Chapter 14
Sara jogged down the street. She had felt Nova slightly in her mind. The intense flash of her pain before….nothing. What happened?
"Ms. Morganson! Ms. Thomas!" A.J. called out for them. Sara shook her head. She would only be hampered by security.
"Nova...what is happening?" She hissed, feeling a distant intrusion just inside her skull. Whatever was happening to Nova, this was an echo. It was how it worked between the two of them. Sara didn't know why but it just did. "Someone is…..Nova…." She struggled to speak. A man stepped directly in front of her.
"Hello Sara." The Doctor said as Sara stared up in shock. "Bit of a headache? I've been watching you."
"Get away from me!" Sara backed away. "You're the reason…."
"Oh, I know. I'm the reason you're in all in this trouble in the first place. But then, you know Nova's in trouble and I'm the only one that can help."
"I don't want your help." She spat.
"I know." The Doctor said sadly. "But at the moment you need it. I had hoped to take this slowly, but considering who we are dealing with, we've run out of time." He advanced quickly towards his granddaughter. She bolted but he had already seized hold of her, wrapping his arm around her as he gently placed his fingers on her temple. She screamed, fighting as much as she could.
"This won't hurt if you just relax," he advised. He knew who likely would have his other granddaughter but he couldn't find a definitive location. However, if he knew his once old friend, he would be trying to usurp his granddaughter's mind. And through Nova's, Sara's.
So fully activating their familial bond was the only defense to buy any measure of time against the Master. One activated, he would use the bond powered by the three Time Lords with him in headship to thwart the Master's control.
But Sara was now simply crying out in agony. The center of their minds where the bond stood was only partially awakened. This would be a painful procedure for them all.
But….it's Nova's only chance…..the Doctor thought as he rushed to set up all the measures for the family bond. He readied himself for a fight. "I'm so sorry, Sara. Please, relax as much as you can. It'll be less painful for you if you don't fight it." He muttered, doing his best to ease the pain she felt by partially blocking the pain center of her brain. It wouldn't do much, but it should cut her agony down to levels she would be able to handle. More like a migraine than a pike through her skull. Though there were some that would argue a migraine was a knife through the head. It was the best he could do.
After he blocked as much of the pain as he could, he set up Sara's mental defenses - which, given the time crunch, was basically overlaying his own onto her mind. Then, he hunted for Sara's connection with Nova; the bright golden thread like a beacon in her mind. "Take a breath. This will make you dizzy." He grasped the thread in hand and tugged. The action forced a mental projection of Nova, and thus her tormentor, into Sara's mindscape.
What he saw didn't fill him with confidence.
Nova knelt on the floor in clothes more reminiscent of Gallifreyan attire than her own blue jeans and airy blouse ensemble in which he had last seen her only a scant hour before. Seemed the Master had already managed to do some damage. Fortunately, he seemed not able to do much - or didn't want to go so far - as the tunic was the same light green as her former blouse and the underobe the same dark blue as the jeans. Different, and yet the same, simultaneously.
He hoped this meant that either Nova was fighting or the Master didn't want her completely changed. That her memories were just stored somewhere and not transposed. She was still in there somewhere… hopefully. Otherwise… Nova might as well be given a different name, since she would fundamentally be a completely disparate individual. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to know where the 'new' memories were and where the 'old' memories had begun.
As he was taking in these details, Sara cried out to her sister despite any pain she was in herself. "Nova!" When the redhead didn't even twitch, Sara rounded on him. "What's wrong with her? What did you do?!"
"Ah, that would be my doing, my dear." The Master's honeyed voice announced as he walked out of the darkness, having followed Nova's pull. "She can't hear you right now. Well… she can, but she doesn't have permission to pay attention to anything except me." He smiled boyishly. Sara wanted to vomit at his words; the meaning made even clearer as Nova turned only her head to watch the Master… her Master… her position on the floor unchanged.
When he stopped at her side, he put his hand through her hair as if he was petting her and she tilted her head upward in acceptance, wanting more of his touch. "You see? Her world now revolves around me. She won't notice anything else." He didn't mention that he had made exceptions to ensure the girl could, and would, move if her own life was threatened, but only to get to his side. "My wish is her command," he grinned down at his creation. To save time, since he knew he had to move quickly against the Doctor, he had simply shut all her memories in a box under lock and key. Creating new ones that would cater the girl to his wishes.
Nova was currently a pet. Or thought she was. Honestly, the Master didn't want a pet. He wanted a family, but first he would have to bring the other two into his influence to be able to create what he truly wanted. That would involve manipulating them to the best of his ability. Since Nova was the best way to do that currently, he would do so.
