evil hearts beat for a second. "And who said that you couldn't help me making Bill a human again?"
Ex-Prime Minister shook his head in exasperation. His fellow time lord just couldn't resist being optimistic in every aspect of life.
"Master, I'm worried about you."
"I don't want to loose you again." Ten kept his thoughts to himself.
"I'll be fine, Doctor."
"That's good." he seemed relieved. "I won't pressure you more, but please tell me... will Missy be all right, too?"