Chapter 5: Echo

The dim room brightened; the previously grey looking walls now illuminated in all their lilac glory. It was supposed to simulate sunlight, she had been told long ago, but it never could quite compare to the real thing. The TARDIS had ended her night cycle and a new day had begun. She wasn't sure whether this meant a new day had also begun on the Earth, or if the night cycle had been for her benefit, she never thought to ask back during her first stay on the time ship, and she regretted that now. She had no idea how much time had passed since he had locked her in her luxury cell and disappeared to do who knows what.

Rose had gone deep into her thoughts after he had left her, trying to come up with a plan, an idea, anything, to get her out of this situation. Every idea she had was shot down by herself within moments. It wasn't like being in the field, on assignment. She had no backup, no team behind her to bounce ideas off or help dig her out of a sticky spot. Her phone wasn't working either, and really, even if it was, who could she call? Everyone she knew was a universe away. And calling the Mickey in this universe was out of the question. Who knew what kind of damage that could do to the timelines? She didn't fancy a repeat of the Reapers. She was on her own. And while she was very capable of working alone, had done so many times before, this time it wouldn't be a jail cell she needed to pick her way out of. The TARDIS was a whole different kettle of fish. She'd seen the TARDIS make a door disappear before when the time ship was annoyed with her Timelord, so she was quite sure any lock picking attempts would be useless. There wasn't even a lock on her door to attempt to pick in the first place. Which meant every idea that came into her head from her Torchwood training was a non-starter.

So, ideas of escape were shelved, for now.

Rose knew that she didn't have enough information to really form any kind of plan.
She knew what her enemy was, a Timelord, an insane one at that, but that was it. She didn't know what he wanted, what he was intending to do, how he was going about it, or what his end game was. And she had no idea how she fitted into everything.

She had some ideas; guesses from the brief conversations they had had. He was infiltrating the government, posing as a human. He was planning something big, something that would take a while to come to fruition. He had said she was too early, so he wasn't finished yet.
And he hated the Doctor, not just a "I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for those pesky kids" kind of hate that people he had previously thwarted had for the interfering alien. It was personal.
Which meant they knew each other. They were both Timelords, so it was always possible they knew each other.
But this level of emotion went beyond simple acquaintances.
And yes, it was emotion.
No matter how much he sneered at the thought, he was absolutely seeping with emotion.

But he had been tight lipped when mentioning his plans. Which meant getting him to spill the beans was going to be hard. But he was still an insane megalomaniac, Timelord or not, and she was willing to bet he would want to brag at some point. They always did. So sure of their superiority and their infallibility, they couldn't help it. He would be trickier than the usual kind of tyrants she had come across, his intelligence was on another level so he would probably see any attempts to trip him up before she even voiced them. She would need to prod him a bit, find any weakness or ways to butter him up, see what worked with him and what didn't.

He was mad though, and mercurial, he could easily go all Queen of Hearts and off her head would go.
She would need to be careful.

Rose was sitting on the floor, back against the bed when he came. He opened the door and waltzed in, his footsteps those of the cat that got the cream, he practically pranced into the room. A smug smile adorned his face, she knows it must have, but she didn't actually see it, she didn't bother to look up from her phone. By the time she did flick her eyes up, he looked slightly disappointed, a bit put out, and the slight pout of his lips reminded her of her little brother when he's been told he can't have another Jaffa Cake. She almost expected him to stomp his foot and screech "Mummy!"

His foot began to tap, and Rose knew it was time to stop her act. He was bordering on angry and that wouldn't end well. She raised her head and gave him her full attention, dropping her arm holding the phone by her side. He seemed to be pleased with that, his foot had stopped tapping and his shoulders relaxed.

"How was your first night back?" He smiled. "Did it feel like coming home? I bet you slept like a baby in your lovely non cell."

"It was a bit disappointing, to be honest."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, it's a nice room but the amenities are shocking. Not even a kettle."

"Kettle?"

"Yeah, for tea."

"Tea?"

"Awful echo in here."

"You want tea?" He asked, ignoring her comment.

"Milk, no sugar, thanks."

"I wasn't offering, I was asking why." His nostrils flared as he tried to hold back his annoyance.

"Why what?"

"Oh, for Gods' sake," he rolled his eyes, "Why do you want tea?"

"Because I'm thirsty."

"Thirsty?"

"There's that echo back again."