"What good is a pet?" Sara challenged. "Certainly not entertaining to someone like you. No, you want the real deal."
"Sara." The Doctor admonished.
"Oh no, Doctor, I'm amused. Please," The Master outstretched his hands. "Keep going."
"I'm pretty sure what you crave is family. Wouldn't I be far more fun as family than Nova?" Sara clenched her jaw. "If it's children you're after or…."
"I like your spirit." The Master said. "And you propose what? An exchange?"
"No." Sara said. "I know you won't give up Nova but on Gallifrey, polygamy is banned. You can only marry once. So why not me?"
"I forbid it!" The Doctor yelled. "I absolutely forbid it!"
"I'll consent myself." Sara offered. "He can't forbid that."
The Master beamed. What wondrous luck. The family bond that had come into play had been an unfortunate setback but getting Sara's permission. He couldn't get Nova's. Not in the way he wanted to made a bonding valid.
"And you have terms in mind." He narrowed his eyes.
"Fix Nova and I'll bond with you." Sara told him as she watched him take out a spool of ribbon conjured in this very realm as he looked at Sara with careful eyes. "Don't believe me? I consent and gladly give." She gave the first words of the marriage vows. The Doctor was still yelling but finally the Master nodded. "I'll return her mind for now." He paused. "But bonded or not, any tricks, I will know. I'll see them in your mind. You won't be able to hide a single thought from me."
"Oh, of course you'll know." Sara said with some disgust as she watched the Master touch Nova's temples. In those moments, her friend's face had cleared.
He turned to look back at Sara. "My part of the bargain has been done. Time for yours." He said the sacred words for the marriage vow that would bond him to Sara.
"Sara!" Nova cried out in alarm. "What are you doing?"
"I consent and gladly give." Sara told him again. The Master's smile widened as he started to feel for her mind. He reached out and touched her but his hand went through her arm. He started to feel fuzzy. Sara's features became blurry and less distinct. Suddenly a decaying emptiness, so vast inside him, perpetrated everywhere. He collapsed, starting to dream while all of a sudden, the Doctor merely stood in Sara's place. It was he who had conjured up a vision of Sara and convince him into marriage but it was bonding to a dream shadow. An empty shell. A desperate attempt to save his granddaughter. This was bound to make the Master more insane than ever but if he had to choose between his granddaughters and the Master, it would be his family every time.
The Master was sobbing, suffering a pain so far worse than that of death. The Doctor glanced at Nova. "See if you can wake up and find a way out."
Nova disappeared while the Master simply stayed there sobbing wretchedly. "I'm sorry." The Doctor said. "But they were my kin. I had to choose."
A faint voice in between the racking sobs. A threat. "I'll burn you." The Master told him harshly, clearly saying it wasn't over. "I'll burn the heart out of you. And every single person you love."
"You have to leave here first." The Doctor said quietly before slowly waking. The agony that the Master was suffering could persist from weeks to months. There was no way to tell.
In the interim, Sara finally collapsed from the pain. Picking her up, he wandered a few steps before running into Cillian and AJ.
"You found Sara." Cillian said. "And Nova?"
"I think I'm close but Sara…"
"I'll take her back to my flat." Cillian told him. He still didn't trust him, but if he could get Nova back alive… "Just find Nova."
"Oh, I will." The Doctor fervently swore as he moved away to do exactly that.
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Nova opened her eyes slowly, carefully. She was still laying on the same metal table, strapped down at her wrists, chest, waist, and ankles. She thought it was called an 8-point system or something. Then wondered why she was thinking about such things when she should be worrying about escaping… Where was the Master?
Turning her head slightly came up with a lump of fabric to one side of the table. The Master had collapsed where he had stood, just falling straight down. Occasionally, she heard a small whimper of sound, but other than that he didn't move or speak.
Nova went about using her ability to analyze situations to try to use the fingers of the hand furthest from the Master to quietly begin to manipulate the strap holding that wrist. If she could get one wrist, then she could get the other and two hands would make the rest cake. Theoretically. But her plan depended on him not catching her. Discretion was the better part of her getting away.
Slowly, keeping her eyes on the crumpled form of the Master, she carefully worked the buckle lose. By the time it slid free, her fingers and wrist were aching from the angle she had to hold her hand to get it to work. It had taken probably over ten minutes. The Master still hadn't moved an inch, though she did finally see a very small shaking of his form.
Whatever the Doctor had done - and she actually wasn't quite sure what that was - it had hurt the Master to the point of debilitation. She almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
Once she had her right hand free, she worked as quickly - and silently - as possible to free the left. Then the one across her chest. Next her waist. Now came the tricky part… her ankles couldn't be reached without sitting up. Which may make the fabric squeak against the table. She'd have to either move as fast as she could, or stick to trying slow movements. Considering that Time Lord could move quickly enough to avoid lightning hitting them if need be, she'd go the tortoise route. Slooooowwwwlyyyyy she sat up, eased herself down and began to undo the ankle straps. Once both were unlocked, now it was time to get off the table.
