Unto the Universe

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Sacred Flame: Survivors

By Lumendea

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any spinoff material, and I gain no income from this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.

….

Karn was known for its storms. The last time the Doctor had been here, the skies had been burning as a temporal wave under the control of the Daleks threatened to rain down on the planet. Before that with Sarah Jane, they'd been dealing with a constant downpour. Karn was known for its storm, being one of the rainiest planets in the universe thanks to the utter lack of vegetation to balance its water cycle. But this time, there was no rain and no temporal wave, but potentially an even worse storm.

The Doctor scanned the skies of Karn. The thick clouds that kept the planet in everlasting darkness were churning, but a shimmer of artron energy danced across the undersides. It was forming a column beyond the TARDIS, violent and glowing faintly in the darkness. He inhaled sharply as the influx of energy grated against his senses. Beside him, Jack was scanning with his Vortex Manipulator. The Doctor already knew what the result would be.

"Time Storm," Jack said. "Local. But I'm always picking up traces of portals in the storm. It's controlled."

"Yes," the Doctor agreed. "But by who?"

"Nothing on that, but the two beings are registering as having two hearts," Jack said. "Coming this way. Should be in sight soon."

The jagged rocks of Karn blocked most of the view of the surface from their position. Not far away was the TARDIS, and it was from the rocks nearby her that two figures stepped out of the billowing Time Storm. They landed on their feet and immediately strode towards him and Jack. Controlled indeed.

The Doctor recognized the Monk at once. He looked similar to how he had on Hela with his dark hair slicked back and his face clean-shaven. His dark brown eyes were bright with amusement and eagerness that immediately set the Doctor on edge. Most annoying was that the Time Lord had donned a stylized red, black, and white clergy robe.

"Hello, Doctor," the Monk greeted with a smile. Despite switching to religious robes, he was still carrying his cane. "I'd say it is surprising to find you on Karn, but the Eternals knew you'd be here."

"Monk," the Doctor greeted coolly. His eyes flickered up to the Time Storm. The streams of energy were brighter now, and he could see pale, noncorporeal forms moving through the storm. "I take it your masters are here as well."

"They're around, they are Eternal."

"Doctor," Jack hissed. "The other man is registering like you and the Monk."

The Doctor braced himself. Given that the first being with two hearts was the Monk, he couldn't help but worry as he looked at the second figure. They were male and watching him with a knowing smirk that was familiar. He had short brown hair and a familiar goatee beard. Narrow brown eyes were fixed on the Doctor even as his smirk turned into a smile. He was dressed in all black with an asymmetrical collar and a black coat with dark red lining.

"Ah, Doctor," the second Time Lord greeted. He took a step forward. "Did you miss me?"

"No," the Doctor said. It was a lie. He hated that it was a lie. He knew that smile knew who this way, even without the other Time Lord reaching out towards his mind.

The Doctor bolstered his shields, blocking off any contact with either of them. The gaping emptiness in his head taunted him. He thought of Rose, tried to remember how she felt in his head only last night during her telepathy practice. Warm and bright and very much the opposite of these two.

"Doctor, you know him?" Jack asked softly.

"Oh, we go way back," the man laughed. "Come now, Doctor. Greet an old friend!"

"Master," the Doctor said. "How are you alive? You throw in with the Eternals too?"

"No," the Monk answered. He strode forward, smirking at the Master. "No, I found him hiding as a human at the End of the Universe. Rather adorable in a way." The Master's expression darkened, and he threw an ugly look towards the Monk. "The Eternals have been searching, poking around the universe, trying to find any Time Lords who might still be alive. Chameleon Arcs it seemed proved useful to our old friend here. Mind you, I did have to… push him a little to join my efforts."

The Master scowled at the Monk, a dark look all but gleaming in his eyes. It was rare that the Doctor had seen the Master leashing his hatred, and he wondered just what the Monk had done. But… it was The Master. The Doctor's chest ached looking at his oldest once friend.

