Chapter 2

The Doctor called Amy Pond. She picked up halfway through the first ring. "Tell me you found him and he's okay," she said breathlessly.

"I found him and he's okay, for the most part. It turns out that flying through that rip in space-time wasn't so bad after all! All my particles are holding together nicely, and Rory's seem to be doing the same. I expect you're still furious that I dropped you home, but better safe than sorry, right? It's amazing here, Amy! A world of magic! There are wizards and witches, and nobody knows who I am-"

"For the most part? Doctor…"

The Doctor took a deep breath. "My best theory right now is parallel universe. Rory doesn't remember you or me, or anything about his former life, I take it. As for why…and how to fix it…working on that. It's like when he was a Roman, when he had Roman thoughts? Well, now he's got Weasley thoughts-"

"Get back here."

"Yes, that's the idea, but he has a family, and they're very protective and ginger. You might get along-"

"Doctor. Listen. There's a man here who says he's a Time Lord. He wants to talk to you."

The Doctor froze. "He's there right now? With you? At your place?"

"Yes."

"What does he call himself?"

There was a rustling sound, then an all-too-familiar voice said, "Hello, Doctor."

"If you hurt her I swear I'll kill you."

There was a pause. "If you can't be civil over the phone, why don't we talk face to face instead?"

The Doctor, despite the icy numb feeling in his limbs and his hammering hearts, was already coaxing the TARDIS into gear. Within seconds, he flung the door open and saw Amy and the Master sitting at the kitchen table. The Master was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, the same garment he'd been wearing the last time they'd seen each other. He had a cup of tea in one hand and the mobile in the other, and his eyes were wide with surprise. "That isn't the face I was expecting," he said.

The Doctor hurriedly took in the scene, glancing all around the room, under the table, and out the window, looking for evidence of current or impending destruction. "What's he done?" he asked Amy.

"Where's Rory?"

"He's safe, I know exactly where and when. Has the Master touched anything?"

"The Master? That's his name? What's wrong with you people?" Amy sighed in frustration and continued, "He's had five cups of tea and all the biscuits. How could you leave Rory?"

"I'm sorry. I promise we will get him back. But right now, I need you to get into the TARDIS and close the door. Please."

Tears brimming in her eyes, Amy shot him a look of pure rage, pushed back her chair, and stomped across the room and into the TARDIS, slamming the door behind her. The Doctor finally turned his full attention to the man sitting at the table, and asked, "The other Time Lords, the entire Time War was sealed back into the Time Lock…is that where you've been?"

"The last day of Gallifrey. Yes."

"Are the others free, too?"

"Does it look like a Time War is raging outside? No, it's just me."

"How'd you get out?"

"I got out…because I got out."

"This is like the Pandorica all over again," said Amy, peeking though the slightly-ajar door of the TARDIS.

"Close the door!" shouted the Doctor.

"You are so fond of your Earth girls," said the Master.

He was sitting very still, posture slightly slumped. He slowly took another sip of tea. Objectively speaking, he didn't look like a murderous psychopath. "For the last time, how'd you get out?" asked the Doctor.

The Master sighed and said, "I took my revenge on Rassilon for putting the drumming in my mind. I killed him."

He drained the cup and began to stand. "Don't move," said the Doctor.

The Master settled back into the chair, placed his empty hands palm-up on the table, and looked at the Doctor. "I killed him…many, many times, until he stayed dead. I thought the drumming would stop, once he was dead. It didn't. It's still there."

He gave the most pathetic attempt at a smile the Doctor had ever seen. Something was different about the Master. He seemed exhausted, defeated. "Then what happened?" urged the Doctor.

"I waited…to die with the others. I don't know how long I waited. In the Time Lock, cut off from the Vortex, my sense of time was so distorted I couldn't tell minutes from years. It's like I could see each atom of Gallifrey coming apart. Every molecule burning."