Still, the Master hadn't moved an inch. Still collapsed. Still making tiny pained noises every once in awhile. Careful not to make any noise to distract him from his agony and bring that massive temper of his onto her, she tried to get down. It was not as easy as she wished. It was just high enough that she would either have to jump - which would make noise on the landing and dismount - or try to slide down on her stomach - and just turning around on the table would make things ping from the metal bits on her jeans connecting with the metal table.
Either way, it wasn't looking good. She was just frozen on her knees, not knowing which option was worse, when the door opened with a bang. There was the Doctor, looking both worried and thunderous. His eyes landed on her first, swept the room, then came into contact with the Master's form, which made them narrow. She could see the war in his eyes: deal with the Master or get her?
Finally, he came to a decision. Which basically, apparently, amounted to 'both'. He strode to the hunched clothes-pile, took out a set of high-tech futuristic handcuffs, and attached them to the Master's wrists, which he made sure was secured behind his back. Then he lifted the other Time Lord in a fireman's carry. "Nova?"
"Coming," she answered instantly. He would take the Master and lock him up on his ship. As the last Time Lord, and former Lord President, it was his responsibility. But, she why did she still have this bad feeling in the pit of her stomach? Something bad was coming…and whatever it was, they were headed right for it instead of avoiding it like the Doctor and Sara may be thinking.
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"Can't trust…." Sara muttered as she started to open her eyes. "Nova!" She bolted upright in bed, looking around.
"It's alright." Jack's voice was calm. "They're bringing her back." He took Sara's hand as she fell back on her bed with a groan. "Sara, you're safe."
"It's him." Sara managed, feeling the headache radiate through her skull. "He's inside my head. Our head."
"Who is?" Jack narrowed his eyes.
"The Doctor. He forced me to…." Sara started. "Forced us to…" She closed her eyes, remembering the agony of his mind forcing his way into hers. And a part of him was still there. Her mind felt as though it had been pried open and apart. Pieces of it forced out of dormancy, awakened but livid. As though she had just received an open wound and had a cup of iodized salt dumped directly onto it.
The door opened as Nova walked inside and Sara, forgetting her pain, pushed herself off the bed to embrace her friend only to pull her back away from the Doctor who also entered the premises.
Oh, she remembered. She recalled what the Doctor did and then the mindscape. How after Sara initially called out to Nova she was suddenly frozen and only an observer as she watched the Doctor use her mental image like a puppet. It was her but it wasn't. A shadow of some kind that spoke to bait the Master.
When she saw the image propose a marriage to the insane person, Sara tried to scream, tried to shout but she couldn't do anything. She was utterly immobile and suppressed. Unable to move. It was terrifying. The hold wasn't released until the Master fell and Nova disappeared from the mindscape.
He used me. Used us. That's all we are. We're puppets and….She felt Nova's mind far more clearly. It wasn't enough….something else is out there and it's…..
"Go away." She commanded. "Leave us alone." She held tightly onto Nova.
The Doctor sighed. "Sara, I was only trying to help. He won't hurt you anymore. The Master…."
Suddenly, the ground rumbled beneath them. Items fell to the floor. Two mugs hit the ground and shattered on the hardwood.
"What….?" Nova started. "Is it an earthquake?" London had a couple minor fault lines. She hoped that was all it was but she had a bad feeling.
Cillian raced inside the room. "Not an earthquake. An explosion. The BBC. One of their major studios."
"Was…." Sara felt faint. "Was anyone hurt?"
"Not so far," was his response. His expression grim. What did that mean?
"Not so far?" Nova asked Cillian quietly.
"John Altamont and Mark Gatiss called to claim responsibility. They have hostages and are demanding you fulfill your contractual obligation."
"The Master," The Doctor intoned carefully, almost resigned. "He must have had recent direct contact to influence…..or….." He thought of Sara's story and her character Moriarty. How similar he was to the Master. The implications. Repeated exposure and the Master's vision of a New Gallifrey.
"Sara, how many times have you planned for Sherlock to encounter Moriarty?"
"But that's mostly fiction." Sara defended instantly, angrily. "It's…." Her head pounded. Why would the two men who were protecting them suddenly act like…..but then she remembered in the episode how Moriarty attempted to convince the public that Sherlock was a fake. That he used and created Moriarty as a nemesis for drama. Like a puppet. In truth, it was Moriarty who was attempting to be the puppeteer.
