Saxon was supposed to be meeting the US president at the airport, so they headed over there. They all had the perception filter keys around their necks, but Molly could tell Lestrade and Sherlock were less than convinced that they were fool-proof. They seemed convinced they were going to be seen at any moment.
Molly shot them a reassuring smile. "Just keep quiet, and they can't see you," she reminded them in a low voice. "Trust me."
They watched as the US president arrived in his plane. Harold Saxon and his wife Lucy waited to greet him, saluting the President as he approached. "Mister President, sir," he greeted the man.
President Winters didn't seem to be in the mood for pleasantries. In a irritable growl he ordered, "Mister Saxon, the British Army will stand down. From now on, UNIT has control of this operation."
The Master didn't seem very flustered. He smiled pleasantly at Winters as he said, "You make it sound like an invasion."
"First Contact policy was decided by the Security Council in 1968," Winters told him firmly, "and you've just gone and ignored it."
Saxon shrugged unconcernedly. "Well, you know what it's like. New job, all that paperwork. I think it's down the back of the settee. I did have a quick look. I found a pen, a sweet, a bus ticket and er, have you met the wife?" Lucy smiled rather fakely at the president.
The Master's flippancy only worked to irk Winters even more. In a rather huffy tone, he warned Saxon, "Mister Saxon, I'm not sure what your game is but there are provisions at the United Nations to have you removed from office unless you are very, very careful. Is that understood? Are you taking this seriously?" Harold just grinned smugly at him, so he just rolled his eyes and moved on. "To business. We've accessed your files on these Toclafane. First Contact cannot take place on any sovereign soil. To that purpose, the aircraft carrier Valiant is en route. The rendezvous will take place there at eight am." His eyes narrowed when he noticed that Saxon wasn't paying attention. "You're trying my patience, sir."
The Master's eyes narrowed, his expression becoming shrewdly calculating. "So America is completely in charge?" he asked carefully.
"Since Britain elected an ass, yes," Winters growled. "I'll see you onboard the Valiant."
"It still will be televised, though, won't it?" Saxon questioned. "Because I promised, and the whole world is watching."
Winters narrowed his eyes irritably. "Since it's too late to pull out, the world will be watching. Me." With that, he turned and stormed off, leaving the Master to watch him go.
Saxon stared after Winters with a curious tilt to his head. "The last President of America," he mused. After a few moments, his smug smirk returned, and he turned to his wife. "We have a private plane ready and waiting. We should reach the Valiant within the hour. My darling."
Lucy left her security guard, but the Master lingered for a moment, turning to look in the Doctor and company's direction. Molly held her breath as Saxon's gaze passed lazily over them, then relaxed as he turned and slowly sauntered off.
Molly let out the breath she'd been holding. "Thank God. I was sure he was going to see us."
Jack let out a low growl. "He's planning something with those Toclafane today. You heard him. 'The last president.'" He turned to the Doctor. "So what's the plan? How do we stop him?"
"He's a Time Lord, which makes him my responsibility," the Doctor warned them all. "I'm not here to kill him. I'm here to save him."
Molly felt a pang of sympathy for the Time Lord. From what she'd seen of the Master, there didn't seem to be much chance of saving him. But she knew the Doctor had to try, had to hope there was something left to salvage. She knew he could never give up on the last piece of Gallifrey he had left. So she gave him a reassuring smile and said, "And we'll help."
The Doctor shot her a grateful smile. Jack brought up an earlier point in the Master and the president's conversation. "Aircraft carrier Valiant. It's a UNIT ship at fifty eight point two north, ten point oh two east."
"Right, so how do we get there?" Molly asked.
The Doctor looked thoughtfully at Jack's Vortex Manipulator. "Does that thing work as a teleport?" he asked.
Jack nodded with a grin. "Since you revamped it, yeah." He tapped something into the bracelet. "Coordinates set." Everyone grabbed hold of the Vortex Manipulator, which sent them screaming through the Vortex again, until they were thrown onto the ground of the Valiant.
