Insanity

Koschei was renowned for his telepathic abilities. He was able to break just about any telepath, except Rassilon himself. After Rassilon bound him with compulsions, he had no choice but to do what he was told. The drums still rang through his head, and he was now a slave. He wanted nothing more than to die, but he couldn't take his own life. Rassilon wouldn't let him.

When they sat the woman in front of him, he'd wanted to cover his face. She shined like Time itself and it hurt. He knew, before he delved into her mind, that she could break him, and he welcomed it.

What he didn't expect was to be thrust into the Doctor's console room. He recognized the design. It was the same one he had cannibalized. He fought the urge to wretch. Instead, he stood in the middle of the room, wondering how he'd gotten here.

"Oh, we aren't really here, Koschei. Welcome to my lobby." He recognized now that he was in the mind of another. He had meant to do this. He just hadn't thought that she would be able to counter. He stood in the middle of the room, waiting, wondering what she would do with him.

"I don't plan on doing anything to you. I am here to offer you a choice. It's a simple choice. I can take away the drums and the bindings. But in return, you have to redeem yourself. You've committed horrible sins against those I love. You will have to atone for these sins. I can free you, but you'll be bound to me instead of to Rassilon. The choice is yours."

"Who are you?"

"I go by many names. The Wolf, mostly in this Universe. But there is an older name that was lost to me. You'll only know that name if you agree to my terms."

"What if I don't? Agree that is."

"Then I will leave you like you are. Helpless and bound, a slave for the rest of your days. But if you agree, I can heal you completely. Heal your mind and your body. Give you back your regenerative abilities."

"How...what is it you wish me to do?"

"When we leave here, when the War is finished, you will be going to Cardiff. A certain fixed point will then take custody of you. You will be working hand in hand with those you have wronged. Jack will be fair. It's Martha and Mickey you will have to prove yourself to."

"They'll kill me."

"No, they won't. I won't allow them. It's your choice, Koschei."

"And what about the Doctor?"

"Well, that's up to him. But tell me, even when you were at your worst and tortured him for a year, what did he do?"

"He tried to save me."

"Exactly. I think you just answered your own question, Koschei."

The Master didn't know what to do. He wanted, more than anything, to be free of his current prison. But the price she was asking seemed too much. He would be in servitude either way and that was the last thing he wanted.

"Not for the rest of your life, Koschei. I'm not cruel. I would never bind someone to a lifelong servitude. But like I said before, you've wronged those I love and you will atone for that, one way or another. The choice is yours as to how."

"I...I agree to your terms, Wolf."

"Then invite me into your mind, Koschei, and let us begin."

~DW~~DW~~DW~

It felt odd, having someone in his mind after so long. He hadn't willingly done this for centuries. She was gentle, waiting for him to give her permission before enveloping his mind with hers. She started at the edges of his awareness. He could feel the bindings being burned away. He expected it to hurt, but with every snap, he began to feel better. It was a long process. He watched in horror as she thumbed through memory after memory. He felt shame at her seeing these images.

"He's bound you tightly, Koschei, spanning to your childhood. I have to go through each memory, detaching his grip on you. It will take a while. I apologize for any discomfort you may experience. Just know that I won't judge you based on this. I've seen you at your worst. Let me get you to where you can be your best."

She continued to work, slowly encompassing his mind with her own. Soon, all he could see was the burn of the sun as she snapped the last of his bindings.

"That should take care of the compulsions. Now, let's see about those drums."

She followed the thread that had been planted in his childhood to where it rested now. She grabbed and pulled and suddenly, he could think clearly. His mind was blessedly empty with the exception of himself and the Wolf.

She retreated from his mind. He opened his eyes and saw clearly for the first time in centuries. He still had his hands on her temples. He removed them and took her hands in his own.

"Thank you." She smiled. It was a wide smile, full of joy.

"My name is Rose. Rose Tyler."