"He's the main nemesis." Sara admitted. "He uses people for entertainment. Like puppets because he's bored. He's present in almost every story since the third book. Even in his dreams."
The Doctor gave a hiss. "I need to get back to the TARDIS. If I'm right…."
"If you're right, what?" Jack asked.
"The Master's consciousness is not contained. He's able to leave his mind, divide and influence at will."
"Mind bending?" Nova asked, remembering how Time Lord wrestling was described.
"I suppose." The Doctor said quickly. "But with humans, they're not naturally telepathic. Really no competition, is there?" Now wasn't the time to dally. He needed to get back to where he had imprisoned the Master. He turned to go, leaving the girls with Jack and Cillian. Both men had emphasized several times, that the girls didn't trust him and needed to be given their space. He didn't exactly agree, but at the moment was grateful. He didn't want them any closer to the Master than absolutely necessary. "Keep them safe, Jack."
"Will do, Doctor." Barrowman answered out of sheer habit as he watched the Time Lord exit. He hadn't planned on doing anything else. The girls were practically family at this point. Little sisters or something. He cared about them a great deal.
Nova wrung her hands silently, not knowing what to do. "Should we follow him? Help the brothers?"
"You should rest. You were in the Master's clutches too. You've got to be tired." Sara insisted, concern for her friend written all over her face.
"I feel fine," Nova shrugged in answer. "He didn't do anything physically. At least, I don't think so. I feel just like I always do." Of course, that didn't really mean much. She was guessing. Just like they were all guessing at such things. She had been told to stay outside of the ship while the Doctor had put the Master is a stasis lock prison. He hadn't wanted the possibility that the Master would get away from him and get to her yet again. So, while Nova kind of wanted a medical examination from the TARDIS, just in case something had been done that she didn't know about, she had waited outside patiently, not putting one toe inside the ship.
The Master was one of the best scientists and telepaths that Gallifrey had to offer. There was really no telling what suggestions, commands, or modifications he had done to her mentally or physically. They would have no confirmation one way or another until she was examined by a professional. Dr. Freeman was a good starting point, but considering that most of the equipment and procedures the Master had access too were beyond the doctor's capabilities, it wasn't certain either.
Her fear of the Doctor was nil. It was the Scary Doctor she was terrified of. As long as she was absolutely certain he wasn't the Scary Doctor, she had no problems with him examining her. Time sensitive she may be, but stupid she was not. At the moment, the Doctor was her best chance of making sure she wasn't a ticking time bomb.
A shiver went down her spine at the idea she may accidentally hurt her hard-earned family. And what about Cillian? She didn't want to hurt him either… "What are we going to do?" she asked again, jerking herself out of her depressing thoughts.
"That won't get the brothers killed?" Sara replied with a shrug. She too didn't want them to be casualties of the Master's crusade for a new Gallifrey but Nova's sanity was at risk with what the Master and the Doctor dually had done. Her head pounded.
"And what if it's me?" Nova asked Sara pleadingly. "I don't remember everything and what if the Master put something in me that…." Her words seemed to drift.
"It's not." Sara told Nova squeezing her hand. "We...I can feel you better. Can't you feel me? And him?"
"Yes," Nova admitted, begrudgingly to the Doctor's presence that had been a startling surprise, which had broken her free of the Master's restraint. She knew the Doctor had used Sara in some way to implement that and would have a few things to say about it but his actions weren't the ones of the Scary Doctor. If she had to consider, he acted in fear for their safety, her safety and did something he thought at the moment would be an immediately necessity. Like doing a rush tracheotomy on someone who was about to die from blocked access to their windpipe. Painful but very necessary to help the person survive.
Perhaps she had talked to Dr. Freeman a few times too many but she did like him so well. Also Cillian had a great mind for medical science and theoretical physics. But, he did so much research, months of it at a time to a devoted study. She knew he always had a fascination for physics, which drove some of his beliefs.
"Yes," Nova repeated. "But Sara, then we know he's not the…..'Scary Doctor'. You know that right?"
Sara paused, looking at Nova and finally nodded. Yes, she did know that. "You're right. He's not the 'Scary Doctor'." She was careful. She didn't want to scare Nova anymore than she was after all that she had gone through. "I can feel that but Nova….it's hard for me to trust him."
"I know." Nova told her. "But….if he's the Doctor, I want to make sure nothing's wrong with me and…." She let out a breath. "If I asked you to go with me to the TARDIS just so he can make sure, will you support me? Will you come with me? Make sure nothing goes wrong."
Sara paused, feeling her heart pound with the remnant of fear but she pressed her shaking hands together. The Doctor could have locked them both up on his TARDIS if he had a mind to. He didn't have to return Nova. So….that was something. Finally, she spoke.
