Chapter Eleven: Confrontation

"I don't understand," Jenny said, following the Doctor into the hallway. "Where are you going?"

"The Master," the Doctor said, pulling on his coat, "is a Time Lord. A very dangerous one."

"But—I thought you said they were all dead."

"He survived the war, and was killed later. But it wouldn't be the first time he's come back to life. He's a Time Lord; he could easily have pulled this off. It fits. I'm going to find him and find out what he wants."

"What makes you think he wants something?"

"If he wanted to stay hidden he wouldn't have drawn my attention to his fake law firm at all," the Doctor replied, pausing with his hand on the door. "He wants something, trust me."

Movement upstairs told them they'd woken their hosts, and after a moment Sarah Jane and Luke appeared. "What's going on?" Luke asked, rubbing his eyes.

"The Doctor's figured out who's behind this," Jenny said before her father could answer.

"Really?" Sarah Jane said, surprised. "Who?"

"The Master."

Luke didn't react, but Sarah Jane went pale and gasped. "Isn't he dead?"

"Apparently not anymore. Sarah Jane, please keep Jenny safe till I'm back." The Doctor opened the door.

"Hold on!" Jenny ducked under his arm and stood resolutely in front of him. "I'm coming with you."

"You are not!" It was the firmest and most parental instruction he'd ever given her.

"Why?"

"Because the Master is the most dangerous man you have ever or will ever meet, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

"But if he's planned this, maybe his plan is to come after me while you're out looking for him. In which case, aren't I a sitting duck? You're a Time Lord, you two are on an even footing, which makes me safer with you."

He stared at her, and suddenly grinned. "Should have known you could still out-debate me." She flushed with pleasure. "All right. But you stay right by my side, don't talk to him, and do everything I say without question, got it?"

Jenny nodded. "Yes."

"Doctor," Sarah Jane said from the hallway. "Shouldn't I come with you?"

"No, you stay here Sarah. Best not put any more people in danger than necessary. If neither me nor Jenny are here, he's less likely to come here."

The Master's law firm offices were, like everything else, mostly dark as it was three in the morning. However the foyer was still lit with security lights, and then on the top floor, a couple of windows were lit up.

"He'll be up there," the Doctor said with utter certainty.

He used the sonic screwdriver to let them in and they took the lift to the top floor, making their way through the dark passages to the single lit office.

The Doctor didn't bother to knock, just pushed the door open.

A man was sitting in a desk chair, swivelled round so his back was to them. "So," a voice from the chair said, which made Jenny's blood run cold. "You found me."

"Mr Straker, I presume," the Doctor said with an edge of sarcasm in his voice.

The chair wheeled round and Jenny gasped. "Harold Saxon?"

The Master rolled his eyes. "I can't go anywhere," he complained. "I can't even have pizza ordered without killing the delivery boy because I spent one day as Prime Minister. I can't show my face anywhere. Honestly, one attempt to rule the world, and now everyone I meet wants to call the police."

"What do you want?" the Doctor demanded.

"Ooh, okay. No time for chat, we want to go straight to the point. Well, you asked for it." The Master set his hands on his desk with his fingers together in a very calm, controlled manner. "I want the TARDIS."

The Doctor stared at him for a long time and then burst out laughing.

"You laugh, Doctor, but I have just as much right to that ship as you do. We are both the last Time Lords of Gallifrey, and the TARDIS was never yours to begin with if I recall. Ergo, I challenge your right to it."

"You must have lost a few brain cells during your last resurrection," the Doctor said, "because you cannot be serious. What in the universe makes you think I would let you anywhere near the TARDIS?"

The Master pointed to Jenny. "Her."

All humour vanished from the Doctor's face and his jaw clenched. "What have you done to Jenny?"

"Nothing that I can't reverse. But that's not going to happen until I get what I want. The TARDIS for your daughter. A fair exchange, wouldn't you say?"

"You really have flipped," the Doctor said. "You're a million times more dangerous with the TARDIS."

"Well, dur. That's why I want it."

"No," the Doctor said. "I can't let you have it. No deal. Jenny, we're leaving."

"You'll change your mind!" the Master shouted confidently after them.

"Does that mean I'll never get my memories back?"

The Doctor had been silent on the way back, pensive with an unreadable eyes, and it was only once they arrived back at Sarah Jane's that Jenny dared breach the silence. At her words, he looked up, startled.

"No." He didn't sound certain. "No, I, I'll find a way, Jenny, I promise. If I can't get the chameleon arch from him, then I'll figure out another way to turn you back."

"Exactly how dangerous is he?"

He sighed, and began to tell stories that made shivers run down Jenny's spine. "He's dangerous enough without the most advanced technology in the universe at his disposal."

"So you can't let him have it," Jenny said. "I understand, Doctor." He nodded. "I guess … I could live without my memories—we could, well, start again, if necessary." She looked at him hopefully.

He stared back for a long moment, and Jenny was sure she could see pain in his eyes. He swallowed. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, we could. I wouldn't abandon you, Jenny, I want you to know that."

It felt very strange staying at home while everyone else went to school. Jenny shared her thoughts with Rani that morning when she came over.

"Well I don't know your dad like Sarah Jane does," Rani said, "but he's immortal, or close enough, I guess he doesn't want you to stay human because that means you'll die long before him."

"Oh," Jenny said, realising what the pain in his eyes earlier meant. "No. That … I don't want that."

"Hey, if anyone can sort this out, it's your dad. I know you barely know him, but trust him, Jenny, he'll figure something out."

TBC …