Spoilers for The End of Time
WARNING: Mention of rape
The Doctor was thrown face-first onto the street after appearing out of the Time Vortex. He picked himself up slowly, wincing as his head spun.
"Ahh, Vortex Manipulator. Best way to travel…" he muttered, looking around at his surroundings. He was on Earth, to say the least. The Doctor took a breath through his nose. Earth; 21st Century; London… No sign of the Master.
He had meant to appear directly in the TARDIS when he landed, but of course the stupid thing had glitched. Must've thrown me at the TARDIS, but missed the landing. The Doctor walked out onto the busy London street, trying to figure out where to go. Suddenly, he doubled over as a message shot through his head. Come, Doctor. We wish to speak with you.
He shook his head, peering around. The Doctor whipped out his sonic screwdriver and did a scan for alien tech. It bleeped twice, and he followed the signal into an old alleyway. Still continuing along, he finally came to a dead end. Then he felt a presence behind him, and the Doctor spun around to face an old friend.
"Greetings, Doctor."
"'Ello," replied the Doctor cheerfully. "Haven't seen you for awhile, Ood Sigma. How did you end up on Earth?"
"I am simply a projection," said the Ood. "And now you must come with me, Doctor. We wish to speak with you." Without warning, Ood Sigma pressed a button on his translator, and both were zapped onto a snow-filled world.
"Ah!" exclaimed the Doctor, spinning around. "A wonderland of snow." He grinned. "Any chance of reindeer? I flew in a sled pulled by a reindeer once. Had a funny sort of nose, that one."
"If you would follow me, Doctor," interrupted Ood Sigma. He began walking away.
"Try to make an Ood laugh," he muttered, following. Ood Sigma led the way to an underground sort of campsite. About a dozen Ood surrounded a small fire, with the Shaman inhaling incense.
"Come, Doctor," he said. "Join hands with us." The Doctor sat down slowly, looking at each being in turn.
"What's this about, then?"
"Every night, Doctor," said the Shaman. "Every night we have bad dreams. Let us show you." He closed his eyes and the Doctor was engulfed in an image of the Master. He was laughing manically, throwing his head back and chortling with insanity. The Doctor flinched as the image vanished.
"That's…" started the Doctor. "That's the Master. But it can't be; what's he done?"
"What does it mean, Doctor?"
"Something is returning…"
He got up suddenly and ran out, setting the Vortex Manipulator for Earth.
X
The Doctor appeared, standing on a pile of rubbish. He inhaled deeply. The Master was here. He walked a little ways, following the scent, when he heard it. The Drums echoed around the dump, emitting from somewhere close by.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
A metallic echo. He started running.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
It was getting louder. He was almost there.
BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG!
He came to a halt at the edge of a mountain of trash. There was the Master below, grinning up at him though golden eyes. He ran, and the Doctor followed. The Master stopped on a hill, looking down at the Doctor.
The Doctor stopped running. "Please," he said. "Let me help."
The Master cocked his head to the side, mock disappointment masking his features. He frowned.
"The resurrection went wrong," he tried to explain. "You're burning up your life foce!"
The Master began to laugh, his skeleton flashing under blue flesh before he jumped, cutting off the Doctor's sight. He was just about to follow, when a weak voice called from behind him. The Master was gone.
"Doctor..!" The man stumbled, and the Doctor ran over to catch him. He flipped the dirty, bruised man onto his back, and his eyes widened.
"Jack," he whispered. "What's he done to you?"
"The Master," he wheezed. "Tortured me."
The Doctor opened his mouth to say something, but was knocked speechless when he realized that Jack's pants were soaked with blood. His hearts panged with guilt and anger when he realized where the blood was coming from. "He… raped you?" the Doctor choked on his own words, disbelieving.
Jack hesitated, then nodded weekly. "How did you get here?" he said, changing the subject.
The Doctor was speechless for a moment longer before he replied. "Used your Vortex Manipulator. Hell of a way to travel." He paused. "How long?"
"We arrived here about a week ago," he said. "The Master kept me chained up in an old warehouse where he's been staying. He's been eating people."
The Doctor closed his eyes, letting his head drop. "Something went wrong when I boosted the signal," he explained. "He's burning up his life force; I need to find him."
The Doctor helped Jack up and they made their way to an overhang of garbage, which provided a bit of shelter from the sun.
"You need to kill me," murmured Jack. His voice was pained. "Put me out of my misery so my body can repair itself."
"I can't do that…" said the Doctor, meeting Jack's eyes. "I couldn't…"
"Do it!" yelled Jack. "Please, Doctor, I'm begging you."
The Doctor sighed and stood. He pulled out his sonic and aimed it at the human. "I'm sorry," he whispered, before activating it. The sonic waves resonated through Jack's body, making his heartbeat increase to a nearly inhuman speed. Jack screamed in pain, clenching his hands into fist. Finally, his heart gave out, and his body went limp. The Doctor lowered his arm, face a mask of stone. Several minutes passed before Jack shuttered and inhaled. His eyes opened and he sat up, panting.
"Thanks, Doc," he said with a wink. "Much better."
The Doctor sat down, not happy in the least. "Don't mention it," he muttered.
X
Night had fallen, and the Doctor and Jack were sitting in a café. The human was holding a steaming cup of coffee in his hands, and the Doctor looked out the window. Suddenly he turned his head and met Jack's eyes.
"I want you to stay here," he said in a gruff voice.
"No way," interrupted Jack. "I'm not letting you go looking for him alone!"
"It's not up for debate," he insisted. "I have to face him, and you cannot be there."
"Why not? Who knows what he'll do to you?" Jack took a drink. "Besides, it's not like I'll die or anything."
"That's not the point," sighed the Doctor. "If he sees you with me, it'll make him angry. There will be no reasoning with him at that point." He looked at Jack intently. "I'm the only one who can make him see sense. You can't come."
Jack sat back with a sigh, folding his arms. "Fine," he muttered in defeat. "But I'm coming after you if you're gone for more than a couple hours." Jack suddenly leaned forward and kissed him. "And don't you dare get yourself killed."
The Doctor smiled weakly. "Not a problem."
Sorry this chapter seemed kinda rushed. Just working out the plot a bit; hopefully everything will come together in the end.
Please review.