"Yes, I'll go with you but Nova," She made sure she had the other girl's attention. "I'll get onto his silly little box and make sure he doesn't step an inch out of place but on the condition he give his word before we step inside, he'll let us both out when we're done." She knew his word was obligatory. A contract. He wouldn't break a solemn oath.
"I would have done the same thing, Sara." Nova's voice was filled with relief. "Jack, Cillian, will you come too?"
"Are you sure you want my presence?" Cillian asked, taking a step towards Nova and as the two made eye contact, the embrace that followed seemed so wholly natural as did the subsequent light kiss that filled Nova's cheeks with a blush that was nearly crimson.
"Of course, I want you there." Nova told him, that small amount of joy just starting to ripple through her. Now, she was glad she waited all those years. It was likely worth it to meet someone like Cillian.
Sara only quietly glanced at Jack who looked at her with amusement but also that bit of joy they both felt. She was happy for Nova. Even though Sara was trying to figure out if she even wanted romance in her life, Nova had found a way to let it into hers. That was something to be celebrated.
Of course, they would celebrate when all this was over.
"So, we have agreement." Jack said. He knew it was likely the best choice to rule out anything that could have occurred. Maybe while there, he could try to lean on Sara to get looked at too. Even if the headaches were just a natural repercussion of the bonding, the Doctor might be able to give her something beneficial for the pain.
"No time to lose, then." Nova said. "Not if we're going to help with the brothers."
"Yes, and I think…" Sara remembered a part of one episode where Sherlock was shot quite unexpectedly on the floor of a very high building. "I think we should hurry."
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The Doctor was a bit surprised at finding the group waiting outside his TARDIS. "Forgot something?" He asked.
"We want your word." Sara said quietly.
"My word?"
"I'm going to trust you to examine me, Doctor." Nova said. "I have to make sure that I won't be the failure to what is about to happen because of the Master. If it did anything to me…."
"The bond I initiated was able to reinforce protections to your mind buuut…." He paused. "I'll be happy to check."
"Your word first." Sara said. "That if she is examined by you and treated for that specific condition, you will let us off the TARDIS the moment that treatment is done."
"Very well." The Time Lord said. "You have my sincere and complete word as the Doctor, Head of the House of Lungbarrow. I will examine and medically treat you and allow you all to leave the TARDIS when that is done." He looked at Nova. "Is that satisfactory?"
Nova nodded instantly, smiling gently at him. "Perfectly, thank you."
"Then right this way." He waved his hand in the direction of the correct corridor. He frowned softly when the two gentlemen followed them, but didn't' comment either. When all five individuals were piled into his medbay, the two males by the door with Sara beside Nova, who was sitting on one of the beds, he asked, "So, what made you think of this?"
Nova looked down at her nervously twitching hands. "I don't want to hurt anyone. He had me for a long time… Long enough." Sara leaned in to hug her sideways, which the redhead appreciated greatly. "He said that he was going to fix my human side before I blacked out."
The Doctor frowned hard at this little tidbit of information. "Hmm. Well, lay back and we'll see what the scanner can pick up." Dutifully, the girl eased herself backward by way of her elbows and then down fully. Sara kept a tight hold of her hand. The Doctor also noticed that Cillian had stepped forward to take Nova's other hand, giving what comfort he could.
With so many so close, the Doctor actually felt a little self-conscious. Surprising, considering his age. But, nevermind. He had a patient to tend to. He swung the ADT down from its hiding spot, pulling it to the correct bed, and set the scanner to go for any genetic abnormalities, changes, or physical corrections. The ADT was a wonderful machine, but only capable of physicals. And mental or telepathic abnormalities would have to be checked a different way: the Doctor himself.
"We wanted to help with John and Mark. But didn't know if I was a danger to the others." Nova continued on her train of thought with why they had come to ask for a medical examination.
"Well, I corrected the Master's stasis prison to also engage the telepathic lockdown. It shouldn't be a problem anymore. Still, I am more than happy to give you any and all help you want." He smiled at them both. "You are my family. I want the chance to get to know you. Teach you." He had started strongly, but the longer he spoke the slower his words became as he read the scrolling Gallifreyan on the ADT screen.
Sara interrupted his offer. "A telepathic inhibitor field would only work if it was an active link the Master was using to control them. What if it was an implanted suggestion? Or an outside force through another?" She countered fiercely. Nova nodded her agreement.
