Chapter 6
The Importance of Being Jack Harkness
The Master was hiding in the shadows in the reception hall of the Metro police downtown bureau. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, calming himself down after the exhilarating killing spree. His plan was about to come to fruition. He reached into his jacket pocket and fondled the Glock 26. He would need to use it soon.
Whatever you're planning to do, Jack was still yelling in his head, think of the consequences! Crossing my timeline can rip a whole in all causality.
"One, two, three, four," the Master counted under his breath. "One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four."
Stop it, Jack demanded, just stop it!
"The drums, the never-ending drumbeat. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four."
Stop it!
His eyes snapped open. Through the front door came Time Agent Jack, handcuffed and being ushered along by four Metro police officers.
But I was a Time Agent, Jack was incredulous. How did they even arrest me? I could have escaped with my vortex manipulator.
"A friend of mine arranged for a localised time-loop in the Golden Nugget casino. You had no way out."
But there's something on his, no, my back! Jack suddenly saw it, a shape, barely discernible. Some sort of perception filter's blocking it.
"It's a time beetle," breathed the Master, "also courtesy of my friend."
Who's this friend of yours? Jack probed.
"You'll find out soon enough."
But what does a time beetle do, exactly?
"It changes events in your history," the Master explained, "tiny changes, nothing major, but oh so very important."
So what part of my life did it change?
"Your name," beamed the Master, "the name you chose for this mission."
How is that even important? Jack was unimpressed. Mission names are arbitrary. They can't possibly interfere with the mission.
"What if your name," the Master smirked, "was Captain Jack Harkness?"
I introduced myself, Jack slowly understood the Master's plan, back in the autopsy room. I was recorded. That's how they found me.
"But there's more to the plan, dear Jack, more than you yet realise."
At that very moment, a familiar wheezing sound resonated through the hall, greatly alarming both the policemen and Time Agent Jack.
The TARDIS! Jack recognised the materialising blue box instantly, as did the Master.
A dark-haired man emerged from the box, staggering about in circles. He looked young and lively. His dress sense, however, was neither lively nor young. He was wearing a tweed jacket with elbow patches and a burgundy bowtie.
That must be the Doctor's new regeneration, Jack deduced, but what's that he's got on his head?
"It's a fez," the Master whispered amusedly, "fezzes are cool."
The dumbfounded Metro police officers all pointed their guns in the Doctor's direction, but he blithely pranced past them and extended his hand to Time Agent Jack.
"Captain Jack Harkness?" he asked.
"Y- Yes," the Time Agent stammered as the Doctor took hold of his wrist and led him towards the blue box.
"Correct version, that's a relief," the Doctor rambled on as they walked past the policemen into the box. "Look, officers, it's a police box. I'm here to escort this man to the right authorities. Come along, Captain!"
The bewildered officers stepped back as the TARDIS made the wheezing noise and dematerialised in front of their gawking eyes, their guns still aimed at the now empty space which the box had occupied a moment ago. Stealthily coming out from the shadows with his Glock 26, the Master opened fire on them.