Chapter 8
Soon after, Rassilon started using the knowledge he had gained to spread his will across the cosmos. He proceeded to secretly implant the regenerative power into the Citadel Dwellers. Rassilon had told them that the power was an advancement in their evolution, that constant exposure to various time energies had mutated their bodies. Many took it as a sign, a symbol of their right to command the universe. With an army of constantly regenerating warriors, Rassilon began his conquest. He visited many worlds. Some, he studied. Others, he took over. And some, like the Racnoss, he completely destroyed. The Citadel Dwellers, after following Rassilon throughout history, proceeded to take on a new name chosen with great pomposity. A name that soon spread fear across the universe: Time Lords.
The Master ended the visions.
"The rest," he said. "Is history."
He proceeded to look back at her.
"Now do you see, Doctor?" he said. "Now you see why I had to destroy them? The child and I share something in common: Rassilon. Rassilon and the Time Lords saw us as nothing more than a means to an end. Whether to escape war, or death, they never were worth saving."
The Doctor looked at him in horror. This was really the history of their people? Liars, thieves, and war? All for the sake of one man's mad ambition? Was this power really stolen from an innocent child? But of all the questions that burned in her head, there was only one she really cared about.
"What happened to the child?" she asked.
The Master looked at her.
"Locked away." he answered. "All official records hidden. Rassilon could not let word get out that this power had come from an alien child."
The Doctor was confused. Something about this whole thing didn't feel right. In her mind, maybe, just maybe, the Time Lords did deserve some form of punishment. They did horrible things to the Timeless Child, and that was unforgivable. But at the same time they were safely contained in this pocket universe, unable to influence the rest of the universe. They were basically contained.
"There's more to the story isn't there?" she asked. "There has to be. You, you don't do this. You don't destroy worlds for retribution, you do it because you can. You always have done. No, this...this was something else."
The Master smiled.
"Got me." he said. "Well done. You're right, of course. There is in fact more to the story. It's not much but I didn't want us to get ahead of ourselves."
The Doctor glared.
"Show me the rest." she demanded.
The Master looked away.
"I'm not sure you can cope with…"
The Doctor shoved him.
"Show Me The Rest!" she shouted. "I have a right to know the truth."
The Master chuckled.
"Alright," he declared. "But you better brace yourself for a shock."
And with that, he snapped his fingers.