The Doctor was momentarily not paying attention to them. Oh, he was listening, but the results of the scan were temporarily taking precedence in his mental triage center. Mental damage could not be detected by the ADT, but anything else could. The Doctor had thought that Nova had only been under the influence of the Master for perhaps ten minutes. He had based that assumption on when Sara had begun to feel pain through their familial bond. That much time would have let the Master just do what they had seen: suppress Nova's memories and create new ones. However, based on what he was seeing from the scan, she had been in his care long enough for a few changes to be made to her physical health as well.
Either it was much longer than he had estimated, or the Master had been prepared with the correct equipment. Able to immediately apply the desired treatments. He hoped, based on what Nova had said about the Master's comment, it was the second. If it was the first, then they had much more to worry about.
Nova's soft, quiet, timid, and scared voice penetrated his thoughts. "Doctor?" So much emotion in that one word question.
He glanced at her and realized all of them were eyeing him with various expressions. Worry. Fear. Distrust. "Sorry! Nothing to worry about."
Sara's eyes narrowed on him suspiciously. "Doctor. We aren't children. Don't lie to us."
He sighed and nodded, acknowledging the truth in the statement. By human standards, they had been 'mature' for over a decade. While not even close to adults by Gallifreyan genes, they had not been raised Gallifreyan. "It seems that the Master was prepared for his encounter. You were given a serum to… speed up the conversion of DNA to TNA. You were at a natural 25% TNA."
"And now?" Nova asked. She sounded calm, but he would have equated it to her hiding fear.
"Closer to 29%, and still increasing."
Nova took a deep breath - putting on a brave face? - and nodded after a moment. "Anything else?"
"Not that the ADT can currently detect."
"Okay. So, we can go help with the brothers then." Nova shook her head to stall the protests she knew were coming. "I would like to distract myself right now. Since I take it from your lack of intervention, Doctor, that it can't be fixed."
He shook his head. "No, the change is permanent. Fortunately, it should stabilize at approximately 30%. Without another dose of the serum, it will stay at that level."
"Okay." She said again and moved to get off the bed. "Then let's go help John and Mark."
"I think you should let me take care of it." He held up his hands as the girls protested. "Think about this. They want you there and you'll-"
"They are our family." Sara asserted strongly. "Might be just human to you, or men you used to help keep control of Earth but strange as they are, they were there to protect us and see to our care. We nearly died being poisoned by aspirin from the Master. One of the people he controlled. They saved our lives."
"Sara, if they failed, they thought-"
"No." Nova shook her head. "If it was just about keeping us safe from every physical threat, they could have locked us underground until you arrived and handed us over. They might be….eccentric but they listened. They tried to keep us safe and let us have our lives. For weeks now. Did you realize that John was playing the part of himself to keep a closer eye on us? Do you know even if he won't admit it, that it's been taxing on him to do it?" Nova paused to look at the Doctor more directly. "But he hasn't complained. Not once. We were adversarial at first but now, we work together. They are like our own brothers."
"And I never have had a brother." Sara said, her voice rang with emotion. "If I lose either one of them….I just can't." Tears came to her eyes. Somehow until this moment, she didn't realize how much the two men meant to her. And in some respects, she had gotten to know John far better since the two spent so much time on set together. All the long conversations they had about the stories or books she published versus the actual accounts of his life. He was like her brother or perhaps something similar to another best friend.
Her mind drifted back to one evening. He had gotten carry out from her favorite restaurant Rules complete with Sticky Toffee Pudding, her favorite dessert as they went over his lines. He was repeating the phrase 'I'm a high functioning sociopath.' in various ways and at one point, Sara burst out laughing.
'And which one is correct? I assume by your response, you found the answer.' John asked.
'The last three. But we use them in different episodes. Different context so when you say them, you imply different intent.' She raised her eyebrows. 'Thoughts?'
'One or two. My first phrase is a banter. The other a glib correction. My last an implied threat. You have working scenarios for each?'
Sara nodded. 'Yes, I do.' She sighed. 'John, I know this character is also you but you have to trust me. If anything is terribly wrong, I'll change it. I have already from how it was in my dimension. How it was originally written….'
'Yes?'
'It wasn't much like how you are.'
'But I need to say I'm a high functioning sociopath.'
'Bait and switch.'
'Ah, if only my parents saw things that way.' John admitted.
It was one of the first conversations she had about his life growing up. A life spent struggling to learn social cues, training, etiquette in some of the strictest environments and for John and Mark, the two men nearly went crazy with such instruction. To learn empathy, emotional empathy when initially none existed was no small feat. And even now, they were still learning. Doing the best they could. That's why they needed each other. To keep each other on track. Then when the girls came, on some level it helped them too, in terms of social cues.
'Nova and I, we don't care about the Aspergers. We're your friends. We're also your family now. That means, we accept you as you are but….' Sara trailed off.