The Master stared into space for a long minute, then shook his head and continued, "But then, a TARDIS appeared, like it had been called there. Maybe Rassilon had activated a homing beacon, summoning the TARDIS from a bubble universe, as a last attempt to survive. I got in, and set the TARDIS to find yours. I never expected it to work, but it punched a hole right through the Time Lock. When you get a chance, you might want to patch that up."

"What did you do next?"

"I was headed towards you, then you disappeared. So I traced the last place you'd materialized your TARDIS. Here, with that lovely girl. We talked and had tea, until you called."

"Talked about what?"

"You, of course. Is there ever anything else to talk about? Even when she spoke about her missing husband, it all came back to you and how you'd find a way to fix it. Such complete trust."

The Doctor stared at him, not knowing what to think. The Master had just confessed to murder, but none of the crazed evil he used to exhibit was evident. If the Doctor had to choose a word to describe his demeanor, he would have to label the man depressed, or in a state of shock. Seeing his worst enemy like that was more unsettling than he could've imagined. He sat down where Amy had been, in a chair more next to the Master than across from him. "Why come to me?" he asked, choosing a gentler tone than before.

"Like I said…I never expected to escape, but I did. It must have something to do with the drumming. Think about it…the signal is one of the only things that's able to penetrate a Time Lock. While it exists, there's a chance that the Time War can get out again. I realize how I've been manipulated, and I understand how dangerous I am. So, I thought I'd give you a shot, before I kill myself."

"What?"

"I would still rather die than be your eternal captive. But I am willing to…surrender to you, only if you help me."

As galling as it was to say it, the Doctor replied, "I want to help, but I don't know if it's possible."

Something very close to complete despair flashed in the Master's eyes. "Just the drums. Just help me stop the drums. Please."

"I'll try my best."

"Trying isn't good enough. You have to do it. You do impossible things all the time, you must be able to do this."

The Doctor was silent. The Master scrutinized him, practically pierced him with his eyes, and said without inflection, "Your face…it's less kind than the last one. It's less human."

The Doctor stood up and began pacing back and forth across the kitchen. "I can't promise you anything. The signal that infected your mind was sent from somewhere on Gallifrey, in a past which is no longer accessible."

The Master hung his head, covering his face with both hands. "I'll do whatever you want. I'll beg you…if that's what you want. Do you want me to beg?"

"Beg for what? How can I promise you something I don't have?"

He was answered with a very small, anguished cry. The Doctor's hearts twisted at the sound, and he almost couldn't bear to look at his enemy in such a pathetic state. Former enemy, he thought, and found himself unable to find a new label for their relationship. He turned in the direction of the table and caught sight of Amy peeking out of the door of the TARDIS. "Yes, I'll help. I'm sorry," he heard himself say. "Will you come with me now?"

The Master nodded, rubbing his face. "Stand up, please," said the Doctor.

Eyes downcast, the Master obeyed, and the Doctor frisked him for weapons. He found none. "Did you lose your laser screwdriver?"

"Left it in the TARDIS. Didn't want to do anything stupid."

If this is an act, thought the Doctor, he's doing a very convincing job. "Where'd you park?" he asked.

"Down the street, at the corner."

The Time Lords were soon standing in front of a red telephone booth. "There's someone in there," said the Doctor.

"It's just a hologram," said the Master.

He approached the door and tapped on the glass, as if he'd been waiting a long time to use the phone. The man inside turned and sneered. His face was the same as the Master's. "Haven't stopped making copies of yourself, I see," said the Doctor.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he regretted them. The Master quietly said, "Reprogram it however you want. I thought this was discreet, considering the setting."

"It's actually very clever. I don't know why I said that."

The Master seemed not to register this comment. He touched the handle of the phone booth. After a moment, the door popped open, and they stepped inside. The cavernous room within captivated the Doctor's attention. So used to his own TARDIS, he was thrilled to see a different one for a change. He ran around the central console, examining all the controls and monitors. Everything looked shiny and brand new. It was configured slightly differently, but he'd always piloted his TARDIS instinctually and was sure he'd have no problem operating this one. By the time he made it back to where the Master was standing he was nearly skipping with excitement. Then he saw the laser screwdriver being aimed at him.