The Doctor was working at the console when the bell sounded. he closed his eyes and sighed - it was that time of the decade again.
"Master," he called out across the console room, "watch that Hermione doesn't follow me when she wakes up, will you?"
The Master looked up at him. He had told his one time enemy about his... prisoner, some time ago,and to the Master's credit, he had promised to always help when he could. That included keeping Hermione away from the prisoners room when visiting time came around.
The old Eye of Harmony room was completely pointless now that Gallifrey was gone. No power came anymore, because the source was little more than a bunch of atoms scattered across what was once the Kasterborous constellation.
The Doctor watched the old eye for a moment, and sighed. He then pressed the button to open it.
Almost immediately, a voice spoke out.
"Doctor."
"Hello, there."
The Doctor stepped backwards slightly.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm a copy of the real thing. The ghost in the machine. Would you be alright? Even worse, I can sense him close by..."
"He travels with me."
"Not through choice I trust?"
"No," said the Doctor. "I made him."
"You sound almost like me... then again, from what I can sense from his mind, he's almost like you now..."
"That's a bit of an exaggeration."
"I doubt that. Saving worlds, helping you out, not even killing anymore..."
"Only because I don't let him."
"And now you're defending him. But still, he's beside the point, isn't he, Doctor."
"Eh?"
"You're thinking now that, if one Master can be redeemed, why can't the other?"
"Do you want to be redeemed?"
"No."
"Then you don't have to be. You can just stay here."
"Or I can escape."
The Doctor stepped further back.
"You can't."
"You're female companion. Her 'magic,' as it is known. I've been absorbing the excess for months."
The Doctor stood even further back, edging towards the button that would shut the Eye.
"I used her power to restore my own..."
The Doctor pressed the button, and the Eye closed. He sighed in relief.
"... and I'm not trapped in there anymore."
The Doctor spun, but before he could do anything, the Master, or rather a Master, felled him with a blow to the neck.
"Disappointing, old friend," muttered the Master. "I expected better."
He stalked off, heading for the console room.
------------------------------------------------
The Master looked up, to see a disturbingly familiar face.
"Oh no..."
"Oh yeah, wimp!!" yelled the other Master.
The real Master went for the Laser Screwdriver in his pocket, but the other Master was quicker, rushing across the room and into the storage cupboard.
"NO!" yelled the real Master... his TARDIS was in there!
He flung the door open, to see his beloved Grandfather Clock vanishing...
"What's all the yelling about?" asked a soft, tired voice from behind him.
Hermione stood, gaping at the Master, whose fury was more then evident.
"A very old prisoner just escaped," came another voice, before the Master could respond.
The Doctor, looking worse for wear, staggered out of the Eye of Harmony room.
"Prisoner?" repeated Hermione surprised. "I didn't know you kept prisoners."
"One," said the Master. "Only ever just the one."
"He took your TARDIS?" asked the Doctor, his tone of voice sympathetic.
"Yes," muttered the Master tonelessly.
"I'm sorry -" the Doctor began, but the Master was already at the console, banging in co-ordinates.
"Where are we going?" asked Hermione, still confused.
"After him, if the Doctor doesn't mind," replied the Master, not looking up.
"I don't mind at all," said the Doctor grimly. "We've gotta find 'im, and that TARDIS, before he does real damage."
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To be continued in "The Two Master's."