Molly groaned, leaning against the nearest thing she could find, fighting the familiar nausea. "Is there any way to make that thing feel less like a bad hangover?" she grumbled.
Jack shrugged. "I've has worse nights." As the effects of Vortex travel wore off, he approached a nearby window, which showed nothing but sky outside. "Welcome to the Valiant."
Molly looked outside in surprise. "Dawn already?"
Lestrade's eyes widened as he looked outside. "Wait, I though you meant ship, as in, sea ship. Where's the water?"
Jack chuckled. "A ship for the twenty first century," he explained, "protecting the skies of planet Earth."
SCENEBREAK
They were on their way to the televised broadcast when the Doctor suddenly halted, looking down a different corridor. Jack tried to get him moving again. "We've no time for sightseeing," he reminded the Time Lord.
"No, wait. Shush, shush, shush, shush," he told the group. "Can't you hear it?"
Molly and the others listened, but she could tell by their expressions they couldn't hear anything more than she could. "Hear what?" she questioned. Maybe his superior Time Lord biology was letting him hear something they couldn't.
The Doctor didn't answer. Instead, he started off down the corridor. "This way."
They ran down the hallway, soon reaching a door. When the Doctor opened it, they all stiffened in surprise. The Doctor grinned brilliantly at the sight. "Oh, at last!" He was the first to approach the familiar blue box.
Lestrade looked at it uncertainly. "Is that the time machine you were telling me about?"
Molly nodded, grinning widely. "That's the TARDIS all right. I feel like it's been way longer." She was truly glad to see the blue box again, for her own fondness for the sentient time machine as for the return of their form of transport.
Jack's brow furrowed. "What's it doing on the Valiant?"
The Doctor didn't take the time to answer as he hurried to the door, working quickly to get the lock open. He pushed the door open, but the moment Molly stepped inside, she knew something was wrong. The console room was cast in a sickly red light, and there was some sort of metal contraption surrounding the Time rotor. Molly tensed as a low, moan-like hum echoed through the room. Something was really, really wrong.
"What the hell's he done?" Jack growled angrily, staring at the contraption around the rotor.
"Don't touch it," the Doctor warned.
"I'm not going to," the captain assured him.
The Doctor approached the Time Rotor, an unreadable expression on his face. Molly had seen him when his companions were threatened, but she knew his regard for the TARDIS was far beyond any fleeting companions. She had been there for him for over 700 years, and now someone had done this to her. Molly wasn't sure what he was going to do, but she couldn't begin to imagine the rage he must be feeling.
"What's wrong with her?" Molly asked softly. "She sounds sick or something."
"It can't be," the Doctor growled, voice breaking slightly as he looked at his TARDIS. "No, no, no, no, no, no, it can't be."
"What is it?" Sherlock asked.
"He's cannibalized the TARDIS," the Doctor whispered.
Jack's eyes widened. "Is this what I think it is?"
"It's a paradox machine," the Time Lord confirmed grimly. He approached the contraption, pointing at a gauge on it. "As soon as this hits red, it activates. At this speed, it'll trigger at two minutes past eight."
"That's two minutes after first contact," Sherlock realized.
Molly frowned. "But what's it for? Is it preventing a paradox or what?"
"More likely it's going to allow one," the Doctor corrected.
"More important, can you stop it?" Jack asked.
The Doctor shook his head. "Not till I know what it's doing. Touch the wrong bit, blow up the solar system."
"Then we've got to get to the Master," Molly concluded. "But how?"
The Doctor turned around looking surprised. "Oh, I've got a way. Sorry, didn't I mention it?" He broke into a big, smug grin, which left Lestrade baffled, Sherlock and Jack annoyed, but Molly amused.
SCENEBREAK
They snuck into the televised set where Winters was addressing the world, about to reveal the Toclafane for every nation to see. Under his breath, Jack hissed, "This plan, you going to tell us?"
As Winters continued addressing the camera, the Doctor held up his TARDIS key for the group to see. "If I can get this around the Master's neck, cancel out his perception, they'll see him for real. It's just hard to go unnoticed with everyone on red alert. If they stop me you've all got a key." They nodded to assure the Doctor they knew what to do if he failed.