'But?'
'With a family, you need to talk to more than just your brother. Talking to us helps to. Even if we don't understand at first. Even if I might have the IQ of a carrot or perhaps a larger stalk of broccoli, talk to us.'
Sara swallowed, thinking about all those conversations. "We can't stay here." She said to the Doctor.
"You'll both be safer in the TARDIS and I will do everything in my power to bring John and Mark back safely."
"But you can't guarantee it." Sara said. "I invoke your promise to be let off the TARDIS and we will be going to the BBC to talk to them. So you can go off by yourself as we find another way inside, not know or have one plan….run a risk or we can come up with a solution to help them together."
"I'm with Sara." Nova said quietly. "Beside, if it's telepathic suggestions or a part of the Master he managed to transfer to them, you'll need telepathic assistance. If anyone gets harmed, you'll need Sara to heal. So, what will it be?"
"Guess I have no choice, now do I?" Admittedly, the Doctor was proud, even if he was worried. They were surely of his house. Lungbarrow through and through. Their determination said as much. "Alright, I have a transmat device to send us to the 20th floor, just two floors beneath where they are holding the hostages. All three of us will wear bio-dampers and perception filters. It will buy us time."
"Alright." Suddenly Sara's arms wrapped around her stomach. A vision. A brief one at that. John shot and bleeding on the floor. He was dying. She shook her head adamantly, she couldn't let him die. "John….he's in trouble. We need to go. He's…." She swallowed. "The Master might try to kill him. If I'm not there in time…"
There was no further hesitation as the transmat device was activated and the three of them instantly found themselves on the 20th floor of the BBC. Everything was eerily quiet. At least, for now.
Nova found the silence so thick that she felt incredibly uneasy about making any sort of noise. Almost as if there was an actual presence weighing down on them, watching their every move and waiting for the opportunity to pounce. Wait…wasn't there an exception for telepathic inhibitors other than suggestions? Something about being trapped… She tried to search her memory for the piece of information she seemed to need right now. Otherwise, why was she thinking about it? Or was it a way for her mind to try to distract her from the tense situation? Possible.
But, no. There was still that niggling in the back of her mind trying to make a connection between telepathic inhibitors and disembodied presences. What was it?!
She blinked away the thoughts. Whatever it was, she couldn't recall exactly what was wrong. Some detail she had dreamed about years ago, maybe even decades ago. So far back in her memory that it was difficult to retrieve. Especially considering they were trying to participate in a rescue mission. She gave a mental sigh.
As Nova was trying to recall such seemingly innocuous information, the group had begun its forward mission up almost to the 20th floor itself. When they reached the desired altitude, Jack -as the one with the most weapons experience - took the front position with the Doctor reluctantly a step behind. The girls were in the middle and Cillian brought up the rear. Jack peered around corners, looking for trips, traps, and sentries. Once he determined that there were none, he would guide them forward again to the next corner.
Though none of them said anything - all seeming to hate to break the oppressive silence - all members of the group noticed the heavy feeling in the air. How suspicious it was that it was so incredibly easy to walk around. Nothing barring their way so far. It was exceedingly unnerving.
The farther in they went, the tenser things got. Tenser they felt, even without meeting any obstacles. To the point where, when they finally found the large antechamber studio the two brothers were hiding, along with the group of hostages, it was almost a physical relief.
The hostages, five in all, looked like a random group of BBC employees who had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Two males and three females. One of the males, around his mid-twenties, was crying silent tears. The other was in his later years, graying at his temples, and was holding onto an older woman with wide, afraid eyes; perhaps his wife. The last two females were polar opposites. One severe with a coif hairstyle and black pants suit, some executive in all likelihood, was calmly glaring at the floor. The other was a petite late-teens intern and was blubbering even more than the young male.
However different they were, each hostage wore a black bulletproof vest strapped with some type of explosive. Considering the shape and the color, it was probably either Semtex or C-4.
Yet, it wasn't the hostages that had caught Nova's eyes and held them. Oh, she had seen the small huddled group sitting against the far wall, but only enough to acknowledge their presence, numbers, and general state of health. No, it was the brothers that held her attention. Something was very, very wrong.
To begin with - leaving out that the brothers would have no reason to take hostages in the first place - Mark was pacing the room, making a broad circle and was currently at the far side away from the group watching the room. In all the time she had known the unofficial president of earth, she had never seen him show any sort of nervous energy. Nervous anything. He was always the calm, rational, level-headed one. He didn't even raise his voice! He didn't need to. His very presence evoked a sense of order, respect, and obedience.