He didn't reply, just shot her a look that told her that his patience with her cheekiness was wearing out.

"We humans need food and water to survive. Our bodies get hungry and thirsty when we've been without for a while, a reminder to eat and drink."

"I'm not stupid."

Rose bit her lip to stop the reply that wanted to slip out. He noticed too and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you telling me you haven't been fed since we last spoke?"

"Was I supposed to be? No one has come by."

"Interesting."

Now it was Rose's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"It would seem the TARDIS is weaker than I thought. I assumed she would provide you with sustenance when you needed it, she must have used the last of her energy to give you this cushy room."

"Oh, bummer."

"Bummer for me too."

"Why?"

"It means I'm going to have to make sure you're fed. As if I don't have enough to do already."

"They do say you shouldn't get a pet if you work long hours. You have to be ready for the commitment."

"Comparing yourself to a dog, Miss Tyler?"

"Oh, no. I'm more of a wolf."

"Yes, you're not the obedient type, are you? Never stay put when told to. The Doctor never was good at keeping his pets in line."

"If I'm too much trouble, you could always release me back into the wild."

"Oh no, that's not necessary. While the Doctor was always a bit slack when it came to discipline, you'll find I'm quite the opposite. I'll have you house broken in no time, little wolf."

"If you say so."

"I do. Now come along." He spoke as he briskly exited the room.

Rose stood up from her spot on the floor and tentatively moved towards the open door.

"Come along?" She asked, peeking her head out the door, nervous this was some sort of trap.

He stopped halfway down the hallway and turned to look at her.

"Yes, if you want lunch, you're going to have to follow me to the kitchen."

"Lunch?"

"I see what you mean about that echo now."

He smirked.

She glared.

"Well, are you coming or not?" He turned and continued down the hallway.

Rose hesitated for a second before reluctantly following the Timelord. She didn't trust him, not one iota. This could very well be some elaborate game and she just might be walking to her death. But she was hungry, and being locked in that room had not helped her come up with a plan. She was out of it now, and perhaps this could be an opportunity to suss out her captor and see if he would let anything slip about his plans.

The Master, and boy did it feel wrong to even call him that in her head, led Rose through the TARDIS until they came upon a door, the only door she had seen, that revealed a small kitchen. It was different from the one Rose had used when she had travelled with the Doctor. She wasn't sure if the Doctor had changed it, if the TARDIS had more than one, or if this was one designed for the Timelord currently taking up residence in the time ship.

It was small with grey walls and black tiled floor. The fridge and cooker were against the wall to the right of the doorway, with light coloured cupboards and marble worktops between and around them. A white table and two matching wooden chairs were against the opposite wall, to the left of the doorway, pressed up against the corner. The room felt cold, clinical, a far cry from the warm, and often filled with laughter, room that she knew.

Rose smiled.

The TARDIS really didn't like him.

"Sit." The Master said as he gestured to one of the white chairs.

"Good girl." He purred when she did as he said.

Rose rolled her eyes.

The Master turned his back to her and began rummaging around in the cupboards.

"I hope you're not fussy," he called over his shoulder, "I haven't really had the time to restock this place."

"I thought you villains had minions for that sort of thing."

"Usually we do, but as I said I've been busy." He replied looking through the fridge.

"Doing what?"

"Oh, you know, work."

"What kind of work?"

"The important kind."

"As a politician?"

He turned to face her, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"Clever girl." He grinned.

Rose filed that little bit of information in her mind. Not the politician bit, she'd already guessed that. But the way he had confirmed her guess. He hadn't denied it, he could have, or could have said nothing at all. He was amused. He liked the banter, liked being entertained, possibly liked having company who he didn't need to pretend around. It was probably tiring and boring for him to be this Harold Saxon character all the time. Perhaps this was the key to getting him to divulge his plans for the Earth, and therefore stopping him. All she had to do was keep him entertained, to be interesting enough that he would want to keep their conversations going.
He was bound to give something away while doing so.
She hoped.

"You're going to cook?" Rose asked as she watched him set a frying pan on the hob, both of her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Yes, problem?"

"No, it's just I didn't expect that."

"I'm a Timelord, of course I know how to cook."

"I didn't think you couldn't cook, just thought you wouldn't."

"Why?"

"Dunno, you just seem like the type of person who has others do that for him."

"Well, you're not wrong. But as I said before, I haven't had time to recruit any minions yet, and I am definitely not asking you to cook."