Of all the Time Lords to still be alive, why did it have to be the Master. The Doctor hated the wave of relief bubbling up into his chest. Hated that feeling, even these two soothed the ringing emptiness in his head. Rose made it more bearable in the moments they were joined, but those times were always far too short. And even Rose's mind, as lovely and beloved as it was, didn't equal the millions of Time Lords he'd once had a faint connection to. But the Master. The Time War had changed them both. He'd heard of the Master fighting for Gallifrey, using his talents for destruction and devastation to aid Gallifrey. They'd crossed paths a few times even. It had… been pleasant in a way, fighting on the same side.

"Oh enough of all that, not really interesting," the Master huffed. He looked the Doctor up and down. "A bit dark in the wardrobe department for you, Doctor. And I see you regenerated."

"From the final act," the Monk explained. He was smiling slightly. "But went straight back to his usual ways. Running around the universe and picking up strays."

"Oh, I don't know," the Master laughed. "Seems plenty has changed." He took a step towards the TARDIS. "The Last TARDIS in the universe," the Master said with a smirk. He reached over and ran a hand over the blue box. "Never thought it would be this old Type 40. It seems you had decent taste when you ran off after all."

"Don't touch the TARDIS," Jack snarled.

"Your human pet is feisty," the Master laughed. He took his hands off the TARDIS and grinned at the Doctor. "What now, Doctor? Do we three last Time Lords declare war on each other?"

"It's not too late, Doctor," the Monk continued. "The Eternals respect you. In the past, you've shown you're very capable and your decision to destroy Gallifrey-" The Master laughed, a big booming sound that echoed against the rocks as he grinned. The Monk gave him an unpleasant look. "Impressed them. Just hand over the girl."

"Oh, he won't," the Master said. He shook his head. "Can't you smell it on him, Mortimus? He's sleeping with a human; he's gone native." The Master clicked his tongue. "Always knew you were abnormally fond of them but never thought you'd go that low. Then again, she did absorb the Time Vortex, and even I think that sounds attractive." The Master grinned and walked towards the Doctor and Jack, his eyes bright and curious. "What was it like? Watching your little ape rip the Daleks apart? The Eternals were watching her; they showed it to us. It frightened even them." The Master nodded at the entrance to the caverns. "She's in there, isn't she? Come on, Doctor, bring her out and introduce her to some old friends."

"What's your business on Karn?" the Doctor asked.

"A reunion, it seems," the Monk replied. "The three surviving Time Lords all together. Three of the Deca." He smiled a little. "Mind you; I rather suspect that The Rani is out in the universe somewhere. She vanished mid-way into the war. Wouldn't shock me if she used a Chameleon Arc as well."

The Master shifted at the mention of the Chameleon Arc, and the Doctor wondered just what his human self had been like. What life had he lived? The Monk had said the End of the Universe, further than anyone was ever supposed to go. Had he been a good man or a survivor preying off of others? Had his madness translated to his human form? Had his brilliance? The Doctor didn't ask.

"What is your business on Karn?" the Doctor repeated.

The Master rolled his eyes and looked to the Monk, shaking his head. "Honestly, he became Death itself to the Time Lords and still has no sense of humor." Grinning, he turned back to the Doctor. "What did it feel like, Doctor? Even Rassilon feared the Moment, and yet… oh you must have felt like a god."

"Stop it!" the Doctor snapped.

The Master's words were clawing at wounds that had finally- finally begun to heal. The Doctor wasn't sure when exactly that had stopped hurting so much, though he knew the reason for it, he had no interest in returning to the crushing guilt and grief. Slamming his shields into place, he did his best to muffle the telepathic presence of his fellow Time Lords. He would be grateful they were alive, but he couldn't have them in his head. Not now.

"What are you doing on Karn?" Jack called over. The Doctor glanced at his companion. It was a good thing that Jack wasn't armed because he looked ready to shoot them both. If either came closer, it was likely that Jack would attach them physically. "What are your masters after?"