John was also behaving oddly, though not as oddly as his brother. John was standing away, still and silent. Away from his brother and away from the hostages. Away from the single window. Away from the entrance. Just away. Off in a corner of the room, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, not speaking. But his eyes never left his brother's moving form.
Knowing the two as they did, Jack, Sara, and Nova immediately drew several conclusions. One: John had nothing to do with this, he had gone along with whatever this was to keep his brother in his sight. Two: something was extremely wrong with Mark.
No matter what the brothers may say, each cared a great deal about the other. John would literally do anything for his brother. Kidnapping hostages, going on international television to take credit for bombings, and coercion - while not the least of which - definitely made the list. He would kill and torture for his brother. He would stand by his brother's side and face the Doctor down, if that was what was needed. Today, such commitment was necessary.
Nova understood John's actions and even approved. It was similar to her situation with Sara, after all. However, that still didn't explain Mark. Suddenly, a spark in her memory triggered as she watched the man circle around the room for a second time.
Telepathic inhibitors weren't capable of forcing a mind back into it's original body.
Her hands rose to cover her mouth in horror as she realized why they all felt an unnatural presence in the building. Because there was one. The Master had gone on a mental walkabout, taken over Mark Gatiss, and proceeded to make the man do as he wished. As intelligent, calm, and rational as the man was…Mark was still only human. Nothing in comparison to a Time Lord. Let alone one of the best telepaths Gallifrey had to offer.
And now Mark was presently host to one of the most significant telepaths Gallifrey had in history and for this, the Doctor sensed the truth too. All three did through the bond as soon as Nova made the realization. At one point, it had taken the strength of the bond to force the Master to relinquish his control over Nova, including a false proposal. All the energy the Doctor usurped from the bond to make that shadow of Sara look and feel convincing and effective at first was a struggle.
The Master had taken Nova and wanted her but she had resisted, given him her consent. He was driving her consciousness back while effectively changing her residual DNA to TNA for a successful secondary try until the Doctor had successfully tricked him with Sara. But in doing so, the Master used his telepathic ability to float in the vast mental web that once hosted so many Time Lords. But a Time Lord couldn't exist there for an indeterminate length of time without a body.
"Oh, Doctor, how lovely it is that you paid us a visit." It was Mark, now exceedingly alert to their presence, while he turned in step from his present course of pacing on the floor. "And you brought the family too. That is considerate." He looked at Nova, who shivered. It wasn't from looking at Mark precisely but the very presence emanating from him. "Nova, I've been waiting for you." He paused to look at Sara. "And you, how very effective you were as a decoy. An amusing trick."
"It wasn't me." Sara told him slowly. "Mark," she tried. "We can help you."
"Oh don't bother talking to him." Mark said with a voice of disgust.
"Why not?" Nova posed. She remembered some of the things the Master said about humans and looked around the room with concern. So many humans there. In desperation, in panic….very much afraid. They all had families, people who worried about them. She swallowed. "Why not?" She repeated. "I'm human." She told him. At least most of her still was.
"An error I'm intent on correcting," he countered.
"And Sara?" Nova asked. "She's human too. Even if you change our DNA, it won't change where we came from. Our origins. We're human." She inhaled briefly. "And you are sitting inside a human host."
"The things one must do in order to survive." Mark muttered.
"Is that all?" Sara challenged. "Survival? If you think humans are degenerate, what kept you from killing them by now?" She asked and the hostages all tensed at her words. "You kept John alive, why?"
"Merely boredom." Mark claimed but they could see the frown forming on his face.
"Oh ho ho, not something I would expect to hear from the Master." The Doctor interrupted. "It is very much a familiar statement that I hear from Mark. You're hearing his voice right now, aren't you?"
"The drums don't drown him out do they?" Nova asked.
He stared at her relentlessly in a glare that was withering as she remained in place. In the interim, the Doctor stepped forward, a plan in mind. "What about a game, old friend? Just you and me."
"What manner of game do you propose?" The Master challenged with a grin.
"I think you've been around humans far too long. Expect me to sit down to a game of chess and simply concede if you prove to capture my queen?"
"Not at all." The Doctor said. "A mind bending competition." He pronounced. He felt his granddaughters cringe at the idea. They knew how mentally strong the Master was regardless of body. "I've had a few centuries to practice. Do you still consider yourself the finest telepath Gallifrey has ever had to offer?" It was a direct blow to the Master's pride. Of course he still did. He refined and took pride in beating other competitors.
"Well played." The Master grinned, showing a frightening array of teeth. "I do accept." He paused. "On one condition."
It made the Doctor hesitate warily. "What condition?"
In one movement, the Master seized Nova, pulling her forward. "My game will be with her." He stared at the red head. "After all, we were far from being finished." He made contact with her temple as Nova started to scream.