Chapter 5: Rise over Evil

As he held the bloodied crowbar in his hands, he gasped for air as he realised what he'd done. The Master looked down at a frail old man, sobbing with relief that the ordeal was over and the pain was just setting in.

"I-I-I…what have I done!" The Master panicked, fear setting in his eyes. "Theta…I…"
Then the evil in him took over, rage and laughter filled him.

"I didn't do it hard enough!"
Raising the crowbar over his head once again, The Master laughed as he watched his little victim become transfixed on the shiny weapon, glinting in the light.

"Daddy, no!"
As he brought the crowbar back down, both of the men closed their eyes as it looked like it was going to strike. A moment later, there was no expected cry of pain, and both of them opened their eyes and gasped.

"You will NOT hurt him!"

It was Lucia, trying with all her might to hold back her father, trying to wrestle the crowbar out of his hands.

"Get out of the way Lucia!" her father hissed.

Lucia stood firm, protective of the Doctor.

"No father, I will not. He did nothing to you and yet you did this to him? He is more of a father to me then you will EVER be."

The Master gasped and stumbled back at what his daughter just said, this little hesitation was enough for Lucia to overpower her own father and pushed him away; sending the crowbar crashing to the floor in front of her. the Master was sent skidding along the marble floor, the impact knocking him out as he hit the wall.

"Mummy, come on!" Lucia called and through the doorway Lucy came running, picking up keys from the table and scooping the Doctor into her arms.

As they ran out the room, Lucia took the handle of the suitcase and began to run with her mother.

"Mummy we need to set ALL the prisoners free." Lucia commanded, as they turned the corner.

"We must be quick; your father will wake up soon."

When they arrived at the prisoners block, it was Jack whose face they were greeted with. Admittedly, the former Time Agent wasn't at his best. His hair was a greasy clump stuck to his forehead, and the black soot and dust stuck to him made it look like he'd just come out of a chimney after a round of chimney sweeping. And this was Jack, mind... if -he- did any chimney sweeping it would be to attract some random gay guy and then probably bed him. Talk about sweeping em off their feet...

"We're here to rescue you." Lucia said, smiling.

The Doctor grabbed the keys from Lucy and passed them to Lucia, who began to undo the chains around Jack's hands. As she unlocked them, he gasped with relief.

"Now that's the life." He took a sharp breath in then laughed.

He was able to move around a few moments later, so he straightened, then and then asked what he could do.

"Get the Jones family, bring them to the deck. We will wait for you there." Lucy replied.

"What about the TARDIS?" Jack asked in reply.

"It's a paradox machine now. If you fire some sort of gun at it for long enough, it should break Harry's seal on it and then it might, just MIGHT send the Toclafane back. Then we deal with Harry and the Doctor's state." At this point Lucy winked at Lucia.

"Mummy, I'm scared." Lucia admitted as they opened the door to the deck a few minutes later.

"I know sweetheart…I know…" was all Lucy could say.

"I….Will get you out of here…I promise….."
The voice belonged to the frail old man in Lucy's arms, The Doctor. They knew they could trust him. The man's may have been altered to show its true age by Harry's laser screwdriver, but nothing else had changed; he was still the kindest man they had ever met. He'd done what he had to to escape the Time War... but it had meant leaving his family and watching his planet turn to dust.

But here, at this moment in time he had found a new family. One that he would cherish forever.

So when he found himself face to face with the outside world, he took a good deep breath in. To him it seemed like ages since he'd stepped outside to smell the fresh air.

"So sorry to interrupt your wild fantasies of getting out of here, but you are my family. Put him down and return inside with me."

They all turned to see Harold Saxon in the open doorway.