As they snuck closer to the Master, four of the Toclafane whizzed into the room. Winters announced to them, "My name is Arthur Coleman Winters, President Elect of the United States of America, and designated representative of the United Nations. I welcome you to the planet Earth and its associated moon."
One of the spheres spoke in a high-pitched, childish male tone. "You're not the Master," it whined.
Another one spoke in a female tone. "We like the Mister Master," she said in a high, girly tone.
"We don't like you," the second male Toclafane added.
Winters looked surprised at their words, but he still tried to turn things around in his favor. "I can be master, if you so wish. I will accept mastery over you, if that is God's will."
"Man is stupid," the second male Toclafane taunted.
The first male told Winters, "Master is our friend."
"Where's my Master, pretty please?" the female sphere simpered.
Saxon stood, drawing all eyes to him. "Oh, all right then. It's me. Ta da!" The Toclafane all whizzed towards him, floating by his side. "Sorry, sorry, I have this effect. People just get obsessed. Is it the smile? Is it the aftershave? Is it the capacity to laugh at myself? I don't know. It's crazy."
"Saxon, what are you talking about?" the president demanded angrily.
Saxon – no, the Master now, the guise of Saxon was done – smirked dangerously, making Molly shudder. The Time Lord was finally acting on his plan, and the time for waiting and hiding was over. "I'm taking control, Uncle Sam, starting with you." He turned to his Toclafane. "Kill him."
The sphere-like Toclafane suddenly sprouted blade-like and gun-like appendages. Winters was blasted and sent thudding onto the ground, dead. His guards and security all drew their weapons on the Master, who just laughed in response. "Guards." His own guards turned their weapons on the Americans, who backed down. The Master ignored them all and turned to face the camera. "Now then, peoples of the Earth. Please attend carefully."
Without warning, the Doctor ripped his TARDIS key off and rushed towards the Master, but before he could reach the Time Lord with the key, two guards grabbed him and pinned his arms behind his back, forcing him to his knees. The Master didn't seem all that surprised to see him. He just grinned smugly at his fellow Time Lord. "We meet at last, Doctor. Oh, ho. I love saying that."
"Stop it!" the Doctor demanded. "Stop it now!"
The Master rolled his eyes. "As if a perception filter's going to work on me." He looked pointedly at the Doctor's companions, though they still wore their TARDIS keys. "And look, it's the girlie, the freak, and the snob. Although, I'm not sure which one's which. And looks like you've made a new friend too. Do you enjoy dragging people into your fights or something?"
Jack made a sudden break for the Master. Unconcerned, the Time Lord pulled out a screwdriver similar to the Doctor's and zapped him with it. Jack crumpled to the floor, dead. Molly hurried to his side, followed swiftly by Sherlock and Lestrade. The Master smugly showed the Doctor his screwdriver. "Laser screwdriver," he explained. "Who'd have sonic? And the good thing is, he's not dead for long. I get to kill him again!"
"Master, just calm down," the Doctor begged. "Just look at what you're doing. Just stop. If you could see yourself."
The Master rolled his eyes, then turned back to the camera. "Oh, do excuse me. Little bit of personal business. Back in a minute." He turned and approached the Doctor, ordering the guards, "Let him go." They released the Doctor, who got to his feet, staring pleadingly at the Master.
"It's that sound," the Doctor reminded him, "the sound in your head. What if I could help?"
The Master groaned. "Oh, how to shut him up? I know." He held up his laser screwdriver. "Professor Lazarus, creator of a genetic manipulation device. 'Course, he had to be an idiot and get killed by his own machine, but the genius is still there. Now what if I can concentrate all that Lazarus technology into one little screwdriver? But, ooo, if I only had the Doctor's biological code. Oh, wait a minute, I do." He opened a briefcase by his feet, pulling out the case with the Doctor's hand. "I've got his hand. And if Lazarus made himself younger, what if I reverse it? Another hundred years?"