"Why? Afraid I might turn the cooker into a weapon."

"In a way," he smiled, "I'm afraid you'll burn the place down and kill us both."

"It may astonish you to know, but humans are not as inept as you might think."

"I beg to differ."

"Bit unfair."

"What is?"

"Assuming I'm going to burn the place down just because I'm a human and not an almighty Timelord. Bit bigoted if you ask me."

"I didn't say that."

"No, but you implied it."

"If you say so, dear." He turned back to the pan with a knowing smile on his face.

This annoyed Rose. Pete did this when her mum was going off on one. It used to make her laugh, how Pete would give in and agree with his wife just for the sake of a peaceful evening, whether Jackie was right or not. The thought of this madman doing the same thing to her left her with a weird feeling in her stomach. It felt wrong, weird, and was frustrating. Whether it was the connection to her parents, or the fact he was treating her like a hysterical woman, she didn't know. But she didn't like it and it was making her angry. She swore, if she ever did see Pete and Jackie again, she would never again laugh at her mum being mollified.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Patronise me."

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"Ok, maybe that was patronising. I'm sorry."

Rose was a little taken aback at his apology. She didn't think he was the type to apologise, he probably never saw himself as in the wrong never mind admitting that he was. It was odd, but another helpful insight into the stranger before her. Perhaps she should have left it at that, accepted his apology and moved on, but she was human, and so didn't have that Timelord ability to disregard her emotions. And she was still annoyed.

"Thank you." She licked her lip. "What did you mean then?"

"Hmm?"

"Before, if you weren't being prejudiced about humans, then what was it?"

"Oh, it's not important."

He sat two plates at the table and took a seat beside her. Rose looked down and saw a bacon butty on her plate. Her stomach growled. How she hadn't noticed the delicious smell before, she didn't know.

"No, go on. You brought it up so you might as well say what you meant."

"You're not going to let this go, are you?" He sighed, turning to look her in the eye.

"No, I'm really not."

"I'd heard you were a stubborn one."

"Well?"

"I meant that you'd burn down the kitchen because…" he began, the corner of his mouth twitching, "well, because you can't cook."

Rose opened her mouth to reply but the Timelord interrupted her.

"And I don't mean humans, or women, or any other generalised group you identify with. I mean that you, Rose Marion Tyler, cannot cook, are a menace in the kitchen, and should, under no circumstances, be allowed to operate anything more complicated than a kettle."

Rose's mouth hung open in shock. She was not expecting that. Her lips tried to form words, but nothing would come out as her brain processed what had just been said.

"And before you try to deny that, just know that I have access to the TARDIS databanks. I have seen the repair records after your attempts at cooking. The TARDIS even has several videos, my favourite is the one labelled Risotto-gate."

"Ok," Rose spoke, finally finding her voice, "I can see why you'd be wary after that. But in my defence, I was only nineteen and my mum wasn't the best cook either."

"Clearly." He scoffed.

"But I'm a lot older now, and I have had plenty of practice. I make an exceptionally good chocolate fondant.

"I'll have to take your word for that."

"No, you're going to let me cook next time. I have to redeem my good name."

"If I agree, can we eat? I'm famished."

"Yes."

"Ok then. You can cook tomorrow, and we shall see if your chocolate fondant is as good as you claim, little wolf."

"Great."

"I'll be standing by with a fire extinguisher, just in case."

"Funny." Rose deadpanned as she and the Master turned back to their respective plates.

Rose lifted the bacon butty and took a big bite. She wasn't sure if it was the hours since she last ate, or if it was a case of simple foods being the nicest, but this was quite possibly the best bacon butty she had ever eaten in her life. She savoured the bite, enjoying all the salty goodness paired with the buttery soft bap and the tangy tomato sauce.

Just as she swallowed the first bit and was about to take another bite, she got the urge to look at the Timelord.

She opened her eyes (when had she closed them?) and looked towards the other man.

He was looking at her with an eyebrow raised and an unbitten butty in his hands, just inches from his mouth.

"What?" She asked, feeling a bit naked under his gaze.

"You were making noises." He replied, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her.

"No, I wasn't."

"Yes, you most definitely were. I can mimic them if you want to hear them back."

"Shut up and eat your butty."

He turned back to the food in his hands, the corner of his mouth twitching as he tried, and failed to hold back a laugh.

It came out as a sort of snort, and it only made Rose's cheeks redden more.

At least he was entertained.