The Master grit his teeth, and his scowl deepened at Jack's choice of words. The Doctor wondered just how the Monk and the Eternals had gotten him to help. They must have some sort of leverage or physical restraint. With the Eternals, almost anything was possible.

"Well, I might be happy with just taking your TARDIS," the Master replied. He'd regained his calm a little, but the madness glinted in his eyes. He took a step back towards the TARDIS only to stop short. "What the?"

Smoke billowed around the TARDIS, wrapping her in a veil and drawing the attention of the Time Lords and the former Time Agent. A chant echoed across the landscape, and the TARDIS faded from view. The Doctor almost exhaled in relief. The Master and the Monk wouldn't have been able to get in, but he didn't like seeing the TARDIS next to them.

"Doctor?!" the Master gasped. "Working with the Witches?"

"Mind yourself, Master," the Doctor replied. "Gallifrey is gone. There is no Eye of Harmony, no Matrix. As it stands, they're more powerful than us."

He hated the words even as part of him admitted they were true. The last time he'd been on Karn, shortly after his aborted regeneration thanks to powers he still didn't understand, the Doctor had seen what the Sisters could muster to protect the Sacred Fire. Rassilon had been stupid enough to send a Time Lord to extract the Heart of Karn, rip out the source of the flame's power, and the offending Time Lord had been horrified by the powers unleashed on them. Then the Sisters had removed Karn from the universe before Gallifrey could even implement a Time Lock.

"But not more powerful than the Eternals," the Monk said. He was eying them both. "They will rip this planet apart to get at the girl, Doctor. She is no longer your concern."

"She is under the protection of the Guardians," the Doctor said. He didn't understand it, but he'd seen enough in the time Rose had been travelling with him to know it was true. "Unless your masters are prepared for war here, you best run!"

"Oh, Doctor," the Monk laughed. "War is the only option now."

Overhead, the storm twisted, and a low hum filled the air. Shapes were beginning to emerge from the Time Storm. It could be anything. The Eternals had the power to pull armies and terrifying creatures from all parts of time. It was no wonder that they'd been able to find the Master, no wonder that when frightened, The Monk had sided with them. And they were after Rose. They'd always been after Rose. He'd known it since that Eternal used the Brothers Grimm to set a trap for them.

"Stop this," the Doctor said. "There's only the three of us now! We're all that's left."

"Yes," the Monk agreed. "And that's your fault! This, Doctor, is where all of your choices have led! Ever since you ran from Gallifrey, this is the conclusion you were always hurtling yourself towards."

The Doctor took a step back. These two knew too much. He'd never told them what he saw in the schism. Such things weren't discussed on Gallifrey. But they knew him. They knew him far better than his politically arranged wife, or the children he'd only seen a handful of times, or even Susan, who he'd tried to be a rock for. They knew his failures. They knew too many weak points, and now- now there were so many.

"Hand over the girl, Doctor," the Master said. "Karn won't protect her."

"It might," the Doctor replied. "It protected me. Last time I was here, I should have died and regenerated, but I didn't. I lived. A Time Lord who tried to betray the Sisterhood was swept away by the planet's power. Time Lords shouldn't assume what Karn will do."

"Oh, Rassilon, you are going native," the Master replied with a scowl. "First your humans on Earth and now speaking for the witches."

What else was there? Gallifrey was gone. Karn was still here, the last echo of their species save for the three of them. The Master grinned and began tapping out the rhythm of a Time Lord heartbeat against his leg.

"Doctor?" Jack asked.

"Back inside," the Doctor said lowly. They began to back up.

The Monk laughed. "That's it, Doctor. Run!"

With a roar, a massive shape reached out of the Time Storm. It towered over them, and as the lightning danced across ash-grey skin, the Doctor saw a demonic form. It was tall and thin but muscular, with a piggish snout and horns growing from the top of its head. A dark shadow began to sweep across the surface of Karn as the Monk, and the Master moved towards Jack and Doctor to stay out of it. Grabbing his companion's shoulder, the Doctor pulled Jack roughly towards the entrance. He didn't know what that creature was, but Time was shaking with every step it took.