He pointed his screwdriver at the Doctor and activated it. The Doctor screamed as he was thrown into convulsions, skin rapidly wrinkling and hair going shock-white. Molly stiffened in horror, resisting the urge to scream as her best friend was tortured. Jack revived, distracting her for a moment. "Teleport," he ordered her in a raspy tone, still recovering from his death.
Molly shook her head stubbornly. "No way in hell."
"We can't stop him," Jack told her dully. He took off his Vortex Manipulator and handed it to Molly. "Take Sherlock and Lestrade and get out of here."
Molly ignored him and went to the Doctor's side. The Master had stopped zapping him, but he was still on the ground, too weak to stand. He looked at least a hundred, old and wrinkled with little hair. Molly's heart clenched painfully at the sight. "It's alright, Doctor, I've got you," she said as soothingly as possible.
The Master laughed tauntingly "Ah, she's a would be doctor," he told the camera. "But tonight, Molly Hooper, there's nothing you can do."
He began spouting more to the camera about the Toclafane, ordering death and destruction, but Molly wasn't paying attention anymore. All she could concentrate on was her best friend, and the idea of what the Master would do to him next.
As the Master spoke, the Doctor suddenly leaned forward and whispered in Molly's ear. She started to protest, but in the end, she knew he was right. And she understood what was needed from her next, no matter how it broke her heart to leave him behind like this.
She backed up slowly until she was beside Sherlock and Lestrade again. She'd strapped the Vortex Manipulator to her wrist. "Hold on, and don't ask questions," she ordered in a low tone. Looking confused, they obeyed, and Molly activated the Manipulator, sending them through the Vortex again.
SCENEBREAK
They landed on a grassy field somewhere below, the Valiant was visible in the air. Molly stared at it, trying not to feel so terribly guilty about leaving the way she had. "I'll be back," she whispered, even though she knew the Doctor couldn't hear her.
Lestrade asked shakily, "What are we doing? What about the Doctor and Jack? And how's he still alive, by the way?"
Molly watched the Valiant a few moments longer, then turned away, squaring her shoulders as she stared evenly at Lestrade. "The Doctor has a plan, and he told it to me," she told him coolly. "It's our job to see it through."
"What's the plan?" Sherlock demanded.
Molly turned to him, narrowing her eyes. "I'll tell you on the way, but we have to go before we're seen."
The two locked gazes a moment, two wills battling each other. For as long as she'd known him, she'd always caved to Sherlock's demands, and Lestrade was a natural leader. She'd always been the submissive one, the one who walked in the shadows of others, who did what she was told and never dared to lead herself because she didn't think she could. But the Doctor was her friend, and it was his life on the line. And Molly Hooper was done being submissive. This was her mission, her area of expertise, her life, and she'd be damned before she let Sherlock Holmes or anyone else get in her way, even herself. She was leading this mission, and she wasn't afraid anymore. She wouldn't let herself be.
After a few moments, Sherlock nodded. "Very well. Where to first?"
Molly looked from him to Lestrade, who nodded as well. She was the leader now, and they had accepted it. She was in charge of these two people, these friends, and she could be leading them to their deaths for all she knew. But she had a plan, and for the first time, she had real, true confidence. She was either going to save the Doctor or die trying.
With a wild half-grin, she told them, "Everywhere."
Here's a bit of BAMF!Molly to brighten your afternoon (or whatever time it may be for you). :D I have been waiting to write this chapter for so freaking long, and it's been far too much fun building up to this moment. I hope you've enjoyed Molly's character arc, and that you think it has believably led up to this moment. And now the companion has some companions of her own, and she's leading her troop into battle.
I will try to update again later tonight, but no promises.
I also want to announce that the amazingly fantastic Ai Emna has begun translating this fanfic into French. FRENCH I TELL YOU! I've never had anything of mine translated before, so this is seriously exciting. If you speak French, go check it out! If not, go check it out anyway and grin uncomprehendingly at it like me! :D
BloodLily16(first message): 'Cause I could I guess. Dunno.
BloodLily16(second message): Yeah sorry, two separate characters. Though that would've been awesome, you're right. I should've thought of that.